61. "Breakout" In response to Reply # 3 Sat Dec-12-20 07:35 AM by Boogie Stimuli
It's a cliche answer, but that album shows the peak of every side of Patrice imo. Pizzazz would be a close second.
Put it this way, if she were more famous, everyone would be saying Pizzazz simply because Breakout would the Thriller or Purple Rain of her catalogue, and it wouldn't be cool to say it's the best anymore lol. I don't think she got the marketing push that she deserved, and that's very likely down to sexism in the industry at that time... especially dealing with someone as talented as she was/is.
70. "This is cool, I love so many of her songs but" In response to Reply # 61
I'm a bit unfamiliar with her catalogue, album wise
Basically this answer (yours) was my inspiration for making this post. The unsung episode, knowing how much Prince dug her, like... I've always known she was great but I need to be up ON her more, like I am with all the other artists in this post imo
>It's a cliche answer, but that album shows the peak of every >side of Patrice imo. Pizzazz would be a close second. > >Put it this way, if she were more famous, everyone would be >saying Pizzazz simply because Breakout would the Thriller or >Purple Rain of her catalogue, and it wouldn't be cool to say >it's the best anymore lol. I don't think she got the marketing >push that she deserved, and that's very likely down to sexism >in the industry at that time... especially dealing with >someone as talented as she was/is.
To get into her catalogue, I'd say the best albums to listen to (in order of release) are:
Patrice Pizzazz Posh Straight From the Heart
Those are the ones that are mostly killer imo. Her following albums were still good but seemed rather adversely affected by contemporary 80s sound in spots even if they still had JOINTS on them.
Signature is also a cool little smooth jazz instrumental elevator music album that's good for rainy and lazy days from her latter career. Her very first release, Prelusion, is good for the same.
Shout It Out is her 3rd release where she started to transition into more vocals after her first two albums. It's quite a glorious listen as it sounds like she was getting better and better at composing to the point that she just couldn't help adding vocals to her stuff.
73. "That's dope, thank you. Looking forward to going through em" In response to Reply # 71
I'm one of the ones who've been bumpin Remind Me since birth but couldn't tell you which album its on. And thats a shame, obviously
You seem like you would have an opinion on this, but from what I've read esp the past couple of years it seems she was a REAL heavyweight, musically? Just the stuff I read about her and Prince confirmed this. And sexism in the industry and coincidences at the time sort of got in the way of her blowing up bigtime?
Obviously her words and songwriting is crazy, but her albums have never really entered my radar... for no obvious reason really
>I'm one of the ones who've been bumpin Remind Me since birth >but couldn't tell you which album its on. And thats a shame, >obviously
That's the jam. It's on Straight From The Heart.... along with Forget Me Nots and Where There Is Love (one of her most underrated songs imo).
>You seem like you would have an opinion on this, but from what >I've read esp the past couple of years it seems she was a REAL >heavyweight, musically? Just the stuff I read about her and >Prince confirmed this. And sexism in the industry and >coincidences at the time sort of got in the way of her blowing >up bigtime?
She definitely was a heavyweight. She was child prodigy on the piano and played multiple instruments... something Prince could relate to obviously. I don't really know what kind of coincidences were in the way. I just always assumed it was sexism, because the industry just seemed to want women out in front looking pretty back then rather than being known for being musicians. It's like people not knowing Aretha played piano and it never really being mentioned, or when they wanted Karen Carpenter to get from behind the drums and stand outfront. Luckily for Patrice, she's so talented that she always found work whether being musical director for the Emmys and Grammys (first woman to do both) or composing songs for movies and TV.
> >Obviously her words and songwriting is crazy, but her albums >have never really entered my radar... for no obvious reason >really
Yeah. Whether we blame sexism, racism, a lack of flashiness, just the fact that some super talented people don't get proper shine, etc, it's criminal how overlooked she is in musical conversations.
9. "ATLiens" In response to Reply # 5 Fri Dec-11-20 05:00 PM by Marbles
It's not only their best album, I feel it showcased them the best. They didn't try to do too much or expand their horizons too much. It was right where they needed to be.
i think its the right balance of their music overall. it was my first exposure to them so there is a bias of THAT being what outkast is for me. when you compare the music they made before and after this album i think its fair to say its the mid point.
I was on Kast from the jump and I actually didn't like Aquemini when it first dropped to keep it a buck because it was such a departure from Southern and ATLiens but damn if it didn't grow on me to become my favorite outing of the group. I think that's what makes it quintessential for me. It was able to be damn near off putting to the original fans while engaging new fans and somehow finds a nice balance.
163. "Aquemini really is incredible." In response to Reply # 153
I should listen again soon, too. My closest friend and I beat the shit out of that CD in high school so it's one of those "I can hear it in my head" albums that I never *have* to listen to again.
But I really should. Cuz, on account of what I just said above, it's been a while.
38. "RE: Michael Jackson" In response to Reply # 6
I listen to History and Dangerous the most now. OTW and Thriller are classics but They Don’t Care About Us, Scream, Stranger in Moscow, Earth Song speak to me more lately.
22. "Rhythm Nation. Me & the woman just had this discussion a week ago" In response to Reply # 13
I think it's "Rhythm Nation" but she thinks it's "Janet."
IMO, Janet has some great stuff on it ("That's the Way Love Goes" is one of my all time favorite Janet cuts).
But after going through both of them recently, I can say that "Rhythm Nation" is Janet Jackson's best album. This may sound dumb but I almost think that "Rhythm Nation" is better than people gave it credit for.
------- "A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and less than that no man shall have." - TR
27. "It's gotta be New Edition's "Heartbreak" for me" In response to Reply # 21
"Rhythm Nation" may be a runner up.
But at the same time, there's probably a ton of albums that I don't even know.
Me & the lady pulled up a Jam & Lewis playlist on Spotify and she was floored at the songs and artists on the list. I've always had this thing where I would find out years later that a favorite song happened to be a Jam & Lewis cut.
31. "Can you pleeease share that list? They were monsters in their heyday" In response to Reply # 27
> > "Rhythm Nation" may be a runner up. > > But at the same time, there's probably a ton of albums that I >don't even know. > > Me & the lady pulled up a Jam & Lewis playlist on Spotify and >she was floored at the songs and artists on the list. I've >always had this thing where I would find out years later that >a favorite song happened to be a Jam & Lewis cut.
67. "Mama Said Knock You Out" In response to Reply # 55
Even though it was the “comeback” album and not the one he made his name off of, it’s the album where every aspect of who he was as a rapper was best exemplified. One of the best executed, “something for everyone” albums.
66. "Axis: Bold As Love" In response to Reply # 64
Are You Experienced? has the sing-alongs, but on some guitar shit (what Hendrix is legendary for) A:BAL is where James Marshall really found his voice.
>Are You Experienced? has the sing-alongs, but on some guitar >shit (what Hendrix is legendary for) A:BAL is where James >Marshall really found his voice.
176. "The Bends is their Off The Wall. OK Computer is their Thriller." In response to Reply # 95
Matter of preference I guess. I think they hit their peak with OK Computer where they were operating at a high level and everything came together perfectly for them. I can't sneer at the taste of someone who prefers The Bends though. That's a fantastic album as well, and I even prefer it myself sometimes depending on the day.
106. "Buhloone Mindstate or Stakes is High" In response to Reply # 103 Thu Dec-17-20 10:16 AM by Brew
Probably BMS, tho. Because it's the perfect balance between their former life as talented goofballs, and their post-Prince Paul life as condescending, borderline angry elder-statesmen constantly bemoaning the state of things.
On Stakes they started to lean more towards the latter and the fun was almost nonexistent (but the music was still stellar, of course). Hence, I think BMS better represents who they truly are full circle.
138. "Hahaha do not be sorry ! It's deserving of multiple users." In response to Reply # 137
There were actually a bunch of dope DLS ones on that site. I found it hard to choose because I liked them all but ultimately that one captured the 3Ft cover the best without wasting space or sacrificing, for example, most of Maseo's face which I saw on one I liked.
I've had the below case 3x now (for the iPhone 5, iPhone 7, and now iPhone 12 .. the latter of which I just bought like 3 weeks ago lol) and never thought I'd want another one but this discussion today made me remember how badly I've wanted *some* clothing or accessory item showcasing the 3Ft cover for years now. So I'm pretty excited to don something new.
143. "Snap cases always." In response to Reply # 142
They offer a pretty similar amount of protection without the bulk. I find the "tough" cases typically pretty much double the size/thickness of the phone so I'd rather take on some minimally elevated risk than deal with constant annoyance.
I think the snap cases just look sharp, too. The color/pictures really pop on them.
147. "LOL happy to help" In response to Reply # 146
They have a ton of good shit on that website. And they're pretty cheap so you could, if you wanted to, buy like 5 of them things and have a rotation of dope hip hop iPhone cases haha.
113. "i dont know that i can answer this" In response to Reply # 103
i feel like any given album misses a big chunk of who they are.
3 ft and dead have a sound that is pretty similar and you would be right with either, for that sound.
buhloone has its own sound and its their most efficient. a good midpoint between their early style and their darker style.
stakes/mosaic/bionix could be grouped together into one style. stakes would be the pic for this era
grind date is its own beautiful thing.
anonymous is dope in its own way.
if i had to pick one right now i would go with stakes, a month ago it would have been buhloone, a year ago 3 ft. any of those 3 i would recommend to someone that had not heard them but it would change which one depending on what kind of music they like. for younger people i would even recommend some songs from anonymous..
145. "Tougher than I would have thought..." In response to Reply # 121
Jay-Z is pretty much a smattering of lyrics, dope verses and swag during his run (97/98 - 2003/4ish). His full albums are mostly uneven but represents moments in time.
That said..it's probably Blueprint for me. He seemed to have the game on lock by the time that was released. It was a different sound/energy/vibe when that dropped.
148. "Blueprint is my favorite Jay album by many miles." In response to Reply # 145
It's definitely the album with the most consistent vibe from front to back.
While I like BP best, I picked the Black Album for this exercise because I think BA is a better representation of who Jay is and what his career has been than BP or any of his other albums.
150. "RE: Blueprint is my favorite Jay album by many miles." In response to Reply # 148
>It's definitely the album with the most consistent vibe from >front to back. > >While I like BP best, I picked the Black Album for this >exercise because I think BA is a better representation of who >Jay is and what his career has been than BP or any of his >other albums.
Can't knock that analysis - in fact, I actually picked Blueprint for similar reasons. If I look at the transition from Vol 1-3/Dynasty to BP1, it sort of represented a pivot in style that started leaning towards where/who he was at the time vs what was trending (vol1/2). BP2 felt manufactured and BA was another genuine pivot that represented where/who he was at that time.
Then there were more manufactured albums (KC,MCHG) with some genuine ones in there (AG and 4:44). I think that's what makes his catalog so uneven, when he's 'trying', it comes off as hollow at times w/a mix of top notch flow and when he seems to be genuine in where he actually is at the time, he'll put out a consistent body of work.
151. "Can't argue with any of that, either." In response to Reply # 150
>Can't knock that analysis - in fact, I actually picked >Blueprint for similar reasons. If I look at the transition >from Vol 1-3/Dynasty to BP1, it sort of represented a pivot in >style that started leaning towards where/who he was at the >time vs what was trending (vol1/2). BP2 felt manufactured and >BA was another genuine pivot that represented where/who he was >at that time. > >Then there were more manufactured albums (KC,MCHG) with some >genuine ones in there (AG and 4:44). I think that's what makes >his catalog so uneven, when he's 'trying', it comes off as >hollow at times w/a mix of top notch flow and when he seems to >be genuine in where he actually is at the time, he'll put out >a consistent body of work.
I agree re: the inconsistency of his catalogue. I and others here (maybe you, in fact haha) have said many times that it seems like every other album is classic or great, while the other half are pandering trash with a couple great tracks.
Tiger Woods Member since Feb 15th 2004 18385 posts
Sun Feb-21-21 11:08 PM
182. "Blueprint is perfect " In response to Reply # 121
He’s got so many other albums but the only one I don’t have a slight against, the only one that doesn’t sound aged somewhat, the only one that serves as the album of its time is this. I bought this CD at Target on 9/11. It’s probably my favorite album of my life.
stravinskian Member since Feb 24th 2003 12698 posts
Thu Feb-18-21 08:14 PM
156. "4-way tie: Cookin', Workin', Relaxin', Steamin'" In response to Reply # 155
No offense to anyone who votes Kind of Blue, b or Bitches Brew, but if your studio demands four albums in the next two weeks, and you go ahead and make them, and every one is a masterpiece, then each of them is a special kind of masterpiece.
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