ABC's My Favorite Album

[spiderk]

This poll was conducted over several weeks on ABC-TV recently, with the results being released shortly. Any thoughts as to what will be the Top 10?

Would expect some of the usual suspects, such as "Dark Side Of The Moon" (Pink Floyd), "Symbol/Untitled/Led Zeppelin IV", "East" (Cold Chisel) etc etc etc, but hopefully some of the more recent ones would make it in.

FWIW, I'd like to see some of:

- Self Titled: Crowded House
- "Trophy Night - the Best Of": Weddings Parties Anything
- "Honey Steels Gold" - Ed Kuepper
- "Diesel and Dust" - Midnight Oil

Did anyone vote in this poll?

[Rushby Hinds]

Hoodoo Gurus Stoneage Romeos

Changed the way i listened to music, and the type of music I listened to.

Off the top of my head:

Vines first album is superb.
Nirvana Nevermind.
Back in Black ACDC
Jet is a good'un as well, but a lazy pick.

[zipzap]

You were allowed to vote for several I think.
I voted for Pixies 'Doolittle', REM 'Green' and my all time favourite The Chills 'Submarine Bells'. Can't remember whether I voted for The Smiths 'The Queen is Dead' but that would be in my top 5 also. Probably chuck in 'Revolver' to round out the five.

[zipzap]

- "Honey Steels Gold" - Ed Kuepper
- "Diesel and Dust" - Midnight Oil

Awesome albums both, as is Stoneage Romeos. I remember first hearing 'I Want You Back' and like Borat said, probably changed the way I listened to music.

[Pseudo]

I did vote, out of sheer ennui. I would be seriously amazed if any other person in the nation selected the same album as me:

The The - Infected.

[Leaping Lindner]

You were allowed to vote for several I think.
I voted for Pixies 'Doolittle', REM 'Green' and my all time favourite The Chills 'Submarine Bells'. Can't remember whether I voted for The Smiths 'The Queen is Dead' but that would be in my top 5 also. Probably chuck in 'Revolver' to round out the five.

"Submarine Bells" is one out of left field. Did you see them when they played at the Tivoli in 92?

I ended up voting for "London Calling" by The Clash, but could have easily given it to "Doolittle" by The Pixies, "Radios Appear" by Radio Birdman, "Eternally Yours" by the Saints or "Funhouse" by The Stooges or or or......

[godoubleblues]

You were allowed to vote for several I think.
I voted for Pixies 'Doolittle', REM 'Green' and my all time favourite The Chills 'Submarine Bells'. Can't remember whether I voted for The Smiths 'The Queen is Dead' but that would be in my top 5 also. Probably chuck in 'Revolver' to round out the five.

"Submarine Bells" is one out of left field. Did you see them when they played at the Tivoli in 92?

I ended up voting for "London Calling" by The Clash, but could have easily given it to "Doolittle" by The Pixies, "Radios Appear" by Radio Birdman, "Eternally Yours" by the Saints or "Funhouse" by The Stooges or or or......

I voted for London Calling as well
very tough to single out just one album

[spiderk]

"Green" by REM an excellent choice - just listening to "Orange Crush" now, funnily enough! Would find it hard to single out one REM album though - "Out Of Time" a great one, "Around The Sun" very underrated also. "Electron Blue" one of their best album tracks - their last concert in Adelaide one of the best gigs I've ever seen (If anyone has a recording of this gig, please, please PM me!!)

While a very mainstream album, "Kick" from INXS still holds up beautifully 20 years on. Michael Hutchence rarely gave a better vocal performance on "Never Tear Us Apart". "Starfish" from The Church gives one of my favorite all time songs in "Under The Milky Way" - a truly sublime moment in Australian music.

Have to add "Temple Of Low Men" (Crowded House) also - "Into Temptation" and "I Feel Possessed" are beautiful. "Woodface" also - as someone once said "Four Seasons In One Day" is one of the best songs Paul McCartney should have written. Would find it really hard to narrow down just the one Crowdies album.

[zipzap]

I did vote, out of sheer ennui. I would be seriously amazed if any other person in the nation selected the same album as me:

The The - Infected.

A damn fine album nonetheless!

[zipzap]

You were allowed to vote for several I think.
I voted for Pixies 'Doolittle', REM 'Green' and my all time favourite The Chills 'Submarine Bells'. Can't remember whether I voted for The Smiths 'The Queen is Dead' but that would be in my top 5 also. Probably chuck in 'Revolver' to round out the five.

"Submarine Bells" is one out of left field. Did you see them when they played at the Tivoli in 92?

Sure did. Hung out with them after the show, got some signed posters and stuff. Martin Phillips seemed genuinely touched we were into his music. I still check out his website from time to time - they are on the road again, though another completely different band of course. Saw them with H&C too.

If you haven't heard Submarine Bells I can't recommend it highly enough. Some of the finest pop songwriting I have ever heard, lyrics that make you laugh or cut through you in the space of a song. The whole album has this weird kind of nautical theme that holds it together - to me it is kind of like a 90s 'Pet Sounds'. Breathtakingly brilliant

Here's a pretty accurate review from Amazon for those that are curious:

"The first track of "Submarine Bells" is definitely well named, and not just for the first song either -- the whole album is made of "heavenly pop hits." This New Zealand band produced some pretty darn charming pop-rock that melds near-orchestral music with catchy pop melodies and melancholy writing.

A majestive sweep of organ-like keyboard opens "Heavenly Pop Hit" and the harder, contemplative "Tied Up In Chain." Dali-esque love songs ("Oncoming Day") blossom into the strange and surreal ("I Soar") the slowly catchy ("Dead Web" and "Don't Be -- Memory") the searing whirlwind rock ("Familiarity Breeds Contempt") and ends by coming full circle to where it started -- catchy, chiming pop (the charming "Effloresce And Deliquesce" and delicate sea ode "Submarine Bells").

The Chills don't possess the musical brilliance of true geniuses, but their catchy, enticing alternative-pop songs are unforgettable. They swirl, they snap, they shimmer, they sparkle with irresistable melodies. The first two songs suck you in with their hooks and chiming keyboard pop, before shifting into the darker, stranger realms of songs like the eerie "I Soar" and the louder, rockier "Oncoming Day." By that time, you're already caught up in the music and won't want to turn it off.

Martin Phillips, without being whiny, uses these simple-seeming songs to bemoan death, love, and any combination of the above. (The love of death? The death of love? Both work...) Despite the cheery tone of the music, the songs themselves are hauntingly written: "I have to talk to someone/describe it all to someone/emotions are imploding/but there's nothing to say... they've all gone away..."

New Zealand has proved in the past few years that it can serve up top-notch stuff that the public devours with a passion. But the Chills' "Submarine Bells" shows that this is hardly a new development. Beautiful, haunting and quite enjoyable."

[zipzap]

"Green" by REM an excellent choice - just listening to "Orange Crush" now, funnily enough! Would find it hard to single out one REM album though - "Out Of Time" a great one, "Around The Sun" very underrated also. "Electron Blue" one of their best album tracks - their last concert in Adelaide one of the best gigs I've ever seen (If anyone has a recording of this gig, please, please PM me!!)

'Green' is my favourite cos its the culmination of years of promise and the last one that allowed me to keep REM as my own special band. After that they were everyone's property and lost a lot of their specialness for me (doesn't everyone have a favourite band like that?). With fame they became too literal and comfortable (personally I think Around the Sun is underrated for good reason!) but 'Green' has the last remnants of the best things that made them unique in the 80s. Abstract lyrics, metallic riffs, socio-political activism... 'World Leader Pretend' is my favourite REM track. They were completely at their peak creatively.

Oh, and SpiderK, I have that recording you're after

[Leaping Lindner]

You were allowed to vote for several I think.
I voted for Pixies 'Doolittle', REM 'Green' and my all time favourite The Chills 'Submarine Bells'. Can't remember whether I voted for The Smiths 'The Queen is Dead' but that would be in my top 5 also. Probably chuck in 'Revolver' to round out the five.

"Submarine Bells" is one out of left field. Did you see them when they played at the Tivoli in 92?

Sure did. Hung out with them after the show, got some signed posters and stuff. Martin Phillips seemed genuinely touched we were into his music. I still check out his website from time to time - they are on the road again, though another completely different band of course. Saw them with H&C too.

If you haven't heard Submarine Bells I can't recommend it highly enough. Some of the finest pop songwriting I have ever heard, lyrics that make you laugh or cut through you in the space of a song. The whole album has this weird kind of nautical theme that holds it together - to me it is kind of like a 90s 'Pet Sounds'. Breathtakingly brilliant

Here's a pretty accurate review from Amazon for those that are curious:

"The first track of "Submarine Bells" is definitely well named, and not just for the first song either -- the whole album is made of "heavenly pop hits." This New Zealand band produced some pretty darn charming pop-rock that melds near-orchestral music with catchy pop melodies and melancholy writing.

A majestive sweep of organ-like keyboard opens "Heavenly Pop Hit" and the harder, contemplative "Tied Up In Chain." Dali-esque love songs ("Oncoming Day") blossom into the strange and surreal ("I Soar") the slowly catchy ("Dead Web" and "Don't Be -- Memory") the searing whirlwind rock ("Familiarity Breeds Contempt") and ends by coming full circle to where it started -- catchy, chiming pop (the charming "Effloresce And Deliquesce" and delicate sea ode "Submarine Bells").

The Chills don't possess the musical brilliance of true geniuses, but their catchy, enticing alternative-pop songs are unforgettable. They swirl, they snap, they shimmer, they sparkle with irresistable melodies. The first two songs suck you in with their hooks and chiming keyboard pop, before shifting into the darker, stranger realms of songs like the eerie "I Soar" and the louder, rockier "Oncoming Day." By that time, you're already caught up in the music and won't want to turn it off.

Martin Phillips, without being whiny, uses these simple-seeming songs to bemoan death, love, and any combination of the above. (The love of death? The death of love? Both work...) Despite the cheery tone of the music, the songs themselves are hauntingly written: "I have to talk to someone/describe it all to someone/emotions are imploding/but there's nothing to say... they've all gone away..."

New Zealand has proved in the past few years that it can serve up top-notch stuff that the public devours with a passion. But the Chills' "Submarine Bells" shows that this is hardly a new development. Beautiful, haunting and quite enjoyable."

I had some mates in the support band,and for reasons that escape me now they ended up having to help The Chills roadies bump their gear out. Half their band had nicked off so being a good mate I helped them and we ended up finishing at some ungodly hour. The Chills had a lot of gear, but their roadies were quite quick, in fact you could say they were very speedy I remember my mates and I ended up at Marcellinas at about 3 O'clock (it's tuesday morning by now) too tired to move and barely able to eat our pizza

I really liked "Kaleidoscope World" and "Brave Words". I didn't mind "Submarine Bells" but felt the follow up "Soft Bomb" was pretty lame. My favourite NZ band from that era are The Bats - GREAT BAND. There was some pretty awesome on Flying Nun in those days. Ididn't realise The Chills were still going.

[zipzap]

I had some mates in the support band,and for reasons that escape me now they ended up having to help The Chills roadies bump their gear out. Half their band had nicked off so being a good mate I helped them and we ended up finishing at some ungodly hour. The Chills had a lot of gear, but their roadies were quite quick, in fact you could say they were very speedy I remember my mates and I ended up at Marcellinas at about 3 O'clock (it's tuesday morning by now) too tired to move and barely able to eat our pizza

I really liked "Kaleidoscope World" and "Brave Words". I didn't mind "Submarine Bells" but felt the follow up "Soft Bomb" was pretty lame. My favourite NZ band from that era are The Bats - GREAT BAND. There was some pretty awesome on Flying Nun in those days. Ididn't realise The Chills were still going.

Cool story. Was the support band 'Scaryheater'?
Loved Kaleidoscope World but thought Brave Words suffered from sounding like it was recorded in a wet sock. 'Soft Bomb' had its moments but was a bit too glossy. For years they have been Martin Phillips with a rotating group of musicians. He must really be hard to work with. He had fallen on hard times in recent years - he was arrested a couple of years ago for stealing a stick of cheese! Only in New Zealand!

[mal]

My favourite album
Al Jolsins greatest hits.
Tootsie my favourite tune.

Of a more recent times
Normie Rowe % The Playboys Shakin All Over album 1965-1973
My favorite being Que Sera Sera

[Rik E Boy]

Physical Graffiti.

London bloody Calling. I bought that album based on the universal acclaim that is has received over the decades and due to the fact that I liked 'London Calling' and 'Guns of Brixton' but much of it is complete and utter shite. THE most overrated album of all time for mine, but REM's 'Automatic for the People' gives it a good run there.

Sorry Diss!

regards,

REB

[Leaping Lindner]

Physical Graffiti.

London bloody Calling. I bought that album based on the universal acclaim that is has received over the decades and due to the fact that I liked 'London Calling' and 'Guns of Brixton' but much of it is complete and utter shite. THE most overrated album of all time for mine, but REM's 'Automatic for the People' gives it a good run there.

Sorry Diss!

regards,

REB

The most overrated album of all time????....mmmm......interesting.
Mind you I loath Led Zeppelin so I think we have slightly different taste in music.

[Leaping Lindner]

I had some mates in the support band,and for reasons that escape me now they ended up having to help The Chills roadies bump their gear out. Half their band had nicked off so being a good mate I helped them and we ended up finishing at some ungodly hour. The Chills had a lot of gear, but their roadies were quite quick, in fact you could say they were very speedy I remember my mates and I ended up at Marcellinas at about 3 O'clock (it's tuesday morning by now) too tired to move and barely able to eat our pizza

I really liked "Kaleidoscope World" and "Brave Words". I didn't mind "Submarine Bells" but felt the follow up "Soft Bomb" was pretty lame. My favourite NZ band from that era are The Bats - GREAT BAND. There was some pretty awesome on Flying Nun in those days. Ididn't realise The Chills were still going.

Cool story. Was the support band 'Scaryheater'?
Loved Kaleidoscope World but thought Brave Words suffered from sounding like it was recorded in a wet sock. 'Soft Bomb' had its moments but was a bit too glossy. For years they have been Martin Phillips with a rotating group of musicians. He must really be hard to work with. He had fallen on hard times in recent years - he was arrested a couple of years ago for stealing a stick of cheese! Only in New Zealand!

The support band was The Millards who were on their 2nd or 3rd line up at the time.
Stick of cheese.......that IS funny!

[zipzap]

The support band was The Millards who were on their 2nd or 3rd line up at the time.
Stick of cheese.......that IS funny!

Hmm..now I'm wondering if it was 92 when I saw them. It was definitely at the Tiv but I didn't think with the Millards, though I saw them many times too. Oh well...

As for the Clash, I'm with REB. I never got the Clash. I liked their personalities, liked their politics, the odd song is cracking but I could never stomach a full album. Maybe I was too young to appreciate them at the time - though I like plenty of bands I was too young to appreciate at the time.

Maybe we should start an Overrated Albums thread? I'll take REB's wise nomination of 'Automatic for the People' (I hated what REM had become!) and raise him with 'Exile on Main Street' (a sludgy, unfocused, dog's breakfast of an album). Ha!

[Leaping Lindner]

The support band was The Millards who were on their 2nd or 3rd line up at the time.
Stick of cheese.......that IS funny!

Hmm..now I'm wondering if it was 92 when I saw them. It was definitely at the Tiv but I didn't think with the Millards, though I saw them many times too. Oh well...

As for the Clash, I'm with REB. I never got the Clash. I liked their personalities, liked their politics, the odd song is cracking but I could never stomach a full album. Maybe I was too young to appreciate them at the time - though I like plenty of bands I was too young to appreciate at the time.

Maybe we should start an Overrated Albums thread? I'll take REB's wise nomination of 'Automatic for the People' (I hated what REM had become!) and raise him with 'Exile on Main Street' (a sludgy, unfocused, dog's breakfast of an album). Ha!

92 (it might have been 93) I left Adelaide in 95 and it was the only time The Chills ever played there that I remember.
An overated albums thread could get very ugly . Although as someone who use to love REM I couldn't agree more with "Automatic for the people". I haven't bought a new REM album since. "Green" and "Document" are their finest hours for me.
To get the ball rolling though "Abbey Road" by The Beatles. Or as a mate of mine use to call it "four old men trapped together in a studio masturbating on tape."
No one can deny The Beatles were good but this seems to suffer from rose coloured glasses when it comes to music history. This is the band that gave the world "Revolver" and "Rubber Soul" remember.

[zipzap]

To get the ball rolling though "Abbey Road" by The Beatles. Or as a mate of mine use to call it "four old men trapped together in a studio masturbating on tape."
No one can deny The Beatles were good but this seems to suffer from rose coloured glasses when it comes to music history. This is the band that gave the world "Revolver" and "Rubber Soul" remember.

Aha! Now, one time I would have agreed with you. The fact my flat mate used to play it every day didn't help and I slowly went insane. Now that's over, arguably, I am actually a lot fonder of Abbey Road. Not a patch on Revolver, Rubber Soul or the White Album, it's still better than most bands could hope to put out in a lifetime. I used to hate the closing medley for instance but now I love it. George Martin rates it as his favourite Beatles album.

What do you make of the 'Love' Cirque de Shite album? Bought it on the weekend wanting to love it but something about it is just plain wrong. There are moments of brilliance ('Within You Without You' overlaid with the Chemical Brothers prototype drum loop from 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is awesome). But a Beatles remix album? Not really sure what to make of it yet...