#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. 009
“Ex-Yardbird Eric Clapton’s solos here inspired his ‘Clapton is God’ cult.”
Artist: John Mayall with Eric Clapton
Album: Blues Breakers
Released: 1966
Label: London
Rolling Stones Ranking: 195
I’d never heard the name John Mayall before this album came across my playlist, but I did know of Clapton. Thinking about it, though, I don’t believe I’ve ever listened to any Clapton albums before, but am sure I’ve heard some singles from him in the past. I know Clapton has a huge cult following, and after listening to Blues Breakers, I can see why. This album is striking. A number of the tracks come off as raw and emotional, even without a ton of lyrics. This is showcase in how music can create emotion. There are some powerful tracks here, and I’m really interested to see what else the blues genre brings me on this journey.
Cinefessions’ #315Albums Rating: 75%
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.