The Old Acclaimed Music Forum

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:04PM

2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Here we go! Counting down our favorite albums from 500 to 1, with an increasingly detailed presentation as we go along.

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:11PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:18PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Some great albums in the 500-451 chunk. I'm happy to see both Deceit and Dub Housing.

Also a few (Led Zeppelin III, Pretty Hate Machine, Los Angeles) I'm surprised weren't higher.

Stephan

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:21PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

All lower than Kurt Vile and Michael Jackson.. what a world!

Great to see the results ready so soon though Jackson, great job!

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:24PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Oh man ! Here it comes ! Thanks Jackson for being so quick. I know it's a tough job.

As I didn't give any comments, I will try to comment albums that are dear to me as they come up

So far, 2 albums that made my list, 2 jazz greats

Getz-Gilberto and Sketches of Spain

Henrik

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:33PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Yeah baby!

Umm...only two others who voted for "Master of Puppets"?

Schwah

Oct 10, 2011 - 3:16PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Hooray Jackson! Awesome job tabulating everything so quickly.

I thought there would be more love for Mothership Connection.

Evan

Oct 10, 2011 - 4:40PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

How many voters did we end up with?

Nassim

Oct 10, 2011 - 5:32PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Looks like my whole top 9 made the top 500 !

I'm surprised by the high ranking of Kurt Vile, I though PJ would be the only one who had a chance of putting a 2011 album in the top 500.

And I have never heard of "An Electric Storm" by White Noise, the only non 2010/2011 unranked album so far.

Listyguy

Oct 10, 2011 - 11:31PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Green River and the Chirping Crickets are too low!

Zorg

Oct 10, 2011 - 11:49PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I guess umm I umm am responsible for Kurt Vile's high positioning

But anyway, great! So excited! Weird seeing Joanna so low.

Henry

Oct 11, 2011 - 12:05AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Not much love for Amy Winehouse among the voters.

Pleasantly surprised to see Close to the Edge do so well.

Oct 11, 2011 - 12:45AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

only 50 albums in and already better than the Rolling Stone 500..

Oct 11, 2011 - 1:01AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

only 50 albums in and already better than the Rolling Stone 500..

All you need for that though is to acknowledge music continued to be recorded after 1991.

Oct 11, 2011 - 2:40AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Gillingham

Oct 11, 2011 - 12:41PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Great Jackson! I will follow the presentation eagerly.
Some great records in the list already.

Oct 11, 2011 - 1:51PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Ooh, not one, but two Tallest Man On Earth albums made it in.

King Of Limbs has me wondering if there are going to be a lot of 2011 albums appearing in the 101-400 region of the list.

Stephan

Oct 11, 2011 - 2:52PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

BillAdama

Ooh, not one, but two Tallest Man On Earth albums made it in.

Oct 11, 2011 - 6:08PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Penguin

Oct 11, 2011 - 6:10PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Nice list so far. Wondering what scheme did we use for points this time?

Dan M

Oct 11, 2011 - 6:46PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

[369] Jacques Brel | Ces gens-la | 1966

Andre

Oct 11, 2011 - 6:54PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Great list so far, keep them coming, Jackson!

Oct 11, 2011 - 7:16PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Sky Blue Sky makes the top 500? That's embarassing. That album doesn't belong in the top 3000.

Georgie

Oct 11, 2011 - 7:38PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Why is Saturday Night Fever puzzling?

Toni

Oct 11, 2011 - 7:48PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Yes, the results!

It's been a good list so far, with some surprising falls comparing to last poll. Glad specially with some from my top 30 that have appeared:
30) Jorge Ben - A Tábua de Esmeralda (460)
29) Wilco - Being There (417)
26) The Police - Synchronicity (416)
22) Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All of His Friends (405)

Henrik

Oct 11, 2011 - 7:52PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jonathon

Sky Blue Sky makes the top 500? That's embarassing. That album doesn't belong in the top 3000.

Can we give this discussion a rest, please.

Oct 11, 2011 - 7:55PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'm surprised Marshal Mathers LP is so low. It should at least be higher than a certain other self-hyping self-referential rapper, cause Eminem's way better at ego flaunting with wordplay.

Weird how many people are just putting the thing they're listening to right this very moment on an all time list. Already three 2011 albums, maybe more if I skipped over one.

Evan

Oct 11, 2011 - 8:23PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

The only thing that surprises me about The Marshall Mathers LP is that it was so high in the first place. Eminem's a great rapper, one of the best lyrically and rhythmically, but he makes inconsistent albums. It's as simple as that. He's best served when showing off his rapping ability, like on his verse in Renegade or in Lose Yourself, which works better in just one song than it does throughout an entire album.

Oct 11, 2011 - 8:34PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Henrik

Jonathon

Sky Blue Sky makes the top 500? That's embarassing. That album doesn't belong in the top 3000.

Can we give this discussion a rest, please.

Yes, Lordship.

*sneaks off to the wilco thread to argue more.*

Nick

Oct 11, 2011 - 8:40PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

BillAdama

I'm surprised Marshal Mathers LP is so low. It should at least be higher than a certain other self-hyping self-referential rapper, cause Eminem's way better at ego flaunting with wordplay.

Eminem is a better songwriter than Kanye, but Kanye is a much better producer, hence why I like him more. I guess it all depends on what you value more though.

Also, 2011 albums listed so far-

Kurt Vile- Smoke Ring for My Halo- 459
Radiohead- The King of Limbs- 439
Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues- 359

And I guess while I'm at it, 2010 albums listed so far-

Joanna Newsom- Have One On Me- 462
The Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt- 408
Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty- 376
Beach House- Teen Dream- 374
Vampire Weekend- Contra- 361

Oct 11, 2011 - 8:54PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Georgie

Why is Saturday Night Fever puzzling?

It's not that I necessarily hate the album or anything, but I am really surprised it was a consensus top 400 pick here.

I don't necessarily mind that a good amount of 2011 and 2010 placed. However, I do take issue with many of the specific albums that placed. Especially considering that they're amongst genuine (at least IMO) classics like Roxy Music's s/t, Here Come the Warm Jets, You're Living All Over Me, etc.

Eminem's low placement is one of my favorite results of the poll. I completely agree that he works better for individual songs than for a whole album, where he comes off as obnoxious and grating.

Oct 11, 2011 - 9:25PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Amazing to see that, as this forum ages, genetations gaps start to appear

Oct 11, 2011 - 9:48PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

That said

[411] The Divine Comedy | Promenade | 1994

Who else voted for this underrated masterpiece ?

ALso : grieved by Elvis' low placement 'generation thing ? I understand that the fifties are very long ago)

[399] Wilco | Sky Blue Sky | 2007
No no I was kidding

369] Jacques Brel : great

[359] Fleet Foxes | Helplessness Blues | 2011 : pleasant surprise

Also happy to see Johnny Cash, Supergrass, My Favorite Things, Bob Marley's live, Randy Newman, The Tallest Man On Earth, NWA, New York, Out Of Time (one of my favorite REM albums), and John Cale (even if it didn't make my list)

Listyguy

Oct 11, 2011 - 10:09PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Boston and Van Halen's debuts only received two or three other votes! That's sad.

Oct 11, 2011 - 11:41PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

spotting "Ascension" in the t500 is a remarkable. or a milestone. maybe even both.
we (finally/right now) seem to have a decent amount of jazz connoisseurs on AMF... that's another thumb up on my behalf..

Zorg

Oct 12, 2011 - 12:02AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

nicolas

That said

[411] The Divine Comedy | Promenade | 1994

Who else voted for this underrated masterpiece ?

I put it 55th, having seen it on your list. It's only going to go higher though. Really great collection of songs.

I'm probably one of the main culprits of the high number of 2010/2011 albums, though I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It's an accurate reflection on what I feel at the moment. I haven't put any particularly high though.

Vanillafire1000

Oct 12, 2011 - 1:40AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

Georgie

Why is Saturday Night Fever puzzling?

That may just come from there not being a large enough sample size. I'm guessing that the 30 or so ballots may not give an accurate representation with the points scheme. You can also go back to the 2009 voting and see many recent albums stuck in the top 500. Its just comes from memory bias.

Just as a test, I went and looked at Vampire Weekend's Contra, an album that I put on my list. It had 5 votes, with 1 vote in someone's top 50, and 4 others all around the 100-range. It was not like there was a consensus on this album being an all-time classic. It just shows how getting peppered on multiple ballots really effects the rankings. Wait for the top 200 where you will probably need to get on 10+ ballots to show up, the list will feel more "realistic" then.

Penguin

Oct 12, 2011 - 3:19AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Vanillafire1000

Jackson

Georgie

Why is Saturday Night Fever puzzling?

The Top 50 vote for "Contra" was me (I think). I really do enjoy it -- probably not an all-time classic, but one of my favorite albums despite its flaws, so it's in for me.

Oct 12, 2011 - 3:46AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

By the way, there were 52 voters in the poll. Should have mentioned that in the OP. Nj, the 4 voters for Ascension were you, me, sonofsamiam, and Kevin. There were definitely some jazz-centric voters, but we're still too Kind of Blue-dependent as a forum.

Oct 12, 2011 - 3:58AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Particle Analyst

Oct 12, 2011 - 11:20AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Great presentation! The results seem very intriguing, though I'm disappointed from the low positions of Elton John's magnus opus and, especially, " Straight Outta Compton" ( the quintessential masterpiece of the misunderstood music genre it represents, of course along with " It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back"). I'm also surprised from the low ranking of "Master Of Puppets" despite its popularity ( not a great fan of it though). Anyway, looking forward to the rest of the list! Keep up doing so well!

Honorio

Oct 12, 2011 - 11:22AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Sorry for stating the obvious but (just like everybody else) I’m simultaneoulsy happy and sad. Happy because the albums on my list (so far # 469, 456, 447, 445, 444, 440, 423, 422, 419, 406, 400, 395, 388, 386, 385, 378, 369, 357, 356, 350, 329, 318, 313, 306, 304) could get to the final list and sad because I feel that they deserved a higher position.
But obviously my comment could apply to any other voter.
Great presentation, Jackson!

Oct 12, 2011 - 12:02PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Vanillafire1000

I'm guessing that the 30 or so ballots may not give an accurate representation with the points scheme.

Wait for the top 200 where you will probably need to get on 10+ ballots to show up, the list will feel more "realistic" then.

"accurate", "realistic" ? I don't really understand.
What is your reference ? The AM top 3000 ?

What's the point to this poll if the results are the same as what we expected ?

No what I find intersting, especially in this area of the list, is that it's got personality. It reflects the tastes of the people here.
70s soft rock, gangsta rap and metal are not favorite genres here (and I regret this), that explains the low rankings outlined by Particle Analyst.
But we also see lesser acclaimed albums that are shared by voters, which means that this forum is useful in its main goal : recommending the music you like to other people

Oct 12, 2011 - 12:22PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

nicolas

Vanillafire1000

"accurate", "realistic" ? I don't really understand.
What is your reference ? The AM top 3000 ?

What's the point to this poll if the results are the same as what we expected ?

I think by "accurate" he means something more like "statistically significant." Most of the albums listed so far are separated by a small amount of points and votes. Most of them wouldn't have made top 500 if they lost their top voter, while the albums in the top 200 are more entrenched and would rank highly again if the sample of voters was slightly different.

That being said, I find the portion of the list presented so far a whole lot more interesting than the upper part of the list.

Oct 12, 2011 - 1:53PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Evan

That is true, every time I listen to the Marshal Mathers LP I find myself wishing it ended about halfway through. But, I would say the same thing about Archandroid and Illinois, both of which are among my personal faves.

I just hate to see a more talented rapper doing the same thing better lose out to him whose name I will not mention at this time.

Vanillafire1000

Oct 12, 2011 - 4:31PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

nicolas

Vanillafire1000

"accurate", "realistic" ? I don't really understand.
What is your reference ? The AM top 3000 ?

What's the point to this poll if the results are the same as what we expected ?

That is what I mean. There were 52 lists for this poll compared to 68 in 2009. With the small sample size, and people putting up different sized lists (most did 200, but some do 50 or 100) it makes it so a small percentage of the voting populace can greatly effect the ranking of any album. Showing up as 200 (the booby prize) on an extra person's list for any of these albums would move it up 50 more spots. Which is partially why there are less hip-hop, jazz, and country albums on the list.

Oct 12, 2011 - 6:00PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

BillAdama

Evan

You're going to freak when MBDTF breaks into the T100 aren't you?

Great list so far! I like that there are less lists in it this time. There's still enough for concensus, but there will be less uniformity in the results.

Oct 12, 2011 - 6:04PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Nah, I expect it. I'll just make a snide comment or two.

Hey, he's right, better to be overrated than underpaid. He's better than anyone else at using the internet for mass hypnotism. He got every critic to declare it a masterpiece before hearing it. Critics still can't review the album without talking about his PR stunts and barely referencing the actual music.

Most artists create albums that are good because they sound good. Kanye made one that is good just because it is good.

Oct 12, 2011 - 6:17PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

In this stretch, 2 albums that were in the low regions of my list : Parsley, Sage... (my number 200) and Michigan at a surprisingly low spot.

I hope Highway To Hell will score better than Back In Black but given the lack of love for AC/DC here, have few illusions.

Harold Wexler

Oct 12, 2011 - 7:37PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson[336

Oct 12, 2011 - 9:11PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Oct 12, 2011 - 10:05PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Oct 12, 2011 - 11:58PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

we're still too Kind of Blue-dependent as a forum.

yup. there goes my recent citalopram induced enthusiasm...

Oct 13, 2011 - 12:01AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

nicolas

that's a very serious case of nj comment copyright infringement, mon ami

Oct 13, 2011 - 12:47AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I've found the poll lists really helpful and very interesting to read, so thank you for arranging all this Jackson and to everyone who participated. I've found a lot of new material thanks to the diverse taste of members in these forums.

It'll be interesting to see where my favourite artists are represented on this overall list.

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:43AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:48AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Looks like we've got our "?" covered in this last section.

Also, can anyone explain why Axis: Bold as Love is so much lower than Hendrix's other two big albums? I've always preferred Axis, and I don't see any difference in quality or popularity that would account for a 200+ difference in ranking.

Nick

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:51AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

"Are You Experienced?" is the the studio album that sounds like a greatest hits album, and "Electric Ladyland" is the sprawling artistic monument. "Axis: Bold As Love" is just the odd man out.

Oct 13, 2011 - 4:26AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'm very surprised that only 7 people voted for Illmatic. Have people simply just not heard it? When ever I have it playing even casual hip-hop fans comment on how incredible it is.

Henry

Oct 13, 2011 - 4:47AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'm very surprised that only 7 people voted for Illmatic. Have people simply just not heard it? When ever I have it playing even casual hip-hop fans comment on how incredible it is.

As perhaps the eldest of the voters, my affection for hip-hop is extremely limited. Nas is not even one of my favorite hip-hop artists. I found most of the songs on Illmatic unappealing. The least objectionable to my ears were: Life's A Bitch and N.Y State of Mind. In the middle ground there was: One Time 4 Your Mind, It Ain't Hard to Tell, and Memory Lane. I am somewhat interested in understanding the aspects of the songs on this album that you and others find appealing. Then, I might be tempted to give these songs more than one half listen every 3 years.

Nick

Oct 13, 2011 - 5:04AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'll attempt to explain my love for "Illmatic".

1. The album perfectly captures the zeitgeist of early 90's east coast hip-hop.

2. The album's production is really minimalist and uses a variety of different instrumentation successfully (a piano on "NY State of Mind", the saxophone on "Life's a Bitch", the xylophone on "One Love", etc.)

3. The album's minimalist production leaves the album uncrowded and gives Nas's rapping a lot of room to breathe. Nas not only has a great flow, but he's a great lyricist, and above all, a great storyteller.

Case in point-

"I keep some E&J, sittin bent up in the stairway
Or either on the corner bettin Grants with the celo champs
Laughin at baseheads, tryin to sell some broken amps
G-Packs get off quick, forever niggaz talk shit
Remeniscing about the last time the Task Force flipped
Niggaz be runnin through the block shootin
Time to start the revolution, catch a body head for Houston
Once they caught us off guard, the Mac-10 was in the grass and
I ran like a cheetah with thoughts of an assassin
Pick the Mac up, told brothers, "Back up," the Mac spit
Lead was hittin niggaz one ran, I made him backflip
Heard a few chicks scream my arm shook, couldn't look
Gave another squeeze heard it click yo, my shit is stuck
Try to cock it, it wouldn't shoot now I'm in danger
Finally pulled it back and saw three bullets caught up in the chamber
So now I'm jetting to the building lobby
and it was filled with children probably couldn't see as high as I be."

- "NY State of Mind"

4. The album capture's the bleakness of living in the projects, but instead of celebrating the so called "gangsta" lifestyle, Nas remains rather optimistic throughout the album, even when he's being totally realistic about the world around him.

5. It's incredibly concise. Not a second is wasted.

Particle Analyst

Oct 13, 2011 - 8:52AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

No love for Aretha Franklin either? LCD Soundsystem's and '00s' finest hour out of the top 200?

Anyway, happy to see some appreciation for the somewhat underrated "Parade" and " Trout Mask Replica" not in a Top 100, in contrast with most of the critics' lists out there.

I wonder what's gonna be the first Rolling Stones record we are going to see in this countdown.

Moonbeam

Oct 13, 2011 - 10:11AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Very cool list so far! Lots of quirky picks and unexpected results. The only thing that disappoints me so far is the high placement of Coldplay relative to their AM places, which is frankly quite disgusting.

Oct 13, 2011 - 12:07PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Thanks Jackson !

to nj : yes indeed (i hadn't noticed)

more of my favorites in this section

Tago Mago : I didn't ranked it cause I haven't heard it for ages, but it's a great album

Hotel California (my #145) : not a bad ranking for a soft rock album here in this forum. It was my fav album when I was 13 and I still like this great collection of songs.

Original Pirate Material (158) : I love the Streets; a fantastic story teller that chose rap and garage electro. This music is typically british and very exotic to me (the UK is always very exotic for a Frenchman )

The River (75) : another of my teenage favorites. It's the first Bruce record I've heard. My older sister had bought it, and I remember being very impressed by the second side of the first record. I love those double albums where artists put all their songs; it's like a garage sell.

Songs For The Deaf (194): a very solid rock album from the 2000s. Diverse, powerful, playful.

Speakerboxx/The Love Below (9 : garage sell in Atlanta

Axis : Bold As Love (106) :all 3 Jimi albums are on my list, with Electric Ladyland at the highest position. I have to admit that Axis is the lowest, probably because, despite its great quality (and Little Wing), it doesn't feature such classics as Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, Purple Haze.

Mutations (82) :My favorite Beck album. His own "Sky Blue Sky". You know my love for direct, straightforward songwriting. Beck can make wonderful natural songs, without noise and bizarreness. Picasso was a great classic painter too.

Oct 13, 2011 - 12:07PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Thanks Jackson !

to nj : yes indeed (i hadn't noticed)

more of my favorites in this section

Tago Mago : I didn't ranked it cause I haven't heard it for ages, but it's a great album

Hotel California (my #145) : not a bad ranking for a soft rock album here in this forum. It was my fav album when I was 13 and I still like this great collection of songs.

Original Pirate Material 158 : I love the Streets; a fantastic story teller that chose rap and garage electro. This music is typically british and very exotic to me (the UK is always very exotic for a Frenchman )

The River (75) : another of my teenage favorites. It's the first Bruce record I've heard. My older sister had bought it, and I remember being very impressed by the second side of the first record. I love those double albums where artists put all their songs; it's like a garage sell.

Songs For The Deaf (194): a very solid rock album from the 2000s. Diverse, powerful, playful.

Speakerboxx/The Love Below 98: garage sell in Atlanta

Axis : Bold As Love (106) :all 3 Jimi albums are on my list, with Electric Ladyland at the highest position. I have to admit that Axis is the lowest, probably because, despite its great quality (and Little Wing), it doesn't feature such classics as Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, Purple Haze.

Mutations (82) :My favorite Beck album. His own "Sky Blue Sky". You know my love for direct, straightforward songwriting. Beck can make wonderful natural songs, without noise and bizarreness. Picasso was a great classic painter too.

PS : I'm not very surprised by the relatively low ranking of those albums, and sometimes pleasantly surprised (especially for Mutations).

Stephan

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:03PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

nicolas

Mutations (82) :My favorite Beck album. His own "Sky Blue Sky". You know my love for direct, straightforward songwriting. Beck can make wonderful natural songs, without noise and bizarreness. Picasso was a great classic painter too.

How about Sea Change?

By the way, I really would've expected Curtis to finish higher. People need to check out that album! Let's hope the incredible Superfly makes it a lot further.

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:34PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'm not very familiar with Sea change, must have heard it once or twice, but I gotta check it out again, there's a fantastic song in this album : "Lost Cause".
I bought mutations in 1998 when I was well into indie rock, and it became a companion. When Sea Change came out I bought it as well, but I was in my country/blues years and didn't pay much attention.
It's probably the same with you guys : many albums that are high on my list had a strong effect on my personal life. Some were there at the right place and time.
The order in which you listen to an artist's albums matters sometimes too : I really got into Beck after hearing Mutations; sometimes the first cut is the deepest.

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:54PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'm glad to see Starsailor show up at 288, but it would have been even more awesome if it cracked the top 200. (Of course, it was my #4, so without my vote it would have been much lower.)

Blueprint, another rap album that's surprisingly low.

Vanillafire1000

Oct 13, 2011 - 1:57PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Nick

I'll attempt to explain my love for "Illmatic".

I had Illmatic in my top 50, as the 2nd highest hip-hop album on my list. Its a wonderbul combination of the gangsta rap of the early 90s with the jazz-influenced stuff that popped up. Its in the dark, gritty style similar to the Wu-Tang, almost completely out of tune to the Sean Combs, Bad Boy stuff. It is THE album of underground hip-hop. ?uestlove did an interview with Pitchfork recently that mentioned it.

?uestlove

The ideology of what I considered "real" hip-hop died at the 1995 Source Awards. I was literally at its funeral-- I sat three rows behind Nas. In the audience, the Bad Boy camp was on the far right, all the West Coast and the Southern rappers were in the middle, and on the far left were all the New York underground rappers like Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and us. That was the day when Suge called out Puffy, and there were fights in the audience. I felt like a bomb was going to detonate.

Nas' body language that day told the whole story of where we were about to go. The more he got ignored for Illmatic, I literally saw his body melt in his seat. Almost like he was ashamed. He just looked so defeated. I was like, "Yo, he's not gonna be the same after this shit." None of us were the same after that day. I feel like the true underground lost its oxygen that night.

Its the pinnacle of a genre and a movement that got swallowed up and spit out by the corporate music structure. Its an all-killer-no-filler album that just throws BOMBS at you. There is no skit bloat that plagues so many. Every track has a killer hook, every beats are insane. I still get chills from the intro to NY State of Mind. You cannot get any better.

Zorg

Oct 13, 2011 - 3:26PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Lots of great albums in that section! Choice pick being We're Only In It For The Money. Its weirdness may put some off, but I find it absolutely enthralling.

Oct 13, 2011 - 3:38PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I will be pleasantly shocked if summerteeth made it.

Oct 13, 2011 - 4:20PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

This part of the list is intersting because you can see some albums that were one or 2 guys' favorites, like Starsailor for BillAdama or Promenade for me. I really like Tim Buckley, but I've only heard the first 2 albums (the 1st one almost made my top 200). Jeff's vocal and physical resemblance with his father is striking. And they hardly ever met !

Oct 13, 2011 - 6:18PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Oct 13, 2011 - 6:23PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Some absolutely fantastic albums in that last round. I'm mixed between excitement that many of these made top 250 and disappointment that some declined from their showing last time (particularly Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space and Spiderland, two of the 10 best albums of the 90s in my opinion).

I'm sure everyone will have something they like in that section. The Millennium followed up its surprise top 50 placement in the 60s poll with another great showing here. Also A Tribe Called Quest and Charles Mingus give great entries for hip-hop and jazz.

Oct 13, 2011 - 6:54PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

Aww, my favourite Björk album by a considerable margin was the first to show up on the overall list.

Vespertine is such a coherent and beautifully personal record; in comparison to her previous records whereby the concept was more about a collection of diverse songs (Debut, Post).

Evan

Oct 13, 2011 - 7:15PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I love The XX's cover art. Just as minimalist and understated as the actual music.

Oct 13, 2011 - 7:58PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

[250] Buena Vista Social Club | Buena Vista Social Club | 1997
Points: 659 | Votes: 9 | AM Rank: 404

My # 65 : I love this album, the songs are fabulous. My list featured 2 solo albums by Eliades Ochoa and Compay Segundo (that I knew before Buena Vista came out). It's good to have non English speaking records every now and then. Some great great music is also recorded and made out of the Anglo saxon world. Sometimes I wish these list reflected a little more the music from other countries.

[241] A Tribe Called Quest | The Low End Theory | 1991
Points: 694 | Votes: 8 | AM Rank: 245

Good news ! I have voted for their 1990 album but I'm glad they're this high.

[234] Charles Mingus | Mingus Ah Um | 1959
Points: 721 | Votes: 9 | AM Rank: 410

(my number 130)What a fabulous artist Mingus was. Adventurous but always close to his roots, and very passionate in everything he recorded.

[231] Michael Jackson | Off the Wall | 1979
Points: 737 | Votes: 11 | AM Rank: 104
2009 Poll Rank: 160
(my nb 74)To me it beats Thriller in terms of music. But in terms of memory and importance Thriller is best.

Oct 13, 2011 - 8:53PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

For me, I think Thriller has the best couple songs between the two, but Off The Wall is more even and consistent. Overall I'd put Off The Wall a bit higher.

Fever Ray is a surprise. Makes me think Silent Shout has a shot at cracking the top 100.

I wonder if The Knife will ever release another non-soundtrack album.

Moonbeam

Oct 13, 2011 - 8:54PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

That 250-226 section is fantastic.

Lethem

Oct 13, 2011 - 9:19PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Glad I haven't spotted THE AGE OF ADZ yet. Crossing fingers for a strong finish. Great list so far. Lots of Suprises!

Listyguy

Oct 13, 2011 - 9:50PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I might as well respond to the "Axis: Bold as Love" question, given it was in my top 20.
Hendrix was a genius. That album would have been even better Jimi not left the original tapes in the back of a cab. It's a great album, definitely underaprreciated.
Also, Jackson, was there any album in AM's top 100 that did not make top 500 (the lowest I was, surprisingly, was Live at the Apollo, not TMR)?

Oct 13, 2011 - 10:59PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Listyguy

The highest ranked album outside of our top 500 was Dr. Dre's The Chronic, which (thankfully) only got two votes and didn't even make our top 1000.

And to me, Axis definitely has some of Jimi's standout songs. "Spanish Castle Magic," "Little Wing," and most of all "Bold As Love" are right up with there from the best of the other two albums. I definitely see why it might be ranked third of the three, I feel like it should be a close third.

Dan M

Oct 14, 2011 - 3:41AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

[234] Charles Mingus | Mingus Ah Um | 1959

I only discovered jazz music from the 50s and 60s earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised to realize how much I liked it. Mingus Ah Um was the album that made an emotional connection with jazz click into place for me, and at #5 in my all-time list it is my favourite of the genre. 20 other jazz albums (whether instrumental or vocal) made my top 200, including The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. But in my personal musical landscape this 1959 gem from the great Charles Mingus is the definitive jazz album.

Oct 14, 2011 - 3:44AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Harold Wexler

Oct 14, 2011 - 4:44AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

So...for those keeping track, 30 of the top 200 albums from last time have fallen out, the highest-ranked being Blue Lines, which was #121 in '09.

It looks like 4 (maybe 5) of the 30 new entries will be 2010 albums. I'm wondering if any 2011 releases will show up in the top 200; I can think of two that might.

Great job so far, Jackson. Can't wait to see the rest.

John

Oct 14, 2011 - 5:46AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I wonder if Weezer's classics would be higher if they stopped making music after Pinkerton. Not that I'd want that since a lot of people still love their music, but if they were a two album band I bet one or both of those albums would be top 100.

I haven't chimed in yet- A lot of my top 100 has already been revealed. I can't complain if something hit the top 500 but here are a few I think should be a lot higher:

Paul Simon: There Goes Rhymin' Simon- The second best album Simon made after Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Beck: Mutations- Odelay holds a special place in my heart as well, but like Nicolas said, this is his best.

Paul McCartney: Ram- In many cases McCartney's solo work is justifiably overlooked and I think that's why not many people have given Ram a chance. But, it's a fantastic album, easily my favorite Beatles solo album.

There are a few more I could comment on, but I can understand why those can fall down to the 300-500 range. But, I definitely needed to speak my piece on the three above!

Schwah

Oct 14, 2011 - 6:59AM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Vanillafire1000

Nick

I'll attempt to explain my love for "Illmatic".

?uestlove

Illmatic is an album that engenders respect, but no love from me. And I think it's that gritty style that I find so relentless, for both good and bad, about this album. I know there's play in the words and the rhymes, but hell if you'd know it from his delivery, which is relentlessly rat-a-tat. Any sense of play is missing from the MUSIC. (I am woefully unknowledgable about Wu Tang Clan, but my sense of them from what I have heard is they have slightly more play to their delivery... probably helped by the fact that you have many different rappers' styles butting against one another in every track.)

Compare this to my favorite rap album that is outside of the top 200 (and, aside from Spoon's Gimme Fiction, my highest ranked album that is likely to be outside the top-200): The Low End Theory. (Which, by the way, was released the same day as Nevermind, and is far more deserving of having its 20th anniversary celebrated.) I've said before how fun is an entirely underrated virtue in music. Some critics get it.... more pay it lip service, and then gravitate to [use portentious voice] "very serious albums" when it comes time to laud masterpieces or draw up their lists. Well, Low End Theory is fun... lyrically and musically. The interplay between Phife and Tip, the beautiful jazzy groove of the beats, Busta Rhymes roaring like a "dungeon dragon" on that fantastic posse track closer. It's musical as hell and entertaining as hell.

Oct 14, 2011 - 2:33PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'm surprised Tonight's The Night didn't do better. I think Neil Young's depressive phase is his best.

Oct 14, 2011 - 5:10PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

BillAdama

I'm surprised Tonight's The Night didn't do better. I think Neil Young's depressive phase is his best.

I voted for Tonight's the Night as my 12th favourite album. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that it's outside the top 200.

What I find just as perplexing is how low Joni Mitchell's albums are (despite the improvement from their AM scores). Joni Mitchell is a genius and strictly speaking one of the few true originators of our time. Formally self-described as a composer (or painter), I'd feel more comfortable placing Joni side-by-side to famous classical composers than works by Joanna Newsom! If "Blue" (my number #1 album) doesn't even make the Top 100, I'll be geniunely quite disappointed.

Oct 14, 2011 - 7:37PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

On The Beach was my top Neil Young album, but Tonight's the Night is a beast as well. Those two are head and shoulders above Harvest and quite a bit better than After the Gold Rush.

Oct 14, 2011 - 7:44PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I'd bet you'd dislike Harvest. It's a great album, though. Superb songs and arrangements. But way uncool for 21st centrury hipsters. Not dark enough ? Dad's music ? Lol

There were 6 NY albums in my top 200

1. After The Goldrush
2. Harvest
3. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
4. Zuma
5. Tonight's The Night
6. Rust Never Sleeps

On the Beach has a cool cover, but it's a minor album IMO. On The Beach is a lesser known album so it's cool to say you like it ?
I'm kidding guys.

PS : I could have put Tonight's The Night above Zuma (they were #111 and #115).

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:07PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

On The Beach is my favorite Neil Young, followed by Tonight's The Night. After The Gold Rush is pretty close to those two, though.

It's not that I dislike Harvest, so much as whereas all of Young's other critically acclaimed albums really stand out, Harvest is just kind of good craftsmanship with riskless songwriting. Hey, kind of like... (Not going there)

But no, I like Harvest. I'd put it in my top 1000. It's somewhere below Freedom and Ragged Glory, and just higher than his album from last year.

The only reason On The Beach isn't as acclaimed as other Neil Young albums is that it took the longest to be released on CD, which it did because Neil Young vetoed the CD release until he was happy with the mix.

Hrm, speaking of which, On The Beach is either outside the top 500 or in the top 200. It can't have gotten less than five votes, could it? I think I put it in my top 20.

Honorio

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:28PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

My Top 5 Young albums:
1. After the Gold Rush
2. Rust Never Sleeps
3. Tonight's the Night
4. Harvest
5. Comes a Time (an underated gem in my opinion that also can be filed under the "kind of good craftsmanship with riskless songwriting" section)

Only the first three are in my Top 200 but I've included instead 2 other albums with strong Young involvement: "Déjà vu" (even more uncool than "Harvest") and "Buffalo Springfield Again"

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:30PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I voted for "On the Beach" as #34, so it would be nice to see it made the list. The problem I had with "Harvest" in particular was the fact it didn't leave any lasting appeal (although it was the first Neil Young album to be introduced to me). It's an "okay" album with some nice songs but I just don't "feel" it like "After the Goldrush" or "Tonight's the Night". The latter left such a huge impact on me and it's very hard to ignore the exposed grief on that album.

Honorio

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:36PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

I find (sadly) surprising the fall on the appreciation of Massive Attack's "Blue Lines". From 121 to 210? Why, oh why?

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:47PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Honorio

I find (sadly) surprising the fall on the appreciation of Massive Attack's "Blue Lines". From 121 to 210? Why, oh why?

I don't think its production sounds as modern as Mezzanine's. Even though "Unfinished Sympathy" is in my top 50 songs, I've never cared much for Blue Lines. The rest of the album doesn't really stand up to that masterpiece. Mezzanine is more consistent.

I think On the Beach is definitely the best Neil Young album I've heard, though Rust Never Sleeps might have something to say about that. I love the sprawl of the title track and "Ambulance Blues," the latter of which is Young's "Desolation Row."

And Stephen, I definitely don't think you should be disappointed at how Joni Mitchell performed in this poll, trust me.

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:48PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

nicolas

Many now consider On the Beach Neil's masterwork, and not because it's "lesser known" and cool. Because it has great music that is stripped down and emotional.

It's one of his most cohesive works, every song is good, "Ambulance Blues" is possibly his best song ever.

Personally for me with Neil:

1. On The Beach
2. Tonight's the Night
3. Rust Never Sleeps
4. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
5. After the Gold Rush
6. Zuma
7. Ragged Glory
8. Harvest

I think Harvest is pretty inconsistent. One song that I often see cited as a top Harvest song "A Man Needs a Maid", I consider one of Neil's worst outings; I find the lyric bone-headed, and the over the top arrangement underscores that fact.

Oct 14, 2011 - 8:55PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Jackson

Honorio

I find (sadly) surprising the fall on the appreciation of Massive Attack's "Blue Lines". From 121 to 210? Why, oh why?

I know Blue Lines is a historically important album, but I think it's kind of inconsistent. "Unfinished Sympathy" is haunting, and "Hymn for the Big Wheel" and "Safe From Harm", but there's a lot of filler. Most of the lyrics also come across as kind of shallow and silly, but maybe I'm not supposed to care about Massive Attack's lyrics.

Oct 14, 2011 - 9:00PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

Honorio

5. Comes a Time (an underated gem in my opinion that also can be filed under the "kind of good craftsmanship with riskless songwriting" section)

Tu quoque mi fili...

Craftmanship, riskless songwriting ? I don't get taht (though i see what you mean) But country music and blues are craftmanship, noble popular craftmanship, when people didn' care if they were taking risks or not. What a strange notion in popular music...
Harvest is a fantastic country album.
I've just heard some songs from On The Beach. Fucking great songs there too. "Turnstiles", "See The Sky...". I'll have to hear it again.
I love depressed Neil Young too, but I was first introduced to Goldrush and Harvest in the late eighties and it was such a shock, a positive shock to hear this in 1988 during the worst era of music

What I love in NY (and Wilco too) is that they can make simple, "riskless" (lol) albums AND darker, less accessible stuff, but they don't make any differnece or hierarchy between them.

Oct 14, 2011 - 9:10PM

Re: 2011 AMF All-Time Albums Poll Results Thread

nicolas

Honorio

5. Comes a Time (an underated gem in my opinion that also can be filed under the "kind of good craftsmanship with riskless songwriting" section)

Tu quoque mi fili...

What I love in NY (and Wilco too) is that they can make simple, "riskless" (lol) albums AND darker, less accessible stuff, but they don't make any differnece or hierarchy between them.

To me it's not all about "risk". Harvest is spotty. I love certain songs on the album, but I don't think it is very coherent.

In the case of Sky Blue Sky, I just think it's one of Tweedy's poorest songwriting showings, with one or two great songs, a couple of half good ones, and a bunch of stinkers.

For the record, I love The Band, I love Gram Parsons, I love The Grateful Dead's early 70s albums, I love After the Gold Rush, I love Nick Drake, I love the Fairport Convention. The fact that I don't like certain "pure" albums, doesn't mean I hate it all.