Best Ever Albums

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

PurpleHazel — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 01:58:36 GMT

Author: PurpleHazel

Posted: 10/15/2018 05:58

dihansse wrote:

I have noticed that many of the newer albums have been marked as having being released on a Friday and the fault is with Allmusic.com. Every Friday they issue a list of new released albums that I also always use as a source to find new good albums and they constantly give as the release date the date of that Friday even if that's not the case.

In general the release dates of older albums on Allmusic can be trusted so I also sometimes used that date as the release date in BEA

I haven't found AllMusic to be that reliable with older albums, at least jazz albums. They're better than Wikipedia, which is the worst, because the release dates are all mixed up with the recording dates. Don't know if this has more to do with Scaruffi or with online discographies that go by recording date. I find Discogs to be the best overall because users are usually going by their physical copies. Of course there are mistakes there too, less so if they list multiple releases (different countries/formats). I feel like Wikipedia and Scaruffi have tainted the pool of accurate jazz release dates online to some extent.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Tha1ChiefRocka — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 23:06:30 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 10/15/2018 03:06

jeffrey-hodgson wrote:

I think the 2000s and 2010s are pretty weak, honestly.

I could say something really dickish; instead, here are some suggestions for you.

Link

Link

Link

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 21:45:54 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 10/15/2018 01:45

Hayden wrote:

Well.

The War On Drugs and Tame Impala might be up your alley. Maybe The National. The Black Keys? They all do well for rockists here.

And then give the new SOPHIE a listen. It's also quite good.

For a rockist, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is a must listen.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Luigii — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:58:26 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:58

jeffrey-hodgson wrote:

Got any recommendations? I like Deerhunter, if you have heard of them. Paul Simon's 2016 album Stranger to Stranger was good even though he is an old fart.

I do need to listen to Deerhunter but I always go on my own journey finding new stuff to gush about. But from this decade? I would recommend both Kamasi Washington albums. The Epic and Heaven And Earth are wonderful albums. Would go for Heaven And Earth since it is more welcoming and shorter of the two. Also would recommend Caracal. One of the few albums that had underpinnings in modern pop that I adore the living fuck out of. At this moment of time, my most played out album in my ratings. If you ever check those albums out, Private Message me about them even if you hate those records. I would love to have a legit discussion about them if you give them a listen.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Hayden — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:53:44 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:53

jeffrey-hodgson wrote:

Got any recommendations? I like Deerhunter, if you have heard of them. Paul Simon's 2016 album Stranger to Stranger was good even though he is an old fart.

Well.

The War On Drugs and Tame Impala might be up your alley. Maybe The National. The Black Keys? They all do well for rockists here.

And then give the new SOPHIE a listen. It's also quite good.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

jeffrey-hodgson — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:46:48 GMT

Author: jeffrey-hodgson

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:46

Got any recommendations? I like Deerhunter, if you have heard of them. Paul Simon's 2016 album Stranger to Stranger was good even though he is an old fart.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Luigii — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:17:40 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:17

jeffrey-hodgson wrote:

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think it is fair to say pop music is worse from the 2010s than any other decade. Theres a few good underground artists, but nothing compared to the 60s and 70s.

If we are referring to pop radio this decade, then I would say yes. Since I got a new car recently, I'm able to listen to stuff on youtube as well as other music platforms. Been a blast and won't know what's "hot". But it's better. While in an album basis, I'd argue it's better. And that's mainly you get the best of both worlds. Given the ability to go to other periods in time while digging for stuff that speak to your niches.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

jeffrey-hodgson — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:12:00 GMT

Author: jeffrey-hodgson

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:12

Luigii wrote:

I got to disagree with this statement.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Luigii — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:01:56 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:01

jeffrey-hodgson wrote:

I think the 2000s and 2010s are pretty weak, honestly.

I got to disagree with this statement.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

craola — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:00:28 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 10/15/2018 00:00

jeffrey-hodgson wrote:

I think the 2000s and 2010s are pretty weak, honestly.

i think that's a pretty weak opinion, honestly.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

jeffrey-hodgson — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 19:15:11 GMT

Author: jeffrey-hodgson

Posted: 10/14/2018 23:15

I think the 2000s and 2010s are pretty weak, honestly.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

dihansse — Mon, 8 Oct 2018 16:15:14 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 10/08/2018 20:15

Romanelli wrote:

Well...there is also the fact that it seems to be a race here to enter pretty much every new album that comes out. Been that way here for years. During my last round of data moderations, pretty much all I saw were albums released on October 5 of this year. That was...2 days ago. More than 10 of them. All chart worthy? People could tell within 2 days of release that more than 10 albums that came out on the same day were...chart worthy?

Just as an aside. I have noticed that many of the newer albums have been marked as having being released on a Friday (like those 10 albums of the 5th of October you mention and the fault is with Allmusic.com. Every Friday they issue a list of new released albums that I also always use as a source to find new good albums and they constantly give as the release date the date of that Friday even if that's not the case. In general the release dates of older albums on Allmusic can be trusted so I also sometimes used that date as the release date in BEA but I have recently learned to check this date with other sources for newer albums. I'll try to check some of those release dates an update them if necessary.
But on your general comment: I try to listen every week to about 3 new albums and in many cases they end up in my 2018 list (or sometimes even 2010 decade list) but I try to relisten to these albums during the year in order to see if the place I gave them originally had staying value.
And for me there has never been a better year in music in general than this year. Of course I know that most of those albums won't become classics but the general average quality of new albums (I like) is very good in my view.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Luigii — Mon, 8 Oct 2018 12:21:02 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 10/08/2018 16:21

sethmadsen wrote:

Maybe it's cause I'm in my 30s now and have a day job, but I don't see a specific aesthetic from the 2010s or couldn't describe it at least. There's one or perhaps the best way to say it is there are probably 20k, but I can't really sum it up. Which on one hand is fantastic and on another hand gives me some kind of "low flying panic attack"... hehe.

I have to agree with this. Maybe when we get into the 2020's or 2030's there will be a solidified notion of what the decade was, but as of now it still feels like the late 2000's but we just got older.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 7 Oct 2018 22:45:44 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 10/08/2018 02:45

Luigii wrote:

"Some don't like the 2010s... likely cause they haven't discovered much from it. (For me the 2010s doesn't have an identity I can put in a box, so that's still confusing, but great music, absolutely... from new artists and old geezers who won't stop till they drop)."

Could you say that for the 2000's or the 1990's due to how even though there are big heavy hitters, the style was really varied? Or am I missing something.

Sorry man, totally missed you commented on this.

No this is probably true of any decade, the way I stated it there. I mean you could put things in a nice box easier is all, or at least looking upon history as a 5th grader has allowed us to... not sure which is more true.

I suppose what I mean is with the interwebs anyone and everyone can release music, so there's less of a "let's put this in a box and sell it with this image and feel to it". Which I don't really care for except for there sometimes really is an aesthetic that it produces. 50's rock n' roll all kinda had a similar feel to it and could specifically be linked to a certain aesthetic. Same goes for 90's alternative rock or the "hippie music"... which some of the artists who produced said music wasn't really sure what a hippie was.

Maybe it's cause I'm in my 30s now and have a day job, but I don't see a specific aesthetic from the 2010s or couldn't describe it at least. There's one or perhaps the best way to say it is there are probably 20k, but I can't really sum it up. Which on one hand is fantastic and on another hand gives me some kind of "low flying panic attack"... hehe.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Luigii — Sun, 7 Oct 2018 19:41:16 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 10/07/2018 23:41

Romanelli wrote:

I think it's more of getting new albums but not having the option with decade, year or custom charts. Plus the last sentence does have some legit fact. Where sometimes albums I listen to my get a high rating and might go down lower. While other albums can get rated higher. It happens, and will solidified users taste.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

Romanelli — Sun, 7 Oct 2018 16:07:00 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 10/07/2018 20:07

baystateoftheart wrote:

We need to stop making generalizations about music when what's being said is actually referring to mainstream popular music. Going by the BEA database, 2014 has the most albums of all time. Those were in large part the albums that users felt exemplified the album as an art form enough to put in their charts. In recent years, there has been democratization in the music industry that allows more people with fewer resources and without the approval of mainstream record labels to release music to wide audiences. I would argue that the album as an art form is healthier in the 2010s than it has been in previous decades. This is because the whole music-making ecosystem is healthier and more vibrant, not because the album has a higher relative status now when compared to other forms of music (to the contrary, if anything). Who knows what will happen centuries from now. But I will repeat that I am confident the album will outlive every single one of us.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

CA Dreamin — Sun, 7 Oct 2018 13:50:10 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 10/07/2018 17:50

StreetSpirit wrote:

I don't believe the album is going anywhere as an art form. Producing and releasing an album is easier and less expensive than ever before. And it costs very little on the consumer's part. Consequentially, there are more albums made nowadays than in decades past. However, not every musician is talented enough to be making whole albums imo. More albums doesn't necessarily mean more good albums. At the same time, the collective atmosphere of albums is shrinking. Personally, I get a lot of satisfaction as a music fan when I meet other people with shared tastes. But when it comes to new music, I rarely have any good conversations with people. 95% of the replies are either 'I rarely listen to new albums anymore' or 'I listen to new albums, but from artists you've never heard of.' In that sense, the current and future decades for albums are looking grim.

Luigii wrote:

I'm curious. What did they offer as new albums from unknown artist?

I can't remember.

sethmadsen wrote:

I thought this once or twice (ok for like 5 years straight...hehe). Do you think that could be because of our age?

I have no doubt age has a lot to do with it for a number of reasons. Less free time for starters.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

RoundTheBend — Sat, 6 Oct 2018 21:43:17 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 10/07/2018 01:43

baystateoftheart wrote:

Wow, that's impressive. I won't discount other comments that BEA likely exploded with the want to find new music, etc., more than any other time before, as well as "amateur" artists having access to post their own albums on Spotify/SoundCloud, etc. Still very impressive and exciting.

And I agree, the album very likely will outlive us all.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

RoundTheBend — Sat, 6 Oct 2018 21:40:17 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 10/07/2018 01:40

StreetSpirit wrote:

I thought this once or twice (ok for like 5 years straight...hehe). Do you think that could be because of our age?

I finally did what a good chunk of BEA users do all the time, and listened to like 200 or so albums from 2017. It took that many listens to find like 80 I liked, but still I found 80 good albums and probably 20 or more great albums. Best ever, probably not, but great, sure.

I've listened to like 5 albums from 2018, but I might do the same someday. I'm stuck in the past for now.

Re: Would we encounter another bad decade for albums?

RoundTheBend — Sat, 6 Oct 2018 21:36:42 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 10/07/2018 01:36

rkm wrote:

Here’s some anecdotal things I’ve noticed about my own music consumption:

- Some albums I love from the 50’s and 60’s are only 30 minutes long (maybe 9 tracks, or even 5 if it’s jazz)
- From the CD era onward, particularly from the 90’s onward, many albums grew to 74-80 minutes long (maybe 16 tracks)
- Perhaps it’s conditioning, but I think a 40ish minute album of 9-10 tracks that all work brilliantly together, is the ideal.
- In the age of streaming, and making playlists, I find myself editing these longer albums down to version that I like, often in the 40 minute range, with 9-10 tracks. Sometimes less is more, and I’m surprised how much I love an album once I’ve ditched the stuff I don’t love. I sometimes wonder if artists give us too many tracks for this very reason.

My point in these observations is that I wonder if this sort of co-creation is becoming the norm? In that sense, it”s not that the album format is disappearing, it’s that the common experience of an album is disappearing.

You could argue that this has been an issue since the album was invented, as releases in different regions often had different running orders and tracks etc.

In future, what if the norm for artists became simply releasing single after single?
Would BEA turn into Best Ever Playlists, whereby we’re all desperately sharing playlists of compiled singles, voting them up and down in a desperate attempt for common cultural experiences from behind our lonely screens?

Can't there just be an upvote button for this comment 😄