Best Album of the '80s - And the winner is ... on page 14

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

Already PM'd my votes...

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince) -- A tough decision, but Thriller wins out
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) -- Although Born in the USA sounds dated now and its probably the 6th or 7th best album in the Springsteen cannon, it's the album that made me a fan at the end of my freshman year of high school, so as long it's in the competition, I'm voting for it.

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) - I like the Talking Heads better than Public Enemy, so shoot me.
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) - don't care for either band, but like the GnR album better

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon) - Probably the toughest decision for me. Love both albums, but opted to go for the rock and penalize Paul Simon for the goofy appearance of Chevy Chase in the "Call Me Al" video
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC)
- A great album, gotta vote for it.

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) - A great album, by a great band. I barely remember De La Soul
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) - I like R.E.M. better than the Beasties. So sue me.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on pag

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince) Prince trumps Michael every day. At least MJ was still black when he made Thriller.
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) No brainer. No fan of rap, especially against Brooooce.

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) See above.
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) I just really never liked Guns N' Roses. Reason enough for me.

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon) As much as I respect Paul Simon for his overall body of work, Graceland can't beat out Purple Rain.
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC) See comment about rap.

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) Could somebody tell me who exactly is De La Soul?
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) Love me some REM, especially this one.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (First-round results on page 6)

My picks:


East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. <b>5 1999 (Prince) </b>
<b>3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen)</b> vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.)

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. <b>5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads)</b>
<b>6 Master of Puppets (Metallica)</b> vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses)

Midwest
<b>1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution)</b> vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon)
<b>3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A)</b> vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC)

West
<b>1 The Joshua Tree (U2)</b> vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. <b>2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys)</b>

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

Agreed. I had to think back to my high school days to decide, and went with my favorite from back then.

If memory serves, "Master of Puppets" was out before "Appetite," but I had never heard of Metallica until "... And Justice for All" came out. So by the time I bought "Puppets," it was probably 1989 or 1990.

By then, I had already worn out my cassette tape of "Appetite," so I picked Guns 'n Roses in Mr. C's bracket. But a tough call.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

Already dreading the end of this. Do more of these.

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince) - One of the great pop albums of all time against Prince's second or third best.
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) - The first heyday of MTV was when it was ruled by Van Halen's 1984, Thriller, Prince's Purple Rain, Madonna's Like a Virgin, and this album. I know it's in vogue for the hardcores to downplay it (as I will always downplay Metallica's Black Album, which had a similar effect on its fanbase), but Born in the USA is such a fun record, even now.

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) - Meh. I guess one of them has a song I've actually enjoyed.
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) - Appetite is a great record that I really enjoy despite the need for Axl to swear or make non-word noises for half of it, stands tall even now and allows fans to act like they listen to "dangerous" music. But Master of Puppets is the one where Metallica perfected the formula that all other thrash bands wish they could copy. It's not a perfect album (Tracks 3 and 4, yawn compared to the same slots on the band's other 1980s efforts), but the title track is seminal and the instrumental is amazing. It might be the greatest metal album of all time.

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon) - Landslide. See above regarding 1984-1985 on MTV.
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC) - I guess I've just heard Back in Black way too many times. Especially when they re-released it under the titles For Those About to Rock, Flick of the Switch, The Razor's Edge, Stiff Upper Lip, etc. . . . And while I find the AC/DC attitude of this album to lack the humor of Bon Scott's efforts, Straight Outta Compton still makes for enjoyable listening.

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) - Finally had to look up De La Soul. The fact this is the album that gave the world "Me Myself and I" makes me wonder why anyone would favor it for any reason other than nostalgia. Oh, and Joshua Tree is one of the great albums of all time. One Tree Hill, love it.
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) - Like REM's work from later in the decade better, but Licensed to Ill is one that was easy to get tired of quickly when you're the only actual metalhead in your sixth-grade class and all the other dudes are embracing the Beastie Boys as if they hold the meaning of life in their stolen . . .EERRRRR . . . SAMPLED riffs.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

I actually found all of these really easy to vote on for the first time this tournament.

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince) — 1999 is my fourth-favorite Prince album. Thriller is the greatest pop album since The Beatles disbanded.
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) — This was easily the closest choice. But Raising Hell is more interesting to me. Born in the USA was the safest album Springsteen has ever made, and it bores me.

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) — Talking Heads are a really interesting band, but Chuck D was full-force for It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) — Great albums, each. But Appetite for Destruction gets a no-brainer vote for me until it faces Purple Rain, at which point I've got serious thinking to do.

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon) — Yeah.
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC) — AC/DC is kiddie metal, to me. I always preferred Dr. Dre and Ice Cube as solo artists, but Straight Outta Compton is a venerated album for a reason.

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) — I'm a U2 hater, but I'm also a De La Soul lover. The Joshua Tree is easily my favorite U2 album, and "One Tree Hill" my favorite song. But 3 Feet High and Rising is an album that gets a ton of credit and deserves even more. It's one of those lazy afternoon albums.
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) — Paul's Boutique is better as Beastie Boys albums go, but early R.E.M. was never my thing. And "Rhymnin' & Stealin'" is some bad-ass shit.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

I think it's funny that I own every album in the Sweet 16. I'd have no problem with NWA and Licensed to Ill going very far.

I like De La Soul, but that album does not belong among the top 16 of the 1980s...

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince) -- tough call
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.)

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads)
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses)

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon)
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC)

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys)

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

East
5 1999 (Prince)
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen)

South
5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads)
2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses)

Midwest
4 Graceland (Paul Simon)
2 Back In Black (AC/DC)

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.)

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (First-round results on page 6)



East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince)
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.)

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads)
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses)

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon)
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC)

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys)

Puppets vs. Appetite for Destruction? I feel like a piece of me died.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince)
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.)

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads)
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses)

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon)
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC)

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys)

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament (Second round results, Sweet 16 on page 8)

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 5 1999 (Prince) --- As good as 1999 is, I still don't see this as a competition. MJ in the FF easily.
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) --- Close one. Real close. I actually changed my original vote.

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) --- I see a lot of people voting for the Heads here. Um ... huh?
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) --- Appetite vs. Thriller is going to be epic. (Pun not intended.)

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 4 Graceland (Paul Simon) --- nfm
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 2 Back In Black (AC/DC) --- Another tough one. Really tough. Really, really tough. I will vote for either of these over Purple Rain.

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) --- Another good battle.
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) --- What's the time?