The most "ahead of it's time" albums you know of.

biz999 · October 2021

just want to say this is a great thread that makes me think, reminisce, and learn new things!

tempo_n_groove · October 2021

GlowGirl said:

We might have to add the New York Dolls to the list of influential theatrical bands. They formed in 1971.

How the hell did I forget them?

1ThoughtKnown · October 2021

This album, particularly Side B

Whereas Black Flag had previously played fast hardcore music this album alienated some of the fans as it had a slower, heavier sound. Particularly on Side B it draws from heavy metal influences.

This album really struck a chord with Buzz Osborne in particular. The Melvins slowed down their music and became a sludge metal proto-grunge band. The Melvins influenced the entire Seattle music scene.

1ThoughtKnown · October 2021

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

JH6056 · October 2021

Oh YEAH, double "How did we miss those??" re: Talking Heads & NY Dolls!

Also I read a fascinating article a few weeks ago about Talking Heads' "Remain In Light", how not only is the music itself groundbreaking and impactful, but HOW they recorded it was so innovative and not what most people were doing then. I can't remember details and can't stop to look for article, but if I can find it later I'll post.

HughFreakingDillon · October 2021

I don't think I own ONE album mentioned in this thread so far. haha

biz999 · October 2021

tempo_n_groove said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Gern Blansten said:

Loujoe said:

Frank Zappa (any record) thinking Joe's Garage. I think he is so ahead of his time it hasn't come yet. Apostrophe is crazy too. If you can stomach it, listen many times if you want to surprise your brain repeatedly.

I have tried to understand Zappa and just can't get there. Definitely talented and unique but I just don't get the music.

Zappa was an absolute genius and held all of his musicians accountable. He never did drugs but his mind was out there.

Here is part of his greatness. Yes, that's a young clean shaven Frank Zappa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9P2V0_p6vE

Better quality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBGNuvEZOfc

Wow, I never saw this. I saw a band open up for Bjork who 'played' the bicycle - I guess it was a homage to Zappa?

side note: at that show I had a standing-room ticket (it was a theatre, so that meant behind the back row on the orchestra level) - and I'm still 95% sure that Bjork herself came and stood beside me and watched that opening band.

Loujoe · October 2021

1ThoughtKnown said:

This album, particularly Side B

Whereas Black Flag had previously played fast hardcore music this album alienated some of the fans as it had a slower, heavier sound. Particularly on Side B it draws from heavy metal influences.
This album really struck a chord with Buzz Osborne in particular. The Melvins slowed down their music and became a sludge metal proto-grunge band. The Melvins influenced the entire Seattle music scene.

Had that sucker on cassette. Loved trying to explain to my musician friend it's supposed to sound bad. Lot's of emotion in that 'nothing left inside'

brianlux · October 2021

Here's one from 1969 that broke through some of the confines of rock music of the day:

And it really has staying power. It's two cuts, two sides. Here's my favorite side:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po8f4dSXgMA

tempo_n_groove · October 2021

1ThoughtKnown said:

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

Great band, great album. I don't see them as groundbreaking though?

1ThoughtKnown · October 2021

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

Great band, great album. I don't see them as groundbreaking though?

I disagree. The mix of Caribbean beats with disco and a sprinkle of rock/punk was all new. That album still sounds weird. The band and Eno nailed it

tempo_n_groove · October 2021

1ThoughtKnown said:

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

Great band, great album. I don't see them as groundbreaking though?

I disagree. The mix of Caribbean beats with disco and a sprinkle of rock/punk was all new. That album still sounds weird. The band and Eno nailed it

It's Ska-lite or just look at James Browns or anything he's done. It may have changed peoples lives but I think it was done before.

Great album but I don't see it.

1ThoughtKnown · October 2021

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

Great band, great album. I don't see them as groundbreaking though?

I disagree. The mix of Caribbean beats with disco and a sprinkle of rock/punk was all new. That album still sounds weird. The band and Eno nailed it

It's Ska-lite or just look at James Browns or anything he's done. It may have changed peoples lives but I think it was done before.

Great album but I don't see it.

It wasn’t done before. I respectfully disagree.

tempo_n_groove · October 2021

1ThoughtKnown said:

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

Great band, great album. I don't see them as groundbreaking though?

I disagree. The mix of Caribbean beats with disco and a sprinkle of rock/punk was all new. That album still sounds weird. The band and Eno nailed it

It's Ska-lite or just look at James Browns or anything he's done. It may have changed peoples lives but I think it was done before.

Great album but I don't see it.

It wasn’t done before. I respectfully disagree.

I enjoy discussions like this actually. it brings out the passion in people.

I can go on about it but I'd like to hear others thoughts to why and then I might retort.

brianlux · October 2021

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

tempo_n_groove said:

1ThoughtKnown said:

Another album was ahead of its time. It’s still might be. Just timeless:

Great band, great album. I don't see them as groundbreaking though?

I disagree. The mix of Caribbean beats with disco and a sprinkle of rock/punk was all new. That album still sounds weird. The band and Eno nailed it

It's Ska-lite or just look at James Browns or anything he's done. It may have changed peoples lives but I think it was done before.

Great album but I don't see it.

It wasn’t done before. I respectfully disagree.

I enjoy discussions like this actually. it brings out the passion in people.

I can go on about it but I'd like to hear others thoughts to why and then I might retort.

Talking Heads were a great band, no doubt! I saw them in '82 and what a show! This was with that great expanded band that included Adrian Belew, Steve Scales, and Bernie Worrell. And Byrne's energy was off the charts. (This was also a time when pretty much everyone was doing coke. I'm guessing that was an influence. (My friends and I were definitely a bit cranked up pre-show, lol.) That show was a few years after Remain in Light Came out, but what they were doing was still pretty much along that album's path.
But I would say their more ground breaking work was from the first couple of albums. From the get-go, they were combing elements of r&b, soul, and new wave, and Byrnes herky-jerky robotic moves and singing were certainly unusual. So to me it would be '77 that would rank as their album that was a bit more ahead of it's time. I wouldn't say hugely so, but it definitely had a distinct flavor within new wave and art-pop/ art-funk.