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~~RYM's Top 20 of 1974 Ranked~~
90%+ of this list was completely new to me so was very excited to try them all out!
90%+ of this list was completely new to me so was very excited to try them all out!
20. Jorge Ben - A Tábua de Esmeralda
Not awful, just unmemorable. Becomes very repetitive at times which is a shame because there's some great potential here at it's core.
5/10
Not awful, just unmemorable. Becomes very repetitive at times which is a shame because there's some great potential here at it's core.
5/10
19. Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
Reminds me a lot of Deep Purple who I already have mixed feelings towards, but this was much less impressive than them. Wasn't unpleasant to listen to, but like a lot of hard rock its kind of in one ear and out the other.
6/10
Reminds me a lot of Deep Purple who I already have mixed feelings towards, but this was much less impressive than them. Wasn't unpleasant to listen to, but like a lot of hard rock its kind of in one ear and out the other.
6/10
18. Camel - Mirage
Again, not at all a bad listen but sadly is a very typical, bland example of its genre. Prog fans could probably find more enjoyment here than I but I imagine even they would rather listen to a number of other albums.
6/10
Again, not at all a bad listen but sadly is a very typical, bland example of its genre. Prog fans could probably find more enjoyment here than I but I imagine even they would rather listen to a number of other albums.
6/10
17. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
This was actually some pretty great prog, but with one glaring issue. This album is way too long for its own good, so much bland filler that adds nothing to the experience. It's certainly marred by its narrative structure.
6/10
This was actually some pretty great prog, but with one glaring issue. This album is way too long for its own good, so much bland filler that adds nothing to the experience. It's certainly marred by its narrative structure.
6/10
16. Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Wouldn't say this is anything special but its a solid folk album that I think any folk/folk rock fan would enjoy.
7/10
Wouldn't say this is anything special but its a solid folk album that I think any folk/folk rock fan would enjoy.
7/10
15. Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom
Interesting to say the least, can't even put a finger on exactly what genre to call this! Enjoyable but a little too aloof at times and its very hard to engage with.
7/10
Interesting to say the least, can't even put a finger on exactly what genre to call this! Enjoyable but a little too aloof at times and its very hard to engage with.
7/10
14. Yes - Relayer
My least favourite of the Yes albums I've heard but honestly still pretty good! Just not as memorable or energetic as previous albums. Absolutely adore the art for this though!
7/10
My least favourite of the Yes albums I've heard but honestly still pretty good! Just not as memorable or energetic as previous albums. Absolutely adore the art for this though!
7/10
13. Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
From here are all albums I have few complaints for! Another great Joni album. Again just like with Blue I feel I need to spend so much more time with her work to truly appreciate it. But this is certainly great stuff!
7/10
From here are all albums I have few complaints for! Another great Joni album. Again just like with Blue I feel I need to spend so much more time with her work to truly appreciate it. But this is certainly great stuff!
7/10
12. Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')
Zappa is one of the most entertaining frontmen in music history. Often disregarded as goofy which, it very much is but there's some great musicianship underneath too! Certainly messy in places but it adds to the charm!
7/10
Zappa is one of the most entertaining frontmen in music history. Often disregarded as goofy which, it very much is but there's some great musicianship underneath too! Certainly messy in places but it adds to the charm!
7/10
11. King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
This album listening experience has given me new found appreciation for King Crimson. Very much consider myself a fan now (ITCOTCK is still a 6 tho). This feels like a B-Sides album and its great nonetheless, final track is gold.
7/10
This album listening experience has given me new found appreciation for King Crimson. Very much consider myself a fan now (ITCOTCK is still a 6 tho). This feels like a B-Sides album and its great nonetheless, final track is gold.
7/10
10. Neil Young - On the Beach
Certainly my favourite from the three Neil albums I know. Much more memorable songwriting in my opinion. It surprised me as considering what I'd heard prior I didn't think Neil could make 7-8 min songs interesting, I was wrong!
8/10
Certainly my favourite from the three Neil albums I know. Much more memorable songwriting in my opinion. It surprised me as considering what I'd heard prior I didn't think Neil could make 7-8 min songs interesting, I was wrong!
8/10
9. Dadawah - Peace and Love
Some really cool roots reggae! A very relaxing experience, and something I didn't expect to love as much as I do!
8/10
Some really cool roots reggae! A very relaxing experience, and something I didn't expect to love as much as I do!
8/10
8. Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Catchy prog with some nice lush production. Second half of the album in particular is fantastic! I'm realising how close in quality all my 8/10s for this year are, all very strong 8s!
8/10
Catchy prog with some nice lush production. Second half of the album in particular is fantastic! I'm realising how close in quality all my 8/10s for this year are, all very strong 8s!
8/10
7. Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Iconic and incredibly important album (something that could be said for just about everything Kraftwerk put out). Still holds up very well and the melodies and synth work here is as charming as ever.
8/10
Iconic and incredibly important album (something that could be said for just about everything Kraftwerk put out). Still holds up very well and the melodies and synth work here is as charming as ever.
8/10
6. Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
While I found Moondance largely boring, this album was a fantastic improvement! Such an enjoyable experience and a true evolution, showing way more variation across the album. You Don't Pull The Punches easily a highlight for me.
8/10
While I found Moondance largely boring, this album was a fantastic improvement! Such an enjoyable experience and a true evolution, showing way more variation across the album. You Don't Pull The Punches easily a highlight for me.
8/10
5. Gene Clark - No Other
A very refreshing mix of singer/songwriter and psychedelic rock/soul elements that works really well! Feels like a nice culmination of musics evolution from the late 60s til this point in time!
8/10
A very refreshing mix of singer/songwriter and psychedelic rock/soul elements that works really well! Feels like a nice culmination of musics evolution from the late 60s til this point in time!
8/10
4. Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Brian Eno is an artist I should've been listening to a long time ago. A true visionary and a clear origin point for some of my favourite styles and genres of music. Fantastically weird and truly gripping.
8/10
Brian Eno is an artist I should've been listening to a long time ago. A true visionary and a clear origin point for some of my favourite styles and genres of music. Fantastically weird and truly gripping.
8/10
3. Miles Davis - Get Up With It
Top 3 this year are incredibly hard to rank, as I love all three a whole lot! This is certainly one of the best jazz albums I know and its atmosphere is unmatched! Cut a few songs from the second disc and this might be a 10/10!
9/10
Top 3 this year are incredibly hard to rank, as I love all three a whole lot! This is certainly one of the best jazz albums I know and its atmosphere is unmatched! Cut a few songs from the second disc and this might be a 10/10!
9/10
2. King Crimson - Red
Very very close 2nd here, incredible album as I'm sure everyone already knows. It's still 2nd best in their discography for me though behind the much wilder Larks Tongues In Aspic but still, just wow. Best prog rock band for sure!
9/10
Very very close 2nd here, incredible album as I'm sure everyone already knows. It's still 2nd best in their discography for me though behind the much wilder Larks Tongues In Aspic but still, just wow. Best prog rock band for sure!
9/10
1. Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets
I'm stunned, this album should be talked about so much more! That title track has to be the 1st ever shoegaze song... A lot of variation on this thing, and all of it is extremely unique and not the slightest bit dated! Please listen to it!
9/10
I'm stunned, this album should be talked about so much more! That title track has to be the 1st ever shoegaze song... A lot of variation on this thing, and all of it is extremely unique and not the slightest bit dated! Please listen to it!
9/10
Possibly my favourite year so far, if not it's definetly up there! So many artists I previously found mediocre fulfilled on what I felt where their strong points! Also three great 9/10 records!!!
1974 Overall Rating: 8/10 (Great)
1974 Overall Rating: 8/10 (Great)
