Best Ever Albums

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Anonymous — Thu, 17 May 2018 19:11:57 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 05/17/2018 23:11

I'm starting to think there might be something of a cultural disconnect in my diminished love for Leftism? Seeing as my formative years were a decade removed and a continent away from UK rave culture...

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Anonymous — Thu, 17 May 2018 13:16:23 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 05/17/2018 17:16

Leftism for me too, it's pretty much an encapsulation of early to mid 90's club music, and more often than not succeeds as a crossover album from a genre that was usually on the fringes of the mainstream. Promised Land is one of my favourite singles in the genre and would have made a great EP but as an album, I'm not so sure. Really can't understand why this matchup is even close?

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Anonymous — Thu, 17 May 2018 02:22:45 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 05/17/2018 06:22

ngl I'm not huge on either of these. Leftism was pretty important to me in its being something of an early entry point for my explorations of dance music about a decade ago, but it doesn't do very much for me at all now.

to echo Jim, Promised Land has the "one track is killer and the rest is a snooze" problem going on. That said, that one track is actually fantastic and its presence might be enough to give Joe my vote despite not feeling most of the rest of the album (especially when compared to many of the album's similar but far more interesting and more fun Chicago contemporaries)

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Jimmy Dread — Wed, 16 May 2018 16:59:14 GMT

Author: Jimmy Dread

Posted: 05/16/2018 20:59

bobbyb5 wrote:

how do you nominate stuff for this tournament?

Mix albums don't count. That and you've missed the boat by 12 months. Plus making outlandish statements like this:

Quote:

Leftfield n Massive Attack are so average and un-spectacular that I can't see how they ever got an audience outside of the electronic audience

Won't endear you to the tournament organiser, whoever that may be.

I've never considered Massive Attack to be an 'electronic' act, despite what the genre tags may tell you. Trip-hop? Yep. Soul? Kinda. Reggae-infused? You betcha. But you can't lump them and Leftfield in the same bracket. For starters, their tracks are largely based on traditional song structures as opposed to the 4-to-the-floor, reach-for-the-lasers club bangers. Personally I think anyone who doesn't find "Unfinished Sympathy" one of the best tracks of the 90s needs the space between their ears examining.

As for Leftfield, were it not for the Lydon number I wonder how strong their crossover would have been, internationally at least. From a UK point of view the electronic act I'd wager most fans of rock music liking would be either the Chemical Brothers or The Prodigy (or perhaps "Born Slippy-era Underworld), but then again club - and rave - culture in the UK was very different to that in the States in the late 80s/early 90s which might account for the different points of view. Big Beat was for the indie kids, Leftfield (bar that Guinness ad and "Open Up") still found a home in many club sets. And true, Rhythm & Stealth is poor in comparison to Leftism, but the latter is a 90s landmark with infectious highs and blissful lows and is anything but average. Go figure.

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

bobbyb5 — Wed, 16 May 2018 06:27:08 GMT

Author: bobbyb5

Posted: 05/16/2018 10:27

I vote for leftism, even though it's never been a favorite of mine. I could never understand how leftfield and Massive Attack ever got to be the token electronic albums of Rock Fans who don't like electronic music. I think the 3rd most popular token electronic Act would be Portishead, but that makes sense because Portishead is so far above average. But Leftfield n Massive Attack are so average and un-spectacular that I can't see how they ever got an audience outside of the electronic audience, considering all the great ones there are to choose from. Go figure.

And speaking of Promised Land, how do you nominate stuff for this tournament? Cuz I wanna nominate these from the Golden Age of drum and bass if you ever do a drum and bass competition.

Promised Land Volume Two by Fabio / Cleveland Watkiss

Or

Promised Land Volume One by LTJ Bukem Featuring MC Conrad

And

Treader by Spring Heel Jack

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Tap — Wed, 16 May 2018 05:27:46 GMT

Author: Tap

Posted: 05/16/2018 09:27

I haven't really spent any time listening to these but I will spend the rest of the week getting familiar with both to make an informed vote. looks like this one is close!

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Jimmy Dread — Tue, 15 May 2018 15:28:38 GMT

Author: Jimmy Dread

Posted: 05/15/2018 19:28

Leftism for me - and it's not even close.

Promised Land suffers from that age-old problem of having one absolute killer track with the rest paling in comparison. If this were a best house anthem contest, "Promised Land" itself should rightly be in the top 10 - it's perfect. The rest of the album however sounds (to me at least) dated and hackneyed. Compare that to Leftfield's tour de force, which given my 'reggae' leanings naturally ticks the right boxes. In spite of the odd mis-step (I've never got on with "Original"), you've got genuine 'hands-in-the-air' moments (the tension building in "Space Shanty" until the beat kicks in, "Afro-Left"'s tribal skank), and in "21st Century Poem" one of the most spine-tingling album closers I can think of, as well as the soundtrack to many a comedown. Oh, and that's without mentioning "Open Up"...

Re: BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Tha1ChiefRocka — Mon, 14 May 2018 04:39:08 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 05/14/2018 08:39

"Promised Land" is one of THE classic house tracks, and it's surrounded by a handful of so so to excellent tracks on this album. Some may find it corny today, but there is something extremeley endearing and honest about this album. Leftism is a good album too.

BETH Round 1 - Leftism vs (Promised Land)

Jimmy Dread — Sat, 12 May 2018 04:37:29 GMT

Author: Jimmy Dread

Posted: 05/12/2018 08:37

Best Ever Techno & House Album Round 1:

Leftism by Leftfield

Nominated by Gowi

HigherThanTheSun wrote:

Incredible album. Release The Pressure and Open Up the standout moments for me.

VS.

Promised Land by Joe Smooth

Nominated by Tha1ChiefRocka

Some blog somewhere wrote:

“When the angels from above fall down and spread their wings like doves….” is one of the most poignant lyrics I’ve ever heard in a house record and it is not uncommon to see tears trickle from the eyes of a true house music devotee when this one is played

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE. PLEASE LISTEN TO BOTH ALBUMS BEFORE VOTING