Part I

Hey Guys,

So I decided, after thinking about how many people ask me about what music I like and what they should listen to next, that I'd make a list of albums that I think everyone should listen to. The way I will lay this out is every week, I will write down 10 albums with a short blurb as to why I like them, and a few tracks I recommend. I open this up to further discussion as to whether or not people really like certain music that I am putting on this list, or if they have any suggestions that they feel I would like. (I'll keep going as long as there are people interested so please leave comments!)

[Disclaimer: I will be repeating some artists who have multiple albums I truly enjoy, and this list will cover a great deal of varied music genres. Additionally, the ranking of these albums does not necessarily indicate their positioning in my list of favorites.]

PLEASE COMMENT! YOUR FEEDBACK IS MUCH APPRECIATED!
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*BEING EDITED NOW* UPDATE!! WEEK 8 - 10 (8/2/10 - 8/8/10): *BEING EDITED NOW*
Starting Next Friday August 13, 2010, there will be 10 Albums listed per week at a time for the remainder of the summer. We are starting the second phase of this music blog and going up to 200 Albums because I just realized how much I love more than just 100 albums. Plus, I have heard good feedback so STAY POSTED! AND PLEASE COMMENT!

Week 8:

71. A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step
Thirteenth Step is one of the biggest surprise albums I have ever stumbled upon. I have my brother's to thank for introducing me to this band and this band to thank for introducing me to some quality music. This album mixes some hard rocking guitar riffs with some powerful vocal projections that make any casual listener become a head-banging fan (well it did for me at least). I thoroughly enjoy how they incorporate their skill with meaningful lyric writing and manage to vary their style from softer tracks that make you want to pick up an acoustic guitar and serenade some lovely ladies, to harder styled tracks that make you want to pick up an electric guitar and rock out with your garage band. Needless to say, this album has it all and I would suggest listening on to their other works if you like them.

[Top Tracks: Weak and Powerless, The Noose, The Stranger]


72. Matchbook Romance - Stories and Alibis
Many of you may think of Matchbook Romance as another one of those whiny teen punk bands. I beg you to give them a second chance. Although they do have the typical acoustic songs that would make thirteen-year-old girls hearts throb, this album does it in an artistic style that is far superior to the likes of Blink-182 and other angsty punk bands. They are all very skilled musicians and have a rocky tinge to them that makes their music very powerful sounding and a great pump up band. I remember listening to them with my brother in the car on the way to school every morning and it would definitely get me in a great mood to start a day of High School, an otherwise semi-boring experience. The awesome music of Stories and Alibis, particularly in the bridge, should convince anyone enough to listen to the rest of the album.

[Top Tracks: Stories and Alibis, Promise, Tiger Lilly]

73. Lostprophets - Start Something
Lostprophets started out their music career with music that many people could not handle (I, initially, was included in that camp). They had a few songs on their album that were very good but others that were tough to swallow because they were very heavy rock/metal that sounded to angry and not melodious enough. Eventually, however, I grew to love them and listened to them more and more. To my happiness, they came out with this album which, on the spectrum of heaviness in their albums, falls in the middle, with Fake Sound of Progress being the heaviest and Liberation Transmission being the softest. The album came out with a band and had a number of single hits that everyone knew. They managed to encapsulate the essence of their heaviness from the first album with a more melodious touch and fill it with very catchy lyrics, while at the same time, providing a guitar-learner plenty to work for when deciding to learn these songs (which are a lot of fun to play). The album is great and will keep you entertained as well as impressed with the production quality of the music. So, ENJOY!

[Top Tracks: Last Train Home, Burn, Burn, Hello Again]

74. My Chemical Romane - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
My Chemical Romance, for many, is a tough pill to swallow. The lead singers schizophrenic voice and the hardcore punk feel to them is not always what people are interested in hearing. That being said, this album is great. It strayed away from their absolutely hard to swallow nature of their first album and created a number of hits that many people sang regularly at the time of their releases. I thoroughly enjoy the strength of the power chords that are played throughout these songs and also I like the unique singing style of this band because it separates these guys from the rest of the bunch. Although they may not be the most unique band in the world, they are one of those bands that is great to listen to every so often to bring back good memories, get your punk fix, or just listen to good music.

[Top Tracks: I'm Not Okay (I Promise), The Ghost of You, To the End]

75. Demolition String Band - Where the Wild, Wild Flowers Grow
I love this album. I can thank my Dad for getting it for the family and playing it regularly on Saturday mornings. This folky band is excellent and they sure know how to create a typically folky, fiddly, southern feel to them with their vocalist as well as style of play. If you are interested in wetting your beak in a bit of out of the popular culture music, not to say its indie at all, this is where you should dabble. They are an excellent group and have great instrumentation coupled with a female vocalist who knows how to sing very well. I highly recommend this for the folk connoisseur as well as the average individual who is interested in exploring other genres of music. Heck, this album is EXACTLY what this blog serves for; To introduce new bands and types of music to the masses!

[Top Tracks: I Threw Away the Key, High On A Mountain, Only the Leading Role]

76. George Gershwin - The Ultimate Gershwin
Not enough can be said by this unbelievably gifted musical genius. This is where people can be proud to be American in the classical world. His music ranges from outstanding musicals to fantastic orchestral works, all the way through to piano sonatas. Gershwin is fantastic. He embodies American Classical Sounds while still possessing an almost poppy flair to his music that makes a non-appreciative-of-classical-music individual even enjoy it. On this album, there is little that is missed. In fact, unless you fall in love with this guy, you probably will NEVER hear of any other music that isn't on this album. It is THE Gershwin album that gives you the best sampling, or rather thorough exposure, to his music.

[Top Tracks: Rhapsody In Blue, Preludes for Piano, Summertime]

77. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
What a crazy couple Gnarls Barkley makes up. They dress extravagantly, put on extravagant shows, but make AWESOME music. When this Chicago group came out, I was very much excited about them

78. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Once Soundtrack
79. Inti Illimani - Imagination
80. Jem - Finally Woken

Week 9:

81. Orishas - Antidiotico
82. The Postal Service - Give Up
83. Portishead - Dummy
84. (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack
85. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
86. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
87. Sublime - Sublime
88. The Jimmy Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
89. John Legend - Once Again
90. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope

Week 10:

91. Everclear - So Much for the Afterglow
92. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
93. The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup
94. Louise Attaque - A plus tard crocodile
95. Monotonix - Monotonix
96. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
97. Mor Ve Otesi - Dunya Yalan Soyluyor
98. Tool - Lateralus
99. Linkin Park - Meteora
100. Dvorak - New World Symphony

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After an extended hiatus, WEEKS 5 - 7 (6/28/10 - 7/4/10):


Week 5:

41. Sugar Ray- 14:59
Sugar Ray is the band for any summer. They play music that frequently is about the sun, and it makes you want to listen to them when you're swimming in a pool, on the beach, driving with your windows down, or just lounging around with some friends playing some ping pong or foosball. These are the memories I associate with Sugar Ray, and this album is what made me realize that I love music that, although not extraordinary and completely original, still has a great sound, great harmonies, and fun guitar parts that are great to sing in between verses. This CD was Sugar Ray at their hight and is what left the world with most of its well-known songs.

[Top Tracks: Every Morning, Someday, New Direction (family memories)]

42. Air - Pocket Symphony
I have my good friend Shane Daniel to thank for introducing me to this outstanding band. Air is electronic experimental type music that I had the fortune of listening to late at night when I would pull all-nighters with Shane in the lounge of Shorey House. This music is perfect to put you in a trance that you don't really want to get out of because it is a mixture of absolutely gorgeous chord progressions subtle, yet powerful lyrics and unique stylization. Air changes their sound from album to album, but, being the first album I heard from them, I highly recommend this album as a starting point for one of the most powerful musical experience I have had in recent years.

[Top Tracks: Once Upon A Time, Napalm Love, One Hell of a Party]

43. Pearl Jam - Ten
I can't stand the their stance and outright blatancy about politics, BUT this album, and this band ROCK. One of the bands at the forefront of modern rock that I truly enjoy, Pearl Jam also manages to incorporate excellent lyrics with fantastic guitar riffs. There are times when I listen to this album, and Pearl Jam's music, where I want to play every single instrument in the band; Between the great guitar playing skills that play very catchy verses and choruses, to killer guitar solos, the non monotonous bass melodies (always appreciated), the outstanding drumming, and the weird things that Eddie Vedder does with his voice, I want to be this band in different parts of their songs. They have very memorable songs that make this album a powerhouse, but also, it's the finer points that listening to this album 10 times (pun intended) permits you to discover. They continue to rock on today, but make no mistake, their first album is their most important at this point. Play on, Pearl Jam, just shut up about your political opinions.

[Top Tracks: Alive, Black, Jeremy]

44. Blink 182- Enema of the State
Yes, they are back, but I hope they have a better showing than the awfully produced self-titled album. They supposedly put on hilarious and highly entertaining shows (one that I want to see) but that doesn't carry them all the way. They have managed to imprint the words "And she took of my pants, but then I turned on the TV," into almost every angsty teenager's head across the globe. Blink 182 has talent at producing extremely catchy music that is always great to learn on guitar when you are starting out (because it is so easy). Also, they were one of my favorite bands back in the day, and my garage band played many a song from this album because I loved to sing like Tom Delong and always wanted to be able to play drums as well as Travis Barker. I hope they have a good new album coming out in the future because (although I'm a bit ashamed to admit it) I am glad they are back, and I will probably get it ;-).

45. Carlos Vives - El Amor de Mi Tierra
COLOMBIA REPRESENT! Not only do I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to meet him and his brother in his mother's restaurant in Bogota and sing along side him on stage for my cousin's bachelor's party but he also is a fantastic artist. Carlos Vives started out in telenovellas as this pretty boy Colombian actor and singer who was a huge pop sensation. He went through a long ballad phase (which I was not very interested in) BUT soon came out with Escalona (TV show and name of his album) and ballenatos. This style of music includes a great amount of accordion with great guitar and beats that make you want to dance. If you don't move when you listen to this music, you must be resisting the temptation because I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't want to dance when they listen to this music. If you want a good feel for where the party is at in Colombia and what flavor of music there is aside from Juanes, Carlos Vives is where to go.

[Top Tracks: El Amor de Mi Tierra, Fruta Fresca, Piragua]

46. Kanye West = College Dropout
Although he isn't the GREATEST RAPPER OF ALL TIME, he is quite possible the greatest producer and creative hip-hop artist of AT LEAST our generation. He continues to mix great orchestral sounds with a wide variety of musicians and other rappers as featured artists to come up with some extremely great beats and tracks. He continues to produce and make tons of artists famous and I appreciate the fact that he is from Chicago to represent a city that is often ignored for its artistic talent. Kanye hits it big with this album and continues to be strong for his next two. This is a great place to get a flavor of what it is to be in the mindset of the guy behind those bars-through-the-lens sunglasses. I highly recommend this as a starting point if you are new to the genre. HIGHLY recommend it. It is what got me started!

[Top Tracks: All Falls Down, I'll Fly Away, The New Workout Plan]

47. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
The saddest thing about Amy Winehouse is that she is most likely going to die in the near future. Her lifestyle is horrendous and she doesn't seem to understand that she carries with her one of the most unique and amazing sounding voices and styles of the modern era. This album says it all with its excellent musicality, rhythms that make you sway around, great orchestral accompaniment, and of course, a very luscious, full, smooth-sounding vocal performance by a woman who really has soul. I really hope that she stays around longer to truck out more excellent music.

[Top Tracks: You Know I'm No Good, Love is a Losing Game, Just Friends]

48. Cake - Prolonging the Magic
Cake has one of those feels that just makes you feel good, lazy, like it's summer time and you don't want to really do anything. Their music is great. I love this album in particular because it reminds me of my childhood. This was one of the first albums I ever got (either as a gift or as a purchase (this was a gift from my dad)) and I listened to it non-stop for about 10 weeks straight. Eventually, I tapered off, but it wasn't until Cake came to the University of Chicago that I really started giving them another chance to please my ears. Sure enough, the very soothing tonality of the lead vocalist and the surferesque/cool guy feel of the guitars and and bass make this music great to drive to, great to wake up to, great to listen to while lounging around, and even great to dance to! I highly recommend pursuing their later stuff because they manage to put out some quality tracks on other albums but this is where they made their mark.

[Top Tracks: Never There, Guitar, Satan Is My Motor]

49. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Before Coldplay came out with an album that undermined their ability, they came out with this stellar CD. A Rush of Blood to the Head has everything from great rock, piano ballads, to uniquely sounding tracks (just listen to the album and you should know what I mean). Despite the infamous quote, "You know how I know you're gay? You like Coldplay!" Coldplay is appropriate for ALL audiences, and I urge you to have a listen to this album. The harmonies mixed with the beautiful piano make for something that can give you chills or scream at the top of your lungs along with it. Coldplay hit it big with this album and not a single track on it left me unimpressed. This album makes Viva La Vida look like a 2 year olds crying, that's how much better it is.

[Top Tracks: The Scientist, Green Eyes, Politik]

50. Finch - Say hello to sunshine
Finch is a mixture of emo, screamo, punk wait wait wait... that was before this album came out. With Finch's second album they managed to completely revamp their style and sound to more progressive rock and made me like them even more. Growing up I listened to their emo-sounding screamo, but it wasn't until this album that I truly admired their musical skill. The tracks I recommend do not do the album complete justice because it is a work of art in its entirety and deserves a listen completely through from the first second of the first song to the last second of the last song. I am always drawn back to this album to remember the great times of when it came out and the high anticipation I had for its release as well as the great experiences I have had attempting to imitate the screaming. If this is not your style, you should not dismiss this album because it may make you realize that there is some talent (a lot actually) and melody in it.

[Top Tracks: Insomniatic Meat, Brother Bleed Brother, Ink]

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Week 6:

51. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Now many Gogol Bordello fans will yell at me for picking this album as their best, BUT I argue that it is the easiest to enjoy because it has the most catchy melodies and probably the most exciting of all their albums. Gogol Bordello brings in gypsy-rock with a great deal of violin, accordion, and an extremely unique way of singing to make a sound like nothing you have ever heard before. Their music is the kind of music you would expect at an outdoor venue to just go crazy with; fancy that they were at Lollapalooza before and are coming again! (YOU SHOULD SEE THEM!) They put on outstanding concerts, engage the audience, and have such a stage presence that everyone is left with a sense of emptiness when they finish performing because it is hard to top their performance. This album has hilarious songs that make you question whether they truly understand what they are saying, but regardless, they rock hard and they have fun doing it. They are back for more this year with a new album so get listening!

[Top Tracks: Wonderlust King, Tribal Connection, Alcohol]

52. Girl Talk - Fee the Animals
Girl Talk introduced me to the mash-up genre and I think he should do the same for anyone else who is naive. Think of two seemingly impossible songs that could be played simultaneously and sound good, now imagine that they actually create an amazing synchronization and you have Girl Talk. This guy is also really nice and has plenty of videos online that can teach you how to make your own mash-ups if you are interested, he always lets fans on stage with him in live concerts, and EVERYONE dances at his shows because his music has so many famous songs put together that it's like the ultimate DJ machine!

[Top Tracks: Play Your Part (Pt. 1), Still Here, What It's All About]

53. Interpol - Antics
When I think of Interpol, I immediately think of the lead singers voice and how, although it doesn't have a fantastic range, completely makes the band. Yes the rest of the band is highly skilled and plays great music, but what I like best is the way the lead singer sings and this album has plenty of tracks that illustrate why he is so perfect for this type of alternative rock. Interpol is a great band that often gets dismissed because of the lead singer not being as vibrant as people might want him to be, but I argue that it is because of this that I am intrigued and hooked into listening to more. I like their style and what they do and hope they continue on this path.

[Top Tracks: Evil, Slow Hands, C'mere]

54. Pink Martini - Hang On Little Tomato
I LOVE this band. They are SO good. I mean SOOOOOOO GOOOD! EVERYONE needs to listen to them. I cannot stress their talent enough. These people put together such a varied spectrum of music include languages in more than 3 languages, and make me love them every time I listen to them (which can be a bit too obsessively at times). To give you an example of how good this band is, this album comes out with such beauty that I you can play this album alone at a dance party and have everybody satisfied (except, for grinding fans...sorry...er....screw grinding...it's all about passionate slow dancing!) On top of this album being great on every front, they also manage to come out with a bang when my top tracks are the first three tracks of the album. I would disperse this but you all have to listen to this all the way through because it is excellent. Listen to all of their albums too because they have great great great albums other than this one.

[Top Tracks: Hang On Little Tomato, Let's Never Stop Falling In Love, Anna (El Negro Zumbon)]

55. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
I don't think there was a drive/train ride/ bike ride to work any day last summer that I didn't listen to this album. I have my brother to thank for introducing me to the excellent sound of MGMT. Previously known as The Management, this band has what it takes to make people fall in love with an electronic sounding poppy kind of music. I love this album and I love so many tracks on it. Too many dismiss them as only being a one-hit wonder band but the truth is, there are plenty of tracks on this album that make them more than just a one-hit wonder. It is excellent and is bound to make you feel happy when you listen to it, if not dance!

[Top Tracks: Kids, Electric Feel, Time to Pretend]

56. The Blackeyed Peas - Elephunk
Oh yes, the Blackeyed Peas. They are great. Don't deny that you have sung Boom Boom Pow at least ONCE in the past year. It's almost obnoxious how contagious their music is. They have hip-hop, pop, soul, r&b, and some latinesque strings in their music. This album was the introduction of Fergie with the Blackeyed Peas and I think that few other bands have made a better decision they did. She is such an asset to the music that it doesn't surprise me that they used to not have much commercial success previous to this album. That aside I guarantee there will be at least one song that will make you sing along, dance, or do a combination of both because they are able to make such great music. There next album is excellent as well so if you enjoy this, I highly recommend the next one.

[Top Tracks: Let's Get Retarded/Let's Get It Started, Where Is The Love?, Hey Mama]

57. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way
I know, I know, this is not their BEST album, but it is the one that holds the most memories and personal happiness than all of their other music combined. This was the theme album to the boat ride through the Galapagos Islands that my family and family friends took a few years back. The music really makes me happy every time I listen to it and it also has countless hits that were on the radio as many of this bands albums do. Furthermore, this album has the ability to make many people inspired to learn guitar because there are plenty of tracks that have beautiful sounding electric guitar with riffs that accompany the vocals and outstanding bass skills of Flea. Go and listen to Californication after you listen to this album if not only because it could also wind up being one of your favorite albums like it has become one of mine.

[Top Tracks: Cabron, Tear, The Zephyr Song]

58. Rush - Movin Pictures
THANK YOU ROCK BAND FOR INTRODUCING ME TO RUSH! Rush is where it's at when thinking about rock. They are soooooo so good at their instruments. Between the fantastic skill of the drummer and his flawless ability to keep beats no matter how crazy the time signature is, to the never ending ingenuity of the bassist, and finally to the fantastic guitar solos and riffs this band has it all and this album has it all. Rock Band introduced me to many bands but none as amazing as this band. Thank you XBOX =p.

[Top Tracks: Limelight, YYZ, Red Barchetta]

59. Queens of the Stone Age- Era Vulgaris
I was introduced to Queens as the band with the drummer from Nirvana in it. I was interested and thoroughly enjoyed Songs for the Deaf, but it was not until this album came out that I knew they had solidified their place in my shelf of CDs. Queens of the Stone Age come out with a bang in this album mixing some interesting time signatures with unique sounding guitar riffs that always seem to stand out alone in the world of modern rock. They have a great sound to them that is enhanced by the very recognizable singer's voice and they manage to create songs that make even the stiffest of music listeners want to head bang. If you like this album, I recommend listening to Songs for the Deaf as well because it is a good representation of the quality of this band as well.

[Top Tracks: Sick Sick Sick, 3's & 7's, Misfit Love]

60. Michael Jackson- Thriller
This is one of the best albums of all time. It defines Pop. It defines talent. It defines artistic genius. It is amazing. Michael Jackson has countless good records and songs, but this album encompasses not only three of his biggest hits, but also a whole track list of excellent songs (even one featuring Paul McCartney!). Whether you are watching his music videos, watching his live performances, or simply listening to this song, you will be sure to fall in love with these songs once again and never let them die because these songs are the type of songs that should be served on gold platters for all the world forever and ever and ever.... Listen to this, but don't stop there, because there is plenty more where that came from because Michael Jackson was a genius. RIP

[Top Tracks: Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean]

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Week 7:

61. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Anyone who claims that Trent Reznor is not one of the most gifted musicians of all time is mistaken. He single handedly has been able to compose, perform, produce, some of the coolest music I have ever listened to and With Teeth is a testament to that. All of this album's tracks possess the quality of someone who truly understands what it means to make various sounds work well together. He does not often use standard sounding guitar amplification or drum beats which add a style that has yet to be matched by anyone (or attempted for that matter). Additionally, the music has a feel to it that just makes your heart pump with the music and makes you want to fist pump or play hand drums. It is great, and it is not the end of Nine Inch Nails. As a matter of fact, if you listen to this album and like it, you MUST listen to the other albums produced by this mastermind.

[Top Tracks: The Collector, Only, The Hand That Feeds]

62. The Who - Who's Next
The Who often lives under the wing of other great bands of its time such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, etc... but don't let that fool you. The Who know how to rock, jam, and pack a powerful punch. Their music is very commonly associated with sports movies where someone makes a game winning touchdown catch or something like that, BUT if you are a Rock Band aficionado or you simply like The Who, you know that they have such quality musicians. This album provides, in my opinion, the best representation of what The Who could offer and was one of their most famous albums. It has so many tracks that became singles that you can virtually listen to the whole CD and expect it to be one of their most famous. Also, this album covers a wide range of the style of rock that they brought. It is excellent, and you will not regret having listened to this album. Like the Men's Warehouse guy says, "I guarantee it."

[Top Tracks: Going Mobile, Won't Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes]

63. Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Stevie Wonder is amazing. He embodies funk, soul, blues, beauty, and passion. His stage presence can still be felt in his later years but never can it be felt as much as in this album. With such prominent songs as Superstition, it is no wonder the Stevie Wonder has become one of the most decorated and famous musicians of all time. I need not say more than this album will make you understand what Funk is, what it means to really love someone because he manages to produce lyrics that accurately portray emotions into words, and what the definition of passion is. If you want to please the ladies, all you have to do is learn some of Stevie's wise words and he will absolutely guide you in the right direction of expressing yourself.

[Top Tracks: Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Blame It On the Sun]

64. Bob Marley & The Wailers- Legend
Reggae does not get better than Bob Marley. His songs are so characteristic of the genre that if you claim to know a lot about reggae and you don't know who he is or how to sing any of his songs, you don't know what you're talking about. This album, although it is a compilation of songs and not a stand alone album originally produced by Bob Marley, it is quite possibly, the best compilation album of all time. It has ALMOST every song that you could love by Bob Marley. Of course there are few that are missing, but the point is, it is so jam packed with excellent singles that it is a must buy if you want a good collection of reggae.

[Top Albums: No Woman No Cry, Stir It Up, Redemption Song]

65. The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
This is a fantastic live album. The Allman Brothers Band is notorious for their jams and their ability to beautifully improvise and provide harmonized guitar melodies. The absence of vocals for the majority of each song of theirs makes their music all about the musicians with instruments and their ability to play excellently with one another. I can never get over the beauty of their harmonized guitars so I will emphasize that if you like harmony (whether it be vocal or not) The Allman Brothers Band make musical harmony with guitars like Simon and Garfunkel make harmony with vocals. Pure beauty. Also, this album is excellent for testing your true guitar skills because it provides a significant amount of fast moving riffs that are difficult to master which allowed them to be so well recognized as outstanding guitarists.

[Top Tracks: Hot 'Lanta, Mountain Jam, Stormy Monday]

66. Pink Floyd- The Dark Side of the Moon
What you need to know about Pink Floyd is that they have such experimental and music breaking sounds to their music that at first listen, much like what happened with myself, you may not like them. I assure you, you MUST listen further because they are outstanding. I am not saying simply outstanding. I am saying they were revolutionary for the music industry and they were able to produce music that encompasses what I can only assume and acid trip feels like. They music is extremely trippy and has the ability to make you forget about everything around you. You will drown happily in this music and particularly in this album. They were gifted and there is not better representation that this album to show you just how gifted they were. I promise you, listen to it several times and you will become increasingly more amazed at their talent level. They are also a band that is able to produce so many different sounds in any of their subsequent albums so listen away.

[Top Tracks: Time, The Great Gig in the Sky, Money]

67. The Doors - The Doors
I recently fell in love with The Doors. Much the same way that I fell in love with the Beatles, I went through a straight month of listening to nothing BUT The Doors. They are outstanding. During the era of such great UK bands, The Doors are, in my opinion, the true representatives of what the US of frickin' A could produce, and they definitely did not disappoint. This album started them off on a path, albeit short-lived where they came out with fantastic sounding music that just plain and simply ROCKED. They have such a good sound to them that virtually any listener will be satisfied. The album puts forth an image of true understanding of the rock era and provides for an inexhaustible replay value. I highly recommend you start where they started and move through their phases along with them in each following CD because they hold true to awesome rock all the way to the end. It is a shame Morrison was leading such a terrible lifestyle that he lost his life so early on otherwise I feel they could have come out with at least 2 more greats.

[Top Tracks: Soul Kitchen, Twentieth Century Fox, Light My Fire]

68. Frank Sinatra- Come Fly With Me
What can I say that hasn't been said about Ol' Blue Eyes? I have never encountered another singer that had a more pleasing, soothing, warm, milky, vibrant, full voice and that had as much control as Frank Sinatra. All you need to do is listen to this album to understand why people are so in love with him. He was the greatest.

[Come Fly With Me, Chicago, April in Paris]

69. Yann Tiersen - Amelie Soundtrack
Yann Tiersen's simplicity to his music proves for a beautiful melange of quasi-Parisian sounds to create a style that has become very popular in this day and age. His music on this album make the movie all the better (I recommend this movie to everyone). He is an excellent composer and I have thoroughly enjoyed being in a dimly lit room lying in bed and listening to this music full blast because, since it incorporates so much accordion, it is almost as if you are listening to it live. What is your job? Lock yourself in a room after you have located very good quality speakers, jack the music up very high, (noise canceling headphones work too), lie/sit somewhere comfortable and just try to listen to every instrument and all of the functions of the instruments themselves, not just the music. It is beautiful. If you are up to the task, you can try to learn some of the piano melodies as well because they are gorgeous and not very challenging.

[Top Tracks: J'y Suis Jamais Alle, La Valse d'Amelie, Comptine d'Un Autre Ete]

70. Slipknot - Vol. 3: (Subliminal Verses)
Just because you read Slipknot does not mean you should jump to the next album. This was a shocker to fans, critics, and passers-by alike because it was far from their ordinary music (which I do not like). This album is much more palpable and I highly encourage people to listen to it because they will be amazed at how frequently they find themselves impressed with what is going on in these songs. If you still are skeptical, there are 2 tracks that refrain from screaming or crazy death-metal sounding music, so I highly recommend that you listen to it because it is very impressive even just for those two songs. I promise you though, there are plenty of other tracks that are impressive due to their melodies and the insane drums and guitars. The music is not very hard to swallow and it will make you feel very pumped up to do exercise or some sort of activity because it has a good pulse to it.

[Top Tracks: Duality, Vermillion Pt. 2, Before I Forget]

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WEEK 3 (9/28/09) and WEEK 4 (10/5/09):

Week 3:

21. System of a Down- Toxicity
Although many people find Serj voice annoying, I, find it a perfect mix for this band. The metal aspect of this band also makes people stray away from it, but I highly recommend anyone wishing to dabble in hard rock/metal should most definitely listen to this album. It is not S.o.a.D.'s first CD, but it is my favorite of theirs. It is what truly got me into their music and made me want to have a hard rock/ metal band back in Middle School (why did I decide to play punk? haha). Anyway, it is most definitely a worthwhile album, and although the lyrics are hard to follow because of the pace of some of its delivery, they are well thought out, politically driven, and crazy all in one.

[Top Tracks: Toxicity, Chop Suey!, Aerials]

22. Nirvana- Nevermind
Nirvana was a band that, although it being sad because of Cobain's suicide, lasted for the perfect amount of time. Creating the Grunge genre, Nirvana produced no better CD than this one. It epitomizes the grunge genre with hard to hear vocals because of Cobain's unique, painful sounding vocals in some parts, but also surprisingly lyrical and sing-along-easily style. This band was the first band that I started singing solos and guitar riffs, not just the lyrics, because I really enjoyed them. Also, this is a band that anyone interested in learning guitar, should most certainly learn some Nirvana in the beginning. The fact that Dave is on drums also adds a great deal because it shows that he also is a very talented musician going on to create and lead Foo Fighters. Great Album. Plain and simple.

[Top Tracks: In Bloom, Come as You Are, On a Plain]

23. Moby- Play
Moby is amazing. He has been around for so many years, and there is a reason for that; He is a fantastic composer and musician. His music ranges from song to song, and no other album demonstrates that better than Play. This album provides a wonderful soundtrack for self-reflection and meditation if you should chose to do that during your week (I recommend it). This album carries with it many memorable melodies that you can hear many people sing, and there is not a single track on this album that does not make me sing along, whistle along, or dance to.

[Top Tracks: Porcelain, South Side (either with or without Gwen Stefani), Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?]

24. Justice- + (Cross)
Oh the French and their mastery of electronica/techno. But this is no ordinary group of this gengre. Justice is fantastic. Their music makes you dance, makes you sing, makes you wanna just move all the time. They have made their music incorporate a great number of varied instruments, as well as a number of different singers, including children. They are awesome, and I cannot wait until their next album comes out because they take a lot of time in between each one to assure that it is quality. Also, if you get a chance, look at the video for D.A.N.C.E., it's beautiful.

[Top Tracks: D.A.N.C.E., Genesis, Tthhee Ppaarrttyy]

25. Little Joy- Little Joy
This Brazilian/American band is great. Their music is so pleasing to the ears that it makes you wanna pick up a guitar and play along with them! The womans voice is so soothing and adds a great deal to the feel of this group. Their ability to sing in English and Portuguese adds a great spice to this Little Joy of a group. They are not well known, and that is great in the sense that they have not sold out, even though I don't think they ever will. Any music that has a man and woman singing, I love, and this band is able to make me like it even more than I did before.

[Top Tracks: The Next Time Around, Unattainable, Play the Part]

26. Chopin "Fantasie" Impromptu, Op. 66
Chopin was a genius. So much so that bands like Muse find it important to let people know how amazing his music was by incorporating it in one of their songs on their new album. Chopin created music that makes me realize how amazing the piano is as an instrument. The beauty of the melodies mixed with their difficulty can make any piano player or non-player truly appreciate this music. This piece, my favorite of Chopin's demonstrates his style and exactly what he is known for. I encourage everyone to continue pursuing his music further upon listening to this.

[see if yo ucan find Yundi Li, Beremboim, Lang Lang, or Radu Lupu playing it]

27. Bach Cello Suite No. 1
This is the piece that everyone says, "Wasn't that in that hospital commercial, or wasn't that in that diamond commercial," Well yeah is was, sure, but that's not what it should be known for. To those of you unfamiliar with Bach's beauty, look no further. Mixing the warmth of a cello with a piece that brings me to tears and chills, this peace is not only a precious gem of classical music, but it is what I hope every cello player in the world learns how to play at some point in their careers with that instrument.

[Primarily the prelude is what is most commonly heard, but try to find Rostropovich or Yo-Yo Ma playing this piece in its entirety]

28. Smetana- Die Moldau: Ma Vlast
Another classical piece that brings me to tears, this Czechoslovakian composer knew what he was doing when he decided to compose this piece. This all encompassing piece of sections of the orchestra and varied ranges of dynamics and tempos is a masterpiece and should be on everyone's top 100 pieces to listen to before you die. It is literally an epic done through music.

29. Stravinsky- The Firebird Suite
To not know this piece, or to never have heard it, is almost sacrilege....haha just kidding. But it really is that good. This piece is so powerful and beautiful that it stirs up creative visions every time I listen to it, and truly inspires me to try to compose a piece. Unfortunately at the same time, it is also intimidating how unbelievable it is that someone created such a piece as this.

[Watch the YouTube video of Stravinsky conducting this piece himself]

30. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Tchaikovsky is my favorite composer of all time. This man is a genius above all geniuses. Not only was he a master at composing pieces for specific instruments (particularly violin), but he also composed amazing ballets, oprahs, and fantastic symphonies. This symphony, one of his most powerful, in my opinion, is one of his best. I put it up, because I played this when I was in a State Orchestra, and I remembered it instilling in me a deep passion for Tchaikovsky's music because of its intensity and lullaby feelings.

[I particularly enjoy the 4th movement]

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Week 4:

31. Jack Johnson- Brushfire Fairytales
Before Jack Johnson started sounding the same with all of his music, he came out with his first CD. This is that CD, and it is amazing to think that he strayed away from his ability to create different music to making the same all the time. Granted I still listen to his newer stuff, but this music on this CD not only sounds great with very good guitar riffs, but also has lyrics that, for the most part make sense! Some don't of course, because I think Jack Johnson has his own vocabulary. But, the fact of the matter is, he definitely has made a great number of influences in my guitar playing, and I still play a lot of his songs at camps, friends houses, because they are great to sing along with.

[Top Tracks: Drink the Water, Bubble Toes, Inaudible Melodies]

32. Outkast- Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below
Outkast went from being another one of those Hip-Hop groups I strayed away from because I didn't like hip-hip a while ago, to being a group that I became extremely interested in. This album is a huge change from their previous albums because it allowed both of them to come up with their own music and pool it together in one double CD. The results: great music. Between the rap songs, the R&B songs, the pop songs, and the hip-hop songs, Outkast churned an album up that allowed me to truly appreciate what it is that they had to offer. Also, it made me curious to truly examine their previous works, and I wasn't left disappointed to say the least.

[Top Tracks: Hey Ya, The Way You Move, My Favorite Things]

33. Incubus- Morning View
I love Incubus. I think they are a frequently missed band that truly posses fantastic skill on all fronts. The lead vocals are beautiful. The singer is able to use his voice to make it sound very smooth even when he has to strain it. He also is able to incorporate a great style of humming into this music that adds a great deal to the overall album. Furthermore, the musicians and the group as a whole produce a sound like no other group. Their melodies are consistently intriguing with straying-from-the-normal chord progressions to other musical ingenuities like turntables. Overall, this band expresses all of their skill and demonstrates their potential in this album that works beautifully from track to track.

[Wish You Were Here, Warning, 11AM]

34. The Cranberries- No Need to Argue
Ahh the Cranberries. How I missed you so. The Cranberries and I have an interesting relationship. This was the first CD I ever owned (given to me by my Dad), but I never truly listened until I found myself, many-a-time, on the dentists chair getting teeth pulled because my baby teeth wouldn't fall out. There is nothing comforting about that experience, but the Cranberries made it incredibly relaxing, (granted so did the laughing gas, but I like the Cranberries better). It also just so happened that Zombie (one of their heavier songs on this album) played during the most intense drilling. Don't forget that this group has some of the best harmony since The Beatles

[Ode to My Family, Twenty One, Zombie]

35. Ben Fold- Rockin' The Suburbs
Ben Folds is great. Not only is he a fantastic pianist, but he also is great a composing catchy, funny, and interesting songs that are even better live. Ben Folds is a fantastic live performer and is extremely nice to the audience, always getting them involved in the show. His music is great and he is definitely deserving to be on this list because, with this album, he masters incorporating piano into rock/pop/alternative music. Furthermore, it's not the sameness you find in bands like The Fray, rather, it varies from song to song, and has a lot of very powerful songs too.

[Top Tracks: Zak and Sara, Annie Waits, The Ascent of Stan]

36. Simon & Garfunkel- The Graduate Soundtrack
Simon & Garfunkel rival Bob Dylan in being the best lyricist simply because every one of their songs is versed beautifully. They are incredibly skilled together mixing beautiful, and I truly mean BEAUTIFUL harmonies with perfect guitar accompaniment. This album also is the soundtrack of a fantastic movie, The Graduate (I highly recommend that as well), and it provides for some very deep introspection, as well as reanalysis of one's perspective of their surroundings.

[Top Tracks: The Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Scarborough Fair]

37. O Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack
This soundtrack is another that accompanies a fantastic movie. The music, in my opinion provides the extra push that makes this one of the Coen Brothers best movies to date. The mixture of religious and folk songs make this a very unique and interesting album that is full of what I picture music being like back in the day. It's a fun album full of music for many different audiences.

[Top Tracks: Man of Constant Sorrow, In the Jailhouse Now, I'll Fly Away]

38. Eminem- Marshall Mathers LP
Say what you will about Eminem and his lifestyle or personality, one thing's for sure, this album is impressive. Not only is it full of intense (I MEAN EXTREMELY INTENSE) lyrics, but it is also amazing that they are life events that provide for his ability to easily rap them out. I'm not one for much profanity, that aside, this album is powerful and has great tracks that are well worth listening too, if you don't choose to listen to the album (It's definitely not for the faint of heart).

[Top Tracks: Stan, The Way I Am, The Real Slim Shady]

39. JET- Get Born
I remember when I first heard JET was when I was listening to a radio station and they were playing a live concert for this CD release that had already gone double platinum only a few afters it was released. They were impressed themselves and I thought, and Australian band huh? I wonder what they sound like. So in response to my wonderment, they played Are You Gonna Be My Girl? and I was impressed. Needless to say, I went out and got this album, and did not regret it at all. The popular tracks on this album don't even do it justice because the whole album is full of really awesome guitar riffs that always make me play air guitar regardless of where I am.

[Top Tracks: Last Chance, Are You Gonna Be My Girl?, Rollover DJ]

40. Franz Ferdinand- Franz Ferdinand
The album that started this band off and led them to much fame is well deserving of achieving that success. This album is very good. IT is more of the old rock style that several other bands adopted around the same time, but it still has its own vibe that separates it from the rest. Also, what I most like about this album is their ability to change tempos mid-song and make is sound excellent. I am very glad to have come across this album, as I am sure a lot of you will be if you give it a listen.

[Top Tracks: Jacqueline, This Fire, '40]

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WEEK 2 (9/22/09):

11. TV On the Radio- Return to Cookie Mountain
Unfortunately, TV on the Radio is not a very well known band amongst my friends. Fortunately, I am recommending this album to those of you who have never listened to their music. They are an extremely unique band in the sense that their music is probably nothing like anything you've heard. A lot of fuzziness is a good way to describe the instrumentation with some very energizing bass parts, coupled with excellent time signature changes and falsettos as well as normal (yet not so normal) singing. This album was the album of my summer of 2008 because it really made me enjoy my time outside on a nice warm day by the poolside and allowed me to both relax and rock out.

[Top Tracks: I Was a Lover, Wolf Like Me, Wash the Day]

12. No Doubt- Tragic Kingdom
No Doubt used to be my favorite band throughout the end of elementary school into Freshman year of high school. I loved their ska feel in the early days and then their ska-rock feel towards the end of their first band life. Gwen Stefani fits the band perfectly with her whiny-like singing as well as her unique vibrato she adds to her voice. This album is full of THE songs of No Doubt that everyone is familiar with. Also, it offers a nice change from their complete ska origins into a more ska-rock feel that was more singable =).

[Top Tracks: Don't Speak, Sunday Morning, Spiderwebs]

13. Wolfmother- Wolfmother
When I first heard of this band through my brother, I was immediately drawn in. I was lucky enough to see them perform as the original band in Lollapalooza and was definitely blown away by the sheer power of their music. The bassist/synth/keyboard man (unfortunately no longer a part of the band) and his style of incorporating incredibly effect heavy sounds to all the already heavily distorted guitar riffs added such as sweet feel to the music that the only way to make it better would be to add the excellent drum accompaniment that occasionally steals the show in impressiveness. Additionally, with the lead singers Who-like style of guitar riffs and singing, it's an extreme pleasure to listen to this band that truly can rock where so many have failed. (Heads up on the new album coming out shortly!)

[Top Tracks: Joker & The Thief, White Unicorn, Vagabond]

14. Buena Vista Social Club- Buena Vista Social Club
Not enough people have experienced the beauty and amazing quality that is Latin Music. So therefore, I will introduce artists to you that you need to pursue. BVSC is a fantastic Cuban band that not only provides an excellent example of Cuban style music but also is perfect for dancing, relaxing, cocktail music, performances, or singing along with. Their music is full of gifted individuals whose sole desire is to provide a beautiful sound from a diverse ensemble. This album is full of songs that range from truly romantic ballads, to more upbeat groovy feeling songs.

[Top Tracks: Chan Chan, El cuarto de Tula, De camino a la vereda]

15. Juanes- Mi Sangre
Juanes is a Colombian musician and has provided many a song that are well known throughout Latin America. His music is rock and pop. He has a varied repertoire and no where can that be seen more than on this album. This album moved Juanes, in my book, from being too much of a lovey-dovey-not-so-interesting-and-diverse guy to, an awesome musician that I'm proud to say is Colombian! His guitar riffs and voice go hand in hand to make all of these songs feel what the words mean.

[Top Tracks: La camisa negra, Para tu amor, Volverte a ver]

16. Bob Dylan- Bringing It All Back Home
In my mind, now musician is able to be as poetic as Bob Dylan. Yes, his singing is not the greatest, but that should not discredit the mastery of words and folk music. Bob Dylan's album is excellent because it shows that he can still sing because it was made when he was younger. It contains several songs that require multiple hearings in order to fully understand what the tone of it is, which makes it a very profound album that is a must hear for all.

[Top Tracks: Tambourine Man, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Maggie's Farm]

17. Lupe Fiasco- The Cool
In my opinion, Lupe has surpassed Kanye in quality of songs, rapping, and (most importantly) personality. The fact that Lupe was found out by Kanye makes my give Kanye more credit than he deserves, but this album is excellent. Although Hip-Hop is not what I choose to listen to most frequently, I still like to listen to quality lyrics and stylish beats every once in a little while. This album definitely meet criteria and even surpasses it by avoiding unnecessary obscenities.

[Top Tracks: Superstar, Hip-Hop Saved My Life, Go Go Gadget Flow]

18. Daft Punk- Alive 2007
Although the French can't fight in wars, they definitely can make quality techno. I think it fair to say that at least one of these songs is on every dance mix you'll hear in clubs, frat parties, or in dorm rooms/ apartments. This album is a true example of the amazing power of techno, and how sweet parties can be when its incorporated into the mix of things. Alive 2007 surpasses all other Daft Punk CDs on the basis that it truly proves that they are a great group and mixes the songs together beautifully.

[Top Tracks: Around the World/Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger , Robot Rock/ Oh Yeah, One More Time/ Aerodynamic]


19. Mute Math- Mute Math
This band is one of the true gems that I'm proud to say I heard of first on my own. At Lollapalooza my brother and I stumbled upon a stage full of a group of musicians putting on a kick-ass show with really great music that got us head-banging and highly interested. So, we gave them a shot, and they became one of the best performances of all 3 days! Mute Math provides an excellent sound of booming guitar drums and bass with a vocalist who has an impressive range without using falsettos.

[Top Tracks: Typical, Obsolete, Collapse]


20. Dream Theater- Scenes From A Memory [honorable mention: A Change of Seasons]
No list of mine would not be complete without at least one Dream Theater album. This band is as epic as they come. I think it impossible to describe this band aside from it being progressive metal epicness. It is unbelievable the amount of talent the flows from the fingers of these individual musicians. Furthermore, this album is a symphony of rock and has incredibly long songs that seem to never stop impressing. If you are hesitant about the fact that they are metal, I assure you you will at least be impressed at their talent.

[Top Tracks: Overture 1928, Fatal Tragedy, Home]

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Week 1 (9/16/09):

1. The Beatles- Rubber Soul

Choosing a Beatles album is always really tough. In my opinion, they are the best band to ever exist. The brought ingenuity, creativity, poetry, and harmony into the music industry that had never been heard, and to this day, has never been better. There are so many albums to choose from (more of which will be on this list) but, I feel that between one of Harrison's best songs (If I Needed Someone), and Paul and John coming up with beautiful works varied stylistically, this album bests all other Beatles albums.

[Top Tracks: If I Needed Someone, I'm Looking Through You, You Won't See Me]

2. Arctic Monkeys- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

The Arctic Monkeys truly are an amazing group. Their music changes every album, which always does better than the previous one. However, they needed to start someplace, and this is the album that started them off on a loud, eccentric, punkass attituded, bangin' time, and there is plenty to be said about the quality of this album. Full of loud distorted guitars that fit almost perfectly together with each other accompanied by excellent walking bass and great drum beats, this album is a must hear for people wanting to know what the Arctic Monkeys are. Believe the hype... trust me.

[Top Tracks: A Certain Romance, Mardy Bum, When the Sun Goes Down]

3. Muse- Origin of Symmetry

Spin Magazine couldn't have said it any better: Muse is the greatest band most Americans have never heard of. The skill of the musicians alone should draw true admirers of music to this album. Between the fantastic guitar riffs, the powerful and skillful bass, and the innovative drums, Muse works together as a fantastic group. The brains behind the music (Matt Bellamy) not only demonstrates his skill with poetry and guitar in this album, but he also creates an amazing new sound of rock piano. To give you an idea of how great it is, the piano music alone could be its own album. Although not their debut album, it is certainly their best.

[Top Tracks: Bliss, Darkshines, New Born]

4. Gorillaz- Demon Days

Gorillaz came to my attention primarily because I really liked their music video cartoons. They are definitely worth checking out, as they are highly entertaining. However, the music is what eventually drove me to purchase this album. Their debut album, Gorillaz although full of excellent tracks, does not possess high caliber music that is present in Demon Days. Damon Albarn’s mysterious hollow sounding voice accompanied by an extensive group of guest performers allows this album to have a great and more crowd friendly appeal to it. Additionally, it contains many different genres in and of itself, so much so, that some tracks surprise you that it’s the same band.

[Top Tracks: Feel Good Inc., Dirty Harry, D.A.R.E.]

5. Radiohead- Amnesiac

Ahhhhhhh, Raaaaadiooooheadddd. That’s exactly how I feel listening to this album relaxing and appreciating the skill that went into making it one of my favorite Radiohead albums. Once again, we have a group of highly skilled musicians who just know what they are doing and get it right when they mix guitars, bass, keyboard, synthesizer, drums and wailing/humming falsettos. (This could explain why I always choose to sing falsetto).

[Top Tracks: Pyramid Song, You and Whose Army?, Like Spinning Plates]

6. Felix Mendelssohn- Violin Concerto in Em Op. 64

Yes this is a classical piece. Yes I may be biased towards loving it so much because I’ve had such fantastic memories of it (I played the first movement as my Senior Solo in orchestra in High School, and I’ve seen it performed by the CSO, and I’ve listened to Jascha Heifetz play it on my Dad’s Vinyl with my dad, not to mention I got to see 2 friends play the other two movements as solos). But isn’t that why we like music anyway? Good experiences with it? Anyway, this piece is pure genius. It demonstrates Mendelssohn’s skill as a composer, and the beauty that is the sound of a violin.

[Listen to the entire piece in one sitting: Listen for Jasha Haifetz, Joshua Bell, Itzak Perlman]

7. Justin Timberlake- FutureSex/LoveSounds

I’ll admit that when I put this on the list, I surprised myself. But upon further consideration, I realized it was a smart choice. This man went for being in NSYNC to this. Now talk about second chance being worth it! His R&B mixed with dance-pop-electronica, makes this album excellent. The songs are all very catchy, and the smooth transitions from one to the other shows that there was a lot of effort put forth in this album. Furthermore, this music makes you wanna dance and for me, that’s quite alright =).

[Top Tracks: LoveStoned/I Think She Knows, My Love, What Goes Around…/…Comes Around]

8. Rage Against the Machine- The Battle of Los Angeles

Say what you will about their political craziness, this band can rock, and ROCK HARD! Their music is excellent to run to, lift weights to, or simply listen to while you’re having the most epic head-bangin’ air guitar session in the world. The lyrics are crazy, and after a while De La Roca’s voice gets a little irritating, but as long as you’re in the right mood, this album is great. If you ever have the opportunity to see them live, make sure you do, because it is unforgettable.

[Top Tracks: Guerilla Radio, Testify, Ashes in the Fall]

9. Green Day- Dookie

Although you might think that this band has sold out, let me bring you back to their heyday. Dookie is one of the best examples of the awesomeness of modern punk. It has the true Green Day life pre-21 Guns. This album doesn’t have a single song that isn’t worth listening to. The energy also heavily influences my decision to include it, because they made me want to be in a band, and play guitar with it hanging way down low regardless of if my arms could reach.

[Top Tracks: Pulling Teeth, She, When I Come Around]

10. Thievery Corporation- The Richest Man in Babylon

Do you like lying around in a daze not necessarily thinking about anything, or maybe thinking about too much that it blows your mind to the point of way to complex profoundness? Well then, Thievery Corporation is for you. This album does an excellent job of demonstrating exactly what this band is. A mix of Middle Eastern influence with Western (specifically European) electronica, gives you these excellent sounds. This music has so many subtle little add-ons in the production that, every time you listen to it, you wind up realizing something that you hadn’t before. This album also demonstrates the truly developed sound of Thievery Corporation after they found their groove in The Mirror Conspiracy.

[Top Tracks: Une Simple Histoire (A Simple Story), From Creation, The State of the Union]