As we approach the end of the noughties magazines and newspapers across the land have been seeing to the all important task of summarising the decade’s music with best-of polls. Following these polls the debate frequently comes up: What is the point? Music is only opinion based. The argument is somewhat superfluous and to the critics of such polls my retort is constant; what’s the problem? They are simply another source of information for the public to ensure they don’t miss out on some of the best albums of our time.
What I ask, however, is for a little more clarity on what exactly these poll-compilers base their opinions on. NME claims its list is the “definitive word on the greatest albums of the noughties,” but it just feels a little one-dimensional to me. I like that The Times were brave enough to give Radiohead the first and third positions with Kid A and In Rainbows respectively, it gives the list credibility because they weren‘t afraid to award these positions to the same band. On the other hand the NME list gives me a sense of box ticking; that the compilers were ensuring they represent mainstream artists and opinion. Sufjan Stevens’s Illinoise was exceptional - move it up. Let It Come Down by Spiritualized; come down off the list please.
The Times titled its poll “The 100 best pop albums of the Noughties.” I believe it is a fairer title than NME’s and I’m not so disheartened to see some of my favourite albums not get a look in when Britney makes the number five slot with Blackout. Did I listen to Blackout somewhat reluctantly but admit it was better than I had expected? Yes. Was it the fifth best pop album of the decade? No. I was pleased, however, to see the Fleet FoxesKid A debut make the top twenty. A compilation of near perfect melodic pop - it may not have been as experimental as or as groundbreaking as Original Pirate Material - but it deserves its place nonetheless.
An album I would like to have seen among the lists is Alela Diane’s The Pirate Gospel - an album full of simple, melodic, haunting tracks that has taken a starring role in my iTunes ‘Sleep’ playlist. It’s as well structured, stripped back and unassuming as Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago and is equally beautiful. Perhaps herein lies the main problem with these lists: certain genres of music will inevitably never get a look in because first and foremost the polls are made for the pleasure of the reader. If the majority of a magazines readership are rock/indie fans it is hardly surprising that the magazines polls contain few, if any, soul/gospel/swing/jazz/classical albums and hence I feel it is unfair to entitle the poll as NME did. The magazine, after all, is a business and is there to sell copies - who wants to read a poll where they only know a tenth of the albums that contribute to it? Having said all that, I guess I don’t mind so much that Alela Diane didn’t get a look in; I know it was brilliant and that’s all that matters to me.
Mercury music prize nominee Fionn Regan made neither list with his critically acclaimed debut album The End of History, which in my opinion was wrong. I would say it is my most played album of the decade simply because I am yet to play it from start to finish and not gain something new from it. It is a sentiment to both Regan’s writing and intricate guitar work that an album containing so few instruments can have such long lasting appeal. The End of History is a collection of a dozen songs structured around some intimate finger-picking on his ‘FR’ labelled acoustic guitar, with a lyric so witty, honest and sometimes graphic; “my jumper is soaked in pig's blood, I'm coming out looking for you.” It makes you angry that one man has so much talent.
The Shins third album Wincing The Night Away was undeniably brilliant but so were their first two: Oh, Inverted World and Chutes Too Narrow. For me, however, Wincing The Night Away was a six-month album which now finds itself near the bottom of a stack of CDs that sit in the corner of my bedroom. On the other hand, the bands first two albums, eight and six years on respectively, often find themselves getting a spin in my car’s CD player. Only Wincing The Night Away made either poll - where were their previous two albums?
I thank the compilers of these lists and in particular the NME poll for bringing Crystal Castles to my attention. Their 2008 self-titled album could otherwise have passed me by and I am currently listening to track eight ‘Good Time’ as I write, I have it on repeat on account of it being so outrageously catchy.
My congratulations go to all of the bands and artists which made the lists, especially Radiohead and The Strokes which have topped the two I have discussed. To those that didn’t make the list and perhaps should have I would like to reiterate what my mother said when I got flashed by a speed camera yesterday “everything matters, but nothing matters much.” I think what she was trying to tell you was to go and write an even better album for us all to enjoy and maybe you’ll make the 2010 (“tennies”?) polls…but if you don’t, it doesn’t matter, it’ll always be at the top of someone’s list.
p.s where were The Postal Service?
Posted In Comment, Nov 27 2009.
Words - Lewis Dalgliesh