NME's top 50 al***s of the decade

I thought "This'll be easy, I'll have a go".

Hmmm. Firstly I restricted myself to one album per artist (because I thought it'd make it even easier).

I ended up with 123 albums.

I then deleted anything that, though released for the first time in this decade, didn't originate then, so I regretfully lost some Indian Classical, the Dead's Stepping Out In England and agonisingly, The Beatles Love (and others).

That still left me over 100, so I hacked away again and again. Many of the victims were more recent releases that I felt maybe hadn't had the same test of time that others had survived.

So, here it is, my imperfect 50. Tough job.

Best of 2000-2009

Well the list reminds me why I have never read the N.M.E., it is a very blinkered list, almost entirely so called 'indie' bands. I think you could pick N.M.E's top fifty of any decade and I would still have little from it.

I think I have one album from that list, and to be honest it would definitely not make my top 10, Kid A, it would make my top album artworks though, probably at No.1. I am tempted by the Jay Z album though.

OK my list would be biased towards electronic music and loud rock/metal, which I do not think the N.M.E. are aware of.

So here is what has moved me over the last ten years. Just a personal view, and yes a little blinkered, but I am not a professional music journalist, but then, although they are paid, I would hesitate to include having much to do with music when talking about the N.M.E.

Studio Albums/New Music

1. Sun Kil Moon (Mark Kozelek) 'April' (2008)
2. Tool 'Lateralus' (2001)
3. Red House Painters (Mark Kozelek) 'Old Ramon' (recorded 1998, but not released until 2001 due to record company mergers)
4. Underworld 'A Hundred Days Off' (2002)
5. Porcupine Tree 'In Absentia' (2003)
6. Kraftwerk 'Tour de France Soundtracks' (2003)
7. A Perfect Circle 'Thirteenth Step' (2003)
8. Arc 'Arcturus' (2005) (new material although recorded live)
9. Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation 'Dreamland' (2002)
10. Pearl Jam - Binaural (2000)
11. Redshift 'Faultline' (2002) (new material although recorded live)



Official Live recordings.

1. Led Zeppelin DVD (recorded 1969-79, released 2004)
2. Van Der Graaf Generator 'Reel Life' or 'Leverkusnen' (2005)
3. Kraftwerk 'Minimum Maximum' (2005) CD/DVD
4. Dead Can Dance - official recordings of the 2005 reunion tour.
5. Pearl Jam 'The Gorge Boxset' (2005/6)
6. Mark Kozelek 'Lost Verses Live' + 'Find Me, Ruben Olivares: Live in Spain' (2009)
7. Underworld - official live recordings of the 2007/8 tour
8. Nine Inch Nails 'All That Could Have Been' (2002)
9. Led Zeppelin 'How the West was Won' (rec.1973, release 2004)
10. King Crimson 'Eyes Wide Open' (DVD) (2003)



Reissues/archive releases

Miles Davis, the continuing box sets.
Tangerine Dream Bootleg Box 1 & 2 (from Tangerine Tree/ Tangerine Leaves).
Pearl Jam 'Ten' Boxset, remasters, live and Unplugged.


Best Concerts

Van Der Graaf Generator - Royal Festival Hall May 2005
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation - Astoria July 2002
Kraftwerk - Brixton Academy March 2004
Porcupine Tree - Scala May 2000
Aphex Twin - Leeds Festival 2003
R.E.M. - T in the Park 2003
(also the four song acoustic set they did when the cancelled the Sheffield show in 2005 due to Mike Mills being taken to hospital)
Underworld - Somerset House June 2003
Orbital - Somerset House June 2002
Dead Can Dance - The Forum April 2005
Nine Inch Nails - M.E.N. July 2009
Pearl Jam - M.E.N. August 2009
Mark Kozelek - Salford July 2009

And just in contrast I can say that Moby at Glastonbury 2000 was probably the worst performance I saw, especially as about 70% of what you heard was a backing track, mimed over plus some fannying about on various instruments.

One thing the N.M.E. list proves, the Naim forum is a far better place to discover music, new and old, than the music press have ever been.

Gary - interesting list with much I havn't heard of although I still have 11 of them. Interesting that you rate Everything must go above Two against Nature. I love both but probably sneek Morph the Cat above both. However anything steely dan related is allways going to be right up there in my book.

I'm mildly astonished by how hard that was. I feel sort of guilty about leaving some stuff out (I mean the whole single album per artist thing I inflicted on myself was a bit bogus for a start off). Whittling down from 70 to was a killer (that's where I dumped Redshift's Faultline as well as Tangs' Soundmill Navigator Jamie).

I normally resist these sorts of lists, but I as so annoyed by the narrow-mindedness of the NME and NPR lists!

As for the Dan - I lik Two Against Nature and Morph, but Everthing Must Go has wormed its way into my top Dan line-up (and I'm more an early than middle or late Danner).

quote:

loud rock/metal, which I do not think the N.M.E. are aware of.

And never have been for more than 30 years!

The NME is just in favour of what is trendy with the Camden Clique. It either derides or just ignores anything outside its comfort zone. The only thing in its favour over the years has been its anti-fascist stance.

Come back Sounds! At least it was broadminded musically.

steve

quote:

Originally posted by Simon Matthews:

Quite an interesting list. I might give a listen on myspace etc to some of the albums I have not heard of. I own 23 of them which isn't a bad start but it would be interesting to know more about:

The earlier yeah yeah yeah's - I only have the last one.

Interpol - Turn on the bright lights. I have Our love to admire. I guess this one must be worth having as well!

At the drive in???

The knife?

Primal scream - I drifted away in the mid 90's -what is xtrmntr like? heavy going?

Simon, I've been stubbornly refusing to post on this thread - as I think I must hate lists! To answer some of your questions...

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz, excellent though it is, is a much tamer version of Fever To Tell, which is brilliant. Damn good songs (all of them) and Karen O's finest hour, lyrically and vocally, with some great playing from Nick. Show Your Bones has some great singles (Gold Lion, Cheated Hearts) but a few weaker tracks. Their Is Is ep, written after Fever To Tell, is great.

Interpol: 'Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Ian Curtis'. Nothing wrong with that, in my book. Untitled is a brilliant opening track, though it took ages for most of the rest of the album to grow on me as it's fairly bleak. Worth the wait though, for songs like Stella. I don't have any of their others, so can't compare.

The Knife: A very intelligent record that rewards repeated plays, and though it's a bit up and down, it has a great overall feel to it. Some of Karin's vocals are a bit of an acquired taste, and again, it's fairly dark-sounding. Some beautiful songs though - I've had Na Na Na in my head ever since I played it tonight. Imagine Kraftwerk fronted by Kate Bush doing a cover of Save A Prayer... and you're not even close.

All of the above are worth owning. Like you, I gave up on Primal Scream, and though I got as far as buying Xtrmntr, it's one of only two records I've ever taken back!

CC

Where is the first Badly Drawn Boy album - The Hour of Bewilderbeast? Greatly reviewed at the time ( Uncut called it the indie pet sounds!)and seriously overlooked now.Probably my favourite of the decade.

Cheers Stu - Also neglected are :-

Tom Waits - Alice
Rufus Wainwright - Poses
Josh Rouse - 1972
Beck - Sea Changes
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Antony and the Johnsons - I am a bird now

All good stuff.

Enjoy

Rod

Antony definitely should be on the list. By the way i have 21 , wich is not bad - I mean good for NME

Umm

100

I have 2 of the original 50 - not that it matters.

I have purchased many new releases from the last decade (some really great stuff, too), but I'm pleased to say I don't have any on the original NME list!

Regards, CB

What about "Third" by Portishead it is a classic even if heavy at first.

quote:

Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
Mat

Is Richard hawleys new one good? I only have Coles corner and like it, especially 'the ocean'

Blueknowz - thanks for the yeah yeah yeah tip off.

Yes, low key but gorgeous. In my top three of the year.

I have thirteen on that list-which suprises me as I'm not really an NME kinda guy. Most seem to be from the lower reaches. Wilco/Sufjan Stevens would be top of those selections for me.

Bruce

2 for me on this list

Since this list does not contain Kings Of Leon 'Only by the Night' I declare it null and void.

I only have a rousing 14. That's still 4 more than the NPR list for what its worth.