These lists are usually made just to stir the pot and whatnot. While there are some highly questionable additions (theres that Fraces the Mute cropping up again) and glaring ommissions, I'd say I agree with 60-70% of it. The top 6 is rock solid. And I realize if you're not into this kind of music, you'll probably be lost on the list. In any case, comments?
50 - Gillian Welch - (Time) The Revelator
49 - The Roots - Phrenology
48 - Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
47 - Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers
46 - Guided By Voices - Isolation Drills
45 - Neko Case - Blacklisted
44 - Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up on Me
43 - Kathleen Edwards - Failer
42 - Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum
41 - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Streetcore
40 - Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears
39 - Missy Elliot - Miss E...So Addictive
38 - Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life
37 - The Libertines - Up the Bracket
36 - The Black Keys - Rubber Factory
35 - Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
34 - Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
33 - Bob Dylan - Love and Theft
32 - The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
31 - Drive By Truckers - Decoration Day
30 - Ryan Adams - Gold
29 - Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts...Now
28 - Elvis Costello - The Delivery Man
27 - The Strokes - Is This It?
26 - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
25 - The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
24 - The White Stripes - Elephant
23 - Cat Power - You Are Free
22 - Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
21 - Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
20 - My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
19 - Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
18 - Steve Earle - Jerusalem
17 - Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
16 - Wilco - A Ghost is Born
15 - PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
14 - Kanye West - Late Registration
13 - The New Pornographers - Electric Vision
12 - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
11 - Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
10 - The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
9 - M.I.A. - Arular
8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
7 - Tom Waits - Real Gone
6 - My Morning Jacket - Z
5 - Tom Waits - Alice
4 - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
3 - Brian Wilson - Smile
2 - The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
1 - Arcade Fire - Funeral
If they stick to last 5 yrs then anything before 2001 is not applicable I assume.
3 Cds from The White Stripes???? 3 ??? I'd give a nod to Elephant..but not the other two since Elephant basically broke The White Stripes to the public.
Outkast: Speakrboxx.... well an Outkast cd should probabbly be on it...just not sure of that one.
Roots make sense... definately a needed voice/sound in hip hop now!!!
Missy Elliot makes sense as well considering all her musical tastes and ability to combine it all.
********************************************
I'd argue for
2004 Velvet Revolver: Contraband ..the comeback of straight up rock n roll. Got the band of GNR back into the fold and one of the best rock frontmen in the game scott Weiland also.
2003 Jay Z: The Black Album ...reinstated his dominance on the rap game and a great way to "end" a career.
2002 Audioslave: " ...proved two great tastes that taste great together theory.
2002 Eminem: The Eminem Show ...probabbly will go down as one of the greatest rap salvos of commenting on personal demons, pop culture, and the state of the rap game that you will ever hear. His 2004 cd Encore just wasn't up to it IMO.
I agree with the white stripes. Elephant is the only one I'd put on there.
The Roots: Does anyone else think the Roots should be way higher? I've never been a huge fan, but it seems to me they've influenced hip-hop by bringing back the live instrumentation thing.
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot could make a decent argument for the top spot. It's influence goes beyond the music. It's a fantastic record and the story behind it has become a signature moment in exposing a greedy and crumbling record industry.
Quick review: Record company pays Wilco $200,000 to make a record. The day after it's turned in, the record company drops Wilco. The record company agrees to give Wilco their record, essentially making Wilco free agents with a finished product. Wilco signs with a new label who puts the record out...did I mention the new label was a subsidary of the same company as the old label, therefore getting paid twice by the same parent company for the same record...also, did I mention the record became their biggest selling album to date?
Anyway, that's my two bits. Perhaps, I'm just a biased Wilco fan, but with the way that story grew and how people latched on to it, I'd definately say it's influenced how people look at the record industry, how bands look at the industry and how the industry itself looks at the industry...ok, maybe I wont go that far. I don't want to give the record industry too much credit. ;-)
I know it's all subjective, but what do you guys think of that argument?
And what about the top 2 choices?
dynovinyl Wrote:The Roots: Does anyone else think the Roots should be way higher? I've never been a huge fan, but it seems to me they've influenced hip-hop by bringing back the live instrumentation thing.
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot could make a decent argument for the top spot. It's influence goes beyond the music. It's a fantastic record and the story behind it has become a signature moment in exposing a greedy and crumbling record industry.
Quick review: Record company pays Wilco $200,000 to make a record. The day after it's turned in, the record company drops Wilco. The record company agrees to give Wilco their record, essentially making Wilco free agents with a finished product. Wilco signs with a new label who puts the record out...did I mention the new label was a subsidary of the same company as the old label, therefore getting paid twice by the same parent company for the same record...also, did I mention the record became their biggest selling album to date?
Anyway, that's my two bits. Perhaps, I'm just a biased Wilco fan, but with the way that story grew and how people latched on to it, I'd definately say it's influenced how people look at the record industry, how bands look at the industry and how the industry itself looks at the industry...ok, maybe I wont go that far. I don't want to give the record industry too much credit. ;-)
I know it's all subjective, but what do you guys think of that argument?
And what about the top 2 choices?
I agree with the Arcade Fire. Maybe not number 1, but definitely top 3. While definitely overhyped, their influence has been huge. Although sucks to have to follow up "Funeral"...pretty much an impossible task.
New Pornagraphers? I wouldnt put them number 2. Top 20 somewhere, although I'm not that big of a fan. The only album I have by them is Electric Version, and I rarely listen to it. Its almost
too poppy for my tastes. Wilco/YHF I would move up to either 1 or 2.
I wouldnt really list any of the roots albums personally. I dont think either of their latest outputs are essential. Good rap albums? Sure (and I'm still not big on Pheronology), but defeinitely not essential. Things Fall Apart, or Illadelph Halflife, or even Do You Want More are all much better outputs.
The list in general was extremely limited in scope if you look at the artists they covered. Its pretty mainstream and dosent really touch on any fringes at all. Some that they chose are surprisingly mediocre.
Wheres M83? Before the Dawn Heals Us should definitely be on a list of most essential albums in the past five years. Its an enjoyable, dense, layered, noisy, melodic, and soaring album of noisepop.
And what about Broken Social Scene's "You Forgot it in the People?" An incredible, one-in-a-million, indie rock album that hits in all the right places. It brings up emotions and thoughts that everyone's experienced and shared at one time or another. Competent playing, glorious hooks, frantic energy...
I'm going to have to check out Arcade Fire. I'm pretty sure I've heard 1 song by them, but it never really got me to look into them.
What was the criteria? I went to
http://www.harpmagazine.com/ but couldn't find the list. I like the New Pornographers but I just can't figure out what makes them #2, especially with it being a reletively new record. How can it be that influential...and speaking of influential, isn't time the best way to judge the influence of a piece of art?
Good catch on the roots. I guess they've been out for a while now and their influence with live instrumentation would have come before the last 5 years.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Forgot to mention this one
dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Forgot to mention this one
Hold up there dude. That's a fine album. I love that record, plus when Antony guests vocals on Cocorosie's album. Not too fond of the Pornographers, but I love each member more than the collective, esp Neko Case. Gold, while probably Adam's most commericial success, is towards the bottom of my favorite of his records. I thought Rock n Roll was fantastic. I also loved his two albums with the Cardinals. Totally agree though about Wilco. I just saw them last Sat. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is simply a masterpiece, even a Ghost is Born is outstanding.
Ziggy Stardust Wrote:dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Forgot to mention this one
Hold up there dude. That's a fine album. I love that record, plus when Antony guests vocals on Cocorosie's album. Not too fond of the Pornographers, but I love each member more than the collective, esp Neko Case. Gold, while probably Adam's most commericial success, is towards the bottom of my favorite of his records. I thought Rock n Roll was fantastic. I also loved his two albums with the Cardinals. Totally agree though about Wilco. I just saw them last Sat. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is simply a masterpiece, even a Ghost is Born is outstanding.
I've seen Wilco twice (the auditrium theater in '03 was one. still the best show ive ever seen hands down. 2nd row pit seats too. its still considered one of the all time great wilco shows. the other was at lollapalooza). Ive also seen tweedy solo here in dekalb. Hes got a new solo dvd coming out on october 24, i think ill have to pick it up.
http://wilcoworld.net/sunkentreasure/thanks.php
Although I really hate that song...
Theyre also coming back to the Auditorium Theater for 2 days over thanksgiving break. I'm really tempted to get tix, but having seen them before I think I mite pass (plus I know I'm constantly going to be trying to compare it to my last show there). My Morning Jacket is also playin 11/24. I think thats where I'll end up. Of course, I could go to the MMJ show Friday, and do Wilco the next night
At only $30 for each show, its an extremely enticing opportunity. Sounds like a good way to spend break to me.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:Ziggy Stardust Wrote:dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Forgot to mention this one
Hold up there dude. That's a fine album. I love that record, plus when Antony guests vocals on Cocorosie's album. Not too fond of the Pornographers, but I love each member more than the collective, esp Neko Case. Gold, while probably Adam's most commericial success, is towards the bottom of my favorite of his records. I thought Rock n Roll was fantastic. I also loved his two albums with the Cardinals. Totally agree though about Wilco. I just saw them last Sat. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is simply a masterpiece, even a Ghost is Born is outstanding.
I've seen Wilco twice (the auditrium theater in '03 was one. still the best show ive ever seen hands down. 2nd row pit seats too. its still considered one of the all time great wilco shows. the other was at lollapalooza). Ive also seen tweedy solo here in dekalb. Hes got a new solo dvd coming out on october 24, i think ill have to pick it up.
http://wilcoworld.net/sunkentreasure/thanks.php
Although I really hate that song...
Theyre also coming back to the Auditorium Theater for 2 days over thanksgiving break. I'm really tempted to get tix, but having seen them before I think I mite pass (plus I know I'm constantly going to be trying to compare it to my last show there). My Morning Jacket is also playin 11/24. I think thats where I'll end up. Of course, I could go to the MMJ show Friday, and do Wilco the next night At only $30 for each show, its an extremely enticing opportunity. Sounds like a good way to spend break to me.
Cincinnati just had a festival this past week called Tall Stacks. It's to commemorate the riverboat era. They had a ton of musical acts mostly bluegrass. Tea Leaf Green, Ricky Skaggs, off the top of my head. Also Heartless Bastards, Yearba Buena, Over the Rhine, Rhett Miller, Al Green, and Wilco played. It was an outdoor event, and there was a ton of people for Wilco, and Tweedy and Co. did not disappoint. The Heartless Bastards (whom I've seen already twice this year) were incredible. I even got my buddy who hates the music I listen to, hooked.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:Hes got a new solo dvd coming out on october 24, i think ill have to pick it up.
http://wilcoworld.net/sunkentreasure/thanks.php
Although I really hate that song...
Ah, you beat me to it. I just found out about this DVD over lunch and was going to post it. I actually love the song. I have a feeling that song sums up what the new record may sound like.
Also, I think I'm hitting the Wilco show at the Auditorium on Friday night. I've seen them there 3 times and each time was incredible. Do somehting different this time, sit in the first balcony. A couple years ago, I sat 10th row or so one night and in the balcony the next. The first night I was caught up in the show and the music. You could really see the guitarists etc. Sitting in the balcony the second night it was a completely different experience. You could see everything going on, especially with Kotche. That guy is amazing.
Ziggy Stardust Wrote:dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Forgot to mention this one
Hold up there dude. That's a fine album. I love that record, plus when Antony guests vocals on Cocorosie's album.
Fair enough. Maybe the puking guy emoticon is a little too much, but I didn't like it.
PirateTreasureNC Wrote:2004 Velvet Revolver: Contraband ..the comeback of straight up rock n roll. Got the band of GNR back into the fold and one of the best rock frontmen in the game scott Weiland also.
2003 Jay Z: The Black Album ...reinstated his dominance on the rap game and a great way to "end" a career.
2002 Audioslave: " ...proved two great tastes that taste great together theory.
2002 Eminem: The Eminem Show ...probabbly will go down as one of the greatest rap salvos of commenting on personal demons, pop culture, and the state of the rap game that you will ever hear. His 2004 cd Encore just wasn't up to it IMO.
Come on now. Audioslave? Velvet Revolver? We're talking
essential albums here. Albums that you must absolutely own or youre not living life to the fullest. Not just good albums. Not even fantastic albums. Not just albums that are likened as favorites by many. But
essential. I petition that this decade has not seen 50 essential albums. I can think of
maybe 10. And thats being very generous.
Have they furthered music in any way? Made any lasting impact on fans? Expanded boundaries? Rewritten the rules? Will these albums be talked about by our great grandchildren? Those are the types of questions you have to ask.
dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:Hes got a new solo dvd coming out on october 24, i think ill have to pick it up.
http://wilcoworld.net/sunkentreasure/thanks.php
Although I really hate that song...
Ah, you beat me to it. I just found out about this DVD over lunch and was going to post it. I actually love the song. I have a feeling that song sums up what the new record may sound like.
Also, I think I'm hitting the Wilco show at the Auditorium on Friday night. I've seen them there 3 times and each time was incredible. Do somehting different this time, sit in the first balcony. A couple years ago, I sat 10th row or so one night and in the balcony the next. The first night I was caught up in the show and the music. You could really see the guitarists etc. Sitting in the balcony the second night it was a completely different experience. You could see everything going on, especially with Kotche. That guy is amazing.
I remember when I saw them there, i didnt even realize how high up those balconies went. There are what, 3 or 4 levels? I mean, some people are practically in the rafers
I gotta say tho, nothing beats being able to make eye contact and sing along with Tweedy. I had my camera, and it almost seemed like he was holding poses. I have quite a few where hes looking directly at me and smiling. Pretty sweet.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:PirateTreasureNC Wrote:2004 Velvet Revolver: Contraband ..the comeback of straight up rock n roll. Got the band of GNR back into the fold and one of the best rock frontmen in the game scott Weiland also.
2003 Jay Z: The Black Album ...reinstated his dominance on the rap game and a great way to "end" a career.
2002 Audioslave: " ...proved two great tastes that taste great together theory.
2002 Eminem: The Eminem Show ...probabbly will go down as one of the greatest rap salvos of commenting on personal demons, pop culture, and the state of the rap game that you will ever hear. His 2004 cd Encore just wasn't up to it IMO.
Come on now. Audioslave? Velvet Revolver? We're talking essential albums here. Albums that you must absolutely own or youre not living life to the fullest. Not just good albums. Not even fantastic albums. Not just albums that are likened as favorites by many. But essential. I petition that this decade has not seen 50 essential albums. I can think of maybe 10. And thats being very generous.
Have they furthered music in any way? Made any lasting impact on fans? Expanded boundaries? Rewritten the rules? Will these albums be talked about by our great grandchildren? Those are the types of questions you have to ask.
If all these bands are so influential in the regards that you have mentioned then why would I not have heard about 90% of that list? If you are making that kind of impact then your work will crossover into mainstream success to where fans and non fans will know of your work.
If you open it up to the Decade then I could probablby put up some better cds. I could see where Audioslave might be debated.
If we go to the last 10 yrs I'd add
1999 Dr Dre: Chronic 2001
--AS influential as The Chronic and its musican ship and raps are still being ridden on by all of today's rappers
1999 Limp Bizkit: Significant Other
--Probabbly the most perfect execution of the nu-metal/rap metal genre and spawned a whole lot of copy cats to their style. N Together Now f/ Method Man got props on rap charts as well as pop charts...near about unheard of since sya Public Enemy and Anthrax w/ Bring the Noise. Break Stuff nearly destroyed the commercial Woodstock ( lmfao ) and did turn it into a riot. Also with the POP catchyness of Nookie broke a lot of ground for them.
1998 Korn: Follow The Leader
--Probabbly the 2nd best execution of the nu-metal/ rap/metaly genere. Really brought commercial succes to the harder side of heavy metal and got respect from the rap community as well w/ guest MCs like Ice Cube in Children of the Korn.
1998 Kid Rock: Devil Without a Cause
--I'd say this cd was to the late 90s what the Beastie Boys Liscensed to Ill was to the mid 80's proving that white guys can rap... you CAN combine heavy metal and rap into great songs, and you can sell a lot of cds on the concept. Kid Rock brought the world a MC that is equally adept at Rock songs, Metal Songs, straight up rapping MC, and could argue for Country singer as well.
Eminem: His first two cds would fit into this... for same reasons as I stated for The Eminem Show.
Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory would be one I think would qualify as well, allthough I do not particularly like them...
One more point about Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's influence and I promise I'll stop.
While searching for a new label, Wilco dared to stream the record for free over the internet at a time most (save indie bands) were scared to do something like that....and by time the record came out, it opened at 13 on the charts.
So, one could argue YHF has influenced music from 3 different angles.
To spin this onto another level My top ___ most influential cds since I have been an avid music buyer would be in no particular order and not including ones I have already mentioned
Michael Jackson: Thriller
Guns N Roses: Appetite For Destruction
LL Cool J: Momma Siad Knock You Out
Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy: Fear of a Black Planet
Nirvana: Nevermind
Boogie Down Productions: By All Means Necessary
NWA: Straight Outa Compton
Dr Dre: THe Chronic
The Fugees: The Score (even though I did not like it personally)
Eric B and Rakim: Paid In Full
Snoop Dogg: Doggy Style
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles b/c of the commercial success of the cd vs their self titled debut...
A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory
Beastie Boys: Liscensed to Ill
Beastie Boys: CHeck Your Head/Ill Communication
Run DMC: King of Rock
Run DMC: Raising Hell
Wu Tang Clan: Enter the 36 Chambers
..honestly I am suprised I dind't think of more Rock/metal cds ...ohh well
PirateTreasureNC Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:PirateTreasureNC Wrote:2004 Velvet Revolver: Contraband ..the comeback of straight up rock n roll. Got the band of GNR back into the fold and one of the best rock frontmen in the game scott Weiland also.
2003 Jay Z: The Black Album ...reinstated his dominance on the rap game and a great way to "end" a career.
2002 Audioslave: " ...proved two great tastes that taste great together theory.
2002 Eminem: The Eminem Show ...probabbly will go down as one of the greatest rap salvos of commenting on personal demons, pop culture, and the state of the rap game that you will ever hear. His 2004 cd Encore just wasn't up to it IMO.
Come on now. Audioslave? Velvet Revolver? We're talking essential albums here. Albums that you must absolutely own or youre not living life to the fullest. Not just good albums. Not even fantastic albums. Not just albums that are likened as favorites by many. But essential. I petition that this decade has not seen 50 essential albums. I can think of maybe 10. And thats being very generous.
Have they furthered music in any way? Made any lasting impact on fans? Expanded boundaries? Rewritten the rules? Will these albums be talked about by our great grandchildren? Those are the types of questions you have to ask.
If all these bands are so influential in the regards that you have mentioned then why would I not have heard about 90% of that list? If you are making that kind of impact then your work will crossover into mainstream success to where fans and non fans will know of your work.
If you open it up to the Decade then I could probablby put up some better cds. I could see where Audioslave might be debated.
If we go to the last 10 yrs I'd add
1999 Dr Dre: Chronic 2001
--AS influential as The Chronic and its musican ship and raps are still being ridden on by all of today's rappers
1999 Limp Bizkit: Significant Other
--Probabbly the most perfect execution of the nu-metal/rap metal genre and spawned a whole lot of copy cats to their style. N Together Now f/ Method Man got props on rap charts as well as pop charts...near about unheard of since sya Public Enemy and Anthrax w/ Bring the Noise. Break Stuff nearly destroyed the commercial Woodstock ( lmfao ) and did turn it into a riot. Also with the POP catchyness of Nookie broke a lot of ground for them.
1998 Korn: Follow The Leader
--Probabbly the 2nd best execution of the nu-metal/ rap/metaly genere. Really brought commercial succes to the harder side of heavy metal and got respect from the rap community as well w/ guest MCs like Ice Cube in Children of the Korn.
1998 Kid Rock: Devil Without a Cause
--I'd say this cd was to the late 90s what the Beastie Boys Liscensed to Ill was to the mid 80's proving that white guys can rap... you CAN combine heavy metal and rap into great songs, and you can sell a lot of cds on the concept. Kid Rock brought the world a MC that is equally adept at Rock songs, Metal Songs, straight up rapping MC, and could argue for Country singer as well.
Eminem: His first two cds would fit into this... for same reasons as I stated for The Eminem Show.
Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory would be one I think would qualify as well, allthough I do not particularly like them...
Are you equating mainstream success with being essential? There is a
BIG world outside of what MTV and popular radio spoonfeeds the masses. In fact, some artists would argue if your music crosses over into the mainstream that makes you a
sellout. Many artists purposely shun the mainstream (I'm not saying mainstream success is a bad thing. Just that some feel that way). I hate to break it to you, but that list is exceedingly accessible. If you stand anywhere other than absolute mainstream, its pretty popular stuff. And even then, thats just on the tip of indie music in general. Dive deeper, and its as bottomless as the ocean. There are probably hundreds of highly influential artists who are critics darlings, but never recieve the attention they deserve. Mainly, because of money. If your sound isnt accessible and easily placed into a predefined marketing plan, well you're most likely SOL. I'm not trying to downplay anyone's individual tastes. And I'm
really not trying to sound like a snob. But think of it this way. If I were to walk into an art museum, I probably wouldnt recognize offhand more than 10-20 works. I just havent put the time in to study art and learn more about it. I dont know about all the various movements and eras and who influenced who and why things are the way they are. That dosent mean however, that there arent thousands of works in the museum that arent just as groundbreaking or revolutionary as the ones I know. Same goes for music.
Its like that scene in the Matrix. "You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." Again, theres noting wrong with taking the blue pill. Many people go their entire lives with never going outside of predefined radio/MTV and it works fine for them. And I say thats great. But personally, once you take the red pill, youll never want to go back. Music means different things to different people. But just because you've never heard of something dosent make it less deserving. In fact, I say its a good opportunity to
go check it out and see what you've been missing.
Honesly, pick up "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart", which I think dyno mentioned. The film about Wilco. You dont have to like the music at all. But it will give you an inside look into the modern record industry, the forces at play, and how difficult it really is to have a personal creative vision and still get signed to a major label and make money.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:These lists are usually made just to stir the pot and whatnot. While there are some highly questionable additions (theres that Fraces the Mute cropping up again) and glaring ommissions, I'd say I agree with 60-70% of it. The top 6 is rock solid. And I realize if you're not into this kind of music, you'll probably be lost on the list. In any case, comments?
50 - Gillian Welch - (Time) The Revelator
49 - The Roots - Phrenology
48 - Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
47 - Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers
46 - Guided By Voices - Isolation Drills
45 - Neko Case - Blacklisted
44 - Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up on Me
43 - Kathleen Edwards - Failer
42 - Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum
41 - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Streetcore
40 - Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears
39 - Missy Elliot - Miss E...So Addictive
38 - Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life
37 - The Libertines - Up the Bracket
36 - The Black Keys - Rubber Factory
35 - Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
34 - Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
33 - Bob Dylan - Love and Theft
32 - The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
31 - Drive By Truckers - Decoration Day
30 - Ryan Adams - Gold
29 - Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts...Now
28 - Elvis Costello - The Delivery Man
27 - The Strokes - Is This It?
26 - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
25 - The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
24 - The White Stripes - Elephant
23 - Cat Power - You Are Free
22 - Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
21 - Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
20 - My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
19 - Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
18 - Steve Earle - Jerusalem
17 - Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
16 - Wilco - A Ghost is Born
15 - PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
14 - Kanye West - Late Registration
13 - The New Pornographers - Electric Vision
12 - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
11 - Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
10 - The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
9 - M.I.A. - Arular
8 - Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
7 - Tom Waits - Real Gone
6 - My Morning Jacket - Z
5 - Tom Waits - Alice
4 - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
3 - Brian Wilson - Smile
2 - The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
1 - Arcade Fire - Funeral
I think there are a couple real good albums on here, but I also think that there is a big group think on some of these picks as well. As niuhuskie84 said about a lot of people being in the MTV mode of just getting spoon fed crappy music, I also think there is a group of people who are being spoonfed some of this indie music and are afraid of looking musically uncool to say that the music is crap.
I am not sure that anybody was so influencial as to have 2 albums in the Top 50, but then, that's just me.
Of the above list, I would have easily picked The Mars Volta's De-Loused in the Comatorium over Frances the Mute, Dylan's Modern Times over Love and Theft, and Ryan Adam's stuff with the Cardinals is at least as good if not better than Gold.
I like the picks of the Roots,Queens of the Stone Age, The Shins, Drive By Truckers, the Flaming Lips and Iron & Wine.
I didn't like the picks of Franz Ferdinan (I actually like the album and loved them live, but didn't think it was overly influential) and the New Pornographers. I also don't really like the Arcade Fire disc, but I can at least see how it could be considered influential.
If I were making the list, I would have included Ambulance LTD - Self-titles, The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart, Abandoned Pools - Humanistic, Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (Did this album get worse because it got popular?), Idlewild - The Remote Part, Doves - Lost Souls, Gomez - How We Operate, Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself, Ray LaMontagne - Trouble, Reggie and the Full Effect - Under The Tray, Spoon - Gimme Fiction, Star - Set Yourself on Fire and Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise.
^
I totally agree theres some groupthink going on in that list. Their focus was just so unbelievably narrow. I really dont know how good of a magazine "Harp" is overall. I've only read it a couple times.
And I agree dyno, I'd like to see what their criteria was to determine "essential", since that is obviously a subjective word.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:^
I totally agree theres some groupthink going on in that list. Their focus was just so unbelievably narrow. I really dont know how good of a magazine "Harp" is overall. I've only read it a couple times.
And I agree dyno, I'd like to see what their criteria was to determine "essential", since that is obviously a subjective word.
Wait, is it "essential" or "influential," like you typed in your original post? Because that's two completely different things.
First of all, you can throw out all my arguments for Yankee Hotel Foxtrot being the number 1 "influential" record. Second, and this is the point I'd really like to make here, take Ryan Adams for example. 2 people have said he has better records than Gold, but I'd argue Gold is the more influential record because the song NY,NY introduced Ryan Adams to a much wider audience and intern possibly introducing them to the world of Alt.Country through his other records and related artists.
Dig? Now, I'd look it up myself, but like I said, I didn't find this on their website.
niuhuskie84 Wrote:PirateTreasureNC Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:PirateTreasureNC Wrote:2004 Velvet Revolver: Contraband ..the comeback of straight up rock n roll. Got the band of GNR back into the fold and one of the best rock frontmen in the game scott Weiland also.
2003 Jay Z: The Black Album ...reinstated his dominance on the rap game and a great way to "end" a career.
2002 Audioslave: " ...proved two great tastes that taste great together theory.
2002 Eminem: The Eminem Show ...probabbly will go down as one of the greatest rap salvos of commenting on personal demons, pop culture, and the state of the rap game that you will ever hear. His 2004 cd Encore just wasn't up to it IMO.
Come on now. Audioslave? Velvet Revolver? We're talking essential albums here. Albums that you must absolutely own or youre not living life to the fullest. Not just good albums. Not even fantastic albums. Not just albums that are likened as favorites by many. But essential. I petition that this decade has not seen 50 essential albums. I can think of maybe 10. And thats being very generous.
Have they furthered music in any way? Made any lasting impact on fans? Expanded boundaries? Rewritten the rules? Will these albums be talked about by our great grandchildren? Those are the types of questions you have to ask.
If all these bands are so influential in the regards that you have mentioned then why would I not have heard about 90% of that list? If you are making that kind of impact then your work will crossover into mainstream success to where fans and non fans will know of your work.
If you open it up to the Decade then I could probablby put up some better cds. I could see where Audioslave might be debated.
If we go to the last 10 yrs I'd add
1999 Dr Dre: Chronic 2001
--AS influential as The Chronic and its musican ship and raps are still being ridden on by all of today's rappers
1999 Limp Bizkit: Significant Other
--Probabbly the most perfect execution of the nu-metal/rap metal genre and spawned a whole lot of copy cats to their style. N Together Now f/ Method Man got props on rap charts as well as pop charts...near about unheard of since sya Public Enemy and Anthrax w/ Bring the Noise. Break Stuff nearly destroyed the commercial Woodstock ( lmfao ) and did turn it into a riot. Also with the POP catchyness of Nookie broke a lot of ground for them.
1998 Korn: Follow The Leader
--Probabbly the 2nd best execution of the nu-metal/ rap/metaly genere. Really brought commercial succes to the harder side of heavy metal and got respect from the rap community as well w/ guest MCs like Ice Cube in Children of the Korn.
1998 Kid Rock: Devil Without a Cause
--I'd say this cd was to the late 90s what the Beastie Boys Liscensed to Ill was to the mid 80's proving that white guys can rap... you CAN combine heavy metal and rap into great songs, and you can sell a lot of cds on the concept. Kid Rock brought the world a MC that is equally adept at Rock songs, Metal Songs, straight up rapping MC, and could argue for Country singer as well.
Eminem: His first two cds would fit into this... for same reasons as I stated for The Eminem Show.
Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory would be one I think would qualify as well, allthough I do not particularly like them...
Are you equating mainstream success with being essential? There is a BIG world outside of what MTV and popular radio spoonfeeds the masses. In fact, some artists would argue if your music crosses over into the mainstream that makes you a sellout. Many artists purposely shun the mainstream (I'm not saying mainstream success is a bad thing. Just that some feel that way). I hate to break it to you, but that list is exceedingly accessible. If you stand anywhere other than absolute mainstream, its pretty popular stuff. And even then, thats just on the tip of indie music in general. Dive deeper, and its as bottomless as the ocean. There are probably hundreds of highly influential artists who are critics darlings, but never recieve the attention they deserve. Mainly, because of money. If your sound isnt accessible and easily placed into a predefined marketing plan, well you're most likely SOL. I'm not trying to downplay anyone's individual tastes. And I'm really not trying to sound like a snob. But think of it this way. If I were to walk into an art museum, I probably wouldnt recognize offhand more than 10-20 works. I just havent put the time in to study art and learn more about it. I dont know about all the various movements and eras and who influenced who and why things are the way they are. That dosent mean however, that there arent thousands of works in the museum that arent just as groundbreaking or revolutionary as the ones I know. Same goes for music.
Its like that scene in the Matrix. "You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." Again, theres noting wrong with taking the blue pill. Many people go their entire lives with never going outside of predefined radio/MTV and it works fine for them. And I say thats great. But personally, once you take the red pill, youll never want to go back. Music means different things to different people. But just because you've never heard of something dosent make it less deserving. In fact, I say its a good opportunity to go check it out and see what you've been missing.
Honesly, pick up "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart", which I think dyno mentioned. The film about Wilco. You dont have to like the music at all. But it will give you an inside look into the modern record industry, the forces at play, and how difficult it really is to have a personal creative vision and still get signed to a major label and make money.
But would you argue against saying that pop success is not influential? POP = popular / populas influenced to buy it... then you can aggregate it out to more bands that "sound like" so and so start to get signed and promoted?
An example I thought of to illustrate my point
Def Leppard: Pyromania and then Hysteria got popular..influenced the populace to "pop metal" then the industry puts out sound alike bands like Winger, Warrant, Fire House ..ect....
Or Cypress Hill: " ..their self titled debut cd in 1991 ...you will notice that before noone had a alt rock/rap sound... or spoke on weed in the way that they did... after they blew up then everyone and their mother was braggin about all the weed smoke and blah blah blah... Then you had House of Pain blow up... and several other artists at the time biting their style.
This is not to say an Indie artist can't be "influential" but being/going pop/popular would mean you have more influence b/c your work is getting out to MORE people.
dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:^
I totally agree theres some groupthink going on in that list. Their focus was just so unbelievably narrow. I really dont know how good of a magazine "Harp" is overall. I've only read it a couple times.
And I agree dyno, I'd like to see what their criteria was to determine "essential", since that is obviously a subjective word.
Wait, is it "essential" or "influential," like you typed in your original post? Because that's two completely different things.
First of all, you can throw out all my arguments for Yankee Hotel Foxtrot being the number 1 "influential" record. Second, and this is the point I'd really like to make here, take Ryan Adams for example. 2 people have said he has better records than Gold, but I'd argue Gold is the more influential record because the song NY,NY introduced Ryan Adams to a much wider audience and intern possibly introducing them to the world of Alt.Country through his other records and related artists.
Dig? Now, I'd look it up myself, but like I said, I didn't find this on their website.
Well dyno, you got me. It was "essential", I went back and changed the title
. I guess that would explain why we've been talking about 2 different things here. My friend sent the list to me, apparently it's from the November issue. Maybe they dont have the website updated yet.
I'll just crawl away with my tail between my legs now
niuhuskie84 Wrote:....
And I agree dyno, I'd like to see what their criteria was to determine "essential", since that is obviously a subjective word.
Essential and Influential do carry different meanings... and also the criterion that those words would be based on in terms of cds. ANd it seems to have "industry" connotations vs pop landscape connotations.
* I am using pop as popular not ...Britney Spears/N Sync POP music but popular as in selling a lot of albums.
Well, now that we have that straightend out, scratch my Wilco argument and save it for the most "influential" list that I'm sure some music mag will come out with in the near future.
As for essential...I wish my pocketbook could deam anything essential right now. Oh well. Although, I will buy the new Wilco when it comes out.
dynovinyl Wrote:niuhuskie84 Wrote:^
I totally agree theres some groupthink going on in that list. Their focus was just so unbelievably narrow. I really dont know how good of a magazine "Harp" is overall. I've only read it a couple times.
And I agree dyno, I'd like to see what their criteria was to determine "essential", since that is obviously a subjective word.
Wait, is it "essential" or "influential," like you typed in your original post? Because that's two completely different things.
First of all, you can throw out all my arguments for Yankee Hotel Foxtrot being the number 1 "influential" record. Second, and this is the point I'd really like to make here, take Ryan Adams for example. 2 people have said he has better records than Gold, but I'd argue Gold is the more influential record because the song NY,NY introduced Ryan Adams to a much wider audience and intern possibly introducing them to the world of Alt.Country through his other records and related artists.
Dig? Now, I'd look it up myself, but like I said, I didn't find this on their website.
A lot of people dug that song New York, New York, just because they thought it was written after and about 9/11. Not quite.
I read that list again and saw some glaring omissions. No records from Rilo Kiley, Elliott Smith, Animal Collective, Of Montreal, Mirah, or Sufjan Stevens.
Another album that deserves to be on there is The Boy Least Likely to "The Best Party Ever."