Best Albums By Women

[poorpete]

Yeah, I don't lightly put down Loretta. She's one of my favs. I just hope she doesn't find out and send me to Fist City.



Fun Tracy Chapman trivia: Tracy Chapman was in a long term relationship with feminist writer Alice Walker (The Color Purple), whose daughter, feminist writer Rebecca Walker, was in a long term relationship with Meshell Ndegeocello.

[poorpete]

Tracy Chapman vs. KD Lang is still unresolved if anyone wants to sway me.

[poorpete]

Not an easy choice, as Ingenue made for a very enjoyable listen, that got better everytime I came back to it. A very tough one, and probably a tie, with tie going to NPR and Tracy Chapman. The above song, though, is wonderful, and there are other great efforts too. I did a search for "KD Lang" "Rufus Wainwright" and was disappointed there hasn't been more notice of how alike these two artists are (unless it's obvious). I dunno if Rufus was inspired by KD and/or Ingenue, but with it's jazzy folky chamberly Beatlesque music, the personal lyrics, and MY GOD the beautiful crooning, I would not be surprised.

Next:
61. Destiny's Child - The Writing on the Wall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c5aLdr ... YEOSKQaa1j
68. Roseanne Cash - King's Record Shop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCE7SdL ... E8dd7Yq90D

[poorpete]

A tough one, but not because they both are amazing. They are both good, they are solid, but I don't think either are masterpieces. King's Record Shop grew on me more, while Writing on the Wall maintained a "this is good" throughout. But for years I ignored how weird, how fun, how great "Jumpin' Jumpin'" is.

Next:
Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdIsRew ... E0cfR-B-7P
Buffy Sainte-Marie - It's My Way!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfIKxRj ... xjbc1X1lMQ

[poorpete]

Now we are back to two great albums fighting it out! Buffy Sainte-Marie's "It's My Way" is a great Greenwich Village-era folk album, with very few mistteps, a lot of great lyrics, and plenty of haunting melodies. I'm mad Buffy and her music are completely new to me, and for once I'm blaming society. Too bad she had to face the behemoth that is "Jagged Little Pill" in which all the non-hits are great, and then the five or six super-hits are pretty good too! Alanis wins by an inch.

Next:
Bonnie Raitt - Nick of Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odJEsYj ... kp&index=1
Aaliyah - Aaliyah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOB2F4skFIw&t=23s

[Phoebe]

Lots of stuff here I haven't heard! Jumpin' is a fun song - oddly enough this is one of those Destiny's Child songs where I dislike the way Beyonce sings - at the end it turns into a very Ariana Grande, flat, tight, garbled mess. Somewhere along the line she learned to use her whole voice better and we are a grateful audience because of it.

[poorpete]

Aaliyah vs. Nick in Time is a battle royale! Timberland is well represented on this list. I feel Timberland is like one of those guys who overdonates to sperm bank. I think Timmy gets off thinking of all the people grooving to his mouth beats. I'll go "wiki wiki wiki" into a mic, splice it a thousand times, and the public'll go nuts.

This is the second of four top-class matchups in-a-row. I'm not happy to be kicking four great albums to the losers bracket, but I am happy to listen to great albums.

I hear how off Beyonce is in Jumpin, and why people prefer her "Say My Name" which was more influential. But I love the weird little mimicy synth line in it, and its unusual song structure (starts: Chorus, Pre-chorus, Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus)

And love how antithesis the song is to the later (and better) "Single Ladies". She's literally like, cheat, it'll be great!

[Phoebe]

Yeah, I was never clear on why one cannot bring one's own "man" or "girl" to this hoedown. They must be left alone or with friends if we are to properly celebrate and dance.

[poorpete]

An unfair pairing again. Aaliyah's album is a consistently fun listen. I hope I'll keep listening long after this project.

Next titans of greatness:
Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmXx_yo ... RVFWul0keY
Roberta Flack - First Take
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tBI0YJ ... QVX-OBaJp_

[poorpete]

It's trying times indeed, Roberta. Great songs (I think my least favorite is the one that won the Grammy for best song), great singing (especially in Spanish), great band (my man Ron Carter is on the bass!), but great can't defeat "Dusty in Memphis" today.

And the last two of the 8 great albums in a row:
The Pretenders - Pretenders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dvgMn1 ... BWZ62JH5Ay
Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEPy2KO ... SCo258E1k3

[poorpete]

This was very very tough. In the end, I think I like Cyndi just a tad more. Both surprised at first, ya know. Expected Cyndi to be pop but didn't realize Cyndi would be so rock. Expected Chrissie to be rock but didn't realize Chrissie would be so punk. Both are top notch. Dang.

Next:
Nina Simone - Nina Simone Sings the Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31bD7QC ... ycfHapUiOo
Eurythmics - Touch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pohZ0dq ... g4jZDPbTXs

[Phoebe]

So many good ones here, I don't know how you are choosing.

[poorpete]

Magic? Previous bias? I dunno.



Eurythmics grew on me. Surprising even though it shouldn't have. It's a fun album. 101st place sounds about right.

Next:
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rIjsa8 ... K5wup7zEs6
Meshell Ndegeocello - Peace Beyond Passion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c97jMJW ... frxbkceRjJ

(excited to see where this ends up. I have no rooting interest)

[Phoebe]

In honor of the dear friend who introduced me to Kate Bush I have to vote for Kate Bush. She's so underrated. But maybe so is Ndegeocello!

[poorpete]

Agreed. Me'shell is good at what she does tho. A good listen.

Linda Ronstadt - Heart Like A Wheel
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... StvQI3V-bI
Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... hqNxZ_strM

[Phoebe]

LINDA, LINDA, LINDA!!!

[poorpete]

Yeah, it's no contest. Tammy is great, but this collection, after four listens, nothing other than the famous title track has stuck in my brain. Like, here's a song, I assume. If I was lovesick maybe these would hit me more. Then again, Linda's songs are full of lovesick blues and I love it, so advantage: LINDA LINDA LINDA!!!!!!!

Heart - Dreamboat Annie
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... mAnD5Z4Lck
Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... 1-t982BO-E

[Phoebe]

Wow, no idea what to do with that one. Good luck!

[poorpete]

I can't figure out why I like this joyous silly little number, oh wait, whose unmistakable voice is "singing" with Joan. Joan and Joni! So. A this was a perfectly produced assemblage of songs that I can't remember. Sorry fans. Nothing's bad. But I'll get to how kickass Heart's debut album is at a later date.

Madonna - Like a Virgin
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... 42kFdbR258
Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata
https://open.spotify.com/album/7AMXlfKBuhRB5wBXpsVUPO

(I loves me Makeba, but Madonna's album is pure pop, hmmm)

[poorpete]

Is "Like a Virgin" better? mmmmmaybe. Closer than I thought, but I think I like Pata Pata more. Another interesting selection by NPR, as the critical consensus I thought was that "Ray of Light" was the best Madonna album. Though I do like how the list in unapologetic that pop is good, and that it doesn't need to be inventive or mind-blowing to be good. This album was much more fun than I thought it'd be. This Madonna person is good at what she does!


Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
https://open.spotify.com/album/444zYF83XQOTXmjke2JWU9
Bikini Kill - Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDgmxQ2F_RE

(18 songs over 55 minutes indie epic vs. 7 songs over 15 punk riot grrl mission statement, the shortest album on the list)