My Favorite Albums Evar: 30-21

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My Favorite Albums Evar: 30-21

Episode 30-21

100-91 / 90-81 / 80-71 / 70-61 / 60-51 / 50-41 / 40-31

After this, it’s the top 20 you guys! WOO! Right? Sorry these are coming up so late at night, but I’ve been busy with some freelance stuff and haven’t had much time during the day to work on it. So enjoy! We’re almost done!

30 The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989)

One of the best examples of how to write good pop music there will ever be. I’m finding it hard to pontificate on these albums, I’m getting to the point where I think everything should be obvious. Maybe the top 10 will be done without any words.

29 Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – I See a Darkness / Ease Down the Road (1999, 2001)

Both of these albums are beautiful, Darkness for its depth and sinister undertones, and Ease for its minimal arrangements and more direct sentimentality. On both albums, Oldham maintains his signature style, style that either bothers people or enamours them, a style that involves his soothingly off-kilter voice, his poetry, and his talent for making simple songs lifetime classics with hardly a sound. Yesterday I was talking about Bowie and how complex and obtuse arrangements get me worked up, but this is the other kind of sound that makes me swoon. Simple, elegant arrangements made beautiful by the sound’s relationship to silence.

28 George Harrison – All Things Must Pass (1970)

I spent a lot of time talking about this album here. Sorry for the redirect, it’s just too easy. Plus, this album is pretty emotional for me – a few of the songs really mean something to me, and George was my favorite Beatle. Let’s not get sad, though, this is a beautiful record.

27 The Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)

I had this on vinyl for a while, and I’ll never forgive myself because I traded it to someone for something that I can’t recall. I must have wanted whatever it was pretty bad, though, because this is a great, great record. David Byrne is one of the only people who can do the whole “As an artist, I’m different from the rest of you” attitude into charming and even enviable nonchalance, and with Eno on board here, his typical obtuseness is diffused a bit by the superb production. Quite the sophomore effort, and one of their best, for sure. Even if we only listen to “Take Me to the River” when no one else is around.

26 Stevie Wonder – Talking Book (1972)

I grew up with Stevie Wonder’s body of work, but as I got older and started actually listening to the individual albums, I always came back to this one. For whatever reason, I went years without this one on hand, one of those weird thing where I had it on a cassette, then a CD, then lost the CD, then let a friend borrow one, then (shh) downloaded it again last year. We’ve been through a lot, but we always return to each other. That’s what you do when something is really great.

25 Dire Straits – Making Movies (1980)

I have to remind myself that this was 1980. It doesn’t sound like 1980 to me. If you’re not familiar with Knopfler’s catalog, this is the one with”Tunnel of Love” and “Romeo and Juliet”, two of my favorite songs ever, with very sentimental attachments. Sometimes, things are hard, and sometimes the timing is off, but there are also bonds that don’t break just because other things do.

24 Pavement – Wowee Zowee (1995)

Zowee’s sprawling and eccentric slap in the face to the world’s expectations post Crooked Rain made me love the world again. I know that most Pavement fans either love or hate this one, but I have to say, it’s been seriously mistreated. From Malkmus’ sparing and ballsy opener “We Dance” (rumored to be an homage to Suede) to the “Generation” anthem to the return to classic rock roots with “Rattled by the Rush” and “Grounded”, this album travels through all of the band’s quirky affections. And it’s awesome.

23 Fugazi – 13 Songs (1990)

Um, duh.

22 The Smiths – The Queen is Dead (1986)

These aren’t just Morrissey’s most beautiful songs, they’re most indicative of Marr’s talent as a composer. I’m assuming you’re familiar with this one, it’s not a radical choice for a favorite, and “I Know It’s Over” is fucking brilliant and heart-wrenching and miserable in the most amazing way possible, I don’t know what else to say.

21 Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A. (1984)

I love how people say this album showed that the Boss didn’t have to be a downer all the time, but the title track is one of his saddest. What, would it have been cooler if I chose The River? This album is full of incredible songs, though, title track and its abuse aside. “I’m on Fire”, “Downbound Train” and “Cover Me” are my personal favorites. And fuck, it’s the Boss. Geez.

Elsewhere:

Comments for this entry

debbie

dude, the summer “the queen is dead” came out i had just gotten my driver’s license. can you imagine how intoxicating it was to be young and stupid and driving with a carful of kids at dusk to some lame party and smoking with the windows rolled down and wind rushing through the car and belting out “never had no one ever” and really feeling that way? man. i just got goosebumps! heh. ah, to be young and over-emotional.

i never gave born in the usa a chance (i was an unbelievable music snob in high school, and all the jocks seemed to be big bruce fans, so i obviously wanted nothing to do with that) but i recently saw that “dancing in the dark” video and thought, “huh. that bruce was pretty hot.”

Jessica B

Every time I hear “Born in the USA” at a patriotic event, I laugh on the inside. And sometimes on the outside.

Tom

The Stone Roses choice is ace. I still often put that on.

I also love the way that “All Things Must Pass” sort of releases all of George’s creative blockage from the end of the Beatles. It’s like “I can write, too, you know.”

As always, I don’t own many of your selections, like Fugazi and Bonnie Prince Billy.

Tom

Also, I totally have George’s autograph. Don’t break into my house.

Paige

WHAT TOM???

So, when’s the next time I’m invited over? Seriously though, George. And yes, that album is definitely a sort of wave goodbye to all the Lennon/McCartney issues. Beautiful stuff.

And Krishna.

TwoBusy

Mmm… Stone Roses. Is there a place where people get tired of songs like “Made of Stone” and “She Bangs the Drums?” If so, we must destroy it.

mikejones

i’ve noticed that the further down the list we get, the percentage of agreement between us increases exponentially. i find myself touchÃ©-ing more and more out of each block of 10.
the next 20 cannot come soon enough, and yet i do not want it to come to an end either.

mikejones

iâ€™ve noticed that the further down the list we get, the percentage of agreement between us increases exponentially. i find myself touchÃ©-ing more and more out of each block of 10.
the next 20 cannot come soon enough, and yet i do not want it to come to an end either.

jonniker

It’s funny – whenever I choose my top favorite albums ever, I don’t think of the album the right way. I pick the albums that I’ll always have with me, no matter what, which usually means I end up picking the collections, like Hatful of Hollow or Louder Than Bombs.

I adore The Queen is Dead though, and I just don’t think of it enough, because I get caught up in other albums. Truthfully, the worst part about the Smiths is that to me, all of the albums blend together, because I’ve ripped them and just thrown them into various mixes. The iPod has ruined the album for me forever.

Paige

Mike,
Thank you so much, I’ll be sad when it ends, too!

Jonniker,
Fight the ipod, listen to your albums!

mikejones

i still listen to albums, even through my iPod.
seldom do i ever listen to anything on my iPod BUT albums.
that’s why i’ve never understood all this talk about the iPod ruining albums and everything. i mean, i can see why someone would argue that, but i just don’t see it happening with me one bit so i don’t understand it.

jonniker

That’s interesting Mike. I never thought much about it either, until I realized that I almost *never* listen to a single album in its entirety anymore, nor do I buy whole albums at a clip. The only entire albums I have pre-date the iPod, unless I’m a giant, ginormous fan of whatever it is. I buy songs, mix them up, put them on shuffle, whatever. I was surprised by my own behavior, as I used to be a huge fan of the story album, which *requires* a consecutive listen (ELO’s ‘Time’ is a favorite. I know. I’m cheesy like that.)

Chag

Please don’t do your Top 10 without words. I really enjoy your commentaries

Anthony

…and there it is my favorite album ever sitting at #24. I thought I’d mark this occasion by saying hi and letting you know how much I’ve been enjoying your list.

Xdm

Um, Debbie? I think I was your best friend in HS.
I have Duran Duran’s autographs. (Ok, only Simon’s and Nick’s. Do you think more of me?)

dutch from sweet juniper

do the bonnie prince albums count as one? I think those two albums are so different! “I see” reminds me more of palace’s days in the wake and “ease on” is so damn pleasant. . .the title track has some of my favorite lines ever, with the fireman’s duty and the booty and all of that.

I love this list. Love it.