What's the *WORST* album on Pitchfork's Sub Pop 20 staff list?

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We've made a lot of lists here at Pitchfork but few of them were as difficult as narrowing our favorite albums in Sub Pop history to 20 choices. For one thing, despite the label's rise during its self-proclaimed "grunge years," it has become a wildly diverse imprint, a celebration of the depth and breadth of North American indie rock over the past three decades. Not surprisingly then, there was little consensus on which SP records were the best. To celebrate additional releases from the label, on Monday more than 20 of our writers will each present a few words about a record or Sub Pop artifact that's meaningful to them but that didn't make the cut here.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Sleater-Kinney: The Woods [2005] 9
Beat Happening: You Turn Me On [1992] 7
Iron and Wine: The Creek Drank the Cradle [2002] 6
The Shins: Oh, Inverted World [2001] 5
Sebadoh: Bakesale [1994] 4
Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary [2005]3
Sunny Day Real Estate: Diary [1994] 3
Velocity Girl: ¡Simpatico! [1994] 2
The Vaselines: The Way of the Vaselines [compilation of previously released material; 1992] 1
Comets on Fire: Blue Cathedral [2004] 1
Nirvana: Bleach [1989] 1
Six Finger Satellite: The Pigeon Is the Most Popular Bird [1993] 1
The Spinanes: Manos [1993] 0
Red Red Meat: Bunny Gets Paid [1995] 0
Mudhoney: Superfuzz Bigmuff + Early Singles [compilation of previously released material; 1990] 0
Green River: Rehab Doll / Dry as a Bone EP [1988/1986; re: 1990] 0
Fastbacks: Zücker [1993] 0
Earth: Earth 2 [1993] 0
Codeine: Frigid Stars [1990] 0
Afghan Whigs: Congregation [1991] 0


stephen, Friday, 11 July 2008 20:00 (seventeen years ago)

Well maybe the companion poll was a poor idea.

Anyone?

stephen, Saturday, 12 July 2008 01:21 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, and let me be the first (and hopefully not the last) to vote for Sebadoh.

stephen, Saturday, 12 July 2008 01:21 (seventeen years ago)

Blimey, there's no way, although can't say I'm a big fan of that album.

But how would I vote for that when there's the Shins and Iron & Wine on the same list?

TBH I haven't heard Red Red Meat, Wolf Parade, Sunny Day Real Estate or Spinanes.

Colonel Poo, Saturday, 12 July 2008 01:36 (seventeen years ago)

Kinda surprised at how many people have never heard the Wolf Parade album. It's worth yer time.

kenan, Saturday, 12 July 2008 01:43 (seventeen years ago)

But how would I vote for that when there's the Shins and Iron & Wine on the same list?

Hey, hey, hey. . . easy there. No crazy talk.

Daniel, Esq., Saturday, 12 July 2008 02:01 (seventeen years ago)

Not the worst on the list by any means, but that is definitely the worst Six Finger Satellite album that Sub Pop released. The 3 after that are some of the most underrated albums of the 90s.

Nate Carson, Saturday, 12 July 2008 02:09 (seventeen years ago)

The shins

bell_labs, Saturday, 12 July 2008 02:36 (seventeen years ago)

codeine = shit

paulhw, Saturday, 12 July 2008 03:52 (seventeen years ago)

iron & wine never really grabbed me.6FS and beat happening in that category too though.

drone/a/sore, Saturday, 12 July 2008 04:01 (seventeen years ago)

Beat Happening should win any "worst" poll in which they're a nominee.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 12 July 2008 04:45 (seventeen years ago)

Unless the Shins are also on same poll.

Alex in SF, Saturday, 12 July 2008 04:51 (seventeen years ago)

Beat Happening should win any "worst" poll in which they're a nominee.

OTM!

Nate Carson, Saturday, 12 July 2008 06:00 (seventeen years ago)

codeine = shit

My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my Codeine, prepare to DIE.

stephen, Saturday, 12 July 2008 06:31 (seventeen years ago)

suckaz hatin beat happening

RabiesAngentleman, Saturday, 12 July 2008 11:11 (seventeen years ago)

actually I just think they're ok

RabiesAngentleman, Saturday, 12 July 2008 11:11 (seventeen years ago)

Velocity Girl - Simpatico! - I had a recent "haul old stuff to the used cd place for credit" project and was amazed to see this dreck still in my collection. Good for mix tapes for girls the year it came out and that's about it - I kinda remember copacetic being a better record.

BlackIronPrison, Saturday, 12 July 2008 14:39 (seventeen years ago)

I hate to say it, but I agree. I wouldn't call it dreck, but past "Sorry Again" there's not really much there. Copacetic was good, as was Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 12 July 2008 14:41 (seventeen years ago)

Copacetic was good

Yeah, Copacetic is pretty good as is the Slumberland comp with all their early singles. After that, their music makes me think of the soundtrack to Melrose Place or Party of Five. **Cringe**

I think peeps need to You Turn Me On another listen. "Tiger Trap" and "Heyday" are amazing pieces of pop minimalism.

Bill in Chicago, Saturday, 12 July 2008 15:17 (seventeen years ago)

You Turn Me On is my least favourite Beat Happening album! I guess the others were all on K first then reissued by Sub Pop? I thought this one was as well though.

Colonel Poo, Saturday, 12 July 2008 15:26 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Friday, 18 July 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Saturday, 19 July 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

The Shins didn't do the double then.

Herman G. Neuname, Saturday, 19 July 2008 23:41 (seventeen years ago)

I'm relieved no one voted for Zucker.

Terrible Cold, Sunday, 20 July 2008 00:30 (seventeen years ago)

Beat Happening sure aint popular round here

Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 20 July 2008 13:08 (seventeen years ago)

I wonder how S-K did so well in the "best" poll yet so badly in this one

Niles Caulder, Sunday, 20 July 2008 13:10 (seventeen years ago)

WTF @ these poll results.

Colonel Poo, Sunday, 20 July 2008 13:12 (seventeen years ago)

^^^

RabiesAngentleman, Sunday, 20 July 2008 13:16 (seventeen years ago)

I wonder how S-K did so well in the "best" poll yet so badly in this one

loudmouth yelling in divisive shockah

Edward III, Sunday, 20 July 2008 16:02 (seventeen years ago)


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