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Loki I can't follow my own point system this year, I don't have a clean #1-#10 list. There just wasn't anything so super-outstanding that I could rank them. So... Top Drawer Goodies: Doves - Lost Souls U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind Dusty Trails - Dusty Trails Catatonia - Equally Cursed and Blessed Terri White - The Lady's Got to Sing Soundtrack - O Brother Where Art Thou? Middle Drawer Goodies: CInerama - Disco Volante Elf Power - Winter Is Coming Cousteau - Cousteau Eels - Daisies of the Galaxy Juliana Hatfield - Beautiful Creature PJ Harvey - Stories from the CIty, Stories from the Sea Rickie Lee Jones - It's Like This Joe Jackson - Summer in the City Honorable Mention: Robbie McIntosh Band - Emotional Bends Paul Weller - Heliocentric Joe Jackson - Night & Day II Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now Crowded House - Afterglow Coldplay - Parachutes Really Good Party CDs: Tom Tom Club - The Good, the Bad & the Funky Queer as Folk II soundtrack (UK) Box Set You Must Own: Richard Pryor - And Its Deep Too! 1968-92 Complete Recordings Slo (Steve Horan) Okay, here's my top 10. Well, before I get started I should state that I haven't heard 10 new CD's this year so it's impossible for me to list 10 CD's. I've only heard 3 new CD's (well, 4 actually) this year and have liked two of those so this'll be a fairly denuded Christmas tree of a list but here goes: 1. Joan Osborne's "Righteous Love" This album didn't take off as I'd expected but I really think it's a brilliant album. Not intellectually brilliant like Mojo Nixon's "Sock Ray Blue!" of last year though. "Righteous Love" has possibly the best singing I've ever heard. This damn album presents a tour de force of vocal styles. No one else combines a pop sense with gut bucket blues mama wailing like JO (Not you, Ms Allard). Like with the Mojo album, most of the melodies and instrumental hooks are 2nd hand but JO creates pop hooks through sheer will and wile. Also, there's a George Harrison pastiche on this album that surpasses its influences and reminds me how much I liked GH in my younger days. I'm sorry that this album hasn't taken off the way I'd hoped. I took "No EC" out of the subject because Pete Thomas' backing band, Jack Shit, are all over this album and they rock! 2. "45 Alibis" If I were the kind who said "'nuff said" I'd say "'nuff said". Another reason to kill the "No EC". 3. 4. 5. Steve Earle's "Transcendental Blues" I don't know this album well enough to place it higher so here it is. Also, I like it but it's not in Joan's league. 6 - 10 are blank too as, well I already told you. (Later on, he amended the list to include Macy Gray on one of the empty rungs) Jessica Liese 1. John Wesley Harding - The Confessions of St. Ace 2. Johnny Cash - American III: Solitary Man 3. The Eels - Daisies of the Galaxy 4. David Gray - White Ladder 5. High Fidelity Soundtrack 6. Morcheeba - Fragments of Freedom 7. Belle & Sebastian - Fold Your Hands Child 8. Fastball - The Harsh Light of Day 9. The Go Betweens - The Friends of Rachel Worth 10. Joe Jackson - Night and Day II Why did I respond so quickly? Because I am supposed to be writing a paper. (Who here knows anything about the Algonquin Round Table?) Jim Henley RED DIRT GIRL!!!! Transcendental Blues Life'll Kill Ya Yup, a bunch of CDs by middle-aged white folks. But I gotta be me. Mike Carter Album of the Year: U2 _All That You Can't Leave Behind_ Runner Up: Neil Young _Silver and Gold_ Honorable Mentions (in no particular order): PJ Harvey _Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea_ Johnny Cash _American III: Solitary Man_ Dwight Yoakum _dwightyoakumacoustic.net_ Radiohead _Kid A_ Steely Dan _Two Against Nature_ Bjork _Selmasongs_ U2 "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" Paul Simon _You're the One_ Alan Ramsey My Top 10 Favorite CD's Of 2000 Are: Warren Zevon-Life'll Kill Ya Randy Newman-Bad Love Steely Dan-Two Against Nature Neil Young -Silver And Gold Oasis-Familiar To Millions U2-All That You Can't Leave Behind Sandy Denny-No More Sad Refrains Aimee Mann-Bachelor No.2 Joe Jackson-Summer In The City Pearl Jam-Live In Hamburg Mike Hernandez My problem this year is that while I enjoyed a lot of what I bought, nothing really jumped out as the absolute best of the bunch (while last year it was a dogfight between Summerteeth and Utopia Parkway for me). So, in that case, I'm going with a perrenial favorite with: 1. Neil Young - Silver & Gold Rest of the ten (no particular order): Radiohead - Kid A Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl Steve Earle - Transcendental Blues Merle Haggard - If I Could Only Fly Johnny Cash - American III: Solitary Man Willie Nelson - Milk Cow Blues Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Ave Vol. II Steely Dan - Two Against Nature Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker Honorable Mentions: Warren Zevon - Life'll Kill Ya Jimmie Dale Gilmore - One Endless Night XTC - Wasp Star Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out Joe Jackson - Summer In The City and Night And Day II High Fidelity Soundtrack U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind The Jayhawks - Smile (I only bought this about a week ago....had I grabbed it when it came out it may have ended up a top tenner) Reissues: The Clash (UK), The Clash (US), Give 'Em Enough Rope, London Calling, Sandinista! Songs From Big Pink, The Band, Stage Fright, Cahoots The Beach Boys albums from '70 to '85 Lou Reed's Rock 'n Roll Animal, The Bells, Metal Machine Music Favorite Bootleg: Elvis Costello - On The Road Again (Toronto 6/16/99; absolutely PERFECT sound) Craig Montoya I was waiting for this topic to come along. It was a great year for music as far as I'm concerned, and I had *no* trouble coming up with a top 10 list. In fact, it was difficult narrowing it down to 10, so I gave an "honorable mention" to the ones I wanted to include that didn't squeeze into the top 10. Here goes: 1. Aimee Mann -- Bachelor No. 2 I know the back of the disc says "copyright 1999", but it didn't really make it out until this year. This is the disc that didn't leave my player all year. Wonderful, literate, funny, sad, hook-filled perfect pop songs -- very much in the tradition of our hero, Elvis, at his best (and he did, of course, co-write one of the songs). I think this is even better than her 2 earlier solo albums, and that's saying a *LOT*. 2. Emmylou Harris -- Red Dirt Girl Emmylou is always thought of as master interpreter of other writers' songs, but my favorites have always been the scattered songs that she has written herself through the years -- "Prayer in Open D", "Boulder to Birmingham", and the "Ballad of Sally Rose" album. On this disc, Emmy brings 11 original songs and one cover and wraps them in the earthy, atmospheric sound that she developed on the Wrecking Ball album and on the road with her band Spyboy. The result is sheer beauty. And one of the biggest highlights of the year was the Emmylou Harris/John Hiatt concert I was fortunate enough to attend at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (and getting to meet/CD shop with Mike Bodayle -- believe the hype, Mike's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet!) 3. John Wesley Harding -- The Confessions of St. Ace One of JWH's very best -- behind only "Why We Fight" and *maybe* "Here Comes the Groom". In a perfect world, this would be a hit album and these songs would be all over the radio. One of those albums where you'll have all of the songs stuck in your head all day after listening. 4. The Legendary Marvin Pontiac -- Greatest Hits Highly-revered, little-seen musician/mental patient killed after being hit by a bus in 1977 or John Lurie's alter-ego? You decide. Either way, this disc is a treat -- full of very humorous songs and genuinely great music. 5. John Zorn's Masada -- Live in Sevilla 2000 Blistering live set from what I consider to be the finest jazz ensemble out there today. Zorn's pieces utilize Jewish-inspired themes as the glue that holds together some of the most awe-inspiring improvisational playing you could imagine. These guys (John Zorn, Dave Douglas, occasional Costello sideman Greg Cohen, and Joey Baron) are masters of their instruments and together they produce some of the finest, most adventurous music being made these days. 6. Steve Earle -- Transcendental Blues Another great Steve Earle disc. That's all that needs to be said. 7. Johnny Cash -- American III: Solitary Man I never get tired of hearing that voice. I don't enjoy this one quite as much as Unchained, but that cover of Nick Cave's "The Mercy Seat" alone is worth the price of the disc. 8. Billy Bragg/Wilco -- Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 I like this one even better than Volume 1, but that's probably because Wilco's influence is more evident. 9. Shelby Lynne -- I Am Shelby Lynne Wow. Great wall-of-sound soul album. 10. Ryan Adams -- Heartbreaker I bought this based on the recommendations of members of this list and was not disappointed. Ryan is a talented songwriter and singer. And with a backing band featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, this album had to be wonderful -- and it definitely is. Honorable Mentions: Neil Young -- Silver and Gold John Zorn -- Filmworks IX: Trembling Before God Bjork -- Selmasongs Patty Loveless -- Strong Heart Yo La Tengo -- and then nothing turned itself inside-out various artists -- Big Mon: The Songs of Bill Monroe Sonya Isaacs -- self-titled Ute Lemper -- Punishing Kiss Holly Morrison Here's my bid for the best of 2000: 1. PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea 2. Aimee Mann - Bachelor No. 2 3. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind 4. Jeff Buckley - Mystery White Boy=20 5. The Dan Emery Mystery Band - Natural Selection 6. XTC - Wasp Star 7. The soundtrack to High Fidelity 8. ??????? 9. ??????? 10. ???????? 8-10 are a mystery because there aren't any other albums IMO that were = that interesting (unless there is one that has just slipped my mind). I = don't know if any one else would agree with me but I think 2000 was one = of the worst year's for music.....maybe I just haven't been exposed to = the right music. Better luck in 2001. Maybe even a new EC release! The Pope of Pop Um - let's see: Randy Newman-Bad Love David Bowie-Hours Ed Kuepper-Smile Pacific Steely Dan-Two Against Nature Warren Zevon-Life'll Kill Ya U2-All That You Can't Leave Behind Gosh, how boring and pedestrian maybe the Bowie came out last year. Maybe I can substitute the new Bowie BBC sessions instead :-) Jay Nagy unfortunately, getting so many free albums to write about this year, i've *heard* a lot, but haven't spent much time enjoying things I've selected. even when i like "work" music, it's hard to bring it back to casual listening. a precious few have made that leap. so, with but a few shining spots and some things i simply liked without being enthralled: the jazz butcher conspiracy "glorious and idiotic"--just a fluke that i picked out of the paper's new releases bin--and i love it to DEATH! no real order in this list, but this is number one. the stimulants "sunspot lollypop" the woggles "fractured" pj harvey "stories from the city, stories from the sea" los amigos invisibles "arepa 3000" the go-betweens "the friends of rachel worth" the mendoza line "we're all in this alone" birdie "some dusty" belle and sebastian "fold your hands child, you walk like a peasant" the delgados "the great eastern" the softies "holidays in rhode island" Deb Kinsella I'm not a big fan of these lists, but here goes anyway (and in no particular order): 1. Everclear - Songs From an American Movie Vol. I This didn't leave my player for months - it's been a long time since a "concept" album has really worked for me. Haven't listened to the new one enough yet to make a decision. 2. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind I don't really care if this is seen as a step backwards or not! As much as I like EC's ballady stuff I would kill for a return (just once) to his old "I'm not Angry" stuff. That's the way I feel about this CD - old is not necessarily bad! 3. Wyclef Jean - The Ecleftic Any man with the cohones to sample Kenny Rogers can't be all that bad, right??? 4. Richard Thompson - Mock Tudor I know it came out last year but I didn't buy it until this year. My favourite RT CD after Rumour and Sigh. 5. The Beautiful South - Painting it Red I'll never get why these guys don't hit bigger than what they do...too bad about Jacquie leaving tho... 6. Sinead O'Connor - Faith and Courage I've said it before, but the fact that this CD didn't re-establish her career says volumes about how much the music industry sucks! 7. Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue II I think I liked this one better than the first one....but I really really really want Billy to release another solo album. 8. Cracker - Garage D'Or I wasn't a fan until I picked this up but after listening to it I find myself on a wonderful journey, discovering bands that I never really listened that much to before - Jayhawks, Wilco, Rusted Root, etc. 9. Joe Jackson - Summer in the City A great live album - as with EC, I never get tired of hearing Joe bring new life to old songs. I haven't had a chance to check out Night and Day II yet... 10. Macy Gray - On How Life Is I love this woman's voice! Great beats too! Wow! I didn't think I'd get ten - and I still have a few that are on my list (CDs that either I have or have borrowed but haven't listened to yet) - Nelly Furtado, PJ Harvey (I don't know much about her but have a friend who is a big fan and he is persuading me), and who knows what else. ---------- (later on...) ---------- I knew this would happen - I would post a top ten list and then either remember or find other items that should be included... Rage Against the Machine - Renegades. They do angry better than anyone else out there today. A3 - La Peste. First heard of these guys from the Sopranos but couldn't find any of their older discs. Was thrilled to find this one and love it. Dick Dickenbock, esq. Baxendale _You Will Have Your Revenge_ From London, a trio that make wonderful electronic pop with old drum machines (especially the ones that do handclaps) & synths & the occasional guitar. The boy lead singer sings with his accent intact all these great songs about relationships, dance music, computer games, & making a fool out of himself in front of girls. I'm a little in love with him right now, truth be told. Props to both Barcelona & Figurine, who do the same thing as Baxendale, & who released very good albums this year. But Baxendale have so much personality I feel they're just so much better. The Fall _The Unutterable_ I don't claim to "get" the Fall but they simply don't sound like any other band in the world. & haven't for twenty years. Their new album reminds me of their early stuff, especially _Dragnet_ & _Perverted By Language_, except Mark E. Smith mumbles more & sometimes over avant-garde electronic beats. They've been touring in England & I'm stuck in Texas making web pages. Is it a good starting place if you've never heard the Fall before? Maybe. Just be aware - once you are sucked in, it's hard to come back out. As a friend of mine said, "I own a lot of BAD Fall albums, & I wouldn't give them up for the world." Various _Powerpuff Girls Heroes & Villains_ I love indiepop & this collection is so sugar-coated my heart now has cavities. (Gosh, that was a silly metaphor.) It's of course based on the cartoon, which I've seen once, but a better collection of cuddlecore, bubblecore, indiepop, whatever, you won't hear. The Apples In Stereo (& their side project Dressy Bessy) are here, there's a new song by Devo & by Frank Black, there's Optiganally Yours, Komeda, Shonen Knife, & - at long last - a Bis song I can stand. Widely available via Napster. Senor Coconut _ El Baile Aleman_ Senor Coconut is actually a German deejay who had the BRILLIANT idea to turn Kraftwerk songs into Latin American dance songs. Hearing "Showroom Dummies" done as a cha-cha-cha is a treat. It has made me listen to all my old Kraftwerk albums all over again. Go-Betweens _Friends Of Rachel Worth_ Lots of people know about this, but I won't go into it too much. Forster & McLennan are simply brilliant & they write such perfect pop songs, it's a crying shame they're not millionaires & it's more of a shame I've never seen them live. I would kiss their hands. A recent Go-Betweens greatest hits album _Bellevista Terrace_ is a good place to start with them, by the way. Emperor Penguin _Mysterious Pony_ Kooky electronica from two weirdos in Illinois, I believe, one of whom collects old synthesizers & plays them over beats by the other, DJ Minimart, with weird samples & electronic vocals. They released two (maybe more) albums this year, but I like this one better than _Extreme Gaming_. The 6ths _Hyacinths & Thistles_ Instead of trying to one-up his amazing _69 Love Songs_ last year, Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields released stuff from his side projects - a Future Bible Heroes ep ("I'm Lonely (& I Love It)") & this, a second album of his songs sung by others, including Momus, Bob Mould, Katharine Whalen, Dominique A, & others. I don't know if many of you are Magnetic Fields fans, but I see Stephen Merritt as a modern Cole Porter - his songs as witty, incisive, deceptively simple, & make me cry. I think EC fans would dig him - & maybe he should ask EC to sing a 6ths song. Lambchop _Nixon_ Someone else mentioned this band - a country band with a reverence for Curtis Mayfield that won't quit. I find Kurt Wagner's voice to be evocative & provocative, & I love his low mumble over the excessive arrangements. Another band I've never seen, damn this world. Air _The Virgin Suicides_ French electronics but with a certain flair - I don't want to be cliche & say it's got something Gainsbourgian or anything - but, not having seen the movie, I have to confess I haven't listened to the entire album - because the last track tells the plot of the movie. But if you heard their first album, this is so much more full & accomplished. Howard Shore _The Cell soundtrack_ I don't often listen to soundtracks but this fit the movie so well, & it featured a Talvin Singh remix of a Master Musicians of Joujouka song. Some seriously noisy & creepy music. Console _Rocket In The Pocket_ More German electronica - this is the side project of a member of the German despairing pop band the Notwist &, like fellow Germans To Rococo Rot & Mouse On Mars, there's this incredible melodic sense among lots of blips & beats. Louis Armstrong _Hot Fives & Sevens_ Reissue of my favorite Louis Armstrong stuff for his 100th birthday. Armstrong turned Dixieland jazz on its ear, with the help of the likes of Earl Hines, & made music that is as free as jazz could be until Parker & Coltrane. the Phil Ochs reissues (while I'm here) on Collector's Choice, especially _Rehearsals For Retirement_ A mail-order house finally put Ochs' last few CDs, the "artier" ones, which I have always preferred over the lion's share of his protest stuff. He's no Dylan, of course, but here is where I felt he was finally finding himself, & his voice got more beautiful in this period. All right, that's that. I still can't get over the nagging suspicion that I'm forgetting something, but I'm going to go outside & watch sleet for a while. Andy Finkelstein The Top Ten: 1 - "Summer In The City: Live In New York" by Joe Jackson 2 - "Bloodflowers" by The Cure 3 - "Suicide Pact - You First" by Therapy? 4 - "NakedSelf" by The The 5 - "Rancid" by Rancid 6 - "Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers" by The Twilight Singers 7 - "Songs For An American Movie - Volume 2: Good Time For A Bad Attitude" by Everclear 8 - "Wasp Star: Apple Venus Volume 2" by XTC 9 - "Night And Day II" by Joe Jackson 10 - "Ecstasy" by Lou Reed Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by artist): "Heartbreaker" by Ryan Adams "Transcendental Blues" by Steve Earle "Ovo" by Peter Gabriel "Kid A" by Radiohead "All That You Can't Leave Behind" by U2 Best Boxed Set: (tie) "Rare Cult" by The Cult "The ProjeKcts" by King Crimson Jason Wilson Brown 1. The Go-Betweens-The Friends of Rachel Worth Just brilliant! Perfection! 2. Bjork-Selmasongs The movie is number on that list! 3. XTC-Wasp Star: Apple Venus Vol. 2 Wow actually different than the demos. 4. Robyn Hitchcock-A Star For Bram The outtakes from his last album this even better. 5. Aimee Mann-Bachelor #2 Sneakier than the Magnolia Soundtrack but still great. 6. Kimberley Rew-Tunnel Into Summer Another Soft boy on the list! Soft Boys on tour in 2001! 7. Elliot Smith-Figure 8 Not exactly XO but its quality stuff. 8. Radiohead-Kid A Better than OK Computer, but no where near the Bends. 9. Sleater Kinney-All Hands on the Bad One Slick, sexy rock. 10.Tim Finn-Say It Is So I wish he was more productive because this is great. Disqualified fopr really being a 1999 album: Travis-The Man Who Supergrass-Supergrass Best Compliations/Rareities: Frank Black-Oddball Crowded House-Afterglow Honorable Mentions: Death Cab For Cutie-We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes J Mascis and the Fog-More Light They Might Be Giants-Working Undercover for the Man EP U2-All That You Cant Leave Behind Billy Bragg and Wilco-Mermaid Avenue II Johnny Cash: American Recordings III: Solitary Man Lou Reed-Ectasy Paul Simon-You're the One Steely Dan-Two Against Nature Dishonorable Mention: Oasis-Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Todd Rundgren-One Long Year Best Things Coming in 2001: Soft Boys on Tour! The Minus 5 vs. the Young Fresh Fellows Double album! Soft Boys-Underwater Moonlight reissue!!! They Might Be Giants-No!! New Album! New Elvis Costello album... well a guy can dream Tilly Mint (Maria) My CD choices are a bit pedestrian this year - but hey, that's just the way I've felt this year. So, in no particular order (other than Coldplay *are* number 1....) 1. Coldplay - "Parachutes" Radiohead - "Kid A" U2 - "All that you can't leave behind" Badly Drawn Boy - "Hour of bewilderbeast" David Gray - "White Ladder" Craig David - "Born to do it" (THE saviour of British R+B and the king of UK garage) Fat Boy Slim - "Halfway between the gutter and the stars" Bjork - "Selmasongs" Also, The White Album reissue and The Massive Attack box set. and 45 Alibis (pinched this one off someone else!) Sverre Ronny Saetrum The Beatles "1" Marcus (Coni) Hmm, my list looks pretty much the same as Jason's so why should I bother with actually typing it? Anyway! 1. The Go-Betweens - 'The Friends of Rachel Worth' As always a deceptively simple album. There is not a single aspect of this album that is not adorable. Perfection. 2. Elliott Smith - 'Figure 8' A very beautiful album but not quite as sincere and emotionally deep as the 'The Friends of Rachel Worth'. 3. Teenage Fanclub - 'Howdy' This is even better than their debut album 'Bandwagonesque', I think. Those harmony vocals make me giddy whenever I hear them. 4. Lambchop - 'Nixon' The biggest Curtis Mayfield fans in the world. If you ever get the chance of seeing them live, don't you dare to miss them. Their albums do not quite live up to their live performances but they are still more than decent. I'm still searching for their version of 'Beyond Belief', though. 5. Smith & Mighty - 'Big World Small World' Good fun. Whenever I went to hip places this year, this album was playing. 6. Einstürzende Neubauten - 'Silence is Sexy' This album had me in stitches. I wish more people would recognize Blixa's sense of humour. 7. Aimee Mann - 'Bachelor #2' 8. Calexico - 'Hot Rail' 9. The Eels - 'Daisies of the Galaxy' Not a particularly brilliant album but quite amusing. A good live band, though, which is why they deserve to be mentioned here. 10. XTC - 'Wasp Star' I still haven't come to terms with this album. Any XTC release is by default a top ten album for me but still ... Oh well, their next effort will be better hopefully. While this was a good year for music, it was also the year of Bim Sherman's death. Bim was not just arguably the greatest living reggae singer but also a truly great person. He was humane, optimistic and always open-minded to musical innovation. He wasn't just gifted with one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard, he also used it to bring across his vision of humanity. Sigh! Bim did not release an album this year but I think he contributed to Sinead O'Connor's last release. Check him out. NP Bim Sherman - 'Miracle' (re-recordings of his finest songs with an Indian (!) orchestra and some of the finest musicians ever - Skip McDonald, Doug Wimbish, etc.) Craig Pinhey When I look back on this year, it seems that there are probably quite a few records that came out that I wanted but I didn't get yet, so this list is incomplete. I haven't heard the new Beautiful South, or Ron Hawkins (of Lowest of the Low), or several others (and I don't give a hoot about Bono's new Epistle). Craig's 2000 Top 10 (doesn't count bootlegs or 45 Alibis would be tops) 1. Ute Lempner - Punishing Kiss - opened me up to a whole world of other music. Made me buy Divine Comedy -- Secret History. 2. Robbie Fulks - The Very Best Of -- not really a best of but a collection of B sides etc. Didn't get it here til 2000 (guess I could have bought it online at robbiefulks.com...). This introduced me to Robbie, who is now one of my faves. Immediately went out and bought his previous records -- all great! 3. Juliana Hatfield - Beautiful Creature - Now is my favourite album of hers. I love it and don't care what anyone thinks about this! ;) 4. XTC - Wasp Star - More perfect pop from the #1 perfect popsters of all time. 5. Aimee Mann - Bachelor #2/Magnolia Soundtrack - Very emotional and well written music except I chop Mag. at Supertramp. I guess these are really 1999 but I couldn't get B#2 until 2000. 6. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Pay Attention -- maybe they are not trendy anymore but this record is just as good as their previous best. 7. Joe Jackson Summer In The City -- the 'feelgood' album of the new Millenium! 8. Eliot Smith Figure 8 -- what Lennon solo might have sounded like if he hadn't met Yoko. 9. Ice-T - The Evidence (best of CD) -- IMUHO (In my uneducated honkie opinion) one of the few rappers with important things to say. 10. Eels - Daisies of the Galaxy -- Devo on downers So let's see, I have Rap, Country, Caberet, Pop, Synth, Ska/Punk, Beatlesque -- gee I am proud of myself. I think I will pat myself on the back until I cough out a tic tac. Honorable Mention: Mike Ness - Is...Under the Influences/Cheating at Solitaire -- maybe these were 1999 records (Influnces released late December so is really a 2000) but I only got them in 2000. These are rockabilly meets Johnny Cash with a punk twist. Stephen Newbold St. Germain: The Tourist Joe Jackson: Summer in the City Mark Knopfler: Sailing to Philadelphia (really! - it's a great album - his best since the first Dire Strsits disc - includes cameos from Difford+Tilbrook, Van Morrison and Gillian Welch) PJ Harvey: Songs From the City.. JW Harding: Confessions.... Shelby Lynne: I Am.... Dusty Trails: Dusty Trails Emmylou Harris: Red Dirt Girl Badlands - A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska Radiohead: Kid A close, but no cigar: U2, Paul Simon, John Hiatt, David Gray, Coldplay best reissues/compliations: blur: the best of - high fidelity soundtrack - and (scoff if you will, and i'm sure you are) genesis: archive 2 Steve Getchell My top 10...This is, of course, different from my first top 10 list because of the boatload of discs I opened Christmas morning... 1. David Bowie-Bowie At The Beeb (un-freeking-believable!) 2. Bell & Sebastian-Fold Your Hands Little Child 3. Mark Knopfler-Sailing To Philadelphia 4. Emmylou Harris-Red Dirt Girl 5. XTC-Wasp Star 6. Kirsty MacColl-Tropical Brainstorm 7. Ute Lemper-Punishing Kiss 8. Joe Jackson-Summer In The City 9. Johnny Cash-American III Solitary man 10. Billy Bragg & Wilco-Mermaid Avenue II Discs I bought this year, that were released earlier, that I can't believe I lived without! Frank Sinatra-Watertown (A top 3 of all-time for me, and the years of searching were absolutely worth it!) Housemartins-London 0, Hull 4 Trash Can Sinatras-Cake Scud Mountain Boys-The Early Years Boots I got this year that are at the top of the list... Housemartins-The Fourth Best Concert Of 1987 Elvis Costello-KOA Demo's Elvis Costello-IB Demo's Bruce Springsteen-The Greatest Performance Ever Artists I hope to learn something about in 2001...If anyone can shed great light on them, shed my friend! The Go-Betweens Prefab Sprout Teenage Fanclub Dream Academy Robbie Fulks Amy Rigby Emmilou Harris The Eels ..and I'd like to find all of T-Bone Burnett's discs, but they are hard to find! Steve Talkowski With the exception of no's 1, 6, 7, 9 & 10, Jason and I have very similar tastes! I did hear a Sleater Kinney song at my local coffee hangout (didn't know who they were until asking) and i'll have to pick this one up. And I'm curious about the Tim Finn disc considering I was so pleased with Neil Finn's Try Whistling This. So, with the five we have in common I'll add the following: 6. Requiem For A Dream (original music composed by Clint Mansell featuring Kronos Quartet) A truly haunting soundtrack to a powerfully emotional and disturbing film. 7. Yo La Tengo - And then nothing turned itself inside-out Thanks to the list for turning me on to this group. I'm REALLY bummed out that I missed their THREE performances (all sold out) at the end of November. *sigh* 8. Ute Lemper - Punishing Kiss Love the variation on this disc, and it's great to hear more Neil Hannon and The Divine Comedy! 9. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind It's been growing on me - i really like it. (this one doesn't count because it's not a 2000 release but i've been listening to it like crazy, therefore, it's one of MY personal faves of the year) 10. Joni Mitchell - Hits I'm REALLY digging her early guitar work, with all the alternative tunings and heavy strumming. And for the record, I think Bjork sound be nominated for a Best Leading Actress Academy Award. That movie and soundtrack are simply amazing! Steve Bachman I've got over 800 CDs and just about everyone I know (outside of this list, of course) thinks I'm some kind of nut because of this. But every year when this thread comes around, I feel so *inadequate*. I think I only bought four(!) new releases this year. Two of them would've made my top ten list if I'd bought a hundred discs: - RADIOHEAD : KID A ... weird, addicting, mesmerizing, weird, and great. "The Bends" is still my DID Radiohead disc, but this has gained a lot of ground. - NEKO CASE : FURNACE ROOM LULLABYE ... beautifully written and sung. DiDi Grimm talked me into this one. She tried to talk me into seeing her live when she came through town, too. Damn, I should've listened to her! The other two: - WALLFLOWERS : BREACH ... not bad stuff at all. - BARENAKED LADIES : MAROON ... bad stuff. Or maybe it's just that, in BNL's own words, "it's all be done before." I passed on Van Morrison's latest, and that makes two in a row of his. He used to be an automatic buy on day of release. But I'm still getting lots of mileage out of his first 30+ discs (and a dozen boots). The new stuff? Well, I'm "just not feelin' it anymore." Maybe I'll get there. I heard a bit of "Fire At Keaton's Bar & Grill," but I managed to do without it. I'm not sure I there's a list long enough for this one to make. There's an awful lot on EC's Vanity Fair 500 that I'm not familiar with, but if this isn't the worst thing on there, then The Complete Anton Webern or Eminem must be. Next year I'll buy at least a few of the year 2000 releases that others have mentioned (PJ HARVEY, WARREN ZEVON, U2 and AIMEE MANN?). This year, my "procrastination best of" list would include discs by BEN FOLDS FIVE, JOHN COLTRANE, GEORGE HARRISON, BETH ORTON, JONI MITCHELL, R.E.M., JELLY ROLL MORTON, DEL AMITRI, THE POGUES and THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS. There must be others that I'm forgetting. Kenneth Hedges Compilation-The Essential Bob Dylan Tom Samerivertwice Since Craig (Montoya) and I share many of the best albums of the year, and because he described the reasons why I like so many of them so much better than I could, I will for the most part let his words below speak for me. (Is that okay, Craig?) Our lists differ ever-so-slightly in both content and order. So.... 1. Billy Bragg/Wilco -- Mermaid Avenue 2: As Craig says below, it IS better than the first one (which was my favorite album of 1998). 2. Masada -- Live in Sevilla 2000: All I can add to Craig's magnificent description below is that these guys are more exciting, interesting, adventurous, playful and just downright soulful than 99% of the bands out there today. I saw them in Newport over the summer and they just killed every other band on the bill. 3. Marvin Pontiac -- Greatest Hits: Tom Waits meets Isaac Hayes meets the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Funky, ambient, jazzy, sexy and fun. 4. Aimee Mann Bachelor #2. I love this album. It's the second best pop record of 2000, right after BB/Wilco. 5. Steve Earle -- Transcendental Blues: Earle's best album. 6. Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Tony Rice -- Pizza Tapes: This long-bootlegged gem was finally officially released. For those who don't know, this is a recording of the trio fooling around, playing a bunch of their favorite tunes. A pizza delivery boy stole the tape and circulated it among Dead fans for years. No fancy production, no gimmicks, no editing out missteps or fuck-ups, this is a great collection of stripped down songs. If you're familiar with and like Garcia/Grisman "Shady Grove," you'll love this. It's the same groove with added guitar wizardry from Tony Rice, and a jaw-dropping version of Miles Davis' "So What." 7. Danny Zamir -- Satlah: This guy's only nineteen and has the tone and feel of a seasoned veteran saxophonist. It swings, it grooves, it makes you want to dance. 8. John Zorn -- Filmworks 9, Trembling Before G-d: Pianist/organist Jamie Saft and clarinetist Chris Speed duet on a series of new pieces commissioned by filmmakers for a documentary about the gay Hassidic community. Subtle, lyrical, adventurous and achingly beautiful. Two tracks feature a guest appearance by ace percussionist Cyro Baptista and one track features a cameo by John Zorn (on vocals!). 9. Johnny Cash -- American III: It's astounding enough that he's recording. It's even more astounding that the album is this good. 10. In His Own Sweet Way, A Tribute To Dave Brubeck: More than just a rehash of old standards, this collection reinterprets Brubeck oeuvre with dignity, ambitiousness, and humor. Featuring an all star avant jazz cast including Dave Douglas, Uri Caine, the Sex Mob, David Krakauer, Joey Baron, Bill Frisell (on the gorgeous "Summer Song"; listen and hear where Elvis stole the melody for "Having It All"), M,M&W, Pachora, the Ruins, Slowpoke, David Slusser, Anthony Coleman, Erik Friedlander, and Eyvind Kang, this is the best tribute album I've heard in a long time. It beats the pants off of that "Stolen Roses" Grateful Dead disc. Honorable mentions: Roy Nathanson -- Fire At Keaton's Bar and Grill: Though Elvis steals the show, I like the whole damn thing. Pharoah's Daughter "Out of the Reeds" John Zorn "Cartoon/S&M" Dave Douglas "Soul On Soul" Dave Douglas "Leap of Faith" Dave Douglas "A Thousand Evenings" Marty Ehrlich "Sojourn" Ned Rothenberg "Ghost Stories" Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" Stolen Roses: A Tribute to the songs of the Grateful Dead Brad Mehldau "Places" Waco Brothers "Electric Waco Chair" Best Reissues: Miles Davis/John Coltrane "Complete Columbia Recordings" John Zorn "The Big Gundown 15th Anniversary Edition" Jelly Roll Morton Box Set You've probably already noticed that there's precious little pop on my lists. That's not because I no longer appreciate pop; it's just been a particularly strong year for jazz and klezmer. If Dylan or Tom Waits or Richard Thompson or Elvis had new dioscs out this year my list would look very different, I'm sure. With that said, based on other people's lists, I want now to hear: U2 "All That You Can't Leave Behind" Emmylou Harris "Red Dirt Girl" Teenage Fanclub "Howdy" Requiem For a Dream Soundtrack (Not pop, I know) John Wesley Harding "Confessions..." PJ Harvey "Songs From the City" Radiohead "Kid A" Elliott Smith "Figure 8" Neil Young "Silver and Gold" |
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