Classic Albums I have never heard

djchameleon · 06-03-2013, 05:34 PM

Go with Rhythm nation 1814, I personally prefer Control but Rhythm Nation won more accolades when it was released.

Paedantic Basterd · 06-03-2013, 05:39 PM

I'd argue that the quintessential Pulp album is actually Different Class, and The Queen is Dead for The Smiths.

Trollheart · 06-03-2013, 07:10 PM

Title: Loveless
Artiste: My Bloody Valentine
Year: 1991
Chronological position: Second album
Previous experience of this artiste: Nothing
Why is this considered a classic? According to Wiki, this album invented shoegaze as a genre?

My thoughts
My reaction/immediate impression, ranging from Great, Good, Meh to Bad or Still waiting, or perhaps Other if nothing else fits.
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good
One track in --- Good
Halfway through --- Other: frustrated mostly. Some good ideas but hard to make them out under the weapons-grade distortion.
Finished --- Still waiting, but maybe Other, ie frustrated?

Comments: I was trying to place the voice, and now I know. Though this will mean nothing to any of you, he's very very similar to the lead singer from another Irish band, the Stars of Heaven. I'm not mad about the heavy reverb and distortion, which seems even to be on the vocals, though I've read it is or was MBV's trademark. Makes it a little hard to listen to, for me, specially on the second track. Almost like listening to two albums playing at once, one slightly behind the other. Track three is a bit stupid, just a squealing guitar and then some orchestral style keyboard, a short instrumental if you can call it that.

Look, is this backwards masked or something? Because To here knows when (huh?) sounds like that. It's just a mess. I must say I'm beginning to lose patience here people. Is it possible you have to be stoned to appreciate this? Cos it sounds like they are. So far, apart from the opening track, bloody awful. Right, and some growly guitar with a warped effect right at the end. Where's me tea? Sigh. On we go. When you sleep has a nice melody in there somewhere but so much gets twisted and warped it's almost like MBV can't stand to have an ordinary song on this album. Right, now it's settling down a little. Sort of.

Jesus! What do they have against allowing the vocals to be heard? This is really annoying me now. I'm getting angry now, and you wouldn't like me when I'm ... oh wait, I already used that line. Anyway, there does seem to be some good, possibly great music in there somewhere but it's all buried under mountains of distortion, reverb, echo and singing that can't really be made out that it's just become a jumbled mess as far as I'm concerned. Although... I do like that fading out guitar riff that's been running all through the song, and the next one up, Come in alone is actually listenable, with clear(ish) vocals, so that may make it onto my list of, so far, one favourite track. Actually, the previous one might squeeze in too, on the basis of that riff. Maybe.

Yeah, hold the phone: Sometimes is good too; guitar's growly but not drowning out the rest of the music, and the vocal's good. Nice melody. Say nothing, say nothing, fingers crossed... Ah no. Blown a wish brings all the feedback and distortion and hard-to-decipher vocals back. Oh well. Look, I know it's the way they do things, apparently, and I'm not saying anything against that, but it's making it hard for me to enjoy --- damn it, even listen to --- this album. What you want has a vaguely Prefab Sprout feel to it, but again the vox are hard to make out --- yes, yes, I know it's intentional, not bad production. That's the whole problem, and why I don't see this band being a good fit for me.

Favourite track(s): Only shadow, Come in alone, I only said, Sometimes
Least favourite track(s): Everything else

Final impression --- Kind of still waiting: I'll have to take a few more listens, but right now, I'd say good but not great.

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Not at all sure, have to wait and see

Sort C combined with D really. But I don't think I hate it. Or do I?

Trollheart · 06-03-2013, 07:21 PM

Okay, see this is where I need the help of you guys. I'm just looking at lists, which are of course biased and may not reflect an artiste's true classic album, or the one considered as their classic. I mean, some people would have you believe "Invisible touch" is Genesis's classic! So, then...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

We are at opposites ends then, I love early Yes up to and including Drama. I don't want to sound too critical but 90125 is not my favorite album, and it boils down also to a certain change in line-up. Long story short - it's a Trevor Raven pop record - no offense. Chris' revolving door policy for other band members is something he thinks is great. But for me not in the case of Yes without Steve Howe.

Maybe early era Yes is something that has to grow on you. I remember every early Genesis album I bought I didn't care for after the first listen. I would pack it away give it a try another time later. It might had taken several tries, but when I became more familiar with the album I enjoyed it more. Why I didn't care much for it the first time around? I don't know. Sometimes Prog can be demanding on the first listening, but if you know the song well the length of the song, and other things don't matter as much any more (and maybe that goes without saying). I think if you do decide to listen to Close to the Edge maybe start off with say Classic Yes first were you get a cross section of the music they did before, during and after the album (CttE). And who knows maybe you'll (secretly) become a fan of early Yes, and listening to the (CttE) album will be more enjoyable and less of a chore.

Early Genesis was never a problem for me. I fell in love with them via "Seconds out", most of which is early 70s (Watcher of the skies, Supper's ready, The Musical Box etc) and gobbled up everything, even Genesis to Revelation. Paradoxically, it was the later Genesis material I didn't altogether love, like Abacab and Calling all stations. As for Yes, I came to them via Big Generator, which I loved, then to 90125 and on from there. We are definitely at opposite ends, as you say. See, when I was into Genesis, Rush and Supertramp I was equally NOT into ELP, King Crimson or Yes. But I intend to go straight to CttE once I decide to review it, because this is what this journal is about: not softening the blow as it were by trying other albums around it, but going straight to the one considered the classic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Are you sure Different Class wouldn't be a better choice?
That's the one with all the hits on it, This Is Hardcore bombed when it was released. Hell it took me a good while to get into that album & Pulp were one of my favourite bands at the time.

Quite possibly. I know little of Pulp bar the singles, so if you think that's the one I'll change it. See what I mean about lists?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Go with Rhythm nation 1814, I personally prefer Control but Rhythm Nation won more accolades when it was released.

Okay I'll change it to that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

I'd argue that the quintessential Pulp album is actually Different Class, and The Queen is Dead for The Smiths.

Queen is dead, eh? I'll change that too then. Always thought "Meat" was their better known, but I know virtually no Smiths music so I'll bow to your expertise on that.

Neapolitan · 06-03-2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Early Genesis was never a problem for me. I fell in love with them via "Seconds out", most of which is early 70s (Watcher of the skies, Supper's ready, The Musical Box etc) and gobbled up everything, even Genesis to Revelation. Paradoxically, it was the later Genesis material I didn't altogether love, like Abacab and Calling all stations. As for Yes, I came to them via Big Generator, which I loved, then to 90125 and on from there. We are definitely at opposite ends, as you say. See, when I was into Genesis, Rush and Supertramp I was equally NOT into ELP, King Crimson or Yes. But I intend to go straight to CttE once I decide to review it, because this is what this journal is about: not softening the blow as it were by trying other albums around it, but going straight to the one considered the classic.

I like all of them. A lot of those bands are related somehow with a few musicians playing in different bands here and there, they're even connected with John Lennon and Frida Lyngstad as well. As favorites, I went from Pink Floyd to Yes to Genesis. But I really didn't buy any Pink Floyd when I was young because I always heard them on the radio. My cousin had Genesis' first live album, and I remember the only track I played on it was Watcher of the Skies, playing it over and over. I like Calling All Stations, it's kinda sad ending to a band that left behind hefty amount of really really good music. I almost have their whole catalog on CD. I like related bands too like GTR, Mike and The Mechanics and the solo careers of Steve Hackett, Peter Gabriel & (some) Phil Collins. I didn't delve all the way into ELP, King Crimson, or Supertramp but I have a half a dozen albums among them. But I do have a good amount of Yes and Genesis.

Tbh I was hoping to make you a full fledged fan of early Yes

Unknown Soldier · 06-04-2013, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Well, mostly the tearing down of the established rock hierarchy, making music without any talent or class and basically just fucking with people while getting rich in the process. Oh yeah, I don't like punk rock.

But you're still limiting yourself from both normal punk and hardcore by eliminating the Never Mind the Bollocks...... and Damaged albums. You've stated that you want to listen to classic albums that you don't know. The whole idea of classic albums is that it's a real chance to like a style of music that you don't normally like, because that is what classic albums are often designed to do, so just think of it as a challenge.

Anyway talking of classic albums, when are you finally going to listen to the Diamond Head debut, I've been hitting you over the head with a hammer on that album for a while now

I know this seems like I'm having a go at you.......... well I am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

Tbh I was hoping to make you a full fledged fan of early Yes

He would be but he's too stubborn to do so and would end up in sheer awe after listening Close to the Edge.

Trollheart · 06-04-2013, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio

I guess I'll get some "seriously?" responses from people, but could I recommend something?

Spoiler for Album:

Well the problem is that I don't have any interest in hip-hop/rap, and so that doesn't fit in with what I want to do. I've never heard of that album, or artiste, and I guess the title of the journal possibly should be "Classic albums I've never heard but know of". although I think that's implicit in the word "classic". I mean, classic in that I know of them and they're regarded as classic. Mind you, that sort of pulls in things like "A nation of millions" and stuff. But I don't, at the moment, want to tread too far outside my preferred genres, so I'll pass on that thanks, but thanks for the suggestion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

I like all of them. A lot of those bands are related somehow with a few musicians playing in different bands here and there, they're even connected with John Lennon and Frida Lyngstad as well. As favorites, I went from Pink Floyd to Yes to Genesis. But I really didn't buy any Pink Floyd when I was young because I always heard them on the radio. My cousin had Genesis' first live album, and I remember the only track I played on it was Watcher of the Skies, playing it over and over. I like Calling All Stations, it's kinda sad ending to a band that left behind hefty amount of really really good music. I almost have their whole catalog on CD. I like related bands too like GTR, Mike and The Mechanics and the solo careers of Steve Hackett, Peter Gabriel & (some) Phil Collins. I didn't delve all the way into ELP, King Crimson, or Supertramp but I have a half a dozen albums among them. But I do have a good amount of Yes and Genesis.

Oh yeah, I love all the associated Genesis solo stuff too: Hackett, Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford. Not mad about Collins, obviously, though his first album was very good; after that it slid a bit into too poppy/commercial territory for me. Anthony Phillips' stuff is really good too.

Quote:

Tbh I was hoping to make you a full fledged fan of early Yes

Meh, stranger things have happened. That pope becoming horse, for one, or that time in fifth century Burgundy when it rained herring!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

But you're still limiting yourself from both normal punk and hardcore by eliminating the Never Mind the Bollocks...... and Damaged albums. You've stated that you want to listen to classic albums that you don't know. The whole idea of classic albums is that it's a real chance to like a style of music that you don't normally like, because that is what classic albums are often designed to do, so just think of it as a challenge.

No, I don't care. I'm not interested in the divisions between punk. I don't like it, and the furthest I'd venture would be what I suppose would be considered fringe or semi-punk bands like the Clash, SLF and the Buzzcocks, maybe the Stranglers? See how little I know about punk? I want to know less.

Also, I haven't stated I want to hear classic albums I don't know, I've said I want to hear classic albums I haven't heard: there's a difference. You could tell me that Johnny Lampost Head and His Burning Sticky Labels first album "I hate you all" is a classic, but if I haven't heard of it it's not a classic to me. The perfect example is "Loveless". I have heard people raving about it, though I don't know anything the band has done, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It's more albums I think I should have heard, or owe it to myself to hear.

Quote:

Anyway talking of classic albums, when are you finally going to listen to the Diamond Head debut, I've been hitting you over the head with a hammer on that album for a while now

Watch my journal for the fourth installment of "Witches, Bitches, Maidens and Monsters", where I focus on Diamond Head and review their albums. It's in there. Finally.

Mind you, you may not like what I say about them....

Quote:

He would be but he's too stubborn to do so and would end up in sheer awe after listening Close to the Edge.

I'm really interested to see if that measures up to all the hype, I just don't want to go directly to it first, be too predictable.

Neapolitan · 06-04-2013, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

He would be but he's too stubborn to do so and would end up in sheer awe after listening Close to the Edge.

I wish he could go beyond and before his prejudice. I don't understand it. If he can have a venture into Boybandland and be able to escape through the gates of delirium he should be able to listen to early Yes. And the songs being long isn't a very good excuse either. I put on a Genesis song right after breakfast and before I know it... supper's ready! Well I'll just leave it at that, I know he has a lot of reviews to do.. and I wonder if he'll get 'em out by Friday.

Antonio · 06-03-2013, 08:53 PM

I guess I'll get some "seriously?" responses from people, but could I recommend something?

Spoiler for Album:

Powerstars · 06-05-2013, 07:16 PM

Fantastic idea! If I send you Nevermind, will you give your impressions? Don't worry, I think every last song on that album is better than Teen Spirit, except for Teen Spirit itself. It helps to have notes on the inspiration of certain songs like Polly. If you don't wanna review, that's cool, I'll still follow this!

06-03-2013, 07:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	*Title:* Loveless *Artiste:* My Bloody Valentine *Year:* 1991 *Chronological position:* Second album *Previous experience of this artiste:* Nothing *Why is this considered a classic?* According to Wiki, this album invented shoegaze as a genre? My thoughts My reaction/immediate impression, ranging from Great, Good, Meh to Bad or Still waiting, or perhaps Other if nothing else fits. One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good One track in --- Good Halfway through --- Other: frustrated mostly. Some good ideas but hard to make them out under the weapons-grade distortion. Finished --- Still waiting, but maybe Other, ie frustrated? Comments: I was trying to place the voice, and now I know. Though this will mean nothing to any of you, he's very very similar to the lead singer from another Irish band, the Stars of Heaven. I'm not mad about the heavy reverb and distortion, which seems even to be on the vocals, though I've read it is or was MBV's trademark. Makes it a little hard to listen to, for me, specially on the second track. Almost like listening to two albums playing at once, one slightly behind the other. Track three is a bit stupid, just a squealing guitar and then some orchestral style keyboard, a short instrumental if you can call it that. Look, is this backwards masked or something? Because To here knows when (huh?) sounds like that. It's just a mess. I must say I'm beginning to lose patience here people. Is it possible you have to be stoned to appreciate this? Cos it sounds like they are. So far, apart from the opening track, bloody awful. Right, and some growly guitar with a warped effect right at the end. Where's me tea? Sigh. On we go. When you sleep has a nice melody in there somewhere but so much gets twisted and warped it's almost like MBV can't stand to have an ordinary song on this album. Right, now it's settling down a little. Sort of. Jesus! What do they have against allowing the vocals to be heard? This is really annoying me now. I'm getting angry now, and you wouldn't like me when I'm ... oh wait, I already used that line. Anyway, there does seem to be some good, possibly great music in there somewhere but it's all buried under mountains of distortion, reverb, echo and singing that can't really be made out that it's just become a jumbled mess as far as I'm concerned. Although... I do like that fading out guitar riff that's been running all through the song, and the next one up, Come in alone is actually listenable, with clear(ish) vocals, so that may make it onto my list of, so far, one favourite track. Actually, the previous one might squeeze in too, on the basis of that riff. Maybe. Yeah, hold the phone: Sometimes is good too; guitar's growly but not drowning out the rest of the music, and the vocal's good. Nice melody. Say nothing, say nothing, fingers crossed... Ah no. Blown a wish brings all the feedback and distortion and hard-to-decipher vocals back. Oh well. Look, I know it's the way they do things, apparently, and I'm not saying anything against that, but it's making it hard for me to enjoy --- damn it, even listen to --- this album. What you want has a vaguely Prefab Sprout feel to it, but again the vox are hard to make out --- yes, yes, I know it's intentional, not bad production. That's the whole problem, and why I don't see this band being a good fit for me. Favourite track(s): Only shadow, Come in alone, I only said, Sometimes Least favourite track(s): Everything else Final impression --- Kind of still waiting: I'll have to take a few more listens, but right now, I'd say good but not great. Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner B) I'm sorry I bothered C) I might end up liking this D) Not at all sure, have to wait and see *Sort C combined with D really.* But I don't think I hate it. Or do I? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 06-10-2013 at 01:36 PM. Reason: added extra category

06-05-2013, 07:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Powerstars Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 450	Fantastic idea! If I send you Nevermind, will you give your impressions? Don't worry, I think every last song on that album is better than Teen Spirit, except for Teen Spirit itself. It helps to have notes on the inspiration of certain songs like Polly. If you don't wanna review, that's cool, I'll still follow this! __________________ Last.Fm My New Journal Favorite Album Of The Moment: They Might Be Giants - Glean

06-03-2013, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I'd argue that the quintessential Pulp album is actually Different Class, and The Queen is Dead for The Smiths.