The Thread Where You Name an Artist and Someone Else Recommends an Album

[chunk]

For me, you lose context. I know the album is sort of a dying art form (maybe not so much for the people on this board, but certainly among casual listeners), but I prefer to hear the songs sequenced as the band/artist originally intended. I like hearing how the individual tunes add up to something bigger – the album as artistic statement – and how lesser-known songs fit together with songs that are more popular. If I'm trying to introduce myself to a band, this tells me much more about them than listening to a compilation ever could, precisely because the album gives me more obscure songs and tells me something about how the band views the ten or twelve specific tunes they've selected, sequenced, and packaged.

A practical example: R.E.M. is one of my favorite bands, but listening to a greatest hits album will never be as satisfying as listening to Lifes Rich Pageant or Reckoning front to back, even though every song, taken on its own merits, might not be 100% successful. It's the cumulative effect of those exact songs played in that exact order.

EDIT: I also realize this is probably a lot of pretentious hooey.

I agree completely. I think you miss out on too much with hitting the compilation first. Especially in the case of New Orders Substance which introduces the listener to reimagined versions of some of their songs before they have had a chance to listen to the original versions. Chronologically is the best way to go in almost every case.

I did so with Times New Viking. I joined the party late, after Rip it Off was already released. After hearing a few scattered songs on the radio, I started from the beginning and was able to appreciate more fully how their sound matured over the years. The way they lost some of the unnecessary thrash, started valuing harmonizing more, etc. My opinion of their last two albums would have been completely different if they were the first two I listened to. Im probably overthinking it as well.

[chunk]

Well, but Substance is a compilation of singles and mixes not on the albums. And, I personally feel the albums all pale in comparison to Substance.

And, that is a fair question, but I think people tend to ask on here because the board has a reservoir of musical knowledge, so you will likely find an album that is preferable to a compilation for a band here, and if someone responds passionately in this thread it will tend to indicate that it's more worth listening to.

I disagree that Substance is head and shoulders above their early albums.

I've also never liked compilations. Making a mixtape for a prospective fan seems like a better way to go.

[bmack86]

I just think it's rare that a compilation actually captures the feel of an artist. Substance does that well, I think Joy Division's Substance offers a similarly strong overview, Neil Young's Decade is a great compilation (with the notable lack of tracks from Time Fades Away). I can't think of too many others.

[kreutz2112]

I'd say Queens greatest hits falls into the category.

[Timestretch]

I just think it's rare that a compilation actually captures the feel of an artist.

Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair is a great example of this. Listening only the the radio singles from that album removes the cool instrumentals and structure that connects the songs together and make a cohesive album (it's almost a concept album). The endings from one song seem to go directly into the start of the next song. Head over Heels is such a different song when you listen to it in the context of Broken and Listen and the band becomes more than just two guys who write pop songs. It's shows tremendous talent.

[ods..]

SPOON please

The one that made me love Spoon (and the first I heard) was Gimme Fiction. Still my favorite album from them.

[SoulDischarge]

Please ignore all of these people and listen to Kill The Moonlight by Spoon. Most of their stuff is at least pretty good, but that has no songs worth skipping and is probably the catchiest.

[TallGuyCM]

I'm definitely in the minority re: Spoon, as I think they've gotten better and better with each release.

[buddy]

I'm in the same boat, but agree with Patrick on starting with Kill The Moonlight for an introduction to the band.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Mudhoney. I'll take a top 3.

[bmack86]

Mudhoney honestly has one release you need to listen to: Superfuzz Big Muff + Early Singles. Every other album they released is a play on that same formula. Superfuzz is goddamn fantastic.

[Timestretch]

I was going to post something similar to Bmack except I prefer Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge. So there's two albums you can check out.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Sweet - they're a band i've been meaning to get into for years, and I'm knee deep in Primavera research right now.

[cormaic]

Psychic TV

[bmack86]

Sweet - they're a band i've been meaning to get into for years, and I'm knee deep in Primavera research right now.

I thought this was a request for Sweet for a second.

[seyrnon]

The Hives? never listened to them but heard they might be up my alley

[cutterbutter]

The Hives? never listened to them but heard they might be up my alley

Veni Vidi Vicious is the best for sure. If you like it, you will like the other 3 they have. Fun tunes.

[bmack86]

Yeah, Veni Vidi Vicious is the clear place to start. If you enjoy it, check out Your New Favourite Band next, then Tyrannosaurus Hives.

Or cross your fingers and hope to see them live. That's where they really shone.

[seyrnon]

reminds me of the Stooges. definitely diggin it so far. thanks for the recommendations ya'll

Edit: twice through now. kicks ass to say the least.

[getbetter]

I really like Rufus Wainwright's cover of "Everybody Knows".So


Rufus Wainwright

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Definitely Poses.

[Gribbz]

DJ Krush, please.

[java-do]

DJ Krush, please.

The message at the depth

[mountmccabe]

I'd say Queens greatest hits falls into the category.

Ironically it was with Queen albums that i first learned that my favorite tracks tended to not be hits, so I would disagree. (And suggest Jazz first, probably.)

I really like Rufus Wainwright's cover of "Everybody Knows".So


Rufus Wainwright

I would suggest Want Two.

[NicoDread]

DJ Krush, please.

Kakusei!

[swhite423]

Andrew Bird

[knytt]

Mysterious Production of Eggs is where I started. If you like the more low-key atmospheric stuff after that try Weather Systems and if you prefer the up-tempo stuff go to Armchair Apocrypha.

[FEELS]

Fugazi

[bmack86]

Repeater and/or Red Medicine. Repeater's the stronger album, Red Medicine is more diverse.

[FEELS]

Thank you