Having recently watched High Fidelity, staring John Cusack and Jack Black, I have decided to make a top 5 album list. This is an extremely, extremely difficult task for me given my fondness for music and the weight I put on an artist for being able to make a “complete” album. Here’s my list:
1. Indigo Girls – Rites of Passage
Likely the best album put out be the girls. Emily’s loftily idealistic and poetic songs really mold well with Amy’s more straitforward southern rock style to make an absolutely complete album. With songs such as “Galileo” and “Love Come to You” on there, this CD of mine might be worn out from being played so much. “Ghost” is likely my all-time favorite song… but that’s a whole other top 5 list.
2. Rockwell Church – Through the Fall
Probably the best band you’ve never heard of. An independent band out of DC and Vermont, this duo really can really write some great songs. With James Taylor like vocals, and some great rhythmic guitar playing, this album is as complete as they come. There is not one song on it that I would skip over, they are all each as good.
3. Tie between Phish – A Live One and Simon & Garfunkel – Concert in Central Park
Quite possibly two of the best live albums out. Phish captures their amazing onstage presence and inginuity in this album, created to further bolster the huge underground tape-trading business surrounding the band. Likely the most skilled and knowledgable about each of their instrument, these four music doctors (musicologosts) are now defunct, but this album is a must have. Simon & Garfunkel have written some incredible songs over the ages. On this album, they capture their amazing harmonies, great melodies, and they play some of the all time favorites.
4. Guster – Goldfly
I have to give credit to this band and this album. Though all of their albums have been great, this is the one that got me hooked. With the hand percussion overtones and the driving rhythmic guitar playing really make this a fun album to listen to repeatedly.
5. Another tie: Billy Joel – The Stranger and Caedmon’s Call – Caedmon’s Call
The Stranger is quintessential Billy Joel. With one of my all time favorite songs, “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” as well as “Only the Good Die Young” and “She’s Always a Woman,” Joel’s composing and songwriting talent really shine through. I was reluctant to put a Caedmon’s album on here because that is just so predictable, but I really couldn’t help myself. I love this album. Which such classics as “Lead of Love,” “Not Enough,” and “Coming Home,” as well as my personal favorites like “Not the Land,” and “Just Don’t Want Coffee,” this album is almost complete, excluding “Stupid Kid.”
Runners Up: Dave Matthews Band – Crash, Silers Bald – Silers Bald, John Mayer – Room for Squares, Jackopierce – Decade, 1988-1998, Barenaked Ladies – Gordon, Justin McRoberts – Father, James Taylor – Sweet Baby James, Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique, Nickel Creek – Nickel Creek, Weezer – Weezer (blue album), Bebo Norman – Ten Thousand Days, They Might Be Giants – Flood
I know… I made a top 7 and then a bunch of others, but I just can’t narrow it down far enough because I still want to give credit to all those other albums.
