Daily Telegraph Mac albums ranked worst to best

Mr Scarrott · #1 06-11-2015, 12:07 PM

Not sure I agree with all this critic's ranking, but we're all entitled to an opinion! There's more text on the link. Only the occasional factual error here and there...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...orst-best.html

17 Time
16 Mr Wonderful
15 Penguin
14 Kiln House
13 Heroes are hard to find
12 Behind the Mask
11 Future Games
10 Say You Will
9 Bare Trees
8 Mystery to Me
7 (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac
6 Then Play On
5 Mirage
4 Tango in the Night
3 Tusk
2 Fleetwood Mac
1 Rumours

My main beef is ranking TPO below Mirage and Tango. BTM is way too high. I'm personally torn and would probably put Tusk on top. I'm pleased that MTM is recognised as the best mid-period album as it really needs to be discovered and appreciated in the UK but I would rate it over Mirage and Tango . It's tough trying to be objective, though. Is it just me, but I don't get the hate over the horns on Mr Wonderful. I think Peter's stuff is just great on that album but Jeremy's does repeat a bit too much on that one (sorry).

There'll be an 18 album list some day, I'm sure, just as long as they're all physically capable of recording for the next couple of years or so. As Christine said in her MOJO interview:

How long can you keep doing this for?

As long as it takes! We’re going good.

FuzzyPlum · #2 06-11-2015, 12:42 PM

Obviously everyone will have their own list but for me this one isn't too far off. Not sure though how Fleetwood Mac can be above Tusk and I'm very sad to see Heroes... listed so low.

louielouie2000 · #3 06-11-2015, 01:37 PM

I know that Penguin has it's warts (which I think adds to its charm)... but to rank Behind The Mask higher than it?

Hawkeye · #4 06-11-2015, 02:45 PM

well, I guess you have to give this critic credit for even including all 17 albums and for at least putting MTM Then Play On and ahead of at least 2 albums stevie was on, but thats where the credibility ends. He just predictably ranks the rumours 5 1-5 and even more predictably put rumours and fleetwood mac 1 And 2. Mirage and Tango dont belong in the top 10 let alone 5. So overall this list is absolute crap, but it couldve been worse.

And Im making this prediction now, if a new album ever gets off the ground people like this critic will be placing it at #3 right after rumours and the white album, with the occasional critic putting tusk higher. write that down. whether it actually is or not to OUR ears, thats how it will be viewed.

sorcerer999 · #5 06-11-2015, 04:48 PM

I'd personally rank "Bare Trees" above "Mystery To Me". It's the best "Post Peter Green/Pre Buckingham Nicks" album, in my humble opinion!

Not to say that I don't love and appreciate "MTM", because I do!

elle · #6 06-11-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

And Im making this prediction now, if a new album ever gets off the ground people like this critic will be placing it at #3 right after rumours and the white album, with the occasional critic putting tusk higher. write that down. whether it actually is or not to OUR ears, thats how it will be viewed.

no it won't. look where SYW is. (and all the hate for EP.)

critics like this one seem to rank based on perceived commerciality and how wide of an audience album had (in the US, probably). there is no way FM's final album(s) will be commercially successful, regardless of whether all 5 contribute or not.

James89 · #7 06-11-2015, 05:15 PM

I pretty much agree with this.

AncientQueen · #8 06-11-2015, 05:29 PM

To me, rather this:
17 (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac
16 Kiln House
15 Then Play On
14 Mr Wonderful
13 Tango in the Night
12 Penguin
11 Time
10 Future Games
9 Say You Will
8 Mirage
7 Behind the Mask
6 Rumours
5 Heroes are hard to find
4 Tusk
3 Bare Trees
2 Mystery to Me
1 Fleetwood Mac

My favorite album of FM ist Bermuda Triangle, but I guess as a bootleg it doesn't count.

**SisterNightroad** · #9 06-11-2015, 05:33 PM

From the seventh position onward it's practically my personal list but I have to admit that I've never listened to the pre-BuckinghamNicks album as wholes, I just listened to single songs

aleuzzi · #10 06-11-2015, 05:46 PM

Yeah, I disagree with a lot of the list. Here's where I stand:

17 Behind the Mask
16.5 [Live, 1980]
16 Time
[15.5] Greatest Hits (1985); The Very Best of; The Chain
15 Heroes
[14.5 The Dance]
14 Mr. Wonderful
13 Penguin
12 Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
11.5 Pious Bird
11 Say You Will
10 Tango
9 Mirage
8 Mystery to Me
7 Future Games
6 Bare Trees
[5.5 In Chicago]
[5.25 English Rose]
5 Tusk
[4.5] Greatest Hits (1971)
[4.25] Live at the BBC, 1968-70]
4 Then Play On
3 Kiln House
2 Fleetwood Mac
1 Rumours

I inserted a few live and/or singles compilations where they presented new material. I'm sure I missed a few.

If I'm being honest with myself, the Green-Kirwan-era stuff has to be pretty high on the list, since they were doing some very interesting and creative innovating. The overall musicianship on those records is very high. English Rose, for example, still holds up beautifully--and is an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to hear the best pre-Then Play On non-hits.

The band sound sooooooooo good live during the 1974 tour, but the actual Heroes studio album sounds tired and listless. I don't know why there is this such a difference. If there were an OFFICIAL Heroes-era live recording, it would probably be high on the list, too.

And anyway, the ONLY Mac album I think is truly weak is Behind the Mask. The rest of them have some flaws or duds, but generally stand up as quality music. I think of Time, for example. Or of Mr. Wonderful--Greens' songs on that are terrific, and Christine's piano on them is excellent.

aleuzzi · #11 06-11-2015, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I know that Penguin has it's warts (which I think adds to its charm)... but to rank Behind The Mask higher than it?

Agreed. What works on Penguin is excellent. That's basically more than half the record. Other than the two Dave Walker tracks and the all-too brief running time, it's a very good set.

shackin'up · #12 06-11-2015, 06:14 PM

Aaaand mine:

17 Time
16 Behind the Mask
15 Penguin
14 Tango In The Night
13 Mr. wonderful
12 Kiln House
11 (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac
10 Heroes are hard to find
9 Future Games
8 Bare Trees
7 Say You Will
6 Mirage
5 Mystery to Me
4 Fleetwood Mac
3 Rumours
2 Then Play On
1 Tusk

AncientQueen · #13 06-11-2015, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Agreed. What works on Penguin is excellent. That's basically more than half the record. Other than the two Dave Walker tracks and the all-too brief running time, it's a very good set.

To me, the tracks never form an album or represent a band, they are all over the place, it is as if the sum is less, because the parts are assembled wrong. Some of the material is fine but as a whole, it's just distracting.

KenB · #14 06-11-2015, 10:49 PM

17 Future Games
16 Time
15 Mystery to Me
14 Mr. Wonderful
13 Then Play On
12 Bare Trees
11 Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
10 Penguin
9 Behind the Mask
8 Kiln House
7 Fleetwood Mac
6 Say You Will
5 Heroes Are Hard to Find
4 Tango in the Night
3 Mirage
2 Rumours
1 Tusk

FuzzyPlum · #15 06-12-2015, 01:35 AM

[QUOTE=AncientQueen;1168041]To me, rather this:
17 (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac
16 Kiln House
15 Then Play On
14 Mr Wonderful
13 Tango in the Night
QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shackin'up

Aaaand mine:

17 Time
16 Behind the Mask
15 Penguin
14 Tango In The Night

Wow... what did Tango In The Night do to offend you so much?