Punk’s in full effect on the critics’ poll this year, joined by some classic mainstream rock, some soul, and even a jazz album. Another tough choice, but it will be really interesting to see what gets the most votes - I have my suspicions, but I feel like it could go any number of ways.
Oh, God, Marquee Moon, definitely. I mean, there’s some great stuff up there, but that album is all-time top 10 for me.
Another good year, but it has to be Marquee Moon, one of my all-time favourites.
Man, I have to choose between Rocket to Russia, Marquee Moon, and Talking Heads '77?
Ok, Marquee Moon it is, then.
Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
In nostalgic memory of my teenage punk(ish) years…
I gotta go with the Talking Heads album, but if ties were allowed, it’d be the Pistols, Television, and the Heads in a three way tie, with This Year’s Model making a strong case to expand it to a four way tie. Amazing year for releases.
The Jackson Browne and Randy Newman albums must’ve just made it under the wire; I associate them both with the summer of 1978. Little Criminals is the album with “Short People,” right?
Anyway, I’ve got to go with Elvis.
Easy choice this year, as I think Rumours is the best album that will appear on any of these lists, regardless of year.
Television, Talking Heads, and… Ornette Coleman?
Anyway, went with Television.
*Rumours *is of course terrific, but the purpose of this poll is to expand the boundaries of the music scene a bit…but I don’t mind that *Rumours *is winning the poll.
Cheap Trick. Nothing beats that album.
Oh now, this is ridiculous…it’s Marquee Moon for me, but I’m having to say no to some mighty fine albums.
Some good choices on this one - the Pistols, the Ramones, Fleetwood Mac, and Pete & Ronnie all made albums I almost voted for. Rough Mix was my runner-up, though in the end I couldn’t vote for it because, as far as Pete’s solo albums go, it’s kinda humdrum (it’s no White City, that’s for sure), though “Keep Me Turning” is a personal favorite of mine - I don’t think anyone has ever written a song about Judgment Day and made it sound that mellow and reassuring.
In the end I voted for Running On Empty, primarily because the core conceit of the album (a “live” album consisting entirely of songs not previously released on a studio album, some recorded in hotel rooms or on the tour bus, arranged as a concept piece about life on the road) is unique and well-executed, and because its bookends, the title track and “The Load-Out/Stay”, are both truly classic additions to the American songbook.
Elvis
Tough. But another one for Marquee Moon. Neither Elvis nor Talking Heads were quite at their peak yet. The Ramones probably were, but I gave them some love last time. Aja was masterfully done, but just a little too slick. Sex Pistols historically important, but just a little too amateurish. Rumors and Running on Empty deserve their nod, but despite being a semi-regular Californian the laid-back “California sound” can’t take this one ( and I prefer pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac anyway ).
But a good list with plenty of worthy contenders.
Talking Heads, easily. It’s not my favorite album from them (that would be Remain in Light), but the Heads are nearly always, um, head and shoulders above their competition.