Peak Music

Michael Jackson, "Off the Wall"

Prince, "1999"

 

Graybeard, good argument, but they saw Aja as their artistic zenith. Whether it was or not is subjective.

I know Dan fans who can't stand Aja.

 

The smile is undeniable. Probably the last time he was ever truly himself, and happy, if that's even possible.

But Thriller was peak too.

 

...And Justice For All is still great possible ascending Metallica except they were pissed Jason Newstead wasn't Cliff Burton and screwed him over on the recording. It could have been better. But the follow up with the Black Album was really good and I would say their peak. It is also when it became cool to hate them, which I see as a mark of hitting their peak. Enter Sandman is tremendous. Wherever I May Roam is haunting. Nothing Else Matters and Unforgiven are a great ballads. The only thing they don't have is an instrumental, but the album is solid.

And while personally, I love Load and Reload, I understand why many didn't love it. Garage Inc. was great, but not original. St. Anger would have been better if they fixed the drum (All Within My Hands is still quality, however). Death Magnetic is good, I just don't listen to it enough.

 

What was peak Springsteen - kinda feel like Born in the USA was when he went mainstream, but figure it was before that. Stones? Had to be when Moon was alive.

 

Do you mean The Who? If so, the answer is the Live at Leeds set.

I feel like Springsteen peaked with Born to Run. At very least, Thunder Road is his peak song.

 

Stones has to be pre-Altamont.

 

Gaga peaked early. But what a peak. 1.6 billion views.

Paparazzi is her other all-time song.

 

The Stones' two best records -- by far -- were post-Altamont.

The Who's peak would by 1969-71, with Tommy, Live at Leeds and Who's Next.

Springsteen is Born to Run.

A lot of this comes down to how you want to define things. U2 certainly hit their stride artistically and then commercially with The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree.... but their best album is Achtung Baby.

 

Aja was their most successful album, certainly. I like "Black Cow," but the rest, meh.

EDIT: OK, "Deacon Blues" is a great tune as well. I'm tired of hearing it, but it is great.

 

Just listened to "The Royal Scam" today for the first time in a while, and I may be in agreement here... but Steely Dan is tough. They were brilliant out of the chute with "Can't Buy a Thrill" and I don't know that the quality ever dipped on the original run through "Gaucho."