Beats. It's What's For Dinner.
I'm sure you've heard the age old questions regarding being stuck on a desert island with a limited choice of [insert literary, musical, sexual, etc reference]. Well, as I heard someone say once, I'm sure you wouldn't care about me if I meowed like a cat and licked your forehead, but just the same, here are the albums I consider my all-time favorites after years of collecting, discarding, and playing frisbee with tapes and CDs from a wide range of genres. In no particular order. Just because I like you.1. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Brutally honest. Amazingly talented. Enough said.
2. Lagwagon - Trashed or Let's Talk About Feelings
The two best albums from the world's most underrated punk band. Catchy songs, (usually) meaningful lyrics, vicious tempos.
3. Pearl Jam - Ten
Porch. 'nuff said. These guys really started to go downhill with...fuck, I don't even know the name of the album that came after Vitology. Riot Act is thoroughly boring. But Ten is golden.
4. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Don't Know How To Party
Introduced me to ska. Still the best album I've got with horns on it.
5. drivin' n' cryin' - scarred but smarter
Over fifteen years old with rarely a month between listenings has to say something.
6. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
Perfect blend of everything good about the Beasties.
7. The Pixies - Come On Pilgrim
Holiday Song stands out, but every song is eminently hummable.
8. Social Distortion - Social Distortion
Bare bones punk: a guitar, a bass, drums, and too much whiskey. This album taught me to sing, more's the pity.
9. Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat
Leonard Cohen purists will probably hate this choice, since it's all covers of his songs, but she has such a sweet voice.
10. Reel Big Fish - Turn The Radio Off
Great band that knows how to make fun of itself, of the mainstream, of the alternative, and of everything else they could think of. No one is safe. They even made fun of you.
11. Pain - Midgets With Guns or Wonderful Beef
They're not punk, they're not ska, they're not..whatever you call Arabian music. They're all of it. And they're funny. Go see The Pain Page if it's still up.
12. The Changelings - Anything
They're beautiful. I owe Simu's webmistress Steph for turning me on to them.
13. Ministry - Psalm 69
Good, hard, kick-your-neighbor-in-the-head music.
14. Rancid - Let's Go
Catchy fast songs which are pure unadulterated joy to sing along to in the car. Plus, their bass player is the shit.
15. Concrete Blonde - Free or Bloodletting
These are both great albums. I love Johnette Napolitano's voice. I'd marry her if I didn't think my girlfriend might object.
16. Me First & the Gimme Gimmes - Any of the first three CD's
They're fun. Good car singalong stuff. I enjoy that sort of thing, if you couldn't tell.
17. Johnny Cash - The Essential Johnny Cash is good for old stuff, Solitary Man or Unchained for newer.
He's the Man. 'nuff said.
18. Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction
Hard to pick a bad BR album, but this one's my personal tops.
19. Jason Webley - Counterpoint or Only Just Beginning
Some of the best music ever made.
