Hi, everyone! I decided to let Apple’s voice assistant, Siri, pick the “best” albums from certain artists. I know this is a page ripped right out of Anthony Fantano’s playbook, but I thought it’d be fun to give it a go with some of my favorite artists! I'm excited to see what she ends up choosing.
FRANK OCEAN
Siri’s Pick: Blond
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: I feel like whenever I ask someone their favorite Frank Ocean album, they always say Blond. I don’t get it. I love the album to death, but Channel Orange is slightly better in my opinion. Some of the best songwriting I’ve heard on any album.
MAC DEMARCO
Siri’s Pick: She directed me to the Apple website (she thought I was asking about Mac Computers…)
Agree/Disagree: N/A
My Choice: Salad Days was one of the first bedroom pop albums I ever listened to. Its vaporwavey, vintage production, as well as its melancholy and rebellious tones make it ripe for countless re-listens.
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
Siri’s Pick: Sketches of Brunswick East
Agree/Disagree: Agree
My Choice: Though I love both Nonagon Infinity and Polygondwanaland, the math rock and jazz influences on Brunswick East make it their most enjoyable record. It's also one of their most approachable records if you want to start diving into their deep discography.
RUN THE JEWELS
Siri’s Pick: Run the Jewels 3
Agree/Disagree: Agree
My Choice: Out of the three records by this conscious hip-hop duo, RTJ3 has the best production and songs in their discography. I feel this album has songs that are as powerful as previous releases, but have fewer (and more sublime) political messages than their first two installments.
KANYE WEST
Siri’s Pick: ye
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: I knew that Siri would pick the latest release from Kanye because it’s “popular” at the moment. Kanye’s best album is definitely not this… if I had to choose the best, it would My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy without a doubt. One of the most influential and important rap albums in modern times, and of all time.
BEACH HOUSE
Siri’s Pick: Depression Cherry
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: Though Depression Cherry is a great album in its own right, it misses the mark on certain things that previous installments came through on. I do love “Space Song”, though… Nevertheless, the best Beach House album- to me - is Bloom. It's an outstanding record with some of the most lush production value in the decade.
THE BEATLES
Siri’s Pick: Abbey Road
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: The Beatles are one of my favorite artists, but I can’t say that Abbey Road is the best album from them. Revolver is the Beatles’ best, and the single greatest album of all-time. Opened the floodgates for popular music and completely changed the way music was made. Subject closed.
CRYSTAL CASTLES
Siri’s Pick: Crystal Castles
Agree/Disagree: Agree
My Choice: All around, the Canadian duo’s first release is a great one, and possesses one of the most unique production styles I’ve ever heard on an album.
DAFT PUNK
Siri’s Pick: Random Access Memories
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: Though it was an amazing comeback record from one of my favorite electronic bands, my heart is loyal to their revolutionary sophomore LP, Discovery. It’s got some amazing sounds, and is a fantastic listen cover to cover. For anyone who wants to get into electronic music, this is some of the best music to start with.
MF DOOM
Siri’s Pick: MM… Food
Agree/Disagree: Agree
My Choice: Though Madvillainy was a collab with DOOM and Madlib, Mm… Food is probably the best solo release by him. Great sampling, rhymes, and a grimey underground feel that I highly enjoy every time I listen.
GORILLAZ
Siri’s Pick: Humanz
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: Humanz and The Now Now were both pretty mediocre. Hell, nothing can top the generational classics that were Demon Days and Plastic Beach. I know this probably won’t be the most accepted pick by Gorillaz fans, but I believe Plastic Beach is their best release. It’s got a lot of dream-pop and trip-hop influences, and I think its sound is more diverse than Demon Days.
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
Siri’s Pick: american dream
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: LCD Soundsystem is one of the greatest groups to hail out of New York City, without a doubt. I love every one of their releases. The long awaited release from the on-again, off-again band was a great surprise, but no album by them can surpass their first release, Sound of Silver. It is perhaps one of the greatest albums in the 21st century.
KENDRICK LAMAR
Siri’s Pick: DAMN.
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: I’ll give you a hot take: half of Kendrick Lamar’s discography is MEDIOCRE… and they’re calling this man the next King of Hip-Hop. I did not like To Pimp a Butterfly, nor did I like DAMN. Sure they both have good songs, but I believe they are completely overrated. If I had to pick one Kendrick album I enjoyed the most, it’d have to be Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. It’s one of the easiest albums to pick up on vinyl and probably one of the best albums to tell a story.
SIMON & GARFUNKEL
Siri’s Pick: The Best of Simon and Garfunkel
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: We’re talking studio albums, not compilations… in that cases, Bridge over Troubled Water is their best release, hands-down. It has some of their most fleshed-out songwriting and musicianship in their whole discography.
SUFJAN STEVENS
Siri’s Pick: Carrie and Lowell
Agree/Disagree: Disagree
My Choice: I love Sufjan, I love Carrie and Lowell... but it’s a close second to Illinois. It’s got folk, jazz, chamber pop, and it’s essentially a mash-up about the state of Illinois. He actually did have a whole “Fifty States” project planned, but only got to Michigan and Illinois. If only he did states like Texas, California, or New York.. that would have been epic.
TAME IMPALA
Siri’s Pick: Currents
Agree/Disagree: Agree
My Choice: This is absolutely their best release, and it is one of my personal favorite albums. Currents is played and performed by the Brian Wilson of today, Kevin Parker. He has amazing songwriting, production, and I believe it stands as one of the best albums of the 2010s.
THE STROKES
Siri’s Pick: Is This It
Agree/Disagree: Agree
My Choice: Though the latter of half of their discography is subpar in my opinion, both this album and Room on Fire have very special places in my heart. I’m glad Siri agrees with me on this pick! Is This It has so many bangin’ songs that I find myself constantly listening to time and time again.
I was actually really surprised to see Siri pick a lot of the same albums that I enjoy. However, do you agree with me, Siri, or neither of us? Was there an album or artist that you thought I should have talked about? If so, reach out to me! Thanks for reading this, and I hope you continue reading the content I’m posting in the future!
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