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: 3 hours ago).
"There are a few words used to describe music that typically indicate I won't like it. Sparse, intimate, and voice-driven are some of them. And all three of them describe this album perfectly - as others have said, it is the sound of an artist laying their life bare with songs reflecting over thei...""There are a few words used to describe music that typically indicate I won't like it. Sparse, intimate, and voice-driven are some of them. And all three of them describe this album perfectly - as others have said, it is the sound of an artist laying their life bare with songs reflecting over their experiences. But somehow, in this case, it all comes together and creates what I believe to be the most perfect album ever crafted.
It's one thing to have a great voice, and it's quite another to be able to use that voice and make it sound honest. If there's one word that describes (nearly) all of the music I enjoy it's honest. And if someone is clearing trying to hit high notes and sing in key that honesty is lost; that's why I often prefer bad singers to good ones. But Joni makes hitting the high notes sound incredibly effortless, and she integrates them perfectly into the rest of the song so that they don't stand out as if she's trying to impress with her voice. It's an album that is so well crafted that the voice is irrelevant, but she still manages to sing perfectly.
And the song-writing - the stream-of-consciousness style she writes in is just tremendous. Picture Kurt Cobain if the thoughts in his head actually made sense. There is no pretense, there is no thought. These are the things she is thinking, and she's not manipulating them to sound like poetry. There are moments on this record that are incredibly general and could apply to anyone, and there are moments where the specificity is brilliant ("Richard got married to a figure skater, and he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator"). The songs reflect the era she lived in (Little Green / Blue) and her dreams for the future (River). Even when the lyrics blend into a more manufactured poetry they sound so heartbreakingly beautiful you can't fault it (Case of You). And of course there's a central theme that ties things together nicely - it wouldn't be a true album if the songs didn't feel like they belonged together. Not only is there the general sentiment of heartbreak that is described by colors (Blue and Green, obviously), but each song seems to dwell on a different aspect of the feeling (or the moments leading up to it). The songs also progress nicely, starting off hopeful and glad and then straying into sadness, depression, and what I wouldn't hesitate to call despair. It starts with hopes and dreams (the dream theme culminates in Carey and California) but by the end the illusion is shattered and the truths about love and life come out.
My love for this album goes even beyond words, but somehow it's the one I find the most to say about and the most to discover more in. The number of times I've broken down sobbing to this album is not a single digit number."[+]Reply
"The death of one's mother is usually always hard to take and Sufjan's grief is keenly felt. Stevens has plenty to draw on here, the sporadic relationship they had, her drug addiction and her mental instability. It can be uncomfortable listening - particularly in the way it explores feelings we of...""The death of one's mother is usually always hard to take and Sufjan's grief is keenly felt. Stevens has plenty to draw on here, the sporadic relationship they had, her drug addiction and her mental instability. It can be uncomfortable listening - particularly in the way it explores feelings we often pretend aren't there or in expressing that feeling of being very lonely and very adrift in the world but nothing says 'I Love You' more than the music on offer here and that's good enough."[+]Reply
"it took me til my 30s before I learned of prince’s virtuosity, but the dude was absolutely electric and it feels like he’s sometimes overlooked on all-time lists for best guitarists/musicians/artists. Even As a lifelong rock music audiophile his music eluded me until i saw a super fun prince cove...""it took me til my 30s before I learned of prince’s virtuosity, but the dude was absolutely electric and it feels like he’s sometimes overlooked on all-time lists for best guitarists/musicians/artists. Even As a lifelong rock music audiophile his music eluded me until i saw a super fun prince cover band, the purple ones, who woke me the F up to the man’s music. prince was enigmatic, prolific, musically eclectic and wildly talented, and it hurts to realize that it took his untimely death to fully appreciate the man’s musical and cultural contributions to this world. there’s something in his catalogue for everyone’s musical tastes, and this album is his magnum opus by most standards. but i kind of agree with other commenters that newcomers to prince’s music may be best served working their way up to this one. the evolution of his style, his taste, his artistic genius and his sensibilities in acoustic production are all pretty wild to behold in retrospect, and the way his career led up to and crescendoed with purple rain is a thing of beauty to behold. rest in power, purple one, for you were too good for this world. "[+]Reply
"Sonic Youth changed the way I saw rock music. I used to perceive it as a steady rhythm, with verses and a chorus. I used to play music in a very structured way during jam sessions that I had with friends, and to be honest that bored me, but I never thought to do anything differently because it wa...""Sonic Youth changed the way I saw rock music. I used to perceive it as a steady rhythm, with verses and a chorus. I used to play music in a very structured way during jam sessions that I had with friends, and to be honest that bored me, but I never thought to do anything differently because it was all I knew. Then, I listened to Daydream Nation and that changed everything. The way that Sonic Youth incorporate their prolonged jam sessions into their music and still made powerful, emotional music inspired me so much. Immediately, I invited my buddy over for a jam session. He played guitar, my dad played bass, and I drummed. We went on play the greatest jam session I ever have been a part of. It crescendoed loudly and made my heart racing and it brought the biggest smile to my face. I can thank Sonic Youth for inspiring me to change how I viewed rock music and the way that I play it and enjoy it. I have a newfound love for jam sessions again. I never get bored anymore because Daydream Nation has taught me to break outside the walls of traditional rock music and experiment and above all, make some loud noises."[+]Reply
"This album just supports my reasons why 1967 is the single greatest year of music; The Doors, Sargent Pepper, The Who Sell Out, Strange Days, The Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Jefferson Airplane, and so many more."Reply
"It opens with a Chinese gong that carries its vibrations across Coltrane's saxaphone bursting through, with a light series of percussion gently bustling beneath, before the bass groove of his now signature "A Love Supreme" theme, a humble, beautiful dedication to God, casts its spell on the work....""It opens with a Chinese gong that carries its vibrations across Coltrane's saxaphone bursting through, with a light series of percussion gently bustling beneath, before the bass groove of his now signature "A Love Supreme" theme, a humble, beautiful dedication to God, casts its spell on the work. Coltrane continues to increase a series of wonderful variations on the theme throughout Acknowledgement, a masterstroke of an opening, brilliantly coaxing us along until, kneeled down, a voice comes forth in a gentle, relaxed mantra, singing "A Love Supreme" over and over again, meditating on the theme, before all instruments subside, excepting a lone bass number searching for the way. Coltrane will show them. He will be led forth by God.
Resolution breaks through with a monumental melody, towering above all else, and then holds back while a solo for piano dominates the next couple minutes, rising chords move upwards towards the sky, relentless drumming ecstatically following suit, weaving in and out and working off one another. Suddenly Coltrane charges into the mix, repeating a controlled assault on variations of the opening melody, huge phrases calling out to the Lord as he swiftly climbs upwards.
Pursuance one of the most emotional, awe-inspiring, towering masterpieces in all of music, is the pinnacle of Coltrane's career. After opening with an amazing series of drum rolls and an outstanding, flawlessly crafted piano number that builds perfectly right into the second phase of the song, Coltrane arrives with such conviction and abandon that it is hard to believe. Here walls come down, we are transported straight into the very essence of undying conviction and spirituality. Each time Coltrane and the climaxing drum rolls meet are moments of the most intense powers colliding. The song ends with a massive percussion climax before some intimate minutes of lone bass are spent repeating Coltrane's meditative themes.
The conclusion of Pursuance leads straight into the mesmerizing finale of Psalm. A completely overwhelmed Coltrane plays as if being touched by God. Beneath his extravagant, poignant melody arises great rumblings of percussion, casting an epic spell and a divine conclusion on the work, before each instrument eventually coalesces in unison as the psalm closes.
As John Coltrane's masterpiece, A Love Supreme is the most humble offering, a true miracle, an intensely emotional prayer that manages to carry forth undivided by religion or belief. Regardless of faith, it speaks personally to each of us. It is a beacon showing light on the beauty and artistry that raises the humanity in us all."[+]Reply
"This is easily the Beatles' most overlooked release. Although glued together from some singles, and the film's soundtrack, Magical Mystery tour holds together. Although psychedelic like Sgt. Pepper's, Mystery Tour relies less on narrative and more on atmosphere. The heavy instrumentation of Straw...""This is easily the Beatles' most overlooked release. Although glued together from some singles, and the film's soundtrack, Magical Mystery tour holds together. Although psychedelic like Sgt. Pepper's, Mystery Tour relies less on narrative and more on atmosphere. The heavy instrumentation of Strawberry Fields Forever, the druggy layers on Blue Jay Way. Even the straightforward ballads feel more put together than usual for a Beatles' LP. (Your Mother Should Know, Fool on the Hill). Even the title track (a less successful version of Sgt. Pepper's opener) and Flying (a simple instrumental) are solid. But when this album is good its amazing. Strawberry Fields, All you Need is Love, and I am a Walrus are not only some of the Beatles' best, but some of the greatest songs of all time.
P.S. I would recommend any Beatles fan get this record on vinyl. It comes with a large and gorgeous twenty page picture book."[+]Reply
"Ian Curtis didn't live to see the release of Joy Division's second album, but the music he made on those two records will live forever. I think great music has to have the ability to make you feel something, and Closer definitely has that. It's impossible to listen to Closer and not feel somethin...""Ian Curtis didn't live to see the release of Joy Division's second album, but the music he made on those two records will live forever. I think great music has to have the ability to make you feel something, and Closer definitely has that. It's impossible to listen to Closer and not feel something intensely powerful, a oppressive sadness runs through every fiber of the album. Martin Hannett's production is spacious, and feels like it's being played from within a giant empty cathedral, yet still feels claustrophobic at the same time. There's nowhere to run or hide from the bleak nihilism, it washes over you and through you with every track. A truly sad masterpiece."[+]Reply
"Bruce Springsteen's most iconic album, and his breakthrough. It's amazing to think now, that he could have been dropped from his record label if this album had flopped. Fortunately for Springsteen and for us, it didn't, and we have one of the greatest careers in rock/pop music to enjoy. Born to r...""Bruce Springsteen's most iconic album, and his breakthrough. It's amazing to think now, that he could have been dropped from his record label if this album had flopped. Fortunately for Springsteen and for us, it didn't, and we have one of the greatest careers in rock/pop music to enjoy. Born to run, Bruce Springsteen's most important record kicks off with the stunning, thunder road, my all time favourite track, ever, but this is different to it's predecessor. Bruce isn't happy treading the boardwalk anymore, he wants to get out, 'cos he's scared he ain't that young anymore. Next up, it's the semi-autobiographical, tenth avenue freeze out, where the E street band gets together, where the 'big man' joins the band. The frantic, night, gives way to the friendship epic, backstreets. The title track shows Bruce with a little more faith, as he still believes he is still young enough , but he still wants out, although to what?, he doesn't know, after all, he thinks of himself as a tramp. After what's gone so far, she's the one, feels a little lightweight lyrically, but it's still an excellent bluesy rocker. Meeting across the river, shows two down on their luck hustlers, determined to make it right this time, show 'em all, especially the narrator's love interest . This brilliant album ends in breathtaking style, with the epic, jungleland. It's Bob Dylan and Phil Spector re-writing west side story. It's glorious, and features surely Clarence Clemon's greatest and most iconic solo on a Springsteen track. And that's it, that's what all the fuss is about. It's a masterpiece, it's a highway 61 for the seventies, it's born to run. "[+]Reply
"I will give it a week or so before giving it a score, because I don't want to jump to any conclusions first listen... that said, this is the first Radiohead release I've been apart of, and I've been blindsided. It's better than OK Computer, Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows. Only album I might li...""I will give it a week or so before giving it a score, because I don't want to jump to any conclusions first listen... that said, this is the first Radiohead release I've been apart of, and I've been blindsided. It's better than OK Computer, Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows. Only album I might like more than it is Kid A, and that's some high praise.
Burn the Witch - The moment I listened to this I felt opening track vibes. It's like an orchestrated 2 + 2 = 5. It's gonna get you hyped for sure.
Daydreaming - When I first heard this track, I thought it was one of the best things they've ever done. The way the synths and orchestration mix is beauty.
Decks Dark - So when this song comes along and is just as good, if not better? Yeah, I was blown away. The build-up of this track, along with the choir and vocals is amazing. It feels like a perfected Drunken Punch Up. Just an unbelievable track.
Desert Island Disk - My favorite of the two Thom played live with the acoustic. I'm happy that they didn't take out the acoustic and replace it with something else. Instead the rest of the track builds a soundscape around it that elevates it to a whole other level. Then the drums kick in and, yes Thom, I know what you mean.
Ful Stop - Radiohead turns it up here. The opening part of the song where the instruments and synths slowly tune in gets me so hyped it's unbelievable. Another soundscape is made by this song, but here it feels like I'm running as fast as I can. Why? Who knows. Yorke's lyrics kick in and the whole piece comes together. Then the instruments take center stage, and it gives me a Jigsaws sense of euphoria. I could spend hours describing this track. Unbelievable.
Glass Eyes - Feels like a Faust Arp, since it's the only track under 3 minutes and divides two epics (Ful Stop and Identikit.) That said, I love Faust Arp and that same love is found here with Glass Eyes. The piano starts it off with the instruments coming in with his lyrics makes me feel as if I'm looking into his head. It's worth saying, this track would be impossible without Jonny Greenwood. Thanks our lucky stars for his orchestration.
Identikit - One if the most anticipated tracks of the album makes an appearance. I spent years avoiding this one just because I wanted to hear the studio release first. This track, more than the rest, is built off rhythm. That said, it is still an excellent methodical piece. When the song makes that sudden change around 2 minutes in, it explodes in the best way possible. Once it comes back to Earth, you just have to appreciate what they've done with it. One of the best tracks on the album to this point.
The Numbers - Silent Spring, I didn't like as much. So maybe Yorke somehow read my mind and changed it from Silent Spring to The Numbers. The acoustic guitar is still there, but hearing it along with the Climbing Up the Walls esque orchestration and chorus changes it from a good acoustic track into one of the greatest tracks this band has ever put out. An epic that blows the rest out of the water.
Present Tense - This is a track I struggled to describe. I love the opening bit, reminiscent of Nude. A lot of build up on this one. The choir is great here, and the instruments back them up so perfectly. Jonny Greenwood does an amazing job with this track. He and Yorke drive this track as a prelude to...
Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief - What a mouth full. Broken up synths remind me a bit of The Gloaming. Yorke's vocals seem to fly through the song. The instruments give an Amnesiac vibe. You and Whose Army? more so than others. The orchestration is once again done perfectly. Radiohead always does an amazing job with the penultimate track and this one is no exception.
True Love Waits - We've waited, alright. I'd only heard this track a couple times so I wouldn't dilute it if I heard it on an album. What we get is a Videotape esque edition. I like his vocals so much more here. He sing it like a dream. The piano is just melancholic enough for this song, which has gone from a nice love song into one of the saddest songs this band has ever released. The orchestration is still there, but mostly steps aside to give Thom his song filled with a beauty and emptiness that I haven't felt since Kid A. One of the only songs to ever make me cry and an amazing closer to the album.
Overall - Radiohead is playing like a band in their prime 31 years in. Through this time they've gone from the rock ballad of OK Computer and has released its equivalent here. I don't see them ending here, Thom and Jonny are working together more than ever. If they do, however, then this is a perfect album to leave us with.
Initial Impression - 10/10. This album takes me on an unbelievable journey from its hard pressed opener to its desolate conclusion. Radiohead faithful will love this album to death."[+]Reply
babyBlueSedan | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +8 votes (8 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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johnner | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +13 votes (14 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
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slurpdurp | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +19 votes (19 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Ironic Karma | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +14 votes (16 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
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AfterHours | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +13 votes (13 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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souplipton | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +8 votes (8 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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