what artist, if any, is worth doing an ILM tracks poll?

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this seems to be the big trend now on ILM, we've had polls for the best songs by R.E.M., Blur, Pavement, the Manic Street Preachers -- frankly I think these things are pretty unnecessary, and if they are done, they should be for an artist with a really huge catalog with more than just a few obvious peaks (and if not, a top 60-something songs is total overkill), and preferably something besides '80s and '90s alt/indie touchstones for a change. i threw together a list of ideas that mostly fit the former criteria, if not necessarily the latter, along w/ some other bands that have come up or invariably will. I'd like to encourage people to vote for "nothing" though.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
nothing, big organized polls shouldn't be for just one artist 19
David Bowie 9
other 8
Radiohead 6
The Fall 6
The Velvet Underground 5
Prince 5
Neil Young 4
Guided By Voices 4
Steely Dan 4
The Cure 4
The Boo Radleys 4
Sonic Youth 3
Stevie Wonder 3
The Beatles 3
Bruce Springsteen 3
Miles Davis 2
Led Zeppelin 2
Timbaland 2
The Boredoms 2
Lil Wayne 1
The Talking Heads 1
The Pixies 1
Wu Tang Clan 1
Bob Dylan 1
Johnny Cash 1
Elvis Costello 1
Dr. Dre 0
The Rolling Stones 0
The Ramones 0
Jay-Z 0
John Coltrane 0
Outkast 0
The Neptunes 0
Nas 0


Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:47 (twelve years ago) link

nate dogg

sonderangerbot, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:49 (twelve years ago) link

such a female-heavy list!

anarcho-misogynist puppies (DJP), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:49 (twelve years ago) link

The Beatles, The Cure, Bowie, GBV, Zeppelin, Radiohead, VU. Voted for The Beatles.

nate woolls, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:49 (twelve years ago) link

The Ramones??

Strictly vote-splitting (DL), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:50 (twelve years ago) link

off this list, Prince or The Cure easily

anarcho-misogynist puppies (DJP), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:51 (twelve years ago) link

what female artist would even get a decent voter turnout though -- maybe Kate Bush?

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link

MADONNA.

Karen D. Tregaskin, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link

Also, FUCK YOU.

Karen D. Tregaskin, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link

Taylor Swift has 3 albums now, i guess she's ready

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link

ok Madonna was a dumb omission -- i meant to put her in there and forgot

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link

fwiw i am speaking in terms of ILM's enthusiasm for female artists, not my own

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:56 (twelve years ago) link

I would vote in most of these and enjoy all of them. polling producers seems like a great idea. voted Timbaland

Lee Perry? Phil Spector? is anyone else big enough for this? Marley Mar? Teddy Riley? Thom Bell? Holland–Dozier–Holland?

gospodin simmel, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:57 (twelve years ago) link

other, beach boys

iatee, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:58 (twelve years ago) link

A PJ Harvey poll I'd def. vote in.

nate woolls, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:58 (twelve years ago) link

You could probably get a decent turnout for a Janet Jackson poll, too.

Bjork has the catalog but I'm not sure as many ppl are invested in her.

Also maybe Sade and PJ Harvey, or a Kathleen Hanna poll (maybe cheating?)

anarcho-misogynist puppies (DJP), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:59 (twelve years ago) link

Voted kast, after that prob prince or jay -- we've already had enough Beatles polls

J0rdan S., Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:59 (twelve years ago) link

i'd love a beach boys poll.

also, i love these polls - great excuse to trawl through and discuss bands a lot of people like.

the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:00 (twelve years ago) link

Sade? on ILM? that's reaching.

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:00 (twelve years ago) link

I was actually thinking of a timbo ballot poll the other day -- they kinda thing would prob be more fun

J0rdan S., Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:00 (twelve years ago) link

i'd vote in all these radiohead and talking heads polls too. and boo radleys, obv.

the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:01 (twelve years ago) link

Probably wouldn't vote in it but would definitely follow a Joni poll.

cloaca flocka flame (NickB), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link

yeah a producer is stretching the 'single artist' concept but would totally be more fun, especially Timbo. or maybe Eno, i should've put him in there too.

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link

seriously, radiohead would really suit a poll - plenty of material spanning several years and styles. lots of b-sides and obscurities for people to geek over. no consensus album (really).

the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link

Joni Mitchell another possibility

da croupier, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:03 (twelve years ago) link

Destiny's Child would get a big turnout, even bigger if you included the solo careers and the juggernaut that is ILM's feelings about Beyonce.

Karen D. Tregaskin, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:03 (twelve years ago) link

another write-in = aphex, obv.

the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:04 (twelve years ago) link

frankly I think these things are pretty unnecessary

where's the harm?

i love the smell of facepalm in the morning (ledge), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:04 (twelve years ago) link

hey before the flood can we make a rule that only one of these can go on at once

iatee, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:04 (twelve years ago) link

seeing all the polls done so far my reaction has been part eye-roll, part relief that i don't have to invest any time in them

there are only a few artists on this list i'd change that for tbh (jay-z, neptunes, timbaland)

the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:05 (twelve years ago) link

after watching a Pavement poll get more voters than a poll of the entire genre of hip hop, attempting a Beyonce/DC poll would just be depressing tbh

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:05 (twelve years ago) link

seeing all the polls done so far my reaction has been part eye-roll, part relief that i don't have to invest any time in them

Kinda with lex on that one. Don't like the idea of the polls, even for artists I like.

Letsby Avenue (Tom D.), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:06 (twelve years ago) link

joni mitchell and kate bush seem obvious choices. pj harvey too, but it always feels a bit odd doing massive retrospective projects when the artist is still so active (and still at their creative peak, so to speak, unlike eg timbaland).

the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:06 (twelve years ago) link

jay and kast would be super fun. and peej/bush/madonna/joni as people have mentioned. wu maybe too discussed already on ilm. coltrane/prince would be the nuts. dr. dre only has two albums and i don't know if he has enough production classics to really do this... maybe an nwa members poll. just don't seem to care about the indie or canon rock choices - maybe bowie.

overall though, on a learning and interest basis - stevie.

my choice from who is missing from the poll: GIL SCOTT HERON

ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:07 (twelve years ago) link

after watching a Pavement poll get more voters than a poll of the entire genre of hip hop, attempting a Beyonce/DC poll would just be depressing tbh

― Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 15:05 (1 minute ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

man wut? sb ilm.

ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:07 (twelve years ago) link

There was a Pavement poll? Ugh.

But point taken. Thing is, the posters who love the stuff I'd love to see a top 50 of are precisely the ppl who would never participate in such a boring fanboy exercise as writing out ballots and spreadsheets.

Karen D. Tregaskin, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:07 (twelve years ago) link

I like the idea of all these fine. I didn't engage in the pavement poll but found it neat to see the final list. I suggest someone else start all these polls at once and deliver me the stats forthwith

da croupier, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link

frankly I think these things are pretty unnecessary

where's the harm?

― i love the smell of facepalm in the morning (ledge), Thursday, June 16, 2011 10:04 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark

no harm obviously, but -- and i've said this before so excuse me repeating myself -- a lot of these artists you could pretty easily whittle down to a regular poll thread of their 50 most beloved songs without all the fanfare. also elevating some indie band that was only together for a decade to the level of oh we need to rank half their catalog is just kinda ridic.

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link

after watching a Pavement poll get more voters than a poll of the entire genre of hip hop, attempting a Beyonce/DC poll would just be depressing tbh

ughhhh ilm :(

the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link

Prince or Timbo would probably be the most fun -- i'd probably get the most personal enjoyment out of a Sonic Youth one but as i've said it'd be nice to depart from the indie canon

Mr. John Scatman (some dude), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:09 (twelve years ago) link

where's the harm?

too many at one time, predictable results, bit depressing seeing new answers topped by threads reinforcing ILM's indie-centricity (based on the bands that get this treatment first)

blueski, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:10 (twelve years ago) link

lex you never voted! still :( about that - would have loved to have seen you get involved

ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:11 (twelve years ago) link

I've actually been hoping you wd do a Sonic Youth one, sd, but hopefully it would get less ballots than the hip hop poll

best way to stop identity theft is bad credit (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:11 (twelve years ago) link

i just got too busy and then the deadline passed and then i couldn't face clicking on (1500 new answers)

xp

the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:12 (twelve years ago) link

ILX goes through these phases of liking certain kinds of discourse WWAAAAAYYYY too much for a period and then forgetting all about it.

I mean, I certainly prefer these kinds of polls, which tend to keep to 2 maybe 3 threads, easily ignored, to that weird hockey league thing it went through a couple of years back where you couldn't even load new answers for the 200 threads about, like, what was the best kind of sandwich. :-/

Karen D. Tregaskin, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:12 (twelve years ago) link

what's wrong with letting people have fun the way they want? since when has ilm been "indie-centric"?

the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:13 (twelve years ago) link

i still don't know the results of the hip-hop poll - obv i am assuming shawnna won

the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:13 (twelve years ago) link

a lot of these artists you could pretty easily whittle down to a regular poll thread of their 50 most beloved songs without all the fanfare

the fanfare is all the fun - it's about the process, not the result, an excuse to get reacquainted with an old favourite that you might not have thought too much about recently, to share the craic with some like-minded people.

also complaining about a preponderance (hardly) of threads you have no interest in seems like the weakest first-world problem imaginable (speaking as someone who thought the plethora of rolling metal threads was RIDICULOUS)

i love the smell of facepalm in the morning (ledge), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:13 (twelve years ago) link

why are people surprised that a poll that required a knowledge of like 100 songs got more votes than a poll for an entire genre. I wouldn't be shocked if the Pavement poll would have more votes than an ALL-TIME INDIE ROCK poll, which sounds like a more frustrating list to compile

da croupier, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:13 (twelve years ago) link

I partially didn't vote in the hip-hop poll because I didn't have time, but a large proportion of it was that I felt like my choices would be belittled and my voice dismissed by the group of regulars who dominate that genre on this board. So I'm not that surprised that the Pavement poll was more popular. Didn't vote in that one either, mind you, but I'm not a fan of the single-artist old-style polls.

emil.y, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:14 (twelve years ago) link

It would most likely be won by those wonderful C'mon Kids singles b-sides.

Mark G, Monday, 20 June 2011 08:25 (twelve years ago) link

i don't think anybody who isn't already a fan of the artist being voted up reads ballot poll results

so confused (blank), Tuesday, 21 June 2011 07:08 (twelve years ago) link

voted upon

so confused (blank), Tuesday, 21 June 2011 07:08 (twelve years ago) link

The only way a Beatles poll would be fun is it no one took it seriously and didn't vote for their favorites.

billstevejim, Tuesday, 21 June 2011 07:20 (twelve years ago) link

Absolutely.

It's a chance to vote for stuff people like *right now*, so I don't anticipate a flood of votes for "Hey Jude" for example.

I won't say too much more about specific songs, but as I will no doubt say in the preamble when the Petshopboys one is done, did for gold and we will all be rewarded...

Mark G, Tuesday, 21 June 2011 08:24 (twelve years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 21 June 2011 23:01 (twelve years ago) link

I wish any of you guys liked Phish because I would be so down for polling Phish at this moment in time.

kkvgz, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:00 (twelve years ago) link

that you can recognize that your personal favorite wouldn't necessarily drum up enough interest to justify a poll makes you smarter than the majority of people in this thread, though

cr?m margera (some dude), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:12 (twelve years ago) link

Oh yeah, that shit just wouldn't fly.

kkvgz, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:18 (twelve years ago) link

I enjoy the format of these polls, even when I don't participate - the slow run-down of results, with images or youtubes and plenty of room for discussion. I think they are more likely to unearth an obscure gem a casual listener was unaware of than a standard ILM poll.

It's really not that hard to ignore them if you don't like them.

Too many at once would imo lead to lower participation levels and they'd die out of their own accord - I see no reason to moderate the numbers (esp on the whim of one moderator going "I think I might enforce this").

I was surprised at the mileage the Blur and Manics polls got. I thought doing a Mary Chain one might be fun but changed my mind as there probably isn't the breadth or depth there. Cure, Kate Bush, Prince & Madonna would all be worthwhile imo. I'd also enjoy reading through the results of a few others mentioned here even if I didn't feel qualified to take part - I treat them as recommendation threads.

some greenzo (onimo), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:24 (twelve years ago) link

"hey most of us who'd be enthusiastic about a Prince poll sure as hell don't own every Prince album (although i'd definitely be taking tips from the obsessives who can recommend the good stuff from his later periods)"

cosign. also i'd be totality down for a bowie poll, i just read a biography of him listened to a bunch of his albums i hadn't heard yet/in a while, + he's got an long awesome career with loads of different phases, highlights, awesome-but-obscure album tracks etc

messiahwannabe, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:42 (twelve years ago) link

Nick Cave

― President Keyes, Thursday, 16 June 2011 16:25

cosign

some greenzo (onimo), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:43 (twelve years ago) link

Not sure how successful the manics one is going to be xp - there are only about a dozen posters on that thread (i.e. vote, and help a brother out). That said, Pavement getting 40 ballots amazed me, especially when the whole of hip hop didn't.

Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:46 (twelve years ago) link

Pavement one got 60 votes, didn't it?

cr?m margera (some dude), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:53 (twelve years ago) link

ok 57 to be exact

cr?m margera (some dude), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:54 (twelve years ago) link

Well I'm astonished. Not complaining, note - I figured it wasn't for me & let it pass me by.

Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 12:57 (twelve years ago) link

was kind of hilarious, i thought, given that people complained / lolbrits at the blur poll, that anyone thought the correct next thing to do was ... pavement

thomp, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 13:14 (twelve years ago) link

i know right!

cr?m margera (some dude), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 13:17 (twelve years ago) link

was kind of hilarious, i thought, given that people complained / lolbrits at the blur poll, that anyone thought the correct next thing to do was ... pavement

the essence of the American spirit right there

chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 13:29 (twelve years ago) link

Malkmus complained that when Pavement was doing press for a UK tour (97? 98?) all they were asked about was their opinion on Blur.

President Keyes, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 13:31 (twelve years ago) link

pretty sure johnny fever explicitly said that he picked pavement because they were sorta the u.s. equivalent of blur. just sayin

so confused (blank), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 19:03 (twelve years ago) link

and the people complaining about lolbrits polls are the same people complaining about any old ballot poll, right?

so confused (blank), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 19:03 (twelve years ago) link

I couldn't find this thread when I posted in the thread where we suggest/plan which polls should go in which order, but I posted an .xls which should make this polling business easier for anyone who wants to play. Yay!!

she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 19:13 (twelve years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 23:01 (twelve years ago) link

lol

blueski, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 23:56 (twelve years ago) link

"nothing" defeated 82-19 by my count.

Volvo Twilight (p-dog), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 23:58 (twelve years ago) link

In that case we need to have a "something" poll

i wanna be yr rhizome (seandalai), Thursday, 23 June 2011 00:06 (twelve years ago) link

lol, zilch for the Stones

Mr. Patrick Batman (WmC), Thursday, 23 June 2011 00:08 (twelve years ago) link

i feel vindicated

cr?m margera (some dude), Thursday, 23 June 2011 04:51 (twelve years ago) link

I'll start a Stevie Wonder poll regardless of these results.

ephendophile (Eric H.), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:57 (twelve years ago) link

Some year.

ephendophile (Eric H.), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:57 (twelve years ago) link

Richard Thompson

the presidential candidate inside me (WmC), Thursday, 30 June 2011 18:06 (twelve years ago) link

one month passes...

or Sandy Denny. Her oeuvre is a sprawling mess filled with side projects, appearances on others' records, one-shot bands, incomplete works, etc., and that's before we even get to her scopious role in Fairport Convention's heyday. Which of course makes for a great ballot poll.

Lee547 (Lee626), Monday, 29 August 2011 10:39 (twelve years ago) link

Yardbirds, anyone? Not around for long, but as with the recently-polled Beach Boys alot of their best stuff is obscurities unknown to casual fans. Also, there have been about 25 different best-of compilations and not one is all-inclusive or well chosen IMO.

Lee547 (Lee626), Monday, 29 August 2011 10:47 (twelve years ago) link

Ke$ha i think

prego, Monday, 29 August 2011 11:44 (twelve years ago) link

i think a yardbirds one would be great

jesus & ramona (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 1 September 2011 06:07 (twelve years ago) link

Sisqo poll would own all polls for life

billstevejim, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:20 (twelve years ago) link

^^^ OTM Sisqo poll now IMO

billstevejim, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:48 (twelve years ago) link

that would be kind of funny, when "Thong Song" got all the votes and everything else got bageled

beemer, I mean BIMMER douchebag (DJP), Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:48 (twelve years ago) link

#1 Wild Wild West

billstevejim, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:49 (twelve years ago) link

like I said

beemer, I mean BIMMER douchebag (DJP), Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:54 (twelve years ago) link

two weeks pass...

Really surprised Jimi Hendrix's name hasn't come up on this or the order/timing thread.

Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Monday, 19 September 2011 22:52 (twelve years ago) link

well, if people thought even Zep had almost too small a catalog to poll...

some dude, Monday, 19 September 2011 22:54 (twelve years ago) link

we need Madonna and Roxy Music in that there poll.

Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 19 September 2011 22:56 (twelve years ago) link

Pulling together all the posthumously released stuff, Hendrix's catalog gets a lot bigger, but yeah, point taken. Still, it would be interesting to see what the top 10 or 15 looked like.

Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Monday, 19 September 2011 23:10 (twelve years ago) link

the Madonna poll is cursed. don't even speak of it.

Jamie_ATP, Tuesday, 20 September 2011 01:09 (twelve years ago) link

it really will be kind of momentous and cathartic whenever it finally happens

some dude, Tuesday, 20 September 2011 01:16 (twelve years ago) link

surely there's been a stones poll already

mookieproof, Tuesday, 20 September 2011 01:28 (twelve years ago) link

Not a ballot poll. These things are a fairly recent development on ILM iirc.

Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Tuesday, 20 September 2011 01:30 (twelve years ago) link


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