Ranking Broadcast Records

Hello! I'm reviving my blog cataloguing my vinyl collection 1-Z. I think it's better to occasionally dip into this project rather than staying on top of every record I listen to while going through my collection. Additionally, I'm ditching the three star system for the Rolling Stone Magazine five-star system. Though I like the idea of the three star system, I had nostalgia for the five star system when I saw the black stars under the special characters. So with all due reference to and reverence for The New Rolling Stone Record Guide (1982) here's the guide to my ratings cribbed directly from the book: 

Ratings

★★★★★

Indispensable: a record that must be included in any comprehensive collection.

★★★★

Excellent: a record of substantial merit, though flawed in some essential way.

★★★

Good: a record of average worth, but one that might possess considerable appeal for fans of a particular style. 

★★

Mediocre: records that are artistically insubstantial, though not truly wretched. 

★

Poor: records in which even technical competence is at question, or which are remarkably ill-conceived.

I've hit the Br part of the Bs and have been listening to all of my Broadcast records, easily one of the most fascinating and rewarding band catalogues of the 21st century. Note: I'm only ranking the LPs I have on vinyl. I don't own the Focus Group collaboration on vinyl (I would rank it highly, probably right before or after The Future Crayon). 

The Rankings

Tender Buttons ★★★★★

After Haha Sound this seems like a reset. Their strongest collection of songs attained by stripping down their sound. Highlights the brilliance of Trish's songwriting. May her memory always be a blessing. 

The Noise Made By People ★★★★★

This album was distributed by Tommy Boy Records back in the day. Wild. Contains their best songs: "Long Was the Year," "C'mon Let's Go," "Echoes' Answer" and "Until Then." 

Work And Non-Work ★★★★★

The Future Crayon ★★★★

Broadcast's "Odds and Sods" compilation (mostly from the early 2000s) is surprisingly strong over its four sides. 

Maida Vale Sessions ★★★★

For a band that references a period of musical history in which most bands that sounded like Broadcast were creatures of the studio, Broadcast were actually good live. This compilation of various BBC sessions is also a good introduction to their entire body of work. 

Mother Is the Milky Way ★★★

Unlike Microtronics, this is a tour CD (released in 2009) that seems like a fully realized Broadcast project. They are definitely deep into their Ghost Box/ British Folk Horror period with flutes, sampled children's voices and birds to soundtrack your week of wonders. 

Haha Sound  ★★★

This Feels like a transitional record to me. Too many forgettable tracks with highs that don't reach the highs of their previous record. 

Berberian Sound Studio ★★

Microtronics 1 and 2 ★★

It's not really fair to compare Microtronics (a short tour only CD of instrumentals) with the other releases on this list, but it's not unpleasant to listen to as background or incidental music (which it's subtitle "stereo recorded music for links and bridges" suggests it is). It reminds me of the instrumental records Felt released (The 19th Century/Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads to Death and Train Above the City) or, fans of the genre that they are, Broadcast's version of library music.