Argus by Wishbone Ash
A lot of the albums in BEA's top 1000 that I have yet to rate are ones that I listened to once or twice or maybe even a few times years ago, but they left no big impression on me and I haven't bothered returning to them since. This album is a prime example of that. I could hardly remember anything about it, and having listened to it five more times now, I think I understand why. It's pleasant enough--there's nothing about it that rubs me the wrong way--but in my opinion there no standout moments or aspects at all. It just feels so anonymous to me. I hear a lot of similarities to a variety of other classic rock groups (The Who, Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Yes, Jethro Tull, etc.), but based on this one example, Wishbone Ash don't do a lot for me that those other bands (some of them, at least) do better in some way or other. All in all, this album is fine, and a generally pleasant listen, but nothing special.
55/100
(2)
I like The Brave Little Abacus. Give Just Got Back From Discomfort---We're Alright a shot.
(3)
My ten are now split between two lists:
Here's one album from each of the first nine pages (20 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on BEA. I've tried to choose the albums I'm least familiar with.
1: 484. The Yes Album by Yes (1971)
2: 568. Up The Bracket by The Libertines (2002)
3: 673. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty (2017)
4: 719. Artaud by Pescado Rabioso (1973)
5: 821. Clics Modernos by Charly García (1983)
6: 842. Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds (1968)
7: 907. House Of Balloons by The Weeknd (2011)
8: 942. A Seat At The Table by Solange (2016)
9: 951. Canción Animal by Soda Stereo (1990)
And one album from the first page (40 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on RYM. I've tried to choose the album I'm least familiar with.
1: 209. Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes by Juan Gabriel (1990)
Beautiful, mesmerizing noise pop that's alternately crunchy and dreamy in all the right places. Mercury Rev's debut is much different than their other record I've heard, Deserter's Songs, with this one being much more about the atmosphere. The Flaming Lips comparisons are apt. Yerself Is Steam is a great, hypnotic album, and it feels like there's a lot more to discover. I look forward to listening again. 4/5, or 75/100 on the BEA scale.
~~~~~
2. This is a great mixtape, and one of the most influential albums in the alternative r&b wave of the early 10s.
3. BEA Overall Chart Most Interesting By Page Not In Collection
483. Avalon - Roxy Music
491. Out Of The Blue - Electric Light Orchestra
574. A New World Record - Electric Light Orchestra
610. A Saucerful Of Secrets - Pink Floyd
702. Black Celebration - Depeche Mode
725. Paris 1919 - John Cale
826. Dare - The Human League
878. Gaucho - Steely Dan
885. New Day Rising - Hüsker Dü
994. Fire Of Love - The Gun Club _________________ Join us in the canon game / Add me on RYM
House Of Balloons by The Weeknd
Yet another album I listened to years ago, didn't care for, and never revisited. It's just not my kind of music. I find it pretty boring/unengaging. For the most part, it's not actively bad--it just doesn't grab me at all. (Although some of the autotune is annoying.) But there are some bits I like, like the chorus of the Happy House part of the titular track. Mostly just kinda unremarkable and forgettable, though.
44/100
(2)
Depeche Mode. Black Celebration is solid.
(3)
My ten are now split between two lists:
Here's one album from each of the first nine pages (20 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on BEA. I've tried to choose the albums I'm least familiar with.
1: 487. The Yes Album by Yes (1971)
2: 568. Up The Bracket by The Libertines (2002)
3: 672. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty (2017)
4: 719. Artaud by Pescado Rabioso (1973)
5: 825. Clics Modernos by Charly García (1983)
6: 839. Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds (1968)
7: 900. Duke by Genesis (1980)
8: 937. A Seat At The Table by Solange (2016)
9: 966. I See A Darkness by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (1999)
And one album from the first page (40 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on RYM. I've tried to choose the album I'm least familiar with.
1: 198. Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes by Juan Gabriel (1990)
This record has a lot of bangers. Great vocals and great production throughout. There's also a fair amount of filler, which prevents it from feeling like a classic (at least on first listen). But this is a strong synthpop album that I look forward to revisiting. Light 4/5, or 75/100 on BEA.
~~~~~
2. To me this early country rock record is hit and miss, but the hits are great:
30s: 2. Bessie Smith Album - Bessie Smith
40s: 4. The Midnight Special (And Other Southern Prison Songs) - Lead Belly
50s: 9. Berry Is On Top - Chuck Berry
60s: 63. The Who Sell Out - The Who
70s: 76. Thick As A Brick - Jethro Tull
80s: 71. Avalon - Roxy Music
90s: 91. The Fat Of The Land - The Prodigy
00s: 80. De-Loused In The Comatorium - The Mars Volta
10s: 79. Hand. Cannot. Erase. - Steven Wilson
20s: 13. Hellfire - Black Midi _________________ Join us in the canon game / Add me on RYM
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds
This fits right in with my overall impression of The Byrds: solid for what it is, competently done no doubt, but kinda outdated and ultimately nothing that special (albeit with the occasional standout track). On this album, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and One Hundred Years From Now are the standouts out for me. The rest don't do much to excite me. But they do nothing to irritate or annoy me either. So...decent album. One I'm happy to listen to occasionally, but not something I'll actively seek out very often.
59/100
(2)
Thick as a Brick. One of my favorite prog albums.
(3)
My ten are now split between two lists:
Here's one album from each of the first nine pages (20 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on BEA. I've tried to choose the albums I'm least familiar with.
1: 490. The Yes Album by Yes (1971)
2: 570. Up The Bracket by The Libertines (2002)
3: 668. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty (2017)
4: 724. Artaud by Pescado Rabioso (1973)
5: 781. Without You I'm Nothing by Placebo (1998)
6: 830. Clics Modernos by Charly García (1983)
7: 906. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe (2018)
8: 928. A Seat At The Table by Solange (2016)
9: 979. Daytona by Pusha T (2018)
And one album from the first page (40 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on RYM. I've tried to choose the album I'm least familiar with.
1: 208. Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes by Juan Gabriel (1990)
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds This fits right in with my overall impression of The Byrds: solid for what it is, competently done no doubt, but kinda outdated and ultimately nothing that special (albeit with the occasional standout track). On this album, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and One Hundred Years From Now are the standouts out for me. The rest don't do much to excite me. But they do nothing to irritate or annoy me either. So...decent album. One I'm happy to listen to occasionally, but not something I'll actively seek out very often.
59/100
I think I just died a little bit. One of my all time faves! The Byrds are in my top ten bands of all time list. Oh well, different strokes for...
Apparently written to satirize pretentious prog rock concept albums by the likes of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, ironically this has itself become one of the most beloved prog rock concept albums. Two dense side-length tracks weave numerous songs together seamlessly. Naturally I didn't absorb much from the lyrics or concept on my first listen, but the music is very good. This is my first Jethro Tull record, and I love the heavy use of flute, organ, and a variety of non-cookie-cutter rock instruments. The vocals are good too, and if Thick As A Brick ever gets overblown compositionally, we can conveniently chalk that up to the satire. A very good listen, and I'm interested to learn to what extent further listens will reveal richer layers to the album, and whether the sarcastic writing will wear out its welcome. A high 3.5/5, or 70/100.
~~~~~
2. Tasteless cover art and odious producer notwithstanding, this is a great rap album:
30s: 2. Bessie Smith Album - Bessie Smith
40s: 4. The Midnight Special (And Other Southern Prison Songs) - Lead Belly
50s: 9. Berry Is On Top - Chuck Berry
60s: 63. The Who Sell Out - The Who
70s: 80. Aqualung - Jethro Tull
80s: 71. Avalon - Roxy Music
90s: 91. The Fat Of The Land - The Prodigy
00s: 80. De-Loused In The Comatorium - The Mars Volta
10s: 79. Hand. Cannot. Erase. - Steven Wilson
20s: 13. Hellfire - Black Midi _________________ Join us in the canon game / Add me on RYM
Daytona by Pusha T
I don't like rap. I don't understand the appeal. Yes I watched that Vox video. Rhyme density doesn't do anything for me. The things I do care about in vocals (melody, emotionally affecting lyrics, insightful introspection, etc.) tend to be absent or even actively disdained in hip hop. I think 99% of rap albums would be improved by removing the vocals altogether.
This album is blessedly short, but it still manages to feel full length because it's style of music that I don't care for at all. Nothing about this stands out as particularly good against the background of other rap albums.
Tedious. Not a fan.
35/100
(2)
Of the ones I've heard, I most recommend Avalon by Roxy Music.
(3)
My ten are now split between two lists:
Here's one album from each of the first nine pages (20 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on BEA. I've tried to choose the albums I'm least familiar with.
1: 483. The Yes Album by Yes (1971)
2: 570. Up The Bracket by The Libertines (2002)
3: 667. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty (2017)
4: 723. Artaud by Pescado Rabioso (1973)
5: 829. Clics Modernos by Charly García (1983)
6: 856. Black On Both Sides by Mos Def (1999)
7: 930. A Seat At The Table by Solange (2016)
8: 960. Canción Animal by Soda Stereo (1990)
9: 994. Grey Area by Little Simz (2019)
And one album from the first page (40 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on RYM. I've tried to choose the album I'm least familiar with.
1: 201. Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes by Juan Gabriel (1990)
Daytona by Pusha T
I don't like rap. I don't understand the appeal. Yes I watched that Vox video. Rhyme density doesn't do anything for me. The things I do care about in vocals (melody, emotionally affecting lyrics, insightful introspection, etc.) tend to be absent or even actively disdained in hip hop. I think 99% of rap albums would be improved by removing the vocals altogether.
This album is blessedly short, but it still manages to feel full length because it's style of music that I don't care for at all. Nothing about this stands out as particularly good against the background of other rap albums.
Tedious. Not a fan.
35/100
(2)
Of the ones I've heard, I most recommend Avalon by Roxy Music.
(3)
My ten are now split between two lists:
Here's one album from each of the first nine pages (20 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on BEA. I've tried to choose the albums I'm least familiar with.
1: 483. The Yes Album by Yes (1971)
2: 570. Up The Bracket by The Libertines (2002)
3: 667. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty (2017)
4: 723. Artaud by Pescado Rabioso (1973)
5: 829. Clics Modernos by Charly García (1983)
6: 856. Black On Both Sides by Mos Def (1999)
7: 930. A Seat At The Table by Solange (2016)
8: 960. Canción Animal by Soda Stereo (1990)
9: 994. Grey Area by Little Simz (2019)
And one album from the first page (40 per page) of albums I've not yet rated on RYM. I've tried to choose the album I'm least familiar with.
1: 201. Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes by Juan Gabriel (1990)
I agree with you 100% about rap. My thoughts exactly.
I don't like rap. I don't understand the appeal. Yes I watched that Vox video. Rhyme density doesn't do anything for me. The things I do care about in vocals (melody, emotionally affecting lyrics, insightful introspection, etc.) tend to be absent or even actively disdained in hip hop. I think 99% of rap albums would be improved by removing the vocals altogether.
This album is blessedly short, but it still manages to feel full length because it's style of music that I don't care for at all. Nothing about this stands out as particularly good against the background of other rap albums.
Tedious. Not a fan.
Yeah, that album was particularly ill-suited for someone who doesn't like rap. There are plenty of hip-hop songs with emotionally affecting lyrics, insightful introspection, and melody, but if you expect all of those to be sustained over a full album, that narrows down the options. I'm sure they exist, but as someone who doesn't have those criteria, I'm struggling to think of one off the top of my head.
Here's a rap song that checks all three of those boxes. It made my dad cry, and he doesn't really like rap either.
While there are fewer songs about romantic relationships than some other genres, there plenty of emotional and/or introspective rap songs that address topics like societal problems, friends dying, struggling through poverty, and finally making it out. And definitely plenty of melodic hooks on songs without melodic rapping, but melodic rapping is rarer. What do you think of this example?
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One of my all time faves! The Byrds are in my top ten bands of all time list. Oh well, different strokes for...
