# Their "best" isn't your favorite album...so what is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223 "2006-07-12T19:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/21 "2006-07-12T23:47:18Z")
[QUOTE=Troy McClure SF] I’m actually pretty fond of Aerosmith’s _Nine Lives_. [/QUOTE] Hell yes! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/22 "2006-07-12T23:53:34Z")
**The Cure** ’s album _Pornography_ is IMO, 10X better than anything else they’ve ever done, but I seem to be nearly alone on that. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/23 "2006-07-13T00:07:22Z")
\*Sergeant Pepper \* was a superb album, but it dates badly. Too much of it’s era. I also prefer _Abbey Road_. **Pink Floyd** ’s best is _Atom Heart Mother_, followed by _Meddle_ and \*Wish You Were Here. Dark Side of the Moon \* is acceptable, but watered down Pink Floyd. Most people will pick _Who’s Next_ or _Tommy_ as the top album by the Who, but I prefer _Who Are You?_. ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/24 "2006-07-13T00:31:32Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] Oh, man. -No way Ixnay is the best - A hard days night? I really don’t get people who like the earliest stuff the best. Do you even like the late beatles then? Its totally different. Wouldnt it be better to find some music similar to the early Beatles? - Well, the best is Ride the Lightning. And reload is the second/third worst. [/QUOTE] - Ixnay got me into the Offspring, it’s the first album of theirs I ever owned, I love the music on it (I love all of their music) and I have a lot of fond memories attached to it. Specifically, I like the message in the song “I Choose.” - You don’t get people who like the earliest stuff best? Whatever. I love the Beatles, ALL of the Beatles’ music, I just like the earliest stuff best. - I like Ride the Lightning. I just like Load better. Once again, memories of what was going on in my life when it came out. I’ve never been a big thrash-metal type of person, which is why I’m not as fond of the early stuff as I am of the more melodic stuff that came out Black Album and later (although St. Anger sucks ass). [QUOTE=Marley23] “Everyone loves the Black Album?” It was really popular, but my experience is that older Metallica fans hate it. If you were saying the Black Album beat out Master of Puppets as your favorite, that’d be more daring. [/QUOTE] I’m not talking about “older Metallica fans,” I’m talking about the general public that likes Metallica. That, unfortunately, includes the 14 year olds on Myspace (insert sigh here). Also, the Black Album outsold Master of Puppets (at first, I’m not sure what it looks like now…the Black Album brought Metallica’s name and sound to the public and not just thrash metal fans). I know I, personally, owned about four copies of the Black Album because I wore the CD’s out so fast. My mom owned three. ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/25 "2006-07-13T01:05:26Z")
[QUOTE=Nurobath] …snip… Rush - I was going to say Hemispheres or Permanent Waves but \*\*yBeayf \*\*got me thinkin and now I can’t decide. Signals or Power Windows would be good choices. Rush is one of those bands (like the Beatles) who’s sound has changed so much over the years that it’s difficult to pick an overall best album. …snip… Yes - Relayer I think The Yes Album or Fragile would be the consensus album for them. Metallica - I like And Justice for All [/QUOTE] See below for Rush Relayer is probably my second favorite Yes album but I love all of them except Drama anyway so it is by slim degrees of difference. Close to the edge wins out if for nothing else but these wonderful lyrics: > [@](#): > > Sad preacher nailed upon the coloured door of time; > Insane teacher be there reminded of the rhyme. > There’ll be no mutant enemy we shall certify; > Political ends, as sad remains, will die. I agree on Metallica, it is the only CD I own by them. [QUOTE=yBeayf] While I think _Signals_ is far and away the best album Rush ever put out, _Presto_ rates a close second (and _Power Windows_ comes in third). [/QUOTE] I must be old, I thought Hemispheres and 2112 were the two everyone liked best. They are my two favorites. Jim ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/26 "2006-07-13T01:32:24Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] **The Cure** ’s album _Pornography_ is IMO, 10X better than anything else they’ve ever done, but I seem to be nearly alone on that. [/QUOTE] Really? That seems to be the prevailing critical opinion at this point in their career - or at least that those early, Factory Records-esque Cure records are easily the only worthwhile thing that they did. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/27 "2006-07-13T01:44:34Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Really? That seems to be the prevailing critical opinion at this point in their career - or at least that those early, Factory Records-esque Cure records are easily the only worthwhile thing that they did. [/QUOTE] Serious? Tell me more. I really thought I was alone on that. Who are these critical opinion holders? ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/28 "2006-07-13T01:49:27Z")
Count me in for _Abbey Road_, _Bookends_ and _Wish You Were Here_ as well. I don’t know what REM’s best album is considered to be, because I don’t like a single other thing I’ve ever heard by them that wasn’t _Fables Of The Reconstruction_. That would have to be a desert island disc for me. And I have a soft spot for The Monkees’ _Headquarters_, not entirely because it was the first album I owned. Their first album is probably better, HQ has a surfeit of good songs, nice production and playing (by the group with only a little outside help), and it sounds like they were having fun making it. The Rhino 3 disc set of the sessions bears that out. After all, they didn’t put out a 3CD of “Changes” or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/29 "2006-07-13T01:59:06Z")
My favorite Billy Joel Album would have to be An Innocent Man. I definitely consider that to be his peak. My second favorite would be Storm Front. Favorite Bruce Springsteen album would have to be his post 9/11 album, the Rising. My fave Zep album is the fourth one, commonly known as Zoso. ---
**Author:** ![ACC\_Expat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ACC\_Expat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ACC_Expat)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/30 "2006-07-13T02:14:43Z")
_A Hard Day’s Night_ is my favorite Beatles’ album as well, and I love and own all their albums. _Revolver_ is a close second. However, I’m really here to admit that I like Interpol’s _Antics_ better than their acclaimed debut _Turn on the Bright Lights_. I know that makes me a bad person, but… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/31 "2006-07-13T03:35:27Z")
Most people would probably say that either _Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash_ or _If I Should Fall from Grace with God_ are the best albums The Pogues ever put out. And I don’t know that I could say that they’re wrong. But _Peace and Love_ is still my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/32 "2006-07-13T10:39:33Z")
Nothing new here for the biggies. Revolver – I love all the stacked harmonies, they seemed to stop doing that after this album Animals Physical Graffitti These possibly because I overplayed the more obvious albums in my youth, but that can’t be the whole story since I’ve played these over and over too. Who’s Next (or Live at Leeds) definitely not Tommy which is too wimpy. Rolling Stones, can I have an early B52s album instead please? Steely Dan, _not_ Aja, The Royal Scam or Pretzel Logic maybe. Aja is just so slick. Zappa, the critics always seem to go for an early album (Hot Rats? Only in it for the Money?) I’d go for Sheik Yerbouti, it’s more fun. I prefer _Can of Bees_ to _Underwater Moonlight_ (angrier guitars) but I don’t suppose that means much to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/33 "2006-07-13T11:22:04Z")
For me, the best Beatles album is Rubber Soul. This album seems to capture the beginning of their transition from pop musicians to the artists they became. I think that Tunnel of Love is Bruce Springsteen’s best album, despite my love for much of his other work, and my belief that Born to Run and The Rising are both major achievements. Tunnel of Love is thematically unified, looking at love and relationships from many angles. This was the first time he had approached this subject directly, and came at a time when he was struggling with his own first marriage. The result is an album that still evokes strong emotions when I listen to it. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/34 "2006-07-13T11:22:20Z")
Pink Floyd: Saucerful of Secrets - so wistful, so adventurous count me in for A Momentary Lapse of Reason, too Animals - mean, nasty, great guitar DSOTM is just too _safe_, too middle of the road Who: definitely Who Sell Out - Rael, I Can See For Miles, Armenia - great album Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour - \*really \*psychedelic, plus all their summer of love singles ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/35 "2006-07-13T11:25:06Z")
Oops, forgot to throw in my two cents on Frank Zappa. For me, it’s Joe’s Garage Act One. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/36 "2006-07-13T11:46:54Z")
I prefer **The Clash** ’s \*Give 'Em Enough Rope \* to \*London Calling \* or _The Clash_. _Dressed to Kill_ is my favorite **KISS** album. I prefer **MC5** ’s \*Back in the USA \* (albeit almost solely on the strength of _The American Ruse_) to _Kick Out The Jams_. I think **Midnight Oil** ’s _10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1_ is way better than _Diesel and Dust_. My favorite **Ramones** album is _Leave Home_. \*Let There Be Rock \* and _Powerage_ are my favorite **AC/DC** albums. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/37 "2006-07-13T12:21:32Z")
_13_ by Blur. I don’t even like _Parklife_. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/38 "2006-07-13T14:29:38Z")
[QUOTE=Small Clanger] I prefer _Can of Bees_ to _Underwater Moonlight_ (angrier guitars) but I don’t suppose that means much to anyone. [/QUOTE] The one I’ve probably listened to more than any other is _Live at the Portland Arms,_ to be honest, which is admittedly pretty goofy. And this is The Soft Boys, just to let ya’ll know. And I like angrier guitars more under most circumstances. That record just charms me, though. For The Who, I’ve listened to _Quadrophenia_ and _Sell Out_ and _By Numbers_ 20 times for every time I’ve listened to _Tommy_ or _Who’s Next_. I like Syd’s Pink Floyd much more than the later one – RIP Mr. Barrett – and _Obscured by Clouds_ and _Meddle_ more than all the later post-Syd ones. I’ve never even heard the post-Roger ones 'cause I’ve been to busy organizing my Gentle Giant 8-tracks. _Shoot Out the Lights_ is always touted as the supremo Richard & Linda Thompson album, but I like _I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight_ and _Pour Down Like Silver_ more. I like Joni Mithcell’s odd jazzy albums (_Mingus, Hissing Of Summer Lawns, Hejira_) a lot more than her earnest folky ones. With my other big faves (Beatles, Stones, The Clash, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Big Star, Willie Nelson) I pretty much fall right in line. ---
**Author:** ![Webner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/0ea827/32.png) [@Webner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Webner)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/39 "2006-07-13T15:08:13Z")
_Rubber Soul_ is my favorite Beatles album, with _Abbey Road_ a close second. I’ve seen both _Sgt. Pepper_ and _Revolver_ at the top of “Greatest Albums” lists. _On the Border_ is my favorite Eagles album (actually the only one I like), not _Hotel California_. _Wish You Were Here_ is my favorite Pink Floyd album also. “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” is spectacular. _1999_ is my favorite Prince album, not _Purple Rain_. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223/40 "2006-07-13T15:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=Ichbin Dubist] With my other big faves (Beatles, Stones, The Clash, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Big Star, Willie Nelson) I pretty much fall right in line. [/QUOTE] Is there any critical consensus on the best Big Star album? I’ve seen people argue for all three (let’s just pretend _In Space_ doesn’t exist). _Radio City_ is about the best rock album yet made by Americans IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/their-best-isnt-your-favorite-album-so-what-is/364223.md?page=3)