Northcoast

Two quotes from Steve Malkmus to tide us over while we're working on those movie lists:

"Neil Young was good and Captain Beefheart. I like nonsense too. Maybe John Lennon was good. I don't care about lyrics at all, that's the problem. They've never done anything for me. I like some lines but I don't think about what they mean. I just sing along with them."

"I guess I like Hendrix, the guy from the Groundhogs, blues guys maybe. Richard Thompson is pretty cool. I don't really listen to solos, I kinda like rhythm guitars more, even though I play a lot of solos live. I'm trying to have something happen up there."

"Funky-crazy flute," ya' say! That doesn't ring any bells, but it sounds like a killer them song.

No, after thinking about it (all fucking afternoon), I'm pretty sure it's Marketplace. In my mind I can hear the fast-past piano followed, at the end, by high pitched toms (... . . .) and then David Broncachio's voice. So if David Broncachio (sp?) is the Marketplace guy, that's the theme I like.

So why is the British mail system renaming their operations? Because the Brits hate the name, or because the service sucks and they need to make people think it's a new company [like Arthur Anderson is going to do, like RJ Reynolds did (Altria), etc.].

Those hands are probably British, so it's not surprising they're totally disgusting. Pasty-faced, losin' to Brazil bastards.

Adam, maybe PWC should have named the consulting spin-off "Gettin' Down to Business Consulting, Ltd." But I suppose you're right, you don't want to call it "Friday" or "Saturday am" or "Extended Lunch Break." If you must choose a day/time period, Monday it is.

Everyone working on their movie lists?

PS: I like Marketplace's theme song, or am I thinking of The World?"

This has nothing to do with lists. Price Waterhouse Coopers (accounting, right?) spun off its consulting division and renamed it--get this--"Monday." What a way to start a company. (Who in the hell likes Mondays? Talk about negative association.) Then they launched its website: www.introducingmonday.com. Turns out things became worse because they forgot to register the British URL of the same name, www.introducingmonday.co.uk. Check it out. I find this kind of stuff funny.

Welcome, Phil. Let's hear it.

Matt, I can dig it. Thanks for the thoughts on TW.

Adam, I got my PlayStation to work last night. Turns out you have to turn your station to "Auxiliary" which is below channel 2. Who knew?

Everyone, after Phil it's movies! (I think.)

I too enjoyed making my list and reading the favorites of y'all, and I wholeheartedly agree with Adam on the importance of an album for other reasons than it being great "music."

I would do favorite books or movies or breakfast cereal. It would probably take me a little while longer to do either of those lists though.

Really loved the lists. A few reactions:

(1) Ethan, good job on the Blind Melon mention. They and Live were two bands that (re)introduced me to non-metal rock and roll. I still have the VHS tape of both bands on the 120 Minutes tour. I must have watched that thing 100 times. I feel like I owe them something.

(2) Not sure I understand the Tom Waits phenomenon. I literally don't comprehend it. Is it the music? Is the lyrics? Is it both? All of the Tom Waits fans I know are die-hards; they love him completely. Not a criticism, just an observation. Probably shouldn't have said anything.

(3) Pavement must be the best band of our generation, as we all listed them, and we chose three different albums between us.

(4) Adam, re: "Icky Mettle". You know, I was going to put it on my list, but then I remembered Ethan saying that we're not supposed to consider an album's influence, but rather whether it is one of our favorites. "Icky" is definitely one of the most influential and important indie rock albums of all time, but I really only enjoy three songs on the entire disc, and therefore I couldn't place it up there with my other favorites. I know you were dying to know why it wasn't on my 10 Best. That's a joke.

The next list:

I hereby vote for movies. The books on my 10 Best list would bore you guys to death. Either that or you'd laugh your asses off. Moreover, I really haven't read very many books in the last couple years, unless you want to include The Green River Killer and The Regulation of Financial Institutions. Let's save those gems for last.

Nolan's Top 10

Fugazi Red Medicine

Although I keep thinking that I'm going to eventually like The Argument more, this still remains my favorite Fugazi album.

Favorite Song: Bed for the Scraping

Sunny Day Real Estate Diary

I understand why some people prefer LP2, but I prefer Diary. The sound is less slick and produced than on any of their latter efforts, but I guess I simply like the more messy sound of this album. I love the drumming and the sound of the guitars. Yes, the lyrics make many allusions to God and religion, but the melodies of SDRE are hard not to love.

Favorite Song: tie Seven and In Circles

Superchunk Foolish

Like Fugazi, it was somewhat difficult for me to pick one Superchunk album. Come Pick Me Up and On the Mouth finish a close second and third, but I love the songs on this album from top to bottom.

Favorite Song: The First Part

The Promise Ring Nothing Feels Good

Not as raw as 30 Degrees Everywhere, but not as slick and poppy as Very Emergency. I love the upbeat numbers such as Is This Thing On?, Perfect Lines, and Why Did Ever We Meet, as well as the slower mellow songs such as Raspberry Rush and Red & Blue Jeans.

Favorite Song: Perfect Lines

Rainer Maria Look Now Look Again
This is the biggest example of how my musical taste has dramatically changed over the past few years. No more Noise Rock. Bring on the Pussy Rock. I love the simplicity of the songs, and I think I'm in love with their singer/bassist.

Favorite Song: Breakfast of Champions

Pixies Bossanova

Another difficult choice. I also have a deep love for Doolittle, Surfer Rosa, and Trompe Le Monde. I simply like more of the songs on this album.

Favorite Song: Too many to pick one. Allison, Velouria, Dig for Fire.

Pavement Wowee Zowee
As a former Pavement/Steve Malkmus hater, it's funny that I now own all of their albums and continue to appreciate them more and more as time goes on. As far as this album, I agree with almost everything Adam says in his list. This is the one Pavement album I often listen to from top to bottom instead of skipping songs.

Favorite Song: Kennel District and Rattled By the Rush

Modest Mouse Lonesome Crowded West
Dirty gritty rock at its best. Listening to this album makes me want to get out On the Road. Great drums.

Favorite Song: Truckers Atlas

Burning Airlines Mission:Control!

Although I am not the hugest Jawbox fan, I love this debut album from J. Robbins and Co. Not as angular in sound as latter Jawbox efforts, this album is original and provides a good listen from the first to last song. Definitely far superior to their sophomore effort.

Favorite Song: Sweet Deals on Surgery

Seam The Problem With Me

A weird choice for favorite albums. I find myself listening to this album alot if I'm driving around at night. The soothing minimalist sounds come in calm waves with crashes every now and then.

Favorite Song: Sweet Pea and Something's Burning

Love the reviews!

Adam, here's a review of the latest Sunday's Best album. It's interesting.

Joel's 10 Best

Spoon: Telephono (1996, Matador)

Front-man Britt Daniel is the premier songwriter in America today. (I think I believe that.) Thank god for the Cheapo listening station, or I might have missed this unbelievable album (and more important, this truly great band). Every single one of Telephono's 13 tracks are catchy and intelligent, and while Spoon's abrubt and melodic sound is totally unique, it's completely accessible. Criminally overlooked. Best: Nefarious.

Jawbox: For Your Own Special Sweetheart (1995, Atlantic)

The DC sound's first major label release is also one of my favorite albums of all time. Have you ever listened to a band or song and thought, "This is what I always dreamed music could be!" No? Well you're not a dramatic as I am, but you get my drift: There are some albums that are the answer to the algebraic equation your ear has been writing your entire life. "Sweetheart" is that album for me. Know what I mean? Best: Cooling Card.

Heatmiser: Cop and Speeder (1994, Frontier)

The soundtrack to my freshman year in college. They opened up for Polara (Poster Children?) that year (before I knew who they were) and nobody came to see them. I left after their second song in the 7th Street to crossover and catch Live's encore in the mainroom. (Don't think I don't regret that.) Anyhow, not too long after I bought the album I fell in love with thier strong beats, methodical sound, great chord changes, and consistent song-writing. Best: Disappearing Ink.

Balloon Guy: The West Coast Shakes (1996, Warner Brothers)

A weird album. Balloon Guy's early releases did nothing to predict this masterpiece. And once they released it, Balloon Guy broke up. How fucking maddening is that? I ran into Matt Olson in the then Norwest Tower where he was transporting files between floors in jeans, Vans, and a hipster bowling shirt. He told me Balloon Guy had to end because "it became a job." Wha?

Anyhow, the ablum: A lazy critic would compare Balloon Guy to Pavement. And while there are similarities (I guess I'm lazy), BG is an original. Abrasive, chunky, hilarious, cool, upbeat, great. Littered with fabulous songs from 1 to 14. Best: Incidentally.

Sunny Day Real Estate: s/t (1994, Sub Pop)

God looks upon Christians with favor, and this album should convice anyone who believes otherwise. It's just too beautiful and amazing to be of human origin. It's loud, polished, has monstrous chord changes, and very layered. And thankfully the lyrics are impossible to understand. Fucking Christian bastards. Best: Red Elephant.

Built to Spill: Perfect From Now On (1997, Warner Brothers)

This album is a pain in the ass. For one thing, I have to listen to it with headphones because there is so much going on, I can't hear everything over speakers. And for another, every song is great (I know, what's new, right?) and it's like an hour long, so you have to block off some serious time to get through it. Even one song is a serious committment of time. Fucking pisses me off! Best: Kicked it in the Sun.

Sloan: Between the Bridges (1999, Murderecords)

And then there's this thing. Sloan has a traditional sound . . . or do they? The songs on "Between" are a blend of familiar sounds and odd approaches that work perfectly. Also, it's one of the few albums I can and do sing along with. "Delivering Maybes, and maybe it's not that bad now!" Another thing: I think the drummer didn't write any songs for this album. That's a good thing. Oh wait, one more thing: Apparrently this is one of the worst selling Sloan albums. I am completely baffled by this, as the songs are definitely their finest. Best: Losing California.

Shiner: The Egg (2001, DeSoto)

For those who like to rock. This album is everything great Shiner has ever done wrapped up in one package. Heavy rock, a little understated anger, sharp drumming, and beautiful songs. The tracks aren't terribly accessible, but once you figure them out they're with you forever. How do I explain this brilliance? Three things: Talent, J Robbins, and pot. Best: The Egg.

Girls Against Boys: Venus Luxure No.1 Baby (1993, Touch and Go)

Oh my god (OMG). Oh my fucking god (OMFG). This album kicks butt. Every ounce of energy from this 11-piece tour de force is cool. From the thundering double bass and Eli Janney's back up vocals to Alexis' sparse, voluminous drumming and Scott McCloud's fucking cool (but unintelligible) lyrics, I just love it. My favorite lyrics:

It's a lot more physical right now
Everybody everywhy
Paralyze you
It's a lot more physical right now

Express it now
X-X-X-Press it now
You want a little more soulshake

OMFG! "Venus" is almost a GVSB greates hits album. Best: Learned It.

Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994, Matador)

So raw and messy, I thought Pavement was a joke. But after I learned "Crooked Rain", I realized they were brilliant, and this album is their finest work because it does the best job of displaying their unpolished sound and their legendary song writing ability. Crooked Rain (and Pavement) is not great despite their messy sound but because of it (in part). Best: Gold Soundz.

Best of the Rest: Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West; GVSB: House of GVSB; Archers of Loaf: Icky Mettle; Spoon: A Series of Sneaks;

Time will tell: GVSB: You Can't Fight What you Can't See; Hey Mercedes: Everynight Fire Works.

By the way, feel free to post your Top 10 of 2001, too. I have:

The Best Albums of 2001: A Good Year

1. Shiner: The Egg

This is easily one of my favorite albums of all time. Here's a list of qualities that make this album great:
--Seven great songs. How many albums do you own where 2/3 of the songs are legitimately great?
--Awesome drumming. David Gerken?s drumming is powerful, heavy, precise, and creative. (Of course, J Robbins has something to do with that.)
--It rocks.
--It's beautiful. (Really.) "The Egg" is more than super-heavy power chords over a galvanized bass. Ethereal guitar pitches and tuneful, electronic effects float everywhere above "The Egg's" clean, mathy chord changes to produce an effect that is . . . well . . . pretty.
--It grows on you. I?ve found that when I invest a lot of time in an album and end up liking it, I come back for a listen more often than if I'd immediately loved or understood (or both) it.



2. Hey Mercedes: Everynight Fire Works

If I could be in one rock band, it would be Hey Mercedes. They look like rockers should (normal, with a reasonable edge, you know, like me). Their songs revolve around cool-ass, angular chord changes. They have a great (incredible!) drummer. They're from the Midwest and they represent. They sound like Jawbox. They rock. And most of all: THEY WRITE GREAT SONGS.

Interestingly, unlike most of their Vagrant label-mates (i.e., Dashboard Confessional, Saves the Day, the Get Up Kids) HM would fail on MTV. They're more accessible than their ancestor, Braid, but they're not that accessible.

I?m encouraged that our culture produces music like this.



3. Aina: s/t

DC post-punk from Spain. You can hear the Jawbox in this release. There a number of great songs on this album, and when the lead singer says "motor roars" or "sitting in the armchair of being not bad, but doing nothing right" in a Spanish accent, it rocks, totally. They have a new album out in '02 produced by J Robbins, and I'm really looking forward to it.



4. Sloan: Pretty Together

This is Sloan's second best album behind "Between the Bridges." Sloan is markedly different from everything else in my collection, and for a while I didn't understand it. But one day it hit me: They?re very similar to a lot of the sixties bands my father likes (the Who, the Birds). They took that sound, inserted the 1990s and some well-written songs, and produced a really solid sound. Early incarnations were present on "One Chord to Another" and "Navy Blues," but the quantity of solid songs wasn't there.

Also, "Pretty Together", like all of Sloan's albums, is easy on the eyes. A+ for presentation (brown + light blue = cool).



5. Juno: A Future Lived in Past Tense

Juno is an amalgam of Faraquet, the Dismemberment Plan, Seam, and Built to Spill. And if "A Future" is indicative, they"re a great band. About half of the songs on this LP are slow and meandering, and the other half are up-tempo, loud, intense post-punk. Juno handles both halves with skill and aplomb.



6. Rival Schools: United by Fate

I've never listened to a Quicksand song, but after this album I might. Quality, fast, polished, post-punk rock songs with a melody, lots of minor chords, and as many as seven very good to great songs. You can't ask for much more than that.



7. Idlewild: 100 Broken Windows

Think REM . . . in Ireland . . . as an accessible, post-punk band. Really solid song writing on all tracks . . . I swear. It's good shit.



8. Built to Spill: Ancient Melodies of the Future

BTS is a consistent band, and there?s not a whole lot new on "Ancient Melodies." Still, there's a reason this was the best selling college rock album of 2001.




9. Owls: s/t

I would like this album more if it were instrumental. Victor Villareal (guitar) and Mike Kinsella (drums) should form a band and leave self-indulgent brother Tim Kinsella (vocals, I guess) to lugging equipment. Then they'd really have something. That said, Owls' self-titled debut is a beautiful (and super smart) mixture of unique guitar melodies and tasteful, high energy, rock drumming. Those two qualities are strong enough to overshadow Tim?s atonal (and a-everything) yelps.



10. Saves the Day: Stay Where You Are

I know, I know . . . STD is marketed to kids seven years my junior. But there are some great punky/pop/emo songs on "Stay Where You Are." They're so well written and so accessible that STD will be hawking their wares on TRL any day now. Also, the lyrics (something I could usually give a shit about) are pretty neat when mixed with the emo sound?a sound synonymous with hyper-sensitivity and compassion. To wit:

The last time that I saw you, August of '99, I should have had my hammer and a few rusty spikes to nail you on a wall and use bottles to catch your blood and display you for the neighbors so they know your time had come. And I?d drink you blood and feel it dripping down my throat as it heads for my heart.



Others receiving votes:
--Modest Mouse: Everywhere And His Nasty Parlour Tricks

This really should be in my top 10 (and in my heart, it is). So this is the Big Ten of top ten lists (there?s really eleven, duh).

If you like simple, slow Modest Mouse, you should be very pleased with this release. I was especially, because I wrote this band off for dead.



--Houston: Head Like a Road Map

"HLRM," Houston?s sophomore offering, is 10 times better than their debut, but they could stand to organize their songs a little bit. I expect they will, and accordingly, their next album will be one of 2002's best.

--Volante: 45° North

The DC sound finally made it to Minneapolis! (Of Course J Robbins had something to do with that.) There are a few very good songs on 45° N, but sometimes it seems like an 18-year old is steering the USS Volante.

--Further Seems Forever: The Moon is Down

Again, I'm a little old for these guys, but the songs and the chord changes are great. They might have made the list, but being a Christian rock band is a high hurdle to clear.

--Weezer: The Green Album

Although I wish Weezer had stayed with the "Pinkerton" sound, you can't argue with Ric Ocasik and some straight-up, heavy pop rock. I'll continue to purchase Weezer albums, but if they insist on producing formulaic, three minute pop tunes, I won't devote much time to them.

--The Strokes: Is This It

In the end, it's a pretty cool album sporting a welcome sound, but I didn't listen to it as much as I would a good album. Flash in the pan.

Notable Absentees:
--Burning Airlines: Identikit

I love J Robbins; he either recorded or heavily influenced six bands on this list, but there are only two good songs on this 15 song mess. My request: Write songs, not crazy beats.

--Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American

This album has spent a lot of time in my CD player, and if it weren't for JEW's shameless commercialism, it would be in my top ten. I just can't get over it.

--Series 7: Music From the Motion Picture

This is essentially a GVSB album, but it's really not (at least I hope not, because if it is, my favorite band has gone down hill dramatically). Let's hope their 2002 Jade Tree release reflects actual effort.

--New Wet Kojak: N°4 EP

There's one really kick-ass song here, but one song does not a top 10 EP make.

--Fugazi: The Argument

What's wrong with me? I don't think much of this album.