12. Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime [1984] (300 points, 15 votes, 3 first place votes)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/2094708080_9c2d7b115d_o.png
Double Nickels on the Dime seems to try to be all things to all people, and hell, it almost succeeds. 19 years later, and its still a confounding and moving album...and easier to dance to than 200KM/H. I've nothing against chart-pop but, if I have to take sides..."The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts"
― Ryan McKay (Ryan McKay), 9. maaliskuuta 2003 21:50
I always liked the clean production, sonic restlessness and passionate/ goofy lyrical/vocal Minutemen thing more than the Huskers thing in a general sort of way, although as a teen I loved both bands for totally different reasons/moods. As an adult, I think where DN beats out ZA is in the jazz pretensions department: there's more swing and adventure in any single Watt bass-line on DN than in the whole of the bloated "Reocurring Dreams" -- Plus, how many great songs could the 'men have shoved into 14 minutes?
― Major Bloodnok (Major Bloodnok), 14. maaliskuuta 2006 21:42
double nickels on the dime, no question. husker du was forever spoiled for me when i was a college radio dj in the '90s. one of the dudes at the station who was way older than me, who lorded his holier-than-thou musical knowledge over me on a near-daily basis, said to me 'i was going to husker du shows when you were still in the womb!' god, i'm rolling my eyes just thinking about it.
also, i would way rather have a beer and rock out with mike watt than drink herbal tea and listen to new-age electronica with bob mould.
― geeta (geeta), 15. maaliskuuta 2006 21:44
This is the greatest album of all time, so this poll is impossible.
But for today, it's "One Reporter's Opinion."
― a new Rock Hardy screen name because I can't find the old one (Rock Hardy), 21. marraskuuta 2008 6:07
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:39 (fourteen years ago) link
Blimey!
― E Poxy Thee Thule (Tom D.), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:39 (fourteen years ago) link
I've got to hear this album then!
― E Poxy Thee Thule (Tom D.), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:40 (fourteen years ago) link
x-posti think colour spring will feature soon. split-voting is the only possible explanation of the poor perfomance of spirit of eden. everyone sensible knows that it is far more subtle and complex than most of the albums on the list.
― alex in mainhattan, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:40 (fourteen years ago) link
FUCK
This missing the top 5 is shitting even more on an already bad day.
― Bob Saget's "Night Moves": C or D (WmC), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:42 (fourteen years ago) link
Didn't vote for it, but it's a great album. I reckon you'd like at least a large-ish chunk of it tbh Tom.
― The bugger in the short sleeves (NickB), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:43 (fourteen years ago) link
This is odd it's really obvious what ten of of the final list will be but there's just one place left for all the albums that we've been predicting. I'm sticking with Computer World it has to be in!
Is there any way that Thriller might not make the list?
― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:43 (fourteen years ago) link
heard of Minutemen but not this album
― mdskltr (blueski), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:46 (fourteen years ago) link
few more selected positions in the top 100 80s albums of my friends and favourites on rateyourmusic.com currently:
14: Dead KennedysFresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
18: MetallicaMaster of Puppets
19: KraftwerkComputerwelt
22: Siouxsie and the BansheesJuju
24: Depeche ModeBlack Celebration
28: Dead Can DanceWithin the Realm of a Dying Sun
33: The ChameleonsStrange Times
34:Talk TalkThe Colour of Spring
46: New OrderLow-Life
48: King CrimsonDiscipline
54: John FoxxMetamatic
61: RushMoving Pictures
65: PropagandaA Secret Wish
67: Virgin Prunes...If I Die, I Die
72: The Blue NileHats
74: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the DarkArchitecture & Morality
75: The Sisters of MercyFirst and Last and Always
79: Brian EnoApollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks [With Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno]
86: MagazineThe Correct Use of Soap
96: TuxedomoonDesire
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:46 (fourteen years ago) link
I guess Tuomas didn't fully credit my ballot, which gave Double Nickels a first place vote and 40,000,000 points.
― dad a, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:47 (fourteen years ago) link
Never heard of it. Next.
― DavidM, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:48 (fourteen years ago) link
I am starting to think my vote for Janet Jackson's 'Control' meant nothing.
― mascara and ties (Abbott), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:48 (fourteen years ago) link
It meant something to you and to Janet.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:49 (fourteen years ago) link
are these the 11 albums left?
The Queen is DeadRemain in LightSign of the TimesHounds of LoveThrillerDaydream NationPurple RainMurmurDoolittleit takes a nation of millionsMaster of Puppets - is in the top 11 or something else?
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:50 (fourteen years ago) link
An 80s poll with absolutely NO Housemartins would be fucking ridiculous.
Don't blame me, I had them at #7.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:50 (fourteen years ago) link
(but yeah, that album had about 50 hit singles... surprised it didn't at least scrape the bottom quarter of the poll.) xxxp
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:50 (fourteen years ago) link
Have the Housemartins aged particularly well? I find myself listening to The Beautiful South much more often these days.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:51 (fourteen years ago) link
if the eurythmics dont make it i am going to be really angry at u all
― NAKES HAVE THE STAPLES IN THEM (jjjusten), Monday, November 30, 2009
request special anger dispensation on account of i voted the fuck out of sweet dreams (edging out touch on the strength of "i could give you (a mirror)"
― all yoga attacks are fire based (rogermexico.), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:53 (fourteen years ago) link
Why's everybody so sure Remain in Light is in? I've got two Talking Heads albums on my ballot and neither of them is this. I always thought of "Stop Making Sense" as the canonical "if you have one TH record" record, but I don't see even it (much less the superior Name of This Band..) placing this high. Remain in Light edged Fear of Music to win the ILM studio albums poll, it's true, but note well this caveat at the beginning: "I've purposefully taken off live albums for fear of landsliding (admit they were a lot better live)"
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:54 (fourteen years ago) link
Hmmm... Discipline you guys, it could happen. It's the only 80s KC anyone would even consider voting for and it does have quite a following...?
Yes ppl who have never hear Double Nickels, go forth and do so! That album is my I Ching. Be aware that there are a few tracks that were left off the CD version, but you can find them on the internet as vinyl rips and stick them back in where they belong.
― Who is Kafka? Tell me! (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:56 (fourteen years ago) link
I stopped caring about King Crimson when I was 20, and that's more than most people ever did. I don't see them making the top 10 at all.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:57 (fourteen years ago) link
Have the Housemartins aged particularly well?
tbh not really.
― DavidM, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:57 (fourteen years ago) link
Remain In Light is arguably TH's canonical album and easily their canonical 80s album, it's not even up for debate that it'll be here. Personally I think it's overrated and didn't vote for it, but that's how it is.
― Young (or Old); Attractive (or not); Receptionist (some dude), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:58 (fourteen years ago) link
"Remain in Light" is considered the key Talking Heads 80s album as indicated by the high placing on friends and favourites custom chart at number 3
also re: Talk Talk: if Spirit of Eden can't the crack the top 10 then i am ruling out Colour of spring
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:59 (fourteen years ago) link
I didn't vote for Discipline myself-- maybe I'm wrong in my notion of how much people like it.
― Who is Kafka? Tell me! (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:59 (fourteen years ago) link
King Crimson no chance in the top 11 this ain't Progressive Ears message board
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:01 (fourteen years ago) link
Progressive Earshttp://www.progressiveears.com
Do we stil like fancy singing and do the rich still stick it to the poor?
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:02 (fourteen years ago) link
GET UP OFF OUR KNEES!
― DavidM, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:04 (fourteen years ago) link
I love the Housemartins but they're sadly not in my top 30 for the 80s, in part b/c I'm not sure which album to vote for (I have both albums but I have a comp. called Now That's What I Call Quite Good that I listen to much more often). I'd probably have voted for The People Who Grinned... in my top 50, though.
― Euler, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:04 (fourteen years ago) link
This Heat - Deceit is 15 on my friends & favourites 80s custom chart - do This Heat have enough fans on ILM?
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:04 (fourteen years ago) link
Those last two entries are probably my two favourite 'wandering around town aimlessly on a sunny day' albums ever - two sprawling records with a carefree, sort of goofy feel to them.
― Gavin in Leeds, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:04 (fourteen years ago) link
And there goes my #1. Double Nickels On The Dime. Just typing it gives me chills.
A lot of the best punk rock makes it sound easy, like anyone can do it. And that's a big part of the appeal. But when you play Double Nickels, you think, Those guys are way better than me. I could never do that.
Even the Central American references have aged well.
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:05 (fourteen years ago) link
Do the Housemartins have a proper best-of album? I'd consider throwing it a vote if so, but their as-is albums never hung together really well for me.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:06 (fourteen years ago) link
im relieved the minutemen made it. Was beginning to think it missed out along with black flag, bad brains etc
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:06 (fourteen years ago) link
btw i voted crimson so im not giving up hope just yet
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:07 (fourteen years ago) link
the Housemartins had better tunes than the Smiths, I shocked myself by realising recently
― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:07 (fourteen years ago) link
youre crazy
That comp. I listed above works as a good best-of, though it's somewhat long for that.
― Euler, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:07 (fourteen years ago) link
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju for the top 11? will they got the goth block vote
Propaganda - A Secret Wish - are the popists going to spring a big surprise?
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:10 (fourteen years ago) link
the goths on ilm dont admit to being goths so they might not want to blow their cover
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:11 (fourteen years ago) link
I voted Crimson & This Heat, got no hope for either of them charting.
― mascara and ties (Abbott), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:11 (fourteen years ago) link
not with PSBs so low xp2
― mdskltr (blueski), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:11 (fourteen years ago) link
The Housemartins do have a 14 track 'Best Of', though I'd say Quite Good or the Live at the BBC are better buys.
― DavidM, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:11 (fourteen years ago) link
the Housemartins are NME endorsed vermin Rodents
Q: which Melody Maker scribe would have said such a thing?
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:12 (fourteen years ago) link
how many Prince albums to come?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:12 (fourteen years ago) link
People Who Grinned is hit or miss for me, but London 0 Hull 4 is close to perfect and represents the high point of the "pretty" side of 80s college rock for me. It's ABSOLUTELY UNABASHED about striving for effect, maybe because it believes itself in the service of a higher political aim...? L0H4, the Now That's While... comp (which grabs the best off both LPs but has too much filler) and maybe even their amazing demo tape Themes for the Well-Dressed Man would have made my top 100 album list.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:12 (fourteen years ago) link
Crim's in my top 10, but I don't see it happening at this point.
― Vin Ordinaire (WmC), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:13 (fourteen years ago) link
Sign of the TimesPurple Rain
anymore?
― djmartian, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:13 (fourteen years ago) link
BTW I'm listening to Alphaville right now and I'd laugh really hard if they placed
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:13 (fourteen years ago) link