Best Ever Albums

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Mercury — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 13:35:14 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 06/21/2014 17:35

Despite the fact it ended up following the overall rankings, this was actually a great great thread. Really illuminating and pointed out how varied the opinions on Nirvana's discog is. And damn it was really close! Even Bleach hung in there pretty good.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 12:29:46 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/21/2014 16:29

CLOSED

Thanks to everyone who participated! Also, divert all complaints of following the overall rankings to RepoMan, he broke the tie. 🤣

Results are:

5: Incesticide
Points From Number 1: 80

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

4: Bleach
Points From Number 1: 37
First Place Votes: 7

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

3: MTV Unplugged In New York
Points From Number 1: 12
First Place Votes: 12

2: In Utero
Points From Number 1: 2
First Place Votes: 8

1: Nevermind
First Place Votes: 9

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:54:36 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/20/2014 20:54

Essential
1. Nevermind
2. Bleach
3. In Utero

Solid Additions
4. Unplugged (the version of Pennyroyal Tea here slays me. Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, & 14 send shivers up my spine.)
5. Incesticide (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 14, & 15 kick serious ass)

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 13:32:17 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/20/2014 17:32

24 hour notice!

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

zdwyatt — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:20:25 GMT

Author: zdwyatt

Posted: 06/20/2014 16:20

1. Nevermind
2. Unplugged
3. Bleach
4. In Utero
5. Incesticide

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 09:05:17 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/20/2014 13:05

Gowienczyk wrote:

Much like on every other site ever, I don't see why everyone loves In Utero so much; always found it the most boring and detached of Nirvana's catalog.

I hear where you're coming from Gowi. Here's what I thought after listening to it this morning with your comment in mind...

The suffocating claustrophobic production that occasionally just lets the vocal or guitar tracks shine through in all their pained, cracked & haunting glory is stunning, but occasionally robs this album of the visceral punch that Nevermind and Bleach delivered in spades. It's like the drums and bass are being attacked by cotton balls muting them before they can escape. I'm positive this was done intentionally to evoke the feeling of living in boredom and ambivalence/detachment as Kurt was being ground down by not only the trappings of celebrity life but chronic abdominal pain (and living with the Courtney. She could wear anyone down.) Essential!

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 06:47:40 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/20/2014 10:47

In Utero
Bleach
Nevermind
Intesticide (but it contains my fav song: Big Long Now)

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

HazeyTwilight — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 06:43:12 GMT

Author: HazeyTwilight

Posted: 06/20/2014 10:43

HazeyTwilight wrote:

I will come back and get my complete ranking before Saturday arrives

Okay, I might not have completed the list, but at least I went through the studio albums. So here are my rankings now:

Bleach
In Utero
Nevermind

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

gussteivi — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 05:19:16 GMT

Author: gussteivi

Posted: 06/20/2014 09:19

1. All of us
2. Simon Simopath
3. To Markos III

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Max15 — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 05:03:25 GMT

Author: Max15

Posted: 06/20/2014 09:03

In Utero
MTV Unplugged
Nevermind
Bleach
Incesticide

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Hammy — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 20:12:17 GMT

Author: Hammy

Posted: 06/20/2014 00:12

CubaZed wrote:

No it's okay! I appreciate the comments because I want to make this series as fun as possible for everyone. Thanks for the support though!

I don't mind the light arguments either, but in Nirvana's case ranking just the studio albums (3) would be no fun. In contrast just leaving it wide open to rank anything represented on the site (15) is unnecessary. So we just go with the flow, whatever you choose. (like sp4cetiger said the line has to be drawn with some of the famous artists)

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 20:01:14 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/20/2014 00:01

sp4cetiger wrote:

Yeah, I think you're doing a great job, Cuba. I was more defending your choices than criticizing them. There's definitely room for debate in some cases (like Muddy Banks), but of course I understand you have to draw the line somewhere.

Haha, don't worry I didn't think you were criticizing my choices! I just quoted your message because I realised I hadn't really issued a statement on the selection process and you were the last person to post so I tagged it on to that.

Tonality wrote:

or just rank the albums CubaZed asks to be ranked, since he's doing a fine job with all this as is. and don't worry too much over the details.

No it's okay! I appreciate the comments because I want to make this series as fun as possible for everyone. Thanks for the support though!

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:58:14 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/19/2014 23:58

Yeah, I think you're doing a great job, Cuba. I was more defending your choices than criticizing them. There's definitely room for debate in some cases (like Muddy Banks), but of course I understand you have to draw the line somewhere.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Hammy — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:56:08 GMT

Author: Hammy

Posted: 06/19/2014 23:56

or just rank the albums CubaZed asks to be ranked, since he's doing a fine job with all this as is. and don't worry too much over the details.

1. Nevermind
2. Bleach
3. In Utero
4. Incesticide
5. MTV Unplugged in New York

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:50:54 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/19/2014 23:50

sp4cetiger wrote:

While I'm onboard with excluding the various iterations of "greatest hits" that inevitably appear for famous artists, it's only because most of them aren't good enough to be worth considering. In general, I think it's fair to rank albums, whether studio albums or compilations, based on the quality of the user's listening experience. If a compilation provides a better experience than a studio album, I don't see why it would be unworthy of consideration.

In the case of Nirvana, I think both Incesticide and Unplugged have developed a reputation because they show a side of the band that isn't captured very well in any of their studio albums. You could make a similar argument for Muddy Banks, as well, though that wasn't included here.

When I come up with the selection I usually try and keep it to just studio albums unless there are certain compilations or live albums in which I feel are "essential." Of course I make mistakes, but my usual philosophy is to search up the artist on BEA, look where the live albums or compilations place (anything in the top 1000 get a straight pass into the rankings) and then call it from there. For compilations, I generally only accept those that have a mostly unique track listing (unlike ubiquitous greatest hits collections) and typically favour those that stick within a small period of time or recording period. For example, "Incesticide", which is dominated by Bleach/early Nevermind recorded b-sides, is included for this very reason whilst "Past Masters" from the Beatles ranking, which expands the entirety of The Beatles career, is not considered.

Brandon hit the nail on the head with my rule with live albums and it's strangely the same reason why I didn't include "Muddy Banks". It's more of a live compilation in that it just expands various live performances over the years.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:50:36 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/19/2014 23:50

Bleach
Nevermind
In Utero

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

meccalecca — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:36:07 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 06/19/2014 23:36

I'm no fan of live albums for the most part, so I want to agree with Gowie, but imagine doing a ranking of James Brown or Grateful Dead without live albums included.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:29:04 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/19/2014 23:29

Gowienczyk wrote:

I think a rank should be representative of studio records, rather than "I like their greatest hits the best!"; I feel a live album is no more different than a compilation of singles... or something like that.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 18:29:49 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/19/2014 22:29

Gowienczyk wrote:

I've literally got a compilation of singles on my chart. 😜 (it's even called The Singles) I see your point, though I still don't agree. Live albums often have a certain mood, atmosphere, energy, etc that make them unique from studio records even if they have some of the same songs, and in regards to comps, if they have stuff that is unreleased elsewhere, or even if they just have different versions of songs, than I think they certainly qualify. Like if we ever did one of these for Syd Barrett, it'd be lame if we didn't include Opel.

Re: CLOSED Let's Rank 12: Nirvana

mickilennial — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 18:24:05 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 06/19/2014 22:24

BrandonMiaow wrote:

What's your argument against them? I think this sort of thread should have as much variety available. If it is someone's favourite, then they should have the freedom to put it as such.