What Pitchfork Missed From Their 80s List
So about a month ago Pitchfork put out their updated 80s list. They expanded it from 100 to 200 albums. Their list absolutely sucked ass. It's probably the worst list they have ever put out and it's pretty much unforgivable in showcasing the history of music.
Here are some of the albums they missed which inevitably made their list a huge pile of flaming shit.
*denotes an album Pitchfork had on their original 80s list
The Art Of Noise-Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise?(1984)
This album influenced a ridiculous amount of modern music and music of it's time. It's a crime to not include this.
Bathory-Self Titled(1984)
Oh yeah Pitchfork it's a real good idea not to include a record that is basically the blueprint for modern Black Metal as we know it, yeah that wouldn't be a good idea at all.
Beat Happening-Jamboree(1988)
So they included the self titled album and not this? Hmmmm. That's pretty stupid considering this album beats that one on all fronts.
Big Black-Atomizer(1986)
They put "Songs About Fucking" on their list, they should have put this one on there too.
The Birthday Party-Prayers On Fire(1981)
The Birthday Party-Junkyard(1982)
What were they thinking? Some of the first noise rock albums to ever exist. But yeah putting Nick Cave's 1st solo album was a much better idea. What in the hell???
Boredoms: Soul Discharge(1989)*
Pioneering album of noise influenced punk craziness. One of the most influential albums and bands of all time. For shame!
Kate Bush-The Dreaming(1982)
They put "The Sensual World" on their list over this. "The Sensual World" sucks. This does not. In some ways this is actually better than "Hounds Of Love".
Candlemass-Epicus Doomicus Metallicus(1986)
Another metal blunder from Pitchfork. These guys, along with Saint Vitus, ushered in modern doom and stoner metal. Yeah seems like a great idea to leave them off.
Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band-Doc At The Radar Station(1980)
No Captain Beefheart on the Pitchfork list? Are you serious? This is an amazing fusion of Beefheart's blues with Post Punk's exciting new sounds. Really stupid of them to not acknowledge this.
Carnivore-Retaliation(1987)
Another glaring metal omission. This time it's one of the first truly great examples of Punk and skate culture teaming up with thrash metal. This is a classic and very important.
Chrome-Red Exposure(1980)
Chrome-3rd From The Sun(1982)
No Chrome Pitchfork?!?!!? FOR SHAME!! Proto industrial experimental geniuses. What's not list worthy about these?
The Clash-Combat Rock(1982)
They picked Sandinista. I pick this. This is much more focused and flows way better as an 80s Clash album.
Coil-Horse Rotorvator(1986)*
It's just insane they took this off their list! It was on their first one and rightfully so. This is a standard bearer for experimental industrial music and for Darkwave.
Crass-Penis Envy(1981)
A lot worse and less important punk was picked over this. These guys were one of the first Anarcho Punk bands and this is one of their masterpieces. 100% list worthy.
The dB's-Stands For Decibels(1981)*
Practically a blueprint for modern dorky indie rock. Completely groundbreaking for the time along with the Feelies album they did acknowledge. They should have recognized both.
Dead Kennedys-Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables(1980)
Dead Kennedys-Plastic Surgery Diasters(1982)
The lack of these two CLASSICS is downright disgusting. Minor Threat? Bad Brains? No Dead Kennedys?? Which editor had their head jammed so far up their ass that these didn't make it on the list.
Death-Leprosy(1988)
Torchbearer of modern technical death metal. Seriously guys what in the fuck?
Dicks-Kill From The Heart(1983)
This is better than Minor Threat and Bad Brains and the lead singer was gay long before that was even remotely accepted and in Texas no less. We know looking at Pitchfork's list they love catering towards modern acceptance so why the hell wasn't this recognized!
Discharge-Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing(1982)
It's getting old having to type up pissed off explanations as to why Pitchfork ignored really important Punk albums.
Eazy E-Eazy Duz It(1988)
He was one of the first "weird" rappers. Definitely helped usher in the acceptance of people like ODB and Kool Keith. It's a shame. In a lot of ways this is just as good as the NWA album.
Einsturzende Neubauten-Halber Mensch(1985)
Practically inventing the Industrial genre andddddddd ignored by Pitchfork. Cool guys! Real fucking cool!
The Fall-Grotesque After The Gramme(1980)
The Fall-Hex Enduction Hour(1982)*
The Fall-Perverted By Language(1983)*
The Fall-The Wonderful And Frightening World Of...(1984)
We know Pitchfork has a fascination with Death Worship. What is Death Worship you say? Oh well it's vaulting dead people's work up to new heights once they die. Usually it goes hand in hand with either downplaying the work when they were alive or ignoring it completely. So after all that is said. Why do Prince and Bowie get the treatment with multiple albums but Mark E Smith who died in January gets 1. Oh all those Fall albums above are better than the Prince albums and Let's Dance.
Fear-The Record(1982)
Here we go with that absent minded glossover with the Punk. This is a classic. They are stupid for not putting it on the list.
Henry Flynt-You Are My Everlovin'/Celestial Power(1986)
Pitchfork put a bunch of super pretentious experimental music on their list to appeal to the fart sniffing high art crowd yet they failed to recognize the most human and artistic of the whole bunch. Great Job!
The Gun Club-Fire Of Love(1981)
I can't even anymore with these Punk albums. This influenced a SHITLOAD of artists in the late 80s, especially the Pixies.
1/2 Japanese-1/2 Gentlemen 1/2 Beasts(1980)
Experimental Indie Rock before anything like that existed. Seems pretty damn important to me and all the countless musicians it influenced!
Killdozer-Little Baby Buntin'(1987)
Killdozer-Twelve Point Buck(1989)
Two stone cold Noise Rock classics. I would argue that Grunge and Nirvana would not have existed if it weren't for these two albums.
Killing Joke-Self Titled(1980)
Another proto industrial classic left off the list. They decided to let "Pretty Hate Machine" represent the genre on their list. Which is mind blowing...but....it's super cool to like Trent now again since he was on a couple of Twin Peaks episodes and David Lynch says it's OK to like him again.
King Crimson-Discipline(1981)*
Prog greats return with an amazing album in the 80s to give David Byrne and the art crowd a run for their money, yeah Pitchfork good job leaving this off.
Masters Of Reality-Self Titled(1988)
Wouldn't really have Queens Of The Stone Age without these guys. This is some influential shit to the entire desert rock scene and all the bands involved. This is the one that started it all.
Meat Puppets-Up On The Sun(1985)*
You put "II" on your list Pitchfork. This one is equally as good. Stupid move.
Mekons: Fear And Whiskey(1985)*
Mekons: Rock And Roll(1989)*
They helped pioneer the sound of Alt Country with Fear And Whiskey and they had an amazing modern sounding Indie Rock album before Indie Rock was really a big thing with Rock And Roll. Stupid to leave them out when BOTH of them were on the last list.
Ministry-The Land Of Rape And Honey(1988)
Ministry-The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste(1989)
These are two of the most iconic Industrial albums of all time. Yet "Pretty Hate Machine" gets on their list. It's a real shame because these albums are what really shaped the genre. Trent was basically one step behind Al every time. I.E. "Pretty Hate Machine"(1989) is biting off of "The Land Of Rape And Honey" by one year and "Broken" EP(1992) bit off "TMIATTTT" by a few years. Recognize the pioneers Pitchfork!
Mission Of Burma-VS(1982)*
This is a stone cold classic of American Post Punk. It's a crime it was left off.
Napalm Death-Scum(1987)
One of the originators of Grindcore. If you basically invented a genre then you album should be on the list. Thought I would put the updated cover up there as well.
Negativland-Escape From Noise(1987)
They basically invented the genre of Plunderphonics with this. Which is taking overt samples and ripping them apart to create art. Genre boundary breakers deserve to be on lists.
NoMeansNo-Wrong(1989)
This is one of the best Punk albums of all time. Barely anyone recognizes this fact. This is a perfect 10. People should start recognizing that fact.
Nurse With Wound-Homotopy To Marie(1982)*
This is far better than Soliloquy To Lilith and they even put this on their old list! What gives!??
Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark-Dazzle Ships(1983)
One of the best synthy new waveish records to come out in the 80s. They did it better than most of the synthy 80s stuff Pitchfork picked, it's a wonder why this was left off.
Pentagram-Self Titled(1984)
Forebearers of the doom metal genre. Should have been included.
The Pogues-Rum Sodomy & The Lash(1985)*
This is a landmark 80s album. No one had fused traditional Irish music with a Punk sensibility before. Should have gotten recognition.
Prince And The Revolution-Around The World In A Day(1985)
I think this is Prince's greatest album. A lot of people disagree. It's inventive and interesting and should have been given a spot over some of his other picks.
Public Image Limited-The Flowers Of Romance(1981)
So as I pointed out in my critique of Pitchfork's list, their album "Second Edition" should be disqualified due to it being a reworking of their debut from 1979. This should have been put on their list since it's a great album of theirs that's ACTUALLY FROM THE 80s!
Pussy Galore-Right Now!(1987)
Nasty Noise Rock pioneers. This album is a classic and we wouldn't have quite a few bands(Jon Spencer Blues Explosion/Boss Hog/Royal Trux/Black Bananas if it weren't for it.
Redd Kross-Neurotica(1987)
A classic melding of Punk and the shitty Sunset Strip Glam Rock sound. One of the best proto indie rock albums from the 80s.
The Replacements-Pleased To Meet Me(1987)*
This is better than "Tim". Should have been on the list.
The Residents-God In Three Persons(1988)
It's insane they didn't put a Residents album on their list. Just insane. These guys did a hell of a lot to shape the experimental musical landscape.
Saint Vitus-Self Titled(1984)
Saint Vitus-Born Too Late(1986)
These two albums helped shape the modern Sludge/Doom/Stoner metal genres. One could argue we wouldn't have that sound today if it weren't for this and a couple other albums Pitchfork ignored.
Siouxsie And The Banshees-Peepshow(1988)
Much better and more cohesive than Juju.
The Soft Boys-Underwater Moonlight(1980)*
Criminal this wasn't on the list, really laid the blueprints for modern indie rock, not to mention it kick started Robyn Hitchcock's career.
Sonic Youth-Sister(1987)*
EVOL over this, get the fuck outta here!
Television Personalities-...And Don't The Kids Just Love It(1981)*
Another one that predated and predicted modern indie rock as we know it.
Terrorizor-World Downfall(1989)
Classic metal album that should be on any and every 80s music list.
The The-Soul Mining(1983)
Extremely emotionally resonant 80s synth rock album that influenced a ton of music that came after it.
They Might Be Giants-Lincoln(1988)*
It's disgusting that TMBG were not represented on their list this time around. This predated tons of modern alternative rock acts that had a little quirk in them.
Too $hort-Born To Mack(1987)
Much better than the album they picked and much more influential to the sound of electro inspired Hip Hop.
Traveling Wilburys-Volume 1(1988)
This might be the best supergroup album ever made. Also, it's one of the best rock records to come out of the 80s.
The Undertones-Hypnotised(1980)
Classic Punk album that truly informed the pop punk scene as much as the Descendents album they picked. Plus there isn't any overt homophobia on this one!
Violent Femmes-Hallowed Ground(1984)
Great overlooked country influenced follow up to their classic self titled album that is just as good just in a different way.
Wailing Souls-Fire House Rock(1981)
Stone cold classic reggae album, it's a crime it was left off for other lesser Reggae and Dub albums.
Tom Waits-Swordfishtrombones(1983)*
I view this and Rain Dogs as being 2 parts of a whole. You should never have one and not the other.
Wall Of Voodoo-Dark Continent(1981)
One of the most consistent 80s Punk influenced new wave albums. Not to mention one of the greatest debut albums of all time.
White Zombie-Soul Crusher(1987)
A noise rock masterpiece before we even knew what that was. This is Rob Zombie at his absolute best.
X-Wild Gift(1981)
Much like the Tom Waits albums. I view this and Los Angeles as 2 parts of a whole. Don't leave one of them off.
XTC-English Settlement(1982)*
Sure Pitchfork put "Skylarking" on their list(Albeit way too low) but this deserves as much attention.
Neil Young-Trans(1982)
If they are going to put really subpar Bowie albums on this list they should really have this. This is subpar for Neil but it's still way better than Let's Dance.
John Zorn-Naked City(1989)*
Absolutely essential melding of Free Jazz/Metal/Punk that helped define many modern Jazz genres to this day.
Here are some of the albums they missed which inevitably made their list a huge pile of flaming shit.
*denotes an album Pitchfork had on their original 80s list
The Art Of Noise-Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise?(1984)
This album influenced a ridiculous amount of modern music and music of it's time. It's a crime to not include this.
Bathory-Self Titled(1984)
Oh yeah Pitchfork it's a real good idea not to include a record that is basically the blueprint for modern Black Metal as we know it, yeah that wouldn't be a good idea at all.
Beat Happening-Jamboree(1988)
So they included the self titled album and not this? Hmmmm. That's pretty stupid considering this album beats that one on all fronts.
Big Black-Atomizer(1986)
They put "Songs About Fucking" on their list, they should have put this one on there too.
The Birthday Party-Prayers On Fire(1981)
The Birthday Party-Junkyard(1982)
What were they thinking? Some of the first noise rock albums to ever exist. But yeah putting Nick Cave's 1st solo album was a much better idea. What in the hell???
Boredoms: Soul Discharge(1989)*
Pioneering album of noise influenced punk craziness. One of the most influential albums and bands of all time. For shame!
Kate Bush-The Dreaming(1982)
They put "The Sensual World" on their list over this. "The Sensual World" sucks. This does not. In some ways this is actually better than "Hounds Of Love".
Candlemass-Epicus Doomicus Metallicus(1986)
Another metal blunder from Pitchfork. These guys, along with Saint Vitus, ushered in modern doom and stoner metal. Yeah seems like a great idea to leave them off.
Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band-Doc At The Radar Station(1980)
No Captain Beefheart on the Pitchfork list? Are you serious? This is an amazing fusion of Beefheart's blues with Post Punk's exciting new sounds. Really stupid of them to not acknowledge this.
Carnivore-Retaliation(1987)
Another glaring metal omission. This time it's one of the first truly great examples of Punk and skate culture teaming up with thrash metal. This is a classic and very important.
Chrome-Red Exposure(1980)
Chrome-3rd From The Sun(1982)
No Chrome Pitchfork?!?!!? FOR SHAME!! Proto industrial experimental geniuses. What's not list worthy about these?
The Clash-Combat Rock(1982)
They picked Sandinista. I pick this. This is much more focused and flows way better as an 80s Clash album.
Coil-Horse Rotorvator(1986)*
It's just insane they took this off their list! It was on their first one and rightfully so. This is a standard bearer for experimental industrial music and for Darkwave.
Crass-Penis Envy(1981)
A lot worse and less important punk was picked over this. These guys were one of the first Anarcho Punk bands and this is one of their masterpieces. 100% list worthy.
The dB's-Stands For Decibels(1981)*
Practically a blueprint for modern dorky indie rock. Completely groundbreaking for the time along with the Feelies album they did acknowledge. They should have recognized both.
Dead Kennedys-Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables(1980)
Dead Kennedys-Plastic Surgery Diasters(1982)
The lack of these two CLASSICS is downright disgusting. Minor Threat? Bad Brains? No Dead Kennedys?? Which editor had their head jammed so far up their ass that these didn't make it on the list.
Death-Leprosy(1988)
Torchbearer of modern technical death metal. Seriously guys what in the fuck?
Dicks-Kill From The Heart(1983)
This is better than Minor Threat and Bad Brains and the lead singer was gay long before that was even remotely accepted and in Texas no less. We know looking at Pitchfork's list they love catering towards modern acceptance so why the hell wasn't this recognized!
Discharge-Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing(1982)
It's getting old having to type up pissed off explanations as to why Pitchfork ignored really important Punk albums.
Eazy E-Eazy Duz It(1988)
He was one of the first "weird" rappers. Definitely helped usher in the acceptance of people like ODB and Kool Keith. It's a shame. In a lot of ways this is just as good as the NWA album.
Einsturzende Neubauten-Halber Mensch(1985)
Practically inventing the Industrial genre andddddddd ignored by Pitchfork. Cool guys! Real fucking cool!
The Fall-Grotesque After The Gramme(1980)
The Fall-Hex Enduction Hour(1982)*
The Fall-Perverted By Language(1983)*
The Fall-The Wonderful And Frightening World Of...(1984)
We know Pitchfork has a fascination with Death Worship. What is Death Worship you say? Oh well it's vaulting dead people's work up to new heights once they die. Usually it goes hand in hand with either downplaying the work when they were alive or ignoring it completely. So after all that is said. Why do Prince and Bowie get the treatment with multiple albums but Mark E Smith who died in January gets 1. Oh all those Fall albums above are better than the Prince albums and Let's Dance.
Fear-The Record(1982)
Here we go with that absent minded glossover with the Punk. This is a classic. They are stupid for not putting it on the list.
Henry Flynt-You Are My Everlovin'/Celestial Power(1986)
Pitchfork put a bunch of super pretentious experimental music on their list to appeal to the fart sniffing high art crowd yet they failed to recognize the most human and artistic of the whole bunch. Great Job!
The Gun Club-Fire Of Love(1981)
I can't even anymore with these Punk albums. This influenced a SHITLOAD of artists in the late 80s, especially the Pixies.
1/2 Japanese-1/2 Gentlemen 1/2 Beasts(1980)
Experimental Indie Rock before anything like that existed. Seems pretty damn important to me and all the countless musicians it influenced!
Killdozer-Little Baby Buntin'(1987)
Killdozer-Twelve Point Buck(1989)
Two stone cold Noise Rock classics. I would argue that Grunge and Nirvana would not have existed if it weren't for these two albums.
Killing Joke-Self Titled(1980)
Another proto industrial classic left off the list. They decided to let "Pretty Hate Machine" represent the genre on their list. Which is mind blowing...but....it's super cool to like Trent now again since he was on a couple of Twin Peaks episodes and David Lynch says it's OK to like him again.
King Crimson-Discipline(1981)*
Prog greats return with an amazing album in the 80s to give David Byrne and the art crowd a run for their money, yeah Pitchfork good job leaving this off.
Masters Of Reality-Self Titled(1988)
Wouldn't really have Queens Of The Stone Age without these guys. This is some influential shit to the entire desert rock scene and all the bands involved. This is the one that started it all.
Meat Puppets-Up On The Sun(1985)*
You put "II" on your list Pitchfork. This one is equally as good. Stupid move.
Mekons: Fear And Whiskey(1985)*
Mekons: Rock And Roll(1989)*
They helped pioneer the sound of Alt Country with Fear And Whiskey and they had an amazing modern sounding Indie Rock album before Indie Rock was really a big thing with Rock And Roll. Stupid to leave them out when BOTH of them were on the last list.
Ministry-The Land Of Rape And Honey(1988)
Ministry-The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste(1989)
These are two of the most iconic Industrial albums of all time. Yet "Pretty Hate Machine" gets on their list. It's a real shame because these albums are what really shaped the genre. Trent was basically one step behind Al every time. I.E. "Pretty Hate Machine"(1989) is biting off of "The Land Of Rape And Honey" by one year and "Broken" EP(1992) bit off "TMIATTTT" by a few years. Recognize the pioneers Pitchfork!
Mission Of Burma-VS(1982)*
This is a stone cold classic of American Post Punk. It's a crime it was left off.
Napalm Death-Scum(1987)
One of the originators of Grindcore. If you basically invented a genre then you album should be on the list. Thought I would put the updated cover up there as well.
Negativland-Escape From Noise(1987)
They basically invented the genre of Plunderphonics with this. Which is taking overt samples and ripping them apart to create art. Genre boundary breakers deserve to be on lists.
NoMeansNo-Wrong(1989)
This is one of the best Punk albums of all time. Barely anyone recognizes this fact. This is a perfect 10. People should start recognizing that fact.
Nurse With Wound-Homotopy To Marie(1982)*
This is far better than Soliloquy To Lilith and they even put this on their old list! What gives!??
Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark-Dazzle Ships(1983)
One of the best synthy new waveish records to come out in the 80s. They did it better than most of the synthy 80s stuff Pitchfork picked, it's a wonder why this was left off.
Pentagram-Self Titled(1984)
Forebearers of the doom metal genre. Should have been included.
The Pogues-Rum Sodomy & The Lash(1985)*
This is a landmark 80s album. No one had fused traditional Irish music with a Punk sensibility before. Should have gotten recognition.
Prince And The Revolution-Around The World In A Day(1985)
I think this is Prince's greatest album. A lot of people disagree. It's inventive and interesting and should have been given a spot over some of his other picks.
Public Image Limited-The Flowers Of Romance(1981)
So as I pointed out in my critique of Pitchfork's list, their album "Second Edition" should be disqualified due to it being a reworking of their debut from 1979. This should have been put on their list since it's a great album of theirs that's ACTUALLY FROM THE 80s!
Pussy Galore-Right Now!(1987)
Nasty Noise Rock pioneers. This album is a classic and we wouldn't have quite a few bands(Jon Spencer Blues Explosion/Boss Hog/Royal Trux/Black Bananas if it weren't for it.
Redd Kross-Neurotica(1987)
A classic melding of Punk and the shitty Sunset Strip Glam Rock sound. One of the best proto indie rock albums from the 80s.
The Replacements-Pleased To Meet Me(1987)*
This is better than "Tim". Should have been on the list.
The Residents-God In Three Persons(1988)
It's insane they didn't put a Residents album on their list. Just insane. These guys did a hell of a lot to shape the experimental musical landscape.
Saint Vitus-Self Titled(1984)
Saint Vitus-Born Too Late(1986)
These two albums helped shape the modern Sludge/Doom/Stoner metal genres. One could argue we wouldn't have that sound today if it weren't for this and a couple other albums Pitchfork ignored.
Siouxsie And The Banshees-Peepshow(1988)
Much better and more cohesive than Juju.
The Soft Boys-Underwater Moonlight(1980)*
Criminal this wasn't on the list, really laid the blueprints for modern indie rock, not to mention it kick started Robyn Hitchcock's career.
Sonic Youth-Sister(1987)*
EVOL over this, get the fuck outta here!
Television Personalities-...And Don't The Kids Just Love It(1981)*
Another one that predated and predicted modern indie rock as we know it.
Terrorizor-World Downfall(1989)
Classic metal album that should be on any and every 80s music list.
The The-Soul Mining(1983)
Extremely emotionally resonant 80s synth rock album that influenced a ton of music that came after it.
They Might Be Giants-Lincoln(1988)*
It's disgusting that TMBG were not represented on their list this time around. This predated tons of modern alternative rock acts that had a little quirk in them.
Too $hort-Born To Mack(1987)
Much better than the album they picked and much more influential to the sound of electro inspired Hip Hop.
Traveling Wilburys-Volume 1(1988)
This might be the best supergroup album ever made. Also, it's one of the best rock records to come out of the 80s.
The Undertones-Hypnotised(1980)
Classic Punk album that truly informed the pop punk scene as much as the Descendents album they picked. Plus there isn't any overt homophobia on this one!
Violent Femmes-Hallowed Ground(1984)
Great overlooked country influenced follow up to their classic self titled album that is just as good just in a different way.
Wailing Souls-Fire House Rock(1981)
Stone cold classic reggae album, it's a crime it was left off for other lesser Reggae and Dub albums.
Tom Waits-Swordfishtrombones(1983)*
I view this and Rain Dogs as being 2 parts of a whole. You should never have one and not the other.
Wall Of Voodoo-Dark Continent(1981)
One of the most consistent 80s Punk influenced new wave albums. Not to mention one of the greatest debut albums of all time.
White Zombie-Soul Crusher(1987)
A noise rock masterpiece before we even knew what that was. This is Rob Zombie at his absolute best.
X-Wild Gift(1981)
Much like the Tom Waits albums. I view this and Los Angeles as 2 parts of a whole. Don't leave one of them off.
XTC-English Settlement(1982)*
Sure Pitchfork put "Skylarking" on their list(Albeit way too low) but this deserves as much attention.
Neil Young-Trans(1982)
If they are going to put really subpar Bowie albums on this list they should really have this. This is subpar for Neil but it's still way better than Let's Dance.
John Zorn-Naked City(1989)*
Absolutely essential melding of Free Jazz/Metal/Punk that helped define many modern Jazz genres to this day.
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