# My thoughts on albums everybody has already heard.(recommendations accepted) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 26, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217 "2013-08-26T17:18:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/221 "2013-09-18T23:03:19Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Seconded. I was disappointed by _Siamese Dream_ in comparison go _Gish_. Wow, I 'll have to check it out. I thought Siamese Dream was their big one. I should add that “Today” is also a great track, but I was so familiar with it that it barely bore mentioning. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/222 "2013-09-18T23:13:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Wow, I 'll have to check it out. I thought Siamese Dream was their big one. > > I should add that “Today” is also a great track, but I was so familiar with it that it barely bore mentioning. As a big Pumpkins fan, I would say _Siamese_ is by far their best cohesive work, although _Mellon Collie_ if it were pared down to a single album would probably edge it out. Go for _Gish_ if you want a more stripped-down, hard-rockin’, alternative rock sound, and _Mellon Collie_ if you want something more ambitious, lush, orchestrated, and, yes, a bit self-indulgent at times. The first three albums are essential, so if you really like _Siamese Dream_, you need to check both out. It would also be worth your while to check out _Piscese Iscariot_, their B-Side collection from the _Gish_ and _Siamese Dream_ days. _Gish_ is their rawest work. It’s a lot of fans’ favorites, but I think it’s still a young, although well-written, work that showed glimmers of the genius and ambition that was to come. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/223 "2013-09-19T00:09:59Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > As a big Pumpkins fan, I would say _Siamese_ is by far their best cohesive work, although _Mellon Collie_ if it were pared down to a single album would probably edge it out. Go for _Gish_ if you want a more stripped-down, hard-rockin’, alternative rock sound, and _Mellon Collie_ if you want something more ambitious, lush, orchestrated, and, yes, a bit self-indulgent at times. The first three albums are essential, so if you really like _Siamese Dream_, you need to check both out. It would also be worth your while to check out _Piscese Iscariot_, their B-Side collection from the _Gish_ and _Siamese Dream_ days. > > _Gish_ is their rawest work. It’s a lot of fans’ favorites, but I think it’s still a young, although well-written, work that showed glimmers of the genius and ambition that was to come. Gish is still my favorite, but it was the first SP album I heard, and that’s hard to overcome sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/224 "2013-09-19T00:14:01Z")
I had Mellon Collie when it was new. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/225 "2013-09-19T01:10:53Z")
Since we are talking about iconic albums, how about _Operation Ivy_ (self titled, the only album)? I don’t think that it will be directly up the OPs ally, but it’s a landmark Ska/punk dance album with fun catchy tunes and a beat that moves your feet. I am thinking for completeness sake more than anything. It would round out the rest of the 80s recommendations. Maybe add in some early Red Hot Chili Peppers (_Freaky Stylie_, _Mothers Milk_ or _Blood Sugar Sex Magic_ depending) and a DIY punk album too (Dead Kennedy’s _Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables_, maybe? Either that of Black Flag _Damaged_ but DK is more accesable) Again, this is assuming that Maha is looking to hear things people have listened to more than he is looking to fall in love with the albums themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/226 "2013-09-19T02:34:23Z")
Another nomination for Rio by Duran Duran … Not sarcastically but because I really like it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/227 "2013-09-19T03:11:32Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Since we are talking about iconic albums, how about _Operation Ivy_ (self titled, the only album)? I don’t think that it will be directly up the OPs ally, but it’s a landmark Ska/punk dance album with fun catchy tunes and a beat that moves your feet. I am thinking for completeness sake more than anything. It would round out the rest of the 80s recommendations. If we’re talking Ska ( revival version ), I’d think [The Specials](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Specials_%28album%29) eponymous debut would be the classic choice. Of course it is mostly covers, but well-chosen ones done right. Apologies if it has been mentioned and I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/228 "2013-09-19T03:18:51Z")
Nitpck: 8 (9, if you count “Too Much Too Young”, which has an “acknowledgement” to Lloyd Charmers) of the songs on The Specials’ debut were written by members of the band, so it wasn’t mostly covers. Still, a good recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/229 "2013-09-19T03:26:03Z")
The Specials is a great call. And, Bob Marley \*Legend \*(a greatest hits album, but who cares? It’s what the majority of people I know listened to first) is another one that falls into the “everyone has heard it” camp. I have no idea if Mahaloth will like Marley at all, but it’s important if the point of the journey is to hear landmark music. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/230 "2013-09-25T20:33:18Z")
As I said, I will be updating this thread from now until…forever? I am currently re-listening to albums that I already reviewed. So far, my thoughts are: I’m right on most things and would add: **Joshua Tree** only has three good tracks on it. The first three. I do think I slightly underrated Streets Have No Name, but the rest after track 3 is dead on arrival for me. **Purple Rain** is amazing and even better than I realized. The whole thing screams musical genius. Any doubt that Prince is a musical prodigy is gone. I’m not even a huge fan of the whole thing, but the talent is obvious and it deserves respect. Everything, I pretty much agree with my original review, though I did not re-listen to Talking Heads or the Clash. Next up, I’ll probably grab\*\* another Prince album. Suggestions?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/231 "2013-09-25T21:28:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Next up, I’ll probably grab\*\* another Prince album. Suggestions?\*\* All of Prince’s albums up to Sign O’ the Times hold up really well. - First couple are great Rnb - Dirty Mind was revolutionary in it’s convergence of Rn’B, pop, New Wave, a bit of punk - Controversy - brilliant, with a bit more funk and dance in it - 1999 - it’s 1999; 'nuff said - brilliant - Purple Rain - Around the World in Day - Raspberry Beret and a few other great tunes. - Parade - Kiss, AnotherLoverHoleinYourHEad, Mountains - a couple of songs I am not big on from the movie… - Sign O’ THe Times - his White Album I would go with Sign O’ the Times - a wonderfully diverse collection of songs - my favorite Prince album. And you will love I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man… ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/232 "2013-09-25T21:36:21Z")
Sign ‘O’ The Times is the best Prince album for you to do next, I’d say. Almost entirely a one-man-band operation, with genius on display throughout. Probably his most consistent, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gladys\_Overnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gladys\_Overnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gladys_Overnow)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/233 "2013-09-25T21:56:45Z")
I know next to nothing about music but anything by Steely Dan is one of the few albums I can listen to straight through without getting bored halfway. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/234 "2013-09-25T21:57:54Z")
Board ate my last post. If you are digging Prince and want to try something new check out Janelle Monae’s new album The Electric Lady. It has me fully knocked out and is in the same vein musically. It has some modern sounds too, some hip hop influence, but it’s mostly that same funky R&B that Prince was doing. Solid solid stuff. Highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/235 "2013-09-26T12:37:14Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Board ate my last post. If you are digging Prince and want to try something new check out Janelle Monae’s new album The Electric Lady. It has me fully knocked out and is in the same vein musically. It has some modern sounds too, some hip hop influence, but it’s mostly that same funky R&B that Prince was doing. Solid solid stuff. Highly recommended. I like what I have heard of her music and been hearing good buzz about the new one. Gotta check that out. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/236 "2013-09-27T21:42:57Z")
Mahaloth, not much has been said about 80s metal here and I think it’s a genre you might find worth exploring: Judas Priest- Defenders of the Faith Iron Maiden-Number of the Beast Scorpions- Love at first Sting Motley Crue- Girls, Girls, Girls Def Leppard-Pyromania, On through the Night Heavy Metal soundtrack, Anything by Ronnie James Dio. Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers Personally, I always liked Queen’s News of the World, especially cranked on my dad’s stereo. You might want to look at anything from Dead Milkmen or Bad Religion if you want to get your punk on. For pop, have a look at Madonna -Like a Virgin, Duran Duran-Rio, or New Order-1987. Good thread, it’s bringing back a lot of memories. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/237 "2013-09-28T00:50:46Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > New Order-1987. AKA Substance. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/238 "2013-10-01T01:28:54Z")
Slight slow-down here lately, but I am still finding new albums and listening to them. I am also, as always(now anyway), re-listening to previous choices and so forth. Anyway: \*\*Update: Prince - Sign O’ the Times \*\* Now this one was a puzzler for me. I liked Purple Rain quite a bit, but this one was not as good for me. I find myself impressed with Prince’s talent even when some songs don’t work for me. I was massively impressed with some songs, though, and I am definitely curious enough to find more Prince albums in the future. I can’t believe he has 32 of them, though. The man does not stop. Disc 2 is the far superior disc on this album. I mean, it’s no contest. Outside the title track, I found most of Disc 1 to be forgettable. I don’t think Prince had enough for two discs, though I now see that combined, they only add up to about 79 minutes, the length of one full CD. However, I assume he split them for a reason and view them that way. Disc two contains: I could never take the place of your man, U got the look, The Cross(the best song on the album, by the way), Beautiful Night, and Adore. Those tracks alone make the disc a classic. Again, Prince has turned out to be a surprise for me. I’m impressed with the man’s talent. Not sure what is next, though. I’ll have to re-read the thread and find suggestions. As always, I’m open to more suggestions as well. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/239 "2013-10-01T16:06:44Z")
Seeing that you like Ride The Lightning and Appetite for Destruction, any of the Iron Maiden albums from the 80’s should be right up your alley. I’d look specifically at: Iron Maiden Number of the Beast Piece Of Mind Powerslave Somewhere In Time ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217/240 "2013-10-01T17:00:08Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Slight slow-down here lately, but I am still finding new albums and listening to them. I am also, as always(now anyway), re-listening to previous choices and so forth. > > Anyway: > > \*\*Update: > > Prince - Sign O’ the Times > \*\* > > Now this one was a puzzler for me. I liked Purple Rain quite a bit, but this one was not as good for me. I find myself impressed with Prince’s talent even when some songs don’t work for me. I was massively impressed with some songs, though, and I am definitely curious enough to find more Prince albums in the future. I can’t believe he has 32 of them, though. The man does not stop. > > Disc 2 is the far superior disc on this album. I mean, it’s no contest. Outside the title track, I found most of Disc 1 to be forgettable. I don’t think Prince had enough for two discs, though I now see that combined, they only add up to about 79 minutes, the length of one full CD. However, I assume he split them for a reason and view them that way. > > Disc two contains: I could never take the place of your man, U got the look, The Cross(the best song on the album, by the way), Beautiful Night, and Adore. > > Those tracks alone make the disc a classic. Again, Prince has turned out to be a surprise for me. I’m impressed with the man’s talent. > > Not sure what is next, though. I’ll have to re-read the thread and find suggestions. > > As always, I’m open to more suggestions as well. All good - I would humbly suggest that anyone who doesn’t worship at the feet of the song Housequake of Disc 1 needs their funk card revoked, but that may not matter to you 😉 I love many songs on D1 - Sign, HQuake, Ballad of Dorothy Parker is eccentric and hypnotic and I love the song It; wore the grooves of that one back in the day. And yeah, The Cross is a brilliant song - love how it builds, the sounds he uses - it is really amazing. The fact that it is on the same Disc as If I Was Your Girlfriend with it’s protracted sex-encounter middle bit - well, that’s Prince in a nutshell… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-thoughts-on-albums-everybody-has-already-heard-recommendations-accepted/667217.md?page=13)