these albums are proof that you don’t
need an entire band to create an
incredible sound welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
counting down our picks for the top 10
albums performed by a single musician
for this list we took a look at a
variety of different albums from all
genres of music in order to qualify
though the album’s individual
instruments have two majorly be
performed by one person
number 10 for Emma Forever Ago bon iver
bursting onto the scene with this debut
album American artist Bon Iver couldn’t
have come out of the gates any better
while suffering from mono and a bad
breakup with a girlfriend frontman
Justin Vernon secluded himself in a
remote cabin for three months spending
the time to record the album by himself
the album which was self released in
2007 quickly received critical acclaim
and has been considered one of the
greatest breakup albums of all time
sometimes seclusion works best for some
artists
number nine both sides Phil Collins pick
a side how about both sides a milestone
in his career Phil Collins himself
praises both sides as it’s the only
album to be recorded completely by
himself without the help of longtime
collaborators such as guitarist Daryl
Stuermer and bassist Leland Sklar
unfortunately the album was received
poorly due to strong lack of upbeat
songs but has since become a welcomed
addition into the artists catalogue
sometimes
to
the recording of the album which took
place at the Genesis studio lasted a
mere six weeks
proving also that Collins’s as efficient
of a worker as he is a hands-down great
musician
yes
number eight mellow gold Beck Beck is no
looser his major-label debut mellow gold
was recorded primarily by himself
performing guitar vocals bass harmonica
percussion as well as others although
the rest of the album differed in sound
from the records lead single loser
the entire work aims for a more anti
commercial outlook that’s one
and you know
despite this ad 1.2 million record sales
later the album was considered a
surprise critical and commercial success
just a small stepping stone in his
career that would eventually land him a
Grammy win
baby
so why don’t you kill
number seven Siamese Dream the Smashing
Pumpkins
the second album from American rockers
The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream is
the perfect reflection of frontman Billy
Corgan style of dream pop and shoegaze
music if you are totally unaware of what
these two terms mean just give this
album a listen and you’ll figure it out
in no time
the album was recorded mostly by
Corrigan himself as the rest of the band
was struggling with substance abuse and
relationship issues
this didn’t harm the album as it
eventually sold 6 million copies
worldwide and would become known as one
of the defining albums of the 90s
number six tubular bells Mike Oldfield
don’t know this one even if you haven’t
heard of English musician Mike Oldfield
you have certainly heard his music
before if the name isn’t ringing any
bells
the album’s most famous piano riff was
used in the 1973 film The Exorcist
Oldfield’s debut album at the young age
of 19 impressed critics with his
multiple instrument talent which
includes piano guitar and even the
tubular bells Jill
the album is actually the first released
by now record mogul Virgin Records which
had a major impact on the company’s
early success
number five 1999 prints were you
guessing Purple Rain no not this time
released as American songwriter Prince’s
fifth album the only help this funk
legend got was a few background
vocalists to support his iconic soulful
voice
although this entry could have gone to
Prince’s debut album for you 1999 is
more widely considered as a highlight in
the artists critically acclaimed career
an album inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame it also earned commercial
success going four times platinum in the
US
number four to five
what do you do when you’re fresh off the
success of one of the most influential
rock bands of all time you make an album
of your own of course
that’s what Dave Grohl of the Foo
Fighters did to deal with the death of
fellow Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain and
boy did it work
Rolle performed all of the instruments
on the album himself with the exception
of the occasional guitar spot
the album went platinum in both the US
and Canada while also being praised by
critics for its songwriting proving that
Dave Grohl wasn’t done changing the rock
Jean
number three pretty hate machine Nine
Inch Nails the debut album of American
industrial outfit Nine Inch Nails pretty
hate machine was hailed as a great album
that was way ahead of its time an album
that would become one of the first
independent releases to go flat
Reznor played the majority of the
keyboards drum machines guitars and
samplers that can be heard throughout
the album was a commercial and critical
success becoming a must listen for fans
of both electronic and rock music
although we think that the downward
spiral is more epic album in scale it is
pretty hate machine that better
demonstrates Reznor’s ability to create
complex but infectious music
number two music of my mind Stevie
Wonder I’m here to say to mom each day
we bet Stevie always has music on his
mind wanders 14th studio album it is
considered by many to be the beginning
of his classical period which marked the
change in production and the larger
range of material
Wonder performed all of the instruments
on the album except for the trombone and
guitar which were played by art Baron
and Howard Fei 10 respectively
till then I love you so critics praised
Stevie for showcasing his skill and
blending multiple genres together as
well as his addition of longer track
links
before we unveil our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions
look underneath the house there find the
few living things riding fast in their
sleep oh I’m ready to pay today
look me
number one McCartney Paul McCartney well
that would be something really would be
something anything with this man’s name
on it equals success due to estranged
relationships with other Beatles band
members Paul McCartney wanted to create
a darker album that would establish him
as a serious solo artist besides his
wife Linda McCartney’s occasional vocals
Paul performed every other instrument
with a more back-to-basics approach
the album was poorly received by critics
being blamed as a reason for the Beatles
breakup but has since won critics over
through the release of a reissue maybe
away you wins me all the time
despite this the album rode the wave of
press from the breakup reaching number
one on the Billboard Hot 200
do you agree with our list what is your
favorite single musician album
the more individual top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com kitchen
need an entire band to create an
incredible sound welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
counting down our picks for the top 10
albums performed by a single musician
for this list we took a look at a
variety of different albums from all
genres of music in order to qualify
though the album’s individual
instruments have two majorly be
performed by one person
number 10 for Emma Forever Ago bon iver
bursting onto the scene with this debut
album American artist Bon Iver couldn’t
have come out of the gates any better
while suffering from mono and a bad
breakup with a girlfriend frontman
Justin Vernon secluded himself in a
remote cabin for three months spending
the time to record the album by himself
the album which was self released in
2007 quickly received critical acclaim
and has been considered one of the
greatest breakup albums of all time
sometimes seclusion works best for some
artists
number nine both sides Phil Collins pick
a side how about both sides a milestone
in his career Phil Collins himself
praises both sides as it’s the only
album to be recorded completely by
himself without the help of longtime
collaborators such as guitarist Daryl
Stuermer and bassist Leland Sklar
unfortunately the album was received
poorly due to strong lack of upbeat
songs but has since become a welcomed
addition into the artists catalogue
sometimes
to
the recording of the album which took
place at the Genesis studio lasted a
mere six weeks
proving also that Collins’s as efficient
of a worker as he is a hands-down great
musician
yes
number eight mellow gold Beck Beck is no
looser his major-label debut mellow gold
was recorded primarily by himself
performing guitar vocals bass harmonica
percussion as well as others although
the rest of the album differed in sound
from the records lead single loser
the entire work aims for a more anti
commercial outlook that’s one
and you know
despite this ad 1.2 million record sales
later the album was considered a
surprise critical and commercial success
just a small stepping stone in his
career that would eventually land him a
Grammy win
baby
so why don’t you kill
number seven Siamese Dream the Smashing
Pumpkins
the second album from American rockers
The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream is
the perfect reflection of frontman Billy
Corgan style of dream pop and shoegaze
music if you are totally unaware of what
these two terms mean just give this
album a listen and you’ll figure it out
in no time
the album was recorded mostly by
Corrigan himself as the rest of the band
was struggling with substance abuse and
relationship issues
this didn’t harm the album as it
eventually sold 6 million copies
worldwide and would become known as one
of the defining albums of the 90s
number six tubular bells Mike Oldfield
don’t know this one even if you haven’t
heard of English musician Mike Oldfield
you have certainly heard his music
before if the name isn’t ringing any
bells
the album’s most famous piano riff was
used in the 1973 film The Exorcist
Oldfield’s debut album at the young age
of 19 impressed critics with his
multiple instrument talent which
includes piano guitar and even the
tubular bells Jill
the album is actually the first released
by now record mogul Virgin Records which
had a major impact on the company’s
early success
number five 1999 prints were you
guessing Purple Rain no not this time
released as American songwriter Prince’s
fifth album the only help this funk
legend got was a few background
vocalists to support his iconic soulful
voice
although this entry could have gone to
Prince’s debut album for you 1999 is
more widely considered as a highlight in
the artists critically acclaimed career
an album inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame it also earned commercial
success going four times platinum in the
US
number four to five
what do you do when you’re fresh off the
success of one of the most influential
rock bands of all time you make an album
of your own of course
that’s what Dave Grohl of the Foo
Fighters did to deal with the death of
fellow Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain and
boy did it work
Rolle performed all of the instruments
on the album himself with the exception
of the occasional guitar spot
the album went platinum in both the US
and Canada while also being praised by
critics for its songwriting proving that
Dave Grohl wasn’t done changing the rock
Jean
number three pretty hate machine Nine
Inch Nails the debut album of American
industrial outfit Nine Inch Nails pretty
hate machine was hailed as a great album
that was way ahead of its time an album
that would become one of the first
independent releases to go flat
Reznor played the majority of the
keyboards drum machines guitars and
samplers that can be heard throughout
the album was a commercial and critical
success becoming a must listen for fans
of both electronic and rock music
although we think that the downward
spiral is more epic album in scale it is
pretty hate machine that better
demonstrates Reznor’s ability to create
complex but infectious music
number two music of my mind Stevie
Wonder I’m here to say to mom each day
we bet Stevie always has music on his
mind wanders 14th studio album it is
considered by many to be the beginning
of his classical period which marked the
change in production and the larger
range of material
Wonder performed all of the instruments
on the album except for the trombone and
guitar which were played by art Baron
and Howard Fei 10 respectively
till then I love you so critics praised
Stevie for showcasing his skill and
blending multiple genres together as
well as his addition of longer track
links
before we unveil our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions
look underneath the house there find the
few living things riding fast in their
sleep oh I’m ready to pay today
look me
number one McCartney Paul McCartney well
that would be something really would be
something anything with this man’s name
on it equals success due to estranged
relationships with other Beatles band
members Paul McCartney wanted to create
a darker album that would establish him
as a serious solo artist besides his
wife Linda McCartney’s occasional vocals
Paul performed every other instrument
with a more back-to-basics approach
the album was poorly received by critics
being blamed as a reason for the Beatles
breakup but has since won critics over
through the release of a reissue maybe
away you wins me all the time
despite this the album rode the wave of
press from the breakup reaching number
one on the Billboard Hot 200
do you agree with our list what is your
favorite single musician album
the more individual top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com kitchen
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