America's 100 best

ice nine · Post by **ice nine** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:36 pm

This Labor Day my favorite public radio station asked for the top American cd/album of it's listener's. Here's the reults. Comments?

http://www.wyep.org/music_programs/100albums.asp

invisible Pole · Post by **invisible Pole** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:08 am

Tori Amos favoured over any Johnny Cash ?
Also I thought that Motown artists would have more albums in Top 100.
Most of the list is pretty obvious.

Mechanical Grace · Post by **Mechanical Grace** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:10 am

Oh, lists, schmists. I'm sick to death of it.

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:44 am

#1 and #78 are reversed. And too much R.E.M.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:42 am

No such thing.

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:04 am

I doubt whoever made up the list even surveyed people for it - too many unlikely choices in terms of the albums by the artists picked and also in of the albums as ranked in general. Either that or they didn't get many people voting.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:34 pm

REM not that high up, though. Nor Tom W. Nor T heads. Only one VU LP shocking. I love the self-titled as much and at times more than the debut, and both would make my top 10 for sure.

King Hoarse · Post by **King Hoarse** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:15 pm

I'm amazed that I've heard 70 of them. I guess I'd include about a third if I'd made the list.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:28 pm

Any list that has Allman Bros Eat a Peach and Live at the Fillmore ("In Memory of Elizabeth Reed") together with Coltrane's A Love Supreme and Miles' Kind of Blue is a pretty good list. I love the strong Heads representation and the Aja.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:41 pm

Otis Westinghouse wrote:REM not that high up, though. Nor Tom W. Nor T heads. Only one VU LP shocking. I love the self-titled as much and at times more than the debut, and both would make my top 10 for sure.

And where was Let's Dance???

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:15 pm

It may as well be American...

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:42 pm

Yeah, not all American stuff can be as cool as Bros. and the Spice Girls.

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:34 pm

Kind of disappointing that The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers or Gram Parsons didn't make the cut. And if Tori Amos deserves to be on the list, surely Elliott Smith does too

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:46 pm

noiseradio wrote:Yeah, not all American stuff can be as cool as Bros. and the Spice Girls.

or New Kids on the Block or The Osmonds........or Britney....or Aguilera...etc

Redundant argument Mr Noise. crap is crap regardless of country of origin....and Let's Dance was crap in any language!

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:49 pm

BlueChair wrote:Kind of disappointing that The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers or Gram Parsons didn't make the cut. And if Tori Amos deserves to be on the list, surely Elliott Smith does too

Here here Blue. Makes no sense at all.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:06 pm

noiseradio wrote:Yeah, not all American stuff can be as cool as Bros. and the Spice Girls.

American not as in uncool but as in produced and played by (mainly) Americans, with a glossy American sound, a rather American showbiz ethic, with Bowie as token British element. Attempt to make a feeble joke of your bizarre comment!

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:30 pm

Jackson Monk wrote:
noiseradio wrote:Yeah, not all American stuff can be as cool as Bros. and the Spice Girls.
or New Kids on the Block or The Osmonds........or Britney....or Aguilera...etc

Redundant argument Mr Noise. crap is crap regardless of country of origin....and Let's Dance was crap in any language!

Otis was the one who used "American" as a synonymn for crap. I was just reminding him that the UK has produced its fair share of shit. Why not chastize him?

P.S. Gary Glitter

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:32 pm

Otis Westinghouse wrote:
noiseradio wrote:Yeah, not all American stuff can be as cool as Bros. and the Spice Girls.
American not as in uncool but as in produced and played by (mainly) Americans, with a glossy American sound, a rather American showbiz ethic, with Bowie as token British element. Attempt to make a feeble joke of your bizarre comment!

I would argue that Young Americans does the same thing (admittedly more successfully). But you must know I wasn't seriously suggesting Let's Dance for the list. Just taking the piss.

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:35 pm

noiseradio wrote:Otis was the one who used "American" as a synonymn for crap. I was just reminding him that the UK has produced its fair share of shit.

But that's just it - I think what Otis was trying to say was that it was a very American-sounding album, not that it was necessarily crap (although I know from his previous comments that it is far from his favorite Bowie album). Personally I think it's a fine album with a few really excellent pop tracks, though very glossy and a little dated-sounding now.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:06 am

I'll respectfully disagree that all Otis meant was that it was slick sounding. Here's the context:

1. List of greatest albums of all time.
2. People start bitching that their favorite isn't there or that some band they hate is (normal stuff).
3. I joke that Let's Dance is missing, knowing Otis will take the bait, as I enjoy messing with him about that album.
4. He jokes back that it "may as well be American..." as a dismissive remark.

So clearly in that context, Otis answered my (facetious) suggestion that Let's Dance belongs on the list with a playful jab at its merits, comparing it negatively with American music. (Which is cool. It was a decent joke.)

The irony is, of course, that the most famous and influential British acts of all time--the Beatles Zeppelin, and the Stones--went out of their way to sound "American." All their early records are attempts to mimic American musical forms. So Bowie's in good company.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:22 am

Actually I thought it was a bit misplaced to resume the (admittedly enjoyable) Let's Dance goading on a list of American bests, so I tried to come up with the best response I could in the context, which was admittedly feeble, although was not intended as dismissiveness per se, more saying 'well you may as well refer to it here as it has a very American slickness to it, and stars American luminaries such as Nile and Bernard and Stevie Ray' and ... why are we discussing this? I love loads of American music. No prejudice whatsoever. The Young Americans point is a fair one. The term 'American music by a British artist' would be more appropriate. Bowie was immersed in America at that point. there's nothing realy British about it. Back to the topic?

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:39 am

Sure. God forbid the important work of ranking music should be interrupted.

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:21 pm

English? American?

Eskimo?

Mike Boom · Post by **Mike Boom** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:47 pm

Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes, Bee Thousand

Elliott Smith - XO, Figure 8, Either / Or

Harry Nilsson - Pussy Cats etc

De La Soul, 3 Feet and Rising

Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted, Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, Wowee Zowee

Blondie - Parallel Lines

The Raspberries - Fresh Raspberries, Side 3, Self Titled

Big Star- Three, #1 Record, Radio City

Cheap Trick - In Colour, Dream Police, Budokan, Self Titled, Heaven Tonight

The Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man, Notorious Byrd Brothers

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys etc

Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates

Just some of those missing from what is a pretty narrow and shitty list.

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:50 pm

and they forgot The Doobie Brothers.

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