planetneutral's Master Rating Log 2021- - Music Diaries

planetneutral · 2020-12-30T14:04:16-05:00

Sometime in the era of 2009ish, my wife gave me a copy of the original edition of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Like so many foolhardy list-obsessed music enthusiasts, I began an endeavor to listen my way through it. You've heard a similar story in this forum many times before I'm sure. It didn't start well. In August of 2009, a mere eight albums into my effort, the library I work in flooded completely, burying my office in liquid sewage and putting an end to my new practice of sitting in my office listening to CDs. In 2010, I started to keep a rating log on RYM, combining my general listening and half-assed effort to work through the book. - https://rateyourmusic.com/list/planetneutral/planetneutrals-master-rating-log (I stopped using this list for a while. I'm working on catching it up.) I also kept a log specifically related to the 1001 Albums book. - https://rateyourmusic.com/list/planetneutral/chronicle-of-the-1001-albums-you-must-hear-before-you-die (This is up-to-date.) And I picked up a copy of 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, which had enough parallels with the 1001 Albums book that I figured I might as well track my progress through both. https://rateyourmusic.com/list/planetneutral/chronicle-of-1_000-recordings-to-hear-before-you-die (Up-to-date.) The 2010 listening effort only lasted until April, the travails of library flood recovery dominating my attention. And it was totally backburnered until 2016, when I started really focusing on the original Dimery 1001 Albums book, using a spreadsheet list and a random number generator to make selections. By this point, I was also tracking revisions to the Dimery list. My current spreadsheet lists all 1,076 albums that I know that have been included in at least one edition. I had two good runs of listening between Jan. 2016 and Apr. 2018. But I was starting to have real problems with the Dimery book, namely that it was almost comically Anglophile. Could I really justify listening to three Dexys Midnight Runners albums? Did I really need to commit to three Blur albums? Or every single thing Brian Eno ever touched? Was I giving too much of my limited lifespan to this guy's musical worldview? I decided that the answer to the last question was yes and so I just stopped, 380 albums into my effort. The last album I reviewed in 2018 was Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto, which I described as "Deeply unremarkable." And I thought that would be the end of the story. I shifted my hobbyist attention away from album listening and into building out Spotify playlists, like my 770+ song 1980s A-Z playlist. But then something unanticipated happened, when my friend announced he was going to listen to the new 2020 edition of the Rolling Stone 500 album countdown. He started at #1, which I completely bristled at, especially since he didn't seem very inspired by the top ten. ("It's all downhill from here!" I protested fruitlessly.) But I realized it was someone close to me, who was taking on my kind of project. So I decided to join him and, in so doing, continue with the other two book-driven lists that I had been tracking. So I am currently about 2/3 of the way through the Rolling Stone list (which my friend abandoned around #50 :o) and, with the new year, thought I'd try to start chronicling my listening here at BEA. I'm a little intimidated since the people in this space take their chronicling and rating and reviewing seriously and I'm kind of a doofus with really mainstream taste and a limited attention span (courtesy of three tech-enabled children, age 10-15). I generally like things and generally listen to things I expect to like. At the time of this post, my mean rating is 75 over 650+ ratings, with 70 being the mode. But part of the fun is that I'm growing a little impatient with the Rolling Stone list as we head toward the bottom, so this ride could get a little bumpy! The reviews I post as "comments" on BEA tend to be terse (despite the logorrhea of this intro post) and, if consensus of the BEA audience is any guide, unhelpful/unpopular. I will probably use this diary context to offer more informal commentary and notes from my listening experience. We'll see. Just wanted to try keeping track of stuff here and see what happens. I'm not especially thoughtful, attentive, or critical. I'm not looking to be convinced not to like something that I find joy in, but I'd love to have people encourage me to reconsider my negative takes. I mostly want to have motivation to keep going. And the reality for me is that documentation is a double-edged sword as it fuels my hobbyistic tendencies, but keeping up with a diary does increase the overhead of the actual listening. My current overall chart: Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by planetneutral Here's one attempt-in-progress to put words to my ratings, which I switched to BEA's scale relatively early on: 100 - Beyond objective consideration. Either basically flawless or containing so much 100+ material that it overcomes any shortcomings. 95 - Important to me, but just slightly out of the 100 league or flawed in some way I can't overlook. 90 - Generally speaking, the highest rating an album will receive if it has no personal resonance for me. Would have to be a significant first experience for me to rate an album of new-to-me music higher than this. 85 - The flawed version of 90. 80 - Genuinely compelling to me. (I consider anything at this score or above worth your time to listen to at least once.) 75 - I liked it+ 70 - I liked it 65 - OK+ 60 - OK 55 - A hint of something redeeming. 50 - Meh. 45 and below - Increasing levels of dislike. I have yet to rate anything below 15. I claim no consistency and surely go through periods where I am more or less enthusiastic in general. Rating is always about how the material meets the mood. This log only chronicles first listens, but it is rare for me to change rating on a re-listen. Thanks for actually reading this far. I intend to start using this diary on 1/1/2021, although I might tinker with a test post or two before then.

planetneutral Profile

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Chief by Eric Church
Year of Release: 2011

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00731
Rating Date: 2021-02-01

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: N 2012: N 2020: #419
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 50

Posted comment: Unfortunately, this sounds exactly like you think it would based on the album cover, which is not an endorsement.

Notes: If I'm being honest, I find the suggestion that this is in any conversation of all-time best albums completely ridiculous.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #430 of 500 (86.0% of all items rated - avg. 77.5)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #455 of 692 (65.8% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,078 (52.0% of all items rated - avg. 74.3)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.6% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

Last edited by planetneutral on 02/02/2021 04:57; edited 1 time in total

Mercury Turn your back on the pay-you-back last call Profile
St. Louis

Lol! Yeah the inclusion of that particular album in the most recent RS list was maybe the most random, absurd, and just kinda mind boggling thing. Like, I don’t quite get it at all. It’s based I thought on various people’s votes - which leads me to believe several people ranked it high on their lists. But even so the editor maybe was asleep at the wheel when they green lit that inclusion.
_________________
-Ryan

ONLY 4% of people can understand this chart! Come try!

My Fave Metal - you won't believe #5!!!

planetneutral Profile

Mercury wrote:

Lol! Yeah the inclusion of that particular album in the most recent RS list was maybe the most random, absurd, and just kinda mind boggling thing. Like, I don’t quite get it at all. It’s based I thought on various people’s votes - which leads me to believe several people ranked it high on their lists. But even so the editor maybe was asleep at the wheel when they green lit that inclusion.

300+ voters got to submit 50 songs each. Ultimately 15,000 votes aren't nearly enough to form any sort of meaningful consensus when there are so many possible choices. And not that I'm crying manipulation, but nearly 10% of the voters are Rolling Stone staff. They could easily have chosen to center less-centered artists and genres in their lists. But unlike all the 90/00s R&B, which at least reflects a pattern, the "new country" album is out of left field and feels pretty much like a token nod to that portion of the readership.

Of course, if they really wanted to avoid suggestions of manipulation, they would publish the individual ballots and there would be no such speculation on our parts.

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That's The Way Of The World by Earth, Wind & Fire
Year of Release: 1975

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00732
Rating Date: 2021-02-01

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: #493 2012: #486 2020: #420
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 75

Posted comment: A rough odyssey punctuates each side of what is otherwise a really cool album.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #431 of 500 (86.2% of all items rated - avg. 77.5)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #456 of 692 (65.9% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #562 of 1,078 (52.1% of all items rated - avg. 74.3)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.6% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

planetneutral Profile

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Arular by M.I.A. (UK)
Year of Release: 2005

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00733
Rating Date: 2021-02-02

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: N 2012: N 2020: #421
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? Y (Removed as of 2008)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 70

Posted comment: Really like the vibe and attitude, but it becomes hard to ignore the repetitiveness.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #432 of 500 (86.4% of all items rated - avg. 77.4)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #457 of 692 (66.0% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #563 of 1,078 (52.2% of all items rated - avg. 74.3)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.6% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

planetneutral Profile

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Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Year of Release: 1973

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00734
Rating Date: 2021-02-02

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: #165 2012: #165 2020: #422
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? Y
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 75

Posted comment: A tale of two sides and side A, where Gaye had some consistent songwriting help, is the clear powerhouse here.

Notes: I find Marvin Gaye way more of a mixed bag than most people apparently. And I'm baffled by the idea that You Sure Love to Ball was released as a single. Like, even if it wasn't called You Sure Love to Ball, it'd still be pretty wow as a commercial release. But...it is.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #433 of 500 (86.6% of all items rated - avg. 77.4)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #458 of 692 (66.2% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #564 of 1,078 (52.3% of all items rated - avg. 74.3)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: #207 of 1,000 (20.7% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

planetneutral Profile

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I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One by Yo La Tengo
Year of Release: 1973

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00735
Rating Date: 2021-02-03

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: N 2012: N 2020: #423
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 65

Posted comment: This album gets some credit for delivering a variety of styles, but that takes a long time to accomplish and ultimately doesn't amount to much.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #434 of 500 (86.6% of all items rated - avg. 77.4)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #459 of 692 (66.2% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,078 (52.3% of all items rated - avg. 74.3)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.7% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

Last edited by planetneutral on 02/05/2021 04:47; edited 1 time in total

planetneutral Profile

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Odelay by Beck
Year of Release: 1996

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00736
Rating Date: 2021-02-04

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: #305 2012: #306 2020: #424
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? CD

Rating: 65

Posted comment: Beck can be brilliant in passages, but I just don't like very many of these songs.

Notes: This is a lower rating than I expected to give this album, but I can't seem to justify going higher. I think I'm fatiguing on sub-par 400-level albums and maybe should pivot to some guaranteed wins for a minute, lest I lost momentum completely, 87.0% of the way through this thing.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #435 of 500 (87.0% of all items rated - avg. 77.4)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #460 of 692 (66.5% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #565 of 1,078 (52.4% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.7% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

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Paul Simon by Paul Simon
Year of Release: 1972

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00737
Rating Date: 2021-02-05

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: N 2012: #268 2020: #425
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? Digital

Rating: 80

Posted comment: The best tracks are just so good that I'm willing to allow for some less memorable flights of fancy.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #436 of 500 (87.2% of all items rated - avg. 77.4)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #461 of 692 (66.6% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #566 of 1,078 (52.5% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.7% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )

planetneutral Profile

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Lucinda Williams by Lucinda Williams
Year of Release: 1988

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00738
Rating Date: 2021-02-05

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums? 2003: N 2012: N 2020: #426
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (repeatedly revised 2005-2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 70

Posted comment: I enjoyed this at least as much as the more mature and far more renowned Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #437 of 500 (87.4% of all items rated - avg. 77.4)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #462 of 692 (66.8% of all items rated - avg. 77.1)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,078 (52.5% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (20.7% of all items rated - avg. 79.8 )