Dopebox – Jack Drag (other than the obvious reasons, it’s a virtually flawless record for smokin’ n’ drinkin’ & feelin’ swell)
Way To Blue- Nick Drake
This is the record originally referred to as “cocktail music for people who have ceased to give a fuck”)
Muswell Hillbillies, Village Green Pres. Society- The Kinks
(If 20th Century Man alone doesn’t make you want to set fire to yours or your parents’ home, chances are you’re already dead.)
Warner Greatest Hits- The Faces (speaks for itself)
All for Nothing/Nothing for all- Replacements (ditto)
Debt & Departure- Those Bastard Souls (From the opening chords & crescendo of “The Last Thing I Ever Wanted Was To Show Up & Blow Your Mind” Shouse’s got us fellow suburban refuge/suferrees right where he wants us, & to though I was stone bleeding sober when this record came out, I knew it wasn’t going to be long before I’d need to be high to appreciate this gem properly. And boy have I!)
Flying Burrito Brothers- Farther Along (excerpt: “You said you loved me/ Then you stole my clothes/ I loved you baby/But that’s the way that it goes…” If you’ve been snoozing on this one like I was until a best friend ruined me with “The Dark End of The Street” two summers ago, r-u-n run run your skinny little ass on down to the record store & like me, grab the copy some junkie sold back for a bag, the only reasonable excuse for any cameo of Graham Parsons in a used bin other than the obvious, brain damage or a penchant for fuckin’ Bryan Adams. Don’t get me started.)
Grace- Jeff Buckley (If his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelulah” isn’t the closest thing to aural orgasm I’ve had in years, his original “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” usually puts me over the edge. Missed the boat on this one too for three years, then lost my mind one night when I heard “Last Goodbye” on some crappy Boston radio. He will always be missed.)
Definitely Maybe- Oasis (Truth be told, makes me want to start drinkin’/getting’ high again. Oh well, thanks lads for when you didn’t suck.)
Modern Lovers- eponymous (excerpt: “I don’t want some cocaine sniffing triumph in a bar/ I don’t wanna triumph in a car/ I want someone I can care about…./or NOTHING!!!” Just get it already!!!)
“The Universal”- Blur (almost cry to this tune it’s soooo good)
“Into My Arms”- Nick Cave (ditto)
“Brandy & Curls”- Creeper Lagoon (sounds like Pavement meets Replacements, kinda, but you kinda can’t lose)
Terror Twilight- Pavement (Uh, you’re either on the bus or you’re off it by now, Kids.)
“Partner For Life”, “Temporary Beauty”, “The Three Martini Lunch”, “Haunted Episodes”, “Don’t Bother With The Local Girls)”, “I Want You Back”, etc.- Graham Parker A musician who’s not to missed, simply. A poor man’s Elvis Costello if you will, but that’s just not fair to such a fine fartiste.
Songs of Love & Hate- Leonard Cohen (My friend Kim’s got my copy which is probably for the best because “Avalanche” slays me from the giddyup. Least I got her
Lyle Lovett with “Simple Song.” Eh heh.
Greatest Hits 1 & 2- Lenny Cohen
A girl I was trying to shag in Cambridge, let’s call her “Amy”, borrowed 2 & never gave it back. Worth it for “Everybody Knows” alone, but there’s like 8 other killers. 1’s with my ex, so there’s no chance she’s ever surrendering that artifact, along with my copy of Beth Orton’s “Central Reservation”, perhaps the most exquisite musical artifact to appear all year.
Summer Teeth, A.M.- Wilco Not sure I would’ve made it without ‘em. God bless Jeff.
Tags: rock n' roll