Waxworks and Beeswax are a double dose of angular, jumpy, frenetic pop from Swindon’s XTC. This pairing captures the very best of XTC’s early period, before they evolved into a more “pastoral” […]
“Waxworks” & “Beeswax” by XTC (No. 31)
“Under the Pink” by Tori Amos (No. 32)
If there was any doubt whether Tori Amos could live up to her debut, Little Earthquakes, it was shattered by Under The Pink. From the opening track, “Pretty Good Year” to the […]
“Be My Thrill” by The Weepies (No. 33)
Be My Thrill is probably the best release from a band that, so far, has had no bad releases. If you’ve been following closely, you’ll remember that The Weepies‘ appeared on the […]
“Cloud Nine” by George Harrison (No. 34)
Cloud Nine may not be the strongest George Harrison work outside of The Beatles, but for many reasons it’s my favorite Harrison solo album. My reasons for loving this album? Let me […]
“Smile” by The Jayhawks (No. 35)
Smile is The Jayhawks sixth studio album, its second release without Mark Olson. As much as I enjoyed Olson and Gary Louris’ work on alt-country classic Hollywood Town Hall the new direction […]
“Gordon” by Barenaked Ladies (No. 36)
Barenaked Ladies Gordon, like Stunt, is all over the place musically and thematically. There’s frenetic and lighthearted pieces, pseudo-jazzy, and deep and introspective all mooshed together. Sounds like it should be a […]
“OK Computer” by Radiohead (No. 37)
I don’t consider myself a big Radiohead fan, but OK Computer is just too damn good not to make the list. OK Computer popped up on my radar sometime after I started […]
“Going Somewhere” by Colin Hay (No. 39)
Colin Hay is a storyteller. This is immediately evident if you have the opportunity to see him perform live as a headliner, as the stories between songs will be just as interesting […]
“Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon (No. 40)
If it weren’t for Warren Zevon, I’d have almost nothing to sing at the Karaoke bar. Whether this is laudable or something he should be ashamed of is left as an exercise […]
“Psonic Psunspot” by Dukes of Stratosphere / XTC (No. 41)
Psonic Psunspot is the best collection of 60s psychedelia ever recorded in the mid-80s. The members of XTC, working under the pseudonym Dukes of Stratosphear basically channeled some of their musical influences […]