Listed below are the overall rankings for the best albums in history as determined by their aggregate positions in over 59,000 different greatest album charts on BestEverAlbums.com! (Chart last updated: 5 hours ago).
"This is yet another great folk pop album from S&G. Maybe they go a little overboard with effects (like how the gospel-like vocals are piped in in "save the life of my child" and the voices in "voices of old people" go on a little long), but the album is still great regardless and feels BIG overal...""This is yet another great folk pop album from S&G. Maybe they go a little overboard with effects (like how the gospel-like vocals are piped in in "save the life of my child" and the voices in "voices of old people" go on a little long), but the album is still great regardless and feels BIG overall, from the cymbal flourishes in "america" to the pipe organ and strings in "fakin' it".
"punky's dilemma" has a fun line about blueberry jam my wife digs ("I prefer boysenberry / More than any ordinary jam. / I'm a "Citizens for / Boysenberry Jam" fan."). The last three songs are probably the best last 3 closers on any S&G disc -- "mrs. robinson", "a hazy shade of winter" (i probably still prefer the bangles version) and "at the zoo" -- the last of which sounds like a kids zoo tale but is lyrically bleak where the animals are dumb, insincere, skeptical, reactionary and plot in secrecy while the zookeeper drinks his rum."[+]Reply
"I remember 2001... I thought the music industry was spiraling downhill... dominated by boy bands, Shaggy, Limp Biskit, Linkin Park, Staind, Creed, etc... Those were dark days indeed. When the Strokes and White Stripes burst onto the scene with their huge 2001 albums, it restored my faith in the m...""I remember 2001... I thought the music industry was spiraling downhill... dominated by boy bands, Shaggy, Limp Biskit, Linkin Park, Staind, Creed, etc... Those were dark days indeed. When the Strokes and White Stripes burst onto the scene with their huge 2001 albums, it restored my faith in the music industry. This album is stripped down, but features great songcraft and playing. Awesome."[+]Reply
"I can't disagree more with the review that says this seems dated based on the fact that it sounds hollow and shallow. That was the ENTIRE point. The album has a hollow, dead flat sound throughout. That was the goal. It's symbolic of the emptiness of everything. The drums provide a pattern but no ...""I can't disagree more with the review that says this seems dated based on the fact that it sounds hollow and shallow. That was the ENTIRE point. The album has a hollow, dead flat sound throughout. That was the goal. It's symbolic of the emptiness of everything. The drums provide a pattern but no beat for you to dance to or to give life to the album. That is by design. That's the genius of it... it sound alike what it says. Also find it strange that people are overlooking A Strange Day, which is the best song."[+]Reply
"Finally, after more than forty years, the Beach Boys' unfinished album "Smile" has been released in its entirety - to the extent possible. "Smile" was in 1966 Brian Wilson's most ambitious project, and he wanted to create music that was as innovative as that of the Beatles - a group which he both...""Finally, after more than forty years, the Beach Boys' unfinished album "Smile" has been released in its entirety - to the extent possible.
"Smile" was in 1966 Brian Wilson's most ambitious project, and he wanted to create music that was as innovative as that of the Beatles - a group which he both admired and wished to match.
Wilson dropped tour-life to concentrate on writing and recording music, while the other Beach Boys occasionally came in the studio and recorded vocals on the new songs.
The amazing single "Good Vibrations" was an indication of directions Wilson's musical ideas took. The single became a huge hit and there were naturally great expectations for the album that would follow.
Unfortunately, Wilson broke down under the stress of the high expectations and his own ambtions before the album was completed. In fact, a cover drawn with a charming beautiful colorful front and a back side with a preliminary tracklist.
Some of the songs were practically finished, while others were under development when the project was dropped. However several of the Smile songs appeared on the next Beach Boys albums where the overall musical ambitions were lowered and the other Beach Boys began to take more part in the songwriting.
The best of these are now well known classics, especially "Heroes and Villains," "Surf's Up," "Wind Chimes" and "Vegetables."
In early 2000 years Brian Wilson re-recorded the Smile songs and also went on tour with them. Although these were fine and impressive performances, they also meant that the wishes the the original versions, with different beautiful Beach Boys voices, became even stronger.
This 2 CD version contains the versions of the many Smile recordings which Brian Wilson believes are the best. CD 1 contains the finished versions of the songs, or in some cases as finished as possible. CD 2 gives a little insight into the work in the studio, and numerous recordings and overdubs behind these contemporary loose shots.
Since there never was any final decision on tracklisting, anyone can try to put an album that may match or perhaps overpass the group's previous album "Pet Sounds" which is considered as the group's masterpiece. I have put such an album together which after the contemporary standards has14 songs and which lasts about 40 minutes. In fact, I think this "album" in respects in on the level of "Pet Sounds", which after all also does contain songs of lesser significance
Side one of this imaginary vinyl version looks like this: Side one 1. You're Welcome / 2. Good Vibrations / 3. Surf's Up / 4. Wonderful / 5. Cabin Essence / 6. Child Is Father Of The Mon 7. Look (Song For Children) - Side two 1. Our Prayer / 2.Heroes And Villains / 3 Holidays / 4. Wind Chimes / 5. Vega-Tables / 6. Gee / 7. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock).
I've played this compilation many times and am very satisfied with it, and I believe it would have received deserved recognition in its time, even if individual numbers may seem a little incomplete.
In any rate, this bunch of beautiful songs constitute an important part in music history.
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"Bruce Springsteen's record company probably didn't no whether to laugh or cry when he handed them his new album. Nebraska, wasn't exactly commercial material, it was an 11 track album, full of acoustic demo's, that Springsteen had failed to turn into an E street band record. Possibly, Springsteen...""Bruce Springsteen's record company probably didn't no whether to laugh or cry when he handed them his new album. Nebraska, wasn't exactly commercial material, it was an 11 track album, full of acoustic demo's, that Springsteen had failed to turn into an E street band record. Possibly, Springsteen promised Columbia, a more accessible album the next time round. Nebraska is a bleak, monochrome, postcard of an America full of serial killers, down on their luck gamblers, wayward brothers of small town cops, and, every day blue collar guys. It certainly isn't a barrel of laughs, and unlike later acoustic releases, the ghost of Tom Joad, and, devils' n' dust, it's a lot less slick, it's rawness is almost unsettling. The title track was inspired by a real life event, and also by Terence Malick's brilliant movie version, badlands. Atlantic city, is probably the best song on the album, with, Johnny 99, highway patrolman, and, reason to believe, also standouts. It certainly would be interesting to hear the attempted E street band versions, maybe that will be Springsteen's next box set release. Nebraska, is a challenging listen, and I would have thought it would only be enjoyed by boss fans, but i know people who aren't Springsteen fans, but like this album. It's definitely one of his most important records, and has been hugely influential on the lo-fi/alt.country scene. If Springsteen had given his assurances about his next release being more commercial, he certainly didn't let them down. Next for Bruce was, born in the USA, and superstardom. "[+]Reply
"Say what you want about Pitchfork but I find it hard to talk bad about them, as they introduced me to so much good music that I would otherwise never listen to. This album is one example. So good."Reply
"I don't think I've ever seen a larger disparity between the critics' and audiences' reaction to an album as for this one. Everyone seems to be loving the album except the music critics and honestly, this is the victory The Strokes deserved. For a band who were put on the highest pedestal by the c...""I don't think I've ever seen a larger disparity between the critics' and audiences' reaction to an album as for this one. Everyone seems to be loving the album except the music critics and honestly, this is the victory The Strokes deserved. For a band who were put on the highest pedestal by the critics before they even really started the career, their whole discography since Is This It has felt like an attempt to gain that acclaim back, and they kept failing to impress them, and along the way, their fans.
But this album is a goddamn beast! a spectacle worth the 7 year wait, a redemption arc for one of the biggest band of the indie rock era; and I am almost glad that the critics are shitting on this obvious masterpiece, since now majority of their GP audience can finally tear the band's image away from their critique. And maybe this will help The Strokes themselves become more liberated from the Is This It era. Because, honestly, I was getting real tired of reading about how "they used to be so good in their first two albums" in literally every article about the band thereafter (and that one The National song).
I absolutely adore this album, and I cant wait to scream "drums please Fab" when they finally start performing it live. Fuck the critics man. This is the Strokes' year."[+]Reply
"Strangwayss is a real mix. While it's sound is complicated, experimental and lacking a bit of structure, it is also exceptional in terms of its quality. This is by far and away the best produced Smiths album, a far cry from the rougher sound created at Strawberry Studios on their debut. But in mu...""Strangwayss is a real mix. While it's sound is complicated, experimental and lacking a bit of structure, it is also exceptional in terms of its quality. This is by far and away the best produced Smiths album, a far cry from the rougher sound created at Strawberry Studios on their debut.
But in much the same way that Meat is Murder was a transitional album, this is too. Lots of new instruments were employed here, including lots of piano, saxophones, stings and even sound effects. Marr was really on to something with the dirtier, overdrive guitar found on "I Started Something" and "Stop Me", while Morrissey adjusted his mopey tone that defines The Smiths for a more pessimistic and disgruntled feel. This is transitional without a doubt.
But while that is all well and good, there are signs of issues here; Joyce and Rourke get very little time in the limelight, and it seems that Morrissey was perhaps taking over the band. You can hear the imminent demise of this band in this record, despite how little the lyrics refer to this.
And it begs the question, what would have come after Strangeways? Considering the quality of the production and the new sounds being tried out here, I reckon it would have been their absolute best. But that will never occur now sadly.
Yet perhaps ending the band in almost unfinished state with a transitional album is a blessing in disguise. It only adds to the romanticised mythos of The Smiths, and it leaves a brilliant legacy. Even when they weren't absolutely decided on they were going for with an album, The Smiths were still fucking brilliant.
And let's not forget that some of their best moments can be found here. "Girlfriend In A Coma" is borderline timeless in its comedic, totally inappropriate tone that is so brilliantly matched with its Bubbly, jangly melody; "Stop Me" is the song I recommended that anyone wanting to get into The Smiths starts off with, as it has a good mix of classic Morrissey lyrics and an easy-going sound; "Paint a Vulgar Picture", however ironic, is a sure-footed statement of what the band stood for, not being the typical Top Of The Pops act that was controlled by their label. There's very little to say about Strangeways that is negative, even if it is rough in some patches.
As far as final albums go, this for me does the job. An end to the band that creates the strongest of opinions as to whether they're bloody awful or whether they're the best band of the last 50 years. The band that has one of the most instantly recognisable sounds, and some of the best lyrics ever written. A band that had influenced all aspects of modern Alt Rock and defined British music in the 1980s. That's a hard thing to bring to an end, and yet they did it without leaving on a bad note, instead finishing with the prospect of what have might been. "[+]Reply
"Britpop's softer and most eloquent side. A songbook for the disenfranchised, Urban Hymns is beautiful from start to finish, capturing the disgruntled tinge of its contemporaries and presenting it in a conversational and delicate attire. It's a flawed masterpiece, too long and too soft for its own...""Britpop's softer and most eloquent side. A songbook for the disenfranchised, Urban Hymns is beautiful from start to finish, capturing the disgruntled tinge of its contemporaries and presenting it in a conversational and delicate attire. It's a flawed masterpiece, too long and too soft for its own good in places, but it's hard to deny how reassuring and how comforting Richard Ashcroft's words are.
I have a lot of sentiment with this record. It came out just around the time I was born, and the CD copy I still play in the car all the time is the same as the one my parents bought shortly after its release; Lucky Man inadvertently soundtracked a lot of big moments in my life, and very aptly too I must add; the album has opened me up to a hell of a lot of other 90s alternative bands, and continues to shape my taste to this day.
It's for those reasons that I can forgive the slow pacing and dragged feel that others pick out. Urban Hymns packs the depth and approachability that I crave on occasion - a healthy dose of slightly dreamy alt rock, with enough 90s guitar riffs for all the family and a diorama of melancholic, politically tinged lyrics - and has been there for me enough to have earned a prized place among my collection. A flawed masterpiece for sure, but like all flawed masterpieces, it's what you see in it that matters most. "[+]Reply