jimbeaux's Top 40

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Taking my cue from the other posters who have put up polls, here is my list of my top 40 albums "from the gut." I limited myself to one album per artist, and didn't try to overthink it. Honestly, the one that gave me the most heartburn was Parallel Lines vs. Eat to the Beat. I went with the former because it was such a revelation to me when it came out, even though I think the latter is the better album musically.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
XTC, Skylarking 7
Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um 7
Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark 4
Captain Beefheart, Trout Mask Replica 4
Talking Heads, Fear of Music 4
Leonard Cohen, Songs of Love and Hate 4
Fleetwood Mac, Rumors 4
Joy Division, Closer 3
Moloko, Statues 3
Elvis Costello, This Year's Model 3
Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones 3
Sinéad O'Connor, The Lion and The Cobra 3
David Bowie, Scary Monsters 3
The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 3
Echo and The Bunnymen, Ocean Rain 3
De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising 3
Harry Whitaker, Black Renaissance 2
Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic 2
Nina Simone, Sings the Blues 2
Black Sabbath, Paranoid 2
Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers 2
Marvin Gaye, What's Going On? 2
Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy 1
Rush, 2112 1
The Clash, Sandinista! 1
Van Halen, s/t 1
Various, El alma del Perú negro (David Byrne comp.) 1
Blondie, Parallel Lines 1
Amy Winehouse, Back to Black 1
Queen, Sheer Heart Attack 1
The Jam, Sound Affects 0
Pretenders, s/t 0
Richard Shindell, Somewhere Near Paterson 0
Sílvio Rodríguez, Sílvio 0
Midnight Oil, Diesel and Dust 0
New Order, Low-Life 0
X, More Fun in the New World 0
Sonny Rollins, Freedom Suite 0
Sun Ra, Sleeping Beauty 0
Crowded House, s/t 0


immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:07 (one year ago)

I was so tempted to go with Statues as that album is still so underrated, but it had to be Skylarking.

kitchen person, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:11 (one year ago)

What’s going on. Spun it again last Friday and what a timeless album

hrep (H.P), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:12 (one year ago)

this is absolutely statues

ufo, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:20 (one year ago)

I figured that would be the literal red-headed stepchild. It was my gateway into Moloko/Roisin, and it's a beautiful album.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:24 (one year ago)

Seems like everyone loves Skylarking, hell I love Skylarking, but I would choose one of three XTC albums ahead of it.

I cannot choose between Parallel Lines and Scary Monsters.

Large, Complex, Detailed but Irrefutable POST (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:26 (one year ago)

As a complete statement, I think the only one that comes close is Mummer, which I considered, but Skylarking is just so good from front to back. Astonishing that they cut "Mermaid Smiled" to make room for "Dear God," it's just loaded.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:29 (one year ago)

Parallel Lines just over Rumors.

I should do this as I have some strange rankings from the norm.

Bee OK, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:31 (one year ago)

would be Sandinista except Fear Of Music is here

out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:32 (one year ago)

actually kinda want to go with the first Van Halen album here. I mean it's a perfect LP. but Skylarking is also perfect in a better way

frogbs, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:33 (one year ago)

This is fun but egotistical and we need to curb it before it gets outta hand

zacata, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:36 (one year ago)

Ok, buzzkill

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 02:37 (one year ago)

My original suggestion was slightly facetious tbh..... but this is fun so what the hell. No buzzkills! 10 more lists before the end of the day pls

hrep (H.P), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:07 (one year ago)

Facetious? What's Going On? is a stone classic, very solid pick.

And yes, it is fun. I love seeing what other people pick, and the things they're drawn to off my list.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:09 (one year ago)

No my suggestion of everyone making a poll so we could poll all the polls. What’s going on is a stone classic and I would never joke about something like that

H.P, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:11 (one year ago)

Voted for Court & Spark on one of the other lists so will go with Fear of Music here. Lotsa great choices

that's not my post, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:29 (one year ago)

Listening to Statues again. Every song is a banger, zero filler.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:32 (one year ago)

Another vote for Statues

✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:40 (one year ago)

Silvio is a refreshing pick tho, first time I see it on such lists.

✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:41 (one year ago)

"Quién fuera" is a masterpiece.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:42 (one year ago)

I think I would have said Sinead here even before she died.

a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:44 (one year ago)

this year’s model

is he disgruntled adrian? (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:46 (one year ago)

Looks like the Detroit Mix of What's Going On hasn't been discussed much on ILM (from a cursory search), but it's worth listening to Marvin's shot at the album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFBgwSV09Xo

underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 03:49 (one year ago)

I could have sworn that Silvio's first name had an accent. I suppose it makes sense that it doesn't, as that syllable gets the accent without it.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 04:04 (one year ago)

I voted

Amy, Amy, Amyyyy

earosmith (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 04:29 (one year ago)

Ooh loads of good ones. Went with my gut and voted Swordfishtrombones as I've been listening to it a lot these last few days

Stomp Jomperson (dog latin), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 07:28 (one year ago)

voted Black Renaissance, a really cool album I don't recall seeing mentioned here before (though I bet there's an old jaxon thread about it lol)

rob, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 14:48 (one year ago)

21 of my favorite records!

Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 14:51 (one year ago)

yeah this has a lot of my own in it fwiw

aeronimo is mad againe (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 16:52 (one year ago)

Number of albums heard: 29, most more admired than beloved

Favourite: Houses of the Holy

Least-favourite: Mingus, I don't connect

Nicest surprise: The Jam

Unheard, but most want to hear: Midnight Oil or X

Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 23 August 2023 21:10 (one year ago)

once i saw the Bowie entry then it was an easy choice for me.

mark e, Wednesday, 23 August 2023 21:28 (one year ago)

I'd not heard Black Renaissance a hour ago. I've been digging it though -- not least the second half -- so heck, I'll toss it a vote over more familiar selections.

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Friday, 25 August 2023 10:02 (one year ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Sunday, 27 August 2023 00:01 (one year ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Monday, 28 August 2023 00:01 (one year ago)


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