....and many more to come.

Whoever disagrees with this, I'm open for debate on it. But remember, this is just my opinion.

NWF said:

you'll be debating over this one.
[Edited 4/18/05 20:43pm]

I can agree with this. Although Seventeen Seconds is my favorite, I do think Disintegration is pretty undeniably their best.

Anxiety said:

So Anx...I know this one's your favorite. But you think it's also his best?
[Edited 4/18/05 20:50pm]

GangstaFam said:

i can't answer that question, so i just put my favorite.

Anxiety said:

Sometimes best and favorite don't quite line up for me. Like with The Cure. Maybe even Prince. Lovesexy is my favorite, but if pressed, I might have to admit that Sign is his best. I know that's kinda nitpicky, but it makes sense to me for some reason.

GangstaFam said:

i'm so numbed to what's considered 'classic' and what i consider mindblowing, not to mention what might be overlooked today and rediscovered as a clasic years from now, that i'm just going with what i think is the most interesting in the here and now. that's probably a lame answer, but what can i do - i'm a lame kinda guy.

Anxiety said:

I have the same trouble. My brother is SO mathematical that everything has a place and an order for him. He's badgered me to make lists and pick favorites and it used to be impossible for me. What I like today doesn't necessarily reflect anything. But he's broken me down to the point where I can pick favorites. But my inclination most of the time is to fuck the hypothetical "all-time" list and just go with what I like right now.

GangstaFam said:

it's more interesting that way.

Anxiety said:

You know that's not true.

But if you're having doubts and need some relief, you might want to start chucking your cd's out the window. I know how that helps you.

Anxiety said:

Yeah. Music is such a right-brained, abstract thing. Making spreadsheets kinda takes the fun out of it.

Now coming up with tracklists and artwork, that's another story.

Yeah, I always say "favorite", rather than "best", and even then, that can change from day to day...but right now it's these:


See, here's a good example --I know "What's Going On" is Marvin's classic, and I can't argue with that, but it's not my favorite--at least not at the moment..."I Want You" has always hit me closer, for some reason...
...anyway...the other 9 (right now) are:






...
[Edited 4/18/05 22:08pm]

GangstaFam said:

of course, to someone who's as passionately left-brained as they are right-brained (i get that vibe from your bro), a spreadsheet might be every bit as gratifying as making a brilliantly designed compilation CD. it's all a matter of perspective, i spose.

Anxiety said:

For him, it's a lot of fun. And that's what matters. I get caught up in it and am always asking him what he's working on.

And I'd say that Ian is going further and further left with time. We both used to be pretty split right down the middle as kids (a good mix of our parents). Same with me. After high school, a lot of dreaming and a lot of drugs, it's become hard for me to pull myself back to the middle.

(can't find a cover for "here's little richard" )

NWF said:

That is SO their best album!!


I am just shocked to see it get a mention. Normally it's All Mod Cons that gets the props, so it's great to see the superior Sound Affects get its due!

GangstaFam said:

you're lucky - i'm right-brained all the way. i don't give myself enough credit for my left-brain abilities, i know, but i just never really nourished that part of my mind...never really had an interest until i became an adult, really.

Anxiety said:

I think I've just neglected that part of myself and taken it for granted. I still have a good mechanical sense - taking things apart, putting them back together, fixing things, etc. But I used to be really good at math, science and logic. Not anymore. I get so frustrated when Ian's trying to explain something to me that I used to know. It's getting harder for me to yank myself out of creative mode, but I suppose that's a good thing if I want to be an artist.

I can't say I know all the albums of each of my fave artists, or can authoritatively say which albums are the best, but I can give you my favorites from each artist:

Prince: Sign O' The Times

Stevie Wonder: Talking Book

The Police: Ghost In The Machine

Sade: Stronger Than Pride

Me'Shell Ndegeocello: Bitter

De La Soul: Stakes Is High

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (tho 'Round About Midnight is a close second)

John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (tho Coltrane is a close second)

Steely Dan: Aja

ATCQ: The Low End Theory

Al Green: I'm Still In Love With You

Digable Planets: Blowout Comb

Beck: Sea Change

MF Doom: Madvillainy
[Edited 4/19/05 12:24pm]

Prince: Sign O the Times
Marvin Gaye: Here My Dear
Stevie Wonder: Fulfillingness' First Finale
Sly Stone: There's A Riot Goin On
James Brown: There It Is
The Isley Brothers: 3+3
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
Joni Mitchell: The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Steely Dan: Aja
Miles Davis: In a Silent Way
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
The Roots: Things Fall Apart
D'Angelo: Voodoo
Erykah Badu: Mama's Gun
A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders
Common: Electric Circus
Talib Kweli: Reflection Eternal
Fela Kuti: Expensive Shit
MeShell Ndegeocello: Peace Beyond Passion
Brand New Heavies: Brother Sister
The Family Stand: Connected
Roy Ayers: Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Bootsy Collins: Aah The Name Is Bootsy, Baby
Parliament: The Motor Booty Affair
Funkadelic: Let's Take It To the Stage
Earth Wind & Fire: All N' All
Al Green: I'm Still In Love With You
Tony Toni Tone: House of Music
U2: Achtung Baby
Lewis Taylor: The Lost Album
Tower of Power: Back to Oakland
Graham Central Station: Ain't No Bout-A-Doubt It

In no order!








[Edited 4/19/05 14:26pm]

RocknRollDave said:

Yeah, everybody's into All Mod Cons, but I think this is the perfect Jam album.

See now, I knew this was going to be tough because I know you all have favorites and to ultimately choose one as THE BEST OF THEIR CAREER is a little foward. But I really wanted you all to think about it and give me a conclusion.

Listen to these someday...

Don Juan's Reckless Daughter-Joni Mitchell
In a Silent Way-Miles Davis
Music of My Mind-Stevie Wonder
Back to the World-Curtis Mayfield
Fresh-Sly & the Family Stone
Anthem of the Sun-the Grateful Dead
Aja-Steely Dan
One Size Fits All-Frank Zappa
Let's Take It To The Stage-Funkadelic
Us-Maceo Parker (with Fred Wesley and the JB's)
Louder than Bombs-the Smiths
Hejira-Joni Mitchell
Emporer Tomato Ketchup-Stereolab
Full Force-Art Ensemble of Chicago
Joko (the Link) *import Version*-Youssou N'Dour
West meets East-Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuin
Prime Directive-Dave Holland
Trident-McCoy Tyner
Up-REM
My Favorite Things-john coltrane
Hyperion with Higgins-Charles Lloyd
Gloryhollastupid-Parliment

In addition to being my favorite albums, I'd also consider these albums the "best" that these artists have to offer:

NWF said:

I agree with all of these, although for the Cure, I think that
is their best.