Thursday, March 06, 2008

All-time Top 40 Irish Albums?


The Irish Times has just published a critics' All-Time Top 40 Irish Albums list. Everyone has their own list and each list is always open to scrutiny. This list is no different. Such lists are quite pointless in the long scheme of things. But they do make for great internet/pub conversations/debates/arguments/bloodbaths. As for this one, well the absence of Horslips is quite unforgivable, the presence of other albums equally so.

My Bloody Valentine at No.1? Well, it is a great record. Why does Van's 'Astral Weeks' always gain higher acclaim than his 'Moondance' album? 'Moondance' is better and at least the bass is in tune! 'Achtung Baby' is U2's best album. A House's 'I am The Greatest' is an amazing album well deserving a re-issue. Rollerskate Skinny..Yay! Ash? Boooo!!! Snow Patrol? Oh just fuck off!! BellXZZZzzzzzzzz!! Something Happens' 'God's Glue' Yay! Great album although I still hate that fecking 'Parachute' song!

What should've been there? Let the drunken weekend debates begin....LOL!!! Here's the list:

1 MY BLOODY VALENTINE: LOVELESS
2 U2: ACHTUNG BABY (1991)
3a A HOUSE: I AM THE GREATEST (1991)
3b THE RADIATORS: GHOSTOWN (1979)
5 VAN MORRISON: ASTRAL WEEKS (1968)
6 MICRODISNEY: THE CLOCK COMES DOWN THE STAIRS (1985)
7 ROLLERSKATE SKINNY: HORSEDRAWN WISHES (1996)
8 THE POGUES: RUM, SODOMY & THE LASH (1986)
9 THE UNDERTONES: THE UNDERTONES (1979)
10 WHIPPING BOY: HEARTWORM (1995)
11 ASH: 1977 (1996)
12 THE BLADES: RAYTOWN REVISITED (1985)
13 THIN LIZZY: LIVE AND DANGEROUS (1978)
14 U2: THE JOSHUA TREE (1987)
15 THERAPY? TROUBLEGUM (1994)
16 PLANXTY: PLANXTY (1973)
17 DAVID HOLMES: LETS GET KILLED (1997)
18 THE STARS OF HEAVEN: SPEAK SLOWLY (1988)
19 STIFF LITTLE FINGERS: INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL (1979)
20a THE REVENANTS: HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOUR
20b THE STARS OF HEAVEN: SACRED HEART HOTEL
22 U2: BOY (1980)
23 THE BLADES: LAST MAN IN EUROPE (1984)
24 MY BLOODY VALENTINE: ISN'T ANYTHING (1988)
25 SINÉAD O'CONNOR: I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN'T GOT (1990)
26 VAN MORRISON: MOONDANCE
27 SNOW PATROL: EYES OPEN (2006)
28a THE DIVINE COMEDY: PROMENADE (1994)
28b RORY GALLAGHER: LIVE IN EUROPE (1972)
30 VAN MORRISON: IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW (1974) Recorded at 1973
31a BELL X1: MUSIC IN MOUTH (2003)
31b THE CRANBERRIES: EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT, SO WHY CAN'T WE (1993)
33a THE FRAMES: FOR THE BIRDS (2001)
33b SOMETHING HAPPENS: STUCK TOGETHER WITH GOD'S GLUE (1990)
35a MARTIN HAYES & DENIS CAHILL: LIVE IN SEATTLE (1999)
35b THE HIGH LLAMAS: HAWAII (1996) Long before The Thrills were doing their
35c THE UNDERTONES: HYPNOTISED (1980)
38 DAMIEN RICE: O (2002)
39 THE POGUES: IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD (1988)
40 MICRODISNEY: CROOKED MILE (1987)

1 comment:

ralu25 said...

brazen of u to undertake this...and enjoyed reading...but obviously some arguments..certainly starting with actung baby rated above the joshua tree...

jeesh..what were u thinking???

thanx mick
regards, greg