Best Ever Albums

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

RoundTheBend — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:58:09 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 05/31/2018 04:58

baystateoftheart wrote:

I'll do something like what Tap did to kick off last thread. Here's context sourced from RYM:

1. A Gift From A Flower To A Garden - Donovan
Year: 1967
Label: Epic
Genres: Folk Pop, Singer/Songwriter
Best Regarded Album By Artist? Yes

2. Finally We Are No One - múm
Year: 2002
Label: FatCat
Genre: Indietronica
Best Regarded Album By Artist? Yes

3. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle - Bill Callahan
Year: 2009
Label: Drag City
Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Alt-Country
Best Regarded Album By Artist? Yes

4. Peace & Love - Dadawah
Year: 1974
Label: Wild Flower
Genre: Nyahbinghi
Best Regarded Album By Artist? Yes

5. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
Year: 1969
Label: Poppy
Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Country, Contemporary Folk
Best Regarded Album By Artist? Yes

6. Victorialand - Cocteau Twins
Year: 1986
Label: 4AD
Genres: Dream Pop, Ethereal Wave
Best Regarded Album By Artist? No

7. Blue Afternoon - Tim Buckley
Year: 1969
Label: Straight
Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Psychedelic Folk
Best Regarded Album By Artist? No

8. Nocturne - Wild Nothing
Year: 2012
Label: Captured Tracks
Genres: Dream Pop, Indie Pop
Best Regarded Album By Artist? Yes

9. Cluster & Eno - Cluster & Eno
Year: 1977
Label: Sky
Genres: Ambient, Electronic
Best Regarded Album By Artist? No (separate) but yes (together)

10. Another Setting - The Durutti Column
Year: 1983
Label: Factory
Genre: Art Rock
Best Regarded Album By Artist? No

A whopping four singer/songwriter albums in the top ten, followed by two dream pop albums.

Wow - this is an incredibly insightful review.

I embarrassingly haven't heard any of this. Perhaps some of the artists, yes, but not these particular albums.

Most interested in Finally We Are No One, but hoping to check all these out.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

baystateoftheart — Thu, 24 May 2018 17:41:27 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 05/24/2018 21:41

In contrast to the last top 10, these albums had a very unified feel despite representing several different genres. As one might expect from the Mellow Zone, they are all exceedingly mellow. At their best they transport the listener. At their worst the tracks start to blend together and lose distinctiveness, but none of these albums was ever unpleasant even during those moments.

1. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt 4.5/5
(listened prior)

Notes: The songwriting on this album is phenomenal. Maybe the best-written country album I've heard - great lyrics and melodies. When I was a young kid I used to really like this country singer named Bill Staines, and it appears he modeled his vocals after Townes Van Zandt, so even the first time I heard this it was a nostalgia trip.

2. Victorialand - Cocteau Twins 4/5
(listened prior)

Notes: Stunningly beautiful. I've gone through their whole discography by now and this is most likely my second-favorite album after Heaven Or Las Vegas.

3. A Gift From A Flower To A Garden - Donovan 4/5
(new discovery)

Notes: I only knew the leadoff track, but there is a lot of pastoral, delicate folk to love here. As one might expect from a double album, there's a bit of inconsistency with some weaker tracks that hold it back from a 4.5/5.

4. Nocturne - Wild Nothing 4/5
(listened prior)

Notes: This record is unfortunately a bit front-loaded, but when it's good it's very good jangly dreamy pop that makes the most of its influences.

5. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle - Bill Callahan 4/5
(new discovery)

Notes: Another strong country record. This one is more ethereal and less grounded than the TVZ album, and the songs aren't quite as good, but it's still a lovely listen.

6. Peace & Love - Dadawah 4/5
(new discovery)

Notes: As others have noted, the hypnotic and spiritual character of this record makes it a good listen, even when the song structure can be a bit lacking and the pace a bit slow.

7. Finally We Are No One - múm 3.5/5
(new discovery)

Notes: This got off to a strong start but was very front-loaded, and strong indietronica gave way to wallpaper music, especially on some of the longer tracks.

8. Another Setting - The Durutti Column 3.5/5
(new discovery)

Notes: I quite like the sounds on this album, but there's not much in the way of memorable songs. It cultivates a great vibe, even though it has some duller sections.

9. Blue Afternoon - Tim Buckley 3.5/5
(new discovery)

Notes: I enjoyed this record a fair amount, but I didn't see anything special in Tim Buckley's songs, voice, or arrangements. This is my first experience with him, so I should probably check out more in the future.

10. Cluster & Eno - Cluster & Eno 3.5/5
(new discovery)

Notes: My first time hearing anything with Cluster involved, but while nice to have on in the background this didn't stack up favorably to any Eno solo works I've heard.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Luigii — Thu, 10 May 2018 22:17:42 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 05/11/2018 02:17

Tap wrote:

I've been blanking on what to say here but that Dadawah album is fantastic.

Agreed. Dadawah's album was great. Was a bit boring, but was entertaining. Would like to cop this on vinyl.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Tap — Thu, 10 May 2018 22:15:19 GMT

Author: Tap

Posted: 05/11/2018 02:15

I've been blanking on what to say here but that Dadawah album is fantastic.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

travelful — Thu, 10 May 2018 22:02:53 GMT

Author: travelful

Posted: 05/11/2018 02:02

Peace & Love is one of my favorites from Jamaica, barely misses my overall top 100. It is binghi music not reggae, so it is supposed to be preachy and ceremonial. Cluster & Eno I remember was pretty underwhelming when I heard it a couple months ago.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

dihansse — Thu, 10 May 2018 12:27:31 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 05/10/2018 16:27

Hi Tilly, you're really not make things easy for me. I listened to two more albums from your list:

Peace & Love by Dadawah
Long reggae songs tend to start being preachery is my experience and this is completely true for this album. There are only four tracks on this album and they are simply too long too remain interesting.

Cluster & Eno by Cluster & Eno
I fairly liked the first track but then it really went downhill for me. It was a bit too ambient for my taste without lots of highlights.

So I don't think these two album will be my favorites of your list.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Tha1ChiefRocka — Thu, 10 May 2018 00:33:38 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 05/10/2018 04:33

I thought I should comment on this before it gets buried.

Tilly, that Wild Nothing album was one of my favorites in high school, although I think I was the only one around who was listening to it at the time.

I'd like to send you a rec based on that album. It's a dream pop favorite of mine from 2013.

Wait To Pleasure by No Joy

I think this band does something kinda similar to what your description of Wild Nothing is except, instead of college rock, it's an homage to dream pop and shoegaze of the late 80s and early 90s, but given a harder-edge and punky 2010s update.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Repo — Thu, 3 May 2018 06:49:17 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 05/03/2018 10:49

Mercury wrote:

I think Tilly’s Chart is a perpetual work in progress. Insofar as he had a chart of his faves then he started his diary and he started from the ground up and based off his new lives and diary entries he seems to have put this thing together based off that. His fave album ever from what I recall is Pornography, but not here, cuz again he’s sorta starting fresh. Like a newborn baby lamb. Or something.

I honestly couldn't have said it better. 🤣

Here's my top ten (as best as I can recall) from my very first chart on BEA to give some context...

1. The Cure - Pornography
2. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
3. Tricky - Maxinquaye
4. The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society
5. Galaxie 500 - Today
6. Bert Jasnch - Bert Jansch
7. Dinosaur Jr - Dinosaur Jr
8. The Stooges - Funhouse
9. Sam Cooke - Night Beat
10. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

dihansse — Thu, 3 May 2018 00:41:02 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 05/03/2018 04:41

Gowi wrote:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Finally We Are No One by múm

I’m enjoying this well enough, but I feel like I’m not that in love with the textures and soundscapes here to say it will have staying power for me. I would definitely utilize this as background music when I need to write or relax, but for me this one doesn’t connect with me all too much. I don’t want to write it off as “background music” but I can’t help but think of it in that way.

I have been listening to it as well and my feeling was exactly the same.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

mickilennial — Wed, 2 May 2018 19:09:24 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 05/02/2018 23:09

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

dihansse — Wed, 2 May 2018 15:53:44 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 05/02/2018 19:53

Gowi wrote:

Quote:

"unfortunately this album isn't album is not available on Apple Music or Spotify so I had to listen to it on Youtube. The beginning of the album didn't convince me completely but after while the singing style of Billy Callahan and the way the songs are orchestrated got under my skin and I'm sure this could be a grower as well and that's the reason that I will put this in my personal top chart although at this moment it won't be high in rank."

I literally just listened to it on spotify a hour or two ago...

This was a quote of a comment I made a year ago and I'm also still not sure if there are regional differences between the albums Spotify offers 😉 I know Apple has those differences.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

dihansse — Wed, 2 May 2018 15:19:12 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 05/02/2018 19:19

Mercury wrote:

😄

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Mercury — Wed, 2 May 2018 15:14:31 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 05/02/2018 19:14

I think Tilly’s Chart is a perpetual work in progress. Insofar as he had a chart of his faves then he started his diary and he started from the ground up and based off his new lives and diary entries he seems to have put this thing together based off that. His fave album ever from what I recall is Pornography, but not here, cuz again he’s sorta starting fresh. Like a newborn baby lamb. Or something.

As for this:

1. A Gift From A Flower To A Garden - Donovan
2. Finally We Are No One - múm
3. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle - Bill Callahan
4. Peace & Love - Dadawah
5. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
6. Victorialand - Cocteau Twins
7. Blue Afternoon - Tim Buckley
8. Nocturne - Wild Nothing
9. Cluster & Eno - Cluster & Eno
10. Another Setting - The Durutti Column

Well I am not familiar with all of them. The only ones I’m really familiar with at TVZ and Blue Afternoon. So, yeah I have a lot of listening to do for this top 10, and as Tilly is my fave person on this site (or at least one of the select people I enjoy talking to the most) I need to give more attention to these albums. I own that Wild Nothing album and it’s good. But haven’t heard it in years.

Anyway, it’s an inter sting top 10.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

dihansse — Wed, 2 May 2018 15:04:54 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 05/02/2018 19:04

Tilly wrote:

dihansse wrote:

Then I picked the album which I thought would appeal to me the most (and to be honest a bit strange that I didn't pick it up in 2012) at first sight and I fairly liked it, especially the first half. To me it's a bit a more dreamy/shoegaze and more electronic (though there are guitars here as well) version of The War On Drugs however much the music has got its roots in the eighties. It's gonna be a competitor for best personal album of the list. The highest rated track, Paradise, is in fact my least favorite song as it is to me a bit of a weak imitation of a Depeche Mode song.
The only thing I've got with this album Tilly, if you like this album so much because of it's references to the eighties and college rock, why not go for the real thing(s)?

yeah. Like Gowi, I'm kinda confused.

Do you mean because it's less authentic? Or that the original innovators typically sound better?

Regarding 80s College Rock, I know all that stuff VERY well. and I found Nocturne an EXTREMELY refreshing update of that genre.

Here's what I wrote in my chart...

Quote:

JIGSAW PUZZLE

Finally! Someone loves The Cure and 80s college rock as much as me. Thank you, Jack Tatum, for this absolute gift of an album. One giant homage to the 80s college rock of my youth. Just like me, every guitar line, every bass line, every drum fill has become a part of Jack’s DNA . The strings from Morrissey’s first solo album, early JAMC vocal stylings, the bass of MBV. It’s all here. Like pieces of an elaborate jigsaw puzzle. Rearranged. Put back together to create something entirely new. A reimagining of 80s college rock by the ultimate fan.

But, just like me, it’s mostly about The Cure. The Cure’s shadow over 80s college rock is similar to Sabbath’s over metal/stoner rock. It always comes back to them. And Robert Smith is quietly, ( very, very quietly) one of the most influential guitarists of all time. His swirling, kaleidoscopic guitar licks are all over this album. And Robert Smith makes up the bulk of the pieces of this here jigsaw puzzle.

Grade: A+. There’s really only one question when it comes to this album. If it had actually come out in 1987 instead of 2012, would it be considered the best college rock albums of all time? Because this is 80s college rock perfected.

I’m a massive fan of 80s college rock. Let’s face it - it’s what I grew up on. It’s part of my DNA. And this is EASILY some of the best college rock this boy has ever heard. It captures that winsome, romantic spirit at the heart of so much of 80s New Wave. There was a ton of hope in that music. A naive, romantic innocence. And its so great to find that spirit so alive and well here. Intact. Inviolate. And I will be returning to its well often I have a feeling. Long live the 80s! Wink

Aside: This album also reminds me that I NEED to get back into the Pale Saints. I have a feeling that they’re a big influence on JackTatum as well, but I don’t know them well enough to be sure.

It was not so much a comment on this album in particular but that I didn't nearly find any of your eighties and college rock references in your overall chart, and the closest to that is another latecomer of 1999 being the Pinback album.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Luigii — Tue, 1 May 2018 21:38:42 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 05/02/2018 01:38

I am halfway into Nocturne and damn this is that good shit. Can totally see this record getting into my list for not only 2012 but also the decade. Will post the grade in a bit but I definitely see a 90 or 95 for this album. Gives me some Tycho vibes.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

mickilennial — Tue, 1 May 2018 20:15:23 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 05/02/2018 00:15

Quote:

I literally just listened to it on spotify a hour or two ago...

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May Thread - Tilly

Luigii — Tue, 1 May 2018 20:11:45 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 05/02/2018 00:11

dihansse wrote:

baystateoftheart wrote:

By a landslide with 40% of the vote, Tilly is the winner of the second poll. So here are the ten albums we will be discussing during the month of May:

1. A Gift From A Flower To A Garden - Donovan
2. Finally We Are No One - múm
3. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle - Bill Callahan
4. Peace & Love - Dadawah
5. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
6. Victorialand - Cocteau Twins
7. Blue Afternoon - Tim Buckley
8. Nocturne - Wild Nothing
9. Cluster & Eno - Cluster & Eno
10. Another Setting - The Durutti Column

Again, you can listen to as many of these as you have time and energy for - no pressure to get to know all ten well. This discussion also doesn't have to take place in order, because different people will be listening to them at different times.

Drop your musings, analysis, etc. here as the inspiration hits you. And where possible, interact with what other people have been saying for a more interesting discussion.

For one reason or another I totally missed the first topic with albums of Luigii, sorry 🧱 🤔

I only have two album in this list I have already listened to in the contect of my discoveries per year topic:
Bill Callahan:
and this was my comment then (it's now ranked 64th on my year chart of 2009):
"unfortunately this album isn't album is not available on Apple Music or Spotify so I had to listen to it on Youtube. The beginning of the album didn't convince me completely but after while the singing style of Billy Callahan and the way the songs are orchestrated got under my skin and I'm sure this could be a grower as well and that's the reason that I will put this in my personal top chart although at this moment it won't be high in rank."
and on Townes Van Zandt:
"For the Sake of the Song is not bad but the other tracks didn't appeal very much to me": so this album didn't make it to my top charts.
And I didn't include Victorialand in one of my charts either.

So out of three albums I listened to yet Bill Callahan wins for the moment. I will listen to the other seven in the coming days and already started with Donovan (which I already like better than his other albums including his greatest hits).

If you want to venture onto the April List, here is the link. Even when I have a feeling you might not like anything from the top 10.
https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20004

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

mickilennial — Tue, 1 May 2018 18:14:11 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 05/01/2018 22:14

Relistening to Nocturne and I find it very relaxing and nice. Perfect spring weather music. I love the midpoint between the jangle pop and dream pop soundscapes that Wild Nothing do here yet they never sound derivative or bland.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Repo — Tue, 1 May 2018 18:12:16 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 05/01/2018 22:12

Jimmy Dread wrote:

The one in the pretty box with all the inserts I picked up in Near Mint condition which made you a teeny bit envious :)

ugh! u had to remind me!!! 😉

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: May 2018 Thread - Tilly

Jimmy Dread — Tue, 1 May 2018 18:10:47 GMT

Author: Jimmy Dread

Posted: 05/01/2018 22:10

Tilly wrote:

Which one did u find BEAtiful (besides Mum, I know u dig that one).

The one in the pretty box with all the inserts I picked up in Near Mint condition which made you a teeny bit envious 😄