pitchfork is dumb (#34985859340293849494 in a series.)

would wilson philips have made the tracks list without bridesmaids

xp haha nice!

xp Bridesmaids was the first thing I thought of when I saw them on there. That was before artists started getting a bump from TikToks.

Honestly the first thing I thought of when I saw Wilson Phillips, was HAIM.

Dixie Chicks at #82 is quite a turnaround for a site that once stated "Pitchfork does not review Country."

Perhaps more current contributors owe it to themselves as paid influencers to bother listening through the entirety of previous lists before settling on their choices. But they don't, because they're lazy.
― billstevejim, Wednesday, September 28, 2022 2:43 AM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

I logged in just to tell you to fuck off
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Wednesday, September 28, 2022 2:47 AM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

I cannot describe the warm nostalgic glow this exchange gave me but I thank you so much
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Wednesday, September 28, 2022 9:28 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

I mean, if this is in reference to me saying the current contributors should be familiar with as much as they can before claiming to be influential experts, then I guess you can go straight to hell and eat shit.

Supa Dupa Fly is quite low after The Rain did so well yesterday. I was expecting Homework to maybe be like that but nah.

self-titled whitney album is genuinely great imo, it's not just a commercial powerhouse shoehorned in like 'the bodyguard'

xps to billstevejim

Though I also had a feeling Wilson Philips would show up on the list because "Hold On" was present in the autocomplete of their Reader's Poll. Whereas I had to type in "I Love You Always Forever" to vote for that.

Though I also had a feeling Wilson Philips would show up on the list because "Hold On" was present in the autocomplete of their Reader's Poll. Whereas I had to type in "I Love You Always Forever" to vote for that.

I don't wanna play the "can't believe X didn't make it" game but yeah SAW 85-92 and Dig Your Own Hole not being on the list surprises me

Orbital & Underworld probably would notch 2 albums apiece in my personal Top 10 but I can understand those omissions. Oval making it is actually kind of awesome

I mean, if this is in reference to me saying the current contributors should be familiar with as much as they can before claiming to be influential experts, then I guess you can go straight to hell and eat shit.

― billstevejim

you just don't know when to quit, eh. Next you'll be posting, I DO MY OWN RESEARCH.

omitting saw 85-92 is straight up incorrect

inevitably i have more issues with the albums list than tracks though

I was hoping this decade would be the time of the Big Beat revival, but it appears that will not be the case.

Explaining in the last five years why I think "Hold On" sucks has given me more wtf expressions from people younger than me than for any other '90s tune. The inspirational lyrics and sunny harmonies work for them.

shit is probably a delicacy vs other options in hell so jokes on you

xps

I was hoping for some LWP after Freedom' 90 yesterday but alas

Must be the fault of those lazy paid influencers.

It is.

is the readers' poll still open? i wanna vote for violator at #1 just to show 'em

(aquemini is prob my real #1)

I don't wanna play the "can't believe X didn't make it" game but yeah SAW 85-92 and Dig Your Own Hole not being on the list surprises me

Orbital & Underworld probably would notch 2 albums apiece in my personal Top 10 but I can understand those omissions. Oval making it is actually kind of awesome

― frogbs, Wednesday, September 28, 2022 3:04 PM (one minute ago) bookmarkflaglink

yeah same, it's just interesting what makes the cut and what doesn't. The almost complete ommission of US/Canada dance stuff is perhaps more surprising.

re: dance music, the fact that Knights of the Jaguar is so low on the tracks list is absolutely criminal afaic— it was and remains one of the best dance tracks ever made, it’s been the subject of litigation ffs, and yet it doesn’t crack the top 100 because poptimism.

would wilson philips have made the tracks list without bridesmaids

I was thinking the same thing.

The blurb for RDJ Album is great (even tho I have a softer spot for I Care...).

just seeing that camp lo's "luchini" made the trax list, which is cool

The almost complete ommission of US/Canada dance stuff is perhaps more surprising.

Canada dance stuff? So like Delerium and Chris Sheppard?

the way an ostensibly mundane sample—say, the snippet of James’ father calling his name that punctuates “4”—becomes almost painfully loaded with feeling when it lands at just the right moment

It's spot on. Even the goofiest songs on the album make me want to tear up. Weakling Child, Goon Gumpas, Logan Rock Witch etc really possess that Mouldy Old Dough magic.

Fingerbib too, I think you could argue that one actually wound up spawning it's own genre of weird internet music

The almost complete ommission of US/Canada dance stuff is perhaps more surprising.

Canada dance stuff? So like Delerium and Chris Sheppard?

― MarkoP, Wednesday, September 28, 2022 3:14 PM (fourteen seconds ago) bookmarkflaglink

Richie Hawtin er um...

Right. Plastikman makes more sense.

Right. Plastikman makes more sense.

Wilson Philips and Celine Dion are inclusive choices. Karens are people too. Free your mind, people.

― billstevejim, Wednesday, September 28, 2022 9:57 AM (nineteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I agree, that En Vogue song was a good addition to the songs list.

Explaining in the last five years why I think "Hold On" sucks has given me more wtf expressions from people younger than me than for any other '90s tune. The inspirational lyrics and sunny harmonies work for them.

― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, September 28, 2022 3:07 PM

See also the enduring popularity of the show Friends.

En Vogue and Salt N Pepa "Whatta Man" would have been a stronger choice - imo stronger hook and production. But wtf do I know.

As somebody who lived through it, I *loved* "Hold On" at the time and still do but that didn't mean I thought it was *good*, come on, it's an extremely corny song that hits. Poptimism doesn't mean "there's no such thing as enjoying something bad, if people enjoy it it's good," it means "contra snobby bullshit, things that are widely enjoyed are worth taking seriously enough to think about whether they're good or bad or a mix."

I’m a defender of “Shiny Happy People” and I think “Hold On” is abysmal, if catchy

It would’ve been more interesting if they only asked writers born after 1995 to write about these albums.

As somebody who lived through it, I *loved* "Hold On" at the time and still do but that didn't mean I thought it was *good*, come on, it's an extremely corny song that hits. Poptimism doesn't mean "there's no such thing as enjoying something bad, if people enjoy it it's good," it means "contra snobby bullshit, things that are widely enjoyed are worth taking seriously enough to think about whether they're good or bad or a mix."

Just realized I can't name a second Wilson Phillips song, although I know they had other hits.

Release Me was their other big hit.

As I’ve said previously, I like a lot of songs on this list, but there are few surprises, and the poptimism-as-hegemony element to it is real— why do we need this list? Wouldn’t a list of forgotten or poorly remembered grunge or riot grrl bands be more interesting? Is rehashing radio playlists and throwing in an occasional pick from CMJ charts really a good look at a decade? I just don’t think it is! It feels more attuned to algorithms of now than what the decade was actually like.

(Also, I didn’t even realize that the other SY pick was “Kool Thing”—- might be the most irritating song in that record, if they really wanted to pick a non-Thurston track they could have at least picked “Mote,” which is one of Lee’s crowning achievements in that band)

― broccoli rabe thomas (the table is the table), Wednesday, September 28, 2022 9:35 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

booming post imo

Just in case anybody wanted to see the entire list without having to scroll so much.

150. Salt-N-Pepa: Very Necessary (1993)
149. Bratmobile: Pottymouth (1993)
148. Soundgarden: Superunknown (1994)
147. Whitney Houston: The Bodyguard (1992) 
146. Boredoms: Super AE (1998)
145. Fugazi: Repeater (1990)
144. Iris DeMent: Infamous Angel (1992)
143. Aimee Mann: Whatever (1993)
142. Boyz II Men: II (1994)
141. Sparklehorse: Good Morning Spider (1998)
140. Three 6 Mafia: Mystic Stylez (1995)
139. Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton (1993)
138. American Football: American Football (1999)
137. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: E. 1999 Eternal (1995)
136. Depeche Mode: Violator (1993)
135. Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994)
134. Gillian Welch: Revival (1996) 
133. Jonathan Richman: I, Jonathan (1992)
132. Oval: 94 Diskont (1995)
131. Prefab Sprout: Jordan: The Comeback (1990)
130. Maxwell: Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1996) 
129. Tom Petty: Wildflowers (1994)
128. Drexciya: Neptune's Lair (1999)
127. Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990)
126. Ol' Dirty Bastard: Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version (1995)
125. Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
124. Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes (1992)
123. Guided by Voices: Bee Thousand (1994)
122. Roni Size / Reprazent: New Forms (1997)
121. Garbage: Garbage (1995)
120. Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine (1992)
119. Sarah McLachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1993)
118. U2: Achtung Baby (1991)
117. The Notorious B.I.G.: Life After Death (1995)
116. Mazzy Star: So Tonight That I Might See (1993) 
115. Arthur Russell: Another Thought (1994)
114. The Pharcyde: Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (1992) 
113. The Cranberries: Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993) 
112. Selena: Amor Prohibido (1994)
111. Green Day: Dookie (1994)
110. Gang Starr: Moment of Truth (1998)
109. Elastica: Elastica (1995)
108. Mary J. Blige: What's the 411? (1992)
107. Smog: Knock Knock (1999)
106. Tortoise: TNT (1998)
105. Digable Planets: Blowout Comb (1994)
104. Pet Shop Boys: Behaviour (1990)
103. Air: Moon Safari (1998)
102. Wilco: Summerteeth (1999) 
101. Built to Spill: Keep It Like a Secret (1999)
100. Jim O'Rourke: Eureka (1999)
99. The Flaming Lips: The Soft Bulletin (1999)
98. Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream (1993)
97. A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders (1993)
96. Primal Scream: Screamadelica (1991)
95. Ice Cube: Death Certificate (1991)
94. No Doubt: Tragic Kingdom (1995)
93. Beck: Odelay (1996)
92. Autechre: Amber (1994) 
91. Weezer: Weezer (Blue Album) (1994) 
90. Ghostface Killah: Ironman (1996)
89. Sonny Sharrock: Ask the Ages (1991) 
88. Sonic Youth: Goo (1990)
87. DJ Screw: 3 'N The Mornin' Part Two (1996)
86. Spiritualized: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997)
85. Godspeed You! Black Emperor: F♯ A♯ ∞ (1997)
84. OutKast: ATLiens (1996)
83. Slint: Spiderland (1991)
82. The Chicks: Fly (1999)
81. Radiohead: The Bends (1995)
80. Bikini Kill: The C.D. Version of the First Two Records (1994)
79. DMX: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)
78. The Magnetic Fields: 69 Love Songs (1999)
77. The Roots: Things Fall Apart (1999)
76. The KLF: Chill Out (1990) 
75. Nirvana: In Utero (1993) 
74. Missy Elliott: Supa Dupa Fly (1997)
73. Yo La Tengo: I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (1997)
72. De La Soul: De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
71. Pulp: Different Class (1995)
70. Pavement: Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
69. GZA: Liquid Swords (1995)
68. Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind (1997)
67. Beastie Boys: Check Your Head (1992)
66. Cat Power: Moon Pix (1998)
65. MF DOOM: Operation: Doomsday (1999)
64. Tricky: Maxinquaye (1995)
63. R.E.M.: Automatic for the People (1992)
62. Juvenile: 400 Degreez (1998)
61. Massive Attack: Blue Lines (1991)
60. Mariah Carey: Butterfly (1997)
59. JAY-Z: Reasonable Doubt (1994)
58. Slowdive: Souvlaki (1993)
57. Mobb Deep: The Infamous (1995)
56. Scott Walker: Tilt (1995)
55. Madonna: Ray of Light (1998)
54. Scarface: The Diary (1994)
53. Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994)
52. Sade: Love Deluxe (1992)
51. Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995)
50. Elliott Smith: Elliott Smith (1995)
49. DJ Shadow: Endtroducing... (1996)
48. Fugees: The Score (1996)
47. Sleater-Kinney: Dig Me Out (1997)
46. UGK: Ridin' Dirty (1996)
45. Destiny's Child: The Writing's on the Wall (1999)
44. Stereolab: Emperor Tomato Ketchup (1996)
43. Le Tigre: Le Tigre (1999)
42. TLC: CrazySexyCool (1994)
41. Raekwon: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995)
40. Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral (1994)
39. 2Pac: All Eyez on Me (1996)
38. Janet Jackson: janet. (1993)
37. Fiona Apple: Tidal (1996)
36. Lil' Kim: Hard Core (1996)
35. The Breeders: Last Splash (1993)
34. Aphex Twin: Richard D. James Album (1996)
33. Talk Talk: Laughing Stock (1991)
32. Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
31. Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
30. Mos Def: Black on Both Sides (1999)
29. Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
28. Björk: Post (1995)
27. Public Enemy: Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
26. Boards of Canada: Music Has the Right to Children (1998)
25. Belle and Sebastian: If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
24. Dr. Dre: The Chronic (1992)
23. Elliott Smith: Either/Or (1997)
22. Nas: Illmatic (1994)
21. Silver Jews: American Water (1998)
20. D'Angelo: Brown Sugar (1995)
19. Fiona Apple: When the Pawn (1999)
18. Cocteau Twins: Heaven or Las Vegas (1990)
17. Erykah Badu: Baduizm (1997)
16. PJ Harvey: Rid of Me (1993)
15. Aaliyah: One in a Million (1996)
14. The Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die (1994)
13. Daft Punk: Homework (1997)
12. OutKast: Aquemini (1998)
11. Portishead: Dummy (1994)
10. Nirvana: Nevermind (1991)
9. A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory (1991)
8. Hole: Live Through This (1994)
7. Janet Jackson: The Velvet Rope (1997)
6. Björk: Homogenic (1997)
5. Wu-Tang Clan: Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
4. Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville (1993)
3. Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)
2. Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
1. My Bloody Valentine: Loveless (1991)

All things are just a means to an end for both immediate and long-term clicks

imo "Kool Thing" is fine and feels to me like it could open up avenues for anyone who wants to hear more.

for me "hold on" instead of say "building a mystery" or any number of other lilith fairport choices is sort of the big tell here. in terms of songcraft, there's a whole host of actual charting pop that snuffs "hold on" 7 days out of 7. but "hold on" is almost prescient in that its "big beat" (in the sense Bowie meant it when he was promoting "Let's Dance") widescreen check-the-boxes essence is more soundtrack than song: which is where we are, I think, and the list is mainly interested in making a statement about where we're at now / how we reckon the things of the past, etc. cards on the table I think "hold on" is like the worst shit ever but anyway

also yeah "kool thing" is really just not good.

Sit down beside me.

Yes, the main goal of these lists was to get people on the Internet talking about Pitchfork again as opposed to Anthony Fantano.

To me, the song list does kinda feel like what the decade was “actually like” (that’s why I was pleased with it, at first glance/scroll).

A lot of talk about (admittedly) controversial picks “Hold On” and “What’s Up,” but they’re two out of 250…

I notice Ween completely struck out on both singles and albums lists. Boy has their critical star faded in the last 20 years or so. Same with the Super Furry Animals.