Washington, DC is paradise to me! 51 albums of DC history by EyeKanFly

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Washington DC is home to some of the most powerful institutions and people on the planet, yet this is in stark contrast to the 700,000+ people who live within the District's borders: utterly powerless to change all but the most basic tenets of their local government.

These 51 albums encapsulate the artists, producers, venues, labels, and genres most important to the history and legacy of the District of Columbia. Some are by local DC artists, some are by artists who grew up in DC never to return in adulthood. Some are by foreigners who have made this city home, or maybe just passed through on a tour. Some are by artists who experienced DC at its best, and some are by artists who have experienced DC at its worst.

In addition to the 51 albums, here are a handful of honorable mentions, mostly songs or other recordings which don't fit into the "album" format. All however are important to the past, present, and future of Washington, DC:
- "A 1000 Times" - Hamilton Leithauser
- "Crew" - GoldLink
- "Embassy Row" - Pavement
- "Ghost of Old D.C." - J. B. Beverley & The Wayward Drifters
- "God Bless America" - Kate Smith
- "One Mint Julep" - The Clovers
- "Reunited" - Peaches & Herb
- "Summertime" - Billy Stewart
- "Swanee" - Al Jolson
- "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" - The Postal Service
- "The Hustle" - Van McCoy
- "Ugly Man" - Danny Gatton
- "Washington D.C." - The Magnetic Fields
- "Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues" - Skip James
- Library of Congress recordings - Jelly Roll Morton; Woody Guthrie
- Native American music of the Eastern Woodlands - Piscataway Conoy Tribal Nation musicians

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11. (=)
The Hope Six Demolition Project 
United Kingdom PJ Harvey
Buy album United States
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HOPE VI is a HUD program aimed at turning "projects" into mixed-income communities. One of these tactics is through demolition. English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey composed a whole album about the disparity between black and white and rich and poor Washingtonians. Despite being among the most diverse cities in the country, Washington is still effectively very segregated. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
162 charts
Rank Score:
469
Rank in 2016:
46
Rank in 2010s:
543
Overall Rank:
3,166
Average Rating:
 73 (238 votes)
Comments:
10
12. (=)
Get Wild 
Iran Sharam
Buy album United States
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An immigrant from Iran, Sharam has been a huge part of DC's electronica, dance, techno, and house scenes since he started making music 30 years ago. Also check out his band Deep Dish (with fellow Iranian-American DJs and singers) which features similar music. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
4 charts
Rank Score:
4
Rank in 2009:
1,692
Rank in 2000s:
15,382
Overall Rank:
78,285
Average Rating:
 72 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
13. (=)
Rips 
United States Ex Hex
Buy album United States
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Frontwoman Mary Timony is a DC native and former bastion of riot grrrl feminist punk music. Ex Hex is a little more mainstream, but there are big similarities with bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2014
Appears in:
45 charts
Rank Score:
121
Rank in 2014:
201
Rank in 2010s:
2,002
Overall Rank:
9,740
Average Rating:
 72 (54 votes)
Comments:
3
14. (=)
Radio Free DC 
United States Fort Knox Five
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Fort Knox Five is a DC-based funk/electronica collective which releases music on their own label. The idea behind this album is to sample sounds of DC one might find by scanning through radio stations. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2008
Appears in:
3 charts
Rank Score:
4
Rank in 2008:
1,902
Rank in 2000s:
17,109
Overall Rank:
86,200
Average Rating:
 73 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
15. (=)
The Richest Man In Babylon 
United States Thievery Corporation
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Thievery Corporation is a duo of DJs who collaborate with musicians from around the world, incorporating musical themes from all over but especially Brazil. When not touring the world, they were a mainstay at Eighteenth Street Lounge, the namesake of their label ESL. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
34 charts
Rank Score:
228
Rank in 2002:
106
Rank in 2000s:
1,010
Overall Rank:
5,768
Average Rating:
 74 (42 votes)
Comments:
3
16. (=)
Little Earth 
Iraq Rahim AlHaj
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Iraqi-American oud musician Rahim AlHaj has recorded most of his music on the Smithsonian Folkways label at Private Ear Recording Studios in Hyattsville. This album which features the track "Morning in Hyattsville", a tribute to the DC suburb. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2010
Appears in:
3 charts
Rank Score:
4
Rank in 2010:
2,093
Rank in 2010s:
22,943
Overall Rank:
84,791
Average Rating:
 73 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
17. (=)
15th Anniversary Celebration, Live At The Kennedy Center 
Live
United States The Seldom Scene
Buy album United States
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While DC is largely known for its punk and go-go music, the city was also once known for its eclectic bluegrass music. The Seldom Scene are the finest example of progressive bluegrass, and this live album recorded at DC's Kennedy Center features guests like Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and John Fogerty. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
1 chart
Rank in 1988:
None
Rank in 1980s:
None
Average Rating:
 74 (2 votes)
Comments:
1
18. (=)
City Life 
United States The Blackbyrds
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The Blackbyrds were formed Howard University students who were taught by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd. This album includes the track "Rock Creek Park" which has been heavily sampled by rap artists like N.W.A. and MF Doom. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
7 charts
Rank Score:
8
Rank in 1975:
552
Rank in 1970s:
5,541
Overall Rank:
59,788
Average Rating:
 75 (8 votes)
Comments:
0
19. (=)
Visits Washington, D.C. 
United States John Fahey
Buy album United States
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Born in DC, Fahey was an incredibly important folk musician, including the genre he helped develop: American primitive guitar. After selling his label Takoma Records (named after the suburb of DC), Fahey returned to his hometown to record this album, reviving his career which had been stagnant for 4 years prior. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
1 chart
Rank in 1979:
None
Rank in 1970s:
None
Average Rating:
 71 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
20. (=)
The Seduction Of Kansas 
United States Priests
Buy album United States
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DC-based post-punk band Priests draws inspiration and fuses influences from eclectic DC genres like gospel, art punk, and go-go. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2019
Appears in:
18 charts
Rank Score:
24
Rank in 2019:
694
Rank in 2010s:
7,864
Overall Rank:
31,824
Average Rating:
 72 (21 votes)
Comments:
1
Total albums: 51. Page 2 of 6
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Washington, DC is paradise to me! 51 albums of DC history composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 1 2%
1960s 5 10%
1970s 9 18%
1980s 10 20%
1990s 7 14%
2000s 7 14%
2010s 12 24%
2020s 0 0%
Artist Albums %


The Seldom Scene 2 4%
Tuscadero 1 2%
Fugazi 1 2%
Les McCann 1 2%
Thievery Corporation 1 2%
Ari Lennox 1 2%
Unrest 1 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 47 92%
Ethiopia 1 2%
Iraq 1 2%
Iran 1 2%
United Kingdom 1 2%
Compilation? Albums %
No 47 92%
Yes 4 8%
Live? Albums %
No 42 82%
Yes 9 18%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 50 98%
Yes 1 2%

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 BEA's Top 100 re-ranked by EyeKanFly (2020)
50 States by EyeKanFly (2021)
Best Album of Every Year 1940-2021 by EyeKanFly (2021)
EyeKanFly's 1960s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 1970s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 1980s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 1990s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 2000s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2023)
EyeKanFly's 2010s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2023)
EyeKanFly's 2010s #201-300 by EyeKanFly (2023)
#101-200 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#201-300 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#301-400 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#401-500 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#501-600 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#601-700 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#701-800 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#801-900 Overall by EyeKanFly (2024)
#901-1000 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
AM 0501-0600 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 0801-0900 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 0901-1000 by EyeKanFly (2021)
EyeKanFly's 2020 #101-141 by EyeKanFly (2021)
NPR: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women (part 1) by EyeKanFly (2021)
NPR: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women (part 2) by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1001-1100 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1101-1200 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1201-1300 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 0001-0100 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 0201-0300 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 0401-0500 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1301-1400 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 2001-2100 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2101-2200 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2201-2300 by EyeKanFly (2021)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 1) by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 2401-2500 by EyeKanFly (2021)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 2) by EyeKanFly (2022)
AM 2501-2600 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2601-2700 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2701-2800 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2801-2900 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 3) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 4) by EyeKanFly (2021)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 5) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 6) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 7) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 8) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 9) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 10) by EyeKanFly (2022)
NPR Classical Guide by EyeKanFly (2023)
Albums where the genre is not the genre in the title by EyeKanFly (2024)

Washington, DC is paradise to me! 51 albums of DC history ratings

Average Rating: 
89/100 (from 5 votes)
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 Report rating		06/30/2022 21:50 MadhattanJack  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 15584/100
 
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From 08/04/2021 19:52
John Fahey Visits Washington DC...now that's something I need to hear!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 05/06/2021 18:32
Appreciate it EyeKanFly. Was definitely a bit of fun to make. Always wanted to and never got around to it until this year. Not going to kid myself and say it's done, but I'll admit I've stopped digging around the twoonie bins for a sec.

Oddly, Canada just released a 'Canada-based playlist' for people to 'do our census to', and there's a lot of suspicious overlap. I'm assuming the government has stolen my idea (as usual).

(I kid of course, but just a coincidence).

Hoping people pluck a few records from the list, whether or not they like them. The 70s folk scene in particular was very strong, and I'd double down on the northern indigenous work.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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Recognised  Decade Charts (2020s)
1. 100 Best Albums of the 2010s: Staff Picks by Billboard (2019)
2. BrooklynVegan's Top Albums of 2010s by BrooklynVegan (2020)
3. The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s by Pitchfork (2019)
4. All The Best Albums Of The 2010s, Ranked by Uproxx (2019)
5. 100 Best Albums of the 2010s by Rolling Stone (2019)
6. Top 100 Albums of the Decade by Crack Magazine (2019)
7. The Needle Drop's Top Albums Of The 2010s by The Needle Drop (2019)
8. The A.V. Club's 50 best albums of the 2010s by The A.V. Club (2019)
9. Top 50 Albums of the 2010s by The Wild Honey Pie (2019)
10. NME's Greatest Albums of The Decade: The 2010s by New Music Express (2019)
11. Gorilla vs. Bear Albums of the 2010s by Gorilla vs. Bear (2019)
12. The 50 best albums of the decade – 2010 to 2019 by Independent (2019)
13. The 100 Best Albums Of The 2010s by Stereogum (2019)
14. The 101 Best Albums of the 2010s by Spin (2020)
15. The 50 Best Albums of the Decade by Deep Cuts (2019)
16. Die besten Platten 2010-2019 by Spex (2019)
17. Die 100 besten Alben der 10er Jahre by Musikexpress.de (2020)
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20. Tiny Mix Tapes 2010s: Favorite 100 Music Releases of the Decade by Tiny Mix Tapes (2019)
 
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