Quick Reaction: Pitchfork's Top 100 Best Indie Records

A new Pitchfork list has dropped. Stop the presses.

https://pitchfork.com/story/the-100-best-indie-rock-albums-of-all-time/

Brad informed me of this list's existence, and he wants the world to know of his appreciation for Sufjan Steven's Illinois, a fine record. Other than that little hint, I'm going in blind.

I'm not a connoisseur of Pitchfork's lists, but my limited experience has me thinking there will be a preponderance of internet favorites; not just the most obvious ones (Aeroplane, Helplessness Blues, Twin Fantasy) but a choice deeper cut or two to establish perspective. This too-intentional coolness will juxtapose with a few off-genre picks as well. I don't think we'll see any Lil Wayne or Jay-Z on this list (ahem, Rolling Stone), but I anticipate questioning the indie rockitude of a pick on occasion.

I'm hoping for my favorites, of course. Built to Spill should be here at least twice, Broken Social Scene, some Shiner, some Wrens. I expect Geese, Destroyer, Dinosaur Jr., Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, and the National will be all over this. Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest is absolutely here, it's only a matter of when. The Wrens' Meadowlands will be there too but not as high as I'd rank it. Turn on the Bright Lights will be a top ten pick for sure.

I wouldn't be surprised about Big Thief or Japanese Breakfast, Lord Huron or Of Montreal, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Wednesday will absolutely be there since it's Pitchfork, as will MJ Lenderman. I'd be really happy with Yo La Tengo. The Smiths will be there, the Stone Roses, obviously Radiohead and the White Stripes. I want Unwound but that's a pipe dream.

Anyway, let's get into it.

Okay, yup. Of Montreal's here, placed too low, as are the White Stripes, placed lower than I thought Pitchfork would have them. Wednesday is here, that's a fair placement. Father John Misty's Honeybear is ranked much lower than I'd expected. MJ Lenderman here too, and not for Manning Fireworks?!

Some proper oldhead stuff with My Morning Jacket, American Music Club, Silkworm, The Sea and Cake, Archers of Loaf, The Feelies, Duster, and Bedhead. The 2000s and 2010s come on strong, perhaps a predictor for the rest of the list.

I have my first quibbles too: Angel Olsen, who's poppier than I'd thought would qualify (and the record they picked is not her best, which would be Big Time). Soccer Mommy's bland Clean should not be here. The Mac DeMarco pick is weak and way too high.

St. Vincent, eh? Never understood the appeal. Titus Andronicus at 72 is a terminally online 2010s pick, fulfilling Pitchfork's MO for this list, as does that 2012 Parquet Courts record. The Death Cab appearance is one I should have spotted from a mile away, mea culpa.

And there's the Fleet Foxes S/T! I sure hope it's not the only Fleet Foxes album; Helplessness Blues has got to be top 15, right? And Veckatimest is here, of course, though surprisingly low at 56. The Yeah Yeah Yeah's S/T EP at 52 is a weird pick, perhaps chosen for its cultural significance.

Hop Along, Arctic Monkeys, bleh. Overrated. Good Neko Case pick. I don't love the Clientele being that high at all, but I respect the perspective. Waxahatchee are way too high, Alex G is way too high.

Aaand as I'd predicted, the Wrens' Meadowlands is here, and indeed much lower than it deserves to be. You're telling me there are 50 better indie rock records than Meadowlands? Really?

Right off the bat we get Big Thief. That's a good record, and I can see putting it over the Wrens' record, though I wouldn't myself. And the Stone Roses's S/T, too, another prediction of mine, and reasonably above the Wrens, I guess. Spoon's here! It's a weird pick and not what I'd do, but I dig it.

Mitski at 46 is way too high, far above the 90s where she belongs. Bright Eyes and Superchunk back to back are good picks. Super weird Flaming Lips pick, likely done with an arched eyebrow and a hmmm let's see how the public takes this one.

And here's our first National album and it's Boxer. Everyone and their mom has a different National ranking so I can't get too mad if this is the only record of theirs on this list; it's a good one, though probably my own fourth or fifth favorite National record. It shouldn't be the only one here.

Strawberry Jam ranks well. Not a record or even band that I dig but I know people love Animal Collective. Beyond is a based Dinosaur Jr. pick. It's not my fave record of theirs, but it has my fave Dino song, "Pick Me Up," so I can't get mad.

Belle and Sebastian, good pick, though a little high. Bon Iver I am kicking myself for not predicting.

Geese's Getting Killed at 32! I love this album and loved seeing them live. This is a fair pick and I could see it rising through the ranks as posterity smiles on it. Stereolab are lower than they probably deserve. Vampire Weekend are too high but for cultural significance reasons I get it and will hold my tongue.

I am completely floored by how low Turn on the Bright Lights is. I way missed on this prediction.

Let's go.

Low's Double Negative! Interesting pick. Deerhunter, sure. There are my darlings Built to Spill, as I hoped. It's probably only my fourth favorite BtS album, but I'll take it. TV on the Radio are wildly overrated here, again for cultural significance reasons or someone just read Meet Me in the Bathroom.

Arcade Fire at 19 is not okay with me. Sufjan Steven's Illinois (hi Brad!) is a fine choice. That Microphones pick is a good terminally online one.

OMG, stop the presses. They've got Double Nickels on The Dime, the best punk album of all time, on this list?! I mean, I'm not mad with the high placement, as it's truly one of my favorite records ever, but it's...not indie rock. Ugh. Sorry D. Boon and co.

That Wilco record is overrated but I get it. Weird Modest Mouse pick but I respect it.

Yes, Broken Social Scene! You Forgot It In Me is a top five indie rock record for me but it's fine at 11 here. Sleater-Kinney in top 10, wow. I don't hate it.

Not the Yo La Tengo record I want (ahem, Electro-O-Pura) but happy they're placed so highly. Destroyer's Kaputt is ranked just as it should be, those guys never topped that the alchemy they had with that record. Aeroplane is here ranked super highly; I suppose we're far enough from the heady days of Aeroplane-ism that it's cool to like Jeff Mangum again.

Elliott Smith, of course. Sonic Youth I am really happy about though I didn't think they fit the indie rock tag. Liz Phair is also a weird genre placement, but alas.

And...

Pavement at number one! And it's not Slanted and Enchanted, which confuzzles me. Nevertheless they're a great band so I'm not too upset.

This has been a loose connection of loose thoughts. Overall, I'm not too upset at this list, though it bears little resemblance to what I'd pick. There are a ton of picks I'm not super familiar with that I need to check out or listen to again. Not as many genre quibbles as I expected, with Minutemen's high placement being the unexpected but welcome surprise.

I'm pleased that all of my primary predictions ended up coming true. No Japanese Breakfast or Lord Huron, the latter's exclusion surprises me especially. Having Minutemen but not Unwound is a bit weird, but oh well.

Decent list. Thanks again to Brad for the suggestion.