A decade ago I would've gone for the post-punk perennials. Now I'd as soon go for Risque or Off The Wall.
― go down on you in a thyatrr (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 1 June 2012 02:16 (eleven years ago) link
chic
― he bit me (it felt like a diss) (m bison), Friday, 1 June 2012 02:23 (eleven years ago) link
Metal Box
― Snowqueen's Icedragon (crüt), Friday, 1 June 2012 02:34 (eleven years ago) link
Tusk is better than half of these. Voting Entertainment!
― Moka, Friday, 1 June 2012 03:43 (eleven years ago) link
MJ
― The Reverend, Friday, 1 June 2012 03:45 (eleven years ago) link
It's the Clash by a whisker of Michael Jackson.
― jetfan, Friday, 1 June 2012 04:36 (eleven years ago) link
The B-52's. No second thoughts.
― EZ Snappin, Friday, 1 June 2012 04:36 (eleven years ago) link
b52s
― hamburglr (electricsound), Friday, 1 June 2012 04:38 (eleven years ago) link
^ no second thoughts
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Friday, 1 June 2012 05:11 (eleven years ago) link
I'd normally vote Neil Young, but the title songs are pretty much dead for me, so I'd probably take 154 instead--possibly even Unknown Pleasures.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 June 2012 11:15 (eleven years ago) link
the Clashthe CUREthe Specials
― nicky lo-fi, Friday, 1 June 2012 11:35 (eleven years ago) link
Risqué
― gospodin simmel, Friday, 1 June 2012 11:46 (eleven years ago) link
Close call between PiL and Chic. The AC/DC and Talking Heads albums are both great but with both bands I prefer the records released either side of them.
Been meaning to give that Graham Parker album a listen for ages now.
― Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 1 June 2012 11:53 (eleven years ago) link
I'm probably the only one voting for Overkill.
― van smack, Friday, 1 June 2012 13:19 (eleven years ago) link
This is tough but I have to go with The Clash - London Calling because, well, c'mon now it's fing London Calling!
― wolf kabob (ENBB), Friday, 1 June 2012 13:21 (eleven years ago) link
none of my would-be underdog picks are here, so Off the Wall i guess
― ciderpress, Friday, 1 June 2012 13:22 (eleven years ago) link
London Callong, duh.
― Look at how funky he is! (jer.fairall), Friday, 1 June 2012 15:18 (eleven years ago) link
Had to consider London Calling here, but I do honestly believe Reggatta de Blanc is one of the all-time postpunk greats - everything works on that album. So that's where the one vote is coming from.
― frogbs, Friday, 1 June 2012 15:36 (eleven years ago) link
― van smack, Friday, June 1, 2012 1:19 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I did too!
― how's life, Friday, 1 June 2012 15:39 (eleven years ago) link
The B-52's gets my vote. Off The Wall, Fear of Music, Armed Forces and Risque would be up there too.
― Kitchen Person, Friday, 1 June 2012 15:41 (eleven years ago) link
I'm voting for Damn The Torpedoes because YOU DON'T! HAVE! TO LIVE LIKE A REFUGEE!
(Don't have to live like a refugee-ee.)
― Brony! Broni! Broné! (Phil D.), Friday, 1 June 2012 15:44 (eleven years ago) link
is it just me or is half of off the wall actually really boring (other half is brilliant of course)
― teledyldonix, Friday, 1 June 2012 20:37 (eleven years ago) link
I'm not gonna bother trying to rank these: too many, too good. But Cut is my favorite, just over Metal Box.
― thillrer (loves laboured breathing), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:38 (eleven years ago) link
risque probably
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:54 (eleven years ago) link
jesus, best year ever. had to go with 'metal box' despite stiff competition from, like, everything else.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Friday, 1 June 2012 21:57 (eleven years ago) link
specials
― Pacific Trash Vortex (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 1 June 2012 22:05 (eleven years ago) link
Surprised myself voting for Armed Forces, far and away my favorite album by an artist I don't even consider a huge personal favorite. Post-punk hasn't worn well for me, and I don't like anything else here quite enough to vote for it instead.
― _Rudipherous_, Saturday, 2 June 2012 02:26 (eleven years ago) link
1979 was the year I started college in Athens, so.
― Brad C., Saturday, 2 June 2012 02:51 (eleven years ago) link
so many great albums! voted 154 because of it being one of the greatest things of all time
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Saturday, 2 June 2012 03:18 (eleven years ago) link
i pick the year 1979 out of a hat. when i saw what albums would be listed, i knew it would be a very, very tough poll. now that the votes are rolling in, i really wonder what will win. almost all of these albums are A's and are really, really great.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 2 June 2012 03:57 (eleven years ago) link
gotta be neil.
― one dis leads to another (ian), Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:03 (eleven years ago) link
first instinct is London Calling but I really fkn love Highway To Hell
Bon vs Joe FITE
sorry Joe. Bon it is.
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:07 (eleven years ago) link
Ok I've been 4 hours stuck in the airport and my urge to make lists is overcoming. My top 10 of these albums just because. A really good year for music.
1. Gang of Four - Entertainment!2. Chic - Risqué3. Michael Jackson - Off the Wall4. The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys/Boys Don't Cry5. The Slits - Cut5. The Undertones - The Undertones6. The Clash - London Calling7. The Specials - Specials8. Motörhead - Overkill9. Wire - 15410. The Police - Reggatta de Blanc
From the ones that didn't make it I like these ones even better, Tusk would be my actual #1 for the year and possibly for the whole decade.
XTC -Drums and WiresFleetwood Mac - TuskDavid Bowie - Lodgerand Blondie - Eat to the Beat.
― Bee OK,
― Moka, Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:17 (eleven years ago) link
demographics here are weird. would like to know more about the sources aggregated.
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:34 (eleven years ago) link
Statin the obvious since I think almost everyone in here agrees that Pink Floyd rules but I hate the Wall, at least music-wise. The movie and concept for the live experience are on another level.
Also maybe i like acdc better than the police.
― Moka, Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:37 (eleven years ago) link
can't believe 20 Jazz Funk Great didn't make the list
― van smack, Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:41 (eleven years ago) link
UNKNOWN PLEASURES. If it had been twenty years ago, it would've been ARMED FORCES.
/miserablist
― Matt M., Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:43 (eleven years ago) link
xp It's probably somewhere in the top 50. Same w/ Half Machine Lip Moves. One of my favourite albums of all time, The Fall's Dragnet, is missing too...
― thillrer (loves laboured breathing), Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:46 (eleven years ago) link
I think almost everyone in here agrees that Pink Floyd rules
How ILM has changed!
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:47 (eleven years ago) link
Not that album. Some great guitar work, but I can't listen to THE WALL anymore.
― Matt M., Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:51 (eleven years ago) link
RYM's '79 toplist, surprisingly similar:
1) Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures2) The Clash - London Calling3) Pink Floyd - The Wall4) Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps5) Talking Heads - Fear of Music6) Gang of Four - Entertainment!7) Neil Young - Live Rust8) Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East: Live in Japan9) Ramones - It's Alive10) Wire - 15411) UFO - Strangers in the Night12) Motörhead - Overkill13) AC/DC - Highway to Hell14) Public Image Ltd. - Metal Box15) Muddy Waters - Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live16) Elvis Costello - Armed Forces17) The Specials - Specials18) The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette19) Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material20) Olivier Messiaen - Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Luben Yordanoff et al)21) The B-52's - The B-52's22) Thin Lizzy - Black Rose: A Rock Legend23) Michael Jackson - Off the Wall24) The Jam - Setting Sons25) XTC - Drums and Wires
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:53 (eleven years ago) link
Whaaaat? ILM list has no tusk!? The wall in the top 3!? I demand a recount.
― Moka, Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:58 (eleven years ago) link
here are some of my favorite albums from 79
Heldon - Stand ByThrobbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk GreatsGunter Schickert - UberfalligEarthstar - French SkylineMotorhead - OverkillGang of Four - Entertainment!Wire - 154PiL - Metal BoxThis Heat - This HeatFleetwood Mac - TuskSteve Hillage - Rainbow Dome Musick
― van smack, Saturday, 2 June 2012 05:03 (eleven years ago) link
xp to contenderizer - Yeah, very strange that they should be so identical. There are a lot of really popular albums all the way up through the 200s and 300s if you look at the full RYM 1979 list.
205. Earth Wind and Fire - I Am209. Van Halen II231. Simple Minds - Real to Real Cacaphony243. Abba - Voulez-Vous263. E.L.O. - Discovery325. Get the Knack346. The Romantics - s/t356. Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door374. Adam and the Ants - Dirk Wears White Sox375. Prince - s/t
Etc., etc.
― timellison, Saturday, 2 June 2012 05:13 (eleven years ago) link
205. Earth Wind and Fire - I Am
Would've voted.
― Björk lied (Eric H.), Saturday, 2 June 2012 05:15 (eleven years ago) link
It's just odd, when we're talking about 400 albums, that things that seem a little niche to me like Stiff Little Fingers or Motorhead are top twenty-five on both.
― timellison, Saturday, 2 June 2012 05:20 (eleven years ago) link
dang, was gonna post something just like that list, tim. anyway, i agree. the nature of the commonality is odd: anglophilic, heavily privileging punk and post-punk over whatever else was going on at the time. this makes sense, as those were the freshest sounds of the moment, but there was a lot of other stuff going on. also from '79:
Donna Summer - Bad GirlsRickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee JonesBee Gees - Spirits Having FlownSister Sledge - We Are FamilyJourney - EvolutionSugarhill Gang - Sugarhill GangArt Ensemble of Chicago - Nice GuysOrnette Coleman - Soapsuds SoapsudsBlack Uhuru - ShowcaseDevo - Duty Now for the Future
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Saturday, 2 June 2012 06:12 (eleven years ago) link
I guess if Acclaimed Music uses RYM numbers in their calculations, that would make sense.
― timellison, Saturday, 2 June 2012 06:21 (eleven years ago) link
They don't.
― The Reverend, Saturday, 2 June 2012 06:40 (eleven years ago) link
lol no.
― wolf kabob (ENBB), Saturday, 2 June 2012 13:19 (eleven years ago) link
nice, was hoping the B-52's would take this
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 03:18 (eleven years ago) link
They do all 16 dancesThey do all 16 dances
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 03:21 (eleven years ago) link
Neglected to vote in this, it would have been one more vote for B-52's. Actually, that's pretty much my top 5, except I've never found Joy Division particularly, erm, pleasurable. Swap that for The Slits.
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:04 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, this top 5 (well 6) seems right, regardless of order.
― Björk lied (Eric H.), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:07 (eleven years ago) link
The B52's scored anomalously high relative to its Acclaimed Music ranking. Is it just a peculiar favourite on this board?
― Träumerei, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:30 (eleven years ago) link
B-52s get love on ilx, yes
― shipl.de.al (some dude), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:33 (eleven years ago) link
B-52's were, like, my first favourite band
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:31 (eleven years ago) link
no, thing is the acclaimed music ranking is horseshit and means nothing
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:39 (eleven years ago) link
Acclaimed Music get it ranking from critics lists from around the world. it comes from print and more recognizable on-line sites.
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:06 (eleven years ago) link
http://cdn.socialmediaexaminer.com/images/1011sh-compensated-endorser.png?9d7bd4
― Trey Imaginary Songz (WmC), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:32 (eleven years ago) link
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Wednesday, June 6, 2012 11:39 AM (54 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
well i mean, it is far to say that London Calling and Off The Wall and Fear Of Music generally have a more assured place in the canon than The Bs' debut in most places outside ilx
― shipl.de.al (some dude), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:34 (eleven years ago) link
DO THE AQUA VELVA
― retro-shittified (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:35 (eleven years ago) link
Kind of surprised by this - don't even know any B52s outside of about three singles.
― You can do it Sun Myung Moon (NickB), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:37 (eleven years ago) link
Which three?
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:09 (eleven years ago) link
there's a huge gulf of public recognition between their three biggest hits and whatever their 4th biggest hit is, so it shouldn't be that hard to guess
― shipl.de.al (some dude), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:13 (eleven years ago) link
Lol right on
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:17 (eleven years ago) link
btw it makes me so happy that the album on this list that John Lennon was most excited about at the time was The B-52s
― shipl.de.al (some dude), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:19 (eleven years ago) link
Had no idea the B52's were that loved on ILM. They've never vibed that well with me. Is this album a good starting point?
― Moka, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:56 (eleven years ago) link
yes
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:57 (eleven years ago) link
i haven't really heard much of them, but at SOM records last week they were playing some amazing record, and I asked what it was and it turned out to be their debut!
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:04 (eleven years ago) link
Moka, check this out; a longtime holy grail for me, it recently popped up on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gobO7spdAfg
It's difficult for me to put into words how much I love them; five slackers from smalltown GA at the dawn of the new wave, pretty much inventing their own form of music.
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:09 (eleven years ago) link
That show is so good.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:12 (eleven years ago) link
Love Shack, Roam and Rock Lobster obv, but was googling their singles just now to see if I knew any others and their second biggest single in the UK turns out to be something I mercifully have zero recollection of - Meet The Flintstones, which got to #3.
― You can do it Sun Myung Moon (NickB), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:19 (eleven years ago) link
Nick, you should listen to the 1978 show above too, then!
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:24 (eleven years ago) link
They were young and on fire. Guitars on this are just cracking.
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
I loved "Rock Lobster" and "Private Idaho" when I first heard them but "52 Girls" is really the song that made me go "okay this band HAS IT"
― WHEY AHR MAH DREGUNS? (DJP), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:27 (eleven years ago) link
Dan, I will fire that thing up just as soon as I get a chance - thanks!
― You can do it Sun Myung Moon (NickB), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:29 (eleven years ago) link
Dan Peterson that is
oh shit I forgot about "6060-842"
― WHEY AHR MAH DREGUNS? (DJP), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:30 (eleven years ago) link
Your number's been disconnectedYour number's been disconnectedYour number's been disconnectedYour number's been disconnected
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:32 (eleven years ago) link
Wow, "52 Girls"... I guess I need this record.
― jim, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:38 (eleven years ago) link
Another track which may convert the unconverted: the longer alternate mix of "Cake' from Mesopotamia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu1cgHWI6iM
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 18:39 (eleven years ago) link
Love how virtually overnight ILM has come to regard itself as an enclave of massive B-52's worship
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 21:36 (eleven years ago) link
Ten years ago, before my time here, the worshippers were outnumbering the naysayers by a pretty wide margin.
B-52s: Classic or Dud.
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 22:14 (eleven years ago) link
See, "Rock Lobster" on SNL was epic but "Love Shack" was a piece o' crap as far as I'm concerned.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 23:53 (eleven years ago) link
The phoenix-like rebirth of The B's after Ricky's death, and the massive mainstream success of the Cosmic Thing album, is heartwarming and wonderful to me. And I still love Love Shack.― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 10 June 2009 20:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 10 June 2009 20:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
True for me two years ago, true today.
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 7 June 2012 00:42 (eleven years ago) link
Three years ago!
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 7 June 2012 00:43 (eleven years ago) link
Cosmic Thing is still one of my favourite 80s albums. Bouncing has a lot of gems as well.
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Thursday, 7 June 2012 03:10 (eleven years ago) link
Cosmic Thing is fine (I loved it when I was in jr. high), but I love introducing people who are only really familiar with that later period to the early stuff. I rep hard for the first three albums + Mesopotamia (which is a close second to their debut in my esteem and one of the best EPs ever).
― Quiet Desperation, LLC (Deric W. Haircare), Thursday, 7 June 2012 04:08 (eleven years ago) link
Actually I'm willing to bet Mesopotamia is right up my alley.
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Thursday, 7 June 2012 04:41 (eleven years ago) link
Didn't see this until just now. I'd probably have voted for Off the Wall, but The B-52s is a close second.
― Never translate Dutch (jaymc), Thursday, 7 June 2012 04:50 (eleven years ago) link
i have been a massive enclave of B-52's worship since fall quarter 1980
― spextor vs bextor (contenderizer), Thursday, 7 June 2012 06:48 (eleven years ago) link