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Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Particle Analyst
BillAdama
Viva Pubilc Enemy, #1 rap album! Much deserved.


Amen!

Also: Very happy for Reed's masterpiece to be up there ( gained a higher place too? Next year somebody must organize a campaign for its entrance on the Top 50!). And yeah, "( What's The Story?) Morning Glory" is definitely the greatest thing britpop ever produced and one of the most important albums of the '90s era. A work that contains almost everything, from psychedelia ("Champagne Supernova") to back-to-the-roots rhythmic rock sound ("Some Might Say") and melancholic acoustic ballads ("Cast No Shadow"). Pity that the rather good but also overrated "Daydream Nation" finished above both of them.


I've always considered most Brit Pop very surfacey, and ultimately disposable. Oasis is no exception to this rule. (Morning Glory) is a great album, but not imo not worth the high measure of esteem placed on it by the british press.

Sonic Youth, on the other hand, is one of the most innovative bands of the last 30 years, and Daydream Nation is their pinnacle. So let's just agree to disagree.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Yeah! Fleet Foxes keep their position in the top 80. It's really good to see that gem of an album ranking among stablished classics like Daydream Nation, Soft Bulletin, Transformer and Morning Glory. The most impressive thing of their music is that they make it seem so easy for everyone to compose and perform those tracks. The first time I heard it in 2008, my first active year on AM, I thought to myself: great to know good albums like this are things that appear every now and then. But no, since then nothing with the same flow and effortless musicality has appeared anymore, even though there are a few more recent albums above it in my own list. And, nicolas, I don't consider that their "jam" moments hurt the album, in fact, it makes for the audition always turning into a pleasing travel. I consider "He Doesn't Know Why" my favorite song of last decade.

Time to make some comments about the top 200-101:

- I don't remember where Fear of Music placed last times, but it was an awesome surprise to see it near the top 150. For me it's one of the most underrated albums ever, topping even the unique Remain In Light. The Heads appear there at their most urgent, creating a threatening climate that I have never found in another album. Sometimes it really seems the music is persecuting you (Cities, Memories Can't Wait, Air), while Heaven must be their most poignant song.
- Didn't expect to see Reckoning so high. I also consider it R.E.M's best album after their 2 big ones.
- Well, even if I had a little hope of seeing Parklife back to top 100, I accept it's rank. At least it looks to have stablished a position among the classic ones, in the contrary of other Britpop acts that seem to be fading as time passes. It has been my all time #2 for half a decade (I began listening to "music" in 2005) and can't see it going down.
- Of course the hugest surprise of it all is Vampire Weekend at #118. I always thought I was a bit alone in liking that album so much. Like VanillaFire1000 has said, much of it's appeal comes from it's way of combining afropop melodies and textures to their new wave influences, creating a beautiful musical landscape as well as a fresh and clean sound. Now get this style and with it create perfect pop tracks like "Boston", the synthy "One", the running "Walcott", the soaring-savannah-feel "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance", not to mention the 5 leading and almost equally acclaimed tracks, and then you have one of the masterpieces of last decade. Many may consider I'm exagerating for such a recent album, but it has been slowly rising in my all time list since it's discovery until surprisingly reaching the top 10 this time.
- Glad to see Paul's Boutique as the 2nd best '80s rap album. Another one I didn't expect to see this high.
- Last, another of my deceptions was the fall of Surfer Rosa, which had been near number 50 in the last two polls. I consider it a much better and more cohesive piece than Doolittle.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

The lyric from "All My Friends" is definitely "I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of life."

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam
The lyric from "All My Friends" is definitely "I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of life."


I always thought it was this too but then a lyrics site convinced me otherwise. I like the line more with "life" anyway, so I should have put that. I really wish this forum had editing capabilities sometimes...

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Jackson
Moonbeam
The lyric from "All My Friends" is definitely "I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of life."


I always thought it was this too but then a lyrics site convinced me otherwise. I like the line more with "life" anyway, so I should have put that. I really wish this forum had editing capabilities sometimes...


"Life" makes total sense with the lyrics. He's going back and forth in this midlife crisis between defiant defense of how he lived (as in that line) and exasperated fear about how fleeting it all is.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Jonathon
Particle Analyst
BillAdama
Viva Pubilc Enemy, #1 rap album! Much deserved.


Amen!

Also: Very happy for Reed's masterpiece to be up there ( gained a higher place too? Next year somebody must organize a campaign for its entrance on the Top 50!). And yeah, "( What's The Story?) Morning Glory" is definitely the greatest thing britpop ever produced and one of the most important albums of the '90s era. A work that contains almost everything, from psychedelia ("Champagne Supernova") to back-to-the-roots rhythmic rock sound ("Some Might Say") and melancholic acoustic ballads ("Cast No Shadow"). Pity that the rather good but also overrated "Daydream Nation" finished above both of them.


I've always considered most Brit Pop very surfacey, and ultimately disposable. Oasis is no exception to this rule. (Morning Glory) is a great album, but not imo not worth the high measure of esteem placed on it by the british press.

Sonic Youth, on the other hand, is one of the most innovative bands of the last 30 years, and Daydream Nation is their pinnacle. So let's just agree to disagree.

Not liking britpop is actually great, as is the difference in taste that discreets every human being and makes this nasty world a somewhat better place.

But calling it disposable? Really? Not only have the influences in modern "alternative" music been so obvious from the '00s and on according to the style of many current bands (Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, The Libertines, The Coral etc.) which is of course not always good since they sometimes imitate too much or others, not necessarily among the ones I mentioned, are worthless acts, but the fact is they wouldn't even exist without that noise. And yes, britpop helped guitar music a lot to gain a new "genre branch" after the ending of the grunge era. In general, despite it being a firework of a movement (starting impressively, then fading away suddenly) it gave a good amount of the '90s music status definiton and delivered a bunch of true masterworks, actually very different the one from the other and with something in every each one of them for anyone to like ("(What's The Story?) Morning Glory", "Urban Hymns", "Different Class", "Parklife", "Suede", "Definitely Maybe"). And since when heavy promotion by the british press makes an album less good (which "Morning Glory" didn't have in the first place since it gained lukewarm reviews at the time it was released)? "OK Computer" gained acclaim reaching borderline propaganda when it first came out, again by the british press, but does that mean it's not a mind-blowing masterpiece exploring depths with its experimental noise we could only imagine of during that era? Surely not.

Now about Sonic Youth, yeah, their music was influentual too, especially for the college rock genre, and kinda had some roots on The Velvet Underground as well. I just never was mad about them. "Daydream Nation" has quite some amazing moments ("Candle", "Teen Age Riot") but its repetition factor makes it somewhat tiresome after a while, and most of the lyrics feel like they tried too much to be "different" with a result that seems overblown (exceptions are "Hey Joni" and "Rain King"). Anyway, it's definitely their best work but severely flawed and since they don't mean that much to me this was my short, hackneyed, but honest verdict. Hope I didn't become too much of a bore

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

70-61

I like Pink Floyd ("The Wall" is their most mature and spellbinding work if you ask me) but all that bucketload talk from critics citing them among the greatest bands ever just isn't for me. Their early work hasn't aged that well and their latest (meaning everything they made after "The Wall") is too boring and unimaginative to be described. "Wish You Were Here" is very fine but yet not anything groundbreaking or shockingly perfect.

I dislike Belle and Sebastian but I won't expand this issue...

Though I should be happy for two of my all-time favorites making the 100 I am having a bitter aftertaste. "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" ultimately, finally, extraordinaringly defined the very standards of the hip-hop/rap sound. That of course wouldn't be much if it wasn't such an astounding explosion in terms of innovation in the structure of music itself. Never before has an album been so much centered to its lyrics. Few other albums have been so edgy in terms of views about politics and social issues, furthermore combined with the ingenious, full of rage and ready-to-attack-and-swipe-it-all tunes. And the gigantic amount of sampling works greatly as a touch of pop-culture referencial trivia, revealing not only their very own influences and roots but also blinking the eye to an older crowd. Since then, no Dr. Dre, Eminem or Kanye West has surpassed or will ever surpass this. Nor will anyone from any other music genre at least for a very long time.

Now about "This Year's Model", it's just so damn addictive. OK, far from being the only one reason it's in such a high place in my heart, it does contain the most creative, "songy", catchy, playful, exciting and energetic sum of songs than every other record I have ever listened to. 33 years on, it still sounds very ahead of its time. Aside the fact that Costello himself seems like he was born to do those vocals played on this music. From the very first seconds "No Action" plays, it drags me immediately down to a very special, almost outlandish music universe. "Radio Radio" personally is my favorite from this big collection of fabulous tunes, the most rebellious one, with absolutely perfect songwriting and being in general among my all time favorite songs (not that I have made a list or something, but I would include it if I had one anyway ).

To the rest, I'm far from being a Waits fanboy (with "Swordfishtrombones" able to be in my Top 20 "I don't get the love it gets" list, also if I had one ) but "Rain Dogs" is rightfully above the forementioned album, an atmospherical and very enjoayble piece of work, even to a person not very familiar with this singer.

Happy for the emotional and astounding "Sound Of Silver" being in such a high rank (though not the finest of the LCD Soundsystem's fantastic discography) and for "Bridge Over Troubled Water" of course, the magnus opus of a band which somehow belongs to the '60s mostly. "Loveless" is absolutely amazing too, although it could be somewhat lower.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Particle Analyst

Not liking britpop is actually great, as is the difference in taste that discreets every human being and makes this nasty world a somewhat better place.

But calling it disposable? Really? Not only have the influences in modern "alternative" music been so obvious from the '00s and on according to the style of many current bands (Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, The Libertines, The Coral etc.) which is of course not always good since they sometimes imitate too much or others, not necessarily among the ones I mentioned, are worthless acts, but the fact is they wouldn't even exist without that noise. And yes, britpop helped guitar music a lot to gain a new "genre branch" after the ending of the grunge era. In general, despite it being a firework of a movement (starting impressively, then fading away suddenly) it gave a good amount of the '90s music status definiton and delivered a bunch of true masterworks, actually very different the one from the other and with something in every each one of them for anyone to like ("(What's The Story?) Morning Glory", "Urban Hymns", "Different Class", "Parklife", "Suede", "Definitely Maybe"). And since when heavy promotion by the british press makes an album less good (which "Morning Glory" didn't have in the first place since it gained lukewarm reviews at the time it was released)? "OK Computer" gained acclaim reaching borderline propaganda when it first came out, again by the british press, but does that mean it's not a mind-blowing masterpiece exploring depths with its experimental noise we could only imagine of during that era? Surely not.

Now about Sonic Youth, yeah, their music was influentual too, especially for the college rock genre, and kinda had some roots on The Velvet Underground as well. I just never was mad about them. "Daydream Nation" has quite some amazing moments ("Candle", "Teen Age Riot") but its repetition factor makes it somewhat tiresome after a while, and most of the lyrics feel like they tried too much to be "different" with a result that seems overblown (exceptions are "Hey Joni" and "Rain King"). Anyway, it's definitely their best work but severely flawed and since they don't mean that much to me this was my short, hackneyed, but honest verdict. Hope I didn't become too much of a bore


I totally agree, I'm a pretty big britpop fan myself and I always get a little disheartened when people entirely write it off.

Bands like Blur and Pulp crafted excellent pop music while at the same time conveying very deep messages, primarily ones about the intricacies of British life in the 1990's.

While Oasis never made "smart" music, I wouldn't ever call them disposable. Apparently I'm the biggest "Morning Glory" fan on this site, so I think I should defend them.

Oasis don't have particularly deep lyrics. They don't have bad lyrics, just ones that are (for the most part) kind of meaningless. And that's okay. Because to me it's not about the lyrics, it's about the way the songs make me feel. "Morning Glory" could be the definitive guide to how to craft a pop song. You have the sprawling "Champagne Supernova", the soaring ballad of "Don't Look Back in Anger", the life affirming anthems of "Roll With It", and "Some Might Say", the endearing "Wonderwall", and 5 other really great pop songs. Everything sounds like it could be a single. The album sounds just like a greatest hits album would.

What separates "Morning Glory" from disposable pop? For one thing the bold attitude that the songs convey. Some might say (no pun intended) that the music is loud and rude, however I disagree. To me it simply sounds like the music of a couple of guys who are really really excited about life and about being alive. If there's one consistent message of theme that runs through the album it's about being happy. That sounds mundane, but when I listen to the album the term that instantly comes to mind is "life affirming".
The album is loud. Everything part of the instrumentation (particularly the guitars) creates spirited atmosphere. To borrow a term from Phil Spector, there's like a "wall of sound" that envelops the album. I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe it's in the layered guitars. Just everything about the album sounds big and bold. This isn't some faint disposable pop we're hearing, these are big audacious anthems.

Another common criticism is that the music is "derivative". First of all, maybe this is just out of pure ignorance, but I have never ever heard any albums that sound like "Definitely Maybe" or "Morning Glory". No other albums have managed to capture that same distinctive "wall" of sound that I hear when I put on either of those albums. I understand that Oasis are influenced by The Beatles, but I honestly would never mistake a Beatles song for an Oasis one. Furthermore, britpop itself is heavily based on the music of bands like The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and especially, The Smiths. Oasis sound like none of these bands.

In the end, there are albums that are smarter than "Morning Glory". There are albums that are more experimental. There are albums that are more complex, more deep, and made by more likable people. But in terms of pure fun, great hooks, and a bold, unashamed love of life, "Morning Glory" does it for me.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Actually, I would have expected Pacific Ocean Blue to land somewhere in the 300-400 range, based on it's success in the first Moderate.

I'm surprised to see Village Green Preservation Society as high as it is.

Oasis has lots of great singles, but in my opinion, no complete great albums.

The problem with Britpop is that whenever there's a great Britpop band, the British recording industry decides that every Britpop album must copy it. Meanwhile the British press is putting so much pressure on them to carry the Beatles flag that anything the record industry will let them record is automatically a disappointment.

@Nicolas

You know The Bends hasn't come out yet, right?

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Particle Analyst
Jonathon
Particle Analyst
BillAdama
Viva Pubilc Enemy, #1 rap album! Much deserved.


Amen!

Also: Very happy for Reed's masterpiece to be up there ( gained a higher place too? Next year somebody must organize a campaign for its entrance on the Top 50!). And yeah, "( What's The Story?) Morning Glory" is definitely the greatest thing britpop ever produced and one of the most important albums of the '90s era. A work that contains almost everything, from psychedelia ("Champagne Supernova") to back-to-the-roots rhythmic rock sound ("Some Might Say") and melancholic acoustic ballads ("Cast No Shadow"). Pity that the rather good but also overrated "Daydream Nation" finished above both of them.


I've always considered most Brit Pop very surfacey, and ultimately disposable. Oasis is no exception to this rule. (Morning Glory) is a great album, but not imo not worth the high measure of esteem placed on it by the british press.

Sonic Youth, on the other hand, is one of the most innovative bands of the last 30 years, and Daydream Nation is their pinnacle. So let's just agree to disagree.

Not liking britpop is actually great, as is the difference in taste that discreets every human being and makes this nasty world a somewhat better place.

But calling it disposable? Really? Not only have the influences in modern "alternative" music been so obvious from the '00s and on according to the style of many current bands (Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, The Libertines, The Coral etc.) which is of course not always good since they sometimes imitate too much or others, not necessarily among the ones I mentioned, are worthless acts, but the fact is they wouldn't even exist without that noise. And yes, britpop helped guitar music a lot to gain a new "genre branch" after the ending of the grunge era. In general, despite it being a firework of a movement (starting impressively, then fading away suddenly) it gave a good amount of the '90s music status definiton and delivered a bunch of true masterworks, actually very different the one from the other and with something in every each one of them for anyone to like ("(What's The Story?) Morning Glory", "Urban Hymns", "Different Class", "Parklife", "Suede", "Definitely Maybe"). And since when heavy promotion by the british press makes an album less good (which "Morning Glory" didn't have in the first place since it gained lukewarm reviews at the time it was released)? "OK Computer" gained acclaim reaching borderline propaganda when it first came out, again by the british press, but does that mean it's not a mind-blowing masterpiece exploring depths with its experimental noise we could only imagine of during that era? Surely not.

Now about Sonic Youth, yeah, their music was influentual too, especially for the college rock genre, and kinda had some roots on The Velvet Underground as well. I just never was mad about them. "Daydream Nation" has quite some amazing moments ("Candle", "Teen Age Riot") but its repetition factor makes it somewhat tiresome after a while, and most of the lyrics feel like they tried too much to be "different" with a result that seems overblown (exceptions are "Hey Joni" and "Rain King"). Anyway, it's definitely their best work but severely flawed and since they don't mean that much to me this was my short, hackneyed, but honest verdict. Hope I didn't become too much of a bore



I shouldn't have written the whole genre off, In fact I probably have 5-6 Brit pop albums in my top 200, I just think many of the bands from that movement are criminally overrated on AM. I just don't consider Blur or Oasis nearly as important as a lot of people do. If I was putting them where I think they'd be fairly ranked, it would be in the maybe 90-120 of all time range, rather than the 45-55 range in which they reside on AM.

Many of the bands you listed are pretty derivative. Franz Ferdinand is kind of cool, but the Arctic Monkeys never did very much for me, nor do the Libertines. The other bands never grabbed me long enough to even give them a second listen.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Nick

I totally agree, I'm a pretty big britpop fan myself and I always get a little disheartened when people entirely write it off.

Bands like Blur and Pulp crafted excellent pop music while at the same time conveying very deep messages, primarily ones about the intricacies of British life in the 1990's.

While Oasis never made "smart" music, I wouldn't ever call them disposable. Apparently I'm the biggest "Morning Glory" fan on this site, so I think I should defend them.

Oasis don't have particularly deep lyrics. They don't have bad lyrics, just ones that are (for the most part) kind of meaningless. And that's okay. Because to me it's not about the lyrics, it's about the way the songs make me feel. "Morning Glory" could be the definitive guide to how to craft a pop song. You have the sprawling "Champagne Supernova", the soaring ballad of "Don't Look Back in Anger", the life affirming anthems of "Roll With It", and "Some Might Say", the endearing "Wonderwall", and 5 other really great pop songs. Everything sounds like it could be a single. The album sounds just like a greatest hits album would.

What separates "Morning Glory" from disposable pop? For one thing the bold attitude that the songs convey. Some might say (no pun intended) that the music is loud and rude, however I disagree. To me it simply sounds like the music of a couple of guys who are really really excited about life and about being alive. If there's one consistent message of theme that runs through the album it's about being happy. That sounds mundane, but when I listen to the album the term that instantly comes to mind is "life affirming".
The album is loud. Everything part of the instrumentation (particularly the guitars) creates spirited atmosphere. To borrow a term from Phil Spector, there's like a "wall of sound" that envelops the album. I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe it's in the layered guitars. Just everything about the album sounds big and bold. This isn't some faint disposable pop we're hearing, these are big audacious anthems.

Another common criticism is that the music is "derivative". First of all, maybe this is just out of pure ignorance, but I have never ever heard any albums that sound like "Definitely Maybe" or "Morning Glory". No other albums have managed to capture that same distinctive "wall" of sound that I hear when I put on either of those albums. I understand that Oasis are influenced by The Beatles, but I honestly would never mistake a Beatles song for an Oasis one. Furthermore, britpop itself is heavily based on the music of bands like The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and especially, The Smiths. Oasis sound like none of these bands.

In the end, there are albums that are smarter than "Morning Glory". There are albums that are more experimental. There are albums that are more complex, more deep, and made by more likable people. But in terms of pure fun, great hooks, and a bold, unashamed love of life, "Morning Glory" does it for me.


Wow, that's all actually very well said. I have nothing else to add, just that probably you covered it all in the aspect of this album (though I'd only say that some partial influences are obvious like The Stone Roses-they surely don't sound exactly the same but "Champagne Supernova" would sound somewhat different, at least in its opening without them and "Roll With It" is a brilliant and lively homage to the sound of The Beatles with the Gallaghers' touch of course).

I agree with BillAdama too about how music industry finally "forces" britpop albums especially to succeed with disappointing results overall.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

BillAdama
Actually, I would have expected Pacific Ocean Blue to land somewhere in the 300-400 range, based on it's success in the first Moderate.

I'm surprised to see Village Green Preservation Society as high as it is.

Oasis has lots of great singles, but in my opinion, no complete great albums.

The problem with Britpop is that whenever there's a great Britpop band, the British recording industry decides that every Britpop album must copy it. Meanwhile the British press is putting so much pressure on them to carry the Beatles flag that anything the record industry will let them record is automatically a disappointment.

@Nicolas

You know The Bends hasn't come out yet, right?


I think it's also the sickening overreaction to new music that's prevalent in the british press.

Maybe the american rock press is a little conservative and classic based, but I always roll my eyes when the NME puts out a greatest albums of all time list and there's an album that hasn't even come out yet by a bunch of kid who are not yet 21. That to me is utter madness.

On an unrelated note, I'm a huge Radiohead fan, but 4 Radiohead albums in the top 50 is a little extreme for my tastes.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Particle Analyst
70-61
Though I should be happy for two of my all-time favorites making the 100 I am having a bitter aftertaste. "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" ultimately, finally, extraordinaringly defined the very standards of the hip-hop/rap sound. That of course wouldn't be much if it wasn't such an astounding explosion in terms of innovation in the structure of music itself. Never before has an album been so much centered to its lyrics. Few other albums have been so edgy in terms of views about politics and social issues, furthermore combined with the ingenious, full of rage and ready-to-attack-and-swipe-it-all tunes. And the gigantic amount of sampling works greatly as a touch of pop-culture referencial trivia, revealing not only their very own influences and roots but also blinking the eye to an older crowd. Since then, no Dr. Dre, Eminem or Kanye West has surpassed or will ever surpass this. Nor will anyone from any other music genre at least for a very long time.


I love Nation of Millions... but I think I think it takes much of the credit, especially in regards to the growth of lyrical sophistication in rap, that Eric B. and Rakim's Paid in Full deserves. But that album didn't even make the top 500 here.

Paid in Full was the first true step-up in rhyme structure and delivery. When you listen to Run DMC and the Def Jam stuff just a year earlier, it sounds like child's play. But when you listen to both, you see why Public Enemy is seen as bigger. Paid in Full is a total party record, while Public Enemy were the first political rappers. Eric B's beats have nothing, and I mean nothing on what the Bomb Squad and Chuck D were making.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Jonathon
Particle Analyst
Jonathon
Particle Analyst
BillAdama
Viva Pubilc Enemy, #1 rap album! Much deserved.


Amen!

Also: Very happy for Reed's masterpiece to be up there ( gained a higher place too? Next year somebody must organize a campaign for its entrance on the Top 50!). And yeah, "( What's The Story?) Morning Glory" is definitely the greatest thing britpop ever produced and one of the most important albums of the '90s era. A work that contains almost everything, from psychedelia ("Champagne Supernova") to back-to-the-roots rhythmic rock sound ("Some Might Say") and melancholic acoustic ballads ("Cast No Shadow"). Pity that the rather good but also overrated "Daydream Nation" finished above both of them.


I've always considered most Brit Pop very surfacey, and ultimately disposable. Oasis is no exception to this rule. (Morning Glory) is a great album, but not imo not worth the high measure of esteem placed on it by the british press.

Sonic Youth, on the other hand, is one of the most innovative bands of the last 30 years, and Daydream Nation is their pinnacle. So let's just agree to disagree.

Not liking britpop is actually great, as is the difference in taste that discreets every human being and makes this nasty world a somewhat better place.

But calling it disposable? Really? Not only have the influences in modern "alternative" music been so obvious from the '00s and on according to the style of many current bands (Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, The Libertines, The Coral etc.) which is of course not always good since they sometimes imitate too much or others, not necessarily among the ones I mentioned, are worthless acts, but the fact is they wouldn't even exist without that noise. And yes, britpop helped guitar music a lot to gain a new "genre branch" after the ending of the grunge era. In general, despite it being a firework of a movement (starting impressively, then fading away suddenly) it gave a good amount of the '90s music status definiton and delivered a bunch of true masterworks, actually very different the one from the other and with something in every each one of them for anyone to like ("(What's The Story?) Morning Glory", "Urban Hymns", "Different Class", "Parklife", "Suede", "Definitely Maybe"). And since when heavy promotion by the british press makes an album less good (which "Morning Glory" didn't have in the first place since it gained lukewarm reviews at the time it was released)? "OK Computer" gained acclaim reaching borderline propaganda when it first came out, again by the british press, but does that mean it's not a mind-blowing masterpiece exploring depths with its experimental noise we could only imagine of during that era? Surely not.

Now about Sonic Youth, yeah, their music was influentual too, especially for the college rock genre, and kinda had some roots on The Velvet Underground as well. I just never was mad about them. "Daydream Nation" has quite some amazing moments ("Candle", "Teen Age Riot") but its repetition factor makes it somewhat tiresome after a while, and most of the lyrics feel like they tried too much to be "different" with a result that seems overblown (exceptions are "Hey Joni" and "Rain King"). Anyway, it's definitely their best work but severely flawed and since they don't mean that much to me this was my short, hackneyed, but honest verdict. Hope I didn't become too much of a bore



I shouldn't have written the whole genre off, In fact I probably have 5-6 Brit pop albums in my top 200, I just think many of the bands from that movement are criminally overrated on AM. I just don't consider Blur or Oasis nearly as important as a lot of people do. If I was putting them where I think they'd be fairly ranked, it would be in the maybe 90-120 of all time range, rather than the 45-55 range in which they reside on AM.

Many of the bands you listed are pretty derivative. Franz Ferdinand is kind of cool, but the Arctic Monkeys never did very much for me, nor do the Libertines. The other bands never grabbed me long enough to even give them a second listen.


OK, I can understand that. There are genres and bands that I consider overrated or not that memorable too, and so everyone else so I can understand you. Not sure if I'll mention them now since this is not the subject but your opinion is well written and stated.

Actually the examples I mentioned are somewhat randomly scattered, but I have to admit though that, "X&Y" excepted, Coldplay is to me a guilty pleasure though of course not being among the "one of the greatest rank" I also think "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" and "Up The Bracket" are very good, solid works.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Vanillafire1000
Particle Analyst
70-61
Though I should be happy for two of my all-time favorites making the 100 I am having a bitter aftertaste. "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" ultimately, finally, extraordinaringly defined the very standards of the hip-hop/rap sound. That of course wouldn't be much if it wasn't such an astounding explosion in terms of innovation in the structure of music itself. Never before has an album been so much centered to its lyrics. Few other albums have been so edgy in terms of views about politics and social issues, furthermore combined with the ingenious, full of rage and ready-to-attack-and-swipe-it-all tunes. And the gigantic amount of sampling works greatly as a touch of pop-culture referencial trivia, revealing not only their very own influences and roots but also blinking the eye to an older crowd. Since then, no Dr. Dre, Eminem or Kanye West has surpassed or will ever surpass this. Nor will anyone from any other music genre at least for a very long time.


I love Nation of Millions... but I think I think it takes much of the credit, especially in regards to the growth of lyrical sophistication in rap, that Eric B. and Rakim's Paid in Full deserves. But that album didn't even make the top 500 here.

Paid in Full was the first true step-up in rhyme structure and delivery. When you listen to Run DMC and the Def Jam stuff just a year earlier, it sounds like child's play. But when you listen to both, you see why Public Enemy is seen as bigger. Paid in Full is a total party record, while Public Enemy were the first political rappers. Eric B's beats have nothing, and I mean nothing on what the Bomb Squad and Chuck D were making.


I totally agree, "Paid In Full" is probably the first to change the rules of the game and it was in my Top-100 as well. So rythmic and with extremely addictive use of multiple, VERY different sounds in one track (the title song is a brilliant example) it is one of the ground-breakers as well.

Run-D.M.C. was from the first place a more straightforward representation of its genre so I think the comparison is a little unfair (and also because I like them ) but I see the point you make and I don't misunderstand you at all, "Paid In Full" is far more adventurous and risk-taking.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

...In Rainbows? Really? Ahead of albums like Sign O The Times? Wow.

And there's three more to come...

I'm guessing the Bends will come out in the next batch, Kid A in the 25-30 batch, and Ok Computer in the last batch.

So Let It Bleed is considered the worst of the 1968-1972 Stones albums? Very interesting, because I utterly love Let it Bleed (Midnight Rambler is as close to perfect as you can get, epitomising everything I love about the Stones), and I've yet to really listen to Sticky Fingers and Exile.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

I've bitched about it before, and I'll probably bitch about it again:
Radiohead is soooo overrated.
In Rainbows coming close to beating The Dark Side of the Moon, and Beating some great album (In utero, Grace, The Doors, ect.) is sickening.
And the Bends and Kid A are both unworthy of the top 50.
And Ok Computer shouldn't be number 1.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

My guess is that Ok Computer will probably take the top spot *Roll of the eyes*. I like Radiohead, but I think we have a little bit of unbalance here.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

@BIllAdama : No, I didn't realize that The Bends were in the top 40. that's even more ridiculous IMO. But not surprising. Thank you for telling me I won't be shocked
That just means that like the Beatles, the Stones or Dylan, Radiohead has become a solid reference and common ground for a lot of us (I only had OK Computer in the 70-80 section, especially the youngest (I wish there were age/country statistics). And that they released a sufficient number of acclaimed albums to place 4 of them in the top 50.
I'm really happy that the 4 great Rollling Stones albums of the 68-72 tetralogy are in the top 50 (or 60 I don't remember).

@Jackson : I'd love to have the spreadshett when this will be over. You can send it to Henrik and he'll post it on the site.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

I think I had never listened to Astral Weeks, because Moondance made a weak impression of me. Obviously it was a mistake, the best songs on Astral Weeks sound like uplifted Nick Drake tracks. I guess this could become a strong grower (and become the 11th 60s album in my top 200 ?)

By the way, there would be 2 new entries if I did my list today : Pieces of a Man by Gil-Scott Heron and Computer World by Kraftwerk.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Another thing : with Björk kicked out after the Vanillafire update, there is no album from outside the Anglo-saxon world in the top 100.

That doesn't feel right.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

"I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside"




[40] U2 | The Joshua Tree | 1987

Points: 2668 | Votes: 25 | AM Rank: 38 | 2009 Poll Rank: 36 (-4)
Biggest Fan: Chris K, Marc (5)



"Please allow me to introduce myself"




[39] The Rolling Stones | Beggars Banquet | 1968

Points: 2704 | Votes: 25 | AM Rank: 30 | 2009 Poll Rank: 49 (+10)
Biggest Fan: Gillingham (3)



"I won't forget to put roses on your grave"




[38] The Rolling Stones | Sticky Fingers | 1971

Points: 2762 | Votes: 25 | AM Rank: 43 | 2009 Poll Rank: 47 (+9)
Biggest Fan: Listyguy (7)



"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"





[37] Bob Dylan | Bringing It All Back Home | 1965

Points: 2808 | Votes: 29 | AM Rank: 73 | 2009 Poll Rank: 41 (+4)
Biggest Fan: DavidM (2)



"If I could be who you wanted all the time"




[36] Radiohead | The Bends | 1995

Points: 2812 | Votes: 25 | AM Rank: 86 | 2009 Poll Rank: 44 (+8)
Biggest Fan: Dr. Robert (1)

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

great to see The Joshua Tree in the top 40! it's #8 on my all time list and has grown on me a lot! i still haven't heard The Unforgettable Fire, but i guess it's pretty damn close to it.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

I was happy to see two album in my top 10 (Bringing it All Back Home and Sticky Fingers) until I saw The Bends right ahead of them.
At least Sticky Fingers took 2 for the Stones albums.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

[40] U2 | The Joshua Tree | 1987
My number 187. The first side is impressing. I'm happpy it beat Achtung. nj, are you all right ?



[39] The Rolling Stones | Beggars Banquet | 1968
My number 27 and favorite Stones album, not only for the hits (Sympathy, Street Fighting) but for the fantastic acoustic blues songs (Dear Dr and Prodigal Son)


[38] The Rolling Stones | Sticky Fingers | 1971
My number 108. Great album, more produced than the others of the tetralogy. More electric.



[37] Bob Dylan | Bringing It All Back Home | 1965
my number 137 and the 5th of 6 Dylan albums in my list.



[36] Radiohead | The Bends | 1995
This is too much.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

#37... well, i don't mind Beat musicians at all. i truly love Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and The Paintermen.
But this Dylan guy really stretches it with his "demanding" voice and his cold lyrics... well, i guess, i'm not underground enough after all to get his "grooves"

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

I'm not getting the high placement of In Rainbows either. I'm warming up to Radiohead somewhat (although I feel that Björk does their kind of thing far, far better) and OK Computer and Amnesiac are slowly inching their way up my list. I gave In Rainbows a spin, and while it's decent, it would perhaps just make my top 500. Maybe with time my perception of it will grow, but it's got a fair way to go to even catch up with those 2 other albums of theirs for me.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

On Oasis:

begin{troll}

My musical history seems to follow somewhat of a different path to most. While many people cite their teenage years as the pinnacle of music, the 1990s proved to be a rather barren wasteland for me. Before the Internet provided universal access, MTV and the radio were my only sources for new music, and I largely tuned out from both early in the decade. Of course, the biggest successes were unavoidable. Oasis, and particularly "Wonderwall", were one such example, and their ubiquity did nothing but confirm my disdain for contemporary pop music. I eventually came around to appreciate some of what was popular during the 1990s, but listening to (What's the Story) Morning Glory? in its entirety merely reminded me that I was by and large correct in my original assessment.

There are many things I dislike about Oasis' sound, but foremost is undoubtedly the vocals. I imagine I may have to consult a thesaurus to fill out the rest of this review in describing their particular combination of "bratty" and "jarring", but needless to say that Liam Gallagher's vocals are incredibly irritating. From the way that he replaces the consonant "t" with "ch", to the way he sometimes tacks on a "z" at the end of "d" sounds, to the general slurring of the lyrics that creates a tone best described as snotty repugnance (no thesaurus yet!), the result is a delivery that is positively horrifying. Consider, for instance, the opening line of the aforementioned abomination "Wonderwall": "Choodayyy iz gunna Bee tha dayy that they're gunna throw it Back choo yeewww. Byyy nowww you shoulda somehowww realiiized what ya gotta dzoo." And that's before he painfully extends the vowels in the chorus! Sheer horror. Add to that the unrelenting loudness of the production, pretentious aspirations to revive the sound of The Beatles and lyrics that sound like an endless whiny diatribe and the result is one giant, drunken mass of smug obnoxiousness. The band seems to garner most of its acclaim from its sense of melody that should theoretically permit them to stretch the songs into the mini-epics that they aspire to be, but with such abhorrent delivery and production, my hatred for these songs only grows with the runtime. Softer moments such as "Cast No Shadow" and the beginning of "Hello" are tainted by that annoying acoustic strumming that was so prevalent in the latter half of the 90s, and the opportunity for a reprieve when Noel Gallagher steps in to mercifully provide some more palatable lead vocals on "Don't Step Back in Anger" is ruined by the most hamfisted send-up of limp Beatles anthemizing on the record. The least offensive tracks here such as "She's Electric" and "Morning Glory" are nonetheless at least mildly churlish.

As expected, then, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is a titanic catastrophe of an experience. Fellow Britpop ambassadors Blur and Pulp thankfully fare much better, and this album is so aggravating that it gives me a sick sort of pleasure knowing how much such a statement would infuriate the incendiary Gallagher boys. I alluded to referring to a thesaurus in this review, so I'll close with an entry for "snotty", as "bratty" was not available:

Main Entry: snotty
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: arrogant
Synonyms: cheeky, cocky, conceited, fresh, haughty, high and mighty, highfalutin', impertinent, know-it-all, la-de-da, pompous, pretentious, puffed up, sassy, self-important, smart-alecky, smug, snippy, snobby, snooty, stuck-up, uppity

Right on.

end{troll}

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

We've reached the point of the list where very few of my favorites remain (I think only #40 and #41 remain from my top 50), so I'll seize the moment and say hooray for The Kinks Are Village Green Preservation Society! Hooray for Sign o' the Times in the top 50!

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

nj
great to see The Joshua Tree in the top 40! it's #8 on my all time list and has grown on me a lot! i still haven't heard The Unforgettable Fire, but i guess it's pretty damn close to it.


Imagine these posts 4000 years from now...

AMer: Giggling Monkey
Posting about: A.R. & Machines - Die grüne Reise
"It's SHOCKING that this krautrock work of genius has dropped 1 spot from #71 to #72!"

AMer: Jammin' Dinosaur
Posting about: Horace Andy - In the Light
"Wow, I'm thrilled how popular this underrated reggae gem is on this forum."

AMer: Funny Vampire
Posting about: Cecil Taylor - Conquistador!
"Fuck! This free jazz gives me a hard-on!"

nj, sometimes I think you were born 4000 years too soon.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Dan M

AMer: Giggling Monkey
Posting about: A.R. & Machines - Die grüne Reise
"It's SHOCKING that this krautrock work of genius has dropped 1 spot from #71 to #72!"

AMer: Jammin' Dinosaur
Posting about: Horace Andy - In the Light
"Wow, I'm thrilled how popular this underrated reggae gem is on this forum."

AMer: Funny Vampire
Posting about: Cecil Taylor - Conquistador!
"Fuck! This free jazz gives me a hard-on!"


me and 1 other grand clone of mine like this. great scott..

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

This top 100 has been much more surprising than I expected.

- The Suburbs: After Jackson's statement about how mouth-opening was its position to come, I assume 99 was less than I was expecting, although before reading that I think any position in the top 150 would be satisfying. And, Moonbeam, I don't think it's pretentious. On the contrary, it's their lightiest album; I agree with what was written on Pitchfork at the time of it's release, claiming that "for the first time in their carreer, Arcade Fire didn't sound like they had to carry the weighs of the world". Although I also like Funeral and love Neon Bible with their spiritual and heartfelt climate, I guess this is how I prefer Arcade Fire, when they sound prosaic.
- Dear Science: Great to see it in the top 100!!! One of my best surprises so far. I don't agree with it being looked as a funky album, come on. It's of course impregnated by a lot of afro-american influence, but I go for it when I feel like hearing some multi-layered, futuristic but insanely cathcy indie music. Lover's Day, in spite of its intense lyric is the only bad song of the album, with it's monotonous drive and specially those annoying metals all over it, but since it's the last track, the listening as a hole isn't hurt. DLZ, Golden Age, Dancing Choose and Shout Me Out are thrilling in every audition, not to mention the apocalyptic begining with Halfway Home. I'm amazed that 2008 managed to crack 4 albums in my top 25, being one of them this masterpiece (beside Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes and Viva La Vida).
- My Aim Is True: My #4. I love this album since the first time I heard it. The catchyness of it's songs is impressive. They all sound sofisticated, refined in spite of the simple, almost primary production. And I love albums that sound homogeneous like this.
- Either/Or: Nobody expected Elliott Smith to appear this high. It has fallen in my concept lately, but it's begining continues to get me everytime. Alameda is one of my very favorite songs ever.
- Kanye: Although I don't like it that much and it was far from making my list, it's always good to presenciate classics being born. It will surely go gradually up this list on the next polls. Don't worry, BillAdama, I think already in the next poll it will have passed Nation of Millions, .
- This Year's Model: I agree with Particle Analist on this, not with the same enthusiasm, though. The best thing was seeing it so proportionally high, right above milestones like Loveless, LCD, Public Enemy, and both Tom Waits records.
- Achtung, Baby: Three years since the last time I listened to it. Great album, must have been a shock ( ) at it's time, specially for U2 fans. One of the most refreshing records I know.
- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: Wilco (the album) and Being There are more pleasing to me (I still haven't heard A Ghost Is Born and Sky Blue Sky), but this album is also wonderful.
- Graceland: Contains some flaws near the end, but is still a record I visit every now and then. The title track and "I Know What I Know" are the peak of the disc. I like these albums that flirt a little with African music, I think I should check out that continent's native music that's being recommended by some people here lately.

Well, tired of writing. Top 50 latter.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Toni
And, Moonbeam, I don't think it's pretentious. On the contrary, it's their lightiest album; I agree with what was written on Pitchfork at the time of it's release, claiming that "for the first time in their carreer, Arcade Fire didn't sound like they had to carry the weighs of the world". Although I also like Funeral and love Neon Bible with their spiritual and heartfelt climate, I guess this is how I prefer Arcade Fire, when they sound prosaic.


What of the talk of art school kids drinking his blood and wanting to go hang with the "modern" kids, then?

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

How can you call a band overrated if this is a fan poll? I'd understand if we were talking about critical ranking but an album in a fan poll is rated exactly where it should be.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam
Toni
And, Moonbeam, I don't think it's pretentious. On the contrary, it's their lightiest album; I agree with what was written on Pitchfork at the time of it's release, claiming that "for the first time in their carreer, Arcade Fire didn't sound like they had to carry the weighs of the world". Although I also like Funeral and love Neon Bible with their spiritual and heartfelt climate, I guess this is how I prefer Arcade Fire, when they sound prosaic.


What of the talk of art school kids drinking his blood and wanting to go hang with the "modern" kids, then?


Well, I assume I don't know the songs lyrics. I don't to listen to the album reading lyrics, so I only know the few parts I understand with my more-or-less English fluence. That's one of the reasons I love listening to foreign music: I can completely dissociate the music from the lyrics. I'm not saying it's a good thing, it's just my way of appreciating this art. I'm just more a music than a lyrics guy.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam
Toni
And, Moonbeam, I don't think it's pretentious. On the contrary, it's their lightiest album; I agree with what was written on Pitchfork at the time of it's release, claiming that "for the first time in their carreer, Arcade Fire didn't sound like they had to carry the weighs of the world". Although I also like Funeral and love Neon Bible with their spiritual and heartfelt climate, I guess this is how I prefer Arcade Fire, when they sound prosaic.


What of the talk of art school kids drinking his blood and wanting to go hang with the "modern" kids, then?


Sorry Moonbeam, but it looks like I'm going to have to disagree.

"Businessmen drink my blood. Like the kids in art school said they would."

I've always interpreted these lyrics to be sarcastic, I mean, look at what he has to say about these kids later.

"All the kids have always known. That the emperor wears no clothes. But they bow to down to him anyway. It's better than to be alone."

And as for....

"Let's go downtown and talk to the modern kids. They will eat right out of your hand. Using great big words that they don't understand."

If anything, these lyrics are entirely against being pretentious.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

John
How can you call a band overrated if this is a fan poll? I'd understand if we were talking about critical ranking but an album in a fan poll is rated exactly where it should be.


You don't think the results of this poll are influenced by critical opinion of these albums?

Obviously nothing is over or underrated from what are forum opinion is--unless I made a mistake tabulating the scores (and we know that's possible). But I think it's perfectly legitimate to say, for example, that we, as a forum, overrated The Joshua Tree or underrated The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady.

Since not everyone has heard every album that got votes, and we all know critical opinion and other factors play a role in who has listened to what, some albums may be actually underrated or overrated compared with what the results would be if everyone had heard more albums. Just my two cents.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

@Toni

I'm sure it'll fall down as soon as people get bored of his pre-planned 'spontaneous' media stunts. Remember, this is the album that people declared a classic before they even heard it, and that critics give 10/10 reviews to without once referencing the music. If we took this poll the week before it came out it would have finished thirty places higher.

Really, I'm not mad about College Dropout doing well. Soon people will remember it's much better than MBDTF.

A lot of hard rock 60's albums are finishing lower than I would have expected.

The thing about this particular fan poll is that a lot of people explored this music by starting at the top of the AM list and working down.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

"Excuse me while I kiss the sky"





[35] The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Are You Experienced? | 1967

Points: 2922 | Votes: 25 | AM Rank: 12 | 2009 Poll Rank: 20 (-15)
Biggest Fan: BillAdama: (1)



"Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss"






[34] The Who | Who's Next | 1971

Points: 2953 | Votes: 26 | AM Rank: 33 | 2009 Poll Rank: 27 (-7)
Biggest Fan: Henry (2)



"This is the time and life that I am living"




[33] Love | Forever Changes | 1967

Points: 2967 | Votes: 29 | AM Rank: 49 | 2009 Poll Rank: 23 (-10)
Biggest Fan: Fred (2)



"We're not enemies
We just disagree"





[32] The Strokes | Is This It? | 2001

Points: 2973 | Votes: 31 | AM Rank: 45 | 2009 Poll Rank: 42 (+10)
Biggest Fan: Nick (8)



"I recall lightning stuck itself"





[31] Television | Marquee Moon | 1977

Points: 2984 | Votes: 25 | AM Rank: 25 | 2009 Poll Rank: 29 (-2)
Biggest Fan: Fred: (1)

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Is it just me or do the Strokes look WAY out of place among the other albums in that group? Still,more people voted for Is This It than any of those other 4...

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Nick
Moonbeam
Toni
And, Moonbeam, I don't think it's pretentious. On the contrary, it's their lightiest album; I agree with what was written on Pitchfork at the time of it's release, claiming that "for the first time in their carreer, Arcade Fire didn't sound like they had to carry the weighs of the world". Although I also like Funeral and love Neon Bible with their spiritual and heartfelt climate, I guess this is how I prefer Arcade Fire, when they sound prosaic.


What of the talk of art school kids drinking his blood and wanting to go hang with the "modern" kids, then?


Sorry Moonbeam, but it looks like I'm going to have to disagree.

"Businessmen drink my blood. Like the kids in art school said they would."

I've always interpreted these lyrics to be sarcastic, I mean, look at what he has to say about these kids later.

"All the kids have always known. That the emperor wears no clothes. But they bow to down to him anyway. It's better than to be alone."

And as for....

"Let's go downtown and talk to the modern kids. They will eat right out of your hand. Using great big words that they don't understand."

If anything, these lyrics are entirely against being pretentious.


Sorry, but I find the fact that a 30-year old man is ripping into people half his age who are fans of his music to be quite distasteful.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Midaso
Is it just me or do the Strokes look WAY out of place among the other albums in that group? Still,more people voted for Is This It than any of those other 4...


Yeah, it's better than those other 4.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Is This It is also the only one of the five that's moving up -- new blood. Maybe won't stay this high over time, but I personally enjoy seeing it so high (although not above Are You Experienced? -- not sure what's up with that one falling so far). I think Is This It is the most important album of the 21st century, especially in Britain, so it's justified in its position.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Are You Experienced is one of the more surprising falls of the poll. No idea why, it seems like its standing is as good as it ever was here. Then again I didn't vote for it...

To me Who's Next is the worst album here; I don't get why that's the most-acclaimed Who album here. Besides "Baba O'Riley" I don't care to listen to any of its songs. They were much better in the 60s.

Forever Changes is a psychedelic masterpiece. I voted it 16th. Love the lyrics, personality, and creativity displayed here.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Jackson
Are You Experienced is one of the more surprising falls of the poll. No idea why, it seems like its standing is as good as it ever was here. Then again I didn't vote for it...

To me Who's Next is the worst album here; I don't get why that's the most-acclaimed Who album here. Besides "Baba O'Riley" I don't care to listen to any of its songs. They were much better in the 60s.

Forever Changes is a psychedelic masterpiece. I voted it 16th. Love the lyrics, personality, and creativity displayed here.


Couldn't disagree with you more on Who's next. Baba O'Reilly is a great song and so are 4 others on the album: Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Story In Your Eyes and Bargain.

I am not at all surprised that this poll lowered Who's Next's ranking. It's part of the disdain for classic rock and the over-rating of many albums that will likely not be near the top 100 30 years from now.

I will also not be at all surprised to see Radiohead and Velvet Underground as 2 of the top 3 albums in the poll.

None of this bothers me. Everyone is entitled to their uniquely valid opinions. There is no amount of strident articulation that will convert their opinions to objectively verifiable facts.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Henry
Couldn't disagree with you more on Who's next. Baba O'Reilly is a great song and so are 4 others on the album: Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Story In Your Eyes and Bargain.

Isn't this the Moody Blues?

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Midaso
Henry
Couldn't disagree with you more on Who's next. Baba O'Reilly is a great song and so are 4 others on the album: Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Story In Your Eyes and Bargain.

Isn't this the Moody Blues?


Song is Over, not Story in Your Eyes - the mind does wander, sometimes mid-keystroke

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

nicolas
Another thing : with Björk kicked out after the Vanillafire update, there is no album from outside the Anglo-saxon world in the top 100.

That doesn't feel right.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam


begin{troll}
My musical history seems to follow somewhat of a different path to most. While many people cite their teenage years as the pinnacle of music, the 1990s proved to be a rather barren wasteland for me. Before the Internet provided universal access, MTV and the radio were my only sources for new music, and I largely tuned out from both early in the decade. Of course, the biggest successes were unavoidable.


Another thing that we have in common. I had the same musical history ten years earlier. Just replace the 90's with the 80's and you get the picture. And there was no such thing as MTV in 80's France (but a great TV show called "Les Enfants du rock"). So I was most of the time buried under the synths. Hence my synth trauma. History retained the good, but there was a lot of bad in everyday synth music in the 80s. I was abused by synths when I was a teenager.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Now, my two (Euro) cents about the new group of 5



[35] The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Are You Experienced? | 1967

My number 62. One of the most stunning debuts ever ( The Doors, Fleet Foxes, La Mauvaise réputation, Five Leaves Left, the VU & Nico, Rufus Wainwright ranked better in my list).

[34] The Who | Who's Next | 1971

My #42. It went down in my list since 2009, but it's still a brilliant album. No throwaway here.


[33] Love | Forever Changes | 1967
my #155. Here unlike "Who's Next" I don't like every song but there are pure masterpieces. The first 3 songs are stunning but the whole is better than the sum of its parts. It has to do with this unique sound, mixing folk, Spanish influences, strings. Very



[32] The Strokes | Is This It? | 2001
My #125. A classic. IMO they succeded to make a lasting effort where Oasis failed. Their sound is more focus. But that's my opinion. Not really innovative but this album, just like "Dark side of the moon " to me is part of the scene. It's just like a piece of furniture that you can't remove. Or the room wouldn't be the same anymore.


[31] Television | Marquee Moon | 1977
My #259. Great album, especially for its guitar parts. Television was a punk band in attitude but no Attila : they played those loong and amazing guitar solos. But I'm not a huge fan of Verlaine's vocals that tend to irritate me. ANyway top 300 stuff is stil very good stuff in my list. In Marquee Moon's intensity there is something of LCD Soundsystem.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

nicolas
History retained the good, but there was a lot of bad in everyday synth music in the 80s.


Impossible!

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Henry

Couldn't disagree with you more on Who's next. Baba O'Reilly is a great song and so are 4 others on the album: Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Story In Your Eyes and Bargain.

I am not at all surprised that this poll lowered Who's Next's ranking. It's part of the disdain for classic rock and the over-rating of many albums that will likely not be near the top 100 30 years from now.


Disdain for classic rock??? The album finished in the top 35, and another classic rock giant is about to hit at number 30. 3 Stones albums, 4 Dylan albums, and 5 Beatles albums made the top 50. I'm not claiming that all of these don't deserve their placements, I'm just pointing out that what you perceive as disdain is actually dominance.

As far as the Who goes, I used to listen almost exclusively to classic rock and they never clicked with me then. Just personal taste, I definitely realize why people love Who's Next.

I'd like to hear what albums you think won't make the top 50 a few decades from now (if it's In Rainbows, I would agree with you).

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

"Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good"




[30] Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971

Points: 3024 | Votes: 26 | AM Rank: 31 | 2009 Poll Rank: 38 (+8)
Biggest Fan: Listyguy (1)



"The sunshine bores the daylights out of me"




[29] The Rolling Stones | Exile on Main St. | 1972

Points: 3027 | Votes: 28 | AM Rank: 8 | 2009 Poll Rank: 15 (-14)
Biggest Fan: Jonathan (5)



"This is really happening"




[28] Radiohead | Kid A | 2000

Points: 3036 | Votes: 28 | AM Rank: 52 | 2009 Poll Rank: 24 (-4)
Biggest Fan: Petri (3)



"We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life"






[27] Prince and The Revolution | Purple Rain | 1984

Points: 3065 | Votes: 26 | AM Rank: 50 | 2009 Poll Rank: 30 (+3)
Biggest Fan: Stone (2)





[26] Miles Davis | Kind of Blue | 1959

Points: 3076 | Votes: 26 | AM Rank: 39 | 2009 Poll Rank: 32 (+6)
Biggest Fan: DavidM (1)

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Jackson
Henry

Couldn't disagree with you more on Who's next. Baba O'Reilly is a great song and so are 4 others on the album: Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Story In Your Eyes and Bargain.

I am not at all surprised that this poll lowered Who's Next's ranking. It's part of the disdain for classic rock and the over-rating of many albums that will likely not be near the top 100 30 years from now.


Disdain for classic rock??? The album finished in the top 35, and another classic rock giant is about to hit at number 30. 3 Stones albums, 4 Dylan albums, and 5 Beatles albums made the top 50. I'm not claiming that all of these don't deserve their placements, I'm just pointing out that what you perceive as disdain is actually dominance.

I'd like to hear what albums you think won't make the top 50 a few decades from now (if it's In Rainbows, I would agree with you).


Indeed! This forum is far more of a classic rock sausage fest than an indie sausage fest, although both are well represented.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Kid A behind Illnois is quite a shocker.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam
nicolas
History retained the good, but there was a lot of bad in everyday synth music in the 80s.


Impossible!




Sausage fest... Appropriate for a no-girl forum

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

[29] The Rolling Stones | Exile on Main St. | 1972
Points: 3027 | Votes: 28 | AM Rank: 8 | 2009 Poll Rank: 15 (-14)

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

[30] Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971

My number 14. This is the ultimate early 70s album (with What's Going On). I love everything on IV, even the Dungeons & Dragons lyrics (I'm a heroic fantasy fan). Let alone the "bloody wedding song" (dixit Plant) I love "Rock and Roll", "Going To California" and the great "When The Levee Breaks" inspired by an old Delta blues song from the 20s. While I can see why people can love some of the albums I hate, I can clearly see why people can hate that one. I love turn-the-other-cheek albums.


[29] The Rolling Stones | Exile on Main St. | 1972
My number 46. I should do a list of garage sell double albums, from the White one to this one. I love big books, big films, big meals... every now and then. I bet this album will be even higher in my next list.



[28] Radiohead | Kid A | 2000

My number 491. I think I prefer In Rainbows to that one. A little too cold and experimental. But beautiful at times. Maybe it will grow on me. I can understand its appeal. But I'm also happy it's not in the top 20.


[27] Prince and The Revolution | Purple Rain | 1984
Prince was such a good news in the 80s. I remember when I heard my first Pince song, "When Doves Cry". I was camping with my cousin in the garden of my parents' country house. I love everything in Purple Rain. It's like a Thriller with much better taste.


[26] Miles Davis | Kind of Blue | 1959
my #168 and the oldest record of the top 100. It's not my favorite Miles album (Sketches Of Spain has my preference).

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

nicolas
Another thing : with Björk kicked out after the Vanillafire update, there is no album from outside the Anglo-saxon world in the top 100.

That doesn't feel right.


Well hey, its not my fault more people didn't vote for the Buena Vista Social Club. Its in my top 50. If anything, I listen to more music outside of the English speaking world here, just not much of it comes from Scandinavia.


I'm actually pretty surprised at how the top 25 is shaking out. Sufjan going in, Talking Heads, The Zombies...pretty good.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam
Jackson
Henry

Couldn't disagree with you more on Who's next. Baba O'Reilly is a great song and so are 4 others on the album: Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Story In Your Eyes and Bargain.

I am not at all surprised that this poll lowered Who's Next's ranking. It's part of the disdain for classic rock and the over-rating of many albums that will likely not be near the top 100 30 years from now.


Disdain for classic rock??? The album finished in the top 35, and another classic rock giant is about to hit at number 30. 3 Stones albums, 4 Dylan albums, and 5 Beatles albums made the top 50. I'm not claiming that all of these don't deserve their placements, I'm just pointing out that what you perceive as disdain is actually dominance.

I'd like to hear what albums you think won't make the top 50 a few decades from now (if it's In Rainbows, I would agree with you).


Indeed! This forum is far more of a classic rock sausage fest than an indie sausage fest, although both are well represented.


Dominance of classic rock in absolute numbers compared to other categories/eras is likely accurate. However, please consider assessing the status of the classic rock offerings in this poll compared to the last poll and compared to the AM ratings, RS ratings and I believe that you will see a trend away from the classic rock offerings. Furthermore, my view of classic rock is apparently not as inclusive of yours. For example, while Dylan certainly was recording and making great music during the classic rock era, I would not consider his music as part of the classic rock catalogue. I would also place Television, Love and VU outside the classic rock category.

As to the albums that may be outside the top 50 in the next few decades, I would agree with you that a couple of the Radiohead albums will move down. I could also see the Strokes declining, and perhaps the Stone Roses, Neutral Milk Hotel, Television and Love offerings. Perhaps some of the yet to be revealed albums will also be declining; but they would have a lot further to travel to escape the top 50.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

So, what are our favourite albums from outside the non-anglo-saxon world? I don't know if it should be called anglo-saxon or not, but I decided to include the (ridiculously low) Jamaican albums as well.

There are about 10 albums in each section of 100 except the top 100 which has zero albums. Even though most of these artists are well-known here in this forum, I think this has to do with that these albums have not been canonized over the years by UK and US media.

I'm not saying that all these albums are underrated, but they are probably heard by fewer people, so for many there are probably a number great discoveries to be made from this list.

[103] Björk | Homogenic | 1997
[128] The Knife | Silent Shout | 2006
[143] Kraftwerk | Trans-Europa Express | 1977
[148] Daft Punk | Discovery | 2001
[151] Bob Marley | Exodus | 1977
[174] Sigur Rós | Agaetis Byrjun | 1999
[176] Serge Gainsbourg | Histoire de Melody Nelson | 1971
[180] Björk | Debut | 1993
[194] Air | Moon Safari | 1998
[196] Kraftwerk | Die Mensch Maschine | 1978
[229] Buena Vista Social Club | Buena Vista Social Club | 1997
[233] Björk | Post | 1995
[244] Kraftwerk | Computerwelt | 1981
[247] Björk | Vespertine | 2001
[252] Fever Ray | Fever Ray | 2009
[255] Can | Tago Mago | 1971
[335] Bob Marley | Catch a Fire | 1973
[340] Os Mutantes | Os Mutantes | 1968
[350] The Original Soundtrack | The Harder They Come | 1972
[355] Sigur Rós | Takk... | 2005
[366] Sigur Rós | ( ) | 2002
[377] Jacques Brel | Ces gens-la | 1966
[391] Can | Ege Bamyasi | 1972
[405] Bob Marley and The Wailers | Natty Dread | 1974
[416] The Tallest Man on Earth | The Wild Hunt | 2010
[445] Bob Marley and The Wailers | Live! | 1975
[451] The Tallest Man on Earth | Shallow Grave | 2008
[457] Fela and Africa 70 | Zombie | 1977
[470] Jorge Ben | A Tábua de Esmeralda | 1974
[477] Stan Getz and João Gilberto | Getz/Gilberto | 1964
[490] Kraftwerk | Autobahn | 1974
[491] Neu! | Neu! | 1972
[498] Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares | Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares | 1975

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Good to see Purple Rain in the top 30! And it also compensates a bit for the unfairly low placement of Sign O' the Times.

And, wow, I can't believe "THAT" album still hasn't appeared. I was hoping it could appear in the top 40 and it's still to come.

Jackson
an album snuck into the top 15 that absolutely perplexes me


So since only the top 30 was left I started wondering if it was about THAT album that Jackson was talking about. (bitting nails)

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

THAT album won't be controversial to most of the forum. While I personally don't understand its appeal, it's definitely not coming out of nowhere.

@Henry I think the high rankings for Forever Changes and Marquee Moon suggest that they won't decline. Albums that are more popular now than when they were released seem like the least likely candidates to decline. I agree about the Stone Roses and the Strokes; those might strike future generations as 'you had to be there' albums to some extent, though both feature great timeless pop songwriting.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Marquee Moon (my #2) is a absolutely wonderful album, and I don't envision it going down in future polls - indeed I think it will go up as its importance in shaping modern music will be more recognised. Aside from the amazing guitars, what I love about the album is its sheer attitude. Yes, even Tom Verlaine's vocals are part of it, so I can really apprectiate that, even if he can't hold a note to save his life. The most important things to me in determining whether an album comes high to me is personality and heart - while Marquee Moon doesn't have much heart, it certainly has bagloads of personality. Truly great.

And I'm really stuck about THAT album...I never have the memory for things...someone care to spoiler me (unless it's Illinois, but that really can't finish in the top 15, can it)?

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Nick
In case you aren't keeping track at home, these are the albums that are left to appear (In no particular order).

1. Funeral
2. Illinois
3. Pet Sounds
4. Rubber Soul
5. Sgt. Pepper’s
6. The White Album
7. Revolver
8. Abbey Road
9. OK Computer
10. London Calling
11. What’s Going On
12. After the Goldrush
13. Blood on the Tracks
14. Highway 61 Revisited
15. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
16. Blonde on Blonde
17. Nevermind
18. The Velvet Underground & Nico
19. Innervisions
20. Odessey and Oracle
21. Born to Run
22. Automatic for the People
23. The Queen Is Dead
24. Remain in Light
25. Doolittle


I'd rather not see this list, to be honest...

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Please no spoliers

Some people (like me) would still like to be shocked

or open another thread

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Jackson
THAT album won't be controversial to most of the forum. While I personally don't understand its appeal, it's definitely not coming out of nowhere.

@Henry I think the high rankings for Forever Changes and Marquee Moon suggest that they won't decline. Albums that are more popular now than when they were released seem like the least likely candidates to decline. I agree about the Stone Roses and the Strokes; those might strike future generations as 'you had to be there' albums to some extent, though both feature great timeless pop songwriting.


Jackson, your reasoning regarding Forever Changes and Marquee Moon is quite strong. In a few years, I may see their fate the same way you do.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Consider the list deleted, all apologies.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Gillingham
I'd rather not see this list, to be honest...


Gillingham, Nick deleted the list - could you delete your reply, which also contains the list? Thanks!

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Thanks Nick

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Yes, one of the best features of this poll in comparison to the last ones, along with the higher rate of discussion, is that we've had almost no spoilers thus far.
Zorg, if THAT album is the one I have I mind, and considering the few things I know about your taste, than I think you would love it.

Well, even though I think some albums must really go lower on next decades, I don't think it applies to The Strokes or The Stone Roses. Is This It, beside its almost perfect tracklist, was an album that gave the start up for that 180º lurch that happened to rock ten years ago, defining all the decade's sound; and you know critics love this kind of things. The Stone Roses, well, kind of made the same thing for British '90s, as underrated as that period looks to be. I wasn't there when it was released, but still have never considered it dated. Besides the tipical '80s reverbs, the production, specially those shining guitars, put the album in a kind of those so discussed "musical time capsules". Maybe I'm a bit biased by my own love for the album, it's my #6, but 22 years are already a good period to know how the album has survived to the test of time.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Harold Wexler
Gillingham
I'd rather not see this list, to be honest...


Gillingham, Nick deleted the list - could you delete your reply, which also contains the list? Thanks!




Gillingham said he didn't wan't to see the spoiler but he was the one responsible to keep it stuck in the thread, hahahh!

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Hard rock classics are dropping like flies.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Eh, not sure how hard classic rock is truly falling in this poll. For one thing, some of the most "classic-y" classic rock is rising - namely, Zeppelin IV. Two Rolling Stones albums rose, and two fell - not sure what that says about classic rock exactly. I'm not sure there's enough here to identify a significant trend. Albums of all genres are rising and falling, and I think it might have to do more with the randomness of who participates in the poll. It would be interesting to see if there are any trends in albums rising or falling consistently since 2005.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Well Illinois and Funeral as well as albums like Remain In Light suggest that "unconventional" (and I use the word in the loosest of terms) albums are rising, so surely as a result more "conventional" ones are falling? Even things like the fall of Pulp and the rise of Elliott Smith suggest it as well, lower down the list.

Is THAT album Remain In Light? I would love that.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Yeah the number of ballots never reaches a critical mass. One more ballot and the top 10 an still change, that's why we shouldn' pat so much attention in short range differences between rankings.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

@Zorg : No, given Jackson's reaction, that must be a classic rock / basic rock album. Born to Run ?

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Evan
Eh, not sure how hard classic rock is truly falling in this poll. For one thing, some of the most "classic-y" classic rock is rising - namely, Zeppelin IV. Two Rolling Stones albums rose, and two fell - not sure what that says about classic rock exactly. I'm not sure there's enough here to identify a significant trend. Albums of all genres are rising and falling, and I think it might have to do more with the randomness of who participates in the poll. It would be interesting to see if there are any trends in albums rising or falling consistently since 2005.


I didn't mean they were going down in rank from last time, I meant they were falling short of the very top. All the names like Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin are falling short of the highest reaches. It looks like about two thirds alt-pop at the top.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Zorg
Is THAT album Remain In Light? I would love that.


The one I was thinking about was exactly this, but I agree with nicolas, after Jackson's reply, I think it's probably not it, although I would also love the fact.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Born to Run always does really well though. It could be Blood On The Tracks. Jackson isn't a huge fan of Dylan, I don't think.


Anyway I think it's time to start commenting on some of the albums that have gone past:

The Bends: I mean, it's not a bad album. It really does have good songs on it. It's not too front loaded - the best songs are probably actually in the second half. Street Spirit is possibly Radiohead's greatest ending song, and that's saying something. The problem is that it's nothing special, and everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is special in this top 50 at least. You listen to it the first time and you love it, but by the fifth, it dies away.

Dark Side of the Moon: Have never listened to this album properly, but the listens that I have had have left me somewhat unimpressed. It's too bloated to me really stick. I don't think it has that much personality or heart, even though it does flow well, and the songs are on the whole pretty good.

Kinks: What a wonderful album. The Kinks just keep going up in my estimations and it's such a shame that they were around in the shadows of the Beatles and other 60s bands, when they're completely different and arguably better. That whole nostalgia about living in 60s Britain, lamenting the loss of the good old days really does appeal to me, at times it's intentionally cheesy and other times it's incredibly sweet.

Beggars Banquet: I think I put this in the top 10, because as Nicolas said, it's a magnificent mix of the hits and good old country rock. It shows how they can do lyrics like Dylan and play far better than the Beatles. Jigsaw Puzzle really is a magnificent song, probably my favourite of 1968.

Led Zep IV: It's a really good album. Every song is a single, and the last two are stunning (Going To California and When The Levee Breaks). Led Zep in my mind were probably the most musically talented band there ever was.


Kid A: I do like it, (I can't remember where I put it, but it was in my top 100), but again it's nothing special. My problem with Radiohead is that it's too easy to say when you first listen to one of their albums that it's the greatest thing you ever heard (this is happening with me with The King OF Limbs atm) but none of their albums have real lasting power. Even Amnesiac my favourite is slowly slipping away to albums that are more exciting, more consistent and more listen-to-me-again.

And also, LONDON CALLING FOR TOP THREE

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

BillAdama
Evan
Eh, not sure how hard classic rock is truly falling in this poll. For one thing, some of the most "classic-y" classic rock is rising - namely, Zeppelin IV. Two Rolling Stones albums rose, and two fell - not sure what that says about classic rock exactly. I'm not sure there's enough here to identify a significant trend. Albums of all genres are rising and falling, and I think it might have to do more with the randomness of who participates in the poll. It would be interesting to see if there are any trends in albums rising or falling consistently since 2005.


I didn't mean they were going down in rank from last time, I meant they were falling short of the very top. All the names like Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin are falling short of the highest reaches. It looks like about two thirds alt-pop at the top.


That's true. Some more recent albums have infiltrated the very top; of course it still has a very classical slant, but it has more unconventional selections than most all-time lists (RS).

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Hey guys, I know I started talking about THAT album in the top 15, but it was not my intention to rise guesses for what it is, since it looked like everybody had agreed not to spoil anyone's surprises. Sorry if I unnintentionally led to this, but I suppose we agree not to tell the names of the albums that are still to come, right?

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

I'm also guessing "that" album is Automatic for the People (not a spoiler, since I don't actually know, just a guess).

edit: I can delete this if people think it's out of bounds.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

I'm going to be out of town over the weekend, so the unveiling of the top 20 will resume late on Sunday.

As for your guesses, one person got it right, but I voted Blood on the Tracks and Remain in Light in my top 100, so I'm definitely not disappointed or confused by their rankings!

This, by the way, is a fantastic group of albums. The gain for Odessey and Oracle was one of my favorite developments of the poll.



"God knows where we're heading"





[25] Marvin Gaye | What's Going On | 1971

Points: 3128 | Votes: 27 | AM Rank: 6 | 2009 Poll Rank: 18 (-7)
Biggest Fan: Antonius (2)



"My God
What have I done?"






[24] Talking Heads | Remain in Light | 1980

Points: 3142 | Votes: 27 | AM Rank: 35 | 2009 Poll Rank: 37 (+13)
Biggest Fan: Andre (1)



"The warmth of your love's like the warmth of the sun"




[23] The Zombies | Odessey & Oracle | 1968

Points: 3168 | Votes: 28 | AM Rank: 316 | 2009 Poll Rank: 50 (+27)
Biggest Fan: Jackson (7)



"I was hoping it was a lie"




[22] Neil Young | After the Gold Rush | 1970

Points: 3237 | Votes: 28 | AM Rank: 44 | 2009 Poll Rank: 28 (+6)
Biggest Fan: Schwah (2)



"Has the world changed or have I changed?"




[21] The Smiths | The Queen Is Dead | 1986

Points: 3246 | Votes: 31 | AM Rank: 28 | 2009 Poll Rank: 14 (-7)
Biggest Fan: Midaso (1)

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

now, 25-21 starts with a real baad news

[25] Marvin Gaye | What's Going On | 1971

My #11

Nicolas is shocked

1. Because Qaddafi was shot yesterday
2. Because he got fired today
3. Because Marvin Gaye lost 7 spots to #26

Making this poll's list I realized how much I love What's Going On. A young French guy who started reviewing all AM albums from Pet Sounds made this negative comment about this album being naive in its lyrics. I think this is one of the most human, sincere and straightforward album I've ever heard. The call for help of a desperate man that wants to reconcile with his family and his country. An album about freedom too because he fought hard against Berry Gordy to have the album released like he wanted. And I didn't even mention the music, of this album playing like one long song (like Astral Weeks. there's so much to say about it...

[24] Talking Heads | Remain in Light | 1980
Unranked
Originally not my thing, but I've decided to fight my prejudices. So I'll have to get used to Byrne's robotic way of singing. The music is good though, full of world influences, so this album could be called invention of Vampire Weekend number 2. I'm not sure TH will remain in light in the next polls, or in 10 years when the 80's won't be cool anymore. But good album.

[23] The Zombies | Odessey & Oracle | 1968
My #86. Well, this high ? It's an excellent 60s pop album, but I suspect it's this high because of its lack of immediate success and its "lost gem" status. It's an excellent album, but it deserves IMO a spot near... 86

[22] Neil Young | After the Gold Rush | 1970
It was my favorite NY album long before I discovered this site, and I was surprised it was the most acclaimed. A wonderful collection of songs with sparse arrangements. Neil was burnt out by the CSNY adventure and he wanted something more straightforward, more simple. He wanted something made at once, like int eh 50s and early sixties. The title track with its horn is a wonder; well I'm not gonna list all the songs, they're all great.

[21] The Smiths | The Queen Is Dead | 1986
Ok this forum loves the Smiths. Even my man Greg loves the Smiths (BTW where are you man ? ). they lmust have something that I don't get. So as Hernry says "Please provide an explanation..."


And Jackson, thanks for giving us our Weekend off



Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

***Warning: the following shit fit contains violent and explicit language.***
What the FUCK????
Are You Experienced fell 15 places, Forever Changes fell, and more importantly BOTH LOST TO KID A-WHICH SUCKS!
Glad to see LZIV move up though.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

one person (?)
[24] Talking Heads | Remain in Light | 1980
Unranked
Originally not my thing, but I've decided to fight my prejudices. So I'll have to get used to Byrne's robotic way of singing. The music is good though, full of world influences, so this album could be called invention of Vampire Weekend number 2. I'm not sure TH will remain in light in the next polls, or in 10 years when the 80's won't be cool anymore. But good album.

[23] The Zombies | Odessey & Oracle | 1968
My #86. Well, this high ? It's an excellent 60s pop album, but I suspect it's this high because of its lack of immediate success and its "lost gem" status. It's an excellent album, but it deserves IMO a spot near... 86

[21] The Smiths | The Queen Is Dead | 1986
Ok this forum loves the Smiths. Even my man Greg loves the Smiths (BTW where are you man ? ). they lmust have something that I don't get. So as Henry says "Please provide an explanation..."



I could see Odessey & Oracle, The Queen Is Dead, and Remain in Light dropping substantially over the next decade.

I discovered the Smiths through this forum, even though I had heard some of their songs previously and enjoyed them. In my view, Morrissey's vocals are typically pitch perfect and heart felt. Before I listened intently his vocals didn't stand out to me as anything so special. But, the more I listen to the Smiths and to Morrissey's solo output, the more I appreciate his consistently superb vocal delivery.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Harold Wexler
Gillingham
I'd rather not see this list, to be honest...


Gillingham, Nick deleted the list - could you delete your reply, which also contains the list? Thanks!

Yes, I really wanted to. But I can't anymore... Kind of annoying. Sorry guys.

Speaking of counterproductive.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

one person (?)
[24] Talking Heads | Remain in Light | 1980
Unranked
Originally not my thing, but I've decided to fight my prejudices. So I'll have to get used to Byrne's robotic way of singing. The music is good though, full of world influences, so this album could be called invention of Vampire Weekend number 2. I'm not sure TH will remain in light in the next polls, or in 10 years when the 80's won't be cool anymore. But good album.


In the world of music critics, Remain in Light have always been a steady participant in many all-time album polls. So in 10 years, I reckon they still will be, it has nothing to do with the 80's being cool or not.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

nicolas
Moonbeam
nicolas
History retained the good, but there was a lot of bad in everyday synth music in the 80s.


Impossible!




Sausage fest... Appropriate for a no-girl forum


Hey, I kind of liked that. Give me that over about half of our top 100 at least! The spectacularly cheesy video put it over the top.

In terms of lame synth music in the 80s, I'd probably nominate something more along the lines of J. Geils Band and Huey Lewis and the News, but even they are somewhat rescued in my eyes because of the synths. Guess I'm just a synth junkie.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Guys, if you wanted more clues on what THAT album could be, just check out my ballot. 9 of my top 50 haven't shown up yet, and 4 of those are in my top 10. Every album that could be has been mentioned though, so all of you are great guessers.

But I guess looking at my ballot spoils the fun of it. All of the albums left anyway are classics.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam
nicolas
Sausage fest... Appropriate for a no-girl forum


Hey, I kind of liked that. Give me that over about half of our top 100 at least! The spectacularly cheesy video put it over the top.
I don't get this discussion. It's a half-guitar band...

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Odyssey and Oracle is becoming a lost discovery in a lot of indie circles. The people on the old Metacritic forum loved it too. But, I'm surprised it got all the way to #23. I mean, I like it, but it's far from my top.

I think Funeral is going to hit top 10. It's awesome to see 3 Dylans in the top 20. I only expected two, and my third guess wouldn't have been that one.

My top ten prediction: Beatles x 5, Dylan x 2, Pet Sounds, Funeral, OK Computer

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

To all those perplexed by some of the albums moving up or down a significant amount of spots, I would guess it's not because tastes have changed that much in the two scant years since the last time an all-time poll was conducted, but it's because there are probably quite a few different voters this time around.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Henrik
Moonbeam
nicolas
Sausage fest... Appropriate for a no-girl forum


Hey, I kind of liked that. Give me that over about half of our top 100 at least! The spectacularly cheesy video put it over the top.
I don't get this discussion. It's a half-guitar band...


And yet I can't hear the guitar in spite of the guy on the right playing so intently. In any case, the synths are certainly predominant, and I find I'm much, much more forgiving of "bad" music with 80s production, and I probably slight "good" music from the 50s, 60s and perhaps 90s because of its production.

Let me put it this way. I like this far more than I probably should because that groove and those synths are just too much to resist. It probably has no rightful place in a list of the "best" 1000 songs ever, but it would unquestionably make my list.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

one person (?)

[21] The Smiths | The Queen Is Dead

So as Henry says "Please provide an explanation..."


The Queen Is Dead is my #96 album at the moment but I never used to get The Smiths either. There was something about the structure of their songs I just didn’t used to like (a lack of hooks and bridges are of course not necessarily a bad thing, but to me it felt like the melodies were going... nowhere. And did the lyrics and style of singing have to be so morbid?)

But sometimes it helps if you know more about the songwriters’ frame of mind at the time of recording, so I did some research on the Smiths and particularly on Morrissey. At the time (and probably still today) Morrissey was clearly very dissatisfied with politics and social norms. He saw them as having a destructive effect on individuals. So it’s no surprise that the characters in his lyrics were often lonely individuals who longed to be loved but ultimately felt confined by the world they lived in.

Suddenly the melancholic lyrics made sense to me. And what I perceived as “lack of direction” in Johnny Marr’s music also started to make sense – it’s only realistic that songs about characters who feel out of place in society should have an unconventional and slightly detached structure.

Of course, nicolas, if you are allergic to jangle pop you might never be bowled over by The Queen Is Dead. But next time you put it on, follow the same advice as you gave me about Dark Side of the Moon: listen to it as if you are spending time with a friend – in this case, a slightly fragile and sensitive friend who is disenchanted with social norms and who is kinda miserable but thankfully also sincere and not without humour. Spend enough time with him and you might be surprised by his emotional depth. But there lies the problem, doesn’t it? With so many albums at our fingertips we don’t spend “unnecessary” time with music which doesn't sound like it's our cup of tea.

Just to reiterate Henry’s point about Morrissey’s vocals, maybe give I Know It’s Over another go. The song is about a guy trying to come to grips with the fact that the woman he loves is marrying another man. The vocal delivery by Morrissey really makes you feel his pain (especially in the last minute of the song).

Sorry for the essay!

PS: Thanks for posting that Modern Talking clip. If you like synth music (and I do) it’s as beautifully straightforward as they come. So (even though you wanted a )

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Dan M
one person (?)

[21] The Smiths | The Queen Is Dead

So as Henry says "Please provide an explanation..."


The Queen Is Dead is my #96 album at the moment but I never used to get The Smiths either. There was something about the structure of their songs I just didn’t used to like (a lack of hooks and bridges are of course not necessarily a bad thing, but to me it felt like the melodies were going... nowhere. And did the lyrics and style of singing have to be so morbid?)

But sometimes it helps if you know more about the songwriters’ frame of mind at the time of recording, so I did some research on the Smiths and particularly on Morrissey. At the time (and probably still today) Morrissey was clearly very dissatisfied with politics and social norms. He saw them as having a destructive effect on individuals. So it’s no surprise that the characters in his lyrics were often lonely individuals who longed to be loved but ultimately felt confined by the world they lived in.

Suddenly the melancholic lyrics made sense to me. And what I perceived as “lack of direction” in Johnny Marr’s music also started to make sense – it’s only realistic that songs about characters who feel out of place in society should have an unconventional and slightly detached structure.

Of course, nicolas, if you are allergic to jangle pop you might never be bowled over by The Queen Is Dead. But next time you put it on, follow the same advice as you gave me about Dark Side of the Moon: listen to it as if you are spending time with a friend – in this case, a slightly fragile and sensitive friend who is disenchanted with social norms and who is kinda miserable but thankfully also sincere and not without humour. Spend enough time with him and you might be surprised by his emotional depth. But there lies the problem, doesn’t it? With so many albums at our fingertips we don’t spend “unnecessary” time with music which doesn't sound like it's our cup of tea.

Just to reiterate Henry’s point about Morrissey’s vocals, maybe give I Know It’s Over another go. The song is about a guy trying to come to grips with the fact that the woman he loves is marrying another man. The vocal delivery by Morrissey really makes you feel his pain (especially in the last minute of the song).

Sorry for the essay!

PS: Thanks for posting that Modern Talking clip. If you like synth music (and I do) it’s as beautifully straightforward as they come. So (even though you wanted a )


Great post, and high five for the synth love!

For me, Morrissey has some of the most beautiful, creative and addictive melodies going. His music solo and with The Smiths is some of my very favorite to sing with unwavering histrionics.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

BillAdama
Odyssey and Oracle is becoming a lost discovery in a lot of indie circles. The people on the old Metacritic forum loved it too. But, I'm surprised it got all the way to #23. I mean, I like it, but it's far from my top.

I think Funeral is going to hit top 10. It's awesome to see 3 Dylans in the top 20. I only expected two, and my third guess wouldn't have been that one.

My top ten prediction: Beatles x 5, Dylan x 2, Pet Sounds, Funeral, OK Computer


Excellent predictions! My change would be to move out one of the Beatles and move in the "beloved" VU (after all it was polled as the best album of the 1960's just a few months ago. I would also guess that the next five (16-20) will include: Doolittle, Blood on the Tracks (my favorite Dylan album), and Automatic for the People.

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Henrik
I don't get this discussion. It's a half-guitar band...


Great joke ! But once again, I don't think it was an intentional joke... love your humor Henrik

THAT is not a guitar . I meant synth-oriented pop from the 80's. It's not only synths, but those effects everywhere : on the vocals, the guitars, the drums.
The Smiths music is so full of these effects that I can't play the first song entirely. I have a problem with music relying too much on electronic devices.

But I'll follow your advice Dan. I'll try to spend time with this guy in spite of his terrible clothes and hairstyle . I sense a lot of personality in Morrissey, something very british too, something endearing, but it's Marrs and these terrible guitars I can't get. Well, I'm not gonna ask Moonbeam to like bluegrass (and I think bluegrass is one of the most beautiful and pure musical styles ever). I love "There is A light". I like his depiction of teenage, and I was 16 when this record was released (the girls had huge earrings and strange hairdos and the guys wore their jeans very short with the bottom rolled up to their ankles). So it's more a question of style and aesthetics than a question of mere songwriting (although I agree about the loose song structures). Proof being that I totally prefer Morrissey's solo outings of the 00's.

And Moonbeam, we are really 2 faces of the same coin. The synth era artists you said you don't like (Huey Lewis, J. Geils Band) are both rootsy and rnr artists that turned to synths to make money. BTW I dodn't know JGeils Band had made synth music in the 80s. Are you sure ? Such a wonderful blues/rock band ? (I'm teasing you, but I love this band).

And guys, about Modern Talking, you're killing me !!

Now it's time to wash my ears with this

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

nicolas
Henrik
I don't get this discussion. It's a half-guitar band...


Great joke ! But once again, I don't think it was an intentional joke...

THAT is not a guitar . I meant synth-oriented pop from the 80's. It's not only synths, but those effects everywhere : on the vocals, the guitars, the drums.
The Smiths music is so full of these effects that I can't play the first song entirely. I have a problem with music relying too much on electronic devices.

BUt I'll follow your advice Dan. I'll try to spend tiMe with this guy in spite of his terrible clothes and hairstyle . I sense a lot of personality in Morrissey, something very british too, something endearing, but it's Marrs and these terrible guitars I can't get. Well, I'm not gonna ask Moonbeam to like bluegrass (and I think bluegrass is one of the most beautiful and pure musical styles ever). I love "There is A light". I like his depiction of teenage, and I was 16 when this record was released (the girls had huge earrings and strange hairdos and the guys wore their jeans very short with the bottom rolled up to their ankles). So it's more a question of style and aesthetics than a question of mere songwriting (although I agree about the loose song structures). Proof being that I totally prefer Morrissey's solo outings of the 00's.

And Moonbeam, we are really 2 faces of the same coin. The synth era artists you said you don't like (Huey Lewis, J. Geils Band) are both rootsy and rnr artists that turned to synths to make money. BTW I dodn't know JGeils Band had made synth music in the 80s. Are you sure ? Such a wonderful blues/rock band ? (I'm teasing you, but I love this band).

And guys, about Modern Talking, you're killing me !!


This is a very interesting discussion indeed! I also hated most of the fashion and style of the 90s. All of those grungey clothes and smug album covers or the obnoxious pop-punk whining like Green Day was just nauseating for me.

While it seemed most people were content wallowing in their flannels and extolling the god-like virtues of Pearl Jam, Green Day and Oasis (good God), I felt quite alone wearing Cross Colors and Hypercolor shirts and dancing along to Deee-Lite.

As for J. Geils Band, look no further than "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame". It just didn't feel natural to them, like the synths in "Jump" felt like a crass tack-on for Van Halen.

And since you brought up Modern Talking, I will now hijack the thread for the moment to post some classics from a genre that is sadly completely absent from the AM ranks: italo disco!

Bagarre - "For Your Pleasure"
Tantra - "The Hills of Katmandu"
Kano - "It's a War"
Dharma - "Plastic Doll"
'Lectric Workers - "Robot Is Systematic"
Easy Going - "Fear"
Gazebo - "I Like Chopin"
Mr. Flagio - "Take a Chance"
Charlie - "Spacer Woman"
Zed - "Plastic Love"

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread: Top 100

Moonbeam don' miss my last post edit. there's a treat for you
And I'm no huge grunge fan. Still too much reverb on Pearl Jam's drums . An Oasis IMO is :

As small as a hen egg
An envious little frog
Seeing a bulky ox
Starts swelling and swelling
Trying to be as big as he is.
-“Look at me now - exclaims she puffed up:-
“Am I now as big as you are?”-”Not enough,
my old friend.”- And she keeps on swelling
And stretching and straining, enlarging
till she bursts as a bladder.
Folks all show and no substance,
Ambitious and brainless men,
Or people despising their own right place,
How many people as this frog are!

Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) (inspired by Aesop's fable

And speaking of Italo dance, you forgot this

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