The Recap

50. White Stripes, The White Stripes
49. Sparrow Orange, Hands and Knees Music
48. XTC, Skylarking
47. Catherine Wheel, Chrome
46. The Sea and Cake, The Biz
45. King Crimson, Red
44. Weezer, Weezer
43. Live, Throwing Copper
42. Young Marble Giants, Colossal Youth
41. Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
40. Quasi, Featuring Birds
39. Pearl Jam, Ten
38. Spoon, Gimme Fiction
37. The Police, Synchronicity
36. Elvis Costello, Punch the Clock
35. Moby, Play
34. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
33. Guided by Voices, Alien Lanes
32. Neil Young, Rust Never Sleeps
31. The Kinks, Something Else by the Kinks
30. The Replacements, Tim
29. Belle and Sebastian, Tigermilk
28. REM, Murmur
27. Lounge Lizards, Voice of Chunk
26. Andrew Bird, Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
25. Neko Case, Furnace Room Lullaby
24. The Grateful Dead, one of their bootlegs
23. The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds
22. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
21. Philip Glass, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof
20. Talking Heads, Fear of Music
19. The Pixies, Doolittle
18. Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks
17. Sonic Youth, Evol
16. Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville
15. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
14. Paul Simon, Graceland
13. Fleetwood Mac, Rumors
12. Michael Jackson, Thriller (*)
11. Derek and the Dominoes, Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
10. Love, Forever Changes
9. U2, Achtung Baby
8. Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
7. David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
6. Nirvana, Nevermind
5. Radiohead, Hail to the Thief
4. Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?
3. (tie) Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street
The Beatles, The Beatles
The Who, The Who Sell Out
Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV
Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
2. Pink Floyd, The Wall
1. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue

number one

1. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue. Kind of Blue is the greatest album of all time. I really believe that. Obviously, I haven't listened to all of them, and there may be some obscure release sitting in the bargain bin of a used record store in a back alley in Cleveland that would impress me even more, but I kind of doubt it. Think about it: what's the greatest album in the history of rock 'n' roll? I certainly have my opinion, but there would be a lot of debate, and if you asked 10 rock critics you'd probably get 8 different answers. But ask 10 jazz experts to name the greatest album in jazz history, and I think they'd all say the same thing.

Kind of Blue was recorded and released 50 years ago this year, but sounds completely timeless. An album for the ages if there ever was one, with a sound that's elemental, pure, complete. It came out around the dawn of rock 'n' roll, and has had a lasting influence on rock, jazz, and other musical styles. And it was recorded in two sessions, with minimal rehearsal. That's right: two sessions. Like Miles Davis had simply tapped into the primal fountainhead of music and let it pour out of his trumpet, or something like that.

Well, I could wax on for hours about this album, without ever really going anywhere, but I will end my Top 50, this nearly year-long endeavor, by asking my many readers out there to just go listen to it. If you've never listened to Kind of Blue before ... what the hell is wrong with you???And if you haven't listened to it in a while, then it's time to catch up. And even if you listened to it recently ... were you really listening? Or was it just playing in the background while you drove to work or made dinner? C'mon, go really listen to it.

As for completing the Top 50, I have to admit it's a bittersweet moment. I never thought it would take this long, or be so taxing. But I really did rediscover some of the things I loved about my favorite albums. And I took pleasure in the fact that nobody was able to guess what Number One would be, despite the clue. (Did anyone figure that out, by the way? You know, "Godzilla," like the song by Blue Oyster Cult. Blue Oyster Cult -> Kind of Blue. Simple.) Some might say that Brian actually did guess it, when he aired his grievance with my Number Three selection; but no, he didn't really. He was just being snarky. And if you're impressed that he at least came close, don't be. I lived with the guy for something like half my adult life, and never tried to hide anything from him. He knows my tastes, and I know his. I could even tell you what would be Number One on his list if he ever put together his own Top 50: Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King by the Dave Matthews Band. He just can't get enough of it ...

I also know that some of you out there will take issue with the fact that I chose a black artist for my Number One pick. And not only that, for Number Four as well! And a few other spots in the Top 50. Well, first of all, I just want to say that Jimi Hendrix was also part Native American. And second of all, that we're living in a different age now. We have a black president in this country, and everyone can vote now. And finally, I stand for racial equality and judging people by the content of their character and their artistic endeavors, and not judging them based on physical characteristics alone and whatnot. And if you don't also believe in that, I challenge you to a fight, because this is something I believe in strongly.

And some of you may be surprised that Number One isn't a rock album! Well, I never said this was the Top 50 *rock* albums - just the top 50. And I included Philip Glass a while back, so that should've tipped you off. And Kind of Blue has influenced rock music, in ways both subtle and profound. There are probably other jazz albums out there that belong on my list, and maybe some classical and R&B, maybe even a little old-time country. Rap? Got that covered with Public Enemy. Reggae? I don't really care for it that much. Klezmer? Oi? Chorale? Classical? Bring it on, people, if you have suggestions. Bring. It. On.

I don't know - there's probably some stuff I missed. But it's a moot point now: I'm done here. Thank you all for participating in the Top 50. Time to pack up and move on with the rest of our lives ...

number one fever

There's a special feeling in the air these days, and I'm not talking about the approach of autumn. It's called ... Number One Fever! Can you feel it??? So much anticipation to find out what the big Number One pick is gonna be! Can almost cut it with a knife. But don't worry, people, you'll find out soon enough: as soon as I get 10 guesses.

Come on, phone 'em in! Don't be shy. Let's see what you all think it might be. I've had a lot of fun with all this, and decided it was time to let everyone else join in. There'll be a special prize for anyone who gets it right. And don't forget the secret clue I gave out, not too long ago ...

number two

2. Pink Floyd, The Wall. Believe it or not, this was a tough call for me. Because of my self-imposed limit of only one Top 50 album per band, I had to choose between The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon, a hellish task for anyone but especially for a committed Pink Floyd lover. And also, Meddle, an egregiously overlooked album. While the first two get most of the acclaim, Meddle contains one of the most mind-blowing and awe-inspiring songs of all time: "Echoes," a psychedelic descent into the underworld and back again with Roger Waters and David Gilmour as your guides instead of Virgil (you know, like in the Divine Comedy). It takes up an entire album side, and yet there's not a wasted moment in the whole song. Damn! And Side A is not too shabby, either ("One of These Days," "A Pillow of Winds," etc etc.)

So how to choose between The Wall and Dark Side? Again, it's not easy. (Damn!) But there were a few factors favoring The Wall: A) Dark Side has already gotten a lot of glory from staying on the charts longer than any other album in rock history. B) The Wall is a double album. Twice the fun. C) The Wall is also a movie. Not just any movie - one of the best rock-related movies ever made, too. (Is anyone out there going to deny it??? Please.)

So, I reluctantly gave the nod to The Wall, even though it slips a little right at the end, especially "The Trial." But before then ... oh mama, what an album. All the torment in Roger Water's life - the death of his father during WWII, the painful childhood, his rage at Nazi Germany and the English educational system, his conflicted relationship with fans and his own culpability in buying into the excesses of rock-star life - somehow all gets channeled into this cohesive work of amazing rock music. And it seems that every other song has a filthy David Gilmour guitar solo - what other album has so many filthy guitar solos? Just filthy. I can't decide which is my favorite: "Comfortably Numb?" Does that beat out his raging, filthy solos in "Run Like Hell" and "Young Lust," or the guitar work in "In the Flesh" and its reprise? I don't know. And then the little treasures, like the quiet, beautiful piano in "Nobody Home." And the sound effects: the sound of a descending dive bomber, abruptly seguing into a baby's cry. Just cool as hell.

This is the album that tore one of my favorite bands apart, to the point where they could never really get it together again. Their follow-up album, The Final Cut, was a forgettable mix of leftovers from The Wall, and the last album made with the intact line-up. Pink Floyd continued on without Roger Waters, but probably shouldn't have. Everything that followed The Wall was just an afterthought. It may have torn the band apart, but what a way to go.

(A final note: check out the bluegrass version of The Wall by Canadian band Luther Wright and the Wrongs! Both reverential and hilarious.)

number three

3. The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street

The Beatles, The White Album

The Who, The Who Sell Out

Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV

Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

I recently got an email from a Mad City fan, hungry for me to resume my countdown, who asked if one of the "Big Three" was going to be at the top. And by that, I think he meant the first 3 bands here. And I know there's been a lot of curiosity and anxiety out there about the remainder of the Top 5, and who was I going to leave out. Because I think some of you were expecting one or more of these albums or bands to make an earlier appearance; and obviously, if I was at Number Three, I couldn't include all of them.

Or could I? I guess my Number Three proves once again that I didn't come from the mold: I broke it. Or something along those lines. You know what I mean, right? Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you cannot predict what's next with me. I'm unpredictable. And this proves it.

So here's my way of thinking: you can't do a Top 50 Albums and leave any of these artists out. They're lodged in there. They're like the Mt. Rushmore of Rock, if Mt. Rushmore had 5 presidents on it. These are monster albums. But let's face it: these guys are also dinosaurs. They're like Godzilla: part dinosaur, part monster. And if you know you have to include them, and you only have 50 spots to work with, that's like 10 percent of your list, and that doesn't leave a lot of room for new or unconventional picks. Voila! Let's lump them all together, near the top. That way, they're all included (as is admittedly necessary), but I've also got like 98 percent of my list to play with still.

As for the individual selections here, I guess there might be some controversy. I guess there are some people out there who don't think The White Album is the Beatles' greatest effort, etc. But I also guess that I'm a sucker for a good double album. But even then, there's controversy: The Who Sell Out over Tommy? It's a tough call, but I think Sell Out is an under-recognized gem, and something about Tommy always freaked me out a little. Just a little too psychedelic and self-indulgent for my taste.

So who's stoked for my final two? All of you, I bet. So, here's a little preview: coming up next is the greatest double album of all time. And at the top is the greatest album of all time, period. And remember the term "Godzilla." Godzilla Godzilla Godzilla ...

number four

4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced. I am going to go out on a limb, and proclaim that Jimi Hendrix was the coolest son of a bitch in the history of rock. A lot of people believe he was the greatest rock guitarist ever, and I agree, but even more importantly in my mind, he was a cool son of a bitch. And that was reflected in his music. For all the acclaim his guitar-playing received, he was a pretty damn good singer too, and an amazing songwriter. "Little Wing" - hell of a song.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear on Are You Experienced, but that's one of the few flaws of this album. I still remember the first time I heard "Purple Haze": riding in the carpool to high school, with Shane DiMaio's mother driving. Greatest song of all time? It's certainly up there. And without question, the opening guitar solo ... to my mind, it kind of summarizes rock and roll, in the space of about 10 seconds. It's rock boiled down to its essence. And somehow, Jimi found a way to rock hard in so many different ways, without ever sounding like he was borrowing from his other work. "Fire" sounds completely different from "Foxey Lady," which sounds completely different from "Manic Depression." And "Hey Joe" is completely different in a different way. But put them all together, and it creates one of the most memorable albums of all time.

It's kind of hard to believe Jimi was only 27 when he died. Sweet Jesus, what would he had done if he'd lived for even 5 more years? Or was alive now? He'd only be 67 years old. Just barely drawing Social Security. Playing the guitar with his gums, and then smashing it with his walker. But somehow, he would still make it look cool. Damn ...

number five

5. Radiohead, Hail to the Thief. Radiohead has been the greatest band in the world for - what? Five years now? Or has it been even longer than that? Their music is consistently innovative, sophisticated, complex and yet accessible at the same time. I'm amazed sometimes at how sound is put together on some of their songs to create something beautiful without any readily identifiable melody. This Thom Yorke fellow: clearly a tormented genius. Maybe the other guys in the band are, too.

But here's the question: what is Radiohead's opus grande? It's an easy question to answer for a lot of other acts. Michael Jackson, for all his fame and King of Pop status, really had only one good album. Bruce Springsteen had a number of great albums, but most critics and fans agree that Born to Run is numero uno. U2? They may have been the biggest (but not necessarily the greatest) band in the world at one time. What was their best effort? My money's on Achtung Baby, but I also acknowledge that there may be less of a consensus there.

But Radiohead - man, that's tough. For quite a while, I had Kid A pegged for this spot. A great album, with my favorite Radiohead song ("Morning Bell") and a lot of other good ones. OK Computer also has a big following. And I know one wayward soul who recently spoke highly of In Rainbows, almost as if he thought that might be their best. (Sure, you could get it for free, more or less, but better than Kid A or Hail to the Thief? Come on ...)

No, I'm gonna have to go with Hail to the Thief. It starts off with a blistering hit ("2+2 = 5"), proceeds through a bunch of other great songs (including maybe my 2nd-favorite RH song, "Where I End and You Begin"), and just keeps on going. And just when you think RH couldn't fit any more great songs on one album - you know, when you're getting to the point around song #10 where even great albums typically crap out with a bunch of filler material - all the sudden you get this insane electronica groove with "Myxomatosis." (And what other band could put out a song called "Myxomatosis," that's about myxomatosis, that actually sounds this good?) And then you close with "A Wolf at the Door," a glorious burst of hope, the perfect closing song.

So it's a great album. Although, to be honest, there are other albums in my Top 20 that I may enjoy listening to a little more. But Radiohead is the greatest band in the world, and has been for a while, and for that reason alone and on the strength of several other albums, they deserve to be in the Top 5. Some have accused me of "cheating" by ranking certain albums based on the cumulative output of the artist, but I think that's unfair, and such an ugly word! I prefer the term "cognitive dissonance," or maybe "myxomatosis." Yeah, "myxomatosis." I like that ...