What's a good album to start with?
 

I think I want to try and get a few of his solo cd's which is the best one to start with?

The demos, but since you can get it I would have to say Out of The Cradle. Only because that is where I started. And that worked out pretty well, I'd say

Out of the Cradle or Gift of Screws.

I agree with OOTC or GOS. OOTC is pretty poppy and his experimentation is kept pulled back. It's a fantastic pop album and flows brilliantly. GOS has a little bit more experimentation but nothing more difficult than Tusk. It also has some great pop songs and a few real good rockers.

Out of the Cradle was my first as well.

I would also recommend Gift of Screws or even Under the Skin, especially if you have been to any of his solo shows from either album... you may be slightly familiar with some of those songs... I think I actually prefer Under the Skin to Gift of Screws, but I think GOS might be considered "easier listening"

Call me old fashioned, but I would say, start at the beginning: Law & Order. Still, for me, his best solo album as well -- but I always say start at the beginning.

I'd do Out of the Cradle first and then move onto Gift of Screws. Then, after you've been snared in the web:nod:, you can move onto the others.

Michele

You could just go out and buy them all. There are only 5 of them

Out of the Cradle was my first and I'm glad that it was. Even though it's no longer my favorite Lindsey album, I still find it to me his most accessible. Go Insane was a little too weird for me for awhile, though it's now my favorite, and though Law & Order has grown on me over the years, it took a LONG time and there's still a few songs on it I simply cannot get into.

After OOTC, I'd say Gift of Screws, just like everyone else. It's almost as accessible as OOTC, to me and if you're used to and a fan of current Lindsey just as much as Tusk/Mirage era Lindsey, I'd even say get GOS first. It really represents who he's become and I love that about it, but had I only loved Lindsey from FM and not as a solo artist, I'm not sure I'd have appreciated that as much as I do.

I'd say Out of the Cradle, it's my favourite of his solo albums. You get the experimentation on songs like Street of Dreams, but it's based in a more pop setting. It's more like Lindsey's experimenting to better his work, not just to show off his skills as a producer. Also, his lyrics are beautiful. Once again, they carry the songs more than the song carrying them.

Out of the Cradle, Gift of Screws, Under the Skin. You can't go wrong.

Depends. I'd say that Out of the Cradle is probably the most accessible, but I think that Gift of Screws is just as friendly. Depending on how daring you are/ how much time you want to give it, I might say that Under the Skin is good too. It's just a lot different, but if you give it the time it requires, it is an irreplaceable classic.

Bottom line: I'll be daring and say Gift of Screws.

As everyone is saying, go with OOTC and Gift of Screws. I prefer GOS over OOTC, so maybe get both and listen to that one first.

And when you make your decision, remember that L & O and Go Insane might not be a good "first listener" choice, for very different reasons than Under the Skin might not be. They're on different sides of the Lindsey spectrum. So, if you do decide to try one of those 3 least recommended albums, remember the later one (UTS) is quite different from the first 2. So, if you don't like either it doesn't mean you won't like the other.

Michele

I agree. It is often better to see an artist develop and progress in their career than go backwards. It is a pity that he hasn't done a greatest hits album because that would be the best place to start.

I still think that those first three albums (Law and Order, Go Insane and Out of the Cradle) are his best work. There are lots of people that love GOS but you know what, give me the early stuff any day.