Which discography should I chase down first? (poll)
 

I have a few bands/artists that I wish to chase down in terms of their discographies and can't decide which to go for first. I have 1 or 2 albums from each so far and am interested in them equally, I would say.

Choices:

Elvis Costello
Hawkwind
Gentle Giant
Captain Beefheart
King Crimson

I know it is basically all opinion based, but which one would you recommend for someone looking to expand in their depth of music? and why?

(sorry if it is in the wrong section)

If you're offering it up for debate amongst the forum I can tell you right now you'll end up listening to King Crimson.

I think you should go for Hawkwind myself.

King Crimson/Gentle Giant/Hawkwind

Talk about a trifecta of awesome.

I don't know Hawkwind particularly well, but they're one of those bands I'd think of as having a very large and rewarding discography. I'd say Costello or Beefheart, but that's only as I have their whole back-catalogues myself and reckon more people would benefit from them. Can't really comment on Gentle Giant or King Crimson as prog isn't really my thing.

I'd say you should grab an album from each band here and there, rather than trying to get the entire discography from one particular band. In due time, if the band is worthy to your ears, you will have the entire discogs. Along the way you may also develop a strong preference for one of the bands, which will answer your original question. :)

I love chasing down discographies. I suggest that you go after all of them at once, it's how I do it and it's amazing having so much music at my fingertips! If you need any help, definitely PM me. I have all but Hawkwind.

My votes are Gentle Giant and Captain Beefheart.

You know this place too well, KC takes half the votes. Hawkwind was the one that I had on my mind first, then contradictory ideas came popping in... so I came to MB

Over the next few months/years/however long, all of them will be found. Could be quite awesome.

I think Hawkwind's is about twice/three times the size of any of the others, definitely rewarding I say. Trust you to back Costello ;) I must have ADD because every 5 minutes I get a new idea and try change which of the bands... Hawkwind looks like the winner at this point though!

This is what I did to begin with by getting 1/2 albums from each, but the goal and accomplishment of having 1 artists whole selection of music is what will keep me motivated to do it and not go off on a tangent to download random stuff that I will probably never listen to in my life again. i.e. Radiohead discography (Least I didn't spend any time/money on it)

So you know my situation :) Thank you. Im sure I will get somewhere down the line. The acoomplishment of all their music collection seems like a pretty awesome idea to me

Hawkwind pips GG :) Thanks to all for their posts and votes.

Well I'm obviously going to say King Crimson (especially as I'm writing my next KC review atm), but they're really all great artists/bands. Get all 5 discographies!

Well, you know me :D

As a few others have said though, the best way to go would probably be to get, say, one album at a time by one band at a time. Listening to a whole discography as well as getting it at least seems a less daunting task that way - for example I downloaded the Humble Pie discography about 2 months ago now, and I've still only listened to one album end-to-end.

Ignore anything after the mid 80s.

Chronicle of the Black Sword is alright enough.

I was using that album as the cut off point.

ha, for some reason i thought it was released later than that.

Of the 3 groups here that I'm a fan of, KC, Gentle Giant and Hawkwind. I consider King Crimson the most consistant, even their worst album is at least decent.

Gentle Giant went to complete sh*t in the late 70s. And Hawkwind in the mid 80s.

Out of the list king crimson there amazing. In the court of the crimson king should be a staple in everyone's collection.

Why was this bumped?

I choose Will Oldham.

The one I'm most familiar with is Costello, so I picked him because I know for a fact that he's great. Next I'd probably go for King Crimson, then Beefheart.

So what did you check out in the end and what's your verdict?

I would personally say Costello. I like him the most out of those choices and he's always awesome.

He downloaded the Jenna James discography. Dont expect a reply, his hands are taken.

I am closing in on King Crimson + Gentle Gaint only needing a 2 or 3 three from each, and then a got another 4 Costello. And am in the process of collecting the whole discography of Hawkwind in one shot.

Got a touch side-tracked by my recent binge into thrash. Slowly but surely getting there.

Good lad :thumb: Which ones did you get?

Also, if you're digging Elvis Costello (especially his first 3 or 4 albums), it's pretty much a given that you'll love XTC, so there's one you can add to the list eh.

The notables were Armed Forces and King Of America. Then the new one from this year which I didn't enjoy too much.

So far I would say:
1. My aim is true
2. This years model
3. Cruel Smile (Not sure if that is the album name or not)

Will definitely check them out:) I just got an album from The Church just now, after seeing it somewhere here and I am almost sure it was from your top 100. One track in and it sounds good.

The Church almost made it to the list, but they were among the many, unlucky casualties of space restrictions. A top 200 probably would've been a better idea now that I think about it.

Cruel Smile's an EP I think, released at the same time as Costello's When I Was Cruel album - a bunch of outtakes from it, remixes, live versions and so on. It's alright I suppose. Armed Forces I'm not a fuge fan of, but it's a decent album. The others you got are brill though, especially King Of America.

Happy hunting with the other discogs anyway. I know you don't usually use links, but if you have a particularly hard time finding anything, just say so eh.