Best Ever Albums

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

RoundTheBend — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 23:14:12 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 05/01/2020 03:14

I have these lame ass projects I'm in the middle of... and by lame I mean they suck all my free time up. It kinda actually would be cool to take a break to pick up one of these.

But yeah - maybe this is a game we start up once the 2010s is over... dunno. Just a thought.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

baystateoftheart — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 18:20:36 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 04/30/2020 22:20

Ok so that's two... and it's too late for May now, but I'll do one for June if there are at least five people interested. If not, I guess interest has petered out 😕

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Purplepash — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 18:59:19 GMT

Author: Purplepash

Posted: 04/21/2020 22:59

I may not comment on these, but I've listened to every album on every one of these you've done so far (except for one I couldn't find I think). So if you do another one I'll listen to them.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

baystateoftheart — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 18:10:00 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 04/21/2020 22:10

Hayden wrote:

Course.

Never been less busy in my life.

Ok, that's one person interested. But I will need a bunch more to make this worthwhile.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Hayden — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:46:46 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 04/20/2020 20:46

baystateoftheart wrote:

Forgot to put a Get To Know A Top 10 up for April, but I'd be happy to facilitate one for May if the interest is there and people aren't too busy with other projects. Let me know!

Course.

Never been less busy in my life.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

baystateoftheart — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:42:44 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 04/20/2020 20:42

Forgot to put a Get To Know A Top 10 up for April, but I'd be happy to facilitate one for May if the interest is there and people aren't too busy with other projects. Let me know!

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 18:13:03 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/21/2020 23:13

baystateoftheart wrote:

Fischman wrote:

re: Universal Consciousness by Alice Coltrane

...

In the end, this album was everything I hoped it might be, and then some.

Glad it stood out for you! 😄

Maybe now you can increase your rating from 55/100? :wink:

Yeah, that's been fixed. Also added it to my 1971 chart and my best jazz of the '70s chart.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

baystateoftheart — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 21:49:28 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 01/21/2020 02:49

Sorry I haven't done write-ups - it's been inopportune timing this month. Happy folks have been enjoying the selections! Shout out to Komorebi-D and dividesbyzero for each introducing me to one of these.

Ironically, the number of these in the top 10k has actually decreased so far this month, thanks to a year edit.

By the way, I will be putting Get To Know A Top 10 on hold again in February and March for the third annual Black History Month and Women's History Month listening projects.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

baystateoftheart — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 21:27:08 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 01/21/2020 02:27

Fischman wrote:

re: Universal Consciousness by Alice Coltrane

...

In the end, this album was everything I hoped it might be, and then some.

Glad it stood out for you! 😄

Maybe now you can increase your rating from 55/100? 😉

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Hayden — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 15:02:45 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 01/12/2020 20:02

Just gave Awakening a spin. Oddly similar to Rhythmes Contemporains in oomphiness, but LOADED with snippets begging to become hip-hop samples. Another one of those albums that probably missed 'making it big' by only 2-3 years. The Tracks of My Tears cover is stellar.

Enjoyed it quite a bit. Solid stuff.

Went over the Madlib release again too. Definitely some cuts on there that might be top-tier work for him. Still don't think his tracks hold by themselves as well as Dilla's work. Keep wanting DOOM or Gibbs to go over them 🤣

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 14:33:39 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/12/2020 19:33

RE: Mother Earth's Plantasia by Mort Garson

Interesting compositions with interesting sounds, although some of those sounds were too artificial for too long for my liking. Glad I heard it though. Surprisingly advanced for 1976.

List so far:
1. Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
2. The Pharaohs - Awakening
3. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
4. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
5. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
6. Mort Garson - Earth's Plantasia
7. The 6ths - Wasps Nests
8. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
9. Madlib - Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to...
10. Pete rock & C.L. Smooth - All Souled Out

Bottom line: Vote to Coltrane, although Pharaohs and Nilovic were also fantastic, and Kuti is also likely to find his way into my collection.

4 albums I really loved, and 4 more I genuinely liked.

Great list BayState! Pretty eclectic and fun to explore.

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 22:49:20 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/12/2020 03:49

RE: Awakening by The Pharaohs

Now that's a fun album. Max funk. What a groove! I wanna' be their bassist.

Not quite #1 here, but not by much and I'll likely give this and Coltrane another listen side by side before actually casting my vote.

List so far:
1. Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
2. The Pharaohs - Awakening
3. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
4. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
5. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
6. The 6ths - Wasps Nests
7. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
8. Madlib - Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to...
9. Pete rock & C.L. Smooth - All Souled Out

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 22:09:18 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/12/2020 03:09

RE: Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute To... by Madlib by Madlib

Reasonably interesting beats, some actual melody to go with 'em, and an interesting inspiration. Still far from my thing though

List so far:
1. Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
2. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
3. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
4. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
5. The 6ths - Wasps Nests
6. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
7. Madlib - Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to...
8. Pete rock & C.L. Smooth - All Souled Out

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Tha1ChiefRocka — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 15:42:33 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 01/11/2020 20:42

Mort Garson's Plantasia has some of the most pleasant to listen to Moog music you'll ever hear. It deserves the cult status that it has.

However, I've recently found that the enigmatic Mr. Garson also made a more sinister album several years prior, which is equally incredible.

Link

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 14:40:02 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/11/2020 19:40

RE: Wasps' Nests by The 6ths

Some really cool songs. Actually, pretty much all cool songs; I just really took a shine to some and others not so much. I suppose such is the nature of such a collaboration album, especially in a genre not one's favorite to begin with. This is one of those albums I'm likely to select just a few cuts from for a particular playlist.

List so far:
1. Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
2. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
3. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
4. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
5. The 6ths - Wasps Nests
6. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
7. Pete rock & C.L. Smooth - All Souled Out

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Wed, 8 Jan 2020 18:03:53 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/08/2020 23:03

RE: All Souled Out by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

More interesting "orchestration" than I'm used to in the genre, but still not my thing, especially with the repetitive vocal meter.

List so far:
1. Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
2. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
3. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
4. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
5. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
6. Pete rock & C.L. Smooth - All Souled Out

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Sun, 5 Jan 2020 12:21:26 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/05/2020 17:21

re: Universal Consciousness by Alice Coltrane

This is one of the entries that inspired me to vote for this list. Being a big fan of Coltrane's Ptah, The El Daoud and Journey in Satchidananda, I welcomed the opportunity to familiarize myself with Universal Consciousness.

That said, I'm generally skeptical of albums with such grandiose titles. They seem pretentious, self-important, or even if free from delusions of grandeur, they then they almost invariably fail to live up to their name. More specifically here, people who claim spiritual enlightenment can be the most annoying, and ultimately the least woke ones out there. So, on one hand I dig what I've heard from Alice, but on the other hand, this could be a huge bust... which side will win?

I tuned in nicely to the opening title cut. Impressive, but not overwhelming in any way. I'm still kinda' on the fence here. Maybe it will reveal more with additional listenings.

Proceeding to "Battle at Armageddon," things are picking up for me. This thing has a compelling momentum and I'm on the edge of my seat wondering where it will go next. Oh, and by this time, I'm already convinced the album is wholly worth it just for Jack DeJohnette's splendid drumming alone. He has such feel and gloriously intuitive facility for building the perfect mood for Coltrane's musical vision. Truly marvelous!

Approaching the third cut in 2019 is interesting. We in America are so conditioned at this time to be wary of all things Islamic. Praise of Allah conjures images of IEDs, beheadings, and burning skyscrapers. But "Oh, Allah" is probably the single most beautiful song on the album. I would even call it "centering." It promotes the listener to be still. A joyful song indeed.

Then it's on to "Hari Krishna" and it's Move Over George Harrison! This is a nice chant. Myabe not something I'd want to listen to often, but it sits well in thesequence.

While also not my necessarily my style, "Sita Ram" is another one that causes me to be still, no mean feat for a hyperactive one like me.

Oh, did I say the third cut is the most beautiful? I may have to take that back. The closer, "The Ankh of Amen-Ra," is otherworldy beautiful. So many bright, shimmering sounds! But it's more than just a pleasant soundscape; the structure, pacing, and length of the song maximize the impact of those sounds in a purely musical way. Probably my favorite cut, and a fantastic way to close out the album.

In the end, this album was everything I hoped it might be, and then some. I'm not yet sure where I place it relative to the two other Coltrane albums I mentioned, but I'm fairly comfortable placing it first on this list, at least through the first five albums covered so far.

List so far:
1. Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
2. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
3. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
4. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
5. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Fri, 3 Jan 2020 16:29:23 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/03/2020 21:29

re: Back to the World by Curtis Mayfield

Not quite Superfly, but still a fine album. A little too much falsetto for my taste, but the funky groove is welcome. Interestingly, Prince doesn't sound quite as innovative/revolutionary after listening to this album.

List so far:
1. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
2. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
3. Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World
4. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Thu, 2 Jan 2020 15:06:26 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/02/2020 20:06

Re: (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People by The Chi-Lites

This is an era and a genre that has much that I love. I'm not necessarily a universal fan, but I do really like the high spots. That in mind, I feel like I should like this album more than I do. It demonstrates all the elements I like, but ultimately doesn't get me singin' and swayin' the way that, say, Sly's best stuff does. I know that's probably an unrealistic benchmark to hold any other artist to, but that's the best I can put it. I think it has a lot to do with the opening cut being soooo very mellow. I'm half comatose by the time the funk kicks in on the second track.... then it's back to the smoooooth on the third track. Lots of sweet, even (to my ear) saccharine, vocals which ends up being a turn off for me. Some sounds like trying to be Smokey Robinson, and falling short.

Title cut is my fave.

Not a bad album, but mostly not my thing.

List so far:
1. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
2. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State
3. Chi-Lites - (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People

Re: Get To Know A Top 10: January 2020 Thread - baystateoftheart

Fischman — Wed, 1 Jan 2020 22:35:39 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 01/02/2020 03:35

I don't recall the discussion or thread topic, but I do recall first hearing about Rhythmes Contemporains from BayState here on BEA. I was enthralled. I wondered if I would still have the same reaction, especially having just enjoyed Kuti so much.

As I listened to it again, I couldn't help wondering why I like it so much. Each song is great fun, but it's so much nonstop bombast, it can be hard to listen to straight through. And I cant help getting an image of it being a soundtrack for a movie that is equal parts cheezy '60s action/adventure with car chases, blaxploitation, and one of the original Pink Panther movies! But hey, I like all those movie genres and I can be a sucker for bombast, so that settles it.... I still dig this in a big way.

So far, this just edges out Kuti for the top spot between just two entries, two great entries so far. And they're close enough I reserve the right to change my mind.

List so far:
1. Janko Nilovic - Rhythmes Contemporains
2. Fela Kuti - Coffin for Head of State