Murmur has been a consensus pick since the end of the 80s at least. xp
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:21 (seven years ago) link
I prefer Wild Planet to the debut, but since that's not here I'll vote for the first B's album. I'M NOT NO LIMBURGER!!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:23 (seven years ago) link
the same guy (Sheffield) who reviewed PSB also said their comp was OK and gave it a 7 or 8.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:24 (seven years ago) link
can't fuck with the #17-27 sequence:
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:25 (seven years ago) link
Thought for sure I had this, but apparently not. Madonna, Lucinda Williams, and Flying Burrito Brothers seem like a real stretch (is this list included in the book?)...One of the two VU albums for me.
― clemenza, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:26 (seven years ago) link
This book changed my musical life, no joke. It sent me from new rock alternative radio to madly buying crazy old records in no time.
This has to be between Public Image and X-Ray Spex for me, but there are tons of other albums on the list that I love just slightly less.
― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:29 (seven years ago) link
If not since the very beginning, it was so instantly lionized. It's a great album but it feels like nobody bothered to update the canon for the next 34 years
― Evan R, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:30 (seven years ago) link
13 Funkadelic One nation under a groove 1978
Good on them.
― insidious assymetrical weapons (Eric H.), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:30 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, being 15 when this dropped, it def informed my taste, for better or worse.
My top 3 of all time (Nation of Millions, Double Nickels, Ramones) are all here & appx. 40% of my Number 4 (Raising Hell)
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:31 (seven years ago) link
This book changed my musical life, no joke
mine too, especially anything written by Weisbard (Wire, Pere Ubu, Feelies).
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:31 (seven years ago) link
Probably my No. 5 and 6 too if they had picked the right X and Beasties albums
Whiney, is Tribe in the bottom 50? I'm pretty sure it also got a 10.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:32 (seven years ago) link
I never had any of the SPIN books, but several editions of the Trouser Press guide. This is all foreign to me.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:35 (seven years ago) link
My favourites are probably Loveless and The Ramones. There's nothing I dislike on here.
― jmm, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:36 (seven years ago) link
It's a bit light on 60s music.
― jmm, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:37 (seven years ago) link
think i may be the only ilxor who actually contributed to this book (cabaret voltaire)
― mark s, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:38 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, Tribe is in the bottom 50
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:39 (seven years ago) link
A necessary corrective.
― insidious assymetrical weapons (Eric H.), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:39 (seven years ago) link
I was happy Human League and Culture Club got their due. The King Sunny Ade and Fela entries also excellent intros.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:40 (seven years ago) link
amazing list. voting loveless
― k3vin k., Monday, 13 March 2017 15:40 (seven years ago) link
Re: the Sixties, I put this together during my time at SPIN and you can read it on their dogshit new list design
http://www.spin.com/2013/03/best-100-albums-1960s-sixties-alternative-list/
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 13 March 2017 15:46 (seven years ago) link
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Monday, March 13, 2017 10:35 AM (nineteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I discovered the Trouser Press '90s alternative guide probably a few months after the Spin book, and then discovered CMJ a few months after that. It was all over from there.
― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, 13 March 2017 15:57 (seven years ago) link
4 Hüsker Dü - Zen arcade (1984)
Not my pick, but this band - and esp this album - kind of towered over 80s/90s American indie & alternative. Wonder if it'd even make top 50 on similar list put together today.
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Monday, 13 March 2017 16:02 (seven years ago) link
Yes.
― Rachel Luther Queen (DJP), Monday, 13 March 2017 16:02 (seven years ago) link
my least favorite major Husker album; prefer FYW.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 16:03 (seven years ago) link
I like it a lot & understand why it's the representative HD album, but it & they don't seem to be held in quite the same esteem these days.
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Monday, 13 March 2017 16:10 (seven years ago) link
― mark s Hi Mark, Frank K and Chuck E are in there too; maybe John D as well? Seems like there's somebody else. The Top 100 was less useful to me than the deep and sometimes complete discographies (incl. the most noteworthy bootlegs, in several cases) for so many artists, esp. when the internet was so bereft, and other reference books likely to be found were more all-inclusive yet limited by one man's taste and time (xgau's duh) or Boomercentric like those Rolling Stone guides (revising their original kneejerking vs. Stooges, Sabs, for that matter Joplin, and many others later elevated). I didn't agree with every opinion of course, but plenty of info and enjoyable writing.
― dow, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:35 (seven years ago) link
Don't like the idea of voting for a singles collection, but Run DMC Together Forever is flawless
― Evan R, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:37 (seven years ago) link
Don't like the idea of voting for a singles collection, but Run DMC Together Forever is flawless― Evan R, Monday, March 13, 2017 12:37 PM (fourteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Evan R, Monday, March 13, 2017 12:37 PM (fourteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Run-DMC is one of my favorite bands of all time, but I'll definitely count "Here's a solo from my homeboy Stanley Brown" as a flaw
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:54 (seven years ago) link
lol fair enough
― Evan R, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:56 (seven years ago) link
haha, i bought that guide at the time and registered an ilm account a couple of years later...
too many great albums. "loveless", "crazy rhythms", "another green world" and "velvet underground" are the ones i could niot live without. deciding between them is like killing all your babies except one, absolutely impossible. therefore no vote from me.
― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Monday, 13 March 2017 16:58 (seven years ago) link
Tonight's the Night for me.
― nomar, Monday, 13 March 2017 16:58 (seven years ago) link
come the fuck on people
24 Prince Sign o the times 1987
I'm not even saying everyone needs to vote for it but for it not even to have come up yet in the conversation is ridiculous.
― Rachel Luther Queen (DJP), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:00 (seven years ago) link
Pretty much all good albums, but I don't really get how they are defining "alternative" here. Like Madonna's greatest hits are hardly alt.
― Moodles, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:02 (seven years ago) link
I know it's Controversy-al, but SoTT is my least favorite (although still very good) of a solid run of Prince albums that otherwise remain entrenched in my all-time top 100.
― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:04 (seven years ago) link
Pretty much all good albums, but I don't really get how they are defining "alternative" here. Like Madonna's greatest hits are hardly alt.― Moodles, Monday, March 13, 2017 1:02 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Moodles, Monday, March 13, 2017 1:02 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I can't hold your hand through this, used copy is $10
https://www.amazon.com/Spin-Alternative-Record-Guide-Weisbard/dp/0679755748
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:06 (seven years ago) link
― Moodles, Monday, March 13, 2017 1:02 PM
Weisbard's introduction addresses this. One of his points is how subcultural phenomena like Madonna or gradations of queerness (Culture Club, also pop) change mainstream tastes.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:07 (seven years ago) link
Besides which, Hootie and the Blowfish was played on alternative stations in the '90s so it's not as if we'd collectively agreed on any hard and fast criteria.
― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:12 (seven years ago) link
the first Pretenders album is still woefully under appreciated - flawless collection of songs. James Honeyman-Scott was an extraordinary guitarist. such a fucking shame what happened to them
― flappy bird, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:22 (seven years ago) link
sub-conversation, what's the WORST album on this list. Probably Pavement or Hole
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:25 (seven years ago) link
I just voted for Hole.
― how's life, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:26 (seven years ago) link
I'mma get pummelled but Double Nickels is my least favorite on the list. I've never been able to get into it.
― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:28 (seven years ago) link
what's the WORST album on this list
it's Hole by a considerable margin
― Οὖτις, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:29 (seven years ago) link
oooooooooOOHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!
actually it's Modern Lovers
― flappy bird, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:31 (seven years ago) link
hi don, yeah i guess i meant current ilxors but i was just stirring the water a bit really to see who else might be here
lol at shakey and his transsparent hared of courtney love
(siren seems an odd roxy music lp to land on)
― mark s, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:31 (seven years ago) link
it's the remains of America's hesitation to canonize Roxy; for a while it was the only album American critics rated, which is why Rob's calling it their best surprises me, especially after his intro paragraph
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:34 (seven years ago) link
Lots of amazing stuff on this list--leaning towards voting for Let It Be, but Prince, The Clash, the Ramones debut, Television and De La are nipping at its heels
― neva missa lost, wednesday nights on abc (voodoo chili), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:57 (seven years ago) link
Flip Your Wig or even New Day Rising should be the Hüskers LP here
― flappy bird, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:59 (seven years ago) link
I'mma get pummelled but Double Nickels is my least favorite on the list. I've never been able to get into it.― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, March 13, 2017 10:28 AM (forty-four minutes ago)
― Milkwalker's World (Old Lunch), Monday, March 13, 2017 10:28 AM (forty-four minutes ago)
i will not pummel, but you'll have to live with my look of wounded confusion for the rest of your life
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Monday, 13 March 2017 18:17 (seven years ago) link
I'll have to give this one some thought.
Put me down as another who prefers Reckoning to Murmur.
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Monday, 13 March 2017 18:21 (seven years ago) link
Think this may be partly a US/UK difference - Soulwax reissued Liquid Liquid in the 1990s, SoulJazz reissued ESG same sort of time, so they def weren't ignored or forgotten groups in Britain (ESG had also been spun a lot at the Hacienda).
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 16:21 (seven years ago) link
Beastie Boys/Luscious Jackson were hyping ESG at the height of the Grand Royal era. LJ used to cover ESG stuff live.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 17:07 (seven years ago) link
my intro to Miles' electric/funk period was a huge retrospective in Motorbooty, doesn't get any more 90s alt than that
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 17:08 (seven years ago) link
hmm iirc Bitches Brew was the only Jazz album on that Rolling Stone Best 100 Albums of the Past 20 Years list in '87. Maybe Miles was too much of a token artist for SPIN at that point.
― duped and used by my worst Miss U (President Keyes), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 17:13 (seven years ago) link
Miles was also cited by aural auteurs of the DJ-producer persuasion (mostly in Wire but still) re the cutnpaste flow, never mind the turntables----do we really think his electric music made less of a widespread, sometimes deep impression on musos and other listeners of the 90s than the guys who did get in, than Bailey and Zorn, say? C'mon, it's a gap. But maybe the Miles reviewer didn't make deadline either,
― dow, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 17:57 (seven years ago) link
why is the complete on the corner session box like $200 now
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 17:58 (seven years ago) link
I would kill for every back issue of Motorbooty.
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:00 (seven years ago) link
Christgau wrote about Dark Magus, Panthalassa, and Black Beauty in the late '90s; it's how I learned about the first album.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:00 (seven years ago) link
xpost Ridiculous box, if it's the one I heard: goes way past anything relevant to the original LP, just because he was recording so much in the same time frame. xxpost It's not like Miles don't and didn't get no respect plenty of elsewheres, but having all those electric albums in the Guide might have been a revelation to some, and handy to more.
― dow, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:02 (seven years ago) link
Yeah xgau covered Miles pretty well, incl. the comeback.
― dow, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:03 (seven years ago) link
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Wednesday, March 15, 2017 1:58 PM (five minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
bc it's out of print iirc
― marcos, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:04 (seven years ago) link
Ridiculous box, if it's the one I heard: goes way past anything relevant to the original LP, just because he was recording so much in the same time frame
otm, the material from these sessions got issued across like four albums iirc
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:06 (seven years ago) link
Right, and four distinctly different albums!
― dow, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:07 (seven years ago) link
columbia does all this cool miles stuff that immediately goes out of print
https://www.discogs.com/Miles-Davis-The-Complete-Columbia-Album-Collection/release/2019307
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:08 (seven years ago) link
Prob cos Miles heads already have all or as much of that stuff as they can afford, and then some.
― dow, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:12 (seven years ago) link
Columbia can then backdoor sell the deleted Complete dognose where (Russia, Japan?)
― dow, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 18:13 (seven years ago) link
The oligarchs prob already got it all also.
Columbia used to reissue the metal-spine Miles boxes as much cheaper longbox-shaped sets. But the On the Corner set apparently didn't sell well enough to justify a cheaper reissue (and it was prohibitively expensive when it was in print, iirc).
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 19:59 (seven years ago) link
yeah, a few of those sets could be had for very cheap at some point (maybe still) but things like OTC and the cellar door tapes never got a cheaper reissue afaik. which is lame.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 20:13 (seven years ago) link
I have that miles columbia box, whiney
― Odysseus, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 20:14 (seven years ago) link
i do regret not buying the OTC box and the other ones but I couldnt afford it. I only have the in a silent way box. The complete columbia only has the actual albums
― Odysseus, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 20:18 (seven years ago) link
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, March 15, 2017 11:00 AM (two hours ago)
twice, even
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 20:43 (seven years ago) link
big chief were kind of bad tho
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 20:44 (seven years ago) link
OTC box is definitely the best one imo
― marcos, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 20:53 (seven years ago) link
Big Chief is a bit like Kyuss in what they were doing kinda fit more to the late 90s than when the records were actually coming out. The guitar playing and riffs on those Big Chief records are great. They are one of those bands I liked much more years later and have listened to them quite a bit the past few years.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 21:23 (seven years ago) link
Big Chief definitely fits along side the stoner rock bands like Fu Manchu, Clutch, Kyuss etc. than the grunge bands.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 21:25 (seven years ago) link
I fucking loved Big Chief!
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 21:35 (seven years ago) link
re: big chief
i dug the early singles ("chrome helmet", "get down & double check", "time dirt money", the surprisingly good "superstupid" cover), but the albums were relatively short on punk energy & hooks. and the fake blaxploitation shtick never sat right. prescient in retrospect, tho.
― Not raving but drooling (contenderizer), Wednesday, 15 March 2017 21:47 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 00:01 (seven years ago) link
So unfucking fair to have to (with Whiney's Glock at my head) vote for just one, but: VU & Nico---what other has such range & depth, groovy toons & scary sounds incl. some of the words etc., so limber & locked etc.? And even if there are several, can't vote for more than one, but mention 'em anyway.
― dow, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 00:25 (seven years ago) link
VU & Nico---what other has such range & depth, groovy toons & scary sounds incl. some of the words etc., so limber & locked etc.?
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back?
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 April 2017 00:29 (seven years ago) link
I hear young ppl aren't feeling that one
― duped and used by my worst Miss U (President Keyes), Wednesday, 12 April 2017 12:49 (seven years ago) link
If I could pick more than one, I'd pick that (not being burdened with youth).
― dow, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 18:14 (seven years ago) link
But before it, maybe one not quite so testosterone-(almost?)-only.
― dow, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 18:17 (seven years ago) link
nation of millions or 3ft high.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 18:24 (seven years ago) link
Second Johnny Fever's preference of Wild Planet.Overrated: Mekons Fear and whiskey. Does anyone actually listen to the Mekons? Zzz.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 18:46 (seven years ago) link
I still like Fear and Whiskey, esp. as the main part of their Original Sin round-up. Also really enjoy their 2016 album Existentialism, which is rough and slick in all the right ways.
― dow, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 19:28 (seven years ago) link
where is Third Eye Blind's first record?
― Van Horn Street, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 22:45 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 13 April 2017 00:01 (seven years ago) link
damn! What a spread!
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 April 2017 00:26 (seven years ago) link
lmao i think i was the winning vote for zen arcade
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Thursday, 13 April 2017 00:29 (seven years ago) link
was Shoot Out the Lights even discussed upthread
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 April 2017 00:30 (seven years ago) link
I wish it had been. Shoot Out the Lights is a great album.
― banjoboy, Thursday, 13 April 2017 02:12 (seven years ago) link
glad to see Murmur do so well.
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 13 April 2017 02:28 (seven years ago) link
Shoot Out the Lights is one of hose albums I've introduced to friends, and they've responded "Dammmmmn" but tend to forget it when naming their favorite albums.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 April 2017 02:44 (seven years ago) link
*those