Pitchfork's Greatest Albums of the 70s

[Crimen y Castigo]

More list debate gristle.
Here's the link. (http://pitchforkmedia.com/top/70s/index.shtml)

Interesting at least, as usual.
Pretty bold, though, to have Joan Baez, Deep Purple and Humble Pie albums in the top three spots.
















Heh.

I am really enjoying all the Eno love as of late. With the latest re-releases, his early albums are getting renewed attention that is greatly deserved.

[nancyb]

What I hate the most about these lists is they point out glaring omissions in my record collection or remind me of that great record I had that probably got hocked by my brother or ended up in an old roommate's record collection.

[cosmosRIP]

Has Pitchfork been bought by some German company?

[minorthreat]

What's with the overabundance of Pink Floyd and Miles albums? While I do agree that Meddle is fantastically underrated, I don't know about its inclusion on a best-of-decade list. Hell, I think everything that Pink Floyd recorded in the 70's that was worthwhile is on it. (Animals is arguably their worst album, and is anyone aware that Obscured by Clouds even exists?)

And as for Miles, while writing off his recordings after Bitches' Brew would be a huge mistake, I don't think that should mean that virtually everything he recorded in the 70's merits inclusion. In fact, the 70's were actually something of a disaster for Miles, because he spent most of the decade being eclipsed by his own ex-sidemen - Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and John McLaughlin all enjoyed far more success in those years.

Knowing the kind of aesthetic that Pitchfork are big on, I knew Marquee Moon would be in the top five before even reading the article. Trans-Europe Express was a GREAT call on their part, though.

Hell, I'd put Trans-Europe Express on my list of the top ten most important albums. Ever.

[Mad_Bishop]

I just don't get how "Singles Going Steady" gets the nod over "Rocket To Russia", The Clash's S/T and Ramones S/T. I like the Buzzcocks as much as the next guy, but give me a f'n break. Or how "Sat. NIght Fever" beat out the first two I mention.

[655321]

Not to mention the place of Physical Graffiti.

However, the biggest mistake here is giving any "best of" list by a publication like Pitchfork too much attention. They most likely did this just to put Television and Gang of Four in the top ten.

[MeridianFC]

Has Pitchfork been bought by some German company?

Now that's comedy.

[sebakoole]

The review of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" epitomizes what I hate about Pitchfork. You have to weed through all the amateur social criticism to find a sentence or two about the music.

There are two ways to hear Blue. The first is as a historical document. If you are white, middle-class and liberal-- and, especially, if the spirit of the feminist movement had touched someone in your family-- then Blue encapsulates your mindset in the 70s. Kids who grew up on Sesame Street with Free to Be You and Me on the hi-fi heard Blue wafting upstairs when Mom and Dad had friends over and the living room started to reek of that funny smoke. This was the perfect hippie comedown record for those young adults with families who wanted to move on to more serene and comfortable bohemianism. But aside from its historical markers, Blue is a fine stripped-down record with extremely solid songwriting-- despite the occasionally cringe-worthy lyric. In this way, Blue is like a companion to Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks-- a confessional album very much of its time that endures on the strength of fantastic melodies and musical simplicity.

[nicodemus]

There's no way any Fela Kuti albums would've made a top 100 albums 10 or 20 years ago (well, maybe 10 years ago), so it's interesting to see him getting his due now. However, the inclusion of Expensive Shit over something like Opposite People, Noise For Vendermouth or Everything Scatter is just puzzling.

[Spartak]

What's with the overabundance of Pink Floyd and Miles albums? While I do agree that Meddle is fantastically underrated, I don't know about its inclusion on a best-of-decade list. Hell, I think everything that Pink Floyd recorded in the 70's that was worthwhile is on it. (Animals is arguably their worst album, and is anyone aware that Obscured by Clouds even exists?)

Blasphemer!!! ;) I recommend you listen to Animals again. IMO, Animals(along with Meddle) is one of the most underrated albums of all-time. I can listen to those 5 tracks over and over again and not get tired of it. Atom Heart Mother is another great album. But I guess I'm a bit biased because if it were my list this would be the top seven albums of the 70's: :D

1. The Wall, Pink Floyd
2. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd
3. Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd
4. Animals, Pink Floyd
5. Meddle, Pink Floyd
6. Atom Heart Mother, Pink Floyd
7. Obscured by Clouds, Pink Floyd