#315Albums is a list of 315 albums that appear on both the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, as well as the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book, edited by Robert Dimery. At its best, it is a representation of some of the greatest music ever released; at its worst, it is a journey through the history of music that the majority see as important, influential, and/or relevant. If nothing else, these albums are worth experiencing at least once to get a better understanding of music, which is why we are working to complete all #315Albums.
No. 001
“Transformer had glam flash courtesy of guitarist Mick Ronson, and ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ brought drag queens and hustlers into the Top 20.”
Artist: Lou Reed
Album: Transformer
Released: 1972
Label: RCA
Rolling Stones Ranking: 194
What a way to start! I didn’t realize until after my initial listen of this album that Lou Reed was a part of Velvet Underground (immediately exposing my ignorance, and explaining why I am taking this journey), but it makes total sense. This feels a lot like what made me fall for Velvet Underground when I was in undergrad. It’s different, low-key, and androgynous. It is a mellowing experience that I’m excited to take over and over again.
Cinefessions’ #315Albums Rating: 89%
Image and quote courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine.
Branden has been a film fan since he was young, roaming the halls of Blockbuster Video, trying to find the grossest, scariest looking VHS covers to rent and watch alone in the basement. It wasn’t until recently, though, that Branden started seeking out the classics of cinema, and began to develop his true passion for the art form. Branden approaches each film with the unique perspective of having studied the art from the inside, having both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in acting. He has been a film critic since 2010, and has previously written for Inside Pulse Movies, We Love Cult, and Diehard Gamefan. His biggest achievement as a film critic, to date, has been founding Cinefessions and turning it from a personal blog to a true film website, housing hundreds of film and television reviews, and dozens of podcasts.
