Music & Entertainment Blog

Unarguably one of the most successful bands of the past 30 years, Green Day’s 2004 album is one of the most essential listens of the 21st century. A concept album following the central character of St Jimmy, the album charts the rise and fall of the Jesus of Suburbia.

Topics: Flame Tree Pop, Flame Tree Music, Rock Guitar

Selling over 10 million records, Licensed to Ill by The Beastie Boys is an all time essential listen. Bridging genres and developing ones of their own, they are a group underpinned by sonic revolution.

Topics: Flame Tree Pop, Flame Tree Music, rap music, hiphop

After a brief mention of Vampire Weekend in our last entry to our essential listens list, someone questioned why Vampire Weekend hasn’t made the cut. It was an interesting suggestion and the more I thought about it and listened to the album (and their subsequent work) the more sensible an addition to the list it seemed. So without further ado...

Topics: Flame Tree Pop, Flame Tree Music, Pop Music, Rock Guitar, Indie Music

In the third entry to our essential listens list we have an album created full of intelligent verse, emotional depth and interesting musicality, written by a teenager. After a couple of albums that were somewhat successful but didn’t quite manage to hit the right note, Morrisette’s experimentation on Jagged Little Pill would take the world by storm.

Topics: Flame Tree Pop, Flame Tree Music, How to Play Piano, Pop Music, Rock Guitar, Alanis Morresette, Jagged Little Pill

Continuing our look at our 10 essential listen albums we turn to the 90s and an R&B classic. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is rightly considered by many to be a turning point in hip hop and rap, as well as a landmark moment in female rap. Popularising the blend between rapping and singing, that would later be key in the catalogues of artists like Drake, Ms. Hill is as influential now as she was 20 years ago.

Topics: Flame Tree Music, Lauryn Hill, miseducation

In our new series of blogs we are looking at a collection of albums that need to be listened to all the way through at least once in your life. The list is in no way exhaustive (how could it be?) but takes a look at some classic albums, and some lesser listened to greats, that represent an era, a genre or an artist. There are few better examples of this than Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John. Considered by many to be John’s best, the album spans genres and styles to create one of the most creatively interesting albums of the 70s! An important moment in his discography, as well as the history of pop and rock music, see why we think Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an essential listen.

Topics: Flame Tree Music, Flame Tree Pro, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John, Rocketman

Rounding off our look at some of the most legendary jazz albums, we turn to “the Prince of Darkness” himself, Miles Davis. Considered one of the great innovators of the genre, Davis is credited with being one of he first musicians to play hardbop jazz. King of the trumpet, few jazz musicians have come close to the influence on music that Davis has had both inside and outside of the genre, and we couldn’t have made this list without making sure to include Kind of Blue.

 

Topics: Jazz, Top 10 Jazz Albums

“Legendary” doesn’t always mean a wholly good thing and in this entry in to our legendary jazz albums list we are looking at one of the more divisive figures to come out of the genre. In this post we are taking a step back from the format we have been following and looking at the debate around Kenny G. Whether you like his music or not, you cannot deny the impact that Kenny G has had on jazz music.

 

Topics: Jazz, Top 10 Jazz Albums

As we continue with our list of legendary jazz albums we turn to an unlikely figure for our eighth entry. The album is not featured due to Kenny Dorham himself, although his trumpeting and the overall sound of the album are certainly worth listening to. It’s an interesting mix of Bossa Nova meets “something else” according to Dorham himself and features three very differently toned tracks! The actual reason we have featured this particular entry is because of the studio behind it.

 

Topics: Jazz, Top 10 Jazz Albums

In this week’s entry to our series looking at legendary jazz albums and recordings, we are looking at the amazing Lee Morgan and his incredible album, The Sidewinder. Learn a little about the man and find out why we think The Sidewinder deserves a spot on the list.

Topics: Jazz, Top 10 Jazz Albums