728huey said:

TonyVanDam said:

THIS!!!!!^

I always thought his best 1980's output came on his first greatest hits album (the Musiquarium one) which included "That Girl", "Do I Do", and "Ribbon In the Sky".

i agree

heathilly said:

214 said:

Bob Dylan and MCcartney have done great songs, later in their lives, especially Dylan, But in general is true the 20's is when they do their greatest and more iconic work.

It's a weird thing maybe they were more driven when they were younger less responsibility, more freshness of youth? I don't know just a weird thing I noticed.

And good timing.

RJOrion said:

728huey said:

TonyVanDam said: I always thought his best 1980's output came on his first greatest hits album (the Musiquarium one) which included "That Girl", "Do I Do", and "Ribbon In the Sky".

i agree

Love Front Line too.

heathilly said:

Music of my mind 8/10 Talking book 9/10 Innervisions 10/10 Fufillingness First Finale 9/10 Songs in the key of life 10/10 Great music great songs. But lyrically not that amazing to me Majority of his songs are about peace love and togetherness with some protest things sprinkled in. And that's great and that his artistic expression But Stevie is not a really deep or expansive thinker all the conflicts in his music can be solved with god and love and I know that's an African American trope and just the status quo in society of how to think but it so cliche and cheap it kinda rubs me in a mystical nonsense mumbo jumbo talking way leaving me intellectually hungry. Prince also does this a lot 3rd eye hotep crap, time doesn't exist that gets passed off as deep intellectual knowledge and I'm like uhh no. I wish the music had more darkness grit and realism like songs (to high, superstition, living for the city etc) Anyway it's good overall. [Edited 1/19/17 11:48am]

I totally disagree that "Stevie is not a really deep or expansive thinker." You mention Too High, Superstition, Living for the City, and those are masterpeices. But there are numerous other examples of lyrical depth in his music on a variety of topics, for example:

Big Brother

These Three Words

Village Ghetto Land

I Wish

Higher Ground

Lately

Maybe Your Baby

Pasttime Paradise

206Michelle said:

heathilly said:

Music of my mind 8/10 Talking book 9/10 Innervisions 10/10 Fufillingness First Finale 9/10 Songs in the key of life 10/10 Great music great songs. But lyrically not that amazing to me Majority of his songs are about peace love and togetherness with some protest things sprinkled in. And that's great and that his artistic expression But Stevie is not a really deep or expansive thinker all the conflicts in his music can be solved with god and love and I know that's an African American trope and just the status quo in society of how to think but it so cliche and cheap it kinda rubs me in a mystical nonsense mumbo jumbo talking way leaving me intellectually hungry. Prince also does this a lot 3rd eye hotep crap, time doesn't exist that gets passed off as deep intellectual knowledge and I'm like uhh no. I wish the music had more darkness grit and realism like songs (to high, superstition, living for the city etc) Anyway it's good overall. [Edited 1/19/17 11:48am]

I totally disagree that "Stevie is not a really deep or expansive thinker." You mention Too High, Superstition, Living for the City, and those are masterpeices. But there are numerous other examples of lyrical depth in his music on a variety of topics, for example:

Big Brother

These Three Words

Village Ghetto Land

I Wish

Higher Ground

Lately

Maybe Your Baby

Pasttime Paradise

Yea I kind of replied to this in the other thread but of course stevie has a few great lyrics but hes not a master lyricist what he writes about and how he writes in compariosn to people like joni mitchell bob dylan lenoard cohen he doesnt meausre up but of course these are some of pop music greatest lyricist. Stevies songs are great and hes a genius I just find him lyrically simplistic.

[Edited 1/21/17 16:33pm]

Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants 10/10

This album is daring, moving, at times achingly beautiful, and always weird. It's an acquired taste to be sure, but I absolutely love it.

Hotter Than July 9.75/10

An immediate return to a commercial sound, Stevie still manages to champion a holiday for MLK, give tribute to Bob Marley, attack racism, and tastefully incorporate huge artists like MJ and the Gap Band.

The Woman in Red 6/10

The polar opposite of his last soundtrack, this is safe, comfortable, and relatively bland for SW.

In Square Circle 6.5/10

Giving him a pass on The Woman in Red, I'd call this the first adult Stevie Wonder album that isn't fantastic. What's good is very good, but a decade and a half of sustained brilliance ends here.

Characters 9/10

This album showed Stevie wasn't done by any means. Some people may find the mechanical 80s sound horribly dated, but I've always thought it gave the album a cohesiveness without sounding too similar. It helps that some of his strongest songs of the decade are here. Also, MJ appears on his 3rd Stevie album and finally gets (no pun intended) a duet. "My Eyes Don't Cry" is the first song to close an album with a similar punch to classic-era gems like "Another Star," "I Believe," "Please Don't Go," and "He's Misstra Know-It-All."

Jungle Fever 8/10

It's unfortunate they couldn't include "Feeding Off the Love of the Land," which would've been the crown jewel of this album. Still, there's a lot here to like.

Conversation Peace */10

I was ready to give this album a 4 or a 5, but then I realized I haven't heard it in years. I think I'll give it a spin with fresh ears and get back to you.

A Time to Love 7.5/10

A nice return to form and worth the excruciatingly long wait! It's probably a little too long, but I'm happy to take all the new music from Stevie Wonder I can get.