Best Ever Albums

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

RoundTheBend — Mon, 28 May 2018 15:02:00 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 05/28/2018 19:02

Anyone going to take the Jimi Hendrix vs Steve Miller Band challenge?

RULES:
- You have to listen to a previously suggested 2 albums, and comment on them before you can post a new listening challenge.
- The two albums you list in your challenge must be from the same year, and be somehow comparable in style/genre.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

mickilennial — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 09:51:36 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 04/18/2018 13:51

You can really tell that Traffic wasn’t quite there yet.

I think I’m going to give it to Sgt. Peppers despite absolutely hating being in The Beatles corner on such a contentious issue. Mr. Fantasy is too inconsistent to really give it the edge and while I prefer a lot of stuff on the guitar end it just doesn’t push Mr. Fantasy enough to compete for me.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 09:31:02 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/18/2018 13:31

Liedzeit wrote:

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

Mr. Fantasy by Traffic

This will probably not last. But for the time being, I vote for Traffic. I just literally discovered the Traffic album (it was hidden somewhere in my wife’s collection). And am still utterly amazed. I only had a best of Album by Traffic that I found okay but not overwhelming. A wonderful example of how one album can be much better as a whole than just a collection of "hits".
Everything on the album is great, and it is Mr. Fantasy that I liked the least.
It is full of ideas, different styles and the voice of Winwood fits beautifully to the mood that is created. And the sitar on Utterly Simple wins easily over Within You Without You.

I only recently heard the whole Mr Fantasy album, even though I knew one or two songs from before. I always liked a couple of their early 70s albums like John Barleycorn, but I never really listened to their 60s albums. This one is really great. I wouldn't rank it higher than Sergeant Pepper, but it's still pretty good.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

Liedzeit — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 03:54:09 GMT

Author: Liedzeit

Posted: 04/18/2018 07:54

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

Mr. Fantasy by Traffic

This will probably not last. But for the time being, I vote for Traffic. I just literally discovered the Traffic album (it was hidden somewhere in my wife’s collection). And am still utterly amazed. I only had a best of Album by Traffic that I found okay but not overwhelming. A wonderful example of how one album can be much better as a whole than just a collection of "hits".
Everything on the album is great, and it is Mr. Fantasy that I liked the least.
It is full of ideas, different styles and the voice of Winwood fits beautifully to the mood that is created. And the sitar on Utterly Simple wins easily over Within You Without You.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

Repo — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 06:55:57 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 04/17/2018 10:55

sethmadsen wrote:

1993: California Punk Before They Dropped The Dookie

Generator by Bad Religion

BEA Ranks (year/overall): 128 / 6,265

vs.

Kerplunk by Green Day

BEA Ranks (year/overall): 50/ 3,200

===========================================
Both of these albums were massively influential on the sound of the mid 90s. Which is better & why?

Quote:

I personally liked Generator by Bad Religion. I like the lyrics better, it seems more heartfelt, the songwriting is better, the recording is better, the bass tone is great (even though I typically am a Greed Day fan when it comes to bass tone). The only thing I dislike about it is I was craving some more dynamic, but that often is the weakness of punk (imo). Multiple vocalists and the solos seem to be better. Cool tempo changes. Atomic Garden was probably my favorite track.

The Green Day album is earlier in their career, so songwriting hadn't blossomed yet. The vocals and lyrics are lacking. The bass of course is fantastic. Welcome to Paradise is a bit rushed/messy compared to Bad Religion or Green Day's later recordings. The songs are that goofy pop sound, but aren't quite honed into the dookie green day later became, I guess some think. Sweet Children probably is my favorite track (I think was their first band name?). My Generation cover was actually pretty weak.

Both have that upbeat punk sound typical of CA punk. My 14 year old self loved this stuff and that ska revival a few years later. Another great band I love from this scene is Social Distortion.

Completely agree. Great synopsis. I think Bad Religion may have been the most influential band of the entire 1990s punk scene. So many band copied the sound of their late 80s/early 90s records like this one.

Social D r great. Mercury LOVES them. 😁

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

RoundTheBend — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 00:12:34 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 04/17/2018 04:12

1993: California Punk Before the Dookie Was Unleased

Generator by Bad Religion

BEA Ranks (year/overall): 128 / 6,265

vs.

Kerplunk by Green Day

BEA Ranks (year/overall): 50/ 3,200

===========================================
Both of these albums were massively influential on the sound of the mid 90s. Which is better & why?[/quote]

I personally liked Generator by Bad Religion. I like the lyrics better, it seems more heartfelt, the songwriting is better, the recording is better, the bass tone is great (even though I typically am a Greed Day fan when it comes to bass tone). The only thing I dislike about it is I was craving some more dynamic, but that often is the weakness of punk (imo). Multiple vocalists and the solos seem to be better. Cool tempo changes. Atomic Garden was probably my favorite track.

The Green Day album is earlier in their career, so songwriting hadn't blossomed yet. The vocals and lyrics are lacking. The bass of course is fantastic. Welcome to Paradise is a bit rushed/messy compared to Bad Religion or Green Day's later recordings. The songs are that goofy pop sound, but aren't quite honed into the dookie green day later became, I guess some think. Sweet Children probably is my favorite track (I think was their first band name?). My Generation cover was actually pretty weak.

Both have that upbeat punk sound typical of CA punk. My 14 year old self loved this stuff and that ska revival a few years later. Another great band I love from this scene is Social Distortion.

I'll post my two albums once I figure out how the rules work.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Two albums from 1968 in the blues yet psychedelic rock genre and don't have a massive distance between the two but I don't really hear a lot of recognition of The Steve Miller Band and most people just think fly like an eagle and that's the end, but they actually did some really cool stuff in the late 60s overshadowed by other stuffs.

Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Top 5 albums of 1968 (3rd)
Top 20 albums of the 1960s (18th)
Top 100 albums of all time (70th)

VS

Sailor by Steve Miller Band

Top albums of 1968 (75th)
Top albums of the 1960s (410th)
Best albums of all time (6,000th)

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 06:28:48 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/16/2018 10:28

[quote="sethmadsen"]

bobbyb5 wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

Great idea RKM!

I think I've decided I need one of these but each bag is music discovery ideas/projects (can I quit my day job?):

The sight of those IV drips gave me flashbacks. One time I was in the county hospital and it was so understaffed that when the IV drip was done nobody came around to change it or remove it, and what happens is that once the fluid runs out it reverses the flow and your blood starts filling up the IV tubes and bag. All I could do is just lay there and ring the buzzer for help and watch my blood being drained out of me. It was horrifying.

Doh! I had no intention to bring back bad memories BobbyB5! I've had many a depressing days staring at these whether they were on me, family or friends.

But it did seem like a fitting analogy on how I'd like to consume music. Sometimes I wish I could listen to 5 albums at the same time and it'd still make sense, while also making the rating, ranking, and forming educated opinions of them equally "intravenous"/internal, etc.

No, u need THIS. Much more effective for consuming massive quantities of music.

Trust It by Junior Jack

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

AAL2014 — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 01:23:06 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 04/16/2018 05:23

bobbyb5 wrote:

Yeah, One Thing Leads to Another has gotta be their crowning achievement. It's awesome. It jumps right out of the speakers at ya. Actually the whole album has a really exciting sound to it. Very Vivid.

Yeah honestly there were only a couple songs on the record I didn't really care for. The rest were very catchy and actually the bass guitar is a highlight throughout the album.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

RoundTheBend — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 18:16:12 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 04/15/2018 22:16

[quote="bobbyb5"]

sethmadsen wrote:

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 18:08:58 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/15/2018 22:08

sethmadsen wrote:

Great idea RKM!

I think I've decided I need one of these but each bag is music discovery ideas/projects (can I quit my day job?):

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

The sight of those IV drips gave me flashbacks. One time I was in the county hospital and it was so understaffed that when the IV drip was done nobody came around to change it or remove it, and what happens is that once the fluid runs out it reverses the flow and your blood starts filling up the IV tubes and bag. All I could do is just lay there and ring the buzzer for help and watch my blood being drained out of me. It was horrifying.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 17:44:31 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/15/2018 21:44

AAL2014 wrote:

Bobby, I think it was you who gave me a recommendation on that Fixx album a number of weeks ago. Good record. I absolutely love One Thing Leads To Another. Great pop hook.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

RoundTheBend — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 17:22:03 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 04/15/2018 21:22

Great idea RKM!

I think I've decided I need one of these but each bag is music discovery ideas/projects (can I quit my day job?):

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 15:40:46 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/15/2018 19:40

Tilly wrote:

Ande here I thought u were partial to the Divnyls because of an unforgettable wet t-shirt contest concert.

Lol. Unfortunately, she was wearing a dress and not a t-shirt. Sadly, Christina Amphlett recently died of cancer.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

Repo — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 15:05:37 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 04/15/2018 19:05

bobbyb5 wrote:

Maybe I was partial to the Cyndi Lauper album because she grew up in the same neighborhood as me. Heh heh. Although not at the same time of course.

Ande here I thought u were partial to the Divnyls because of an unforgettable wet t-shirt contest concert.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 14:25:05 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/15/2018 18:25

Maybe I was partial to the Cyndi Lauper album because she grew up in the same neighborhood as me. Heh heh. Although not at the same time of course.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

AAL2014 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 12:44:15 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 04/15/2018 16:44

Bobby, I think it was you who gave me a recommendation on that Fixx album a number of weeks ago. Good record. I absolutely love One Thing Leads To Another. Great pop hook.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

bobbyb5 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 11:50:01 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 04/15/2018 15:50

@Tilly

You're exactly right. Surprisingly The Fixx sounds less dated than Billy Idol. I thought it would have been the other way around. And I just listened to Eyes Without a Face and it sounds as awesome as it did then. It's one of those magnificent flukes. The kind of record that is so much greater than it deserves to be. Rebel Yell sounds a little dated like you said, but it still has a kind of power to it. Eyes Without a Face is just as awesome as it ever was though.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

Repo — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 09:50:38 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 04/15/2018 13:50

bobbyb5 wrote:

Okay. I couldn't decide where to even begin to think of two albums, so I'm just going to stick with your idea because I liked it.
These are both are in the New Wave Rock genre. I happen to like both of them about equally, but the Billy Idol is ranked 37 for the year, and The Fixx is ranked way behind at 180h. I checked to see how well these albums did back then, and from what I could tell they were both Hit albums and both sold fairly well and were relatively equal in popularity at the time. And both had a couple hit singles. I'm sure both of these albums aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I kind of have a taste for certain kinds of New Wave Rock. And I particularly like these ones.

Rebel Yell by Billy Idol

Rebel Yell
Daytime Drama
Eyes Without a Face
Blue Highway
Flesh for Fantasy
Catch My Fall
Crank Call
(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows
Dead Next Door

And then The Fixx.

Reach The Beach by The Fixx

One Thing Leads to Another
Sign of Fire
Running
Saved by Zero
Opinion
Reach the Beach
Changing
Liner
Privilege
Outside

ok. Let me start by saying that these are both 80s classics. And their both really good. Reach The Beach has dated A LOT better than Rebel Yell, but if you're in the mood for Velveeta 80s AOR it doesn't get much better than Rebel Yell.

Reach The Beach is the far more consistent album throughout. And far less cheesy. With some really interesting introspective lyrics. the guitars are amazing and almost iconic 80s pop rock.

The Winner: Reach The Beach but Rebel Yell will also place on my '83 chart and a rebel yell 🙄 has to be given to both "Eyes Without A Face" and of course "Rebel yell". Two classics of 89s radio that still sound awesome today.

And Idol's next album - Whiplash Smile - was much better and his high-water mark.

=====================================================

1993: California Punk Before the Dookie Was Unleased

Generator by Bad Religion

BEA Ranks (year/overall): 128 / 6,265

vs.

Kerplunk by Green Day

BEA Ranks (year/overall): 50/ 3,200

===========================================
Both of these albums were massively influential on the sound of the mid 90s. Which is better & why?

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

LedZep — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 08:10:20 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 04/15/2018 12:10

Wilco - A Ghost Is Born (2004.)
3rd Wilco album on BEA, ranked 638.

Link

Willard Grant Conspiracy - Let It Roll (2006.)
2nd Willard Grant Conspiracy album on BEA, ranked 19,676

Link

Initially I wanted to go with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but it's more experimental, from 2002 (four years difference) and not a fair comparison. All in all, Let It Roll is better than both. Ghost and Let It Roll are pretty close genre-wise, released within 2 years of each other and there's a huge gap in rankings. Just listen to the songs and tell me Distant Shore isn't better.

Re: Low Rank Vs. High Rank listening challenge. Same Year/Style.

Repo — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 07:57:56 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 04/15/2018 11:57

rkm wrote:

jackbrown8786 wrote:

I like it but "same year" is kind of limiting and I see no real reason for it.

if one album is similar to another yet seemingly MUCH better but for some reason it's MUCH worse ranked, I think that should qualify.

a good reason for why year doesn't matter: 2 albums could be separated by a SINGLE DAY but still not be in the same year anyway. 2 albums could also be separated by 365 days but still be released in the same (leap) year.

so basically: YAAAAAAAY but also BOOOOOOOO

Yeah, but we’re looking at how they’re comparatively ranked for a given year.

Plus.... my thread, my rules 8-[

I like it. Obvs year matters. RYM, BEA, Pitchfork, and every single other music publication is organized on a YEAR basis. So makes a lot of sense. Why fight how things have always been grouped. Like fashion, the year matters A LOT.