Best Albums By Women

[poorpete]

Kick ass punk rock, performed and recorded raw. But it's over too soon at 14 minutes and 31 seconds. A good use of those minutes tho.

Tina Turner - Private Dancer
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... gaD1yV8bUE
Shakira - Donde estan los ladrones?
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... zcc-vqujqU

[Phoebe]

I must go back to listen to Heart's album again!

[poorpete]

I was hoping you were commenting to help me with this one. It's a toughie.


This album grew more impressive over time. I appreciate an album by a lady in her mid 40s makes the list, and it's exciting and energetic and super-polished. Beautifully produced, even when, I dunno, I love "I can't stand the rain" but the 80s synth music doesn't make much sense for the lyrics, but it's still great. Then there's Steal Claw, a super burst of energy that harkens to the classic Tina sound, but with some 80s polish and Bruce Springstein-like messaging. Classic... but, Shakira was a big surprise. I dunno, another day I may have gone differently.

Another battle of titans:
Hole - Live Through This
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... C0DugOLYd8
Portishead - Dummy
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... -DzmOtxFvU

(The apex of grunge vs. the breakthrough for trip hop, oh boy, a 1994 vs. 1994 match)

[Phoebe]

Shakira is surprisingly good, and so is that Hole album. I kind of dismissed Courtney as a joke but no joke, it has multiple solid entries.

[poorpete]

Yeah. I need one more listen of each to be sure, but Hole is surprisingly good. Like, even the last song, which mocks the riot grrl movement, which is like "I'm so rebel I even hate the rebels" unappealing attitude, but is still a pretty fantastic song.

Update, yep:

Now if you said what would I rather listen to, another Hole album or another Portishead, I'd probably still go Portishead. But Love made a great album, and it's purposely direct and immediate, and thus in 5 listens, moves ahead barely.

Celia Cruz – Son con Guaguanco
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... 9WoBczIecQ
Laura Nyro – New York Tendaberry
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... sTqq-HcC4k

(Guaguanco is another big swing by NPR, another album with no wikipedia article that they put in their top 50. And many pick other Nyro albums as her best (I personally prefer her work with LaBelle), so we'll see)

[poorpete]

There are a few great stand outs here too, and there's certainly nothing wrong with it, except, it's very introspective and sleepy, especially compared to the non-stop latin dance party that is Celia's album. It's good that Nyro can luxuriate in the quiet moments, but the quiet moments outnumbered the energetic moments more than I prefer. So. Close. A beautiful voice. Ehhhhhhhhh. You're never gonna make a movie maker.... TOM!!!!!!

Labelle - Nightbirds
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... pvypPHarbA
Salt-N-Peppa - Blacks' Magic
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... -cf6XRujoQ

[poorpete]

High quality hip hop for sure with minimal issues. A fun time. Might be my fav 90s hip hop on the list (which does not bode well for the next game), but, my goodness LaBelle is my jam.

TLC -CrazySexyCool
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... HKhhGnmwQU
Umm Kulthum – Enta Omri
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... j5EcIsXKWM

[Phoebe]

What can I do for you?

[poorpete]

They good!


Not an easy decision. It's a lovely song. Yes this whole thing is a song. I dunno even if there's a standard version, all the ones I found were live recordings. Anywho, feels like another where this is an all-star singer, and the list wanted to giver her her due. And again, it's lovely, but... and i know this is the point, repetitive. And the audience, I get it, there supposed to get in the way, but they get in the way. Look, I dunno. TLC is a very good album, but not great (again, I prefer Salt n Peppa), and this might be great. But After 4 listens, it's not there yet. Plus, as before, we are talking ALBUM not SONG. Yes yes, the songs is as long as an album. But whose fault is that? Not mine. Not. Mine.

Good read:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-the-i ... ut-enmity/

Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... u4LPG63d-A
Barbara Streisand - Funny Girl Broadway Cast Recording
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... jFiMm5rG_I

[poorpete]

I kinda want to switch my pick to Ummm. But that would be unprecedented.

I need to adjust the reasons I pick. I think with the last one I focused on
- Do I have enough reason to overturn NPR's choice of TLC over Umm? My thought: no.
and less
- What album do I want to listen to more? My thought: Ummmmmmm Ummm!


Good songs, some classics, mostly by Barbra, who is fab in this. But NPR is right. Haven't seen the play/movie, but will try to see it this year. But Gillian's album is a bit more special!

Next:
The Go-Gos - Beauty and the Beat
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... JbX09cDCDA
The Raincoats - The Raincoats
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... 5hd3RtDnEU

[poorpete]

Avant punk ala Velvet Underground. This album impressed me at first found it inconsistent and now I think it's really really good. Song above is so much fun and I haven't idea what it is talking about. Anywho, got a bad seed, or more apt, got a good seed and Beauty and the Beat got a poor seed.

Next:
Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... xDv2JPMm6E
No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... _U77MXA8As

[poorpete]

This might be the best ska album, so what is it doing on any list of great albums? Just kidding, ska is good in moderation, and this is a good album. A bunch of hits, but also quite a bit of meh after 5 listens. There's a middle-bit of bordom in there, like a crowd-pleaser movie that has a good begining and good ending so people forget that the second act is a snooze fest. Too harsh, it's good stuff. But, after first listening to it last year, my main criticism stands: Why isn't "End It On This" the last song? F'in end it on that! Switch the last two songs. That is all.

Next:
Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... dpAhKeGaxE
X – Los Angeles
https://music.youtube.com/browse/VLPL-c ... -D1Fb3vumJ
(if it was just about who has the best voice, this would be easy. Also will X be penalized for only half of its lead singing being female? I need some kind of formula. Like the album needs to be twice as good as the album it defeats -- it might be the case here)

[poorpete]

A tough one. Ella has, what's it called, oh yeah, the best voice ever. Sometimes the songs and the arrangements and the singer unite to produce greatness, like the song above (featuring a yummy vibraphone solo). A few of the songs didn't catch me, even after five listens, but it wasn't like they were bad to listen to.

Now I said, "Los Angeles" needed to be double as good as this album, and I dunno if it reaches that heights. But, as much as Exene deserves about 40% of the credit for the album (co-wrote, song lead or co-lead or harmonies on all the songs), does Ella deserve 80% to 100% for her album of Johnny Mercer songs arranged by What's His Name with an band and orchestra we can safely assume is over 90% male? I dunno, but I'm going to take the chance and give "Los Angeles" the win here.

Dagh. Already regret it.

Next:
Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... ada-59ZTrQ
Sinead O’Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... pK7g76e0cE

(I should talk about the losers bracket at some point. Having to choose between "Fanny Hill" and "New York and Tendaberry" has been tough, but I keep listening and enjoying each, and I've been keeping track of listens because I still plan on using that -- and the bracket -- to rerank)

[poorpete]

After 5 listens each it's still too close to call. Any advice would be appreciated!

Interesting, Dixie Chicks and Sinaed both have a big thing in common with each other. They both were vilified for taking a big stance, lost a ton of fans, and... we're right. Ahead of the curve on protesting the Iraq invasion and protesting rampant and unpunished child abuse in the Catholic Church.

[poorpete]

Very tough, as they both featured a bevy of great songs and only one or two duds. And I definitely didn't want to oust one of the better 90s country albums I've heard. But here we are. I think it will still do well in the losers bracket, and I will keep listening because it's joyous and has this kickass Bonnie Raitt cover.

Next, a battle of 21st century titans:
Adele - 21
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... PFMdqDC8Oo
Taylor Swift - Fearless
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... FhxVFC9Z9M

[poorpete]

I thought I'd get at least minimal feedback on this. These albums are the two of only three made in the last decade to sell over 10 million units in the US. Nobody owned both?

[poorpete]

It was close but not. Wow to Taytay being only 19 and writing, producing, guitarring, and singing on this, and just like 21, half of these are classics. Now, none of these are a GOAT song like Rolling In the Deep, but as an album, it's top in it's pop country class.

Next
Blondie - Parallel Lines
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... HjJkmHicEE
Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list ... 6fSCxN06RQ

[Phoebe]

Couple thoughts... First I pretty much agree with the way you've done it up to this point. That is not Ella Fitzgerald's best album in my opinion so I'm not sure why they chose that one. Her Cole Porter songbook and her album with Joe Pass spring to mind as obvious examples of greatness. But you have to judge based on what you've been given, and X was groundbreaking and underrated. I would mostly rather listen to Ella Fitzgerald than to listen to an X Album, but that leads to comment number 2:

Your method of trying to figure out which album you most enjoy listening to and would want to listen to again is as good a way as any to decide these. but once in a while I feel like an album did something significant enough in music that its impact or importance should contribute to the overall rating. I also feel like, for some of these, the power of the woman involved in creating it and the surprising level of control she had over all of the music was really impressive, even if other people might be better vocalists or guitarists or something. Don't want to punish other people whose circumstances as an artist were more difficult, but just acknowledging in some cases the tremendous effort that must have been required for these women to push forward on their own.

Also I can't help you with the latest one either, because there was a time I would have assumed it was Blondie without even questioning, but when I listen to Sheryl Crow I realize what a great album it is, and her songs are really high-quality and have grown on me over the years. So no idea there.

[poorpete]

I'll add influence into my decision making. Here I'll try to be analytical
Out of 100 points

60 pts for songs----
Run Baby Run vs. Hanging on the Telephone
Great opening by each: 5 pts.

Leaving Las Vegas vs. One Way or Another
Both albums add two classics: 5 pts.

Strong Enough vs. Picture This
Strong is a classic 5 pts.
Picture not so much 3 pts

Can't Cry Anymore vs. Fade Away and Radiate
Sheryl's still going strong 5 pts
Blondie ain't fading away 4pts

Solidify vs. Pretty Baby
Solidify is a disapointing funk song. 2 pts.
Pretty baby is pretty, baby. 5pts

The Na-Na Song vs. I Know but I Don't Know
NaNa doesn't do much. 3 pts.
Shrug. 3 stars.

No One Said It Would Be Easy vs. 11:59
Coldplay must've liked it. 4 pts.
A good rocker. 4pts.

What I Can Do for You vs. Will Anything Happen?
What you can do is is get back to playing classics, 3 pts
A good rocker. 4pts

All I Wanna Do vs. Sunday Girl
Oh, it's still very very very good. 5 pts
Bubble gum punk I guess is a thing. 4pts

We Do What We Can vs. Heart of Glass
Breaking from her usual sound again, but this time it works: 4 pts
Oh, it's Heart of Glass, of course it gets 5 stars.

I Shall Believe vs. I'm Gonna Love You Too/Just Go Away
Fine moody final song by Sheryl, 4 pts.
An average of 3 and 4 pts for last song give them 3.5

10 pts for flow
7 points for Sheryl - a decent selection, a sustained mood, great opening 4, lull in the middle there.
7 points for Blondie - they keep the upbeat party going, wouldn't mind them cool things off more than once.

10 pts for girl power
6 pts for Blondie. Men played a big part in the songwriting, playing, and production, but it'd be nothing without Debbie.
7 pts for Sheryl. Gets the solo-artist bump even though, the cowriters and players and producers are all men, she's front and center.

10 pts for influence
7 Sheryl not the first not the last but maybe the most successful in her genre.
8 Blondie mixed genres and mixed genders, which is great, tho The Pretenders did it better.

10 pts for my overall bias
Blondie is cooler. 7
Sheryl I've always enjoyed her style, aligns most with my baseline enjoyment, sitting, playing guitar. 7

Soooooooo
73 for Sheryl
73.5 for Blondie

Unless there are any objections?

[Phoebe]

It's like an OCD dream, especially helpful at this moment because my son has just captured me in a pitch dark bathroom along with himself and the dog and I'm not clear he knows how to open the door. Phone has flashlight.