So here we are again, with what seems to be a curse, or a challenge, or a guantlet thrown down. My brother in arms Rob Mentzer had made a series of lists, so I thought I should not let the moment pass. The new year and all.
A decade is a long time. So I am going to try to put these in no order at all. I do not think at least. I do not know, blogging is a lot like free form jazz. We shall just see where it takes us.
- The Black Keys….THICKFREAKNESS…I had thought of making it their first record, the big come up, but decided on this one because of the violence. I thought the first record was shocking in its awesomeness, and the second one revealed that this was not a fluke. The guitar tone, the agression, the violence…I have always said it is like Hound Dog Taylor meets Sonic Youth. And that might be perfect. The output for the band through the decade was worth the top spot.
- The Rollins Band…The Only Way to know for Sure…the live record I had always wanted this band to make. Chicago, the whole deal. My lifelong friend Jason and I were there, and trapped in a snowstorm, so it was an epic time. When we were standing there, Jason turned to me and said, “thats a band with a stairmaster in the tour bus,” talking about how fast and without rest these guys were. It is a seminal live record.
- The Murder City Devils…RIP…I got into these guys when Tom Jordan burned me a CD. Then it was amazing. I had to have everything. A punk band with keyboards, well that was amazing. The songs about Johnny THunders and George Jones…amazing.
- Butch Walker…And the Lets Go Out Tonights…Nothing, nothing at all sounds like LA the way this sounds like LA. There is a reason that Butch is sought after by everyone. His songwriting is second to none. This glorious band made songs about nightlife, about the whole deal. A sort of album about eating at bar time, in your fab clothes. And Sunspot Wendy is jealous that I met him.
- Mos Def…The Exquisite…Just happened at the end of the year. And honestly Mos Def has a revolutionary voice, and we need that in hip hop. It cant all be about syrup.
- Prince…Indigo Nights…it came with the book that documented the dates in England. It is an overwhelming live record. Right up there with Live in Osaka.
- Iggy Pop…Skull Ring…He has to be on the list. It gets no better.
- Scott Holt…From Lettsworth To Legend…The fact that Scott wanted to do a whole album dedicated to his mentor, and his mentor is Buddy Guy…well that seems good. And it is good.
- Rakim…The Seventh Seal…I think Rakim is the best emcee of all time. The fact that he came back with such a high minded, and heavy record, shows just how good he is.
- Rise Against…Appeal to Reason…Blatantly smart. Live the band delivers constantly.
- Lucero…Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers…I think Ben Nichols is the best lyricist of the last 20 years. His tales of love and loss, and heartbreak make ALL the alt country bands shut the hell up, or I would hope so.
That is 11. What do you think?