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Post by System on Nov 9, 2023 14:54:10 GMT
I won’t reveal the source and spoil the list for you but sandylea made me aware of an interesting list of 100 album recommendations. So instead of covering one band that people may not be interested in/or I get tired of :lol: I’ve decided to cover all 100 albums. No poll as too many entries + we should have a strong variety of music for the thread. The list says it’s only 2 genres but it has incredibly broad definition of those genres but if you feel like an ultra famous work is missing it was in another list. If you recognise the list please don’t spoil so each entry is a surprise. Album order is of publishers and not my own.
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Post by System on Nov 9, 2023 14:57:27 GMT
100
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye West (2010)(Copy/pasted from Kanye thread, alternate cover so @admin doesn’t suplex me) When I was living with my dad in Tennant Creek in late 2010 I was reading online articles and came across that MBDTF had been named the #1 album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine. Having only listened to the singles you’d see on VH1/MTV when they played videos (“the day that you play me, Will be the same day MTV played videos”) I was curious to hear it. He didn’t have TV channels at the time as this was the time when Australia was switching to digital TV. So we’d play hours of Donkey Kong Country Returns, listen to music (this being in heavy rotation) and rent movies from the video store. Side note: The video store had 10 DVDs a week for $10 which is a great deal, so we utilised it and watched all movies because again no TV channels. The video shop owner accused me of pirating his movies because of hiring 10 movies every week, a deal he offered! His boyfriend got a job at my work & I found indirectly he was talking shit about me too. He also brought this mother into said work I worked out and was in tears because they made her sign in with ID (which is compulsory in all Australian clubs if you aren’t a member). What does this have to do with Kanye West? Nothing but fuck that guy. Anyway… I pulled out the record player & stereo just for this one. This is not only the best Kanye album but one of the greatest albums of all time. After said infamous event Kanye goes on a self-imposed exile and returns with this. Much unlike the last album (and the album after this) this is album is the definition of Maximalism. Everything is turned up to 10, samples and features everywhere and is a huge glossy production. Everyone was required to wear suits and they went into this album with the stated intention to make a masterpiece and they pulled it off. I could write paragraphs on end about how good this album is but if you haven’t already, just listen to it: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzMq4yH_FvVa5kPgtKmgdzPssfmBUtO2C&si=tbhkQAuhfkW0esou Rating 10/10
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Post by Neo Zeed on Nov 9, 2023 16:28:31 GMT
Love these types of countdowns and lists, something great about a top 100. Will be reading.
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Post by System on Nov 10, 2023 0:05:33 GMT
99
Back to Black Amy Winehouse (2006) Sadly, pretty much all I remember about Amy Winehouse was seeing her on gossip shows and seeing pictures of her before her death which were less than flattering and the song Rehab which lives in irony. The instrumentals are the stand out of this album, not that Winehouse' singing is bad...she definitely had a unique voice but it's obviously not the first album centred around a failed relationship so it props it up a bit further when the lyrical department lacks at times. Favourite Tracks are Rehab, Back to Black and Me & Mr.Jones. Started to lose interest in the closing moments of the album. Rating 7/10
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Post by System on Nov 10, 2023 3:29:19 GMT
98
Elephant The White Stripes (2003) I remember at school hearing Jack White married his sister, which there was some truth to the fact he was married to Megan White but they aren’t actually siblings just pretended to be and had been married and divorced before the band even made it big. So how that dynamic works I don’t know, but I have co-workers who are divorced and obviously work together so guess it wasn’t an ugly one. If you’re wanting in depth album analysis go to theneedledrop, it’s system semantics here. This album already gets a huge boost in points for the opening track Seven Nation Army heard around the globe at sporting events and theme song of drunken Indy wrestlers. The Hardest Button to Button was instantly recognisable also. The no computers/no gear made after 1963 really pays off and it sounds a lot like much older albums and instruments really pack a punch. I’m told Meg’s drumming isn’t good but this sounds great to my untrained ears 🤷🏻♀️. The lyrics do get a bit grating at times, there was only so many times I could hear “I get nervous when she comes around” like it was the best line ever written and “Ball and a Biscuit” definitely tested my patience before it redeemed itself in the end. I like that the album has a sense of humour with the final track with Holly Golightly and it was a nice change of pace having Meg on vocals for in the cold, cold night. Rating 8/10
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Post by System on Nov 10, 2023 14:19:34 GMT
97
Is This It The Strokes (2001) IDK if the international cover is haram or not so I’ll use the puritanical US version until @admin lets me know. This album sounds like the radio. a song you know you’ve heard, you‘re indifferent to it and couldn’t name the song if the like depending on you. Radiohead if they took their happy pills in the beginning or The White Stripes with less charm I really don’t have much to say on this other than garage rock isn’t my thing. Alone, Together was by far the stand out track. New York Cops should have been taken off all versions of this album…not because of 9/11 (which was a national tragedy) but because it’s simply awful. Rating 4/10
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Post by System on Nov 11, 2023 2:55:41 GMT
96
Supa Dupa Fly Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot (1997) My British English spell check was having a field day with the US spelling of misdemeanour 😂. I read a quote from Missy Elliot recently that she didn’t let her mother listen to her music because of the lyrics but she just had to grin and bear it when she won an award. “Work it” being the only Missy Elliot track I was aware of that was a huge hit when I was a kid & they even played the clean version at school discos.. What were they thinking :lol:, people get shocked and outraged at Cardi B and Megan The Stallion when this album existed in 1997. “Work it” isn’t on this album but still plenty of sexually explicit lyrics. It’s not Cupcakke levels but keep in mind this was the 90s. This album is produced solely by Timbaland and that pays off with some fantastic beats all the way through that Missy flows really well on for the majority of the album. It reminded me of Late Registration or Operation Doomsday production wise with its musical choices but with the ego of Graduation. Some of the tracks on this are awful like Izzy Izzy Ah and I’m Talkin which is just basically Missy Elliot saying I’m a good rapper over and again. Her ability to switch from singing to rapping helps keep the album fresh also. Almost all of the features are good and bring something different to the table, Aliyah and lil Kim being the stand outs (“Hit ‘Em wit da hee” being a standout). Though it was an odd choice to have Busta Rhymes do the intro on her own album, Doris by Earl Sweatshirt is the only album I think that works on. This album was the highest charting album for a female rapper in history at the time of release and can see how it paved the way for artists in the future. Rating 8/10
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Post by System on Nov 11, 2023 2:57:21 GMT
95
OK Computer Radiohead (1997) (Copy/pasted from Radiohead thread) I the like the idea of this album and the lyrics more than I do the complete package and it definitely foretold a lot of the loneliness associated with the digital age. I enjoyed Exit Music (for a film), Paranoid Android and The Tourist but for the most part it must sounds the musical version of trying to get out of bed on a Rainy day. I know several people rate this not only as their favourite Radiohead album but their favourite album and it’s criticially acclaimed so maybe it’s just one of those bands that aren’t for me. Rating 5/10
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Post by Neo Zeed on Nov 11, 2023 13:09:12 GMT
To me Missy Elliot belongs in the conversation with Barbie Girl and Macarena just some of the worst 90's music made, amazing that she stayed relevant and constantly pops up still, like a booger stuck on your nose you forget that it's there you thought you wiped it off until suddenly it shows up at the Super Bowl halftime show. If she's to thank for us having Cardi B and WAP even more to celebrate.
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Post by System on Nov 12, 2023 3:27:49 GMT
94
Odelay Beck (1996)
All I knew of Beck was the song Loser and that he was a reportedly a Scientologist (claims he wasn’t or isn’t anymore) so I had no idea what to expect from this album. The Odelay title is fitting as it was a wild ride, going from some chill laid back music to Marilyn Manson still screaming, tracks descending into increasing microphone feedback and glitching noises the back to the fun chill music on the next track. It reminded me of Madvillainy or Yeezus in that you never know where it’s going next sonically. A lot of album reviews I talk about albums needing to trim some tracks out and reduce the runtime but this clocked in at 54 mins and I still wanted more. Great stuff. Rating 10/10
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Post by System on Nov 12, 2023 14:11:41 GMT
93Entroducing… DJ Shadow (1996) I’ve seen this album hyped up to no end online and from people that love vinyl collecting, which considering the cover is people in a vinyl store and the album is almost entirely just samples from vinyls I see the appeal. But unless you’re aspiring to be the next Flying Lotus or Metro Boomin (if young metro doesn’t trust you 🔫) or someone that just absolutely loves instrumental albums this definitely isn’t the masterpiece people make it out to be imo. It’s some interesting beats and some spoken word samples that don’t really add anything to the music. It’s not bad by any stretch but this is like like putting the MF DOOM special herbs vol 1 as the definitive DOOM album. Rating 5/10
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Post by @admin on Nov 12, 2023 23:44:05 GMT
Not sure whether to be more outraged by System's take on the Strokes or Shin's on Missy.
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Post by System on Nov 13, 2023 3:12:41 GMT
92
Different Class Pulp (1995) David Bowie if he came across as a registered sex offender. This was just absolute cringe to listen to and not only the worst album on this list thus far but among one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. Rating 0/10
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Post by Neo Zeed on Nov 13, 2023 11:28:02 GMT
Not sure whether to be more outraged by System's take on the Strokes or Shin's on Missy. My favorite 90's tv moment is Marilyn Manson with his ass cheecks hanging out playing Beautiful People at the 97 MTV Music Awards they showed a shot of Missy Elliot and Jarule and that whole click watching on in horror with their mouths open haha. Missy's music is legit bad, I have no issues with women like Cardi B and Mega Stallion rapping about being raunchy sluts more power to them but the actual rapping and the music they rap to is doesn't get much more cringe. They just don't have the talent to pull off what they are going for and most likely in their spot because of who they are connected to. Missy breaking out in her inflatable blow up suit to me was like a low point for the 90's where it was like hey is this decade kinda starting to suck a little bit?
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Post by @admin on Nov 13, 2023 22:59:42 GMT
Yeah your take is much worse.
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Post by System on Nov 14, 2023 14:06:18 GMT
91
Parklife Blur (1994) Much like you hear a lot of old wrestling personalities on podcast in between shilling of blue chew, characters and bold personalities appeal to me more than music that’s meant to be relatable to the every day person. Currently 2nd on the system unofficial most British sounding album behind the David Bowie debut. A song celebrating that it’s a bank holiday and other mundane tasks detailed throughout the album didn’t really keep my interest. “Girls & Boys” is a great hit & To the End is also a standout but not much else appealed to me. If only the singer added cartoon monkeys to the video clips and artwork instead of greyhounds I’d be more invested… Rating 4/10
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Post by System on Nov 14, 2023 15:53:28 GMT
90
Grace Jeff Buckley (1994)
I had no idea who Jeff Buckley was prior to this review and imagined a redneck country singer kind of like Bad Blake played by Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart. Instead not only did Jeff Buckley not look like that this album sounds nothing like that and instead is full of tracks well ahead of their time with some absolutely beautiful and varied vocals but this album as a bonus solved a 20+ year mystery for me. The family were watching Shrek 2 at my grandparents when Hallelujah comes in (which isn’t Buckley’s version) and my uncle was taking to my other uncle this story about someone drowning and it having to do something with this song. Years later I looked up the song hallelujah and no where indicated it had anything to do with drowning. So until today I wondered wtf that story had to do with this song. Then upon googling Jeff Buckley and discovering how he died (accidental drowning) I finally knew what my uncle was talking about. Yes there’s 89 more reviews to go full of my ramblings. Not only do some of the tracks on this album sound like they are from a different album but from a different artist entirely. The music sounded so ahead of its time, Bruno Mars is probably the closest comparison in terms of sound but there’s so many change ups in this album that’s only a part of it. I normally complain when albums aren’t cohesive but I have to make an exemption here as this was like a sampling of the best dishes all around the word given to you at once. Corpus Christi Carol and Eternal Life are nothing alike but still great tracks in their own right. Brilliant album that always keeps you guessing all the way through. Rating 10/10
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Post by @admin on Nov 14, 2023 23:26:04 GMT
Petition to rename this thread SYSTEM BURIES BRITPOP
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Post by N A T H on Nov 15, 2023 2:29:32 GMT
Petition to rename this thread SYSTEM BURIES BRITPOP I'm waiting for some Oasis and Verve bashing... Be careful System. If Urban Hymns is anything less than a 10, it's a declaration of war lad.
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Post by System on Nov 15, 2023 2:34:30 GMT
89
illmatic Nas (1994)
I’m no stranger to this album. If you wanted a textbook example of a brilliant east coast hip-hop album look no further than this. Incredible this was Nas’ debut too. I was in NYC for 2 weeks on holiday but NY State of mind is such a great track it makes you feel like you ran the streets of NYC. The minimal feature only add to the experience and at its short run time of 35 minutes it doesn’t let up and delivers an absolute hip-hop classic. I mean if my ramblings weren’t enough praise the fact it was selected by the library of congress for preservation in the national recording registry should. Rating 10/10
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Post by System on Nov 15, 2023 5:11:16 GMT
88
Definitely Maybe Oasis (1994) This could be a good rock album if it didn’t sound like I was listening to it submerged in water. I started playing this album and wondered why it sounded so muddled (& the first track kept playing over and over.) So I went to remastered and it sounded the same. I thought I was going crazy until I scoured Reddit and found my answer. At least it’s probably inexperience from being a new band rather than a creative decision like with Tyler’s Cherry Bomb or Earl’s Some Rap Songs. I know I’m harping on about this but this has the production level of an early Burzum album and they are intentionally lo-fi. The last two tracks were good but other than that it was super frustrating to listen to. Before you think I’m being a grumpy old man like Noel Gallagher go give this a re-listen. At least Blur’s mundane songs were audible. Rating 2/10
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Post by N A T H on Nov 15, 2023 5:38:19 GMT
That was on purpose.
But I definitely, maybe think "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" is better.
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Post by System on Nov 15, 2023 5:46:36 GMT
That was on purpose. But I definitely, maybe think "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" is better. Was definitely the album I was expecting to see on this list. I at least like Wonderwall much to the chagrin of the band.
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Post by System on Nov 15, 2023 11:22:47 GMT
87
Doggystyle Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993) Funny looking back at the reputation Snoop had when now he’d be known to a lot of people from countless commercials (like Menulog) or appearances with Martha Stewart. This album (along with an album prior to it we will cover later..) helped pioneer the G-funk sound with Dr Dre’s production and Snoop flows incredibly well on this when he gets going. He is seemingly forever interrupted by skits & adlibs through the album so it’s like cruising along at a nice pace only to get every red light. Still when the album is going it’s incredible stuff and makes me want to play San Andreas as that’s the closest I’ll get to cruising through LA streets anytime soon. Rating 8/10
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Post by N A T H on Nov 15, 2023 20:32:01 GMT
Classic.
Once upon a time I had sick sub woofers in my car and this was on high rotation.
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Post by System on Nov 17, 2023 4:05:32 GMT
86
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
East-Coast hip-hop combining with Kung-Fu films and Asian Cinema? What’s not to love. This is such a great album that almost every member of the Wu-Tang had solo success. I met Ghostface Killah a few years ago (and affiliate Killah Priest but fuck that guy) and strongly recommend his album “Twelve Reasons to Die.” Brilliantly produced by RZA who directed the really fun film “The Man with the Iron Fists” this is an absolute classic. Anyway back to this actual album, Protect Ya Neck, C.R.E.A.M. And “Wu-Tang Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit” are all classics and the rest of the album doesn’t slouch either. If you enjoy Inspectah Deck‘s contributions to this album checked out Czarface, covered somewhat in my MF DOOM thread as they had some crossovers. Definitely a way of using an aesthetic and samples to add to your album rather than detract, can see the huge influence on many artists and even films. Rating 10/10
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Post by System on Nov 17, 2023 4:07:50 GMT
85
Debut Björk (1993)
This sounds like trying to relax in a sensory deprivation tank only to start hallucinating until your session is up. So to catch that same high you go off to a rave later that night. Very unique vocal style and lyrics, this serves as a great debut if you don’t count Gling-Gló. As much as the vocal style is unique the grunting and wailing is a little bit overdone and I felt the album’s last track was the worst. If you like the sound of this album I’d recommend the albums “Virgins” & “Konoyo” by Tim Hecker. Rating 9/10
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Post by System on Nov 17, 2023 4:10:01 GMT
84
The Chronic Dr.Dre (1992)
Just scroll up a bit and read my Doggystyle review as I have pretty much the exact same things to say, which isn’t surprising since this album was the blueprint for it helping boost Snoop Dogg’s career and the G-Funk sound. Unsurprisingly the production side of this album is its highlight, not that Dre is a bad rapper but he uses a lot of features for a reason. I listen to this album a lot and own it on vinyl but as much as “A N**** Witta Gun” “Nuthin’ but a “G” Thing” and “Fuck Wit Dre Day” are great tracks I’m forever skipping through $20 sack pyramid and The Doctor’s Office. I’ve never felt whiter than trying to write on these track names out while spell check has a tantrum. Rating 8/10
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Post by thereallt on Nov 17, 2023 21:55:51 GMT
Enter the 36 Chambers and The Chronic were staples of my high school years, and I still play them to this day.
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Post by System on Nov 18, 2023 3:17:53 GMT
83
Screamadelica Primal Scream (1991) I’m not saying you can’t enjoy this album without drug use but it was clearly made with the use of psychedelics in mind. The tracks are incredibly ranged although a lot of them get very repetitive, especially lyrically. Instrumentally this album is wild ride, sometimes it hits the mark sometimes it misses completely. Clearly more designed for people tripping at a rave than it is for System while he plays lawn mowing simulator. Rating 6/10
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