The People’s List is Out: My 2 Cents, Cent 2

Check out the map near the bottom, marking votes distributed throughout countries and U.S. cities.

It’s boring if you look at each number-based list (okay, we get it, OK Computer is awesome), but look at the “Distinction” lists. Those include albums which listeners were more likely to vote for in one particular city or country than in any other area.

So which country has the coolest taste? I hate to say it, but I’m impressed with Russia’s list. These people sentenced a punk band to two years in jail, banned gay pride parades for the next 100 years and sued Madonna for openly supporting gay rights, but they also ranked Massive Attack’s Mezzanine in their top three, placed Burial and Björk in their top 20 and were more likely to vote for Ray of Light than any other country. The contradictions are as big as the country itself.

Props also go to Mexico, Argentina and Poland. As for U.S. cities, let’s hear it for the eclectic, unpretentious list from Los Angeles. I would be fine with sitting in rush-hour traffic on the 405 if I had Sun O))), Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toro y Moi, and of course Los Angeles (the slick Flying Lotus album that made my own top 20).