Predict Pitchfork's Top 20 Albums of 2002

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All right, all you bright kids who think you've got Pitchfork sussed out: we've spent a couple days dumping on Spin's year-end list, so now here's an opportunity to out-Ryan Schreiber Ryan Schreiber. I don't know when PF's year-end list is coming out but I'm assuming it'll be pretty soon, so go ahead and see if you can predict what the list will look like. (It goes without saying that current PF staffers should not participate, lest they unwittingly give away crucial secret insider information.)

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 09:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Trail of Dead
Flaming Lips
Wilco
Books
Spoon
Pulp
Did Radiohead release any albums this year?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 09:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

Here's my hastily-researched-and-sloppily-compiled prediction:

1. Wilco
2. Trail of Dead
3. Sonic Youth
4. Interpol
5. Boards of Canada
6. Eminem
7. Sleater-Kinney
8. The Books
9. The Notwist
10. Secret Machines
11. Max Tundra
12. Flaming Lips
13. The Fire Show
14. Keith Fullerton Whitman
15. Mirah
16. Blackalicious
17. Spoon
18. Farben
19. Tom Waits (both albums)
20. Fennesz/O'Rourke/Rehberg

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 09:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

I figured that Mark was the only person on earth who'd put the Whitman album in his top 20.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 09:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'm assuming that Mark's extremely positive review made most of the PF staff curious enough to seek the album out, which would put it at least in the bottom ten of the list. Maybe I should have put it in the bottom five, just to be conservative. Also I regret putting Eminem that high; it'll be on a lot of staffers' lists, but it'll most likely be a bottom-ten album as well.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 09:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Eminem as the token hip-hop album? What of El-P? 2002 without a Def Jux record in the pitchfork top 20? Is that possible? I love question marks!

― JS Williams (js williams), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 10:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

aw man i was hoping that "pf" stood for "pinefox" :(

― geeta (geeta), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 11:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

As with all of shite top 10/20/100s of the year, except "Original Pirate Material" to reveal its tedious mumbling shithog head.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 11:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

Dom what rubbish music do you actually like?

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 13:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Dean Martin, Mr T Experience, and very little else.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 13:42 (twenty-one years ago) link

In no order (except Wilco will be no. 1):

1. Wilco
2. Trail of Dead
3. Neko Case
4. Flaming Lips
5. Interpol
6. El-P
7. NERD
8. Spoon
9. Farben
10. Notwist
11. Books
12. Sonic Youth
13. Two of: Liars / Black Dice / Out Hud / Hot Hot Heat
14. Sigur Ros
15. Tom Waits
16. Iron and Wine
17. Sleater-Kinney
18. RJD2
19. Yume Bitsu

Maybes: McLusky, Matthew Shipp, Acid Mothers Temple, Hot Snakes, Blacklicious, DJ Shadow, Manual, Boards of Canada.

OK, that's cheating -- I listed 30 records -- but there's my tossed-off guess.

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 14:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

As with all of shite top 10/20/100s of the year, except "Original Pirate Material" to reveal its tedious mumbling shithog head.

No way. Nits*h might vote for it but I don't think any of the others will.

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 14:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

(I forgot QOTSA and Destroyer. Well, no points for me for getting any of these right then cuz it's just a big list of record indie kids seem to like.)

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 14:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

*records* (one of these days , I'll post w/o making a silly error!)

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 14:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Beck will be in the top 10 fo' sure.

― Aaron W, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 14:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

Múm - Finally We Are No One?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

Aaron W: Did you see their review of Sea Change? Between that and the backlash, I'm betting that Beck barely makes the Top 20.

Which means that his next album will be a Huge Smart-Ass Party Monster.

― Matt C., Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

As great as they are, Nick, Secret Machines will not make the Pitchfork list. Did you end up seeing them in NYC? HUGE things are in store for them. HUGE.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

Good call Matt. I forgot about the when-something-is-so-obvious-that-they-go-the-other-route (cred!) conundrum! Although maybe the backlash is so great that they'll come around the other side...

Pitchfork boggles the mind!

― Aaron W, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

Comparing this and the "Best of the first 2/3 of 2002" thread, ILX is completely in line with Amazon.com's Top 100 Editors' Picks and Top 10 Indie CDs.

― Chris Ott, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

Chris, aren't you being a bit needlessly defensive? I'm not sure anyone is doing any sneering in this thread.

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:58 (twenty-one years ago) link

It was just an observation - I'm sure as many comparisons will be made with PFork's Top 20. But I'm always defensive on ILM; PFork is the focus of so much "yawning" from obnoxious bloggers, you can't possibly blame me.

nr: Live From New York

― Chris Ott, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 17:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

God Save Our Charts!

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 17:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

I don't think Chris' comment was meant as a dig. Amazon's editors can be quite unconventional.

Yeah, too much of a backlash against Beck, I think. Same thing goes for Sigur Ros, GY!BE, and Mum.

Neko Case is hott and all, Scott, but #3??

Yancey: I didn't catch Secret Machines at CMJ, sadly, but Ryan himself gave the album an 8.4, so you can bet it's going to be a contender for the list.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 17:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

(the secret machines record only has two good songs, really... it's live where they truly shine)

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 17:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

I can't recall an instance in the past where Pitchfork gave an album a sub 8 rating and the album made the year end list. I'd be surprised to see the Beck album show up.

I'd really be surprised to see Neko Case in the top 10.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 17:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

Neko Case is hott and all, Scott, but #3??

No, I meant them not to be in order (it says so up there, too!)

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 17:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

D'oh, missed that. Sorry.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 18:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

They're trying to justify putting Slanted and Enchanted at # 1 I'm sure...

― jm, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 18:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

prediction of Pitchfork's Top 20 of 2002:

Akufen - My Way (Force Inc)
Black Dice - Beaches and Canyons (Dfa)
Boards of Canada - Geogaddi (Warp)
Greg Davis - Arbor (Carpark)
El-P - Fantastic Damage (Def Jux)
Farben - Textstar (Klang Elektronik)
The Fire Show - Saint the Fire Show (Perishable)
Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador)
Luna - Romantica (Beggars Banquet)
The Notwist - Neon Golden (City Slang)
Out Hud - S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D (Kranky)
Rjd2 - Dead Ringer (Def Jux)
Schneider TM - Zoomer (City Slang)
Sigur Ros ( ) (Fat Cat)
Sleater Kinney - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
Sonic Youth - Murray Street (DGC/Interscope)
Spoon - Kill the Moonlight (12XU)
Amon Tobin - Out From Out Where (Ninja Tune)
Max Tundra - Mastered By Guy At The Exchange (Domino)
Xinlisupreme - Tomorrow Never Comes (FatCat)

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Out Hud album, while good, isn't eligible because PF hasn't reviewed it yet. (That's assuming that they follow the rules that they laid down last year and only allow albums for which reviews were published during 2002.)

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

No, no, this has too many majir label releases on it, I'd agree with DJ Martian that stuff like rjd2 and amon tobin and max tundra will prolly make it, but I'm nearly positive that emoers like Hot Hot Heat and Pretty Girls Make Graves will get on there

― Vic, Thursday, 5 December 2002 00:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ok, I shouldn't say major label, I'm wrong. Basically, I was just trying to say they would go for some more "onscure" choices, and throw in the critical-faves when it comes to emo. Eminem, I'm v, v, doubtful of...probably not

― Vic, Thursday, 5 December 2002 00:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

eye kant spel

― Vic, Thursday, 5 December 2002 00:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

These albums will probably show up. They're not in order:

Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Trail of Dead- Source Tags and Codes
Songs: Ohia- Didn't It Rain
Interpol- Turn on the Bright Lights
El-P- Fantastic Damage
Pretty Girls Make Graves- Good Health
Sleater Kinney- One Beat
Farben- Textstar
Xiu Xiu- Knife Play
Hot Snakes- Suiced Invoice
The Books- Thought for Food
Max Tundra- Mastered by the Guy at the Exchange
Sonic Youth- Murray Street
Spoon- Kill the Moonlight
Eminem- Eminem Show
Tom Waits- Alice/ Blood Money
Keith Fullerton Whitman- Playthroughs (assuming it's Mark's favorite of the year, I think it will make it somewhere on the list)
Isis- Oceanic
Yume Bitsu- The Golden Vessyl of Sound
The Notwist- Neon Golden
Wire could make it if they include eps. I'm forgetting a lot of hip hop albums.

I think they'll exclude these albums:
Beck- Sea Change
Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (might make the bottom 10)
Mum- Finally We Are No One
Neko Case- Blacklisted
Sigur Ros- ( )
Low- Trust
The Streets- Original Pirate Material
Black Heart Procession- Amore del Tropico
Clinic- Walking With Thee
Astrobotnia- Part One or Three
NERD- In Search Of
DJ Shadow- Private Press
Boards of Canada- Geogaddi

― lou, Thursday, 5 December 2002 03:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

greg davis would be a beautiful choice.

― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 5 December 2002 03:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

One of the "excluded" albums is my rekkid of the year! But Beck deserves to be left off (though it's just barely good enough to crack my top 25). A pox on all the writers who say "Finally he has ditched the IRONY and made a sincere honest heartfelt album! *****!"

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Thursday, 5 December 2002 04:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

One question that needs to be asked is why the hell HASn't the Out Hud album been reviewed yet??

― Clarke B., Thursday, 5 December 2002 04:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

Sea Change will make my top ten. Musically, I enjoy it, whether or not it's an honest heartfelt album. I think it is though. It doesn't seem like a mere put-on or an effort to be serious. I just think he wrote the album according to how he felt at the time, not to have people take him more seriously or to demonstrate his ability to make albums with vastly different tones and styles. It's not a five star album though.

― lou, Thursday, 5 December 2002 05:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

That's not quite right. All non-comp. albums released in 2002 are eligible. But albums released at the tail end of last year and not reviewed until 2002 are also eligible. I like this rule, because it gives great albums released in December, that no one actually heard until January, a chance to show up on a list.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 5 December 2002 14:14 (twenty-one years ago) link

I was going to blog about the Amazon critics choice thing, and the people's choice thing and the way even us 'populist' critics really aren't that populist. But I meant this critics' choice not the US one. I think the UK one is much closer to what's been raved about here, really. (though PFM will have more microhouse!).

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 5 December 2002 14:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oh dear lord, Tom, look at that Top 5...that's just horrendous. If only there were an alternative source I could put forth to illustrate why no one should ever read anything about music printed in England. Sadly, US critics still fall for post-Eagles shit like Wilco. There haven't been ten records released this year that merit the use of superlatives.

― Chris Ott, Thursday, 5 December 2002 19:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

Sadly, US critics still fall for post-Eagles shit like Wilco.

Oh, Chris. Ever the curmudgeon.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 5 December 2002 19:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oh dear lord, Tom, look at that Top 5...that's just horrendous.

Their top three is fantastic! Oh, Chris. Ever the curmudgeon.

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Thursday, 5 December 2002 19:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Amazon best-ofs, in a way, seem to have less need for an agenda than magazine lists. I actually (naively?) believe that these could simply be their music staffs’ favorite records. Unlike mags, there doesn’t seem to be a need to put forth a specific image here or dabble in tokenism (helped by their separate genre lists) – it really may be just a bunch of people sounding off about some things they’ve enjoyed over the year. (like the ilX poll.)

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Thursday, 5 December 2002 20:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

It's for that exact reason that I'm quite glad I haven't heard so much new stuff this year: my list can't even pretend to be comprehensive, and as such it gets to be full of whatever things I happened to get excited about. Unfortunately it's taking me about a 40-hour week to figure out which of these "count" and which don't.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 5 December 2002 21:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

Is PFM running a singles list?? Either Dom or Dare had said something about that being a possibility at some point in the past few months. Is that going to happen?

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Thursday, 5 December 2002 22:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

two weeks pass...

Just resurrecting this temporarily, since PF will be posting its top 50 (!) of the year on Monday... so I guess the question now is, what won't be on their list?

― Nick Mirov (nick), Sunday, 22 December 2002 01:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

'Man with the Woman Face' is a hot non-contender. What a shame!

― jot eff pe, Sunday, 22 December 2002 01:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

House music.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Sunday, 22 December 2002 01:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

all night long.

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 22 December 2002 06:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

the sneaky Pitchfork types have only gone and published it a day early: Pitchfork Top 50 Albums of 2002

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 22 December 2002 17:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

New Thread Started

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 22 December 2002 17:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

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