I'll definitely be picking up the ABB Live at Ludlow Garage.

You should listen to(If you haven't already) to the version of You don't love me/soul serenade from Live at the American University. It's easily as epic as the one from Filmore.

PL: I have it. And you're right.

Any thoughts on Muse? If I had to pick an ablum to start one off I'd recommend Absolution, though some of their more emotion instilling stuff is on the older albums. Here's recent performance of the title track from their debut album (Showbiz, 1999). I think to fully appreciate it you need to play it full blast the next time you're driving into the dark clouds of an on-coming thunderstorm.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CwCTnEOSoxI

PL: A friend highly recommends them, but I haven't followed her up on it yet.

Nice list, Ill check into several of those. Love the Jimi solo.

Considering I had to stay in my drive way last night and listen to every second of that guitar solo when the ipod shuffled to bold as love while minutes away from home, I have to second the axis recommendation. Plus, it has little wing.

But why so limited on the hip hop, no love for illmatic, wu-tang forever, or ready to die? And I would probably have to add ok computer, something by prince (probably purple rain), innervisions, dusty in memphis, layla and assorted love songs (box set with the jams), and stankonia to the list. But then again, no one asked me.

PL: This is not an exhaustive list. It's random, and it's not entirely in alphabetical order. As to being asked, by all means, if you think I've missed something, feel free to remind me. And if you know about about something I ought to listen to, shit, recommend it to me. By the way, on Layla, I skipped it because it just seemed so obvious, and it's been written about at such length considering the Patti Boyd back story.

Bold As Love is fantastic. The solo at the end is so liberating. I'm also a big fan of If Six was Nine and Crosstown Traffic.

Oh and while I'm thinking about it, great, under the radar Jimi album is Blues. You have to own this, if only for the unparalleled monologue at the beginning of Hear My Train Coming [Electric]

PL: I have Blues and yeah, it is a killer disc. Another great one is "the Hendrix Concerts," a French (I think) double album that's hard to find on disc. Only live version of "Are You Experienced" I own. And it's one hell of a version.

Must run now. Have a good weekend.

Out of the four stones albums that I believe are essential listening for the human race (beggars banquet, let it bleed, sticky fingers, and exile) sticky is the weakest. exile is the best, closely followed by let it bleed and the rest are a long way off. I agree with you on gimme shelter, but exile on main street belongs on that list a hundred times more than sticky fingers. there is no other album in history that has the continuity and raw power of exile. It is an album with songs that improve when listened to together in order, and improve every time you listen to it.

PL: I don't agree. "Moonlight Mile," "Sway," "Brown Sugar," "CYHMK" and "Dead Flowers" are all on Sticky Fingers. I like Exile fine, but I love Sticky Fingers. I could go on about Exile's muddy production and do a comparison, but I tend to view those four records you mentioned as one long, extended song cycle. I just happen to like the songs and production on SF more. Personal preference.

Bravo on admitting your love of ABBA. We all have some favorite band that others might mock -- as you know, I have a weakness for angst-ridden chick singer-songwriters playing acoustic guitars to a primarily lesbian fan base.

Re the Allman Brothers, I have to say that I much prefer their studio work to the live stuff. "Eat A Peach" may be one of the finest albums of the era.

Your taste shows a deplorable appreciation for the merely loud. Sabbath? AC/DC? A few decent songs each, but come on. Drop them and add "LA Woman" or "Morrison Hotel" by the Doors.

And don't even get me started on the Dead -- why is it that they are so popular among the "cut my taxes" crowd? The stink of patchouli covers the scent of brimstone from your mortgaged soul, I guess.

And if you like Dylan and the Byrds, give a listen to "The Byrds Play Dylan."

PL: Eat a Peach is a high point, but it's been lauded so much I figured I'd pick a few different ones. By the way, as to live vs. studio Allmans, the "Mountain Jam" on Eat a Peach is live.

Odd little point... Eat a Peach is the greatest juke box record of all time. When I used to see see it in a juke box (in particular one where a buddy frequently referenced in the material on this site spent and I many evenings/early mornings in law school), song #4, the 33 min version of MJ will be removed. But if you press song #4 on the machine it would usually still play it. If you drove it along with the "The End" from the Doors' Greatest Hits and "Carry On" from Four Way Street you could get yourself an hours' worth of tunes for a buck.

If you don't understand that Sabbath is the blueprint for most of hard rock music, I can't explain it to you. As to AC/DC, they are the most perfectly produced and executed simple rock band in history. Sure, it's pop bubble gum stuff, but it's good. Underrated by miles because of their admittedly juvenile subject matter and unfortunately dressed guitarist. Simple, puerile and loud isn't bad just for those reasons. If you discount AC/DC, you might as well discount the early singles of the Who. If you know how to play them, you only need three chords.

Regarding the Dead, everything in my world is mortgaged, but it's fixed paper, at an amazing rate. No ARMs. I might have fried some of my brain, but not enough to fuck around with one of those. Really, though, take a listen to the Dead I recommended. I never bought into the band as a lifestyle either, but they are truly amazing live - probably one of the greatest of all time, and their song catalog is second to none. Don't let the image sway you from good music.

I'll try that Byrds record. I am familiar with some of it, I think, from "Easy Rider."

I'd like to recommend something. It's flamenco guitar in its purest form. 76 was a good year and according to legend, this song was composed by Satan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oyhlad64-s

PL: Oh, shit. I have heard of that dude. That guy is amazing.

Hahaha... When I saw ABBA first on your list, I immediately thought you must have been compensated by the producers of Mamma Mia!

PL: No way. I've loved the band for years. They really are amazing. They don't sound like anything else. Sadly, no reunion can ever take place as I think the drummer died last year.

Don't forget My Morning Jacket's "At Dawn." There are few better records to be playing on a hungover July morning then the one that starts with Jim James gently waking you up. And have you listened to their new album yet?

PL: I love "At Dawn," "It Still Moves" and the new one. Not a huge fan of "Z." I'll write more on this shortly.

Very good list! I'm sure there could be many more. I especially like the Dr.Dre and Eagles Of Death Metal. Are you a fan of Queens of the Stone Age/Dersert Sessions?

PL: Yes. Chris Goss is a genius. "Rated R," "Masters of Reality" and "Sunrise on the Sufferbus" are on an upcoming list.

Every comment here has a reply. I'm impressed by how seriously you're taking this. It WILL translate into sales.

You heard the Zombies album yet?

PL: Which Zombies album? A couple different bands have used that name.

I can talk tunes until I'm hoarse. If I had it to do again, rock critic might have been a gig worth pursuing. Only problem is, now having completed something in the realm of art, it's hard for me to shred someone else's work. I mean, I could rip most of the pop garbage on the radio today because it's just product, but I'd have a hard time tearing up a good band for taking a chance on a new or risky sound. I read the comments ripping Weezer's new album and the brilliant new My Morning Jacket disc on Amazon and all I can think about these mean-spirited amateur critics is "man, their taste is in their fucking mouths."

I second the Stones reccomendation. "CYHMK" is my favorite Keef riff. If you have a guitar, tune it to open G (DGDGBD) and mess around with barre chord and Chuck Berry style two finger riffs at the 7th and 9th frets until you get the right sound. Its a lot of fun. (BTW, only play the first 5 strings, leave the 6th (the D)
alone)
If you like the early 70's Stones, check out Royal Trux, especially their major label album "Thank You".

I just started listening to the Dead, and the 1969 live stuff is amazing. The vibe of collective frenzy that emanates from those recordings is unsurpassed, except by early rave music.

If you like "far out" jam type music, I reccomend Can. Their early 70s album are like nothing else, and they were a huge influence on electronic music.

PL: Thanks. I've heard of Royal Trux before but never checked them out. Regarding CYHMK, check this out. Shitty sound, but it's the thought that counts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU3NupK97kA

I notice you've never really commented on the Doobie Brothers, the Steve Miller Band, the Eagles, or Tom Petty. No love for the '70s?

PL: I'm getting to the James Gang and I like Tom Petty and Joe Walsh. Not so much a fan of the Eagles, probably because of Frey and Henley. Steve Miller was a genius, but I don't really think there's much I can add that hasn't been said about his stuff already.

Odyssey and Oracle (1965) is the Zombies album I'm talking about.

CYHMK was the launch pad of countless nights in college. When it came on, every single one of us would pause, soak in that riff and then attack the booze hard before letting up during the end jam. I love that song.

PL: I'll take a spin through that. I have not heard it.

CYHMK is also perfect because you get a Stones tune at the front end followed by a Santana jam taking through the end. I love Ron Wood, but Mick Taylor was the shit.

PL, I would hope that you would include "The Chronic" by Dr. Dre. I think it was the album that put West Coast rap on the map.

If you haven't yet, give "Jar of Flies" by Alice in Chains a spin. When I first heard this 7 song EP, I felt like my eyes (and ears) were truly opened to music. That was nearly 15 years ago, and I still get chills when I hear the intro to "Rotten Apple".

PL: I skipped "The Chronic" because it's such a known classic and instead decided to focus on the lesser appreciated "2001."

I have "Jar of Flies." It is a great record. I like the three legged dog record a lot as well, and "Dirt" is great disc. Only problem is that group was so damned depressing. I have a hard time listening to them in the summer. It's like trying to listen to Floyd's "Animals" or something like that. On a sunny day I need Allmans, Dead, Sublime, stuff like that. I couldn't deal with "Dogs" or "Sheep" this time of year. That's winter music to me.

Maybe you'll touch on this later, but what about Dave Matthews Band? I feel as though they are a major victim of the guilt by association complex. "They're for douchebag fratboys wearing visors" insert other baseless criticism here. Each musician in the band is incredibly talented, they have amazing chemistry, Carter Beauford is one of the best drummers in the world, hands down and Dave is a great lyricist. The constant live album releases get a bit sickening, but albums like Crash have great gems on there (#41, Two Step, Lie in Our Graves). Before these Crowded Streets is a great cd as well.

PL: No doubt, DMB is one of the best group of musicians around. "Two Step" is an amazing tune and BTCS has some killer moments. But I haven't found the whole of any studio release to be consistently impressive, front to back, so I couldn't think of one to recommend here.

By the way, "Two Step" has got to be one of the most fucked to songs of all time for the Mid-Atlantic ex-sorority girl set. Was there a whitebread chick in the later nineties who didn't have that disc, and that song in particular, cued up on the stereo in her bedroom?

"It's like the sound of the snake in the Garden of Eden"

Brilliant.

PL: Thanks, but Gin really deserves the credit for that line.

The Judas moment still gives me chills. And Dylan's response "I don't believe you...You're a LIAR!...(to band) Play Fuckin' Loud."

Those last three lines are exactly what kicked off the rock movement.

Every release of the Bob Dylan Bootleg series has been fantastic. Some of the unreleased stuff on Vol. 1-3 blows my mind. Blind Willie McTell is one of my top 5 Dylan songs and he has never officially released it!

Frankly, I can't believe that Columbia doesn't release a new volume of the Bootleg Series every year. There is such a wealth of music in their vault. They still have a few of his major eras to tap, and he's still doing some of his best stuff to this day.

Also, along the lines of the Super Session album, I just picked up a Bloomfield/Hammond/Dr.John LP last week and it is fantastic. Actually, all of Dr. John's catalogue is pretty great too.

PL: Shit. That sounds like a damn good record. I have to get that. Thanks.

My favorite unknown Dylan track is "Motorpsycho Nightmare." I love this section:

I said, "I like Fidel Castro,
I think you heard me right,"
And ducked as he swung
At me with all his might.
Rita mumbled something
'Bout her mother on the hill,
As his fist hit the icebox,
He said he's going to kill me
If I don't get out the door
In two seconds flat,
"You unpatriotic,
Rotten doctor Commie rat."

Well, he threw a Reader's Digest
At my head and I did run,
I did a somersault
As I seen him get his gun
And crashed through the window
At a hundred miles an hour,
And landed fully blast
In his garden flowers.
Rita said, "Come back!"
As he started to load
The sun was comin' up
And I was runnin' down the road.

Well, I don't figure I'll be back
There for a spell,
Even though Rita moved away
And got a job in a motel.
He still waits for me,
Constant, on the sly.
He wants to turn me in
To the F.B.I.
Me, I romp and stomp,
Thankful as I romp,
Without freedom of speech,
I might be in the swamp.

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/index.html

http://www.amazon.com/Triumvirate-Michael-Bloomfield-Dr-John/dp/B00000250K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216658384&sr=8-1

That's the Bloomfield/Hammond/Dr. John record. The reviews aren't that great but I thought it was smokin'.

Motorpsycho Nightmare is a great song, along the lines of Bob Dylan's 115th dream. Most people don't know how funny early Dylan could be. What do you think about the recent Dylan trilogy of Time Out Of Mind, Love and Theft and Modern Times? I think Time Out of Mind is among his best work and the other two are solid albums as well. It doesn't have the same energy as his 60's rock, but it's developed a wiseness and maturity.

P.S. I hope to see Warren Zevon later in the list.

PL: Warren... How in the hell would I forget the man who wrote "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" or this little gem of dark humor: "I met a girl in the Rainbow Bar/She asked me if I'd beat her... I don't want to talk about it"?

Dylan's also an amazing interview. He mercilessly fucks with the media and half the time they don't even realize it. I'd love to see Nancy Grace question him.

I like the trilogy and agree that "Time Out of Mind" was the best, "Not Dark Yet" being the high (and low) point of the disc. The only confusion I have about anything Dylan sings, however, is whether he actually really means what people think he does. The layers of sarcasm and satire go on for miles, and I've always had the sense Dylan himself isn't sure what he's saying half the time. That's ok, of course, "inscrutable" being the deepest honesty anyone can convey and highest compliment one can receive.

Agreed. The opening lines of two step have spread a multitude of preppy legs. That song and Lover Lay Down. I think at one point Dave said all of his songs were about sex, though I can't trace a quote on that.

Have you heard Television? I think they're one of the few bands that is able to to be musically complex and interesting but still very listenable(Pixies, Beatles, Hendrix, and Velvet Underground are some others).

Also, what about the Violent Femmes first record?

PL: Yes. The dude who plays guitar for them is a master technician. Set the blueprint for a lot of new wave/punk that followed right up until today.

The Femmes' first record is a classic, but it's so well known I didn't figure there was any point in noting it here.

I have to side with whoever mentioned that exile deserved to be on the list. I think it's probably the best album to be ever pressed on vinyl. I'm surprised you didn't put any Aerosmith, "Rocks" is a 9-song masterpiece in my opinion. And what about Zeppelin? Physical Graffiti deserves an honorable mention.

PL: It's not an exhaustive or "greatest of all time" list. It's a list of some lesser known discs and few classics I think people might enjoy. Zeppelin will be on the list (BBC Sessions).

Great call on Beck's "Mutations." My favorite Beck album, and there have been several great ones.

My friends and I have taken to playing the music version of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon -- great fun after several beers for dork-asses like myself. One person would say something like "Stevie Wonder to Tom Petty, in 3 steps," and the others would have to figure out how to get from the first artist to the second. (1. Stevie played w.McCartney on "Ebony & Ivory"; 2. McCartney played with G. Harrison in the Beatles; 3. Harrison played with Petty in The Traveling Wildburys.)

I can't believe I just admitted that.

PL: Try this name - Chuck Leavell. Do a search for him and you'll find a piano player who's worked with just about every famous classic rock musician you can think of.

Volume 4... Thank-you, thank-you very much! That album was a constant inspiration for my performance art... Makes me want to smash somethign just thinking about it!

I will offer up some David Allen Coe while I'm here. Pizza! Pizza!

PL: I believe it was Vol. 4 that put my head or shoulder (hard to recall exactly) through the drywall in the hallway.

Shit, wanted to offer up some others that I've recently become very fond of...

Clutch

Artimus Pyledriver

Nashville Pussy

Plus, I've gone on a huge early Dead kick of late. Keith Godchaux and Brett Mydland weren't fit to wipe Pigpen's ass! Pizza! Pizza!

PL: I was waiting for your input. I thought you were going to flag me for not citing "Damaged."

On the Pig Pen thing, agreed, agreed, agreed. You can't beat a crazy, rambling "Caution (Do not Step on Tracks)." Keith was luggage and as to Donna, usually it's a good thing when a woman's a screamer. Not her.

Nice list. I was actually a little bit surprised that you had Beck on there since a lot of people don't get into it. Another good album of his is Sea Change, although I'm sure you've heard it. Also, Hell Yes, his gameboy remix single, is really interesting and is worth a listen.

When I saw that you put ABBA on your list, I immediately laughed and thought back to your dancing queen post even before I saw you cited it. Oh god, that was gold. Keep it up, and be sure to officially include The Doors on your list otherwise I'd have to tar and feather you. =P

PL: "Morrison Hotel" and "Waiting for the Sun." MH for obvious reasons. WFTS because of "Indian Summer," which I think is one of the prettiest two minutes in all of music. Next to the Faces' "Ooh La La" and Widespread Panic's "Pleas" and of course Abba's "Dancing Queen," it's one of the few tunes that can always transport me straight to a certain place and time, crystal clear. I can all but remember the chick's skin when I hear "Indian Summer." She had the craziest tits. And vodka. I hate Absolut with a passion, but I can taste it when I hear that tune. And it was pretty damn good in that moment.

Also -- while I'm with the great silent majority in my preference for "Exile on Main Street," I must acknowledge the greatness of both "Let It Bleed" and "Sticky Fingers" which are, in my view, a close 2nd and 3rd. Between those 2, it's a toss-up, but any album that kicks off with "Gimme Shelter" gets the edge. Plus, "Monkey Man" is evil and awesome. And even though WMMR made this song die a thousand deaths in my youth -- and despite being the theme song for the excerable boomer wank-fest "The Big Chill" -- "You Can't Always Get What You Want" remains a brilliant accomplishment. The whole thing is like 2 chords, but it is epic.

PL: My favorite is the title cut of "Let it Bleed." It's the concept of weariness distilled to music, a perfect set-up for into the "pragmatist's anthem" of YCAGWYW closing out the record.

Agreed about Keith Godchaux just being luggage and Pig Pen is where it's at. Keith's son has a band now called Boombox who has released one studio album, Visions of Backbeat. Solid album with some sounds you have never heard before. My favorite is the cover of the Dylan bootleg, Who Killed Davey Moore?.

Also how bout some Gov't Mule on that list? Such a big ABB fan must appreciate Warren Haynes.

PL: I love the Mule (the Deep End records have countless amazing moments) and I love the Allmans, but I am not a huge fan of Warren with the Allmans. I like that sweet sound the Allmans had with Dickie and Duane trading licks from the old days, and even the stuff with just Dickie playing ("Brothers and Sisters"). Warren hardens the band too much for my taste, but I understand I am very much the minority in that thinking. Maybe I'll think different in a month. I can shift on music quickly.

Have you heard Jerry Garcia Band Live at Keane College 2/28/80? Its got an amazing after midnight>eleanor rigby>after midnight

Also, I love 68-69 Dead, but I think my favorite live album I have of theirs is Barton Hall '77.

PL: Yes. I think I have a copy of that I burned from a buddy somewhere. That's a very laid back show (even for solo Jerry), right?

Are you into Modes Mouse? Besides being an excellent band, the singer Isaac Brock served 10 days in jail for doing nitrous at the wheel of a moving car like in The Drought, but he crashed. Still seems like a strange combo to me.

PL: I like them, but they're a bit dissonant, purposefully, for my taste. As to nitrous behind the wheel, I wouldn't recommend it. Terrible on back roads as well.

Guess I'm just crazy, but Goat's Head Soup is my favorite Stones album by a mile. Nothing against Sticky Fingers, but that's everyone's favorite. Unless you're an actual (meaning you get paid for it) critic, then of course you have to say Exile on Main Street. I'm mostly a punk rocker, but I appreciate some earlier music. Only if it rocks, though. Which ABBA definitely does not. But if we're admitting to liking some embarrassing artists, I guess I can "come out" and say I like Jack Johnson. Hahaha.

PS - I second an earlier commenter's remarks re: Warren Zevon. That guy is amazing, I own every single one of his albums. People talk about Elvis Costello, Iggy, the Mc5, Lou Reed... man.... Warren was punk rock way before those guys.

PL: I have nothing against GHS. "Star Star" has a regular play slot on my Ipod and "Heartbreaker" and "Dancing with Mr. D" are favorites. I just always thought the rest of the disc was iffy. Zevon's grossly underrated. Problem is his lyrics and deadpan delivery. I think a lot of listeners want more overt emotion and isn't sure when Warren's kidding or not.

Yeah, Dylan's the best statement in music on 20th century meaninglessness and chaos. Not that the ideas were original, but he was the first to put them in rock as far as I know. Especially the fuck-it-all attitude (attitude being the soul of rock). I absolutely love Highway 61 Revisited because you can take it seriously or not, as you want. Except for Tombstone Blues. That's just silly.

Indian Summer is off of Morrison Hotel, not WFTS. (The great track on that album in my opinion is Five To One.)

Are you into early blues at all, say Son House, Robert Johnson, etc? On the other end of the blues spectrum, the Black Keys? I'm a huge fan of Thickfreakness.

In that piece on AC/DC you did awhile back, you seemed a little down on Radiohead. Is that the case? Because I have to say I reallly enjoy Yorke's voice, the music and (really, I mean it) most of the lyrics on OK Computer, Kid A, and Hail to the Thief.

PS Marley...

Oh and as far as rock critic goes, from reading your stuff here I'd categorize you as a culture writer, which certainly encompasses that. Even if you don't want to "shred someone else's work" you're damn good at commenting on anything relevant. Even if you are a nihilist. I guess my personal taste just runs to ideas, but I would certainly enjoy reading more essay-like and less story-like posts (I understand there's a mix).

PL: I'm not a nihilist. I believe that people should think for themselves, that's all. I don't believe anyone should just follow something simply because it's the way things were done or because someone tells them it's the way things ought to be done. You should obviously listen to people with experience, but not blindly. I mean, let's face it... The worst decisions in mankind's history all have one thing in common - "herd mentality." It holds us back as a species, and no, "certainty" without objective, empirical basis is never laudable.

Thanks for the correction on the Doors thing. Using the Ipod seems to degrade my memory of song cycles on actual albums.

$.02
The Hold Steady - "Separation Sunday"
One of the most impressive albums I have ever heard.
Deftones - "Around The Fur"
The hook on My Own Summer, need I say more?
Jackie Greene - "Sweet Somewhere Bound"
It's like Jesus kissed your heart.

PL: I have to try The Hold Steady. You're like the twentieth person who's recommended them to me.

along the Flaming Lips lines (but way way way better), any Ween. Quebec and GodWeenSatan are good starting points.

Know you like Little Feat, but Sailin' Shoes has got to get on there somewhere. Better writing than the first album, and better in every way than the rest. And for some strange reason no one listens to it now.

As far as rap, you've got to like Three 6. It's impossible not to unless you're female or fundamentalist christian. Basically any newer album by them is awesome.

PL: I dig Ween. A pile of cuts from "Live in Chicago" are on my constant playlist right now. The odd thing about that band is they can fucking play their asses off live. That guitarist is amazing.

I put "Waiting For Columbus" on the list instead of "Sailin' Shoes" because I figured it would give people coming to the music for the first time the best overall view of the band and possibly create fans of the most underrated slide player and musical genius in history a little more quickly than "Sailin' Shoes," even though SS is my personal favorite.

What about the J. Geils Band? I think they get a lot of attention for Centerfold, but albums like House Party or to a lesser extent Monkey Island get overlooked.

PL: You've bested me there. I don't know jack about their catalog except to say I liked some of Peter Wolf's solo work way back in the day. His name is Wolf, right?

Love your list. Love your stories. Excited for book. I love the Bowie picks, and I would even add "Low" to that list.

Also:

Wire - Chairs Missing: Evil, razor-sharp and the build-up in "Mercy" will blow your mind.

Supergrass - I Should Coco (Great before they tried to sound like Radiohead

Ween - Chocolate & Cheese

Breeders - Pod

Pavement - Everything

Danny Feedback (www.myspace.com/dannyfeedbac) - my friend's little band, but they're amazing if you're into songs about smoking, snorting and then jacking off inside people's mouths.

PL: Chocolate and Cheese also rates in the top ten for album cover art.

My apologies on the nihilist thing. Flippancy and half-seriousness are tones that really shouldn't be attempted in text.

"Bone Machine" by Tom Waits is also one of my favorites. Definitely a matter of personal taste for some though.

PL: I took it as flippancy, but the subject is something that does, even in the context of a joke, trip an earnest response mechanism in my head. If I have any message to offer in anything here it's just to ask people to think for themselves. "Skeptic" or "cynic" and "believer" aren't mutually exclusive concepts, even if half the country wrongly tells us otherwise. I think people should believe in themselves, in their own powers of rational analysis. I think the belief in the ability, with education, of one's own mind to reach valid and worthwhile conclusions about the world around you can lead to an abundance of interesting viewpoints that will never see the light of day in a world where we all follow the teachings of others because we want to "belong" to some comfortable, affirming confederacy.

It may seem odd or perhaps offensively personal to say this, but I am not an atheist. I am also not without belief that on balance our political system remains, as the old saying goes, "the worst, except for all the others." But we can always do better. So though I might use nihilist approaches to make a point, I am not one, even though a simple, middle-minded sort who did not realize you were joking might take that from the comment.

Stay flippant, San Diego.* It's a good thing.

Best,
PL

*It's one of Farrell's best, I don't care what anyone says.

Beautiful list.

One question, though - why the Hives before the Stooges? Isn't that like Soundgarden before Sabbath? No question they're worth listening to, but go to the source first, and then watch where it went...

PL: The Hives before the Stooges merely because it was conceptualized as an alphabetically ordered list. I am actually listening to "The Strangeness" now.

Wow. I'm enjoying this Byrds cd. I never would have found these guys on my own.

Cheers

PL: Gram Parsons is one of those odd artists both over and underrated. He is not largely responsible for the genius of Exile on Main Street, as is often claimed. He merely stayed in the Stones' home/studio at the time and contributed to turning Keith and Mick on to country music. That influence, however, did in a small but very important manner forever change the Stones' approach to their albums and lead to a long list of "Country Stones" classics through the Some Girls record.

I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments on the Stone's "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" (courtesy of Blow, it inspires daydreams of blowing Tony Montana levels of the whiteness), and, in case you haven't heard it, would recommend the band Elbow's "Grounds for Divorce" as the ignition mechanism for a similar effect.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iL4mywCOJXA

Love your work, can't wait for the book.

PL: Thanks for the recommendation. My favorite use of it is the "Casino" trailer.*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t09aGcMjnWM

*By the way, I put movies in quotes here only because there is no italicizing feature. I feel the need to explain that so as not to confuse people on grammar, a subject on which I should not be considered an expert.

I'm absolutely digging the Sabbath. Some of the best times in college so far have been substance-abused rocking out to Paranoid (forgivably omitted from the list - everyone loves it).

As for heavy Psychedelic rock, have you ever heard of Motorpsycho? If Zeppelin ever had to pass the torch to anyone, it would be MP. Check out "Black Hole/Blank Canvas," "It's a Love Cult," "Blissard," "Little Lucid Moments," and "Phanerothyme" (in that order, if possible). Easily the greatest overlooked European band of the past 18 years.

Also - "Fantastic Planet" by Failure is another overlooked 90's gem. Just hold out on listening to it until November (the last 5 songs make "In Utero" look like the Strokes "Is This It."

Last one - Vampire Weekend. It might sound a bit too candy-pop at times, but the fantastic staccato drum line in the first track, "Mansard Roof" is easilly the happiest, most erratically dancable indie moment in the past 8 years.

PL: Thanks. I haven't heard any of those save VW, which I was unfairly judging as a bit too precious from their spread in Esquire and penchant for dressing in campy retro shit as a goof, which Weezer and Kanye West had done years before. Along the lines of infectious music, that Spoon tune called "The Underdog" is the best Elvis Costello track in years.

"Hand of Doom" is my favorite bit of "Paranoid."

I noticed that ABBA is the only electronic/dance artist on there. While I don't reccomend trying to navigate your way through the labyrinth of electronic music genres, I think Roni Size is a good starting place. Mind warping jazz/hip hop/drum n bass fusion is where its at. Check out "New Forms".

PL: I'll listen to anything a couple times and I have had Roni Size recommended to me before. Can't recall where that was...

Personally I prefer "The Black & White" album to "Tyrannosaurus Hives"; it's a much more distinct, fleshed-out sound..."Tyrannosaurus" at times sounds like someone spray-painting power chords everywhere. "Black & White" also has the awesome, stomping track "Won't Be Long".

Dylan's "Modern Times" was weak- but maybe I just couldn't get past an acoustic "When the Levee Breaks" after years of the apocalyptic Zep version.

What are your thoughts on Bruce Springsteen? I love the guy, but never understood why his middle albums were so critically acclaimed- I thought he lost a lot of his mojo when he stopped singing about NJ and started doing Americana heartland bullshit- although I did really like "The Pete Seeger Sessions", especially his version of "The Erie Canal".

PL: I like Black and White, but it's too new wavy for me.

As to Springsteen, I think he's the Bob Dylan of a lot of people who aren't comfortable with the uncertainty of Dylan's music. I think his last album, "Magic," is a great rock record and he can't write some amazing shit. However, he wears his points too obviously on his sleeve for me, where classical song writers like Dylan or Robert Hunter would paint a picture and leave you to guess what they were thinking.

Weezer's Pinkerton. Yay or nay, PL?

PL: Yay or nay? You serious? It's one of my favorite records of all time. Seven stars.

Awesome. You just made my day.

PL: Glad to help.

Great stuff - I've listened to most of the list but there are some definite gaps - I'm getting the Black Angels album right now.

I'd recommend Black Mountain - In the Future - it's a heavy and beautiful album anchored with psychedelic tunes

Also for some newer rock check out Dungen out of Sweden - Their songs sound fuzzy and distorted yet still bang out some great melodies and riffs. Tio Bitar is a good album to start on.

PL: I have all of Black Mountain's records. Excellent stuff.

Have you ever heard the band Trampled Under Foot? They're a 3 piece family band (I shit you not) from Kansas City who won the 2008 International Blues Challenge, the 2008 Albert King Award, and the 2007 Kansas City Blues Challenge.

I swear this singer is the spiritual reincarnation of Janis Joplin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPbtKN5dvMo

Here's their myspace page for some more tunes. I recomend Mississippi River.

http://www.myspace.com/trampledunderfootkc

PL: I'll give them a look. Any band taking its name from that Zeppelin song deserves a look and listen (even if the bass line in "Custard Pie" kicks the shit out of "Trampled Under Foot's"). Thanks.