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: 46 minutes ago).
"How does this only have an 80?? the lowest rated track is an 84 the average track rating is a fucking 88, higher than every single beatles album, and higher than most albums on this website cmon guys"Reply
"This is a brilliant commentary on society in the 60's that is still extremely relevant to this day with the consumerism we have present in modern society. It is also a genius parody of the music in the 60's but also a demonstration of how it could be made to a higher musical quality if artists st...""This is a brilliant commentary on society in the 60's that is still extremely relevant to this day with the consumerism we have present in modern society. It is also a genius parody of the music in the 60's but also a demonstration of how it could be made to a higher musical quality if artists strived towards making better sounds rather than just catchy songs that get people hooked on so they would sell. This satire from Zappa is best demonstrated on songs like Wowie Zowie, Anyway The Wind Blows and Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder. Zappa then goes completely against what people wanted and made creative sound collages which utilised his raw sound and formed some songs that on first listen are not enjoyable for us to hear at all. However, through the use of his orchestral arrangements and instrumental diversity the quality and depth of the sound shines through after a few listens as you start to see how complex and rich his sound is. You start to appreciate the musicianship on show and admire how self aware and intellectual the release is. The lyrics the whole way through are fantastic as well and I can see why they might not appeal to some people but for me they work perfectly and I love the commentary Zappa gives. Also, I would like to give a special mention to the protest song Trouble Every Day which is a personal highlight for me. Overall, this is a genius record that has something to say that is still relevant to this very day and does it in a musically rich and grand fashion and I think this record deserves more recognition and praise than it gets. "[+]Reply
"In 1972 Steely Band, when their debut album "Can't Buy a Thrill" was released, the group was a real band and not just Becker / Fagan with handpicked back-up musicians. The lead vocals are not all sung by Donald Fagen, who leaves some of them to singer David Palmer. In fact two of the very best so...""In 1972 Steely Band, when their debut album "Can't Buy a Thrill" was released, the group was a real band and not just Becker / Fagan with handpicked back-up musicians.
The lead vocals are not all sung by Donald Fagen, who leaves some of them to singer David Palmer. In fact two of the very best songs, "Brooklyn" and "Dirty Work" are sung by Palmer. Other core members at this point were guitarists Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Denny Dias with Jim Hodder on drums.
The songs are generally very cacthy and melodic, with "Do it Again" and "Reelin 'in the Years" both making it the top-twenty in the charts.
The music can, at some points be compared with country-rock bands like The Eagles or America, but with more musical refinements. Virtually all songs can be called classics, and the album definitely belongs among the group's most successful.
The rhythmic side, which has always been a very important part of the group-profile, is apparent with the infectious beats of "Do It Again", "Only a Fool" and "Brooklyn."
"Fire in the Hole" is a song pointing more towards future directions - a rather complex melody, which is really very melodic and song likely to grow on you. One song, "Midnight Cruiser" sung by drummer Jim Hodder, almost sounds like a James Taylor song.
All in all a terrific debut album, which still has appeal and charm, and with Becker and Fagens songwriting already at a very high level - more commercial, perhaps, than what would later come. "[+]Reply
"This shit was incredibly edgy when it first came out. There was an intensity and attitude that, while dwelling in a seedy undercurrent, was lifted somewhat euphorically by a breakbeat, in-your-face, bouncyness that drew shadowy characters to the dance floor. In fact it connected with the 'jilted ...""This shit was incredibly edgy when it first came out. There was an intensity and attitude that, while dwelling in a seedy undercurrent, was lifted somewhat euphorically by a breakbeat, in-your-face, bouncyness that drew shadowy characters to the dance floor. In fact it connected with the 'jilted generation' better than their album with that same title.
Breathe is a classic track. The intro still gives me chills when I hear it as I remember the energy that the song is about to trigger. Some other songs on the album fail to measure up to such high standards as this incredible song but in their own right they still form the basis of a very solid album.
When you consider that a melding of electronic and punk rock had never previously been so well produced as this album you would have to consider it as a groundbreaking, progressive classic in many ways."[+]Reply
"Elvis Costello's debut album is a classic. I'll admit, it's not the album that got me into him, but more recently, as I've entered adulthood, started to work part-time and my frustration with romance has grown, this album has really climbed for me. Welcome to the Working Week is my anthem for whe...""Elvis Costello's debut album is a classic. I'll admit, it's not the album that got me into him, but more recently, as I've entered adulthood, started to work part-time and my frustration with romance has grown, this album has really climbed for me. Welcome to the Working Week is my anthem for when I'm frustrated with my dead-end job, while Miracle Man and No Dancing speak to me as a sexually frustrated, awkward young guy. Also love Sneaky Feelings (reminds me of a close friend), and Less than Zero. Meanwhile Alison and Watching the Detectives are among my favourite Costello songs period, the latter boasting some of the most dizzying lyrics ever written. Not the man's crowning masterpiece, but still a masterpiece."[+]Reply
"OK so why do I feel this is a "music equivalent of Tree of Life". Both works can be described with the word "epic", they're lengthy, full of interesting ideas, exhilarating, techincally very impressive, and even the theme is somewhat similiar with constant nostalgic "looking back", to the time of...""OK so why do I feel this is a "music equivalent of Tree of Life".
Both works can be described with the word "epic", they're lengthy, full of interesting ideas, exhilarating, techincally very impressive, and even the theme is somewhat similiar with constant nostalgic "looking back", to the time of childhood. I also think they share the same problem - often I get the feeling that they're epic just for the sake of being epic. Not that this is a bad thing, but I did feel sometimes, that it was just... empty, when it presented itself to be something more than that.
I had more problem with that in the movie than on the album though. I guess if the movie is visually impressive, it can still easily make me unsatisfied if I feel that the images on screen don't make much sense or if I feel the author thinks the movie is smarter than it actually is. On the album, there are several interludes, that are impressive by themselves, but don't really offer anything in the terms of an album, not musically nor thematically. Some will find them to be a filler, but to me they're impressive and quality enough so I don't lose interest. In Tree of Life, there are also certain "interludes" that in general probably had some place in director's story (his whole "vision"), but I ultimately found a lot of that to be fairly boring (despite being fascinating to watch) and quite simply - empty. So.. Being just a music album (also, without the annoying voice overs of the movie) Hurry Up, We're Dreaming doesn't make me feel that way at all, even if I have my doubts about it. Some of the songs are just so good that I don't care if Gonzalez made them with true emotions, honesty, or just in order to make them as big and "epic" as possible.
Track picks: Midnight City, Wait, Claudia Lewis, Raconte Moi Une Historie (something out of the ordinary, can only be a good thing on an album like this), ..."[+]Reply
"A superb release where the imperfections only make it more interesting. Maybe the sound was a little too hushed, and the lyrics a little too cryptic, but that only increased it's mystery. And the songs themselves were something truly out-there, covering many unusual topics and some very dark subj...""A superb release where the imperfections only make it more interesting. Maybe the sound was a little too hushed, and the lyrics a little too cryptic, but that only increased it's mystery. And the songs themselves were something truly out-there, covering many unusual topics and some very dark subject manner. "[+]Reply
"Even on his first record the Captain exudes a well-rounded palette of contrasting emotions and styles. Compare the contemptuous misanthropic rejections on Dropout Boogie with the tender plebeian complacency on I'm Glad. Like Zappa, Beefheart seems to be utilizing popular genres in order to satiri...""Even on his first record the Captain exudes a well-rounded palette of contrasting emotions and styles. Compare the contemptuous misanthropic rejections on Dropout Boogie with the tender plebeian complacency on I'm Glad. Like Zappa, Beefheart seems to be utilizing popular genres in order to satirize or comment on them. But unlike Zappa (whose songs mock his subjects at a distance), Beefheart is not afraid to get inside his songs and live out the emotions therein, no matter how ridiculous. Aye Captain, I'll admit: for the longest time I thought Safe as Milk was overrated because of what a brilliant mindfuck Trout Mask Replica is. But this is a very fine album that stands on it's own."[+]Reply