What would you guys think of trying to make essential lists for genres? 25 records that define a particular genre. I'm not talking about rock or rap, but more specialized, focused lists. I don't even know if we have enough people who are knowledgeable on a varying number of genres, but it would be cool to nominate records, compile a list, and then have people write blurbs about why its important.

Anyone want to nominate a genre to start off with?

I nominate scottish pirate themed beer metal.

I suppose I can make a list of 25 essential international albums but I'd definitely have to do some research.

why be so narrow. why not 25 essential music albums?

what does that mean? is it non-american? non-western? only traditional musics from non-american/western countries? something else?

I wish I was better with genres, but I've always been kinda fuzzy on what genre a lot of my favorite bands fall into.

I'd love to do a quick list of 25 essential jazz albums, but I take it you'd want something more specific, like 25 essential hard bop albums or 25 essential fusion albums. I couldn't begin to do that.

can't believe we missed them.

It doesn't have to be so specialized as "Western Nigerian Guitar Blues Played with the Left Hand", but maybe a little narrower, OPA.

25 essential hard bop would be fun.

I think that the only person on the board with enough knowledge of the output of each (non-American) country to make an actual list, is you.

So, an "International", or "non-English-language" category/genre might be the only viable means of getting an album like Transa or Cabo Verde onto any of the lists at all.

And, of course, some of them may straddle lists (Os Mutantes - Mutantes could fit into both the previously mentioned list and Psychedelic.)

If this were a board that focused on non-English-language music, exclusively,we could do the different genres around the world. But as it is, most of us listen almost exclusively to English-language music.

EDIT:
But I like this idea.

And I love lists, so let's do this.

I'd probably limit my list to traditional works (most likely 60's and 70's) from any country or region that English is not its primary language.

Well, even if you aren't knowledgeable I think you could still toss an album into a discussion. I'm not really knowledgeable on certain genres, but I know a lot of albums, and certainly am intimate with them enough to plead a case. If nothing else, it might garner some conversation, and turn some people onto albums.

I think Billy and I are quite passionate about international music. I'd love for both of us to make a list consisting exclusively of international albums.

So we'd be collaborating on lists?

So what's the first step, then, nominate genres to make lists for?

Yeah, it would be collaborative in order to spark conversation. If someone is particularly passionate about a genre, then more power to them to create a list, but it wouldn't be the list.

Yeah, first step is nominating a genre(s).

I'll do Death Metal & Thrash Metal if there's any interest.

I'm pretty passionate about international music, too.
But if you asked me to throw together albums from different African regions, or different Brazilian styles, I couldn't do it. I love the stuff, but don't know enough about what is Pagode and what is Samba or what distinguishes Kenyan music from what comes out of Congo.


But I love a lot of what I hear.
So I think that a broad category like that would allow the under-heard gems to still come out and eliminate a lot of the petty bickering that could result from ignorance like mine.... backed by a love of the music, itself.

Genres:

Hard Bop
'60s-'70s Folk Rock
Glam Rock ('70s)
Krautrock (or "Euro" rock, basically non-English/American rock from the late '60s, early '70s)
Post Punk

Trad Ska/easy beat/Reggae anyone?

I'd be curious to hear people's take on:

Jangle Pop - this seems like it could be pretty specific

Power Pop - this would be pretty broad I'd think depending on your tastes

Here's one that can get sticky:
• Traditional country: Nashville machine-generated/charting (Includes Hank, Dolly, Patsy, Willie, et. al.)
• Resurgent Country: Noncharting (Includes Byrds, Gram, Uncle Tupelo, Burritos, Steve Earle, et. al.)

Where do you draw the line?
Didn't Guitar Town chart? But most would call that "Resurgent". Or where does Red-Headed Stranger fit in?

perhaps

--shoegaze
--british invasion
--brit-pop (i.e. c.1990s british invasion)
--post-rock

maybe lists by scene or city (i.e. athens, chicago, boston, ny, seattle, louisville, la, and so on)