インスパイラル・カーペッツが「お気に入りのアルバム 10枚」を発

＜STEPHEN HOLT (Vocals)＞

●Pixies : Doolittle
I’d been a massive fan of the Pixies from the start and loved the first two albums but when Doolittle came along this was something else totally, that perfect mix of top tunes and melody mixed with noise and raw anger and power. At times it felt as if everything could just explode or fall apart at any time in chaos. It also has the most perfect opening song to an album ever.


●Simon And Garfunkel : Greatest Hits
My mum was a massive fan of this album and used to play it all the time when I was young. The songs are just perfect sing-along pop songs but with so much feeling and emotion, plus perfect harmonies and vocals. I wonder if she has realised I pinched it from her when I left home?


＜GRAHAM LAMBERT (Guitar)＞

●Psychedelic Furs : Talk Talk Talk
I’d spent the latter half of the 70‘s listening to my sister’s records by The Doors and David Bowie so when I discovered John Peel in 1979, here was Stoke vocalist Richard Butler trying to sound like Bowie but backed up by some dark guitars and some nifty sax tooting. From 1981, Talk Talk Talk stood the tallest alongside albums by The Cramps, Echo and The Bunnymen and the Medway bands during the early years of the Inspiral Carpets.


●Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds : Push The Sky Away
Released in February 2013, it is now old enough to be regarded as a classic album. Cave is on a roll: after the garage influenced and twisted lyrics of Dig Lazarus Dig and two excellent Grinderman long players, it was a surprise when the mellow Push The Sky Away landed. Long-time henchman guitarist Mick Harvey had gone but with Barry Adamson returning on a free transfer from Luton Town, the result is dark and mellow, with Cave on top form lyrically with his mystically tinged absurdities.


＜CRAIG GILL (Drums)＞

●Husker Du : Warehouse Songs and Stories
It’s very hard to pick a favourite album from your favourite band. I always feel more attached to albums which I managed to purchase the week of release (see also next choice). Hardcore fans would probably choose one of their earlier albums like Zen Arcade but it’s a just a shame the quality of those recordings are very poor and don’t match their powerful live sound. I love all 20 tracks on this and their psychedelic swansong. Some label it ‘Noise Pop’, or as I like to call it, ‘Flower Punk’, but whatever, to get a double album or 70 minutes of new material by a band you love is a rare treat nowadays. It also has sentimental value as I have very fond memories of listening to this at my mate’s house when it came out in 1987, sadly, he is no longer with us.


●R. E. M. : Fables Of The Reconstruction
The first two albums are probably more favoured by R.E.M fans, both of which I love. Again, this third offering has sentimental value because I can remember going to Manchester after school on the # 24 bus, aged 14, to buy this vinyl the day of release (June 11th 1985), staring at it all the way home to Chadderton and then playing it to death on my shitty old hand-me-down record player. This album showed off their diverse influences such as rock and roll, country and bluegrass, and it signalled the way forward for the then college rock band, to become arguably the biggest band on the planet. I saw them live touring this album at The Manchester Ritz; Michael Stipe was like an alien to me, he was wearing lots of purple eyeliner and workman’s paint splattered overalls, claiming he had had all his clothes stolen from the tour bus? A true enigmatic rock star.


＜CLINT BOON (Keyboards & Backing Vocals)＞

●The Beach Boys : Pet Sounds
To me, one of the most perfect albums of all time. I often say if World leaders listened to this record every morning over breakfast, there’d be no more wars.


●Chase & Status : Brand New Machine
One of my favourite acts of recent years with my favourite album of 2013. It’s got so many dimensions to it, including the one of the best closing tracks I’ve ever heard on an album, ‘Alive’.


＜MARTYN WALSH (Bass)＞

●Depeche Mode : Violator
A majestic, perfect album, from the stylish, minimal sleeve to the inclusion of some of Depeche’s finest singles, ‘Enjoy The Silence’ and the phenomenal ‘Personal Jesus’. This is a complete album; one that is best listened to in its entirety. The attention to detail in the mix of electronica and guitars makes this an album that stands the test of time.


●Beastie Boys : Check Yer Head
An eclectic and energetic mix of Rap, Funk, Punk and Psychedelia! Check Yer Head sees the band throwing off the shackles and getting back to their punk roots with ‘Gratitude’ or challenging all other MCs on ‘Pass The Mic’. This album embodies everything that the Beastie Boys stand for; Irreverence, Attitude and Integrity. RIP MCA.