1. Ok Computer-Radiohead: Just a totally amazing record. Back when Radiohead actually played guitar. I like some of their music since, but it just doesn't compare. Let Down is such an awesome song with how it builds. Some of Thom Yorke's best vocal work.
2. Achtung Baby-U2: To think the band was discussing parting ways...and the Edge starts playing One. Ultraviolet is my favorite U2 song. The verse where Bono sings "I remember When we could sleep on stones"...man, that is some good stuff right there.
3. Disintegration-The Cure: Depressing...yes. Long intros....yes. The string of songs from Lullaby to Disintegration (which includes Fascination Street).
4. Moving Pictures-Rush: This was my first "real" rock record. Camera Eye-'nuff said.
5. Transatlanticism-Death Cab for Cutie: Ben Gibbard is one of the best lyricist in rock today. Title and Registration is a good example of this. The middle string of songs on the record are fit together perfectly.
6. Document-REM-Their best record, IMHO. A dorm room fav....I am Superman!
7. Led Zeppelin IV-It was hard to pick this over LZ III, but I remember just listening to it over and over again at the cottage in Nags Head one summer. Misty Mountain Hop and When the Levee Breaks are two of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs. Man, Jimmy Page came up with some hellacious riffs. Great studio guitarist...sloppy live...maybe the drugz.
8. Big Red Letter Day-Buffalo Tom: I love this band. They were never "big", but they wrote good music. I think Bill Janovitz has one of the best guitars sounds. I will never forget when they opened up for Eric Johnson at the Boathouse in Norfolk. They opened with Treehouse and the whole crowd was bouncing in unison. Great live band.
9. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots-The Flaming Lips: Just a total sonic assault. Quirky, but I love it.
10. Some Cities-Doves-Their last record, Kingdom of Rust is good, but Some Cities is still their best effort. Wish they would come back from hiatus.
Runners up included(not in order)-Black Love, Afghan Wigs-Chrome, Catherine Wheel-Syncronicity, Police-Pinkerton, Weezer-Mutemath, Mutemath-Downward is Heavenward, Hum-The Bends, Radiohead-The Love Below, Outkast.....this will really date me....Powerslave, Iron Maiden-Operation Mindcrime-Queensryche.
Anybody else up for this nonsense?
Ham
