oh, so we're all gamers, but i curious to know what music cd's people are listening to, and what cd's they consider to be truly great. i start this thread only because i pulled out an old favorite, and even though it was released in 1989, it still is amazing after all these years. it would be the cd i take if on a deserted island.

my first pick

Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine: as it rapidly approaches 20 years of general release (despite the artist and the record company fighting over it for nearly 10 years) this CD is still loaded with great songs. this CD is just under 50 minutes of length, and i know that once i turn it on, i never have to touch another button until the cd is over and played completely through. truly this cd is nine inch nails' first benchmark that has been equaled but never surpassed. i must say that anyone who ever wanted to get a NIN cd, should start with this disc, then quickly buy Downward Spiral soon after, or follow all the "Halos" in succession.

so, what discs you got?

MK

I've always enjoyed having the soundtrack to Conan the Barbarian on in the background when I roleplayed, especially if it was D&D. The music really helped get you in the mood.

My favourite album of all time... "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet (1990)

Matthew Sweet's music still grabs me by the soul and tosses me around, and I think this has always been his best album. No one mixes squealing grunge guitar riffs with country-blues steel guitar like Sweet. A heavy influence by Niel Young is obvious too. The title track "Girlfriend" has been an absolute favorite for years. It's also damn fun to play on Guitar Hero II. "Your Sweet Voice" and "Wynona" are just damn fine love songs. "Don't Go" still breaks my heart every time I hear it.

Matthew's aging well, too (at least musically). The stuff he did with Suzanna Hoffs as Sid & Suzie and the stuff he did with Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge as The Thorns is awesome too.

He's got a new album coming out in August. I'm damn excited. God, I hope he goes on tour.

I will certainly agree with both "Pretty Hate Machine" and "Girlfriend" as being 2 of my favorite albums, but I have to come back to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" as a simply incredible album in the way it changes style seamlessly from track to track while keeping you enthralled.

here;s another one i like, but more of an obscure group

Tapping the Vein -- The Damage: call it goth rock if you will, but the eleven tracks that make up this cd are nothing short of amazing. granted the cd does get a little cliche at times (i.e. a love song about someone the lead singer cares about "wishing them love with anyone else but me") but the female lead vocals are wonderful. also, one of the tracks features a steel guitar, which i have never heard in a goth song. definately one of my favorites to listen to when i'm playing/running Vampire the Masquerade. each song gives off a different mood, so it not always broody and mired in self pity.

MK

I know Tapping the Vein pretty well, but then I was a skeevy eye-liner and fishnet wearing gothling for several years back in the 90s. I actually like Switchblade Symphony better for late-90s-era wailing goth-girl music. My wife's still a big fan of Tapping the Vein, though.