Rank Your Favorite Bands' Albums

[bluefox4000]

Led Zeppelin

 

1. Houses of the Holy

2. II

3.  Led Zeppelin

4.  III

5. IV

6 In Through the Outdoor

7. Presence

8. Physical Graffiti

 

I'm really digging this band truly for the first time.  Always liked them but i'm now seeing why they're magic yo so many.  They're first 5 are al brilliant and in different ways too.

 

But i do think the bottom 2 are pretty bad.  Speaking on PG.  Have now clue why it's so bowed down to.  To e that album represents every bad part of Zep.  Long indulgent jams that make for a bore of a listen.  The i find out only 8 tracks were  recorded new for it at the time.  No wonder it so scatter shot sounding, lol

 

Also IMO.  This band is a studio band for me.  they're live shows are suck-y.  Sorry can't sugarcoat them in that regard.  and I REFUSE to get on board with the absurd narrative that page's sloppy live playing was "stylistic".  i watched part of the Celebration day show from 07.  his playing hurt my ears and not in the it;;'s just loud way either, lol

 

but that's my only negatives to speak of.  i love most of their albums.

 

Mick

 

 

[The Cat 3]

11 minutes ago, bluefox4000 said:

Led Zeppelin

 

1. Houses of the Holy

2. II

3.  Led Zeppelin

4.  III

5. IV

6 In Through the Outdoor

7. Presence

8. Physical Graffiti

 

I'm really digging this band truly for the first time.  Always liked them but i'm now seeing why they're magic yo so many.  They're first 5 are al brilliant and in different ways too.

 

But i do think the bottom 2 are pretty bad.  Speaking on PG.  Have now clue why it's so bowed down to.  To e that album represents every bad part of Zep.  Long indulgent jams that make for a bore of a listen.  The i find out only 8 tracks were  recorded new for it at the time.  No wonder it so scatter shot sounding, lol

 

Also IMO.  This band is a studio band for me.  they're live shows are suck-y.  Sorry can't sugarcoat them in that regard.  and I REFUSE to get on board with the absurd narrative that page's sloppy live playing was "stylistic".  i watched part of the Celebration day show from 07.  his playing hurt my ears and not in the it;;'s just loud way either, lol

 

but that's my only negatives to speak of.  i love most of their albums.

 

Mick

 

 

I agree with you regarding “Houses of the Holy”.

 

in my opinion, it is where everything just “clicked”.

 

The playing, the singing, the lyrics, the production comes across beautifully unified.

 

It is truly an album by four individuals united as a “band”.

 

It is a near perfect album and is the perfect combination of everything that came before it.

 

That’s saying a lot seeing as how stellar the first four albums are.

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by The Cat 3

[bluefox4000]

2 minutes ago, The Cat 3 said:

I agree with you regarding “Houses of the Holy”.

 

in my opinion, it is where everything just “clicked”.

 

The playing, the singing, the lyrics, the production comes across beautifully unified.

 

It is truly an album by four individuals united as a “band”.

 

It is a near perfect album and is the perfect combination of everything that came before it.

 

That’s saying a lot seeing as how stellar the first four albums are.

 

 

 

I Adore Houses.  I think the first 4 are FANTASTIC.  But with Houses I feel that they branched out and made something truly Special.  I love how each track is musically differet and unique.  This statement may sound weird but on Houses i feel they became great Musicians as opposed to just being a great hard rock/blues band..  and don't get me wrong they were awesome at that style too.

 

Mick

[The Analog Cub]

Haken (2023 version)

 

1. Fauna

2. Affinity

3. Virus

4. The Mountain

5. Visions

6. Vector

7. Aquarius

 

They really did outdo themselves with Fauna. It's an instant classic.

 

[Segue Myles]

I'm on a bit of a Jimmy Eat World kick, and what is really standing out to me here is how I love everything. I mean EVERYTHING. Part of my musical DNA I think.

 

So, here we go, starting with a three-way tie:

 

1. (Ranked in order of release)

= Clarity- I could talk about this album all day. When people ask me what I think emo sounds like, I play them this. Nineties emo is not your modern emo, and that's sad. But the good thing is, there is PLENTY of great emo from this decade, and I think Clarity is potentially the greatest album in the genre that decade. 

 

= Futures- sometimes I think the production is too pristine, but from start to finish this is an exceptional album, bursting with life and all the emotions. Songs like Just Tonight, Kill, Polaris, Drugs Or Me and especially the album closer 23 are amongst my favourite of all time. But special mention must go to the bonus track Shame. If any song deserves to follow 23, its that one. Everything on this album is a blast, and in a year that gave us albums like Hot Fuss (The Killers), American Idiot (Green Day), In Love And Death (The Used), Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (My Chemical Romance), this one is my favourite. 

 

= Invented- I am shocked how much hate this album gets from the fanbase. To my ears, this is great enough for me to feel tempted to knock Clarity and and Futures down to 2, but at the same time, I also feel what makes it great is that this feels the most like both of them combined, with elements of Bleed American as well, that to me they all belong at the top together. Every single song here is a favourite of mine. Heart Is Hard To Find, Invented, Higher Devotion, Coffee And Cigarettes, Mixtape, Invented...this entire album is a MASTERPIECE of pop rock songwriting, and it has the best production in their discography. I just love it.

 

4. Bleed American- this is many fans favourite. Depending on how you choose to look at my rankings, it's wither second favourite or fourth. Everything here works. The songs, the sequencing, the production. But it lacks just a little something that my top three has in spades. And there are occasions I finish the album at around the midway mark. 

 

5. Integrity Blues- there are a couple of songs that are so typically JEW I feel they could have been left off (Get Right especially) but the majority of the album is atmospheric, warm and creative. An underrated album, with one of their most catchy songs (Through). There is also a really strange song on the album that ends sounding like early Mastodon: Pass The Baby. Just a strange album, one that I feel has been underrated. Sure And Certain is another great song.

 

6. Static Prevails- strictly speaking, this isn't their debut, but considering there has never been a re-release of their self titled debut, and no songs are ever played live, and most fans don't seem to know that album exists, I will rank this in sixth place, and consider it their debut. The production is actually really stripped back here, but it sounds BIG for the genre as it was in the nineties. Raw, spikier songwriting than what we know now, this is Jimmy at their punky best, on an album full of classic tunes. Seventeen is my favourite, it even featured on the soundtrack for Never Been Kissed. I love this record, I just can't place it any higher than this.

 

7. Surviving- this is a testament to how great I think Jimmy Eat World is that I rate their latest album in seventh place. Its cliche to say, but had this been any other band it would be really high up my list. And honestly, if we compare the quality of this record with, say, Futures, it's startling to see how close they are in terms of brilliance. Jimmy only really do great albums. It's bands like this that leave me thinking a number rating is pointless. 

 

8. Chase This Light- this is a sugar rush of an album, high energy for the most part, this is the most blatantly commercial and mainstream sounding Jimmy Eat World have ever sounded. Generally loved by fans, at the same time I doubt its many fans absolute favourite. I find the high energy production tends to wear me out long before its over. But my goodness, it's a delight! Big Casino, Always Be, Dizzy, Gotta Be Somebody's Blues, Carry You...and the exquisite bonus track Be Sensible are all indispensable classics. Not close to my favourite Jimmy Eat World album, but arguably one of my favourite albums of all time. Again, that says it all about this band and me. 

 

9. Damage- a love/hate album. I really like it, but the album feels like a demo. I know many fans who loved the stripped back sound, and after the sugary overtones of CTL and then the lush, ambitious production values of Invented, I can see why. But if CTL is too overproduced for my tastes, then Damage is unfortunately too underproduced. Still, song for song, I love this album. I could champion the entire record if i dissect each track and shine a light on them independently. But as a full album, I wish for a little more ingenuity and nuance in the production. Some bands can release outstanding music in stripped back form (think: every emo band of the nineties, including Jimmy), but this is lacking.

 

There we go, one of my top ten bands, any genre, and its always a delight to come back to Jimmy Eat World. They are the missing link between Biffy Clyro and Taylor Swift. Joys of joys!

[bluefox4000]

Been on a toto kick. lately and i know i ranked then before but update (i don't even remember my other ranking anyway, lol)

 

1. Fahrenheit

2. Seventh one

3. Toto

4. Turn Back

5. Tambu

6. XIV

7. Old is New

8. Falling In Between

9. XX

10 Hydra

11. Kingdom Of Desire

12. Mindfeilds

13. Isolation

14. IV

 

I incloded XX and Old is new cause their unreleased material but they're good albums on their own.

 

and Yes i meant to put IV last........suck it, lol

 

Mick

Edited March 31, 2023 by bluefox4000

[Segue Myles]

Just now, bluefox4000 said:

Been on a toto kick. lately and i know i ranked then before but update (i don't even remember my other ranking anyway, lol)

 

1. Fahrenheit

2. Seventh one

3. Toto

4. Turn Back

5. Tambu

6. XIV

7. Old is New

8. Falling In Between

9. XX

10 Hydra

11. Kingdom Of Desire

12. Isolation

13. IV

 

I incloded XX and Old is new cause their unreleased material but they're good albums on their own.

 

and Yes i meant to put IV last........suck it, lol

 

Mick

OK love you bud...your bottom two has me triggered 😅

[Segue Myles]

Toto:

 

Highest tier:

1. Fahrenheit 

2. Isolation 

3. Toto

4. Tambu

5. IV

6. Mindfields

7. The Seventh One 

 

Mid tier:

8. XIV 

9. Kingdom Of Desire

10. Turn Back

11. Falling In Between

12. XX 

 

Bottom tier:

13. Old Is New

14. Hydra (songs rule live)

15. Through The Looking Glass

 

Edited March 31, 2023 by Segue Myles

[bluefox4000]

7 minutes ago, Segue Myles said:

OK love you bud...your bottom two has me triggered 😅

 

 

good for you.  doesn't mean it'll change things

 

lol

 

Mick

[bluefox4000]

7 minutes ago, Segue Myles said:

Toto:

 

Highest tier:

1. Fahrenheit 

2. Isolation 

3. Toto

4. Tambu

5. IV

6. Mindfields

7. The Seventh One 

 

Mid tier:

8. XIV 

9. Turn Back

10. Falling In Between

11. XX 

 

Bottom tier:

12. Old Is New

13. Hydra (songs rule live)

14. Through The Looking Glass

 

 

i had to update mine.  Mindfeilds is so bland i forgot it

 

Mick

[Segue Myles]

Just now, bluefox4000 said:

 

i had to update mine.  Mindfeilds is so bland i forgot it

 

Mick

Aww I love that one! 

[bluefox4000]

Just now, Segue Myles said:

Aww I love that one! 

 

it's fine.  i just find kimbals vocals overwrought and honestly thee materials a bit generic,

 

Mick

[Segue Myles]

1 minute ago, bluefox4000 said:

 

it's fine.  i just find kimbals vocals overwrought and honestly thee materials a bit generic,

 

Mick

The remaster in that recent box set helped. Oddly, on Toto groups ive seen fans fawn over Mindfields original production, but I didn't truly gel with the album til the remaster, which dialed back a lot of the noise and clutter.

[Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios]

⭐️ Great to see Segue’s and Mick’s

  Love and appreciation for the magnificent 

   TOTO ! ⭐️  👍😎

 

I always find it fascinating to read younger - well considerably younger than me 🙃 - TRFs perspective on our shared love of our favourite bands.

I’ve been into Toto since ‘83 and so from Toto IV onwards purchased each new releases the moment it came out, 

so this obviously has heavily influenced my opinion in my Rankings .. Also bear in mind I prefer Toto when they are Hard Rock over soft rock ..

 

1T : Isolation

1T : The Seventh One 

3.     Toto 

4.     Kingdom of Desire

5.     Turn Back

6.     Fahrenheit 

7.     Hydra 

8.     Falling in Between

9.     IV

10.   XIV

11.   Mindfields

12.   Tambu 

13.    XX 

14.   Old Is New

15.   Through The Looking Glass

 

[bluefox4000]

18 minutes ago, Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios said:

⭐️ Great to see Segue’s and Mick’s

  Love and appreciation for the magnificent 

   TOTO ! ⭐️  👍😎

 

I always find it fascinating to read younger - well considerably younger than me 🙃 - TRFs perspective on our shared love of our favourite bands.

I’ve been into Toto since ‘83 and so from Toto IV onwards purchased each new releases the moment it came out, 

so this obviously has heavily influenced my opinion in my Rankings .. Also bear in mind I prefer Toto when they are Hard Rock over soft rock ..

 

1T : Isolation

1T : The Seventh One 

3.     Toto 

4.     Kingdom of Desire

5.     Turn Back

6.     Fahrenheit 

7.     Hydra 

8.     Falling in Between

9.     IV

10.   XIV

11.   Mindfields

12.   Tambu 

13.    XX 

14.   Old Is New

15.   Through The Looking Glass

 

 

Nice list dude.  it's funny 2 of my highest toto albums are from the Kimball fronted era (toto and turn back) and 2 of my lowest are from the Bobby era(Hydea and Mindfeilds) Kimball's my least fav front man...Well Fergie too. 

 

The Joe era is my fav configuration of Toto.  i had read they had always wanted Joe in the band cause the  pacoro's knew him since childhood.  Tha's an interesting thought.....Joe being there from the jump isn't it?

 

 

[Segue Myles]

I've done this a million times, but I'm fresh off playing my favourite LC albums:

 

1. Karmacode- glad to see it gets a lot of love today. 

=. Unleashed Memories- one of the most beautiful and emotional metal albums ever released. It is a perfect blend of The Gathering and Paradise Lost, without losing any of the bands own identity. Just beautiful. 

3. Comalies- perfect. The older the album gets, the more special it becomes. 

4. Delirium- there are days I think this is the bands greatest achievement. Its layered and deep, with great lyrics and a more forceful delivery. It's deemed a modern classic by many, and it gave them a major comeback within the metal community. Mainstream metal fans barely noticed it, but the underground sure did.

5. Broken Crown Halo- the final album from the bands classic lineup, and the fifth in a row I'd straight up call a masterpiece. 

6. In A Reverie- rough around the edges and all the better for it. 

7. Black Anima- a magnificent collection of songs let down by abysmal production. 

8. Dark Adrenaline- just a great album, but they have better.

9. Shallow Life- easily the worst. Aging terribly.

[bluefox4000]

10cc

 

1. Sheet Music

2. How Dare You

3. The Original Soundtrack

4. 10cc

5. Deceptive Bends

6. Bloody Tourists

7. Look Hear?

8. Windows in the Jungle

9. 10 Out Of 10

10. Mirror Mirror

11.  Meanwile

 

This band was at it's best with Lol and Creme on the first 4. Fantastic fun art pop.  After they left just a good pop band. With Deceptive Bends and Bloody Tourists being the standouts.

 

Mick

[Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios]

On 4/1/2023 at 8:01 PM, bluefox4000 said:

 

Nice list dude.  it's funny 2 of my highest toto albums are from the Kimball fronted era (toto and turn back) and 2 of my lowest are from the Bobby era(Hydea and Mindfeilds) Kimball's my least fav front man...Well Fergie too. 

 

The Joe era is my fav configuration of Toto.  i had read they had always wanted Joe in the band cause the  pacoro's knew him since childhood.  Tha's an interesting thought.....Joe being there from the jump isn't it?

 

 

🤔 yeah , I think Joe wasn’t there from the very, very beginning as he was a few years younger … Luke was very young himself only 19 in ‘76 during the recording recording of Boz Scaggs Silk Degrees that all the Toto boys played on .. 

Joe born in 1960, would only have been a mere 16 ! 
I remember from reading Luke’s book that Boz called 19 year old Luke ‘ the Kid ‘ 

which really got on his nerves ! 😮🙃🤣

[Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios]

On 4/2/2023 at 4:32 PM, bluefox4000 said:

10cc

 

1. Sheet Music

2. How Dare You

3. The Original Soundtrack

4. 10cc

5. Deceptive Bends

6. Bloody Tourists

7. Look Hear?

8. Windows in the Jungle

9. 10 Out Of 10

10. Mirror Mirror

11.  Meanwile

 

This band was at it's best with Lol and Creme on the first 4. Fantastic fun art pop.  After they left just a good pop band. With Deceptive Bends and Bloody Tourists being the standouts.

 

Mick

Great Music , Clever & Amusing Lyrics

👍⭐️

[bluefox4000]

I thought i'd d this band s their beoming a fav rapidly

 

Haken

 

1. Affinity

2. The Mountain

3. Fauna

4. Visions

5. Aquarius

6. Vector

7. Virus.

 

Affinity is my clear fav.   Love the 80's vibe.  and i think this far and away the best 80's send up album ever.  Right to certain keyboard patches they use  it's VERY detailed.

 

I also think The Mountain is the best at blending the prog with the Metal  and their most Dream theater like album in many ways so......plus, lol

 

Vector and Virus lose me a bit.  As they basically threw away all their fun quirks to just hammer you with metal and it really kinda misses the point of Haken for me.

 

Fauna is  a pleasent return to the classic quirks and the nice sweet spot of prog and Metal.

 

Mick

Edited April 15, 2023 by bluefox4000

[The Analog Cub]

6 hours ago, bluefox4000 said:

I thought i'd d this band s their beoming a fav rapidly

 

Haken

 

1. Affinity

2. The Mountain

3. Fauna

4. Visions

5. Aquarius

6. Vector

7. Virus.

 

Affinity is my clear fav.   Love the 80's vibe.  and i think this far and away the best 80's send up album ever.  Right to certain keyboard patches they use  it's VERY detailed.

 

I also think The Mountain is the best at blending the prog with the Metal  and their most Dream theater like album in many ways so......plus, lol

 

Vector and Virus lose me a bit.  As they basically threw away all their fun quirks to just hammer you with metal and it really kinda misses the point of Haken for me.

 

Fauna is  a pleasent return to the classic quirks and the nice sweet spot of prog and Metal.

 

Mick

Welcome to the fun. This band is an absolute blast.

 

Vector was a bit of a letdown but Virus is one of my faves.

 

[Segue Myles]

Okay so playing my Trivium playlist on Spotify. It's given me some idea how to do a ranking as of today.

 

1. Ascendancy 

2. The Sin And The Sentence 

3. In The Court Of The Dragon

4. What The Dead Men Say

5. The Crusade 

6. Shogun 

7. Ember To Inferno

8. In Waves 

9. Silence In The Snow

10. Vengeance Falls

[bluefox4000]

I'm gonna do yes.  never every record just through the Rabin years.  i may listen to the others but not now.

 

1. The Yes Album

2. Relayer

3. Close to the edge

4. 90125

5.  Fragile

6. Drama

7. Talk

8. Big Generator

9. Going For the One

10. Time and a word

11 Yes

12. Tormato

13. Tales.

 

I'm in the process of playing Tales......Still awful.  Sorry fans.

 

but if you can't tell.  The Rabin era is kinda my new jam.  and Drama knocked me back with how good it is.

 

Who needed Jon Anderson......well.......they did commercially at the time.

 

but I don't....not necessarily  lol

 

Mick

 

[The Analog Cub]

6 hours ago, bluefox4000 said:

I'm gonna do yes.  never every record just through the Rabin years.  i may listen to the others but not now.

 

1. The Yes Album

2. Relayer

3. Close to the edge

4. 90125

5.  Fragile

6. Drama

7. Talk

8. Big Generator

9. Going For the One

10. Time and a word

11 Yes

12. Tormato

13. Tales.

 

I'm in the process of playing Tales......Still awful.  Sorry fans.

 

but if you can't tell.  The Rabin era is kinda my new jam.  and Drama knocked me back with how good it is.

 

Who needed Jon Anderson......well.......they did commercially at the time.

 

but I don't....not necessarily  lol

 

Mick

 

 

Rabin (and Horn/Downes, even) added some much needed balls to the elven music they did in the 70s. 

[goose]

Dire Straits

 

Alchemy (live) is tops for me followed by the studio albums in this order

1. Making Movies

2. Love Over Gold

3. On Every Street

4. Brothers In Arms

5. Dire Straits

6. Communique