Rudiecantfail’s Weblog

The idea of top ten lists has always intrigued me. Just knowing the “best of the best” holds a kind of aura or power. I mean when one knows the best they know the best, and who doesn’t want to know that? Let someone else do all the thinking.  In reaitly, though, the whole thing is subjective. Who is say really what is better than something else? Perhaps a group or person well educated on a subject can make such claims and get pretty close to the actual bests. Who knows. Most of the list are still simply opinion. Anyway, when done by a group or panel, it may be a little easy to pick such coveted lists. On ones own, however, it is a totally different story.

For me, today’s list is more a list of favorites than “bests.”– music is so subjective and as much as I like music, there is no way that I know every album ever. So, I am going to try my hand at making a list of my top favorite albums. These lists often come in the form of desert islands lists and almost always limited to 10. I thought, why does it have to be a desert island? And why does it have to be ten, after all? Does everyone (let alone anyone) get stranded on desert island? Do they happen to just have 10 albums? I didn’t think so either. So lets get stranded anywhere we want and have 11 albums instead of ten. Plan? Great.

Top 11 albums with a little explanation:

11. Document- R.E.M.

Simply put, this is an awesome album. By the time this came out, the band had already well established their sound. Not only did they (pretty much) invent alternative music, they continued to define and redefine it. The album is excellent start to finish and has such a variety. Every song sounds like them, though, and that is the great part. Not surprisingly this is their last album before their move to a major label. Favorite tracks: “Exhuming McCarthy” and “King of Birds.”

10. Vs.- Pearl Jam

Every time Pearl Jam plays a live show, they play like its the last they are ever going to play. To me, this is that same idea but translated to an album. Although not as popular as their first album, I think the variety of material is excellent and their growth as a band is phenomenal. Favorites: “Animal” and “Leash.” P.S.  “Leash” alone could make this top ten list.
9.  War- U2

If all you have heard from U2 is The Joshua Tree than you are missing a whole other side of them. Basically, this is post-punk meets new-wave dance beats. Favorites: “Two Hearts Beat as One” and “40.” (See my last blog for more on this album)
8. Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses)- Grateful Dead

It took me a little while to get into the Dead. They were a kind of acquired taste for me I guess you could say. After hearing a couple things that I liked from this album, I got it. Soon after, I became obsessed with it. The roots, country sound is central to this period in music, and as evidenced by this album, no one did it better. From the opening of “Bertha” to the closing of “Not Fade Away/Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” the album is excellent. Favorites: “Not Fade Away/Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” and “Playing in the Band.”

6. Graceland- Paul Simon

I love this album because I have never heard anything else that sounds quite like it. Paul Simon was good before this album, but the fact that he could pull off something like this is just remarkable. It is a combination of African Music, Zydeco, roots music, and pop. Somehow it works. Favorites: “Homeless” and Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes.”
5. Billy Breathes- Phish

Phish has always been know more for their sound than their songwriting, and this album is certainly evidence of that. This is not to say that their lyrics aren’t important or interesting, because they are, but its just that the music almost overshadows them. The album combines all of their strong points: a good sense melody, psychedelic tendencies, a small (often forgotten) folk side, and even some of their more notable uses of Latin inflected grooves. Favorites: “Taste” and “Prince Caspian.”

4. The Band- The Band

I’ve tried really hard to stop listening to this album all of the time, but I can’t. I love how The Band always feels like an ensemble more than just “one guy and his band” kind of feel. If there are solos they only take up a couple measures and never seem to be the center of the music. There is, in fact, only one guitar solo on the whole album. Their country, rock, folk, R&B sound is always paired with the lyrics that would put almost anyone else’s to shame. There are always a few lines that will get some laughs as well. Favorites: “Across the Great Divide” and “Rag Momma Rag.”
3. Darkside of the Moon- Pink Floyd

What I like about this album is that runs together like a full work, kind of like a symphony. As far as compositions go I would say it is one of the best of all time –even ranking up there with some of those symphonies. Its sounds cliche to say it, but there has never and will never be anything that sounds like it. In addition to the ground breaking music, It also touches on major themes of carpe diem, war, money, and the mind without ever sounding over done. Favorites “Breathe” and “Us and Them.”
2. London Calling- The Clash

If they were “the only band that matters,” than this album could be “the only album that matters.” “Train in Vain” was the first song that I got into on the album and that is why I had to buy the album. After buying the album, what held me was the horns. How did the Clash come up with this? A mixture of punk rock, roots rock, reggae, jazz, pop, and R&B mixed with touches of a full horn section. (The horns are not on all the tracks, though.) All throughout high school this was the album that I most listened to. I am just starting to revisit them. It wasn’t that I didn’t like them anymore, but it is just that I listened to London Calling probably more than humanly possible. Now, after a couple year hiatus, I am back and more into them than ever. Clearly, withdrawal is not working. Clearly. Favorites: “Rudie Can’t Fail” and “Wrong ‘Em Boyo.”

1. John Barleycorn Must Die- Traffic

At only 6 tracks long, this is my favorite album. Kind of like Darkside of the Moon, this whole album runs together perfectly, and to great effect. Every measure, every sound, every note counts. There is a sense of urgency that runs through the entire piece. I got this record (on record, actually…) in Atlanta at a place called Wax and Facts. I brought it home and put it on immediately. Within the first few seconds on “Glad” I was hooked and have been ever since. The organ, the piano, the loose percussion, the strange sounds, not to mention Steve Winwood’s voice. I can listen to this album anytime and any place (certainly a desert island). I had seen Steve Winwood play live before when I had no idea who he was. Like the album, I had never heard anything quite like it. I was not surprised to learn when I looked on the sleeve to John Barleycorn that many of the songs were played the night I saw the show.

Obviously, if someone told me that I was only allowed to own 11 albums, no more and no less, (kind of like in Speed when the bus couldn’t go below 55 mph, except it would be an amount imposed on the number of cds I could own) I would own these 11 albums. More than just desert island albums now, aren’t they?