What's the *BEST* album on Pitchfork's Sub Pop 20 staff list?

I enjoy The Postal Service, but somehow I'm happy to not see them here.

15 albums from 1988-1997, 5 albums from 1998-2008

With good reason.

I enjoy The Postal Service, but somehow I'm happy to not see them here.

It's alright, they've been heavily featured IN EVERY SINGLE OTHER ARTICLE about Sub Pop 20 I've seen.

close call but I went with Frigid Stars

(although it was originally released on Glitterhouse, but whatevs)

CODEINE!!!

-- Steve Shasta, Friday, July 11, 2008 8:36 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Link

that's the worst VG album, n/m

Milo, you must be one of approximately 4 people in the universe who think Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts is better than Simpatico

Note: I kinda like that opinion, but could not possibly bring myself to share it.

more like sub-par 20, but 6fs ftw. shame there's no 'SMELL THE MAGIC'. sa blast

15 albums from 1988-1997, 5 albums from 1998-2008

There's a big empty space from 1996 to 2000. I wasn't really paying attention to the label at that point outside the Grifters and Red Red Meat. What bands were they pushing then? Chixdiggit?

Since they included comps, i am the billy childish should have made the list.

I vote Bunny Gets Paid.

love earth 2, too

Out of this lot it's definitely Mudhoney for me.

Earth 2 tho i will admit (yes I will here goes) was pretty into Oh, Inverted World when it came out, haven't heard that one in a long time

Bleach is still the best record they've ever put out.

Though I have a huge soft spot for God's Balls by Tad.

Six Finger Satellite: The Pigeon Is the Most Popular Bird

I would've gone with the deluxe version of Severe Exposure, featuring the 12". That was SFS at their peak, fusing post-Jesus Lizard scum with Teutonic, mutant funk beats.

not that i'm the first to say this but i has to be Bakesale, my introduction to seBADoh.

trembling blue stars 'alive to every smile'.

"Severe Exposure, featuring the 12". That was SFS at their peak..."

Man... that's a great record. But I really think it's the two after that (Paranormalized, and Law of Ruins) where they really got out from under the Jesus Lizard-isms and got way more Krauty/weird/original/awesomest.

tough call,i too went with my favourite over the best,,,,,SDRE.

rembling blue stars alive to every smile

alma

I think Severe Exposure was way more Half Machine Lip Moves than Goat. I love that whole album down to the goofy "Baker St." rip-off on the 12".

this is so hard

for me,

Congregation vs. Frigid Stars vs. Earth 2 vs. Bunny Gets Paid

Man... that's a great record. But I really think it's the two after that (Paranormalized, and Law of Ruins) where they really got out from under the Jesus Lizard-isms and got way more Krauty/weird/original/awesomest.

I prefer Severe Exposure. But I totally agree that the second half of SFS' career is better than the first (even though I'm a fan of that stuff, too). This band will eventually get its due as the forefathers of damn near every fusion of noise, punk, post-hardcore, krautrock and dance beats since 2000. These guys were referencing DAF WAY ahead of the curve.

Turning fey for a minute, My top 20 would probably include either the first or second Beachwood Sparks record.

There are certain bands that recorded for Sub Pop that were way better live, I think. The Fluid comes to mind. They were just devastating.

The Fluid's Glue 12" is a pretty good record. Most of their other stuff doesn't really do it for me though. Never saw them live.

No Tad + no Billy Childish = fuck this list.

buh-bah-buh-bah-buh-bah-beat happening.

Bakesale duh

Out of that list?
Codeine for its single minded, quiet, snail paced, lethargic rage.

New Year's is my favourite but really the whole lot is one big pathetic sigh. It's great. If I had the guts I would love to put it on at the next fucking BBQ I am invited to.

They even looked anaemic and depressed in their bleak black and white photos.
Perfect name too

New Year's was a cover wasn't it? Don't think I;ve ever heard Seam's original or maybe it just didn't leave a mark on me as I thought I had all of their stuff. Another fine band

I just realized... I'm surprised the first Band of Horses record isn't on the Pfork list. Those guys went nuts for that record, I think it ended up in their top ten of 2005(?) or very very close.

Man, I'd really love to vote for Codeine, but Superfuzz Bigmuff is the elephant in the room here. If the Velocity Girl album had been Copacetic, I just may have had to go with that.

Question for anyone who'll answer: What's missing from this list? As in, what belongs on a 'Sub Pop Top 20 Albums' list that's not actually here? We've mentioned a few alternate albums from bands that made the list -- what about bands that are missing entirely?

Nirvana, for "negative creep" and "love buzz"

x-post

My top 20 would include Beachwood Sparks, Elevator to Hell and Mark Lanegan.

And quite possibly godheadsilo.

xpost Mark Lanegan OTM, that guy's put out several totally awesome records on sub pop.

speaking of Lanegan... my top 20 would include the Gutter Twins album, which came out this year. utterly soulful and captivating and in places brilliant. and Lanegan's vocals sound fantastic.

He's a phenomenal singer and serious talent.

Question for anyone who'll answer: What's missing from this list? As in, what belongs on a 'Sub Pop Top 20 Albums' list that's not actually here? We've mentioned a few alternate albums from bands that made the list -- what about bands that are missing entirely?

Tad
A-Frames
Kinski
Steve Fisk
Steve Jesse Bernstein
Pigeonhed
Wolf Eyes
Satchel
Pissed Jeans

collections:
Radio Birdman
Michael Yonkers

That's just top of my head. I'm sure there are tons more.

The Grifters, with arguably their worst output .
Scud Mountain Boys and Pernice Brothers?

The two Jennifer Gentle albums on Sub Pop rule too.

on a side note but related:

Sub Pop Captures the Space Needle!

Red Red Meat with Bunny Gets Paid: Taxidermy Blues in Reverse, Sad Cadillac, Chain Chain Chain, Rosewood, Wax, Voltz + Glitter, Idiot Son...

and about Bakesale - one of Lou Barlow's weaker outputs that gets way too much hype. I don't see what's great about this album at all.

Missing personal faves for me would include: Velocity Girl - Copacetic (as mentioned upthread); Jale - Dreamcake; Pond's first album; The Fluid - Glue / Roadmouth; (and though I know it'll never get the respect it truly deserves, not even on ILX) The Jesus & Mary Chain - Munki

and about Bakesale - one of Lou Barlow's weaker outputs that gets way too much hype. I don't see what's great about this album at all.

I agree. I think Lou misses Gaffney's edge on this one.

Should be on the list: Tad's Salt Lick (even better than God's Balls), Thee Headcoats' Heavens To Murgatroyd, Even! It's Thee Headcoats, the Billy Childish compilation I Am The Billy Childish and the Radio Birdman compilation (don't remember the title).

I'd like to've seen "Sound of Water" by St Et but I'd've voted Bleach anyway. Other choices Woods, Earth 2

BAKESALE!

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oh my god the shins?? you people are fucking crazy. i would vote that as one of the worst.

lives were changed

I totally would have voted for Green River, had I voted. Guess I should have. Amazed they got no votes.

i can't believe that The Shins won on ILM and by double the vote of the next closes band. amazing.

reading this thread i thought SeBADoh or maybe Nirvana was going to win. The Shins?

don't get me wrong as i love The Shins but they aren't the best, IMO.

<3

you guys really thought you weren't going to pay for the white album poll?

seBADoh

Hahahahahahaha!