'Q' readers: Keane better than Stones

Q magazine recently asked its readers to name their top three albums released in 1958-2008. It has posted the results, which are, as you might expect, ridiculous in many ways: Every Coldplay album finished higher than "Exile on Main Street," and "Rubber Soul" finished outside the Top 20. The band that made the best British album of the past 50 years? You're lookin' at 'em.

The results fall in line with a recent survey of Brits, who, like Americans, can display a resounding unfamiliarity with things like history and, um, facts.

Comments

[The Big Lead]

This proves the point I tried to make in an earlier post. Older doesn't necessarily mean better. And what's popular now doesn't mean that it will stand the test of time. But as a 20 something reader of this blog the whole "the music I grew up with is better then the music you're growing up with" gets tiresome.

[Tim Finn]

I'm with you. I think the Libertines album deserves to be here and deserves to be higher; and I like Oasis a lot, and the Arctic Monkeys ... Radiohead (duh). What I can't digest is having so many Depeche Mode albums ranked where they are, just for starters. And for the record: I'm a Coldplay fan, despite their inherent weaknesses.

[Eric]

I don't like ranking albums across eras/generations. It's like when people compare Babe Ruth to Alex Rodriguez in sports. Different eras. What was great in the 60's, may not sound as "great" now. Think about this...would Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen have the same type of careers if they had started their careers in this decade? Most likely not. I am in my mid 30's and am starting to have difficulty relating to the newer "alt-rock". This doesn't mean it sucks. It's all about time and place...but I guess it does make for great arguments. My main point is that we should all embrace all eras of music.

[Gary]

What's Oasis really done since "What's the Story Morning Glory?" I would favor the Verve (as would Noel Gallagher)or Blur over them. I also think Coldplay is overrated.

[Tim Finn]

I think these lists are increasingly inane. What makes this one slightly interesting is its apparent electorate: late- and post-Boomers (if that's what they call them over there), which explains the inclusion of bands like Arctic Monkeys. Oasis' title amuses me. Whatever it is they're doing won't be a departure from what they've always done, and nothing will top the glorious "Morning Glory."

[The Truth]

Wow, I am Irish and my natural disdain for British people is well documented. However, this stupidity does the work for me. Oasis carries the top 2 albums of all time? Really? I like Oasis a lot (have a video for my MySpace page), but I am not stupid enough to believe that The Wall, Dark Side of the Moon, Abbey Road, The White Album and countless others are ranked far below Oasis. I get the argument that it is a modern poll and a modern band has an advantage, but geez - an editor should note how dumb the results look. You couldn't combine all of Oasis's album sales to get the amount sold by Dark Side of the Moon alone. Musical quality, sales, and longevity didn't even seem to factor in. Instead- "Well, I just downloaded this off of ITunes, so it must be the best" was the logic used. Bravo!

[The Truth]

Oh, I should also note- Coldplay is boring, Emo and pointless. I think even the most modern of music listeners should be able to figure that out. Britany Spears sells a ton of albums, but it doesn't make her a musical standard. I doubt even fans of Coldplay would think that this poll would be correct.

[Pat]

One basic question is: "as voted by you". Who is you? Was there multple voting and was this marketed to a certain age demographic? To me it obvious that it is Brits only voting, since some of these bands are not well know (or at all) in the U.S. Granted it's all subjective and opinion, but there has to be some basic polling rules. So I take the results with a grain of salt.

That said, for these all time polls, there should be a minimum of 5 years before consideration. That would shake out the latest hype and put new releases in some prospective. I noticed the Arctic Monkeys debut has already dropped. When released, it was hyped as the greatest British album since Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". While it's very good, that's obviously just over the top.

Why start at 1958? I know it makes a round 50 year list, but it's pointless here. While the U.S. had great early rock albums in the late fifties, it seems the Beatles were the first to take those influences and make them popular over there. So for the the Brits, start the list in 1963 or 64.

A comment on comparing different decades, I like it as long as there is a familiarity and appreciation all the material. It is like arguing about Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, A Rod, or Barry Bonds (that's sarcastic, although he is the home run king) as the best player. Part of the debate is the different conditions of the time and trying to sort out those variables and put it in context. That's is the fun part, but it requires work and a wide range of knowledge.

What I find suprising is the the huge gap between the late 60s and mid 80s. The last 15 years are overrepresented.

My specific compliants start with too many Oasis with 4 total all above #22. Cold Play and Muse with 3 total, but the Stones and Bowie only have 2? Keane is 2 for 2?

In the why column: Pet Shop Boys, The Verve, Stereophonics, and Blur. Drop them.

For underrepresented, Led Zepplen 4 makes it but not 1 or 2? Only one from the Who (but no Tommy?).

Then the completely missing:
Nothing from the Kinks? Most overlooked British band ever.
Where is something / anything with Eric Clapton: either solo, Cream, Derek & the Dominos, or Yardbirds (also era with Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page)
No Elton John?
No Elvis Costello, (My Aim is True, This Year's Model, or Imperial Bedroom)
How about The Police?
Dire Straits?
The Cure?

[David Frese]

Perhaps we should do a "name your top three albums" poll in the paper and on this blog. The results would be interesting -- or sobering.