Comments on: My Favourite 49 Albums of the Decade http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/ It's a group blog. What more do you need to know? Thu, 24 May 2012 02:50:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Steve http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-75144 Steve Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:11:18 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-75144 My top 15 albums, off the top of my head, in15 minutes: 1. Isn't Anything - My Bloody Valentine 2. Soft Bulletin - Flaming Lips 3. Infected - The The 4. Frenz Experiment - The Fall 5. House of Love - House of Love 6. Doolittle - Pixies 7. Stoned & Dethroned - The Jesus & Mary Chain 8. Humans Fly - Dog Faced Hermans 9. New York - Lou Reed 10. Viva Dead Ponies - Fatima Mansions 11. Nighthawks at the Diner - Tow Wai... My top 15 albums, off the top of my head, in15 minutes:

1. Isn’t Anything - My Bloody Valentine

2. Soft Bulletin - Flaming Lips

3. Infected - The The

4. Frenz Experiment - The Fall

5. House of Love - House of Love

6. Doolittle - Pixies

7. Stoned & Dethroned - The Jesus & Mary Chain

8. Humans Fly - Dog Faced Hermans

9. New York - Lou Reed

10. Viva Dead Ponies - Fatima Mansions

11. Nighthawks at the Diner - Tow Wai…

]]> By: Jim Kennedy http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71980 Jim Kennedy Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:59:48 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71980 LeftAtTheCross - I wouldn't listen to Radiohead every day or anything, but they have certainly had the biggest impact over the full span of the decade. Arctic Monkeys is one of those bands I just don't get - I often have these blanks where reputable people rave about some music and I just don't get it. Nothing wrong with Arctic Monkeys as such, just no impact on me. sgpsDublin - it's also fun putting a list together even if it's not definitive. For example I deleted Avalanches since I 'used' to love that album but haven't bothered with it in a few years, so it 'fails' the longevity test. Then again, I heard some of it in a cafe last week and it sounded great. Seán Báite - No significance to the number. After whittling down my long-list I had 49, that's all. I didn't really worry about it too much. Blog recommendations and MySpace are your friends for new music, I find. With most bands streaming their albums, give it a whirl - for example I'm listening to Vampire Weekend at the moment: http://www.vampireweekend.com/ Radiohead - those kids are going to be huge, I tell you. Kevin - Yeah, the album after Gulag wasn't all that great was it? There seem to be mixed reports from the TriPod gig - I remember it being OK, but not as good as the Olympia gig (both are reviewed hereabouts: http://dublinopinion.com/2007/06/25/beirut-snapped-from-a-tri-pod/ and http://dublinopinion.com/2006/11/03/beirut-at-the-olympia-dublin/) As for 'right person, wrong album' yeah, I hear you, some of those were marginal calls. I heard both Joanna Newsom albums around the same time and Milk-Eyed Mender 'grabbed' me quicker I guess. For Radiohead, I could easily have been ‘In Rainbows’ but for some standout tracks in 'Hail...' that swayed it marginally for me. As for Sigur Rós, I just love the first album, and with the Jimmy Cake, while I agree that while 'Spectre and Crown’ is amazing, I remember being a little disappointed with the album after the expectation of the earlier stuff. Still, a brilliant band. Your recommendations: I will check out Bill Callahan’s ‘Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle’ - others have recommended it too. Never even heard of Richmond Fontaine’s ‘The Fitzgerald’ but will check it out. For Grizzly Bear - I've listened to this repeatedly just to figure out what the fuss is, and I don't get it. Donagh agrees with me on this one, so I've given up on Grizzly Bear. Kings of Leon do. my. head. in. We'll have to disagree on that one. Lambchop's ‘Awcmon/Noyoucmon’ - I though there was too much going on with that album compared to previous stuff and it was about there that I lost Lampchop. I remember a great gig in the Olympia(?) before this album. TV On The Radio’s ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’ - I used to love this too, but I rarely go back to it, so it didn't make the list. Jay-Z and Danger Mouse’s ‘The Grey Album’ - hmmm, not for me.... Ryan Adams and the Cardinals’ 'Jacksonville City Nights’ - maybe I should revisit Ryan Adams, everyone keeps pushing him on me. The Strokes’ do. my. head. in. Complete frauds in my book. Kevin - 'Sorry - I’ve just realised that I used ‘amazing’ to describe three different records' - funnily, 'amazing' is one of those words I've caught myself overusing too. I spellcheck myself for it now and delete as appropriate. I'll check out Tinariwen’s ‘Amassakoul’ too. Cheers. LeftAtTheCross - I wouldn’t listen to Radiohead every day or anything, but they have certainly had the biggest impact over the full span of the decade. Arctic Monkeys is one of those bands I just don’t get - I often have these blanks where reputable people rave about some music and I just don’t get it. Nothing wrong with Arctic Monkeys as such, just no impact on me.

sgpsDublin - it’s also fun putting a list together even if it’s not definitive. For example I deleted Avalanches since I ‘used’ to love that album but haven’t bothered with it in a few years, so it ‘fails’ the longevity test. Then again, I heard some of it in a cafe last week and it sounded great.

Seán Báite - No significance to the number. After whittling down my long-list I had 49, that’s all. I didn’t really worry about it too much. Blog recommendations and MySpace are your friends for new music, I find. With most bands streaming their albums, give it a whirl - for example I’m listening to Vampire Weekend at the moment: http://www.vampireweekend.com/ Radiohead - those kids are going to be huge, I tell you.

Kevin - Yeah, the album after Gulag wasn’t all that great was it? There seem to be mixed reports from the TriPod gig - I remember it being OK, but not as good as the Olympia gig (both are reviewed hereabouts: http://dublinopinion.com/2007/06/25/beirut-snapped-from-a-tri-pod/ and http://dublinopinion.com/2006/11/03/beirut-at-the-olympia-dublin/)

As for ‘right person, wrong album’ yeah, I hear you, some of those were marginal calls. I heard both Joanna Newsom albums around the same time and Milk-Eyed Mender ‘grabbed’ me quicker I guess. For Radiohead, I could easily have been ‘In Rainbows’ but for some standout tracks in ‘Hail…’ that swayed it marginally for me. As for Sigur Rós, I just love the first album, and with the Jimmy Cake, while I agree that while ‘Spectre and Crown’ is amazing, I remember being a little disappointed with the album after the expectation of the earlier stuff. Still, a brilliant band.

Your recommendations: I will check out Bill Callahan’s ‘Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle’ - others have recommended it too. Never even heard of Richmond Fontaine’s ‘The Fitzgerald’ but will check it out. For Grizzly Bear - I’ve listened to this repeatedly just to figure out what the fuss is, and I don’t get it. Donagh agrees with me on this one, so I’ve given up on Grizzly Bear. Kings of Leon do. my. head. in. We’ll have to disagree on that one. Lambchop’s ‘Awcmon/Noyoucmon’ - I though there was too much going on with that album compared to previous stuff and it was about there that I lost Lampchop. I remember a great gig in the Olympia(?) before this album. TV On The Radio’s ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’ - I used to love this too, but I rarely go back to it, so it didn’t make the list. Jay-Z and Danger Mouse’s ‘The Grey Album’ - hmmm, not for me…. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals’ ‘Jacksonville City Nights’ - maybe I should revisit Ryan Adams, everyone keeps pushing him on me. The Strokes’ do. my. head. in. Complete frauds in my book.

Kevin - ‘Sorry - I’ve just realised that I used ‘amazing’ to describe three different records’ - funnily, ‘amazing’ is one of those words I’ve caught myself overusing too. I spellcheck myself for it now and delete as appropriate. I’ll check out Tinariwen’s ‘Amassakoul’ too. Cheers.

]]> By: Kevin http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71945 Kevin Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:02:36 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71945 Sorry - I've just realised that I used 'amazing' to describe three different records in the above post. Must work on my adjectives for the next decade. And I realise I left off one other from the 2000s: Tinariwen's 'Amassakoul' (2004), which, in spite of the irritating press emphasis on their back story, is simply a really good record. Sorry - I’ve just realised that I used ‘amazing’ to describe three different records in the above post. Must work on my adjectives for the next decade. And I realise I left off one other from the 2000s: Tinariwen’s ‘Amassakoul’ (2004), which, in spite of the irritating press emphasis on their back story, is simply a really good record.

]]> By: Kevin http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71944 Kevin Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:54:46 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71944 Great list, with some great stuff on there. Glad to see a mention for Beirut's 'Gulag Orkestar', though sorry to see he never followed it up with anything one quarter as good, and sorry that he was so rubbish when he played Tripod in 2007. But I'm also interested that for some of the artists you have on there that I'd strongly agree with, but for whom I might have picked different records: for Joanna Newsom the amazing 'Ys', for Radiohead 'In Rainbows', for Sigur Rós the brackets album, and for the Jimmy Cake (definitely worth the inclusion and glad to see them there), I'd still plump for 'Spectre and Crown' - an amazing record for anyone who missed it. Possible additions? Bill Callahan's 'Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle' (2009), Richmond Fontaine's 'The Fitzgerald' (2005), Grizzly Bear's amazing 'Veckatimest' (2009), which led to one of the best gigs I've ever been at in Vicar Street this November, Kings of Leon's debut 'Youth and Young Manhood' (2003), Lambchop's 'Awcmon/Noyoucmon' (2004), TV On The Radio's 'Return to Cookie Mountain' (2006), Jay-Z and Danger Mouse's 'The Grey Album' (2004) (I'm not trying to go all NME or trendy here - it's a great fit), Ryan Adams and the Cardinals' hidden gem 'Jacksonville City Nights' (2005) and, in spite of being pretty hopeless thereafter, The Strokes' debut 'Is This It' (2001) remains a great pop record. Great list, with some great stuff on there. Glad to see a mention for Beirut’s ‘Gulag Orkestar’, though sorry to see he never followed it up with anything one quarter as good, and sorry that he was so rubbish when he played Tripod in 2007. But I’m also interested that for some of the artists you have on there that I’d strongly agree with, but for whom I might have picked different records: for Joanna Newsom the amazing ‘Ys’, for Radiohead ‘In Rainbows’, for Sigur Rós the brackets album, and for the Jimmy Cake (definitely worth the inclusion and glad to see them there), I’d still plump for ‘Spectre and Crown’ - an amazing record for anyone who missed it.

Possible additions? Bill Callahan’s ‘Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle’ (2009), Richmond Fontaine’s ‘The Fitzgerald’ (2005), Grizzly Bear’s amazing ‘Veckatimest’ (2009), which led to one of the best gigs I’ve ever been at in Vicar Street this November, Kings of Leon’s debut ‘Youth and Young Manhood’ (2003), Lambchop’s ‘Awcmon/Noyoucmon’ (2004), TV On The Radio’s ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’ (2006), Jay-Z and Danger Mouse’s ‘The Grey Album’ (2004) (I’m not trying to go all NME or trendy here - it’s a great fit), Ryan Adams and the Cardinals’ hidden gem ‘Jacksonville City Nights’ (2005) and, in spite of being pretty hopeless thereafter, The Strokes’ debut ‘Is This It’ (2001) remains a great pop record.

]]> By: Seán Báite http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71934 Seán Báite Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:04:20 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71934 Stirling work Mr. K. Does leaving it at 49 have some secret significance ?? (rather than the usual 50 or 100) Myself, I'm in a similar state to LeftAtTheCross thanks to the chisellers and the drink - and drinking with the chisellers... hardly even noticed we'd just finished a decade... If it weren't for Conor an' Donagh, I'd hardly even recognise more than the 3 or 4 names on the list I do... Fall - think I've heard o' them... Go Betweens - yep.. Billy Oldham.... Radiohead though - they that 'Pink Floyd of our time' lot ?? At least at the end of this decade - me kids'll be pointing me in the way of dacent music. Stirling work Mr. K. Does leaving it at 49 have some secret significance ?? (rather than the usual 50 or 100)
Myself, I’m in a similar state to LeftAtTheCross thanks to the chisellers and the drink - and drinking with the chisellers… hardly even noticed we’d just finished a decade…
If it weren’t for Conor an’ Donagh, I’d hardly even recognise more than the 3 or 4 names on the list I do… Fall - think I’ve heard o’ them… Go Betweens - yep.. Billy Oldham….
Radiohead though - they that ‘Pink Floyd of our time’ lot ??

At least at the end of this decade - me kids’ll be pointing me in the way of dacent music.

]]> By: sgpsDublin http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71926 sgpsDublin Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:31:36 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71926 Hey Jim, Great list, and indeed, excellent choice for band of the decade. Especially like your opening comments. It's always interesting to hear different opinions when you compile and publish a list of your favourite songs / bands. The best thing about end of year lists for me is that they're entirely subjective to the personal tastes of the author. Even if your readers don't agree 100% you can open a bit of debate and dialogue - as you can see above. I always find a few gems in end of year lists that I hadn't before heard of or given a fair shot. In fact, you mentioned a few that we forgot about completley and now I'm kicking myself at the exclusions! Anyway, enjoyed reading the article! Good taste sir! Hey Jim,

Great list, and indeed, excellent choice for band of the decade.

Especially like your opening comments. It’s always interesting to hear different opinions when you compile and publish a list of your favourite songs / bands. The best thing about end of year lists for me is that they’re entirely subjective to the personal tastes of the author.
Even if your readers don’t agree 100% you can open a bit of debate and dialogue - as you can see above. I always find a few gems in end of year lists that I hadn’t before heard of or given a fair shot. In fact, you mentioned a few that we forgot about completley and now I’m kicking myself at the exclusions! Anyway, enjoyed reading the article! Good taste sir!

]]> By: LeftAtTheCross http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71916 LeftAtTheCross Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:32:36 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71916 Great list, I see I have some catching up still to do after a decade of raising kids and being otherwise distracted, many thanks for the pointers. With you a million percent on Radiohead. But no Arctic Monkeys? Over hyped for sure, but great lyrics, great arrangements, great guitar music. No? Great list, I see I have some catching up still to do after a decade of raising kids and being otherwise distracted, many thanks for the pointers.

With you a million percent on Radiohead.

But no Arctic Monkeys? Over hyped for sure, but great lyrics, great arrangements, great guitar music.

No?

]]> By: Jim Kennedy http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71907 Jim Kennedy Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:19:05 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71907 Catherine - I'm procuring For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver as I type. I don't know the 'other' Sparklehorse album, so I'll look for that too. See you in the Fade Street self-gifting emporium sometime. Damian - I'll give that Lucinda William's album a whirl tomorrow. Catherine - I’m procuring For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver as I type. I don’t know the ‘other’ Sparklehorse album, so I’ll look for that too. See you in the Fade Street self-gifting emporium sometime.

Damian - I’ll give that Lucinda William’s album a whirl tomorrow.

]]> By: Catherine http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71906 Catherine Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:15:09 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71906 Nice list Jim - some of my own favourites in there, and the rest I will consider a 'self gifting' list for the New Year :) I love Sparklehorse 'Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain' almost as much as It's a Wonderful Life, but you're right, the latter wins it. Do give Bon Iver a listen, I had it on a loop this time last year and kind of wore it out for myself, but re-visited it again recently and it stands up. Nice list Jim - some of my own favourites in there, and the rest I will consider a ’self gifting’ list for the New Year :)
I love Sparklehorse ‘Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain’ almost as much as It’s a Wonderful Life, but you’re right, the latter wins it.
Do give Bon Iver a listen, I had it on a loop this time last year and kind of wore it out for myself, but re-visited it again recently and it stands up.

]]> By: Damian O'Broin http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71905 Damian O'Broin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:07:47 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/12/31/my-favourite-49-albums-of-the-decade/#comment-71905 If you're going to download Lucinda, her best album is Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Always eager to argue about Tweedy & Co over beer. If you’re going to download Lucinda, her best album is Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

Always eager to argue about Tweedy & Co over beer.

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