I agree with everyone commiserating about the absence of Desire LInes and Nother Ever Happened. And if I ruled the world, Lake Somerset and Wash Off would have to be on here as well.
Everything I've heard from this album has been kinda "Meh." Which is really too bad. Rated R and Songs for the Deaf are STILL two of my favourite albums ever. Oh well. We always have their live show...
It's not that I don't like Animals (it's a muphukkin' CLASSIC), but this is how I imagine Stereogum's list will look. If Piper's not in the Top 3, it'll be a crime against humanity.
And now we wait.
Pink Floyd's easy (minus the soundtracks):
1) Piper at the Gates of Dawn
2) Dark Side of the Moon
3) The Wall
4) Wish You Were Here
5) Meddle
6) Animals
7) Atom Heart Mother
8)Ummugumma
9) The Final Cut
10) Saucerful of Secrets
11) Obscured by Clouds
12) Division Bell
13) More
14) Momentary Lapes of Reason
And go...
I've heard maybe three Prince songs in my life. It's not that I don't like him, I just haven't been that exposed to him, nor have I had much energy to seek him out. I'm from Vancouver and was born in the '80s. The point being that he's not as ubiquitous in North America these days as this interviewer seems to think.
With that in mind, what's a good album to start on? I'm clearly missing out on something.
This probably because music is becoming more amorphous. Genres are blending more with each passing year. There is no such thing as "indie rock" any more. Any band that presents that style sound derivative of bands that were popular five years ago. This list (particularly the top 10) mirrors what North American listeners have latched on to and acknowledges where music is heading.
"Lost" should be a classic, and maybe it will be. And "Bad Religion" is the single most heart-wrenching three minutes released this year. Yet neither seem to get enough love.
That, I think, has been the issue with most people's take on the album – everyone EXPECTED much, much more. The bar had been raised so high after 9 years of stellar songwriting. So when they release an album that doesn't raise the stakes – which is the case here – it's considered a massive disappointment. The expectations were just too high and the album couldn't possibly live up. The *big* review was just one example of this.
But, when that's all put aside, what we have is a complicated album with some truly great Animal Collective moments. It's not a brilliant album but it's no flop either. There's been a real shortage of brilliant music released this year and I think this one hold's its own among the everything else released this year.
Christ, am I the only one who loved the Animal Collective album? I feel like people are leaving it off their lists because they've practically been TOLD they should ignore it. I think it's a way, way better album than Grimes... or most of these, actually.
In Rainbows is #3? Puh-LEASE.
There should really be two lists here: the objective list — taking into account historical relevance, maturity, overall listening experience — and the writer's personal favourite list.
Objective:
1. OK Computer
2. Kid A
3. The Bends
4. In Rainbows
5. Amnesiac
6. Hail to the Thief
7. King of Limbs
8. Pablo Honey
MY personal fave list:
1. Amnesiac
2. In Rainbows
3. OK Computer
4. Kid A
5. Hail to the Thief
6. TKOL
7. The Bends
8. Pablo Honey
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