Greatest Album of 1979 - Preliminary Round 1

[Dr. Medulla]

Yet another exercise in community sniping! This one is about determining which was the greatest album released in that greatest year, 1979. (Okay, everyone knows we're going to go with London Calling in the final vote. Let's ignore the ending and concentrate on the journey, hmmm?)

Here's how it works in the preliminary round(s). If you're too arsed to read this, don't complain if you fuck up and vote against your interest. Literacy is why Jesus died for you all. The goal at first is to narrow my selection of 20 albums (plus KISS' Dynasty) to 10, which is when we'll switch to the standard survivor style of voting albums out. Everyone gets five votes to pick those they think are worthy of further consideration. To move on in this round, an album has to receive at least two votes.

After this first preliminary round, if we're still at more than 10, we go again with what's left, making the threshold harder. No idea how long prelims will take, but I'd say that if you don't want to drag them out, don't throw a pity vote at something you don't truly believe in (which is to say, albums you think we should keep talking about). Also, like the last time I MC'd one of these things, I'll only vote in case of tiebreakers.

Undoubtedly someone like Kory or Sparky will whine, "But what about Supertramp's Breakfast in America? I live by the teachings of The Logical Song!" So for this round only, in addition to your five votes, you can nominate an album or you can second a nomination—one or the other, not both—and if an album is both nominated and seconded, it gets added to the next round for full consideration. But those nominations are only happening this round, so Kory and Sparky, you get just this one chance to be a dreamer.

To be clear, you're voting for the albums you think should move on past the preliminaries.

[Heston]

I've cast my five votes. Breaks my heart but I had to leave XTC out and plump for Fear of Music.

[Sparky]

What, no Supertramp or Fleetwood Mac?
Voted, had to make a couple of tough judgement calls, but I went with what I enjoy listening to most often.

[Olaf]

I nominate Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers.

[revbob]

I nominate Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers.

Yeah miles ahead of some much of this.

[Sparky]

I nominate Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers.

I forgot all about SLF, great album. We need a write in vote section.

[revbob]

I nominate Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers.

I forgot all about SLF, great album. We need a write in vote section.

Id toss half of these rather than exclude SLF.

[Heston]

I nominate Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers.

Seconded! A glaring omission.

[WestwayKid]

I'll wait until SLF is added.

[Dr. Medulla]

Whoops, oversight on my part. SLF will be added to the next round thanks to Olaf and Heston.

[JennyB]

AHAHAHAHAHA KISS.

[Flex]

I'll nominate Germs - (GI). Probably the first hardcore punk LP and still one of the best. I look forward to arguing in favor of this genre of punk for one round before it's eliminated.

[Wolter]

I'll nominate Germs - (GI). Probably the first hardcore punk LP and still one of the best. I look forward to arguing in favor of this genre of punk for one round before it's eliminated.

This has always been a Boomer Board.

[Heston]

AHAHAHAHAHA KISS.

One day you will all take them seriously.

[Sparky]

I'll nominate Germs - (GI). Probably the first hardcore punk LP and still one of the best. I look forward to arguing in favor of this genre of punk for one round before it's eliminated.

I personally think the Germs (GI) is a great album, but so few people are able to get past the harshness I guess you'd call it of the sound. Darby Crash's lyrics were amazing, tragic ending to an original LA scene band.