#276-280

     Let's polish off the bottom 25. These 5 albums were also chosen without outside interference (I love the outside interference, don't get me wrong) so I have no one else to list. I'll throw on another review from good ole' Matt as well. Off we go....

280. Dulcinea - Toad The Wet Sprocket (1994)
     This is sure to elicit cries of 'Who' or, if you know this band, 'What?' If you don't know them, this band pretty much was around for the 90s and then ended before re-starting around 2006. I was a huge fan of this group in my high school and college days, playing practically all of 2 of their albums when I used to play guitar and sing in my cafe days. Their name comes from a Monty Python sketch...how cool is that? This album title, and several songs from it, make reference to the classic Don Quixote. They are a very literary band, composing lyrics for many songs based on works in other fields of artistic excellence. An acoustic, not-quite-easy listening album with a few rockers thrown in, it's a perfect sit around and drift album. There will be one other from this band further up.

279. Dookie - Green Day (1995)
     I realize that, since this album, they've released many other, more 'advanced' albums. Those are decent albums. This one's still their best. Recorded in 3 weeks, Dookie is solely responsible for kicking off the revival of the punk/pop amalgam of the 90's. With simple but great singles and some great underplayed tracks (check Pulling Teeth), a fun, energy inducing album Rolling Stone last ranked at 193 on their Best Albums list.

278. Cream Of Clapton: Greatest Hits - Eric Clapton
     I love Eric Clapton, who doesn't? I believe everybody must have at least one song he was involved with that they love. I've just never been a fan of his albums. Not solo. Not Derek And The Dominoes. Not even a Cream album really stands out to me. So, he is represented by this bargain bin GH collection, which is a good way to get your fill of Clapton. See Matt's review below for another good cheap collection. This features tracks written and performed by Slowhand and his various bands between 1966-1981 and has most of what you want from that era.

277. The Atomic Count Basie - Count Basie (1957)
     Jazz rears it's beautiful head for the first time here on the list. This album is known by a couple names, and I'm listing the version with the bonus tracks (the only version of the album now available) for the purpose of this list. Sure, if you need an introduction to Count Basie, there are albums with his original band that are better, but none that came after 1950 (the rule for inclusion on this list). Regardless, this is an amazing latter-day big band album with incredible compositions that really showcase his bandmates at that time. And that's exactly what a great big band album should do. Try tracks The Kid From Red Bank and Double-O and tell me you're not tapping your toes and in a better mood.

276. Power in Numbers - Jurassic 5 (2002)
     One of the most underrated hip-hop acts there was, J5 featured 4 MCs, some of them legit champion battle rappers from NYC, and 2 incredible DJs. If you don't know them, you've heard their songs in various forms on both the big and small screens. They weren't dumbed down enough for pop, not crude enough for gangsta or mafioso, and not batshit crazy enough for fringe rap. The only way to describe the whole unit is as masters of their craft. Check out Kool Keith's short contribution DDT and the assault of A Day At The Races with guest Big Daddy Kane! Remember His Name check for lyrical respect and Sum Of Us for their patented rap choruses that no one could match. Truly a great modern hip-hop album.

     And here's that other Clapton GH review from Matt....
Eric Clapton- Timepieces best of...:
Not sure how or where Clapton and his plethora of bands end up on your list. But, this album has all of the Clapton highlights. 'Layla', 'I shot the sheriff', 'After midnight' and 'cocaine' are all on this little cheap gem. There is only 10 or so songs and all are Clapton-rific! It was the first Clapton album I bought at 12 years old and covered all the bases. Although 'Cocaine' is prolly not pre-teen appropriate. 

      So there it is, 2 posts in one day. I'll try for the next 5 tomorrow. As always, tell me what you think and don't forget to do this week's poll at the top right!