At the Drive-In - "Relationship of Command"
ATDI, Sigur Ros, and Oasis are the only three bands that have ever affected me in a way that utterly shook the foundations of what I thought were possible. The first time I heard "One Armed Scissor" I swear I heard the future calling me…and it was singing out of key.
Weezer - "Weezer"
This album is so intimately tied to my adolescence that I can’t imagine a world without Rivers Cuomo’s Beach Boy-esque caterwaul and the never-ending down-stroke heaven of Brian Bell’s rhythm guitar. This was the perfect album at the perfect time.
Sigur Ros- "Takk…"
If Sigur Ros had not released this piece of aural perfection this year, then I would have listed their third album, "Untitled" as one of my all-time favs. But since it was released, and it is perfect, this album has made my list instead.
The Beatles - "Revolver"
My favorite band of all time. I had to pick one album, and I figured "Revolver" was as good a choice as any. This record sits perfectly between the point when The Beatles starting taking drugs, and when they started taking too many drugs. "And Your Bird Can Sing" is pure pop genius.
Radiohead - "OK Computer"
Just like The Beatles, this was a tough choice to narrow down, but I felt that this record was the perfect mix of Johnny Greenwood’s guitar wizadry, and Thom Yorke’s melancholic digital burps. "Kid A" and "The Bends" both swing too far to either side to picked #1 for me.
Weezer - "Pinkerton"
Is it coincidence that the two Weezer albums on the list are the two that Matt Sharp played bass on? I think not. Too bad no one has the balls to make Rivers not suck nowadays.
Fiona Apple - "Tidal"
I think I have probably made out to this album at least four thousand times. Aside from reminding me of good times, this album is also the perfect mix of Apple’s introspective lyrics and beautiful voice. Which is more than can be said of her latest album.
The Beach Boys - "Pet Sounds"
"God Only Knows" is the #1 reason this album makes my top ten. If I could sum up my ideal sound it would be the bittersweet cacophony that Brian Wilson achieves on this song. I have been moved to tears more than once by Carl Wilson’s vocal performance.
Broken Social Scene - "You Forgot it in People"
This record is pure magic. The band has about a million people in it and because of that it sounds like a different band on each track. Thank you Rolling Stone (of all things) for turning me on to these guys.
The Turtles - "Greatest Hits"
Yes, I have a soft spot in my heart for this unabashedly bubble gummy pop quintet from the mid-1960s. You may know them by their song "Happy Together," but I know them by their ability to instantly transport me to a car heading south to Disney World…in my mind at least.