Poll's What You Make It: The Talk Talk / Mark Hollis Albums Poll

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Happy to see I wasn't the only 'Mark Hollis' chooser. But echoing folks above, I can't really be partisan in this mix--they're all amazing. Slightly surprised to see 'Laughing Stock' so separated from 'Spirit of Eden,' curious what the reasons will be.

I was expecting to see either Spirit of Eden or Laughing Stock at the top, but I thought the number of votes between the two would have been much closer. These days I'm finding I get different things from these two records. Even though they were put together in a similar way, I find as time goes on I have a deeper emotional connection to Spirit of Eden, whereas Laughing Stock I appreciate on a more analytical level.

Yeah, they're definitely quite different records in my mind these days. SoE is richer, more indulgent. Thicker somehow. It's like eating dessert without a main course, sometimes for me now. LS is spindly, harsher, more uneven. Arid at times, but not in a pejorative way.

I'm not at all surprised by the results of this poll. There aren't many of us out there who tend to lean more toward the first three albums, though I say that knowing that Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock are also perfect, perfectly satisfying albums. I must admit to not having heard the Mark Hollis solo album before, but I'll give it a shot and am sure I'll love it. (I'm guessing it's analogous to David Sylvian's Blemish or Dead Bees on a Cake, two albums of which I can never get enough.)

never really clicked with laughing stock. SOE or the self-titled. There's a coldness in laughing stock, a perfectness. I prefer the watercolour intros on spirit of eden. The feeling of group dynamics (despite what we know about the bitches brew type recording). Or the terrifying quietness of the s/t. the hum of the room, fingers sqeaking on the strings. westward bound is my favourite vocal by him, and i could almost do without his voice elsewhere, though not on I believe in you, the rainbow.

wowww nearly 10 votes separating each album. wild.

I'm more surprised at the participation... this had more votes than ballots for the EOY ballot poll.