#251-255

     Closing out the bottom 50 with this entry. The running list on the bottom of this blog will be it's own post or page and on the next post we'll start with a new short listing of the next 50. New poll to the right as well issuing the age old question, which Beatles album? I'll also include a fun little rant from Matt concerning my inclusion of The Decemberists on the list AND, I'm very excited to say, a list of Mr. Michael Absher's top 20 hard rock albums. Those of you in the Flint, MI area know he is THE DJ in our neck of the woods and his 25th anniversary of broadening our musical horizons is just around the corner. For those of you NOT from this region, trust me, he's the man. Not that I'm kissing up in the hopes of getting more reviews or lists from him or anything....wouldn't want to pressure him with praise...he's also a very handsome man. Away we go....

255. Harvest - Neil Young (1972)
     Young's fourth solo album was the best selling of 1972. It stands today as one of the greatest Americana country rock album evah (says I). It sort of set the stage for the soft rock mid-70s to begin as both James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt make appearances. Young's old bandmates C,S,N are all here on backing vocals as well. I must admit, I'm not a huge Neil Young fan, but with Heart Of Stone, Old Man, The Needle And The Damage Done and Alabama, it's hard to argue against this album. Of course, this also has A Man Needs A Maid and There's A World, which sound like weaker retreads of older material, hence it's placement here in the top 300. Still, the second best solo album from Young, Rolling Stone had it ranked at 78.

254. Stankonia - Outkast (2000)
     This one I go the other way on from Rolling Stone, who had it ranked at 359. "Slumadelic" is what Big Boi branded as the sound of his fourth album with Andre 3000. This remains the group's best album as Outkast or going solo. Songs like Ms. Jackson and So Fresh, So Clean hadn't really been done in rap before. The mixing of so many different styles and genres on a hip hop album being done so well hadn't really been done before, either. The samba-tinged Humble Mumble remains one of my favorite rap songs with one of the sickest flows I swear I've ever heard, the metaled-up Gasoline Dreams and mad club vibe of B.O.B...even the 'throw-away' minute-long sketches are good. A great hip hop and funk album, if you don't know it, get to. My only beef is that, at 24 tracks long, it can feel just that at times. Do not let that stop you from experiencing this incredible music.

253. Confirmation - Charlie Parker (1995)
     If you don't know him, Yardbird was one of the greatest sax players ever. There are live recording of his blistering brilliance that are very good albums. This 2-disc set is my favorite, however, as it an incredible example of how versatile an artist Parker truly was. I believe Coltrane was the greatest (you'll see much of him later), but no jazz saxophonist could play as well as Bird in as many settings. These recordings are mostly from the early 50's. You've got everything from his playing in quartets to playing in big bands, be-bop to latin jazz, strings to a vocal from Ella, the man appeared well in any company. A must-have for anyone just getting into jazz or anyone who loves great music. There's too much to say about the man himself, but do yourself a favor and read a bio, see the movie "Bird" or look him up on line to get to know this tortured soul who fought his addictions to give us some of the greatest sounds ever heard.

252. Strictly Commercial: Best Of - Frank Zappa (1995)
     The fact that this great composer/guitarist has around 100 albums out almost guarantees him a seat at this table. Add to that his fierce dedication to defending against censorship in the arts and respect alone should put him on the list. Luckily, Zappa was pretty damn good at what he did, as is evident on this expertly put-together Best Of collection, so we'll just judge his albums. I believe there are two studio albums he did that outshine this set, but it's a great place to start. The organized insanity of Peaches En Regalia, goofball bluesy Don't Eat The Yellow Snow, the rocking anti-girlfriend's mom My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama, Zappa was a big fan of telling off-beat stories (this collection steers clear of the more sexually overladen Zappa tracks mostly) to different genres and styles of music. He could have fit onto an album of great American composers as easily as he could have a Dr. Demento set. Start here to check out this essential figure in jazz/rock history, but stay tuned for more Zappa later!

251. One From The Vault - Grateful Dead (1991)
     This one is kind of a special one for me (sniff) as this was the first Grateful Dead album I ever listened to. This 2-disc live set was recorded in 1975 in the Dead's home city of San Fran. Smokin' versions of The Music Never Stopped, Eyes Of The World, Sugaree and even Johnny Cash's Big River can be found here. Also, Jerry and the boys played their album Blues For Allah in it's entirety for the first time ever on this collection, so it's almost like 2 albums in one! Not to mention my favorite version of one of my all-time favorite Dead songs. I overheard Franklin's Tower for the first time playing in my brother's room back in high school and I asked to borrow it. When he eventually let me, I listened to nothing but that album for a month. Oh, and if you're looking Matt H (not the other Matt who is a frequent guest here), I still have it. Sorry, bro.


     Here's a nice little tirade against The Decemberists having their album The Crane Wife ranked at #267 on the list:
broseff you have an obsession with concept albums. The Decemberists! I got that album for free and still felt I was owed money back. I liked 2 songs kind of. But, the rest was just nonsense. Its not the vocals alone or even the instrumentals that I dislike its mostly lyrical. Just because you tie your songs together with a common theme or story that resembles musical movie doesn't make it interesting. In fact, it makes them more unrelatable to the listener. To me it seems most of the time concept albums show a lack of creativity and seem self indulgent. Usually concept album artists act like they think their brilliant musicians saying I can make a whole albums about one flat story line. But, I think they're trying too hard. If the symbolic content of a song is there and you want to expand it do so in a track or two or even three. But, I doubt anything that can be summarized in a paragraph or less is going to sound better stretched to over 90 minute! That's time I can't get back! Its like a one note movie you see the ending a mile away. But, then again you did like 'Shutter Island' didn't you?!? Lol jk I crack myself up:)
Ps I was soo pissed about that album I actually remember throwing that album onto I69 about a year and a half ago! So if you want another copy.... Lol It should be by an Alesana album too:) Ironically I got both for free with a Best Buy gift card and picked up Vampire Weekend with it too. I was purposely trying out bands I had vaguely heard of. Vampire Weekend I liked quite a bit, but the other two tasted the highway!
     I do love a good concept album, Matt, as long as the songs can stand up on their own, which is a little bit of my issue with The Wall. I thought The Crane Wife had several songs that do just that. And, I confess, I do like Shutter Island. I thought it got a bad rap. At least I got Vampire Weekend right in your book, right? Thanks, as always, for the comments, my friend. Keep 'em coming, and you other readers, you could chime in, too, you know?!

     Finally, here's that list from the only guy that I will freely admit schools me in music appreciation and knowledge, Michael Absher.
Aside from a brief flirtation with the form in high school, I've never been much of a heavy metal guy. But I'm not entirely immune to the charms of turgid testosterone driven rifferama. So, I present the first in a series of top 20 lists...strictly by personal taste, mind you.
1. The Stooges - Fun House
2. Nirvana - Nevermind
3. Bad Brains - I Against I
4. Mudhoney - Bigmuff Superfuzz plus Early Singles
5. The Who - Who's Next
6. Mother Love Bone - s/t
7. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
8. Faith No More - The Real Thing
9. Melvins - Stoner Witch
10. Van Halen - s/t
11. Janes Addiction - Nothings Shocking
12. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
13. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
14. AC/DC - Highway to Hell
15. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
16. Led Zeppelin - s/t
17. Alice in Chains - Dirt
18. Monster Magnet - Dopes to Infinity
19. Rage Against the Machine - s/t
20. Tool - Lateralus
I limited myself to one album per artist. And if I did this list tomorrow it would likely be different. Still, an interesting exercise.

     And there you have it. You've already seen Fun House on both lists, will there be more shared albums? Only time will tell. As always, feel free....feel obligated, even...to take the poll on this page, send comments, album reviews, lists, general musical shenanigans and goings-on my way. Let me know how you feel about my picks, love em, hate em, first timers, share, people, SHARE!

#256-260

     Here are the next 5, along with a comment from dearest Connie. Unfortunately, Connie, I can't help you out, but good ole Matt has a review for ya that shouldn't disappoint. Wondering if I may hear some rumblings of 'WTF?' about one of these albums, the same way I caught a lil bit 'o hellfire over the placement of The Wall on the list....we'll see! Here we go...

260. St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley (2006)

     Of course, everyone knows Crazy, everyone's heard it at least 1,473 times each in the past 4 years, BUT...it's still a damn good song, isn't it? The majority of this album is filled with pretty damn good songs, especially for a debut effort from rap/soul/ r&b master Cee Lo Green and one of, if not THE, greatest producers in the game today, Danger Mouse. You've seen DM on the list already as producer of Gorillaz second album. Not only is he the best producer of hip hop based pop in the game, he currently creates some of the greatest hooks out there in his many side projects. This album is no exception. Listen to Smiley Faces and Who Cares for an example. Even when Cee Lo, who you can really hear coming into his own as the great soul singer he was meant to be, spouts gibberish on a track, DM's affinity for sampling obscure 60s tunes and Italian movie scores keeps things sounding incredible. The band's second album was good, but this is their best.

259. A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles (1964)

     Okay, clearly this band will have at least 5 more albums much, much further up on the list. My argument for this being, what some may feel, a little low is that The Beatles didn't start out as an 'album' kind of band. Really, no rock/pop band in the early 60s was focused on albums. It was all about the 'single,' the radio cut, the 45. A couple years later, bands would be putting out entire albums full of great music left and right. If you listen to this, it does not really compare to what the boys from Liverpool would be doing even the next year with Rubber Soul. What this album is, however, is the first example of the incredible song writing skills of Lennon and McCartney. It's their third album, and the first with not a cover song on it. Favorites are here such as A Hard Day's Night (obviously) and Can't Buy Me Love, and several other great pop tunes of the time. Although there would be a couple other albums before the band truly began to realize the start of their artistic vision with Rubber Soul, this is the best album of their 'single' days. Oh, and recording the album took 1 day, people. 1 freaking day! Rolling Stone ranked it at 388, so I did give it quite a bump from that, as it should be. Just not any higher.

258. Hot Shots 2 - The Beta Band (2001) 

     The Beta Band had a pretty loyal and avid following in the UK when they released their first EP, but didn't get a lot of attention in America until John Cusack decided to sell 5 copies of the band's Three EP's album by playing the song Dry The Rain in High Fidelity. More on that album later. After curiosity started to peak for the band through their name being dropped in the film, this album was released. It's quite a departure from the experimental rootsy electronic folk of the first 2 albums, but it kept what it should have from those genres and added pop structure and more refined hooks. An excellent album, check out the first 3 or 4 songs and you will stay to listen to the rest. Don't skip the last song called Won, a killer re-imagining of One Is The Loneliest Number as a trip hop song. Awesomeness.

257. Headhunters - Herbie Hancock (1973)

     Attempting to make a funk album, Herbie Hancock and his Headhunters produced the first platinum selling jazz album...ever. Hancock stripped down his complex compositions and left a thick skeletal base for his 5-piece to flesh out through funk, jazz, rock and African folk improvisations. Although jazz purists cried foul, the album crossed over and was a monumental influence on future jazz, funk and hip hop sounds. There are only 4 songs on this album, so it can be found in bargain bins from time to time. The first half of the album is worth whatever you're charged for it. Chameleon in the jazz/funk standard to this day, often covered, sampled and borrowed from. Watermelon Man is a personal fave of mine and my maineth, the best friend, Josh. When in college, we would compose our own variation on the first minute of the song with only our voices and drunkenness as our instruments. On answering machines, in bars, at parties, people were blessed with a very unique version of a Herbie masterpiece. Unfortunately, there are no recordings of this incredible cover we performed. You'll just have to settle for the original. An album that blazed new trails in several genres, I could write for hours on this, but you should just go listen. The last word I have on this, along with all the other accolades, I believe this to be the best funk album ever recorded without use of a guitar other than a bass. Not one electric or acoustic. Incredible.

256. Seal - Seal (1991)

     I can hear it now. "Seriously? Over the other albums in this post? Over the albums on the last post? On this list at all?" Everyone has their guilty pleasures. I know people who eat at Old Country Buffet by choice and who have had a love affair with Zima. This album is one of mine. I don't think I should feel too guilty, however, as this is a fantastic rock/soul/pop album recorded before the singer dove into the ocean of R&B drudgery. Perhaps best known for the cheese-infused Kiss From A Rose or his marriage to Heidi Klum, Seal first came culturally into view when he did the producer Adamski's track Killer, and then with often-covered Crazy (similar to Gnarls above, the song was impossible to avoid for about a year). Honestly, this is a great chill-out-without-passing-out album with some songs you can dance to as a bonus. Aside from the previously mentioned tracks, Whirlpool and Future Love Paradise are favorites. Make fun, tease, but go listen to this album before you do. Seal's only great album, you just might fall into it's clutches as well.

      Here's a comment from a few posts ago from Connie:

As someone who has listened to BNL forever, owns every single album, and has seen them live 7 times (maroon 5 runs a close second).......I would hope at least one of their albums makes the list. Also I'm pleased you are including early rap :) 

     Sorry, Connie. There will be more early hip hop, but no Bare Naked Ladies on the list, just running through my house. That's not as awesome as it sounds. I did love BNL in the early 90s. If I Had A Million Dollars was sort of an anthem for myself and several friends at one point. I'm not as fond of their whole albums as I used to be. But, so as to not disappoint, our friend Matt did have a review at the ready...
Barenaked Ladies- 'Live Rock spectacle': This is the 4th album from this band but its their first of many live albums. In general I find this band cheesy and slightly hit or miss with each album. But, 'Its all been done', 'Old Apartment' and 'If I had a million dollars' are all great tracks on this album. Packed with tons of happy sing along songs this is a fun easy to listen to album. 

     There you have it, Connie. Maybe not the absolute kindest review, but it's better than none, right? I'll try to get the next 5 up within the next few days. Until then, take the poll in the top right, write me some comments or a review of any album you love and want to share, buy the ticket, take the ride....

#261-265

     I've been churning out the posts fairly quickly, but it'll probably be a few days before the next one. There should be plenty on here to catch up with for ya, though! I'll also include a couple new questions and comments from our friend Matt AND we'll have a new review of an album from an up and coming artist who I've been digging on lately thanks to the writer, Ryan. AND I'll have a new poll up in the top right corner. By the way, Lil Wayne beat out Tori by a slim margin as an album people thought should not be on this list. See, Jakey comin' with all sorts uv flava! All right, here we go...

265. The Ozzman Cometh: Greatest Hits - Ozzy Osbourne (1997)
     In junior high and early high school, I was all about Ozzy. Working out, mowing the lawn, practicing my soccer skills, jogging, playing air guitar, going to bed...EVERYTHING I did for a while was in tune to the soundtrack of Oz. I understood the act and, of course, thought all that evil devilish crap was pretty cool, but that wasn't what sold me. The Yardbirds are the only other band I can think of that went through 3 line-ups and each time got the most incredible guitarist you'd ever heard. Randy Rhodes, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, they're all here in their "holy shit, did you hear that?" glory. There's even a few from the Black Sabbath days. Overall, way more songs that you do want then you don't, a great Greatest Hits album. Ozzy appears twice more on the list, but this is the only studio album of his as a solo project listed.

264. Swoon - Silversun Pickups (2009)
     If Smashing Pumpkins (I mean the original line-up, the only line-up that counts) and My Bloody Valentine got together and decided they wanted to write some semi-radio friendly songs....they would rip each others' throats out and nothing good would come of it. BUT if that COULD work, this album is what you would have. Swoon is the band's second album and is another under-appreciated gem. Although the muddy distortion of the guitars is it's calling card, this band has a great rhythm section and vocal harmonies to match. My faves are There's No Secrets This Year, Substitution, Catch And Release and Surrounded. One of the great rock albums to come out in the past few years.

263. Gimme Fiction - Spoon (2005)
     Spoon has been a disappointing band to me. Not because they're a bad band, obviously. This album has some of their best, most evolved songs: The Beast And Dragon Adored, I Turn My Camera On, I Summon You, it does sound like a modern day circa late 60's/early 70's Stones album (not quite that good, though). They had just begun to expand their sound and take more time with their layering of a track from the shorter, rapid fire, killer hook driven songs of their previous albums, one of which is higher on the list. And then...they started to suck. Two albums of suckage with a good track here and there. I don't care if they sold more, they really do suck. Listen to Gimme Fiction and hear how great this band could've been.

262. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco (2002)
     I know nothing of this band. Honestly. Jeff Tweedy is their lead songwriter/singer. That's it. I've been lectured I should know more about them, claiming to be the music freak that I am. I've heard the three albums prior to this one, and it's always....meh. That should be viewed as a testament to how great this album truly is. I know less about this band than any other on the list, but, damn, what a great album. It is very critically acclaimed and was Wilco's best seller, so don't just take my word for it. Listen to Kamera, Jesus Etc. and I'm The Man Who Loves You for some immediate gratification, but give this whole album a listen and just try not liking it. I dare ya.

261. Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001)
     The first band to have 2 albums on the list (see #290), this was the debut and thus-far greatest album from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, A.K.A. Gorillaz. Never mind that the band was formed under the premise of being an animated band that (originally) would only appear as such in videos/performances. That's awesome, but that was the visual aspect, always a major component within the band. Aurally this album had some of the sickest, coolest beats to come out early in the decade. You want genres? We're talking hip hop, rock, punk, reggae, latin...you name it, it's here. An amazing album from a consistently ground-breaking band.

     Here's a few questions from good ole Matt. I'll do my best to come close to answering them.
**Jay do you count skits and anything with its own track # as a track? Because if you do that's silly:) no new rap album will ever make your list b/c it would lower their good to bad track ratio. Plus, some of the connecting filler tracks you talk about on albums could just be added to the next or previous track. Then, the track its added to might have a slightly lower rating by a number or two. But, that would still be better than getting a 1 out of 5 rating as a track on its own. I think your focusing too much on the overall score and not enough on number of great songs on the album. By your system more tracks tends to equal lower ranking. Which seems odd. Most rap albums are 10 good songs with 7 skit/intro/outro songs. That's gonna give them just over a 50% rating, even if the other ten got perfect scores. So does a new track number equal a new track? Just questions I have for you.

     Good questions, my man. First, I do count skits, intros and any 'song' labeled as a track individually. My feeling is if it was engineered to be a stand-alone track, it should be judged as one. Otherwise it would've been tacked onto another song, as you say. I make exceptions for intros of bands on live albums that are around 30 seconds or less. Otherwise, it counts. It's not always a bad thing. There are some Outkast skits, for example, that are damn funny or creative and contribute to the greatness of an album. Biggie has one of the greatest intros to an album ever, in my humble opinion, and it clocks in at about 1:30. Other albums by artists like Eminem and Tool worsen great albums with dumb sketches or 2 minutes of static or voice mails. Filler is filler, and I want less of it.
     Second, you're right, some percentages are slightly askew due to the length on an album. I've noticed that especially with the handful of boxed sets on the list. But, again, the point system is just a method to categorize groups of albums to listen to a third/fourth/fifth time for eventual ranking. I do not rely solely on that, far from it. It's also easy to see when an album I love has a percentage a little higher than an album I love more and rank accordingly. I promise you, no shortage of time has been attributed to any part of this project.

     We'll hear more from Matt in other posts. This review is from a friend who listens to much of what I don't hear about or catch. Luckily, I get mixes and garage listening nights to catch up on what he's already caught. Here's a review of the latest from one of my favorite new hip hop artists, introduced to me by one of his biggest fans, Ryan...

His name is Childish Gambino and he's here to take over. You may know him as Donald Glover, the actor who plays Troy on NBC's Community, but he is much more than that. Stand up comedian, writer, and the best new hip hop artist in the game. And for the last time, no, he is not related to actor Danny Glover

            With three full length albums, an EP, and a pair of mixtapes under his belt, not to mention two seasons on Community, and three seasons writing for 30 Rock, Donald is a very busy man. Thankfully, his work has not suffered.

            Gambino's latest full length album, Culdesac, is one hell of an album. Produced by Donald himself, with assistance from friend and Community composer Ludwig Goransson, Culdesac has something for everyone. From smooth, lovey tracks like "Got This Money" and "So Fly", to gritty confessional tracks such as "Fuck It All," "I'm Alright," and "The Last." Culdesac also has its share of bass bumping, feel good tracks.

            The thing that sets CG apart from other rappers is the content of his songs. He may talk his share of money, women, clothes and cars, but its lines like "and this next part sounds like nonsense/ but I swear to God Tina Fey gave me confidence/ taught me everything that is good comes from honesty/ everybody's gotta voice you just gotta follow it" that keep fans coming back for more. If more rappers were as accessible as Mr. Glover, more people would understand what Hip Hop is really about. Name dropping Tina Fey certainly doesnt hurt.

            Must have tracks: "Do Ya Like" "Freaks and Geeks" "Not Going Back" "I Be On That"

            You can download Culdesac for free at CULDESAC-ALBUM.COM 

     Thanks, Ryan. Excellent stuff, readers, you should check him out. I'll post again when I can. Don't forget to check the new poll in the top right corner, and, as always, REVIEWS! COMMENTS! RAGE! I'll take them all, in written form only, please. Don't come ragin' up my driveway. That's not cool. 

#266-270

     Here's the next 5 followed with some comments from my friend and yet another respected music geek Todd along with another of Matt's reviews of an album I feel is beneath me. Kidding! He's actually put up some pretty good ones, says I. Anyway, onward....

270. Cuckoo - Curve ( 1993)
     This one even my music geek compatriots might scoff at. I love this band. The duo of Dean Garcia and Toni Halliday seemed more destined to despise each other than to form a band. The first time they tried to play nice the band dissolved into a pair of lawsuits, one against the other. Despite this, the two formed Curve years later and established a mix of sampled beats and guitar/bass licks with a killer female vocal that alternated from sweet to sour and predated Garbage. This particular album is their least critically acclaimed and most deserving of praise. Their second album, Cuckoo, branched out from the shoegazer goth of their first effort to include more alt rock and psychedelica. Do yourself a favor and find All Of One, Superblaster and Left Of Mother for greatness.

269. Give Up - Postal Service (2003)
     This band was named for the way Jimmy Tamborello would send instrumental tapes to Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard, and the return of said tapes after Gibbard added vocals and did some editing. Their only album features several incredible electronic pop songs, none greater than The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, which would easily be in my top 100 songs (hear that, Josh?). Every time I hear Owl City I cringe and wish to the musical Gods that Postal Service would regroup and show us how it's really done.

268. Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1960)
     For years, jazz music had broadened musical horizons both structurally and through mad improvisations, yet it rarely strayed from a 4/4 time signature beat. Basically, jazz songs were like a march. This album, originally released as a sort of experiment, would forever change that. Most popular for it's use of a 5/4 beat, Brubeck and his band didn't just paint new strokes, he emptied buckets of colors into this album. Take Five is the most popular, as it should be, but this album was far from critically lauded upon it's release. Classical jazz, improvisation, African and Turkish folk rhythms, it's all over the map in the best possible way.

267. The Crane Wife - The Decemberists (2006)
     Based on a Chinese folk tale meshed with Shakespeare and a few other tales tucked in, The Crane Wife doesn't seem as though it should be an album that was well-structured and engaging. It is, and it's the best album The Decemberists have put out yet. The short version of the story arc is man finds wounded crane, cares for it until it can fly, woman meets same man and marries, woman makes secret cloth to secure fortune man isn't allowed to see made, mans sees woman is crane using own feathers for cloth, woman/crane flies away. That completely makes you not want to hear this album at all, doesn't it? That would be your loss. In turns sweet and touching and inspiring and heartbreaking, this is an excellent concept album you shouldn't skip out on hearing.

266. Fun House - The Stooges (1970)
     All of my music geeks tend to love Raw Power or the debut album from our homestate punks as their fave. I believe this to be the best Stooges album. If you were paying attention in earlier posts, the debut came close. I just preferred it when the band learned how to actually play their instruments...a little better. To me, this was definitely the band's most accomplished work, despite the collective drug problems. Iggy Pop called the album "troglodyte groove." A completely confrontational, vicious wail of an album check Down On the Street, TV Eye and the slowed-down Dirt. Inspired by fellow Michiganders MC5, it's easy to see how instrumental this band, and album, truly were in the incoming conquering tides of punk rock.

     Here are a couple comments from Todd, yet another much respected music geek I have the pleasure of knowing. This is in regards to my wondering if The Wall ranked so low would be in issue for many...
No controversy from me ! On either Pink Floyd or REM ! While I was blown away when the Wall came out. It just doesn't hold up to the other great music made by the psychedelic dudes. Or the passage of time. Too much hatred ! Or at the very least, anger ! Roger Waters isn't my hero. If anyone from the Floyd is, it would have to be David Gilmour.

     Yeah, somebody agrees! Here's a brief threat about my "hatin'" on Coldplay....
Dude, Stop dissing Coldplay ! If you don't, I have to send out my soldiers!

     Hey, they did make the list, so they can't be all bad, right? Send me a review of an earlier album if ya like. Finally, here's another review from our good friend Matt. Never really got into this musician, but many friends like his style...
James Blunt-'Back to Bedlam' Most notably known for the debut single 'Beautiful'. This incredible songwriter with 'Rod Stewartess' vocals had his biggest success to date with this album. From cover to cover he covers a gambit of emotions from up tempo sing alongs, to songs of love and heartbreak, to politics and religion. There's something for everyone.

     Thanks again, Matt! I'll have the next 5 up as soon as I can. Comments and reviews and naysaying, people, that's what I'm hungry for. FEED THE BEAST....sorry. Seriously, though.

#271-275

     Here's another 5 that thrive (I read it as I wrote it, I'll never write it again, promise)! The equally lovely Mo and Kaley were with me when ranking these next albums. I'll also throw on 2 comments regarding my list of albums NOT making the cut and another review from Matt.

275. Coast To Coast Motel - G.Love and Special Sauce (1995)
      If you haven't heard G. Love and his band, they began as the perfect marriage of blues and hip hop in 1993, an era in music that officially kicked off non-hip hop bands somehow incorporating a hip hop influence into as many recordings as they could. This was the band's second album and leans more toward modern blues than their first. Later, G.Love would incorporate several different styles and genres of music into any given album, but I believe this to be his down-and-dirtiest. Check Kiss And Tell, Soda Pop and Small Fish for some early G.Love greatness. You'll get more of him, with and without Special Sauce, later.

274. Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay (2008)
     I hate Coldplay. I hated them before this album, when I would only admit to close friends I liked 2 of their songs, and I hate them now that they've put out a great album that I don't want to love, but do. They always sounded like Radiohead-lite to me, and now I've heard many bands that remind me of poor man's Coldplay. I just can't help it, every time I hear Strawberry Swing I tear up a bit because it reminds me of my girls. It's only a small tear. I can't help that I like to blast Yes and Lost in the convertible with the top down. I still turn it way down at stoplights. Great album. Damn Coldplay.

273. Live 5 - Phish (2001)
     Now, I know I've stated this in my first post, but it's just a reminder of what's to come: I was a diehard Phishhead. As a result, no other band has more albums on my list. Not the Beatles. Not the Stones. Not Dylan. The selection of Phish albums are not as high up in the ranks as those artists for the most part, but Phish outnumbers all here. Still reading? Good. Then check out this show from 2000 when the band was still smokin' live. Alpine Valley in Wisconsin is the venue, the location the band would usually play after they left my favorite venue of Deer Creek in Indiana. Possum and Run Like An Antelope (my personal fave Phish jam, but more on that later) are excellent examples of one of the greatest live bands in history.

272. We The People - Groove Collective (1996)
     Another hybrid by-product of hip hop eating into other genres in the 90s was the acid jazz. Whereas trip hop came to be associated with a DJ emulating jazz and psychedelica, acid jazz was the reverse. We The People, this band's second album, best demonstrates what the original line-up's creed always was: to compete directly with a DJ by playing the same range of music that said DJ is capable of playing, but by doing so with live music. That's pretty close to a direct quote, actually, taken from the band's first album, which we'll see later. Listen to the jazzed up, funked out soul of Groove Collective's only true album hit, Lift Off. If you can find this album, that is.


271. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (2008)
     This album was considered great before it was even released as the band enjoyed an enormous critical media build-up prior to the debut album dropping. I believe it was worth it. Rolling Stone and Spin both have the album near the top 50 released during that decade. This is an album that would still be on this list 10 years from now because the tunes are that great: simple, optimistic and danceable without being 'dance' music. Wearing many influences on their sleeves, most notably Paul Simon and The Police, the only disappointment with the African/Calypso infected album is that the band hasn't been able to match it's creative melodies and excellent hooks on another album. A-Punk is my daughter Mona's fave. I also love Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa and Bryn, but really, not too many weaker songs on this one. A very fun album.

     Okay, here's a couple comments from the Peanut gallery. The first comes to us from Melissa...
I'm ashamed to admit I haven't even heard of some of these albums although I'd also admit that I stopped listening to new music right about the time I graduated from college. But I am inspired to at least check out some of them. I am hard pressed right now to think of 25 albums I like all the way through (and not just a couple of songs). I will defend Pearl Jam's Yield though (this would definitely be on my top 25). I don't know if you do this, but I associate albums and songs with certain memories. The year that this came out, 1998, is the first year I saw Pearl Jam live so I am probably a little biased. Every song on here from beginning to end is great, including "Lowlight" which is my second favorite Pearl Jam song of all time. This whole album was, to me, just a completely different sound for them and I loved it! I know this album didn't get a lot of attention (well, lots more than No Code anyway) but I'd venture to say it's my favorite album of theirs.

     Thanks, Melissa, and I really hope you find some albums on here you really enjoy. Well, I hope you enjoy ALL of the albums on my list, but that may be asking a bit much. And of course I understand your love of Yield. It really did almost make the cut. Of course, as you pointed out, one of the best things about music is that one song/album can mean so many different things to different people. No 2 people would have the same list of favorite albums, but I love debating choices and exclusions from this list, and I especially love hearing about a certain song/album's importance in someone else's life. It makes that music better for me, because I know how much it means to a friend. It gives it a new perspective.

     Here's a quick comment from Kelly...
Hey Jason - I'm reading here in NY. You got me interested with the Astral Weeks question (probably my fave album of all time, but whatever). I don't know half of the stuff you're writing about, but it's still interesting reading - and I'm sure will be interesting listening too, once I get around to checking it out. But mostly I'm writing now to support your exclusion of Jeff Buckley. I. Do not. Get. It. With him. At all. Have tried; can't stand it. That's it for now. xx 

     If you actually read the first post on this blog, you read about my love of theatre spawning from my pursuit of a lovely young lady. Hi, Kelly! Excellent to hear from you! Yeah, I'm sorry about Astral Weeks. Do you have any albums or bands that you actually wished you loved, it just doesn't click for you, regardless of multiple listenings and passionate, half-drunken debate? Astral Weeks and Bruce are those albums and musicians for me. And, don't get me wrong, I do like some Jeff Buckley stuff, just no full album. Thanks, Kell. I hope you'll chime in more as we move down the stretch.

     Finally, here's another review from Matt. I've been hearing a couple people are messaging me more reviews on facebook. I anxiously await. I've only got a few more from Matt!
Lady GaGa-'The Fame Monster': The debut album from Lady GaGa went 8 times platinum and had 7 #1 singles. She's the highest selling digital artist and Youtube artist ever! Now I don't normally care about these figures because usually the general population has low standards. But, this time they finally got it right. Granted only because of good marketing, but it worked. She's a mix of Freddie Mercury, Alice Cooper with yes a tad Madonna. GaGa wrote or produced every track on this album. Its obviously a pop album at heart. But, has hints of classic rock anthems and even a little r&b track or two. With piercing vocals and unforgettable melodies its the best pop album by anyone in the last decade. The only downfall is its over played singles from our awesome radio stations! :) 'The Fame' 'Beautiful, Dirty, Rich' and 'Speachless' are great non released singles from this album. Whether you love or hate her no one can deny she's got natural talent and your talking about her! So her marketing plan is working! 

     I'll try to get the next 5 up over the next 2 days. We'll be through the bottom 50 before you know it! As always, looking for album-related stories, reviews, death threats about rankings, any feedback or comments you'd like to share are greatly appreciated. Go check out something you haven't heard!