man I'm starting to think 85-92 is getting a Dark Side of The Moon-style critical turnaround, it used to be the easiest #1 pick for everyone (at least in the electronic music community I follow) and now seemingly every ranking like this I see is like "eh ok it's not THAT good". I've seen so many people in more recent years disparage it for feeling too dated or simplistic or playing to a now played-out formula or whatever else, but here I am feeling like all these decades of people making this liminal-spacey melodic ambient techno in the exact same style still haven't seen a single person top how perfectly crafted pretty much all those pieces are. still my fav, idc more than happy to see the drukqs love here tho
The only thing I dislike about the album is the Ageispolis melody, always thought it sounded like random improv that was looped. Everything else is S tier for me. I don't hate Melon for not being crazy about it though, it's electronic music every person will interpret it differently
i think part of it is that the narrative for a long time was that this album invented ambient techno (if not idm as a whole) and while it certainly helped popularize it, there were already people making this sort of music like everyone else on the "artificial intelligence" compilation which came out before it
@@4tadolol very personal anecdote but I have an electronic playlist and the first track is Aegispolis so I’ve heard the opening notes of that song probably a million times (when I forget to turn on shuffle) and yeah it definitely becomes pretty grating and unappealing after a while
I think the general love for this record and it's classic status stem from the fact that it is an overall blueprint that the following records would not exist without. In the same way that Rage Against the Machine's debut is the blueprint and is so beloved, even though a lot of people recently (including Melon himself) prefer Evil Empire.
@@SantanaThePM no it is way too long. The exciting engaging part of the song is the beginning and middle then it tappers off in a way that is just kind of boring and slow imo. Not saying every song needs to be a banger but this one starts that way and then drags on.
I remember reading an interview with Aphex Twin in which he mentioned one of his children was playing Minecraft. He heard the music from the game and asked himself, "Wait, when did I make that?"
I think Richard has called C418 a rip off of him in the past, but he likes to do a lot of trolling in interviews so he probably doesn’t harbour any ill-will towards him. C418 himself has admitted that he takes a lot of influence from Aphex Twin, and if you listen to the music he made before Minecraft it’s even more noticeable
Richard was born in 1971, are we really just glossing over the fact that "Ambient Works 85-92" implies there is work on that album from when he was fourteen years old?
'I' is supposedly the earliest track and there's a lot of evidence to suggest it was made in 86. Tbh i'm sure the vast majority of that album was made from 89 onwards. Still super impressive though
i think mike paradinas (aka u-ziq, a fellow idm producer who has made a collab album with aphex twin) once tweeted that he suspects that there isn't any track on the album made before 1990
It's my favourite Aphex Twin album, I think one of the reasons it tends to be underrated is because it kinda sits between two extremes of what most people look for with his music - ambient music or crazy IDM/acid techno. ICBYD is kinda patience testing the way SAAII is, but is too abrasive and all over the place to be background or mood music. I think that's why I like it though, it's chaotic in a way that feels honest to the artist and is the moodiest thing he's done to date. I love IDM but it scratches a different itch to this, where it feels like the culmination of everything I love about early techno and acid house. The way the waxen pith feels like bliss with these hints of something sinister in the second half, how icct hedral just builds and builds tension with no release, then songs like Alberto balsalm that just sit in this beautiful melancholy. It's hard to pick a least favorite Aphex Twin album at any rate, so I get why it generally gets the short end of the stick. But I think it's brilliant in a similar, messy way to Drukqs that I find very appealing.
“Tha” off 85-92 is the closest thing humans have ever recorded to true perfection, and nothing I’ve ever listened to reaches such an ethereal high as it does. Pretty much the same story with Xtal, too.
@@zinax3819 one track ive been listening to a bunch lately is "model 500 - starlight (intrusion dub)" (tho it's maybe more in the realms of ambient music). other than that there's a lot of mixes and stuff on youtube you can check out
I went through the worst plane ride of my life listening to SAW II, was an overnight and had a middle seat and both random people kept falling asleep on my shoulders
Yea, I’ve been in that same obsession over the past few weeks. I think that Flashbulb video got me going. It’s very interesting, if you haven’t seen it.
I said yes to every point you made about Richard D. James Album. I just love, love, love this record! But I'm a little disappointed that you didn't mention IZ-US in any way. It's probably one of my top three all time favorite Aphex Twin songs. It's so soft and yet so energetic - a perfect mix of both sides of Richard's work.
Story of how I came to accept Ventolin: ICBYD was my favourite Aphex Twin album, but I thought Ventolin, stuck right in the middle, was its weakness. 'If only Ventolin weren't there, it's my start to finish favourite'. I was saved when I got many mice in my apartment, whom I learned despise sounds at extreme frequencies. Turns out 'Ventolin' kept them away! It may keep humans away too! ICBYD is now official 10/10
Love it dude. Really surprised at how similar I would have tiered albums. Almost identical. Respect the syro updated appreciation in the years since that review. Awesome video!!! Tracker Richard was so ahead of his time in particular with those drukgz/come to daddy/hangable auto bulb/Rdj album that I bet listening 30 years from now it will still feel fresh. Good stuff!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
I would consider all of the AFX & The Tuss stuff just as canon as the rest - Analog Bubblebath, Analord (you could add just Chosen Lords if you didn't wanna review every single 2 track vinyl), Orphaned DJ Selek, Rushup etc. - Also what about Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Pt. 2? Also all the EPs, Cheetah, Collapse, Donkey Rhubarb - they aren't albums but just as important releases and not really singles for the most part. Also Classics is an album, though technically it's a compilation. Would be nice to do a more complete tier list. I Pretty much agree with the rankings - though for me SAW2 is S tier (so unique, trippy and disturbing, so enveloping) and RDJ is C, just because the emotions are more plastic to me on that one - but that's just my personal preference.
Also 26 mixes for cash and Expert Knob Twiddlers. Also, I've met thousands of Aphex Fans (I mod the fb groud - yes I know it's been dead for a while) and I've found that there are 3 types of fans. Those that like the crazy IDM but don't like SAWII, those who like the ambient stuff but don't like Druqks, and those that like both.
Hell yeah, finally got to hear words on drukQs! In my opinion, Aphex Twin is at his peak when he's doing something "crazy", rather that be overwhelmingly ambient or mind-crushingly chaotic. But I feel like most people, including Fantano, miss out on how good Syro is for its "elevator music" elements. It's so mind-bending hearing a track that, on the surface, feels really simple and not taking very many insane opportunities, but if you sit down and pay attention to each instrument, you quickly lose yourself as how fast every instrument is shuffling under your feet. Just because the complexity isn't immediately obvious doesn't mean that it isn't there, or inherently has less value than when it's all up in your face with its complexity. I think that's why I've always imagined Syro to be a more mature and calmed-down version of drukQs.
I have a similar opinion on syro, it feels like the best combination of all his sounds. Like if you were to perfectly blend the prepared piano/experimental electronic druqks cuts into one seamless album. Aisatana is so beautiful
meh. he can shelve it for all I care. they're up there with the beatles with how much they've been gushed over. fine enough music, but I don't think melon's take on it is going to be particularly interesting compared to the dozens of existing tier lists covering them.
Drukqs is the best one. absolutely brilliant album that was filled with variety and was ahead of its time not only in sound but also in concept and presentation.
Selected Works Volume II is one of my favorite, most important, and most played albums of all time and that is saying something. It was a landmark discovery for me. Life changing. Timeless and astonishing. It is so unique, it challenges me that he is also the author of all his other albums.
Syro is my favorite RDJ project, although I can understand why people find it a bit dull. It's a very sentimental album, and it feels like a tribute to his family (his wife and kids are sampled on several tracks) as well as electronic music in general. It's also a huge flex of his production skills with all the analogue machines he throws into the mix. I definitely need to be in a type of mood to listen to it but I always feel uplifted afterwards.
I feel like if you're doing an Aphex Twin tier list, you should include his EPs and maybe even some of the soundcloud stuff as well. He's released a lot of stuff over the years, but he doesn't have a ton of albums.
the problem is that it would be sort of a herculean task, especially because - if we really want to be so thorough with it - fantano should theoretically review everything he made under the dozen or more names aphex twin has... but then it would be too much work and the video wouldn't flow well - it's supposed to be a short overview through a titanic, FAMOUS artist's discography (and he is not famous for his analord or polygon window work)
I think you've massively underrated ICBYD honestly. To me, it sits right up there with both SAW albums. Melodically speaking, it's one of Richard's strongest works, front-to-back. Yes, this includes Ventolin, which actually has a nice bassline underneath all the high frequency tones. Also some of his darkest sounding tracks feature here, like Icct Hedral, Come On You Slags, and Next Heap With. I will admit the mixing can get muddy at times, and there's a lot of presumably unintended bass distortion. Then again, SAW 85-92 was mastered from slightly worn cassette tapes, and that hasn't taken away from the experience for me... 🤷♂
I would say the difference between the mixing for SAW and ICBYD is that the distortion on the former works well with the more ambient atmosphere, while the latter is more beat-focused which clashes with how flat everything sounds in the mix.
Its nice to see Anthony claim Druqks as his favorite album of all time. Here's a list in no particular order of releases and colabs of ole Aphex Bae :D Analord Series Selected Ambient Works Vol 1 85-92 Surfing On Sine Waves Selected Ambient Works Vol 2 Analogue Bubblebath Vol 1-5 Pac-man Q Chastic Xylem Tube Quoth Portreath Harbour/ Redruth School Ventolin Ventolin EP The Remixes Classics Digeridoo Universal Indicator 1-4 Gak Joyrex J1 - J5 Joyrex J9i Joyrex J9ii Donkey Rhubarb The Tuss On On Remixes Quex-RD LFO/AFX Hangable Auto Bulb 2 Hangable Auto Bulb Extras Bradley's Beat Bradley's Robot I Care Because You Do Polygon Window Mike & Rich Expert Knob Twiddlers Windowlicker Caustic Window LP Caustic Window Compilation Melodies On Mars Girl/Boy Richard D James Album Come To Daddy 2 Remixes By AFX Druqks Druqks 2 Track Promo Rushup Edge Smojphace 26 Mixes For Cash Confederation Trough Syro Cheetah Syrobonkers Modular Trax London 3/16/17 Soundcloud Releases Orphans 3 Gerald Remix/ 24 Tism 2 Collapse Green Calx Orphaned Deejay Selek Umil 25-01 Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Peel Session Peel Session 2 Syrobonkers Interview Korg-Trax+Tunings For Falling Asleep Mt Fuji Houston 12-17-16 Manchester 20-09-19 Field Day Raindrops On Roses Therenody Mix Blackbox life recorder 21f / in a room7 F760
Richard D James is his best imo for every reason you described. It has the complexity you would expect from Aphex Twin, but the catchy melodies and the childlike attitude the album exudes makes that rythmic complexity incredilby digestible and addictive.
I'm so proud u put Drukqs in S tier. It's mounted on my studio wall I love it so much. Personally though, I consider CHOSEN LORDS a legit Aphex Twin studio album even though I know it was a mastered AFX Analord series best-of compilation technically... But that thing is a straight up masterpiece of S tier quality and it is SORELY FORGOTTEN! It belongs on this list so hard
pretty correct ranking, glad to see drukQs getting the love it deserves, and though I agree that Syro isn't as exciting as much of his other stuff I appreciate its existence as "a modern Aphex Twin record" if that makes any sense
The Analord series needs mention! It sounds more like regular dance music, and isn't produced with the same details as some of his other releases. The amount of material is really impressive, though! It's a good one to have on to create a vibe in the room when you're doing something, and it's 4+ hours of Aphex grooves when played consecutively. Nice!
I disagree with ...ICBYD and AW's placement here but I'm glad to see your love and appreciation for Volume II and Drukqs. Also bumping Syro up was based. Overall, I think Ambient Works Volume II and Come To Daddy are my favorite Richard records by far.
Love that you finally did this ❤ His EPs have some of my favourite tracks of his, namely the Classics compilation. As far as the LPs go though S: SAW 85-92, Drukqs A:Richard D James B: SAW II, Come to Daddy, Syro C: I Care... SAW II, I've only listened to in full maybe once, it's just such a fucking investment and some of the tracks don't do much for me....
To me, 85-92 is S tier.....not dated, fresh, feels timeless...sure not every track, but you go back to that album, it feels so unique, it stands out in the best way possible.
While I disagree with your tier choices, I will like this video because you are exposing more people to this amazing artist, and for that, you deserve love and to have the video spread further....I care because you do.
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
man I'm starting to think 85-92 is getting a Dark Side of The Moon-style critical turnaround, it used to be the easiest #1 pick for everyone (at least in the electronic music community I follow) and now seemingly every ranking like this I see is like "eh ok it's not THAT good". I've seen so many people in more recent years disparage it for feeling too dated or simplistic or playing to a now played-out formula or whatever else, but here I am feeling like all these decades of people making this liminal-spacey melodic ambient techno in the exact same style still haven't seen a single person top how perfectly crafted pretty much all those pieces are. still my fav, idc
more than happy to see the drukqs love here tho
The only thing I dislike about the album is the Ageispolis melody, always thought it sounded like random improv that was looped. Everything else is S tier for me. I don't hate Melon for not being crazy about it though, it's electronic music every person will interpret it differently
i think part of it is that the narrative for a long time was that this album invented ambient techno (if not idm as a whole) and while it certainly helped popularize it, there were already people making this sort of music like everyone else on the "artificial intelligence" compilation which came out before it
it was just cool to say you liked it and now the people who say they liked it are actually listening to it and getting disappointed
@@4tadolol very personal anecdote but I have an electronic playlist and the first track is Aegispolis so I’ve heard the opening notes of that song probably a million times (when I forget to turn on shuffle) and yeah it definitely becomes pretty grating and unappealing after a while
I think the general love for this record and it's classic status stem from the fact that it is an overall blueprint that the following records would not exist without. In the same way that Rage Against the Machine's debut is the blueprint and is so beloved, even though a lot of people recently (including Melon himself) prefer Evil Empire.
The most depressing part of this video was finding out that Syro came out 10 years ago.
dear god.. yeah that's crazy.
My back hurts
I’m now crippled
I came here to say the exact same thing. _looney toons jaw drop_
All my teeth just fell out.
they’re all S tier btw
That's a correct answer
Hmmm no
Agreed.
@@innerbloomsethmmm yes
Dissagree
Can't believe Aphex Twin ripped off Radiohead's Kid A BEFORE that album came out, smh
what resemblance does drukqs have with kid a?
(i know that this is a joke. just playing with it.)
come on man whyd you ruin the comment with an explanation if ur gonna rage bait commit to it
IKR. Now that I think of it. He has ripped them off throughout the entire 80s and 90s
@@DaHatBat even the 70s!
@@aunteggmaniache’s referring to his work before drukqs lol
COME ON YOU MELON LET'S HAVE SOME APHEX ACID
Not the lyrics I remember 😂
Disappointed you didn’t attempt to pronounce any track name off of Drukqs
I heard they come from a dead language, and some are totally made-up, so it's hardly worth a try.
Also I've always thought it's "drug use" not "drugs"
Cock/Ver10
@@SwiatlocienCorrect!
@@CuteFluffyCatVideosthat’s the exact reason it is worth a try
Mount Saint Michael + St Michael's Mount is one of the best electronic songs ever made
Great song, one of my favorite Aphex Twin songs, but you’re overrating it.
@@CoNiCuZn no no no, it deserves it
@@CoNiCuZnNah
Yes
@@SantanaThePM no it is way too long. The exciting engaging part of the song is the beginning and middle then it tappers off in a way that is just kind of boring and slow imo. Not saying every song needs to be a banger but this one starts that way and then drags on.
SAW 85-92 IS KING
Xtal - Tha - Pulsewidth greatest opening trio ever
I put “Tha” in a sleep-oriented playlist for my little niece a couple years ago. Still pretty proud of that one.
Xtal is a religious experience
Absolutely clean, blew my mind when I first discovered them.
Duh, of course it is. Heliosphan is mabye a bit overplayed but still in my head its one of his best tracks. Melon is getting too edgy here
That album helps me study so much
The Anthony D. Fantano Video
Basically lol
I see Aphex Twin I click
I'm starting to think the guy on the thumbnail isn't James Hetfield
I clicked so fast, yeah!
neuron activation at its finest
Autechre tier list when
Id rather an Autechre tier list than a Pink Floyd one from melon atp
never bruh go start a family
Anthony hasnt even heard elseq or NTS which are undeniably top-tier releases
He said he’s not interested in listening to nts sessions, huge L and also means this is never happening
@@llamapie24 beyond facts there is no argument
Richard has such an insane ear for melodies. He will use the most fucked sounds and make something beautiful with them.
W take on Druqks, proto-Minecraft music
I remember reading an interview with Aphex Twin in which he mentioned one of his children was playing Minecraft. He heard the music from the game and asked himself, "Wait, when did I make that?"
I think Richard has called C418 a rip off of him in the past, but he likes to do a lot of trolling in interviews so he probably doesn’t harbour any ill-will towards him. C418 himself has admitted that he takes a lot of influence from Aphex Twin, and if you listen to the music he made before Minecraft it’s even more noticeable
proto-Minecraft music? NO, minecraft music IS Druqks, stop saying nonsense
Yeah C418 has said he’s taken lots of inspiration from Aphex and Clark, pretty cool
i believe in vordhosbn supremacy
I love virdhosbn
Literally just listened to this song like an hour ago.
John Coltrame
vordhosbn is peak food
One of his very best 🤩
thank you so much pookie this is all i’ve ever wanted
no way...
@@antony-tv2yi nice pfp dawg
yall both got great taste 🙌🏼
TBE
@@bmbmbm05 it's a fish, not a dog. get your eyes checked
The problem is that all of his music is just S Tier
Richard was born in 1971, are we really just glossing over the fact that "Ambient Works 85-92" implies there is work on that album from when he was fourteen years old?
There's even older stuff in the SoundCloud dump...
@@jed303 I simply cannot believe he was just making this stuff on his own at that age
'I' is supposedly the earliest track and there's a lot of evidence to suggest it was made in 86. Tbh i'm sure the vast majority of that album was made from 89 onwards. Still super impressive though
@@Sebrewer32 what's the evidence for i being made in 86?
i think mike paradinas (aka u-ziq, a fellow idm producer who has made a collab album with aphex twin) once tweeted that he suspects that there isn't any track on the album made before 1990
ICBYD is underrated. Often misunderstood imo. I feel that record is still very ambient
It's my favourite Aphex Twin album, I think one of the reasons it tends to be underrated is because it kinda sits between two extremes of what most people look for with his music - ambient music or crazy IDM/acid techno. ICBYD is kinda patience testing the way SAAII is, but is too abrasive and all over the place to be background or mood music.
I think that's why I like it though, it's chaotic in a way that feels honest to the artist and is the moodiest thing he's done to date. I love IDM but it scratches a different itch to this, where it feels like the culmination of everything I love about early techno and acid house. The way the waxen pith feels like bliss with these hints of something sinister in the second half, how icct hedral just builds and builds tension with no release, then songs like Alberto balsalm that just sit in this beautiful melancholy.
It's hard to pick a least favorite Aphex Twin album at any rate, so I get why it generally gets the short end of the stick. But I think it's brilliant in a similar, messy way to Drukqs that I find very appealing.
its my favorite aphex album, its ambient but still carrying a driving abrasivene
That was my first Aphex Twin album and my personal favorite, probably because of that.
I used to sleep on it a bit but Acrid acid jam shred, mookid the unreleased sekonda! Some of my utmost favourite Aphex tracks ever
It's his worst full length. Some classic tracks, some garbage
“Tha” off 85-92 is the closest thing humans have ever recorded to true perfection, and nothing I’ve ever listened to reaches such an ethereal high as it does. Pretty much the same story with Xtal, too.
it sounds like you might enjoy getting into some dub techno or something tbh
@@mutantfreak48 mayhaps
@@mutantfreak48Any recommendations?
I think Tha is just a tad bit too long, but other than that, it's an AMAZING song. Def still one of my favorites
@@zinax3819 one track ive been listening to a bunch lately is "model 500 - starlight (intrusion dub)" (tho it's maybe more in the realms of ambient music). other than that there's a lot of mixes and stuff on youtube you can check out
DRUKQS IN S TIER LFG
It deserves it. Maybe his best honestly.
not for pitchfork
ambient works is for baby men. us hard, strong men kqs our druk, and hold it well
@@blarghblarghi like bof
it's peak Aphex Twin. It's iconic. I don't understand how it's even a debate.
Albertony Baltano
Aphex got me through university. His most ambient stuff was the soundtrack to my studying.
SAME
I will do the same. Wish me luck.
SAW II is the best album ever made for staring out an airplane window at sunset
it's a top 5 album of all time for me. #1 and #17 are incredible
I went through the worst plane ride of my life listening to SAW II, was an overnight and had a middle seat and both random people kept falling asleep on my shoulders
#20 is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard
Listen to Promises by Floating Points, hits hard on a plane
And simultaneously being the soundtrack to your nightmares
makes me happy to see people coming around on drukqs its such a great record
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS RANKING BRO SAW92 IN B?????
Yeah, it should have been in D.
i think drugks should be there instead. RDJA, SAW92 and SAW2 should all be S tier
@@jd1800fuck this guy on about
druqks is immaculate
@@caitlynsult2685Drukqs is one of the greatest albums ever made. Period.
The Cure tierlist perhaps, my melon??
Put "I Care Because You Do" on C is such a crime. That album is so underrated
The opener is one of the best things Richard ever released.
@@enneff I totally agree with you, one of the most original opener of the IDM.
already pissed about this video 7 seconds in
Pie? Are you fucking kidding me?
Was pissed immediately upon seeing the thumbnail
I pissed myself seeing the thumbnail
I pissed for seven seconds seven seconds into this video
I was already pissed about this video eventually being made when Anthony Fantano started doing artist tier lists
Right when I'm going through an Aphex Twin obsession
You gotta check out the Analord series.
U cant miss the soundcloud dump, listen to 14 Cornish Spreek, one of his best
@@bandaidtoxin yo never heard this one before, so goooood
Yea, I’ve been in that same obsession over the past few weeks. I think that Flashbulb video got me going. It’s very interesting, if you haven’t seen it.
@@joaquimnorberg3580there’s like 200+ songs in the dump, there’s bound to be hidden gems
It's criminal putting SAW 85-92 in the B tier.
why?
Nah, it's a B
@@eleven9286 profile pic checks out 🤜
I said yes to every point you made about Richard D. James Album. I just love, love, love this record! But I'm a little disappointed that you didn't mention IZ-US in any way. It's probably one of my top three all time favorite Aphex Twin songs. It's so soft and yet so energetic - a perfect mix of both sides of Richard's work.
Windowlicker's video is the hardest troll move in the history of the universe.
Boards of Canada next?
He must include the non-official releases (cassettes etc) or imo there's no point.
YESSS
Not enough releases
S. Goegaddi
A.
B. MHTRTC, The Campfire Headphase
C. Tomorrow's Harvest
@@andrei11drdidn’t event mention Hi Scores???
Godspeed Tier List when????????
this
Story of how I came to accept Ventolin: ICBYD was my favourite Aphex Twin album, but I thought Ventolin, stuck right in the middle, was its weakness. 'If only Ventolin weren't there, it's my start to finish favourite'. I was saved when I got many mice in my apartment, whom I learned despise sounds at extreme frequencies. Turns out 'Ventolin' kept them away! It may keep humans away too!
ICBYD is now official 10/10
drukqs goated, never knew people weren’t crazy about it
Oh yeah, everyone I knew back then were very disappointed. Funny to think about now.
Love it dude. Really surprised at how similar I would have tiered albums. Almost identical. Respect the syro updated appreciation in the years since that review. Awesome video!!! Tracker Richard was so ahead of his time in particular with those drukgz/come to daddy/hangable auto bulb/Rdj album that I bet listening 30 years from now it will still feel fresh. Good stuff!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
You’ve got so many machines, Richard
I haven't got THAT many!
Only Richard can have a classic/10 record on B tier lol, suffering from success.
Aphex's stuff is legendary. Forever mind-blowing
Thank you for this Aphex Twin tier list! I have been waiting for this Aphex Twin tier list!
I would consider all of the AFX & The Tuss stuff just as canon as the rest - Analog Bubblebath, Analord (you could add just Chosen Lords if you didn't wanna review every single 2 track vinyl), Orphaned DJ Selek, Rushup etc. - Also what about Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Pt. 2? Also all the EPs, Cheetah, Collapse, Donkey Rhubarb - they aren't albums but just as important releases and not really singles for the most part. Also Classics is an album, though technically it's a compilation.
Would be nice to do a more complete tier list. I Pretty much agree with the rankings - though for me SAW2 is S tier (so unique, trippy and disturbing, so enveloping) and RDJ is C, just because the emotions are more plastic to me on that one - but that's just my personal preference.
Also 26 mixes for cash and Expert Knob Twiddlers. Also, I've met thousands of Aphex Fans (I mod the fb groud - yes I know it's been dead for a while) and I've found that there are 3 types of fans. Those that like the crazy IDM but don't like SAWII, those who like the ambient stuff but don't like Druqks, and those that like both.
Hell yeah, finally got to hear words on drukQs!
In my opinion, Aphex Twin is at his peak when he's doing something "crazy", rather that be overwhelmingly ambient or mind-crushingly chaotic. But I feel like most people, including Fantano, miss out on how good Syro is for its "elevator music" elements. It's so mind-bending hearing a track that, on the surface, feels really simple and not taking very many insane opportunities, but if you sit down and pay attention to each instrument, you quickly lose yourself as how fast every instrument is shuffling under your feet. Just because the complexity isn't immediately obvious doesn't mean that it isn't there, or inherently has less value than when it's all up in your face with its complexity. I think that's why I've always imagined Syro to be a more mature and calmed-down version of drukQs.
I have a similar opinion on syro, it feels like the best combination of all his sounds. Like if you were to perfectly blend the prepared piano/experimental electronic druqks cuts into one seamless album. Aisatana is so beautiful
Syro is good, but to me it felt like a downgrade from The Tuss project where he did a lot of similar things but better.
@@palchristianandersen9086 Oh my god, you're right, I forgot about that! The Tuss is truly amazing
Yesss drukqs in S tier‼️
Justice for syro
Agree. Some of the best, most well-rounded shit he's ever made.
yes
You timed this pretty well in my life personally, just became the biggest aphex twin fan over the last month
I agree with Drukqs being S tier. Work of genius. Selected Ambients are both S tiers as well, but I'll just have cake on my birthday.
I think Syro is his funkiest record and I like it for that
Where is Pink Floyd tier list melon?!?!
Waiting on that and that mf beatles tier
He said he was working on it like a year ago smh
Never 👎
It was a Worst To Best, which I guess takes longer? Wouldn't think it would take a year though...
meh. he can shelve it for all I care. they're up there with the beatles with how much they've been gushed over. fine enough music, but I don't think melon's take on it is going to be particularly interesting compared to the dozens of existing tier lists covering them.
Drukqs is the best one. absolutely brilliant album that was filled with variety and was ahead of its time not only in sound but also in concept and presentation.
You mucked this one up huge.
Selected Works Volume II is one of my favorite, most important, and most played albums of all time and that is saying something. It was a landmark discovery for me. Life changing. Timeless and astonishing. It is so unique, it challenges me that he is also the author of all his other albums.
We need an Autechre tier list Antny!
I think he's only reviewed one Autechre album. They're better than Aphex Twin IMO
@@44rxnini75 Check out their new live stuff
Syro is my favorite RDJ project, although I can understand why people find it a bit dull. It's a very sentimental album, and it feels like a tribute to his family (his wife and kids are sampled on several tracks) as well as electronic music in general. It's also a huge flex of his production skills with all the analogue machines he throws into the mix. I definitely need to be in a type of mood to listen to it but I always feel uplifted afterwards.
Pink Floyd tierlist gonna break the internet
why? everyone knows wywh > gaytri > wall > doesanyonelistentoanyofthatothershit
@@blarghblargh Not the Piper disrespect and calling DSOTM gay triangle 😭
@@blarghblarghyou forgo animals
I feel like if you're doing an Aphex Twin tier list, you should include his EPs and maybe even some of the soundcloud stuff as well. He's released a lot of stuff over the years, but he doesn't have a ton of albums.
Cheetah's one of his best records i think
Also the AFX and Caustic Window stuff deserves mention. It’s all part of the body of work.
@@enneff You could make a tier list just of Analord EPs!
the problem is that it would be sort of a herculean task, especially because - if we really want to be so thorough with it - fantano should theoretically review everything he made under the dozen or more names aphex twin has... but then it would be too much work and the video wouldn't flow well - it's supposed to be a short overview through a titanic, FAMOUS artist's discography (and he is not famous for his analord or polygon window work)
"26 mixes for Cash" not being in the list makes me cry. It's in my TOP 1 AT list.
Always thought Drukqs was his best myself and easily my favorite, love to see the ranking
Should've added albums Richard had under different names like Caustic Window or AFX
It’s amazing what Aphex Twin was able to achieve on such limited hardware and software
Aphex Twin is probably one of my favorite musical duos since Cocteau Twins!
"It's these people called the aphex twins"
@@ihaveagoddamnplanarthur I remember when he won a Grammy for Syro and the announcer said "congrats to them." lol
@@zackzallie8735 SeeeeeRow... Aphecs Twins
Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount is the best DnB song of all time
it's definitely the best something but it isnt DnB
the best song of all time*
I remember listening to this track when the album first dropped and I knew I'd be coming back for years to come
I'm always blown away by the track. It's incredible rhythmic and melodic complexity and progression. One of my favs of all time
Many people are saying this.
I think you've massively underrated ICBYD honestly. To me, it sits right up there with both SAW albums. Melodically speaking, it's one of Richard's strongest works, front-to-back. Yes, this includes Ventolin, which actually has a nice bassline underneath all the high frequency tones. Also some of his darkest sounding tracks feature here, like Icct Hedral, Come On You Slags, and Next Heap With. I will admit the mixing can get muddy at times, and there's a lot of presumably unintended bass distortion. Then again, SAW 85-92 was mastered from slightly worn cassette tapes, and that hasn't taken away from the experience for me... 🤷♂
I would say the difference between the mixing for SAW and ICBYD is that the distortion on the former works well with the more ambient atmosphere, while the latter is more beat-focused which clashes with how flat everything sounds in the mix.
Its nice to see Anthony claim Druqks as his favorite album of all time.
Here's a list in no particular order of releases and colabs of ole Aphex Bae :D
Analord Series
Selected Ambient Works Vol 1 85-92
Surfing On Sine Waves
Selected Ambient Works Vol 2
Analogue Bubblebath Vol 1-5
Pac-man
Q Chastic
Xylem Tube
Quoth
Portreath Harbour/ Redruth School
Ventolin
Ventolin EP The Remixes
Classics
Digeridoo
Universal Indicator 1-4
Gak
Joyrex J1 - J5
Joyrex J9i
Joyrex J9ii
Donkey Rhubarb
The Tuss
On
On Remixes
Quex-RD
LFO/AFX
Hangable Auto Bulb 2
Hangable Auto Bulb Extras
Bradley's Beat
Bradley's Robot
I Care Because You Do
Polygon Window
Mike & Rich Expert Knob Twiddlers
Windowlicker
Caustic Window LP
Caustic Window Compilation
Melodies On Mars
Girl/Boy
Richard D James Album
Come To Daddy
2 Remixes By AFX
Druqks
Druqks 2 Track Promo
Rushup Edge
Smojphace
26 Mixes For Cash
Confederation Trough
Syro
Cheetah
Syrobonkers
Modular Trax
London 3/16/17
Soundcloud Releases
Orphans
3 Gerald Remix/ 24 Tism 2
Collapse
Green Calx
Orphaned Deejay Selek
Umil 25-01
Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments
Peel Session
Peel Session 2
Syrobonkers Interview
Korg-Trax+Tunings For Falling Asleep
Mt Fuji
Houston 12-17-16
Manchester 20-09-19
Field Day
Raindrops On Roses
Therenody Mix
Blackbox life recorder 21f / in a room7 F760
Kosmik Kommando. But this is amazing.
Richard D James is his best imo for every reason you described. It has the complexity you would expect from Aphex Twin, but the catchy melodies and the childlike attitude the album exudes makes that rythmic complexity incredilby digestible and addictive.
All jam packed in a nice breezy 35 mins or so
I'm so proud u put Drukqs in S tier. It's mounted on my studio wall I love it so much. Personally though, I consider CHOSEN LORDS a legit Aphex Twin studio album even though I know it was a mastered AFX Analord series best-of compilation technically... But that thing is a straight up masterpiece of S tier quality and it is SORELY FORGOTTEN! It belongs on this list so hard
Drukqs is a fucking masterpiece and so incredibly ahead of it's time. I'm still finding new things to love about it 20+ years later.
I have been waiting for this for so long
Swans Live Albums tierlist when?
The breakdown at the back end of 54 Cymru Beats is orgasmic.
Grandma's Boy introduced me to Aphex Twin. Windowlicker still hits hard.
Taking triple C's and watching the windowlicker music video on repeat was a formative experience in my teenage years lmao
I care because you do is such a banger
based as fuck
I think most RDJ fans would find this ranking pretty reasonable, honestly. My list would be pretty similar.
Robert Downey Jr
I think a lot of them are ambient heads tho. But I am in camp melon on this one.
As a big long term AFX head i quite agree. It's reasonable, though Syro grew on me a bit more over time.
Run Da Jewels
I think the average RDJ fan would put 85-92 in S tier tho
Ventolin is unironically my favorite Aphex song.
I can never go one minute into ventolin without getting a migraine 🤣
Why do you UNIRONICALLY talk like that
The Tuss and Analord Series are the best he's done, the best anyone's done in electronic music.
epic AFX era/both leading up to syro
@@vico805Been listening to analord series on a regular basis for almost 20 years now. It's the top for me.
pretty correct ranking, glad to see drukQs getting the love it deserves, and though I agree that Syro isn't as exciting as much of his other stuff I appreciate its existence as "a modern Aphex Twin record" if that makes any sense
didn't photoshop The Face onto your own for the thumbnail 0/10 video do better melon
The Analord series needs mention!
It sounds more like regular dance music, and isn't produced with the same details as some of his other releases.
The amount of material is really impressive, though!
It's a good one to have on to create a vibe in the room when you're doing something, and it's 4+ hours of Aphex grooves when played consecutively. Nice!
I disagree with ...ICBYD and AW's placement here but I'm glad to see your love and appreciation for Volume II and Drukqs. Also bumping Syro up was based. Overall, I think Ambient Works Volume II and Come To Daddy are my favorite Richard records by far.
Yes!!!! Been waiting for you to cover Aphex Twin. Couldn't figure out why you didn't mention him in your Rick Beato rebuke. Thank you🎉
He was making his album covers like that 30 years before every TH-cam thumbnail started looking like that lmao
What happened to the Pink Floyd worst to best that was teased like 6 months ago?
Who else found Aphex Twin from a 240p upload of "Come To Daddy" on very early TH-cam?
Try mtv when your like 7
Believe it or not, CKY2k was my first exposure to Come to Daddy
My first was Windowlicker director's cut. Although had heard of him since well known cornish artist.
OG napster
Love that you finally did this ❤
His EPs have some of my favourite tracks of his, namely the Classics compilation.
As far as the LPs go though
S: SAW 85-92, Drukqs
A:Richard D James
B: SAW II, Come to Daddy, Syro
C: I Care...
SAW II, I've only listened to in full maybe once, it's just such a fucking investment and some of the tracks don't do much for me....
I’m actually excited to watch this
Aphex Twin Ambient Works Vol. 1 & 2 are both S tier 🎶🏆
"I ain't neva gonna stop listening to Aphex Twin!"
great tier list! agree with most, but would personally put SAW II in S
I'm glad you specifically called out Ventolin. Shit is legit funny to me.
To me, 85-92 is S tier.....not dated, fresh, feels timeless...sure not every track, but you go back to that album, it feels so unique, it stands out in the best way possible.
XTAL AND THEN THA!
Classic Review for Saw 2 Plz
Remember when you were gonna do a Pink Floyd tier list? Pepperidge Farms remembers.
Richard's creative ability is only matched by his ability to refine that ability
While I disagree with your tier choices, I will like this video because you are exposing more people to this amazing artist, and for that, you deserve love and to have the video spread further....I care because you do.
This was an enjoyable list to watch over and get a second opinion on. Tho I gotta ask, can we get a Swans tier list?
thank you melon! now i know my favorite aphex twin album! 🥰
Right when i’m getting back into aphex twin lets gooo
Remember asking you to do this in a livestream, glad you're doing it
Nevermind he just put SAW at B what the actual fuck
Drukqs so underrated
I'm glad you came around to it cuz I was bumping 180db since it dropped and I ain't give a fuck, that track rules