There are some real gems in this part of the list! Unforgettable Fire, Graceland, and VHII would also likely make my list. But let's talk about Anita Baker: What an underrated talent! Fantastic pick! Now, I'm hoping to see Freddie Jackson later on your list, too.
I'm a fellow "tapped out after Joshua Tree" listener. I'm with you on Unforgettable Fire being a turning point for U2 and a record that deserves as much admiration and adoration as their later releases that just weren't the same for me, but are beloved by many.
This has been a fantastic adventure so far. Can't wait to see what's next.
I'm sure we could share a few stories about all the shows we've seen and I'm sure you've seen quite a few. My brother and I saw about a 1,000 bands from the late 70's to the late 80's and then my concert going slowed down quite a bit after I got married and we had kids.
I know it was crazy, we went to about 3 shows a week and caught almost every band to come to Ottawa and many who came to Montreal and even went to Toronto for some shows. Many bands never made it big but a few did like U2, Simple Minds, UB40, Split Enz Echo & The Bunnymen, The Fixx, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Fall, New Order, Modern English, Waterboys but some of the lesser known bands were amazing like Love Tractor, Our Daughters Wedding, The Plastics, Bugs Harvey Oswald and so many more
Van Halen II, might just be the best of the Diamond Dave era.
You guys are really coming up with some great stuff here. I'm putting together a play list based on your choices. It's forcing me to expand my normal listening which is not a bad thing.
A mix of both. For example, my pick off Rumours is “Gold Dust Girl” because no one needs me to tell them to listen to “Dreams,” “Go Your Own Way,” or “The Chain.”
Both. There are some tracks that also happen to be the most popular, but also some deep cuts that might offer a little more context as to why an album is on the list.
Great list - VH II? Brilliant inclusion, and one of my favourites. Headhunters is amazing. And it's a great reminder that there was a U2 pre-Joshua Tree! I'd thank you - but the playlist is just getting longer and longer and longer and ...
I love the diversity of this list, and I admire both your and Sam’s discipline putting it together. It must be a lot of hard work — fun, for sure, but hard nonetheless.
Loved seeing some Anita Baker in there, and your accurately (and creatively) written review. That record never gets old.
Wow, how wonderful for you, to be discovering the Fela Kuti & Joanna Newsom albums! Fela is a deep well - he lived quite the life. Ultimately the two of you are basically making my top 190 - figure I'll differ on about 10 of your picks, give or take.
As an example, while I very much appreciate Graceland I've often struggled with Simon's... "musical colonialism", and it seemed particularly egregious on that album + I was/am a big Los Lobos fan and they had less than kind words to say about their collaboration with him. It's so subjective - sigh.
As for Graceland, I had no idea about any of that. Thank you for sharing it here. Clearly I need to do some reading. Bummed to hear about Los Lobos, though; in my mind, they were all having a blast in the studio.
Some great stuff there, especially The Go Betweens, Rumours, and Raindogs. I first saw U2 in 1980. They were about halfway down the bill at the Leeds Futurama festival. Me and my firend kept shouting Nanu Nanu because we though 'the singer' looked like Mork From Ork. I don't think it hindered their career ...
I never got the U2 bug. I've listened to them; heck, I even have some of their records, eight, to be precise. But I can not put any of those albums in a best-of collection.
Tom Waits, on the other hand, might sneak in with Mule Variations. This album is difficult, and I think that may be why I am drawn to it. It challenges me to find what is going on a deeper level than a casual listen would give me.
Paul Simon and Graceland are a shoo-in. Graceland gets played frequently, and I love it almost as much as I did in 1986. Yup, this is an easy pick.
None of the other picks on this list would make it onto my list, which I have never created. All of my albums are good; some are better some days, and some were a passing fancy but still good. Picking any number of them and giving them a best-of badge would not be possible in my world.
I’ve listened to Demon Days from start to finish in one sitting multiple times but I just don’t have the same enjoyment with Plastic Beach. I feel like Demon Days as a whole is their work. But also, I think there’s more to it than just the songs themselves. Where I was in my life when I listened to Demon Days is much different than how I interacted with Plastic Beach.
Totally get it. Demon Days is incredible. To be they’re clearly the top tier of Gorillaz albums and you could make a case for either one being their best.
This whole series has been great; and it's deeply impressive that both of you could make top 100 lists that feel interesting, well-considered, informative and have so little overlap.
My hat's off to both of you.
This week the unintentional juxtaposition of _Graceland_ and _Rumors_ is fascinating. Both enormously successful albums that prompt some questions. They make sense on the list, and it's just a tasty coincidence that they ended up paired with each other.
"Head Hunters" made the list- wonderful!
It’s too good.
Practically every Hancock album is, in my opinion.
There are some real gems in this part of the list! Unforgettable Fire, Graceland, and VHII would also likely make my list. But let's talk about Anita Baker: What an underrated talent! Fantastic pick! Now, I'm hoping to see Freddie Jackson later on your list, too.
Underrated for sure! And that voice!
I'm a fellow "tapped out after Joshua Tree" listener. I'm with you on Unforgettable Fire being a turning point for U2 and a record that deserves as much admiration and adoration as their later releases that just weren't the same for me, but are beloved by many.
This has been a fantastic adventure so far. Can't wait to see what's next.
great minds think alike! :)
I'm glad you're here, and think (hope?) there's a few of your favorites coming up.
Great to see Kraftwerk get mentioned as they are one of my favorites and I've seen them live 3 times and always exceptional
Jealous! Wish I could see them live.
3 times! I would love to sit down with you some day and hear about all of the shows you've seen.
I'm sure we could share a few stories about all the shows we've seen and I'm sure you've seen quite a few. My brother and I saw about a 1,000 bands from the late 70's to the late 80's and then my concert going slowed down quite a bit after I got married and we had kids.
Jesus, I’ve been to almost 100 shows in the last 3 years and I thought that was a lot. I mean it is, but goddamn your numbers are impressive.
I know it was crazy, we went to about 3 shows a week and caught almost every band to come to Ottawa and many who came to Montreal and even went to Toronto for some shows. Many bands never made it big but a few did like U2, Simple Minds, UB40, Split Enz Echo & The Bunnymen, The Fixx, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Fall, New Order, Modern English, Waterboys but some of the lesser known bands were amazing like Love Tractor, Our Daughters Wedding, The Plastics, Bugs Harvey Oswald and so many more
Bad Brains made the list...Wahooooooo!
Van Halen II, might just be the best of the Diamond Dave era.
You guys are really coming up with some great stuff here. I'm putting together a play list based on your choices. It's forcing me to expand my normal listening which is not a bad thing.
We already have a playlist so you don’t have to do the work lol. Although I need to update it with my picks from this week.
Are you adding the top picks from each artist or going for deep cuts?
A mix of both. For example, my pick off Rumours is “Gold Dust Girl” because no one needs me to tell them to listen to “Dreams,” “Go Your Own Way,” or “The Chain.”
Both. There are some tracks that also happen to be the most popular, but also some deep cuts that might offer a little more context as to why an album is on the list.
Awesome
I don't know why, but I tend to judge bands based on their deep cuts more than not, as I feel that represents the band better.
Absolutely. It’s what separates album bands from greatest hits/playlist bands.
Agreed.
I can think of a few exceptions, but for the most part, totally agree.
IMO, it's the top DLR-era record. 1984 is a sentimental favorite, but this one is too good to ignore.
Great list - VH II? Brilliant inclusion, and one of my favourites. Headhunters is amazing. And it's a great reminder that there was a U2 pre-Joshua Tree! I'd thank you - but the playlist is just getting longer and longer and longer and ...
...and will only keep doing so! Best enjoyed on shuffle. :)
For various reasons, I have spent much of 2024 revisiting LCD Sound System. It's been a joy of my year.
It’s always a good time. Saw them in Chicago last summer and it was incredible.
Not me sitting here being extremely jealous.
So, so good!
I love the diversity of this list, and I admire both your and Sam’s discipline putting it together. It must be a lot of hard work — fun, for sure, but hard nonetheless.
Loved seeing some Anita Baker in there, and your accurately (and creatively) written review. That record never gets old.
It’s been a lot of work, but I’m also finding out some new music and getting a better appreciation of a lot of albums too.
^This^
no spoilers, but I think you (and a few longtime readers) are in for a shock next week.
Thanks you, Andy! Truly the best kind of hard work. So many lists made, remade, made again. A lot of teletype paper has given it life for the cause.
Wow, how wonderful for you, to be discovering the Fela Kuti & Joanna Newsom albums! Fela is a deep well - he lived quite the life. Ultimately the two of you are basically making my top 190 - figure I'll differ on about 10 of your picks, give or take.
As an example, while I very much appreciate Graceland I've often struggled with Simon's... "musical colonialism", and it seemed particularly egregious on that album + I was/am a big Los Lobos fan and they had less than kind words to say about their collaboration with him. It's so subjective - sigh.
It makes me happy that I am the reason why Kevin started listening to Fela Kuti lol
It's been a treat for sure!
As for Graceland, I had no idea about any of that. Thank you for sharing it here. Clearly I need to do some reading. Bummed to hear about Los Lobos, though; in my mind, they were all having a blast in the studio.
Some great stuff there, especially The Go Betweens, Rumours, and Raindogs. I first saw U2 in 1980. They were about halfway down the bill at the Leeds Futurama festival. Me and my firend kept shouting Nanu Nanu because we though 'the singer' looked like Mork From Ork. I don't think it hindered their career ...
Lol. Awesome.
Rumours and Rapture would definitely both be in my Top 100! Great albums from beginning to end.
Definitely! And thanks for tipping me off that this was Baker's sophomore record. I was sure it was her debut until you mentioned it!
I'm very happy to see Anita Baker on the list! That album is in regular rotation in my life.
You're a man of impeccable taste, Sherman!
I never got the U2 bug. I've listened to them; heck, I even have some of their records, eight, to be precise. But I can not put any of those albums in a best-of collection.
Tom Waits, on the other hand, might sneak in with Mule Variations. This album is difficult, and I think that may be why I am drawn to it. It challenges me to find what is going on a deeper level than a casual listen would give me.
Paul Simon and Graceland are a shoo-in. Graceland gets played frequently, and I love it almost as much as I did in 1986. Yup, this is an easy pick.
None of the other picks on this list would make it onto my list, which I have never created. All of my albums are good; some are better some days, and some were a passing fancy but still good. Picking any number of them and giving them a best-of badge would not be possible in my world.
I can appreciate all of that, Norman. "This is impossible" has crossed my mind more than once.
I Don’t Want To Know and Second Hand News are also my picks from Rumours.
All-timers, both of 'em!
Plastic Beach over Demon Days is interesting. I don’t hate it but I would have done another way.
It’s a tough call. They’re both classics and easily the two best Gorillaz projects.
Just out of curiosity, what would have you putting Demon Days on top?
I’ve listened to Demon Days from start to finish in one sitting multiple times but I just don’t have the same enjoyment with Plastic Beach. I feel like Demon Days as a whole is their work. But also, I think there’s more to it than just the songs themselves. Where I was in my life when I listened to Demon Days is much different than how I interacted with Plastic Beach.
Gotcha. That totally makes sense.
Totally get it. Demon Days is incredible. To be they’re clearly the top tier of Gorillaz albums and you could make a case for either one being their best.
This whole series has been great; and it's deeply impressive that both of you could make top 100 lists that feel interesting, well-considered, informative and have so little overlap.
My hat's off to both of you.
This week the unintentional juxtaposition of _Graceland_ and _Rumors_ is fascinating. Both enormously successful albums that prompt some questions. They make sense on the list, and it's just a tasty coincidence that they ended up paired with each other.
Thanks! Our tastes are already starting to converge so I’m curious as to when or how much they will overlap.
As are we all!
Thank you, Nick! One of the cool parts of this has been seeing where the lines cross a little bit and also some larger themes starting to emerge.