Consensus Top 350 Albums of All-Time: 68. Automatic for the People – R.E.M. (214 Viewers)

[Uruk-Hai]

167 (tie). Something/Anything – Todd Rundgren (146 points)

@New Binky the Doormat #2
@Pip's Invitation #9
@Mookie Gizzy #56

Something/Anything? is the third album by American musician Todd Rundgren, released in February 1972. It was Rundgren's first album released under his own name, following two records credited to the quasi-group project Runt, and was also his first double album. It was recorded in late 1971 in Los Angeles, New York City and Bearsville Studios, Woodstock. The album is divided into four sections focused on different stylistic themes; the first three parts were recorded in the studio with Rundgren playing all instruments and singing all vocals in addition to producing. The final quarter contained a number of tracks recorded live in the studio without any overdubs, save for a short snippet of archive recordings from the 1960s.

This record is a tour de force. It’s insanely ambitious and tuneful and most of it was performed entirely by Rundgren. Some of his best power poppers are here, but there is also hard rock, torch songs, synthesizer experiments and much more. This record has been among my favorites since high school.

This album’s version of “Hello it’s Me” (KP: Technically a cover because it was first recorded by Rundgren’s old band Nazz) is my #1 Todd song, the #1 song in my Rundgren-as-producer themed countdown and a selection of mine in the US countdown. I am also partial to “I Saw the Light,” “It Wouldn’t Have Made any Difference,” “The Night the Carousel Burned Down,” “Black Maria,” “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” “Little Red Lights,” “Dust in the Wind,” (KP: another cover) (Rannouses: Not the Kansas song) and “Slut.” But whatever @New Binky the Doormat picks is fine with me.

This is one I was kicking myself for forgetting right after I sent my list in. I know I've drafted it at least once here over the years.

Here's the think about Runt: he can go wildly experimental, but he almost never forgets melody. Some of that's the way he's built and some is where he came from.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

I didn't take it but, after I sent in my list, I started thinking of albums I thought would rank highly. I thought this would come in at least 100 spots higher, given this board's demo.

 

[Mookie Gizzy]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

The last of my chalk to make the list. It was in-and-out at various times, but ultimately ended up in because while some of its content may not have aged well, the sound still takes me back to a moment in time - the mark of great music. While I obviously cede the playlist add to others, and I have one minor preference (Paul Revere), but you can't go wrong with anything on this album...okay, maybe Girls.

This album was massive my senior year in high school. Is it that the content hasn’t aged well, or that we haven’t?

 

[rockaction]

I didn't even pick this one but I'm still gon' write it up. Why not? What a great freaking album. MAC_32 has inspired me to write personal reflections upon

166. Licensed To Ill - Beastie Boys

Our manager's crazy he always smokes dust/he's got his own room in the back of the bus

I have to let everybody know that I missed the Beasties when they were cool when I was twelve. I liked "You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party" and would sing along with glee, but for whatever reason I just missed their rapping the first time around. I did not dig when everybody would recite "Paul Revere" in their white, barely pubescent voices. That would annoy anyone with an ear for aesthetics, I would surmise. Anyway, I started listening to Licensed To Ill again as a late junior and senior back when Paul's Boutique had pretty much utterly confused nearly everyone and flopped close to two years before that. Nobody listened to them at all at that point.

But I remembered I liked "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" and I'd begun to like Slayer (Kerry King of Slayer is in the video and ripped the solo in that song), so I picked up Licensed To Ill during my junior year of high school and by the next year I was requesting "No Sleep" and "Rhymin' and Stealin'" at school dances to the revulsion of everyone in my class who thought that they were the dumbest seventh-grade **** and that I was the dumbest thing ever.

The freshmen and sophomores didn't think any of that was uncool—it just rocked and they were not self-conscious, thus I'd dance with all the young kids on the floor and I can remember us swinging about like orangutans on a maypole, only we had locked arms together with a centrifugal force instead of a steady pole in the ground; so all of us would go a bit crashing to the deck after twenty seconds and get right back up again and scream whatever repetitive lyrics to the song that was on.

"Ali Baba and the forty thieves!"

I can't imagine what kind of a fool I looked like, but if you thought the Beasties were uncool while you did the Electric Slide every dance then to hell with your tastes, you know? It was never that bitter or serious. Really. I was a jock clown and it was okay. I then graduated and by the time Check Your Head came out, I was a post-graduate in boarding school and everybody there dug all the Beasties records by then, so there were no real special geek bonds like the one I just shared to be had. Everybody liked them and the cool girls still didn't like me, dammit, even though I woulda been King Beastie of Sheffield Mountain.

Late in college and the summer before I moved to D.C., those freshmen and then sophomore kids (my senior year they were sophomores) all remembered and would contact me every so often, and so we would meet up a few times at the local places and even went out a few times as a group on the town, which was rare for people my age (a whopping two years older!). We became Facebook friends about twenty years after graduation, which was sort of cool and an honor to be remembered. As they got older, I realized that they were actually my better friends from my hometown than kids that I'd been to school with all my life even in that small town setting where you went to the same classes and had the same teacher all throughout your time there (better friends except for three from my grade that I reconnected with and still talk to now) and it really is all because of the Beasties and a little stupid abandon to some great guitar-backed and sampled tracks.

And probably the best bridge ever in rap history behind "Passin' Me By" by the Pharcyde

My dear my dear my dear my dear
U do not know me but I know you very well
Now let me tell bout the feelings I feel for you
When I try or make some sort of attempt
I simp
Damn I wish I wasn't such a wimp

vs.

Ali Baba and the forty thieves (whisper)
Ali Baba and the forty thieves (increasing)
Ali Baba and the forty thieves (increasing)
Ali Baba and the forty thieves (little bit louder now)
Ali Baba and the forty thieves (screamin')
Ali Baba and the forty thieves (screamin')
Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba (breaks down)

 

[Ghost Rider]

Also had no recollection of the VW commercial. Threw the song Pink Moon on this morning, didn’t really care for it

Give it a whirl when you're feeling contemplative. Thanks for giving it a listen, Dan. That's more than a lot of people would do.

Just threw it on this morning with my coffee. Three songs into the album and for the most part it is right up my alley for musical tastes these days. I like it musically but I’m also finding he has a bit of a mumbling/muffled way of singing that makes it hard to decipher the lyrics at times.

That was my impression as well this morning (first time listener here as well; the short running time of the album made it easy to throw on and listen to while doing some work). Enjoyable record, and a nice vibe to get lost in for a half hour. Time will tell how much I go back to it, but I am glad to have finally heard it (I had seen it name checked a lot over the years).

 

[rockaction]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

The last of my chalk to make the list. It was in-and-out at various times, but ultimately ended up in because while some of its content may not have aged well, the sound still takes me back to a moment in time - the mark of great music. While I obviously cede the playlist add to others, and I have one minor preference (Paul Revere), but you can't go wrong with anything on this album...okay, maybe Girls.

This album was massive my senior year in high school. Is it that the content hasn’t aged well, or that we haven’t?

See right there upthread. Heh. Took me a bit to write and post, but it's about middle/high school and this album.

 

[Yo Mama]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

The last of my chalk to make the list. It was in-and-out at various times, but ultimately ended up in because while some of its content may not have aged well, the sound still takes me back to a moment in time - the mark of great music. While I obviously cede the playlist add to others, and I have one minor preference (Paul Revere), but you can't go wrong with anything on this album...okay, maybe Girls.

This album was massive my senior year in high school. Is it that the content hasn’t aged well, or that we haven’t?

See right there upthread. Heh. Took me a bit to write and post, but it's about middle/high school and this album.

License to Ill fell just outside my top 70 - I already had a few other Beastie albums on my list so I couldn’t squeeze this one in too. I used to love this album back in high school - unique and influential, but I don’t go back to it like I do their other albums.

 

[zamboni]

Also happens to be my favorite Lucky Charms marshmallow.

It's pink hearts, you goon.

Good thing he didn't write a song called "Yellow Moons and Blue Diamonds"

Yeah, I know. His music was magically delicious though.

 

[SayChowda]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

The last of my chalk to make the list. It was in-and-out at various times, but ultimately ended up in because while some of its content may not have aged well, the sound still takes me back to a moment in time - the mark of great music. While I obviously cede the playlist add to others, and I have one minor preference (Paul Revere), but you can't go wrong with anything on this album...okay, maybe Girls.

This album was massive my senior year in high school. Is it that the content hasn’t aged well, or that we haven’t?

See right there upthread. Heh. Took me a bit to write and post, but it's about middle/high school and this album.

License to Ill fell just outside my top 70 - I already had a few other Beastie albums on my list so I couldn’t squeeze this one in too. I used to love this album back in high school - unique and influential, but I don’t go back to it like I do their other albums.

Same boat here. Was/am a huge Beastie Boys fan, and this album was THE album for me in elementary school. Friends and I even did a lip-sync to one of the songs during a school talent show.

I just don't go back to this album anymore though, where most of their other albums from the late 80s/90s I still want to listen to.

 

[KarmaPolice]

This album’s version of “Hello it’s Me” (KP: Technically a cover because it was first recorded by Rundgren’s old band Nazz)

It sucks
- KaramaPolice

Ok, ok. I'm not this bad.

 

[shuke]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

This is one of very few albums that I don't particularly listen to any more, but still included only due to how ubiquitous it was to my teenage years. There's another I should have listed and I totally forgot about until someone hinted at it a few pages ago.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

167 (tie). Something/Anything – Todd Rundgren (146 points)

@New Binky the Doormat #2
@Pip's Invitation #9
@Mookie Gizzy #56

Something/Anything? is the third album by American musician Todd Rundgren, released in February 1972. It was Rundgren's first album released under his own name, following two records credited to the quasi-group project Runt, and was also his first double album. It was recorded in late 1971 in Los Angeles, New York City and Bearsville Studios, Woodstock. The album is divided into four sections focused on different stylistic themes; the first three parts were recorded in the studio with Rundgren playing all instruments and singing all vocals in addition to producing. The final quarter contained a number of tracks recorded live in the studio without any overdubs, save for a short snippet of archive recordings from the 1960s.

This record is a tour de force. It’s insanely ambitious and tuneful and most of it was performed entirely by Rundgren. Some of his best power poppers are here, but there is also hard rock, torch songs, synthesizer experiments and much more. This record has been among my favorites since high school.

This album’s version of “Hello it’s Me” (KP: Technically a cover because it was first recorded by Rundgren’s old band Nazz) is my #1 Todd song, the #1 song in my Rundgren-as-producer themed countdown and a selection of mine in the US countdown. I am also partial to “I Saw the Light,” “It Wouldn’t Have Made any Difference,” “The Night the Carousel Burned Down,” “Black Maria,” “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” “Little Red Lights,” “Dust in the Wind,” (KP: another cover) (Rannouses: Not the Kansas song) and “Slut.” But whatever @New Binky the Doormat picks is fine with me.

go with your gut pip - if Hello It's Me is your #1 ...let's do it!

 

[Dr. Octopus]

165. Off The Wall – Michael Jackson (148 points)

@Atomic Punk #14
@jwb #20
@Uruk-Hai #45
@Eephus #57

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he met while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Several critics observed that Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, loneliness, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

167 (tie). Something/Anything – Todd Rundgren (146 points)

@New Binky the Doormat #2
@Pip's Invitation #9
@Mookie Gizzy #56

Something/Anything? is the third album by American musician Todd Rundgren, released in February 1972. It was Rundgren's first album released under his own name, following two records credited to the quasi-group project Runt, and was also his first double album. It was recorded in late 1971 in Los Angeles, New York City and Bearsville Studios, Woodstock. The album is divided into four sections focused on different stylistic themes; the first three parts were recorded in the studio with Rundgren playing all instruments and singing all vocals in addition to producing. The final quarter contained a number of tracks recorded live in the studio without any overdubs, save for a short snippet of archive recordings from the 1960s.

This record is a tour de force. It’s insanely ambitious and tuneful and most of it was performed entirely by Rundgren. Some of his best power poppers are here, but there is also hard rock, torch songs, synthesizer experiments and much more. This record has been among my favorites since high school.

This album’s version of “Hello it’s Me” (KP: Technically a cover because it was first recorded by Rundgren’s old band Nazz) is my #1 Todd song, the #1 song in my Rundgren-as-producer themed countdown and a selection of mine in the US countdown. I am also partial to “I Saw the Light,” “It Wouldn’t Have Made any Difference,” “The Night the Carousel Burned Down,” “Black Maria,” “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” “Little Red Lights,” “Dust in the Wind,” (KP: another cover) (Rannouses: Not the Kansas song) and “Slut.” But whatever @New Binky the Doormat picks is fine with me.

go with your gut pip - if Hello It's Me is your #1 ...let's do it!

Added!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

165. Off The Wall – Michael Jackson (148 points)

@Atomic Punk #14
@jwb #20
@Uruk-Hai #45
@Eephus #57

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he met while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Several critics observed that Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, loneliness, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

Dammit, I should have considered this.

 

[Yo Mama]

165. Off The Wall – Michael Jackson (148 points)

@Atomic Punk #14
@jwb #20
@Uruk-Hai #45
@Eephus #57

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he met while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Several critics observed that Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, loneliness, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

Another near miss for me. Much prefer it to his next massive album.

 

[turnjose7]

171. Live at Leeds – The Who (141 points)

@Mister CIA #13
@turnjose7 #20
@New Binky the Doormat #39

Live at Leeds is the first live album by the English rock band the Who, recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on 14 February 1970 and released on 11 May 1970, by Decca and MCA in the United States and by Track and Polydor in the United Kingdom. It is the band's only live album that was recorded with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon.

Untrue. Live at Hull 1970 was recorded the next night. I also included that album on my list. I actually struggled with whether to include two such similar live albums, but Hull has a full performance of Tommy so I couldn't leave it off.

The Hull recordings were also apparently marred with some technical difficulties (at least according to the source Dr is using for the write ups), so whole bass sections were spliced in from the Leeds recordings. As such, hardly live.

I guess that's fair. I was aware of that, but was under the impression that it was just a couple of tracks. I never dug into it more to learn how much was actually edited. I'm not sure that changes anything for me. My #1 album is a live album that had a few post-production edits, and everyone still considers it live. At least as far as I know.

 

[krista4]

I am not surprised because: a) you hang out with cool, musically inclined people and b) you gravitate to singer/songwriters and lyrical excellence

I do neither. But one of my “cool” friends told me what song it was when he knew I was just sort of viscerally moved (not crying but sort of shook my head and looked at him like, “What is this?”). He liked singer/songwriters and was into like bossa nova and Bacharach at the time ((it was ’99 maybe (?) )). But that general time period. So you needed to a) care and b) have a friend or broadband internet (we did not have that yet—we had it at work, but at home we had stupid AOL discs still) in order to find out what world this music was coming from.

So yeah, here’s the ad. It’s corny, and it has a modern-day perfume/cologne vibe there, but it was quite a shock in the year 2000 when everything still seemed a part of the last century. Perhaps this was the dividing line of the things that were to come! Anyway, here it is.

Ah, seeing the timing of when it came out makes sense, too. I wasn't really watching TV much at that point. And yes, I did know Drake for exactly the reasons you mentioned: my musician friends loved him, and I loved singer-songwriters like him so naturally gravitated to him when introduced to his music.

I watched the ad and can confirm that I had never seen it before, or if I had I'd forgotten it.

 

[krista4]

Also had no recollection of the VW commercial. Threw the song Pink Moon on this morning, didn’t really care for it

That's funny, because I don't really care for your face.

 

[krista4]

The write ups are cut and pasted from Wikipedia, by the way - so while I appreciated the compliments it's not really my work.

I saw all the kudos last night and recalled that you said you had been pasting from Wiki, but I decided not to out you.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Also had no recollection of the VW commercial. Threw the song Pink Moon on this morning, didn’t really care for it

That's funny, because I don't really care for your face.

I mean it’s not like Springsteen bad or anything, just not my cup of tea. Shuke called it Sunday morning music, maybe I’ll throw the album on next time I make breakfast or something

 

[Nick Vermeil]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

This is one of very few albums that I don't particularly listen to any more, but still included only due to how ubiquitous it was to my teenage years. There's another I should have listed and I totally forgot about until someone hinted at it a few pages ago.

Everyone has written this up better than I can. But this is why it’s so high on my list. Wore it out in high school and still know all the lyrics today. No Sleep Till Brooklyn added to the playlist.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

167 (tie). Dummy – Portishead (147 points)

@Long Ball Larry #1
@Nick Vermeil #3
@KarmaPolice #65

The album received critical acclaim and won the 1995 Mercury Music Prize. It is often credited with popularizing the trip hop genre, and is frequently cited in lists of the best albums of the 1990s. Dummy was certified triple platinum in the UK in February 2019, and had sold 920,000 copies in the United Kingdom as of September 2020. Worldwide, the album had sold 3.6 million copies by 2008.

Portishead ‘s 2011 show in NYC is still a top two concert all time for me. So damn good. I love Gibbons’ voice. And I love that this is @Long Ball Larry ‘s number 1.

 

[jwb]

165. Off The Wall – Michael Jackson (148 points)

@Atomic Punk #14
@jwb #20
@Uruk-Hai #45
@Eephus #57

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he met while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Several critics observed that Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, loneliness, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

Another near miss for me. Much prefer it to his next massive album.

I do too.

 

[Mookie Gizzy]

165. Off The Wall – Michael Jackson (148 points)

@Atomic Punk #14
@jwb #20
@Uruk-Hai #45
@Eephus #57

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he met while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Several critics observed that Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, loneliness, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

Another near miss for me. Much prefer it to his next massive album.

His next massive album has the best song of the 2 albums. The next best 4-5 are from Off the Wall

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Also had no recollection of the VW commercial. Threw the song Pink Moon on this morning, didn’t really care for it

That's funny, because I don't really care for your face American Cheese.

FYP

 

[Dr. Octopus]

The write ups are cut and pasted from Wikipedia, by the way - so while I appreciated the compliments it's not really my work.

I saw all the kudos last night and recalled that you said you had been pasting from Wiki, but I decided not to out you.

I do remove all the hyperlinks to make it pretty for you guys.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

 

[Dennis Castro]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

This one was on my list, though misspelled as “License to Ill.” It was pretty far down though, so probably wouldn’t make a huge difference. Sorry about that.

 

[Yo Mama]

RIP to Ozzy Osborne

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Just listened to Ozzy's Blizzard of Ozz for the first time in a real long time - it really is a great album. Ozzy's best talent was surrounding himself with talent.

I grabbed my Black Sabbath T-shirt from my drawer after my shower without making the connection (with Ozzy lasting from the speaker) until about 10 minutes later.

 

[Yo Mama]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Love this album. Seen the foos live probably ten times. Didn’t expect to be the high ranker here so I’ll take some playlist suggestions from the other rankers.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

166. Licensed To Ill – Beastie Boys (147 points)

@Nick Vermeil #15
@Dan Lambskin #20
@Mookie Gizzy #53
@shuke #58
@MAC_32 #64
@Tau837 #69

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

This one was on my list, though misspelled as “License to Ill.” It was pretty far down though, so probably wouldn’t make a huge difference. Sorry about that.

Yes, you left the D off of "Licensed". No worries.

This would have moved up to 150. Since it's that close we'll not repeat this one again and leave it here.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

RIP to Ozzy Osborne

Really? I didn't even know that when I posted that I just listened to Blizzard of Ozz (spooky)

 

[zamboni]

RIP to Ozzy Osborne

Ah man

Farewell to the Prince of Darkness. Glad I honoured him here twice, solo and with Sabbath.

 

[Idiot Boxer]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Love this album. Seen the foos live probably ten times. Didn’t expect to be the high ranker here so I’ll take some playlist suggestions from the other rankers.

I'd go My Hero or Everlong, but those are the more mainstreamy songs. Enough Space if you want a deeper dive.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

I always liked the stripped down and live feel to this album. I'm putting "I've Got A Feeling" on the playlist.

 

[Yo Mama]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Love this album. Seen the foos live probably ten times. Didn’t expect to be the high ranker here so I’ll take some playlist suggestions from the other rankers.

I'd go My Hero or Everlong, but those are the more mainstreamy songs. Enough Space if you want a deeper dive.

Yeah I was leaning chalky too but am definitely willing to take a deeper cut.

 

[MAC_32]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Love this album. Seen the foos live probably ten times. Didn’t expect to be the high ranker here so I’ll take some playlist suggestions from the other rankers.

I'd go My Hero or Everlong, but those are the more mainstreamy songs. Enough Space if you want a deeper dive.

Where I struggle with this album is with how deep it is, there aren't peaks. Even the ones that don't resonate with me (February Stars and Walking After You) are ones I both appreciate and never hit skip when they come on. My default is to zag from the ones everyone already knows (including Monkey Wrench) and while I won't fight with any other suggestions (i.e. Enough Space), if pressed to vote for one it's Hey, Johnny Park!

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

I always liked the stripped down and live feel to this album. I'm putting "I've Got A Feeling" on the playlist.

I don't get a say since it didn't make my list ...being a big George fan "I, Me, Mine" is so good, especially knowing it came from a place of such frustration for him.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Dammit, I… you get the idea.

Listened to this a ton in the late 90s and I still think it’s their best album.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

I always liked the stripped down and live feel to this album. I'm putting "I've Got A Feeling" on the playlist.

That song is in my top 25 Beatles songs.

The album is a contender for favorite Beatle album that didn’t make my top 70.

 

[krista4]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

This was the lowest rated Beatles on my list (out of five I included). But holy hell, what a great album. I love your choice for the song, Dr. O.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

This was the lowest rated Beatles on my list (out of five I included). But holy hell, what a great album. I love your choice for the song, Dr. O.

So your five Beatle albums lie between 1 — it would be foolish to assume otherwise — and 42.

 

[MAC_32]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

I always liked the stripped down and live feel to this album. I'm putting "I've Got A Feeling" on the playlist.

Just peaked at the track listing and based on a quick skim, I agree, by far the best track on the album.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

From Let It Be, I always liked the retro sound of One After 909. It sounded like they were actually having fun for a change.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

163. Let It Be – The Beatles (150 points)

@Dr. Octopus #21
@jwb #29
@krista4 #42
@Eephus #54
@timschochet #64
@Uruk-Hai #66

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of the group's public break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name. Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock 'n' roll configurations. Its rehearsals started at Twickenham Film Studios on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.

In January 1970, four months after John Lennon departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "Let It Be" and recorded "I Me Mine". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by George Martin.

This was the lowest rated Beatles on my list (out of five I included). But holy hell, what a great album. I love your choice for the song, Dr. O.

It was my #2 out of 3 that made my list. Will the other two make it?.....

....I'm on pins and needles hoping they do.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

From Let It Be, I always liked the retro sound of One After 909. It sounded like they were actually having fun for a change.

Same with "For You Blue" with the banter "go Johnnie go" and "Elmore James got nothing on this baby" when John plays a lead.

 

[Yo Mama]

164. The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters (149 points)

@Yo Mama #22
@Idiot Boxer #24
@Scoresman #33
@MAC_32 #56

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, by Roswell and Capitol Records. It was the first album by the Foo Fighters to be recorded as a full band, as the previous self-titled album (1995) was both written and recorded entirely by frontman Dave Grohl. The Colour and the Shape is widely considered a defining album of the post-grunge genre, with its three singles becoming staples of rock-oriented radio in the United States. It was among the highest-selling rock albums of 1997 and 1998, and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Love this album. Seen the foos live probably ten times. Didn’t expect to be the high ranker here so I’ll take some playlist suggestions from the other rankers.

It was fun revisiting this today. Everlong is one of my favorite songs from the era. My Hero will always be immortalized in the awesome scene from The Other Guys movie. Monkey Wrench and Walking After You (although I like the updated version they did for the X Files a little better) are both awesome. Enough Space is great in concert, and My Poor Brain and New Way Home are some of my favorite deeper cuts.

For the playlist, I’m going to add one that just hit the right spot today, another favorite - Hey, Johnny Park!

Hey, Johnny Park!

Foo Fighters · The Colour And The Shape · Song · 1997

open.spotify.com