Consensus Top 350 Albums of All-Time: 68. Automatic for the People – R.E.M. (257 Viewers)

[kupcho1]

TL;DR Go with "Outdoor Miner" if there's no objection.

They picked a pope quicker this time around.
If there are no objections, I'm adding Outdoor Miner to 1978 - Cool young whippersnapper

(just kidding, I don't give a rat's rear end if there are objections )

 

[KarmaPolice]

Please to the people who keep throwing out acronyms I don’t understand. I don’t know all of these bands and albums, but I really do want to learn without having to look stuff up. Please Just spell it out.

Zee Zee Top.

Noted. Thanks for making feel stupid and letting me know I’m out of my depth here.

Not stupid or out of your depth. I would suggest just quoting a post and asking the person. I know I do this too much too so I can try to keep an eye on it. I'd guess most are FFA usernames that people are abbreviating and longer album titles they have typed several times already (I catch myself doing this a lot in the movie threads too).

 

[KarmaPolice]

Carry Me Ohio added to the playlist.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It’s kind of interesting to compare album lengths over the years. Always a variety but in the CD era, albums got longer and it was common to have at least 50 minutes up to filling up the CD (70?). Otherwise, you didn’t think you got your money’s worth.

Today, we often see under 40 minutes for newer bands. No reason for filler when people aren’t generally buying.

I'm kind of glad they went back to 40 minutes or so, never a fan of just throwing in the kitchen sink because there was room on the CD. Same went for double vinyl albums before that, with rare exceptions in both cases.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

217 (tie). Brother In Arms – Dire Straits (121 points)

@higgins #7
@Juxtatarot #46
@Dwayne_Castro #52
@Atomic Punk #58


Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985, by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

Brothers in Arms spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart (including ten consecutive weeks between 18 January and 22 March 1986), nine weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States and 34 weeks at number one on the Australian Albums Chart. It is certified nine-times platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is one of the world's best-selling albums, having sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

 

[Barry2]

217 (tie). Chairs Missing – Wire (121 points)

@rockaction #7
@Barry2 #14

Chairs Missing is the second studio album by the English rock band Wire. It was released on 8 September 1978 through Harvest Records. It uses more developed song structures than the minimalist punk rock of the group's first album. The record was met with widespread critical acclaim.

The album peaked at number 48 in the UK Albums Chart. The single "Outdoor Miner" was a minor hit, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I went back and forth between this and Pink Flag as my high Wire selection. This album was a little more refined but even more experimental. Some songs eschew typical verse-chorus-verse structures like the one I might select, although I'd like to get Barry's agreement on a track if he feels strongly about one. If I had my druthers then I'd go with one of the three that end Side One and begin Side Two: "Heartbeat," the closing track from Side One without that traditional structure mentioned before but still a potential pop song; "Misery," with its more post-rock crescendo feel; or "Outdoor Miner," a beautiful track which would be the popular track today. But when somebody else rates the album so highly then one would like his or her input.

@Barry2, what say you?

As another critical aside, this album is more than the sum of its parts. The transition, for instance, from the moodier and more pleasing nature of those three songs to "I Am The Fly," the lead single that many people found off-putting and jarring, makes much more sense in the album context than the song "I Am The Fly" does as lead single from this wonderful album. Many people have the wrong idea about this album's aspirations towards beauty because of its sequencing to its lead single. They find it abrasive and too challenging. But that is completely not the case with this one. I'd say a listen to this one deserves to be a background listen at first and then can graduate to a foreground listen once one is aware of its sublime ethereality. Just wonderful in spots that make it all worth it, IMO.

There doesn't seem to be a bad choice or a great one either, as you said "more than the sum of the parts". If it's an introduction to Wire I'd go Mercy, Too Late, or Men 2nd. An intro to Chairs than Outdoor Miner, Fly, or maybe Another the Letter.

Thanks, man.

I think that's an excellent way to look at it. It's a really insightful thought process, and I'm not blowing smoke here. I just listened again to those songs (except "Mercy") and thought about it a bit. I think due to this being the album countdown that "Outdoor Miner" is probably the best intro to both band and album, but that might be my prejudice. I always thought "I Am The Fly" is sui generis and I think now that "Another The Letter" is more suited for154, which is the third album of what many consider Wire's origin trilogy.

If one asked me, I would say that if you wanted to introduce somebody to Wire to get that person into the band then "Mannequin" off of Pink Flag is the song that I would pick.

Mannequin - 2006 Remastered Version

Wire · Pink Flag (2006 Remastered Version) · Song · 1977

open.spotify.com

But if "Outdoor Miner" sounds okay I'd go with that. God, "Too Late," is really appropriate also. You can probably tell by my emphasis of the four that I like the Pink Flag/Chairs Missing era of the band more than I do the Chairs Missing transition to the154 era, which I really need to give another chance and listen. I like their later stuff, so I'm not sure why154 didn't hit at first.

On a Wire note (for anyone interested), I recently got their Not About To Die studio demos LP, which has some really good songs, including "Love Ain't Polite," "Stepping Off Too Quick (Not About To Die)," and "Options R," which is a more famous demo of theirs. I want to (sic) that "quick" in the title, but they're Brits and probably know more about proper grammar than I do. Heh. Poetic license, too, and probably most importantly!

TL;DR Go with "Outdoor Miner" if there's no objection.

A lot of Wire fans consider 154 an equal to Pink and Chairs but I don't see it. I can't get into it.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

217 (tie). Brother In Arms – Dire Straits (121 points)

@higgins #7
@Juxtatarot #46
@Dwayne_Castro #52
@Atomic Punk #58


Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985, by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

Brothers in Arms spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart (including ten consecutive weeks between 18 January and 22 March 1986), nine weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States and 34 weeks at number one on the Australian Albums Chart. It is certified nine-times platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is one of the world's best-selling albums, having sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

My senior year of high school (1988-89), we had an exchange student from Spain. He said over there, Dire Straits were Beatles/Stones level, and this album had a lot to do with that.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I was surprised to see my name off the list for Undertow and the Concert in Central Park. I thought for sure those were included, but I guess they were both late scratches. Both would've been in my top 100 for sure, and I really don't know what I put on my list instead of the Simon and Garfunkel album. That was a big miss on my part.

I checked your list to see if it was a compilation error and neither one of these albums are on it.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

217 (tie). Brother In Arms – Dire Straits (121 points)

@higgins #7
@Juxtatarot #46
@Dwayne_Castro #52
@Atomic Punk #58


Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985, by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

Brothers in Arms spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart (including ten consecutive weeks between 18 January and 22 March 1986), nine weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States and 34 weeks at number one on the Australian Albums Chart. It is certified nine-times platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is one of the world's best-selling albums, having sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Great choice. Just missed my 70

 

[Dr. Octopus]

214 (tie). Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas – Townes Van Zandt (122 points)

@krista4 #10
@simey #10

Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas is a double live album by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue Old Quarter. There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

214 (tie). Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas – Townes Van Zandt (122 points)

@krista4 #10
@simey #10

Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas is a double live album by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue Old Quarter. There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career.

@Idiot Boxer another album with only two submissions ranking it the same.

 

[rockaction]

TL;DR Go with "Outdoor Miner" if there's no objection.

They picked a pope quicker this time around.
If there are no objections, I'm adding Outdoor Miner to 1978 - Cool young whippersnapper

(just kidding, I don't give a rat's rear end if there are objections )

Now imagine me later at night in real life not quite getting to the point and you’ve got the full experience in forehead meeting palm delight.

I didn’t even understand the full weight of your post at first. That’s quite a compliment—of at least Barry’s taste. (We have no idea how many demerits I have for ranking Catcher In The Rye so highly and if I could ever get back to sea level in your esteem for having done so.)

Nah, man, thanks. Had you heard it before?

eta* and post-script** - that’s a heck of a playlist

rockaction's Top 10 from kupcho1's 1978 playlist (without considering “Outdoor Miner” for inclusion)

1) Surrender - Cheap Trick
2) Starry Eyes - The Records
3) Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones
4) Shakedown Street - Grateful Dead
5) New York Groove - Ace Frehley
6) Heart of Glass - Blondie
7) Shattered - The Rolling Stones
8) Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
9) Life’s Been Good - Joe Walsh
10) I Wanna Sedated - Ramones

Awesome year for power pop and punk. 1,2, 3, 5, 8, 10
Great year for rock bands doing disco or funk. 4, 6, maybe 7

 

[shuke]

Top 10 minus “Miner”

1) Surrender - Cheap Trick
2) Starry Eyes - The Records
3) Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones
4) Shakedown Street - Grateful Desd
5) New York Groove - Ace Frehley
6) Heart of Glass - Blondie
7) Shattered - The Rolling Stones
8) Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
9) Life’s Been Good - Joe Walsh
10) I Wanna Sedated - Ramones

Top 10 what?

 

[rockaction]

Top 10 minus “Miner”

1) Surrender - Cheap Trick
2) Starry Eyes - The Records
3) Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones
4) Shakedown Street - Grateful Desd
5) New York Groove - Ace Frehley
6) Heart of Glass - Blondie
7) Shattered - The Rolling Stones
8) Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
9) Life’s Been Good - Joe Walsh
10) I Wanna Sedated - Ramones

Top 10 what?

I’m sorry. Top ten songs from kupcho1’s 1978 playlist on Spotify. That was what he was referencing and your confusion lets me know I’m not the only one who missed what he was referring to at first. Our links are sort of non-obvious in dark mode these days, or I just didn’t catch it the first time.

eta* It’s the 1978 link in his post. It takes you to the playlist.

 

[kupcho1]

Now imagine me later at night in real life not quite getting to the point and you’ve got the full experience in forehead meeting palm delight.

I didn’t even understand the full weight of your post at first. That’s quite a compliment —of at least Barry’s taste. (We have no idea how many demerits I have for ranking Catcher In The Rye so highly and if I could ever get back to sea level in your esteem for having done so.)

First off, how are you?

Secondly, thanks for the kind words. Regarding demerits, I don't hand those out. Catcher's a fine book. I'm just always surprised at that fact that people hold it in such high regard. Hell, I have Ender's Game on my list.

I'm glad you liked the 1978 playlist. And you're right, it was a strong year.

 

[rockaction]

Regarding demerits, I don't hand those out. Catcher's a fine book.

Heh. I didn’t think you disliked it at all. I was just trying to make an in-joke over the smallest slight because somebody else had said something about it also. I was being totally ironic and just looking to pin that opinion to you for no reason other than for kicks.

There’s no there there in terms of the substance of it. I’m sort of amazed you and Doc have such strong loves of the broad subjects to which your labors were used yet neither of you have editorialized. Not one whit.

Good job by the both of you (thus far). That’s quite a temperament to have (I don’t possess it).

 

[titusbramble]

217 (tie). Brother In Arms – Dire Straits (121 points)

@higgins #7
@Juxtatarot #46
@Dwayne_Castro #52
@Atomic Punk #58


Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985, by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

Brothers in Arms spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart (including ten consecutive weeks between 18 January and 22 March 1986), nine weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States and 34 weeks at number one on the Australian Albums Chart. It is certified nine-times platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is one of the world's best-selling albums, having sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Great choice. Just missed my 70

Yep, one of my last cuts

 

[rockaction]

First off, how are you?

That guy was legendary before I joined here in 2011 or so. Wow, did Yandek ever flash like an off-trajectory comet over Hollywood events, bright and awkward for everyone to see.

I hear they called him Embassy’s Comet, burning brightly and off-kilter in California for all the other off-kilter diplomats to the norm who were struggling to ply their entertainment talents and trade for paychecks, a status and profession that qualified them for (or subjected them to) E. Comet’s oddly timed interviews, which were often punctuated with his uniquely offbeat silences and fits and starts of questioning and sound.

 

[krista4]

214 (tie). Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas – Townes Van Zandt (122 points)

@krista4 #10
@simey #10

Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas is a double live album by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue Old Quarter. There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career.

simey and I would like “If I Needed You” for the playlist, please.

 

[simey]

214 (tie). Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas – Townes Van Zandt (122 points)

@krista4 #10
@simey #10

Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas is a double live album by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue Old Quarter. There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career.

This double live album captures a young Townes at his most authentic self. It is just him and his guitar, which is what he preferred, playing to a packed small barroom. He has a crowded bar with a broken air conditioner totally tuned in to him. He was the truest of troubadours, and he is in his element holding court, and you feel like you were there. Listening to this you'll know why he was known as a "songwriter's songwriter." I think we're gonna go with "If I Needed You" for the playlist, but k4 will chime in when she's around and verify.

*There she is above me verifying

 

[Ilov80s]

Some great albums here as well start to close out the 200s.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

214 (tie). The Clash – The Clash (122 points)

@Barry2 #3
@SayChowda #17


The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

Songs on the album were composed by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, with the notable exception of the reggae cover "Police and Thieves". The song "What's My Name" is co-credited to Clash founding member Keith Levene, who left the band in September 1976.

 

[rockaction]

217 (tie). Chairs Missing – Wire (121 points)

@rockaction #7
@Barry2 #14

Chairs Missing is the second studio album by the English rock band Wire. It was released on 8 September 1978 through Harvest Records. It uses more developed song structures than the minimalist punk rock of the group's first album. The record was met with widespread critical acclaim.

The album peaked at number 48 in the UK Albums Chart. The single "Outdoor Miner" was a minor hit, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I went back and forth between this and Pink Flag as my high Wire selection. This album was a little more refined but even more experimental. Some songs eschew typical verse-chorus-verse structures like the one I might select, although I'd like to get Barry's agreement on a track if he feels strongly about one. If I had my druthers then I'd go with one of the three that end Side One and begin Side Two: "Heartbeat," the closing track from Side One without that traditional structure mentioned before but still a potential pop song; "Misery," with its more post-rock crescendo feel; or "Outdoor Miner," a beautiful track which would be the popular track today. But when somebody else rates the album so highly then one would like his or her input.

@Barry2, what say you?

As another critical aside, this album is more than the sum of its parts. The transition, for instance, from the moodier and more pleasing nature of those three songs to "I Am The Fly," the lead single that many people found off-putting and jarring, makes much more sense in the album context than the song "I Am The Fly" does as lead single from this wonderful album. Many people have the wrong idea about this album's aspirations towards beauty because of its sequencing to its lead single. They find it abrasive and too challenging. But that is completely not the case with this one. I'd say a listen to this one deserves to be a background listen at first and then can graduate to a foreground listen once one is aware of its sublime ethereality. Just wonderful in spots that make it all worth it, IMO.

There doesn't seem to be a bad choice or a great one either, as you said "more than the sum of the parts". If it's an introduction to Wire I'd go Mercy, Too Late, or Men 2nd. An intro to Chairs than Outdoor Miner, Fly, or maybe Another the Letter.

Thanks, man.

I think that's an excellent way to look at it. It's a really insightful thought process, and I'm not blowing smoke here. I just listened again to those songs (except "Mercy") and thought about it a bit. I think due to this being the album countdown that "Outdoor Miner" is probably the best intro to both band and album, but that might be my prejudice. I always thought "I Am The Fly" is sui generis and I think now that "Another The Letter" is more suited for154, which is the third album of what many consider Wire's origin trilogy.

If one asked me, I would say that if you wanted to introduce somebody to Wire to get that person into the band then "Mannequin" off of Pink Flag is the song that I would pick.

Mannequin - 2006 Remastered Version

Wire · Pink Flag (2006 Remastered Version) · Song · 1977

open.spotify.com

But if "Outdoor Miner" sounds okay I'd go with that. God, "Too Late," is really appropriate also. You can probably tell by my emphasis of the four that I like the Pink Flag/Chairs Missing era of the band more than I do the Chairs Missing transition to the154 era, which I really need to give another chance and listen. I like their later stuff, so I'm not sure why154 didn't hit at first.

On a Wire note (for anyone interested), I recently got their Not About To Die studio demos LP, which has some really good songs, including "Love Ain't Polite," "Stepping Off Too Quick (Not About To Die)," and "Options R," which is a more famous demo of theirs. I want to (sic) that "quick" in the title, but they're Brits and probably know more about proper grammar than I do. Heh. Poetic license, too, and probably most importantly!

TL;DR Go with "Outdoor Miner" if there's no objection.

A lot of Wire fans consider 154 an equal to Pink and Chairs but I don't see it. I can't get into it.

They do consider it equal if not better, but there are a lot of snoots that are Wire fans (or that just like synths more than guitars). I don't get it either, although there are definitely a few good songs and it's growing on me a bit. The first track is very good. I don't know. Get back to me in a few years. If it hasn't happened by then, it ain't happening.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Making Movies >> Brothers in Arms

 

[Don Quixote]

214 (tie). Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas – Townes Van Zandt (122 points)

@krista4 #10
@simey #10

Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas is a double live album by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The recording captures Van Zandt in a series of July 1973 performances in an intimate venue Old Quarter. There is a strong critical consensus that this recording is among the most exemplary of Van Zandt's career.

This double live album captures a young Townes at his most authentic self. It is just him and his guitar, which is what he preferred, playing to a packed small barroom. He has a crowded bar with a broken air conditioner totally tuned in to him. He was the truest of troubadours, and he is in his element holding court, and you feel like you were there. Listening to this you'll know why he was known as a "songwriter's songwriter." I think we're gonna go with "If I Needed You" for the playlist, but k4 will chime in when she's around and verify.

*There she is above me verifying

I’m going to put that on the list of ones that I see show up here and slap my head about forgetting to include.

 

[Ilov80s]

Please to the people who keep throwing out acronyms I don’t understand. I don’t know all of these bands and albums, but I really do want to learn without having to look stuff up. Please Just spell it out.

Zee Zee Top.

Noted. Thanks for making feel stupid and letting me know I’m out of my depth here.

It's just some gentle ribbing. I wouldn't take it to heart. The general rule in the music threads is some busting balls is ok as long as you don't make fun of the music (don't yuck my yum type thing).

 

[Ilov80s]

Oops. Can one of the administrators add Daft Punk's "Too Long" off of the album Discovery and also remove one of the Elvis Costello This Year's Model songs. There's two of them, which is not a bad thing, but he's now fully committing the sin of overrepresentation. There are "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "This Year's Girl" on there. Doc picked one and tim picked one, and I don't want get in the middle of that bar fight (I kid). I was going to say to pick whichever, but I should be clear so that they both don't disappear. I'm more fond of "This Year's Girl" so as high ranker I say just leave that one and take "Chelsea" off. Thank you to whoever does it.

Peace.

PS "Chelsea" is the even number 100 on the playlist.

PPS And while you're at it, if someone could please add "Outdoor Miner" by Wire off of Chairs Missing. Many thank yous in advance.

done

 

[Ilov80s]

217 (tie). Chairs Missing – Wire (121 points)

@rockaction #7
@Barry2 #14

Chairs Missing is the second studio album by the English rock band Wire. It was released on 8 September 1978 through Harvest Records. It uses more developed song structures than the minimalist punk rock of the group's first album. The record was met with widespread critical acclaim.

The album peaked at number 48 in the UK Albums Chart. The single "Outdoor Miner" was a minor hit, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

This is next up on my albums to listen to. I think I've heard 1 or 2 Wire songs and liked them so jumping into an album makes sense. I will update sometime later today.

 

[Ilov80s]

220 (tie). Ghosts of the Great Highway – Sun Kil Moon (120 points)

@KarmaPolice #14
@shuke #19
@Eephus #60

Ghosts of the Great Highway is the debut studio album by San Francisco quartet Sun Kil Moon, led by Red House Painters' founder Mark Kozelek, who composed all of the lyrics and music on this album. The other members are Anthony Koutsos (former drummer for Red House Painters), Geoff Stanfield, and Tim Mooney.

I am familiar with a few Sun Kil Moon songs. I think suggestions from Spotify and posts here from KP and Shuke but I've never dove into an album. I am about half way through Ghosts of the Great Highway right now and absolutely love it. I am not done yet and maybe it will run out of steam or get a bit samey but right now this is trending towards an A grade.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

214 (tie). The Clash – The Clash (122 points)

@Barry2 #3
@SayChowda #17


The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

Songs on the album were composed by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, with the notable exception of the reggae cover "Police and Thieves". The song "What's My Name" is co-credited to Clash founding member Keith Levene, who left the band in September 1976.

I've always found it fascinating that the UK and US versions of this album are so different. They only share 5 tracks in common.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

217 (tie). Chairs Missing – Wire (121 points)

@rockaction #7
@Barry2 #14

Chairs Missing is the second studio album by the English rock band Wire. It was released on 8 September 1978 through Harvest Records. It uses more developed song structures than the minimalist punk rock of the group's first album. The record was met with widespread critical acclaim.

The album peaked at number 48 in the UK Albums Chart. The single "Outdoor Miner" was a minor hit, peaking at number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I went back and forth between this and Pink Flag as my high Wire selection. This album was a little more refined but even more experimental. Some songs eschew typical verse-chorus-verse structures like the one I might select, although I'd like to get Barry's agreement on a track if he feels strongly about one. If I had my druthers then I'd go with one of the three that end Side One and begin Side Two: "Heartbeat," the closing track from Side One without that traditional structure mentioned before but still a potential pop song; "Misery," with its more post-rock crescendo feel; or "Outdoor Miner," a beautiful track which would be the popular track today. But when somebody else rates the album so highly then one would like his or her input.

@Barry2, what say you?

As another critical aside, this album is more than the sum of its parts. The transition, for instance, from the moodier and more pleasing nature of those three songs to "I Am The Fly," the lead single that many people found off-putting and jarring, makes much more sense in the album context than the song "I Am The Fly" does as lead single from this wonderful album. Many people have the wrong idea about this album's aspirations towards beauty because of its sequencing to its lead single. They find it abrasive and too challenging. But that is completely not the case with this one. I'd say a listen to this one deserves to be a background listen at first and then can graduate to a foreground listen once one is aware of its sublime ethereality. Just wonderful in spots that make it all worth it, IMO.

There doesn't seem to be a bad choice or a great one either, as you said "more than the sum of the parts". If it's an introduction to Wire I'd go Mercy, Too Late, or Men 2nd. An intro to Chairs than Outdoor Miner, Fly, or maybe Another the Letter.

Thanks, man.

I think that's an excellent way to look at it. It's a really insightful thought process, and I'm not blowing smoke here. I just listened again to those songs (except "Mercy") and thought about it a bit. I think due to this being the album countdown that "Outdoor Miner" is probably the best intro to both band and album, but that might be my prejudice. I always thought "I Am The Fly" is sui generis and I think now that "Another The Letter" is more suited for154, which is the third album of what many consider Wire's origin trilogy.

If one asked me, I would say that if you wanted to introduce somebody to Wire to get that person into the band then "Mannequin" off of Pink Flag is the song that I would pick.

Mannequin - 2006 Remastered Version

Wire · Pink Flag (2006 Remastered Version) · Song · 1977

open.spotify.com

But if "Outdoor Miner" sounds okay I'd go with that. God, "Too Late," is really appropriate also. You can probably tell by my emphasis of the four that I like the Pink Flag/Chairs Missing era of the band more than I do the Chairs Missing transition to the154 era, which I really need to give another chance and listen. I like their later stuff, so I'm not sure why154 didn't hit at first.

On a Wire note (for anyone interested), I recently got their Not About To Die studio demos LP, which has some really good songs, including "Love Ain't Polite," "Stepping Off Too Quick (Not About To Die)," and "Options R," which is a more famous demo of theirs. I want to (sic) that "quick" in the title, but they're Brits and probably know more about proper grammar than I do. Heh. Poetic license, too, and probably most importantly!

TL;DR Go with "Outdoor Miner" if there's no objection.

A lot of Wire fans consider 154 an equal to Pink and Chairs but I don't see it. I can't get into it.

The first Wire CD I bought was a compilation of all 3 albums. I liked the different styles of each era, sort of like the group Magazine changed styles from album to album.

 

[rockaction]

Oops. Can one of the administrators add Daft Punk's "Too Long" off of the album Discovery and also remove one of the Elvis Costello This Year's Model songs. There's two of them, which is not a bad thing, but he's now fully committing the sin of overrepresentation. There are "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "This Year's Girl" on there. Doc picked one and tim picked one, and I don't want get in the middle of that bar fight (I kid). I was going to say to pick whichever, but I should be clear so that they both don't disappear. I'm more fond of "This Year's Girl" so as high ranker I say just leave that one and take "Chelsea" off. Thank you to whoever does it.

Peace.

PS "Chelsea" is the even number 100 on the playlist.

PPS And while you're at it, if someone could please add "Outdoor Miner" by Wire off of Chairs Missing. Many thank yous in advance.

done

Wows. I do not remember "Outdoor Miner" sounding like that and I just listened to it last night. The piano is that prominent??

That is not a passive-aggressive criticism. It's a great version and the one they released as a single; it's just very surprising given how minimalist they usually sounded. Sounds good. Yeah, I'm not dreaming. That's a full 1:10 longer than the album version. Much more epic-sounding. Did it suit them? You'll have to listen to both versions, now won't you?

eta* You're giving me reasons to drop a hundred bucks on their singles box set, which I can clean for hundred from a record store in Jersey, I think.

 

[KarmaPolice]

220 (tie). Ghosts of the Great Highway – Sun Kil Moon (120 points)

@KarmaPolice #14
@shuke #19
@Eephus #60

Ghosts of the Great Highway is the debut studio album by San Francisco quartet Sun Kil Moon, led by Red House Painters' founder Mark Kozelek, who composed all of the lyrics and music on this album. The other members are Anthony Koutsos (former drummer for Red House Painters), Geoff Stanfield, and Tim Mooney.

I am familiar with a few Sun Kil Moon songs. I think suggestions from Spotify and posts here from KP and Shuke but I've dove into an album. I am about half way through Ghosts of the Great Highway right now and absolutely love it. I am not done yet and maybe it will run out of steam or get a bit samey but right now this is trending towards an A grade.

Glad you are enjoying it. Imo it is in a little danger of getting samey until we get to Lily and Parrots + Duk Koo Kim, and the album gets a fresh wave of energy.

 

[rockaction]

Duk Koo Kim

Oh God. I remember when this song came out and it brought back some childhood sadness. I knew of the person in the title. What happened to him was something that never should have happened to a young man. We just treated head trauma differently back then. It was about being tough. This helped turn the tide. I never felt the same about boxing, although I still watched Tyson and followed the local Hartford middleweight Marlon Starling. It was all different to me after that, though.

My question is how you could write about the subject eloquently and fairly. I'm going to check it out.

eta* nicely done with the lyrics

 

[Ilov80s]

Duk Koo Kim

Oh God. I remember when this song came out and it brought back some childhood sadness. I knew of the person in the title. What happened to him was something that never should have happened to a young man. We just treated head trauma differently back then. It was about being tough. This helped turn the tide. I never felt the same about boxing, although I still watched Tyson and followed the local Hartford middleweight Marlon Starling. It was all different to me after that, though.

My question is how you could write about the subject eloquently and fairly. I'm going to check it out.

eta* nicely done with the lyrics

Oddly enough he has 2 songs titled after 2 boxers who died far too young. Oh and another lyric referencing Benny "Kid" Paret who also died from injuries sustained in a title fight.

 

[rockaction]

Duk Koo Kim

Oh God. I remember when this song came out and it brought back some childhood sadness. I knew of the person in the title. What happened to him was something that never should have happened to a young man. We just treated head trauma differently back then. It was about being tough. This helped turn the tide. I never felt the same about boxing, although I still watched Tyson and followed the local Hartford middleweight Marlon Starling. It was all different to me after that, though.

My question is how you could write about the subject eloquently and fairly. I'm going to check it out.

eta* nicely done with the lyrics

Oddly enough he has 2 songs titled after 2 boxers who died far too young. Oh and another lyric referencing Benny "Kid" Paret who also died from injuries sustained in a title fight.

I guess he named his alter ego/band after a boxer.

"His admiration for boxers is also reflected in the name "Sun Kil Moon," which is a tribute to the Korean boxer Sung-kil Moon." - AI and Filter Magazine

 

[Ilov80s]

214 (tie). The Clash – The Clash (122 points)

@Barry2 #3
@SayChowda #17


The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

Songs on the album were composed by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, with the notable exception of the reggae cover "Police and Thieves". The song "What's My Name" is co-credited to Clash founding member Keith Levene, who left the band in September 1976.

I've always found it fascinating that the UK and US versions of this album are so different. They only share 5 tracks in common.

That is wild. I wonder why?

 

[Ilov80s]

Duk Koo Kim

Oh God. I remember when this song came out and it brought back some childhood sadness. I knew of the person in the title. What happened to him was something that never should have happened to a young man. We just treated head trauma differently back then. It was about being tough. This helped turn the tide. I never felt the same about boxing, although I still watched Tyson and followed the local Hartford middleweight Marlon Starling. It was all different to me after that, though.

My question is how you could write about the subject eloquently and fairly. I'm going to check it out.

eta* nicely done with the lyrics

Oddly enough he has 2 songs titled after 2 boxers who died far too young. Oh and another lyric referencing Benny "Kid" Paret who also died from injuries sustained in a title fight.

I guess he named his alter ego/band after a boxer.

"His admiration for boxers is also reflected in the name "Sun Kil Moon," which is a tribute to the Korean boxer Sung-kil Moon." - AI and Filter Magazine

Ahhhh makes sense, I never picked up on that before. I just thought it was a unique spelling of Sun Kill Moon like a phrase. And now that I look closer, the song Pancho Villa is about the fighter not the revolutionary. I see he of course died quite young, 23 to be exact. After complications from a tooth extraction. Crazy, you're like the pound for pound best fighter on the planet but an tooth infection kills you. Sounds like it was somewhat of his fault though. He had the infection, still fought anyway. Infection spread and he had to have more teeth taken out. Instead of resting, he spent days partying with friends and by that time the infection spread so much he a done for. Thank God for antibiotics and modern medicine.

 

[Ilov80s]

Ok, I need to stop looking at Sun Kil Moon stuff because it's horribly depressing. I hope Wire is more upbeat.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Oops. Can one of the administrators add Daft Punk's "Too Long" off of the album Discovery and also remove one of the Elvis Costello This Year's Model songs. There's two of them, which is not a bad thing, but he's now fully committing the sin of overrepresentation. There are "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "This Year's Girl" on there. Doc picked one and tim picked one, and I don't want get in the middle of that bar fight (I kid). I was going to say to pick whichever, but I should be clear so that they both don't disappear. I'm more fond of "This Year's Girl" so as high ranker I say just leave that one and take "Chelsea" off. Thank you to whoever does it.

Peace.

PS "Chelsea" is the even number 100 on the playlist.

PPS And while you're at it, if someone could please add "Outdoor Miner" by Wire off of Chairs Missing. Many thank yous in advance.

done

Wows. I do not remember "Outdoor Miner" sounding like that and I just listened to it last night. The piano is that prominent??

That is not a passive-aggressive criticism. It's a great version and the one they released as a single; it's just very surprising given how minimalist they usually sounded. Sounds good. Yeah, I'm not dreaming. That's a full 1:10 longer than the album version. Much more epic-sounding. Did it suit them? You'll have to listen to both versions, now won't you?

eta* You're giving me reasons to drop a hundred bucks on their singles box set, which I can clean for hundred from a record store in Jersey, I think.

Boom Boom Mancini

Warren Zevon · Sentimental Hygiene · Song · 1987

open.spotify.com

 

[Ilov80s]

Oops. Can one of the administrators add Daft Punk's "Too Long" off of the album Discovery and also remove one of the Elvis Costello This Year's Model songs. There's two of them, which is not a bad thing, but he's now fully committing the sin of overrepresentation. There are "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "This Year's Girl" on there. Doc picked one and tim picked one, and I don't want get in the middle of that bar fight (I kid). I was going to say to pick whichever, but I should be clear so that they both don't disappear. I'm more fond of "This Year's Girl" so as high ranker I say just leave that one and take "Chelsea" off. Thank you to whoever does it.

Peace.

PS "Chelsea" is the even number 100 on the playlist.

PPS And while you're at it, if someone could please add "Outdoor Miner" by Wire off of Chairs Missing. Many thank yous in advance.

done

Wows. I do not remember "Outdoor Miner" sounding like that and I just listened to it last night. The piano is that prominent??

That is not a passive-aggressive criticism. It's a great version and the one they released as a single; it's just very surprising given how minimalist they usually sounded. Sounds good. Yeah, I'm not dreaming. That's a full 1:10 longer than the album version. Much more epic-sounding. Did it suit them? You'll have to listen to both versions, now won't you?

eta* You're giving me reasons to drop a hundred bucks on their singles box set, which I can clean for hundred from a record store in Jersey, I think.

I just searched the song and saw one that said 2006 remaster and one that didn't so I chose the non remaster. Now I am curious and going to compare the 2 as well. I will switch versions if you prefer.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Duk Koo Kim

Oh God. I remember when this song came out and it brought back some childhood sadness. I knew of the person in the title. What happened to him was something that never should have happened to a young man. We just treated head trauma differently back then. It was about being tough. This helped turn the tide. I never felt the same about boxing, although I still watched Tyson and followed the local Hartford middleweight Marlon Starling. It was all different to me after that, though.

My question is how you could write about the subject eloquently and fairly. I'm going to check it out.

eta* nicely done with the lyrics

Glad to see the ETA here. I saw post and wanted to remind you and other about my relationship to lyrics. I had 0 clue what this song was about, and admit that "energy" wasn't the best word to describe some of these songs based on the subject matter.

Lost Verses from another album is still my favorite Sun Kil Moon song though. I wish I could transplant it onto this albums. It brings me to near tears anytime I hear it.

Darkness disintegrates, I'm rising
I'm rising toward a light
A light leading over hills and meadows

 

[Ilov80s]

I can see why they chose the single version as the single version. It's more radio friendly and the piano is a really nice melody. This is the only song I think I knew from Wire and I knew the single version (it's on my liked Spotify playlist) so I am partial to it because it's the one I came to first. The 1:44 album version does sound more reflective of the album as a whole though,

 

[rockaction]

Oops. Can one of the administrators add Daft Punk's "Too Long" off of the album Discovery and also remove one of the Elvis Costello This Year's Model songs. There's two of them, which is not a bad thing, but he's now fully committing the sin of overrepresentation. There are "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "This Year's Girl" on there. Doc picked one and tim picked one, and I don't want get in the middle of that bar fight (I kid). I was going to say to pick whichever, but I should be clear so that they both don't disappear. I'm more fond of "This Year's Girl" so as high ranker I say just leave that one and take "Chelsea" off. Thank you to whoever does it.

Peace.

PS "Chelsea" is the even number 100 on the playlist.

PPS And while you're at it, if someone could please add "Outdoor Miner" by Wire off of Chairs Missing. Many thank yous in advance.

done

Wows. I do not remember "Outdoor Miner" sounding like that and I just listened to it last night. The piano is that prominent??

That is not a passive-aggressive criticism. It's a great version and the one they released as a single; it's just very surprising given how minimalist they usually sounded. Sounds good. Yeah, I'm not dreaming. That's a full 1:10 longer than the album version. Much more epic-sounding. Did it suit them? You'll have to listen to both versions, now won't you?

eta* You're giving me reasons to drop a hundred bucks on their singles box set, which I can clean for hundred from a record store in Jersey, I think.

I just searched the song and saw one that said 2006 remaster and one that didn't so I chose the non remaster. Now I am curious and going to compare the 2 as well. I will switch versions if you prefer.

I honestly don't know. Whatever causes more people to want to listen to the album is what I'd go with. I'll go listen to it again and I'll render a decision for whenever you get the time (in other words, don't feel like ya gotta hang around for me). Thanks for doing this.

I just ordered the box set. It's a long story, but I hope it works out. (Basically, some guy is selling the box set at a really reduced rate because he thinks he's selling a double LP on eBay, but the pictures from his very store—that you can tell are—are of the 7" singles box set.) Dang I hope it works because I might have gotten a decent deal. Or I might just be another sucker.

eta* What you said is exactly what I thought about it. The single is more accessibly pop and the album version is minimal and more like the rest of the LP. No need for me to listen. I honestly don't have an opinion. I did, but I keep changing it. Perhaps leave the single version on there for good luck in my endeavor with the record store.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

214 (tie). The Clash – The Clash (122 points)

@Barry2 #3
@SayChowda #17


The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

Songs on the album were composed by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, with the notable exception of the reggae cover "Police and Thieves". The song "What's My Name" is co-credited to Clash founding member Keith Levene, who left the band in September 1976.

I've always found it fascinating that the UK and US versions of this album are so different. They only share 5 tracks in common.

That is wild. I wonder why?

The US version of The Clash was not released until well after the UK version. In fact, Give 'Em Enough Rope was released in the US first. When the band's US label finally decided to release the debut, they decided to replace many of the album tracks with songs issued on non-album singles and such. So it's essentially a "greatest hits up to this point" album minus the songs on Give 'Em Enough Rope.

 

[rockaction]

Oops. Can one of the administrators add Daft Punk's "Too Long" off of the album Discovery and also remove one of the Elvis Costello This Year's Model songs. There's two of them, which is not a bad thing, but he's now fully committing the sin of overrepresentation. There are "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "This Year's Girl" on there. Doc picked one and tim picked one, and I don't want get in the middle of that bar fight (I kid). I was going to say to pick whichever, but I should be clear so that they both don't disappear. I'm more fond of "This Year's Girl" so as high ranker I say just leave that one and take "Chelsea" off. Thank you to whoever does it.

Peace.

PS "Chelsea" is the even number 100 on the playlist.

PPS And while you're at it, if someone could please add "Outdoor Miner" by Wire off of Chairs Missing. Many thank yous in advance.

done

Wows. I do not remember "Outdoor Miner" sounding like that and I just listened to it last night. The piano is that prominent??

That is not a passive-aggressive criticism. It's a great version and the one they released as a single; it's just very surprising given how minimalist they usually sounded. Sounds good. Yeah, I'm not dreaming. That's a full 1:10 longer than the album version. Much more epic-sounding. Did it suit them? You'll have to listen to both versions, now won't you?

eta* You're giving me reasons to drop a hundred bucks on their singles box set, which I can clean for hundred from a record store in Jersey, I think.

Boom Boom Mancini

Warren Zevon · Sentimental Hygiene · Song · 1987

open.spotify.com

The great songwriters covered that fight, huh?

 

[rockaction]

I hope Wire is more upbeat.

I was going to say no because Wire is not quite an all-smiles band, but that would be wrong—Wire is still much more upbeat than the story of that fight.

 

[shuke]

220 (tie). Ghosts of the Great Highway – Sun Kil Moon (120 points)

@KarmaPolice #14
@shuke #19
@Eephus #60

Ghosts of the Great Highway is the debut studio album by San Francisco quartet Sun Kil Moon, led by Red House Painters' founder Mark Kozelek, who composed all of the lyrics and music on this album. The other members are Anthony Koutsos (former drummer for Red House Painters), Geoff Stanfield, and Tim Mooney.

I am familiar with a few Sun Kil Moon songs. I think suggestions from Spotify and posts here from KP and Shuke but I've never dove into an album. I am about half way through Ghosts of the Great Highway right now and absolutely love it. I am not done yet and maybe it will run out of steam or get a bit samey but right now this is trending towards an A grade.

If you like it but it starts to feel repetitive, I'd suggest Red House Painters as an alternative.

 

[shuke]

Duk Koo Kim

Oh God. I remember when this song came out and it brought back some childhood sadness. I knew of the person in the title. What happened to him was something that never should have happened to a young man. We just treated head trauma differently back then. It was about being tough. This helped turn the tide. I never felt the same about boxing, although I still watched Tyson and followed the local Hartford middleweight Marlon Starling. It was all different to me after that, though.

My question is how you could write about the subject eloquently and fairly. I'm going to check it out.

eta* nicely done with the lyrics

Oddly enough he has 2 songs titled after 2 boxers who died far too young. Oh and another lyric referencing Benny "Kid" Paret who also died from injuries sustained in a title fight.

From wiki:

Kozelek's favorite sport is boxing, and the name Sun Kil Moon was inspired by that of boxer Moon Sung-kil. Kozelek discussed boxing and the murder of Agapito Sánchez four years after a fight he witnessed in a 2012 interview:

Their backgrounds are extremely harsh and they work very hard to move up in their careers. I was in attendance at the Manny Pacquiao-Agapito Sánchez fight in San Francisco in 2001. When I heard Sánchez was murdered shortly after, it had a profound effect on me. It hurts when anyone dies young, but when you see the backgrounds of these guys and the path they've taken to try to find some light in their lives, it hurts to see them die young.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Kil_Moon#cite_note-TQR-28"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a>

Several of the band's songs are inspired by the sport, such as "Duk Koo Kim".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Kil_Moon#cite_note-TQR-28"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a> Duk Koo Kim was a Korean boxer who died after a nationally televised bout with Ray Mancini on November 13, 1982. Mancini is from Youngstown, Ohio, which is very close to Kozelek's hometown of Massillon. The triumph of the local hero soon turned into a tragedy that included the suicide deaths of both Kim's mother and the bout's referee, Richard Green.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Kil_Moon#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a> The song "Pancho Villa" is named after the Filipino boxer known by that name, and also mentions Salvador Sánchez and Benny Paret.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Kil_Moon#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a>

 

[Dr. Octopus]

214 (tie). Unplugged – Eric Clapton (122 points)

@Dennis Castro #18
@Tau837 #32
@Dwayne_Castro #41

Unplugged is a 1992 live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at Bray Studios, England in front of an audience for the MTV Unplugged television series. It includes a version of the successful 1992 single "Tears in Heaven" and an acoustic version of "Layla". The album itself won three Grammy Awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993 and became the bestselling live album of all time, and Clapton's bestselling album, selling 26 million copies worldwide.