1. BLOOD ON THE TRACKS-Mary Lee's Corvette
Do you think you could actually wear down a CD like a record from too much play? "Try
imagining a place that is always safe and warm..,.." and familiar. A tribute beyond
tributes. Wonderful, just wonderftil.
2. JERUSALEM-Steve Earle
"God stood and saw it was good. " With the spirit of Keith Richards backing him up he said
what no one else had the stones to say. Beauty and truth. In a rocking way.
3. BUSTED STUFF-The Dave Matthews Band
I never saw him live. I don't own any of his live elpees. I just like his songs, his band and I
love his voice. He doesn't need a toy piano, broken windchimes and stupid lyrics about
bandaids and touchdowns to get my attention. "But what I do know is one thing, for sure..."
4. THE EMINEM SHOW -Eminem
He makes me laugh. He makes me gasp. And all I can think is "How the hell does he do
that?" The Charles Chaplin of our era. And my list would feel so empty without him.
5. THE FINE ART OF SELF-DESTRUCTION - Jesse Malin
The great record Ryan Adams made this year. "A brilliant masquerade (that) can't disquise
a busied heart..." Soulful and beautiful.
6. ONE BEAT -Sleater-Kmney
One badass band and the best drummer around hands down. "A sonic push for energy
exploding like the sun."
7. THE RISING-BruceSprinsteen and The E Street Band
"..where the highway rolls to dark 'neath Allah's blessed rain.,." Bombastic, yeah. Over the
top, maybe. Still a masterwork for these times. I needed this.
8. 1000 KISSES -Patti Griffin
Americana that doesn't try to be anything more than songs of loss and lost love.
9. A CELLARFUL OF MOTOWN -Various Artists
Baby a Go-Go! I had such a BAD MOTOWN JONES for three months I think I
needed MOTOX. And it was all because of this. Music I loved when I was a kid came
back to get me a second time with cuts that sounded as good as the ones I loved all those
years and still do. I went on some mad search and uncovered lots more. And I can't
stop. Help me, Eddie Kendricks.
10. RIOT ACT-Pearl Jam
"Fug me if I say something you don't want to hear...." Still the great band that you thought
they were when they were singing about that Jeremy kid. Too bad all the Pearl Spam out
there has rendered them moot. Help me, Eddie Vedder.
11. MONO - Paul Westerberg
Further proof that all the one-offrecordings are better than the major releases (see The
Pink Heart Demos and Dissent From the Living Room). Stereo sux. But when Paul
is drank and sioppy, he is unreplaceable. Keith Richards lives again.
...london's calling...
12. YOUNG CRIMINALS STARVATION LEAGUE - Bobby Bare, Jr.
That was some lost and found he was digging down in. Great record.
13. HIGHLY EVOLVED - The Vines
Another fun "silent e" band in the great tradition of the Strokes and the White Stripes.
14. VENI VIDI VICIOUS - The Hives
and another........
15. SEA CHANGE - Beck
"Looking for a satellite in the rays of heaven again..." It's amazing what a broken heart can
do. Every time I listen this breaks my heart too. I hope she's satisfied and feels really,
really bad. Beautiful but painful, sort of like a tatoo (I think).
16. MALADROIT - Weezer
Streamline, mainline, fall together. This dope knows.
17. OCTOBER ROAD - James Taylor
James always had an old soul, and now it comes in handy with him being an old man and
all. Sweet, soft and endearing.
18. DISSENT FROM THE LIVING ROOM - Matthew Ryan
Some demos, some needling. Real spontaneity that not only accents these beautifully sad
songs but shows how unnecessary and distracting all that studio fussing can be. (see Wilco).
19. BARRICADES AND BRICKWALLS-Kasey Chambers
Pretty enough.
20. UNDER RUG SWEPT - Alanis Morrisette
"...oh, this could get messy..."
THE NEXT TEN
BLACKLISTED - Neko Case Love the voice and the songs but especially the atmosphere, "Deep as I've been done."
A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD - Coldplay radioU2head
THE PINK HEART DEMOS - Ryan Adams
This one cuts like a knife...
DEMOLITION - Ryan Adams
..and this one goes straight to the heart...oops, sorry Ryan.
YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT - Wilco
The glass is only half full....
SEANNOSNA -Sinead O'Connor
Please make sure this woman sing at my funeral.....
COBBLESTONE RUNAWAY-Ron Sexsmith
Always a soulful tunesmith.
LIFTED OR THE STORY IS.... - Bright Eyes
Some great stuff among some muck.
MISSUNDAZTOOD - Pink
Great fun and would be higher on this list but I was afraid you'd all
roll your pompous eyes and laugh at me......
HONEY IN THE HIVE-The Bigger Lovers
Where is Mitch Easter anyway?
LOST IN SPACE - Aimee Mann or Aimee Panned as she seems to be these days. Let the backlash songs begin!
THE LAST TEN
DONT WORRY ABOUT ME-Joey Ramone
Heaven now owns half the Ramones. No fair.
MORE B.S. - Bree Sharp
Falling prey to the dreaded sophomore slump.....
THE BEST BOOTLEGS IN THE WORLD EVER - Various Artists
and other various artists who may not even know they are on here......Fun.
SCARLET'S WALK - Tori Amos
I'm not getting that America thing here....
ORIGINAL SINNERS - Original Sinners
...almost as good as the Original Xers.
BY THE WAY - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Harmonies?.....ok, but put the tube socks back on...
NEXTDOORLAND - The Soft Boys
Never soft.
GOOD MORNING AZTLAN - Los Lobos
la cucaracha, amigos.
YEAH YEAH YEAH ep
Yeah Yeah Yeahs yeah, yeah, yeah.
SO MUCH SHOUTING/SO MUCH LAUGHING - Ani DiFranco
ANI!
53rd and 3rd.. .vou're the one they never pick
Kevin Hodgkiss - No Pulse, NY