PopMatters top 100 songs of 1977-2003

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http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/1977-2003.shtml

Yes, this list is over-weighted with rock & indie, but at least they had the tact to print this disclaimer up-front:

"Granted, there are loads of more songs that rightfully belong here and entire genres like country and dance are barely represented, not to mention fewer hip-hop and R&B songs than those genres' cultural importance calls for. Nevertheless, PopMatters diverse band of merry critics are pleased to bring you their ideas of songs that have influenced whole genres and generations."

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I have to say I find their choices strangely boring, but the disclaimer at least I thought was interesting, esp. in light of the current furor over the Magnet list.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

interesting, a weird mix of 80s chart lust and 80s anglophilism.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

but all in all, pretty much the expected stuff.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

which is it, interesting or pretty much the expected? god, the yawning in here is deafening

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

It seems like only the safest, most canonical choices - especially when it comes to genres other than rock. I mean did Public Enemy really release like half of the best hip-hop songs of the past 25 years?

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

is it best or "most important" or what.
it's a list. lists are fun to make and easy to read. get over it.

it's interesting the way it hits hard on both 80s chart toppers and 80s brit-alternative or college rock or whatever it was called back then

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

The 80s emphasis seems like a generational thing - I would bet that a fair percentage of their staff were in college in the 80s, when their tastes were in their most formative years.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

As everyone here knows and practises: it's easy to criticize - put up (your own list) or shut up!

― Reginald Dellos Tools (regtools), Friday, 22 August 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Describing a critical consensus as canonical is a tautology, surely.

― ArfArf, Friday, 22 August 2003 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Not necessarily - see for instance the Magnet list. It may be a consensus of people who write for Magnet, but I would hardly call it canonical, which to me implies a more widespread acceptance.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 22 August 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

(when's someone going to start a thread on The Source's "151 classic hip hop songs of our time"? as published in the September issue)

(answer: when it appears online, i guess. here's the top 10 anyway:

10 - "Mind Playin' Tricks On Me" Geto Boys
9 - "Fuck Tha Police" NWA
8 - "Dear Mama" 2Pac
7 - "Paid In Full" Eric B. and Rakim
6 - "Top Billin'" Audio Two
5 - "Fight The Power" Public Enemy
4 - "La Di Da Di" Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
3 - "Sucker MCs" Run-DMC
2 - "Rapper's Delight" The Sugarhill Gang"
1 - "The Message" Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. )

― zebedee (zebedee), Friday, 22 August 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

20. "It Takes Two" - Rob Base
19. "Fuck Compton" - Tim Dogg
18. "Mistadobalina" - Del tha Funkee Homosapien
17. "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" - Public Enemy
16. "Burn Hollywood Burn" - Public Enemy
15. "The House" - Ice-T
14. "Be a Father" - Ed OG
13. "Dowhatyoulike" - Digital Underground
11. "Television, the Drug of the Nation" - Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Friday, 22 August 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

where's the ladies at?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 22 August 2003 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"U.N.I.T.Y." would've been at #1 on my list, but zeebeedee took all the 1-10 slots.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Friday, 22 August 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"Television, Drug of the Nation" - you've got to be kidding me!

"Fuck Compton" and "Be A Father" seem odd choices as well...esp. "Be A Father" because it's somewhat similar in feel (production wise) a much superior song, "They Reminice Over You" by Pete Rock....

The top 10 is pretty solid, but Dear Mama I would have maybe substituted another song..

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 22 August 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard "They Reminisce Over You"; and as for the DHH track...no, I'm not kidding. Franti may be a mush-mouth, elocutionwise, but he has a fine head on his shoulders, and the song is full of fun little, acid-singed puns.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Friday, 22 August 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

The list - it isn't bad at all - not one genuine dud (except maybe "G Thing", which I've always found too musically laid back and complacently misogynistic) and about half wld be in my personal 100 over the same period.

The big plus with this one - the writing is done with care and is superior to most of the blurbs that accompany such lists. The proof of these sort of lists is in the justifications (any bunch o' fools can pull lists out of our asses).

― plebian plebs (plebian), Friday, 22 August 2003 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

that Disposable Heroes song is you kidding us, right?

― M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 22 August 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

one wishes.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 22 August 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Well maybe they recognize DHH as true pioneers in proto-Neptunian black-Asian production duos

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Friday, 22 August 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I love PE, but 3 in the top 20 is overkill. And where the hell is "Mama Said Knock You Out"? (probably farther down the list, but how can there be a top 20 with no LL?) Outrage, etc.

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Friday, 22 August 2003 23:34 (twenty-two years ago)

As for the PopMatters list...2 or 3 Pixies tunes but no Replacements or Husker Du? Outrage, etc.

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Friday, 22 August 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Well maybe they recognize DHH as true pioneers in proto-Neptunian black-Asian production duos
Neptunes == Clones. They even admitted it with their most recent release!

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

< /PARANOID>

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't even hate the Disposable Heroes! I'm just shocked it's on that list! Like, REALLY shocked

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Why?
Even if you don't like their music, you have to admire how it works a great "gateway record" to introduce a nay-sayer to Hip-hop. Surly punk-partisans who think all rap is "right wing bling bling" (as one friend called it) had to reassess their opinion after I played that record for them.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

As for the PopMatters list...2 or 3 Pixies tunes but no Replacements or Husker Du?

"Celebrated Summer" and "Bastards of Young" were on my ballot.

― abegrand, Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

um, because it's the fucking SOURCE, who IGNORE most hip-hop not aimed squarely at the streets and IGNORED the Disposable Heroes when the record was out the first time

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

also the Source is the LAST PLACE ON EARTH anyone looking for "gateway records" is going to find them. as for your friends, um, gosh, I don't even think I'll bother.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

again...entering paranoid conspiracy theory mode...
I kinda suspected that alot of hip-hopper were angered by the song "How Can I Be Famous and Dandy (Just Like Amos and Andy)" because the song struck waaaaay too close to home.
(Sad but odd fact. It's the weak track on the record, but it seems like it had the most impact on the "scene", If my madcap theory is correct.)

...as for your friends, um, gosh, I don't even think I'll bother.
I won't defend them against the accusation that they were narrow-minded, because it is true. Yes...they needed to have their presumptions punctured.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 23 August 2003 00:27 (twenty-two years ago)

the source list is ok but alternately boring and weird, the lack of commentary except little ego trip-ish reworded lyric snippets is lame, but what disturbed me a whole lot more about that issue, like to the point of actually considering whether i should rep for the source as much as i do, is the luda piece where they call bill oreilly the 'king of the left wing'

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I think people disliked "Amon n' Andy" because it was boring and the beats sucked.

trife--haha!

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

pathetically custos has advanced this 'theory' of his before on ilm, that his beloved shitty dhh never made it big because their lyrics were 'too close to home' for 'gangsta rappers', and not because of their horrible, purposefully-undanceable beats, and atrocious rapping

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't even hate DHH, I just completely understand why they were totally unpopular in hip-hop circles

― corny indie fuxxnuts (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah i saw some old thread where you had the solo rapper dudes album in your top ten for that year!! i mean i CAN dig on 'weird' hiphop and dhh got SOME dap in hiphop circles (up to now even, as seen above), but they were, in exasperated matos talk, so. fucking. awful.

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:17 (twenty-two years ago)

There are WAY too many bloody (ugh!) Pixies songs on that list. Never thought that band was all that great. Oh well...

As for the rap list, where in bloody hell is "Eric B. Is President"? That's my favorite hip-hop song of all time!!

― Mister Snrub (MisterSnrub), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:23 (twenty-two years ago)

the last Franti/Spearhead is a really good trad R&B record, definitely. he only raps a couple times on it, most of it is singing.

(jesus, "exasperated matos talk"? I'm that fucking predictable, huh?)

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

The list - it isn't bad at all - not one genuine dud

Ummm hello!?!?! "Blister in the Sun"!?!?!?!?

― Mister Snrub (MisterSnrub), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

trife. you. will. never. write. for. seattle. weekly. even. if. you. killed. patrin. and. ate. his. heart. to. gain. his. powers.

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

matos. out. yall.

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I have no answer to that one at all. really. I. don't.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

yo. im. not. hatin. i. just. wanted. to. eat. patrins. heart.

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 03:40 (twenty-two years ago)

that almost rhymed, yo. ruined it w/the "heart."

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

its pronounced PAYTRIN!?!?!?!?!

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

naaaate paaaaatrin sounds liek something fire marshall bill would say on in living color

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

though i guess it makes the 'patronizing' pun easier

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

welcome to the midwest, motherfucker

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:38 (twenty-two years ago)

we keep it dirty dirty but yall got nelly and twista

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

and bone thugz were from like gary, indiana or something right??!!

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

cleveland!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:57 (twenty-two years ago)

haha - welcome to the t.c. bitch!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 23 August 2003 04:57 (twenty-two years ago)

18. "Mistadobalina" - Del tha Funkee Homosapien

I now officially like The Source. Deltron Zero. Hero.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Saturday, 23 August 2003 07:53 (twenty-two years ago)

i feel embarrassed for lazily thinking this (especially since i had that issue on the floor in front of me, unfortunately as i said its the boringest source piece ever) but that custos list is not the fucking source one, its just a bunch of bullshit that custos likes!!! the rob base and tim dog inclusions were confusing enough though, and fuck custos for pretending that wasnt just his list when everyone thought it was the official one

― trife (simon_tr), Saturday, 23 August 2003 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

and fuck me for believing it, obv.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 23 August 2003 08:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been had~!!!

Here's my top 10 songs 77-03. Feel free to criticize the hell out of it.

In Cus' spirit...lets all pretend that Griel Marcus wrote it.

I mean...why not?

Griel Marcus' 10 Favorite Songs 1977-2003 (unranked)
The Clash - The Magnificent 7
Fugazi - Merchandise
Nas - Life's A Bitch
Pulp - Disco 2000
The Replacements - Alex Chilton
Prince - I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
The Ramones - Beat On The Brat
Archers of Loaf - Web In Front
Neil Young - Rocking In The Free World
Ministry - Thieves

Honorable Mention:
Mission of Burma - Academy Fight Song
My Bloody Valentine - Until You Sleep
New Order - Temptation
Outkast - Spottieottiedopalicious
Time Zone - World Destruction

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Saturday, 23 August 2003 08:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Peggy Hill/Jayson Blair = Custos

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 23 August 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

the luda piece where they call bill oreilly the 'king of the left wing'

I read that too. big big wtf there; my first thought was 'jesus wouldn't even a spellchecker know that was wrong??'

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Saturday, 23 August 2003 09:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Joke's on you, I ain't got a heart

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Saturday, 23 August 2003 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Peggy Hill/Jayson Blair = Custos
Yer getting further and further away...
its more like
Dale Gribble/Hunter S Thompson

anyhow, I just wanted to know:
can I still order a cinnablount with the pecans on it, or does that cost extra?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 23 August 2003 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I love music.

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 25 August 2003 06:38 (twenty-two years ago)

custos, you are v. naughty - was a good hijack of my hijack tho'

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

the popmatters list really is awful...
i like television,drug of the nation though,so what do i know?

― robin (robin), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

man that list sucked. i'd rather jam a knife up my ass repeatedly than read it again.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

As a friend once said, every musician worth his salt knows "Just Like Heaven". And every car passenger between 16 and 40 better know the words.

WTF? Does this make sense even in Britain?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

If I had the magic ability to publish my opinions- 16 songs from my top 100 list would be the Chameleons album "Strange times", & none would be Nirvana.

― sucka (sucka), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 05:23 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

sucka otm

― Curt1s Stephens, Monday, 19 March 2007 05:13 (nineteen years ago)

two years pass...

I really enjoy this site, but they need to cut it out with the annoying pop-up ads already. That stupid one for The Orphan won't even close properly!

― 3 mods 1 banhammer (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 20:05 (sixteen years ago)

I return to PopMatters less and less. I think it's for three reasons: (a) they review a lot of discs I'm not interested in (e.g., rehashed greatest-hits type discs from artists who already had definitive greatest-hits discs released years earlier (n.1)); (b) I disagree with their reviews more-and-more often; and (c) while some of the writing is very good, it seems less carefully edited than some other sites. I dunno, that could be my imagination or idiosyncrasies (and, as I say, there are some excellent writers that contribute to the site).
___________________________________
(n.1) A lot of these types of discs are reviewed by PopMatters around the December holiday season.

― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 5 August 2009 20:29 (sixteen years ago)

i've written a bit in the past for popmatters, but i barely ever look at it -- there is just waaaaaay too much content on that site! just because it exists, doesn't mean it needs to be reviewed, dudes.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 20:45 (sixteen years ago)

I like the scope. I mean, I'll go check out a record review and see a link to a Comics or Film article that catches me eye. The main thing that keeps me coming back, though, is Adrien's metal column and his reviews.

― 3 mods 1 banhammer (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 20:58 (sixteen years ago)

(c) while some of the writing is very good, it seems less carefully edited than some other sites.

they don't really edit my stuff at all, but i appreciate it

― heave imho (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 21:08 (sixteen years ago)

Didn't realize you wrote for PopMatters, J0rdan. You do record reviews? I'll check them out.

― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 5 August 2009 21:15 (sixteen years ago)

yeah i write review hip-hop for them

― heave imho (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 21:19 (sixteen years ago)

^needs editing

― 8080's and internet break (k3vin k.), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 21:19 (sixteen years ago)

^ lol

― musicfanatic, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 21:20 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

Wasn't sure where to post this, certainly didn't want to start a new thread for it. The front page capsule summary of a review for the new Goo Goo Dolls album:

"Inspired by the recession, the Goo Goo Dolls craft an emotional, near-perfect album that gives a voice and a window into the individual struggles of the large number of "the rest of us" out there."

I mean, really? Plus she then gives the album a 7 out of 10.

― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 27 September 2010 02:52 (fifteen years ago)

7/10 is near-perfect apparently. lol i didn't know the goo goo dolls still existed.

― teledyldonix, Monday, 27 September 2010 07:19 (fifteen years ago)

holy lord

― shartopus (J0rdan S.), Monday, 27 September 2010 07:20 (fifteen years ago)

for the record the writers write their own blurbs for that, so that's all on her

― shartopus (J0rdan S.), Monday, 27 September 2010 07:21 (fifteen years ago)

and I don't want the world to see my blurb
because I don't think that they'd understand

― markers, Monday, 27 September 2010 07:31 (fifteen years ago)

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