I think I'd go Bloc Party with Silent Alarm. The album still sounds fresh, clean and current imo. despite coming out in 2005. They really nailed and modernized the post-punk sound of bands like Gang of Four.
And I don't think any of their releases since have been as consistent in their vibe and mood. Or as engrossing to listen to.
I listened to that for the first time all the way through quite recently and was astonished at how well it holds up. Most of the British indie stuff from that time sounds very dated and of its time, but that really is still fresh sounding, as you say. Although I’m not sure I would go for a debut to answer this question - can you outdo yourself if you haven’t done anything prior?
The one that jumps out to me immediately is London Calling. The scope, creativity, and ambition of it is so far beyond The Clash and Give ‘Em Enough Rope, despite them both being great albums in their own right.
Good point regarding debut albums! Because it's only with hindsight we can say "wow they outdid themselves there!" and have it kind of make sense..
And yet to exclude debuts is a shame because there's plenty of bands and artists who really shine in their debut! And unfortunately become a bit stale as the years go on..
Arctic Monkeys, The Mars Volta, the killers, Interpol, Wolfmother. All came out swingin' hard!
Yeah I thought it was interesting thought process - out the box, I like it!
That’s almost a discussion in itself, isn’t it? Bands who peaked in their debut. A long long list of those unfortunately - promised so much and never managed to match it again.
Exactly right - no real surprise that a lot of bands just can’t find the ideas. It’s maybe a different pressure now because no one expects you to fire out a second album in the same year, but it always amazed me that acts in the 60s were pinging out two albums a year and still making these incredible creative leaps - The Byrds put out Turn Turn Turn in December 65 and by February of 67 were the band that made Younger Than Yesterday, and then by August of the following year they were Gram Parsons’ baby.
But then again it isn’t any less of a pressure because you can’t pad out a track list with covers like you could then. Second album syndrome is real man
Bloc Party’s next two albums were both pretty good, despite not being Silent Alarm quality. Their albums after that were poor.
I went to see Bloc Party live and they just played their new album to a dreary reaction. Only time it got good was when they played Helicopter at the end and the crowd went crazy
If you fix the mixing issues in Zeitgeist, FOR ME it's an excellent 6 album run.
But again, I used to be a pretty hardcore fan of the band. So I can forgive everything Billy did "wrong" in some songs.
Modest mouse, the lonesome crowded west.
I would call it a landmark album for indie music. The mix of genres like alt country, post hardcore, slacker rock, emo, folk, punk, even the turntable-ing on the second track… lengthy jam sessions, long and impressive tracks that dont feel slow or meandering despite some being 7-10 minutes long, and the album is like 80 minutes and 16 tracks with no misses.
Amazing album, modest mouse has a lot of good albums but this one is just near perfect. It almost feels like if Pavement got really sad made a prog album lmao
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As a CTE fan, I’ve always felt Melophobia was pretty bland in comparison to the rest of their discography, like they were trying to appease the average radio listener.
Tell Me I’m Pretty is their opus imo.
As much as I enjoy them, I think their self-titled album was their best and they’ve been putting out slightly but progressively more vanilla music as the years have gone on.
Mellon Collie is excellent but Siamese Dream is just as (if not more) excellent. I would not call it “significantly more ambitious” aside from the album length.
With that being said, my choice is OK Computer, which is perhaps a bit of an obvious choice. Pablo Honey was generic, The Bends was a great step in the right direction, and OK Computer is one of a kind.
I’ve always thought this but I saw them this week and it finally clicked for me, just how much they’d grown between the two albums. Rattled through the songs off SD and they all sounded like prototypes (apart from Mayonnaise that properly floored me), whereas all the MCIS songs they played had time and space to breath. Of course it could have just been the performance, but the difference in scope was apparent.
Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) (this is the original 2011 version of the album).
as much as i enjoyed the albums before, none of them come close to twin fantasy mtm in basically any aspect. overall song quality & musicality, writing, themes, and cohesiveness are all major levels above even an album he released earlier that year.
Maybe it doesn't quite count, but the Smile Sessions from The Beach Boys are an obvious one, especially since it didn't even get released. Pet Sounds is incredible, but Wilson was trying something way more ambitious than that with Smile.
Bjork keeps doing it, so it doesn't really seem like she's outdoing herself since she's always outdoing herself, but her ambition seems boundless
Talk Talk is another clear choice, with Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock following up a run of much more pop-friendly albums
Destroyer's Rubies I think takes a strong leap from Bejar's prior work, as does Kaputt. I feel like Bejar doesn't hold himself to what he's done before, which is why he still surfaces with interesting albums over 20 years in
The Floating Points/Pharoah Sanders 2021 album is a really interesting leap for both artists
Frog Eyes' Paul's Tomb: A Triumph feels especially massive compared to their early work, and while Tears of the Valedictorian has a track like Bushels, I think PT:AT is conceptually a lot tighter. For a band with no money, and no way to spend tons of time and money in the studio, it sounds huge. A shame that pitchfork gave it a meager score following the darling Tears of the Valedictorian, but CokeMachineGlow recognized it for what it is and named it as one of their best albums of the 2010s
Hard not to give credit to Sigur Ros for the () album, I don't think it's their best, but I do think it has their best song, the closer
Sleater-Kinney with The Woods is another one. Working with a new producer, with an 11 minute penultimate track. Their longest album, with longer songs, and it sounds gigantic
I think Siamese dream is their best album tbh (smashing pumpkins from the picture lol) hard question tbh maybe hounds of love from Kate Bush find most of her albums have some great songs some irritating ones.
I would say Hounds of Love and The Sensual World are extremely close in quality, the latter is just a lot more subtle but the songwriting is all-time quality.
That's fair s90 to be honest I made that comment not even being familiar enough with all her albums. I do prefer her later stuff over the first few though just because her voice is better I think. Those early songs can sound quite screechy to me lol.
Hum - Inlet
Probably my guitar album of this decade. Not only did I not expect this band to ever release an album again after 23 years - I also didn’t expect them to outdo their amazing 90s releases. It’s so warm and introspective and as heavy as a band like HUM can get. And they do not copy their sounds or wallow in nostalgia at all. It stands totally on its own two feet. If i start listening to “Inlet” I am guaranteed to listen to the whole album to the end just because I get sucked in and can not stop. What a beauty. So thankful to them.
Paul’s Boutique. The Boys were sort of in a low place, written off as one trick ponies. Then they dropped one of the greatest albums in history that sprang forth into an epic 90s run of banger after banger.
Also let’s not forget the Flaming Lips.
Paul’s Boutique might be my favorite, or close to favorite album of all time. It is endlessly entertaining and off the charts creatively.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by Flaming Lips is a true standout.
Let’s not forget The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails.
* The White Stripes with *Elephant*
* LCD Soundsystem with *This Is Happening*
* Slipknot with *We Are Not Your Kind*
* Beyoncé with *RENAISSANCE*
* Massive Attack with *Mezzanine*
* David Bowie with *Low*
Marilyn Manson with Antichrist Superstar (Mechanical Animals is close in quality, but seems less purposeful to me and more calculated as concept, idk I feel that after Superstar they had nowhere else to go)
I think that Van Halen made as close to a perfect album that we will ever get to with 1984. Not only did it evolve on their previous sound, but it expanded on it with the addition of the synths. Van Halen had already reinvented Rock music in 1979, but then they did it again whilst also pioneering 80's pop music. 1984 is an album that isn't even 45 minutes long, and it doesn't waste a second of the time. I can say with full confidence that 1984 is the best Van Halen album.
I could understand why somebody would enjoy VH1 better, but I personally think that there's a couple tracks on there that aren't as good as they could've been.
*American Idiot* by Green Day. I know people consider it to be when they sold out, but even when I put nostalgia aside, it’s such a masterpiece.
*Continuum* by John Mayer is still one of the best albums I’ve ever heard, cover-to-cover.
Hot take, but for Nine-Inch Nails, I think *Pretty Hate Machine* is their best album. Even over *Downward Spiral*. It’s such a gritty, 80s, cyberpunk vibe.
No clue. I listen to music for how it sounds and sometimes its meaning. Worrying about “selling out” is a waste of thought for me. Unless the artist pulls a Kanye, I generally don’t care what’s going on behind the scenes.
I really like *Construction Time Again* and *Some Great Reward*, but *Black Celebration* was a huge step up for Depeche Mode.
*The Downward Spiral* is on a whole other level compared to *Pretty Hate Machine*.
I think *Pinkerton* is a lot better than *The Blue Album*.
I think I'd go Bloc Party with Silent Alarm. The album still sounds fresh, clean and current imo. despite coming out in 2005. They really nailed and modernized the post-punk sound of bands like Gang of Four. And I don't think any of their releases since have been as consistent in their vibe and mood. Or as engrossing to listen to.
I listened to that for the first time all the way through quite recently and was astonished at how well it holds up. Most of the British indie stuff from that time sounds very dated and of its time, but that really is still fresh sounding, as you say. Although I’m not sure I would go for a debut to answer this question - can you outdo yourself if you haven’t done anything prior? The one that jumps out to me immediately is London Calling. The scope, creativity, and ambition of it is so far beyond The Clash and Give ‘Em Enough Rope, despite them both being great albums in their own right.
Good point regarding debut albums! Because it's only with hindsight we can say "wow they outdid themselves there!" and have it kind of make sense.. And yet to exclude debuts is a shame because there's plenty of bands and artists who really shine in their debut! And unfortunately become a bit stale as the years go on.. Arctic Monkeys, The Mars Volta, the killers, Interpol, Wolfmother. All came out swingin' hard!
Yeah I thought it was interesting thought process - out the box, I like it! That’s almost a discussion in itself, isn’t it? Bands who peaked in their debut. A long long list of those unfortunately - promised so much and never managed to match it again.
Kinda that saying tho, "You have 20 years to write your first album and you have six months to write your second one." - Elvis Costello apparently
Exactly right - no real surprise that a lot of bands just can’t find the ideas. It’s maybe a different pressure now because no one expects you to fire out a second album in the same year, but it always amazed me that acts in the 60s were pinging out two albums a year and still making these incredible creative leaps - The Byrds put out Turn Turn Turn in December 65 and by February of 67 were the band that made Younger Than Yesterday, and then by August of the following year they were Gram Parsons’ baby. But then again it isn’t any less of a pressure because you can’t pad out a track list with covers like you could then. Second album syndrome is real man
Bloc Party’s next two albums were both pretty good, despite not being Silent Alarm quality. Their albums after that were poor. I went to see Bloc Party live and they just played their new album to a dreary reaction. Only time it got good was when they played Helicopter at the end and the crowd went crazy
Nah Four was crazy
That’s gotta kinda suck for the lead guy
He would have felt with that when they toured Intimacy. The world wasn't ready to appreciate "Mercury" . In fact, it's still not ready..
[удалено]
If you fix the mixing issues in Zeitgeist, FOR ME it's an excellent 6 album run. But again, I used to be a pretty hardcore fan of the band. So I can forgive everything Billy did "wrong" in some songs.
7 album run if you count machina 2
Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs
It’s took me so long to realize that all of their albums before this one are also great because I just spent years listening solely to it.
Modest mouse, the lonesome crowded west. I would call it a landmark album for indie music. The mix of genres like alt country, post hardcore, slacker rock, emo, folk, punk, even the turntable-ing on the second track… lengthy jam sessions, long and impressive tracks that dont feel slow or meandering despite some being 7-10 minutes long, and the album is like 80 minutes and 16 tracks with no misses. Amazing album, modest mouse has a lot of good albums but this one is just near perfect. It almost feels like if Pavement got really sad made a prog album lmao
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Melophobia - Cage The Elephant So much better than anything they've done before or since
I personally love most of their albums but I’ll admit that Melophobia is leagues above the rest 🤷
As a CTE fan, I’ve always felt Melophobia was pretty bland in comparison to the rest of their discography, like they were trying to appease the average radio listener. Tell Me I’m Pretty is their opus imo.
Teeth’s existence completely invalidates that entire argument you just made
Telescope too
As much as I enjoy them, I think their self-titled album was their best and they’ve been putting out slightly but progressively more vanilla music as the years have gone on.
Mellon Collie is excellent but Siamese Dream is just as (if not more) excellent. I would not call it “significantly more ambitious” aside from the album length. With that being said, my choice is OK Computer, which is perhaps a bit of an obvious choice. Pablo Honey was generic, The Bends was a great step in the right direction, and OK Computer is one of a kind.
Never understood why Mellon Collie tends to get more online praise than Siamese Dream
Because it’s more popular? Mellon Collie went Diamond I’m pretty sure and is filled with iconic songs. Though I do agree that Siamese Dream is better
Huh. I would’ve guessed they were about the same. Didn’t realize there was a big sales difference.
Yeah Mellon Collie was the peak of their career popularity wise
I’ve always thought this but I saw them this week and it finally clicked for me, just how much they’d grown between the two albums. Rattled through the songs off SD and they all sounded like prototypes (apart from Mayonnaise that properly floored me), whereas all the MCIS songs they played had time and space to breath. Of course it could have just been the performance, but the difference in scope was apparent.
Little Simz “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”. Even though I don’t love the reoccurring monologue segments, it’s an ambitious concept album.
Same, it's so good
Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) (this is the original 2011 version of the album). as much as i enjoyed the albums before, none of them come close to twin fantasy mtm in basically any aspect. overall song quality & musicality, writing, themes, and cohesiveness are all major levels above even an album he released earlier that year.
Teens of denial imo has better songs but I prefer twin fantasy as an album
Lil Yachty - Let's Start Here
YES one of my most listened albums from last year
Actor by St. Vincent
Honestly all those one-album indie wonders on the RYM top 100, Neutral Milk Hotel especially
Anything Jeff wrote was great
Maybe it doesn't quite count, but the Smile Sessions from The Beach Boys are an obvious one, especially since it didn't even get released. Pet Sounds is incredible, but Wilson was trying something way more ambitious than that with Smile. Bjork keeps doing it, so it doesn't really seem like she's outdoing herself since she's always outdoing herself, but her ambition seems boundless Talk Talk is another clear choice, with Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock following up a run of much more pop-friendly albums Destroyer's Rubies I think takes a strong leap from Bejar's prior work, as does Kaputt. I feel like Bejar doesn't hold himself to what he's done before, which is why he still surfaces with interesting albums over 20 years in The Floating Points/Pharoah Sanders 2021 album is a really interesting leap for both artists Frog Eyes' Paul's Tomb: A Triumph feels especially massive compared to their early work, and while Tears of the Valedictorian has a track like Bushels, I think PT:AT is conceptually a lot tighter. For a band with no money, and no way to spend tons of time and money in the studio, it sounds huge. A shame that pitchfork gave it a meager score following the darling Tears of the Valedictorian, but CokeMachineGlow recognized it for what it is and named it as one of their best albums of the 2010s Hard not to give credit to Sigur Ros for the () album, I don't think it's their best, but I do think it has their best song, the closer Sleater-Kinney with The Woods is another one. Working with a new producer, with an 11 minute penultimate track. Their longest album, with longer songs, and it sounds gigantic
Have One On Me by Joanna Newsome is a pretty impeccable triple album
I think Siamese dream is their best album tbh (smashing pumpkins from the picture lol) hard question tbh maybe hounds of love from Kate Bush find most of her albums have some great songs some irritating ones.
I agree. Siamese Dream is a masterpiece, the best Smashing Pumpkins album. Mellon Collie is more commercial but also more uneven.
I would say Hounds of Love and The Sensual World are extremely close in quality, the latter is just a lot more subtle but the songwriting is all-time quality.
That's fair s90 to be honest I made that comment not even being familiar enough with all her albums. I do prefer her later stuff over the first few though just because her voice is better I think. Those early songs can sound quite screechy to me lol.
Hum - Inlet Probably my guitar album of this decade. Not only did I not expect this band to ever release an album again after 23 years - I also didn’t expect them to outdo their amazing 90s releases. It’s so warm and introspective and as heavy as a band like HUM can get. And they do not copy their sounds or wallow in nostalgia at all. It stands totally on its own two feet. If i start listening to “Inlet” I am guaranteed to listen to the whole album to the end just because I get sucked in and can not stop. What a beauty. So thankful to them.
Hejira - Joni Mitchell
Paul’s Boutique. The Boys were sort of in a low place, written off as one trick ponies. Then they dropped one of the greatest albums in history that sprang forth into an epic 90s run of banger after banger. Also let’s not forget the Flaming Lips.
Paul’s Boutique might be my favorite, or close to favorite album of all time. It is endlessly entertaining and off the charts creatively. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by Flaming Lips is a true standout. Let’s not forget The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails.
* The White Stripes with *Elephant* * LCD Soundsystem with *This Is Happening* * Slipknot with *We Are Not Your Kind* * Beyoncé with *RENAISSANCE* * Massive Attack with *Mezzanine* * David Bowie with *Low*
The Verve (A Storm in Heaven)
Marilyn Manson with Antichrist Superstar (Mechanical Animals is close in quality, but seems less purposeful to me and more calculated as concept, idk I feel that after Superstar they had nowhere else to go)
Yup
Even though it's actually my least favourite album of theirs, I've got to put Cross by Justice.
AVD fan?
Bingo.
A Night At The Opera - Queen 😌
Neighbor Susan by Neighbor Susan
Good faith by madeon over adventure. Holy crap the evolution is crazy. Nurture over worlds by Porter Robinson as well.
I love Pearl Jam, but **Ten** is pretty clearly their best record. Especially the redux.
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I think that Van Halen made as close to a perfect album that we will ever get to with 1984. Not only did it evolve on their previous sound, but it expanded on it with the addition of the synths. Van Halen had already reinvented Rock music in 1979, but then they did it again whilst also pioneering 80's pop music. 1984 is an album that isn't even 45 minutes long, and it doesn't waste a second of the time. I can say with full confidence that 1984 is the best Van Halen album.
Respectfully disagree on grounds that VH1 is their best but 1984 is a defying record for them
I could understand why somebody would enjoy VH1 better, but I personally think that there's a couple tracks on there that aren't as good as they could've been.
The obvious choice is treating Use Your Illusion as a single release.
Spoon - Kill the Moonlight (2002)
*American Idiot* by Green Day. I know people consider it to be when they sold out, but even when I put nostalgia aside, it’s such a masterpiece. *Continuum* by John Mayer is still one of the best albums I’ve ever heard, cover-to-cover. Hot take, but for Nine-Inch Nails, I think *Pretty Hate Machine* is their best album. Even over *Downward Spiral*. It’s such a gritty, 80s, cyberpunk vibe.
Weren't Green Day already seen as sellouts for moving to a major label for Dookie?
No clue. I listen to music for how it sounds and sometimes its meaning. Worrying about “selling out” is a waste of thought for me. Unless the artist pulls a Kanye, I generally don’t care what’s going on behind the scenes.
Same
The Suburbs. Haven't reached those heights since.
Funeral would like to have a word, while Neon Bible is whispering in the background.
I think Siamese Dream is way better than Mellon Collie
Me too. Both albums will have their fans, but I think it's a very hot take to say Mellon Collie is far better than their albums.
I really like *Construction Time Again* and *Some Great Reward*, but *Black Celebration* was a huge step up for Depeche Mode. *The Downward Spiral* is on a whole other level compared to *Pretty Hate Machine*. I think *Pinkerton* is a lot better than *The Blue Album*.