First up: NME's Top 10 British Albums of All Time. I'll be the judge of that.
UK music publication NME has released an excerpt of their poll of the Top 100 British Albums of All Time. The full list will appear in NME's January 28 issue. Apparently my invitation to participate in the poll got lost in the mail (some folks call it post, I call it mail). It is clearly an atrocious oversight on their part. How could they conduct a poll of British music without inviting me? I am not British but I still like to put the "u" in flavour and favourite and colour! That has to be close enough.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Shark
Most of this Top 10 looks like it was written by an 18 year old.
Two words, brit motards:
~The.
~Sixties.
an aside:
Ironically, *Radiohead is Number One on Shark's list of the Top 10 Most Overrated Faux-intellectual College Frat Boy Oh-Ain't I Eclectic and Cool Bands in history.)
* tunes for kiddies who just discovered their brains -- and yet don't have a clue about the history of contemporary music.
Best line: Saleski's "low-rent King Crimson"
heh. Don't they wish.
27 - Simon
Well the list isn't any good! (actually the person who's sold most records in England is cliff richard)
They left a whole load of good stuff out. Obviously this is ust ignorant people's opinion! I say BAH! to them.
28 - Matias, o sea yo..
i must admit im from the minority but i think you should have included Radiohead in that list, and Pink Floyd, i dont know much about Pulp, but come on, you really think Pulp is better than Pink or Radiohead?, come on...
what's that said artic monkeys? i've never heard anything like that, where is elton john? where are the rolling stones? come on.. this list is so weak i can't even think in anything worst than this.., well maybe if you included some hip-hop artist yeah.., by the way, where the f*ck is the cure's greatest work ever disintegration??
i dont believe in this thing.
sorry, i just don't.
29 - rob
Matias, I was also surprised to not see any Cure on the list. I'm not a huge fan, but I no a lot of people that thought/think the world of them. I also find it strange that Pink Floyd, the Stones, Radiohead aren't there. I always thought highly of The Kinks too. To each his own.
30 - J. P. Spencer
I own 6 of the ten. I own a Blur "Best Of..." disc, but that never counts.
And any list of best UK records that doesn't have "The White Album" in the top 10 (though Revolver is amazing on its own) just isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
And I agree with everything positive anyone said about Radiohead in the posts above.
31 - Dave Nalle
I own the same three as Mark Saleski.
As with all of these lists, I think this one is seriously flawed.
Based on sheer number of great songs and on influence, Elvis Costello's This Year's Model should be in the top 10.
I'd also have expected to see Who's Next and something to represent The Animals, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones on the list. The idea that Oasis could possibly have an album better than the best of those three bands is ludicrous.
And as personal favorites I'd have put Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks and Cool for Cats by Squeeze on there. The Buzzcocks were the real version of what the Sex Pistols were pretending to be and Cool for Cats has some of the best written pop songs of all time on it.
And who the hell are The Arctic Monkeys and Stone Roses? The flavor of the week should't get in the top 10 just because some editor at NME thinks they're hip.
Dave
32 - Michael J. West
Two words, brit motards:
~The.
~Sixties.
Dear Baby Boom Generation:
Get over yourself.
Kisses,
Mike
33 - Dave Nalle
Ok, I've now listened to some songs by The Arctic Monkeys and Stone Roses - iTunes sure is great.
The Arctic Monkeys are just awful. Half the bands playing bars in Austin are more talented and more original. The fact that they're even in the top 10 shows how trend driven and meaningless this list is.
The Stone Roses on the other hand are a nice, bland, generic 80s band. My 13 year old daughter will love them. Easily deserving of being in the top 100. Top 10 not in a million years.
Dave
34 - Michael J. West
And who the hell are The Arctic Monkeys and Stone Roses? The flavor of the week should't get in the top 10 just because some editor at NME thinks they're hip.
The Arctic Monkeys thing is definitely Flavor of the Week, being that it's not even OUT yet in the U.S. Preposterous as an entry on this and not to be taken seriously.
The Stone Roses, however, belong on any list of Top Ten British albums. For one thing, the album came out in 1989, so it's not Flavor of the Week; for another, it may be the rock album of the past 20 years. Any guitar band formed since then has been seriously influenced by SR.
35 - Dave Nalle
SR sounds like watered down Squeeze filtered through late Kinks stuff to me. Nothing really remarkable about it at all. Certainly not as significant a guitar band as Social Distortion from that same era.
BTW, my 13 year old has now listened to both bands - she's home sick - and disagrees with me. She thinks SR sucks and that Arctic Monkey might get some play in the US.
Dave
36 - Michael J. West
Not as significant as Social Distortion? SD was great and all, Dave, but I am not joking when I suggest that the self-titled SR album was the Sgt. Pepper of its era.
37 - Dave Nalle
Oh, and I missed that Blur and Pulp were on the list. WTF, wasn't Oasis enough to represent the era of unlistenable dreck?
Dave
38 - Dave Nalle
The Sgt Pepper of its era? By that you mean unlistenable and self-indulgent?
Dave
39 - Michael J. West
I'm talking influence, Dave. I'm kinda weary of Sgt. Pepper, too. But if I'd wanted to talk about unlistenable self-indulgence, I'd have mentioned the favorite band of this thread, King Crimson.
40 - Mark Saleski
Any guitar band formed since then has been seriously influenced by SR.
maybe in the uk.
i never 'got' the whole manchester sound anyway...thought the Stone Roses were really, really boring.
41 - DJRadiohead
As Saleski well knows, although I kick myself for not having made the point larger, my Top 2 of 2005 [from my podcast] are both from Manchester bands with brothers. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid on that one.
I do think the list is slightly skewed in its historical view (particularly the Arctic Monkeys). I also think it would be skewed to continue on with the notion that nothing good was recorded after 1972. I think most of these lists quickly get unbalanced. In fairness to NME, their full list documents 100, not just 10. Maybe the full list does a better job of being representative.
42 - DJRadiohead
Let me also pick up on something that has run through the comments that I mentioned in the article...
I've been thinking a lot about the absence of say, The Stones. There are a lot of music critics who don't think the Stones were ever a good ALBUM band. Yeah, they wrote some great songs but they never delivered a great album. Myself, I think that's rubbish. However Exile is generally considered their great album but there really wasn't a huge single on it. Does a great album have to have a great single? Not necessarily, but most of them do. I still think The Stones should have been on there.
43 - Michael J. West
maybe in the uk.
Well, yes. But it's a UK list, in'it?
44 - Mark Saleski
looks like you're going to have to pick up the other 90.
time to start lobbying the wife to whom you are married.
buy some kneepads.
45 - Michael J. West
I'd've picked Let It Bleed, personally, DJRadiohead, but you're right. The Stones should have made the list.
46 - DJRadiohead
Good call, Michael. Let it Bleed would be a VERY close second for me. Great album. One of them should have been there.
47 - DJRadiohead
Saleski, I would like to think I have some of those other 90. But you're right, the lobbying effort would be intense.
48 - Mark Saleski
true mjw....it's sort of interesting how some bands can be huge in britain and hardly make a ripple over here (and vice versa).
49 - Dave Nalle
DJR, put aside the Stones for a second and tell me why you think Who's Next shouldn't be in that top 10.
Dave
50 - Michael J. West
I can't understand where zingzing is during all of this? This NME list practically demands one of his rants.
51 - DJRadiohead
Dave, I mentioned in the article that The Who were conspicuously absent from the Top 10. Myself, I am stunned Bowie got shutout too. Influence? Holy shit!
Now for my shameful confession. I'm not a big Who guy. I actually have a column on that forthcoming or I might do it on the podcast. It's that thing of "Band/Artist You Should Like That For Some Damn Reason You Don't." I love so many of The Who's peers and the music of that era. For some damn reason, The Who are the one band that... well they just don't do it for me. I've listened to them. I have talked to friends of mine who are down to try and get some insight. I've just... I've never gotten into them. All of that said, The Who have been amazingly influential and successful. I can't believe they got shoved out the Top 10.
52 - Michael J. West
I would probably have to put My Bloody Valentine's Loveless on that list, too, although it can probably fit in the Top 15.
53 - Dave Nalle
More troubling than The Who getting shoved out of the top 10 is the crap that got in there instead. I suspect this was a list composed by 20 somethings who are completely oblivious to music recorded before they were born.
Dave
54 - DJRadiohead
Dave, that is why I am going to journey through this Top 10. I am going to determine the righteous and the shite. I am going to listen to it all. Every note. I will then report back to you all. This is just one of the many services I, DJRadiohead, willingly and courageously perform for Blogcritics, God, Country, Man, Woman, Child, Beast, and others (I wussed out, I had names instead of 'others' but could not bring myself to do it).
I am willing to bet all 10 of these albums belong in the 100. I am just not sure they are slotted correctly. That's my initial position heading into the process. I will see if I still feel that way at the end.
55 - zingzing
(zingzing rides in on a cow who obviously needs to be milked.) WEEE-OOOo! bessy.
hey! dave! listen to "i am the resurrection" and "fools gold" by stone roses! then get back to me and mike. that album is definitely the start of 90's british rock.
i don't know that it deserves to be #1... but if the title of the piece was "top 100 albums that influenced the way british people make and buy rock music in the 21st century," then it would be #1 on that list. toot sweet.
not being able to see the full 100, i have a question or two: where is new order!? where is the fall!? MY BLOODY VALENTINE!?!? not putting bowie in there (even if they would have put ziggy stardust) removes any credibility this list could have had.
modern life is rubbish--rubbish!--parklife, mother fuckers!
oasis!? rub my nuts. artic monkeys?! flavor of the week.
and dexy's midnight runners-don't stand me down should top the list. *drool*
56 - Michael J. West
I suspect this was a list composed by 20 somethings who are completely oblivious to music recorded before they were born.
This is one of the things that I get a little tense about. I'm a twentysomething who is vastly well-versed to music recorded before I was born and I still think that music of my lifetime belongs on this list.
But twentysomethings who are oblivious to music recorded before they were born are no worse than forty- and fiftysomethings who are completely oblivious to music recorded after 1980.
57 - zingzing
here's the top 100:
sorry, editors... i don't know how to do that thing where you turn it all blue and the rest of it just disappears... [email me at editoratlarge (at) gmail if you want an explanation. Comments Editor]
58 - DJRadiohead
Whichever chapter Oasis winds up being in my saga is going to get me covered in scorn and derision. I must be the only man in America who likes Oasis. Perhaps the world. Fuck a duck. I just got a new Oasis single in the mail this morning (it came Royal Mail!) along with a soundtrack with a new Oasis song. You guys are going to clobber me. Oh, well. So be it. Definitely Maybe is fucking tops in my book. I love that album.
I like the Stone Roses stuff I've heard. I just don't have the debut album in its entirety.
Zingzing, I have heard some back and forth on which Blur was better: Parklife or Modern Life is Rubbish. I'll have to check out both. I only have Best of Blur.
And Michael, agreed.
59 - Michael J. West
Oh, God. The Specials made the list? Wake me when it's over.
60 - Dave Nalle
The Specials are GODS, Michael, GODS I tell you!
Dave
61 - Dave Nalle
The full 100 list is just as fucked up as the top 10. No Animals, no Squeeze in the top 100? You've got to be kidding me.
Dave
62 - Michael J. West
I have to agree with you there, Dave. The list sucks. Although I don't like Squeeze, and I think the Animals were a definite singles band, the list sucks.
63 - DJRadiohead
That list is a bit rubbish. Franz Ferdinand is nice and all but they're 40 places in front of Bowie and 20 in front of the first mention of The Stones? I don't fuckin' think so.
Wow. Shocking.
64 - DJRadiohead
OK, I read the list a little more closely. I calmed down and actually read the list this time.
{wait for it}
{wait for it}
I still think it sucks! HA!
Of course there are some great records on that list but I don't think they came close to getting it right. That said... my quest will be completed. I will not be deterred.
65 - Michael J. West
How can a country with such great music have such terrible taste therein?
66 - zingzing
dude, look at america when you say that.
67 - Michael J. West
Point taken.
68 - some guy
Hmm, the beatles are 9, but oasis is 3? As someone else said, Oasis wouldn't even be Oasis if it weren't for the Beatles. Plus they're crap... Ok, ok, well I dont like them. But come on, the Beatles are way better.
Also, why are the pistols at 4, but The Clash is at 8? The pistols may be bigger, but you have to remember something... No shit they were bigger, they were a fake, crappy fabrication that couldn't play their instruments. They sucked. At least the clash had some talent.
69 - Michael J. West
Well, some guy, I think impact counts as much as quality if you're talking about "greatness," and the Sex Pistols WERE the punk revolution in England.
70 - zingzing
and the guitar player from the pistols could play. listen to god save the queen. details! details!
that said, where the fuck is p.i.l.?
71 - Scott
The top 10 looks ok...although many of those records are in the wrong order, I mean, shouldn't the Beatles be #1?
72 - mr nobody
I think this is totally incorrect, there looking at popular bands and not really caring about the music, how can artic monkeys be in there? its only been out a week or two...its a great album never the less...This is one reason why NME sucks and i will never read it.
73 - Shark
#57 Michael J. West: "I suspect this was a list composed by 20 somethings who are completely oblivious to music recorded before they were born."
#27 - Shark: "Most of this Top 10 looks like it was written by an 18 year old. ...kiddies who just discovered their brains -- and yet don't have a clue about the history of contemporary music."
Wow! A 20-something who is almost as smart and articulate as a Baby Boomer.
))) Shark STILL can't get over his Baby Boomer self....cuz... (((
I WAS THERE, BABE.
kiss-kiss
S
74 - zingzing
it was dave that said that, shark. here is what 20-something michael j said:
"This is one of the things that I get a little tense about. I'm a twentysomething who is vastly well-versed to music recorded before I was born and I still think that music of my lifetime belongs on this list.
But twentysomethings who are oblivious to music recorded before they were born are no worse than forty- and fiftysomethings who are completely oblivious to music recorded after 1980."
which, is obviously true. get over the 60's. there is music coming out today that would blow your mind.
75 - Michael J. West
Sharky Poo,
Yes, indeed--I was quoting Dave Nalle when I said that. And at the risk of being super-repetitious, I'd like to draw your attention to one piece of comment #57 in particular, so even though Zingzing just quoted it above I'm going to restate it anyway:
twentysomethings who are oblivious to music recorded before they were born are no worse than forty- and fiftysomethings who are completely oblivious to music recorded after 1980.
The 60s were great! They were also four decades ago.
Thirty-six years' worth of music has transpired since the '60s ended. And some of it is--brace yourself--BETTER than a good deal of music from the 60s!