IMAGI-BLOG
4, 3, 2, 1: The count goes on
Submitted by imaginary stella on October 9, 2008.I've been meaning to blog about this for days now and haven't had a spare second. But things are getting so good, I really keep it in any longer. As you Seattle folk may know, it's KEXP pledge-drive time again, and while I strongly encourage you to donate anyway, the main reason I'm writing is because the station is playing an incredible string of tunes to accompany the talk. KEXP polled its listeners to rank the top 903 albums of all time, and now they're playing a track off each in betwixt the asks for cash.
It started late last week, and I was pleased as punch to hear some gems that made the higher-rankings. But we're well into the 100s now, and it's getting indisputably good. In the last hour alone, I've heard Moby, the Replacements, the Boss, The Doors, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Death Cab. I can't even tell you how loud the car-stereo was this morning as Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" had me dancing.
And while the "rules" are to play just one song off each album, the uber-awesome DJs know when it's right to break out of those restrictions. Like this morning, when John in the Morning played three back-to-back Nick Drake songs just because it felt right for a cold fall morning. That, my friends, is why I personally feel compelled to do whatever I can to keep the station around for years - decades. My hope is you feel the same.
Sure, I've disagreed with some of the rankings (Moz's Viva Hate is lower than At the Drive-In's Relationship of Command? Really?!). But it's massively fun to hear what comes next.
Check out the playlist so far (the countdown runs daily from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., so scroll back in time and reflect).
And stay tuned: They're set to hit #1 tomorrow. Any guesses on what it might be?
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ChrisB said on October 9, 2008:
I think it'll be something by Pavement or Nirvana. I can't get to the playlists from the computer I'm at so if they've already played *Nevermind* or *Slanted and Enchanted*, then what will I know?
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Imaginary Shrie said on October 9, 2008:
Nevermind is a contender. I think Surfer Rosa is strong, but I don't think it will be top.
IGshr*e
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imaginary stella said on October 9, 2008:
I think "Nevermind" definitely has a shot, though my hunch is Kurt and co. will be surpassed by something that's had more years to enjoy - like the Beatles.
Interesting side note on the Nirvana tip, though: Yesterday, when playing a track off In Utero, Kevin and Rachel followed the song with a rare interview with Cobain talking about the first time he ever heard "Love Buzz" on the radio -- on KCMU (KEXP's predecessor, for those not in Seattle). It brought tears to my eyes as it perfectly captured why we need a station like this, always.
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serotonein said on October 10, 2008:
or, from a different view, it's the perfect example of why college radio is so important ;)
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serotonein said on October 10, 2008:
and I'll put my guess in that the voters have chosen "Nevermind".
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cb said on October 10, 2008:
im going to guess the either the white album or revolver. it just seems wrong to the the #1 album not be the beatles.
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Jeanine Anderson said on October 10, 2008:
With a straight count popularity type of vote (ala Readers' Picks)the top votes will go to the most well-known album that doesn't suck. But isn't necessarily "the best" either. (Think Pizza Hut winning the first best of contests before organizers decided to split out chains from independents.)
Also take into account the demographic: listeners of KEXP who took the time to pick their top 10 albums and vote.
The largest KEXP demographic group is women in their 30's, however audiophiles tend to be men (generally speaking). Given that, the voting population is likely evenly split with age skewing upward from the average. Why? Younger listeners don't tend to think about good music in terms of "albums." Plus, baby boomers are the largest demographic group, so they tend to influence the results of any straight up popularity vote.
So my money is on Revolver. Not that I think it "the best" but it definitely influenced and spoke to the demographic of the (assumed) voting majority.
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imaginary stella said on October 10, 2008:
Wow. My "perfect album" pick (Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights) just landed in the high-70s. Given that, I am anxiously excited about what goodness is yet to come!
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cosby said on October 10, 2008:
whoever is voting for hit compilations as albums (and there must be hundreds of you out there as two between numbers 90 and 99 alone) need to go back to night school. am i the only one bothered by this?
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keenan dowers said on October 10, 2008:
Cosby, I too am bothered by people voting for hit compilations. I've been bitching about the list all week, but like Janine said, favorite doesn't necessarily mean best, so I guess it's OK that The New Pornographers Twin Cinema beat Electric Version by many slots, or that Death Cab's There's Something About Airplanes isn't even on the list but Plans and Narrow Stairs were.
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imaginary stella said on October 10, 2008:
I agree about the best-of comps...Though I think soundtracks are completely fair game (even if they are, by definition, 'comps'). There's something different about the way a soundtrack affects you or sets a certain mood.
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cosby said on October 10, 2008:
soundtracks are totally fair game. it's stuff like joy division's 'substance' in the 500s. of course it's awesome, i would argue it's not even their best compilation, but it shouldn't rank above other legitimate albums.
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John in Ballard said on October 10, 2008:
Slanted and Enchanted just went at 27.
I agree that comps are not really albums and kind of a gray area, but my guess as to why Joy Division's Substance would make the list is that it has two of their most popular songs- "Love will tear us apart" and "Transmission" -that neither of the other two albums have. At least it came in lower than Closer and Unknown Pleasures.
My guess is that Nirvana will be up there because it's Seattle and it's a popular album. I'm guessing Doolittle will rank ahead of Surfer Rosa, but I guess both will be pretty high.
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John in Ballard said on October 10, 2008:
I volunteered this morning and there is a little contest going on where whoever guesses the top ten the closest gets a ten cd pack. Doesn't have to be in order. I made my list when the countdown was up in the 80's, but here's what I guessed would be in the top ten (in no order):
Beatles- White Album
Nirvana- Nevermind
Pixies- Doolittle
The Clash- London Calling
The Smiths- The Queen is dead
The Cure- Disintegration (went at 21)
Death Cab- Transatlanticism (went at 33)
Arcade Fire- Funeral
Radiohead- Ok Computer
I can't remember my tenth guess right now, I'm sure it'll come to me as soon as I post this...
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imaginary stella said on October 10, 2008:
I just figured out what'll be #1...intense algorithms and speculating going on have led me to a "duh" moment...
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mike said on October 10, 2008:
you gotta be kidding...sufjan higher than ziggy stardust and the queen is dead? No way!
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ChrisB said on October 10, 2008:
I know this is a listicle and everything but someone seriously needs to explain why Illinois is #15 and Pet Sounds is #35.
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ChrisB said on October 10, 2008:
Funny, I was just in the middle of bitching about Sufjan while Mike made his comment!
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Jeanine Anderson said on October 11, 2008:
regarding Sufjan at #15: it's that 30-something female influence I warned you about! He IS cute in a boy-next-door-crush sort of way.
Kidding aside -- crazy ranking, that. Unexpected.
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ChrisB said on October 11, 2008:
I think Jeff Buckley at 13 is another example, Jeanine.
The way it is going now, I'm guessing OK Computer and Nevermind are 1 & 2.
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imaginary stella said on October 11, 2008:
I'm sure that OK Computer is #1. But, there are only 3 spots left, and these albums haven't yet been played. It doesn't add up:
OK COMPUTER
TOMMY
QUADROPHENIA
WHAT'S THE STORY (MORNING GLORY)
LONDON CALLING
You may disagree that these are the best (any of 'em) - but they certainly should at least be on the list, right?! WTF?
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ChrisB said on October 11, 2008:
What the hell? Stella is right about London Calling (I agree all of those are great) - and Sandanista! has been played. How can either London Calling or Odelay be left off the list of top 903 albums?
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ChrisB said on October 11, 2008:
It is London Calling! Good call Stella! But how was Odelay not on the list? Even as one who called Beck bullshit after Bumbershoot, I'm perplexed.
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cb said on October 11, 2008:
They definitely played Hot Wax from Odelay this afternoon, i remember hearing it.
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ChrisB said on October 11, 2008:
This is what I found when I searched by "Beck" on the list:
125: Sea Change
164: Guero
185: Modern Guilt
232: Midnight Vultures
539: One Foot in the Grave
671: Mutations
888: Mellow Gold
OK, that explains it. On this list: http://kexp.org/top2008/ there is no #43. 69 Love Songs by Magnetic Fields is 42 and then it goes to XO by Elliott Smith at 44. According to the playlist, Odelay was #43. I figured that that album was way too important to be left off and was puzzled by its omission.
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imaginary stella said on October 11, 2008:
Ah, 43 strikes again! It's a magic number, you know. Odelay definitely was played, though. I was dancing around my house. But it should've been higher!
I'm pretty happy about London Calling and OK Computer. But miffed that What's the Story, Tommy, nor Quadrophenia are even on the list...
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Reviews
Imaginary Shrie said on October 9, 2008:
Bob Dylan? Beatles? Johnny Cash?
IGshr*e