Tag Archives: Best Alternative Music Album

Gotye: Making Mirrors

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On August 19, 2011, “Eleven” label released “Making Mirrors”, the third Gotye (Wally De Backer) studio album. It was recorded 2008 -2011, at Gotye’s parents’ farm in the Mornington Peninsula, and was produced by Wally De Backer. In 2013, “Making Mirrors” won the 2013 Grammy for “Best Alternative Music Album”.

Personnel:

  • Wally De Backer – lead and backing vocals, samples, instruments
  • Michael Hubbard – pedal steel guitar
  • Kimbra – lead and backing vocals
  • Luke Hodgson – bass guitar
  • Francois Tetaz – dubs and spaces
  • Lucas Taranto – bass guitar, poker bass, fretless bass
  • Gareth Skinner – whale cellos
  • Adam Simmons – saxophone
  • Scott Tinkler – trumpet
  • Frank De Backer – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Wally De Backer.

  1. Making Mirrors
  2. Easy Way Out
  3. Somebody That I Used to Know
  4. Eyes Wide Open
  5. Smoke and Mirrors
  6. I Feel better
  7. In Your Light
  8. State of the Art
  9. Don’t Worry, We’ll Be watching You
  10. Giving Me a Chance
  11. Save Me
  12. Bronte

Wilco: A Ghost Is Born

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On June 22, 2004, “Nonesuch” label released “A Ghost Is Born”, the fifth Wilco studio album. It was recorded November 2003 – March 2004 in New York City, and was produced by Jim O’Rourke, Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glen Kotche, Leroy Bach and Mikael Jorgensen. In 2005, “A Ghost Is Born” won “Grammy Awards”  for “Best Alternative Music Album” and “Best Recording Package”.

Personnel:

  • Jeff Tweedy– vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, filters, loops
  • John Stirratt– bass, guitar, piano, backing vocals, synthesizer, filters, loops
  • Glenn Kotche– drums, percussion, hammered dulcimer, synthesizer, filters, loops
  • Leroy Bach– piano, organ, guitar, bass, vibes, synthesizer, filters, loops
  • Mikael Jorgensen– piano, rocksichord, Farfisa, organ, synthesizer, filters, loops, engineer
  • Jim O’Rourke– piano, guitar, bass, ARP 2600, synthesizer, filters, loops, engineer, mixing
  • Frankie Montuoro – hammered dulcimer, production assistant, technical assistance
  • Karen Waltuch –viola
  • Tim Barnes – percussion
  • Chris Shaw – engineer
  • TJ Doherty, Tim Iseler – engineer assistant
  • Steve Rooke –mastering
  • Dan Nadel –graphic design
  • Peter Smith – graphic design, photography
  • Gladys Nilsson– drawing
  • Mike Schmelling – photography
  • Ken Waagner – digital supervisor
  • Stan Doty, Daniel Herbst, Deborah Miles Johnson, Haydn Johnston, Matt Zivich – production assistants, technical assistance

Track listing:

All tracks by Jeff Tweedy except where noted.

  1. At Least That’s What You Said
  2. Hell Is Chrome – Jeff Tweedy,Mikael Jorgensen
  3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
  4. Muzzle of Bees
  5. Hummingbird
  6. Handshake Drugs
  7. Wishful Thinking – Jeff Tweedy,Glenn Kotche
  8. Company in My Back
  9. I’m a Wheel
  10. Theologians – Jeff Tweedy, Mikael Jorgensen, Chris Girard
  11. Less Than You Think – Jeff Tweedy,John Stirratt, Glen Kotche, Mikael Jorgensen,Leroy Bach, Jim O’Rourke
  12. The Late Greats

White Stripes: Icky Thump

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On June 15, 2007, “Third Man” label released “Icky Thump”, the sixth and  final  White Stripes album. It was recorded in February 2007, at “Blackbird Studio” in Nashville, and was produced by Jack White. In February 2008, “Icky Thump” won “Grammy Awards” for “Best Alternative Music Album”, and “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal”.

Personnel:

  • Jack White– vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, spoken narrative, street talk, mixing
  • Meg White– lead and backing vocals, spoken narrative, street talk, drums, percussion
  • Regulo Aldama – trumpet
  • Jim Drury – bagpipes
  • Joe Chiccarelli – recording, mixing
  • Lowell Reynolds – recording, mixing second engineer
  • Steve Hoffman – vinyl mastering
  • Vlado Meller – digital mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Jack White, except where noted.

  1. Icky Thump
  2. You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You’re Told)
  3. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
  4. Conquest – Corky Robbins
  5. Bone Broke
  6. Prickly Thorn, but Sweetly Worn
  7. Andrew (This Battle Is in the Air)
  8. Little Cream Soda
  9. Rag and Bone
  10. I’m Slowly Turning into You
  11. A Martyr for My Love for You
  12. Catch Hell Blues
  13. Effect and Cause

St. Vincent: Same

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st_vincent

On February 25, 2014, “Loma Vista” label released the self-titled, fourth  St. Vincent studio album. It was recorded in 2013, at “Elmwood Studios” in Dallas, Texas, and was produced by John Congleton. The album won “Grammy” for Best Alternative Music Album, and was voted “Best Album of 2014” in the following medias:  “NME”, “Guardian”, “Gigwise”, “musicOMH”, “Slant Magazine” and “Entertainment Weekly”.

Personnel:

  • Annie Clark – vocals, guitar
  • Adam Pickrell – keyboards
  • Bobby Sparks – Minimoog
  • Daniel Mintseris – synthesizer, piano, harpsichord
  • Ralph Carney – horns
  • Homer Steinweiss – drums
  • McKenzie Smith – drums
  • John Congleton– engineer
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Willo Perron – creative director
  • Brian Roettinger – design
  • Renata Raksha – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Annie Clark.

  1. Rattlesnake
  2. Birth in Reverse
  3. Prince Johnny
  4. Huey Newton
  5. Digital Witness
  6. I Prefer Your Love
  7. Regret
  8. Bring Me Your Loves
  9. Psychopath
  10. Every Tear Disappears
  11. Severed Crossed Fingers

Beck: Mutations

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mutations

On November 3, 1998, “DGC Records” label released “Mutations”, the third Beck studio album. It was recorded March – April 1998, and was produced by Beck Hansen and Nigel Godrich. “Mutations” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Alternative Music Album”. “Mutations” was certified Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”.

Personnel:

  • Beck – guitar, harmonica, piano, glockenspiel, synthesizer, vocals
  • Smokey Hormel– guitar, percussion, cuica, backing vocals
  • Warren Klein– sitar, tamboura
  • Roger Manning– synthesizer, organ, keyboards, harpsichord, percussion, backing vocals
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen– bass, percussion, backing vocals
  • Joey Waronker– percussion, drums, synthesizer drums
  • Elliot Caine– trumpet
  • David Campbell – viola, arranger, conductor
  • Larry Corbett– cello
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • David Ralicke– flute, trombone
  • Nigel Godrich– mixing
  • Robert Fisher– art direction
  • John Sorenson– engineer assistant
  • Charlie Gross– photography
  • Autumn de Wilde– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Beck, except where noted.

  1. Cold Brains
  2. Nobody’s Fault but My Own
  3. Lazy Files
  4. Canceled Check
  5. We Live Again
  6. Tropicalia
  7. Dead Melodies
  8. Bottle of Blues
  9. O Maria
  10. Sing it Again
  11. Static

Tom Waits: Bone Machine

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tom-waits-bone-machine

On September 8, 1992, “Island” label released “Bone Machine”, the eleventh Tom Waits album. It was recorded in 1992, at “Prairie Sun Recording” in Cotati, California, and was produced by Tom Waits. It won “Grammy Award” for “Best Alternative Music Album”. The cover photo was taken by Jesse Dylan, the son of Bob Dylan.

Personnel:

  • Tom Waits- vocals, Chamberlin, acoustic and electric guitar, sticks,  piano, upright bass, conundrum, drums, percussion
  • Keith Richards – vocal, guitar
  • Waddy Wachtel- guitar
  • David Phillips – pedal steel guitar, steel guitar
  • Joe Gore – guitar
  • Les Claypool- electric bass
  • Larry Taylor- upright bass, guitar
  • Brain- drums
  • Kathleen Brennan- sticks
  • Ralph Carney- alto sax, tenor sax, bass clarinet
  • David Hidalgo- violin, accordion
  • Joe Marquez – sticks, banjo

Track listing:

All tracks by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, except where noted.

  1. Earth Died Screaming – Tom Waits
  2. Dirt in the Ground
  3. Such a Scream – Tom Waits
  4. All Stripped Down – Tom Waits
  5. Who Are You
  6. The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me – Tom Waits
  7. Jesus Gonna Be Here – Tom Waits
  8. A Little Rain (for Clyde)
  9. In the Colosseum
  10. Goin’ Out West
  11. Murder in the Red Barn
  12. Black Wings
  13. Whistle Down the Wind (for Tom Jans) – Tom Waits
  14. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
  15. Let Me Get Up on It
  16. That Feel – Tom Waits, Keith Richards

 

Beastie Boys: Hello Nasty

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Hello Nasty

On July 14, 1998, “Capitol” label released “Hello Nasty”, the fifth Beastie Boys studio album. It was recorded 1997 – 1998, and was produced by Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch and Mario Caldato, Jr. At 1999 ”Grammy’s”, “Hello Nasty” won two awards for “Best Alternative Music Album” and for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group” for “Intergalactic”. The album was cerified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA’; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ” and 3 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Mix Master Mike– DJ
  • Money Mark– keyboards
  • Biz Markie, Bobbito, Jill Cunniff, Miho Hatori, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Brooke Williams – vocals
  • Lord Sear – human beatbox
  • Eric Bobo, Duduka, Richard Siegler – percussion
  • Nelson Keane Carse – trombone
  • Joe Locke – vibraphone
  • Jane Scarpantoni– cello
  • Steve Slagle– flute
  • Paul Vercesi – alto sax
  • Brian G. Wright – violin, viola
  • Robert Perlman – beats
  • Pat Shannahan – sample clearance
  • Steve Revitte, Suzanne Dyer, Mario Caldato Jr– engineer
  • Andy VanDette, Howie Weinberg– mastering
  • Cey Adams– art direction
  • Bill McMullen – design
  • Michael Lavine– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond and Adam Yauch,  except where noted.

  1. Super Disco Breakin’
  2. The Move
  3. Remote Control
  4. Songs for the Man
  5. Just a Test
  6. Body Movin’ – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Mario Caldato
  7. Intergalactic – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Mario Caldato
  8. Sneakin’ Out the Hospital
  9. Putting Shame in Your Game
  10. Flowin Prose
  11. And Me
  12. Three MC’s and One DJ – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Mike Schwartz, Wendell Fite
  13. The Grasshopper Unit (Keep Movin’) – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Melvin Glover, Sylvia Robinson
  14. Song for Junior – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Eric Bobo, Mark Nishita, Jill Cunniff
  15. I Don’t Know
  16. The Negotiation Limerick File – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Mario Caldato
  17. Electrify – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Mario Caldato
  18. Picture This – Beastie Boys, Brooke Williams
  19. Unite
  20. Dedication – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Mark Nishita
  21. Lee, PhD – Adam Horovitz, Matt Diamond, Adam Yauch, Lee Perry, Mark Nishita
  22. Instant Death

Beck: Odelay

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Odelay

On June 18, 1996, “DGC” label released “Odelay”, the second Beck studio album. It was recorded 1994 – 1996, and was produced by Beck Hansen, The Dust Brothers,Mario Caldato, Jr, Brian Paulson,Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf. In 1997 “Odelay” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Alternative Music Album” and “Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” for the song “Where It’s At”. “Rolling Stone” magazine voted “Odelay” “Album of the Year”, “Best Album of the Year” in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop” critics poll, and album of the year in “NME” annual critics poll. In 2003,”Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 306 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “Odelay” was certified Platinum in UK by the “BPI”, 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Beck Hansen – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar, harmonicas, bass, drums, percussion, analog keyboards, electric piano, clavinet, organ, celesta, mixing, art direction, design
  • Greg Leisz– pedal steel guitar
  • Mike Boito– organ, trumpet
  • Charlie Haden– bass
  • Joey Waronker– drums, percussion
  • Mike Millius– scream
  • David Brown – saxophone
  • Jon Spencer– keychain
  • Dust Brothers–  mixing
  • Brian Paulson,Mario Caldato, Jr. – mixing
  • Tom Rothrock,Rob Schnapf – mixing
  • Jon Spencer – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • Robert Fisher– art direction, design
  • Al Hansen,Manuel Ocampo, Zarim Osborn – collage images
  • Manuel Ocampo – inlay painting
  • Bob Ludwig – cover photography
  • Nitin Vadukul– Beck photography
  • Shauna O’Brien– coordination, production coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Beck, John King and Michael Simpson, except where noted.

  1. Devils Haircut
  2. Hotwax
  3. Lord Only Knows – Beck Hansen
  4. The New Pollution
  5. Derelict
  6. Novacane
  7. Jack-Ass
  8. Where It’s At
  9. Minus – Beck Hansen.
  10. Sissyneck
  11. Readymade
  12. High 5 (Rock theCatskills)
  13. Ramshackle – Beck Hansen

The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan

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Get_Behind_Me_Satan

On June 7, 2005, “V2 Records” label released “Get Behind Me Satan”, the fifth White Stripes (The) studio album. It was recorded February 2005, at “Third Man Studios” in Detroit, and was produced by Jack White. ”Get Behind Me Satan” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Alternative Music Album” in 2006.

Personnel:

  • Jack White – lead vocals, guitar, piano, bass guitar, mandolin, marimba, tambourine
  • Meg White – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, triangle, bells, bongos
  • John Hampton – mixing
  • Howie Weinberg– mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Jack White.

  1. Blue Orchid
  2. The Nurse
  3. My Doorbell
  4. Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)
  5. Little Ghost
  6. The Denial Twist
  7. White Moon
  8. Instinct Blues
  9. Passive Manipulator
  10. Take, Take, Take
  11. As Ugly as I Seem
  12. Red Rain
  13. I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)

The Black Keys: Brothers

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The_Black_Keys_-_Brothers

On May 18, 2010, “Nonesuch” label released “Brothers”, the sixth Black Keys (Keys) studio album. It was recorded 2009, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio” in Sheffield, Alabama, “The Bunker On Apple” in Portland, Oregon, “Easy Eye Sound System” and “Soil of the South Studios” in San Diego, and was produced by The Black Keys, Mark Neill and Danger Mouse.The album was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”; double Platinum in Canada and Gold in the UK.by the “BPI”.  In 2011, “Brothers” won three “Grammy Awards”, including honors for “Best Alternative Music Album”.

Personnel:

  • Dan Auerbach– vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, engineer
  • Patrick Carney– drums, percussion
  • Mark Neill – engineer
  • Kennie Takahaski – engineer
  • Tchad Blake– mixing
  • Brian Lucey – mastering
  • John Peets – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, except where noted.

  1. Everlasting Light
  2. Next Girl
  3. Tighten Up
  4. Howlin for You
  5. She’s Long Go
  6. Black Mud
  7. The Only One
  8. Too Afraid to Love You
  9. Ten Cent Pistol
  10. Sinister Kid
  11. The Go Getter
  12. I’m Not the One
  13. Unknown Better
  14. Never Gonna Give You Up – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Jerry Butler
  15. These Days