Interesting that, with exceptions that it would be tedious to point out, these are artists who do genuinely belong on the era, rather than artists continuing to churn stuff out after their heyday.
That’s a really good observation and what makes this so interesting. Moon Safari seems to have scored very well. I think this is the kind of electronica that crossed over – like Moby’s Play and Daft Punk ‘s Discovery.
I feel more divergent from the Afterword massive than ever now! I would never have thought Elvis Costello was as highly regarded. I kinda like a couple of his songs I’ve heard but I’ve never really been inspired to investigate him further and I don’t think I ever will. And surely, he can’t sing, can he? (Burn the heretic!)
The popularity of Bruce Springsteen also baffles me in general, but I’ve long since come to terms with that.
I’m with you. EC always struck me as someone who repeated the same album over and over and my favourites of his are the first one and Almost Blue, neither of which are really representative which probably says a lot.
For example look at the third – Armed Forces – heavily influenced by ABBA and the fourth – Get Happy!! – heavily influenced by Stax and 60s soul generally.
And it annoys me a bit when people say certain artists “can’t sing”, you may not like their voice but of course they can sing. Elvis C has a perfectly reasonable voice. I don’t get on very well with Andy Partridge ‘s voice but I wouldn’t say he can’t sing.
It’s funny, I used to like Elvis C, saw him in concert a few times, had every album up till King of America. But I just fell off the Elvis train around then, and don’t really see the point now. If I listen to anything it is My Aim is True or Almost Blue, but I don’t seek him out. Funny how that happens
As Costello is my favourite all time artist I am naturally very happy with this result.
Also disagree that he is of an era. His last album Look Now released in 2018 was excellent. He has also released an excellent stand alone song No flag during Covid as a prelude to an album that he has completed just before lockdown but is yet to be mixed. Look for a release later this year hopefully. Still here and still good.
I think the most interesting statistic from this whole exercise is that 98 Afterworders recommended 499 different albums from the 1980s/90s. Who’da thunk it? Cheers @craig42blue.
Delighted that my beloved Fannies have aged better than the more celebrated oasis/blur/pulp/supergrass axis. No surprise of course but niceto be proved right. :=)
and finally….
Number Artist Points
42 Portishead 30
42 Magnetic Fields 30
42 Public Enemy 30
42 OMITD 30
40 Len Cohen 31
40 Wilco 31
38 Primal Scream 32
38 Dexy’s 32
37 John Martyn 33
35 Bob Dylan 35
35 Emmylou Harris 35
34 Smiths 36
32 Grace Jones 37
32 Pulp 37
31 Squeeze 38
29 Simple Minds 39
29 Neil Young 39
27 Aztec Camera 40
27 ABC 40
26 Steely Dan 41
24 Van Morrison 42
24 Peter Gabriel 42
22 Lloyd Cole 48
22 Waterboys 48
21 Air 49
20 New Order 51
19 Radiohead 54
18 Teenage Fanclub 63
17 Bowie 65
16 Stone Roses 72
15 Blue Nile 74
14 Nick Cave 75
13 Massive Attack 79
12 Bruce Springsteen 84
11 Talking Heads 88
10 Talk Talk 92
9 Paul Simon 94
7 Donald Fagen 105
7 Prefab Sprout 105
6 Prince 111
5 Tom Waits 121
4 XTC 145
3 R.E.M. 150
2 Kate Bush 151
1 Elvis Costello 214
Thank You and Goodnight from station WJAZ
So Elvis was king of the 80s & 90s (as well as the 50s)!
@craig42blue Many thanks for your extra efforts.
Interesting!
An extra mile, that adds a bit more flavour to the pot (excuse the mixed metaphors).
Interesting that, with exceptions that it would be tedious to point out, these are artists who do genuinely belong on the era, rather than artists continuing to churn stuff out after their heyday.
That’s a really good observation and what makes this so interesting. Moon Safari seems to have scored very well. I think this is the kind of electronica that crossed over – like Moby’s Play and Daft Punk ‘s Discovery.
Fascinating. Thanks for doing this.
I feel more divergent from the Afterword massive than ever now! I would never have thought Elvis Costello was as highly regarded. I kinda like a couple of his songs I’ve heard but I’ve never really been inspired to investigate him further and I don’t think I ever will. And surely, he can’t sing, can he? (Burn the heretic!)
The popularity of Bruce Springsteen also baffles me in general, but I’ve long since come to terms with that.
I’m with you on both of these. I admire Costello’s songwriting, but much prefer it when someone else is singing it.
Cosy on this stake isn’t it? If a little too warm.
I’m with you. EC always struck me as someone who repeated the same album over and over and my favourites of his are the first one and Almost Blue, neither of which are really representative which probably says a lot.
You don’t know Elvis C very well if you think he repeated same album over and over again, I would say that the opposite is closer to the truth.
I agree with Dai.
For example look at the third – Armed Forces – heavily influenced by ABBA and the fourth – Get Happy!! – heavily influenced by Stax and 60s soul generally.
And so it went on.
And it annoys me a bit when people say certain artists “can’t sing”, you may not like their voice but of course they can sing. Elvis C has a perfectly reasonable voice. I don’t get on very well with Andy Partridge ‘s voice but I wouldn’t say he can’t sing.
It’s funny, I used to like Elvis C, saw him in concert a few times, had every album up till King of America. But I just fell off the Elvis train around then, and don’t really see the point now. If I listen to anything it is My Aim is True or Almost Blue, but I don’t seek him out. Funny how that happens
Somewhat similar to me, but I gave up mid 90s. Still like to hear the early stuff though.
As Costello is my favourite all time artist I am naturally very happy with this result.
Also disagree that he is of an era. His last album Look Now released in 2018 was excellent. He has also released an excellent stand alone song No flag during Covid as a prelude to an album that he has completed just before lockdown but is yet to be mixed. Look for a release later this year hopefully. Still here and still good.
I think the most interesting statistic from this whole exercise is that 98 Afterworders recommended 499 different albums from the 1980s/90s. Who’da thunk it? Cheers @craig42blue.
Delighted that my beloved Fannies have aged better than the more celebrated oasis/blur/pulp/supergrass axis. No surprise of course but niceto be proved right. :=)