my favorite albums of all time: a poll

Voting for one thing in this list will be the hardest thing I have ever done.

What’s the most recent addition to the list, brad? Comsat angels or something else?

This is an excellent set of options. There are a few that I'd eliminate, though...

scritti politti: cupid & psyche 85 (1985)
- Eighties sophisto-pop Scritti hasn't worn well for me at all - a major drop-off in enjoyment since the Actual Eighties.

prince: parade (1986)
- Played this a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't quite the classic that I remembered.

the other people place: lifestyles of the laptop café (2001)
- Also played this a couple of weeks ago. While pleasant and ahead of its time, it's not right up there as a classic.

can: tago mago (1971)
- Never been able to get with Can. They're a band I should like in theory, but it just won't click.

madonna: erotica (1992)
- I've posted elsewhere about this before, but the ILM love for Erotica has always baffled me. Too many samey underwhelming fillers!

there's quite a few of these i haven't heard but i think it's probably Hats out of the ones i have

if Aerial was there instead of Hounds of Love it could pretty easily be that though

Still baffled by the love for Hats tbh. Possibly the contropiest of my ILM controps

if Aerial was there instead of Hounds of Love it could pretty easily be that though

― ufo, Sunday, May 12, 2019 4:31 AM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

on the actual list aerial is in the top ten. didn’t want to double up on kate for a poll though

Imma gonna vote for Godflesh

What’s the most recent addition to the list, brad? Comsat angels or something else?

― Tim F, Sunday, May 12, 2019 3:56 AM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

the most recent additions were low-life (after a decade-long battle it came out ahead of technique as my favorite no record) and carcass’ symphonies of sickness (after being a huge heartwork fan for years it finally clicked and is the only metal album i want to listen to). comsat angels were p recent still though!

Lotta stuff I like a lot on that list from several of my favorite acts, but few of my favorites from said acts, if I'm being honest. Voted "Tusk."

and, 'dance of december souls' over 'brave murder day'?

― rusty_allen, Sunday, May 12, 2019 3:03 AM (three hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah! one of the few bands for whom i think the debut towers over everything else (tbf like anathema they didn’t stay in the aching death-doom mode long anyway). rich unrelenting depressive atmosphere + perfect songs and playing

I have a theory that anytime someone lists PJ Harvey as a favorite, they are usually huge Nick Cave fans as well.
where is the NC Brad?

you know i don't really have a favorite nick cave record. i love his entire thing, hard to isolate it to just one album

Either way I’m putting the handful of albums on this list I don’t know at the top of my queue

― flamboyant goon tie included

same here. here's the handful for me:

rickie lee jones: pirates (1981)
dj sprinkles: midtown 120 blues (2008)
debarge: in a special way (1981)
gwen guthrie: padlock (1983)
anita baker: rapture (1986)
the other people place: lifestyles of the laptop café (2001)
katatonia: dance of december souls (1993)
alexander o'neal: hearsay (1987)

Tago Mago is tough, the “first disc” is my favourite Can release and the “second disc” threatens to sour their entire legacy... the moment when Damo just breaks kayfabe and starts literally going “BOOGABOOGABOOGABOOGABOOGA” might be one of my least favourite moments in recorded music

Hats is a steady dropping off in quality throughout the record but the highs are so high

I’ve typed too much about my complicated relationship to Talk Talk elsewhere

I love that Love Deluxe and Adore are on this list, truly excellent choices

Hats is a steady dropping off in quality throughout the record but the highs are so high

the last song is “saturday night”!!!!!

I love that Love Deluxe and Adore are on this list, truly excellent choices

yeah might narrow my picks down to these two, both are so full-bodied

What a great list. Had to vote "Exile" though.

brad where's all the emo?

btw the correct answer is Parade

brad where's all the emo?

― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, May 15, 2019 1:49 PM (sixteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

texas is the reason's do you know who you are is just below no other on this list. i figured i should stop at 50 lol

I think I discovered Parade through another Brad thread. Ton of albums I’m curious to hear on this list.

What's the highest 2010s album?

texas is the reason's do you know who you are is just below no other on this list. i figured i should stop at 50 lol

― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, May 15, 2019 2:06 PM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh whoops, also diary and clarity would be above that too. the order of the list gets REAL messy after 50, it's kind of a monster. highest 2010s album is the 1975's i like it when you sleep followed by laurel halo's quarantine

These are all just about as close as you can get to musical perfection:

scritti politti: cupid & psyche 85 (1985)
roxy music: avalon (1982)
the velvet underground: the velvet underground (1969)
david bowie: low (1977)
joni mitchell: the hissing of summer lawns (1975)
anita baker: rapture (1986)
talk talk: laughing stock (1991)
the comsat angels: sleep no more (1981)

WOW. Which one am I going to go for? Oh fuck it, considering how little love it got in the 1982 poll, I have little choice but to vote for Avalon, even if so it can get at least ONE vote. (Where are all the Roxy fans?)

the velvet underground

I voted Tusk cuz I have to fess up to being a sentimentalist.

I tried listening to tusk because of this thread and I guess I don’t get that band?? I love “everywhere”

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Jesus wtf is this choice. Brutal. Love that Snivilization is here. It really is a pinnacle record for me too.

Went with Hounds of Love, though.

Parade!

Voted Joni, but forgot Al Green was there too. Feel free to use that missed vote as a tie-breaker if need be.

Seriously rooting for any one of the eight albums I mentioned in my previous post... and hoping I really didn't cast the only vote for Avalon.

Lots of good ones but for me it can only be exile

here are some records not in this poll that i'm realizing should've been:

aphex twin selected ambient works 85-92
sonny sharrock ask the ages
the human league dare
radiohead in rainbows
r.e.m. murmur (removed bc it would've won, though who knows why the same rule didn't apply to hounds of love lol)
leonard cohen i'm your man

here is the full list, it's a huge mess after the top 50 still https://rateyourmusic.com/list/BradNelson/records/

Damn, your extended list is so great! Some more of my own favourites and I immediately want to hear all the albums I don't know.

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

:)

I'm shocked

Oops, thought I voted but "Rapture" has 0.

w00t, one of the eight I was rooting for got second place! Also happy about the votes Laughing Stock, Low, and Cupid and Psyche 85 got, and that I wasn't the only person who ended up voting for Avalon (but am really glad I threw a little love that way). OTOH, I'm shocked Sleep No More received zero votes.

Damn great turnout. Voted Sade in the end.

You can tell Paul's Boutique, Disintegration and Doolittle were missing from the list.

al green: i'm still in love with you (1972)
0 votes
marvin gaye: here, my dear (1978)
0 votes
anita baker: rapture (1986)
0 votes

This makes me sad.

hats 13 - laughing stock 5
i am baffled to say the least.

You and me both.

Impressed by the spread, excellent list Brad. I’m pretty sure I voted Sprinkles, as I would in any ballot

Speaking of which, I happily discovered Sprinkles through this poll so thanks, Brad!

folie a quatre

al green: i'm still in love with you (1972)
0 votes
marvin gaye: here, my dear (1978)
0 votes
anita baker: rapture (1986)
0 votes

This makes me sad.

rapture shutout is the biggest surprise there