ILM Top 100 2005-2009: ALBUMS

While quite breathtaking at various points (Hope There's Someone being an obvious pinnacle of any musical genre this past decade), I find I Am a Bird Now a little uneven and occasionally a bit over the top for my tastes . I find The Crying Light a more accessible record that I go back to more regularly. I realize I'm in a serious minority.

I haven't properly listened to this yet, but from what I have it sounds like a real hodgepodge of experiments, akin to the kind of thing the Focus Group does. Not necessarily a bad thing.

i haven't listened to embryonic much yet, since i figured the lips were at the point in their career where they're just cruising on reputation and decent pophooks, but it's actually a refreshing slide back into their psych roots

I've seen School of Seven Bells live twice now, and while not bad, they did not move me at all - not enough dynamic, not enough noise, not enough prettiness, not enough weirdness. So close to stuff I love but just not there. HOWEVER, I may sit down and try to listen to the album in full again. The only time I did before was at quite a low volume, and that's never the way to get the proper impact of a record for the first time.

I just relistened to the two tracks I named and yeah they're DAMNED good - but as I say, please sell me the rest of the album!

emil.y's criticism of SO7B is pretty much exactly my own - they seem a bit watered-down. maybe that's the point.

Don't agree with me too much, LJ, I have absolutely never got the point of Max Tundra and will proclaim it hella boring. Would listen to yr youtubes just to check (I'm right, though) but (for the 100th time on ilx) my computer makes no noise.

61. GIRL TALK Night Ripper (2006) [236 points, 11 votes, 1 first place vote]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/Girl_Talk_Night_Ripper.JPG

Okay, that's 40 down. There's 60 to go:

100. LIL WAYNE Tha Carter III (2008) [181 points, 8 votes]
99. SPOON Gimme Fiction (2005) [181 points, 9 votes]
98. CAMERA OBSCURA Let's Get Out of This Country (2006) [183 points, 7 votes, 1 first place vote]
97. RHYTHM & SOUND See Mi Yah (2005) [185 points, 9 votes]
96. CARIBOU Andorra (2007) [187.5 points, 9 votes]
95. BATTLES Mirrored (2007) [190.5 points, 11 votes]
94. BOARDS OF CANADA The Campfire Headphase (2005) [192 points, 9 votes]
93. NE-YO Year of the Gentleman (2008) [195.5 points, 10 votes]
92. NEKO CASE Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006) [196 points, 8 votes]
91. LOS CAMPESINOS! Hold On Now, Youngster... (2008) [197 points, 6 votes, 1 first place vote]
90. SLEATER-KINNEY The Woods (2005) [198.5 points, 8 votes]
89. VITALIC OK Cowboy (2005) [200 points, 10 votes]
88. ART BRUT Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005) [200.5 points, 6 votes, 1 first place vote]
87. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Strawberry Jam (2007) [203 points, 9 votes]
86. BELLE AND SEBASTIAN The Life Pursuit (2006) [204.5 points, 8 votes]
85. BAT FOR LASHES Two Suns (2009) [205 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
84. FUCK BUTTONS Tarot Sport (2009) [206 points, 12 votes]
83. SANTIGOLD Santigold (2008) [206.5 points, 10 votes]
82. HOT CHIP The Warning (2006) (206.5 points, 12 votes)
81. DJ SPRINKLES Midtown 120 Blues (2009) [208.5 points, 10 points]

80. LOW Drums and Guns (2007) [209.5 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
79. WOLF PARADE Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005) [210.5 points, 10 votes]
TIE 77. FUTURE OF THE LEFT Travels With Myself and Another (2009) [211 points, 8 votes]
TIE 77. MADONNA Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) [211 points, 8 votes]
76. ELLEN ALLIEN & APPARAT Orchestra of Bubbles (2006) [212 points, 12 votes]
75. YOUNG JEEZY The Recession (2008) [214.5 points, 9 votes]
74. DAFT PUNK Alive 2007 (2007) [219 points, 10 votes]
73. VON SÜDENFED Tromatic Reflexxions (2007) [220.5 points, 9 votes]
72. AMY WINEHOUSE Back to Black (2006) [223 points, 9 votes]
71. RACHEL STEVENS Come and Get It (2005) [223 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
70. KANYE WEST Graduation (2007) [225 points, 11 votes]
69. KELLEY POLAR Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens (2005) [225.5 points, 11 votes]
68. LIARS Drum's Not Dead (2006) [229.5 points, 14 votes]
67. TV ON THE RADIO Dear Science (2008) [233 points, 13 votes]
66. ISOLÉE We Are Monster (2005) (233.5 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
65. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS Alpinisms (2008) [234 points, 15 votes]
64. ROBYN Robyn (2005) [234.5 points, 9 votes]
63. ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS I Am a Bird Now (2005) [235.5 points, 8 votes]
62. THE FLAMING LIPS Embryonic (2009) [236 points, 11 votes]
61. GIRL TALK Night Ripper (2006) [236 points, 11 votes, 1 first place vote]

i have no idea how girl talk made this album. was it acid or ableton?

it's like ableton on acid

Still have never heard Night Ripper, for some reason. Worth a listen or "had to be there" kind of thing?

Worth a listen!

2nd track of Embryonic is pretty good too

It's worth hearing just for its novelty, and for what he does he's pretty good at it, but there's NO WAY anyone keeps going back to this album as a favorite.

Okay, out of my three, I am astounded that Drums and Guns is so very very low, surprised that Ellen Allien even made it, never mind got so many votes (maybe because I don't do dance threads so never saw the love elsewhere) and also surprised that Von Sudenfed beat Low, but still very happy it's there.

I've four albums that I can think of that I'm certain will make it in this poll later on, but aside from those that might be it.

i'm quite surprised at the last two placing so high. Embryonic feels like it only just came out and Night Ripper is fun, but def a novelty album.

7 for 40

i don't really like girl talk at all, its got the short shelf life of a novelty album and it just makes me want to go listen to the actual songs that it has chunks of. it's just one giant ball of tease

OK LOOKS LIKE I SLEPT ON EMBRYONIC A BIT

i have no idea how girl talk made this album. was it acid or ableton?

Audiomulch. There's actually a youtube that shows him go from editing a sample to making a beat out of it in less than two minutes. I downloaded Audiomulch to see how easy it was. What do ya know? It IS easy. But I couldn't imagine how you'd put together a 60 minute set like that. THAT'S where I give him respect.

i tried to do a girl talk-style CD-R mix in Acid Pro 4 of the best of the 00's starting with 2000 and allocating 8 minutes per year. I got about as far as 2004 and then gave up - it sounded like a mess, with a few nice bits in between.

Voted for these two:

80. LOW Drums and Guns (2007) [209.5 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
65. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS Alpinisms (2008) [234 points, 15 votes]

Madonna, Ellen + Apparat, Jeezy, Von Sudenfed, Kanye, Liars, TVOTR, Isolee, Antony, Flaming Lips all pretty great, also. This was a really good run of albums!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KykbPtRb0K4

I voted for Night Ripper--the replay value is nearly nil but it was amazing when it came out. One of the decade's standout albums for better or for worse.

i listened to night ripper this past week and thought it was good as ever tbh

lol what a jackass, with the woman in his bed.

It's actually a bit of a movie about copyrights and samples called RIP: A Remix Manifesto. She's not just some chick. She's his girlfriend and actually has some interview time in the film. But yeah, it kind of looks bad just as a clip.

late 2006/early 2007: Night Ripper was responsible for more great living room dance parties than any other album in my college years, and I think it still could be if people weren't so over it. Love the man.

man, can't dance to girl talk personally

i think i'm 1/40, SVIIB was somewhere in the middle of my list iirc

girl talk album is still dope

glad i missed the last three...have such a long-standing hate-on for the flaming lips and re: girl talk, it was so unpleasant to see "mash-ups for indie students" brought back as a thing in 07 after i thought we'd laid the whole sorry era to rest half a decade previously.

voted for -

76. ELLEN ALLIEN & APPARAT Orchestra of Bubbles (2006) [212 points, 12 votes]
75. YOUNG JEEZY The Recession (2008) [214.5 points, 9 votes]
72. AMY WINEHOUSE Back to Black (2006) [223 points, 9 votes]
65. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS Alpinisms (2008) [234 points, 15 votes]

also approve of the madonna, rachel stevens, kanye and isolée albums. so that's 6/40 albums that i voted for, and 14/40 albums that i like.

only nine votes and such a low placing for winehouse is still pretty shocking though tbh, given that album's popular canon status

76. ELLEN ALLIEN & APPARAT Orchestra of Bubbles (2006) [212 points, 12 votes]
70. KANYE WEST Graduation (2007) [225 points, 11 votes]
62. THE FLAMING LIPS Embryonic (2009) [236 points, 11 votes]

Voted for these, 5/40 so far then. I really should check out that Isolee record. Have never understood the appeal of Liars or TVOTR. I completely get the appeal of Antony but the voice just doesn't do it for me.

Back To Black would have only just scraped the 100 without my contribution, and I only did my albums ballot as an afterthought.

Calling Girl Talk "mashup for indie students" is so far from the truth as to be laughable IMO. Girl Talk is way more comparable to Steinski or Coldcut than 2 Many DJs, whatever your response to it- and I can fully understand not liking it.

Voted for 4.
Own 20 on CD.
Like 18 (yeah, some bad choices).
Never heard 14.

I'm still at 1/40, and it looks like only 2 or 3 more of the albums I voted are gonna make it. As great as it would be, I kinda doubt Grace Jones, Pole, Burnt Friedman, Meshell Ndegeocello, Paul Kalkbrenner, or Ada are going to place higher than 61.

Grace Jones might be in with a shout?

I think that Rachel Stevens album is very much the pinnacle of that kind of British pop - shame they gave it to a pop star who no one at all cares about. The difference between her and Kylie is that people LIKE Kylie. Rachel's public profile has never really evolved beyond 'lad's mag staple' - girls don't seem to like her, essentially.

Surprised Antony placed so low - that album is still gorgeous.

Wearemonster is absolutely magnificent - so detailed and textured and warm.

Own 5, voted for 3:

69. KELLEY POLAR Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens (2005) [225.5 points, 11 votes]
65. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS Alpinisms (2008) [234 points, 15 votes]
63. ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS I Am a Bird Now (2005) [235.5 points, 8 votes]

Also voted for the "wrong" Girl Talk album.

Didn't vote in the albums poll, but I own 12/40, so fair enough.

JELLY LLLYLYLYLY FISH

Grace Jones might be in with a shout?

If "Williams' Blood" didn't make it to the tracks top 100, I kinda doubt Hurricane is gonna make it here.

The difference between her and Kylie is that people LIKE Kylie

what makes kylie likeable and rachel not, though? i don't dispute that it's true, but beyond kylie's longevity i can't see what else she inherently brings to the table.

Cuteness + unthreatening niceness + everyone's fun sister + residual affection from being in Neighbours in the 80s.

replace neighbours w/s club 7 and the same is as true of rachel as kylie. i don't dispute that rachel is rather boring and just projects blankness but SO DOES KYLIE! has kylie ever said or done anything remotely noteworthy? every great kylie song may as well be by rachel stevens for all that kylie herself brings to them.

People have "residual affection" for S Club 7?

I think you're overestimating the extent to which people want to empathise or identify with the singer's personality in the records themselves. They just need to like the person as a pop star. It's not personality, it's CHARISMA dude.

Rachel might have the looks but they way she carries herself she might as well be an estate agent, you could never say that about Kylie. And there's no residual affection left over from S Club 7 at all.

i know you're talking about charisma, i'm saying kylie has none either!

i don't have any residual affection for s club 7 but if people have it for neighbours then obviously residual affection standards are fairly low