Originally Posted by Jason Tate

"Deja" remains my go to .. I knew that was special on first listen. Recently Kanye and Bon Iver and Radiohead are the only others that come to mind.

yup, I immediately thought classic the first time I heard last releases from Kanye and Bon Iver.


I think it's hard to explain what makes something a classic - probably a combination of universal praise/acclaim and the emotions and feelings it brings out of the listener.

And I would say Brand New's Deja, Taking Back Sunday's TAYF, Finch's WIITB and Underoath's TOCS are "scene" classics because after those albums released so many bands emulated and tried to create a record like that.

I would say that today's generation of "scene" bands are drawing more influence from classic albums of the late 90s

Originally Posted by Star Slight

Yikes lets not start naming what we think are classics. Weve gone too far now that Finch is in the mix

It's not a personal classic for me, but I could see why someone would consider it a classic in the context of this scene, i.e. as far as influence in other bands.

Originally Posted by Star Slight

Yikes lets not start naming what we think are classics. Weve gone too far now that Finch is in the mix

also fuck you, you don't make the rules here.

Originally Posted by ChaseTx

In regards to Kanye, his classics are the first 2. MBDTF doesn't come close.

this is a fantastic debate and I'm excited for it to play out. For the record, I think all 3 of those records are classics, all 3 are so different and show how versatile West is. College Dropout is more a pure hip hop classic based on the production, the album's flow, and the lyrical content. Late Registration had more of Kanye tapping into that pop sound (not in the sense of something like Justin Beiber or the like, but in the fact he worked with Jon Brion on some it and whatnot; a lot of strings a lot of baroque influence, etc.). MBDTF is more of the man going deep inside his psyche, matching production with the content - being grandiose as well as vulnerable. It's like a rock opera, it's his The Wall or Sgt Pepper's, etc.

I personally rank MBDTF as tops, but I can see and understand the arguments made for his first two albums.

Originally Posted by georgedcc

Do people think you can call an album a classic without liking it? I don't really like The Rolling Stones, but their influence is so vast that it can't be denied. Still doesn't mean I particularly like their music, but can I honestly say that Exile on Main Street or Let it Bleed is a classic album, despite the fact that I probably won't listen to that album again?

I guess you could use the Finch and Underoath examples like Drew did, but I'd be extremely reluctant to call those albums classics.

well, it's important to realize that I mentioned those albums in the context of this "scene" and not music in general. People are just going to read the albums and not realize the context they are in.

Originally Posted by Star Slight

Mbdtf is not a "classic" and ive asked why people call it one multiple times and everyones like oh. Everyone naming all their classic albums in here negates what the article said and just adds to the detrimental consumption of popular culture

I've made my case for it throughout various Kanye West related news posts during the time it was released. I'm not going to rehash it because I already know you won't agree and that's fine, you have your mind made up and so do I.

Originally Posted by georgedcc

Well, I think I understood the context, sorry if I mis-represented your view there.

What I'm getting at, I guess is, does it make sense for me to say 'Underoath's TOCS is a classic album within "The Scene", but that album fucking sucks"?

that's fine. I agree with that too, as TOCS is my least favorite Underoath album by far, and there are plenty of artists and albums that I know are influential to music and are considered as a classic that I have no care for.

well and just making a handful of big hits instead of a cohesive or challenging album (this goes for all genres) is easier and much more lucrative.

Originally Posted by TheRxBandit

I read that Pitchfork article, and I completely agree. I can't understand why people listen to Kendrick's album and instantly call it a classic. More than half of these people will put this album out of their personal rotation in 6 months and possibly never return to it.

Certainly there is a difference between a personal classic and a generally acclaimed "classic" record. For example, a personal classic of mine will be Saves The Day's "Stay What You Are". While this record is considered a classic within the means of music listeners who seek out the emo/punk scene, for the majority of people, it's not. I'd say something like The College Dropout is on it's way to be a worldwide "classic". Has lasting value, tracks are still played by people all over the world to this very day.

I guess you really also have to consider the fact that our generation is far more saturated with music than the generations before us, which makes it harder to push through everything we personally enjoy and find the albums that are considered gems by society as a whole.

I think your last statement is a great point.

Originally Posted by ChaseTx

late rejoining the thread, but my point of view on it is a few posts up

I agree with everything you wrote about the first two albums, great write-up. I'd say this about MBDTF (and it's probably hyperbole): I don't think it has had similar reverberations within the genre or even pop music because I don't think there's a mainstream artist that can replicate that grandiose scope and idea of an album. I think certain artists have tried to make that "epic" album now but they've failed.