Chronic Listaholic

If every song’s worth listening to, it’s a Perfect Album. I really struggled with this list, and no one is more surprised than me at what’s on it — and what’s NOT on it. Had to dig pretty far back to come up with ten flawless ones!

1. Godsmack, Godsmack. Yes, it includes one of my favorite songs of ever, “Voodoo,” but what earns the album top spot on this list is the raw richness of Sully Erna’s voice, and that no two songs sound the same. Unmistakeably Godsmack, yes, but not cookie-cutter anger rock. The band’s so good, you actually enjoy hearing how pissed off they are.

2. Nighthawks At The Diner, Tom Waits. A live recording from 1975, this is quintessential Waits: raspy-voiced slices from the grittier side of life, served on wry with a whiskey chaser.
3. The Shore, The Shore. Every time I listen to this CD, I decide a different song is my favorite. Lyrically and musically a work of art, you couldn’t ask for a better soundtrack for a night of love. Ben Ashley’s voice gives me warmbumps.
4. 15, Buckcherry. One of my current favorites, there’s not a single track I don’t enjoy. A rare case of one song (”Crazy Bitch”) leading me to an album full of fun stuff. And a surprisingly melodic love song, too. Well worth every penny.
5. Guero, Beck. Since the day I bought it, this has been one of my “feel-good” CDs. I can’t listen to it without feeling upbeat and bouncy. That’s the best thing about Beck: His music makes you feel (usually in a good way). Love, love, love this guy!
6. Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Red Hot Chili Peppers. If someone held a gun to my head and forced me to choose a favorite track from BSSM, I’d pick “Breaking The Girl.” But ONLY if there was a gun to my head, because I love them all.
7. Rubber Soul, The Beatles. To be honest, most Beatles albums would qualify to be listed here, but after 40 years, this one’s still my favorite. It’s also the only Beatles album I own in CD format. That’s right, kids — I’m a child of the Age of Vinyl.
8. Discipline, King Crimson. Less prog-rock Crimson, a masterpiece of musical chemistry infused with the mad brilliance of Adrian Belew. All but two of my favorite KC songs come from this one album, and I never get tired of hearing it.
9. Heartbeat City, The Cars. Five of the 10 songs on this album were released as singles. At least two of the others, “It’s Not The Night” and “Looking For Love,” should have been. I’d name this as one of the five best albums from the ’80s.
10. Synchronicity, The Police. Brilliant and innovative and timeless. Back in the day, I used to keep this on repeat all day long. When I listened to it today, it sounded just as good.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Memes, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.