I haven't given NIN a spin in a while. Kevin's inclusion has changed that. I still think "Downward Spiral" is my fav from them, but I definitely got a new appreciation for "Pretty Hate Machine."
I hated that I had to leave it off my list. The Beatles's discography is so stacked that I don't really rank them as much as I put them into tiers and then it's purely off vibes and my mood.
Such great picks. I remember my dad banning me from watching Purple Rain because of the swearing. I must have been approaching 16 and he was by no-means a prude. Seems incongruent with how I remember my childhood but there you have it. It seems to have that effect.
You're like the Springsteen of music newsletter authors. How you are managing this marathon along with the rest of life is pretty amazing. And the content is incredible. Though, unless I missed it, where the hell is Springsteen!!?? And Petty?
Hard to argue against London Calling, but I prefer the clash- incredible start to finish and raw, but I prob just listened to it and loved it a bit more. Impossible to be totally objective about music.
Wow, you guys are nailing those like buttons on this selection of albums. I'll avoid picking the ones I don't agree with 100% and say that these are a solid selection of albums. Some of these would appear closer to the final ten, so I anxiously await the following two blogs.
Whew, we're getting to the part of the list where every album is great. Not all of those albums are to my taste, but reading Kevin's list I was still nodding to every one. I appreciate the longer album write-ups. The entry for _Doolittle_ is worth the price of entry by itself.
I love the back-to-back picks of _London Calling_ and George Benson; a nice tribute to the idiosyncrasies of individual taste.
I will be thinking, "you picked this over Ziggy Stardust?" for every one of Sam's picks after this.
A propos the discussion of Talking Heads I recently discovered this exciting cover of "Once In A Lifetime" by Angélique Kidjo as full on afro-pop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84rtbVbIEQ
I did a hybrid of personal taste and albums that are widely considered classics. Not sure how different my list would be if it were strictly personal taste because there are some albums that I just have an immense amount of respect for.
Thumbs up: Three all timers - Led Zeppelin 4, Talking Heads 77, and London Calling.
Thumbs down: Purple Rain. Many people love this. I am not one of those people. The guy obviously had the chops, but I always felt that his final product was a bit dissonant.
WTF: I am willing to wager that "Journey In Satchidananda" and "Madvillainy" do not show up in many top 30 album lists. Sam - your musical palate continues to astound me. Looking forward to your top 20.
I made the comment on Sam’s walkthrough but it bears repeating that as much as you guys coalesce around some expected classics and the ensuing arguments about which of an artist’s canon is best you both drop in stuff that I have either never heard or not listened to in a really long while. That I must immediately go and check it out is testament to both of yours writing skills and above all the passion you bring each week! From yours this week I am going to listen to Tapestry which I have not heard in a looong time. Echoed everything you said about Doolittle and 1977, although I agree with Sam that “The name of this band …” versions of the songs sound really alive, no pun intended 😌
Great picks! I’m going to have to go with Aretha’s “I Never Loved A Man”. Masterpiece from start to finish. “Purple Rain” is another monumental record. And “Revolver” is a proper journey. I can’t believe the year these records came out — especially Revolver and Aretha’s — when compared with much of the music from those years. Timelessly relevant.
Doolittle is my favorite Pixies album! Whenever I’m at a place with TouchTunes and I have $, Debaser is my go to!
I’m still beating myself up for parting with my vinyl copy of Purple Rain when I was in college! I sold a lot of vinyl to eat 😂 I remember when my mom let me buy it at a Target or K-Mart back when it came out - it came with a Tshirt! It would definitely be in my top 50! Someone played Darling Nikki at the brewery vinyl night last night ❤️
I do still have my vinyl copy of London Calling.
Pretty Hate Machine is so excellent! There are a few people in my vinyl night group that will routinely play a track off this one.
And of course, I LOVE seeing two Talking Heads albums make the lists!
All great picks, but man do I love Pretty Hate Machine. I don’t know when I’ve been that sucked in by the first notes of an album before
I haven't given NIN a spin in a while. Kevin's inclusion has changed that. I still think "Downward Spiral" is my fav from them, but I definitely got a new appreciation for "Pretty Hate Machine."
I 100% agree with this. The initial clicks -> the relentless drums -> the voice samples -> that filthy synth. Chef’s kiss.
It's so filthy. Stank face for me every time as soon as the drum kick starts. Grimy and glorious
Chef’s kiss indeed!
Even just playing ahead of writing this took me Wright back to that same feeling!
Man, that scene on Mad Men is so beautiful. For me, Revolver is the best record.
I hated that I had to leave it off my list. The Beatles's discography is so stacked that I don't really rank them as much as I put them into tiers and then it's purely off vibes and my mood.
I agree with you. Making lists is a kind of torture.
So true, but it's so much fun lol
Sweet, sweet torture! Lol.
Agreed. I don’t know who the Music Supervisor on the show was, but they nailed it.
Solid picks all around... and HOW is that Cars album forty (bleepin) six ??!!
Right?!
Great stuff and lots of overlap with that ongoing list in my head.
Thank you, Jeremy! That tells me we’re on the right track .
Such great picks. I remember my dad banning me from watching Purple Rain because of the swearing. I must have been approaching 16 and he was by no-means a prude. Seems incongruent with how I remember my childhood but there you have it. It seems to have that effect.
I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one!
You're like the Springsteen of music newsletter authors. How you are managing this marathon along with the rest of life is pretty amazing. And the content is incredible. Though, unless I missed it, where the hell is Springsteen!!?? And Petty?
Thank you, Rocco!
As for The Boss, he showed up last week!
https://open.substack.com/pub/thekevinalexander/p/wax-ecstatic-the-100-greatest-albums-537?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Oh, damn. Tunnel of Love. I missed that. We could certainly argue about that selection, though I do like the record :-)
Petty must be coming up. I can't see any way around it.
I mean Damn The Torpedoes and Full Moon Fever could be tied for first on any list without argument, IMO.
One of my favorite bartenders said, "you can't make a playlist without Tom Petty."
We'll see. Lots of pressure on these guys to deliver :-)
That bartender is right!
Me either. Maybe. :)
I assume that the self-titled debut by The Clash will be higher than London Calling, as it should be.
I get why it's a punk classic, but London Calling is a perfect rock album.
Hard to argue against London Calling, but I prefer the clash- incredible start to finish and raw, but I prob just listened to it and loved it a bit more. Impossible to be totally objective about music.
😬😬😬
The Cars self-titled album and "Tapestry" are my two favorites here. Both have songs that are justifiably timeless. Great choices!
Thank you, Dan! Timeless for sure.
Wow, you guys are nailing those like buttons on this selection of albums. I'll avoid picking the ones I don't agree with 100% and say that these are a solid selection of albums. Some of these would appear closer to the final ten, so I anxiously await the following two blogs.
I care about getting more people to listen to Alice Coltrane
Thank you, Norman!
Whew, we're getting to the part of the list where every album is great. Not all of those albums are to my taste, but reading Kevin's list I was still nodding to every one. I appreciate the longer album write-ups. The entry for _Doolittle_ is worth the price of entry by itself.
I love the back-to-back picks of _London Calling_ and George Benson; a nice tribute to the idiosyncrasies of individual taste.
I will be thinking, "you picked this over Ziggy Stardust?" for every one of Sam's picks after this.
A propos the discussion of Talking Heads I recently discovered this exciting cover of "Once In A Lifetime" by Angélique Kidjo as full on afro-pop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84rtbVbIEQ
I think I got 20 solid picks ahead of it. At this point I’m splitting hairs between like 50 10/10 albums.
Yeah, I think the list should represent your personal tastes.
But, “Five Years” isn’t overblown — it’s ambitious (and, I would argue, fully justifies the ambition).
I did a hybrid of personal taste and albums that are widely considered classics. Not sure how different my list would be if it were strictly personal taste because there are some albums that I just have an immense amount of respect for.
That makes sense (and is probably inevitable).
Anyway, I liked this review of the Angelique Kidjo album: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/angelique-kidjo-remain-in-light/
Mine would have a shit ton of New Order, Jawbreaker, and The Replacements. Also more Wire.
Thank you, Nick!!
Thumbs up: Three all timers - Led Zeppelin 4, Talking Heads 77, and London Calling.
Thumbs down: Purple Rain. Many people love this. I am not one of those people. The guy obviously had the chops, but I always felt that his final product was a bit dissonant.
WTF: I am willing to wager that "Journey In Satchidananda" and "Madvillainy" do not show up in many top 30 album lists. Sam - your musical palate continues to astound me. Looking forward to your top 20.
“Madvillainy” is definitely getting more considering in the all-time great hip-hop albums and deservedly so.
And I’ll die on the Alice Coltrane hill. More people need to listen to her.
This is the first of your lists where I love more than half (13/20) of the albums!
Right on! I’m happy to hear it.
I made the comment on Sam’s walkthrough but it bears repeating that as much as you guys coalesce around some expected classics and the ensuing arguments about which of an artist’s canon is best you both drop in stuff that I have either never heard or not listened to in a really long while. That I must immediately go and check it out is testament to both of yours writing skills and above all the passion you bring each week! From yours this week I am going to listen to Tapestry which I have not heard in a looong time. Echoed everything you said about Doolittle and 1977, although I agree with Sam that “The name of this band …” versions of the songs sound really alive, no pun intended 😌
Thank you, Jim!
Great picks! I’m going to have to go with Aretha’s “I Never Loved A Man”. Masterpiece from start to finish. “Purple Rain” is another monumental record. And “Revolver” is a proper journey. I can’t believe the year these records came out — especially Revolver and Aretha’s — when compared with much of the music from those years. Timelessly relevant.
Right?! Hard to believe they’re in their mid 50s. 😳
It's bonkers 😱
Very surprising n°27 :-) Not that it's a bad album. Far from.. but I didn't expect it in your list.
You never know what you might get! :)
Doolittle is my favorite Pixies album! Whenever I’m at a place with TouchTunes and I have $, Debaser is my go to!
I’m still beating myself up for parting with my vinyl copy of Purple Rain when I was in college! I sold a lot of vinyl to eat 😂 I remember when my mom let me buy it at a Target or K-Mart back when it came out - it came with a Tshirt! It would definitely be in my top 50! Someone played Darling Nikki at the brewery vinyl night last night ❤️
I do still have my vinyl copy of London Calling.
Pretty Hate Machine is so excellent! There are a few people in my vinyl night group that will routinely play a track off this one.
And of course, I LOVE seeing two Talking Heads albums make the lists!
These Vinyl Nights sound like so much fun!
They really are!! I look forward to them all week!