Top 100 Philadelphia Albums

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― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't looked at it yet.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

it's a shame that the philly weekly has this nice, diverse (musically, racially, gender-wise) list and devotes so much of its modern space to crappy indie rock.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

how did Urge Overkill make it on this list?

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

i meant to contribute to that but i havent had internet access at home for the last month, so im backed up on emails. the list is pretty great. im going to bust out "gonna take a miracle" when i get home later.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

but... mazarin? i dont know about that.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

the entries that kill me are the "well he's not *really* from philly, but on tour X he ate at dellasandros and bought a t-shirt so we put him on the list anyway" ones. in truth there should be like ten g. love and the special sauce albums on that list...dude's had the stations on lock for years now. and no philly's most wanted?! come on! they're like the MOST WANTED--

― Nick Sylvester, Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

the idea that Young Americans is better than any Philly Int'l album except Back Stabbers is hallucinatory

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:33 (twenty-one years ago)

that said, this is a pretty cool list.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:36 (twenty-one years ago)

no ink and dagger :(

it's okay, real human beings don't like them, only vampires!

― Reed Rosenberg (reed), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:39 (twenty-one years ago)

also,

do any of you think the (philadelphia) eagles are going to use the new nelly single as some sort of touchdown song (or whatever), on account of the "drop down and get your eagle on" line? what will it mean to get your eagle on? i am pretty excited about this actually

― Nick Sylvester, Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:51 (twenty-one years ago)

T.O. most definitely will. Or at least I hope so. It would be neat if Chad Lewis did it though.

― Kevin H (Kevin H), Thursday, 16 September 2004 03:09 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.barcelonareview.com/30/nick_h.jpg
"Marah should've been higher."

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 16 September 2004 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Aw, man. I've gone all this time without ever knowing what Nick Hornby looks like. Now the mystique is ruined!!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 16 September 2004 03:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Kinda cool that he resembles Werner Klemperer.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 16 September 2004 03:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like that one song by Marah

― adam. (nordicskilla), Thursday, 16 September 2004 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I must admit not being so in the loop with Philly music, but will anybody seriously argue against their top two picks?

I should read the list more carefully when I am not so tired ...

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 16 September 2004 04:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm jus stoked that they put the hooters and robert hazard in there. my dad taught robert hazard in an acting class!

― drew, Thursday, 16 September 2004 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sort of amazed they didn't ask ?uestlove for his picks, though he's touring so much he may not have had time.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 16 September 2004 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Sun Ra isn't originally from Philadelphia (and I'm not talking his outer space origins) and Lanquidity was recorded in New York. Of course, I'm willing to claim him since he lived here from some point in the 70's until his death in the 90's, but I don't think they are following their own rules.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 16 September 2004 10:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i would have added Cash Money & Marvelous, Steady B, and The Strapping Fieldhands. It's nice that they mentioned Mandrake Memorial though. One of my favorite bands ever.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 11:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I was glad to see the Lilys ep made it. I would have liked to have seen some more mid 90s indie rock like Latimer's Sour City, or something Joey Sweeney did, though I guess that would be a conflict of interest for PW, and Sweeney never released his most rockin' record, Girls High.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Thursday, 16 September 2004 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Schooly D should've been way higher!

And, uh, I don't understand the Urge Overkill thing, either.

― ng, Thursday, 16 September 2004 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

that's a pretty great list. adding a bunch of stuff to the list. but where's Freeway - "Philadelphia"?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Thursday, 16 September 2004 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Strapping Fieldhands, indeed!!!!

What about the Mayor of South Street, Mikey Wild?

Temple of Bon Matin???????

Philly's freak underbelly was overlooked. Oh well.

― Justin Farrar (Justin Farrar), Thursday, 16 September 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

It's quite a diverse and intriguing list. I think I've only heard about 15 of these albums. Now I've got some new things to look for! I don't know who Jeffrey Barg, Patrick Berkery, Ainé Ardron-Doley, Julie Gerstein, Collin Keefe, Johnny Loftus, Ken Micallef, Ramsay Pennypacker, Liz Spikol, Michael Tearson, Suzann Vogel, Steve Volk and Tim Whitaker are, but my hat is off to them for producing an interesting and well-researched list.

I'm guess the Urge Overkill connection is that they were produced by the "Butcher Bros.", which is this guy Phil Nicolo, who I guess is from Philly? Kinda tenuous but sure, why not. Saturation sure was a great sounding record.

― Reed Moore (diamond), Thursday, 16 September 2004 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

The Hooters higher than Ween? Yikes! At least they got Robert Hazard in there, I'll agree with that. And the A's!

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Hooters are the biggest wart on the list.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I am almost disappointed that there isn't the usual frenzy of list-attack.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

is that what nick hornby looks like?!??!

this was a pretty good list.

― amateur!!st, Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Even though I don't love his style much, I'm glad Byard Lancaster is on the list. He's a real local presence, playing on the street (out of choice) quite regularly.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess I'm just disappointed by the absence of the Dubble Bubble Trading Card Company of Philadephia, 19141. Bubblegum music is the naked truth, after all.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm just happy they included Thunder & Roses and Mandrake Memorial. Two bands that could have been easily passed over. No Woody's Truck Stop though.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

And no Perry Leopold - Experiment In Metaphysics.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I couldn't imagine Nick Hornby as looking any different from that.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm happy they included the A's and Schooly-D, among other things. No Bill Cosby albums seems weird though. And ditto no hair metal (Cinderella and Britny Fox are from closer to Philly than Joan Jett, who is from Baltimore isn't she? George Smith can vouch for the Dead End Kidz, who I still haven't heard, but I dunno, maybe some of these hair guys are Allentown or Lancaster or Harrisburg, I forget. Though Ween are New Hope, right? So there you go.) (And where in Pennsyvania were the Reds from? They were great!) They also should not have forgotten the Bunnydrums, who are way better that Matt Pond PA. Who suck. (And did Bobby Rydell ever make any good albums? I don't think he was on there either, unless I missed him, and "Wild One" was pretty good, if I remember right.) (Actually, I didn't check -- did they include any Dick Clark oldies compilations?)

― chuck, Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh yeah, Soul Survivors on there was very cool, too.

What about goth, though? Philly is the biggest goth city in the country, that's why Metropolis and all those little labels set up shop there. Seems that should be represented somehow.

And what about Elton John? Oh never mind.

― chuck, Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

WHERE THE FUC IS THREE TIMES DOPE? They coined "Acknickulous" fer gods sake. And screw it, Jazzy Jeff's solo album should be replaced by "...And in This Corner"

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Philly is the biggest goth city in the country

Is it really?

It must be all the art schools.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Also probably classy for the Dead Milkmen voting to omit their first album (assuming they did -- didn't notice 'em), plus I sort of hate them a lot of the time, but they were at least as worthy as the Hooters or Tommy Conwell (AND they whined through their noses in Philly accents, which should count for something.)

But hey, stop the presses, what about Frankie Smith??????

― chuck, Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Bunnydrums would have been a good choice. I'm surprised Scram didn't make it. people in Philly loved Scram.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread is actually good for reference:

Philadelphia Bands

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

The inclusion of "Saturation" by Urge Overkill is most likely due to the production work by Philly's Butcher Bros.

― Marshall Stax (Marshall Stax), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Top 100 Philadelphia Albums

― Reed Moore (diamond), Thursday, 16 September 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

And Tuff Crew shoulda made it. But really, Cash Money should be on there. He and Jeff both helped to put philly rap on the map.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

And Philly can claim both "rock around the clock" AND "at the hop" so why aren't those albums on there?

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 16 September 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Frankie Smith - was he the one who da-zubbled da zutch? I'm not sure I'm remembering right.

P.S. Wasn't Lou Rawls Philly-bound in the '70s?

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 17 September 2004 02:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I am almost disappointed that there isn't the usual frenzy of list-attack
Not got the geographic knowledge to say very much about the content (although the Stylistics choice and comment is bang OTM). But in terms of form, modus operandi, etc. the list can't be faulted. "One day, all top 100s will be made this way", heh.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Friday, 17 September 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Album: Sun Ra, Heliocentric Worlds.

Hey, Chiara, lady artist on the street, this is not a Philadelphia album!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 17 September 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

im a little unhappy that ruin got an honorable mention and that philly's hardcore/punk history wasnt better represented -- no total fucking destruction, notekillers, bunnydrums, ink & dagger, kill the man who questions, strapping fieldhands, brother jt, etc.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

[ps: i know brother jt is not a hardcore person. i should have put him in a different context but i guess this was more about listing the seriously overlooked people than anything else. plus, its early. cut me some slack!]

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

oh man, my old band played with kill the man who questions and like 2 people were into them. it seems that most people really started latching onto them after they broke up.

― Reed Rosenberg (reed), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:19 (twenty-one years ago)

im a little unhappy that ruin got an honorable mention

Do you think they didn't deserve it, or that they deserved more? I liked RUIN a lot, and still like them more than I'd expect to, though the singing annoys me.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 17 September 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Ruin's shows were a lot of fun. Lots of people taking themselves too seriously and having fun.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 17 September 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

there's been no mention yet of I Hate You.. i mean, quality of any of their records aside...

― Reed Rosenberg (reed), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

i think they deserved to be on the actual list. they've made a strong impression on many people and for many, are very part of a specific time in philly -- even superchunk put their cover of "hero" on their laughter guns EP.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Their Leonard Cohen covers are very good.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

This probably won't show up, but--

http://www.jneomarvin.com/scrapbook/images/34Ai.jpg

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Friday, 17 September 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Needs more Need New Body

― Jeff-PTTL (Jeff), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

I just found this archival video of RUIN from 1986. I'm pretty sure I was at this show, though I don't see myself. Certainly I wasn't in the midst of all the stage-diving. Vosco, the singer, really screws up toward the end of this, but it's not so bad an example of what their shows could be like. (The vibe was not always quite this audience participatory in regard to singing, however. I don't remember too much of that.)

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1672325

― _Rockist__Scientist_, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 21:20 (seventeen years ago)

Crash Course in Science! Of course, Signals from Pier 13 was a 12", not an LP.

― Michael Train, Wednesday, 26 March 2008 01:52 (seventeen years ago)

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