best out-shined album?

[satcho]

what is the album that you would say is great, but commonly gets overlooked because of similar albums that are considered better? i would say Neutral Milk Hotel- On Avery Island is my choice because In the Aeroplane Over the Sea gets all the attention, even though OAI is still amazing in my opinion. my second choice would be Radiohead- Amnesiac.

[tinobeat]

Isn't Anything - MBV
Wowee Zowee - Pavement

[vesper]

Flaming Lips, In a Priest Driven Ambulance
Sonic Youth, Washing Machine
My Bloody Valentine, Isn't Anything
The Walkmen, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone
Boredoms, Vision Creation Newsun
The Microphones, It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by vesper
The Walkmen, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone
Boredoms, Vision Creation Newsun


Interesting you mention these two. I feel like most of the comments I hear about Bows & Arrows is that its great, but not as great as EWPTLMIG. I myself think they're equally great in different ways, but I wouldn't pick the debut as "outshined." we might be listening to different people though.

re: boredoms. what's the "classic" album that shines brighter than VCN? I only have that and Super AE, so I'm not familiar with their output beyond that. I'm curious as to what's trumping the genius of VCN. I need it if its even close...

the other choices are spot on...

[vesper]

re: Walkmen. I only hear people calling EWPLMG better around here. And by people I mean Paul and myself -- sorry if I forgot any others. Kids I talk to in DC, Richmond and my parts seem to think that B+A is the better album. I mean, shit, they went from playing a 500 person venue in Richmond (and not even selling it out!) to packing the 9:30 Club in DC. (I'm not sure what the capacity is, but it is definitely over 1000, maybe over 1500.) This could just be my area -- I have no idea what you Massholes are saying. ;)

re: Boredoms. I just got done talking with some kids on another forum who call Pop Tatari the best Boredoms album (next = Super Ae). They are familiar with Vision Creation Newsun but don't give it the love that I do. I just checked AMG and they give their pick to Pop Tatari, as well. Of course, that may not be saying much because they give both Super Ae and VCN 3 stars.

[johansen smith]

Clouds Taste Metallic and What Would the Community Think

[pabost]

Songs from Northern Britain - Teenage Fanclub (out-shined by Bandwagonesque)

[Futureman]

oooh, great selections, vesper & tino. Washing Machine is my favorite SY album; YZ, my favorite Pavement album.

[miss understood]

Originally posted by johansen smith
Clouds Taste Metallic

Cheers to that.

"Being There" and "Animals" as well.

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by miss understood
"Being There" and "Animals" as well.

"Animals" as in Pink Floyd "Animals?"

if so, big ol' amen to that. "Meddle" too.

[earl grey]

i third the 'washing machine' and 'wowee zowee' selections. none of these seem quite as appropriate, but i would also add:

air - premiers symptomes
r.e.m. - reckoning
four tet - dialogue
galaxie 500 - this is our music

(not sure what the general opinion is on 'this is our music' but i never seem to hear about it.)

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by earl grey

galaxie 500 - this is our music

I haven't heard this one, really, but everyone is ALL about On Fire, so if you're into TIOM, then yeah, its totally outshined by pretty much everything in their catalogue, according to my peeps.

[bitterfruit]

The Strokes - This Is It

[tinobeat]

really? The first Strokes record was the one that everyone shit their pants over. I thought it was OK at best, and was ambivalent about it enough to keep on hatin' like every self-conscious indie d00d was supposed to.

but man, Room on Fire, despite its high rankings on the bitchfork end-of-year list dropped off the radar immediately as far as hype, and its actually one of the best collections of songs from last year. fuckin Strokes. I made a career out of saying "they've only got one album in 'em" and they go and put out a sophmore record that puts the first one to shame. to shame!

I swear, they've only got two records in 'em...

[earl grey]

Originally posted by tinobeat
I haven't heard this one, really, but everyone is ALL about On Fire, so if you're into TIOM, then yeah, its totally outshined by pretty much everything in their catalogue, according to my peeps.

i do prefer 'on fire' but i dig 'TIOM' quite a bit as well. "listen, the snow is falling" always gets me. i actually have never heard 'today', something i need to work on.

[johansen smith]

Today is my least favorite.

[bitterfruit]

Originally posted by tinobeat
really? The first Strokes record was the one that everyone shit their pants over. I thought it was OK at best, and was ambivalent about it enough to keep on hatin' like every self-conscious indie d00d was supposed to.

I swear, they've only got two records in 'em...

Nah, dog. I was just kidding. "This Is It" was so completely over emphasized as being "relevant," whatever the fuck that means.

To comment as to whether or not they put out an okay third album is conjecture at best. Who knows, they might become more relevant than they were before.

[tinobeat]

I imagine them going the Pearl Jam route:

get REALLY popular with the 1st record.

put out a 2nd record that's better, gets good press right away, then drops off.

continue making record upon record for your now-cultlike adoring fanbase, but that get generally ignored by the press. be rich and successful and revered by the people who love you, but no more perking up new ears.

that'd be totally sweet.

I love the smell of conjecture in the middle of the night.

[satcho]

I was just thinking about White Stripes- DeStijl and how it got out-shined(in my opinion) by White Blood Cells.

[vesper]

Furthermore, Elephant seems to have trumped White Blood Cells.

The Strokes 0wn my $oul. Sure they're trustfunded. Sure they would probably suck if they actually had to work. Sure they write some fantastic pop songs.

[Futureman]

"Intravenous Di Milo"

[tinobeat]

no way, "Rock n Roll Creation" is way more underrated.

[Dayne1234]

Wowee Zowee by Pavement
All Shook Down by The Replacements
Moon and Antarctica by Modest Mouse

[mashuguna]

RIDE "Nowhere".....

Why does everyone who salivates about MBV hate RIDE so much. Yeah, I know they were kind-of "pretty boys" compared to Kevin Shields and what not, but "Nowhere" is an incredible album start to finish...YES I know they went downhill tremendously fast...(anyone remember "Tarantuala"??? YIKES.....)

[Ladt]

Originally posted by tinobeat
really? The first Strokes record was the one that everyone shit their pants over. I thought it was OK at best, and was ambivalent about it enough to keep on hatin' like every self-conscious indie d00d was supposed to.

but man, Room on Fire, despite its high rankings on the bitchfork end-of-year list dropped off the radar immediately as far as hype, and its actually one of the best collections of songs from last year. fuckin Strokes. I made a career out of saying "they've only got one album in 'em" and they go and put out a sophmore record that puts the first one to shame. to shame!

I swear, they've only got two records in 'em...
Room on Fire IS a nice little album isn't it. I mean, nothing astonishing, but just an enjoyable listen, which shouldn't be sniffed at.

[vesper]

Originally posted by Dayne1234
Moon and Antarctica by Modest Mouse

I thought that -apart from around here- this album was already considered their best?

[bmmello]

Yo La Tengo - And then nothing turned itself inside out

Come on, isn't it outshine by the previous? It's my favourite YLT album.

[justin_S]

Originally posted by vesper
I thought that -apart from around here- this album was already considered their best?


That's the impression that I was under as well. I dunno, but to be honest, and this may cause me to be heckled off the board, I don't really GET Modest Mouse. I've really tried hard to see why so many people love them, but they just don't do it for me. Their new single float on is okay though.


As for the White Stripes, I totally agree that DeStijl has been outshined by their later releases, which is a shame, since it's their best album to date.

[fuzztony]

Sonic Youth - Sister

What's this about Washing Machine being great (i mean, i don't mind it but it seems to be in the middle of a flat period, last track Diamond Sea is awesome though), what outshines it - Murray Street?

Grandaddy - Under The Western Freeway
Wilco - Being There
Nirvana - Bleach
Faith No More - Angel Dust
...Trail Of Dead - Madonna
Bob Dylan - John Wesley Harding

Re the strokes - i think they just absolutely rule, rich men or poor. Yep, Room On Fire is a great save of a record.

I like the Animals and Meddle nods too - they are my fave 2 Floyd records, um... along with Wish You Were Here.

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by fuzztony
Sonic Youth - Sister
...
what outshines it - Murray Street?


See, I feel like its proper to totally sweat Sister and Daydream Nation, while Washing Machine gets pooh-pooed.

I think WM is a pretty great album, but its nothing next to Sister and Evol (my pick for underrated SY album). I think I'm alone in thinking [i[Daydream Nation[/i], though a really great rock record, is way way overrated. "sprawling" doesn't always equal "genius."

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by fuzztony
I like the Animals and Meddle nods too - they are my fave 2 Floyd records, um... along with Wish You Were Here.

I used to love love love Wish You Were Here, but classic rock radio has ingrained it into my head so much I can barely listen to it outside of that context. Its like listening to a Stones record that has one big hit on it. The songs that aren't beaten to death by classic rock radio still sound fresh, but then you hear, say, "Angie" or "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and I half expect a Steve Miller song to come on next.

[satcho]

Originally posted by fuzztony

...Trail Of Dead - Madonna


Absolutely.

[satcho]

Oh, and I think that The Dismemberment Plan is one of the few bands which doesn't have albums that out-shine each other. The same is true for bands who change as much as The Plan did, but unfortunately I can't think of any at the moment. because who's to say that one album is better if they all accomplish different things?

[fuzztony]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tinobeat
[B]See, I feel like its proper to totally sweat Sister and Daydream Nation, while Washing Machine gets pooh-pooed.

I think Daydream just has a mood and overall tone that gives it its classic status. The great songs are among SY's best and the not so great don't take that long to finish ;)

But yeah, it and SY are uneven propositions. Perhaps EVOL and Sister are the only two flawless albums. I put WM on again the other day, and Murray Street just seems so much more wonderful against it.

Re Floyd and classic rock radio - LOL! - couldn't agree more - what's a Floyd fan to do!

[vesper]

Originally posted by justin_S
...and this may cause me to be heckled off the board, I don't really GET Modest Mouse. I've really tried hard to see why so many people love them, but they just don't do it for me. Their new single float on is okay though.

Actually, this will make you fit right in!

What's this about Washing Machine being great (i mean, i don't mind it but it seems to be in the middle of a flat period, last track Diamond Sea is awesome though), what outshines it - Murray Street?

Washing Machine was the second tape I ever owned so I am biased.

[earl grey]

Originally posted by fuzztony
What's this about Washing Machine being great (i mean, i don't mind it but it seems to be in the middle of a flat period, last track Diamond Sea is awesome though), what outshines it - Murray Street?

i'll stand up for 'washing machine' too. i think it's the best balance of SY's sprawling noisy jams and the more tuneful melodic stuff they're doing now. and my favorite kim songs since 'daydream nation' are on there. i like 'murray street' better, but 'washing machine' is one of my faves.

'a thousand leaves' i love too, for similar reasons. (except its kim songs are painful.)

EDIT: i started with 'dirty', but like vesper, 'WM' was the first SY album i really got into. and the WM tour was the first time i saw them. so maybe i'm biased too.

[fuzztony]

Originally posted by earl grey
i'll stand up for 'washing machine' too. i think it's the best balance of SY's sprawling noisy jams and the more tuneful melodic stuff they're doing now. and my favorite kim songs since 'daydream nation' are on there. i like 'murray street' better, but 'washing machine' is one of my faves.

'a thousand leaves' i love too, for similar reasons. (except its kim songs are painful.)

EDIT: i started with 'dirty', but like vesper, 'WM' was the first SY album i really got into. and the WM tour was the first time i saw them. so maybe i'm biased too.

I respect you guys' opinions (though I'm not sure I respect my grammar usage there) so Washing Machine is gonna get some serious airing in the next few (especially as I can always do with a not-too-painful Kim song). My compadre here has just been hitting me with the same raps on it.

Got into SY with Goo, but Daydream and EVOL (particularly EVOL actually) did the permanent damage. Dunno why, but it's making me think, I've really got to get some of those Boredoms albums I've been hearing so much about.

BTW - so excited about the SY concert (& Nurse) in June.

[vesper]

Originally posted by fuzztony
I've really got to get some of those Boredoms albums I've been hearing so much about.

Get Vision Creation Newsun and be floored. That album is exploding with pure joy.

[tinobeat]

I second, third and fourth that emotion.

I always thought Boredoms were just a noise band, but Vision Creation Newsun is just pure celebration in music. unbelievable.

[Paul]

Someone upthread mentioned the Replacements' All Shook Down. I've long maintained that it's my favorite of the band's records, and that probably speaks volumes about why I've never been so quick to dismiss Westerberg's solo material.

[Kameek N Deesha]

ALL SHOOK DOWN is fucking great, but Westerberg's solo-oral work just ... SUCKS... it gets worse and worse... I can't think of a more embarrasing artist right now, yuck.

Beach Boys: TODAY, FRIENDS, and SUNFLOWER are all brilliant - BRILLIANT - pop records...

Dennis Wilson's PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE is a remarkable album -- easily the best solo record from any of the Beach Brothers...

I don't understand why The Who's TOMMY gets all the attention when THE WHO SELL OUT is so much better, one of the best records of the 60's...

Lou Reed's BERLIN is easily his best solo disc; no one ever seems to mention it...

Similarly, John Cale's entire solo career seems to be overlooked; I'll take the majority of his work over Reed's any day of the week...

I think Bowie's ZIGGY STARDUST is ridiculously overrated and overshadows his far better work: HUNKY DORY, STATION TO STATION, HEROES, LOW, etc...

Prince's PARADE never gets the attention it deserves...

Edith Frost's TELESCOPIC...

Costello's SPIKE...

Elliott Smith's last two records...

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by Kameek N Deesha
ALL SHOOK DOWN is fucking great, but Westerberg's solo-oral work just ... SUCKS... it gets worse and worse... I can't think of a more embarrasing artist right now, yuck.

d00d, I'm gonna get all Dave-who-works-at-Matador on yr ass and say you're dead wrong about Westerberg and his solo jams. I wasn't so into the first few albums, but the last 3 on Vagrant (of all fucking labels) are top notch. And supposedly a new one around the corner that's supposed to even better. The man's doin better than he ever has. 110% even!

everything else you mentioned (that I know), though, I'll let you slide on. ;)

[miss understood]

Stereo/Mono: talk about out-shined albums (at least compared to the Mats' stuff). I think some of his best songs yet are on those two records..

[beekeeper]

Washing Machine is definitely underrated..which is made even more tragic by the fact that it's their best album (just slightly edges out Sister). And that's even with "Diamond Sea," which gets a bit tiring after the first 5 minutes and before the last 3 minutes.

[DefenderOfPants]

"strangeways, here we come" the smiths
"scoundrel days" a-ha
"kill uncle" by morrissey

[mashuguna]

Wire..."A Bell Is A Cup...."

[Paul Davis]

It's been cool to read so many people praising Washing Machine. I never really paid much attention to Sonic Youth until I saw them live on that tour (I only went because Helium opened). I was blown away and now appreciate many of their albums, and Washing Machine is one of my favorites by them.

[p.a. beaumonty]

damn... the Strokes love is surprising.

lots of good picks (Being There, Clouds Taste Metallic).

I'll add Under the Bushes Under the Stars, ATLiens, Tusk, and uhhh Fair Warning

[Paul]

Originally posted by p.a. beaumonty
...and uhhh Fair Warning Never, NEVER downplay your love for Van Halen. That behavior induces stress and will shorten your life.

[p.a. beaumonty]

hahaha... I would never downplay my love for DLR-era VH.

I'm just not sure if FW was somewhat overlooked back in the day (or now). VH I, II and 1984 are obvious staples, as each had a handful of radio hits. I guess the only thing you'll ever hear during a VH rock-block from Fair Warning might be "Unchained." Classic album all the way through, though.

[troubleclef]

Urge Overkill "Exit the Dragon"! Better in a lot of ways than Saturation.

[mashuguna]

Nice!! Mad love to Urge Overkill...still one of the best bands I've ever experience live!!