OT-Rank Albums by artist

[Karlifornia]

For those of us who still pay money to listen to music we like, trying out new bands can be risky. What can be even harder is finding a group that already has a catalog of releases and not knowing which one you should buy first. This is why I have decided to go ahead and rank Radiohead's albums from best to worst in my opinion. If you know a band or musician's main releases, then rank 'em, best to worst. I also encourage you to re-rank Radiohead if you feel I've made a mistake. So, without further ado:

1. The Bends- Yes, Ok Computer is genius, but The Bends is a flawless collection of 3-4 minute alternative gems. You can pick any three songs on the album, and find them worth the price of the whole record. There's the ethereal opener, Planet Telex, the bombastic title track, the perfect alterna-ballad "Fake Plastic Trees", the chaotic "My Iron Lung", and the haunting closer "Street Spirit" just to name a few. Radiohead realized after this album, that they had exhausted their old sound, and the only option was to make...

2. Ok Computer-This is "The Dark Side of the Moon" of the 1990's. The tone of this album can't be described as anything but dread. The song titles themselves paint the picture "Paranoid Android" "Subterranean homesick Alien" "Climbing Up the Walls". Everyone who just knows Karma Police is missing the party.

3.Hail to the Theif-The latest release from Radiohead wasn't the return to rock everyone hoped for, but instead the culmination of "Kid A" and "Amnesiac", with a bit of a hearbeat thrown in there. Check out "Go To Sleep" and "2+2=5"

4.Pablo Honey- The first album. Y'know, the one with "Creep" on it. Pure post-grunge. When I listen to this I find it hard to believe that is the same band that record "Pyramid Song". Try "Anyone Can Play Guitar"

5.Amnesiac- A test of patience, but an improvement over Kid A.

6. Kid A- It took me a year before I could listen to this thing the whole way through.

[Hurst2112]

I would start ranking Frank Zappa albums, but I only have about 25 of the 100 or so out there.

[bossfan2000]

Well, Will hoge only has 2 (plus a newly released EP)
1) Blackbird On A Lonely Wire
2) Carousel

Michael McDermott
1) Michael McDermott
2) Gethsemane
3) Ashes
4) Last Chance Lounge
5) Bourbon Blue
6) 620 W. Surf

Springsteen top 5 (my favorite artist of all time)
1) Born To Run
2) The River
3) Darkness On The Edge of Town
4) The Rising
5) Born In The USA

Big Country Top 5
1) The Seer
2) The Crossing
3) Peace In Our Time
4) Buffalo Skinners
5) Steeltown

Bodeans (havent listened to the new one enough to rank it yet)
1) Black and White
2) Outside Looking In
3) Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams
4) Home
5) Blend
6) Go Slow Down

guess thats enough for now..though I thought about adding a Stereophonics listing too..

-jeff

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by bossfan2000

Well, Will hoge only has 2 (plus a newly released EP)
1) Blackbird On A Lonely Wire
2) Carousel

Will Hoge kicks my ass. And you've got the ranking right, too. I wrote about BOALW in the CD Review Thread.

Ironically, I can't stand Bruce Springsteen, even though the Boss is one of two names I always hear as an influence when Hoge is mentioned (the other being Tom Petty).

[VPI97]

Meh...
1 - OK Computer
2 - Kid A
3 - Amnesiac
4 - The Bends
5 - Hail to the Thief
6 - Pablo Honey


Also...I couldn't think of any other band which I owned all their albums, so:

Charlatans UK
1 - Some Friendly (1990) - ground breaking debut album.
2 - Between 10th and 11th (1992) - Solid followup.
3 - Tellin' Stories (1997) - Great last gasp, but couldn't hold on.
4 - Up To Our Hips (1994) - Decent album, has some great individual tracks.
5 - The Charlatans (1995) - Eh...had to replace a key member...average at best.
6 - Songs From the Other side (2002) - Comeback attempt...Ugh

[rkmsuf]

1. "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D: This was his breakout performance with all the classics - Eat it, I Lost on Jeopardy, Buy Me A Condo...a masterpiece.

2. Dare to Be Stupid: The blockbuster followu to 3-D is a close 2nd. Like A Surgeon, Dare To Be Stupid, Yoda, George Of The Jungle...this stamped Al as a force.

3. Bad Hair Day: A decade later, this one contains the classic Amish Paradise...that along makes the record.

4. "Weird Al" Yankovic: The debut effort gave us a glimpse of greatness with Ricky, Gotta Boogie, I Love Rocky Road, and Another One Rides The Bus.

5. Even Worse: One of Al's finest videos was born from this one that contains Fat. Other smashes were I Think I'm A Clone Now and Stuck in a Closet with Vanna White.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by bossfan2000

Well, Will hoge only has 2 (plus a newly released EP)
Springsteen top 5 (my favorite artist of all time)
1) Born To Run
2) The River
3) Darkness On The Edge of Town
4) The Rising
5) Born In The USA

The Rising before Nebraska, Greetings, or the Wild?

[Abe Sargent]

Let's See


Depeche Mode:

1) Music for the Masses
2) Black Celebration
3) Violator
4) Some Great Reward
5) Songs of Faith and Devotion
6) Ultra
7) Construction Time Again
8) Exciter
9) A Broken Frame
10) Speak and Spell


Or, say, Chicago:

1) Chicago II
2) Chicago VIII
3) Chicago V
4) Chicago Transit Authority
5) Chicago XI
6) Hot Streets
7) Chicago VI
8) Chicago 21
9) Chicago III
10) Chicago VII
11) Chicago 17
12) Chicago 19
13) Night and Day
14) Chicago 16
15) Chicago 18
16) Chicago 13
17) Chicago 14
18) Chicago XXIV: The Christmas Album


I could also do NewOrder, Pet Shop Boys, The Moody Blues, etc, if you care.

-Anxiety

[Fritz]

Pogues

1.) If I Should Fall from Grace with God (1987)
2.) Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash (1985)
3.) Red Roses For Me (1984)
4.) Peace and Love (1989)
5.) Hell's Ditch (1990)
6.) Pogue Mahone (1996)
7.) Waiting for Herb (1993)

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by Anxiety

Depeche Mode:

1. 101
1b) Music for the Masses
2) Black Celebration
3) Violator
4) Some Great Reward
5) Songs of Faith and Devotion
6) Ultra
7) Construction Time Again
8) Exciter
9) A Broken Frame
10) Speak and Spell

Fixed.

[Sun Tzu]

Well I don't have the attention span at the moment to give such an indepth review that RFUS has posted, but I'll give a quick description/wrappup of the albums that TOOL has released thus far.

1. Lateralus - 2001 - Definetely the mose intricate music they have released. Not the usual crunching you expect from TOOL, but still dark and brooding. The lyrics to the track Reflection are probably the best I have ever seen by a rock/metal band in my life. Most of these tracks clock in around the 7-8 minute range.

2. Aenema - 1996 - The biggest commercial success of the bands career. This is where TOOL really started becoming the thinking man's metal band. However this album was still hard enough for people that didn't want to think about what Maynard was saying to still enjoy it. Pushit and Third Eye are my personal favorites from this album. Most of these tracks clock in around the 6-7 minute range.

3. Undertow - 1993 - Definetely the darkest music they have released. Several shorter, much more simple songs on this album. Not a very big jump from their first album, which is listed below. My favorites from this one are Bottom (with some vocals done by Henry Rollins) and Crawl Away. Most of these tracks clock in around the 5-6 minute range.

4. Opiate EP - 1992 - A very raw, very rocking album. The lyrics are filled with a lot of angst and hatred towards the LA area and the people who live there. Some of the songs are just recorded from live shows, but you can definetely hear the talent for creating an original style of music there. Favorites from this album include Opiate and Part of Me. Most of these tracks clock in around 4-5 minutes.

[cthomer5000]

Radiohead
1. OK Computer
2. The Bends
3. Hail to the Thief
4. Amnesiac
5. Kid A
6. Pablo Honey

Pearl Jam
1. Yield
2. No Code
3. Vitalogy
4. Ten
5. Versus
6. Binaural
7. Riot Act

Ash
1. Free All Angels
2. Nu-Clear Sounds
3. 1977
4. Meltdown
5. Trailer

Aimee Mann
1. I'm with Stupid
2. Lost in Space
3. Bacherlor #2
4. Whatever

Superchunk
1. Indoor Living
2. Foolish
3. Here's Where the Strings Come In
4. Here's to Shutting Up
5. Come Pick Me Up
6. On the Mouth
7. No Pocky for Kitty
8. Superchunk
(singles and b-sides compilations omitted)

Elliott Smith
1. Elliott Smith
2. XO
3. Either/Or
(tempted to put Mic City Sons by Heatmiser right here)
4. Figure 8
5. Roman Candle

[Router Help]

Radiohead
1. OK Computer
2. The Bends
3. Hail to the Thief
4. Kid A
5. Amnesiac
6. Pablo Honey

[Draft Dodger]

Van Halen -

1) 1984 - the pinnacle of the Roth era. Not a bad song on this album
2) Van Halen - the band at their rawest
3) Fair Warning - maybe their darkest album, some really choice tracks on here
4) 5150 - the first Hagar album - a little uneven, but still terrific
5) Van Halen II - overall, a little more laid-back than their debut.
6) Balance - my favorite VH song of all is on here. some so-so ones too
7) OU812 - not enough rockers for my taste
8) Women and Children First - the first 3 songs rock, the rest...meh
9) F.U.C.K. - really dislike the muddy production on this album. not my favorite songs either.
10) Diver Down - VH turns into a cover band
29) VH3 - left space in there for future releases. I like to pretend this didn't happen.

[cthomer5000]

This really makes me realize how few bands I own more than 5 albums by. I know there are plenty I'm forgetting right now... but still. I own 1,000+ CD's and I can't think of more than 10 bands who I have more than 4 albums by.

[Sun Tzu]

Anybody care to give Pink Floyd a try? I would rank them but I have never listened to any of the pre-Meddle albums and wouldn't be able to give then a fair shake.

[bossfan2000]

Originally Posted by Fritz

The Rising before Nebraska, Greetings, or the Wild?

Yeah...I'm afraid so. Though i do like some of the live versions of the songs off those albums a lot. I need to listen to them some more and give them a chance...i spend more time listening to concert boots than any of the studio albums nowadays, though...

[bossfan2000]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Will Hoge kicks my ass. And you've got the ranking right, too. I wrote about BOALW in the CD Review Thread.

I bought his live cd off his website a couple months ago...good stuff. I'll probably buy the new EP off Rhapsody or iTunes soon, too.

According to his website...he is going to release a 2cd live album free..eagerly awaiting details on that one..

Now if only the band Wayne would release something new (though i'll be surprised if anyone here has heard of them...)

-jeff

[timmynausea]

Elliott Smith:

1) Self-titled (1995): My favorite record ever. Sparse and definitely lo-fi production, but really developed, unique melodies. There's not really anything else that sounds like this. His later stuff is way more Beatles influenced. Needle in the Hay, Southern Belle, Coming up Roses. Three of the best songs ever. The others aren't far behind. Lyrically this is very dark. A document of suffering and addiction, really, that doesn't really have any bright spots.

2) either/or (1997): This record is kind of the middle point between the lo-fi, man and guitar early days and the overproduced beatlesque later days. It's very very good. The melodies are catchier on this one, but not as blandly accessible beatley stuff as the later albums. Songs like angeles, between the bars, say yes and alameda are catchier than anything Smith had done to this point, but managed to maintain the unique melodic sensibility from the early albums. This album may find the perfect balance between the two. It also only slightly improved the production. It sounds better than the earlier stuff, but still sparse. The high points on this record are higher than those of the self-titled, but it is more all over the place where the first album really works as a cohesive, albeit sullen piece of work.

3) XO (1998) This album was Elliott's major label debut. It is insanely overproduced. After hearing the first 3 records, this one sounds like something that could be on VH1. A lot of reverb. The scale is begginning to tip more toward instantly accessible than unique melodic sensibility at this point, and with the suddenly full arrangements, pianos , horns, etc. etc. as opposed to the simple set up on the early stuff, this one takes some getting used to for Elliott Smith fans. The songs are still great, though. Independence Day, Sweet adeline, tomorrow tomorrow, waltz #2 and bottle up and explode are all brilliantly written pop songs. A great album.

4) Figure 8 (2000) This one sounds a lot like XO, but the high points aren't quite as high. The production values are essentially the same. Full arrangements with pianos and horns and etc. The songwriting is up to par, but some of the elements of the unique sad melodic sensibility have been replaced by more instantly accessible while still beautiful melodies. Anyone who likes the Beatles could like this record, but it doesn't strike a unique enough chord to be loved as much as Elliott's earlier work.

5) Roman Candle (1994) This is merely a collection of nine demo songs recorded at home that Elliott Smith mailed to a tiny record company on a whim. At the time he was in a moderately successful alternative band. The two best tracks on this, Condor Ave. and Last Call, oddly enough are both songs Smith wrote in high school. Both absolutely great songs. The talent is evident here and the songs are good. Just not as polished as his later work, and with only 9 songs it is easy to rank this one in last.

I've also heard live versions of all the songs on his soon to be released final album, From a Basement on the Hill, and on songwriting alone it would probably rank 1st or 2nd on the list. We'll have to see how the studio versions come out, though. You never know.

[cthomer5000]

Regardless of order, I think it's cyrstal clear that Elliott Smith, XO, and either/or are top 3 Elliott Smith albums.


Pixies
1. Surfer Rosa
2. Doolittle
3. Bossanova
4. Come On Pilgrim
5. Trompe Le Monde

Travis
1. The Man Who
2. 12 Memories
3. The Invisibile Band
4. Good Feeling

that dog.
1. Retreat From the Sun (my favorite album of all time)
2. Totally Crushed Out!
3. that dog.

Weezer
1. Pinkerton
2. Weezer (blue)
3. Weezer (green)
4. Maladroit

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by bossfan2000

I bought his live cd off his website a couple months ago...good stuff. I'll probably buy the new EP off Rhapsody or iTunes soon, too.

According to his website...he is going to release a 2cd live album free..eagerly awaiting details on that one..

Now if only the band Wayne would release something new (though i'll be surprised if anyone here has heard of them...)

-jeff

I got a burn of that live CD after it went out of print, but I didn't even know about the new EP or 2nd live CD. I''ll have to check out his site.

[Samdari]

If anyone wants rankings of Jimmy Buffet, Nanci Griffith or Shawn Colvin, let me know.

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Regardless of order, I think it's cyrstal clear that Elliott Smith, XO, and either/or are top 3 Elliott Smith albums.

Agreed. I could've easily put XO ahead of either/or on my list. Especially once I started listing off the good songs on XO.

As for the pixies, I definitely like Doolittle the best.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Pixies
1. Come On Pilgrim
2. Surfer Rosa
3. Bossanova
4. Doolittle
5. Trompe Le Monde

fritz had to work the list a little

[Franklinnoble]

Man, you guys listen to some obscure shit.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Fritz

fritz had to work the list a little

I can see that. Honestly, my big problem there is I didn't hear Come on Pilgrim until I'd heard Surfer Rosa and Doolittle extensively. Tough to be hearing some songs in rougher versions and correctly place it where it should be.

Surfer Rosa is the slam-dunk best full-length, and I've grown to like Bossanova more with each listen. I have to think the recording sessions for Come on Pilgrim were perhaps the best ever for a groups first shot. There are songs from those sessions on every single album, most of them being among the most well-known and best of the bunch too. Absolutely amazing.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

Agreed. I could've easily put XO ahead of either/or on my list. Especially once I started listing off the good songs on XO.

The self titled is a firm #1 for me, with the other 2 essentially tied right behind it. #2 is whichever one I happen to be listening to at the time.

[Hurst2112]

It wouldn't be right if I didn't throw some prog into the mix:

Dream Theater
Studio Albums Only

1)Awake
2)Scenes From a Memory
3)6 Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4)Images and Words
5)Falling Into Infinity
6)Train of Thought
7)When Dream and Day Unite
8)A Change of Seasons (mostly live covers, but the epic 27 minute title track makes up for it)

Rush
Studio Albums Only

1)2112
2)Moving Pictures
3)Permanent Waves
4)Hemispheres
5)Presto
6)Counterparts
7)A Farewell To Kings
8)Hold Your Fire
9)Fly By Night
10)Grace Under Pressure
11)Rush
12)Test for Echo
13)Signals
14)Roll the Bones
15)Caress of Steel
16)Power Windows
17)Vapor Trails
18)Feedback

[cthomer5000]

be a man and rank the Rush albums.

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

be a man and rank the Rush albums.

Look Up \m/

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

Look Up \m/

I think I like the 80's stuff more than you. Power Windows would be much, much higher on my list.

to each his own though. I definitely agree with the bottom of the rankings though.

[Router Help]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

that dog.
1. Retreat From the Sun (my favorite album of all time)
2. Totally Crushed Out!
3. that dog.

Retreat From The Sun is a great album. I was not aware however that there were two more! I am now very excited.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

This really makes me realize how few bands I own more than 5 albums by. I know there are plenty I'm forgetting right now... but still. I own 1,000+ CD's and I can't think of more than 10 bands who I have more than 4 albums by.

Same here.

[Pyser]

Dandy Warhols
1) ...Come Down
2) Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
3) ...Rules, Ok?
4) The Black Album
5) Welcome to the Monkeyhouse


Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five
1) Whatever and Ever, Amen
2) Ben Folds Five
3) Rockin' The Suburbs
4) The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
5) Naked Baby Photos

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

I think I like the 80's stuff more than you. Power Windows would be much, much higher on my list.

to each his own though. I definitely agree with the bottom of the rankings though.

Good point about Power Windows. I thought about the songs on their after I read your post and realized that there was some good stuff on that album. I would say that I could bump it up a couple slots. It's just 1 of their albums that I don't grab for right away.

[Draft Dodger]

Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin I
Physical Graffiti
Houses of the Holy
In Through the Out Door
Presence
Coda

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Router Help

Retreat From The Sun is a great album. I was not aware however that there were two more! I am now very excited.

There's a fairly major difference in production and style on the prior albums. A very strong progression through the 3 albums. I like the newer ones prior than the earlier ones.

Petra Haden from that dog. has recorded with everyone under the sun. She was in The Rentals, and has recorded with Beck, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Luscious Jackson, Ben Lee, and the list seriously goes on and on and on.

My absolute favorite musician.

[Ksyrup]

Well, you know I had to do it...


KING'S X

Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989) - This is the album that hooked me for good on this band. Best post-Beatles album ever, IMO. Their best combination of Beatlesque harmonies, soulful melodies, hard rock, psychedelia, and spirituality. They never quite got back to this high point. Standout tracks are Over My Head (a bit of MTV time, and now VH1 Classic), Pleiades (the first true "KX" song they ever wrote), Summerland, and The Burning Down (hands down the best ending song on an album, ever.)

Faith Hope Love (1990) - Gretchen taken to an artsy extreme. Scored their biggest hit, It’s Love, made Rolling Stone mag, toured with AC/DC, but the perception of the band as a "Christian band" killed them. Also the point at which they began to split from their manager/unofficial 4^th member Sam Taylor, who threw in the Bible verse of Faith Hope Love into the liner notes over their objections. Still, a great album, lyrics remaining positive (a bit too much, it turns out) but also their most outwardly spiritual, contains the classics We Were Born to Be Loved (a concert staple), Talk To You, and the anti-abortion acoustic track Legal Kill.

Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous (2000) - Best album of their post-Sam Taylor days. This one is short, but every track is great. It’s also their weirdest by far - they use odd nonsensical foreign language clips in between most tracks, Fish Bowl Man breaks down into a spoken word part in the middle, Smudge is just plain creepy, coming from these guys, at least. One of my most often played CDs, with my favorite tracks being Smudge, She’s Gone Away, and Bittersweet (the latter two about the lead singer’s marriage ending).

Dogman (1994) - A new beginning. First album with Sam Taylor, first to come out smack in the middle of the grunge era, this one is by far their heaviest, and Doug sings lead on all tracks, a first. The title track got some decent MTV airplay. I have to be in the mood for this one, but it still kicks my ass. Favorite track on this one is Shoes. They threw in a killer cover of Manic Depression at the end that was also performed at Woodstock that year. Last chance they had at becoming a household name, they had Brendan O’Brien produce and tried to capitalize on the grunge movement that they helped to inspire. But it wasn't meant to be.

Ear Candy (1996) - Amidst breakup rumors, they release their least progressive album, putting the psychedelia squarely out front on this one. A very personal album from both Doug and Ty, with Doug about to come out and Ty about to go through relationship issues (Jerry as well). Doug’s songs Fathers and Picture are stunningly personal - Fathers explaining how he and his 8 brothers and sisters (one of them gay (none of us knew at the time he was talking about himself)) had to deal with having separate fathers, none of whom stuck around, and then Picture, a story of how his parents met and how he finally got his favorite picture when he got his parents together. Also, Doug deals very openly with the loss of his faith in Run and Looking For Love.

King’s X (1992) - The last album with Sam Taylor, you could hear a bit of the anger starting to surface. A solid effort, though not up to the previous 2 albums. Long-time fan faves Prisoner, Lost In Germany, and The Big Picture on this one. Personal fave is The World Around Me. The song Black Flag, one of my least favorite KX songs, got decent MTV play and was "featured" on Beavis & Butthead.

Tape Head (1998) - A solid album, nothing shocking or truly standout on this one. Best tracks are Happy, Higher Than God, and Ono. I think this was also about the time they were named on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, pretty amazing considering no one knew/knows who they are.

Out of the Silent Planet (1988) - The first album. I can still remember seeing the video for King and being blown away. Here was this 3-piece hard rock band, with a black lead singer with a mohawk, singing incredible 3-part harmonies over unique riffs. I ran out and bought the album, and the first track just hit me like a ton of bricks - the heaviness, the Beatlesque harmonies, then Doug’s gospel-tinged lead vocals layered over it all. I had never heard anything like it, and still haven’t.

Black Like Sunday (2003) - The latest album, this one is a bunch of re-recorded songs from before they were KX. A lot of 80's cheese, but good for what it is. I have all of these songs in their original form, so it's interesting to hear from an historical perspecitve. It’s just not a KX album, really.

Manic Moonlight (2001) - An EP dressed up as an album, IMO. Some great stuff on here - Believe, False Alarm, Static (especially live, which kicks ass), Vegetable - but the rest is experimental and doesn’t work really well or wasn’t developed enough. And then the last song is a burp, which didn’t make things any better.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin I
Physical Graffiti
Houses of the Holy
In Through the Out Door
Presence
Coda

Damn... how is III not #1?

And Houses of the Hold would jump up a few slots for me.

[Ksyrup]

Here's a few more. I ran into the same problem as cthomer...too many of my favorite artists have/had less than 4 albums. Kinda sad, in a way.


Tea Party

The Interzone Mantras
The Edges of Twilight
Transmission
Triptych
Splendor Solis


Thought Industry

Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God’s Flesh
Black Umbrella
Songs For Insects
Short Wave On a Cold Day
Outer Space Is Just a Martini Away


Warrior Soul

Last Decade Dead Century
Drugs, God & The New Republic
Salutations From the Ghetto Nation
Space Age Playboys
Chill Pill


Tori Amos

Under the Pink
Little Earthquakes
From the Choirgirl Hotel
Scarlet’s Walk
To Venus and Back
Boys For Pele


Death Angel

Act III
The Art of Dying
The Ultra-Violence
Frolic Through the Park


Judas Priest (Halford only)

Stained Class
Screaming For Vengeance
Hell Bent For Leather
Sad Wings of Destiny
British Steel
Defenders of the Faith
Painkiller
Sin After Sin
Killing Machine
Turbo
Point of Entry
Ram It Down
Rocka Rolla


24-7 Spyz

Strength In Numbers
Gumbo Millenium
Heavy Metal Soul By the Pound/6
Harder Than You
Temporarily Disconnected

[QuikSand]

Peter Gabriel

1. Peter Gabriel III (1980)
2. Peter Gabriel IV a.k.a. Security (1982)
3. Peter Gabriel I (1977)
4. So (1986)
5. Passion – Soundtrack (1989)
6. Peter Gabriel II (1978)
7. Birdy – Soundtrack (1985)
8. Us (1992)


I’ve lost touch with PG in later years (or rather, he’s lost touch with me) but I really enjoy most of the stuff on this list. (I can’t even rank his latest project “Ovo”) For me, the big mover on this list over time was Security, which probably started out fairly low on the list, but now is in a virtual tie with his third album for my personal favorite.

I didn’t include compilations, but I really like the live version of “Here Comes the Flood” that appears on the Shaking the Tree greatest hits album. As a standalone, Peter Plays Live would probably be fourth on my list above.

[SplitPersonality1]

Siouxsie & the Banshees

1. Kaleidoscope (1980)
This album is vintage early Siouxsie. Many fans of the band will find some of their favorite songs on this album. "Christine", "Happy House", "Desert Kisses" and "Red Light" are my personal faves from this album.

2. Through the Looking Glass (1987)
This is one of the most interesting cover albums that I know of. What other group could cover Iggy Pop's "Passenger", Billie Holliday's "Strange Fruit" and put a strangly sexy twist on a Disney song? ("Trust in Me" from The Jungle Book) They not only do it, but do it quite well in my opinion.

3. Tinderbox (1986)
"Cities in Dust" is probably one of the bands most famous hits - charted at #17 in 1986 - and although a decent pop song, it is not the best this album has to offer. The rest of Side A of the album, "Candyman", "The Sweetest Chill" & "This Unrest" are very good as well.

4. The Scream (1978)
Very solid debut album. Very punk. Siouxsie Sioux really didn't know how to sing yet and the rest of the band is quite raw. Despite these negatives, the band produced a somewhat unique sound that works. "Hong Kong Garden" and "Overground" are my two favorites from this album.

5. Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982)
6. Juju (1981)
7. Hyaena (1984)
These three albums are basic Siouxsie & the Banshees. Good albums with a few great songs and a few dogs. "Spellbound", "Green Fingers" and "Dazzle" are the best songs from this period.

8. Superstition (1991)
9. Peepshow (1988)
By 1988, the band was older, wiser and had lost the edginess from their younger days. "Peek-A-Boo" and "Fear of the Unknown" topped the Modern Rock singles charts and dance mixes of their songs made their way into the club scene. Quite a world away from a band that began as fanatical followers of the Sex Pistols. These two albums are decent enough to listen to, but not the band at their best.

10. Nocturne (1983)
This live album is awful. I don't think I've ever listened to it all the way through.

11. Join Hands (1979)
This album is the dreaded sophomore slump in action. There is only one good song on the entire album - "Playground Twist". The band is very fortunate that their first album was so good, otherwise this could have been a career ender.

NR. Rapture (1995)
By 1995, I had moved on and didn't even bother with this album.

[TredWel]

Talking Heads

1. Speaking in Tongues
2. Remain in Light
3. More Songs about Buildings and Food
4. True Stories
5. Naked
6. '77
7. Little Creatures
8. Fear of Music

[timmynausea]

NOFX:

1) The Longest Line EP
2) Heavy Petting Zoo
3) Punk in Drublic
4) The Decline
5) White Trash, two heebs and a bean
6) The war on errorism
7) Pump up the valium
8) So long and thanks for all the shoes
9) Ribbed
10) S&M Airlines
11) Maximum Rock'n'Roll (all the mystic records stuff)
12) Liberal Animation

[VPI97]

The Ocean Blue
1 - Cerulean
2 - Ocean Blue
3 - Beneath the Rhythm and Sound
4 - See the Ocean Blue
5 - Davy Jones' Locker

Counting Crows
1 - Recovering the Satellites
2 - August and Everything After
3 - This Desert Life
4 - Hard Candy

Camper Van Beethoven/Cracker
1 - Key Lime Pie (CVB)
2 - Kerosene Hat (Cracker)
3 - Telephone Free Landslide Victory (CVB)
4 - II & III (CVB)
5 - Brand (Cracker)

[portnoise]

Barenaked Ladies

1) Gordon
2) Maybe You Should Drive
3) Everything to Everyone
4) Maroon
5) Stunt
6) Born on a Pirate Ship

Ben Folds (Five)

1) Ben Folds Five
2) Whatever and Ever Amen
3) Rockin' The Suburbs
4) Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner

[timmynausea]

Bad Religion:

1) How could Hell be any worse? (or 80-85)
2) No Control
3) Suffer
4) Against the Grain
5) Stranger than Fiction
6) The Generator
7) The Gray Race
8) Empire Strikes First
9) Recipe for Hate
10) All their others are tied for last (basically the albums between the gray race and the new one)

[Fonzie]

I'll take a crack at Rush as well, although I've still not picked up Feedback:

Rush
1. Permanent Waves
2. Moving Pictures
3. 2112
4. Hemispheres
5. Counterparts
6. A Farewell To Kings
7. Grace Under Pressure
8. Power Windows
9. Signals
10. Fly By Night
11. Hold Your Fire
12. Presto
13. Test for Echo
14. Roll the Bones
15. Rush
16. Caress of Steel
17. Vapor Trails

[Franklinnoble]

Elmo

1. Elmo's Favorite Sing-Alongs
2. Elmo & The Orchestra
3. Elmo in Grouchland (Soundtrack)
4. Best of Elmo
5. Sesame Street Platinum: All-Time Favorites

[timmynausea]

Social Distortion:

1) White Light, White Heat, White Trash
2) Self-titled
3) Mommy's Little Monster
4) Mainliner
5) Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
6) Prison Bound

How did these guys not get more famous?