Best Ever Albums

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 5 Jan 2023 08:20:25 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 01/05/2023 13:20

Repo wrote:

OMG! Those concerts sound awesome, Zep! \m/

Hell yeah, catch any of these live if you've got the chance!

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

Repo — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 10:44:31 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 01/03/2023 15:44

OMG! Those concerts sound awesome, Zep! \m/

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 05:04:49 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 01/03/2023 10:04

4. Cura & decko
A local band called "A boy and a girl", "the girl" sings and "the boy" is a DJ, effects, synths, guitars guy. They play some sort of electronic bedroom pop, nothing spectacular on the surface tbh. BUT. This live show was insane. Apparently their main synth died 10 minutes before the show, so they scrapped the setlist and decided to do more of a DJ set/performance than a concert. It was a hit. Singer is the singular most energetic front(wo)man I've ever seen. She was jumping, rolling around, interacting with the crowd, crowdsurfing, dancing (a lot), and just in general being absolutely wild. She had an aura of positive craziness around her, and it was probably amplified by the whole setlist being half-improvised. The set went from Kelly Lee Owens-style electropop ballads to trancey techno and back, maintaining a perfect balance of improv, crowd engagement, showmanship and just playing good music. The highlight was the cover of Kosheen's Hide U, a song I have "rediscovered" relatively recently after loving it in the past.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:36:23 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/30/2022 15:36

5. Duma / Ecko Bazz
Been to a lot of parties and DJ sets this year (I'm not counting them in this concert rundown), but it turns out one of the best raves wasn't a rave at all. It was Ecko Bazz concert. Only around 50 people in a 300 capacity venue, which was actually perfect. As soon as we felt the first bass (or maybe bazz?) note in our stomach, there was no going back. Dude killed it. Raw, industrial, danceable, fun. Everybody had the time of their life. Duma followed that and they were very good as well. This was in April and it was actually the second time seeing them in like 7–8 months. Not sure what a Kenyan metal band is doing in my random ass country 2 times in a year, but I'm all for it. They were better than the first time, had better costumes, better light, fantastic visuals, better sound system and were thankfully quieter. The first time was at the local venue and it was the loudest concert I've ever been to. The sound check almost gave me a heart attack. There were plastic and even glass cups falling from shelves from the overpowering bass, people were running to grab the ear plugs and close the doors, a friend's poor dog was scared and had to go outside. And that was just the soundcheck. Back to the better, 2nd performance. It was fantastic, the singer sounded like a demon and the songs were 10 times as powerful as the studio versions. It also included one of the longest "we want more" chants I've ever heard, it took them like 5 minutes to get back on stage and the small crowd would not give them a break lol. Non-stop chanting for several minutes until they finally did the encore.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 11:43:16 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/29/2022 16:43

Honorable mentions:

Nero Di Marte & Thundercat & The Comet is Coming
Why am I grouping those 3? What does an Italian prog metal machine have in common with the world's best modern jazzy R&B bassist? And what do they have in common with possibly the best nu jazz band right now? Well, I've seen them all at different venues in the span of 2 weeks, and these 3 performances were technically impeccable, the best playing I've heard the whole year. Nero Di Marte were opening for Imperial Triumphant (another great live band), and they were the definition of sounding tight. It's not a purely technical band like Dream Theater, there's some serious heaviness, several atmospheric/ambient parts, insane live vocals... But the best of all is that they sounded like they've been rehearsing this set for years. Playing complex songs as perfectly as possible while having fun on stage, headbanging, jumping, bursting with positive energy. Thundercat had his signature jam session, in terms of pure playing, the best performance of the year. 3 incredible musicians spearheaded by what I now consider to be the best bassist working today. He can play jazz, funk, R&B, pop, rock, hip hop... The Comets were probably the best of these 3. The early festival slot meant that there weren't more than a few hundred people present, but every single person was left in a trance after the 1 hour set. Shabaka was actually playing the back fiddle to the other two members, which was interesting. Seems like the dude doesn't like to be in the spotlight. There was even a drum solo which blew my mind. A drum solo. In 2022.

Dead Can Dance
As a longtime fan, it was a privilege to see them live. Finally. My dad's a huge fan, he's been listening to them since the early 90s and it was his first Dead Can Dance concert as well. In fact the only concert this year where I went with a family member, pretty fun. The venue was more of an opera house than a typical concert venue, really great choice for the occasion. They seem to pick the coolest arenas, amphitheaters, concert halls, etc. in every city they're at. The performance was magical and I consider this a top 5 of the year, despite it not landing on the actual list.

Mastodon / Kvelertak / Baroness
2 great opening bands followed by the legends themselves. I've already seen all of these bands live, but it didn't matter one bit. This was just a couple of days after that festival I went to. The crowd was something else. In comparison to that ok-ish but pretty tame festival crowd, this was a slaughter. I love moshing, but being in the front rows right in the middle of mosh pits wasn't exactly the wisest decision lol. Mother Puncher was insane, but the whole place turned into a chaotic mess of sweaty bodies during the closer, Blood and Thunder. They played Blood and Thunder the last 2 times they were in Zagreb as well, both were crowd requests after the initial encore. This time Brann even stayed to thank the crowd several times after the end, they obviously have a big following and love playing here. It could've been a top 5 concert had I listened to the new album beforehand lol, half of the concert was the new stuff. Oh, and I have Bill Kelliher's pick in my collection now 😁

Idles & Fontaines D.C.
Saw them back to back at a local festival. When somebody talks about "young and hungry" bands, this is exactly what I envision. Idles have been at it for 5+ years, but yeah. Opening up the mosh pit for THAT part of Colossus was a top 1 moment ever. Plus it was the biggest group of friends I've ever been with at the live show, it was like 15 people all lined up in the row, and at least 4 of us knew every single song. A fantastic performance which was followed by me and a friend regrouping near the second stage and losing our shit during the Fontaines show. Lost my voice after that night. Fun times.

Nadja / CZLT
CZLT (Guillaume Cazalet of Neptunian Maximalism) was definitely the more interesting one, but Nadja killed it as well. Wasn't sure what to expect from CZLT, while I knew Nadja would be great. Dude was dressed just like on the Junkyard album cover and he sat throughout the entire performance, just like the great Indian raga masters. It all started with some slow, eerie and quiet drone played from the laptop. After a short 1-minute intro, he started singing. Throat singing, in fact. And it was an otherworldly experience, a chilling moment. He's an insane vocalist, which wasn't that apparent from the studio releases. After some time the loud, noisy drone stuff started and there was no looking back. A long sitar solo, 3-4 different Indian flutes, loud drone. We sat on a cool Turkish-style carpet in the first row and inhaled the incense he was burning onstage. Dreamy, trance-like 45 minutes. Recommended for everyone, even if you're not a fan of this drone metal style. Nadja were loud and relentless. They didn't even bring their own guitars and amps, had to borrow the guitars from a friend of mine, and the performance was still top-notch. Glad I wore ear plugs.

From Another Mother
A local band who always give their all on stage. It's some type of post hardcore mixed with jazzy stuff, art rock, prog etc. Usually aggressive and loud live. Locally known as "men in pants" because they always end up half naked by the end of the concert. The whole show was excellent, the crowd was A+, they ended the concert by moving the drumset to the middle of the floor and playing encircled by the crowd. I even have a short video of that lol. Exactly what I imagine a Fugazi performance might've been like.

Lalalar
Went in completely blind. Didn't know a single thing about the band except that they were from Istanbul and played music similar to Altin Gun. And, having seen both of them this year, I'll vouch for Lalalar. Sure, Altin Gun had a better sound system at the bigger venue, they were pretty good in their own right and nothing tops Supurgesi Yoncadan, but in terms of the raw energy and playing, Lalalar are superior. Had the whole crowd dancing in a matter of seconds. A bombastic performance, the coolness oozes from the band, and they're fun guys to talk to as well, would recommend seeing them live.

Hotline TNT
This was just a fun, chill show. Nothing too spectacular, but I really liked it. The specific thing was that they played in front of the stage, rather than on the stage. All the lights, amps, etc. had to be set up specifically for this show, it was a lot of fun doing that tbh. An intimate noisy shoegaze performance, a perfect Thursday gig which I have fond memories of.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 11:27:49 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/29/2022 16:27

Glad y'all are still following the diary. Took some time off, had some stuff to do over the holidays, but now it's time. For. A new brief project/rundown. This singles project will certainly return in a few days/weeks, but now it's time for something different.

I've been keeping track of all the concerts I've seen since September 2021 (with a pause from February to April this year, didn't go to any concerts for 2 and half months back then for various reasons). Friend's idea, she was doing it before Covid times. She usually beats me by the sheer quantity, but she was a waitress at a local venue at the time, so it makes sense. This time around, I've beaten her and a few other friends who track concerts. Counting every festival performance and every opening band separately (because why not), I've passed the 100 mark, which is my personal record and a respectable score imo. Here's some kind of top 5 with a lot of honorable mentions.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:58:19 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/29/2022 14:58

Mercury wrote:

Hyperballad - can't remember much...
Lazarus - can't remember much about this one for some reason.
HAZARD DUTY PAY! (I have heard this maybe 2 times... con't remember much...)
The Heart Part 5 (heard it once... wasn't impressed. - either low on ranking or in this section)
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising) (while I don't remember loving this - I can't honestly remember anything about it.)
Ashes to Ashes (Have I heard this? Surely! Cam't remember a thing about it. Not a huge Bowie fan.)
Space Song (another one I can't remember. I'm sure I heard it once back when that Beach House album dripped...)

Forgot to comment on this, but I'm really surprised you're not a fan of those 3 bolded songs (nothing wrong with that just surprised). Especially Ashes to Ashes, since you love funky 80s pop rock (Prince). And, like kokkinos said, it's Bowie at one of his most iconic pop moments. I guess it makes sense if you don't like Bowie, fair enough.

kokkinos wrote:

Sunday Morning may not be the most representative VU song, but it’s definitely their most accessible and having it as a single is totally reasonable in that sense. And it’s even more important as part of the album than as a standalone song. If you view the album’s concept as “life in NY” or something along those lines, the entire statement becomes more powerful when you know there’s a glimpse of light even in the darkest corners.

Very interesting observation, I usually say the same thing about VU&N, albeit a bit more specific: it's an album about NY's dirty, gritty underground with its flaws, but also beauty. Even more specific, it's about Warhol's gang of outlaws, queer actors, misunderstood artists, and other castaways finding their place in society. At the same time unsettling and comforting, which is exactly how I imagine living in the alternative 60s culture was.

kokkinos wrote:

Reckoner is the opposite of No Surprises, the more I listen to it, it just keeps getting better. If Paranoid Android was Radiohead at their most progressive/Pink Floyd-ish, then Reckoner sees them channeling their inner Beach Boys: complex arrangements, attention to detail, unique structure, gorgeous yet haunting vocals, simply a piece of sheer beauty.

Another cool comparison I would never make, but fully understand. It is in many ways their Caroline No, with the sparse, gentle background and dominant percussion.

kokkinos wrote:

Paper planes does more than you ‘d expect from a straight banger, a good 5-10 years ahead of its time.

Glad people are feeling the same way. It seemed for a moment like M.I.A. has completely disappeared from the mainstream circles, but in the last few years Paper Planes is back in the rotation, be it radio, internet forums, TikToks or other media. I guess it took some years for the mainstream to catch up.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

kokkinos — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 19:44:59 GMT

Author: kokkinos

Posted: 12/21/2022 00:44

Wow, tons of progress here, you’re on a roll.
Too many great songs -accompanied by very interesting comments - to write anything detailed about them, I’ll just share a few random thoughts.

Sunday Morning may not be the most representative VU song, but it’s definitely their most accessible and having it as a single is totally reasonable in that sense. And it’s even more important as part of the album than as a standalone song. If you view the album’s concept as “life in NY” or something along those lines, the entire statement becomes more powerful when you know there’s a glimpse of light even in the darkest corners.
Paper planes does more than you ‘d expect from a straight banger, a good 5-10 years ahead of its time.
Paranoid Android is a modern day epic. Being “both serious and cartoonish” is the key, that’s a great observation and it’s what makes it stand out - not to mention it actually has a point and escapes the pretentious, art for the sake of art paths that many of their predecessors followed.
Train In Vain is admittedly enjoyable considering where it comes from – to be fair, though, The Clash have always been way more sophisticated than the average punk band. So, yeah, nothing life-changing, but totally acceptable.
HAZARD DUTY PAY! Is a song I can appreciate because of its production and its overall creativity/out of the box thinking and I guess it kinda deserves its place in such lists, but it’s not something I particularly enjoy.
No Surprises made a big first impression on me – I mean, how many popular songs feature such a lullaby-like quality? It has faded ever so slightly over time and I have to agree it isn’t Radiohead’s best. Great video as well, takes the song to the next level.
Blackstar might be Bowie’s greatest achievement, it had left me – and millions of people – speechless when it came out, the self-titled track and Lazarus being the two absolute highlights. He’s drawn influence from various sources, though I’ve always found it striking how the intro is taken straight out of Joy Division’s playbook and as the song progresses, it hits you that this song might be even more crushing than what those Manchester lads were doing, which is sort of unthinkable.
Reckoner is the opposite of No Surprises, the more I listen to it, it just keeps getting better. If Paranoid Android was Radiohead at their most progressive/Pink Floyd-ish, then Reckoner sees them channeling their inner Beach Boys: complex arrangements, attention to detail, unique structure, gorgeous yet haunting vocals, simply a piece of sheer beauty.
Ashes To Ashes is a song only Bowie could make work, incredibly catchy and another example of his genius.
We are on the same page regarding Fishmans, they kinda pass me by.
If My Bloody Valentine were a manic beast, Slowdive were a beautiful fairy and I find this version of shoegaze way more appealing.
Like A Rolling Stone is decent – call that an understatement - , but Dylan has done better in my opinion and it’s a shame that’s his only song in the top-100 when some of the usual suspects have 4 or 5 each.
Hyper-ballad is Bjork in top form, though she has another song on the list that I very much prefer.
Walk on the Wild Side is a great song and the fact that Can I Kick It is even greater only adds to its value.
I’m too much of a fanboy to say anything about the Beatles, a.k.a. the greatest band in the world, so let’s move on.
Let Down is a song that tends to come to my mind whenever I find myself stuck in traffic and, unfortunately, that happens quite frequently, so I have thought about it a lot and have a special connection to it.
I wrote a comment regarding The Mama’s And The Papa’s on my diary the other day, so I won’t repeat it here, I’ll only say that they perfectly capture the atmosphere of the ‘60s and California Dreamin’ is undeniably their magnum opus.
I’ve never been able to relate with the Microphones, not really my cup of tea.

Without putting too much thought into it, that's how my list would look like - made a couple of tweaks along the road, as there were a few songs I had initially overrated or underrated, though I'm still not entirely satisfied, ranking these all-time greats is extremely tricky:

Idioteque
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Shook Ones, Part II
Reckoner
Penny Lane
Alright
Paper Planes
Paranoid Android
Let Down
Like A Rolling Stone
Runaway
Epitaph
Lazarus
Wuthering Heights
No Surprises
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
Be My Baby
Hyper-ballad
Care Of Cell 44
1979
The World Is Yours
The Heart Part 5
Ashes To Ashes
Space Song
Alison
Enjoy The Silence
Jesus, Etc.
Pictures Of You
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
California Dreamin'
Walk on the Wild Side
Sinnerman
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
Train In Vain
The Moon
When You Sleep
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Night Cruising
Sugar/Tzu
Marquee Moon

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

Mercury — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 19:30:03 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 12/16/2022 00:30

LedZep wrote:

That's true about other, usually later, releases of the B sides as singles. And yeah I get that that aspect of trying to compare 1 song against 2 would be a bit illogical and weird and awkward.

LedZep wrote:

Also love your rankings, the tier bit is fantastic. Imma steal that idea for the final post and ranking of all 100 songs (if we ever get there :D).

Thanks! I enjoy that aspect of ranking. I used it initially in that Punk/Metal project on my diary then dropped it when it became a bit too big and unwieldy. I may introduce it again when I get to mid 1983 in that chronological thing.

LedZep wrote:

The Strawberry Fields comment is also spot on. Also not the biggest Beatles fan, but they tend to have some songs which sound and feel legendary. Not sure if I can express my feelings correctly, but the moment I hear the Strawberry Fields intro, I feel like I'm witnessing an important moment in music history. Which raises an interesting question: if I was born under a rock and never heard a Beatles song in my life, but still know and listen to a lot of pop/rock music, would I consider Beatles a legendary, influential band with timeless singles, or would they be just another band? Probably a mix of both.

Yep, great track and revolutionary... I think.

As for the hypothetical laid out above... I don't know. I think they invaded america with one sound and then quite adventurously and unexpectedly went about changing and expanding their sound to wild degrees. To a large degree I'm sure the more realistic or quasi-cynical take that it was mostly marketing that blew them up has some merit. But I tend to think they were an incredibly adventurous and daring pop group that also had world class marketing and a certain perfect look and sound and producer and the whole confluence of factors made a monster for all time. If they'd never broken out and some music geeks discovered years later tracks like Strawberry Fields and Eleanor Rigby and A Day In The Life and While My Guitar Genrly Weeps and on and on and on... they would be hailed as lost and overlooked geniuses. That is my opinion, anyway. Impossible to know.

Do I think their greatness is overstated? Sometimes I do. Sometimes I think it's deserved.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 04:08:07 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/15/2022 09:08

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zMqYFPVstmnAny58iz1im?si=4964813074344a2f (mid September 2022)

60 remaining. Random number generator gives us: 58, 27

The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin'
Position: 95

The most sunshine of all the sunshine pop tracks. If I had to guess, I'd say it's one of the LA anthems as well. I 100% associate this with Chungking Express (rather than LA), which is a positive for the song ofc, anything connected to Wong Kar Wai is cool by default. Honestly I don't have much to say here, a very good pop song, which is not a rarity on this list, but I do love it nonetheless. An iconic song in the 60s music for sure, with The Mamas & The Papas version being a definitive one.

"I've been for a walk
On a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreamin'
On such a winter's day"

The Microphones - The Moon
Position: 46

One of the least sunshine songs on the list. It's not the darkest cut from The Glow Pt. 2, but compared to a lot of these singles, it's bleak af. Raw, emotional and love the narrating style Phil uses. The favourite moment is easily around 1:18 when the nice acoustic intro suddenly bursts into one of the noisiest riffs on the whole album. The saxophones are a fun addition, though I have a feeling I'd prefer it if those same melodies were played on other instruments (guitars for example). IDK, saxophones make me feel like it's an epic, life-affirming song, in juxtaposition with the somber lyrics. I understand most people actually love that about The Moon, but it sometimes rubs me the wrong way. In conclusion, it's an excellent song.

"And every night when the sun went down in the town where we live
The empty streets were lit up by reflective light
From a distant sun bouncing off a glowing ball of rock
We just lied on the roof and watched
The moon, the blue light of the moon
The moon, the moon, the blue light of the moon
We didn't talk and silently we both felt powerful
Like the moon, my chest was full
Because we both knew we're just floating in space over molten rock
And we felt safe and we discovered that our skin is soft
There's nothing left except certain death
And that was comforting at night out under the moon

I went out last night to forget that
I went out and stared it down
But the moon just stared back at me
And in its light I saw my two feet on the ground"

Sunday Morning
Hyperballad
Pictures of You
Epitaph
Marquee Moon
Idioteque
The Shook Ones Pt. II
The World Is Yours
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
1979
Lazarus
Let Down
Walk on the Wild Side
When You Sleep
Paranoid Android
Alison
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Wuthering Heights
Penny Lane
Paper Planes
The Moon
Like a Rolling Stone
No Surprises
Care of Cell 44
Train In Vain (Stand By Me)
Alright
Sugar/Tzu
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Ashes to Ashes
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
California Dreamin'
Reckoner
Runaway
Enjoy the Silence
The Heart Part 5
Sinnerman
Jesus, Etc.
Be My Baby
Space Song
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising)

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 04:04:04 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/15/2022 09:04

Mercury wrote:

FINAL NOTE:

Looking more closely at a lot of these RYM top 100 singles, it's clear that especially with older singles, much of the love and legend is DEFINITELY side B of the 45. In many cases the side B is a definite afterthought and doesn't seem to be at all what is being rated.

the ones that seem to be more a reflection of BOTH sides' quality or even more so a result of the great side B:

Penny Lane AND Strawberry Fields Forever
Train In Vain AND London Calling
Suzanne AND Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye by Leonard Cohen
Alone Again Or AND A House Is Not A Motel
Something AND Come Together by The Beatles
Atmosphere AND She's Lost Control by Joy Division
Teenage Riot AND Silver Rocket/Kissability by Sonic Youth
Starman AND Suffragette City by David Bowie
Disintegration AND Plainsong by The Cure
Sunday Morning AND Femme Fatale
Let Down AND Karma Police
Wouldn't It Be Nice AND God Only Knows

I put in BOLD above the singles where I think it can be argued or its pretty obvious that SIDE B is the more significant and revered and famous song. If you get to say, Wouldn't It Be Nice/God Only Knows and only write about and rank Side A you will be missing out on the reason why that single is often cited as the absolute pop music GOAT.

Obviously for a fun project like this it may be hard to compare a "single" of the last 30 years where it was commonly released with no Side B to a more traditional Single which is a 45 with 2 sides and in most cases they both were submitted to radio to be played.

Definitely that bolded bit, which is why I've decided to go 1 (main A side) song per single. It's also how I rate singles on RYM in general, cause it's hard comparing 2 or 3 songs to 1. I mean, I love Hyperballad, but it wouldn't stand a chance against pretty much any pair of singles you've listed here. 2 great songs > 1 really great song. I'm glad you've listed the B sides though, that's probably what I should've done in the reviews in the first place - not to rate the B sides, but to show the full historical/musical value and to better understand the context, like you said. However, some of these classic B sides were also released as standalone singles (usually later) and are listed as such on RYM - God Only Knows, She's Lost Control, London Calling etc. I should probably highlight the history of the single in question a bit more in the reviews.

Also love your rankings, the tier bit is fantastic. Imma steal that idea for the final post and ranking of all 100 songs (if we ever get there :D).

The Strawberry Fields comment is also spot on. Also not the biggest Beatles fan, but they tend to have some songs which sound and feel legendary. Not sure if I can express my feelings correctly, but the moment I hear the Strawberry Fields intro, I feel like I'm witnessing an important moment in music history. Which raises an interesting question: if I was born under a rock and never heard a Beatles song in my life, but still know and listen to a lot of pop/rock music, would I consider Beatles a legendary, influential band with timeless singles, or would they be just another band? Probably a mix of both.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

Mercury — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:32:34 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 12/14/2022 01:32

FINAL NOTE:

Looking more closely at a lot of these RYM top 100 singles, it's clear that especially with older singles, much of the love and legend is DEFINITELY side B of the 45. In many cases the side B is a definite afterthought and doesn't seem to be at all what is being rated.

the ones that seem to be more a reflection of BOTH sides' quality or even more so a result of the great side B:

Penny Lane AND Strawberry Fields Forever
Train In Vain AND London Calling
Suzanne AND Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye by Leonard Cohen
Alone Again Or AND A House Is Not A Motel
Something AND Come Together by The Beatles
Atmosphere AND She's Lost Control by Joy Division
Teenage Riot AND Silver Rocket/Kissability by Sonic Youth
Starman AND Suffragette City by David Bowie
Disintegration AND Plainsong by The Cure
Sunday Morning AND Femme Fatale
Let Down AND Karma Police
Wouldn't It Be Nice AND God Only Knows

I put in BOLD above the singles where I think it can be argued or its pretty obvious that SIDE B is the more significant and revered and famous song. If you get to say, Wouldn't It Be Nice/God Only Knows and only write about and rank Side A you will be missing out on the reason why that single is often cited as the absolute pop music GOAT.

Obviously for a fun project like this it may be hard to compare a "single" of the last 30 years where it was commonly released with no Side B to a more traditional Single which is a 45 with 2 sides and in most cases they both were submitted to radio to be played.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

Mercury — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:10:22 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 12/14/2022 01:10

Oh and my own ranking thus far for the songs you've covered are like this. I may update this as time goes by.

Would Be In A List of My All Time Favorite 100 Songs Tier
Like a Rolling Stone
Runaway
Reckoner

Great and I love these tier
Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever
Train In Vain (Stand By Me)
Paranoid Android
Pictures of You
Sunday Morning
Penny Lane (on it's own)
The Shook Ones Pt. II
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)

I Really Like These but they don't stick out as favorites from that artist/band/album tier
Alison
Care of Cell 44
Idioteque
No Surprises
1979
Epitaph
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Jesus, Etc.

Yeah These are cool ... tier
Be My Baby
When You Sleep
Let Down
Paper Planes
Wuthering Heights
Sinnerman
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
The World Is Yours

Meh or I don't really get why its so so loved tier
Marquee Moon
Enjoy the Silence
Sugar/Tzu

I kinda don't like these unless in a specific mood ... tier
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Alright

I don't like it... tear
Walk on the Wild Side

I Don't Remember and withhold final judgement tier

Hyperballad - can't remember much...
Lazarus - can't remember much about this one for some reason.
HAZARD DUTY PAY! (I have heard this maybe 2 times... con't remember much...)
The Heart Part 5 (heard it once... wasn't impressed. - either low on ranking or in this section)
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising) (while I don't remember loving this - I can't honestly remember anything about it.)
Ashes to Ashes (Have I heard this? Surely! Cam't remember a thing about it. Not a huge Bowie fan.)
Space Song (another one I can't remember. I'm sure I heard it once back when that Beach House album dripped...)

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

Mercury — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:34:16 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 12/14/2022 00:34

I haven't checked to see how much this may have effected other singles thus far covered here, but a significant reason why "Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields" single is so revered and so high is, well, that second half of the single as well. Both songs are great but Strawberry Fields has always held an extra special place in my heart - and I'm not even a massive Beatles fan. But shit that dreamy atmosphere featured on side B is sublime and the deadened, almost sad vocal of John Lennon is awesome.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:17:32 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/13/2022 16:17

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zMqYFPVstmnAny58iz1im?si=4964813074344a2f (mid September 2022)

62 remaining. Random number generator gives us: 5, 8

The Beatles - Penny Lane
Position: 7

Wow, we're almost 40 songs in and this is only the first Beatles track. A surprise to be sure, don't know if it's a welcome one or not. Neutral I guess. They do have a plethora of incredible singles, I would gladly rank many of them near the top, but there's no need to overdo it. And that applies to every band. Yes, that's a subtle dig at the R-band represented below, as well as some others who will have more than 3 songs. In retrospect, I probably should've gone for a 1 per artist version of this same game, it'd be much more interesting.

I digress. Penny Lane is a cool and representative song, although I'm not quite sure how and why it's the number one rated Beatles track and the 7th best single of all time. It's entirely possible that I don't understand the Beatles lore enough. While definitely being a huge single, a fairly forward-thinking pop song and a fantastic accomplishment overall, I'm not sure I'd rank it in the top 5 most important Beatles singles. Nothing against Penny Lane, I have a lot of love and admiration for it, but I have a feeling it's neither the biggest nor the best song they've done. One of the essential McCartney pop singles though, that much's true. With that slight concern out of the way, let's talk about England winning the 66' World Cup. From what I've read, the country was at its happy period in 66' and the biggest British band perfectly captured that. The old classist worldview was seriously outdated at that point and, according to some historians, the people needed a workers song to reflect that. Penny Lane, with its "blue suburban skies", catchiness, young, naive optimism, Northern imagery and English smug (as well as a brass band) fit right in. I'm sure it was a great time - for some people. Right now I'm having a great time revisiting this classic. I'm more of a psychedelic, artsy and rock Beatles enjoyer than a McCartney pop fan, but the quality of this tune is undeniable. Simple pop structure with some quirks, genius chord progression and chorus.

Even the song name reflects the shift in the mindset, with Lennon and McCartney choosing to write about a random Liverpool street where they used to meet and play in their childhood, rather than a significant or illustrious avenue. The lyrics are English through and through, describing the daily lives of various characters one could encounter on the street. Makes me want to live in the 60s England, despite knowing quite well that it's not nearly as idyllic as described.

I've just now realized that Penny Lane was a double A-side single with Strawberry Fields Forever. It all makes sense now, it's the biggest single pairing you could possibly think of and Strawberry Fields Forever has an even better reputation and is overall a greater song than the A-side we're discussing here (at least imo). Two of them combined are easily top 7 of all time.

Radiohead - Let Down
Position: 11

Unlike their compatriots above, Radiohead already have 5(!) songs on the list, with at least 1 more to come iirc. Another strong but unusual single from OK Computer, much more unconventional than No Surprises and just as cool as Paranoid Android. What really stands out here is the overdubbing of Thom's vocals, which creates an epic sounding harmony. Excellent buildup throughout the track, masterfully adding both vocal and instrumental layers until there's almost a cacophony of sounds. It manages to sound even more epic near the end than it does in the first verse. Despite that, the first verse is my fave, not only lyrically, but it's also the first time a listener is introduced to the vocal layering technique, which makes it a fresh and more impactful experience. A good one.

"Transport
Motorways and tramlines
Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people
Clinging onto bottles
And when it comes it's so so disappointing"

Sunday Morning
Hyperballad
Pictures of You
Epitaph
Marquee Moon
Idioteque
The Shook Ones Pt. II
The World Is Yours
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
1979
Lazarus
Let Down
Walk on the Wild Side
When You Sleep
Paranoid Android
Alison
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Wuthering Heights
Penny Lane
Paper Planes
Like a Rolling Stone
No Surprises
Care of Cell 44
Train In Vain (Stand By Me)
Alright
Sugar/Tzu
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Ashes to Ashes
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Reckoner
Runaway
Enjoy the Silence
The Heart Part 5
Sinnerman
Jesus, Etc.
Be My Baby
Space Song
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising)

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Fri, 2 Dec 2022 10:39:22 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/02/2022 15:39

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zMqYFPVstmnAny58iz1im?si=4964813074344a2f (mid September 2022)

64 remaining. Random number generator gives us: 37, 54

Björk - Hyperballad
Position: 57

Once upon a time I'd confidently declare this the best Bjork song and a top whatever song of all time. Album version, of course. Repeated listens have taken their toll, I'm slightly less enchanted by this pop gem, but I still consider it a close to perfect song. Here's what she had to say about the lyrics:

Björk wrote:

The critical time in a relationship, which usually happens after 3 years, and I can see all around me with all my friends. It’s got to do that when you fall in love it is so precious to you, you never know this might be the last time, so your behaviour towards the loved one becomes very sweet and you go somewhere else to be aggressive. Because I believe that all people have got both sides. So you end up having to unload your aggressions at a bar or by throwing cuttlery off cliffs. So you can come back to your loved one, kiss him sweet on his cheek, and say happily, ‘Hi honey.’

It's widely known how weird and forward thinking Hyperballad was in 1995. After all, you could say that it still feels unique and unrivaled in the electronic pop music spheres today. It's aged really well imo, even if some of the production and aesthetics are 90s through and through, reminding the listener of the (at the time) ongoing UK electronic revolution. There's a bit of Massive Attack and/or Portishead influence here, some New Order, Pet Shop Boys and similar indie dance stuff, perhaps even Happy Mondays or Saint Etienne and, of course, a weird artsy twist. But you'd never mistake Bjork's style for any of her contemporaries - both the instrumentals and her distinctive voice. It's also easy to see she was following the electronic music scene religiously, it's not just the indie darlings and crossover artists who have influenced her. And the feeling was mutual, as evidenced by the variety of remixes, including by some of the big guys like LFO (1997), Robin Hood (1996), Fluke (1996) etc. The original chorus and bridge (from 3:12 'till the end) rival pretty much any dance, house or techno beat of the time - the only difference is that she's channeling her inner Kate Bush and singing pop melodies over those instrumentals. The melodies are one of the most distinctive features of Bjork's music, they're as unusual as they're catchy, often borrowing (or being directly sampled) from various underground gems. The sampling, sound engineering and production work deserves a whole book so I'm not gonna try to explain it here. The whole idea of throwing various pop and electronic genres in the blender and giving the product a distinct, avant-Bjork spin has left a lasting impression not only on the music scene, but on me personally. I've never thought about this before, but I'm sure my love for the pop/(UK) electronic mix (Kelly Lee Owens, Eartheater, Breaka stuff with guest vocals, Palm Trax remixes, perhaps even Underworld, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers and the bunch, Goldie, Kosheen...) can be traced back to Bjork. I'm always on the hunt for electronic stuff with pop sensibilities that I can throw into sets and dance to, as well as art pop stuff leaning heavily on the electronic background which I can enjoy at home. In conclusion, this is easily one of the best songs from the list.

Michael Gondry's video is splendid:

Link

Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
Position: 85

I don't actually love this song as much as I adore the lyrics. It's such a vivid, direct and dirty, yet heartfelt look at Warhol's NY gang. From the drug use to sexuality to celebrating their differences and similarities alike. I just love Lou Reed's songwriting, one of the rare lyricists which actually make me stop and think about the text in depth. The song title is perfect as well, it's a look at the wild side of NY scene. It does help that one of the coolest, if not straight up best hip hop beats ever samples the main melody. It's such a simple and powerful melody that it works both as a catchy, melancholic pop rock tune and as a base of the beat. Placing Lou next to his good friend David.

Sunday Morning
Hyperballad
Pictures of You
Epitaph
Marquee Moon
Idioteque
The Shook Ones Pt. II
The World Is Yours
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
1979
Lazarus
Walk on the Wild Side
When You Sleep
Paranoid Android
Alison
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Wuthering Heights
Paper Planes
Like a Rolling Stone
No Surprises
Care of Cell 44
Train In Vain (Stand By Me)
Alright
Sugar/Tzu
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Ashes to Ashes
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Reckoner
Runaway
Enjoy the Silence
The Heart Part 5
Sinnerman
Jesus, Etc.
Be My Baby
Space Song
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising)

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Fri, 2 Dec 2022 10:31:20 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/02/2022 15:31

Mercury wrote:

I'm gonna have to stop you there, LedZep. I believe Like A Rolling Stone - BY DEFAULT - goes at number 1 on all such lists.

:lol: And with good reason. I do love the song, it's just not my absolute favourite Dylan style. So, naturally, I prefer his other cuts.

Mercury wrote:

That aside, love the write ups! I am surprised by the number 1 being Sunday Morning so far! I would not have guessed that coming in. But it is an incredible track!

I'm surprised too if I'm being honest, but after listening to these 40 tracks, there just isn't a single one I like more. Makes sense though, I'm a big fan of VU&N and consider several tracks to be my all time faves (Venus in Furs, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, Sunday Morning, perhaps even I'll Be Your Mirror).

Mercury wrote:

And I generally agree with you about Fishmans and Night Cruising. I have never clicked with their creative blend of styles. I will never forget the first moment in about 2013 when I went to explore RYM for the first time and I saw that their music was idolized almost as much as all time legends like The Beach Boys and Beatles. That was the moment I was like "Wait... how have I completely missed out on even hearing ABOUT this band?!". I proceeded to listen to their albums half a dozen times here and there over the years and at best I have come away thinking "That was really good, solid as hell.".

Really good, solid as hell is how I'd describe Long Season and the 98 live, but definitely not Night Cruising. Unfortunately, nothing about that one particularly excites me. Definitely agree with the rest, I also had a feeling (and still have, to a degree) that I'm missing out on a great band. Turns out I do love some dream pop, just not the brand that Fishmans play.

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

Mercury — Thu, 1 Dec 2022 19:58:35 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 12/02/2022 00:58

I'm gonna have to stop you there, LedZep. I believe Like A Rolling Stone - BY DEFAULT - goes at number 1 on all such lists.

------

That aside, love the write ups! I am surprised by the number 1 being Sunday Morning so far! I would not have guessed that coming in. But it is an incredible track!

And I generally agree with you about Fishmans and Night Cruising. I have never clicked with their creative blend of styles. I will never forget the first moment in about 2013 when I went to explore RYM for the first time and I saw that their music was idolized almost as much as all time legends like The Beach Boys and Beatles. That was the moment I was like "Wait... how have I completely missed out on even hearing ABOUT this band?!". I proceeded to listen to their albums half a dozen times here and there over the years and at best I have come away thinking "That was really good, solid as hell.".

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Thu, 1 Dec 2022 09:07:21 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 12/01/2022 14:07

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zMqYFPVstmnAny58iz1im?si=4964813074344a2f (mid September 2022)

66 remaining. Random number generator gives us: 17, 45

Slowdive - Alison
Position: 31

Love me some Slowdive, wouldn't characterize myself as a big fan or anything, but when they hit, they really hit. Alison is one of those songs. Such a bittersweet, melancholic sound that transports you to a different dimension. This sound is the definition of "dream pop" to me, it can't get any dreamier, hazier or more psychedelic than this. And it's not at all abrasive, which you'd expect from something with such a chaotic atmosphere and disintegrating guitar wallofsound/riffs/melodies/something. A stroke of genius. This is probably the first time ever that I'm reading the lyrics, looks cool as well. I have a lot more admiration for Slowdive than I actually love their music it seems, which probably has something to do with not listening to them enough 🤣

Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
Position: 66

Probably the hardest song on this list to write about. It's one of the most iconic songs of all time, and I truly mean that. It has shaped so much of Dylan's career and 60s music, it's been quoted as the best song of all time by everybody and their gran (including that (in)famous Rolling Stone list), it's the quintessential "quirky Dylan" song. Yes, I like to call that phase the "quirky Dylan" as opposed to the "storytelling Dylan", although those two styles certainly do have an overlap. I love the "storytelling Dylan" of the 70s, Desire and Blood on the Tracks era, while I find myself being somewhat less entertained by the 60s rock trilogy. That being said, Like a Rolling Stone feels like a perfect blend of both styles. A piece of history and an incredible statement, as well as a tremendous song, while not being among his absolute best for me personally.

kokkinos is a much better and more meticulous writer than me (come back to your diary man!), not to mention a bigger Dylan fan overall, so here's his snippet about the song. Might be the best paragraph in his whole Dylan project.

kokkinos wrote:

Opening with his most classic song (for real, is there a more iconic moment in music history than the snare drum that opens Like A Rolling Stone?) and it’s worth all the praise it’s received – but if you want my hot take, it’s barely a top-3 song here, which speaks volumes about the quality of the rest of the material here and is by no means a criticism towards it. Its structure is nothing short of awe-inspiring. It starts as a fairy tale, everything’s rosy for our little princess. The verses slowly build up in intensity, he triumphantly strips her of all the glory and grandeur that surrounds her, as he puts on display her flaws (she Is arrogant, pretentious, insensitive, disrespectful, superficial, you name it) that lead to her dramatic, thundering fall. I’ve always had the impression that the chorus is meant to release tension, a moment of catharsis, she’s reached the bottom of the barrel, his “attack” is less vicious, almost soft. And the one million dollar question: Who is it addressed to? Is it real-life inspired, is there a specific person, could it be a friend that betrayed him or a lover that left him, or no one in particular (as the last verse opens up to include “all the pretty people”)? It doesn’t matter that much, some things are better left unsaid (and it inspires everyone to draw his own conclusions, some of them are surprisingly inventive, there’s even an interpretation that the song deals with drugs, i.e. the person in question had everything, did drugs and lost it all, had a good laugh while reading it, but I have to admit this theory is a stretch to say the least). One thing’s for sure, the bitterness comes through crystal clear, that’s the epitome of a diss track a good 3 decades before they were cool. Even the finest efforts (No Vaseline, Ether, Hit Em Up, etc.) would have a hard time keeping up with this. Another technique he’s mastered during this stage of his career is his tendency to include various, seemingly random yet undeniably mysterious and fascinating characters that add an extra dimension to each song (in this case it’s the mystery tramp, the diplomat and his Siamese Cat and of course Napoleon in rags). The way he handles the chorus, for example changing lyrics from one to the other, is of interest as well, though I have to resort to my favourite method of pointing to another album, as the chorus “manipulation” so to speak reached its peak in Blonde On Blonde, thus I’ll keep this subject for later.

Sunday Morning
Pictures of You
Epitaph
Marquee Moon
Idioteque
The Shook Ones Pt. II
The World Is Yours
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
1979
Lazarus
When You Sleep
Paranoid Android
Alison
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Wuthering Heights
Paper Planes
Like a Rolling Stone
No Surprises
Care of Cell 44
Train In Vain (Stand By Me)
Alright
Sugar/Tzu
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Ashes to Ashes
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Reckoner
Runaway
Enjoy the Silence
The Heart Part 5
Sinnerman
Jesus, Etc.
Be My Baby
Space Song
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising)

Re: Top 5 concerts of 2022

LedZep — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:35:21 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 11/29/2022 11:35

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zMqYFPVstmnAny58iz1im?si=4964813074344a2f (mid September 2022)

68 remaining. Random number generator gives us: 63, 53

David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Position: 92

From the most hopeless Bowie to the funkiest, junkiest and most fun Bowie. A wonderful funky new wave jam, showing us that he truly was the biggest chameleon in popular music. His most experimental phase has just finished, he got out of bed one day and thought "I'm feeling happy this week, what about a trendy pop masterpiece". And just like that, he was already back on the charts with his most successful single at that point. It went on to top the UK charts and was successful all over the Europe (and US and the world to a slightly lesser extent). At the time the most expensive music video ever, it was trying to capitalize on the sudden rise of MTV and music video culture. Honestly, I like the video better than the song, which is a fantastic pop tune in its own right, but far from my preferred Bowie style. The video on the other hand influenced the New Romantic movement in England. It's iconic, yet almost forgotten for some reason, or at least I've rarely seen it mentioned. A lyrical successor to Space Oddity, but absolutely not a spiritual successor. It's much more upbeat and decidedly less epic. "Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know major Tom's a junkie" might be one of the most iconic lines he's written.

Here's the video. In the process, I've mistakenly clicked on "Faith No More - Ashes to Ashes", another truly great single (and honestly a better song overall - go listen to that one as well).

Link

Fishmans - ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising)
Position: 78

Ok, this is the one that will probably raise some eyebrows. Sorry to everyone reading this, but I... don't care for this song at all. Much less so than even Beach House. Fishmans are hit or miss for me, their two most acclaimed releases are very good, but apart from that I've struggled to really get into them. And honestly even Long Season and that live aren't really among my absolute favourite things ever done. However, the biggest surprise wasn't how little I cared for this song, it was how many people seem to love it. It's by far the biggest surprise on the list for now (and I have a feeling it'll remain that way). I knew Fishmans were one of those YT recommendation bands who made it big years after their tragic end, but they dominate RYM charts. Had no clue about that, and I don't mind it at all. Japanese dream pop, even when it's not entirely to my liking, is something I can get behind. Ranking this last since I'm not cool.

Sunday Morning
Pictures of You
Epitaph
Marquee Moon
Idioteque
The Shook Ones Pt. II
The World Is Yours
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
1979
Lazarus
When You Sleep
Paranoid Android
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Wuthering Heights
Paper Planes
No Surprises
Care of Cell 44
Train In Vain (Stand By Me)
Alright
Sugar/Tzu
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Ashes to Ashes
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Reckoner
Runaway
Enjoy the Silence
The Heart Part 5
Sinnerman
Jesus, Etc.
Be My Baby
Space Song
ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising)