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There’s no denying the fact that this was the best-selling album of all time, everyone knows his songs and I’m pretty sure everyone has tried the moonwalk at some point in their life. He was, without a doubt, one of the most influential artists in the history of music. Sure he had his share of lows too, but being placed on that pedestal of what we thought he should have been, we have to remember he was still human and we only really know what the media portrayed.

In these last few days the radio has been bombarded with his music, every station playing a sort of tribute to Michael Jackson and I quickly realized how much I have always loved his songs and that this is how I want to remember him, not the barrage of clouded tabloid coverage that grew to mask him. Last night, as I sat listening to the same copy of ‘Thriller’ I got twenty four years ago, I decided to pay my own form of homage to the King of Pop…. Remixed.

Jackson 5 – I Want You Back (Z-Trip remix)
Jackson 5 – ABC (Salaam Remi Mix)
Jackson 5 – Never Can Say Goodbye (Shinichi Osawa 3000 Remix)
Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough (White Label mix)
Michael Jackson – Bad (Tag Team Mix)
Michael Jackson – Off The Wall (Wisdome Mix)
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Ansane 2005 Mix)
Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal (Ben Liebrand Remix)

Once the 80′s hit, instead of punk, we got post punk and slowly a transition into new wave and instead of the of the 70s disco we were given dance. Compared to the 70s, I know much more about the 80s.

One of the most influential (perhaps – sadly, not to downplay MJ but the artists themselves that are so-called inspired by him) to modern pop music rests on the shoulders of Michael Jackson. He’s known more in the tabloids now but he lit the world on fire. It goes without saying that MJ was great and he was in a era where he was ultimately innovative, could sing his lungs off and had the dance moves to boot. Billie Jean stands as my favorite Michael Jackson track.

Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

New Order was going through a transition from the suicide of Ian Curtis and to be honest I was a New Order fan before finding out about Joy Division and the transition. When reading about, I never made the connection because in my opinion New Order and Joy Division sound so different. New Order become national superstars with hits like Bizarre Love Triangle but that was later in the 80s. I actually don’t know many songs on the Movement album but Pitchfork’s choice of Movement is a solid as you can get. Since New Order is reissuing 5 of their albums, there’s a contest to win a signed Peter Hook bass.
Temptation by New Order

Making two different appearances in this era is Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. I’ll be honest I know nothing about Grandmaster Flash other then he is of course of a legendary producer who has been sampled frequently on rap records. A particular favorite of mine is The Message which appaears on Ice Cube’s Check Yo Self.

The Message by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five

Punk rock was still alive and well but it definitely past its glory days but the punk rock influences were still present and we got derivatives. Granted I know very little about these two bands themselves both are memorable songs. The Dead Kennedys with hardcore punk (more so hardcore/noise rock but with a political message) and their song “Holiday in Cambodia” were one of the few that took notice to the Khmer Rouge’s acts during the time period. Coming from a Cambodian background… I don’t really need to express my feelings on the matter. I know the Violent Femmes for the track Blister In The Sun (it’s a popular one isn’t it?) and Gone Daddy Gone which Gnarls Barkley covered. Still they made great song great folk songs.

Holiday in Cambodia by The Dead Kennedys
Blister in The Sun by The Violent Femmes

There were a lot of great pop songs in this era. Softcell’s Tainted Love I’d include but a video suffices.

Other songs that I’ve had the experience of knowing beforehand: More Than This by Roxy Music (due to Division Day’s cover), Queen w/ David Bowie Under Pressure (their best times were sadly over). I was also tempted to put some ABBA (you know you secretly love them).

Anyway, with my copy of the Pitchfork 500, I’ll be doing more then just providing the list for you. You can find it here.

I guess you’ll get a semi-review though I doubt you’ll get much criticism and more or less choices of certain songs from each perspective band as well as any commentary. This will be part 1 of 9. I expect to do these about once a week so enjoy! I also want to be able to get the chance to discuss older tracks.

In 1977, it was still 11 years until I was born. Bands like the Clash, Sex Pistols were creating their own punk scene overseas and Television and the Talking Heads creating a punk scene in New York oceanside. I think it’s pretty transparent that I have very little about older more historical artists. While I know a lot about David Bowie, Iggy Pop it’s clear I know next to nothing about their music. Even bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols which are name dropped more then anyone would like, the understanding is generally pretty limited.

I know file sharing isn’t always looked on in the best light but for someone looking to buy the Pitchfork 500 without much music knowledge to begin with, being able to check out these tracks in a viable fashion make reading the Pitchfork 500 that much better.

The Clash features 2 songs from this era and are probably my favorite my band from this time period and arguably my “introduction” to punk rock. The Clash always surprised me because of the references to punk rock that usually come up short when referencing modern punk rock or post-punk. Using a mix of ska and pop sensibilities really drew me into The Clash. I actually am mainly unfamilar with the two tracks included, (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais and The Guns of Brixton (the latter I know more about due to the Arcade Fire’s cover). Still, The Clash is great and arguing which Clash songs to choose from, will end nowhere.

Police & Thieves by The Clash

Sex Pistols, while I dug the occasional song, my opinion has soured on them. From being manufactured to sounding terrible on live performances and almost creating a riot from their hit God Save The Queen and remaining douchebags for the rest of their life. Still from God Save The Queen to Anarchy in the UK are great songs to enjoy, a lot of it isn’t taken seriously nor as important to what was accomplished by other bands in the punk rock scene. (Yeah, I’m going to take flack for this).

The Ramones are probably my second favorite band on this list. It’s pretty easy to like the Ramones with their poppy songs and the use of power chords creating songs that will forever be rock anthems. The song included is Rockaway beach which Pitchfork writers allude to encompassing everything that makes The Ramones, the Ramones. I definitely agree but one choose a variety of Ramones tracks.
California Sun by The Ramones

The Talking Heads are featured 4 times in the “500″ with Pyscho Killer and Memories Can’t Wait in this era. I actually forget how I know about the Talking Heads, maybe I know more about David Byrne more so the the Heads themselves? I know very little about the Talking Heads and I’m thinking one of the first priorities is to get well acquainted.
Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads

The Cure, I know quite a bit about The Cure and how Nancy secretly (it’s no secret now) loves them since its apparently embarrassing to enjoy The Cure’s 1980s New Wave days. I get a little confused on the actual release day of Three Imaginary Boys and the subsequent re-release as Boys Don’t Cry. It all makes sense when Boy Don’t Cry is rather a mere B-side on this album but is a rather simple but powerful track.
Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure

Joy Division… I’ve been a fan since the inclusion of Love Will Tear Us Apart in Donnie Darko especially a lot of their tracks from Unknown Pleasures. Reading about Ian Curtis’ untimely suicide and with the band becoming the influential New Order, is a difficult one to imagine since Joy Division’s potential was unlimited. Joy Division has influenced some of my favorite bands…
Disorder by Joy Division

1979 was Michael Jackson‘s year. With his album Off The Wall, he would light the world on fire (and sometimes himself) and become the person who he is today. I’ll get more into MJ in future features.

There’s a lot I can’t cover due to just taking too long and you should read the book instead as their insight is better. Definitely worth checking out though.