If you're feeling sinister...
A few days ago I added 2 more classic albums to my collection. Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister and Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation. They are both excellent but vastly different.
I have always heard a lot of good things about Belle and Sebastian but have not heard them until now. When listening to the album the artists that come to mind are The Lovin' Spoonful, Nico and Paul Simon. I also notice some of the biting wit in the lyrics similar to The Smiths. I see possibly some influence of them in a newer band The Decemberists which are amazing on Her Majesty.
I got the Sonic Youth album because I saw it was #1 on the top albums of the '80s on pitchforkmedia. The only song I'd heard before was Teenage Riot. I faintly remember seeing the video when it came out and I must have been 9-10 years old at the time. I remember actually kind of liking the song. Now that I listen to it and having a much better frame of reference and refinement of music tastes I think Teenage Riot is outstanding. The album as a whole was quite excellent. It sounds like it could easily be the best album of the '90's. I think that shows how they were ahead of their time. Also, I notice several similarites to the Pixies with the male and female singers as well as the overall sound.
I'm somewhat ashamed that I didn't already have this albums. Eventually I will get around to everything at the rate I'm going now, though.