Boards of Canada the pitchfork 500

[kaini]

it's a book

 

and a torrent.

download this, stick your mp3 player on shuffle

it's mostly excellent

 

 

 

1977 – 1979

 

David Bowie – Heroes

Iggy Pop – The Passenger

Lou Reed – Street Hassle

Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express

Brian Eno – 1/1

The Ramones – Rockaway Beach

Talking Heads – Psycho Killer

Television – Marquee Moon

Patti Smith – Rock n Roll ******

The Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen

The Clash – (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais

Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen in Love?

Vic Godard and the Subway Sect – Parallel Lines

X-Ray Spex – Oh Bondage! Up Yours!

The Adverts – One Chord Wonders

Wire – Ex-Lion Tamer

Donna Summer – I Feel Love

Giorgo Moroder - The Chase

Chic – Good Times

Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way

Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive

Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough

Parliament – Flash Light

Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up

Public Image Ltd. – Public Image

Gang of Four – Damaged Goods

Magazine – Shot by Both Sides

The Cramps – Human Fly

The Misfits – Night of the Living Dead

Wire – Outdoor Miner

Joy Division – Disorder

Althea and Donna – Uptown Top Ranking

Lee Perry – Roast Fish and Cornbread

The Congos – Fisherman

Willie Williams – Armagideon Time

This Heat – 24 Track Loop

The Slits – Typical Girls

The Pop Group – She Is Beyond Good and Evil

The Clash – The Guns of Brixton

James Chance and the Contortions – Contort Yourself

Suicide – Dream Baby Dream

Cabaret Voltaire – Nag Nag Nag

Throbbing Gristle – Hot on the Heels of Love

Devo – Mongoloid

Candido – Jingo

Dinosaur – Kiss Me Again

Machine – There but for the Grace of God Go I

Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

Goblin – Suspiria

Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper

AC/DC – Highway to Hell

Van Halen – Runnin’ with the Devil

Fleetwood Mac – The Chain

Steely Dan – Deacon Blues

Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky

The Only Ones – Another Girl, Another Planet

The Undertones – Teenage Kicks

Plastic Bertrand – Ca plane pour moi

The Records – Starry Eyes

Cheap Trick – Surrender

The Cars – Just What I Needed

Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Radio Radio

The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry

XTC – Making Plans for Nigel

Blondie – Atomic

Talking Heads – Memories Can’t Wait

 

1980 – 1982

 

Kurtis Blow – The Breaks

Spoonie Gee Meets the Sequence – Monster Jam

The Sugarhill Gang – 8th Wonder

The Treacherous Three – The New Rap Language

The Clash – The Magnificent Seven

Talking Heads – Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

Yoko Ono – Walking on Thin Ice

Klein + MBO – Dirty Talk

ESG – Moody

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel

Funky 4+1 – That’s The Joint

Kraftwerk – Numbers/Computer World 2

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – The Message

Glenn Branca – Lesson No. 1 for Electric Guitar

Laurie Anderson – O Superman (For Massenet)

Joy Division – Atmosphere

The Fall – Totally Wired

Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Beyond Belief

The Pretenders – Back on the Chain Gang

The B-52’s – Private Idaho

Dexys Midnight Runners – There There My Dear

Young Marble Giants – Final Day

Altered Images – Happy Birthday

The Specials – Ghost Town

Robert Wyatt – Shipbuilding

Bauhaus – Third Uncle

Adam and the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier

Scritti Politti – The Sweetest Girl

The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

Soft Cell – Tainted Love

The Associates – Party Fears Two

ABC – All of My Heart

New Order – Temptation

The Jam – Town Called Malice

Duran Duran – The Chauffeur

The English Beat – Save It for Later

The Go-Go’s – Our Lips Are Sealed

Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love

Prince – Dirty Mind

Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

ABBA – The Day Before You Came

Roxy Music – More Than This

Queen – Under Pressure

Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City

Journey – Don’t Stop Believing

Bad Brains – Pay to Cum

Minor Threat – Minor Threat

Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia

Black Flag – Rise Above

Wipers – Youth of America

Flipper – Sex Bomb

Motorhead – Ace of Spades

Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills

Orange Juice – Blue Boy

The Television Personalities – This Angry Silence

The Fall – The Classical

The Clean – Tally Ho!

The Feelies – The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness

R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe

Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun

Mission of Burma – That’s When I Reach for My Revolver

 

1983-1986

 

The Smiths – This Charming Man

Sonic Youth – Death Valley ‘69

Husker Du – Pink Turns to Blue

Meat Puppets – Plateau

The Replacements – I Will Dare

Minutemen – History Lesson (Part II)

R.E.M. – So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon

The Cure – Close to Me

Siouxsie and the Banshees – Cities in Dust

Run-D.M.C. – It’s Like That

Crash Crew – On the Radio

Rammelzee vs. K-Rob – Beat Bob

Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx

New Order – Blue Monday

Prince and the Revolution – When Doves Cry

Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)

U2 – New Year’s Day

Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)

The Replacements – Bastards of Young

The Mekons – Last Dance

Big Black – Kerosene

Scratch Acid – The Greatest Gift

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?

Cocteau Twins – Lorelei

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

Billy Bragg – A New England

Metallica – Battery

Slayer – Angel of Death

Saint Vitus – Clear Windowpane

Einstruzende Neubauten – Halber Mensch

Art of Noise – Beat Box (Diversion One)

Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax

Liquid Liquid – Optimo

Alexander Robotnick – Problemes d’Amour

Shannon – Let the Music Play

Section 25 – Looking from a Hilltop (Restructure)

Madonna – Holiday

Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Prince – Kiss

Run-D.M.C. – Rock Box

LL Cool J – I Can’t Live Without My Radio

Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn

Mantronix – Needle to the Groove

The Go-Betweens – Cattle and Cane

The Chills – Pink Frost

Felt – Primitive Painters

The Smiths – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

Tom Waits – Jockey Full of Bourbon

Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire

Scott Walker – Rawhide

U2 – Bad

Don Henley – The Boys of Summer

Paul Simon – Graceland

Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleng Teng

Anthony “Red” Rose – Tempo

Model 500 – No UFO’s

 

1987-1990

 

Mr. Fingers – Can You Feel It

Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings of Life

A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray

M/A/R/R/S – Pump Up The Volume

My Blood Valentine – You Made Me Realise

Spacemen 3 – Walking With Jesus

Ride – Dreams Burn Down

Glaxie 500 – Blue Thunder

Happy Mondays – Kinky Afro

The Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums

Sonic Youth – Teen Age Riot

Dinosaur Jr. – Freak Scene

Butthole Surfers – Human Cannonball

Pixies – Where Is My Mind?

Fugazi – Waiting Room

Audio Two – Top Billin’

Eric B & Rakim – I Know You Got Soul

Public Enemy – Rebel Without a Pause

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Mercy Seat

Ministry – Stigmata

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Head On

The Sugarcubes – Birthday

The Cure – Just Like Heaven

Morrissey – Everyday Is Like Sunday

The Pogues – Fairytale of New York

The Wedding Present – My Favourite Dress

The Field Mice – Emma’s House

Another Sunny Day – You Should All Be Murdered

The Dead Milkmen – Punk Rock Girl

The Primitives – Crash

The La’s – There She Goes

They Might Be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul

Superchunk – Slack Motherfucker

Fugazi – Merchandise

The Jesus Lizard – Mouth Breather

Slick Rick – Children’s Story

Gang Starr – Just to Get a Rep

Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – It Takes Two

Sal-n-Pepa – Push It

Beastie Boys – Hey Ladies

De La Soul – Me Myself and I

Biz Markie – Just a Friend

Public Enemy – Fight The Power

Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle

Swans – Beautiful Child

John Zorn – The Sicilian Clan

Prince and the Revolution – If I Was Your Girlfriend

Madonna – Like a Prayer

Deee-Lite – Groove Is in the Heart

Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring

Sinead O’Conner – Nothing Compares 2 U

The Orb – Little Fluffy Clouds

The KLF – Wichita Lineman Was a Song I Once Heard

808 State – Pacific State

Orbital – Chime

Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Sileince

My Blood Valentine – Soon

The Vaselines – Son of a Gun

Beat Happening – Indian Summer

Daniel Johnston – Some Things Last a Long Time

Mudhoney – Touch Me I’m Sick

Pixies – Wave of Mutilation

 

1991-1993

 

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit

Pavement – Summer Babe

Archers of Loaf – Web in Front

Yo La Tengo – From a Motel 6

Sebadoh – The Freed Pig

A Tribe Called Quest – Check the Rhime

De La Soul – A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’

Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours

Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy

Tricky – Aftermath (Version 1)

Primal Scream – Higher Than the Sun

Spiritualized – Step into the Breeze

Slowdive – Alison

Aphex Twin – Xtal

Talk Talk – Ascension Day

Slint – Good Morning, Captain

Disco Inferno – The Last Dance

Stereolab – French Disko

Acen – Trip II the Moon Pts. 1 and 2

The Future Sound of London – Papua New Guinea

Human Resource – Dominator (Joey Beltram Mix)

Metalheadz – Terminator

Omni Trio – Renegade Snares

Red House Painters – New Jersey

Teenage Fanclub – The Concept

Heavenly – C Is the Heavenly Option

Tindersticks – City Sickness

Unrest – Make Out Club

Tenor Saw/Buju Banton – Ring the Alarm Quick

Dr. Dre – Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang

Ice Cube – It Was a Good Day

2Pac – I Get Around

Souls of Mischief – 93 ‘Til Infinity

Suede – The Drowners

Blur – For Tomorrow

Elastica – Stutter

Ween – Doctor Rock

Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck

Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me

Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)

Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl

Melvins – Hooch

Dinosaur Jr. – Start Choppin’

Pixies – U-Mass

Liz Phair – Divorce Song

PJ Harvey – Rid of Me

The Afghan Whigs – Debonair

Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name

The Lemonheads – It’s a Shame About Ray

Beck – Loser

The Breeders – Cannonball

Nirvana – Scentless Apprentice

 

1994-1996

 

Hole – Violet

Smashing Pumpkins – 1979

Green Day – Longview

Weezer – Say It Ain’t So

Blur – Girls & Boys

Oasis – Live Forever

Pulp – Common People

The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy

Nas – It Ain’t Hard to Tell

Mobb Deep – Shook Ones, Pt. 2

GZA – 4th Chamber

Pavement – Gold Soundz

Built to Spill – Car

Modest Mouse – Broke

Frank Black – Headache

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Bellbottoms

Guided by Voices – I Am a Scientist

Nine Inch Nails – Closer

Bjork – Hyper-Ballad

Beck – Devil’s Haircut

Portishead – Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me)

Saint Etienne – Like a Motorway

Basic Channel – Octagon

Paperclip People – Throw

DJ Shadow – Midnight in a Perfect World

Dr. Octagon – Blue Flowers

Common – I Used to Lover H.E.R.

Jeff Buckley – Grace

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

Arthur Russell – This Is How We Walk on the Moon

Low – Words

The Auteurs – Unsolved Child Murder

Jawbox – Savory

Drive Like Jehu – Luau

Brainiac – Pussyfootin’

Napalm Death – Twist the Knife (Slowly)

Darkthrone – En As I Dype Skogen

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo

Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin and Juice

Luniz – I Got 5 on It

Cutty Ranks – Limb by Limb

The Prodigy – No Good (Start the Dance)

Underworld – Born Slippy (NUXX)

The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun

Daft Punk – Da Funk

Belle and Sebastian – The State I Am In

Elliott Smith – Needle in the Hay

The Magnetic Fields – Take Ecstasy with Me

Palace Music – New Partner

Arab Strap – The First Big Weekend

Tortoise – Gamera

The Sea and Cake – Parasol

Pavement – Rattled by the Rush

Guided by Voices – Game of Pricks

Weezer – El Scorcho

 

1997-1999

 

Radiohead – Paranoid Android

Bjork – Joga

The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony

Elliott Smith – Between the Bars

Cat Power – Cross Bones Style

The Clientele – Reflections After Jane

Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See a Darkness

Smog – Teenage Spaceship

Silver Jews – Random Rules

Autechre – Arch Carrier

Boards of Canada – Happy Cycling

Herbert – So Now…

Aphex Twin – Windowlicker

Uilab – St. Elmo’s Fire

Air – Le Soleil est Pres du Moi

Massive Attack – Teardrop

Black Star – Respiration

The Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize

Outkast – Spottieottiedopaliscious

The Roots – The Next Movement

The Flaming Lips – Waitin’ for a Superman

The Beta Band – Dry the Rain

The Olivia Tremor Control – Hideaway

Neutral Milk Hotel – Holland, 1945

Super Furry Animals – Ice Hockey Hair

Stardust – Music Sounds Better with You

Basement Jaxx – Jump n’ Shout

Wilco – Via Chicago

Pulp – This Is Hardcore

Belle and Sebastian – Lazy Line Painter Jane

Yo La Tengo – Autumn Sweater

Sleater-Kinney – One More Hour

Refused – New Noise

The Dismemberment Plan – The City

Boredoms – Super Shine

Mogwai – Like Herod

Jim O’Rourke – Halfway to a Threeway

Sigur Ros – Svefn-g-Englar

 

2000-2002

 

Daft Punk – One More Time

Radiohead – Idioteque

Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Storm

The Avalanches – Since I Left You

Broadcast – Come On Let’s Go

Aaliyah – Try Again

Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River

Luomo – Tessio

Vitalic – La Rock 01

Kylie Minogue – Love at First Sight

Jay-Z – Big Pimpin’

Outkast – B.O.B.

Eminem – The Real Slim Shady

Ghostface Killah – Nutmeg

Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On

The White Stripes – Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

The Strokes – The Modern Age

…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Another Morning Stoner

Interpol – Obstacle 1

Electric Six – Danger! High Voltage

Golden Boy with Miss Kittin – Rippin Kittin’

Jurgen Paape – So Weit Wie Noch Nie

Osymyso – Intro-Inspection

The Knife – Heartbeats

LCD Soundystem – Lossing My Edge

The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers

The Streets – Weak Become Heroes

Aesop Rock – Daylight

Rjd2 – Good Times Roll Pt. 2

Bright Eyes – The Calendar Hung Itself

Wilco – Poor Places

Queens of the Stonge Age – No One Knows

My Morning Jacket – The Way That He Sings

Modest Mouse – 3rd Planet

Clinic – Distortions

Shellac – Prayer to God

Mclusky – To Hell with Good Intentions

Lightning Bolt – Ride the Sky

The Microphones – The Moon

The New Pornographers – Letter from an Occupant

The Shins – New Slang

The Decemberists – Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect

Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse

Broken Social Scene – Cause = Time

Deerhoof – This Magnificent Bird Will Rise

Spoon – The Way We Get By

Dizzee Rascal I Luv U

M.O.P. – Ante Up

Clipse – Grindin’

Talib Kweli – Get By

Jay-Z – Takeover

 

2003-2006

 

Outkast – Hey Ya

Kanye West – Through The Wire

R. Kelly – Ignition (Remix)

Beyonce – Crazy In Love

Gnarls Barkley – Crazy

!!! – Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story)

TV on the Radio – Staring at the Sun

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

The Walkmen – The Rat

Devendra Banhart – A Sight to Behold

Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear

Sufjan Stevens – Casimir Pulaski Day

Antony and the Johnsons – Hope There’s Someone

Animal Collective – Leaf House

The Books – Take Time

M83 – Don’t Save Us from the Flames

The Postal Service – Such Great Heights

Annie – Heartbeat

M.I.A. – Galang

The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

The Fiery Furnaces – Here Comes the Summer

The Mountain Goats – No Children

The Wrens – She Sends Kisses

Les Savy Fav – The Sweat Descends

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?

The Exploding Hearts – Modern Kicks

Art Brut – Formed a Band

Boris – Farewell

Mastodon – Sleeping Giant

Madvillain – America’s Most Blunted

T.I. – What You Know

Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone

Amerie – 1 Thing

Ciara – Oh

The Go! Team – The Power Is On

Feist – Mushaboom

Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

Wolf Parade – I’ll Believe in Anything

Band of Horses – The Funeral

The Hold Steady – Stuck Between Stations

Beirut – Postcards from Italy

Johnny Boy – You Are the Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve

Love Is All – Busy Doing Nothing

Jens Lekman – Black Cab

Christian Falk – Dream On

Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks

Justice vs. Simian – We Are Your Friends

Hot Chip – Boy from School

Animal Collective – Grass

Black Dice – Cone Toaster

Liars – The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack

Panda Bear – Bros

[Guest beatfanatic]

*expects a shitstorm*

[kaini]

i'm too IDM to generate a shitstorm

my taste is perfect

[Guest zaphod]

but this is pitchfork's staff's taste, not yours. and most of these tracks are obvious hipster choices, trendy. but of course this is pitchfork so that's an obvious complaint.

[kaini]

that's retarded

 

these are pitchfork staff choices, yes

but when you buy the latest autechre album, the tracks and running order are autechre's choices

when you buy or download a dj mix, the tracks and running order are the dj's choices

 

it's like giving out that your tin of beans contains beans

[Guest zaphod]

what? i was responding to you saying "my taste is perfect" which i assumed was relating to this list being your taste in music, which it really isn't, because i doubt you like every single track in this carefully cultivated selection.

[karmakramer]

The list lacks any real focus in regards to who its targeting... its like instead of them actually picking their favorite songs of the past 40 years they tried to pick songs from every genre in order to please everyone.

 

It really makes the list feel more or less like an advertisement for trendy music of these decades.

[Guest zaphod]

exactly

 

 

[kaini]

what? i was responding to you saying "my taste is perfect" which i assumed was relating to this list being your taste in music, which it really isn't, because i doubt you like every single track in this carefully cultivated selection.

 

jesus christ, zaphod's sarcasm detector is broken

 

i like most tracks in this carefully cultivated selection

it's a nice thing to put on shuffle if your taste extends beyond BD CH SDhawefeiuashwgfuhigtufasrptimestretchedsample.OH BD CHsnarerush

 

marquee moon, uptown top rankin, girls just want to have fun, or rebel without a pause (to pick 4) are popular songs. people like them. complaining that this list sounds like an advertisement for trendy music of these decades is missing the point - it's a list of trendy (ie. popular) music of these decades, that people like now or liked when the tracks were released.

 

remind me never to post a list of any description on watmm in the future

 

[Guest beatfanatic]

*expects a shitstorm*

[kaini]

also, it includes suspiria by goblin

that track alone guarantees admission to the awesome club

[Guest zaphod]

[troll]lol dude suspiria? that's like the ultimate horror film for hipsters to namedrop. this list is so self conscious it's pathetic.[/troll]

 

no but really there's some great music on the list and i don't only listen to bleeps and bloops but i just know this was carefully designed to appear as cool as possible. but i guess that's the point of a list like this, sort of...

[kaini]

i care not for irony or self-consciousness

i care for good music

 

np: salt 'n' pepa - push it

 

yeah i guess it is a bit hipster, but there's no faulting this track, which sounds good in my ears

[tec]

If I had that on shuffle and Kelly Clarkson came on my entire day would be ruined. And Suspiria is a load of bollocks.

[qnio]

complaining that this list sounds like an advertisement for trendy music of these decades is missing the point - it's a list of trendy (ie. popular) music of these decades, that people like now or liked when the tracks were released.

yes

 

...but i just know this was carefully designed to appear as cool as possible.

pfft

[Guest Adjective]

If I had that on shuffle and Kelly Clarkson came on my entire day would be ruined.

i think it must be cool to like the manufactured pop now

 

 

there's a good number of those

[Guest iamabe]

weird. i just bought this book.

[chim]

no but really there's some great music on the list and i don't only listen to bleeps and bloops but i just know this was carefully designed to appear as cool as possible. but i guess that's the point of a list like this, sort of...

 

I enjoy the list alot, have found alot of good artists because of it. But that's pretty much true.

 

i think it must be cool to like the manufactured pop now

i'm beginning to like pop because it's the least pretentious music there is

 

[kaini]

i spent the evening listening to arty punk like wire and gang of four because of the list

most enjoyable and i hadn't listened to that stuff in ages

[Guest boo]

*makes a cool list*

[Guest beatfanatic]

*makes a cool list*

 

*calls it pretentious*

[awepittance]

how and why did Pitchfork become such powerful musical trend gate keepers?

 

when i saw this list i just got very confused, it reads like the top 500 songs in a magazine like Entertainment Weekly, is it supposed to? I like a lot of these songs but i was under the impression Pitchfork admired more eclectic music

[Guest boo]

no the best music is the music you play at wedding parties

[Guest spike]

*there are a shit ton of great songs on this, skip the ones you don't like*

[awepittance]

its not pretentious to me, it just seems very obligatory and predictable, and yes there are good songs on here but i think my main question is why is pitchfork getting attention for this, did they really make a book out of this?

i really think those dudes are better off writing and probably have a greater authority talking about music post the year 2000

 

edit: ive only been to pitchfork maybe 3-4 times so im genuinely curious about who they are and why they are so followed by people on watmm