{"id":6858,"date":"2020-05-11T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsdaleperf.wpengine.com\/?p=6858"},"modified":"2020-05-11T10:51:11","modified_gmt":"2020-05-11T17:51:11","slug":"insider-picks-from-brian-passey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsdaleperformingarts.org\/2020\/05\/11\/insider-picks-from-brian-passey\/","title":{"rendered":"Insider Picks from Brian Passey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

25 Essential Albums from Our Own Former Music Critic<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Brian Passey, senior communications specialist for Scottsdale Arts, built a massive album collection during his years as a music critic, including his favorite album, Abbey Road<\/em> by The Beatles on vinyl. Photo: Cammie Passey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before I promoted the arts as senior communications specialist for Scottsdale Arts, I promoted them as an arts and entertainment reporter for a daily newspaper (and occasionally in USA Today). Among my regular tasks was the writing of weekly music reviews for more than a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is objectively good music and bad music, tastes are always subjective. As a former critic, I believe some of the albums on this list, like Abbey Road<\/em> and Pet Sounds<\/em>, are objectively among the greatest albums of all time; others are simply personal favorites, like the entries here from Dylanesque Wyoming songwriter Jason Tyler Burton and Austin-based fiddler Carrie Rodriguez, whose musical \u00a1Americano!<\/em> recently debuted at The Phoenix Theatre Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll notice most of the albums here fall solidly within the realm of rock \u2019n\u2019 roll, my preferred genre, with a few elements of Americana and electronica mixed in. These are my 25 essential albums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#1: Abbey Road<\/em> by The Beatles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From George Harrison\u2019s weeping guitar on \u201cSomething\u201d and Ringo Starr\u2019s loveably goofy \u201cOctopus\u2019s Garden\u201d to the passionate epic of John Lennon\u2019s \u201cI Want You (She\u2019s So Heavy),\u201d and Paul McCartney\u2019s stunningly gorgeous \u201cGolden Slumbers,\u201d this is simply the greatest album by the greatest band of all time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#2: Wildflowers<\/em> by Tom Petty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This technically \u201csolo\u201d effort by Tom Petty is his masterwork. At once gentle and elegant, it\u2019s the perfect soundtrack for a drive through the mountains.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#3: Clarity<\/em> by Jimmy Eat World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The emotions are all over the place on this barn burner from Mesa\u2019s own Jimmy Eat World. It helped launch the emo movement, which never lived up to this pioneering record.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#4: Southeastern<\/em> by Jason Isbell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With this revelatory record, Jason Isbell found love, got clean, and became the best songwriter of his generation with his poetic lyrics and deft turns of phrase.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#5: Automatic for the People<\/em> by R.E.M.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Well into their career by this point but still at the beginning of their most creative streak, the boys from R.E.M. managed to create a moody masterpiece.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#6: High Violet<\/em> by The National<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We listen to the music of The National to know we\u2019re not alone. High Violet<\/em> is musical catharsis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#7: Pet Sounds<\/em> by The Beach Boys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It inspired much of The Beatles\u2019 best work, but Brian Wilson\u2019s magnum opus also stands on its own as perhaps the most beautiful vision of popular music\u2019s most visionary artist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#8: Speak for Yourself<\/em> by Imogen Heap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Effervescent and exuberant, Imogen Heap brought and effortless warmth to electronic music on the heels of her commercial breakthrough as half of Frou Frou.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#9: Wish You Were Here<\/em> by Pink Floyd<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pink Floyd pays majestic tribute to a former bandmate on Roger Waters\u2019s \u201cShine On You Crazy Diamond\u201d while David Gilmour offers up the endearingly sweet title track.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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#10: Unplugged in New<\/em> York by Nirvana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a tragedy that the world didn\u2019t quite grasp Nirvana\u2019s artistic potential until the advent of this brilliant live album, released just seven months after Kurt Cobain\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rounding out my 25 essential albums are the following<\/strong>. And take a moment to listen to my playlist featuring my top pick from each album listed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#11: The Rising<\/em> by Bruce Springsteen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#12: OK Computer<\/em> by Radiohead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#13: Carrying Lightning<\/em> by Amanda Shires<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#14: Californication<\/em> by Red Hot Chili Peppers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#15: Funeral<\/em> by Arcade Fire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#16: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness<\/em> by Smashing Pumpkins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#17: The King is Dead<\/em> by The Decemberists<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#18: American Idiot<\/em> by Green Day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#19: Takk\u2026<\/em> by Sigur R\u00f3s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#20: Noble Beast<\/em> by Andrew Bird<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#21: Music from Big Pink<\/em> by The Band<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#22: Stardust<\/em> by Willie Nelson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#23: Headwaters<\/em> by Jason Tyler Burton<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#24: Give Up<\/em> by The Postal Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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#25: Give Me All You Got<\/em> by Carrie Rodriguez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Brian Passey, during is music critic days, poses with singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez at a 2011 concert. Photo: Tim Cretsinger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We would love to hear what your essential albums are. Share entire playlists or individual songs with amplify@scottsdalearts.org<\/a>. Simply click on each album icon or listen to Brian’s essential albums on Spotify or Apple Music below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n