What are the best years in music?

[AndSmithMustScore]

People don't have to except that they are 'good songs' just because you think that.

People need to realise that if 20 years after a song was released and it's still being played and appreciated by a large amount of people it's a good song.

Even if you don't think it is.

I hate classical music, doesn't mean it's not good music though.

 

[cats56]

Just because you don't like em doesn't mean they aren't good songs.

You give Gangsters by the Specials 0/10 even though for its genre is a cracker of a song.

I might agree with your rating on some of the songs, but no matter how much I might hate a song they are still playing. singing and dancing along to them.

You quoted Muswell Hillbillies as a great album from 71.

And even though i'm the biggest Kinks fan on BF you'd be lucky to find 2-3 people here who would know more than 1-2 songs off that album at a stretch.

Which means even though it was Ray writing some of his best material, it was an album that nobody much liked except the die-hard fans and that showed in the fact it didnt even chart in the UK(singles or album).

Popularity and longevity have to be given consideration when deciding what determines best.

After all music really is about connecting with people, and if you can't do that then in some ways you've failed.

And just because you list 'em doesn't mean they're good songs either. I'll stick to my ratings and as i said apart from the exceptions, going by your list, '79 was a pretty ordinary year.

Muswell Hillbillies is a very good album, not the best from '71 and not the Kink's best. But just because it doesn't chart doesn't mean it isn't a good album. I would hope that there would be more than 2-3 knowledgeable people on here who would also understand this.

I've always found it very sad that people believe that because somethings popular means it has to be good.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

And just because you list 'em doesn't mean they're good songs either. I'll stick to my ratings and as i said apart from the exceptions, going by your list, '79 was a pretty ordinary year.

Muswell Hillbillies is a very good album, not the best from '71 and not the Kink's best. But just because it doesn't chart doesn't mean it isn't a good album. I would hope that there would be more than 2-3 knowledgeable people on here who would also understand this.

I've always found it very sad that people believe that because somethings popular means it has to be good.

You obviously don't like certain genres, but that doesn't mean songs in those genres weren't good.

As I said I didn't list all songs I personally thought were great.

I listed those ones which are STILL popular today despite people having 20 years to have either forgotten about them or still appreciate them.

 

[SunKing]

And just because you list 'em doesn't mean they're good songs either. I'll stick to my ratings and as i said apart from the exceptions, going by your list, '79 was a pretty ordinary year.

Of course just as your list was pretty meh to me.
Aside from the solo Beatles and stuff by T rex Bowie and Roxy Music 1971 was a dull year especially following on from the golden late 60's era.
The 70's didn't get any good until new wave kicked in later on.

 

[Power King]

1955 - 1982. It was all good.

1982 was 27 years ago.

Take 2036, which is 27 years from now.

I bet people in 2036 will be saying 1982-2009 'was all good'.

Why?

Coz all the great music will be remembered and the shit will be forgotten about.

I'm betting there was shit from 55-82, but it's all been forgotten about.

True though, a lot of brilliant music in that time period.

 

[psychobrown]

'87-'89 was a good era, when the top 40 countdown on Rage every Sat morning was actually something to look forward to for me.

 

[cats56]

Of course just as your list was pretty meh to me.
Aside from the solo Beatles and stuff by T rex Bowie and Roxy Music 1971 was a dull year especially following on from the golden late 60's era.
The 70's didn't get any good until new wave kicked in later on.

Never said it was the best year, just added a few albums to a list. The albums i listed were certainly superior to any of the Beatles solo albums from that year. No son, 70-73 was pretty good. 74-75 a bit questionable. Kicked in in '76 with The Ramones etc.

 

[cats56]

1982 was 27 years ago.

Take 2036, which is 27 years from now.

I bet people in 2036 will be saying 1982-2009 'was all good'.

Why?

Coz all the great music will be remembered and the shit will be forgotten about.

I'm betting there was shit from 55-82, but it's all been forgotten about.

True though, a lot of brilliant music in that time period.

Plenty of shite, as in all years, and not forgotten by me, as 95% (and i'm being leniant) is tripe. Just that some years are worse than others.

 

[cats56]

You obviously don't like certain genres, but that doesn't mean songs in those genres weren't good.

As I said I didn't list all songs I personally thought were great.

I listed those ones which are STILL popular today despite people having 20 years to have either forgotten about them or still appreciate them.

I don't equate music with popular, only greatness.

 

[cats56]

Of course just as your list was pretty meh to me.
Aside from the solo Beatles and stuff by T rex Bowie and Roxy Music 1971 was a dull year especially following on from the golden late 60's era.
The 70's didn't get any good until new wave kicked in later on.

Interesting, considering they never released anything till 1972.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I don't equate music with popular, only greatness.

Then why do you like the Ramones?

I like the Ramones too, but they aren't brilliant, they are just fun to listen to.

They play shit, they don't write particularly well, but we still like them despite those facts.

 

[cats56]

Then why do you like the Ramones?

I like the Ramones too, but they aren't brilliant, they are just fun to listen to.

They play shit, they don't write particularly well, but we still like them despite those facts.

No having seen them on numerous occasions, i can categorically say they were great. Obviously you never saw them.

 

[Leaping Lindner]

1977 - "No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones"

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

No having seen them on numerous occasions, i can categorically say they were great. Obviously you never saw them.

You can categorically say you think they were great.

There's also a good case to be put forward that they played loud fast rock n roll with so so lyrics.

A style that sounded utter shite and amatuerish to the majority of people.

And no I never did see them live, only live performances on videos and dvds.

But that's ok, it gives a good enough overview of what they are like.

I still like them and do rate them, but only within their genre.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

1977 - "no elvis, beatles or the rolling stones"

danger stranger, you'd better paint your face!

 

[Leaping Lindner]

danger stranger, you'd better paint your face!

I actually said that to be a bit of smart arse to use the lyric but looking back it probably is my favourite year all up.....
Damned,Damned,Damned;The Clash;Lust for Life;Never mind the Bollocks; Rattius Norvegicus;(I'm)Stranded;Rocket to Russia;Radios Appear all these still get regular workouts on my stereo.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I actually said that to be a bit of smart arse to use the lyric but looking back it probably is my favourite year all up.....
Damned,Damned,Damned;The Clash;Lust for Life;Never mind the Bollocks; Rattius Norvegicus;(I'm)Stranded;Rocket to Russia;Radios Appear all these still get regular workouts on my stereo.

Indeed it was a sterling year for those who are drawn to the punk genre.

The Stranglers still don't get anywhere near as much love as they deserve, not sure why.

I gravitate to 79. being an old Rudeboy and the 2 Tone explosion.

Was some good albums that year too

The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette
Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
Entertainment! - Gang of Four
Drums and Wires - XTC
London Calling - Clash
The Specials - The Specials
One Step Beyond -Madness
Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
Low Budget - The Kinks
Inflammable Material - Stiff Little Fingers
Live (X Cert) - The Stranglers
Scared to Dance - The Skids
Singles Going Steady - The Buzzcocks
Secondhand Daylight - Magazine
The Undertones - The Undertones

Ah the vinyl and the memories...

 

[Suspense]

The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette
Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
Entertainment! - Gang of Four
Drums and Wires - XTC
London Calling - Clash
The Specials - The Specials
One Step Beyond -Madness
Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
Low Budget - The Kinks
Inflammable Material - Stiff Little Fingers
Live (X Cert) - The Stranglers
Scared to Dance - The Skids
Singles Going Steady - The Buzzcocks
Secondhand Daylight - Magazine
The Undertones - The Undertones

Hehe. I'm re-re-reading John Peel's autobiography at the moment. I love this album. Good list...

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Hehe. I'm re-re-reading John Peel's autobiography at the moment. I love this album. Good list...

Pretty sure (if my memory doesn't fail me) that Teenage Kicks was Peel's favourite song ever.

 

[cats56]

You can categorically say you think they were great.

There's also a good case to be put forward that they played loud fast rock n roll with so so lyrics.

A style that sounded utter shite and amatuerish to the majority of people.

And no I never did see them live, only live performances on videos and dvds.

But that's ok, it gives a good enough overview of what they are like.

I still like them and do rate them, but only within their genre.

Yes i could tell you had never seen them.

They were a great band, no not the greatest. So i'll stand by that i know they were great.

Exceptionally tight band, with clever economical, lyrics. Certainly don't go looking for Dylan or Davies in depth, but very effective. I do rate Joey highly as a vocalist and Johnny as a guitarist. Perhaps you just don't fully get it.

I personally put very little belief in what the majority think and believe that is your major downfall. While you do have some good knowledge and appreciation for greatness, you at times, tend to get greatness confused with mediocrity and popularity.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Yes i could tell you had never seen them.

They were a great band, no not the greatest. So i'll stand by that i know they were great.

Exceptionally tight band, with clever economical, lyrics. Certainly don't go looking for Dylan or Davies in depth, but very effective. I do rate Joey highly as a vocalist and Johnny as a guitarist. Perhaps you just don't fully get it.

I personally put very little belief in what the majority think and believe that is your major downfall. While you do have some good knowledge and appreciation for greatness, you at times, tend to get greatness confused with mediocrity and popularity.

You're missing an overiding point though, take everything else aside and music is about connecting with people, delivering whatever its message is.

It's been that way since the year dot.

If a song connects with alot of people then it has to be recognised its hit a chord with people and as such is a successful work.

We can get all wanky and say such and such a song is the greatest of all time, but if only a handful of people like it then in reality it can never be considered that because it's failed in the most basic test of appealing to people.

As I said the Ramones were great within their genre, take them outside of their genre and they don't stack up as well against other truly great artists when comparing instrumentally, vocally, lyrically etc.

 

[crownie]

You're missing an overiding point though, take everything else aside and music is about connecting with people, delivering whatever its message is.

It's been that way since the year dot.

If a song connects with alot of people then it has to be recognised its hit a chord with people and as such is a successful work.

We can get all wanky and say such and such a song is the greatest of all time, but if only a handful of people like it then in reality it can never be considered that because it's failed in the most basic test of appealing to people.
As I said the Ramones were great within their genre, take them outside of their genre and they don't stack up as well against other truly great artists when comparing instrumentally, vocally, lyrically etc.

one of the better bits of writing i have seen on this music forum.

 

[La Dispute]

Yes but what about all the popular music today?

It may connect with people but it hasn't much meaning.

 

[Power King]

^There is a line that artists cross where music is merely popular and has no substance.

Having said that, there are a lot of wanks who dismiss any credible music simply because it has garnered popularity in the mainstream market.

A balance is needed in my opinion. In order to be the greatest in music, you need some form of commercial success (ie popularity in order to influence) in addition to the obvious critical success (to show your credibility and talent).

The above bolded part of the quote of smithmustscore is great, and analogous to sports.

take jordan for example in basketball.

greatest of all time. sure there was probably some bloke in the country that was a greater player than jordan, but if you can't execute the most basic test (dominate in the league) then you can't consider that guy the greatest.

 

[cats56]

You're missing an overiding point though, take everything else aside and music is about connecting with people, delivering whatever its message is.

It's been that way since the year dot.

If a song connects with alot of people then it has to be recognised its hit a chord with people and as such is a successful work.

We can get all wanky and say such and such a song is the greatest of all time, but if only a handful of people like it then in reality it can never be considered that because it's failed in the most basic test of appealing to people.

As I said the Ramones were great within their genre, take them outside of their genre and they don't stack up as well against other truly great artists when comparing instrumentally, vocally, lyrically etc.

And this is where you are wrong. Great music is great music no matter what the genre. What you have to realise is that great music is timeless. Too often people get caught up in an era or genre, but for me it can come from any era, but it has to stand the test of time.