I suspect that some of these picks come from wanting rock critic pets that just never ever could actually make a hit. Listen to the nasty off key atonal screeching of PJ Harvey, shrieking "Lick my legs of desire!" Ugh, no thank you. There's no danger that these editors will ever have to share her attentions with all them teenagers down at the mall. Hell, even I would rather listen to Britney Spears than this nonsense.
For whatever reasons, they've chosen here to canonize some of the dumbest window lickers in the music biz. The Meat Puppets and Slayer are pretty much worthless idiots, at least professionally speaking. Perhaps they're real nice fellows if you get to know them, but these are not real bands.
Then there's Sonic Youth, truly the most egregiously unlistenable critics pets of a generation. Any critic that comes up carrying on about this band should be considered highly suspect as to their credibility to judge music. Lengthy excursions of tuneless guitar screeching do not constitute music genius. They just represent unlistenable noise.
Consider some of what does NOT make their list. They've got plenty of room for multiple mediocre Radiohead and Husker Du records, but for starters there's no Paul Simon. Uh, Graceland, anyone? Nor is there any Elvis Costello. Apparently he's not cool anymore. There's no Sinead O'Connor here, or Tori Amos. Plus, there's no Michael Jackson. Terence Trent D'Arby? Richard Frickin' Thompson?!
Also, there's nothing here resembling a country album. There's no Johnny Cash, most egregiously. He did some of the finest work of his whole career in those last ten years at American. Dolly Parton has made some great bluegrass oriented records here recently. Granted, she's no Hole, but really. Oh, and there's June Carter.
Be looking for the official correct list of the 100 Best Albums of This Generation from me shortly, and for similar corrective input on this burning question from other Blogcritics.
In the meantime, here's the Spin magazine picks for the 100 Greatest Albums of the Last 20 Years:
1. OK Computer Radiohead 1997
2. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Public Enemy 1988
3. Nevermind Nirvana 1991
4. Slanted and Enchanted Pavement 1992
5. The Queen Is Dead The Smiths 1986
6. Surfer Rosa The Pixies 1988
7. 3 Feet High and Rising De La Soul 1989
8. Sign O the Times Prince 1987
9. Rid of Me PJ Harvey 1993
10. Straight Outta Compton NWA 1988
11. Achtung Baby U2 1991
12. Paul's Boutique Beastie Boys 1989
13. New Day Rising Husker Du 1985
14. Daydream Nation Sonic Youth 1988
15. Exile in Guyville Liz Phair 1993
16. Odelay Beck 1996
17. Illmatic Nas 1994
18. Appetite for Destruction Guns n Roses 1987
19. Live Through This Hole 1994
20. Enter the Wu Tang Clan (36 Chambers) Wu-Tang Clan 1993
21. Fear of a Black Planet Public Enemy 1990
22. Loveless My Bloody Valentine 1991
23. Stankonia Outkast 2000
24. Dig Me Out Sleater-Kinney 1997
25. The Downward Spiral Nine Inch Nails 1994
26. Post Bjork 1995
27. The Head on the Door The Cure 1985
28. Definitely Maybe Oasis 1994
29. 13 Songs Fugazi 1989
30. Ready to Die Notorious BIG 1994
31. You're Living All Over Me Dionsaur Jr 1987
32. Tim The Replacements 1985
33. AmeriKKKas Most Wanted Ice Cube 1990
34. Either/Or Elliott Smith 1997
35. The Chronic Dr Dre 1992
36. Doolittle The Pixies 1989
37. Bee Thousand Guided by Voices 1994
38. The Low End Theory A Tribe Called Quest 1991
39. Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams 1988
40. Raising Hell Run DMC 1986
41. Siamese Dream Smashing Pumpkins 1993
42. Nothing's Shocking Jane's Addiction 1988
43. Criminal Minded Boogie Down Productions 1987
44. Dookie Green Day 1994
45. College Dropout Kanye West 2004
46. This Nation's Saving Grace The Fall 1985
47. Paid in Full Eric B & Rakim 1987
48. Kid A Radiohead 2000
49. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill 1998
50. Low Life New Order 1985
51. In Utero Nirvana 1993
52. Licensed to Ill Beastie Boys 1986
53. The Battle of Los Angeles Rage Against the Machine 1999
54. Last Splash The Breeders 1993
55. Dig Your Own Hole The Chemical Brothers 1997
56. To Bring You My Love PJ Harvey 1995
57. White Blood Cells The White Stripes 2001
58. Master of Puppets Metallica 1986
59. The Lonesome Crowded West Modest Mouse 1997
60. De La Soul Is Dead De La Soul 1991
61. Pinkerton Weezer 1996
62. Supa Dupa Fly Missy Elliott 1997
63. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Pavement 1994
64. The Marshal Mathers LP Eminem 2000
65. Remedy Basement Jaxx 1999
66. Aquemini Outkast 1998
67. Reign in Blood Slayer 1986
68. Maxiquaye Tricky 1995
69. Entroducing DJ Shadow DJ Shadow 1996
70. The Blueprint Jay Z 2001
71. Psychocandy The Jesus and Mary Chain 1985
72. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Raekwon 1995
73. Different Class Pulp 1995
74. Dummy Portishead 1994
75. Le Tigre Le Tigre 1999
76. If You're Feeling Sinister Belle and Sebastian 1997
77. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Wilco 2002
78. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses 1989
79. Everything Is Wrong Moby 1995
80. Voodoo D'Angelo 2000
81. Mellow Gold Beck 1994
82. Grace Jeff Buckley 1994
83. Relationship of Command At the Drive-In 2000
84. Superunknown Soundgarden 1994
85. Automatic for the People REM 1992
86. Up on the Sun Meat Puppets 1985
87. Parklife Blur 1994
88. Emperor Tomato Ketchup Stereolab 1996
89. Fever to Tell Yeah Yeah Yeahs 2003
90. Sister Sonic Youth 1987
91. Skylarking XTC 1986
92. Atomizer Big Black 1986
93. Ten Pearl Jam 1991
94. Spiderland Slint 1991
95. Elastica Elastica 1995
96. Rum, Sodomy & the Lash The Pogues 1985
97. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Neutral Milk Hotel 1998
98. When I Was Born for the 7th Time Cornershop 1997
99. Gentlemen Afghan Whigs 1993
100. Is This It The Strokes 2001
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
96. Rum, Sodomy & the Lash The Pogues 1985
that it's on the list AT ALL is a marvellous suprise. that it's so shamefully low, is, alas, expected these days.
great article, Al. you never cease to amuse an delight.
2 - Tan The Man
I always thought SPIN magazine had a severe leaning towards hard rock. I didn't think their critics could critique any music other than hard rock. At least that's the impression I got with the magazine. I more or less agree with top 10. I need more time to sink before looking over the next 90. I'm surprised that At The Drive In's album is on the list. And why is Pearl Jam so low?
3 - gonzo marx
no Tool...especially Undertow or even AEnima
no Primus...Sailing the Seas of Cheese anyone?
no Bad Motorfinger by Soudgarden?
no Rage Against the Machine?
no End of Silence by Henry Rollins?
no Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails?
no Jagged Little Pill from Alanis Morrisette?
no Tori Amos?
no Rush?
no brains or ears or taste at Spin magazine!
nuff said?
Excelsior!
4 - ihateoreilly
Oh my Gosh..it's blog critic Al! I thought you would have committed suicide after Madonna gave what is considered to be the greatest television performance since the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan. Must hurt, Al! This is going to be a bigger ouch...my brother attended the concert in Hyde park. Not even a big Madonna fan, he said he has NEVER seen an audience so moved by a performance in his whole entire life (he picked up the albums Ray of Light and Music today). And all you right wingers can do is post pictures of Madonna jokingly giving the middle finger to her keyboardist during rehearsals and say, "Oh...she sweared..how terrible." Got news for you Al..the rest of the year will be a nightmare. New album comes out soon and it's said to be like "Ray of Light" pumped up 200 percent. HA HA HA Boo hoo Boo hoo....THE QUEEN IS BACK!
5 - Jose Alvarez
This list is a joke. Where is "Ray of Light" by Madonna or "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morisette.
6 - DJRadiohead
Nice they included "Definitely Maybe" but how the hell could they have left off "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" Insane.
I knew Mark Lanegan wouldn't make the list, but he should have.
7 - uao
I truly hate lists like this, but I'm a sucker for 'em too.
Among my favorites that apparaently left no impression on the Spin crew include:
The Verve: (any of their three studio albums)
Spiritualized: Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Mazzy Star: So Tonight That I Might See
Death In Vegas: Scorpio Rising
Happy Mondays: Pills N Thrills N Bellyaches
Tiny Lights: Hazel's Wreath
10,000 Maniacs: In My Tribe
Squirrel Bait Skag Heaven
However, I'm pleased they didn't forget Skylarking.
8 - Al Barger
Ihateoreilly, you seem to think I sit around spiting Madonna all day, apparently because I'm "right wing." That's cool if it gets you any entertainment.
However, look for my come correct album list in a day or two, and try not to be too disappointed to find a Madonna album or two on it. She hasn't written a real song in a dozen or more years, but going back 20, you're getting into prime time.
9 - Rodney Welch
I can't speak for all the stuff on the list, but Courtney Love's Live Through This, Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, and PJ Harvey's To Bring You My Love are all great albums, and I truly believe they'll last for years to come. Especially Love's, which if anything probably should have cut the top ten.
Other thoughts:
*No real quarrel with the Top Ten, although I don't make a habit of either listening to or admiring OK Computer. The Public Enemy record is brilliant.
*I've never really "gotten" Pavement. Maybe you had to be there.
*Ditto Liz Phair.
*Glad to see the irreplaceable Replacements have not been forgotten.
*Ditto Smashing Pumpkins.
*I agree Elvis is a serious omission; King of America is a great record. Also, if you're going to include wimpy arty heart on the sleeve stuff, why go for a lame Belle and Sebastian disc when you can have Magnetic Fields' magisterial 69 Love Songs?
10 - Aaman
It's surprising The Verve's "Urban Hymns" didn't make this list - Live 8 someone called it(Bittersweet Symphony) the best song ever
Elvis Costello is perhaps not hot across the pond
11 - uao
I'm reminded of a story Cameron Crowe used to tell about the time he tried to interview Jimmy Page back in the 70's.
Page was pissed that Rolling Stone had panned Led Zeppelin in the past, and wasn't willing to talk.
Crowe said, "You know, if you bought every album Rolling Stone gave five stars to, you'd have the worst record collection in history"
Page mulled that over, and granted the interview.
Similarly, one could put together a pretty good list of the top 100 albums not on Spin's list, and I bet it would be a better collection than theirs.
12 - Rodney Welch
It certainly wouldn't be as bad a collection as the records Cameron Crowe himself gave five stars to; that jackoff wrote the liner notes to Peter Frampton's execrable I'm in You, which he dubbed "bloody great."
13 - uao
He got Page before he listened to I'm In You, so it didn't matter. ;-)
14 - Rodney Welch
If you have not only heard, but actually spent time, with Jimmy Page, and then go on to say that Frampton is a great guitarist, well -- maybe there's just no hope for you.
15 - HW Saxton
No "Biz Never Sleeps" by Diabolical Biz
Markie, No "Killer Kuts" by Kool G Rap &
DJ Polo, No Afrika Baambata at all(the
guy really deserves some props here as
he was influential as all hell on many
different genres in many different ways)
Also there is no: "Shoki,Shoki" by Femi
Kuti,No:"God Knows I've Tried" by Junior
Kimbrough, No "Don't Give Up On Me" by
Solomon Burke,No "Funeral For A Friend"
by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, No "Oh No
It's Red Rat" by Red Rat, No "Burnside
On Burnside" by RL Burnside,No "Burned
Mind" by Wolf Eyes, No "Make Way For The
Indian"(Feat."Boom Shak A Lak")by Apache
Indian and on and on and on.
Why don't these jokers ever try to think
outside of their limited little spectrum
once in a while? No Dancehall,Neo-Soul,
Blues,Jazz,Ska or anything just a little
different. These lists are so monotonous
nothing but popularity contests it seems
to me.
"Make Way For The Indian"(it has
"Boom Shak A Lak" on there)by Apache Indian
16 - Scott
The Pixies "doolittle" should be where "surfer rosa" currently is. And "Achtung Baby" but no "Joshua Tree"? Spin is on crack
17 - Al Barger
Never having listened to Pavement, the Spin listing prompted me to hunt down the Slanted Enchanted album. WTF? Does anybody here want to make a case for what sounds like a mediocre bunch o' nothin?
18 - Aaman
HW, I'm impressed that you would recommend, let alone be aware of Apache Indian - much kudos
19 - HW Saxton
Aaman, Thanks mucho. I love Raggamuffin
stuff. I'm listening to "Red Rat" on the
PC as I write this,LOL!
20 - Temple Stark
>>Spin picked "It Takes Two" by Rob Base
That got me laughing out loud though not quite spitting my (iced) coffee.
Did that really happen? And don't forget EZ-Rock
21 - Temple Stark
I had a lot of laughs along the way. Thanks Al. Even though you beat some of my favorites over the head with a Cat O Nine Tails. Your rants are much more fun when they're non-political.
Master of Puppets is the best Metallica album there is for sheer crunch and subject matter factors - followed by And Justice For All and Ride The Lightning (though that wouldn't be in the 1985-2005 timeframe).
Your mention of PJ Harvey made me bring out Dry, Is This Desire, Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love and, er Tricky's "Maxinquaye" because the awesome power of "Strugglin" came into my head when I saw it there.
I'm on a PJ Marathon.
VS is the best Pearl Jam there is, though Ten is right there.
And Sonic Youth at their best are just sonic killers. You either get it or you don't though and some of it is terrible.
No Tori? She's been on their cover like eight times. I know, I have most of them. It's the only times I've ever bought their mag. Well, except for their five and 10 year anniversary issues.
Graceland was a milestone.
I think Spin is onto something regarding country (and for all you country fans "regarding" means about ;-) ) More than any other genre there really aren't any great country ALBUMS but only a few songs. Still and all it saddens me to see no Johnny Cash.
Michael Jackson - this is about the last 20 years remember?
Pavement No. 4. ????? You're right they're fooked up in the head. The Fall? Etc etc.
The list is a joke and probably just a reaction to something similar from Rolling Stone. It's meant to be a "cool kids" list more than anything.
If this is the best they can do it's certainly an indictment of the last 20 years of music. Or more likely just an indictment of the last 20 years of Spin (who always seemed to be trying too hard)
Sheela Na Gig Sheela Na Gig ... you exhibitionist. ....
22 - HW Saxton
Hey!!! I like "It Takes Two". It was a
good catchy Hip/Pop single.When I hear
that song it always reminds me of going
to the roller rink to pick up my little
sister and cousins from skating.That and
"Planet Rock" by Afrika Baambaata.They
would always turn out the lights and put
the black lights on for that one.Oh gawd
how dorky! Were the 1980's really that
bad???
I have developed a sort of amnesia like
soldiers do,where you will conveniently
forget and repress the horrors of some
situations so that you don't have to re-
ive it, in regards to the 1980's.
I would never ever go so far as to call
"It Takes Two" the "GREATEST" single or
anything even close to that though.I'd
save that dubious distinction for Humpty
Dance by The Digital Underground. LOL.
23 - Thad Anderson
"*I've never really "gotten" Pavement. Maybe you had to be there."
"Never having listened to Pavement, the Spin listing prompted me to hunt down the Slanted Enchanted album. WTF? Does anybody here want to make a case for what sounds like a mediocre bunch o' nothin?"
Pavement is definitely one of those "acquired taste"-type bands, especially on first listen. But if you keep listening to "Slanted and Enchanted," the songs start rising out of the noise, and get pretty addictive. I can't really explain it, and won't try to, but I love that album.
24 - Thad Anderson
"Consider some of what does NOT make their list. They've got plenty of room for multiple mediocre Radiohead and Husker Du records, but for starters there's no Paul Simon. Uh, Graceland, anyone? Nor is there any Elvis Costello. Apparently he's not cool anymore. There's no Sinead O'Connor here, or Tori Amos. Plus, there's no Michael Jackson. Terence Trent D'Arby? Richard Frickin' Thompson?!
Also, there's nothing here resembling a country album. There's no Johnny Cash, most egregiously. He did some of the finest work of his whole career in those last ten years at American. Dolly Parton has made some great bluegrass oriented records here recently. Granted, she's no Hole, but really. Oh, and there's June Carter."
I think the point of the list is to make a SPIN Top 100 list . . . meaning a top 100 list reflecting the music SPIN focuses on, alternative rock and hip hop.
25 - Al Barger
Yes Temple, Spin really picked "It Takes Two" as the the greatest single ever.
HW, I will defend the honor of the Digital Underground. Sex Packets will probably make my list, most significantly because of "The Humpty Dance"- though I would never pick that as the greatest single ever.