Albums ranked worst to best

Villavic · #1 05-22-2021, 06:11 PM

I just found this article. No surprise Rumours and Tusk are the top albums. But though I do like Tango, and I think it was cool to give it that 80s sound, and I agree it was a good product considering the stressful environment in which it was recorded, I wouldn't put it in a higher placer than the 1975 album.

I also disagree about the supposed legacy of Behind the Mask. This last (2018) lineup was, to me, the actual nadir, not Time. So I wouldn't consider that the table for that future (at that moment) lineup was a "legacy". I would rescue other more positive aspects of BTM than that.

Anyway, now I know why Rumours is my favorite album. (If you’ve laughed, cried, screamed, joked, aimlessly wandered, longingly pondered, emphatically loved, heartbreakingly lost, or assertively lived at any point in your life, Rumours is an album made for you.)

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/fleetwo...worst-to-best/

Macfan4life · #2 05-22-2021, 06:27 PM

I would not even try or dare to do this on all the albums. I would arrange them in tiers.

Top Tier
Mystery to Me
Rumours
White Album
Heroes are hard to find
Tusk
Live Album 1980

Upper tier
Mirage
Say You Will
Bare Trees
Future Games
Behind the Mask

Middle Tier
Tango
The Dance
Kiln House
Penguin

Lower Tier
Time

Note: One of my favorite FM songs is on Time. I ranked by order I would want to play and listen to from start to finish. Chris has great songs on Time as usual but I never embraced this era of the Mac. I am not that familiar with the other albums pre Christine since I never owned them so its unfair to rank those pre-1970.

Edit: I just noticed something about my spontaneous ranking. My top tier albums are consistent from 1973 to 1980. Every release in the top tier. As the years went on, it seems I was not impressed as much. As I have always stated Tusk changed the band forever. Post Tusk had the band chasing commercial pop success over rock and creativity. They also lost their rock chops until Behind The Mask came along.

HomerMcvie · #3 05-22-2021, 07:20 PM

Top Tier
Mystery to Me
Rumours
White Album
Mirage
Tusk

Upper tier
Live Album 1980
Heroes are hard to find
Bare Trees
Future Games

Middle Tier
Tango
The Dance
Kiln House
Time

Lower Tier
Penguin
Say You Will
Behind the Mask

I'll say that I only recently got Penguin and the pre Bob Welch stuff on CD(I have Penguin on vinyl, but never really got into it). I'm still not into that stuff yet. And yes, I've given them quite a few listens. Meh...

On Ice · #4 05-23-2021, 07:50 AM

Great idea on arranging the albums in tiers and it looks like we're mostly on the same page. I'm including Then Play On in my top tier, it's an amazing albums that meshes Kirwan and Green perfectly and produces some of the band's best all time music. As well, the remasters of Future Games and Bare Trees brings out sonic pleasures never before heard, which moves both of these albums straight to the top. Mystery to Me though, is the true masterpiece of this era.

Top Tier:
Then Play On (how could an album containing Oh Well not be in the top tier)
Future Games. (this album shines as a remaster, wonderful sonic experience)
Bare Trees (as above, Dust, Homeward Bound and Sentimental Lady alone bring this to top tier)
Mystery to Me (early masterpiece)
White Album (really should be tied with Rumours, the album is outstanding)
Rumours (what more can be said, this is their best outing by far)
Tusk. (has aged very well but was too much of a left turn right after Rumours, perhaps after Rumours #2, it would've had better reception at the time)
Live '80 (and 75-77, 82) What's not to like, the band is on fire throughout)

Mid Tier:
Mirage (would have been better with more Nicks who was on fire at the time)
Behind the Mask (sounded like a real band again, but only half of the album is great)
Time (not as bad as reviews say, with great McVie songs and the outstanding singing of Bramlett as well as great production, makes this a mid tier album)
Say You Will. (way too long but some great moments)
The Dance (not raw enough and too many obvious overdubs on a live set)

Bottom Tier:
Tango in The Night (despite amazing McVie songs, too many missteps and lack of real instruments and the Nicks disaster keep it this low)
Penguin (some good moments, but also some real stinkers)
Heroes are Hard to Find (as with Tango, great McVie songs but Welch ran out of steam and he was done- despite being utterly amazing on the short tour that followed).
Kiln House (some love it, but I listen to this one least frequently, although I love Kirwan's songs)