Like my hometown Hoosier hero W Axl Rose, I'm calling out the punks over at Spin magazine for this crappy list supposedly representing the 100 greatest albums of the last two decades. Get in the ring. This has to be the worst, plain stupidest such list I've seen since the time some years ago when Spin picked "It Takes Two" by Rob Base as the greatest single. When was the last time any of y'all actually listened to that bit of effluvia?…
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76 - Matt Olson
How, in the name of God, can you not have The Joshua Tree on this list? That is the biggest injustice I have ever seen. I respect their choice of OK Computer as Number 1, but if you don't have the Joshua Tree on this list they are total, complete morons.
77 - Kidamnesiac
Hmmm... I dont know what to say to you people. To deny that Radiohead doesnt belong in the list is sad. Radiohead is one of the biggest bands in the world, rather they probably are. With their albums in more languages than U2. This wasnt the "greatest" albums which most of you are clearly missing. This is influencial albums, meaning of importance to society and musics future. Not WHAT SELLS THE MOST OR IS PLAYED MOST ON THE RADIO!!! You guys have to realize that it wasnt a list for what is popular or what stayed on number 1 the longest. It was what music needs, what it needs to evolve. For example, without The Beatles or Pink Floyd, would we even have cool music like The Smiths or Radiohead or even U2??? Every band looks at another band for inspiration. Radiohead being one of the biggest inspirational bands on the planet to date. From Incubus to NIN, both admitting in Interviews that they absolutely are fascinated with Radiohead and their ORIGINAL sound. And not that I hate rap, but rap is not something as important as PURE music. Rap is made to sell, thats it, Kid A and Hail To The Theif were obviously not made to sell, but both were released on the net before actual release dates. You would think that this would cause sales to drop, but no, Radiohead fans loved it sooo much even after downloading it they all went out and bought it. So until you get your heads out of your asses and THINK of what this list was about, then maybe u will understand it. ONCE AGAIN this is not the greatest album list as said, it is most influencial or important, meaning for musicians and society as a whole. Thanx and good luck on your further bashing of a band that has done nothing but make music fun.
78 - Al Barger
Kidamnesiac, thanks for dropping by and leaving some thoughtful comments.
However, it seems odd that you would describe Radiohead as a band that "has done nothing but make music fun." That word "fun" is about the last one I'd ever use to describe Radiohead. Not that all music has to be especially "fun."
Also, the Spin list is specifically labeled the "greatest" albums, which you are correct in pointing out does not at all mean the most popular or biggest selling.
However, "greatest" also does not mean the same thing as "most influential." A lot of idiot hair bands have tried to be Bon Jovi, but that still doesn't make Slippery When Wet a great album.
Still, I'd probably listen to Slippery before anything by Radiohead other than "Creep."
79 - Kidamnesiac
Hey, I didnt come by to make or poke fun at any of the bands on or off the list. And when i originally read the article they had said they had picked the bands by importance, not by sales. And yes i use the word fun, because I have a ball listening to them, and as for creep, I think that is one of Radioheads worse and overplayed songs, one of the few on the "radio". I respect all artists for making it big and finding a sound that others like. I really wouldnt care what band made it on this list, it really isnt the best list, and sure radiohead did make number one but thats not why I came on and made a comment. I just don't like when so many people bash a band, either you like them or u dont, you dont have to belittle the people that look up to them and enjoy their sound. If u have ever watched a full Radiohead concert, you would see pure joy in the band performing. They are sharing emotion, emotion is what I believe the centre of music is. Without feeling, what is the point? I thought music came from the heart and the soul, but yet so many people listen to ganstar rap; which talks about their bling bling and how many hoes they have. How is that good music? I have no problem with poeple liking what they like, as everyone has different taste. And in no way am I saying Radiohead deserves number 1, all I am saying is just let people like that they like, make your opinion thats great, everyone want their voice heard. I use to hate Kid A and Amnesiac and wondered "what happened to radiohead". But after many listens, and yes I say many cause it took some time to get into, but after i feel into the music and found it hard to escape its embracing arms. So Al, you have a band you like/love, and in no way would I ever insult what u listen to just cause i dont understand it or like it. All I am saying is that just becuase Radiohead makes number one on some list doestn mean that people that dont like them need to point fingers and belittle the people that do. I really enjoy music, and I listen to way more than just Radiohead. All I am saying is that to me music comes from the heart and is an emotion, without emotion or feeling music seems bare or just some soda pop commercial background music. So in no way did I mean to insult anyone or make Radiohead seem glorified. I just wanted to make my voice heard and say what I felt. Isnt that what these forumsn are all about? Making your opinion and seeing what others think? If it wasnt for opinion and likes/dislikes the world would be a very boring place, everyone would seem like zombies marching to the same old tune. I probably wont post again cause I dont usually do stuff like this, but thanx for your opinion and I understand where you are coming from, but that still doesnt mean I cant have fun listening to Radiohead :). (And i will make sure NOT to listen to creep)
80 - Bob A. Booey
The funniest thing I have read on this site in a long time:
"maybe paul simon isn't on there because he sucks"
Ryan, wherever you are, you're a genius. Please write more often.
Psalm 69 is a great album.
I think anyone who asks for the "best tune" (but only the best, mind you) in Rage Against the Machine's "catalog" isn't ever going to get the point.
The inclusion of The Strokes is going to look really, really silly in five years. Talk about a band that was exposed as poseurs. Rock is dead. There are no Next Big Things, which would be a great name for a band to piss off rock critics.
That is all.
81 - Al Barger
Kidamnesiac, I'm not trying to harsh on you buddy- just comparing notes. People find fun in all kinds of things that seem much odder to me. A lot of people have bought and seem to genuinely enjoy Radiohead.
Myself, I'm more inclined to dig the verities. I had "Smoke on the Water" and "Smokin' in the Boys Room" for breakfast this morning, just for my idea of fun breakfast. Then again, like my hero Tom T Hall, sometimes I like "Bill Monroe for Breakfast."
Do please glorify your favorite band or song in any even half relevant context here at Blogcritics or on my threads. It is encouraged.
Thanks again for your input.
82 - Kidamnesiac
Well I guess after all this posting thing isnt as negative as I originally thought. Al thank you for showing that not everyone is negative and has the time to read and see where others are coming from. I guess this kinda opened my eyes to how people differ and different taste is what makes us uniqie. I hope we all can keep enjoying what is that turns our cranks. Whatever you listen to I hope you have a big smile on your face and love every minute of it. Contiune to have great breakfast music as I know I will. Thanx again.
83 - jimmy
Peter Gabriel- So
Listened to it today. Still sounds great.
84 - Alphie Yink
Dude, Daydream Nation is far from unlistenable. Should have ranked higher. Some of the other SY albums, y, hard listens, but not that one. First class gem.
85 - JBMC
It's a fuckin great list man.
86 - flaming mad
I am really disappointed that the Flaming Lips were missed out, surely the Soft Bulletin has to be one of the most forgotten albums ever? Also Mercury Rev & any of Ghostface killah's stuff should also have had a mention. I say take the Strokes out, I'm sure no one will notice...
87 - Chunky Monkey
Diesel and Dust - Midnight Oil
Temple of the Low Men - Crowded House
Kerosene Hat - Cracker
Dulcinea - Toad the Wet Sprocket
88 - Jealous Belous
Holy Eff!! How can 'Spilt Milk' by Jellyfish not appear in this list????
89 - little one
YES! elliott smith made it on the list, and so high up! finally he's geting the acknwledgement he deserves, such a brilliant album
90 - Matthew S.
Here are the albums that are definitely missing from Spin's list:
The Smashing Pumpkins "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" and "Gish,"
The Beatles "One" (The only Beatles album ever to be the top US selling album for the year of release),
Tool's "Lateralus,"
U2's "The Joshua Tree" and "All That You Can't Leave Behind,"
System of a Down's "Toxicity,"
And at least one album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who is on Spin's list of the 50 greatest bands of all time, but for some reason have been omitted from Spin's list of the top 100 albums since 1985?
I am not completely upset though. I am glad that the Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream" made the list along with U2's "Achtung Baby," "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" by Public Enemy and "College Dropout" by Kanye West. However, Spin seems to be contradicting themselves with this list.
On a previous list of the greatest bands of all time, Spin listed U2 and Nirvana above Radiohead, yet how is Radiohead's "OK Computer" now at number one? Also, if any of Spin's readers can remember back to 1997, Spin bashed "OK Computer" with a review making the album seem like it had no value at all (at one point online, Spin had "OK Computer" listed at 0%). Then Spin comes back to say "Kid A" is Radiohead's greatest achievement (online, Spin listed "Kid A" at 91%)? Also noteworthy, online, Spin once listed Nirvana's "In Utero" at 30%, but listed almost every Smashing Pumpkins album at 90%, and even went on to say "Gish" was the best indie release of 1991. The most glaring missing album is System of a Down's "Toxicity," which Spin once hailed as album of the year.
I actually would prefer to see "Kid A" at number one. "Kid A" did not have music videos but still succeeded because of its sound, believe it or not, almost winning the Grammy for album of the year. With that said, I do consider "OK Computer" to be much more valuable than the 0% Spin previously gave the album. I think "OK Computer" being at number one is a reflection that Spin is trying to please their readers, and not sticking to their true beliefs, and as a result, they have upset many of their readers in the process with their incomplete list. If the writers of Spin are really trying to please their readers, it might suit them to remix the list, making it the top 125 albums. At least Spin could include more albums by The Smashing Pumpkins, U2, Tool, System of a Down, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and somewhere on the list include "One" by The Beatles.
Peace,
Matthew S.
91 - Matthew S.
By the way, I am happy that Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" and Moby's "Everything Is Wrong" made it onto Spin's list.
Peace,
Matthew S.
www.IACMusic.com/MatthewShell
92 - johanna
This list wasnt upon popularity and how many people loved it. It was the album itself. Radiohead's "OK COMPUTER" was a quite a fine album. Who gives a shit if it didnt have music videos?
93 - Al Barger
Johanna, I find it difficult to believe that these albums were picked based on listening to the actual records. I have tried repeatedly listening to Radiohead, but their one actual hit single has been the only memorable thing they've done. I know I have that damned OK Computer album, and have listened to it repeatedly, but it was just not memorable. C'mon guys, throw us a bone- just ONE hook, ok?
And much of this list is FAR worse. PJ Harvey, Slayer, Meat Puppets, Notorious BIG? I swear to Ayn Rand I'd listen to the frickin' Dixie Chicks before I'd listen to any of those.
94 - matthew o.
so ok computer is number 1. if you're looking for a true musical work of art, kid A is the obvious choice. if you're going for something more consistant or accessable or 'easier to listen to', then in my opinion, the bends takes the cake. perhaps ok computer was a comprimise between the 2...
good to see elliot smith, pumpkins, my bloody valentine, at the drive in, wilco and others represented
im sure based on personal tastes any one could argue for additions or subtractions from the list
however im kind of surprised to not see blood sugar sex magik by the red hot chili peppers as well as vs. by pearl jam
also the colour and the shape - foo fighters would have been nice. a solid well rounded album possibly in the top 105...?
im sure im forgetting something important, just as spin has, and how rolling stone has as well if you look at their list. i guess these lists are not impervious to said 'errors'. but remember, no matter how much you agree or disagree with the list, the list has done it's job: selling magazines.
95 - Anzah
hey, hey people....you're (INCLUDING the tough guy who wrote the blog) all forgetting that this list is only takin albums from 1985-2006.....a.k.a, no Beatles, no Stones, no the Who, Led Zep, Elvis watever.
but that's not to say this is a fairly accurate list. ONLY ONE U2 ALBUM?!?!?! ONLY ONE OASIS?? OK COMPUTER BETTER THAN THE BENDS????
crazyville.
96 - Dana
To not have Tori Amos's 1994 "Under the Pink" album in the Top 100 is ridiculous.
97 - Mike
The Soft Bulletin (Flaming Lips) and the Blue Album (Weezer) are two omissions I noticed right away. They would both be in my top 20
98 - Zach Schneller
No Red Hot Chilli Peppers...that is real disappointing. BloodSugarSexMagik AND Californication should be up there. Not to mention no
Oasis
Wilco
Flaming Lips (No Soft Bulletin!!??)
Pearl Jam!!!??
That SPIN list is incredibly atrocious
99 - Zach
Wow, this list is terrible...
100 - Size QueenSuperPouty Big Tito
Yeah and you can see madonna's dead exploited mother in a cow turd and the virgin mary. she appears in dung to tell Madonna to buy more Negro babies and design more made in sweatshop H&M tachsuits.
101 - Aaron
I agree with a lot of these and I'm glad radiohead
took the #1,but who the hell are some of these artists it just kinda seems like darts in a phone
book with some of them/
102 - Aaron
I agree with some of these and I'm glad radiohead
took the #1 spot,but who the hell are some of these artists it just kinda seems like darts in a phone book with some of them. BTW though you guys
did put some good albums on here but YOU MISSED A WHOLE LOT,and god forgive me for saying this but one of Britneys albums should be on here I mean with all the shit she's gone through recentely I think she deserves it. I know I'm gonna get crap
but thats what I believe.
103 - djackman
where's dirt i like that way better than nevermind
104 - Citrus
Radiohead beat out Rage Against The Machine?? I have nothing against Radiohead but, come on, Coldplay's music is more exciting than their music.
I also agree with Outkast and Public Enemy and Green Day, too.
I've read some of the lists on Spinner, and they just don't like those very popular songs of a generation like "The Final Countdown" and stuff. They're too into a genre of rock I've never heard of, apparently...or maybe I'm too into classic rock, whatever.
105 - Dude
yea, we need some pretty hate machine
why is ok computer #1, that's not even radioheads best album????the bends!
106 - Adam
Well, I know this is old but I'm going to comment anyways.
OK Computer is an OK album, but I wouldn't call it the best ever. Most of my favourite (modern) bands/artists are represented on this list. I'm really glad they included Sleater-Kinney, especially in the top 1/4. Anyone who hasn't listened to them definitely should, I'd argue they were one of the best rock bands to exist between 1985 and 2005 (or 1994 and 2006 more specifically).
I get a total "dad rock" vibe from you, Al. I'm not surprised you don't like Sonic Youth. Neither do my parents.
107 - tbone
marshall mathers lp should've been much higher