Magnet's top 60 reccords from 1993 to 2003. Pretty fine list IMHO.

[Swish]

I stumbled upon this the other day and figure I have just about half of the top 60 and two of the extras they show at the end. What are your impressions of their choices and which of these do you think is essential to my collection? The ones in bold type are the records I already have.

I'm scratching my head at a few of the choices, especially Wilco's Summerteeth, especially the rank of #11. Any glaring omissions? Have to have the Silver Jews' American Water on my list for sure. Heck, top 10.

"The Evidence"
Magnet’s Top 60 Albums, 1993-2003
(10th Anniversary Issue)

1. NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL - IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA (98)
2. NIRVANA - IN UTERO (93)
3. GUIDED BY VOICES - ALIEN LANES (95)
4. RADIOHEAD - OK COMPUTER (97)
5. BELLE & SEBASTIAN - IF YOU’RE FEELING SINISTER (97)
6. BREEDERS - LAST SPLASH (93)
7. YO LA TENGO - I CAN HEAR THE HEART BEATING AS ONE (97)
8. VERVE - URBAN HYMNS (97)
9. PAVEMENT - CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN (94)
10. TORTOISE - MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE (96)
11. WILCO - SUMMERTEETH (99)
12. ELLIOTT SMITH - XO (98)
13. CALEXICO - THE BLACK LIGHT (98)
14. GRANDADDY - THE SOPHTWARE SLUMP (00)
15. WEEN - WHITE PEPPER (00)
16. MERCURY REV- DESERTER’S SONGS (98)
17. WEEZER - PINKERTON (96)
18. DIRTY THREE - HORSE STORIES (96)
19. STROKES - IS THIS IT (01)
20. R.E.M. - NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI (96)
21. MOBY - PLAY (99)
22. MAGNETIC FIELDS - 69 LOVE SONGS (99)
23. FLAMING LIPS - THE SOFT BULLETIN (99)
24. WHITE STRIPES - WHITE BLOOD CELLS (01)
25. DJ SHADOW - ENDTRODUCING… (96)
26. LUCINDA WILLIAMS - CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD (98)
27. BECK - MUTATIONS (98)
28. STEVE EARLE - TRANSCENDENTAL BLUES (00)
29. SPOON - A SERIES OF SNEAKS (98)
30. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (98)
31. BUILT TO SPILL - PERFECT FROM NOW ON (97)
32. SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE - DIARY (94)
33. SMASHING PUMPKINS -SIAMESE DREAM (93)
34. INTERPOL - TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS (02)
35. FUGAZI - IN ON THE KILLTAKER (93)
36. BETA BAND - THE 3 EP’S (99)
37. SUGAR - FILE UNDER: EASY LISTENING (94)
38. GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR! - F#A#OO (98)
39. POLVO - EXPLODED DRAWING (96)
40. DANDY WARHOLS - THIRTEEN TALES FROM URBAN BOHEMIA (00)
41. BRIGHT EYES - LETTING OFF THE HAPPINESS (98)
42. UNWOUND - REPETITION (96)
43. PJ HARVEY - TO BRING YOU MY LOVE (95)
44. AIR - VIRGIN SUICIDES (00)
45. AFGHAN WHIGS - GENTLEMEN (93)
46. IDLEWILD - 100 BROKEN WINDOWS (01)
47. URGE OVERKILL - SATURATION (93)
48. STEREOLAB - MARS AUDIAC QUINTET (94)
49. JAWBOX - FOR YOUR OWN SPECIAL SWEETHEART (94)
50. GIRLS AGAINST BOYS - VENUS LUXURE NO. 1 BABY (94)
51. PULP - DIFFERENT CLASS (96)
52. HELIUM - THE MAGIC CITY (97)
53. WRENS - THE MEADOWLANDS (03)
54. WHISKEYTOWN - STRANGERS ALMANAC (97)
55. PERNICE BROTHERS - OVERCOME BY HAPPINESS (98)
56. JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION - ORANGE (94)
57. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - ELECTRIC VERSION (03)
58. SHELLAC - AT ACTION PARK (94)
59. GRIFTERS - CRAPPIN’ YOU NEGATIVE (94)
60. SHINS - OH, INVERTED WORLD (01)


10 more albums were listed under the heading...

"Secret Stash...Lost Hits from the Last Decade"

SUPERCONDUCTOR - HIT SONGS FOR GIRLS (93)
CARDINAL - CARDINAL (94)
CHOKEBORE - ANYTHING NEAR WATER (95)
BEVIS FROND - SON OF WALTER (96)
LICORICE ROOTS - MELODEON (97)
ALASTAIR GALBRAITH - MIRRORWORK (98)
MY MORNING JACKET - TENNESSEE FIRE (99)
COMAS - A DEF NEEDLE IN TOMORROW (00)
BIGGER LOVERS - HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING (01)
COMET GAIN -REALISTES (02)

[Jack in Wilmington]

I like to look at lists and see what I might have in my collection. I had one album in my collection, #23 Flaming Lips Soft Bulletin. I then looked up Magnet magazine and it says it focuses on alternative, independent and out of the mainstream bands and that explained why I only have one in my collection. Different strokes for different folks.

[JoeE SP9]

Got one, Yo La Tengo. I've never heard of most of those groups. As Jack says, "different strokes".

[Davey]

Any glaring omissions?

Yes, just one among many of my favorites, but everybody has a list

[Slosh]

I have 33 of those albums.

[noddin0ff]

I only score about 25% on the hip-o-meter. Although a couple of the ones I have I'd vote off the list in hindsight (Moby, e.g.). Still, one of the more intriguing lists that have been thrown up on the boards. Makes me want to go buy music.

[dean_martin]

I like REM's New Adventures in HiFi. I might replace DJ Shadow's Endtroducing with Preemptive Strike. The Jon Spencer album is a fun one. I used to listen to it a lot, but I was a fanboy who followed all the members' side projects like Butter 8 and Boss Hog. I find it a little fatiguing these days.

Is Mars Audiac Quintet better than Emperor Tomato Ketchup? Is Pinkerton better than the blue album?

[Jim Clark]

Meadow Lands was so good. A lot of us were spinning that way back when, and then...nothing from them that was ever even remotely close to that gem.

[Davey]

Is Mars Audiac Quintet better than Emperor Tomato Ketchup?

Yea, you could say that about a lot of the selections, in this case all of those mid-90s Stereolab records are pretty much interchangeable, not because they sound exactly the same, but because they are all great in their own ways, though those two do really standout for me. I'd go with ETK because I've listened to it more over the years, and maybe loved it longer, but today I would reach for MAQ first. Sounds so fresh, and fun. And it is just about perfect.

I think they got a lot of the big names right on the list, played it pretty straight from that perspective, and obviously limited it to one album per artist, but beyond that is where any of these lists get their personality. The Magic City by Helium is a cool choice, that made an appearance on my best of 1997 comp when we did that series of best of year comps here.

With the exception of DJ Shadow, they seem to be ignoring that whole genre that was so big in the mid 90s, and many great records like Tricky Maxinquaye, and Portishead Dummy, and Massive Attack Protection, and all Bjork's best stuff, etc, etc.

And some of my all time favorites records fall in that time span, Richard Buckner Devotion + Doubt, and Sixteen Horsepower Low Estate, Cat Power Moon Pix, and Palace/Will Oldham Viva Last Blues, Shack Waterpistol, Luna Bewitched, Lisa Germano, Laika, Sparklehorse, Modest Mouse, Califone, Songs:Ohia, Catherine Wheel, Notwist, Joe Henry, Wheat, Blonde Redhead, Silver Jews, Olivia Tremor Control, and on and on. So my list would be a lot different, but I do have or know most of the records on this list, and it does have some personality, but like Magnet, it is a little boring too.

[Feanor]

I have 33 of those albums.

That's great I guess. I have precisely NONE of them but then I really only buy classical music; (no accounting for taste).

[dean_martin]

Yea, you could say that about a lot of the selections, in this case all of those mid-90s Stereolab records are pretty much interchangeable, not because they sound exactly the same, but because they are all great in their own ways, though those two do really standout for me. I'd go with ETK because I've listened to it more over the years, and maybe loved it longer, but today I would reach for MAQ first. Sounds so fresh, and fun. And it is just about perfect.

I think they got a lot of the big names right on the list, played it pretty straight from that perspective, and obviously limited it to one album per artist, but beyond that is where any of these lists get their personality. The Magic City by Helium is a cool choice, that made an appearance on my best of 1997 comp when we did that series of best of year comps here.

With the exception of DJ Shadow, they seem to be ignoring that whole genre that was so big in the mid 90s, and many great records like Tricky Maxinquaye, and Portishead Dummy, and Massive Attack Protection, and all Bjork's best stuff, etc, etc.

And some of my all time favorites records fall in that time span, Richard Buckner Devotion + Doubt, and Sixteen Horsepower Low Estate, Cat Power Moon Pix, and Palace/Will Oldham Viva Last Blues, Shack Waterpistol, Luna Bewitched, Lisa Germano, Laika, Sparklehorse, Modest Mouse, Califone, Songs:Ohia, Catherine Wheel, Notwist, Joe Henry, Wheat, Blonde Redhead, Silver Jews, Olivia Tremor Control, and on and on. So my list would be a lot different, but I do have or know most of the records on this list, and it does have some personality, but like Magnet, it is a little boring too.

Every time I read one of your longer posts, it costs me money, Davey. OTOH, it's always worth it. If you already have a Counter-Magnet list in mind for the time period, please post.

[Finch Platte]

I have 33 of those albums.

My local record store has 44 of them. In the 10 cent (11 cents, CAN) bin. Still too expensive.

[Finch Platte]

I only score about 25% on the hip-o-meter. Although a couple of the ones I have I'd vote off the list in hindsight (Moby, e.g.). Still, one of the more intriguing lists that have been thrown up on the boards. Makes me want to go buy music.

Aptly put.

[Davey]

Every time I read one of your longer posts, it costs me money, Davey. OTOH, it's always worth it. If you already have a Counter-Magnet list in mind for the time period, please post.

Not really a counter-list, we all have different perspectives and mine is not any better, just more in touch with me. And I also benefit from 10 extra years of reflection, so below is my list from a 2013 perspective. Similar rules, eleven year span from 1993 to 2003 and only one album per artist. I decided that it would be easier if limited to newer artists, so no Dylan or Emmylou Harris or Tom Waits, etc. Also, no albums that haven't been played since the 90s. Also, strictly alphabetical order, no ratings, no apologies, just the ones that I listen to most, some really good records missing from this list, and I probably can't explain why ... critiques welcome and encouraged ... I guess my list is kind of boring too, but at least it reflects my personality


American Analog Set - From Our Living Room To Yours
Arto Lindsay - Noon Chill
Augie March - Sunset Studies
Bjork - Post
Black Heart Procession - 2
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Take It From The Man!
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On
Califone - Quicksand/Cradlesnakes
Cardinal - Cardinal
Cat Power - Moon Pix
Catherine Wheel - Chrome
Court & Spark - Bless You
DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I
Ed Harcourt - Here Be Monsters
Eels - Electro-Shock Blues
Geraldine Fibbers - Lost Somewhere Between the Earth and My Home
Giant Sand - Chore Of Enchantement
Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
Girls Against Boys - Venus Luxure No.1 Baby
Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump
Joe Henry - Fuse
Laika - Sounds of the Satellites
Lisa Germano - Geek The Girl
Low - Things We Lost in the Fire
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Luna - Bewitched
Manitoba - Up In Flames
Mark Lanegan - Whiskey For The Holy Ghost
Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See
Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs
Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Notwist - Neon Golden
Olivia Tremor Control - Dusk At Cubist Castle
OP8 - Slush
Palace Music - Viva Last Blues
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
PJ Harvey - Rid of Me
Portishead - Dummy
Radiohead - OK Computer
Red Red Meat - There's A Star Above The Manger Tonight
Richard Buckner - Devotion + Doubt
Shack - Waterpistol
Silver Jews - American Water
Sixteen Horsepower - Low Estate
Songs: Ohia - Didn't It Rain
Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spoon - Girls Can Tell
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Three Mile Pilot - The Chief Assassin to the Sinister [Geffen version]
Tindersticks - Tindersticks II
Tricky - Maxinquaye
Wheat - Hope and Adams
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Woven Hand - Blush Music
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

[Swish]

Not really a counter-list, we all have different perspectives and mine is not any better, just more in touch with me. And I also benefit from 10 extra years of reflection, so below is my list from a 2013 perspective. Similar rules, eleven year span from 1993 to 2003 and only one album per artist. I decided that it would be easier if limited to newer artists, so no Dylan or Emmylou Harris or Tom Waits, etc. Also, no albums that haven't been played since the 90s. Also, strictly alphabetical order, no ratings, no apologies, just the ones that I listen to most, some really good records missing from this list, and I probably can't explain why ... critiques welcome and encouraged ... I guess my list is kind of boring too, but at least it reflects my personality


American Analog Set - From Our Living Room To Yours
Arto Lindsay - Noon Chill
Augie March - Sunset Studies
Bjork - Post
Black Heart Procession - 2
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Take It From The Man!
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On
Califone - Quicksand/Cradlesnakes
Cardinal - Cardinal
Cat Power - Moon Pix
Catherine Wheel - Chrome
Court & Spark - Bless You
DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I
Ed Harcourt - Here Be Monsters
Eels - Electro-Shock Blues
Geraldine Fibbers - Lost Somewhere Between the Earth and My Home
Giant Sand - Chore Of Enchantement
Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
Girls Against Boys - Venus Luxure No.1 Baby
Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump
Joe Henry - Fuse
Laika - Sounds of the Satellites
Lisa Germano - Geek The Girl
Low - Things We Lost in the Fire
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Luna - Bewitched
Manitoba - Up In Flames
Mark Lanegan - Whiskey For The Holy Ghost
Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See
Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs
Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Notwist - Neon Golden
Olivia Tremor Control - Dusk At Cubist Castle
OP8 - Slush
Palace Music - Viva Last Blues
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
PJ Harvey - Rid of Me
Portishead - Dummy
Radiohead - OK Computer
Red Red Meat - There's A Star Above The Manger Tonight
Richard Buckner - Devotion + Doubt
Shack - Waterpistol
Silver Jews - American Water
Sixteen Horsepower - Low Estate
Songs: Ohia - Didn't It Rain
Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spoon - Girls Can Tell
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Three Mile Pilot - The Chief Assassin to the Sinister [Geffen version]
Tindersticks - Tindersticks II
Tricky - Maxinquaye
Wheat - Hope and Adams
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Woven Hand - Blush Music
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

Well, that's another fine list, and I have 32 of those, as best I can recollect.

Court and Spark interests me because a couple of those guys are now in Hiss Golden Messenger. Yes, I bought Haw and like it a lot.

[jonnyhambone]

I stumbled upon this the other day and figure I have just about half of the top 60 and two of the extras they show at the end. What are your impressions of their choices and which of these do you think is essential to my collection? The ones in bold type are the records I already have.

I'm scratching my head at a few of the choices, especially Wilco's Summerteeth, especially the rank of #11. Any glaring omissions? Have to have the Silver Jews' American Water on my list for sure. Heck, top 10.

"The Evidence"
Magnet’s Top 60 Albums, 1993-2003
(10th Anniversary Issue)

1. NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL - IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA (98)
2. NIRVANA - IN UTERO (93)
3. GUIDED BY VOICES - ALIEN LANES (95)
4. RADIOHEAD - OK COMPUTER (97)
5. BELLE & SEBASTIAN - IF YOU’RE FEELING SINISTER (97)
6. BREEDERS - LAST SPLASH (93)
7. YO LA TENGO - I CAN HEAR THE HEART BEATING AS ONE (97)
8. VERVE - URBAN HYMNS (97)
9. PAVEMENT - CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN (94)
10. TORTOISE - MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE (96)
11. WILCO - SUMMERTEETH (99)
12. ELLIOTT SMITH - XO (98)
13. CALEXICO - THE BLACK LIGHT (98)
14. GRANDADDY - THE SOPHTWARE SLUMP (00)
15. WEEN - WHITE PEPPER (00)
16. MERCURY REV- DESERTER’S SONGS (98)
17. WEEZER - PINKERTON (96)
18. DIRTY THREE - HORSE STORIES (96)
19. STROKES - IS THIS IT (01)
20. R.E.M. - NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI (96)
21. MOBY - PLAY (99)
22. MAGNETIC FIELDS - 69 LOVE SONGS (99)
23. FLAMING LIPS - THE SOFT BULLETIN (99)
24. WHITE STRIPES - WHITE BLOOD CELLS (01)
25. DJ SHADOW - ENDTRODUCING… (96)
26. LUCINDA WILLIAMS - CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD (98)
27. BECK - MUTATIONS (98)
28. STEVE EARLE - TRANSCENDENTAL BLUES (00)
29. SPOON - A SERIES OF SNEAKS (98)
30. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (98)
31. BUILT TO SPILL - PERFECT FROM NOW ON (97)
32. SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE - DIARY (94)
33. SMASHING PUMPKINS -SIAMESE DREAM (93)
34. INTERPOL - TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS (02)
35. FUGAZI - IN ON THE KILLTAKER (93)
36. BETA BAND - THE 3 EP’S (99)
37. SUGAR - FILE UNDER: EASY LISTENING (94)
38. GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR! - F#A#OO (98)
39. POLVO - EXPLODED DRAWING (96)
40. DANDY WARHOLS - THIRTEEN TALES FROM URBAN BOHEMIA (00)
41. BRIGHT EYES - LETTING OFF THE HAPPINESS (98)
42. UNWOUND - REPETITION (96)
43. PJ HARVEY - TO BRING YOU MY LOVE (95)
44. AIR - VIRGIN SUICIDES (00)
45. AFGHAN WHIGS - GENTLEMEN (93)
46. IDLEWILD - 100 BROKEN WINDOWS (01)
47. URGE OVERKILL - SATURATION (93)
48. STEREOLAB - MARS AUDIAC QUINTET (94)
49. JAWBOX - FOR YOUR OWN SPECIAL SWEETHEART (94)
50. GIRLS AGAINST BOYS - VENUS LUXURE NO. 1 BABY (94)
51. PULP - DIFFERENT CLASS (96)
52. HELIUM - THE MAGIC CITY (97)
53. WRENS - THE MEADOWLANDS (03)
54. WHISKEYTOWN - STRANGERS ALMANAC (97)
55. PERNICE BROTHERS - OVERCOME BY HAPPINESS (98)
56. JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION - ORANGE (94)
57. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - ELECTRIC VERSION (03)
58. SHELLAC - AT ACTION PARK (94)
59. GRIFTERS - CRAPPIN’ YOU NEGATIVE (94)
60. SHINS - OH, INVERTED WORLD (01)


10 more albums were listed under the heading...

"Secret Stash...Lost Hits from the Last Decade"

SUPERCONDUCTOR - HIT SONGS FOR GIRLS (93)
CARDINAL - CARDINAL (94)
CHOKEBORE - ANYTHING NEAR WATER (95)
BEVIS FROND - SON OF WALTER (96)
LICORICE ROOTS - MELODEON (97)
ALASTAIR GALBRAITH - MIRRORWORK (98)
MY MORNING JACKET - TENNESSEE FIRE (99)
COMAS - A DEF NEEDLE IN TOMORROW (00)
BIGGER LOVERS - HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING (01)
COMET GAIN -REALISTES (02)

[dean_martin]

Not really a counter-list, we all have different perspectives and mine is not any better, just more in touch with me. And I also benefit from 10 extra years of reflection, so below is my list from a 2013 perspective. Similar rules, eleven year span from 1993 to 2003 and only one album per artist. I decided that it would be easier if limited to newer artists, so no Dylan or Emmylou Harris or Tom Waits, etc. Also, no albums that haven't been played since the 90s. Also, strictly alphabetical order, no ratings, no apologies, just the ones that I listen to most, some really good records missing from this list, and I probably can't explain why ... critiques welcome and encouraged ... I guess my list is kind of boring too, but at least it reflects my personality

My list is comprised of my favorites during the relevant time period up to 97. From mid 97 to the early 2000s I was adjusting to a new job and married life.
1993
Young American Primitive - S/T
Nirvana - In Utero
Dinosaur Jr - Where You Been
Babes in Toyland - Pain Killers
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
1994
Southern Culture on the Skids - Ditch Diggin'
Beck - Mellow Gold
Nirvana - Unplugged in New York
Sonic Youth - Experimental Jet Set...
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Orange
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
1995
Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust
Primus - Tales from the Punchbowl
Sonic Youth - Washing Machine
Thurston Moore - Psychic Hearts
1996
Beck - Odelay
REM - New Adventures in HiFi
Stereolab - ETK
1997
Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole
Stereolab - Dots and Loops
DJ Shadow - Preemptive Strike

I've filled in some gaps since then. Alot of the titles I've picked up from that period are better than what I listened to back then. Or, my tastes have changed. During that time, I also listened to Lounge, film soundtracks, surf and other early instrumentals and bootlegs.

[JohnMichael]

Wow I have 24 and 26 from the list. Who knew?

[Davey]

Court and Spark interests me because a couple of those guys are now in Hiss Golden Messenger. Yes, I bought Haw and like it a lot.

Yea, Bless You is a classic in my mind. Really nice record. Compared to Haw, a little more laidback, and more country, and a lot better sound quality on the CD, haven't heard the Haw vinyl but I do have the Bless You vinyl and it sounds good, but so does the CD. It's one of those albums that seems to fill a gap, sometimes you don't even know there is something missing, and then you hear it, and hear it again and again, and soon feels like it's always been there, and now you'd feel incomplete without it. But there's a bunch of those on the list for me, and that's why they are on it.