April 2006

In no particular order and for no particular reason.

West Of Rome — Vic Chesnutt

It would be more accurate for me to say that all of Vic Chesnutt's albums are my favorites, but I think I listen to this one the most. I got turned onto Vic Chesnutt by a guy I used to work with who knew a lot about music, although years before in college someone told me I should check him out.

Exile On Main Street — The Rolling Stones

I don't really even like the Rolling Stones. I always lumped them in with other "classic rock" bands like Skynard and Kansas or whatever. My wife introduced me to this record when we were first dating, so it has sentimental value for me in addition to it being awesome. I like everything about this album. Most of the songs sound like they were recorded in someone's sweaty basement, which they were. All rock bands should record albums in French basements in the middle of summer. More rock songs should have lyrics like "The sunshine bores the daylights out of me."

Life, Love and Leaving — The Detroit Cobras

I don't know anything about the Detroit Cobras except that they are (I assume) from Detroit and that they have at least two great albums, this one being my favorite of the two I have. It is impossible not to at least rhythmically nod your head when this record is playing, if not break out into a full-on dorkdance.

One Foot In The Grave — Beck

First song I heard off this record was "Asshole" when a friend sat me down and said "You gotta hear this!"

She dangles carrots, makes you feel embarrassed
To be the fool you know you are

...

She'll do anything to make you feel like an asshole

Perfect.

Music For The Mature B-Boy — DJ Format

A more recent addition to My Favorite Records. Unfortunately, the cd is missing from the case. Have you seen it? Cristy hasn't seen it. I looked behind the stereo, in the car, all around my office. My fear is that I accidentally threw it out thinking it was a junk CD-R. Anyway, I used to like to listen to this record a lot... Hey, I just found it! It was at the bottom of the stereo cabinet drawer in my old "discman"! Hooray! If you want to know what I'm talking about when I talk about this record, check out this video for the song "We Know Something."

Exile In Guyville — Liz Phair

This cd was playing pretty much non-stop on the jukebox in the bar I hung out in in college. It stands the test of time. I have never had the question of whether it is or isn't a "song by song" rejoinder to Exile On Main Street answered adequately. You read in some places that it is, in some places that it isn't. It doesn't really matter.

Bora Bora — Eddie Lund Presents (various Tahitian musicians)

This is the crown jewel of all the records I have ever picked up in thrift stores and garage sales. The songs on are just so sweet and simple and beautiful. I never tire of it. I have a couple other Tahitian records with some of the same performers and songs on them, but this one is the best, especially the songs performed by Marie Mariteragi. It's also rare because it has a photo of a large, ugly piece of driftwood on the cover instead of the usual partially-clothed Tahitian girl. And it has the lyrics printed on the back in Tahitian! Unfortunately, I dropped it or something and one whole side of it has a huge scratch that makes it unplayable. In the plus column, I transferred it to CD before this happened.

Tells The Story — Brian Dewan

Back in the dimly-remembered days before everyone had computers and Internet access and blogs and so forth, there was a brief time when (mostly) young people used to make these things called "zines." Zines were usually little photocopied magazines, and making one was a good way to make new penpals. I had a zine-writing penpal who was a big Brian Dewan fan, and in fact her zine was a fanzine about Brian Dewan. At some point she sent me a Brian Dewan mix tape, most of which was from this record, which I eventually sought out and bought because I had discovered that some of the songs on the album were missing from the tape she'd sent.

The primary instrument on this record is the electric zither, the novelty of which does not detract from the general awesomeness of every single song.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Rum Sodomy And The Lash
Red Roses For Me

— The Pogues

Impossible for me to say which is my favorite. The only thing I can say about these records is that they make life that much more worth living.