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Post by nanatod on Jun 8, 2023 11:53:30 GMT -6
 Yes. Yessss. YEESSSS. One of my first favorite albums, actually it was the first LP I ever bought (for $0.25 at Goodwill). My friends and I were all obsessed with Boston in middle school, circa 2009. Unsurprisingly, we were not popular. Anyways, this album ruled back then and it still rules today. We need to bring back the era of dropping extended organ solos in the middle of pop hits. Also, the guitar solo to "Hitch A Ride" still gave me goosebumps this morning. Haven't listened to it in a few years but I still know every note. this album is dogshit. -- dude who remembers when this was a new release. |
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Post by nanatod on Jun 8, 2023 11:58:00 GMT -6
A somewhat comprehensive list of albums released in 1972: Deep Purple- Machine Head (nana's favorite album of all time?) no question about it; it is my favorite album of all time. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 8, 2023 12:09:56 GMT -6
 Agitation Free - 2nd: Two years ago a coworker who I used to chat with about Garcia Peoples / heady music recommended this to me. Lo and behold, I saw a Garcia Peeps show later that year where they jammed out "Laila, Pt. 2" from this record. It's like the German version of the Dead mixed with a little Allman-y twin guitar showmanship. And it mixes in a little free-form bleeps and bloops to keep in line with their kosmische countrymen. It's a real nugget and something of a hidden gem amongst the German psych milieu. If you like the Dead, noodly jazz jams, or any of the German bands I talked about yesterday - you owe it to yourself to give this one a listen. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 8, 2023 12:11:00 GMT -6
Yes. Yessss. YEESSSS. One of my first favorite albums, actually it was the first LP I ever bought (for $0.25 at Goodwill). My friends and I were all obsessed with Boston in middle school, circa 2009. Unsurprisingly, we were not popular. Anyways, this album ruled back then and it still rules today. We need to bring back the era of dropping extended organ solos in the middle of pop hits. Also, the guitar solo to "Hitch A Ride" still gave me goosebumps this morning. Haven't listened to it in a few years but I still know every note. this album is dogshit. -- dude who remembers when this was a new release. Counterpoint: |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 8, 2023 14:10:43 GMT -6
 My favorite Willie Nelson record, and the one that will make my list. As I do more of these write-ups / listening, I'm realizing how hard it's gonna be to narrow this thing down. Yesterday's Wine, Red-Headed Stranger, and especially Shotgun Willie are all wonderful, but none of them (IMO) cohere as well as Phases and Stages. I love how he entwines and develops the record's theme, especially when his voice breaks on the section just before "No Love Around." The songs therein are some of his very best. Rave-ups like "Pretend I Never Happened," "Sister's Coming Home," "Bloody Mary Morning." All of those are master-classes in packing a punch while getting the audience to tap their feet. Not to mention to musicality of these things. Good god, the pickin' on Pretend I Never Happened is a thing of beauty. Then he nails two killer ballads (incl. the remarkable "It's Not Supposed to Be That Way") and closes with fuckin' Pick Up The Tempo?! Damn near every song on this thing is a standard. Picking a favorite Waylon record is gonna be harder tho. I'm still torn between I'm A Ramblin Man and Honky-Tonk Heroes. Will prolly write those up today or tomorrow. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 8, 2023 14:35:09 GMT -6
  And now for my favorite (I think?) Townes record - The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. Can you believe he dropped Pancho & Lefty and If I Needed You back-to-back on this one? Imagine hearing that for the first time. Like, damn. "This is the greatest song I've ever heard" and then the next track comes on and it's even better?! Townes really had the gift. But that pairing alone isn't enough to vault this record to the top. It has probably his best deep cut too, the haunting "Snow Don't Fall," written in the aftermath of his girlfriend's murder. He also leads off the album with two remarkable tracks featuring some really stellar accompaniments. I knew Townes was in with Guy and Susanna Clarke, but I didn't realize he also had Vassar Clements and Jack Clement on this record. A top-notch group in all regards. I'm still torn on including Live from the Old Quarter on my list. I'm trying to not flood it with live records, but damn that one is a treasure. Chances are I might just make a separate list for live albums - but still probably include 4 or 5 on my main list. For some reason tho, it just feels off to put that one in. Maybe because he rips thru so many songs it feels more like a greatest hits comp. But if anyone here is curious about Townes (IMO on the Mount Rushmore of all-time great songwriters), Live at the Old Quarter is the place to start. A truly magical record. |
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Post by nanatod on Jun 8, 2023 15:06:03 GMT -6
My favorite Willie Nelson record, and the one that will make my list. my favorite willie nelson record doesn't show up until the 1980s, so he's not on my 1970's list. |
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Post by krentist on Jun 8, 2023 16:17:09 GMT -6
Yes. Yessss. YEESSSS. One of my first favorite albums, actually it was the first LP I ever bought (for $0.25 at Goodwill). My friends and I were all obsessed with Boston in middle school, circa 2009. Unsurprisingly, we were not popular. Anyways, this album ruled back then and it still rules today. We need to bring back the era of dropping extended organ solos in the middle of pop hits. Also, the guitar solo to "Hitch A Ride" still gave me goosebumps this morning. Haven't listened to it in a few years but I still know every note. this album is dogshit. -- dude who remembers when this was a new release. One of the worst posts to ever grace the board and there have been some bad ones. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 8, 2023 18:40:23 GMT -6
 Here's a lovely bluegrass / country-folk record that I've had in steady rotation this year & have talked about on the Board before. One of my favorite finds during this year-long foray into bluegrass. This record feels like relaxed, peaceful porch music. It's whole vibe is unhurried. Just sit back and enjoy Norman's gorgeous picking and gently drawled voice. Ginseng Sullivan is the big highlight here - just a perfect song. Say what you will about Phish, but they have impeccable taste in bluegrass covers. Equally dazzling are his instrumental fingerstyle guitar pieces, especially "Weave and Way" and "Spanish Fandango." Sit back and enjoy this album. You deserve it. |
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Post by nanatod on Jun 8, 2023 19:25:22 GMT -6
what do townes van zandt and norman blake have in common, monastery?
In the mid 80's, WBEZ public radio decided to hold a free two hour live audience folk music program in the summer, on Sunday afternoons, in the grand ballroom of navy pier. They called it the flea market, even tho nothing was sold. There would be three or four acts every time, hosted by a live band led first by the now late Jim Post, and later by Stuart Rosenberg and his "Golden Fleas." In winter, the show was moved into the old town school building on Armitage.
Both Van Zandt and Blake played the flea market on navy pier on different occasions. The winter versions had John Hartford, among others.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 7:35:24 GMT -6
 Spent some time with this one this morning. The subject matter is obvs quite heavy here, but for some reason I almost always listen to it in the morning. The strings and reed arrangements just flow so beautifully. All props due to Abbey Road, but this record has to have the greatest transitions of all time. The piano roll into God is Love? The rhythmic emphasis onto the downbeat of Mercy Mercy Me? And of course Marvin is perfect throughout. My heart breaks for the sadness in his voice - but also the beauty of his tone + the accompaniments keep it from feeling like an overall heavy listen. What do y'all think of this one? Its really been canonized in that inner-sanctum of all-time records within the last 5-10 years or so. Like, it always scored on those lists, but now it's a universal top 5-10 lock. Quite deserving, IMO, tho I don't think it'll hit quite that high on mine. But who knows? Can't think of a 70s record that has aged as gracefully as What's Going On. It may just sneak into my top 10-20. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 7:56:11 GMT -6
 Revisiting this one now, and it's as great and frustratingly uneven as always. Idk if it'll make my top 100, but if I extend out to 150 it probably will make that one. I have two main questions: 1.) Is there a worse song on a classic album than "Student Demonstration Time"? 2.) Is there a starker shit/divine divide between two consecutive songs than Student Demonstration Time > Feel Flows (a top 5 Beach Boys song)? |
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Post by Tweet on Jun 9, 2023 8:29:23 GMT -6
Surf’s Up is a top 3 song Brian Wilson wrote
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 8:42:00 GMT -6
 Is this one ( Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue) still considered a cult classic these days? Criminally underappreciated in its time, I really wish it had been the start of something for Dennis, rather than a farewell. Was pleased to see it have several songs with 1-4 million plays on Spotify tho, so I guess the word is getting out. I love love love when he dips into his gospel bag on here (River Song, Dreamer, Farewell My Friend) - sometimes it almost seems like proto-Spiritualized. Makes me wonder what J Spaceman thinks of this one? Anyways, shout-out to chvrchbarrel (I think) for spinning the title track in the DJ room earlier this week and reminding me to add this to my big list. Like most Beach Boys-adjacent stuff from the 70s, it too is uneven at times. But the highs are so fuckin' high that it deserves your attention. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 8:42:55 GMT -6
Surf’s Up is a top 3 song Brian Wilson wrote Def my second favorite from that record. I have a soft spot for "A Day in the Life of a Tree" too lmao |
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Post by venom on Jun 9, 2023 9:05:34 GMT -6
Is this one ( Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue) still considered a cult classic these days? Criminally underappreciated in its time, I really wish it had been the start of something for Dennis, rather than a farewell. Was pleased to see it have several songs with 1-4 million plays on Spotify tho, so I guess the word is getting out. I love love love when he dips into his gospel bag on here (River Song, Dreamer, Farewell My Friend) - sometimes it almost seems like proto-Spiritualized. Makes me wonder what J Spaceman thinks of this one? Anyways, shout-out to chvrchbarrel (I think) for spinning the title track in the DJ room earlier this week and reminding me to add this to my big list. Like most Beach Boys-adjacent stuff from the 70s, it too is uneven at times. But the highs are so fuckin' high that it deserves your attention. this took me a bit to get into several years ago when a reissue was praised. but a couple years ago it clicked and the extra material, especially "wild situation", is worthwhile too. "river song" is my standout here. i loved hearing it in Patriot. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 9:50:10 GMT -6
 First heard this a few years ago when reading a bit about Lee "Scratch" Perry / the rise of reggae + dub in Jeff Chang's Can't Stop Won't Stop. Then came back to it when Pitchfork dropped their new Best of the 70s list. I've still hardly scratched the surface on the vast universe of roots reggae, but this has slowly become a staple in my summer listening. Whole record feels like floating. Scratch Perry has gotten his roses but goddamn it cannot be emphasized enough how creative his work is here, so many little moments that catch you off guard and perk your ears up. Also the Congos themselves! The vocal harmonies and back-and-forths are so perfect for the hazy but bouncy production. Favorite moment is easily the exhilarating falsetto peak of "Can't Come In". So so good. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 10:19:37 GMT -6
   Some quick hits of LPs I listened to over the last week and just reshelved: -- Ramones - Ramones: This one will get the nod for me over Rocket to Russia. Both are great, but something about the youthful exuberance and silliness here is so precious. Also, this one has "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World," so that's an automatic Top 100 entry guaranteed. I'll also add that I really prefer to play this one out loud vs. headphones. It just sounds so alive blasting out of my speakers, but it can feel compressed or even tiring after too long in my ears. -- Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky: Gotta be my favorite Emmylou record (at least from this decade, s/o to Wrecking Ball). "Bluebird Wine" has been a staple of every country playlist I've put together for road trips / skeptics. And the rest of the record pinballs between doleful ballads, drunken revelry, and Beatles & Dolly Parton covers lol. And it's Emmylou so you know it sounds amazing. -- Beatles - Let It Be: Look, I know this isn't the "best" Beatles album. It's not the most important Beatles album. But lately, I think it's become my favorite Beatles album. Or at least it's the one I actually listen to the most. I love the live sound. The sound like an honest-to-god band again! They even sound like *gasp* they're having fun?! The hits are some of their all-time best (Let It Be, Across the Universe Get Back - especially). The vocal performances are stunning (I Got A Feeling!). The silly throwaway tracks make me smile. And it has "Two of Us," a song that Emma and I came suuuuper close to making our first dance song. Yeah yeah yeah, if I relistened to their whole discog for the umpteenth time, I would probably rank it #3 or #4. Abbey Road probably edges is it. Revolver is pretty unimpeachable. But this is one I never tire of hearing. Riding nowhere. Spending someone's hard earned pay. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 11:07:49 GMT -6
 Another incredible Scratch Perry joint. I don't even remember how I got turned onto this one - I just remember seeing the cover all over music twitter at some point and gave it a spin. Must've listened to it a dozen times last summer alone. I'd say rarely a week goes by where I don't get "Throw Some Water In" stuck in my head. That song is just infectious. Equal parts lyrically buoyant and barbed, and featuring some of Perry's most accessibly great production. Give this one a listen on an especially hot day this summer. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 11:46:51 GMT -6
 Quite possibly the record I have listened to most during 2023. One of the most beautiful, inspiring jazz records I've ever heard. 21-minute opener "Kalahari" is the album's major statement, and one that belongs in the pantheon of spiritual jazz longform pieces, right next to "The Creator Has A Master Plan." The other three tracks are equally great, especially the solo piano closer "Gwidza," one of the coolest piano pieces this side of Keith Jarrett. It's a shame Abdullah Ibrahim (fka Dollar Brand)'s peak 70s records have gone out of print and have so few streams. He's a giant of the genre and deserves the same fawning recognition lately (and obvs rightfully) bestowed upon Pharoah, Alice, Sonny, and Albert. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 12:41:32 GMT -6
 Idk if this one (Mal Waldron - The Call) has the overall oomph needed to break into the Top 100, but I revisited it today and want to recommend it to any of the jazz heads perusing this thread. It's the only time Mal played an electric piano on record, and his back and forth with organist Jimmy Jackson on the title track is unbelievable. Endlessly cool soundscapes with the lean funk backdrop of the early fusion era. I believe this was also an early ECM release - which tracks b/c Eberhard Weber (who you can also hear on Hounds of Love!) is playing bass. Really gorgeous, sleek, and cool record. Who knows, if I revisit it enough, maybe it'll crack the list after all. |
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Post by nanatod on Jun 9, 2023 12:50:18 GMT -6
favorite emmylou record is from the 80's, so she wouldn't be on my list.
agree about let it be, altho I can do without the title track, long and winding road, and across the universe. the two openers on each side of the lp are bangers, tho.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 9, 2023 13:56:22 GMT -6
Picking a favorite Waylon record is gonna be harder tho. I'm still torn between I'm A Ramblin Man and Honky-Tonk Heroes. Will prolly write those up today or tomorrow. Mobile posting so no photo, but I fucked up and forgot about Dreaming My Dreams. Easily the best Waylon album, tho those other two come damn close. DMD is the best he ever did at perfectly sequencing a record and having 100% killer tracks, even the non-hits. Getting into Waylon really cemented country music as a lifelong love for me, and this record had a big part in that. Also just wanted to give my eternal appreciation to that dude (from the audience?) who shouts “HAD A GOOD EYE-DEA??!?!” during the introduction to “Bob Wills is Still the King.” Dudes rock. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 10, 2023 7:08:53 GMT -6
 Gonna be out most of today, but I did the crossword this morning with this (McCoy Tyner - Sahara) as my soundtrack. Another one of those beautiful, soulful, all-encompassing jazz records that seemed to be in the water in the early 70s. McCoy's playing on here is the most spirited and personally moving that I've ever heard him. And that says a hell of a lot, considering he's most famous for playing in the classic John Coltrane quartet. Similar to Abdullah Ibrahim's record above, this one has a gorgeous 20+ minute spiritual jazz masterpiece anchoring the festivities. But the shorter tracks leading up to it take my breath away just as much - if not more. Special props to the hard-bop-esque / early 60s Coltrane melodies of "Ebony Queen" and the solo piano "A Prayer for my Family." An all-time great. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 12, 2023 9:33:45 GMT -6
  My plan is to spend today revisiting albums that I need to sort of make a tiebreaker decision on for this list. My big list is down to 175 now, but it's gonna be hell cutting it further. So I'm trying to use "Does this artist already have an album that I love more on the list" as a tiebreaker, and cut the album that was more on the bubble. But, in fairness, I want to at least revisit them before I make the cut. So that brings me to two Fela Kuti masterpieces, Zombie and Expensive Shit. Arguably his two most famous and perhaps best albums, Zombie is a particularly important record to me as it really cracked my brain open upon first listen. It was the first time I ever heard Afrobeat, or really any hard-driving, sleek funk. It was also my introduction to the music of West Africa, a field that has taken up an ever-increasing chunk of my listening over the last few years. It is a stone-cold classic and is absolutely making this list. Expensive Shit, like most of his mid-70s records is two tracks, totaling around 24-25 minutes. The rhythms here are a little more delicate, though the horn parts are no less declarative. I really love the little organ solos that take over the outros of both the title track and "Water No Get Enemy." It's gonna be hard to leave this one off my list, but I have to make hard cuts somewhere. But - ya know what - maybe I'll leave it on the big list for a little bit longer. |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Jun 12, 2023 10:03:02 GMT -6
 I know this is a weird thing for a jam-band fan to say, but I have a hard time keeping my attention for prog. This is probably my favorite prog rock record, and I don't think it's gonna crack my top 150. And I still really love it! The outro of "Starship Trooper," the instrumental bits of "Yours Is No Disgrace," the Led Zep III vibes of "I've Seen All Good People." But something about the songs themselves don't consistently hook me in the way I want them to. I'm sure it'll click for me someday, but I was never a prog kid growing up, even though I had friends in middle/high school who were super into the whole Yes/Rush/Dream Theater thing. That said, this album really hits a certain spot for me. Some tremendously cool sounds - would be curious to hear any Yes takes from the rest of y'all. |
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Post by Tweet on Jun 12, 2023 10:31:09 GMT -6
In the interest of time when I go offline for 2 weeks, I'll just put the rest of these lists up today. So expect those to trickle in throughout the day.
Balloting will open up after the 4th of July holiday and probably run for ~6 weeks.
I'm planning on a rollout in the lead-up to Labor Day weekend. I have a rough sketch of what it'll sound like but no real decisions have been made on that front. Once I start my new job (!!!) I expect I'll have a sketch of it and will rope any people in accordingly.
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Post by Tweet on Jun 12, 2023 10:45:10 GMT -6
A somewhat comprehensive list of albums released in 1974:
Stevie Wonder- Fulfillingness' First Finale
Bob Marley & The Wailers- Natty Dread
Barry White- Can't Get Enough
Ohio Players- Fire
Joni Mitchell- Court And Spark
Queen- Sheer Heart Attack
Steely Dan- Pretzel Logic
Genesis- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Neil Young- On the Beach
Eric Clapton- 461 Ocean Boulevard
Kraftwerk- Autobahn
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan- Rags to Rufus
Lynyrd Skynyrd- Second Helping
Jackson Browne- Late for the Sky
Bad Company- s/t
Linda Ronstadt- Heart Like a Wheel
Kiss- s/t
Big Star- Radio City
Queen- Queen II
Roxy Music- Country Life
Shuggie Otis- Inspiration Information
The SPinners- Mighty Love
Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson- Winter in America
Little Feat- Feats Don't Fail Me Now
Bob Dylan & The Band- Before the Flood
David Bowie- Diamond Dogs
Tower of Power- Back to Oakland
Eagles- On the Boarder
Tom Waits- The Heart of Saturday Night
Brian Eno- Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)
Sparks- Kimono My House
Bob Dylan- Planet Waves
King Crimson- Red
Miles Davis- Get Up With IT
Robert Wyatt- Rock Bottom
Fela Kuti/The Africa '70- Confusion
Funkadelic- Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Richard & Linda Thompson- I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
I'm sure I'm missing some stuff- you know what to do if I am
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Post by Tweet on Jun 12, 2023 11:03:53 GMT -6
A somewhat comprehensive list of albums released in 1975:
Bob Dylan- Blood on the Tracks
Brian Eno- Another Green World
Patti Smith- Horses
Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here
Bob Dylan & The Band- The Basement Tapes
Neil Young- Tonight's the Night
Willie Nelson- Red Headed Stranger
Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run
Steely Dan- Katy Lied
Fleetwood Mac- s/t
Parliament- Mothership Connection
Aerosmith- Toys in the Attic
The Isley Brothers- The Heat is On
Don Cherry- Brown Rice
Led Zeppelin- Physical Graffiti
Dion- Born to Be With You
Emmylou Harris- Pieces of the Sky
Neil Young & Crazy Horse- Zuma
Neu!- Neu! '75
Black Sabbath- Sabotage
Roxy Music- Siren
Queen- A Night at the Opera
Joni Mitchell- The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Jeff Beck- Blow By Blow
David Bowie- Young Americans
Fripp & Eno- Evening Star
Paul Simon- Still Crazy After All These Years
ABBA- s/t
Earth, Wind & Fire- That's The Way of the World
Kiss- Alive!
Elton John- Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy
War- Why Can't We Be Friends
Eagles- One of These Nights
Hall & Oates- Darryl Hall & John Oats
KC & The Sunshine Band- s/t
Tom Waits- Nighthawks at the Diner
Grateful Dead- Blues For Allah
Curtis Mayfield & The Staple Singers- Let's Do It Again
Lou Reed- Coney Island Baby
James Taylor- Gorilla
Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson- The First Minute of a New Day
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Post by Tweet on Jun 12, 2023 11:24:17 GMT -6
A somewhat comprehensive list of albums released in 1976:
Stevie Wonder- Songs in the Key of Life
Jean-Michel Jarre- Oxygene
The Modern Lovers- s/t
Warren Zevon- s/t
Boz Scaggs- Silk Degrees
Blue Oyster Cult- Agents of Fortune
Eagles- Hotel California
David Bowie- Station to Station
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band- Night Moves
Abba- Arrival
Thin Lizzy- Jailbreak
Steely Dan- The Royal Scam
AC/DC- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- s/t
Tom Waits- Small Change
Joni MItchell- Hejira
AC/DC- High Voltage
Ramones- s/t
Boston- s/t
Bob Dylan- Desire
Thin Lizzy- Johnny the Fox
Rush- 2112
Earth, Wind & Fire- Spirit
Steve Miller Band- Fly Like An Eagle
Heart- Dreamboat Annie
Aerosmith- Rocks
The Runaways- s/t
Judas Priest- Sad Wings of Destiny
The Flamin' Groovies- Shake Some Action
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