Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1970s

Pitchfork Media has compiled the Top 100 Albums of the 1970's, which apparently consisted of listing every album Brian Eno had even a partial fingerprint on. There were mistakes, ovbiously, but better to discuss are the complete misses. What follows are the Top Nine albums to be ignored by Pitchfork on their list. I'd place each of these in my personal Top 20, if not maybe 30 of that decade. If any of these bands had just hired Brian Eno to turn a knob in the studio...

1. Elvis Costello -- Armed Forces (1979, Columbia)

If there's room for 16 Brian Eno albums and 25 David Bowie discs, there's gotta be room for the third release of the decase from the best songwriter of his generation. "This Year's Model" popped in the list at #52 with "My Aim Is True" at #37.

2. Rolling Stones -- Sticky Fingers (1971, Virgin)

Are you kidding? One Stones album on the entire list? While "Exile" has the reputation, it's "Sticky Fingers" that is the Stones at their absolute apex. "Let It Bleed" still held onto some of the styles of the '60s, but "Sticky Fingers" had the band roaring into the new decade with the underrated Mick Taylor helping to shape the band's sound.

3. Joe Jackson -- Look Sharp! (1979, A&M)

The list ignores a lot (or all) of the late-70's Angry-Young-Man/New Wave/pub rock, which is surprising since this stuff isn't very far away from The Clash (ranked #2) or bands like the Ramones. Joe Jackson's debut is a masterpiece, bouncing through different genres like two drunks on the bumper cars at the circus. Of all the albums on my list, I'm probably most surprised this didn't crack Pitchfork's 100 or EVEN GET ONE SINGLE FREAKING VOTE. "I'm The Man" appeared on one list. (sarcastic clapping begins)

4. Gram Parsons -- GP (1972, Reprise)

The list ignores most (or all) of country music in the 70s, even groundbreaking stuff like Gram Parsons' two albums. Apparently, listening to less popular genres of music is only OK if it makes you look cool. Dance, disco, funk, jazz and Kraftwerk are all over Pitchfork's list. But the man who basically invented country-rock and paved the way for the 90s alt.country movement gets no credit.

5. Graham Parker -- Squeezing Out Sparks (1979, Arista)

See comments for #3. Parker was more focused with his effort, however. This is the sound of a man with complete confidence in his craft.

6. Flamin' Groovies -- Flamingo (1970, Kama Sutra)

One of the latest, greatest forgotten bands. The Groovies smoked on three early 70's releases. Keith Richards once said the Groovies album "Tennage Head" is what he wished "Sticky Fingers" turned out to be. I prefer one release before that album, "Flamingo." Check out the guitar outro solo on "Heading For the Texas Border."


7. AC/DC -- Highway To Hell (1979, Atco)

"Highway To Hell" was AC/DC's finest moment. Bon Scott's last album with the group. If Van Halen's debut album cracked the list, this also needed to have a spot.


8 The Kinks -- Lola vs. the Powerman & the Money-Go-Round, Pt. 1 (1970, Reprise)

The Kinks had finished off back-to-back slices of British life with "Village Green Preservation Society" and "Arthur." "Lola..." is a step below the high-water marks of those two albums, but still a tremendous effort from one of the most underrated bands of all-time.

9. New York Dolls -- New York Dolls (1973, Mercury)

Put simply, this is better than anything the Stooges ever released. And both "Funhouse" and "Raw Power" made the list. Make some room for the band with the guy who would later become Buster Poindexter and record "Hot, Hot, Hot!"

I'll take comments. I'll even respond.