Gotta Make Polls for the Polls I Make - ILM HUSKER DU POLL RESULTS

Genuinely surprised at this being #29...thought it was a lock for the top 10.

"turn on the news" is alright, but it's never been a favorite - too self-aware/unemotional an anthem maybe

"turn on the news" is always a delete-whenever-i-transfer-zen-to-a-new-playback-device.

but then i forgot to vote so whatevs.

what? i'd like to see how it does up against "rockin in the free world" for cheesed out but fun chuggy rock anthems about current events.

i remember being a young lad at the rock'n'roll hall of fame and being excited to find zen arcade on one of their "500 artists that matter"-type computers. the selection to listen to was "turn on the news" - complete with the long-ass "sound of tv" intro

"rockin" is waaaaay more intense

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/I_apologize700.jpg

28. “I Apologize” - 144 points (tie)
• Live, 1985

too low!

This might be the only band where not a single track posted will get a meh from me, even if I didn't vote for it. Unless, like, "Dead Set on Destruction" makes it to number one.

oh shi –

Making my ballot, I figured out that I like both this one and "If I Told You" just the same.

This one didn't make my ballot, but glad it showed up.

Listening to "Hardly Getting It Over It" and I'm just noticing how ELP that synthesizer sounds.

that's the part that reminds me of "speed of sound"! here, around 2:40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e01JS23vmT4

sorry for the youtube

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/its_not_funny70028.jpg

28. “It's Not Funny Anymore” - 144 points (tie)
• Grant Hart, live in L.A., 2011

re-hearing "I Apologize" - the arpeggio, the topic, the way the harmonies work - I was struck by how much it's like So. Central Rain played in double-time.

"It's Not Funny" one of the best Grant songs I didn't vote for, for no good reason.

Will have to catch up at home...No offense to anyone who voted for it, but I'm glad "Turn on the News" is low. It got so much attention at the time, starting with Christgau. I've always considered it quite bombastic. I went back and checked yesterday, and it hadn't gotten any better.

not shocked xgau was at the forefront of the "turn on" love, it is very "new clash?"

I was sure I Apologize would finish in the top ten.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/in_a_free_land70026.jpg

26. “In A Free Land” - 147 points
• Original 7” mix

Still think they're singing "In Opryland" during some parts.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/Flexible_Flyer700.jpg

26. “Flexible Flyer” - 147 points (tie)
• Video

Totally agree about Turn on the News.I have never understood the love for it . Always sounded like a big boring rock song to me

We had a similar discussion on a recent 80s album poll

never dug "flexible flyer"

I like the bounciness of it. Maybe 10000 Maniacs should've done it first.

It is bouncy and fun to skip to, like Books About UFOs, but I didn't vote for it.
"What Do I Want" doesn't have a chance, does it.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/powerline700.jpg

24. “Powerline” - 149 points
• Live In Indianapolis, 1986

I would like to have Greg's bass line looped in my brain 22 hours a day, k thanx

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/Diane2700.jpg

23. “Diane” - 157 points (tie)
• Live, from SST's ''The Tour''
• Therapy? with whatever the fuck this is.

Yep, (Powerline) got a vote from me. This has the weird, out there, Hüskers template that I just love - possibly down to Mould being permanently pissed drunk throughout the recording of NDR. The boozey haze.

Used to love Diane but played it too often or it's just not got the staying power

Wow, I didn't vote for any of these so far. Expected to see Diane a lot higher, but it's never really done a whole lot for me. Guitar solo is great though.

I love "Powerline," gave it a top-10 spot. That bass line is great, I could just sing along with it by itself for hours at a time. And have, once or twice.

Is he saying Diane or "dyin'"? *pulls out catch from bong*

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/she_floated_away700234.jpg

23. “She Floated Away” - 157 points (tie)
• Cover version by Mosquitos

Of these so far, I voted "Diane" and "I Apologize." I've never come to terms with the basic creepiness of "Diane" -- too crude to register as a joke in a Ramonesy way, and the chorus seems full of legit longing, not menace. But it sticks with me.

I like "She Floated Away" a lot, but it was partly ruined for me when somebody started singing "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" over it. Now I always hear that.

It's always sounded like some sort of sea-shanty to me. I still dig it.

Kinda weird that those two songs tied with each other but there you go.

Would have thought "She floated away" would be higher. It was well up in my top ten. Love the hazy jazzy vibe. The third verse is a great lyric too.

Grant's drumming is especially great on that one, too.

Was never a fan of whatever that bird whistle sound is that creeps up in a lot of late Husker stuff.

I know it's about to be 5 o'clock somewhere, so here's the latest entry for today. 20-11 will be tomorrow and we'll wrap it up on Wednesday. Again, don't forget about the Spotify list, if you're so inclined.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/pplains/Husker%20Du%20Poll/divide_and_conquer700.jpg

21. “Divide and Conquer” - 160 points
• Live in San Francisco, 3/1/85

I cut Diane at the last minute, but here is a short version of my Diane story.

I drove my parents' car into a ditch less than 6 mo after I got my driver's license. I was standing by the side of the road in snow up to my waist when a station wagon with two youngish men wearing purple camo suits drove up and offered me a ride home. It wasn't a great neighborhood, and I was 16 and alone, and it was cold and snowy, so I got into the car. They dropped me off, I said thank you, and nothing else happened that I recall. My parents were glad I was home, but appalled that I would have gotten into the car with these strangers.

I don't remember anything about the incident aside from them offering me a ride, but when I heard Diane for the first time a few years later, it was like I was back there and saw the car pull up again. I don't think they invited me to a party but I suddenly had the thought that maybe they had. It was REALLY weird.

The end.

Oh and since it took me so long to type that: I LOVE She Floated Away!!! And Divide and Conquer.

Divide And Conquer should be about half the length it actually is.

I've never come to terms with the basic creepiness of "Diane" -- too crude to register as a joke in a Ramonesy way, and the chorus seems full of legit longing, not menace. But it sticks with me.

― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, November 26, 2012 3:48 PM

This is well put -- I think it's one of their best songs but didn't vote for it because it just creeps me out.

What do you mean, "come to terms with the basic creepiness"? That's what makes the song so great -- irl you never know who is a creep for real and who just seems that way but isn't.

Yeah, I mean I'm not sure how to take the song. But I guess "Portrait of a Creep" is interpretation enough.

30. Hardly Getting Over It
29. Turn On the News
28. I Apologize
28. It's Not Funny Anymore
26. In A Free Land
26. Flexible Flyer
24. Powerline
23. Diane
23. She Floated Away
21. Divide and Conquer