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July 15, 2006
o.k.
so recently a bit of controversy sprang up amongst a tightly knit circle of friends (read click) regarding the criteria for what it is that makes an album truly great. the debate was sparked by a certain magazine publication's insistence that radiohead's o.k. computer was the greatest album of the last twenty years. (it should be noted that you could actually find several sources that would second this opinion) however, i would heartily disagree but more on that later. i think the important thing to note here at the top is that it's nearly impossible to ever come to a definitive conclusion regarding the actual greatest album of the last 20 years or of any era for that matter. the reason being that music is such a deeply personal experience - if you criticize a person's favorite band you might as well be salaciously insulting a dear family member. and anyway, half a billion hootie fans can't be wrong. (except that they were.)
that's one of the reasons these lists are compiled in the first place - to spark debate causing angry letters to the editor to flood in and sell magazines. but i think it's important that these publications not be allowed to make sweeping statements like this without accountability. this is why i am generously offering my insights into why o.k. computer is not the greatest album of the last 20 years. it should be noted here that not only am i highly opinionated about all things music related i also happen to firmly believe that to date radiohead have not released a better album than the bends. i own o.k. computer and i enjoy it - it has some fantastic musical moments but it lacks the straightforward organic appeal that the bends embodies. but here is one point i'm willing to concede. o.k. computer is a very good album. in fact it would be in my top 15 albums of the last 20 years. but i can think of a few records that i have enjoyed quite a bit more.
but i think the real problem with these lists is that so many bands make it on the strength of one song. the most egregious offender being nirvana. i understand fully it is outright heresy to denounce nirvana because once upon a summer they released a single that changed the face of music forever...and then kurt cobain died on a cross and paid for all of our sins which was a pretty nice thing for him to do - but seriously how good of an album was nevermind? how many people still reach for that album when they are driving around town? is there anyone who can name 5 other songs off of that album without looking at the liner notes?
it might be fair to say that smells like teen spirit was one of the top 5 greatest songs of the last 20 years but nevermind did not have nearly the impact on the musical culture that pearl jam's ten did. just look at all the copy cats they spawned. so does that mean just because an album was wildly popular and spawned a billion sound alikes that it was better? maybe.
let's talk about u2 for a minute. a certain nameless friend contended that the joshua tree was the greatest album of the last 30 years. this is a man that loves u2 with his whole heart and has paid the full price of admission into the cult that believes that u2 are the world's greatest something or other. again i would concede that the joshua tree is a good album - it was certainly u2's crowning moment commercially. but it was bittersweet because for me that was the album that saw bono begin to believe his own hype and really begin to take himself very very seriously. which is fine by me but i am willing to fight anyone to the death who cannot agree that the unforgettable fire is far superior and is in fact the only great album u2 have ever made.
i'm thinking at some point i might sit down and compile a list of what i feel are the 20 best albums of the past 20 years - a daunting task to be sure because i've enjoyed the music of quite a few crappy bands over the years and enjoyed it alot. also such a list might be top heavy with albums that have come out in the last 5 years or so because those are the albums that i have lived with most recently. but still i'm willing to put my list up against your list any day of the week. and seriously, my list is totally going to be better than yours. oh and if anyone plans on putting coldplay on their list - please don't because they are musical terrorists and they want to ruin christmas.
| By young_christopher | 10:15 PM