I'm a huge P Funk head and I think Maggot Brain is a fine choice out of their catalog. 99% sure that "Rill, Rill" by Sleigh Bells samples "Can You Get To That?" I excitedly called in to my local college station to point this out once and that whippersnapper in the booth had no idea what I was talking about. I'm not sure if the "Sir this is a Wendys" meme was around in 2010 but that's about the response I got.
Glad to see Yo La Tengo. Autumn Sweater is on "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" which, for me, is the group's greatest album by far and deserves to be included at the top of any list of great albums from the 90s.
I had Painful, Electr-O-Pura, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out, I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, and even Fade all on the initial list. Not an easy decision to make! Ultimately, Painful won out for a host of objective and subjective reasons.
I'm genuniely curious; besides I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, what would've made the cut for you?
Not sure if we can use an abbreviation... ICHTHBAO seems a bit ridiculous. Let's go with Heart Beating? That album, for me, is just so far superior to anything else the band made that it stands alone. The two earlier albums each have a couple of songs that are equally excellent, and I guess I'd pick ElectroPura as a second choice. Blue Line Swinger is especially great, but I prefer almost all the songs that Georgia sings... the last 2 minutes of that song are peak Yo La Tengo.
I should check it out. I mainly only listen to "Heart Beating," "Painful," and "And then Nothing." Their album that came out last year was pretty good too.
Ah, you're right! I don't know how I confused that. I mostly listen to Yo La Tengo albums as one cohesive experience. But both those albums are amazing.
"I know I’m doing a spoiler for a future pick of mine, but this is WAY too low. In fact, I view this as an act of war. With every future pick of Kevin’s, when you read my take on it, there will be an implied preface of, You put THIS over What’s Going On??"
I appreciate that, as you get closer to the top of the list the emotional stakes grow higher. The series is starting to transition from, "hall-of-fame worthy albums" to "in the conversation for greatest of all time" and that's a big difference.
From your list I'm excited to see Funkadelic, Portishead, and Fiona Apple show up. I don't know if they would be in my top 40 but all great albums.
More or less what separates a 9/10 album from a 10/10 album. Both are classics, one is just a flawless masterpiece that is in the GOAT of each decade conversation while the other is a great/influential album.
And sometimes that pinnacle of "flawless masterpieces" can feel a little boring. There's something fantastic about an album where everything comes together -- artist, writing, performance are all well suited for each other and fully realized but you can also feel more of a sentimental attachment to the albums that have some flaw that humanizes them.
I have no idea what the top of my list would look like but, just for example, _Ziggy Stardust_ is one of the most important albums in the development of my personal musical tastes and also a clear example of a great artist at the top of their game. But, because it's so obviously great I know that, whatever my affection, I'm sharing it with the entire universe of music lovers. Whereas sometimes our affection for a just slightly less great album feels more personal.
Agree on "Ziggy Stardust." Picking my favorite Bowie album to be on my list was one of the toughest calls to make. The Beatles were easy because I know what my top ones are, even though they have 5 or 6 albums you could argue is their best.
Your comment about David Bowie has prompted me to keep thinking of other examples in which you have to decide between albums at very different stages of an artist's evolution. What's my favorite Joe Jackson album? I feel like "Look Sharp" is fantastic, and probably the best introduction to him. But, maybe "Body and Soul" is my favorite. It's tough.
From that era, would you say that "Horses" or "Easter" is Patti Smith's best album?
(just thinking about it, "Horses" has her best single track and is so historically important, but I've listened to the entire album of "Easter" more often than "Horses")
Critical, for sure. Cultural, I'm not as sure. Seems like she's mostly remembered for the Super Bowl incident, which is a shame. She needs a Kate Bush/Stranger Things moment because the younger generation really needs to be exposed to her more.
Another great post. Listened to “Dummy” for the first times in ages the other day without any distractions, just sat and listened. I’d forgotten what a thing of beauty it really is.
I am *very* confused. I subscribed to you a while back. Then just saw you in my notifications with a follow button. Follow? I already did! wtf? Anyway, followed again! Strange.
"With every future pick of Sam’s, when you read my take on it, there will be an implied preface of, You put THIS over Disintegration??" lol. :)
Fair enough haha
I'm a huge P Funk head and I think Maggot Brain is a fine choice out of their catalog. 99% sure that "Rill, Rill" by Sleigh Bells samples "Can You Get To That?" I excitedly called in to my local college station to point this out once and that whippersnapper in the booth had no idea what I was talking about. I'm not sure if the "Sir this is a Wendys" meme was around in 2010 but that's about the response I got.
Glad to see Yo La Tengo. Autumn Sweater is on "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" which, for me, is the group's greatest album by far and deserves to be included at the top of any list of great albums from the 90s.
I had Painful, Electr-O-Pura, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out, I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, and even Fade all on the initial list. Not an easy decision to make! Ultimately, Painful won out for a host of objective and subjective reasons.
I'm genuniely curious; besides I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, what would've made the cut for you?
Not sure if we can use an abbreviation... ICHTHBAO seems a bit ridiculous. Let's go with Heart Beating? That album, for me, is just so far superior to anything else the band made that it stands alone. The two earlier albums each have a couple of songs that are equally excellent, and I guess I'd pick ElectroPura as a second choice. Blue Line Swinger is especially great, but I prefer almost all the songs that Georgia sings... the last 2 minutes of that song are peak Yo La Tengo.
Good call! I don't think Electr-O-Pura gets nearly enough love.
I should check it out. I mainly only listen to "Heart Beating," "Painful," and "And then Nothing." Their album that came out last year was pretty good too.
Ah, you're right! I don't know how I confused that. I mostly listen to Yo La Tengo albums as one cohesive experience. But both those albums are amazing.
"I know I’m doing a spoiler for a future pick of mine, but this is WAY too low. In fact, I view this as an act of war. With every future pick of Kevin’s, when you read my take on it, there will be an implied preface of, You put THIS over What’s Going On??"
I appreciate that, as you get closer to the top of the list the emotional stakes grow higher. The series is starting to transition from, "hall-of-fame worthy albums" to "in the conversation for greatest of all time" and that's a big difference.
From your list I'm excited to see Funkadelic, Portishead, and Fiona Apple show up. I don't know if they would be in my top 40 but all great albums.
More or less what separates a 9/10 album from a 10/10 album. Both are classics, one is just a flawless masterpiece that is in the GOAT of each decade conversation while the other is a great/influential album.
And sometimes that pinnacle of "flawless masterpieces" can feel a little boring. There's something fantastic about an album where everything comes together -- artist, writing, performance are all well suited for each other and fully realized but you can also feel more of a sentimental attachment to the albums that have some flaw that humanizes them.
I have no idea what the top of my list would look like but, just for example, _Ziggy Stardust_ is one of the most important albums in the development of my personal musical tastes and also a clear example of a great artist at the top of their game. But, because it's so obviously great I know that, whatever my affection, I'm sharing it with the entire universe of music lovers. Whereas sometimes our affection for a just slightly less great album feels more personal.
Agree on "Ziggy Stardust." Picking my favorite Bowie album to be on my list was one of the toughest calls to make. The Beatles were easy because I know what my top ones are, even though they have 5 or 6 albums you could argue is their best.
Your comment about David Bowie has prompted me to keep thinking of other examples in which you have to decide between albums at very different stages of an artist's evolution. What's my favorite Joe Jackson album? I feel like "Look Sharp" is fantastic, and probably the best introduction to him. But, maybe "Body and Soul" is my favorite. It's tough.
From that era, would you say that "Horses" or "Easter" is Patti Smith's best album?
(just thinking about it, "Horses" has her best single track and is so historically important, but I've listened to the entire album of "Easter" more often than "Horses")
To be honest, I haven't really dived into Patti Smith's catalogue beyond "Horses." I do hear "Easter" is a great album, so I should change that!
Horses is much more iconic than Easter.
Also, is it me or is Janet finally having a bit of a critical resurgence? Appreciation seems to be popping up everywhere.
Critical, for sure. Cultural, I'm not as sure. Seems like she's mostly remembered for the Super Bowl incident, which is a shame. She needs a Kate Bush/Stranger Things moment because the younger generation really needs to be exposed to her more.
Absolute quality list. Unknown Pleasures and Dummy would be in my top 10. Love Heaven or Las Vegas too 👏
Thank you! Our picks are starting to converge more but I'm happy with how diverse this has turned out to be.
Another great post. Listened to “Dummy” for the first times in ages the other day without any distractions, just sat and listened. I’d forgotten what a thing of beauty it really is.
I haven't listened to it in three years, but I'm waiting for the perfect rainy fall day to put it on.
I enjoy these but I'm baffled as to why you need to have "highlights." A Great album is nothing but highlights!
More like if someone hasn't heard the album and I had to pick a few songs that would give them a taste of the album.
Still no T Swift I see, oh the tragedy.
When she stops being mid, she will crack my list.
I am *very* confused. I subscribed to you a while back. Then just saw you in my notifications with a follow button. Follow? I already did! wtf? Anyway, followed again! Strange.
Substack be Substackin'
😂😂😂