Band Face Off - Round 15

[trackaghost]

Four giants of soul battled it out in Round 14, but Marvin Gaye just managed to squeeze past the Queen Of Soul, to win the crown. I must say I'm glad Mr Gaye won, if just for calling his divorce settlement album, Here, My Dear...

The next round was suggested by Gaius (Face Of Glass)

Round 15: let the battle commence!

The results so far
Round 1: Petty defeats Springsteen - 36 to 19
Round 2: Led Zeppelin defeat The Who - 22 to 19
Round 3: Madonna defeats Sheryl Crow/Kate Bush - 24 to 13/10
Round 4: The Beatles defeat Rolling Stones/U2 - 23 to 16/14
Round 5: Guns N Roses defeat Bon Jovi/Metallica - 17 to 13/12
Round 6: Heart defeat Blondie/The Pretenders - 23 to 16/6
Round 7: The Beach Boys defeat The Kinks/The Byrds - 24 to 10/10
Round 8: Johnny Cash defeats Elvis Presley/Roy Orbison - 20 to 19/7
Round 9: Abba defeats The Carpenters - 25 to 15
Round 10: Prince defeats Jimi Hendrix/Lenny Kravitz - 24 to 15/3
Round 11: No Doubt defeat Garbage/Hole - 27 to 11/9
Round 12: Bob Dylan defeats Neil Young - 26 to 24
Round 13: Dolly Parton defeats Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt - 19 to 17/9
Round 14: Marvin Gaye defeats Aretha Franklin/Stevie Wonder/Diana Ross - 13 to11/9/2

The polls are still open, vote now!

[Jyqm]

Four giants of soul battled it out in Round 14, but Marvin Gaye just managed to squeeze past the Queen Of Soul, to win the crown. I must say I'm glad Mr Gaye won, if just for calling his divorce settlement album, Here, My Dear...

The next round was suggested by Gaius (Face Of Glass)

Round 15: let the battle commence!

Psst... I'd love to, man, but... there's no there there.

EDIT: Never mind, there it is! Took a minute for the poll to appear for me...

And it's simply got to be Bowie. Iggy and Lou are both wonderful pioneers in their own right, but they simply don't have the catalogue that Bowie does. Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Station To Station, "Heroes", Low, Scary Monsters, Let's Dance... Neither Iggy nor Lou has put out nearly that many brilliant records, and there are people here who will look at my Bowie list and say, "Hey, but you didn't list my favorite, ________!"

Besides, I can't say that I'd even ponder switching teams for Iggy or Lou...

[DavidMn]

David Bowie all the way. :thumbsup: Iggy pop is too out there for me and Lou Reed isnt bad not as good as Bowie for me though.

[dissention]

Bowie

I love Iggy and Lou, but Bowie wins it for me in a landslide. He's written so many of my favorite songs; Sunday, 1984, Beauty and the Beast, Be My Wife, Life On Mars, Andy Warhol, Ashes To Ashes, Warszawa, etc.

[Neal]

David Bowie. The other two suck, imho... :wavey:

[Beachwood Mac]

Ch Ch Changes.... Bowie. The man continues to be a presence as evidenced by his performance on the Katrina Benefit show.

[DavidMn]

I've got a feeling this Face Off is completely pointless :laugh:
Oh well...
No worry. You are doing a really good job with these polls. I'm really enjoying them. P.S check your pm's for my suggestion :nod:

[ontheEdgeof17]

Bowie.

Yup.

[shackin'up]

AAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Lou or Iggy? That's really hard for me. But over a career? Uncle Lou. Amazing, that i'm the first one who votes for him after 15 votes for Bowie, who's career stopped for me after Ziggy.
Lust For life was my first single and I wanna be your dog/ nofun are some of the most hardcore rocksongs ever written. So sir Pop and His (w)holyness Reed are of so much more importance in my life then that skinny dukeboy.


alone again, naturally....

[dissention]

Bowie, who's career stopped for me after Ziggy.


:shocked:

Aladdin Sane?
Diamond Dogs?
Low?
Scary Monsters?

Hell, even Heathen is one phenomenal album. :laugh:

[shackin'up]

:shocked:

Aladdin Sane?
Diamond Dogs?
Low?
Scary Monsters?



Well i like the LOW-album. But I was talking about a career. He wrote some great songs later. But they never had an impact on me like a song as Starman did.

And should I run a list of titles of lou's career here? His New York-album is totally brilliant later on in his career. Or Songs for Drella. And hey! his girlfriend is great too and is even quoted repeatedly during the Say You Will tour. Bowies girl is only in the tabloids :p :laugh: ;)

[shackin'up]

Hell, even Heathen is one phenomenal album. :laugh:

I'm glad you laugh at it yourself :laugh:

[dissention]

Well i like the LOW-album. But I was talking about a career. He wrote some great songs later. But they never had an impact on me like a song as Starman did.

And should I run a list of titles of lou's career here? His New York-album is totally brilliant later on in his career. Or Songs for Drella. And hey! his girlfriend is great too and is even quoted repeatedly during the Say You Will tour. Bowies girl is only in the tabloids :p :laugh: ;)

Meh, Lou has been very spotty for a long while (Bowie was, too, but his past two albums put him back on top, imo). He's just turned into an unpleasant mess of an artist. I bought his Poe album when it first came out and I held my nose while listening. Ecstasy is a damn fine album, though. :nod:

[Serrart]

David all the way, his music taught what music should be to me.

Romy

[markolas]

Yet another poll which I'll have to sit out. :D

[shackin'up]

He's just turned into an unpleasant mess of an artist. I bought his Poe album when it first came out and I held my nose while listening. I disagree. But he still has the guts to experiment. The poe-album , for me, is not a product of the rockartist Reed. I think he should have done that live in public only.


Ecstasy is a damn fine album, though. :nod:

That one is way more substantial then the latest albums of your fave in my book.

[markolas]

me, too. 1/2 Blergh to all.

I mean...I just hate that kind of music. All that emo/punk crap, or whatever that is. I'm still waiting for a jazz version of this poll (and I don't mean Dave Koz vs. Kenny G).

[shackin'up]

I mean...I just hate that kind of music. All that emo/punk crap, or whatever that is. I'm still waiting for a jazz version of this poll (and I don't mean Dave Koz vs. Kenny G).

Jazz? I always say that jazz is the american word for "jeuk" (transl:"itch").

[markolas]

Jazz? I always say that jazz is the american word for "jeuk" (transl:"itch").

I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. :p

[dissention]

That one is way more substantial then the latest albums of your fave in my book.

I think Bowie's Heathen record trumps it. Maybe I'm biased because it came out after the Hours record, which I hated through and through, and was like a swift kick in the ass; Bowie was back, man.

[danax6]

Jazz? I always say that jazz is the american word for "jeuk" (transl:"itch"). :lol: :lol:

That sounds about right.

[Richard B]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOWIE all the way. The man is cool, smart and innovative. Earthling is one of my fav albums by him.

And his films...The Hunger, Labyrinth

[dissention]

I mean...I just hate that kind of music. All that emo/punk crap, or whatever that is.

I don't know how you can classify Bowie and Reed as "that kind of music" when they encompass many genres and have changed styles many times over the course of their careers.

[markolas]

:lol: :lol:

That sounds about right.

Meh. Philistines.

[dissention]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOWIE all the way. The man is cool, smart and innovative. Earthling is one of my fav albums by him.

And his films...The Hunger, Labyrinth

How about his turn as Warhol in Basquiat? :laugh:

[Jyqm]

Yet another poll which I'll have to sit out. :D

What a shame! Who doesn't love Bowie?

[Richard B]

How about his turn as Warhol in Basquiat? :laugh:
He freaked me out by his sheer presence in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

But I also really loved him in The Man Who Fell To Earth. What a great film. But then I'm partial to Nicolas Roeg films.

[Jyqm]

I mean...I just hate that kind of music. All that emo/punk crap, or whatever that is. I'm still waiting for a jazz version of this poll (and I don't mean Dave Koz vs. Kenny G).

What about Bowie, Lou Reed or Iggy Pop has ever been emo? And while one could ceretainly make the arguments for Iggy and Lou as punk, when the late 70s came around, Bowie was firmly ensconced in his Eno (very different from emo) phase.

Bowie especially has done a lot of different stuff over the years. I don't think anything really approaching emo or punk came into the mix, though.

As for jazz, part of me hopes this face-off thing never goes there. I can only imagine the cruel cruel choices Sharon will come up with. Miles v. Coltrane? Bird v. Diz? The Duke v. the Count? Mingus v. ... well, I don't know who anybody could put up against Mingus.

[Jyqm]

Jazz? I always say that jazz is the american word for "jeuk" (transl:"itch").

I don't think I get it...

[heyjupiter678]

What a shame! Who doesn't love Bowie? :wavey: I'm sitting this one out, too.

[ryan8472]

It's officially a blowout. I voted for Bowie too. :nod:

[markolas]

What about Bowie, Lou Reed or Iggy Pop has ever been emo? And while one could ceretainly make the arguments for Iggy and Lou as punk, when the late 70s came around, Bowie was firmly ensconced in his Eno (very different from emo) phase

Maybe I didn't get the terms right, but...it's that annoying British angst thing I can't stand. It's the same reason I don't like Morrisey, the Smiths, etc.

[markolas]

Whoa! Me, too! But these people don't remind me of those people. These people are great compared to Brit Angst pop. Blergh.

Hmm...I always just put them all in the same boat.

[Serrart]

Maybe I didn't get the terms right, but...it's that annoying British angst thing I can't stand. It's the same reason I don't like Morrisey, the Smiths, etc.

What's wrong with The Smiths?

Romy

[markolas]

What's wrong with The Smiths?

They're too "angsty." :)

[Nico]

Pfft. Lou Reed. And don't make me explain why, cuz I go into tangents.

I do love the other artists, of course. :) Especially Bowie.

[GateandGarden]

Pfft. Lou Reed. And don't make me explain why, cuz I go into tangents.

I do love the other artists, of course. :) Especially Bowie.But Jen tangents are so cool! :) :wavey:

[Serrart]

They're too "angsty." :)

Romy - The Smiths - very down and whiny. They do have some clever songs, though. I tried to like them when I was fourteen, and only succeeded for about a week. I was already angsty, I didn't want to listen to it, too.

Ever seen that episode from Star Trek TNG "Attached"? :p

About The Smiths I find them cathartic and witty, but I can understand the angsty issue.

Romy

[dissention]

Maybe I didn't get the terms right, but...it's that annoying British angst thing I can't stand. It's the same reason I don't like Morrisey, the Smiths, etc.

I don't think you've ever really listened to either of them much, to be honest. :shrug:

[markolas]

I don't think you've ever really listened to either of them much, to be honest. :shrug:

I've listened to them enough to know that I don't really like them. :D

[dissention]

I've listened to them enough to know that I don't really like them. :D

But not enough to know what kind of music they are, hon! :laugh:

[Red]

Bowie - no question. Saw him live last year and was easily one of the best live performers I've ever seen. Plus, I had a crush on him in "Labyrinth"...make-up, mall hair, cod-piece...
Don't know why, but as a 6 year old, I thought it was all just so hot.

[Jyqm]

Maybe I didn't get the terms right, but...it's that annoying British angst thing I can't stand. It's the same reason I don't like Morrisey, the Smiths, etc.

Hmm... okay. Well again, the argument can certainly be made for the Smiths as angsty. But what in Bowie's catalogue is particularly angst-ridden in that way?

[Jyqm]

I don't know much about jazz I'm afraid :sorry:
Also I have a feeling the likes of Bowie, Neil Young, Heart etc, are more popular on this board, but I may be wrong.

Well, get crackin'!

Actually, you're probably right. While I definitely wouldn't be surprised to learn there were some big jazz fans around here, it's probably safe to assume that stick to rock/pop for the most part is going to yield more results and fewer, "Uhhh, I'll sit this out..."'s. With the possible exception of jazz vocalists. I'm guessing there are some very big fans of the likes of Billie and Ella and Sarah Vaughan around here.

[Jyqm]

Bowie - no question. Saw him live last year and was easily one of the best live performers I've ever seen.

Oh my yes. And the "Reality Tour" DVD is mercifully, wonderfully inexpensive and contains some knockout performances. Though the editing might give you a seizure.

[shackin'up]

I admit I love Bowie the best but I thought I'd vote for Iggy, just so he had one vote. And he has made some amazing music, so it's not just out of sympathy. The Stooges albums in particular will always be among my favourites.
As for Lou Reed, he has had a patchy career but he'll always be amazing in my eyes for The Velvet Underground stuff, Transformer and Berlin.

Coney Island, baby is my fave.

And hail to you voting for Iggy. I think his music was even more influencial then Bowie's. Especially for bands like Nirvana, White Stripes, Jon Spencer Blues explosion, even Arcade Fire, Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Breeders, etcetera,etcetera.

By the way, his China Girl blows the skinny duke's version sky high

Oohh how I hate bowie's let's dance era. At least Iggy and Lou never sold out THAT cheap.

[shackin'up]

I don't think I get it...

sorry dude. humor is not something you explain. It's probably too Dutch to understand.

[Jyqm]

Oohh how I hate bowie's let's dance era. At least Iggy and Lou never sold out THAT cheap.

Speaking of "Let's Dance," when's ol' Stevie Ray gonna show up for one of these face offs? Put him up against Clapton, let's see what happens!

(Also, maybe Iggy never sold out in the Netherlands, but American Mitsubishi owners know that he's not above letting corporations co-opt his music.)

[Jyqm]

sorry dude. humor is not something you explain. It's probably too Dutch to understand.

I've been to Holland, Michigan, does that count?

[markolas]

Hmm... okay. Well again, the argument can certainly be made for the Smiths as angsty. But what in Bowie's catalogue is particularly angst-ridden in that way?

I don't know if it's his music, necessarily...I haven't heard much of it. It's his personality. I've never been able to get past that to listen to much of his music.

[shackin'up]

I've been to Holland, Michigan, does that count?

If it counted, you would have understood :p :laugh:

[shackin'up]

Speaking of "Let's Dance," when's ol' Stevie Ray gonna show up for one of these face offs? Put him up against Clapton, let's see what happens!

(Also, maybe Iggy never sold out in the Netherlands, but American Mitsubishi owners know that he's not above letting corporations co-opt his music.)

Maybe, but that has nothing to do with cheap music that is focused and composed towards a trend. You can'r say Iggy Or Lou did that. Bowie did.

OOh, and that rediculous cooperation with jagger on Dancing in the streets!! Ridiculous! Cheap!
If you want a proper cover of that one, one should listen to Van Halen's. I think it's on VH II

edit: nope. it's on Diver Down

[Jyqm]

I don't know if it's his music, necessarily...I haven't heard much of it. It's his personality. I've never been able to get past that to listen to much of his music.

Okay. So next question: Which personality?

(I know, it never ends...)

[dissention]

Oh my yes. And the "Reality Tour" DVD is mercifully, wonderfully inexpensive and contains some knockout performances. Though the editing might give you a seizure.

The editing is unbearable. I almost lost it when they switched to black and white for "Under Pressure." Other thna that, it's a fabulous DVD and the price is unbeatable. Life On Mars is especially breathtaking.

[dissention]

(Also, maybe Iggy never sold out in the Netherlands, but American Mitsubishi owners know that he's not above letting corporations co-opt his music.)

He's currently doing Motorola commercials with Madonna.

[Jyqm]

The editing is unbearable. I almost lost it when they switched to black and white for "Under Pressure."

I thought there was something wrong with the DVD player!

Actually, when I first bought it, I didn't have time to watch the whole thing right away, but a friend of mine and I went over to her place and decided we would watch three songs before running off to wherever it was we had to go. "Under Pressure" was the first one we picked, and we were so confused and worried that something was wrong with the DVD.

[face of glass]

Oh Sharon, sorry about the poor suggestion for the face-off, it was pretty uninteresting. :o I guess it's clear who of these three gentlemen is the most well-known to the Ledgies, there are a lot of people who don't know Reed outside of "Walk On The Wild Side" or "Perfect Day", and most of them couldn't probably recognize an Iggy song either.

I thought it would be interesting because these three gentlemen influenced each other notably. The Stooges and The Velvet Underground were hugely influential on Bowie and he returned the favor by producing Transformer for Lou and The Idiot and Lust For Life for Iggy.

It would've probably been more 'correct' to put Lou against the other Dylan adepts such as Young or Springsteen though. And Iggy against Patti Smith maybe, but I should've thought of my suggestions more carefully.
Who would you put Bowie against then? After all, he's "the chameleon". The only one that comes to my mind now is Madonna.

Hell, I love Bowie even though I trashed him in the other thread a bit, I thought I'd continue it here too then.

Like I wrote, Bowie was never diverse within albums, only between albums. But he NEVER innovated anything or invented anything new, he just popularized (or attempted to popularize) other styles among his audience. Even during his most well-known period (which is often considered as "innovative" even though it's truly not) he was often following in the tails of others. The Man Who Sold The World was very influenced by Led Zeppelin and other hard rockers, Hunky Dory was an attempt at a singer-songwriter style, Ziggy Stardust expanded on what Marc Bolan had already done before, Young Americans was a shift to the soul market and an attempt to popularize that kind of music in the UK, Station To Station switched to funk market and the mode of Station To Station songs was kept in the first sides of both Low and Heroes. Now comes the big issue, was Bowie brave when he switched to ambient for the second sides of both of those albums (and actually it's proto-ambient because it's not really static all the time)? Well, I don't think he really made any landmark pieces in that genre. Besides, for those he worked with Brian Eno who had already been developing the foundations of that genre for a long time, and without Eno Bowie would never have dared to go into that direction at all. And that pretty much finishes his 'golden' period.

I picked Lou Reed then. For me he's made just as much great albums as Bowie has, and maybe even a little bit more. His debut album, Transformer, Berlin, Sally Can't Dance, Coney Island Baby, Street Hassle, The Bells, The Blue Mask, New York, Magic And Loss, Set The Twilight Reeling and Ecstasy are all great albums in my book. Put those against Hunky Dory, Ziggy, Aladdin Sane, Station To Station, Low, Heroes, Scary Monsters and Heathen and there you go. ;)

Not to mention that Iggy's and Lou's former bands blow every real band that Bowie has belonged in out of the water (but I do like some Tin Machine). So Lou it is, for bringing out the darker and more painful aspects in life out in a more obvious way than Dylan could ever do.

[strandinthewind]

I like Lou Reed and know most of his stuff and love it. But, I like Bowie better because he is very original and creative, which takes nothing away from Reed.

[Hippocampus]

My vote goes to Lou Reed. I've been victimized by an older sibling who loved him (& the Velvet Underground of course) and his whole catalogue has been blasted on me repetitively until my ears bled. I suppose I have a grudging respect for the guy, his "heroin" and his "satellite of love".

Bowie's hit and miss for me and I don't care for Iggy (funny guy though).

[Jyqm]

Oh Sharon, sorry about the poor suggestion for the face-off, it was pretty uninteresting. :o I guess it's clear who of these three gentlemen is the most well-known to the Ledgies, there are a lot of people who don't know Reed outside of "Walk On The Wild Side" or "Perfect Day", and most of them couldn't probably recognize an Iggy song either.

Of course, nobody's as well-versed as you, right?

Just because Bowie won this match by a landslide doesn't means everyone who voted for him is unfamiliar with Lou or Iggy's work. Actually, I think there have been a lot of posts that offer some interesting compare-and-contrast comments and that demonstrate plenty of knowledge about each man's catalogue.

[face of glass]

...there are a lot of people who don't know Reed outside of "Walk On The Wild Side" or "Perfect Day", and most of them couldn't probably recognize an Iggy song either.
Actually, I think there have been a lot of posts that offer some interesting compare-and-contrast comments and that demonstrate plenty of knowledge about each man's catalogue.
According to my counts eight posters out of 41 voters have gone into detail about Lou and Iggy. However, if the other 33 voters come out and have their say I will admit that I made a false judgement. :)
Of course, nobody's as well-versed as you, right?
Piero Scaruffi (http://www.scaruffi.com/) is more. So is nearly every other rock critic on the planet. I don't think I ever want to go to that level though, I'm already too much of a soulless encyclopaedist. ;)

[Mari]

According to my counts eight posters out of 41 voters have gone into detail about Lou and Iggy. However, if the other 33 voters come out and have their say I will admit that I made a false judgement. :)

Piero Scaruffi (http://www.scaruffi.com/) is more. So is nearly every other rock critic on the planet. I don't think I ever want to go to that level though, I'm already too much of a soulless encyclopaedist. ;)

Tell me, how many Lou Reed albums do you own AND actually know well beyond listening a few times? Same for the other artists in this poll.
And isn't the real reason you voted for him, the JDNO connection, dear? :p

Come on, admit it. You are a musical snob! * You've a lot of knowledge, facts, names, etcetera.. but what do you actually like! Tell me about that one song that touched you, or that captivates you so much that you've listened to it a zillion times and now you can sing it while sleeping.

And no, other ledgies do not need to come out and tell you they do know Lou Reed/Iggy Pop because you in your snobbery assume that they don't. Heck, even if they don't, if they really like Bowie, that doesn't mean their taste is sub par in any way. It's personal taste.

So what's your favorite Lou Reed album and song?


* makes you a blueprint-blackledgie though :xoxo:

[face of glass]

Tell me, how many Lou Reed albums do you own AND actually know well beyond listening a few times? Same for the other artists in this poll.
All The Velvet Underground albums (I bought the Peel Slowly And See box set when I was 16, BEFORE I had developed any interest in Joy Division or New Order) and eight of Lou's solo albums on CD/LP (the debut, Transformer, Berlin, Coney Island Baby, Street Hassle, The Blue Mask, Magic And Loss and Ecstasy). Plus I have more as mp3s. From Iggy I have all the Stooges material and The Idiot, Lust For Life and New Values. Nothing after that, but I never made a case of being a big Iggy fan in this poll (even though I love what I've heard).
From Bowie I have TMWSTW, Hunky Dory, Ziggy, Station To Station, Low, Heroes, Scary Monsters, Let's Dance and Heathen as official releases, the rest I've heard through mp3s. And NO, I don't listen to these albums ALL the time for hidden clues and to find the meaning of life, there's some I haven't listened to in a long time for sure. But I gave them all a fair chance and a good amount of listens when I first acquired them. And hell, for me a few listens is usually enough to make up my mind on an album. One should NEVER struggle to like an album or listen to it two dozen times or more in order to learn to like it. If it's that inaccessible, it isn't worthy of my time. It IS different when you try a genre you've never listened to before, but hell, this is rock and roll and I think all people on this board have a substantial background in rock listening.
And isn't the real reason you voted for him, the JDNO connection, dear? :p
Lou Reed doesn't need any such connections in order to be appreciated by me, he stands on his own merits.
Of course I've always liked it when I hear Barney paying tribute to "I Wanna Be Black" in the early versions of "Age Of Consent" (by singing "I wish I was black and had a six-foot long d*ck"), or when they covered something as obscure from Lou's catalogue as "Do The Ostrich" or when they stretched out "Sister Ray" to awesome lengths as their encores (even though it's only similar to the original in style, the riffs the Order played there were different and Barney always improvised his own often-smutty lyrics on top). Of course they were influenced by Lou, just as much as they were influenced by Iggy (you hear them playing snippets of "TV Eye" and "The Passenger" in some gigs when the sequencers failed to load in time); Street Hassle was one of the albums Barney listened to a lot when they were trying to find a new direction after Joy Division. And hell, listening to the horrifying sounds of "Mass Production" on The Idiot, it is no wonder that Ian opted for the noose immediately after having listened to the album. But still, can you honestly name the Division/Order that betray a noticeable Lou or Iggy influence? Apart from the obvious tribute to "Walk On The Wild Side" in "Every Little Counts", there is nothing, IMO. Nothing that's obvious. Small parts of Unknown Pleasures sound like some of the parts on The Idiot, but I reckon that is more due to Hannett's production than whatever the band is playing.
And no, other ledgies do not need to come out and tell you they do know Lou Reed/Iggy Pop because you in your snobbery assume that they don't.
I'm wondering whether it's snobbery or realism, really. You do know that Bowie is and has always been far more popular in the States and Lou or Iggy, and that the latter two are only known there for a few songs while Bowie's material is far more recognizable. So what makes you think that all the Ledgies who voted here would be any different in this regard from most people in the United States?
Heck, even if they don't, if they really like Bowie, that doesn't mean their taste is sub par in any way. It's personal taste.
And I NEVER said that anyone here has a sub-par taste to anyone else. I don't give a damn about whatever criteria people here use in their voting, if someone bases this on how beautiful all these people look I have nothing against that. Or if someone's heard just a few hit songs by the artists, it doesn't matter. It's their variouis criterias that are to be no less respected than the criteria of someone who's been a fan of a particular artist for years.

I have been severely moved by lots of Lou songs over the years. If you think that I just write so much about music because I want to boost my ego or something, you're wrong. I AM very moved by all kinds of music, if I wasn't I wouldn't even bother to write about it.

The first Velvet Underground album is a favourite of mine, as it is that for many. Opening it with "Sunday Morning" is just fabulous, as it's this naive, innocent song that precedes most of the darker stuff on the album. When I listen to "Heroin'" I am struck by the utter power of the VU's combo playing as it charges forward like an addictive rush. Or hell, who can be indifferent towards the fragility of "Femme Fatale" or the intentionally cold Germanisms of "All Tomorrow's Parties"?

From White Light/White Heat I have always enjoyed listening to the chaotic monster of a jam that is "Sister Ray", and also the title track plus "I Heard Her Call My Name" are so powerfully driven that I get a desire to plunge into some manic behaviour during them.

My absolute favourite of Lou's work is VU's third album though, songs like "Candy Says" and "Pale Blue Eyes" go even further than "Femme Fatale" in their explorations of vulnerability, and the religious trilogy of "Jesus", "Beginning To See The Light" and "I'm Set Free" is one of the best three-track segues that any band has ever done. Not to mention "The Murder Mystery" which is a brilliant mess of odd beauty and experiments.
And of course I love Loaded too, with its two classics and other great moments in songwriting such as "New Age" and "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'". Not on par with the third album, but anyway.

Lou's debut album may suffer a tad from being backed by Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman (both of whom I love, but boys, you sound more appropriate on Yes albums anyway). I've always loved the Velvets-like rave-up of "I Can't Stand It", or the other Velvets left-overs "Lisa Says", "Ride Into The Sun" and "The Ocean". And even though I like "Berlin" better on the album of the same name, it is a highlight on here too.

Transformer is his most well-known album, I guess, but it doesn't matter to this musical snob for the tunes there are pretty classic, from the funny lyrics of "Vicious" to glam-isms of "Andy's Chest", from the uplift of "Satellite Of Love" to the humorous horn arrangements of "Make Up" or "Goodnight Ladies". And I need not mention the two 'hits', they get me every time no matter how much I've heard them.

Hell, Berlin. What can be said about that one? Extremely hard-hitting all the way through, Bob Ezrin certainly did a good job producing it sonically. Both takes on "Caroline Says" are moving, especially the latter, it just hits this special nerve in me. And the string of three ballads it ends with, pretty haunting stuff. Well, it isn't my favourite Lou album though, I know it is that for many though.

Uh, I guess I'm going to do some skipping now, it is late and I am tired after all. Coney Island Baby contains probably my favourite Lou solo song in the title track, when it rises to that climax: "glory of love" it's just simply amazing and spine-tingling. That's how much he can do with his limited voice, really.

The Blue Mask is probably my favourite Lou solo album, things like the title track and "Waves Of Fear" are simply riveting. Always loved the closer on it as well, "Heavenly Arms". And "The Gun" of course, similar to Dire Straits' "Six Blade Knife" in its minimalistic effect.

And of course there's Ecstasy, the ultimate proof that Lou can kick as much ass as any old fart out there. The title track was an absolute highlight in Lou's concert that I attended this year, a very intimate moment, but hell, there's others on the album too. I'm not much of a lyrical person but "Turning Time Around" gets me in that regard too:
She says, what do you call love
well I call it Harry
Oh, please I'm being serious
what do you call love

Well I don't call it family and I don't call it lust
and as we all know marriage isn't a must
And I suppose in the end, it's a matter of trust
if I had to, I'd call love time
And the rockers on that album are pretty powerful too, "Paranoia In The Key Of E", "Big Sky" and even "Like A Possum" come to mind immediately.
Come on, admit it. You are a musical snob!
Yep. :nod: And it's a tag I will always wear proudly, even when I find myself in the old people's home still cursing about too many people not being ready to understand the simple truth that music is the answer to everything in life. ;)