Unholyalliance said:

To those including The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and White Album, I don't really think you understand the thread. It's kind of hard to put them on par with Fullfillingness and Songs in the Key, for instance. Or Off The Wall and Thriller. The most compelling sequences are the one's (like Stevie's and many others here) where the progression builds peaks with an undisputed masterpiece. Several others here fit into that category, but not The Beatles (even though I love all of those albums.) You can't squeeze the The Beatles into every thread, and any mention of them in this one is off-topic.

Unless it's Ringo Starr!

I Wanna Be Santa Claus

Choose Love

Liverpool 8

Y Not

(I skipped the brilliant Ringo Rama, as it was a throw away album.)

NoVideo said:

sosgemini said:

What was the album after Kick?

"X" came after "Kick", and it's the weak link IMHO.

I think their best works are "Welcome to Wherever You Are" and "Full Moon Dirty Hearts". 2 tragically undervalued albums.

The Max Q album was also very very good.

Aight now LastDecember, anyone who dares include X in a list of "Best" needs their head checked.

Well, if I can tilt things by including live albums and excluding soundtracks and duet albums, I'd say:

Bill Withers:

Just As I Am / Still Bill / Live at Carnegie Hall / +'Justments

Donny Hathaway:

Everything is Everything / Donny Hathaway / Live / Extension of a Man

And also...

Fela Kuti:

Sorrow, Tears and Blood / Shuffering and Shmiling / Unknown Soldier / Coffin for Head of State

Linton Kwesi Johnson:

Dread Beat an' Blood / Forces of Victory / Bass Culture / Making History

[Edited 6/23/11 4:12am]

Imaginative said:

mention MJ in the "Name Artists Who Made Great Music Past the Age of 50," thread

This is true though. "Best of Joy" was written and recorded shortly before his death in 2009 and is up there with his greatest work.

Eye love that song so much. I cry sometimes when I hear it. His voice his so soft and sweet.

[Edited 6/23/11 9:48am]

Imaginative said:

[Edited 6/23/11 9:48am]

And I'm the one who gets off topic

NoVideo said:

sosgemini said:

What was the album after Kick?

"X" came after "Kick", and it's the weak link IMHO.

I think their best works are "Welcome to Wherever You Are" and "Full Moon Dirty Hearts". 2 tragically undervalued albums.

The Max Q album was also very very good.

I wouldnt exactly call it weak, what i felt was poor and hindered the record was the worst sound mixing and engineering ever on an album, the band is totally lowered in the mix where as in the past they were the sonic force, i think with the success of KICK things were being done to push the band to the back and michael to the forefront, which was a big mistake becauss that WALL of sound was probably the best playing band of that time and there hasnt been any band since that has that varied sound. I do feel that some of Michael and Andrew Farriss's best lyrics were on this record, "By my Side" is michael at his very best and tracks like "the stairs" "who pays the price" and "hear that sound" deeply suffered because of the sound engineering.

lastdecember said:

NoVideo said:

"X" came after "Kick", and it's the weak link IMHO.

I think their best works are "Welcome to Wherever You Are" and "Full Moon Dirty Hearts". 2 tragically undervalued albums.

The Max Q album was also very very good.

I wouldnt exactly call it weak, what i felt was poor and hindered the record was the worst sound mixing and engineering ever on an album, the band is totally lowered in the mix where as in the past they were the sonic force, i think with the success of KICK things were being done to push the band to the back and michael to the forefront, which was a big mistake becauss that WALL of sound was probably the best playing band of that time and there hasnt been any band since that has that varied sound. I do feel that some of Michael and Andrew Farriss's best lyrics were on this record, "By my Side" is michael at his very best and tracks like "the stairs" "who pays the price" and "hear that sound" deeply suffered because of the sound engineering.

i called it the "weak link", meaning it was the weakest of the 4. But I wouldn't call it weak overall. I agree the main problem was the terrible murky mix; some good songs on that record. But after the crystal-clear punch of "Kick" I remember being terribly disappointed by the sound on "X". They corrected that problem on the next album which sounds stellar.

NoVideo said:

lastdecember said:

I wouldnt exactly call it weak, what i felt was poor and hindered the record was the worst sound mixing and engineering ever on an album, the band is totally lowered in the mix where as in the past they were the sonic force, i think with the success of KICK things were being done to push the band to the back and michael to the forefront, which was a big mistake becauss that WALL of sound was probably the best playing band of that time and there hasnt been any band since that has that varied sound. I do feel that some of Michael and Andrew Farriss's best lyrics were on this record, "By my Side" is michael at his very best and tracks like "the stairs" "who pays the price" and "hear that sound" deeply suffered because of the sound engineering.

i called it the "weak link", meaning it was the weakest of the 4. But I wouldn't call it weak overall. I agree the main problem was the terrible murky mix; some good songs on that record. But after the crystal-clear punch of "Kick" I remember being terribly disappointed by the sound on "X". They corrected that problem on the next album which sounds stellar.

Yeah "Welcome" and "full moon" to me are two of the best records they did, and "Full Moon" was probably the best "Fuck off" record to a record company ever, i mean they were done with Warner at that point, went away and knocked out a record and a comilation video album and said goodbye to warner in one breathe. I couldnt blame them for hating Warner at this point, new people were in place and had no time for INXS who were getting bottom rung treatment at a label they made a lot of money for. I think also the problem that X had other than the mix, was having KICK right in front of it to compete with, anyone you talk too about the album always starts or finishes their opinion on that record by saying "Compared to KICK...." and thats the wrong way to look at any piece of work. Dont get me wrong KICK was great, but its not their best album by any means. I almost wished that KICK hadnt been as big as it was because it drained them and pushed Michael up front and away from the band, i still feel INXS as a band is about as strong as another band, they have a sound that i dont think can be touched by any other band from their time.

lastdecember said:

NoVideo said:

i called it the "weak link", meaning it was the weakest of the 4. But I wouldn't call it weak overall. I agree the main problem was the terrible murky mix; some good songs on that record. But after the crystal-clear punch of "Kick" I remember being terribly disappointed by the sound on "X". They corrected that problem on the next album which sounds stellar.

Yeah "Welcome" and "full moon" to me are two of the best records they did, and "Full Moon" was probably the best "Fuck off" record to a record company ever, i mean they were done with Warner at that point, went away and knocked out a record and a comilation video album and said goodbye to warner in one breathe. I couldnt blame them for hating Warner at this point, new people were in place and had no time for INXS who were getting bottom rung treatment at a label they made a lot of money for. I think also the problem that X had other than the mix, was having KICK right in front of it to compete with, anyone you talk too about the album always starts or finishes their opinion on that record by saying "Compared to KICK...." and thats the wrong way to look at any piece of work. Dont get me wrong KICK was great, but its not their best album by any means. I almost wished that KICK hadnt been as big as it was because it drained them and pushed Michael up front and away from the band, i still feel INXS as a band is about as strong as another band, they have a sound that i dont think can be touched by any other band from their time.

It's interesting, and I agree that "Kick" isn't their best work, but I think had "Welcome" come out after "Kick" instead of "X", it would have been huge. It has a much more lithe, stripped-down funky vibe, similar to "Kick" but with stronger material overall. It is loaded with should-have-been hit singles.

theAudience said:

TD3 said:

Great artist. Nice picks.
I'm gonna time-shift a bit and go earlier into his catalog.


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Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Oh yeah....

Evans was so prolific and consistent, anytime in during his recording career four gems could be picked out.

Jamiroquai - "Emergency On Planet Earth", "Return Of The Space Cowboy", "Traveling Without Moving" and "Synchronized"

I'll be back with my R.Kelly list....I have to think about that more......

EWF

That's The Way Of The World

Spirit

All N All

I Am

Prince - Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Parade, Sign "O" The Times, Black Album

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Zooropa [I don't consider Rattle And Hum a real album]

Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade, New Day Rising, Candy Apple Grey, Flip Your Wig

Bob Mould: Workbook, Black Sheets of Rain, Copper Blue (as Sugar), File Under: Easy Listening (as Sugar)

The Replacements: Hootenanny, Let It Be, Tim, Pleased to Meet Me

Shaolin325 said:

I'll be back with my R.Kelly list....I have to think about that more......

How about you don't and we all say ya did? Mmm-kay?

NoVideo said:

lastdecember said:

Yeah "Welcome" and "full moon" to me are two of the best records they did, and "Full Moon" was probably the best "Fuck off" record to a record company ever, i mean they were done with Warner at that point, went away and knocked out a record and a comilation video album and said goodbye to warner in one breathe. I couldnt blame them for hating Warner at this point, new people were in place and had no time for INXS who were getting bottom rung treatment at a label they made a lot of money for. I think also the problem that X had other than the mix, was having KICK right in front of it to compete with, anyone you talk too about the album always starts or finishes their opinion on that record by saying "Compared to KICK...." and thats the wrong way to look at any piece of work. Dont get me wrong KICK was great, but its not their best album by any means. I almost wished that KICK hadnt been as big as it was because it drained them and pushed Michael up front and away from the band, i still feel INXS as a band is about as strong as another band, they have a sound that i dont think can be touched by any other band from their time.

It's interesting, and I agree that "Kick" isn't their best work, but I think had "Welcome" come out after "Kick" instead of "X", it would have been huge. It has a much more lithe, stripped-down funky vibe, similar to "Kick" but with stronger material overall. It is loaded with should-have-been hit singles.

i think what hurt was the touring for KICK that led into touring for X that led into a Live album which at that point Live albums were not in fashion anymore, and the band didnt really like that recording either, when they did "Welcome" they didnt tour plus it was 3 years since the last studio record which back then was unheard of and for them never happend before. 1992 was also the year of Michaels brain injury and that led to the change in him after that he was never the same person.

RKJCNE said:

Madonna - Madonna Ray Of Light/Music/American Life/ Confessions

I know mostof her fans aren't big fans off all of those albums, but they are her finest work to me, besides LAP.

Bruce Springsteen - Darkness At The Edge Of Town/Nebraska/The River/Born In The USA

[Edited 6/24/11 20:19pm]

AlexdeParis said:

My vote for the best:

1. Talking Book

2. Innervisions

3. Fulfillingness' First Finale

4. Songs in the Key of Life

No weak links, just stone cold classics.

Easily

lastdecember said:

rialb said:

What about Honky Chateau? Wasn't that before Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player?

True actually that was elton's first number one lp. Thing is that Elton easily had a 7-8 album run, and is on another 4 album run now.

That duet album . . . . .smh

JoeTyler said:

Metallica - Ride the Lightning 84 / Master of Puppets 86/ And Justice for All 88 /Black Album 91 (I excluded the excellent Kill'Em All due to the poor production values...)

Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward 84 / Black Celebration 86 / Music for the Masses 87 / Violator 90

Duran Duran - Duran Duran 81 / Rio 82 / 7 & The Ragger Tiger 83 / Wild Boys + A View to a Kill singles + Arcadia/Power Station side projects 84-85 (ok I cheated a lil bit, lol)

[Edited 6/20/11 8:59am]

Yup

NoVideo said:

Imaginative said:

Fleetwood Mac

Heroes are Hard to Find

Fleetwood Mac

Rumours

Tusk

I could never really warm to "Heroes are Hard to Find" but I really love "Mystery to Me".

Agreed. That's just stretching to get a foursome.

SUPRMAN said:

NoVideo said:

I could never really warm to "Heroes are Hard to Find" but I really love "Mystery to Me".

Agreed. That's just stretching to get a foursome.

Are you into early Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac at all? If you are, there is a lot to like on Heroes. "Silver Heels" alone is amazing. Christine's stuff is also top-notch. But it help to compare it to the past Mac more than to the one coming aroudn the corner, which became a much different band.

Have you heard the Buckingham/Nicks pre-Fleetwood Mac album? Also great.

[Edited 6/24/11 20:44pm]

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Great lists by everyone. Good to see Prince, Bowie, Stevie, Hendrix represented.

I may catch some heat for this, but in terms of recent artists, I have to include

Kanye:

The College Dropout

Late Registration

Graduation

808 & Heartbreak (ok this one was the weakest of the bunch, but it was such a stylistic departure for a major hip hop artist that I believe it should be included)

Although released last year, MY Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy would have been an honorary mention.

Ice Cube:

Amerikkka's Most Wanted

Death Certificate

The Predator

Lethal Injection (The weakest of the bunch)

Tupac:

2Pacalypse Now

Strictly 4 my N*****

Me Against the World

All Eyez on Me (The worst of the bunch. Never liked the Death Row stuff)

'Lethal Injection' preceded 'Predator.'

I'd go with:

The Predator (1996)

War & Peace Vol. 1 (1998)

War & Peace Vol. 2 (1999)

Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006)

Don't know if this been mentioned yet or not.

Isley Brothers

3+3

Live it Up

The Heat is On

Go For Your Guns

NoVideo said:

U2: The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Rattle & Hum, Achtung Baby

I'm a U2 fan and 'Rattle and Hum' doesn't do it.

U2 doesn't have a best four album sequence.

Sadly, and again, I have their catalog.

Imaginative said:

JoeTyler said:

ha! no...

I generally don't edit albums, but I've paired down R&H to a great 9 track album. The singles were great for the most part. But agreed, it's not flawless or in the same category as the others.

I've dropped it to seven, which are songs I don't have elsewhere. I have a live U2 concert in Boston, MA no less. OF course 'Under a Blood Red Sky.'

elmer said:

Imaginative said:

elmer said: And loses Achtung, they're best IMO.

Definitely. It's been years since I've listened to U2, but I think for me ZooRopa'd be right up there as well.

Zooropa is not.

802 said:

Prince - Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Parade, Sign "O" The Times, Black Album

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Zooropa [I don't consider Rattle And Hum a real album]

Regardless of whether you do or not . . . it is.

But even given your stance, Zooropa doesn't cut it either. It's merely on the same planet as the preceding three.

Imaginative said:

SUPRMAN said:

Agreed. That's just stretching to get a foursome.

Are you into early Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac at all? If you are, there is a lot to like on Heroes. "Silver Heels" alone is amazing. Christine's stuff is also top-notch. But it help to compare it to the past Mac more than to the one coming aroudn the corner, which became a much different band.

Have you heard the Buckingham/Nicks pre-Fleetwood Mac album? Also great.

[Edited 6/24/11 20:44pm]

I'll consider giving them a listen but my Mac history starts with Rumors. I was in junior high.