FREEFORM 1990's ALTERNATIVE ALBUM POLL - THE RECKONING (TOP TEN COUNTING DOWN NOW)

Firstly, the cover. Never understood how so many Wu albums fucked up things like tracklisting (Supreme Clientele) or the names of the group (Ghost Face Killer). For a piece of music so thorough and well thought out, it seems crazy they couldn't even spellcheck the cover.

Second, this beat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmSREFKsZ7Y AND IT'LL BE LIKE BLUE AND CREAM I HAD CRAZY VISIONS

Third, the rise of Ghost as unquestionably the best mc of the past 15 years. He has this crazy way of making what could seem like dated references seem fresh as hell. Without being restricted to '1 of the group' doing 16 bars here and there he is able to really let loose and just take what should just be another verse and go in for like 3 minutes, not stopping to breath because the evolving imagery is too important. Every Ghost verse on this is a classic. Every verse on this is a classic but damn, Ghost took each and every to another level.

Fourth, Nas! Through the lights cameras and action, glamour glitters and gold/ I unfold the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe/ When I'm deceased, by then the beast arise like yeast/ to conquer peace leaving savages to roam in the streets/ Live on the run, police paying me to give in my gun/ Trick my Wisdom, with the system that imprisoned my son!

Fifth but really any number- rza is the best beat maker ever. See also 2nd

Sixth, aw hell just go listen to it y'all flowerpotheadz

Speaking of covers: Wu-Tang album covers Blue Note style.

Just noticed I made the big mistake everyone makes w/ this album. It's Rae's album. AND HE'S FUCKING AWESOME. His slang, his wordplay, his imagery, his storytelling. Just listen to Incarcerated Scarfaces again. No Ghost. Just rae going in hard. HAAARD.

I do this for barber shop niggaz in the Plaza
Catchin asthma, Rae is stickin gun-flashers
Well-dressed, skatin through the projects wit big ones
Broke elevators, turn the lights out, stick one
upstairs, switch like a chameleon
Hip Brazilians, pass the cash or leave your children
Leave the buildin
Niggas, yo they be foldin' like envelopes under pressure
Like Lou Farigno on coke
Yo, Africans denyin niggaz up in yellow cabs
Musty like funk, wavin they arms, the Arabs
Sit back, coolin like Kahlua's on rocks
On the crack spots, rubberband wrapped on my knots
You bitches who fuck dreds on Sudafeds
Pussy's hurtin, they did it for a yard for the Feds
Word up cousin, nigga, I seen it
Like a 27-inch Zenith - believe it!

totally forgot to vote for Cuban Linx

btw double hoy if you decide you don't wanna do a 90s singles poll i'd be happy to step in

i can/will do it, i've got poll experience (tv poll)... i just thought we figured out an order somewhere? can't remember where now tbh to quote.

a world of polls: what do you want to see next?

the rise of Ghost as unquestionably the best mc of the past 15 years

^^^ real talk

also megalol at "proof" upthread

yay my rap votes all counted!

did lj die or do we just agree cuban linx is the best?

he went to bed

he was at a general election victory party with his mates

wanted to chime in on alien lanes

"a salty salute" is one of the best openers ever, and once i saw them at this outdoor college springfest thing and they did an epic 2 1/2 hour set that opened AND closed with "a salty salute"...pollard kept having to hit up the audience for cigarettes...kept saying "Children, children, do you have some cigarettes for your uncle Bob?"

he was at a general election victory party with his mates

LJ's a tory supporter?!

i doubt it (he just said he was going to a general election party)

wuuuuuuuuh

what happened i am confused

lj was outed as a Thatcherite and is, at this moment, basking in Conservative glory instead of finishing the poll; this state of things prompted others to claim Raekwon the winner, and then to claim one of his verses as a Ghost breakout in error.

Or did I make that up?

just had a 4-hour nap iirc

So you're not a crazed Thatcherite running naked through the streets? That's a relief.

i don't know who or what i support except probably the green party now

also Tuomas can be excused for that misinterpretation because pfunkboy fucking said a 'victory' party, which it *most assuredly* wasn't...it was a load of 20somethings looking at a TV and making quips

it was a load of 20somethings looking at a TV and making quips

Replace "TV" with "computer screen" and there's your new ILX board description, fellas.

and that's the story of the most unfunny and literal board description ever

Making queefs more like.

Speak for yrself!

Also hey OVAL! Won't attempt a more detailed account, haven't slept for 40 hours or something.

TOP TEN COMING UP

Glory be.

*gulp*

yay Oval.

(tired britishers everywhere - I don't even have much of an excuse, was only up til 2)

gotta say, this is where the unpredictability is really getting fun. enjoyed being surprised at the hip hop in the top 20, after Reasonable Doubt i kinda thought well, that's the last one i was sure would show up, maybe that's it.

haha yeah tiredness is fairly acute now......

voted for 94diskont cos i've listened to that and 'systemisch' a lot lately and they're both great, they're ever so vaguely related in my mind to the later mozart piano concertos in their formal invention and ~usually~ good natured but unsaccharine temperament

the 90s album i've listened to most after those two wd be 'cuban linx' but i thought that wd get millions of votes anyway

(in recent times)

I'm curious to see if there's any hip hop that places above OB4CL (but then I'm not sure what was on the OG list to begin with)

I had to drive an unfamiliar, busy route through the city this afternoon, which was a bit of an unpleasant ordeal - expecting & hoping the top ten to be equally bewildering.

10 Autechre - Amber (1994)
133 points
5 votes
1 first-place vote
Greatest contributor: i am using your worlds

http://img13.nnm.ru/3/1/0/a/a/310aa82b1e9d991843d60ae17e653914_full.jpg

My favourite Autechre album. Buy.

― Omar (Omar), Sunday, 25 April 2004 19:47 (6 years ago)

definitely buy this. i have a liking for " mellow, soothing, slooooow shit" as well, and this record does the job nicely. it's possibly my fave autechre release - although incunabula is not far behind. silverside is my favourite - lovely synth melody, with great dark robot voices in the background. i love that dripping-tap effect at the start of "further" too. best lullaby-track award goes to "Nine". that's a pretty one.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Sunday, 25 April 2004 18:41 (6 years ago)

that's how i feel about autechre's "amber" which is another album that i've spent an unhealthy amount of time with.

i think to myself, now this is a declaration of intent if i've ever heard one. simply massive...

i think my favorite thing about "sawII" and "amber" is the way they reference nature.

― tricky disco (disco stu), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 02:11 (6 years ago)

thanks to lj if yr going to finish this tonight cos i need something to hold the attention so i can stay vaguely awake for another few hours or so in order to avoid my sleep pattern completely going to shit

rap on the orig list:

93: LAURYN HILL - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (234 points, 18 votes)
87: EMINEM - The Slim Shady LP (253 points, 18 votes)
79: OUTKAST - Aquemini (277 points, 20 votes)
71: MISSY ELLIOTT - Supa Dupa Fly (288 points, 20 votes)
57: DE LA SOUL - De La Soul Is Dead (342 points, 18 votes)
55: A TRIBE CALLED QUEST - The Low End Theory (345 points, 27 votes)
49: SNOOP DOGGY DOGG - Doggystyle (354 points, 19 votes, 1 first place vote)
47: DR. DRE - The Chronic (360 points, 24 votes, 1 first place vote)
23: GZA/GENIUS - Liquid Swords (541 points, 33 votes)
14: NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Ready To Die (693 points, 30 votes, 3 first place votes)
11: PUBLIC ENEMY - Fear Of A Black Planet (774 points, 36 votes, 4 first place votes)
8: NAS - Illmatic (877 points, 38 votes, 3 first place votes)
2: WU-TANG CLAN - Enter the 36 Chambers (1132 points, 55 votes, 2 first place votes)

poll has been a victory for techno I really ought to listen to but haven't, and the fact it already has more rap than the o.g. list is also worthy of celebration

Amber is dope as hell guys. My fav Autechre.

Another of my votes

Given how Ghostface's profile has gone up since the previous poll, I guess it's still possible for him to make it, but I can't think of any other rap album that would have a guaranteed spot in the top 10. Maybe Me Against the World still has a chance, I've always thought people rated it higher than All Eyez on Me?

Peronally, I voted for 8 rap albums, but looks like none of the are gonna make it. Where's the love for Heltah Skeltah, Cypress Hill, The Coup, Eve, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony...?

STILL hoping The Score, 2001 and Midnight Marauders have a chance.

Midnight Marauders

This already placed.

oh damn :(

Ghostface's '00s career hasn't really seemed to lift Ironman's standing among the '90s Wu Tang albums much at all, really doubt it'll be here.

I'm still hoping LFO place