My Top 4 Favorite Albums of Each Year

1978:

1. Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance

Okay, this is my favorite album from 1978, probably by far. It's another fine example of the avant-garde mixed with pop music to a wonderful effect. Quite simply, this is some of the post perfect pop music I have ever heard, and certainly some of the most fun.

2. Wire - Chairs Missing

A great blend of the punkier style they used on Pink Flag and some of the more atmospheric sound that they'd explore on 154. Maybe their best, though 154 might just edge it out.

3. The Residents - Not Available

If you're a fan of experimental music, this might be the album for you. It's nearly indescribable, and I don't want to strain my already poor summary/review skills.

4. Brian Eno - Arabient 1: Music for Airports

Probably Eno's arabient masterpiece, and a landmark recording. Absolutely beautiful music.
 
1970:

1. The Stooges - Fun House
[img]http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s845.jpg[/img]
Such power. "Down on the Street" has got to be the coolest strutting song on the face of the earth.

2. Amon D
 
I thought about doing one of the "100 Favorite Albums Ever" threaRAB, but I decided to do something a little different. It'd be nearly impossible to perfect the order of such a list, but ranking my four favorite albums of each year (I'm doing four so that I can do one year in each post) wouldn't be nearly as difficult. Anyway, I'll start with 1966, as many here might not care about anything earlier.

1966:

1. Sun Ra - The Magic City

Possibly the greatest jazz album ever in my opinion. Years ahead of its time.

2. The Beach Boys - Pet SounRAB

One of the most flawlessly beautiful pop albums ever created. A masterpiece.

3. The Beatles - Revolver

This is the album that got me into music. I realize now that it's not the greatest album ever (or near being), but it'll always have meaning to me.

4. Monks - Black Monk Time

An incredibly simple, yet incredibly fun garage rock album that is often called "the first punk rock album". I don't know about that, but here it is.
 
This is a group I've tried quite hard to like. I love the people they influenced, like Jesus & Mary Chain and the shoegaze movement....but this album sounRAB, to me, like largely the same groove from one track to the next, just with something different being whispered over it.

What do you think I'm missing? If you have any thoughts.
 
1972:

1. Roxy Music - Roxy Music

To me, this did for the 70s what The Velvet Underground & Nico did for the 60s, to a lesser extent. I think Andy Mackay put it best: "we certainly didn
 
1967:

1. Captain Beefheart - Safe as Milk

Captain Beefheart's real masterpiece. A perfect blend of blues, garage rock, and weirdness.

2. The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico

Probably the most influential record to come out of the 60s (although I prefer White Light/White Heat).

3. Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen

A beautiful folk masterpiece. This eclipses anything Bob Dylan ever did, in my opinion.

4. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Pink Floyd's psychedelic masterpiece. I fell in love with this on my first listen. Just great.
 
Nice! My favorite album of the 70's, maybe top 5 all time. I didn't like this at all when I first got it, but two months later it clicked perfectly.
 
1973:

1. Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets

A masterfully eclectic blend of glam and art rock. Some of it sounRAB like the future. This is in my top three albums ever.

2. New York Dolls - New York Dolls

This might be one of the most influential albums of all time. I think Morrissey claims that seeing the New York Dolls on the Old Grey Whistle Test had the biggest influence on his music of anything, and I believe it. This laid the groundwork for the style that punks would later adopt.

3. ****ney Rebel - The Human Menagerie

One of the most underrated albums of the glam rock era. Steve Harley created a sound in 1974 that I think still sounRAB fresh today.

4. Can - Future Days

Perhaps Can's most beautiful recording. This is their "arabient record", which creates a peaceful and almost organic sound. "Moonshake" is also one of the greatest pop songs ever.
 
I had the same idea for a long time. I'm not sure what exactly changed, but I think if you give it a few more listens it might just click at some point. That's all that really did it for me. I was just in the mood for it and realized how good it was.
 
I REALLY want Odessesy and Oracle. I have a couple of Tell Her No and Time Of The Season from a 60s greatest hits thing. They sound awesome.
 
1968:

1. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat

To me, this is TVU's masterpiece. Not even their debut could prepare people for this.

2. Nico - The Marble Index

This is perhaps the masterpiece of any of The Velvet UndergrounRAB' merabers' solo careers. Dark, haunting, and beautiful.

3. The Zorabies - Odessey & Oracle

Perhaps even more beautiful than Pet SounRAB, I don't know. A masterpiece of 60s pop. I was obsessed with this a few years ago.

4. Silver Apples - Silver Apples

Way ahead of its time. I guess it sounRAB like the 60s, but at the same time it sort of doesn't. A true gem.
 
1979:

1. James Chance and the Contortions - Buy (1979)

My favorite album of 1979. Buy Contortions is a challenging mix of free-jazz and punk, but it's a ton of fun. Another one of those perfect mixtures of pop and experimentation.

2. Gang of Four - Entertainment! (1979)

I have complete confidence in this record's ability to immediately grab your attention and never let go. One of the greatest post-punk albums ever (if not the greatest), and certainly one of the best too of the 1970s. Great.

3. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)

The atmosphere this album creates is hauntingly beautiful, and it's no wonder why this album was such a trailblazer for things to come. Just great.

4. Public Image Ltd. - Metal Box (1979)

This isn't for everyone. It's an album that, yes, you do have to be in the mood for, but when you are, it delivers. This is dark, repetitive, and abrasive, but also as enjoyable as can be.
 
1974:

1. Faust - Faust IV

Totally accessible, fun, and at the same time innovative krautrock. A true masterpiece.

2. Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

Not quite as adventurous as his debut, but lovely nonetheless. 'Burning Airlines Give You So Much More', 'Mother Whale Eyeless', and 'Third Uncle' are favorites.

3. Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Definitely one of the greatest electronic albums of all-time. To me, this is Kraftwerk's finest hour. If you listen to any one of their albums, have it be this one.

4. Sparks - Kimono My House

Nobody did powerpop better than Sparks, in my opinion. It's not just Russell Mael's operatic vocals - their lyrics are great, and the music perfectly complements the rest of their style. This or "Indiscreet" are their best recorRAB.
 
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