Are there any records on your chart that you would say are there more for sentimental reasons than based around your current tastes?
I think this is something many of us wrestle with. The Rancid album is specifically what made me think about this. It was an album that was very much a part of my life when I was younger, and still have strong attachments to despite having little desire to listen to it anymore unless seeking nostalgia.
That's a great question. If I am going to be totally honest then yes there are albums on my chart that are there because of how much influence they had on me and because of nostalgia and moments connected with them. Like, rest assured every album on my overall I adore. But it's something I grapple with a lot. When I fall in love with an album I want to promote it and put it in its rightful place on my chart(s). But when I go down my chart it's album after album of huge significance and by taking them off it's like, in a weird and completely asinine way, an "insult" to those great albums. At least that's kinda how I feel.
Recently I have been weeding out albums I still really love but not in present time as much. So absolute classics that defined me and kind of still do like "Master of Puppets" and "Jailbreak" and "Led Zeppelin IV" and "Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell" by Social Distortion have fallen by the side. At least for now.
It's an interesting thing. I prefer my chart being filled with albums that at this moment I love. And so that is what I am trying to lean towards. But there are still hold outs. Rancid I wouldn't say is one of them. I consider that to be one of the greater albums ever, nostalgia or otherwise. Matt Freeman is my dream bassist and the lyrics (mostly) make me swoon. And the energy of that record is still absolutely electric!
dividesbyzero wrote:
I suppose my question would be, where did your musical discovery begin (I imagine somewhere with blues and various forms of folk), and how did you eventually land at a deep appreciation for pieces of music that have little (if anything) to do with that which makes up the core of your chart? (namely the ambient albums scattered throughout -especially those in the top ten- but also hip-hop and soul to a lesser extent)
Let's see it basically goes like this: when I was 8 Korn dropped "Follow The Leader" then when I was 9 Limp Bizkit dropped their most popular album then when I was between 9 and 11 Slipknot, Mudvayne, Disturbed, System Of A Down and many other nü metal bands blew up. I, naturally, was swept up in that. Thankfully i grew out if that. There are still people (like my 30 year brother in law) who swear by the greatness of those bands to this day! I asked him who he thought was the greatest 90s band and he said Sevendust. I didn't know what to say. Phew! Anyway.... At the same time my older sister introduced me to Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails. He was my first true musical hero actually. Then Metallica and thrash took over the whole of my existence. And from there that's when I discovered an obsessive interest in hearing EVERYTHING! So I made lists of like 100 artists at a time and I would go to the library and get everything I could find. In so doing these intense studies I borrowed a CD copy of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" by Bob Dylan. And, to answer your question, I'd say that was the closest thing to THE moment when I started really developing my real heavy interest in an love of Music. Dylan, as I mentioned earlier, he was someone who opened my eyes to so much. And through him I wanted to hear every one he idolized and covered and this lead to Blues and Folk and Country. And from there there is a natural evolution and association which lead me to almost everything else.
As for my ambient and other, seemingly disrelated, musical interests well I'd say that is mostly from being here on this site and taking recommendations from you fine people of BEA. Before BEA I had never heard an Eno solo album, for example. I had never actually been at all interested or even aware of Ambient music or drone or anything like that. I considered the whole vague idea of "electronic" music as sort of not my thing and strange. I had never heard of Talk Talk. I had never gotten at all interested in Wu Tang or much jazz outside of the most famous albums. So these 2 years here and maybe the 1 year prior to coming here when I was absorbing tons of left field recs from Pitchfork and other places is really where most all that comes from.
So that is that.
RockyRaccoon wrote:
So I'm curious about something. I recall a time when The War On Drugs' Lost In The Dream occupied your #1 spot. Now it's all the way down in the 40s. What changed?
Well, I did.
Remember how I mentioned earlier how impulsive and wild I am about charts? Well after being half way done with the War On Drugs album the second time through, I added it to my chart. At number ten. Then after finishing my 2nd time through I put it at number 1. Where it stayed for 1 week.
I love the album and I've heard it a dozen times since then. And it's still an all time favorite, but more than anything what happened was that album found me at the right time and blew my mind more than any album had in awhile. So i stuck it at 1. Impulsive.
Itsa Brilliant record through and through.
I guess I just love going with it and I have absolutely no back-off from placing things on charts, high or low, or taking them off if that is how I feel AT THAT MOMENT. It's takes all the annoying work and grind out of having a chart or lit of favorites. I just want it to reflect my favorite albums and reflect what I love. So there ya go. _________________ -Ryan
I really love the in-the-moment impulsiveness to the list making, its a great approach.
So in your notes you mention a lot of tracks being great and it seems like the top is all albums where every track is something you're digging. How much does a single bad track impact your assessment of an album? Is there anything that would be ranked considerably higher, if only it didn't have the one bad track?
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
I really love the in-the-moment impulsiveness to the list making, its a great approach.
So in your notes you mention a lot of tracks being great and it seems like the top is all albums where every track is something you're digging. How much does a single bad track impact your assessment of an album? Is there anything that would be ranked considerably higher, if only it didn't have the one bad track?
Hmm... I guess I don't really evaluate albums in that way. In a track by track basis I mean. I mean I listen to An album and if I notice the thing has a good sound and flow and is consistent then I love it. Usually at that point I listen to an album over and over and maybe just maybe then I start really breaking down the relative quality of the various individual tracks and parts.
But I suppose there have been times when one or 2 tracks kinda wreck the flow of an album for me personally and
In that case if the album is stellar outside of those fuck ups then I still love it, I just maybe love it less.
That maybe is why I don't like long albums or double albums generally. It almost always means there is going to be some tracks that let the flow of the whole album down. So I prefer classics like "Illmatic" , "Let's Get It On", "Pink Moon" etc that run at the 28 min to 40 min clip. Less chance for lulls.
Really, it all comes down to Dylan. He's probably the single most influential person in my life, musically or otherwise.
I certainly can't blame you for that. Dylan is among my top 5 artists for sure and he seems to be almost universally beloved on the forums. I'm curious, though, what do you think about his releases from the '80s and beyond? He's had a number of critically acclaimed albums in the last 30 years but I haven't even seen them discussed on BEA.
I certainly can't blame you for that. Dylan is among my top 5 artists for sure and he seems to be almost universally beloved on the forums. I'm curious, though, what do you think about his releases from the '80s and beyond? He's had a number of critically acclaimed albums in the last 30 years but I haven't even seen them discussed on BEA.
Great question. Just as an addendum, Mercury, could you also rank his post-Desire to pre-Time Out of Mind period for me. I'm trying to figure out how to approach this supposedly fallow period because I'm intrigued by the some of the themes (e.g. damnation & becoming "saved" (whatever that means)) he tackles during this stretch.
meccaleccaVoice of ReasonProfile The Land of Enchantment
Great question. Just as an addendum, Mercury, could you also rank his post-Desire to pre-Time Out of Mind period for me.
I too would like to see this. I've explored these records a bit recently with mixed feelings. I've had arguments with my friend that there is no bad Dylan album, but then he'll bring up Under the Red Sky, and its abysmal opener "Wiggle Wiggle". If you are to listen to this record and enjoy it thoroughly, then you will never hear a bad Dylan album in your life. Others will claim Knocked Out Loaded is the worst of them all but it contains "Brownsville Girl". _________________ http://jonnyleather.com
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
And no 10 hours later I get around to this. Sorry, 'twas a long day at work.
Anyway.... I live the questions so far. Keep them coming if you have any more.
As for my answer to these... Here ya go.
sp4cetiger wrote:
I certainly can't blame you for that. Dylan is among my top 5 artists for sure and he seems to be almost universally beloved on the forums. I'm curious, though, what do you think about his releases from the '80s and beyond? He's had a number of critically acclaimed albums in the last 30 years but I haven't even seen them discussed on BEA.
Well, I will say I have been working on this chart ----> Bob Dylan Chart by Mercuryoff and on forever. And I hope to get back to it soon, I still have like 30 bloody records to listen to in order to complete it. And funnily enough I left off on that chart right when I started the 80s. I think it hit me at that point how fucking severely of a drop the quality of his music took post about Desire for a long while. Not to say those years were totally lost. Cuz they weren't, some grand albums and especially some truly transcendently brilliant songs were released in that time. It's just that whereas in the 60s and 70s essentially 80% of the songs were absolutely stunning, post desire the percentage seems half or a third.
As for why the best albums and songs of the last 30-35 years don't get as much love, idk. "Oh Mercy", "Time Out Of Mind" "Love And Theft" and "Modern Times" are all fabulous. And "Infidels", "Good As I Been To You", "World Gone Wrong", and "Street Legal" aren't far off. I think also the greatest Dylan releases of the last 20 years have been the bootleg series. Honestly bootleg series 1-3,4,5,6,8 and 10 have been absolutely amazing. And the others aren't bad at al either.
RepoMan wrote:
Great question. Just as an addendum, Mercury, could you also rank his post-Desire to pre-Time Out of Mind period for me. I'm trying to figure out how to approach this supposedly fallow period because I'm intrigued by the some of the themes (e.g. damnation & becoming "saved" (whatever that means)) he tackles during this stretch.
Sure, is rank it
#1 Oh Mercy (1989)
This is a masterpiece. Love the thick production. The brevity of the songwriting is great. I mean it doesn't seem like as many words are being used here as on his prime albums but still he says a lot.
#2 Infidels (1983)
Well, this was great! Some real stand outs. An he retained a similar fervent passion that his previous religious albums had but took out the clumsy, annoying preachiness. Also "Jokerman"... Yeah amazing.
#3 Good As I Been To You (1992)
This and "World Gone Wrong" is the sound of Dylan returning to his roots covering traditional and folk and blues songs. It's so beautiful to hear cuz he was and has always been an awesome interpreter of folk songs and he has great taste. Love these records.
#4 Slow Train Coming (1979)
Yes, religious and very preachy. But on this first album he basically pulls it off plus the big muscle shoals production and the awesome musicians and the epic horns and the cleaner than clean at times sound is just great! Although the #abstractqualities (#rippoe) of the lyrics seems to have been lost in the rush and shuffle of changing his way of life and musical direction. I don't know what to say except the amount of times in this record where I am just impressed with the words is slight.
#5 World Gone Wrong (1993)
See above for number 3
#6 Street Legal (1978)
This is pretty fantastic at times and kinda weak at others. Maybe too clean for its own good. But the highs re really high. Although, I feel the sound in general just doesn't work. He needed that religious verve and wexler production to really pull it off. Also the ducking back up singers echoing him on every bloody line on "Changing Of The Guards" turns one of the greatest of his songs post "Desire" into a chore at times. It's soooo annoying!
#7 Shot Of Love (1981)
Well, it's kinda (by that I mean quite a bit) annoyingly preachy and clumsily written all about finding god and a higher purpose and HERE'S SOME DRAMATIC HORNS AND LET'S CROAK SOME MORE RELIGIOUS LYRICS woohoo!!! But there is this song called "Every Grain Of Sand"... So yeah, having one I the greatest songs ever on a bad album makes up a lot of ground. Also there are a couple other good tracks. I can't remember much about it.
#8 Empire Burlesque (1985) clean, forgettable poppy stuff. Nothing I really remember liking about this. I will revisit for my Dylan chart.
#9 Saved (1980) see note for "Shot Of Love" but minus the transcendent masterpiece song. That's the review.
#10 Knocked Out Loaded (1986)
Haven't heard it but once and tht wa years ago. Remember it being really bad.
#11 Down In The Groove (1988)
Same as above.
#12 Under The Red Sky (1990)
This I heard a few times to confirm how aweful it is. There is not a single redeeming quality that I recall. And wiggle wiggle makes me want to stab myself to death. (Although, years later Snoop Dogg echoes the sentiment to much greater effect. "wiggle wiggle wiggle...)
Live albums weren't included there. But that's no matter cuz they are each pretty bleh.
As for the themes ... I don't know. If say that the subject of religion and the fact that he became Christian is totally cool. And religion and Christianity can be really quite beautiful. And the bible is one of the most beautifully poetic books ever. And many people have made great peices of art on the subject. So how come the greatest songwriter of all time couldn't make the most beautifully poetic masterpieces of Christianity since the bible? If he had the same inspiration and talent and drive as he did in '65 and applies it to his Christian records it would have been amazing. But he didn't. So the themes were what they were but they weren't written about very well and I just generally dislike that era of music from Dylan (besides STC and Infidels).
meccalecca wrote:
I too would like to see this. I've explored these records a bit recently with mixed feelings. I've had arguments with my friend that there is no bad Dylan album, but then he'll bring up Under the Red Sky, and its abysmal opener "Wiggle Wiggle". If you are to listen to this record and enjoy it thoroughly, then you will never hear a bad Dylan album in your life. Others will claim Knocked Out Loaded is the worst of them all but it contains "Brownsville Girl".
Yeah. Or "Shot Of Love" with "Every Grain Of Sand". And other examples. But yeah from my response to repo you see I also feel that Dylan has released some bad albums. He really went through a tough period in the 80s. But thankfully he had a great spurt of excellence to redeem himself. Not tht he needed to cuz even with some of the shit from the 80s, his first 15 years provided more classics than anyone could ever match. As far as I'm concerned at least. _________________ -Ryan
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