Comments

Where is it streaming??
Sorta. I don;t know if a capitalistic business venture would release an album like the Terror. But maybe Coyne's gone off his rocker, thinking that album COULD BE a #1 hit record.
Run Christian Run is exquisite. I really want to see an SFA Worst to Best ranking on this site. That would make me happy and (hopefully) would turn the ig'nant on to their awesomeness.
Maybe you're right – they are a slightly different thing. Though, I think like Radiohead, they may not have been given the chance they got had it not been for Britpop. The scene spawned a whole lot of bands that weren't connected to the scene, sort of like how the Flaming Lips were signed to Warner Bros. during that frenzy to capitalize on alternative nation in the U.S. spawned by Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Hmmmm.
Where the flying fuck is Super Furry Animals? A chronically overlooked band that has brought me much joy over the years. And their far more dependable than most of the Britpop A-listers – none of their albums are perfect, but they all have moments of pop brilliance. Many, many moments in fact. For shame!
I was in grade 6 when this came out (scary). The "Stupid dumbshit goddamn motherfucker!" bit from "Bad Habit" used to drive my friends and I absolutely bonkers. Definitely an early cathartic musical experience, the thrill of which I now realize I've been chasing ever since. Of the Big Three albums that turned me onto rock music (Nevermind, Dookie and this), that middle section of Bad Habit turned me into a rabid music fan. Also, I', having flashes of listening to "What Happened to You?" while playing devil sticks in bicycle shorts. Ah, childhood.
I was already beyond elated about this film – PT Anderson? Back with Phoenix? Doing Pynchon??? – but now my head might explode before I get to see it.
Nice try, but no. Dance O'er the Border is the least inspired and sloppy songs on that album AND in their entire catalogue. I'd choose Broken Up A Ding-Dong over that one, or The Cow's Wrong, which is sublime and heartbreaking and totally deserves a spot on this list. Also, Pure For? Really? Assessment, Space and Outside are all better songs by a mile – they're what turned me on to the band and they're songs I return the most often. I'd argue they're three of the most rewarding in the catalogue. Heroes to Zeroes is definitely a pivotal album for me and opened up a whole new universe of indie and indie-inspired music (including Super Furry Animals, a band that deserves a Worst to Best write up here at some point). WITH THAT SAID, six of the tracks on this, I think, are unfuckwithable. I'm really happy you did this list. Definitely an underrated band that I worry will be forgotten in 10 years.
The 'Gum hasn't given much love to it, but I think that Foxygen album is the tops. Sad not to see it on this list. Also: 1. Phosphorescent is way too low on this list (top 3 for me) 2. The David Bowie album is also a return that was way better than we had any reason to expect 3. I'm AMAZED that the Darkside album didn't make it on this list, or any other EOY lists I've seen this week. That one's been turning my mind inside out for months now 4. No Mikal?? What the deuce....
Yes! I think you nailed it, though you only gave three suggestions for spots 7-10 (that's actually four spots). STILL, your list is far less questionable than the one above AND basically the same as mine. If this were my list, it'd look like: 10. Last Exit 9. State of Love and Trust 8. Elderly Woman... 7. Given to Fly 6. In Hiding 5. Hail Hail 4. In My Tree 3. Black 2. rearviewmirror 1. Corduroy I'd personally swap Black with Love Boat Captain and In Hiding with either Porch, Do the Evolution or Whipping but we need to consider historical importance AND quality of songwriting. So yeah.
Glad to see In My Tree on here. 'Tis my #1 fave. Hail Hail and Elderly Woman should be on here. And, frankly, I find it surprising that no one here's mentioned Love Boat Captain. That's one of their most impassioned, soul-exploding songs in their catalogue. It gets me every time.
Ditto. I think Hesitation Marks is already way underrated.
Easily the most interesting of the three HM tracks released so far. I keep coming back to it: first time, because it was a total WTF left turn. Then, after the second and third listen, I'm thinking it's a great fracking track and who gives a shit if it doesn't sound like anything Trent's done in the past. Isn't that the point??? Love it. Trent's a grown-ass man now. He doesn't need to be All Agro, All the Time anymore.
I can get behind this. Not Stereogum;s though.
Agreed. When I read "The hardest stories to tell..." and so on in the intro, I thought immediately of SFA. I was also thinking, last night, randomly, that Dark Days / Light Years is probably their worst...and that it's a pretty good "worst" record to have made. Here's my attempt (when I should really be working): 8. Dark Days / Light Years 7. Fuzzy Logic 6. Hey Venus! 5. Radiator 4. Phantom Power 3. Love Kraft 2. Guerilla 1. Rings Around the World That's not easy. Totally under-appreciated band.
Two songs, actually.
DAMMIT WHY ISN'T THIS ON THE ALBUM?! Also, having spent a week with RAM, I've concluded that it's really quite a marvelous album. Anybody else?
Your first paragraph is RIGHT on point. Kudos. It's also worth noting that TOO MUCH of the criticism has been made after one listen. I don't think anything can be properly judged after one listen. The "hype" and "personal expectation" factors are huge in determining public opinion on a record. A similar thing happened with Centipede Hz (the latest example I can think of). That's actually rewarding album. Once I laid aside the expectations of what I was HOPING for, I was able to really enjoy it. CentHz, like RAM, is rewarding if you'll allow it to be. As someone who's never too much though to Daft Punk but was sorta swept up in the hype (because, really, how could ignore it??), I think the album's pretty good. After two listens I think it's pretty nice. I want to listen to it again, not just because it's a pleasant listen but because people are getting so bent out of shape about it. It's kinda fun watching people get SO invested in something they, ultimately, have nothing to do with. Because, really, this is not your music. it's Daft Punk's. And Daft Punk doesn't owe anyone anything. They play music, and if you like it, you'll like. If not, well, you'll move on to some other artistic to lay expectations on. But anyway...