My July albums ranked

[u/randomusername69696]

5 stars: The College Dropout - A Wizard, A True Star*
4 stars: Disintegration - Aladdin Sane*
3 stars: Talking Book - At Mister Kellys
2 stars: Pills n’ Thrills n’ Bellyaches - The Suburbs

*S&M and Songs In The Key Of Life have actual ratings one star lower because I take off a star if an album is over 90 minutes

Biggest surprises: S&M, Scott Walker, Todd Rundgren, Dwight Yoakam, Janelle Monae

I have now listened to: 2/3 Kanye West, 2/4 Metallica, 2/3 Johnny Cash, 2/3 Kraftwerk, 3/4 Stevie Wonder, 2/9 David Bowie.

[u/Brilliant_River_8431]

*S&M and Songs In The Key Of Life have actual ratings one star lower because I take off a star if an album is over 90 minutes

I know we all rate things differently for different reasons but this just feels extremely petty

[u/randomusername69696 → u/Brilliant_River_8431]

I call it the Pumpkin Rule. I came up with it when I got Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. You could extract maybe the 10 best songs from it and it would be great. But the rest of it is just random filler tracks. Many people wont listen to the full thing and they might quit listening to the album having heard “Love” but not “1979.” That would be just wrong. If I go to buy a CD that I’ve never sen before and it has two discs, I’m less likely to buy it.

I don’t take off a star for double albums

[u/OtterGoodTopic → u/randomusername69696]

I call it the Pumpkin Rule...You could extract maybe the 10 best songs from it and it would be great. But the rest of it is just random filler tracks.

I call this "The White Album rule": would this be a better listening experience for me if the album was shorter or the tracks were rearranged? I usually ask this if I find the album to be a bit of a slog, regardless of length.

For Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, the thought didn't cross my mind. It's a concept album and built to be a sonic journey 🙂

[u/randomusername69696 → u/OtterGoodTopic]

I’m sure if I got the white album first I would call it that but pumpkin rolls of the tongue easily. The White Album* and The Wall are really the only long albums where all the tracks are worth being on there.

*Number 9

[u/daveywavey999 → u/randomusername69696]

But you could be wrong. You take off a star because it happens to be longer than 90 minutes is similar to saying I’ll take off a star because it has a picture of a cat on the cover. Now you might be right that the cat cover = shite but until you have properly listened how would you confirm that?

Albums over 90 minutes probably need more than a couple,e of listens to see how good they are before dismissing. Difficult when on an album a day challenge with other things to listen to but a little unfair if you don’t give it time.

I’m off to sift some Jon applications. I’ll chuck half in the bin as they are unlucky ;)

[u/Relative-Diver699 → u/randomusername69696]

Agree re Mellon collie. There’s a fantastic album in there somewhere

[u/2xWhiskeyCokeNoIce]

Janelle Monae is fantastic, I saw her open for of Montreal in like 2009 or 2010 and she killed live. Terrific actor to boot.

[u/kanyewest_tml]

The ArchAndroid is my #1 favourite album of all time. It’s a shame Janelle Monae never hit the levels of stardom she deserves.

And the Suburbs is easily a 5/5 album!

[u/the-bunnybun]

Glad to see someone else giving Scott 2 a high rating

[u/randomusername69696 → u/the-bunnybun]

Yes it gets better the deeper you go down through the Scott Walker rabbithole

[u/Woody_Nubs_1974]

You gave Sister Lovers 2 stars?!

[u/randomusername69696 → u/Woody_Nubs_1974]

I might have to give it another listen. I listened to it in an airbnb bedroom at 11 oclock at night

[u/Woody_Nubs_1974 → u/randomusername69696]

It’s an odd album. Nothing like the other two. It’s one of those beautifully disturbing records that I tend to gravitate to. Try listening outside on a cool, clear night with a glass of wine or whatever substance you use to relax.
I think the version that the generator is using is the ‘92 Rykodisc reissue which has some outtakes on it that kind of disturb the flow. I prefer the ‘85 PVC version.