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Top 10 Albums of all time as rated by me. (Expanded List) Remember this is my opinion, sometimes I’m wrong. This list is meant to generate interest and discussion in my favorite bands.
1) Husker Du-Candy Apple Grey-A great album for depressives to let off angst. One of my favorite songs ever is Too Far Down
2) The Clash-London Calling-Forget what anyone tells you this is the definitive punk album by the definitive punk group. Rancid listen to this and learn from the pros. Interesting aside.. I used to live less than a block from the Palladium in New York, where the picture on the cover with Paul Simonon smashing his guitar was taken. This fact was first pointed out to me by one of the many unrequited loves of my life, a girl name Jill, who had a Johnny Rotten T-Shirt.
3) Elvis Costello-This Year’s Model- His first album with the attractions and as Rog would say “It rocks”. Get the English version with Chelsea on it if you can.
4) The Velvet Underground & Nico-Oh my God, what an incredible album, despite what Lou Reed says about Nico not being in the group or having anything to do with the group. The songs she sings I’ll be your mirror, femme fatale, sunday morning, etc. sound dumb when you hear Mr. Reed sing them. Get the record not the CD as it was not mastered to CD correctly. (none of the VU’s albums were). Free advice- stay away from the 1994 reunion concert album. Really bad.
5) REM-Murmur-So their first album is their best, as it is with many other groups and everything has been downhill from there. (Especially their last 4, which suck, suck more, suck even more and then suckest). I will give everyone, but Michael Stipe credit for limiting acting like they are so self-important despite their widespread mainstream popularity. One of the reasons I hate them now is they broke up one of my favorite bands the Young Fresh Fellows by stealing the leader Scott McCaughey and taking him on a 2 year tour as their keyboardist, and unofficial member.
6) The Beatles-Revolver-How can you have a list and have 2 Smithereens albums and only one Beatles album???? Well, I’ll tell you, the Smithereens were socially irrelevant, but that had 2 excellent albums. The Beatles changed the world, but even Seargent Pepper doesn’t do it for me cover to cover like Especially for You.
7) Blake Babies-Sunburn-Now if there is one album on this list you should buy it is this one. Juliana is at her best and all the songs are good. I used to see this on record all the time at the used stores around Boston, but since My Sister came out and there are no more records I can’t find it, so I had to settle for the CD. late note-Blake Babies reunion December 1999 new album this spring/summer check out their website
8) Bruce Springsteen-Born to Run-Seeing him in concert this fall (99) changed my life. It is a religious experience. Spend as much as you need to, to get there if they come to your town. His best album. Another one who has softened with age and money. (See Elvis Costello, REM)
9) REM-Reckoning-Their second album and it is amazing, boy how things have changed. (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville is a great song.
10) Fugazi-Repeater-I have seen them live twice and you can really say they are one of the few famous bands who live their ideology. They are very cool and this album is one of the best post-punk, punk albums ever.
11) The Lemonheads-It’s a Shame About Ray- Do the Lemonheads matter? Is Evan Dando really cool or did Ben Deily carry him all those years? I saw them open for the Ramones in '86. They were very good. Post-Deily and Jesse Peretz they are a different band. Juliana is the bassist on this one and the tunes are one poppy melody after another and I like it damn it.
13) The Smithereens 11-My sister used to hang out with them and Rog is very excited about their new album, they are actually a bunch of goofballs who think they are important. My favorite story is that Pat Dininzio wrote a song called Something New, because the Beatles had an album by that name yet never had a song name Something New. Well, if Mr. Dininzio is such a Beatles fanantic, he should realize that the Beatles had nothing to do with naming that album as it was a US only release of songs cut from other albums to make more money for Capitol Records. ...and their from New Jersey.
14) They Might Be Giants-Flood-Fun, Fun, Fun, Why is the world in love again, why are we marching hand in hand, why are the ocean levels rising up its a brand new album for 1990 they might be giants brand new album flood.
15) Grant Hart-Intolerence-Great first solo effort from former Husker Du drummer. I really like it.
16) Juliana Hatfield-Hey Babe-What happend to this Juliana??? Did she grow up and become jaded, and complacent like her male counterparts? Let’s hope not.
17) The Who-Who’s Next-Just a great rock and roll album.
18) The Feelies-It’s Only Life-Another great depressive album, with great lyrics that put life in perspective, because in fact it is only life.
19) Green Day-39/Smooth-The first album on Lookout records by the now world-famous punk group from Northern California. Back when they stood for their ideals. I don’t really blame them for selling out, because they don’t seem like they changed, even though the put out the same album every year and they got to play Woodstock!!! (this is sarcasm). Check out the letter on the dust jacket if you can find the record saying we are happy on an independant label, stay away from us major labels.
20) Scruffy the Cat-Moons of Jupiter-The coolest Boston Band ever, despite lead singer Charlie Chesterman’s bad attitude toward me at shows. Rumors of a mid December reunion show are stirring at TT the Bears.
21) Young Fresh Fellows- The Men Who Loved Music-I wonder how Scott adjusts from playing Mama Kin’s with me representing one eighth of the audience to touring with REM? It’s true they really love music.
22) John Lennon-Plastic Ono Band-So before Yoko got equal time on his albums, he really was a dominant force in music. 23) Joe Jackson-I’m the Man or Look Sharp-Take your pick, same album both great. Where’d he come from, where’d he go to? Next effort Night and Day (song: Steppin’ Out) give me a break!!
24) The Smithereens Especially for You-Oh what might have been.
25) Aimee Mann-I’m With Stupid-I like her and her albums. New magnolia soundtrack is very good as well!
Excellent Albums by friends and family
Or Top eight albums/singles I’m related to in some way.
1) Bob the tape-Bob Hsiung’s much anticipated debut. Very good and I lived most of the songs so it makes it very relevant for me.
2) Timmy-How Much Longer Can I Do Nothing-One of my punk rock sisters best records, the views and lyrics expressed are right on target for today’s punks, Get with it!
3) Feiwu-(first album)-Really good Bob Hsiung release with his new band.
4) Jodi Sheeler-Featuring offbeat imagery, affecting lyrics, and strong vocals, the quirky blend of songs ranges from the bittersweet No Regrets to the defiant Blackeyed Susan. Wow this girl really will be important and I have pictures to sell to VH1! Listen to it and Buy it at!
5) Huasipungo-Canciones Para una Causa Perdida-My sister Amanda in her Spanish hardcore band.
6) The Tuepelos-Frightened by the Noise
7)Los Crudos/Huasipungo-Nunca Nada Cambia-split 7”
8) Feiwu-Ring of Fire-Major label debut Bob in his commercial MTV state, yet still very good!!!!. Listen to it at
9) Me, Amanda and Adam Rudikoff singing Ramones songs on the end of my Who Tape.-Shades of Jon Kominick.
10) The Tunafish Band-Really Mean Songs about Our Friends’ Girlfriends and Do They know it’s Christmastime -Ask our lead singer Shim