For the second year in a row, Thriller makes the list, though this time in a much higher position. A few classic albums here - War is one of the albums even U2 haters admit is good, my favorite Talking Heads song (“This Must Be The Place [Naive Melody]”) is on their album that made the list, and though I think it might be The Police’s weakest album, Synchronicity is much beloved. In the end, though, there was really no choice but R.E.M. for me - one of a handful of bands that came along at the right point in my life and changed it (I didn’t get into them until the following year with Reckoning, but immediately bought Murmur and Chronic Town, and Murmur remains their most transcendent album, IMO).
There are a couple decidedly lesser albums from “legendary” artists here, as well - don’t think a lot of people consider these particular works of Lou Reed or Dylan so great nowadays, but that kind of thing’s always going to happen with artists the critics grew up with.
I love Richard Thompson, but that album was no Henry the Human Fly. At the moment I’m listening to Murmur, but I voted for Culture Club because that album was the distilled essence of 1983.
I’ll finally give some love to Talking Heads. Remain in Light is the masterpiece, but this one is very nearly as good.
REM was less of touchstone to me when I was younger, I kinda came into them late. So, great album but they don’t get the prize.
This was around the time I really began to seriously get into music and develop the tastes and opinions that would stay with me as I got older. (My 15th birthday was in the fall of '83.)
This was the year that I discovered REM and U2, two bands that were my favorites for many years afterward, so Murmur and War have to be at the top of my list.
I also remember the day I went to the record store in the mall and bought Stop Making Sense. I listened to that album so much I knew every song by heart.
I also listened to Synchronicity constantly and loved it at the time but, as was mentioned, in retrospect it’s not their best album.
This list brings back lots of high school memories.
How can it be anything other than Murmur? Answer: It can’t.
Eddie F., I have to agree. That record is too great.
I still remember the moment I heard “Radio Free Europe” for the first time.
“Thriller” for me, followed by the Police. I like REM okay, but not enough for this poll. Murmur is certainly a monumental record, though, just not my cuppa (Though I do love “Catapult” and “Radio Free Europe.”)
Synchronicity, if for nothing else than Tea in the Sahara and Mother.
Murmur was a life-changer for me.
Voted for The Police ahead of Culture Club.
Richard Thompson. This is about where my unwavering affection for Elvis Costello starts turning into a “You know? This guy Thompson is pretty damn good too.”
Elvis Costello appears too much here.
My choice, too. I can’t believe they ended up intelligible and doing songs like Everybody Hurts. It’s a fine song, but man, compared to this stuff…
Looking at the tracklist of Synchronicity - wow, we should’ve known Sting was up to something. Synchronicity with its nods towards William Butler Yeats - overstuffed; King of Frikkin’ Pain; Wrapped Around Your Finger’s elevator music and the wonderful tribute to stalking, Every Breath…:smack:
Someone should’ve smacked that boy and told him to get over himself.
Oh, nonsense. I didn’t vote for Get Happy!! and I didn’t vote for * Punch the Clock*, but they’re both damn fine albums. You’re criticizing him for being prolific.
For purely sentimental reasons I went for Big Country in this poll.
Not only was he prolific, but up to this point he had consistently great albums. That all took a shit on his next release, but he bounced back in '86 and had his last really essential album (IMO) in '89.
I recently re-listened to Mother, which is why I voted for Thriller. It was close between MJ and the Police, but that song freaks me out.
This, by the way, is the most impressive list of options I’ve seen in any of the polls.