Been scrobbling since the summer of 2004 and still going strong. http://last.fm/user/pimd.

Amused To Death is awesome. I love the early Syd-floyd (the first two albums) and the 'classic' Floyd (Meddle - The Wall). The Gilmour Floyd doesn't do much for me and the post-Syd, pre-'concept' Floyd (Atom Heart Mother etc.) is a bit too experimental for me (though there are some great songs here and there).

Sparks are awesome. I saw them a couple of times in the last few years (twice in 2009, twice in 2012, once in 2013, twice in 2014 and once in 2015) in various configurations (rockband, duo, FFS, with an orchestra) and they keep blowing me away. Almost every album has its own highlights (even though some of the 80's stuff is pretty weak). I'm especially a big fan of the 'classic' era (Kimono-Indiscreet) and the 'later' period (Lil' Beethoven-Exotic Creatures), but albums like No. 1 In Heaven are brilliant as well. FFS finally saw a return to 'songs' instead of the stylistic approach of the last couple of albums, which was great to hear.

Thanks for the post, Pim! As big of a Sparks fan that I am, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never seen them live. If you have time, could you share some of your thoughts on what a Sparks' show is like? The band? Ron's stage presence? Russell's vocals? The fans?

It depends on the format they're presenting the band in. When I saw them do Kimono/Heaven/Exotic live in a 'basic' rockband format the show was a pretty normal (if you can call Sparks normal!) set-up. No extravagant video-screens or anything, just some basic lights. The shows where they performed as an acoustic (piano + vocals only) duo were even simpler, with very minimal lightning. The shows with an orchestra of course were on a grander scale, being that there was a 30+ piece orchestra on stage - but still no videoscreens or anything. The show I saw them do with Franz Ferdinand a couple of weeks ago was also a pretty basic rock show. Sparks don't need fancy videoscreens and effects - their music is moooore than enough to keep you occupied

Sparks are awesome. I saw them a couple of times in the last few years (twice in 2009, twice in 2012, once in 2013, twice in 2014 and once in 2015) in various configurations (rockband, duo, FFS, with an orchestra) and they keep blowing me away. Almost every album has its own highlights (even though some of the 80's stuff is pretty weak). I'm especially a big fan of the 'classic' era (Kimono-Indiscreet) and the 'later' period (Lil' Beethoven-Exotic Creatures), but albums like No. 1 In Heaven are brilliant as well. FFS finally saw a return to 'songs' instead of the stylistic approach of the last couple of albums, which was great to hear.

Station To Station is also one of my favorites, bought the super deluxe boxset a couple of years ago. Well worth the money. Besides that I love the Heathen - Reality - Next Day material, as well as Hunky/Ziggy and Low/Heroes-albums. Don't really care for the 80's output except for SMSC.

I've got tickets for the show on the 5th of September. Can't wait

Currently the following according to my last.fm profile:

Yeah I know there are some semi-legal issues (I think from Eastern Europe), but I just want an official release with a nice booklet containing some information, maybe some bonustracks etc.

I wish they'd put out official cd's of the two albums without Jim. Both have some awesome tracks on them. Such a shame they're not officially available on disc (I think they got added to iTunes last year though).

Awesome band, would love to own the latest re-re-re-release of their catalog, the "Infinity"-boxset... But as I already have Percetion and The Doors Vinyl Box...

It's cheesy, over the top, borrows a bit too much from previous songs, but I still really like it.

Awesome band. My favorites is probably Quadrophenia. I think their output is pretty great overall, even though I've barely listened to the Kenny Jones albums and the first two albums. Every other album has great tracks - some favorites include Our Love Was, Blue Red And Grey, Sister Disco, Success Story. Really hope that the rumours about a new album this/next year are true. Really enjoyed Endless Wire and the two shows I've seen (the 2007 tour and Quadrophenia last year).

Rio Grande
Lay Down Burden
Fairy Tale
Midnight's Another Day
What Love Can Do

I much like most of Scott Walker's work, apart from his very early and generally hideous 45s from his pre-Walker Brothers days. The last album of his I played a lot was Tilt; after he got started on "sound art" or whatever it is with The Drift and Bish Bosch, I kinda dropped out though there are a couple of tracks on both albums I like.

The first Scott album is a masterpiece in my opinion. Nothing beats Montague Terrace (In Blue). I think The Drift and Bish Bosch are great albums, but they're not something I put on regularly.

The drummer from Queen recently released a 12-CD/1-DVD box and it was sold out almost instantly. I'm sure if something like that can sell, a Brian Wilson boxset will sell as well..?

I'd love to have a BW-cd which just compiles all the various b-sides and bonustracks released through the years - tracks like Message Man, Believe In Yourself, Let's Go To Heaven In My Car, Listen To Me etc. etc. Even though some of the songs may be throwaways it would be great to have them officially compiled on a CD or a set of cd's instead of just having digital versions of them.

Also - it's a shame there isn't a "Back To Mono"-type of box including all of the productions Brian did in the 60's and 70's. Would make an awesome collection!

The Beach Boys (2001 two-fers + the remaining cd's + the various boxsets)
Brian Wilson
The Beatles (1988 cd's + Mono Box + Stereo Box + vinyl box + Capitol Albums)
Genesis
Peter Gabriel
Kate Bush
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Pink Floyd
Valensia
Valentine
Scott Walker
Muse
ABBA
Queen
Freddie Mercury
Brian May
Roger Taylor
The Cross
Golden Earring
Michael Jackson
Morrissey
Nirvana
Sparks
The Doors
Velvet Underground (except the album without Lou Reed, "Squeeze")
The Who
Doe Maar (Dutch band)
Henny Vrienten (Dutch singer)
Editors
Electric Light Orchestra
The Move
Tenacious D
The Darkness
The Human League
Joy Division
New Order

Pretty much complete:
- Bowie (missing 1984-1993)
- Manic Street Preachers (must get the last one)
- Kraftwerk (except the first three albums as they're not officially out on CD)

The first album is awesome from start to finish. Same goes for Odessa. Idea and Horizontal have some great tunes, but not the same brilliance as 1st/Odessa. It's a shame the stuff directly following Odessa hasn't been reissued yet

Just heard Tilt by Scott Walker for the first time and feel it definitely deserves a mention on this thread. What was going through that man's mind when he made that?

Tilt is upbeat and catchy compared to the follow-up, 2006's The Drift. The album following that 2012's Bish Bosch is a bit of a mixture of the two in my opinion. Awesome music, but definitely something you don't want to listen to when you're feeling down already (or are alone in the dark ).