Ok Computer best album in pop history


VPRO's 3voor12 asked readers, listeners and musicians to vote on their poll to find out what the best record is in 50 years of pop history. The Dutch website (and radio station) collected all votes and Radiohead's 'OK Computer' ended up at number 1. Check the full list at 3voor12.nl

Um, no.

Rest of the list is not terrible. But WTF is Coldplay's bullshit doing there? Like A Virgin? The Strokes? U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind? WTF? No Parallel Lines? Okay, maybe it is terrible, after all.

1. Radiohead - O.K Computer (1997)
2. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
3. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
4. The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) (1968)
5. The Beatles - Revolver (1966)
6. Velvet Underground and Nico - The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)
7. Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)
8. The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
9. dEUS - Worst Case Scenario (1994)
10. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)
11. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
13. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
14. The Doors - The Doors (1967)
15. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars (1972)
16. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
17. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - Déja Vu (1970)
18. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966)
19. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)
20. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (1986)
21. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)
22. Joy Division - Closer (1980)
23. The Clash - London Calling (1979)
24. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (1968)
25. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
26. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones (1983)
27. The Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1988)
28. The Libertines - Up The Bracket (2002)
29. Neil Young - After the Goldrush (1970)
30. Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)
31. Prince - Sign 'o' the Times (1987)
32. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
33. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (2002)
34. Ramones - Ramones (1976)
35. The Strokes - Is This It? (2001)
36. The Pixies - Doolittle (1989)
37. U2 - Boy (1980)
38. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
39. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody knows This is Nowhere (1969)
40. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
41. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004)
42. Spinvis - Spinvis (2002)
43. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People (1992)
44. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (1971)
45. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds (1980)
46. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not (2006)
47. Johnny Cash - American Recordings (1994)
48. Lou Reed - Berlin (1973)
49. Air - Moon Safari (1998)
50. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (1988)
51. Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinoise (2005)
52. The Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
53. 16 Horsepower - Sackcloth 'n' Ashes (1995)
54. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (1996)
55. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)
56. Talking Heads - Fear of Music (1979)
57. The Who - Tommy (1969)
58. Lou Reed - Transformer (1972)
59. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (1975)
60. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks (1977)
61. Frank Zappa - Zoot Allures (1976)
62. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Live! (1975)
63. Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
64. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)
65. Massive Attack - Blue Lines (1991)
66. The Band - The Band (1969)
67. Elvis Presley - The Sun Sessions (1956)
68. System of a Down - Toxicity (2001)
69. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)
70. Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1994)
71. Madonna - Like A Virgin (1984)
72. The Oblivians - Play 9 Songs With Mr.Quintron (1997)
73. Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica (1969)
74. Kraftwerk - Computer World (1982)
75. Love - Forever Changes (1968)
76. The Stooges - The Stooges (1969)
77. Kate Bush - The Kick Inside (1978)
78. The Who - Who's Next (1971)
79. Urban Dance Squad - Mental Floss for the Globe (1990)
80. The Smiths - The Smiths (1984)
81. David Bowie - Low (1977)
82. Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now (2005)
83. Tom Waits - Mule Variations (1999)
84. White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001)
85. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
86. Manu Chao - Clandestino (1998)
87. Beck - Odelay (1996)
88. Bonnie Prince Billy - I See a Darkness (1999)
89. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (1994)
90. At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command (2000)
91. Daft Punk - Homework (1996)
92. The Police - Outlandos d'amour (1978)
93. The Rolling Stones - Aftermath (1966)
94. David Bowie - Station to Station (1976)
95. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994)
96. Brian Eno & David Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981)
97. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (1975)
98. Björk - Homogenic (1997)
99. Damien Rice - O (2003)
100. The Mothers of Invention - We're Only In It For The Money (1967)
[Edited 5/31/06 15:57pm]

to my knowledge, this is the second list to claim its the strongest album in the (at least) last 20 years.


I'd have to agree. It would be in my top 10, perhaps top 5

Sdldawn said:

There are way too many current albums on this list. I always think that there needs to be a moratorium on albums released during the past 10 years for these lists, because current works are always going to get more votes than older ones that some people might be unfamiliar with. Time always lets you know if something is a classic. Two years ago people were going apeshit over that Outkast record and now it's like, "meh".
[Edited 5/31/06 15:48pm]

Sdldawn said:

Hm, I should try them out one more time. Until now... it did not do much for me (not only that).

I'm really glad to see Joy Division high on that list. They ABSOLUTELY deserved that. Both of their studio albums are perfect.

Surprisingly is that Frank Zappa is here! very positive!

SenseOfDoubt said:

Right! I cannot hate this list too much because there are some really good choices that outweigh the really bad/lame ones.

hehe Moon Safari - a favorite of mine. Who cares, really? These lists are a dime a dozen. It'll please some, piss others off. Now watch me read it more thoroughly and get all pissed.

Other annoyances:

-WTF are the Arctic Monkeys doing on there?
-The Kick Inside instead of Hounds Of Love? Please.
-These people do not listen to enough Marvin Gaye
-System of a Down? NO

I agree on Damien Rice being put on there.. thats one of the most sad, beautiful albums ive ever heard.

That's the most narrow minded piece of list I've ever seen. Complete nonesense.
[Edited 5/31/06 15:57pm]

lilgish said:

It's real white, that's fer shur.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I, for one, have never understood the big deal about Radiohead. Whatever.
[Edited 5/31/06 15:59pm]

VoicesCarry said:

When I'm in the mood, I really like them. Problem is, I'm not in the mood as often as I once was. I still love Kid A, but I've never loved OK Computer or The Bends as much as others.

This list is better than the NME one recently (thatwas only british albums, though)

But still, is Franz Ferdinand & Arctic Monkeys really that much better than Physical Graffiti?

i love ok computer more than i can tell ya, but to this list

That list is so white

horrible list.

Jeff Buckley at #7 of all time? Come on, let's keep this within the realm of reason. He had a great voice, but #7 is just absurd. Coldplay at #25 is purely idiotic. Kate's "The Kick Inside" would never be regarded by anyeone as her best album.

The Libertines, at #28? Bwaaaa-ha-ha-ha. That says everything you need to know about this list.


[Although, I would certainly vote OK Computer at the top of my list as well.]

NorthernLad said:

I don't think it should have been in the top 30, but I can see reason why it would be on the list.. it was a very successful album.

Sdldawn said:

That album isn't even one of the top 1000 of all time. But it's current and was popular so is on the list.

VoicesCarry said:

Isn't that what these lists are all about?

yes.

they are meaningless

"like a virgin"?

don't they mean "like a prayer"?

pretty nice list though.....

no P-Funk?! no EWF?! no Public Enemy?! no James Brown?! no ahwww whatever... that's got to be the most crap list ever made

someone should compile a list of the most crappiest lists ever compiled.

Maze said:

You weren't upset in the least that there was no Maze? Frankie Beverly, have you no faith in yourself?

RipHer2Shreds said:

I LOVE Moon Safari. I haven't even read the list yet though.

but

I actually almost voted in this poll, because I heard about it on the radio here in Holland, but then I figured I couldn't even think of ONE definitive album. Abbey Road popped into my head for a second, and then well, I just gave up because it's too hard a decision and it hurt my brain. Because, come on, there IS no one album that can be considered the best. Jeebus!

Anyway, this is a DUTCH poll remember, so this is just a fraction of the world's population voting in this.
[Edited 6/1/06 6:27am]

Im surprised to see that Cream's 'Disraeli Gears' is not on that list.

FunkJam said:

That should be in the top 20 IMO.


System of a Down are on there.

CinisterCee said:

Like I said, Dutch list.

It would be interesting if many different countries all did similar lists, so we could see how music tastes differ from country to country.
[Edited 6/1/06 6:39am]

RipHer2Shreds said:

no doubt Maze would make one or two appearances in my personal Top 100 however I'm also well aware that Maze' audience and their impact and popularity are nowhere big enough to ever put them into such a list. the one above is obviously very much Rock biased and very well... white, like CinisterCee already noticed up above

Maze said:

Several people have noted that. I'm a Maze fan and as much success as they found on the soul/R&B charts, they never crossed over to pop success. It's an oddity really. But as Val said, it's a Dutch list. I'm guessing Maze didn't make many waves in Dutcherland.