It does, indeed, take two to make a thing go right. Rob Base & DJ EZ-E’s classic “It Takes Two” DEMOLISHED the competitors.
This week: because I couldn’t stand not having Radiohead on the playlist.
Poll’s at the top of the post. Vote now!
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The winners thus far:
Elvis Costello - Allison
Jet - Look What You’ve Done
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
Guns N Roses - Paradise City
Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
The New Pornographers - Letter From An Occupant
The Smiths - There is a Light that Never Goes Out
The Police - King of Pain
Violent Femmes - Kiss Off
Cat Stevens - Wild World
Aretha Franklin - River’s Invitation
Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride
Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
The Doors - L.A. Woman
The Carpenters - On Top of the World
Boston - More Than a Feeling
Prince - When Doves Cry
Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
U2 - I Will Follow
The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
Coldplay - God Put a Smile on Your Face
The Shins - Caring is Creepy
Adam Ant - Goody Two-Shoes
REM - Man On The Moon
Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLachlan - God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
The Beatles - She’s Leaving Home
Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen
Public Enemy - Night of the Living Baseheads
The Who - Baba O’Riley
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Led Zeppelin - Ramble On
Massive Attack - Teardrop
The Frames - Cry Me A River
Uncle Tupelo - New Madrid
Big Star - Thirteen
Everything But The Girl - Mirrorball
Simon & Garfunkel - 59th Street Bridge Song
Rob Base & DJ EZ-E - It Takes Two
I’m going with High and Dry. Not a huge fan of Thom Yorke’s voice. Which is funny since I love other bands that sound a lot like Radiohead–Coldplay, for instance, and another band I just discovered called Anathema.
Comment by Susan M — March 31, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
Take it back, Susan. Coldplay do not sound like Radiohead.
(I know, there actually is some superficial similarity. But to say that Coldplay sounds like Radiohead is to say that Radiohead sounds like Coldplay, which cannot be tolerated.)
(Sorry. Fanboy in the house.)
Comment by Tom — March 31, 2006 @ 1:42 pm
I don’t think it’s clear from that comment that I’m saying that Radiohead is the (far, far, far, far) superior band and should not be denigrated by having Coldplay compared to them. That’s what I’m saying.
Comment by Tom — March 31, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
Don’t worry, I knew what you mean. Most Radiohead fans I know call Coldplay “Radiohead-lite” and can’t stand them.
Comment by Susan M — March 31, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
I’m not that much of a fan of the punchup-at-a-wedding song. “Hail to the Thief” has some excellent material, but I think that’s the weakest track on it. The other two are great, though.
And I think Radiohead ought to feel honored that Coldplay’s pale imitation is a wild economic success. Coldplay is to Radiohead as Pearl Jam was to Nirvana…
Comment by RoastedTomatoes — March 31, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
RT, I gotta disagree with you about Hail To the Thief. In my mind “Punchup” has a great, relentless beat that I love. There are better tracks on the album (same could be said for my picks from The Bends and Kid A), but they’re all still fantastic.
Comment by Supergenius — March 31, 2006 @ 3:18 pm
Take it back, RT. PJ was hardly a Nirvana imitation. They did their own brand of hooky arena metal that had very little to do with Nirvana. Sure, they rode Nirvana’s coattails to superstardom, but they didn’t derive their sound from Nirvana’s derivation of the Pixies and hardcore punk. Nevermind and Ten are miles apart. Besides, Nirvana was extremely popular in their own rite.
It would be more accurate to say that Coldplay is to Radiohead what Nirvana was to the Pixies, I think.
Comment by Tom — March 31, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
Word to Tom’s mother. RT, you shut your mouth with that PJ-slamming.
Comment by Supergenius — March 31, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
AAAAAAAHHHHH!
Nirvana wouldn’t have gone *anywhere* without Pearl Jam. Or, more accurately, Mother Love Bone and Soundgarden. (The singer for MLB died just as they were about to take off, and remaining members formed Pearl Jam.)
Comment by Susan M — March 31, 2006 @ 3:22 pm
Tom, I’d definitely agree about the Pixies, who were far more important than Nirvana or Radiohead. And you’re right that Nirvana was extremely popular–as are Radiohead. I also agree that Pearl Jam was quite different from Nirvana; I’d describe Pearl Jam as 80s hair metal with a thin overlay of Seattle sound. Susan, Soundgarden was definitely crucial in paving the way for Nirvana, but so were the Melvins and a bunch of others. Mother Love Bone? Not so much. Okay, but I’ll now hold my tongue. (Anybody want to guess how many times I’ve had this argument in the last 15 years?)
Supergenius, fair enough about the beat on Punchup. But I just can’t get past what (to me) is an extremely weak vocal and lyric…
Comment by RoastedTomatoes — March 31, 2006 @ 3:37 pm
Susan, sorry to have made you scream…
Comment by RoastedTomatoes — March 31, 2006 @ 3:38 pm
Well, it did take Nevermind’s breakthrough to get Ten on the radio and selling. So from a strictly commercial perspective, would it not be accurate to say that Pearl Jam rode Nirvana’s coattails to superstardom.
How were MLB instrumental in Nirvana’s breakout? By bringing attention to Seattle? Because musically, from what I’ve heard of MLB, they were as far from Nirvana as Pearl Jam ended up being.
Comment by Tom — March 31, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
Is is just me or did Radiohead channel Morphine in that performance of National Anthem?
and now, I want to go listen to doolittle.
Comment by Jennifer — March 31, 2006 @ 3:46 pm
Good one, SG. I agree about the tracks. In fact, I would put each of these tracks in the top 3 of each of their albums. Of these three, I think I have to go with Punchup.
Comment by Eric Russell — March 31, 2006 @ 3:53 pm
RT,
I’m gonna continue beating on you:
I’d describe Pearl Jam as 80s hair metal with a thin overlay of Seattle sound.
Have you heard anything beyond Ten?
(Says he who has tickets to see PJ in DC in May!)
Comment by Ronan — March 31, 2006 @ 5:06 pm
I probably would have voted for National Anthem if it was the album version, but the SNL version (at least on radioblog) sounds terrible. Kid A and Amnesiac really demand hi-fidelity sound, which my DSL connection and laptop speakers most definitely do not provide.
I voted for High and Dry because The Bends is my favorite Radiohead album. I really liked “Hail to the Thief” but Punch-Up at a Wedding just can’t compete with the A-material from bends/computer/kid/amnesiac.
Comment by NFlanders — March 31, 2006 @ 5:41 pm
What I remember is seeing Nirvana play at college dorm parties, and opening for Mudhoney and Tad at colleges, while Soundgarden was playing the Moore, and opening for much bigger bands at the Paramount. (I once saw Mother Love Bone and Alice in Chains play at a roller rink.) MLB and Soundgarden were attracting major label interest to Seattle. MLB signed right away. Soundgarden put off signing to a major because they wanted to do an album on SST first (which was Ultramega OK). Nirvana jumped on MLB’s and Soundgarden’s coattails, signed to a major, and broke huge.
I truly believe if Andrew Wood hadn’t died, Nirvana wouldn’t have made such a big splash, and rock history would be pretty different today.
Comment by Susan M — March 31, 2006 @ 6:17 pm
um, can we get back to RADIOHEAD, people? PLEASE?!?
Comment by Supergenius — March 31, 2006 @ 6:29 pm
RT: Just a tip — don’t get into an argument about the Seattle scene with Susan M. She lived it, man.
Comment by Greg — March 31, 2006 @ 6:58 pm
This is true. However I think that just makes me very opinionated, not necessarily accurate.
Comment by Susan M — March 31, 2006 @ 9:23 pm
. . . Nirvana wouldn’t have made such a big splash, and rock history would be pretty different today.
Yeah. We wouldn’t have Puddle of Mud. And where would we be without Puddle of Mud?
Comment by Tom — March 31, 2006 @ 11:41 pm
Can we have an all-Pixies Thunderdome, too?
Comment by Allison — April 1, 2006 @ 8:16 am
I can’t believe the SNL live version of National Anthem didn’t triumph. Is there really anything better? Although High and Dry is definitely one of my fav Radiohead tracks.
Comment by clark — April 2, 2006 @ 10:02 pm
BTW - Susan, I saw the film Hype last night on TV about the whole Seattle “scene” in the early 90’s and late 80’s. Kind of interesting. Although I couldn’t figure out why they were interviewing Eddie Veder since he wasn’t really from the area, was he? How did he get involved with Pearl Jam?
About the one big thing I might disagree with is the idea that it was Nirvana that made Seattle huge. They portray Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and the others as having at best moderate success prior to Sounds Like Teen Spirit. That’s not how I remember it, although I’m not sure one ought take Utah trends as indicating much. Of course at the time I didn’t like any of them. I came to Nirvana in the late 90’s after all the hype was long over.
BTW2 - I’m coming to like Screaming Trees much more of late.
Comment by clark — April 2, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
Eddie Vedder was from San Diego, I believe, and I can’t remember how he hooked up with Pearl Jam. Mutual friends or something I think. I’ve heard he lives in Seattle now though–he’s got some pseudenym he’s been known to go by–”Wes C. Addle.” West Seattle. I heard he lives there, but I’m no expert.
Hype is a pretty cool movie, but there’s lots of people in it that irritate me. Like that guy chopping up the old show posters. The best part in the whole thing is when one of the Conner brothers (of the Trees) says, “There are a ton of bands, but WE are a TON of BAND.”
Comment by Susan M — April 2, 2006 @ 10:17 pm
“We wouldn’t have Puddle of Mud. And where would we be without Puddle of Mud.”
We wouldn’t have the brilliant pop single “She Hates Me” which, even though it is the only good thing Puddle of Mud has ever done (and most likely will ever do), is better than 90% of Radiohead’s output; “High and Dry” has my vote because it is in the other 10%.
Comment by Pris — April 3, 2006 @ 9:52 am
“…is better than 90% of Radiohead’s output..”
GASP!! !!!!!!!!!!
Pris, you are KILLING me here. BLASPHEMER!
Comment by Supergenius — April 3, 2006 @ 9:56 am
We can ignore 90% of Pris’s opinions from here on out.
Comment by Tom — April 3, 2006 @ 10:57 am
I have it on good authority that his blood alcohol must have been at least 10% to make that comment.
Comment by NFlanders — April 3, 2006 @ 5:07 pm
Best Radiohead album? I’d have to say OK Computer. In fact, I rank it up there with the best albums of all time. It’s almost perfect.
Comment by Rusty — April 3, 2006 @ 7:57 pm
I agree, Rusty, that OK Computer is almost perfect. But The Bends still edges it for me. Maybe I just have good memories of 1994 (the best year in music, ever).
Comment by NFlanders — April 3, 2006 @ 9:22 pm
What else was great about 1994?
I basically missed the 90’s, so I really want to know.
Comment by Susan M — April 3, 2006 @ 9:39 pm
Susan, I’m going to guess it has something to do with The Cure and/or Morrissey.
As for best Radiohead album, it’s hard to choose just one. But I do listen to The Bends a bit more often than the others.
Comment by Tom — April 3, 2006 @ 10:06 pm
Tom, they’re like musical Pringles. But OK Computer rules all. In fact, there’s a bona fide claim to be made that it’s the best album of all time.
Comment by Supergenius — April 3, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
“musical pringles . . .”
Because they stack nicely one on top of the other?
Every Radiohead fan knows that the salty potato snack to which Radiohead albums can most appropriately be compared is Lays–”Bet you can’t eat just one.” The Radiohead flavor would be the delicious, irresistible, salt and vinegar.
How embarassing for you.
Comment by Tom — April 4, 2006 @ 6:19 am
Flanders (29): (Un)fortunately, my statement was made while completely sober. And I stand by it because Radiohead is so ghastly overrated and PoM, while being horrible and mostly irrelevant, somehow lucked into genius for three minutes, and we are all better for it.
SG (27): Admittedly I might have listed a percentage too high–I did not actually calculate the percentage. It may, in fact, be closer to 80%.
Comment by Pris — April 4, 2006 @ 8:41 am
Tom, egg is all over my face. But can’t a guy have a fever for Radiohead?
Comment by Supergenius — April 4, 2006 @ 8:46 am
Tom, I don’t know how Radiohead, being Brits, can be Lays. Walkers, maybe. Yum, Walkers Cheese and Onion crisps. Homesick now.
Comment by Ronan — April 4, 2006 @ 10:05 am
I left on my mission two months after Nevermind came out. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” had a huge impact when it debuted on MTV, but I remember returning from Romania and being surpised about how big Nirvana was.
In fact, four questions ran through my head…
1. What happened to Muhoney, the Screaming Trees and Soundgarden — I thought they were the big Pac NW bands?
2. What happened to the noise/thrash scene?
3. What happened to industrial music? (in 1990-91 it seemed like that was the genre that was poised to take off and kill off hard rock — when I got back all there was was the diluted, whiny sounds of NIN).
4. What happened to the psychedelic-rock-influenced, poppy Manchester scene?
It was all rather disorienting. My music — alternative rock — had become mega-popular, but in a diluted form.
Not that I was an original or anything. It was just weird.
Comment by William Morris — April 4, 2006 @ 1:50 pm
Mudhoney is still alive and well and making music.
Screaming Trees broke up. Mark Lanegan, singer, has done some solo albums, plus did vocals for a few tracks on a couple Queens of the Stone Age albums, as well as some stuff with Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs in a band called the Twilight Singers. Van Conner, the bassist, plays guitar and sings in a band called Valis.
Noise/thrash has had a bit of a resurgence. Check out Three Inches of Blood. Exodus are still going strong. Same with Slayer. Noise: check out the Boredoms, OOIOO, or Fantomas.
I remember my friend coming home from her mission around the same time. She asked me, “If alternative is popular now, what’s the real alternative music?” I was so out of it, I couldn’t tell her–I told her maybe it was rave or house.
Comment by Susan M — April 4, 2006 @ 2:59 pm
Re: 1994, Tom was pretty close. Three of my top 5 albums ever came out in ‘94: Morrissey’s Vauxhall & I, NIN’s The Downward Spiral, and Radiohead’s The Bends.
Other great releases: Pulp’s His ‘n’ Hers, Blur’s Parklife, Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication.
Comment by NFlanders — April 4, 2006 @ 4:16 pm
1994 also had Pavement’s “Crooked Rain,” Beck’s “Mellow Gold,” Oasis’ debut “Definitely Maybe,” Weezer’s debut, Guided By Voices’ “Bee Thousand,” and decent albums by Built to Spill, Neil Young, and Pearl Jam. Good year.
Comment by Greg — April 4, 2006 @ 4:40 pm