AD Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Interesting article here This list was chosen by 580 Canadian musicians. Of course these lists are always somewhat controversial, but this one seems pretty balanced (meaning it's in-line with my tastes pretty much, except for Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who and Bryan Adams)Top 100 albums chosen based on survey by 600 musiciansOct 18, 2007 12:02 AMCassandra SzklarskiTHE CANADIAN PRESSNeil Young’s classic disc “Harvest†tops a list of the 100 best Canadian albums, according to a new coffee-table book coming out Thursday.Author and music lover Bob Mersereau polled nearly 600 musicians, critics, DJs and retailers to come up with a ranking of the country’s best-loved discs for his book, “The Top 100 Canadian Albums†(Goose Lane Editions).Joni Mitchell’s “Blue†comes in at number 2, followed by Young’s “After the Gold Rush.†Rounding out the top five are the Band’s “Music From Big Pink†and the Tragically Hip’s “Fully Completely.â€Mersereau admits the poll results are very much a “snapshot†of today’s Canadian tastes rather than a definitive statement on the history of Canuck rock, and that the list will undoubtedly raise debate among anyone passionate about music.“That’s the whole fun,†Mersereau says.“The important part is to talk about Canadian music and enjoy it. This was tried to be a consensus of as many music people and music fans and big serious listeners across the country that have definite opinions. I’d be shocked if there wasn’t complaints and arguments and debates. Half of my (own) list didn’t make it.â€A quick glance at the book reveals several repeat appearances by well-loved Canadian artists: Young comes up eight times, while the Guess Who, Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot each have five albums on the list. The Tragically Hip have four, while Sloan have three.“I think it’s legitimate that there are so many repeats. I can’t argue with any of these artists. I might prefer one over the other but I think it’s really good to see albums like Joni Mitchell’s ’Hissing of Summer Lawns,’ which was career suicide when it came out,†says Mersereau, a music writer and longtime arts reporter for CBC-TV in New Brunswick.The tabulation was fairly simple, Mersereau explains in the introduction to the book, which also includes album artwork and new interviews with many of the musicians.Each juror was asked to send in a list of their top 10 discs, using whatever criteria they wished. Each number 1 pick was awarded 10 points, with the number 2 choice given nine points, and so on.A total of 580 responses were tallied, and Mersereau says he took pains to make sure they were drawn from a range of ages, regions and backgrounds.“I didn’t want this to be a music nerd book ... I wanted this to be something different,†he adds.“I wanted popularity to be in it, too, because we are talking about pop music even if it is Oscar Peterson or Glenn Gould. What’s popular, what people want, what people like, that is often scorned in critical circles, yet there’s a reason things are popular and there’s a reason things stay popular like the Guess Who or April Wine. They have the ability to make us feel great and they become important memories for us through our whole lives.â€Amid the classics are some modern sensations. Montreal supergroup the Arcade Fire come in at number 8 with 2004’s “Funeral,†while Broken Social Scene’s 2002 disc “You Forgot It in People†lands at 28 and Feist’s 2004 disc “Let It Die†is number 43.“It wasn’t just young people that were doing the votes for that, I had people like Stuart McLean, a CBC broadcaster, voting for Arcade Fire. Shocked me. I didn’t know Stuart was that hip, but sure is.â€Other discs benefited from the passage of time. Hamilton punk band Simply Saucer failed to make a dent in the music scene in the mid-’70s and disappeared into obscurity until being rediscovered by a local music writer in 1987, says Mersereau.Their early sessions were revived as vinyl copies, and then followed by a CD reissue in 2003. The music insiders who jumped on the disc pushed it onto the 36 spot of Mersereau’s list.“Things change and people pass (albums) back and forth,†notes Mersereau.“(Simply Saucer) never went anywhere, gave up in 1979 and (it’s a) sheer fluke that they have become so influential to a new generation.â€Music lovers can debate their own favourites at a series of book launches to be held across the country over the next week.Mersereau promises that a stop in Halifax this weekend will feature a special musical guest from the list. 1. "Harvest," Neil Young (Reprise, 1972)2. "Blue," Joni Mitchell (Reprise, 1970)3. "After the Gold Rush," Neil Young (Reprise, 1970)4. "Music From Big Pink," The Band (Capitol, 1968)5. "Fully Completely," The Tragically Hip (MCA, 1992)6. "Jagged Little Pill," Alanis Morisette (Maverick, 1995)7. "The Band," The Band (Capitol, 1969)8. "Funeral," Arcade Fire (Merge, 2004)9. "Moving Pictures," Rush (Anthem, 1981)10. "American Woman," The Guess Who (RCA, 1970)11. "Songs of Leonard Cohen," Leonard Cohen (Columbia, 1967)12. "Reckless," Bryan Adams (A&M, 1984)13. "Five Days in July," Blue Rodeo (Warner, 1993)14. "Twice Removed," Sloan (Geffen, 1994)15. "Up To Here," The Tragically Hip (MCA, 1989)16. "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere," Neil Young with Crazy Horse (Reprise, 1969)17. "2112," Rush (Mercury 1976)18. "Court and Spark," Joni Mitchell (Asylum, 1974)19. "Whale Music," Rheostatics (Sire, 1992)20. "Acadie," Daniel Lanois (Opal, 1989) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 some pretty decent picks ... nice to see the Rheos up there. i do have a big problem with this, though ...A quick glance at the book reveals several repeat appearances by well-loved Canadian artists: Young comes up eight times, while the Guess Who, Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot each have five albums on the list. The Tragically Hip have four, while Sloan have three. great artists and deserving to be on the list, no doubt, but certainly not that dominant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 I'm guessing the criteria did not include albums having to be recorded in Canada. Good list. Very telling that there is only album from the last 12 years on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Wish Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 And as a Hip fan I would say that those two selections aren't even the best for that band. That honor goes to Road Apples and Day for Night IMO.These lists always suck more than they should............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Very telling that there is only album from the last 12 years on there. yeah, tells me that Bob Mersereau is an old fuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau. Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Personally, I feel Lightfoot should of made the top ten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewRider Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Personally, I feel Lightfoot should of made the top ten.Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Personally, I feel Lightfoot should of made the top ten.for what album, though? he never had a smash hit album with more than one high charting single. agreed, his overall career is one of the best, but this list is for top albums. that's the problem with this sorta thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted October 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Very telling that there is only album from the last 12 years on there.You readz goodzAmid the classics are some modern sensations. Montreal supergroup the Arcade Fire come in at number 8 with 2004’s “Funeral,†while Broken Social Scene’s 2002 disc “You Forgot It in People†lands at 28 and Feist’s 2004 disc “Let It Die†is number 43. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted October 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 And as a Hip fan I would say that those two selections aren't even the best for that band. That honor goes to Road Apples and Day for Night IMO.I'd pick Fully Completely and Day for Night, myself. I think Fully Completely is a classic, with very very very few bad / dull / uninspired moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Very telling that there is only album from the last 12 years on there. You readz goodz Amid the classics are some modern sensations. Montreal supergroup the Arcade Fire come in at number 8 with 2004’s “Funeral' date='†while Broken Social Scene’s 2002 disc “You Forgot It in People†lands at 28 and Feist’s 2004 disc “Let It Die†is number 43.[/quote'] im sure he meant only one album in the top 20, AD. but carry on nit-picking hehe ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted October 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 stop horripilating on me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allison Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 I would have hoped to see Cowboy Junkies in the top 20.Wonder what the rest of the list is comprised of...hopefully Grapes of Wrath,TPoH and Skinny Puppy show up.I find it odd that it's not the Top 100(insert genre) list. It's a rock list really..with a few sidesteps but not enough to be just a comprehensive "Canadian" list.I guess that might have been sorted out by the rest of the 100...if people like Murray Maclachlan,Stan Rogers etc showed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secondtube Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Neil showed up 8 times in the top 40!Top 100 Canadian AlbumsAlbums, clockwise from top left: Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette), Acadie (Daniel Lanois), Harvest (Neil Young), Funeral (Arcade Fire), Music From Big Pink (The Band), The Band (The Band) and Blue (Joni Mitchell).1) Neil Young, Harvest, Reprise, 19722) Joni Mitchell, Blue, Reprise, 19703) Neil Young, After The Gold Rush, Reprise, 19704) The Band, Music From Big Pink, Capitol, 19685) The Tragically Hip, Fully Completely, MCA, 19926) Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill, Maverick, 19957) The Band, The Band, Capitol, 19698) Arcade Fire, Funeral, Merge, 20049) Rush, Moving Pictures, Anthem, 198110) The Guess Who, American Woman, RCA, 197011) Leonard Cohen, Songs Of Leonard Cohen, Columbia, 196712) Bryan Adams, Reckless, A&M, 198413) Blue Rodeo, Five Days In July, Warner, 199314) Sloan, Twice Removed, Geffen, 199415) The Tragically Hip, Up To Here, MCA, 198916) Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Reprise, 196917) Rush, 2112, Mercury, 197618) Joni Mitchell, Court And Spark, Asylum, 197419) Rheostatics, Whale Music, Sire, 199220) Daniel Lanois, Acadie, Opal, 198921) The Tragically Hip, Day For Night, MCA, 199422) Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps, Reprise, 197923) Gordon Lightfoot, Gord's Gold, Reprise, 197524) Sarah Harmer, You Were Here, Universal, 200025) Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Nettwerk, 199326) The Tragically Hip, Road Apples, MCA, 199127) Barenaked Ladies, Gordon, Sire, 199228) Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It In People, Arts & Crafts, 200229) Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man, Columbia, 198830) Neil Young, Tonight's The Night, Reprise, 197531) Neil Young, Decade, Reprise, 197732) Mary Margaret O'Hara, Miss America, Virgin, 198833) Sarah McLachlan, Surfacing, Nettwerk, 199734) Sloan, One Chord To Another, Murderecords, 199635) Leonard Cohen, Songs Of Love And Hate, Columbia, 197136) Simply Saucer, Cyborgs Revisited, Mole Sound, 198937) k.d. lang, Ingenue, Sire, 199238) Rheostatics, Melville, Intrepid, 199139) Eric's Trip, Love Tara, Sub Pop, 199340) Neil Young, On The Beach, Reprise, 1974 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 i call bullshit.23) Gordon Lightfoot, Gord's Gold, Reprise, 197531) Neil Young, Decade, Reprise, 1977are both greatest hits compilations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau. Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 (edited) for what album, though? he never had a smash hit album with more than one high charting single. agreed, his overall career is one of the best, but this list is for top albums. that's the problem with this sorta thing. Actually this list is top favourites or as the author of this book put it, "a ranking of the country’s best-loved discs" from 580 musicians. So, in their opinons these are the top albums. Each juror was asked to send in a list of their top 10 discs, using whatever criteria they wished.But to answer your question, Sundown. Edited October 18, 2007 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmelbatoast Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 I'm surprised there's no Trooper on the list.These things are always a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelter Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 I think World Container is the Hip's best album ... though great cases can certainly be made for the ones listed here.I also like 'The Band' far better than Big Pink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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