I was at Barnes & Noble the other day and came across this feature in Blender magazine about their “100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever.” It was actually pretty interesting and the number one choice was as close to perfect as possible. Here is the link for you guys/girls to check out.

Yeah you can't argue with Pavement, I still listen to that album pretty regularly. But AF's Funeral ahead of Velvet Underground and The Smiths? I don't think so.

My only real beef with this list is that it picks a couple of compilations instead of proper albums. Mostly pretty solid albums-- not too crazy about the stuff they picked post-2000, and I'm not sure how you leave Ian MacKaye off this list. All in all, a much better list than I expected coming from a porno mag.

As far as I know, REM's first album was "Murmur." Is "Mumu" some alternate title that only the "real" REM fans refer to it as?

All in all, it's a decent list. I think "Illinois" should've been a bit higher though. And no "Doolittle?"

I have a couple problems with the list:

1. Are they using "indie" to mean label size, or a musical genre. They seem to be using it to mean the former on the pre-2000 stuff, but after that it goes out the window. I don't know if you can call stuff released on RCA or Interscope "indie".

2. I always cringe when I see an "all-time" list like this that includes releases that have only been out for a few months. I'm not saying Strawberry Jam and The Reminder could never have a place on a list like this, but give them some time to sink in.

quote:

Originally posted by EricG75:
Are they using "indie" to mean label size, or a musical genre. They seem to be using it to mean the former on the pre-2000 stuff, but after that it goes out the window. I don't know if you can call stuff released on RCA or Interscope "indie".

I got that feeling as well Eric. And it’s weird because on a lot of the post-2000 albums, they picked their most recent one, instead of their best. I like Cat Power but I don’t think her latest is her best album; same goes for a few others I noticed. They either chose the debut or their latest album.

In the magazine, they did start off by going with indie in terms of a genre. They described a certain type of sound that they felt described indie, so I was confused as well.

I noticed they picked Feist's The Reminder at 80. Seems a bit high, I wouldn't mind if they included Let It Die instead.

No way either "Bee Thousand" or "Aeroplane Over the Sea" should be left outside the top ten. I agree with Pavement and the Youth at 1-2 though.

i only got to TV on the Radio and of course it was "return to cookie mountain". i think i'm the only one, but i just can't get into that album. just loved "desperate youth..." and i think "staring at the sun" could be the greatest song ever, but i can barely listen to "RTCM"

so, wtf am i missing?

quote:

Originally posted by cmonsteve:
i only got to TV on the Radio and of course it was "return to cookie mountain". i think i'm the only one, but i just can't get into that album. just loved "desperate youth..." and i think "staring at the sun" could be the greatest song ever, but i can barely listen to "RTCM"

so, wtf am i missing?

Where have you been?! You are not alone in your opinions, any of the ones you just said. Well except that “Staring at the Sun” is the greatest song of all time, that belongs to “God Only Knows.”

quote:

Originally posted by achengy:
I noticed they picked Feist's The Reminder at 80. Seems a bit high, I wouldn't mind if they included Let It Die instead.

I was surprised by the large number of 2007 picks overall. I doubt the majority is with me on this, but if I were doing an all-time list I would probably abstain from picking any albums released in the current year. It might sound ludicrous, but for an all time I like a certain amount of distance from the albums in contention. Or maybe that's taking it too far. I dunno. Anyway, I'd be more hesitant at least. Although 2007 is a banging year for music.

quote:

Originally posted by The New Mr. Rainbow (vitun:
I doubt the majority is with me on this, but if I were doing an all-time list I would probably abstain from picking any albums released in the current year. It might sound ludicrous, but for an all time I like a certain amount of distance from the albums in contention. Or maybe that's taking it too far. I dunno. Anyway, I'd be more hesitant at least. Although 2007 is a banging year for music.

I think the majority would agree with you there—I do.

quote:

Originally posted by cmonsteve:
Well except that “Staring at the Sun” is the greatest song of all time, that belongs to “God Only Knows.”

"God Only Knows" isn't even the best or most influential Beach Boys' song of all time. "Good Vibrations" holds those honors. Best song of all time, period, is "A Day in the Life", although there are a plethora of others not far behind.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:

quote:

Originally posted by The New Mr. Rainbow (vitun:
I doubt the majority is with me on this, but if I were doing an all-time list I would probably abstain from picking any albums released in the current year. It might sound ludicrous, but for an all time I like a certain amount of distance from the albums in contention. Or maybe that's taking it too far. I dunno. Anyway, I'd be more hesitant at least. Although 2007 is a banging year for music.

I think the majority would agree with you there—I do.

Ditto

quote:

Originally posted by kid_chameleon_86:
"God Only Knows" isn't even the best or most influential Beach Boys' song of all time. "Good Vibrations" holds those honors. Best song of all time, period, is "A Day in the Life", although there are a plethora of others not far behind.

We’re arguing opinions and aesthetics here but to me, “God Only Knows” is the best song of all time—again, to me. I won’t argue “A Day in the Life” either, I love that song as well.

Super-Hurrays for: Pavement, BIG STAR!, Yo La Tengo, and the Modern Lovers.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
We’re arguing opinions and aesthetics here

Very true. You can make strong arguments for at least ten to twenty songs as best ever. Let's call it off and just agree to disagree.

quote:

Originally posted by Maximum Jack:
All in all, a much better list than I expected coming from a porno mag.

Blender's a porno mag?

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Originally posted by wilsonna:
Blender's a porno mag?

Blender's not in itself a porno mag, but it's from the same people who run "Maxim".

quote:

Originally posted by kid_chameleon_86:

quote:

Originally posted by wilsonna:
Blender's a porno mag?

Blender's not in itself a porno mag, but it's from the same people who run "Maxim".

think about all of the 10-12 year old males who're going to be getting slanted and enchanted this christmas...