The Random Rankings Thread

[EnochRoot]

Steven Hyden ranks best first albums

Aye.

Not listing the Stone Roses debut LP anywhere in that 100 basically invalidates that list.

[mister d]

If you're looking for more pop to a mixed drink, try adding some umami powder (important: less is more).

I’d like to hear more about this. Give me a full recipe where you’d use it?

[mister d]

Steven Hyden ranks best first albums

Aye.

Not listing the Stone Roses debut LP anywhere in that 100 basically invalidates that list.

Weird omission too since you’d think that would be in his wheelhouse but maybe he factored in career length? No Neutral Milk Hotel, no Postal Service.

[govmentchedda]

Om Avery Island came out before Aeroplane, I think. Postal Service seems like cheating the same way Traveling Wilburys does.

[mister d]

Shit, why was I convinced it went debut, lesser follow up and done?



(I know how, as in the late 90s I was transitioning from NY rap to Dave Matthews Band. I don’t know the why.)

[Johnnie]

Really liked the Hip Hop inclusions on that list, but I'm bummed there's no DMX or Eminem.

Both of those debut albums were very influential on the culture at large.

[bapo!]

Steven Hyden ranks best first albums

Aye.

Not listing the Stone Roses debut LP anywhere in that 100 basically invalidates that list.

I remember when I used to read every word that Steven Hyden and Nathan Rabin wrote. I forgot that Hyden writes for effing Uproxx now. I miss The AV Club and Grantland so much, you guys.

Looking at the albums on my hard drive, and without getting too far into the weeds, here are what I consider omissions:

1. No-brainers: The Smiths self-titled, The Cure 'Three Imaginary Boys,' Tori Amos 'Little Earthquakes,' The Auteurs 'New Wave,' Jenny Lewis 'Rabbit Fur Coat.'

2. Personal preference: Sparklehorse, Dandy Warhols, Beirut, TV on the Radio, St. Vincent. (I might include Björk's 'Debut,' even tho there are a half-dozen Björk/Sugarcubes albums I prefer.)

[mister d]

Beirut has to be my top “right mood” band. Perfect when I’m in it, irritating when I’m not.

[Shirley]

Steven Hyden ranks best first albums

That was a fun read. It's always interesting to me, as someone who likes and listens to a lot of music, just how many of these albums I've never heard. And even a few bands I've never heard of.

BTW, the idea that Murmur is REM's 6th or 7th best album almost invalidates the whole article.

[mister d]

In one of my many planned-to-fail list pursuits, I'm starting this one 1 to 100. I know most of the artists but maybe not at the full album level and (as indicated above) definitely don't know the sequences a lot of the albums came out in. Hendrix seems like a really tough choice to argue at #1. Velvet Underground + Nico is another one I thought was later in the discography; like I thought they emerged and then later fell in with Nico and Warhol.

[govmentchedda]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

[Shirley]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Ha, I did the same. Used to love that album but haven't listened to it in years. I pulled it up on Spotify. Funny we picked the same one out of 100.

[Giff]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

[Ryan]

I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way)…

You’re not ready for this sort of thing

[bapo!]

I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Music is such a journey, isn't it? Like, I can see the person I was at various points just by looking at the albums listed here: Beastie Boys, NWA, De La Soul, Pearl Jam, Counting Crows, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Oasis, The Strokes, Interpol, MGMT, Bon Iver, etc.

[govmentchedda]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

[rass]

Steven Hyden ranks best first albums

I pulled that up on a tab earlier in the week and forgot to read it. Thanks!

[govmentchedda]

I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Music is such a journey, isn't it? Like, I can see the person I was at various points just by looking at the albums listed here: Beastie Boys, NWA, De La Soul, Pearl Jam, Counting Crows, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Oasis, The Strokes, Interpol, MGMT, Bon Iver, etc.

So much a journey. It's nuts how uber fan of xxxxx band on this list might turn up their nose at uber fan of yyyyy band on this list, and I might love both xxxxx band and yyyyy band.

[Giff]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

[bapo!]

So much a journey. It's nuts how uber fan of xxxxx band on this list might turn up their nose at uber fan of yyyyy band on this list, and I might love both xxxxx band and yyyyy band.

I remember when it was fashionable to hate Pearl Jam, or when Counting Crows became a punchline. But great music is great music. Those albums hold up. Just like what you like.

[govmentchedda]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

Oh no. I mean A&EA (and a few hits after that album) are really all I know of them, so I can see being upset by a set list that doesn't include all of that. Curious what more specifics you have? (I suppose a search of YouTube could yield a similar answer).

[DSafetyGuy]

If Dashboard Confessional is opening for that date, please know that they can have a high annoyance level, even if you like them. The singalong nature of a large part of their fanbase and the way Chris Carrabba leans into it can be grating.

[mister d]

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

The One Where Giff and Mister D Finally Agree on a Present Day Assessment of a 90s Alt-Pop Band (2023)



(I mostly really enjoyed their live shows at their peak but I've seen them once or twice post-peak (but still like ~15 years ago) and its not very good at all.)

[Giff]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

Oh no. I mean A&EA (and a few hits after that album) are really all I know of them, so I can see being upset by a set list that doesn't include all of that. Curious what more specifics you have? (I suppose a search of YouTube could yield a similar answer).

The two times I've seen them Adam will just sing all the words at different times than on the actual songs. Instead of "ROOOOOOOOOOUND HEEEEERE WE ALWAYS STAY UP LATE" it's "roundhere...................wealways.........stayuplate". Almost like Shatner is doing it. Fucking blows and I'll never waste money again.

[Giff]

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

The One Where Giff and Mister D Finally Agree on a Present Day Assessment of a 90s Alt-Pop Band (2023)



(I mostly really enjoyed their live shows at their peak but I've seen them once or twice post-peak (but still like ~15 years ago) and its not very good at all.)

Hugs?

Yeah, the live album released after the second album was fantastic.

[govmentchedda]

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

The One Where Giff and Mister D Finally Agree on a Present Day Assessment of a 90s Alt-Pop Band (2023)



(I mostly really enjoyed their live shows at their peak but I've seen them once or twice post-peak (but still like ~15 years ago) and its not very good at all.)

Really glad I brought up my desire to see them live. You guys just saved me from an overpriced swampy evening outside in Tampa in August. Good looking out, frogs.

[govmentchedda]

Oh my. Just watched a video of them from last May doing Round Here, and the Shatner description couldn't be more accurate. It's kinda Craig Finn-y too.

[mister d]

And you know who can't stand that band ...

[A_B]

And you know who can't stand that band ...

Yes, harry, Mrs. Potters lullaby was playing that night you should have died!

[mister d]

(I meant Hold Steady. I still have a spot in my heart for the first two Counting Crows albums. Even after learning the dreads were fake and he just showed up with them one day.)

[Ryan]

The article has already inspired me to listen to August and Everything After again, and to ask the friend group if anyone is interested in seeing Counting Crows in August with me here. I doubt I'll go 1-100 (or the other way), but there's a lot on here to like.

Dude, have you seen Counting Crows live before?

No. It's definitely a hole in my list.

I would strongly advise against it. It'll leave a hole in any love you had for them.

Oh no. I mean A&EA (and a few hits after that album) are really all I know of them, so I can see being upset by a set list that doesn't include all of that. Curious what more specifics you have? (I suppose a search of YouTube could yield a similar answer).

The two times I've seen them Adam will just sing all the words at different times than on the actual songs. Instead of "ROOOOOOOOOOUND HEEEEERE WE ALWAYS STAY UP LATE" it's "roundhere...................wealways.........stayuplate". Almost like Shatner is doing it. Fucking blows and I'll never waste money again.

Hahaha perfect description. Bohemian slam poetry

[bapo!]

The two times I've seen them Adam will just sing all the words at different times than on the actual songs. Instead of "ROOOOOOOOOOUND HEEEEERE WE ALWAYS STAY UP LATE" it's "roundhere...................wealways.........stayuplate". Almost like Shatner is doing it. Fucking blows and I'll never waste money again.

I know that it must get tiresome to play the same songs for years and years. But, you know, your fans are paying you a lot of money to watch/listen. It's your job to not half-ass it.

I like what Bob Dylan did. He completely reworked a lot of his old songs so he wouldn't get bored with them. When I saw him, he would be halfway thru a song before I would recognize a line and realize, 'Oh, that's what this is.'

[DaveInSeattle]

The two times I've seen them Adam will just sing all the words at different times than on the actual songs. Instead of "ROOOOOOOOOOUND HEEEEERE WE ALWAYS STAY UP LATE" it's "roundhere...................wealways.........stayuplate". Almost like Shatner is doing it. Fucking blows and I'll never waste money again.

I know that it must get tiresome to play the same songs for years and years. But, you know, your fans are paying you a lot of money to watch/listen. It's your job to not half-ass it.

I had that thought after seeing Springsteen a month or so ago...how many times do you think he's played "Born To Run"? And he still manages to crank it up to that "chills" level...

[EnochRoot]

The dreads aren't real?

That's hilarious.

[Ryan]

Teams I HOPE Win the NBA Draft Lottery Tonight, Ranked

1. Portland
2. OKC
3. San Antonio
4. Washington
5. New Orleans
6. Chicago
7. Houston
8. Indiana
9. Toronto
10. Utah
11. Dallas
12. Orlando
13. Charlotte
14. Detroit

[Rex]

Whoever gets Wemby will probably just trade him to the Eagles for a fourth rounder

[Giff]

I'll be happy with #1 or #2. That said, I'm pretty stoked about the direction either way.

[rass]

Mascots/nicknames of the Union County (NJ) high schools that are competting in the 2022 County Conference Spring Track and Field Championships, ranked from most to least problematic:

1. Indians - the logo includes a feather but no human representation, so there are many schools, including in NJ, that are much worse as far as that goes, but still no good
2. Crusaders - at least this is a public school and not a Catholic school?
3. Blue Devils - before you accuse me of being unfair this town is definitely the Duke of Union County
4. Vikings
6. Raiders - I was going to have these two tie, but the Vikings are a Catholic school and Vikings weren't Christian much less Catholic so there's the tie-breaker
7. Royals - down with the monarchy
8. Pioneers - if I was being too woke they would have appeared earlier on the list
9. Comets - knocking them down farther than they would otherwise be because they're one of those schools who adds a "Lady" in front of the mascot/nickname for the female competitors. Weak.
10. Minutemen - warlike, but the county seal has a Red Coat shooting a woman in the back on it and we were a hotbed of Revolutionary War battles so we'll put them in the middle
11. Dragons - not real, and reminded me of the final couple of episodes of GoT
12. Highlanders - It's Scottish, so it's not crap
13. Cardinals - they flat out stole the logo from Arizona (NFL) (who stole it from St Louis?)
14. Panthers - they flat out stole the logo from Carolina (NFL) but at least they changed the accent color to red from blue
15. Lions
16. Tigers
17. Bears - oh my!
18. Cougars - about as common as you would expect at track meets made up of HS from a lot of very rich towns
19. Rams (ETA: there are two Rams, I missed a school when I originally wrote this up because I lost track of Roselle, Roselle Park and Roselle Catholic)
20. Hilltoppers (a goat) - Another set of similar options but (A) Hilltoppers sounds cooler and (B) is from a public school while Rams is from a $30K+ a year private school and (C) is boys only so the Rams thing seems like they're rubbing your nose in it a bit
21. Bulldogs- who hates bulldogs?
22. Farmers - they feed the world!

School is out but club meets are still going on and there isn’t a whole ranking here but we’re at the stadium complex for New Brunswick (NJ) HS and their mascot is a/the zebra, complete with a cool zebra logo at the 50 yard line.

[L-Jam3]

I don’t know whether New Brunswick High is a turf field, but if they are, zebra pattern the end zones or GTFO.

[rass]

It is turf and they’re not. I’ll get a pic of the midfield logo at some point