Best Ever Albums

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Spyglass — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 14:19:47 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 08/28/2020 18:19

Hayden wrote:

I don't mean to downplay it, I think it's a fine album, but I still find it weird The Boatman's Call is our #1 Nick Cave. I know there isn't really a consensus magnum opus in his discography, but it just feels odd that it's always been at the top here.I'd make a pretty safe bet in saying Nick Cave will continue to steadily climb in our rankings. One or two more albums down the road, I could see him landing our top 40.

I find that the overall consensus of a large group varies depending on where you go. I was pretty surprised when I saw that on Rateyourmusic their top selection was my favorite, Let Love In. But I've had to listen to a few Nick Cave albums a couple of times to get a better idea of which seemed to be the best. When I think of the best work someone's done, I often go with the one I consider the most in-tune with the artist's style. Ex: I would choose Vertigo over Psycho because the Hitchcockian style revolves mostly around psych thrillers and romance. Was the horror thing even a Hitchcockian staple before the 60's?

The Bad Seeds always reinventing themselves so it's much harder to decide. In the end, I went with Let Love In because it's the darkest of the band's early career and it modernizes while leaving some room for the punk blues of Henry's Dream and Kicking Against the Pricks. But with the band's exceptional modernization skill, it would easily attract so many new fans who like so many different things that the results will typically be mixed.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

BozoTyrannus — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:55:39 GMT

Author: BozoTyrannus

Posted: 08/28/2020 17:55

The biggest surprise for me was the almost complete lack of blues throughout.

I mean, I was the only person who voted for BB King

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

badseed — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 16:03:45 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 08/15/2020 20:03

This actually feels like I won a prize. I know I'm more passionate about our movie lists, but out of any of the lists we've done, that's my favorite single placement we've come up with. I honestly still would have been tickled pink if they'd have been #40 so this is like when a relative who normally gives you 20 bucks for Christmas gives you 200 instead.

Oh, and I also had quite a few electronic acts on my list. The thing is electronic artists are like Nick Cave albums. Nobody agrees which is best.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Hayden — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 11:12:09 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 08/15/2020 15:12

LedZep wrote:

t's a 5-way tie for me: Your Funeral, My Trial, Tender Prey, Henry's Dream, Let Love In, Skeleton Tree. And we've already established that he doesn't have a consensus "best" album, so every new listener will probably find a personal favourite. Hell even the three of us discussing cannot agree :D

I can't even agree amongst myself 🤣 I'm Murder Ballads / Skeleton Tree / Let Love In, and can't pick between the three. They usually rotate on my chart.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

LedZep — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 07:35:49 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 08/15/2020 11:35

Hayden wrote:

I don't mean to downplay it, I think it's a fine album, but I still find it weird The Boatman's Call is our #1 Nick Cave. I know there isn't really a consensus magnum opus in his discography, but it just feels odd that it's always been at the top here. I've always had a hard time ranking Cave... it feels like he has six or seven albums that could be his 'best' on any given day depending on the mood. Still, some of his releases feel a smidge low on our charts. If Let Love In or Skeleton Tree had a massive overnight jump into our top 200, I don't think anyone would question it. I've also always felt like BEA needs to give a bit more love to Tender Prey and Henry's Dream... both are in my top five from him.

I'd make a pretty safe bet in saying Nick Cave will continue to steadily climb in our rankings. One or two more albums down the road, I could see him landing our top 40.

It's a 5-way tie for me: Your Funeral, My Trial, Tender Prey, Henry's Dream, Let Love In, Skeleton Tree. I 100% agree with The Boatman's Call, it's always been in the middle of the pack for me. And personally I don't care much about his rankings on BEA. Yes they're a bit weird, but everyone who delves deeper into music, be it on BEA, RYM or using any other resource, is bound to listen to some Bad Seeds sooner or later. And we've already established that he doesn't have a consensus "best" album, so every new listener will probably find a personal favourite. Hell even the three of us discussing cannot agree 😁

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

badseed — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 20:17:19 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 08/15/2020 00:17

Hayden wrote:

I don't mean to downplay it, I think it's a fine album, but I still find it weird The Boatman's Call is our #1 Nick Cave. I know there isn't really a consensus magnum opus in his discography, but it just feels odd that it's always been at the top here. I've always had a hard time ranking Cave... it feels like he has six or seven albums that could be his 'best' on any given day depending on the mood. Still, some of his releases feel a smidge low on our charts. If Let Love In or Skeleton Tree had a massive overnight jump into our top 200, I don't think anyone would question it. I've also always felt like BEA needs to give a bit more love to Tender Prey and Henry's Dream... both are in my top five from him.

I'd make a pretty safe bet in saying Nick Cave will continue to steadily climb in our rankings. One or two more albums down the road, I could see him landing our top 40.

Out of their 17 studio albums I've had 11 different favorites in the short time I've been listening, many of which made my #1 overall for one or more periods of time. All but two of their albums have appeared in my overall top 100 at one point or another.

I personally don't fault BEA for Boatman's Call because, while I generally consider it among their "middle of the pack" albums, when the timing and mood is right it really slaps and jumps into my top 3-5. Same deal with Your Funeral, My Trial. I believe it's my most recently assessed #1, but is it their career best? No way. It doesn't touch half of them in historical significance or artistic quality, and outside of the title track it isn't very fun to sing along to. But I listened to it the most recently and it happened to hit just right at the time.

I agree Tender Prey's ranking is a bit of a travesty. Most other places it's a consensus top 1-4. However, Henry's Dream is about where it should be. I love it dearly but it isn't one of the 6 or 7 that I could listen to without bias and seriously question why they aren't one of the most famous bands in history. Don't get me wrong; each of the 9 tracks is a banger, and 3 of those (Straight to You, John Finn's Wife, Loom of the Land) are probably among their top 10-15 songs.

Releasing couple more albums should certainly elevate them to a higher ranking on the main page, although many artists in his current vicinity (Bon Iver @ 63, Animal Collective @ 66, LCD Soundsystem @ 68, GY!BE @ 70, Vampire Weekend @ 76, Beach House @77) could slow that process in one of three ways:
1. By having a more productive output, thus simply surpassing him due to quantity instead of quality (Beach House releases 5 albums in one year because fuck it, it's Beach House)
2. By releasing an equal amount of albums that receive more slightly more love on people's charts than Nick's (Let's be honest, Bon Iver just has to make an album that is kinda not sucky and it's gonna be top 5 of the year while Nick could release another masterpiece that ranks 12th of the same year)
3. Being less productive than Nick, but it's their best work ever (It isn't unthinkable that in the next 5 years we get 2 Bad Seeds records that are top 10-15 of the year, but just one LCD Soundsystem album that is immediately praised as their greatest album and locks down our #1 of the 2020s thumbnail for the rest of BEA's existence)

😕

Seriously though, the exposure of being #7 here should raise interest amongst the many users that have and will view this list, and that may translate to some charts over time.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Hayden — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 17:16:48 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 08/14/2020 21:16

badseed wrote:

Absolutely. I just checked and indeed the top 6 ranked artists based on BEA charts are the top 6 here. When I first discovered Nick he was way further back. Like #150 or so. Since then he's released two albums that were highly acclaimed both on BEA and most everywhere else that certainly gave him a boost, as he currently is at #65. While I don't consider myself anything close to the most influential user on BEA I'd like to believe I've helped him out some as well through my seldom yet passionate praise.

I don't mean to downplay it, I think it's a fine album, but I still find it weird The Boatman's Call is our #1 Nick Cave. I know there isn't really a consensus magnum opus in his discography, but it just feels odd that it's always been at the top here. I've always had a hard time ranking Cave... it feels like he has six or seven albums that could be his 'best' on any given day depending on the mood. Still, some of his releases feel a smidge low on our charts. If Let Love In or Skeleton Tree had a massive overnight jump into our top 200, I don't think anyone would question it. I've also always felt like BEA needs to give a bit more love to Tender Prey and Henry's Dream... both are in my top five from him.

I'd make a pretty safe bet in saying Nick Cave will continue to steadily climb in our rankings. One or two more albums down the road, I could see him landing our top 40.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

badseed — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 16:53:59 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 08/14/2020 20:53

Spyglass wrote:

As the potentially greatest songwriter on Earth he deserves to be in the top ten.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Spyglass — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 21:02:40 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 08/14/2020 01:02

badseed wrote:

Okay, correct me if I'm wrong. Been a while since I checked. But that top 6, that's the actual BEA top 6 ranked artists (albeit in a different order). So the fact that Nick Cave is #7 is so so so so so amazing. Like, wow. Yes. Thank you.

As the potentially greatest songwriter on Earth he deserves to be in the top ten.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

badseed — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:00:30 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 08/13/2020 23:00

Okay, correct me if I'm wrong. Been a while since I checked. But that top 6, that's the actual BEA top 6 ranked artists (albeit in a different order). So the fact that Nick Cave is #7 is so so so so so amazing. Like, wow. Yes. Thank you.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Spyglass — Sun, 9 Aug 2020 14:29:51 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 08/09/2020 18:29

Shunning time.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

RoundTheBend — Sun, 9 Aug 2020 14:11:37 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 08/09/2020 18:11

Gowi wrote:

Skinny wrote:

Gowi wrote:

>>electronic fans/electronic forum regulars
>>bea

pick one

u r outnumbered by rockists and pitchforkians

I'm so terrible I still like Rolling Stone lists.

My shame is unbearable.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

LedZep — Fri, 7 Aug 2020 19:02:39 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 08/07/2020 23:02

Skinny wrote:

Burial
Larry Heard
Theo Parrish
snd
Aphex Twin
Four Tet
Oval
(you can also make the argument that The Streets and Dizzee Rascal are part of the 'hardcore continuum', or that the likes of Björk or Broadcast count)

Not too bad though, I only had Björk, Matmos, Fennesz, Ulver, James Leyland Kirby and Trentemoller (half of them aren't even fully electronic). I've only submitted 50 though, and Four Tet, Fuck Buttons, Gidge and some others barely missed it. If everyone had at least like 2/100 electronic musicians, the list would've been much more balanced. Also, Bowie ranked first and some of his best work was closely related to electronic, if that means anything.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

mickilennial — Fri, 7 Aug 2020 14:26:02 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 08/07/2020 18:26

Skinny wrote:

Gowi wrote:

>>electronic fans/electronic forum regulars
>>bea

pick one

u r outnumbered by rockists and pitchforkians

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Skinny — Fri, 7 Aug 2020 01:18:50 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 08/07/2020 05:18

LedZep wrote:

How many people had anything electronic on their lists? And which electronic artist was rated highest? Just curious. It's surely underrepresented, but that was to be expected. Same with metal, ambient and folk to an extent.

On my list:

Burial
Larry Heard
Theo Parrish
snd
Aphex Twin
Four Tet
Oval
(you can also make the argument that The Streets and Dizzee Rascal are part of the 'hardcore continuum', or that the likes of Björk or Broadcast count)

Actually, that's pitiful. Kraftwerk, Frankie Knuckles, Massive Attack, Flying Lotus, Cluster, Robyn, Moodymann, DJ Nate, 808 State, and Kassem Mosse were on my original longlist, and on another day could've made my final 100. That said, I've tended to experience electronic music through raves and DJ sets and 12" singles, which don't lend themselves to the rockist ideal of 'artists who make albums', so it will always be underrepresented on lists like this.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

LedZep — Thu, 6 Aug 2020 17:52:18 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 08/06/2020 21:52

How many people had anything electronic on their lists? And which electronic artist was rated highest? Just curious. It's surely underrepresented, but that was to be expected. Same with metal, ambient and folk to an extent.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Skinny — Thu, 6 Aug 2020 17:24:02 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 08/06/2020 21:24

Gowi wrote:

>>electronic fans/electronic forum regulars
>>bea

pick one

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Spyglass — Thu, 6 Aug 2020 17:09:23 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 08/06/2020 21:09

Gowi wrote:

>>electronic fans/electronic forum regulars
>>bea

pick one

I'd rather not because there's just so much rock love here. Rock is my favorite but I don't think it should get so much recognition that the other genres can't even qualify for sidekick status.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

Hayden — Thu, 6 Aug 2020 17:09:12 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 08/06/2020 21:09

Spyglass wrote:

and yes, folk is underappreciated. I agree with Skinny: Sun Kil Moon needs recognition. I'd even say that Ghosts and Benji are greater than all but 1 of the Neil Young albums.

If that album's After The Gold Rush, I might just agree with you there. (Mind you, Old Man could go up against anything by Kozelek and walk away...)

I think Kozelek's work with Red House Painters is still his best stuff. Not surprised it's above him as a solo act.

Re: Favorite Artists Survey RESULTS

mickilennial — Thu, 6 Aug 2020 17:04:57 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 08/06/2020 21:04

>>electronic fans/electronic forum regulars
>>bea

pick one