Dude Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Ranking works of art is inherently stupid. I figured I'd be the first one to come out and say this since we all seem to be in denial. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Ranking works of art is inherently stupid. So is writing a job description for someone else's job when they should do it themselves and could do it better anyway, on a gorgeous Friday afternoon in the summer. If I'm doing one stupid thing, I may as well make a habit of it. Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Ranking works of art is inherently stupid. I figured I'd be the first one to come out and say this since we all seem to be in denial.yes...if only i never did anything stupid. Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky speaks Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Cause too many songs would be duking it out for the #1 spot. And I don't want to hurt their feelings. That's how I feel too. Just numbered them to be as cooperative as possible. Link to post Share on other sites
Dude Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 So is writing a job description for someone else's job when they should do it themselves and could do it better anyway, on a gorgeous Friday afternoon in the summer. If I'm doing one stupid thing, I may as well make a habit of it. There are a lot of stupid things organisms do for enjoyment. A hamster enjoys running on a wheel that spins in one place without moving an inch. Assigning numeric rank and value to songs knocks our IQs down to those of hamsters on wheels. Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 8. Cars Can't Escape (not sure how much of this is Jeff and how much Jay) I say eligible, Jeff got credited for the lyrics when Jay released his version on Bigger Than Blue. --Mike Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Ranking works of art is inherently stupid. I figured I'd be the first one to come out and say this since we all seem to be in denial. But isn't that what we are ultimately doing with this "Top 20"? I don't deny the arbitrariness of ranking the songs or the little value a ranking has over time, but since I think that is obvious, I wonder why it matters. If you're already coming up with 20 songs, is it that much more difficult to put them in order beyond that? (Time-consuming, yes. Difficult, not that much.)* *This author takes little to no responsibility for any contradictions in the preceding paragraph or previous posts. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Assigning numeric rank and value to songs knocks our IQs down to those of hamsters on wheels. And like hamsters running on wheels, ranking these tunes has no visible impact on our waistlines. Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 GunNew MadridDash 7Sunken TreasureVia ChicagoShe's a JarMagazine Called SunsetJesus, etc.ashes of American flagsHell is ChromeHandshake drugsMuzzle of beesSide with SeedsImpossible GermanyOne WingReservationsNot for the SeasonBox full of LettersI am trying to break your heartMisunderstood Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 1. Via Chicago2. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart3. She's A Jar4. Sunken Treasure5. Laminated Cat6. Jesus, etc.7. Ashes of American Flags8. I'm Always In Love9. Misunderstood10. A Shot In The Arm11. Acuff Rose12. Magazine Called Sunset14. Poor Places15. Monday16. Reservations17. I Can't Keep From Talking18. New Madrid19. The Lonely 120. Casino Queen Link to post Share on other sites
Nobody Girl Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I was about to go be productive when I saw this thread. Damn you, Via Chicago, damn you! Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 1.) Muzzle of Bees2.) War on War3.) Chinese Apple4.) Remember the Mountain Bed5.) Poor Places6.) Gun7.) She's A Jar8.) Jesus, etc.9.) Not For The Season/Laminated Cat 10.) One By One11.) Sunken Treasure12.) I Am Trying To Break Your Heart13.) Diamond Claw14.) Venus Stopped The Train15.) Pieholden Suite 16.) Watch Me Fall17.) Ashes of American Flags18.) Hummingbird19.) Wreckroom20.) Someday Some Morning Sometime --Mike Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 Why are so many people afraid to rank the songs? It's not that difficult. I broke all my ties by going to my itunes and seeing which song I'd listened to more. --Mike Link to post Share on other sites
thermocaster Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Hmm... 1. Muzzle of Bees2. Poor Places3. Hell is Chrome4. Not for the Season5. I am trying to break your heart6. She's a Jar7. Radio King8. A Shot in the Arm9. Passenger Side10. California Stars11. New Madrid12. Summerteeth13. Venus Stopped the Train14. Cars Can't Escape15. Red-eyed and Blue16. Spiders17. Gun18. I Must Be High19. One Wing20. Impossible Germany Link to post Share on other sites
barbkm Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 This was hard. Here's my selection, with the reasons why: 1 I am trying to break your heart: Love the lyrics, love the mood, love the crazy-sounding piano 2 Outtasite: Makes me happy -- great way to motivate me driving to work on a Monday morning 3 Either Way: Makes me happy, my rainy morning, sipping coffee on my balcony song 4 Hummingbird:Just a sweet song about unrequited love. Story of my life 5 Company in my back: Love it when he sings, I will alwyas die, I will alswys die, I will always die so you can remember ME -e-e 6. Spiders (live): Killer -- makes my heart bond and blood run. 7. Poor Places: That thudding bass line 8. Misunderstood: When I'm really pissed,air dumming to the live version helps get the agression out. 9. Less Than You Think: My favote line - The night is dissolvong in a cup God lifts to toast the lightening. 10. Via Chicago: The emotion in his voice in the final "I'm coming home ..." 11. I'm A Wheel: Just one thing: That scream. I just got chills thinking about it. 12. You Are My Face: Quiet, quiet BREAK OUT LOUD quiet 13. Walken: I want to somone to think about me during a stroll, too 14. Heavy Metal Drummer: Who does not look back to high school or college and smile at the memories of easier times. 15. Impossible Germany (live) -- funny, never liked this song when I heard it live before SBS came out. Now, I love it. When all three guitars start playing the same riff -- here come the chills again! 16. Bull Black Nova: Cos its scary and I like a good scare 17. I'll Fight: Jeff does 50's girl band -- and does it well. 18. California Stars (live, solo acoustic): Because his voice is pure and full of love 19. In a Future Age:The acoustic guitar -- once more, chills. 20. Dreamer in my Dreams: It makes me want to grab all my friends and dance till were dripping with sweat. Link to post Share on other sites
barbkm Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 There are a lot of stupid things organisms do for enjoyment. A hamster enjoys running on a wheel that spins in one place without moving an inch. Assigning numeric rank and value to songs knocks our IQs down to those of hamsters on wheels. But it's so much fun!!! Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 Mike.....I edited my previous list into groups of five starting with best five......Hope that helps in assigning points in your tally. Thanks a lot. . But it's so much fun!!! Dude's just upset because it's getting harder to hold out hope for the tape deck or the Creedence. --Mike Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 1. War on War2. Hell is Chrome3. Misunderstood4. Solitaire5. Gun6. IATTBYH7. Via Chicago8. Spiders (kidsmoke)9. New Madrid10. Company in my Back11. You Are My Face12. She's a Jar13. Deeper Down14. At Least That's What You Said15. Poor Places16. Far Far Away17. Laminated Cat/Not for the Season18. Side with the Seeds19. Sunken Treasure20. Kamera Link to post Share on other sites
Dude Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Dude's just upset because it's getting harder to hold out hope for the tape deck or the Creedence. --Mike More because I didn't have $1,000 on me and I couldn't find a cash machine. Link to post Share on other sites
Aeglos Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Country DisappearedBull Black NovaOne WingDeeper DownImpossible GermanyAt Least That's What You SaidMuzzle of BeesWishful ThinkingHandshake DrugsI Am Trying To Break Your Heart Ashes of American FlagsPoor PlacesShe's a JarPieholden SuiteVia ChicagoLaminated CatWreckroomRemember the Mountain BedMisunderstoodGun Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted August 1, 2009 Author Share Posted August 1, 2009 More because I didn't have $1,000 on me and I couldn't find a cash machine. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. Link to post Share on other sites
grateful dead Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 ;)ha a lot of the top songs are tweedy/bennett Link to post Share on other sites
beniking Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 20. I'm Always In Love19. Wishful Thinking18. Pieholden Suite17. Radio Cure16. Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(Again)15. Laminated Cat/Not For The Season14. Company In My Back13. Shot In The Arm12. Via Chicago11. IATTBYH10. We've Been Had9. Sunken Treasure8. Ashes Of American Flags7. Venus Stopped The Train6. Gun5. Poor Places4. You Are My Face3. Hell Is Chrome2. Misunderstood1. Jesus Etc. (Sooooooooo played out live, but when I look back this is the song that hooked me on Wilco and I distinctly remember how awesome and different the words and arrangement were to anything else I had heard before) Even though we are allowing MA songs I just couldn't get myself to list any as Jeff didn't write any of the words. And my top 7 are pretty consistently always at my top but the rest are fairly interchangeable from day to day. Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 i'm scared to rank them, but the is in chronological order: 1. Flatness2. Gun3. Wait up4. Acuff-rose5. New madrid6. Too far apart7. Misunderstood8. Sunken treasure9. The Lonely 110. One by one11. Via chicago12. She's a jar13. When you wake up feeling old14. Remember the mountain bed15. Airline to heaven16. Kamera17. Poor places18. Hummingbird19. Side with the seeds20. wilco (the song) Link to post Share on other sites
Beautiful & Stoned Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 It's pretty difficult ranking these, but here's my best shot: 1. Ashes of American Flags2. Poor Places3. War on War4. At Least That's What You Said5. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart6. Not For the Season7. Hell is Chrome8. You Are My Face9. Misunderstood10. Theologians11. Kamera12. Sunken Treasure13. Jesus, Etc.14. Muzzle of Bees15. Impossible Germany16. She's a Jar17. Via Chicago18. Company in My Back19. Pot Kettle Black20. Pieholden Suite While I'm already pretty smitten with the writing on the new record, it's still too early for me to see how those (One Wing, Deeper Down, Country Disappeared, Everlasting) stack up with the favorites I've been listening to for years. (Damn, I might have to use that list to make my 92nd Wilco mix CD) Link to post Share on other sites
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