Best Album of 1997

Here's the picks, the Manics seem to have 1996 sewn up but there's still a few days to get the votes in
Had forgotten what a great year for music this was. I own every album on this list and count about 4 or 5 of them among career bests for the band. Some of the cuts this year included Nick Cave, Bjork, Yo La Tengo, Notorious BIG, Bob Dylan, Ben Folds Five, and Erykah Badu

Super Furry Animals - Hermann Loves Pauline (live on TFI Friday) - Radiator



Radiohead - No Surprises (live on Jools Holland) - OK Computer



The Verve - Sonnet (live at Glasto 2008) - Urban Hymns

Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space



Blur - Beetlebum - Blur



Daft Punk - Around The World - Homework

Pavement - Shady Lane - Brighten The Corners



Supergrass - Going Out - In It For The Money



Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun - Dig Your Own Hole

Daft Punk and Chemical Brothers are both very good but Erykah Badu's Baduizm trumps in for me. Brilliant album.

"On & On"

Teenage Fanclub - Songs From Northern Britain. (OK Computer will probably stroll this, but I think it's a very over rated album. Not as good as The Bends)

Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space. Brilliant album.

Super Furries, Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Supergrass and Blur from the list all be up there for me too. It'll be between The Verve and Radiohead I'd say. Not a bad Verve album, but not even their best, but the Oasis fans have to vote for someone. Just don't get the Radiohead buzz.

Others from the year worth a mention...
The Charlatans - Tellin Stories
Cornershop - When I Was Born For The 7th Time (and no, not just for Brimful of Asha)
Primal Scream - Vanishing Point
Bentley Rhythm Ace - Bentley Rhythm Ace
Eels - Beautiful Freak

Supergrass - In It For the Money

A personal favourite of mine from a perpetually under-rated band.

"Alright" (from "I Should Co Co") has proved the song that the man on the street identifies them with - but its one of the worst songs they've written and completely unrepresentative of their musical style and ability. The "cheeky monkey" style video pidgeon-holed them further.

Their last three albums have been criminally neglected of attention - "Life on Other Plantes" , "Road to Rouen" and their latest album "Diamond Hoo Ha" are well worth a listen.

As mentioned, a quality year for decent music overall.

The Verve. Hands down.

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Originally Posted by TonyD

Teenage Fanclub - Songs From Northern Britain.

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One of many classics this year. Others not in the poll that get regular listens still, Boatman's Call - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Curtains - Tindersticks, When I was Born For The 7th Time - Cornershop, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Garden - HMHB, but Ladies & Gentlemen stands head and shoulders above them all in my opinion.

Toughest yet!

It ultimately down to a choice between Spiritualized and Daft Punk, but it was tough eliminating Radiohead and the Supers, the Chemical Brothers an unfortunate 6th:eek:

It will be interesting to see how the Oasis block splits between the Verve and the Chemical Brothers on the basis of one single:cool:

I've gone for Chemical Brothers 'Dig Your Own Hole'. I really didnt like it at first but stood the test of time for me. Best dance album of all time, love how the tracks run into each other too. Radiohead a close 2nd. Still a wonderful album but I always thought it was just a tad over-rated compared to the Bends. Super Furries for bronze. Honourable mentions, Supergrass, a brilliant summery album and Primal Scream 'Vanishing Point', up there with their best.

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Originally Posted by TonyD

Teenage Fanclub - Songs From Northern Britain

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My personal favourite of theirs, I Don't Want Control Of You is one of favourite songs of all time as well :)

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Originally Posted by Bluebeard

It will be interesting to see how the Oasis block splits between the Verve and the Chemical Brothers on the basis of one single:cool:

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Voted for the two Oasis albums so far , Voted for OK Computer this year

I dont know, I cant see many Oasis fans voting Chemical Brothers.

Daft Punk - Homework by a mile. Don't think much of anything they've done since but Homework was a masterpiece.

Pretty good year for albums this.
Primal Scream - Vanishing Point,
Nick Cave - Boatman's Call,
Verve, Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Spiritualized as listed...,
Prodigy - Fat Of The Land,
and, of course (disgusted with myself for forgetting it), the self-titled All Saints debut.

But as there can only be one vote it has to go to:
Other: Cornershop - When I Was Born For The 7th Time.
Genius album, never been out of the car since it was released.

went for OK computer - even though I have played it to death and am probably sick of it now!!!!

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Originally Posted by Pauro 76

I've gone for Chemical Brothers 'Dig Your Own Hole'. I really didnt like it at first but stood the test of time for me. Best dance album of all time, love how the tracks run into each other too.

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I loved that too at the time. Pity the iTunes age has changed that. :(

Alabama 3 - Exile on Coldharbour Lane.

Followed very closely by
Inciters - Movin' On

and then Teenage Fanclub and Spiritualized.
My top two could have gone either way, but I'm hoping for some support for Alabama 3.

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Originally Posted by noby

Alabama 3 - Exile on Coldharbour Lane.

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Ah balls, thought that was '98 for some reason.

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Originally Posted by lucanhoop87

what criteria is used in the selection of albums for best of the year btw?? if it comes down to jebus' own personal preference it can hardly be an impartial and therefore definitive best of year poll can it??

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I look up best of lists and I cut it down to 9. Not all of the albums are to my liking but to say that the poll can hardly be called impartial is nonsense. The other option was put there so people could vote for whatever album they want, you could only say it wasn't imartial if I presented a choice of ten and you had to pick one of those. It should be noted that the only 'Other' album that could have had a chance of winning any of these polls was the Pogues in 1988, and that was proven to be a 1987 album so was discounted, so I think I've gotten it pretty spot on.

The prodigy 'Fat Of The Land' was left out because it wasn't one of the top 9 albums of the year in my opinion, 'Music For The Jilted Generation' probably should have been, but it's worth noting that it wouldn't have come close to winning that year anyway so it's not a major tragedy

I went for OK Computer - fantastic album, one of the best ever in my opinion!

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Originally Posted by Macy

Others from the year worth a mention...

...Eels - Beautiful Freak

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That was 1996.

Voted for daft punk earlier but completely forgot Jurrasic 5 first album was released in 97. One of my fav hip hop groups ever and this imo is prob the best hip hop song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZmQIGLNxBs

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Originally Posted by Neish

Voted for daft punk earlier but completely forgot Jurrasic 5 first album was released in 97. One of my fav hip hop groups ever and this imo is prob the best hip hop song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZmQIGLNxBs

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Good choice but I think Quality Control and Power In Numbers are better albums.

metallicas reload album for me in 1997.

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Originally Posted by superfrank

Good choice but I think Quality Control and Power In Numbers are better albums.

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I agree but rate the first album as it was like a breath of fresh air at a time when gangsta rap was in its prime.

Close between Radiator and OK but went for the former.

Another one bubbling under, Foo Fighters, Colour and The Shape...

Some of the tunes on Urban Hymns sound a bit dated,I've gone for In It For The Money - cracking album. OK computer is a stunning album aswell.

Looking like a tie on OK Computer and Urban Hymns. If I hadnt had voted Chems, OK Computer would have been voted for. Does that count? ;)

ok computer just ahead of Brighten The Corners from Pavement - classic album, great band.

'98 anyone? Not the best of years but have a few runners....

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Originally Posted by Pauro 76

'98 anyone? Not the best of years but have a few runners....

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I'll have it up later on, videos for the choices won't be up til tomorrow however (work restrictions)

If it ends in a draw, I think we should have a vote off between the top two only.

I'll be voting for anyone but the verve

When does the poll close? I still can't make my mind up!

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Originally Posted by Pauro 76

'98 anyone? Not the best of years but have a few runners....

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Au contraire, 1998 was a particularly good year, there are at least a half dozen genuine contenders for my album of the decade off the top of my head - Air: Moon Safari being the front runner, Mercury Rev: Deserter's Songs, Massive Attack: Mezzanine, Eels: Electro-Shock Blues, ADF's Rafi's Revenge, TGU's Rejoice, Rejoice.
And that's before you get to what will no doubt be the more popular choices like Smashing Pumpkins, Belle & Sebastian and Pulp.

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Originally Posted by Schumi

When does the poll close? I still can't make my mind up!

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It's telling me the poll is closed already.

A few good albums but my favourite of that year (Pearl Jam Yield) not there. biased poll- all Uk bands

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Originally Posted by noby

It's telling me the poll is closed already.

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Poll ended this morning, there's a 7 day limit on all the polls before they close so we can nail down a winner. I'll get the '98 poll up in a few minutes

*Listens for the sound of Jebus' hand slapping his forehead*

It doesn't matter which albums are *chosen* on the poll, as the Other option allows you to vote for whatever album you like.
I won't even bother pointing out the non-UK bands on the list.


EDIT: In response to jinxy.