The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers
In terms of sonical experiments and studio trickery it might have been a 'landmark' album, but Revolver and Abbey Road (and maybe also Rubber Soul) are better albums in terms of songwriting and consistency.

This album doesn't get as much hype as it used to, but growing up it was always mentioned as "one of the greatest ever"

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Yeah and that's crazy because I consider Dangerous and HIStory to have some very great material in it. Even Invincible had some cuts in it. But they always focus on sales when it comes to MJ.

You can't possibly "overrate" landmark albums that come along and change the game.

sometimes i wonder if we acknowledge the difference between music we think is actually overrated and music that is rated perfectly, but was so popular and lauded that we got completely burned out on it.

I want to add Anita Baker's "Rapture" album to the list. Also, Whitney Houston's debut cd. People are always raving about these 2. Not saying they are bad albums, because they aren't, I just think they're overrated.

daPrettyman said:

I would have to disagree with you there. I label an album, "overrated", when the tracks on it, have not aged well. I still play the HELL out of "Rapture", can't say the same about "Thriller"

shorttrini said:

I NEVER play Rapture at all. Sure, the music is timeless, but I can't hardly stomach the songs on that album. I love "The Songstress", "Compositions" and "Giving You The Best That I Got" a lot, but I can do without Rapture.

To me, that album is/was played so much on Urban AC radio when the format first got big that I don't care if I ever hear those songs ever again.

shorttrini said:

Off the Wall is a masterpiece and nobody can touch it. Michael's best work by far. No track on that album is bad and cannot skip. The Girl is Mine, Baby Be Mine = I think the reason why the album did so well is because of the promotion- Motown 25 and Thriller video. A lot of people got the album because it was the "in" thing to do. It's a solid album but not Michael's best. I noticed by reading old reviews before Motown 25 and when the album first came out and they didn't rate it as high....now they rate it as being his best or so great because it sold so much. Like I said earlier, a lot of people weren't buying that album because it was the greatest of all time...they were buying it because it was the "in" thing to do. Like Randy Taberolli said Thriller became the household stamp.

daPrettyman said:

I guess that the difference then. I stopped listening to the radio, a long time ago.

It remains laugable of course that people who think Janet Jackson and Debarge are great artists can judge about good music.

Anxiety said:

damn, CB that's some deepdeep

I agree with that one - I tried to get into Richard Thompson for years, and I really do like certain songs when I'm in the right mood, but for the most part his stuff never really comes together for me.

I do think "I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" is a mostly great album - far better than Shoot Out the Lights, which I think has a few really mediocre songs on it (Did She Jump & Back Street Slide).

sometimes i wonder if we acknowledge the difference between music we think is actually overrated and music that is rated perfectly, but was so popular and lauded that we got completely burned out on it.

Riverpoet31 said:

Who do you consider a great artist (other than P of course)?

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Ellie said:

Amen. It's the only album of theirs I've heard all the way through, and I was pulling my hair out by the end of it.

As much as I hate to admit it, I would have to add, "Thriller" to this list. It is not as good as "Off The Wall" and has not aged as well either. Had it not been released, I think Michael would have not have had that pressure to top it and would have released more consistent material.
[Edited 9/10/09 14:21pm]

Moonbeam said:

plus the obligatory gagging and puking sounds and trying to drown it out with Dead Or Alive, i assume...

LoveSexy - Prince

Scary Monsters - David Bowie

As much as I love Richard Thompsons music, I dont think he has ever recorded an album that can be called a 'classic' in its entirety.

But when it comes to certain individual songs he has produced he sure has left his stamp: wall of death, dimming of the day and beeswing, to name a few, are splendid songs.

And when it comes to his guitar-work, he is so very underrated. His song 'The way it shows' has a guitar-solo that is so brilliant and mesmerizing, that it puts any guitar solo by Prince to shame.

Who do you consider a great artist (other than P of course)?