NPR called down the wrath of more than three dozen angry music fans yesterday when it released its list of "The 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade." The folks at "All Songs Considered" gave a few clues to their process—their selections involved listener input, for instance. But the story states with some finality: "These are the game-changers: records that signaled some sort of shift in the way music is made or sounds, or ones that were especially influential or historically significant." The list is visible here.
Included? Norah Jones ("What is it with NPR and Norah Jones?" asks Lauren Siebert), Kelly Clarkson and the Garden State soundtrack. ("New Slang" won’t change your life, folks, and it’s the high-point of that collection of songs.) A few commenters expressed surprise over the omission of Joanna Newsom and Neko Case. And, at a cursory glance, it seems that the omission that most surprised commenters is Modest Mouse.
Feedback is no stranger to controversial lists. However, this year’s "Forty-five songs that every Charlottesville music fan should know" was a chance to be prescriptive ("should" is a versatile word, folks) without being exclusive—thanks in large part to the comments we received.
So, after you express your outrage over NPR’s selection of Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head, tell me: What are Charlottesville’s most important recordings? Leave ’em below and make a case for them. If I haven’t listened to ’em previously, I’ll go dig ’em up, pronto.
P.S. Videos from an artist NPR should’ve included, if you ask me:
