Way OT--Best 3 album run

Submitted by ghostofhoke on
So I was trying to diffuse all the politics and rhetoric on my Facebook feed earlier today and this turned into a great discussion so I wanted to throw it out to this community. The best 3 album run for any band, any genre of music is?? Has to be three albums in a row. My submission is The Beastie Boys: Licensed To Ill-->Paul's Boutique-->Check Your Head. Close second--Beatles: Rubber Soul-->Revolver-->Sgt. Peppers or Led Zeppelin 2,3,4 Whatcha got?

RelevantBlue

July 23rd, 2016 at 3:41 AM ^

Kanye kind of sucks. He had a few catchy tunes for sure, but nothing nearing "the greatest ever". His personality makes him a douche, imo.

Edit - If we're talking hip hop, 2pac is the champ.... Strictly for my *iggaz, 2pacalypse now, Me against the world AND All eyez on me. Kanye can't touch that shit.

OldMaize16

July 23rd, 2016 at 3:53 AM ^

2pac isn't even on the same level sonically. He had a great message and all, but his albums are hard to listen to. His beat selection is up there with the worst of all time, and he ws an average rapper. 

Kanye's personality isn't for everyone and that's what makes him so profound in my opinion. Saying Kanye sucks it blasphemous; he single handedly changed the direction of hip hop. Taking us from an era of gangsta rap to what we see now: introspective rap. For all the Kanye haters I suggest you give a listen to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. If that doesn't change your opinion I don't know what to tell you.

OldMaize16

July 23rd, 2016 at 3:58 AM ^

2Pac wouldn't even be on my Mt. Rushmore. I have Jay-Z, Eminem, BIG, and Kanye. He probably wouldn't even be 5th with the way Drake's career tragectory is going. But I learned long ago don't argue about 2Pac, it very rarely ends up being about his music.

VicTorious1

July 23rd, 2016 at 7:04 AM ^

Non-hip hop enthusiasts still sleep on Kanye because he comes off as (and may actually be more often than not) an asshole. Still doesn't take away from the quality of his work. I wouldn't put him on my rappers' Mount Rushmore though. He's not the best rapper and is more so a transcendent artist. MJ may not have had the best singing chops, but was transcendent. Kanye is too lesser extent.

gmoney41

July 23rd, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^

No doubt.  Kanye is the most overrated rapper in my opinion.  I can think of at least 50 rappers whose music I enjoy more than Kanye.  I liked his production on his first few albums, but never cared for his ghostwritten rhymes.  He has always been shit on the mic.  I don't understand the whole "this guy is a genius" crap.   To me he is a second rate RZA/ Dj Premier/Pete Rock.  If Kanye changed the game, he changed it for the worst.  We wouldn't have a music populated by skinny jean wearing sissies if there was no Kanye.  We wouldn't have overproduced garbage with R&b and pop stars on our albums.  Early 90's hip hop was so much better, and to say 2 pac had bad taste in beats.  LOL.  Strictly for my ****** was dark as funk, and the beats showed.  Me against the world is one of the best rap albums ever, and the beats on that whole thing are great from easy mo be to Shock G.  All Eyez had a little too much filler though.

corundum

July 23rd, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^

First of all, Kanye shouldn't be judged as a rapper in the same vein as Tupac. Kanye makes music with Bon Iver and Paul McCartney, he is more of a musician than a rapper. You're the kind of person who's argument would be: "but Kanye can't freestyle for shit!" Well I bet John Lennon couldn't freestyle but he was obviously a great musician. Also, music populated by skinny jean wearing sissies? I'm pretty sure some of the greatest rock and roll legends have been wearing skinny jeans and leather pants since the 70s. But yeah, keep rocking your boot cut jeans and timbs.

gmoney41

July 23rd, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^

Well, I was responding to other posts putting him on a hip hop Mt Rushmore, so by that take, I will judge him as a rapper.  Sorry, I just can't get into his music.  He is not a very good rapper and doesn't even write his own shit.  That is usually the equally wack Rhymefest who does most of Kanye's rapper.  Who the hell cares if Kanye works with Paul Mccartney.  Paul hasn't made anything good in 20 years.     I just judge what I hear, and it is not my cup of tea.  Like I said, I liked his production on his his first 3 albums and Common's BE album, but his albums are always ruined because his rhymes are wack and his voice is annoying.  So I will keep my timbs on happily, you can rock the pink shirts and skinny jeans.  

Mr. Yost

July 24th, 2016 at 8:23 AM ^

Don't discredit his first 3 albums because you hate him as a person. If we want to talk the character of the person into an artists career...then we'll disqualify more than half of our favorite artists. Kanye's first 3 albums were awesome, especially when you consider the time they came out. Eminem's first 3 albums were amazing they should be mentioned. Kendrick Lamar is absolutely on the list with Section.80, GKMC, and Butterfly. You can probably make room for Drake and Lil Wayne if you include mixtapes that were basically albums. Jay-Z, Nas, BIG, and Pac absolutely have no business in this thread. I wouldn't argue with ANYONE who called them the best 4 rappers of all time - but none of them had a quality 3 album run. Jay-Z always through a Vol. 3 or Kingdom Come in there. Nas could only string 2 together before a meh, BIG only had 3 albums and Eminem made the last one what it was. Pac has a crazy amount of amazing music, but he wasn't a great album maker.

gmoney41

July 23rd, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^

That is a wack as fuck mt rushmore.  I would have none of those guys on mine.  KRS, Rakim, Kool G Rap and Grandmaster flash would be on mine.  Pac and Biggie get honorable mention.  Just the fact that you mention Drake who is a pop star, not a rapper, and if he is a rapper, then wow, what has rap become?? Drake wouldn't even sniff the top 1000.  Jay Z' only album I loved was Reasonable doubt.  Eminem is a great rapper but his albums never live up to his promise.  Biggie had Ready to Die, and had one of the best flows ever, but died to early in his career to call him a GOAt, plus Life after Death was like Pac's all eyez, too much filler.

gmoney41

July 23rd, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^

Considering everyone who is over 30+ considers early 90's rap to be the Golden era, I think you are alone in that opinion man.  Early 90's had such diversity.  You could get Gangstarr,Wu, Tribe, Black Moon on the east coast, Down south was way way better than it is today.  UGK, Scarface, 8ball and MJG had some serious funk.  Midwest had great albums with Common, hell Esham was dope in the early 90's.  Then you had the west coast with some of the best production in Dre, Dj Quick, Above the Law to the Bay with Spice 1, Too Short e-40 to Heiroglyphics.  The Baughz is right, your taste in hip hop is trash.  To me, 90% of the shit that has come out since 97 is watered down girly music.  Once hip hop became mainstream, the music has really suffered.  Go listen to Dj Quik's Way to Funky album from 92 and tell me that the Kanye's bs is better.  It's laughable. And Drake is totally a pop star, his music perfectly fits the times we are in.  The world is just to effeminate for real hip hop.

gmoney41

July 23rd, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^

You are GD right.  BDP albums were all dope.  Criminal Minded, By all means necessary, Edutainment and Sex and Violence are all in my collection..  KRS is the GOAT in my opinion.  The other guys have the sales, but KRS has always dropped heat.  His work from 86-96 is vastly underrated.

RFM

July 23rd, 2016 at 9:23 AM ^

I'm going to agree with you. One thing not mentioned in the arguments your op spawned, is that Kanye is a tremendous producer as well. I'm sure the haters below aren't aware of the many non-Kanye hit songs that he produced for other hip-hop artists.



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Danwillhor

July 23rd, 2016 at 3:40 AM ^

haven't seen a single mention that I disagree with. Not much to add as it's pretty rare to knock out 3 straight albums that are truly great.

Lucas

July 23rd, 2016 at 3:48 AM ^

So I'm just going to pretend I missed the suggestion to submit for only a single band. And will instead place submissions for... many bands: Prince - 1999/Purple Rain/Around the World in a Day Wire - Pink Flag/Chairs Missing/154 David Bowie - Station to Station/Low/Heroes David Bowie - Hunky Dory/Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane Al Green - Let's Stay Together/I'm Still in Love With You/Call Me Wilco - Being There/Summerteeth/Yankee Hotel Foxtrot The Velvet Underground - ...and Nico/White Light/Velvet Ubderground Big Star - #1 Record/Radio City/Third The Replacements - Let it Be/Tim/Pleased to Meet Me Curtis Mayfield - Curtis/Roots/Superfly Husker Du - Zen Arcade/New Day Rising/ Talking Heads - More Songs.../Fear of Music/Remain in Light Bruce Springsteen - The Wild.../Born to Run/Darkness on the Edge of Town Can - Tago Mago/Ege Bamyasi/Future Days Elvis Costello - My Aim is True/This Year's Model/Armed Forces The Smiths - The Smiths/Meat is Murder/The Queen is Dead Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left/Bryter Layter/Pink Moon Classic Rock Titans all had a few amazing runs of course: (Beatles, Stones, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Parliament/Funkadelic, Zeppelin, the Clash, the Cure, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, The Who, Neil Young, etc.)

Lucas

July 23rd, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^

I never connected with him enough to say I 'love' his music, but do like his music and have great respect for his many talents (amazing guitar player/arranger/band leader). If I was going to include a run of his albums, I would go with the three albums you listed - all excellent. I would also say his first three records were formidable. 

Lucas

July 23rd, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^

Though it's funny i accidentally left it off, because now I'm thinking I might include The Metal Circus EP (came out before Zen Arcade, also an EP so maybe cheating?) over Flip Your Wig... but no reason not to own the whole run of albums. So so so good.

Lucas

July 23rd, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^

So happy to get this kind of response - thank you!!! For me, you could call music an addiction, but why not just call it what it really is; oxygen. 

Of three bands you mentioned that would be new for you - I echo Oregon Wolverine's comments about Nick Drake. Of the three - I recommend starting with him. I can't imagine anyone not loving his music. All three albums are surprisingly diverse, recorded over such a short span of time. 'Five Leaves Left' is my favorite - perfect balance of great songs with just enough added instrumentation to keep the focus on his voice and guitar playing. 'Bryter Layter' has a lot more orchestrations and may be a bit too sugary a listen at first. But once you get over that, it is amazing. 'Pink Moon' is just him and a guitar recorded during his darkest days (and sadly close to the end of his short life). 'Pink Moon' puts the spotlight on his lyrics. 

Wire is the maybe the first true 'Post-Punk' band (if you value those kinds of labels). I actually think Pink Flag is the first post-punk record (came out in 1977). Staggering growth over these first three albums. 'Chairs Missing' and '154' are Desert Island Discs for me, but probably not for most.

Can is a German band from the 'Krautrock' era (formed in the late 60's). Brilliant, but could be a challenging listen depending on what kind of music you're into too. If you like electric era Miles Davis (and maybe John Cale era Velvet Underground) you will for sure love them. Also I think funk lovers would dig them too. They are also one of the most name checked bands of all time (Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, Beck, many more). Can would jam like crazy in the studio and then cut the recordings up to be finley tuned/sequenced songs and albums. Also have my favorite drummer in rock-type music. 

Lucas

July 23rd, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^

So many great submissions - didn't see a few runs which I think are also worthy:

  1. Iggy Pop (Went to UofM for a year!) - Kill City/The Idiot/Lust for Life
  2. The Stooges (Ann Arbor's own) - The Stooges/Fun House/Raw Power
  3. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On?/Let's Get it On/I Want You
  4. The Wipers - Is this Real?/Youth of America/Over the Edge
  5. Beach House - Teen Dream/Bloom/Thank Your Lucky Stars (sorta cheating...)
  6. Deerhunter - Microcastle/Halcyon Digest/Monomania
  7. Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk/3 Ep's/If You're Feeling Sinister (also sorta cheating)
  8. Scott Walker - Scott 3/Scott 4/'Til the Band Comes In
  9. Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain/Another Green World/Before and After Science
  10. Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure/Stranded/Country Life
  11. The Pixies - Surfer Rosa/Doolittle/Bossanova
  12. Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring/Spirit of Eden/Laughing Stock
  13. Fela Kuti - Shakara/Gentlemen/Expensive Shit (I continue to cheat unapologitically)
  14. John Fahey - Requia/Days Have Gone By/Voice of a Turtle
  15. Miles Davis - Silent Way/Bitches Brew/Jack Johnson (and all of his electric albums)
  16. Public Enemy - Takes a Nation of Millions/Fear of a Black Planet/Apocalypse '91
  17. The Ramones - The Ramones/Leave Home/Rocket to Russia
  18. R.E.M. - Chronic Town/Murmer/Reckoning (but also everything through 'Up')
  19. Sly/Family Stone - Stand!/There's a Riot Goin On/Fresh!
  20. Elvis Costello (pt. II) - Get Happy!/Trust/Imperial Bedroom

I fear I may be stuck posting in this forum for the rest of my life. If I'm being honest, I won't be that unhappy if that becomes my fate. 

Mr. Owl

July 23rd, 2016 at 10:33 PM ^

Needs a couple of asterisks on Marvin Gaye.  The follow up to What's Going On was actually Trouble Man.  In betwern Let's Get It On & I Want You there were actually 2 LP's relaeased, Diana & Marvin and Live.  Those 3 were the only standard format albums though, as Trouble Man was a soundtrack that was no standard recording session, the Diana LP he didn't want to do & just laid down a quick vocal track, then the Live album was a live album.

Adding to the list though...

Bob James: One / Two / Three

Stevie Wonder: Music of My Mind / Talking Book / Innervisions.

Donny Hathaway: Everything is Everything / Donny Hathaway / Extension of a Man.

Kool & The Gang: Wild and Peaceful / Light of Worlds / Spirit of the Boogie

Michael Jackson: Off the Wall / Thriller / Bad

Rufus: Rufusized / Rufus featuring Chaka Khan / Ask Rufus