I decided to compare U2 and R.E.M., which I regard as the two great bands of the 1980's. For each band, I have taken the ratings of the albums that they released before 1995, according to allmusic.com. Here are the ratings for U2 (five-star albums in bold):
Boy (1980): 4 stars
October (1981): 3
War (1983): 5
Under a Blood Red Sky (1983): 3.5
The Unforgettable Fire (1984): 4
The Joshua Tree (1987): 5
Rattle and Hum (1988): 3
Achtung Baby (1991): 5
Zooropa (1993): 4
Total albums: 9
Total stars: 36.5
Avg. stars per album: 4.06
Five-star albums: 3
Now here's R.E.M.:
Murmur (1983): 5 stars
Reckoning (1984): 5
Fables of the Reconstruction (1985): 4
Lifes Rich Pageant (1986): 4.5
Document (1987): 4.5
Green (1988): 3.5
Out of Time (1991): 2.5
Automatic for the People (1992): 5
Monster (1994): 3
Total albums: 9
Total stars: 37
Avg. stars per album: 4.11
Five-star albums: 3
When I started this entry, I had no idea how it would come out, and I'm fascinated at how close it turned out to be. I would rate Murmer a bit lower, and Out of Time quite a bit higher -- and I never really paid much attention to Achtung Baby. But on the whole, these results seem very fair to me.
For the sake of comparison, here are Bruce Springsteen's first nine albums:
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973): 5 stars
The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle (1973): 5
Born to Run (1975): 5
Darkness on the Edge of Town: 4.5
The River (1980): 5
Nebraska (1982): 5
Born in the U.S.A. (1984): 5
Tunnel of Love (1987): 5
Human Touch (1992): 2
Total albums: 9
Total stars: 41.5
Avg. stars per album: 4.61
Five-star albums: 7
Again, that seems fair. But it's harsh on U2 and R.E.M. to put them up against Springsteen. Let's do Tom Petty's first nine albums:
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976): 4.5 stars
You're Gonna Get It! (1978): 3.5
Damn the Torpedoes (1979): 5
Hard Promises (1981): 4.5
Long After Dark (1982): 3
Southern Accents (1985): 3
Pack Up the Plantation: Live!: 2.5
Let Me Up (I've Had Enough): 3
Full Moon Fever (1989): 4.5
Total albums: 9
Total stars: 33.5
Avg. stars per album: 3.72
Five-star albums: 1
Now that's a comparison that shows how good R.E.M and U2 really were. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were a great and successful band -- they were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and have a huge fan base to this day. But they were not at the same level as R.E.M. and U2. And, indeed, very few bands were.
Someday, when they uncover the HP servers in the rubble of the Planet of the Apes, I do believe the music posts from the Vaughn boys are going to emerge as beloved relics of our age. This one certainly is a highlight.
ReplyDelete10,000 Maniacs:
ReplyDeleteSecrets of the I Ching (1983): 2 stars
The Wishing Chair (1985): 3
In My Tribe (1987): 4.5
Blind Man's Zoo (1989): 3.5
Our Time in Eden (1992): 4.5
MTV Unplugged (1993): 2
Total albums: 6
Total stars: 19.5
Avg. stars per album: 3.25
Five-star albums: 0
I really disagree with this analysis. I love that Unplugged album.
The version of "Stockton Gala Days" on the Unplugged record was probably my single favorite song by any artist from about 1994 through about 1996.
DeleteMy wife preached in Elkton on Sunday, and I noted that she pulled out this Unplugged CD for her drive to and from Todd County.
DeleteNirvana:
ReplyDeleteBleach (1989): 3.5 stars
Nevermind (1991): 5
In Utero (1993): 5
MTV Unplugged in New York: 5
Total albums: 4
Total stars: 18.5
Avg. stars per albums: 4.63
Five-star albums: 3
It's hard to argue with any of this.
I was at Wigwam Village in Horse Cave when I got the news of Kurt Cobain's death.
DeleteThe Doors:
ReplyDeleteThe Doors (1967): 5 stars
Strange Days (1967): 3.5
Waiting for the Sun (1968): 3.5
The Soft Parade (1969): 3.5
Absolutely Live (1970): 2
Morrison Hotel (1970): 4.5
L.A. Woman (1971): 4.5
Total albums: 7
Total stars: 26.5
Avg. stars per album: 3.79
Five-star albums: 1
Rankings so far (stars/album):
ReplyDelete1. Nirvana: 4.63
2. Springsteen: 4.61
3. R.E.M.: 4.11
4. U2: 4.06
5. The Doors: 3.79
6. Tom Petty: 3.72
7. 10,000 Maniacs: 3.25
This feels as though it aligns exactly with the CW in this space.
ReplyDelete