Entertainment Weekly Drops Its "Indie Rock 25"
EW subtitle "The Indie Rock 25" as a compiling of "the adventurous artists and albums that defined each year from 1984 to the present outside the major label sphere." Their lengthier introduction goes something like this (via EW):
Why do we love indie rock? Because it shuns everything that is prefab, safe, typical. It's about freedom, expression, passion -- no rules, man! But in order to narrow down hundreds of hours of incredible musical output from the last two and a half decades, we had to apply some ... well, rules: 1. Only one album may represent each year (hence the inclusion, in some cases, of too-hard-to-dismiss runners-up, and a number of difficult compromises we had to make). 2. All the bands had to have been signed to an independent label for the given album (ergo, the absence of Nirvana and the Flaming Lips, whose true genius didn't manifest itself until they graduated to the big leagues, but the inclusion of My Bloody Valentine and the Pixies, who originally signed to small labels in the U.K.). 3. The term ''band'' must be taken literally (thus eliminating otherwise unimpeachable artists like Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Cat Power).
Let's start with the past and move inexorably the present:
1984: The Replacements - Let It Be
1985: The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
1986: R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant
1987: Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me
1988: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
1989: The Pixies - Doolittle
1990: Fugazi - Repeater
1991: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
1992: Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
1993: Built To Spill - Ultimate Alternative Wavers
1994: Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand
1995: Archers Of Loaf - Vee Vee
1996: Belle And Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
1997: Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999: Sleater-Kinney - The Hot Rock
2000: Yo La Tengo - And then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
2001: The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
2002: Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
2003: The White Stripes - Elephant
2004: Arcade Fire- Funeral
2005: Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
2006: The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
2007: Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2008: Radiohead - In Rainbows
Did you guess correctly? One that surprised us was Archers. Great album, but somehow we didn't expect to see Vee Vee. Then, there are others you can't argue with -- Slanted, Loveless, etc. Bright Eyes in '05? That seems questionable ... or at least open to debate. Radiohead could open a can of worms, too. If you go to EW, they have explanations and sound samples for each.
Posted at 1:05 PM
this list made me feel old.
Posted by: joe at March 20, 2008 1:16 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I hear you. This one especially: 1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
God, that's 10 years old now. It only seems like a year or two ago that this wonderful album was released.
I am surprised at Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga being in there. I would have thought a different Spoon album but not that one.
Posted by: Music Critic at March 20, 2008 1:25 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I'm not the biggest fan of Entertainment Weekly and there are some small quibbles, would've picked LCD or National for 07 and probably various others over Bright Eyes but for the most part it's a pretty solid list.
Posted by: Nick at March 20, 2008 1:32 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Exactly, "Boxer" just keeps getting better, even after 40+ listens. Every time I listen to Spoon I get the sense that either I'm completeley wrong or everyone is going to forget about them when they retire from the game.
Posted by: SuperUnisonScore = 1
Why do we love indie rock? Because if we didn't pretend to, our magazine wouldn't be able to capitalize on the latest mainstream youth-culture trend.
Posted by: steve at March 20, 2008 1:34 PM | ReplyScore = 13
I didn't mean to post that twice. There's nothing like an accidental double posting to make a "witty" comment fall flat on its face...
Posted by: steve in reply to steve's comment at March 20, 2008 1:41 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Touché !!! As for Oh Inverted World! it was way too overplayed and not as solid all the way through as Chutes Too Narrow.
Posted by: Tauna in reply to steve's comment at March 25, 2008 8:27 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Why do we love indie rock? Because if we didn't pretend to, our magazine wouldn't be able to capitalize on the latest mainstream youth-culture trend.
Posted by: steve at March 20, 2008 1:37 PM | ReplyScore = -2
Not a bad list, although I'm sure some would argue with some of those bands being on "indie labels" (e.g. R.E.M.--IRS was owned by WB)
Posted by: Stephen at March 20, 2008 1:40 PM | ReplyScore = -1
lcd's album was on a major label....
Posted by: d at March 20, 2008 1:54 PM | ReplyScore = 2
I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I am king of all things indie rock, but I know enough. And as I much as I love I'm Wide Awake it's Morning, I am surprised the 2005 spot didn't go to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!'s sel-titled debut.
Posted by: Tauwan at March 20, 2008 1:58 PM | ReplyScore = 2
I'm sorry, but Clap Your Hands Say Yeah should be nowhere near this or any other list. That's like saying Neds Atomic Dustbin should be there for the year 1993.
Posted by: mike in reply to Tauwan's comment at March 20, 2008 6:50 PM | ReplyScore = 1
z was a lot better than i'm wide awake it's morning.
Posted by: anon at March 20, 2008 1:58 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I can almost get behind this list, but i think Archers Icky Mettle was the one, but that was 1994 and would bump GBV. they totally overlooked Superchunk self titled, 1990. New Pornographers Mass Romantic for 2000. ah, what the f*ck do i know.
Posted by: Larry Gary at March 20, 2008 2:00 PM | ReplyScore = 0
no zen arcade in '84... these lists are nothing but pointless name dropping.
Posted by: random asshole at March 20, 2008 2:02 PM | ReplyScore = -2
not so sure about the bright eyes inclusion, I personally woulda gone with 'apologies to the queen' or even 'aligator' by the national. its actually not that bad of a list though i've missed havn't heard them all. im young. sue me
Posted by: Keaton34 at March 20, 2008 2:02 PM | ReplyScore = 2
good enough, specially coming from EW. i highly disagree with the 2006 pick,though. hold steady is pretty good, but i dont think that was the top album that year.
Posted by: gabyScore = 1
A list so safe that not even the readers of Stereogum can argue with it.
Posted by: Yoni at March 20, 2008 2:10 PM | ReplyScore = 6
Just so you know.
Posted by: Robert at March 20, 2008 2:23 PM | ReplyIRS was never owned by Warner Bros.
Score = 1
isn't Bright Eyes solo and therefore shouldnt be included ala Cat Power?
Posted by: sarah at March 20, 2008 2:23 PM | ReplyScore = 6
I was thinking the same thing.
Posted by: HuphScore = 0
Yoni, i totally agree
Posted by: Kevin at March 20, 2008 2:28 PM | Replybut i was pleasantly surprised at sleater-kinney, and i would ahve like to see a chunk record
Score = 1
Neutral Milk Hotel is a nice surprise for certain, as well as Spoon but agree with Music Critic, definitely would not have chosen Ga Ga ... In Rainbows as number one is a bit rich and I hope as a culture we get over our Bright Eyes fascination soon. Blech.
Posted by: dot at March 20, 2008 2:29 PM | ReplyScore = -1
2005 was definitely Sufjan instead of Bright Eyes.
Lots of good bands there with the wrong album. Elephant instead of White Blood Cells? Ga^5 instead of Kill the Moonlight? No Radiohead until 2008?
Posted by: The J Train at March 20, 2008 2:53 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Radiohead's albums all came out on major labels until In Rainbows, right?
Although I think the idea of calling Radiohead "Indie" *completely* skews the idea of what independent music is. Madonna's not on an official label anymore, is she indie now? And what if Metallica just started releasing their albums themselves? Would we start calling them indie?
Just seems like an excuse to namecheck Radiohead.
Posted by: HuphScore = 2
I'm all for 05 going to bright eyes..can't argue with the list much either, with the exception of spoon, 2007 goes to of montreal imo
Posted by: Jason at March 20, 2008 2:55 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I like the inclusion of Archers of Loaf.
But they done eff'd up in 2005 and 1999.
Emergency & I, anyone? The Hot Rock isn't even the best S-K album. If they wanted to show Sleater-Kinney some love, they should have done it in 05 (even though "Black Sheep Boy" would have been my pick for that year).
Posted by: studly roberts at March 20, 2008 3:02 PM | ReplyScore = 2
Hell yes, Emergency and I. That one still comes up every few weeks.
Posted by: SuperUnisonScore = 0
The Woods was released on Sub Pop - not sure if that would count as an indie label (50% owned by warner I think?) That said, the Hot Rock is underrated imho, and is my favorite of theirs.
Posted by: aldo in reply to studly roberts's comment at March 20, 2008 8:55 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Given their definition of Indie, I'd say that "Is This It?" should replace "Oh, Inverted World." That Strokes record is undoubtedly the most influential record of the decade, and it's not particularly close for second (Rush Of Blood to the Head?)
Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at March 20, 2008 3:40 PM | ReplyScore = 5
I'm not trying to bash your comment but both those records are major label and it clearly states that they therefore cannot be included.
Posted by: mike in reply to Bender Bending Rodriguez's comment at March 20, 2008 6:55 PM | ReplyScore = 3
I'm just sayin'. according to their definition of Indie, I think Is This It? qualifies, as it was on Rough Trade (which wasn't BMG-owned then) in the UK.
Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez in reply to mike's comment at March 21, 2008 1:10 AM | ReplyScore = -1
Why is this list so impossible to hate on?
Posted by: Finchmeister at March 20, 2008 3:41 PM | ReplyScore = 0
@ the j train: as far as i can remember, radiohead have always released albums on a major label, thus disqualifying them from inclusion on this list. that is, until in rainbows. i'm not sure it's fair to declare 2008 for radiohead, though. i would have declared '07 for radiohead, since that's when they released the album and introduced the pay-what-you-want business model (that was 07, right?). i agree with you that sufjan was robbed.
Posted by: vinnie at March 20, 2008 3:53 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Not a bad list, per se. I think the term 'indie', as pertains to label distribution, is not really the point ( Sire was associated with WB, 4AD with Capitol, I think IRS was also associated with one of the majors, I don't remember which one...). It is a fairly safe list, as well, but that doesn't mean that many of these records aren't still top-shelf. I would agree that the Strokes summed up 2001 more than the Shins did, and if a White Stripes record needs including, it's 'De Stijl' or 'White Blood', but who cares, really? I wish I could like the Hold Steady, but I just kinda don't. It sounds way too Master Shake fronting the E-Street Band for my tastes, and I'm very glad that I don't like any Bright Eyes. Kudos go, I suppose, to EW for not just listing Nirvana, Pumpkins, etc. I doubt that the readers of EW will suddenly start searching the used racks for Built to Spill or Polvo records, but that's neither here nor there.
Posted by: Charlie Kane at March 20, 2008 3:58 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I like the first two sentences of EWs opening paragraph...NOT.
Oh, Stereogum, you and your puns...
And I'd put Sufjan for '03.
Posted by: bookwibble at March 20, 2008 3:58 PM | ReplyScore = 0
That is kind of asinine that they disqualified Cat Power for not being a 'band' but they included Bright Eyes. I hate to say it, but CYHSY should probably be in that spot instead.
Posted by: Mac at March 20, 2008 4:00 PM | ReplyScore = 3
Radiohead = Not Indie
Posted by: Allah at March 20, 2008 4:13 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Reading comments on this site now feels like it burns my retinas.
Posted by: oh. at March 20, 2008 4:25 PM | ReplyScore = -1
that yo la tengo album is amazing, but i think the sophtware slump by grandaddy should be in that 2000 spot.
... assuming, of course, that kid a is not a valid answer.
Posted by: Ben at March 20, 2008 4:31 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Given their criteria they listed (can't count Sufjan, Radiohead, etc) it seems like a pretty solid list. The choices are a lot more obvious for earlier years; the more recent picks just need a few more years' perspective. It's still too early to say which record from 06 or 07 will have the most lasting impact.
And Radiohead probably should have been 2007, calling that a 2008 release is almost cheating.
Posted by: Sar at March 20, 2008 5:17 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that EW picked The Hold Steady in 2006 instead of Arctic Monkeys OR TV on the Radio...I guess I didn't expect them to be right. But ok, let's set these straight.
2000: Mass Romantic
Posted by: DS48 at March 20, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply2001: Is This It?
2005: Z
2007: In Rainbows
Score = 0
I was surprised Mass Romantic and Is This It? didn't make it too, wasn't the latter on a major label?
Posted by: Jonathan in reply to DS48's comment at March 24, 2008 12:27 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I've heard Bright Eyes described as a "band with only one permanent member" before, which to me sounds like a fancy way of saying "solo artist" but what do I know. I like Bright Eyes though, so I'm glad to see him included. I agree that they should've used White Blood Cells instead of Elephant, but other than that the list looks pretty solid from my point of view.
Posted by: icanreadScore = 0
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People should have been 2003
Posted by: jb at March 20, 2008 6:41 PM | ReplyScore = 5
those stipulations made for some compromising decisions
Posted by: foundmyrosebud01Score = -1
2005.... apologies to the queen mary?
Posted by: blackbear at March 20, 2008 8:01 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Bright Eyes is spot on. Wide Awake is clearly his best work, and it's good to see it get some recognition.
Posted by: Tommy_DScore = -4
Yeah I agree with Tommy D. Z was great but I still feel like I'm Wide Awake was better. I think that album will be rememered as classic; the whole things is good. If anything deserves that year's spot more, it's Wolf Parade, and while that album is pretty great, I don't think it connected with people the way that the Bright Eyes' did... And Sufjan Stevens--- who cares anymore?
Posted by: Panda at March 20, 2008 10:18 PM | ReplyScore = -1
Yeah I agree with Tommy D. Z was great but I still feel like I'm Wide Awake was better. I think that album will be rememered as classic; the whole things is good. If anything deserves that year's spot more, it's Wolf Parade, and while that album is pretty great, I don't think it connected with people the way that the Bright Eyes' did... And Sufjan Stevens--- who cares anymore?
Posted by: Panda at March 20, 2008 10:19 PM | ReplyScore = -2
This is just so pointless. Is there anyone in the world who isn't already aware of any of the albums in the first 10 years? This is more like a list of Academy Award winners for the last 25 years. "Hey! Did you guys know that a band called Fugazi made a good album? Ever heard of the Pixies?! Hey, remember that band the White Stripes, who were so Indie that even we were running blurbs on them in 2003?" This is just an excuse for EW to try to look cool.
And to consider that the "Indie" bands listed from 2001 on have anything to do with the Independent Bands listed in the first 10 to 15 years is just insulting. And to say that the bands from 2001 on "shun everything that is prefab, safe, typical" is really fucking laughable. The whole Indie genre is safe, typical, and fashionable. So much so that, surprise surprise, they use it to sell cars, clothes, gourmet foods, and movie tickets.
Posted by: HuphScore = -2
Can't have an Indie list without Superchunk, the indie-est band of them all. Give them either 1991 for No Pocky For Kitty or 1995 for Here's Where The Strings Come In.
Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at March 21, 2008 1:23 AM | ReplyScore = 0
1999 - 69 Love Songs (duh)
what a glaring exclusion
Posted by: Roos at March 21, 2008 3:06 AM | ReplyScore = 3
1999 - 69 Love Songs (duh)
what a glaring exclusion
Posted by: Roos at March 21, 2008 3:08 AM | ReplyScore = 1
At the time that "Life's Rich Pageant" was released, IRS was distributed by A&M. IRS was never a part of Warner Bros. REM moved from IRS to Warners for the GREEN album. At about the same time, A&M sold IRS to Capitol/EMI.
Posted by: Old Davy at March 21, 2008 7:43 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Broken Social Scene, Superchunk and Teenage Fanclub are obvious misses, but I'm old so, heh, these too:
1985 - Husker Du - New Day Rising
Posted by: Rich K at March 21, 2008 9:26 AM | Reply1986- The Feelies - The Good Earth
Score = 0
Built To Spill is one of my favorite bands, but "Ultimate Alternative Wavers" is an average album at best. Since "Siamese Dream" and "In Utero" are major label releases, the album for 1993 should be Seefeel's "Quique."
Posted by: kidacomputerok at March 21, 2008 12:26 PM | ReplyScore = 0
So glad to see someone give VEE VEE props.
where's Superchunk?
and it seems like someone wanted to give Bright Eyes a place on the list, should have given FEVERS & MIRRORS the win, everything since that record he's done has been pretentious bullshit.
Posted by: Richard at March 21, 2008 1:20 PM | Replyi like how after 2002, it turns into fashionrock.
Score = 0
fevers and mirrors was by far conor's most pretentious output. Wide Awake is basically a folk record which in my opinion is historically one of the least pretentious genres. Way to let everyone know you can name his breakthrough album though. 2 cool points go to you sir.
Posted by: buns in reply to Richard's comment at March 25, 2008 5:26 PM | ReplyScore = 0
@ Allah
'Indie' no longer is representative of 'independent music', and hasn't been used to describe that for a while. Radiohead is Indie Rock. Sure, of course they're have a diverse catalog and I wouldn't describe Amnesiac as indie rock.
Posted by: Finchmeister at March 21, 2008 4:57 PM | ReplyScore = 0
hm, 1995 should be OK computer, '08 shouldn't be rated yet because its only March. I would give 07 to the National. I dunno, I don't find Spoon to be an outstanding band. pretty blah to me. I would also switch the Smiths and REM from 85 and 86, and have 'Fables of the Reconstruction' for 85 and 'The Queen is Dead' for 86. 93 I would give to stereolab's Mars Audiac Quintet, and yeah, for 99 69 love songs laid waste to everything, even though it had tons of blah songs. it still had like three times as many good songs as any other album. for 90, I'd pick 'GodWeenSatan - the oneness' by Ween. I think that was 90...Repeater was not Fugazi's best work, I don't think. their oldest and most recent stuff is better to me than their middle period stuff. hell while we're at it I'd give 84 to Psychocandy', and 05 to someone else, I don't know who, but, come on...
Posted by: onceler at March 21, 2008 6:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Wasn't Sonic Youth released on Geffen. And wasn't Geffen a major label?
Posted by: Black Sunshine at March 22, 2008 12:49 AM | ReplyScore = 0
I believe daydream Nation was originally released on enigma then they release Goo on geffen
Posted by: mike in reply to Black Sunshine's comment at March 24, 2008 7:02 PM | ReplyScore = 0
am I the only one who thinks that the avalanches in 2000 was the album of that year? it was, and still is, incredible.
Posted by: sup at March 22, 2008 6:33 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Oh, and I love Archers of Loaf, but everyone knows that "Alien Lanes" is by far the best "indie" album of 1995. EW probably just didn't want to have GbV listed twice. Pussies.
Posted by: kidacomputerok at March 22, 2008 9:12 AM | ReplyScore = 0
IMO
Posted by: matt at March 22, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply1984: The Replacements - Let It Be
1985: The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
1986: The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
1987: Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me
1988: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
1989: The Pixies - Doolittle
1990: Ride - Nowhere
1991: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
1992: Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
1993: Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
1994: Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand
1995: Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes
1996: Belle And Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
1997: Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999: The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs
2000: Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
2001: The Microphones - The Glow Pt. 2
2002: Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
2003: The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
2004: Arcade Fire- Funeral
2005: Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2006: Joanna Newsom - Ys
2007: Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
2008: ?????
Score = 1
Where's the SUPERCHUNK??????
Posted by: DAVE-O at March 22, 2008 5:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Where's the SUPERCHUNK??????
Posted by: DAVE-O at March 22, 2008 5:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Um. Guided By Voices were in 1994?! I'm going to go cry a little bit now.
Posted by: Berto at March 23, 2008 12:14 AM | ReplyScore = 1
How about Wilco in 2002? Yankee Hotel Foxtrot anyone? The epitome of indie. Rejected the masters, bought the masters back themselves, sold to None Such... made the best album of 2002.
Posted by: M:I at March 23, 2008 11:22 AM | ReplyScore = 4
cut copy for 2008
Posted by: mikeScore = 0
I would start in 1983 with R.E.M.'s Murmur. Pure magical indie sound. Une musique intemporelle!!!
Posted by: miguel at March 23, 2008 7:29 PM | ReplyScore = 1
I think EW kind of backed themselves into a corner by picking one album for each year, but overall it's a better list than most. They seemed to refrain from putting things on the lists for shock value. I would have put Wowee Zowee on the list, but minor quibble.
Posted by: Fame Throwa at March 23, 2008 8:52 PM | ReplyScore = 1
I know these days it's cool to use "drop" as a synonym for "release," but the title of this post makes it clear why that shouldn't be done.
The headline sounds as if you're saying, "EW used to do an Indie Rock 25, but it has stopped doing it. They've dropped it from their magazine."
Posted by: scott at March 24, 2008 11:06 AM | ReplyScore = 2
Turn On The Bright Lights was better than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot?
Posted by: Kalle at March 24, 2008 1:06 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Yes.
Posted by: Jason in reply to Kalle's comment at March 26, 2008 4:12 AM | ReplyScore = -2
It's amazing to me that people actually enjoy listening to Bright Eyes. What they should've done is pushed the Hold Steady from '06 to '05, with Separation Sunday, and put TV on the Radio in the 2006 slot, and leave Bright Eyes the fuck off.
Posted by: Dan at March 24, 2008 10:31 PM | ReplyScore = 2
YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT in 2001? Yes.
Posted by: BRIAN Garcia at March 25, 2008 10:39 AM | ReplyScore = 0
I agree with The J Train. White Blood Cells is quite frankly the best white stripes album and while i'm happy to see Elephant up there I think WBC deserves it more.
Posted by: Nate at March 25, 2008 11:10 AM | ReplyScore = 2
All great albums, but the *glaring* omission is Pulp's Different Class for '95. Can't believe I'm the first to mention it.
Posted by: Karl at March 25, 2008 8:33 PM | ReplyScore = 0
White Stripes & The Shins should switch for 03' and 01'. Does more commerical mean better? White Blood Cells( 01' ) was way better than Elephant (03' ) and Chutes too Narow (03') was way better than Oh, Inverted World! (01')
Posted by: Tauna at March 25, 2008 8:48 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Like many have said, a very safe list. Not bad, per se, just . . . boring. I suppose we cannot complain, knowing the history of retarded lists at EW they definitely could have come up with worse. There are however a few glaring ommisions. First, the definite lack of Strokes is an unfortunate misstep. While 'Oh, Inverted World' is a good record, 'Is This It' is a great one. The Strokes defined indie for those of us who are in college now more than The Shins ever could, and 'Is This It' will be remembered as one of the best albums of the decade. Also one of the best albums of the decade (and perhaps ever): 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.' Its lack of mentioning here is just irresponsible. Personally I have never gotten Interpol; I would not let them near a playlist, let alone an Indie Rock 25. 2002 should be Wilco. And while 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' is Bright Eye's best work, Gideon alone off of My Morning Jacket's 'Z' beats it in 2005. And while I loved 'Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga,' for 2007's best record, I would place it at number 2 behind 'In Rainbows,' which did not come out in 2008. Since it is only March, now is probably a little early to be naming 2008's best record anyways.
Posted by: Clangbang at March 26, 2008 2:00 AM | ReplyScore = 0
i don't understand why it had to be indie bands, why couldn't it have included indie artists? i love bright eyes, but 2005 was sufjan's year.
and where was yankee hotel foxtrot? jeff tweedy is going to get a bad headache over this...
Posted by: killabot at March 26, 2008 7:24 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Nonesuch is owned by WB, so no 69 Love Songs or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Posted by: ManH at March 26, 2008 1:32 PM | ReplyI'm Wide Awake is the mature and coherent Bright Eyes album and was real surprise, but it didn't define the year. But neither did Z.
I agree with TV on the Radio for 2006.
GaX5 just isn't substantial enough to be included. It feels forced. The National? Of Montreal? Animal Collective? There were so many great records from last year, why settle for one that is slightly less? It's too bad Person Pitch was a solo record.
Radiohead makes sense for 2008 because that's when In Rainbows got a "street date," but still, do we need a record to define this year when we're just three months in? Maybe it's because Radiohead has "changed the model" and it's going to affect this year in a way it couldn't affect last year (since it was released in December). Putting In Rainbows for 2008 is still a scam though.
Score = 0
This list made me say "FUCK Radiohead" for about the millionth time in my life.
Posted by: Quentin at March 27, 2008 1:51 PM | ReplyScore = -2
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe 69 Love Songs was released by Merge and not by Nonesuch. At least, that's what AMG says. Magnetic Fields didn't move to Nonesuch until "i."
Posted by: Roos at March 27, 2008 7:11 PM | ReplyScore = 0