Consensus Top 350 Albums of All-Time: 68. Automatic for the People – R.E.M. (225 Viewers)

[kupcho1]

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

 

[simey]

Here are the top match-ups for each person (sorry if I left anyone out, but let me know):

@simey / @krista4 23

I'm not surprised k4 is my top match-up, and I can figure out what some are that we more than likely have in common, but some I'm not sure about.

 

[kupcho1]

The formulas do not copy over

We don't want them to copy over (even if that was possible).

So here it is

Common picks

docs.google.com

 

[KarmaPolice]

143. Remain in Light – Talking Heads (169 points)

@Pip's Invitation #16
@Eephus #18
@kupcho1 #21
@Ghost Rider #60


Remain in Light is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Talking Heads, released on October 8, 1980, by Sire Records. The band's third and final album to be produced by Brian Eno, Remain in Light was recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and Sigma Sound Studios in New York in July and August 1980.

After the release of Fear of Music in 1979, Talking Heads and Eno sought to dispel notions of the band as a mere vehicle for frontman and songwriter David Byrne. Drawing influence from Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti, they blended African polyrhythms and funk with electronics, recording instrumental tracks as a series of looping grooves. Session musicians included the guitarist Adrian Belew, the singer Nona Hendryx, and the trumpeter Jon Hassell.

Hmm. I'm surprised this didn't crack the top 100 at least. Not as many Talking Heads fans as I expected or maybe this is one of those cases were maybe an unexpected album pops ahead in the ranking? (I am a dum dum who totally whiffed on a top live album here, for example).

I am sure hoping we at least get 1 more TH album. I will just confess that I have an album of theirs extremely high

I have one in the lower half because I didn't think of the live option, which would have gotten top 20 points from me. Oh well, this is for fun anyway.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

@Eephus and @SayChowda are my least common matches with only 1 match each.

 

[KarmaPolice]

0 in common with Blocked Punt = no surprise. Only 1 in common with Eephus - a little more surprising. Looks like scores with 13 and @Pip's Invitation / @Tau837 with 10 are my MAD31 crew.

 

[Psychopav]

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

 

[SayChowda]

@Eephus and @SayChowda are my least common matches with only 1 match each.

Only 20 of my 70 made the list, so it's a tough task.

 

[landrys hat]

13 matches with pip, k4 and marco. The usual suspects, minus simey.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

143. Remain in Light – Talking Heads (169 points)

@Pip's Invitation #16
@Eephus #18
@kupcho1 #21
@Ghost Rider #60


Remain in Light is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Talking Heads, released on October 8, 1980, by Sire Records. The band's third and final album to be produced by Brian Eno, Remain in Light was recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and Sigma Sound Studios in New York in July and August 1980.

After the release of Fear of Music in 1979, Talking Heads and Eno sought to dispel notions of the band as a mere vehicle for frontman and songwriter David Byrne. Drawing influence from Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti, they blended African polyrhythms and funk with electronics, recording instrumental tracks as a series of looping grooves. Session musicians included the guitarist Adrian Belew, the singer Nona Hendryx, and the trumpeter Jon Hassell.

I too figured this one would be more popular given its reputation. But TH have a lot of high-quality albums and went through a lot of phases, so I can see their votes being split, and they are probably not like the Beatles where people would have put 3-5 of their albums in their top 70.

Side 1 of this album has some of the most mindblowing sounds I’ve ever heard. There is so much going on with the arrangements and the rhythms, and as a whole kind of feels like one side of a jazz album.

Side 2 is more disparate but still very high quality.

Bonus points for being covered in its entirety by Phish on Halloween 1996 in an incredible performance.

I’m adding Crosseyed and Painless, one of my favorite songs of all time, to the playlist. It’s continued to appear in Phish setlists since that fateful night in 1996 and has produced some of their best jams.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

13 matches with pip, k4 and marco. The usual suspects, minus simey.

Thank God sniping isn’t really a thing in this exercise. Unless we’re talking about being the top ranker of an album.

 

[Mister CIA]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

 

[Ilov80s]

13 matches with pip, k4 and marco. The usual suspects, minus simey.

Thank God sniping isn’t really a thing in this exercise. Unless we’re talking about being the top ranker of an album.

Yeah this is kind of the total opposite where you want as many other people as possible really high on your albums

 

[Pip's Invitation]

So far, this is what has appeared in this thread from my list:

3, 9, 12, 17, 20, 23 (highest-ranking album no one else picked), 27, 29, 30, 32, 47, 49, 50, 51 (spotlighted in "random double ups" post), 55, 64, 66, 68, 70 (lowest-ranking album no one else picked)

I'm pretty sure these are in the top 146: 1-2, 4-8, 10, 11, 13-16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24-26, 28, 31, 33, 36-38, 40-46, 48, 52, 58, 60, 62

I'm pretty sure these are not in the top 146: 34, 53, 54, 57, 61, 67

Not appeared yet but could go either way for the top 146: 35, 39, 56, 59, 63, 65, 69

Female representation: one female artist and two mixed-gender bands

Talking Heads are one of the two mixed-gender bands on my list. I expect the album from the other to show up eventually.

The female artist probably won’t show up.

I have more female representation on my 71-100 list.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

0 in common with Blocked Punt = no surprise.

I have one in common with him. A lot of people have that match though.

 

[simey]

13 matches with pip, k4 and marco. The usual suspects, minus simey.

You and I had 12 matches, and one of those is John Prine.

 

[krista4]

@simey / @krista4 23

@Dr. Octopus / @Pip's Invitation 18

@Dreaded Marco / Pip’s 17

@Mister CIA / @Pip's Invitation 13

@Eephus / @Pip's Invitation 10

No surprise at all to have so many matches with simey.

Pip sure is popular. I think if OH had submitted a list, his might have been closest to Pip's as well.

 

[krista4]

13 matches with pip, k4 and marco. The usual suspects, minus simey.

I almost added in my post above that I suspected I'd have a lot of matches with Snipey McSniperson, too!

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

 

[simey]

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Just Win Baby!

 

[Tau837]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Does that make me most eclectic or least eclectic?

 

[Mister CIA]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

I was thinking in terms of how many different individuals another matches with. As an example, if there are 47 people in this reveal, how many of the other 46 did I match with at least once?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

I was thinking in terms of how many different individuals another matches with. As an example, if there are 47 people in this reveal, how many of the other 46 did I match with at least once?

Everybody matched almost everyone else at least once. @kupcho1 shared the link above so you can check it out.

The only person you did not match with at all was @BLOCKED_PUNT.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

There are a lot of people with 10 or more matches with me. I can't say I am surprised because my list is chalky both in terms of "classic rock" and in terms of '90s and early '00s stuff. I was far down on the list of people who had the most albums with no matches.

Doc Oc 18
DreadedMarco 17
zamboni 17
Atomic Punk 15
jwb 15
Tim 15
Binky 14
Dwayne_Castro 14
ConstruxBoy 13
landryshat 13
Mister CIA 13
Snoopy 13
Tau837 13
Yo Mama 13
BroncoFreak 12
GhostRider 12
kupcho1 11
krista4 11
Scoresman 11
shuke 11
simey 11
turnjose7 11
Uruk-Hai 11
Eephus 10
higgins 10
ilov80s 10
Jeb 10
KarmaPolice 10
Nick V 10

Fewest matches: Blocked_Punt and SayChowda with 1 each.

Before seeing the list, I would have predicted I'd have the most matches with zamboni, jwb and Binky.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Dammit, now i dont feel as special.

 

[krista4]

Everybody matched almost everyone else at least once. @kupcho1 shared the link above so you can check it out.

The only person you did not match with at all was @BLOCKED_PUNT.

I had no matches with five people. Not surprised to have zero with Mrs. R, but I'd have thought maybe Val R and I would eke out a match. Nope. I also have zero matches with Dan Lambskin, who has demonstrably terrible taste, so I guess that makes sense. Zero also with BLOCKED PUNT and SayChowda. I don't know enough about their tastes to call those surprising or not.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I don't know enough about their tastes to call those surprising or not.

It's not.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

Everybody matched almost everyone else at least once. @kupcho1 shared the link above so you can check it out.

The only person you did not match with at all was @BLOCKED_PUNT.

I also have zero matches with Dan Lambskin, who has demonstrably terrible taste, so I guess that makes sense.

Hear, hear!

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Everybody matched almost everyone else at least once. @kupcho1 shared the link above so you can check it out.

The only person you did not match with at all was @BLOCKED_PUNT.

I had no matches with five people. Not surprised to have zero with Mrs. R, but I'd have thought maybe Val R and I would eke out a match. Nope. I also have zero matches with Dan Lambskin, who has demonstrably terrible taste, so I guess that makes sense. Zero also with BLOCKED PUNT and SayChowda. I don't know enough about their tastes to call those surprising or not.

I matched everyone at least once - even had 2 matches with @SayChowda who is a 0 match with a lot of people.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Here are the top match-ups for each person (sorry if I left anyone out, but let me know):



@Mrs. Rannous / @Val Rannous 26

@Dennis Castro / @Dwayne_Castro 25

[USER=478]@Tau837 / @Dwayne_Castro 23

@simey / @krista4 23

@BroncoFreak_2K3 / @Dwayne_Castro 22

@Yo Mama / @Mt. Man 22

@ConstruxBoy / Tau837 21

@Mt. Man / @Dan Lambskin 22

@Atomic Punk / @Dwayne_Castro 20

@jwb / @BroncoFreak_2K3 20

@Nick Vermeil / @ConstruxBoy 18

@Dr. Octopus / @Pip's Invitation 18

@Snoopy / @BroncoFreak_2K3 18

@timschochet / @Atomic Punk 18

@zamboni / @BroncoFreak_2K3 18

@Idiot Boxer / @Nick Vermeil 18

@turnjose7 / @timschochet 17

@Dreaded Marco / Pip’s 17

@New Binky / @BroncoFreak_2K3 16

@Scoresman / @Tau837 16

@Ghost Rider / @ Yo Mama 16

@Chaos34 / @Dwayne_Castro 15

@Uruk-Hai / @AtomicPunk 15

@Juxtatarot / @Scoresman 15

@MAC_32 / @ConstruxBoy 15

@Dan Lambskin / [USER=31349]@MAC_32 14

@kupcho1 / @Juxtatarot 13

@higgins / @ landrys hat 13

@Rand al Thor / @BrutalPenguin 13

@Ilove80s / @Tau837 13

@Mister CIA / @Pip's Invitation 13

@KarmaPolice / @Scoresman 13

@Eephus / @Pip's Invitation 10

@SayChowda / @Long Ball Larry 11

Jeb / @Yo Mama 11

@shuke 11 / @Dreaded Marco 11

@Don Quixote / @timschochet 11

@titusbramble / @Nick Vermeil 10

@rockaction / @Dr. Octopus 10

@Mookie Gizzy / @Mister CIA 10

@Barry2 / @timschochet 8

@Psychopav / @Idiot Boxer 8

@BLOCKED_PUNT / @Tau837 6

“Did we just become best friends?!!?”

 

[Dr. Octopus]

142. Blind Faith – Blind Faith (170 points)

@shuke #5
@timschochet #31
@Dennis Castro #37
@zamboni #44
@jwb #68

Blind Faith is the only studio album by the English supergroup Blind Faith, originally released in the United States on 9 August 1969 on Atco Records, and in the United Kingdom on 22 August 1969 on Polydor Records and in Europe. It topped the album charts in the UK, Canada and US, and was listed at No. 40 on the US Soul Albums chart. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Re: matching stats

We weren't all working with the same restrictions on our lists. For instance, I had no rule on how many albums by an artist I would include, while some who I know I'd have matched more with did if we had played by the same rules either way. After 25 years of doing this stuff, I know where my brothers and sisters diverge with my tastes

 

[Dr. Octopus]

if there are 47 people in this reveal, how many of the other 46 did I match with at least once?

There are 50 entries and you matched at least once with 49 of them - @BLOCKED_PUNT is your only miss.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Does that make me most eclectic or least eclectic?

Happen to be wearing a Wolfpack polo shirt today too. The universe knows.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Fewest matches: Blocked_Punt and SayChowda with 1 each.

This is a common occurrence,

 

[Idiot Boxer]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Does that make me most eclectic or least eclectic?

Happen to be wearing a Wolfpack polo shirt today too. The universe knows.

Did you get mugged or something?

 

[SayChowda]

Everybody matched almost everyone else at least once. @kupcho1 shared the link above so you can check it out.

The only person you did not match with at all was @BLOCKED_PUNT.

I had no matches with five people. Not surprised to have zero with Mrs. R, but I'd have thought maybe Val R and I would eke out a match. Nope. I also have zero matches with Dan Lambskin, who has demonstrably terrible taste, so I guess that makes sense. Zero also with BLOCKED PUNT and SayChowda. I don't know enough about their tastes to call those surprising or not.

I didn't expect to match with a lot of folks. Anytime I do it's a nice surprise (for maybe 90% of the albums).

 

[SayChowda]

140 (tie). The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest (171 points)

@Nick Vermeil #7
@Yo Mama #16
@Long Ball Larry #19

The Low End Theory is the second studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album were held mostly at Battery Studios in New York City, from 1990 to 1991. The album was primarily produced by group member Q-Tip, with a minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks, and jazz samples, in a departure from the group's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990). Lyrically, the album features social commentary, word play, humor, and interplay between Q-Tip and fellow member Phife Dawg.

I had this one on my list - on the higher end I think.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

142. Blind Faith – Blind Faith (170 points)

@shuke #5
@timschochet #31
@Dennis Castro #37
@zamboni #44
@jwb #68

Blind Faith is the only studio album by the English supergroup Blind Faith, originally released in the United States on 9 August 1969 on Atco Records, and in the United Kingdom on 22 August 1969 on Polydor Records and in Europe. It topped the album charts in the UK, Canada and US, and was listed at No. 40 on the US Soul Albums chart. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

This would have made my list if most of side 2 had actual songs on it. The first five songs on the record are amazing. Seeing Winwood and Clapton play together at MSG in 2006, where they performed most of this album, is a highlight of my concertgoing career.

We can lament that they didn't last more than one album, but if they had stayed together, we wouldn't have had Derek and the Dominoes or the early '70s Traffic albums.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Does that make me most eclectic or least eclectic?

Happen to be wearing a Wolfpack polo shirt today too. The universe knows.

Did you get mugged or something?

Daughter starts there next month

 

[Dr. Octopus]

140 (tie). After the Gold Rush – Neil Young & Crazy Horse (171 points)

@Pip's Invitation #19
@Atomic Punk #19
@zamboni #23
@New Binky the Doormat #52

After the Gold Rush is the third studio album by the Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in September 1970 on Reprise Records. It is one of four high-profile solo albums released by the members of folk rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu. Young's album consists mainly of country folk music along with several rock tracks, including "Southern Man". The material was inspired by the unproduced Dean Stockwell-Herb Bermann screenplay After the Gold Rush.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Does that make me most eclectic or least eclectic?

Happen to be wearing a Wolfpack polo shirt today too. The universe knows.

Did you get mugged or something?

Daughter starts there next month

Are you NC based?

 

[Ghost Rider]

Dreamboat Annie is another that was on my initial list, but then got bumped when I tweaked it a bit. Great album, one that is overlooked far too often, probably because dopey critics dismissed them as LZ wannabe's back then. How Ann Wilson gets left off those best singers lists that often get made is beyond me.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

140 (tie). The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest (171 points)

@Nick Vermeil #7
@Yo Mama #16
@Long Ball Larry #19

The Low End Theory is the second studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album were held mostly at Battery Studios in New York City, from 1990 to 1991. The album was primarily produced by group member Q-Tip, with a minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks, and jazz samples, in a departure from the group's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990). Lyrically, the album features social commentary, word play, humor, and interplay between Q-Tip and fellow member Phife Dawg.

I had this one on my list - on the higher end I think.

Yes, you called it The Lower End Theory

I'll throw this one back in for now, and we'll see it again later.

 

[Scoresman]

@Scoresman wasn't the name i was expecting. We may bicker about movie genres, but not music.

Not surprising. I have a lot of Radiohead in my top albums.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Also

Can you tell who has the matches with the most people - just who is the most eclectic among us?

Fewest matches <> most eclectic since a few people submitted less than 70 albums (22 albums in one case)

I think his point was that matches with the most number of others = eclectic.

Yes, but I could have phrased a little more consisely.

@Tau837 has the most matches with 602.

Does that make me most eclectic or least eclectic?

Happen to be wearing a Wolfpack polo shirt today too. The universe knows.

Did you get mugged or something?

Daughter starts there next month

Are you NC based?

Yep. Charlotte.

 

[SayChowda]

140 (tie). The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest (171 points)

@Nick Vermeil #7
@Yo Mama #16
@Long Ball Larry #19

The Low End Theory is the second studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album were held mostly at Battery Studios in New York City, from 1990 to 1991. The album was primarily produced by group member Q-Tip, with a minimalist sound that combines bass, drum breaks, and jazz samples, in a departure from the group's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990). Lyrically, the album features social commentary, word play, humor, and interplay between Q-Tip and fellow member Phife Dawg.

I had this one on my list - on the higher end I think.

Yes, you called it The Lower End Theory

I'll throw this one back in for now, and we'll see it again later.

Ugh, Sorry man!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

140 (tie). After the Gold Rush – Neil Young & Crazy Horse (171 points)

@Pip's Invitation #19
@AtomicPunk #19
@zamboni #23
@New Binky the Doormat #52

After the Gold Rush is the third studio album by the Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in September 1970 on Reprise Records. It is one of four high-profile solo albums released by the members of folk rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu. Young's album consists mainly of country folk music along with several rock tracks, including "Southern Man". The material was inspired by the unproduced Dean Stockwell-Herb Bermann screenplay After the Gold Rush.

This is my second-favorite Neil album and what I think is his best predominantly acoustic record. It is in the top 3 of many Neil die-hards. The songs are some of his most tuneful and compelling, and tackle both emotional and political topics. It's funny that in both of my top 2 Neil albums, I have shared the top ranking with someone else.

Here's how I ranked the album's songs in my Neil countdown:

10. Southern Man
13. Don't Let It Bring You Down
16. After the Gold Rush
22. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
35. Birds
37. Tell Me Why
78. I Believe in You
80. When You Dance I Can Really Love

Oh Lonesome Me was ineligible for my list because it's a cover. I did not rank the two fragments that end each side.

An outtake from the After the Gold Rush sessions, Dance, Dance, Dance, came in at 151. An early version of Powderfinger, which eventually showed up on Rust Never Sleeps, which we saw previously in this countdown, was also attempted at these sessions.

@Atomic Punk you see my order of priority, what is your preference for the playlist?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

This is my second-favorite Neil album

Mine too, but I only gave Young one slot here (2 if you count him as a bandmember).

 

[Pip's Invitation]

This is my second-favorite Neil album

Mine too, but I only gave Young one slot here (2 if you count him as a bandmember).

We've all been there before.