The People's Choice: Your Favourite Aphex Twin Album

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Let's do this again (see the Beach Boys thread).

This time I'm going to change some of the rules because Aphex has always been about singles and eps as well as albums so I've decided to include some of the more notable singles and mini-albums. Apologies if I miss anything out - it's always difficult to remember every single Aphex release.
Here, where I say "Come To Daddy" or "Ventolin", I am talking about the two part release as a whole, if you know what I mean - the "Ventolin" EP counts as 12 tracks from 2 cds.

All the same, the choices here are:

Classics
Polygon Window
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Selected Ambient Works II
Analogue Bubblebath III
Caustic Window
I Care Because You Do
Analogue Bubblebath IV
Ventolin EP
Donkey Rhubarb EP
Hangable Autobulb EP
Richard D James Album
Come To Daddy EP
Windowlicker EP
Druqks

If you can be bothered to vote for other choices, please do but make sure they are legible Aphex Twin/AFX/RDJ releases.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW 1

― jed (jed_e_3), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread's right up my alley (right now I'm wearing a shirt with the Aphex logo). I Care Because You Do is my favorite, because it's got a good balance of pretty, soothing tracks with the noisy/chaotic/
goofball ones. Of course I can't also deny the sublime kick-assedness(or is that Acid-ness?) of SAW 85-92 & SAW Vol. 2.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Selected Ambient Works II

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Only got SAW 1, Come To Daddy and Drukqs and SAW 1 easily wins out of those.

― Nick H (Nick H), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Probably Classics, I just like the overdriven-beat kinda shit.

― person#0 (person#0), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

RDJ Album.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Come To Daddy EP

It's the first one I heard and I was just blown away by the sound. It's his most diverse release with ambient tracks like Flim and IZ-US sitting next to drill'n'bass meltdowns. Excellent. Album-wise, I reckon I Care Because You Do was the most fun.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard D James alb, or the Boy/Girl EP w/ 'Milkman' on it

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW2, definitely.

― Hammy (hammy), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I forgot about Girl/Boy EP, my apologies.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

of the ones i heard SAW II.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 8 December 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

RDJ LP

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Monday, 8 December 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW II

― earlnash, Monday, 8 December 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard D James album - the US release had "Milkman" on too I think Andrew!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 8 December 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

SAWII.

― NA (Nick A.), Monday, 8 December 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Analogue Bubblebath III (CD) was my first, and I reckon my sentimental favorite. Track 8 is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard, and theres a warm, cozy fuzz over even the noisiest tracks.

― d.w., Monday, 8 December 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

some of those ABIII tracks are terrifying. I gave animal names to each track. I think track 2 was called something like "Vulture" cos it sounded like a large cyberbird preying.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 8 December 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

richard d james album,with saw two a close second,and i care because you do not far behind...

― robin (robin), Monday, 8 December 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm split between SAW I and ICBYD. Windowlicker close behind in third.

― vahid (vahid), Monday, 8 December 2003 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

ICBYD

― astroblaster (astroblaster), Monday, 8 December 2003 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

ditto (ICBYD)

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 8 December 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

tough call between SAW1 (for "xtal") and CTD (for the pappy mix)... i'll go with SAW1.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 8 December 2003 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW 1
then
Richard D. James album
then
I Care BEcause You Do
then
Come to Daddy
then
Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2
then
Druqks
then
Donkey Rhubarb
then
Smojphace

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Monday, 8 December 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

saw2

― arjun (arjun), Monday, 8 December 2003 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

surfing on sinewaves is good but i must admit i haven't listened to it for years

― jed (jed_e_3), Monday, 8 December 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

...I care because you do is the nostalgic choice because i bought it when i was 14 and it was quite an experience to hear it at that age with almost no context at all (it was mentioned ina small sidebar in SPIN). I think SAW II would have to be next, and then Classics (love "polynomial c").

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 8 December 2003 23:18 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW4 has that elephant track on it, though!!!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 8 December 2003 23:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I Care

― Sam J. (samjeff), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:01 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW 2

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

50/50 split between sawII and ICBYD

― Nihilist Pop Star (mjt), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck that, I am going to be rockist contrarian and say that he peaked with Analogue Bubblebath!

― Nihilist Pop Star (mjt), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I could go w/ the Analog Bubblebath series, or perhaps SAW vol 1

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

And I only say that because ICBYD, RDJ, and Drukqs were a bit patchy, whereas the SAW albums are perfection incarnate. (SAW 85-92 is slightly better than SAW II if only for Ageispolis)

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

26 remixes doesn't count? it's kind of a statement, in its way. or no?

― j. pantsman (jpantsman), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:05 (twenty-two years ago)

sawII

― disco cake (disco stu), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i love the polygon windown album though. also, the on eps are not on the initial list.

― disco cares because you do (disco stu), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Tossup btwn SAW 85-92 and Classics, for me.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW II for me towers above nearly everything else he's done. That's not saying a whole lot, though, since it towers over nearly everything else anyone else has done, too. I do love Richard D. James Album, SAW 85-92, and odd tracks here and there.

― Clarke B., Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, Polygon Window's a good 'un too. That's him on the cover, surfing off the coast of Cornwall, or so I read somewhere.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Classics

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

26 remixes doesn't count? it's kind of a statement, in its way. or no?

yes it counts, sorry i was trying to remember all his releases off the top of my head...

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Another vote for Selected Ambient Works 85-92. My first Aphex purchase and still my favourite.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW 85-92 / ICBYD

― pete from the street, Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Donkey Rhubarb.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

(Despite my love for the elephant song, my real answer is _Classics_.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i need to get more of these ep's...

as for my choice (from the ones i've heard) - it's a toss-up between the two selected ambient works.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Depending on mood, SAWI or RJD Album. Haven't heard most of the EPs though.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

remember - it's pick only one. I will only take your first answer.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

impossible and ludicrous to choose, but i will anyway

SAWV2

― rob mcd, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

final few votes please!!

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

sawv2

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Polygon Window-Surfing on Sine Waves, maybe because that's the one that really got me into it.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Garbage EP.

― Leee Iacocca (Leee), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I really can't get into most of his albums as albums, so I'll go w/ ae channelling the best of the SAWs.

― Leee Iacocca (Leee), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW volume II

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

THE RESULTS:

1. Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (13 votes)
1. Selected Ambient Works II (13 votes)
3. I Care Because You Do (5 Votes)
3. Richard D James Album (5 Votes)
5. Classics (3 votes)
5. Surfing On Sine Waves (3 Votes)

Then there are individual votes for Come To Daddy, Analogue Bubblebath 1 & 3, 26 Remixes for Cash and Donkey Rhubarb.

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 12 December 2003 12:17 (twenty-two years ago)

So the SAW's are the most popular by far - strange that they got exactly the same amount of votes (adding up to 26, counting fans!). So maybe we actually prefer Aphex in his chilled-out mode rather than his nutty musical terrorist guise.

A wide range of choices spanning the entire career (but a sincere lack of Druqks, Come To Daddy and Windowlicker for that matter). I personally love everything up to Druqks (a very disppointing effort but not without certain shards of excellence). I really love the Bug remix he released recently through his Men label.

I've found that people get rather rockist with people like Aphex and the whole IDM genre. There's a faction who will always stand up for the early-90s era Warp. I don't really get this as to me, Warp and Aphex's true golden era was 1995-1999. This was when Aphex was at his most prolific and inventive and bands like Autechre, Plaid and BoC were starting to get interesting. There's nothing wrong with minimal bleep techno but I wouldn't want to hear it other nostalgia's sake.

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 12 December 2003 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

ICBYD

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 12 December 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

seventeen years pass...

Today my favourite Aphex Twin album is this slowed-down version of the RDJ Album

slow "Cornish Acid" and "To Cure A Weakling Child" are revelatory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWqf17mUyoQ

― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 29 September 2021 22:00 (four years ago)

I’ll have to check that out.

― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 1 October 2021 21:52 (four years ago)

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