Top 20 Albums

Ive been itching to do a little music writing lately, so here are my top 20 albums. My top ten songs will follow. Drop me a line, tell me what you think

1. Born to Run Bruce Springsteen, 1975, Columbia. I first heard this record on a short road trip to Holland, Michigan in the summer of 98. I was told by a friend that I HAD to hear this record, that I would love it: I did. This is what rock n roll is to me. So rarely does something live up to its own hype, and Born to Run does. Im on my fourth CD copy and own two copies on vinyl. It still kills me.

2. Blood and Chocolate Elvis Costello and the Attractions, 1986, Columbia. What can I say about this album that would even begin to explain its importance. Basically this is the ultimate break-up/divorce/suicide album. Listen to it and youll want to be dumped just so you dont feel so guilty that Elvis is sadder than you. But what makes it so good is that it works every time.

3. Being There Wilco, 1996, Reprise. I dont care what anybody says, this is their best album. Two unbelievable discs of the best songs Jeff Tweedy ever wrote.

4. Quadrophenia The Who, 1973, MCA. Eddie Vedder says that this album saved him during high school; I would say ditto. The idea that a young man has several different personalities that rule his actions was a beautifully convenient concept when I was fourteen, and in some ways, it still rings true to me. Of all of the records that Ive ever owned, this is the one that has probably been played more than any other.

5. The Convincer Nick Lowe, 2001,Yep Roc. I sat down to listen to this record for the first time on headphones at a coffee shop one night several years ago. For forty minutes, I barely moved a muscle. I still feel very strong about it. This is timeless music from a timeless artist; the songs seem like they were picked from the air fully formed.

6. Sound of Lies The Jayhawks, 1997, American. This the Jayhawks hidden masterpiece. I actually heard most of these songs in concert before I bought the record but could sing along right away. These are stunning, honest and beautiful compositions from a highly underrated band.

7. #1 Record/Radio City Big Star, 1973, Ardent/Fantasy. The music is so unbelievably good on this double album/CD. This album was first heard as another tape given to me for a road trip, this time to Philly. Its the sort of thing that people who go to Schubas will name drop because they dont know it that well. If youve spent time with it, one really does not need to talk about it, you just make a tape of it so that others might enjoy. This might be my favorite guitar record of all time.

8. The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968 Various Artists, 1996, Stax/Fantasy. Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Booker T. and the MGs, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, the Mar-Keys, the Bar-Kays, Albert King, the Staples Singers, Isaac Hayes, Mable John, Jean Knight, Ollie and the Nightingales, the Mad Lads, Judy Clay, Jeanne and the Darlings and William Bell. If that list doesnt mean anything to you, then there is no music taht will help you.

9. Emitt Rhodes Emitt Rhodes, 1971, ABC/Dunhill. This is one of those albums that sounds happy on first listen because in so many ways, it is. The more I listen to it, the more it fills me with the kind of sadness so few things can. It sounds like the solo record that McCartney should have made after the Beatles, the McCartney that wrote Yesterday and Maybe Im Amazed. I know that sounds melodramatic, but when a record makes you FEEL so much, you cant help but love it.

10. At War with the Mystics The Flamig Lips, 2006, Warners. The Lips are one of those bands where you shouldnt be allowed to rate anything in their catalogue, their just that good. I really believe that they will be seen in years to come as part of a great rock tradition, alongside the greats; the Who, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Aretha, Marvin etc. Try picking the best of any of those people. Anyway, I picked this record because Ive listened to it nonstop since I got it in March. I also feel like the Lips have built each album on everything theyve done before. Since Transmissions from the Satellite Heart, they have not released a bad album, and for that reason, Mystics gets the nod at #10. If they ever release an anthology of all of their albums, that will go in my number one spot-forever.

11. Exile in Guyville Liz Phair, 1993, Matador. This is another one of those cant-begin-to-explain-it records. If you like it, I suppose I would be preaching to the choir, if you dont, well, thats your loss. The two lessons I learned from this record were as follows: 1) I might be an asshole, but if I was honest, it was both of our fault if things went bad. 2) Girls enjoy sex, a lot, but only on their terms; and guys all over the world would live very happy lives if they just agreed to those terms. Oh yeah, and when I was fifteen, I thought Liz Phair was really hot. I still do.

12. 20,000 Streets Under the Sky Marah, 2004, Yep Roc/PHIdelity. These guys should be more famous, but I suspect that peoples aversion to straight up rock and roll has something to do with it. Even people who like Springsteen apologize for him. Of course, we must remember that Garthy Brooksie-Brooks and Shanya the lip-synching Twains remind people that white people in America are bloated, hard-headed, insufferably self-satifying pricks that like rock and roll so I guess it make sense. Back to Marah, these guys dont seem to give a fuck about all of that. Rock and Roll is not dead, and if its in any kind of trouble, theyre gonna save it. I dare you to put on Freedom Park and not smile and wish for a beautiful summer day.

13. The Heat Jesse Malin, 2004, Artemis. This is the record that reminds me that I love the freaks. I like stuff that other people throw away. Jesse Malin writes people that I feel, that I understand. He spins a great melody and line of verse. Like old buildings and whores/Politicians and wars/get respect if they last this long. Anyway, I like it, cause it makes me smile.

14. Live Donny Hathaway, 1971, Atlantic. Out of Print, except as a European import, this was worth every cent of the twenty bucks I spent to get it shipped to me. The real title should be Donny Hathaway and His Band Kick Your Ass-and Theyre Not Even Trying. They cover Jealous Guy by John Lennon, and it just does you in.

15. I am the Cosmos Chris Bell, 1994, Rykodisc. This is THE saddest record ever. This guy breaks your heart at every turn, and I can never look away. This is not an album I would recommend to induce a good cry, but more to induce self loathing and paranoia. Its really good though, I swear!

16. Cold Roses Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, 2005, Lost Highway. Double albums always get treated like theyre special. Excuses are made for the number of songs, the inclusion of filler, the artistic quality sacrificed so the artist could justify their indecision, etc. This is not one of those albums. Ryan Adams has released eight albums in five years, and it would stand to reason that he would eventually put out a double album. I know this because I own everything he has released in that time. I still feel like Cold Roses is the bridge that brings this artists country and rock roots together in one package, and its that marriage of country and rock that mark Adams most touching and immediate work. When I took a road trip to Nashville and Memphis last year, this was the album I played.

17. Let it Be The Replacements, 1983, Twin Tone. Also the title of my favorite Beatle record, this indie rock masterstroke would be mentionable just for Sixteen and Unsatisfied, but the garage-punk beauty of KISSs Black Diamond is unmatched. I like rock music that says fuck you, and the Replacements were kind of the epitome of any music that says fuck you.

18. Saturation Urge Overkill, 1993, DGC. Thinking back to the Summer of 97 meant three things for me: Kathryn Miller, Clerks and Saturation. It contains my favorite song ever, Heaven 90210 and my favorite guitar solo, from Night and Grey. Oh yeah, and it fucking rocks.

19. Pet Sounds Beach Boys, 1966, Capitol. The fourth of July is the best holiday the USA has to offer. Parade. Barbeque. Fireworks. Listen to the best album from the sixties all day. Ive done it every year for seven years.

20. For Once In My Life Stevie Wonder, 1968, Tamla/Motown. This is the album that restored my faith in R&B. Theres not a bad track on the disc, but the bass break in House on the Hill is unbelievable. This is the peak of the Motown house band, the Funk Brothers, and the disc where Stevie starts to write his own material.