In its September/October issue, Magnet Magazine, the best publication dealing primarily with underground music, issued its list of the Top 60 albums of the past 10 years. My commentary as to its Top 10 (which follow) appear in italics.
10. Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die (Thrill Jockey, 1996)
Though I likely would have selected TNT, an excellent choice from the oeuvre of the pre-eminent post-rock band.
9. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (Matador, 1994)
Hmmm..... Slanted and Enchanted is a more complete album and worthy of a Top 10 bid — but falls outside the last ten-year period. Therefore, a wise choice.
8. Verve - Urban Hymns (Virgin, 1997)
Everybody but the Editor has bought into this album...
7. Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (Matador, 1997)
Something by Yo La Tengo is worthy of a Top 10 bid and this is as worthy a choice as the other post-1993 candidates.
6. Breeders - Last Splash (4AD/Elektra, 1993)
Cannonball!
5. Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister (The Enclave, 1997)
Great album. Critics' darlings. Not Top 10 for the last decade.... Yes, "Stars of Track and Field" and "Me & the Major" are superb bits of twee.
4. Radiohead - OK Computer (Capitol, 1997)
I agree, though I personally prefer the more diverse Kid A.
3. Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes (Matador, 1995)
Claims from diehard GBV fans notwithstanding, Alien Lanes is a more complete album than Bee Thousand.
2. Nirvana - In Utero (DGC, 1993)
Again, something from Nirvana must be in the Top 10. This choice is probably a better one than Nevermind.
You really should pick up the latest issue of Magnet and read this yourself.... Drum roll, please......
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Interesting list, very heavy on the Matador, which is a great label but...
I have never even heard of Neutral Milk Hotel, don't much like "In Utero," dislike the Verve, like other Yo la Tengo better, love "Canonball" but the rest of Last Splash is fairly weak, agree with you about "Slanted and Enchanted."
Will have to think about this more.
2 - Mark Saleski
love that Tortoise record...it's sometimes fun to listen to stuff that makes you think your cd player is on the fritz
3 - Christian Hauschild
I must say, The Verve never did it for me either. Neither did In Utero..Something by Nirvana - yes - but anything other than In Utero would do.
Otherwise a good list.
4 - BRICKLAYER
"The Aeroplane over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel is a downright incredible, life affirming, spititual, heart warming, smile inducing, perfect record. They nailed it with this choice. However, something from the Archers of Loaf should have made the top ten, dangit!
5 - Eric Olsen
I refuse to believe I am the only one who has not 1) heard the record, 2) even heard OF Neutral Milk Hotel
6 - Sabo
BRICKLAYER couldn't have said it any better, Eric. You really should check it out. Go here to download a song of the Merge website.
As for BRICKLAYER's mention of the Archers of Loaf -- I agree that Icky Mettle is one of the best 10 albums of the 1990s, but it falls outside the ten-year parameter of Magnet's list. All the Nation's Airports is another brilliant album, as is Vee Vee with their best album song, "Harnessed in Slums". I probably wouldn't put either of those in the Top 10 of the last 10 years though.
As for Christian's comment, In Utero really is the only studio album that was released in the last 10 years -- compilations don't count.
7 - Rodney Welch
Eric, I've heard of Neutral Milk hotel, but only because a guy on another forum sings their praises constantly. Anyway, my question is, am I the only one who gives a shit about Lotion? I mean, besides Thomas Pynchon, whom I admit turned me on to the band in the first place?
8 - The Theory
eric, you are the only one who has not heard of NMH. Granted, I have only heard of them and not checked out the music... but still.
9 - Eric Olsen
Well ... I've heard of other stuff, and I have a big truck.
10 - Tom Johnson
Eric, you really need to get yourself a copy of In An Aeroplane Over The Sea. I just found this in the past year, but It's such a wonderful change of pace from everything else out there. Brick's comments sum it all up perfectly.
Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, Yo La Tengo, Tortoise, Guided By Voices - I agree with all these choices, and I'll even throw in Nirvana even though I personally really can't stand them. I *get* these bands influences on the music world, but I'm sorry to say I just don't with the rest. I mean, The Breeders? Really? Or The Verve? I never even cared about them.
The list is skewed to indie-pop, for the most part, and that's okay because indie's always been so culturally inverted and introspective. I see this list as representative of what influenced today's indie-rock/pop, but, as Steve points out, it ignores every other type of music. Indie's importance in the past decade cannot be ignored, but neither can the rest of the genres out there. To say these and only these albums influenced everything that's out there is ridiculous.
Damn these stupid lists. They get me so worked up.
11 - Steve Rhodes
Neutral Milk Hotel was part of the Elephant 6 collective which includes Apples in Stereo, Beulah, and Olivia Tremor Control (which like NMH broke up after becoming critics darlings).
These and other bands have been featured at the Terrastock festivals.
12 - Tim Hall
I can't see any list of "10 most influential albums" can ignore Rhapsody; without them, operatic Dungeons and Dragons pomp metal as we know it today would not exist ;)
13 - andy
oh no! hahaha hahahahaha hahahahahaha!
14 - Jim Carruthers
She likes things on 4.A.D.
He likes things on SST
I like things I get in the mail for free.
15 - Sabo
After reading some of the comments, I re-read the Magnet piece: I mistakenly wrote "most INFLUENTIAL" albums, when the piece actually dealt with "BEST" albums of the last decade. I apologize for the error (and for getting you avid music fans riled up).
The Magnet issue *does* have a section on the 10 most INFLUENTIAL artists.
16 - mickspace
This list could have been better, who cares about the breeders any more? Where are they now? Magnet missed some great artist on this list, whom produced better albums than the list shows. I will do my own list...... who needs their opinion any way.
17 - David
Yeah, we're all holding our breath waiting for your list, mickspace. That'll be a doozy!