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Oct 19, 2011 - 11:45PM

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

by definition: there are no friends on AMF, and no foes, too... just a bunch of suspicious, odd-looking set pieces with big ears...

Actually nj, there are only two people on the AMF, yourself, and some guy who has hundreds of different forum names, each having their own tastes in music and their own distinct personalities, creating the illusion of a forum.

Moonbeam

Oct 18, 2011 - 11:23PM

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

Stephan

Yeah, you should definitely change your 3.5 star rating on RYM on that one. For shame!

Not as bad as John's half star rating though, that's practically Moonbeamesque!

So far, only Il Divo and AC/DC's Back in Black have felt my half star wrath, although (What's the Story) Morning Glory and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band came perilously close. In all honesty, though, I wish 0-star ratings were possible with RYM. Then those albums could shift down to where they belong.

Jackson

Oct 19, 2011 - 12:28AM

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

Jackson

Oct 19, 2011 - 12:32AM

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

Dan M

Oct 19, 2011 - 12:36AM

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

Schwah

Odelay is suffering some from vote splitting as awareness grows of how great Sea Change is. (And there is also a deserved mini groundswell for Mutations on this board.)

But I sense some growing weariness with Beck's white-man, dada lyrics, faux hip-hop, tongue firmly in cheek shtick. It's being viewed by some (again this is just my sense) as a relic... a silly cousin to the angry rap-rockers of the same period. And maybe some see him as a dilletante; someone who borrows heavily from many genres but never treats any of them with respect or seriousness.

Obviously, as it is my #6 album of all time, I reject these (potential) criticisms completely. I've written before on these boards how I think Beck is up to something simultaneously cannier and more personal than he is given credit for. The lyrics and sonic elements pile and swirl on top of one another in Odelay. As has been noted frequently, but cannot be overstated, Beck's career and his art is inextricably linked with the Fluxus art movement, of which his grandfather was an important member. Odelay was Beck's big commercial push to use that ingrained philosophy of art (use of everyday objects and sound, mixed media interplay, humor and fun) in a major label release.

That alone is not reason to love the album. (Some might think it reason enough to hate the album.) Odelay succeeds, at heart, because he has the chops and the songwriting skills to do so in a very interesting way. What felt fresh and exciting to me in 1996 still feels that way to me today. Increasingly, though, I think that sentiment is not shared.

Odelay was one of my favourite albums in the late 90s / early 00s. When I compiled my top 200 list for this poll I listened to it for the first time in years and found myself thinking that Beck's white-man fake-rap schenanigans was more than just a little insincere. That also made me question the sincerity of his treatment of all the other genres included on Odelay. It felt like I was listening to a prankster who was a jack of all trades but a master of none. So instead the heartfelt, intimate (and incredibly sincere) Sea Change made my list. But having read Schwah's comment, I will revisit Odelay and remind myself of its relation to the Fluxus art movement, and (more importantly) I will focus on the album's humour and sense of fun. But... I don't think I will ever again regard it as highly as Sea Change, and I wouldn't be surprised if Sea Change eventually overtakes Odelay as Beck's most acclaimed and most popular album. On our revised list the two albums are now #99 and #100.

Stephen

Oct 19, 2011 - 12:47AM

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

I wouldn't consider myself a Beck fan, but I absolutely adore Sea Changes, however contradictory that may sound. I just haven't been able to get into his other albums. Sea Changes is just a completely different direction in comparison to his previous works.

Vanillafire1000

Oct 19, 2011 - 12:55AM

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

Jackson

Oh wow. I think my ballot added all these to the top 500. Glad to add some jazz.

Its pretty amazing to see some of the jumps in rank because of my ballot. There goes Rhymin Simon goes 70 spots up! Big jumps by Nas, N.W.A., XTC, Tracy Chapman, Daft Punk...but I guess my ballots were not enough to get two critically acclaimed albums in my top 20 in: In Ghost Colours and Rum, Sodomy, & the Lash. Tough break.

Dan M

Oct 19, 2011 - 1:44AM

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

Stephen

Stephen, I like your comments and it's nice that there is someone new contributing to the forum. But a slightly confusing thing is happening... there is a Stephan on this forum who has been here for ages, and the similarity between your names can cause confusion. So I was just wondering if you could add the initial of your surname (or give yourself another name) to avoid confusion. No worries if you don't want to - it's just a suggestion.

It's 1.40am here in Glasgow and I have to go to bed now. Staying up late in a sneaky way is what happens when your partner threatens you with divorce for spending too much time on the internet listening to music (don't you hate it when they do that).

Particle Analyst

Oct 19, 2011 - 10:52AM

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

The revised version is really much better! "Let It Be", "Help!", and even "Please Plase Me" rose astoundingly in more deserving positions representing their quality according to me "Lady Soul" is finally included, with two Aretha Franklin albums now representing this fabulous singer in the Top 500, even in such low rankings. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Straight Outta Compton" also took serious benefit from this "update" especially the first one. And "Document" is above "Life's Rich Pageant" as well. Whoah, even the Sex Pistols are higher, even not to a rudicilously big rate which should ! Anyway, awesome!

OK, "In Utero" going out for the sake of "Sea Change" is so totally not my cup of tea but it's VanillaFire's preferences, not mine. Some others sadly fell too ("The Clash", "Screamadelica", "Definitely Maybe", "Imagine") but thankfully not much.

Moonbeam

Oct 19, 2011 - 1:11PM

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

There are some fantastic albums in there!

Let me add to the earlier set that I totally agree that Unknown Pleasures is definitely better than Closer.

I'm sad to see Songs in the Key of Life fall so much, and to see it behind (What's the Story) Morning Glory? makes me very, very sad.

Hooray for Transformer's boost. nicolas is right - it captures a scene so well, and there are great songs beyond the big 3. My picks are "Vicious", "Wagon Wheel" and "I'm So Free".

BillAdama

Oct 19, 2011 - 1:30PM

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

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

Particle Analyst

Oct 19, 2011 - 1:57PM

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

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.

Steve E

Oct 19, 2011 - 2:34PM

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

Dan M

...So I was just wondering if you could add the initial of your surname (or give yourself another name) to avoid confusion.

Sure, no worries - I can totally understand the confusion!

I'm really happpy with Nick Drake's rise, especially Pink Moon and Five Leaves Left - all 3 records of his are amazing in my opinion. It's tragic that we've lost such a talent.

Toni

Oct 19, 2011 - 3:49PM

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.

Jonathon

Oct 19, 2011 - 4:20PM

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

Particle Analyst

BillAdama

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

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.

Oct 19, 2011 - 11:54PM

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

Nick

cool! that was the point. thanks, mr. synopsissyrup!

Jonathon

Oct 19, 2011 - 11:54PM

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

This just goes to prove that nj is actually Marvel Comics' Dead Pool.

Listyguy

Oct 20, 2011 - 12:00AM

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

I'm pretty sure the "forum" doesn't exist at all.
Try to find it when the morphine wears off.

Moonbeam

Oct 20, 2011 - 12:26AM

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

nicolas

Tom Waits ? Hip artist ? Find something else, John ! I'm a fan since 1986

Hey guys am I gonna be the only 1 to defend Tom Waits ? Rise up and speak !

John is a troll.

No, scratch that, YOU are.

...or was it Moonbeam? Henry? LonesomePanda? DavidIcke? listyguy? mismaiome? or even me?

well, by definition: there are no friends on AMF, and no foes, too... just a bunch of suspicious, odd-looking set pieces with big styrofoam ears and random, jawsome taste tangents...

..."Soft Rock"? ...really?

We are all trolls! Trolls who value this site enough to post on it multiple times per day and share love for the music we enjoy.

Troll troll troll troll troll.

Troll.

Oct 20, 2011 - 12:37AM

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

Moonbeam

nicolas

Tom Waits ? Hip artist ? Find something else, John ! I'm a fan since 1986

Hey guys am I gonna be the only 1 to defend Tom Waits ? Rise up and speak !

We are all trolls! Trolls who value this site enough to post on it multiple times per day and share love for the music we enjoy.

Troll troll troll troll troll.
Troll.

you had me at "wanna hug the fangs underneath my upper forehead eyeballs?"

Tim E

Oct 20, 2011 - 2:59AM

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

Henry

John

Good to see Bridge over Troubled Water move up this year.

Someday Tom Waits will stop being the hip artist to like just like Beefheart used to be. His music annoys me to no end. Yes, even here like Rym I am ruthless!

While I am not ruthless on RYM, I agree with both of your other points. More often than not, I cannot listen to Waits' vocals for more than 30 seconds without thinking that the torture must end. My guess is that the other aspects of Waits' songs could grow on me if I could only get past his vocals.

You and John are right on Henry. I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels that way. Tom Waits is the ULTIMATE hipster artist. If you don't like Tom Waits they'll take away your wool hat and silk scarf and exile you from Hipsterville. I love this show called Two Broke Girls(one of the girls looks exactly like a young brunette Gwen Stefani btw)because they are always talking trash about hipsters, they just need to reference Tom Waits and they are right on the money. Like Yoda being strangled to death his voice sounds.

Jackson

Oct 20, 2011 - 3:38AM

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

Jackson

Oct 20, 2011 - 3:47AM

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

My two cents on the last bunch:

Achtung Baby: Listening to it for the first time now. The presence of "One" had turned me off to it, but thankfully there are much better songs on here. I definitely like it more than The Joshua Tree.

The Doors: This album is a classic in every sense of the word. Sublimely psychedelic at times.

Astral Weeks: In what world is this worse than Moondance? This should be a universal classic that finishes in the top 20. "Sweet Thing" and the title track are just ridiculously good. I'd like to hear why anyone doesn't like this album.

Graceland: Not my cup of tea, but I definitely see why people like it.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: This towers over the rest of their output IMO. One Beat passed it recently as my favorite of 2002, but this album still finished as my number 70.

Murmur: Never gotten into it. I've always like R.E.M.'s big songs but never their albums. More on that later in the poll.

Low: Bowie's best IMO. One of the few albums that successfully pulls off having two completely different sounding sides.

Dummy: This album will only rise with time. The perfect nighttime listen.

Thriller: No one else will say it, so I'm going to: this is an important, massive album, but not a great one in this kind of company. The singles are great of course, but too many songs are just unlistenable.

Blue: Jury's still out on this one, only heard it for the first time recently.
Low:

Moonbeam

Oct 20, 2011 - 4:05AM

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

This is a bit of a meh bunch. Low is fantastic and I also really like The Doors, although it is slipping a bit in my esteem. I agree that Thriller is out of its depth here. MJ has at 3 albums better than it, I think. Dummy is a funny one. I enjoy it more than I expect when it's on, but I never get the urge to play it. Achtung Baby is good and better than The Joshua Tree, but I like Zooropa even better.

Tim E

Oct 20, 2011 - 4:06AM

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

Jackson

Thriller: No one else will say it, so I'm going to: this is an important, massive album, but not a great one in this kind of company. The singles are great of course, but too many songs are just unlistenable.

But didn't 8 songs out of the 9 end up becoming singles? So that would mean there's only really one bad song.

Also I'm no fan of Morrison nor am I a fan of the Buckleys, Beck, Nick Drake, Tom Waits... any acclaimed male songwriter beloved by hipsters I find overrated. Sufjan has a couple of classic twee gems though.

Moonbeam

Oct 20, 2011 - 4:11AM

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

Tim E

But didn't 8 songs out of the 9 end up becoming singles? So that would mean there's only really one bad song.

7 were singles, but one of them was the truly terrible "The Girl Is Mine". I'm no big fan of "Thriller" as a song, either. "PYT" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" are quite good, but I wouldn't call them great. Only "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Human Nature" stand out as perfect 10s for me.

Of the non-singles, "Baby Be Mine" is pretty snappy and fun, while I find "The Lady in My Life" to be laborious and dull.

Thriller's high acclaim likely stems from its status as the biggest album of all time. While it certainly is a huge milestone for popular music, I find it lacks the sheer fun of Off the Wall, the paranoid fits of Bad and the depth and breadth of Dangerous.

Henry

Oct 20, 2011 - 5:05AM

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

Moonbeam

Tim E

But didn't 8 songs out of the 9 end up becoming singles? So that would mean there's only really one bad song.

Of course Moonbeam would hate The Girl Is Mine - Paul McCartney sings on the song

The song Thriller can wear on me due to its length, but generally I can enjoy it.

BillAdama

Oct 20, 2011 - 5:27AM

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

61-70 is a great bunch. I'm surprised how high both the big Waits albums finished, but they're both in my top 20. Wish You Were Here is easily my favorite Floyd.

51-60 isn't as strong. I love Blue, but generally that group, IMO, are 'Most acclaimed albums' by groups who have much better albums.

Moonbeam

Oct 20, 2011 - 7:26AM

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

Henry

Moonbeam

Tim E

But didn't 8 songs out of the 9 end up becoming singles? So that would mean there's only really one bad song.

Of course Moonbeam would hate The Girl Is Mine - Paul McCartney sings on the song

The song Thriller can wear on me due to its length, but generally I can enjoy it.

I don't mind "Say Say Say". "The Girl Is Mine" is just soooooo cheesy and not believable. "The doggone girl is mine"? Oh so tough, Michael.

nicolas

Oct 20, 2011 - 9:44AM

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

John

Tim E

Tom Waits is the ULTIMATE hipster artist. If you don't like Tom Waits they'll take away your wool hat and silk scarf and exile you from Hipsterville. I love this show called Two Broke Girls(one of the girls looks exactly like a young brunette Gwen Stefani btw)because they are always talking trash about hipsters, they just need to reference Tom Waits and they are right on the money. Like Yoda being strangled to death his voice sounds.

YEEEESSS !! Someone called my a hipster for the first time in this forum ! At last I'm a hipster !!

Now I guess I know what it feels to be called a hipster by someone who just don't understand the music you genuinely love.

nicolas

Oct 20, 2011 - 10:28AM

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

60-51

I stopped paying attention to U2 after The Joshua Tree. I don't really know why. I have no memory of Achtung Baby except for One a great song I re-discovered through JOhnny Cah's cover.

I have nothing to add to Jackson's comment on The Doors (my #32). You summed it up.

Astral Weeks : to add to Jackson's pertinent comment, I will say that this album is very unique and special (Van's vocals, the arrangements), and like Tom Waits, can also repel. But like on Wait's albums, just take away the vocals and the musical setting and the album loses its appeal. The first seconds of "Beside You" always send a shiver down my spine. And the title track...

Graceland (#173) : a heart choice. I remember when it came out, in the climax of the anti-apartheid movement. I like how Paul Simon mixes Africa and America (great Louisiana influence too) here, without being too head-on politically. The music speaks for itself. that's why I could get over those beatboxes (why not using a real drummer ? or is it a real drummer with tons of effects and reverb on the drum sound? at last in 1995 they gave up putting reverb on the drums). And the invention of Vampire Weekend.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot : Wilco second best album (Jonathon, I'm invoking you )

Murmur not my kind of R.E.M. album. I prefer the early 90s REM.

Low : Hipsters

Dummy I love the songs but Beth Gibbons is too depressed for me. Nah, it's beautiful.

Thriller : Hey, I like "The Girl Is mIne", even if it is a stupid song. This album is very difficult to rank. My criteria are usually 90 % pleasure and 10 % musical importance. THriller is more 50-50. Some songs are dated ("The Lady in My Life"), and Off the Wall is musically superior IMO but it was so huge when it came out that it symbolises the 80s to me. And "Billie Jean" is one of my very very favorite songs. The only record I remember being so huge was Nevermind. Everybody was talking about it. So it ended up at #114 in my list (behind Off the Wall)

Blue / Hipst.. (no, the best jokes are the shorter). I don't get that woman's music, but I recognize her trmendous influence. That said, Blue is my favorite Joni album (and all-time #441). Some great songs there ("Little Green" is a splendor). I'm a little irritated by her voice and her egocentrism, but I owe that record a new chance.

Jackson

Oct 20, 2011 - 12:18PM

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

Wow Portishead's self-titled is good. I can see why Dummy and Third are ranked higher, but the gap shouldn't be nearly as wide. Anyone who likes Dummy should like the s/t. Can't believe it took me this long to hear it.

Steve E

Oct 20, 2011 - 12:28PM

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

I'm pretty pleased with where Blue was placed in this list. I firmly believe it's my favourite record of all time.

There has never been such a geniune album like Blue. It's deeply personal and depicts Joni at her most fragile state. Joni says "The Blue album, there's hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn't pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either."

I can understand why Joni would be irritated being compared to the likes of Bob Dylan as legendary as he may be - as Joni would put it: "We are like day and night, he and I". I love Bob Dylan's work but his career has been built on deception and numerous personas. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but if anything it's the complete opposite to Joni's music.

Moonbeam

Oct 20, 2011 - 12:52PM

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."

Jackson

Oct 20, 2011 - 1:00PM

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...

Moonbeam

Oct 20, 2011 - 1:25PM

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."

"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.

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 7:29PM

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

Jonathon

Particle Analyst

BillAdama

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

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

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:07PM

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.

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:24PM

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

60-51

OK, "Achtung Baby" touches a great amount of epicness especially at some moments ("Even Better Than The Real Thing", "The Fly") but it somewhat sounds too self-conscious like "Oh, come on babe, I'm a masterpiece" and therefore not as accomplished or balances as "War" and, obviously, "The Joshua Tree".

All hail "The Doors"! The ultimate listen to gain experience in pure psychedelic music and probably the best of its genre. Very dark but not depressive, totally ambitious but not overblown, it might just be also one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) album debuts of all time. So much that in fact no other of their works touched such levels of quality-though I have to admit I liked "L.A. Woman" a lot.

Well, now about "Thriller", what needs to be said that it hasn't been mentioned before? Just repeating the obvious: endless appreciation to Jackson's absolute killer tunes, not ignoring his soul past ("Human Nature") or the era's rise of the hard rock genre ("Beat It"). But "Thriller" is not an element combination work: at the end, what remains is a highly refreshing, very exhilarating pop sound that, unfortunately, had the bad luck to be copy-pasted a hundred-thousand times from very poor artists of the mainstream MTV kind in terms of "homage". Whatever, this one will remain a classic for the ages, those brats whoever their names are not. And no, this goes way back, a long time ago before Justin Bieber, just to mention.

"Graceland" to me is the classical case of lyrics being so mind-blowingly well written but the music being not as much epic. Anyway it's really great and admittedly Simon's best solo work. "Astral Weeks" is very melodical and beautiful too, but just not exactly my kind of preference.

Nick

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:27PM

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

Particle Analyst

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.

BillAdama

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:38PM

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?

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:39PM

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

I was hoping NMH would crack the T30, I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'm also surprised by drops from Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. The high finish by Village Green Preservation Society is nice though.

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:40PM

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

50-45

Prince at his most mature and contemplative moment, with an impressively minimalistic use of beats ("Sign 'O' The Times" itself as the greatest example of that, awesome lyrics too) and yet it's 50? OK it's not like the Sex Pistols thing but I expected it just a lil' bit higher. I think Moonbeam agrees too

Moondance>Astral Weeks glad to see it in the poll too.

"Electric Ladyland" to me is a monument to rock 'n' roll music. A masterpiece. Not only it is witness to Hendrix at the absolute perfection of his guitar technique, there are a lot of songs that test the very barrier between mainstream, commercial guitar sound and highly experimental, difficult-to-get additions that are so harmonically combined they can be hardly imagined as separate ("1983... A Merman I Should Turn To Be", "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)". I would rank it into a Top 20 without a doubt.

"Let It Bleed" is also exceptional and the Stones' record with the most authentic rock'n'roll feeling of them all (despite the elements of country and soul in "You Can't Always Get What You Want" which of course are not unwelcome at all). Better to me than "Exile In Main St.".

Jonathon

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:48PM

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.

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.

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:51PM

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

Nick

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.

Jonathon

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:55PM

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

BillAdama

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.

Vanillafire1000

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:57PM

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.

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 8:58PM

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.

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.

Particle Analyst

Oct 20, 2011 - 9:07PM

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

Vanillafire1000

Particle Analyst

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.

Zorg

Oct 20, 2011 - 9:11PM

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.

Listyguy

Oct 20, 2011 - 10:30PM

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.

Steve E

Oct 20, 2011 - 10:34PM

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.

nicolas

Oct 20, 2011 - 10:35PM

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.

Nassim

Oct 20, 2011 - 10:38PM

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.

nicolas

Oct 20, 2011 - 11:04PM

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.

Oct 20, 2011 - 11:13PM

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

Jackson

1 people like this.

Jackson

Oct 20, 2011 - 11:13PM

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

Oct 20, 2011 - 11:39PM

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.

Listyguy

Oct 20, 2011 - 11:49PM

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.

nicolas

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:08AM

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.

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:10AM

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"

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:29AM

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.

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:30AM

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}

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:38AM

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!

Dan M

Oct 21, 2011 - 1:01AM

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.

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.

Oct 21, 2011 - 1:12AM

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..

Toni

Oct 21, 2011 - 2:26AM

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.

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 2:50AM

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?

John

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:07AM

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.

Toni

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:08AM

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

Moonbeam

Toni

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.

Nick

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:10AM

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

Moonbeam

Toni

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.

Jackson

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:25AM

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.

BillAdama

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:33AM

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.

Jackson

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:54AM

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

Midaso

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:18AM

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...

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:21AM

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

Nick

Moonbeam

Toni

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

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.

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:22AM

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.

Evan

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:33AM

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.

Jackson

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:46AM

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.

Henry

Oct 21, 2011 - 6:16AM

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

Jackson

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.

Midaso

Oct 21, 2011 - 6:36AM

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?

Henry

Oct 21, 2011 - 7:21AM

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

Henrik

Oct 21, 2011 - 8:49AM

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.

nicolas

Oct 21, 2011 - 11:33AM

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.

nicolas

Oct 21, 2011 - 11:56AM

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.

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:02PM

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!

Jackson

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:06PM

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

Henry

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).

Jackson

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:11PM

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

Moonbeam

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:12PM

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

Jackson

Henry

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.

Depeche Mode

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:47PM

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

Kid A behind Illnois is quite a shocker.

nicolas

Oct 21, 2011 - 12:56PM

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

Stephan

Oct 21, 2011 - 2:02PM

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

nicolas

Oct 21, 2011 - 2:04PM

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).

VanillaFire1000

Oct 21, 2011 - 3:29PM

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.

Henry

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:09PM

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

Moonbeam

Jackson

Henry

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.

Henrik

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:20PM

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

Toni

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:23PM

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)

Jackson

Oct 21, 2011 - 4:35PM

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.

Zorg

Oct 21, 2011 - 5:01PM

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)?

Gillingham

Oct 21, 2011 - 5:19PM

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...

nicolas

Oct 21, 2011 - 5:31PM

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