6 hours ago, Ace Reject said:

Well, none of these albums has been rated previously, and Honey (the song) won @supaspaz his THIS WAS 2018 rate.

Unfortunately, “Nobody” won This Was 2018, even though “Honey” should have been the winner. But that was a fun time! We unabashedly celebrated women and got more than 50 people to participate in a rate featuring Janelle Monae and Mitski.

 

 

6 hours ago, Ace Reject said:

And that brings me to THIS YEAR.

 

Allow me, if you will, to present three lineups (three more to come!):

 

THIS WAS POP 2025: NORTH AMERICA (hosted by @supaspaz)

So Close to What v. Mayhem v. Addison v. Man's Best Friend v. The Life of a Showgirl

 

THIS WAS POP 2025: UK (hosted by... @Eeveelution?)

 

eusexua v. Fancy That v. THAT's SHOWBIZ BABE! v. The Art of Loving v. West End Girl

 

THIS WAS INDIEPOP 2025 PART 1 (OPEN FOR ANYONE)

 

Forever is a Feeling v. I Quit v. Virgin v. Moisturizer v. Willoughby Tucker, I Will Always Love You

exciting!

 

Am I the only one that thinks indie pop has been hella dry lately? 

 

I know ATRL has a serious case of malephobia, but how do we feel about the viability of some "Makes the Man" rates as a cute little counterpart to MTW?

 

Two example line-ups I think could work:

1973 Makes the Man: Aladdin Sane vs. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road vs. Innervisions vs. Let's Get It On

2012 Makes the Man: Channel Orange vs. Good Kid, m.A.A.d City vs. Kaleidoscope Dream vs. Unorthodox Jukebox*

 

*I know 3 of these were already rated way back when but this is pretty ATRL-friendly in my opinion so

 

Edited November 1, 2025Nov 1 by conatus

8 hours ago, supaspaz said:

Unfortunately, "Nobody" won This Was 2018, even though "Honey" should have been the winner. But that was a fun time! We unabashedly celebrated women and got more than 50 people to participate in a rate featuring Janelle Monae and Mitski.

 

 

Can't see the thread but happy that Mitski won! She delivered one of the best albums of 2018 so nice to see her getting her flowers. 

1 hour ago, Eeveelution said:

Can't see the thread but happy that Mitski won! She delivered one of the best albums of 2018 so nice to see her getting her flowers. 

I forget that all of our amazing old rates are archived. Bums me out!

 

 

I'd like to host a spin-off of The International Madonnas aka International Britneys and Gagas (one rate since there aren't many individuals who have been referred to as such) after conatus is done with his rate. The line-up has been finalized, and the interest is here.

On 6/26/2017 at 10:54 PM, Tom Vercetti said:

Live. 

Is 2018 considered part of the This Was Pop series or the Makes The Woman series? @Ace Reject 🫣

6 hours ago, Graves said:

Is 2018 considered part of the This Was Pop series or the Makes The Woman series? @Ace Reject 🫣

Makes The Woman!

On 11/1/2025 at 4:36 PM, Suilen said:

I'd like to host a spin-off of The International Madonnas aka International Britneys and Gagas (one rate since there aren't many individuals who have been referred to as such) after conatus is done with his rate. The line-up has been finalized, and the interest is here.

Sure!

On 11/1/2025 at 5:33 AM, conatus said:

I know ATRL has a serious case of malephobia, but how do we feel about the viability of some "Makes the Man" rates as a cute little counterpart to MTW?

 

Two example line-ups I think could work:

1973 Makes the Man: Aladdin Sane vs. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road vs. Innervisions vs. Let's Get It On

2012 Makes the Man: Channel Orange vs. Good Kid, m.A.A.d City vs. Kaleidoscope Dream vs. Unorthodox Jukebox*

 

*I know 3 of these were already rated way back when but this is pretty ATRL-friendly in my opinion so

 

I saw this post, and was mulling over it! 2012 would make the most sense to start. Obviously 1987 is right there for a redo as well, and maybe even 1982 (MJ/Prince/Lionel/Bruce/Phil/John Cougar Mellencamp) or 83 (Lionel/Bowie) or 84!

 

The 90s would be tough, wouldn't they? MAYBE 94 but how would that fit this site's taste? (Jeff Buckley, Nas, Biggie... pop wasn't generally being done that decade!)

2 minutes ago, Ace Reject said:

I saw this post, and was mulling over it! 2012 would make the most sense to start. Obviously 1987 is right there for a redo as well, and maybe even 1982 (MJ/Prince/Lionel/Bruce/Phil/John Cougar Mellencamp) or 83 (Lionel/Bowie) or 84!

 

The 90s would be tough, wouldn't they? MAYBE 94 but how would that fit this site's taste? (Jeff Buckley, Nas, Biggie... pop wasn't generally being done that decade!)

Thriller/1999/Nebraska are the no-brainers for '82 for sure, and I'd be tempted to sneak in The Nightfly over some of those others... But maybe that's just me!

 

2015 might also work? Sufjan vs. Kendrick vs. The Weeknd vs. ... Someone else?

 

'84 was one I was considering too, but I wasn't sure where we stood on Purple Rain. I assume the addition to the '87 line-up would be Tunnel of Love?

11 minutes ago, conatus said:

Thriller/1999/Nebraska are the no-brainers for '82 for sure, and I'd be tempted to sneak in The Nightfly over some of those others... But maybe that's just me!

 

2015 might also work? Sufjan vs. Kendrick vs. The Weeknd vs. ... Someone else?

 

'84 was one I was considering too, but I wasn't sure where we stood on Purple Rain. I assume the addition to the '87 line-up would be Tunnel of Love?

 

Time for my king to win! And also, unlike say Florence + The Machine or Nine Inch Nails, Tame Impala really is JUST Kevin Parker so "Currents" can be the fifth.

The concept of Mac DeMarco winning an atrl rate 

Some more ideas that would never work on ATRL!

 

2000: The Marshall Mathers LP vs. Country Grammar vs. Hot Shot vs. Voodoo vs. Sound Loaded (just generally ignoring R. Kelly’s existence here and everywhere)

2001: The Blueprint vs. 8701 vs. Invincible vs. Escape vs. Room For Squares (and add “Love and Theft” for shits and giggles)

 

2002: The Eminem Show vs. Nellyville vs. Justified vs. Sea Change vs. The Rising (or American IV)

 

2003: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ vs. Speakerboxxx vs. The Love Below vs. The Black Album vs. Heavier Things (or keep it fully among the rappers with Jackpot or Street Dreams instead)

 

2004: Confessions vs. The College Dropout vs. Smile vs. (ugh, I guess) Encore vs. (do we need to acknowledge country here?) Live Like You Were Dying  or When the Sun Goes Down

 

I know these are dumb, but this is such a fun exercise!

And now I’m excited about a 2004 rock rate: Green Day, The Killers, Arcade Fire, U2 and then maybe close it out with Franz Ferdinand or Modest Mouse. That would slay!

Just now, supaspaz said:

Voodoo

Already claimed this one anyway for a rate that is definitely happening and I will definitely get to, sorry

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1019150

 

The way we actually rated some of those once already. This throwback!

1 minute ago, conatus said:

Already claimed this one anyway for a rate that is definitely happening and I will definitely get to, sorry

 

And I believe you, for sure

 

4 minutes ago, supaspaz said:

2002: The Eminem Show vs. Nellyville vs. Justified vs. Sea Change vs. The Rising

Just now, conatus said:

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1019150

 

The way we actually rated some of those once already. This throwback!

Oh, now you care about repeating albums…
 

Allegedly I participated in this but I have no recollection. Great winner!

1 minute ago, Graves said:

9/11 culture made Bruce a pop star again!

2 minutes ago, conatus said:

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1019150

 

The way we actually rated some of those once already. This throwback!

Usher locked out of the Top 5 is nasty business.

1 minute ago, supaspaz said:

Oh, now you care about repeating albums…
 

Allegedly I participated in this but I have no recollection. Great winner!

Oh I'm down to repeat albums as many times as possible if the concepts are fun.

 

Not Eminem though. Once is too much when it comes to Marsha.