Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#1)

(#1, Pinkerton by Weezer)

I told you I would return when the robins makes his nest, but I ain't never coming back ...

I'm sorry

I'm sorry

I'm sorry


Check back tomorrow for newgazzi Vol 23, for the final post in this blog's history.  Thank you for reading newgazzi, and I hope you enjoyed Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#2)

(#2, Grace by Jeff Buckley)

The most beautiful record ever recorded.  So beautiful, I named my daughter after it.  That's all I have to say ...

















Here is "Grace", "Last Goodbye" and "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#3)

(#3, Josephine by Magnolia Electric Co.)

I miss you, Jason Molina.

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#4)

(#4, Revolver by The Beatles)

For years, I've been listening to the Abbey Road vs Sgt Pepper's debate as to which was the best Beatles album.  They're all wrong!  It's Revolver !!!  This is a perfect album, from start to finish.  And it only seems appropriate that I'm sharing this on a Sunday morning, as it as been a long standing tradition in my home to play Beatles records on Sunday morning.  Thinking of you today, dad.










Here is "Eleanor Rigby", "Here, There and Everywhere" and "And Your Bird Can Sing" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#5)

(#5, Glass Houses by Billy Joel)

It feels very strange not having this at #1 on the list, and if you would have asked me what my favorite album was before I got the idea to take a  full year to think about it, I would have said Glass Houses.  But the fact that it's not #1, and not even in my Mount Rushmore of Albums, feels strange.  I guess this is where I ask the readers to not get to caught up in the order of the list.  When I started working on this list, I knew that 8 records would be considered for #1, and the final order is really just splitting hairs.  Goddamn, as soon as I hit "Publish", I've made it official ...  #5 it is.






Here is "Sometimes a Fantasy", "All For Leyna" and "Sleeping with the Television On" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#6)

(#6, Alligator by The National)

I'm not sure if there is a record that has been released in the 21st century that I've listened to more than this.  For my money, these guys are to the 21st century what Elton John was to the 70s, R.E.M. was to the 80s, and Beck was to the 90s.  I believe these guys are the best album artists going today.   This is a indie rock masterpiece.












Here is "Secret Meeting", "Karen" and "Mr November" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#7)

(#7, Closing Time by Tom Waits)

There are only a handful of albums that are so good, you play it with the intention of sitting down and only listening to that album.  No multitasking.  This isn't background music.  Don't talk to me while this is on.  This is appointment album listening.  Tom Waits has become a favorite of mine over the last 10 years, but this is the one I always come back to.











Here is "Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)", "Midnight Lullaby" and "Martha" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#8)

(#8, Breakfast in America by Supertramp)

I'm not even sure how this ended up in my record collection, as I don't remember my mom or dad being fans of this band, and this is the only album of their's I own, so I'm clearly not a huge fan of theirs.  But somehow, someway, this album found it's way into my conscious, and I've been wearing it out for most of my life.  Maybe I liked the album art, who knows.  Either way, this is musically, lyrically and sonically one of the simple joys of my life.  This album feeds me when I'm hungry, warms by cold winter's body, and I really connect to what is being said.  Truth be told, any of the albums in the top 8 could have been named #1, and I wouldn't have lost sleep over it.  A fantastic recording, start to finish.




Here is "The Logical Song", "Goodbye Stranger" and "Take the Long Way Home" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#9)

(#9, Weezer (Blue Album) by Weezer)

If this was a list of the most important records in my collection, this would have to be #1.  If not for this record, hundreds of entries on this list would have never been heard to begin with.  Scott Radke played this for me one night at Camelot Music, and I was pretty much hooked from the first few notes of "My Name Is Jonas".  This album really opened up my musical taste buds, for I was pretty much just listening to Billy Joel, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and The Beatles up until this point.  I still love this record, hopefully their new one, Everything Will Be Alright in the End, is a true return to form for Rivers and Co.






Here is "My Name is Jonas", "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#10)

(#10, 52nd Street by Billy Joel)

My Uncle Jeff is responsible for our first top ten entry.  One night, sleeping at my dad's house, I found this in his record collection, and I went nuts.  Dad said it wasn't his, and that he thought it was Uncle Jeff's.  I was only familiar with Glass Houses and An Innocent Man at this point, and I probably listened to this album three or four times that night.  My appreciation for the musicianship on this record has grown year after year.  "My Life" is my mom's favorite Billy Joel song, and my daughter loves "Zanzibar" ...








Here is "My Life" and "Zanzibar" and "Until the Night"...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#11)

(#11, Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices)

The first time I heard this I hated it.  In fact, it took almost six months for me to give it another shot, and I'm sure glad I did.  I must have been in a crummy mood that first time around.  Or maybe I just went into it with a closed mind.  You may do the same thing, if you saw the record included 28 songs, in 41 minutes !!  Is this a joke?  More like a lo-fi, garage pop-rock masterpiece.  Todd Kemper and I argue all the time which is better, this or Bee Thousand.  For me, it's always been this one, and it will always be this one.  There was even a time I would have considered this my #1 album of all time.  I know I've said those words to Todd on more than one occasion.  I don't like it any less than the ten that will eventually come before it, but this is the only album in the top 11 that doesn't get to me on an emotional level, and that's why I've very carefully placed it where I have ...


Listen to "Watch Me Jumpstart", "My Valuable Hunting Knife" and "Blimps Go 90" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#12)

(#12, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John)

This is my favorite double album of all time, and has been my go-to Elton John record since 1994. All 4,580 seconds of this album are essential, from the opening ambiance of "Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding) to the closing notes of "Harmony", not to mention all the great stuff in between.










Please indulge, if you have the time ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#13)

(#13, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles)

The #1 album of all time, according to Rolling Stone magazine.  Another interesting tidbit ... the wikipedia page for this album is four times longer than God's, whatever that's worth.   This is Paul McCartney's baby, and it is melodic masterpiece.  A must listen ...












Take a listen to "When I'm Sixty Four" and "Lovely Rita" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#14)

(#14, The Stranger by Billy Joel)

"You can have all the Billy Joels ... except The Stranger"

- Alec Newbury

This was the album that began the working relationship between Billy Joel and Phil Ramone, a relationship that lasted for six albums between 1977 and 1986.  In Fugazzi Grand : My Top 1,000 Songs of All Time, four of these nine tracks made my top 40, and two others cracked the top 1,000.  This is the album that made Billy Joel a household name, and is a must own if you love storytelling and great musicianship.






Take a listen to "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#15)

(#15, Night and Day by Joe Jackson)

You thought Off the Wall over Thriller as the #1 Michael Jackson album on my list was a tournament upset?  How's about Night and Day over both of those Michael Jackson albums for best album ever by a gentleman with the last name Jackson.  I've purchased this album five times in my life.  Once on cassette, twice on CD and twice on vinyl.  This list just got serious.











Here is "Steppin' Out", "Breaking Us in Two" and "A Slow Song" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#16)

(#16, Off the Wall by Michael Jackson)

Two arguments that I've been having for my entire adult live have been who is the greatest baseball player, Babe Ruth or Willie Mays, and what is the greatest Michael Jackson album of all time.  Most will say Babe Ruth and Thriller.  I'll take Willie Mays and Off the Wall.  Yes, Thriller had the backing of the monster known simply as MTV, and the videos are unforgettable.  But musically, vocally, sonically, Off the Wall is the better record.  And Willie Mays hits 1,000 homers and steals 1,000 bases if he was allowed to play in Babe Ruth's era ...







Take a listen to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#17)

(#17, Whatever and Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five)

Most of these songs are tunes that I sing in the shower or when driving to and from work.  Ben Folds has become my "go to" piano artist since Billy Joel became a traveling greatest hits playlist 20 years ago.  If you're not a fan, this is  a great place to start.












Take a listen to "Fair" and "Smoke" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#18)

(#18, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone by The Unicorns)

I forget if it was Matthew Schewe or Todd Kemper, but one of these fine gentlemen recommended this to me a long time ago, and whomever did so should be awarded some sort of medal.  This is their only album, but fans of this album would also enjoy Islands, which Nick Thorburn fronts as well ...











Here is "Sea Ghost" and I Was Born (A Unicorn)" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#19)

(#19, Tiny Music ... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop by Stone Temple Pilots)

I really wasn't a huge fan of this band until I saw the documentary of the making of this record on MTV, and almost instantly after buying it, I was hooked for years.  This is probably the album I listened to the most between the years 1996 and 2002.  It's been hard to keep track of these guys since then, but this will always be a favorite, and is still in pretty heavy rotation at 928 South Ave in Belgium.









Here is "Big Bang Baby" and "And So I Know" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#20)

(#20, Doolittle by Pixies)

I was always aware the Pixies were one of Kurt Cobain's favorite bands, and that he was thinking of their sound while recording Nevermind, but it wasn't until 2004 that I made time for this influential band.  Dan Lozoff gets 100% for credit for saying these words to me ten years ago:  "You haven't heard Doolittle????".  It didn't take me long to figure out that it was an alt-rock masterpiece.









Here is "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#21)

(#21, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel)

What timing!  I heard that Mangum has finally put the band back together that recorded his, and they are coming to Milwaukee in April.  This album is as close to perfect as possible, so the upcoming top 20 are going to be something else. If you haven't heard this band, and this album, make time for it.  You'll love it after one listen.











Tell me this isn't incredible ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#22)

(#22, The Nylon Curtain by Billy Joel)

Andrew C Fefer's favorite Billy Joel album.  Billy Joel's favorite Billy Joel album.  My 4th favorite Billy Joel album.  My 22nd favorite album ever recorded.  Over the years, "Where's the Orchestra" is become an anthem of mine.  I've recently found my orchestra, but the song will always resonate with me.  "Allentown" is one of the catchiest songs ever written about steel factories closing down.  "Laura" sounds like it was stolen from John Lennon's stack of demos.  I've always loved "Pressure".  This only record is incredible.







Here is "Laura" and "Where's the Orchestra" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#23)

(#23, Thriller by Michael Jackson)

Nine songs, SEVEN of them were huge hits.  And this is great trivia ... of those seven, the last one to chart was the title track.  I would have guess that was the 1st or 2nd one.  But as much as I love this album, this isn't even my highest ranking Michael Jackson album.  Stay tuned, peeps!












Here is "The Girl is Mine" and "Billie Jean" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#24)

(#24, Abbey Road by The Beatles)

This is probably where this list is going to come closest to breaking the internet.  How can the album that is widely regarded as the greatest Beatles album ever and #1 on many all time album lists be listed #24 ?  Preference.  This is phenomenal, but I have two Beatles records ranked higher, and as you can see, 23 albums that I'd rather make time for.

You can blame this on my taste buds expanding in the last 20 years, as 14 of my top 23 albums are records that I've been introduced to as an adult.   This would have easily been a top ten record if asked prior to my 19th birthday.

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#25)

(#25, Elephant by The White Stripes)

What? Is that a bass guitar I hear?  The first three seconds of "Seven Nation Army" pretty much set the tone that this record was going to take the band in directions they had never explored on a record.  This is their strongest collection of songs to date, and one of the greatest rock records ever recorded.  Oh, and Meg White.












Take a listen to "Seven Nation Army" and "Ball and Biscuit" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#26)

(#26, For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver)

I remember the first time I heard "Skinny Love" on the Paste Samplers in 2008, I thought it was the best song that Paste had ever included on their monthly mix, and I still think that today.  I didn't know until a few months later that the brainchild behind Bon Iver was named Justin Vernon, and that he recorded this entire album in Medford, WI.

I felt like a proud big brother the night he played Letterman for the first time, wearing a Wisconsin Badgers shirt.

Though the band's future plans are uncertain, this record still holds up, and will always be a favorite of mine.




Take a listen to "Flume" and "Skinny Love" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#27)

(#27, From the Cradle by Eric Clapton)

You probably wouldn't guess that this was Eric Clapton's first all blues album.  What also makes this album unique is that it is technically a live recording.  These tracks, with the exception to "Motherless Child" were recorded live, and were not tracked in the traditional sense.  When I started making this list, I came back to this record, to see if I liked it as much as I did 20 years ago, and it turns out I do.  Considering there's really not a lot of blues on this list, for this to rank #27 says a lot about how I feel about this recording.







Take a listen to "Five Long Years" and "I'm Tore Down" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#28)

(#28, An Innocent Man by Billy Joel)

The first cassette I ever owned, and still my favorite Christmas present from childhood.  There is not a single record I've listened to more in my life.  I have mixed emotions about this being #28.  At first, I feel sad that it's not #1.  The truth is, it's actually my 5th favorite Billy Joel album.  But the more I think about it, I smile knowing how much great music I've been exposed to since 1994, which is the year my musical tastes exploded all over the map.  I don't like this album any less than I did 31 years ago, I've just acquired so many more taste buds.  Don't be fooled by the rankings.  This is an all time favorite of mine, and is currently my daughter Annika's favorite album.




Listen to Billy Joel talk about recording this record, and check out "The Longest Time" and "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#29)

(#29, Gordon by Barenaked Ladies)

... or as I sometimes refer to it as, The Pepsi Record.    This is my kind of pop music, and in my opinion, one of the greatest debut albums of all time.  Come on BNL. Give Mr Page a call.  Vince called Hogan. Elvis Costello was welcome back to SNL.  David Lee Roth recorded with Van Halen again.  Make this happen ...











Here is "Be My Yoko Ono" and "Box Set" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#30)

(#30, King of America by The Costello Show)

This is Declan MacManus at his very best.  I've stated this a few times, I'll say it again.  Billy Joel, musically, is my oldest friend, but Elvis Costello has grown to become my best friend.













Here is "Brilliant Mistake" and "Indoor Fireworks" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#31)

(#31, Tim by The Replacements)

Todd Kemper gets 100% credit for exposing me to this band.  This is rock n roll at it's finest.  Another must vinyl purchase down the road.
















Here is "I'll Buy" and "Bastards of Young" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#32)

(#32, Maroon by Barenaked Ladies)

You bring Steven Page back, and you have the makings of my favorite modern pop band.  Without him, it's not the same.  This album, every single note of it, is sonic bliss, and catchier than all hell.














Take a listen to "Too Little Too Late" and "Conventioneers" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#33)

(#33, MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana)

Still remember watching this when it premiered. Chilling.  And then watching it again the day after Kurt Cobain died.  Surreal.   This is the standard bearer for all MTV Unplugged episodes.















Take a listen to "Lake of Fire" and "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#34)

(#34, Bee Thousand by Guided By Voices)

This is where Todd Kemper tries to get the government to shut down my blog because he thinks I've ranked this too low.  We've had the Bee Thousand / Alien Lanes conversation for over ten years now.  This is historically great, but Alien Lanes is slightly better, because Alien Lanes doesn't have "Kicker of Elves" on it.  That particular 64 seconds cost this album a top 20 spot all time.  The rest of it is brilliant.

By the way, hold your tongue and try to say "Pete Townshend" ...









Here is "Tractor Rape Chain" and "Hot Freaks" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#35)

(#35, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player by Elton John)

The early to mid 70s Elton John albums are my favorite era of records by one artist ever.  This is as close to perfect in every way possible.  The music is great, the storytelling is some of Taupin's best, and this is the album that Elton came into his own vocally.  This is a MUST vinyl purchase.











Take a listen to "Elderberry Wine" and "Have Mercy on the Criminal" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#36)

(#36, Songs in the Attic by Billy Joel)

This may be #36 on my list of all time favorite albums, but this is the album I've listened to the most all time on 8-track.  A genius idea of a recording, Billy Joel released an album of live versions of songs that were on his first four albums, songs that were primarily recorded with session musicians.  These versions feature the band that would back Billy Joel for the better part of 15 years back in the mid to late 70s and most of the 80s.  I heard many of these songs for the first time hearing this album.   This is his best album that features live recordings, by far.







Take a listen to "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" and "Los Angelenos" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#37)

(#37, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner by Ben Folds Five)

Immediately after hearing Ben Folds Five cover of "Barrytown" on the Me, Myself and Irene soundtrack, I ran to the Circuit City to buy this.  Became a fan instantly, and spent the next two years listening to this band, almost every night.   This was their last record, until they reunited 12 years later for a short tour a new record.   Ben Folds has become a favorite of mine over the years.









Here is "Magic" and "Army" ...

newgazzi Vol 22

We had a lot of fun making this one for you this month.  Sequencing provided by the lovely and talented Heather Heisler, the future Mrs newgazzi!

Track #1 ("Why Not" by Anna Vogelzang)
Hear the entire EP, "Driftless" at Anna's bandcamp page.  It's fantastic!




Track #2 ("Hope Springs" by Wilder Maker)
The very last song we picked for this month's playlist.




Track #3 ("Looped" by Kiasmos)
There is a 2 and a half hour version of this song looping on YouTube!  Sexy!!




Track #4 ("Sweet Ophelia" by Zella Day)
Also featured on Paste recently.




Track #5 ("All the Other Girls" by Avid Dancer)
A favorite of mine (Joey's) this month.




Track #6 ("Kansas City" by The New Basement Tapes)
This generation's Traveling Wilburys?




Track #7 ("Half Crazy" by The Barr Brothers)
Was under consideration for newgazzi Vol 21, but we felt it fit better here.  Great song.




Track #8 ("I'll Make Time For You" by Kristin Diable)
The first 2015 song on newgazzi!

Hear it here !


Track #9 ("Home (Leave the Lights On) by Field Report)
Milwaukee's Very Own !!




Track #10 ("Platinum Girls" by Diarrhea Planet)
My daughter laughs at the band name.  So do I, who am I kidding ...




Track #11 ("Gloria" by Celestial Shore)
From one of my favorite albums of 2014 ...




Track #12 ("Wonderful Things" by Ryan Corn)
Found this on Antenna Sampler.  Very good ...




Track #13 ("Quartz" by TV on the Radio)
Another great 2014 album.  I need to give Return to Cookie Mountain another chance.




Track #14 ("Let It Go" by Saint Saviour)
Not the one all us parents hate.




Track #15 ("Who Are You Waiting For" by Melissa Etheridge)
If I didn't listen to Howard Stern in the morning, I wouldn't be aware this was out.




Thank you so much for reading newgazzi.  Starting on January 1st, 2015, all your favorite newgazzi content can be found exclusively on Facebook.  "Like" newgazzi today on Facebook and you will get your monthly newgazzi playlist and much more pop culture nonsense!

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#38)

(#38, Meet the Beatles! by The Beatles)

I think James Robert Buchholz is smiling down on Belgium, WI this morning.  This album served as an introduction to The Beatles for many Americans, as this was their first release on Capitol Records.













Here is "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Little Child" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#39)

(#39, Reckoning by R.E.M.)

Their best album, could listen to this all day, every day, but I won't, because as much as I love this record, there are 38 albums I love just a little bit more ...














Take a listen to "South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" and "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#40)

(#40, River of Dreams by Billy Joel)

I had no idea at the time that this would be his last album, and if he never changes his mind, and this winds up being the last album he gave us, he ended with a bang.  Each side of the record has a different feel.  The first side, he's angry.  It's edgy.  It's fantastic.  On the second side, Joel sounds like he's accepted what he's angry about, and while the edge is not there, the songs still work.  Great, great album that I can't get enough of.









Take a listen to "No Man's Land" and "Two Thousand Years" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#41)

(#41, Before These Crowded Streets by Dave Matthews Band)

The songs are a bit darker, but in my opinion, this is Dave Matthews and his band at their very best. The music is very powerful, and the lyrics here are some of Dave Matthews' most personal.  A 71 minute record really needs to be good for me to put it this high on the list, and this is indeed the goods.











Take a listen to "Rapunzel" and "Halloween" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#42)

(#42, Wildflowers by Tom Petty)

The Heartbreakers play on this record, but more as session musicians, for this is a Tom Petty/Rick Rubin brainchild.  This album has everything.  Hard rockers, slow songs that aren't sappy, and everything else in between.  This is his magnum opus.













Here is "Honey Bee" and "To Find a Friend" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#43)

(#43, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane by Elvis Costello)

Perhaps my daughter's favorite album ever.  The music here is some of Costello's best, and damn I love the songs.  I simply have to pick this up on vinyl.














Take a listen to "Down Among the Wines and Spirits" and "My All Time Doll" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#44)

(#44, Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin)

Simply put, one of the greatest hard rock albums of all time, perhaps the greatest, depending on your definition of "hard rock".  42 minutes, very well spent ...















Here is "Black Dog" and "Going to California" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#45)

(#45, I Hate You.  You Always Do This.  by Union Pulse)

Perhaps the greatest album title on this list.  And I'm noticing for the first time today the comma.  James, if you're reading this, shed some light on how you came up with the title of the record.  As for the rest of you, it's time to pony up $9.90 plus tax and buy this on iTunes.












Here is "Do You Wanna Be Right, or Do You Wanna Be Happy?" and "Walking Home Again" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#46)

(#46, Trust by Elvis Costello and the Attractions)

This album really doesn't have any what you would call "signature" Elvis Costello songs, but in my opinion, as a whole, it's one of his finest accomplishments.  Costello calls it "the most drug-influcenced record of my career".  Nevertheless, it is a gem.











Here is "Strict Time" and "Shot With His Own Gun" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#47)

(#47, Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet)

I don't remember exactly where and when I heard this, but I do remember hearing Billy Joel say that this is one of his favorite albums.  Curiosity soon killed my cat, and I had to hear it for myself.  I was instantly hooked.  As I get older, my appreciation for jazz grows and grows, and of all the jazz records I've given time to over the years, this is still my favorite.









Take a listen to "Blue Rondo a la Turk" and "Take Five" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#48)

(#48, Murmur by R.E.M.)

Another album that took me a while to like, because of the quality (or lack thereof) of the disc I owned.  I bought this used at Exclusive Company in the late 90s, and the disc looked like Abdullah the Butcher's forehead.  There's my Dennis Miller wrestling reference for the week.  This was one of the first albums I ended up buying on iTunes about 10 years ago, and a whole new love affair started with the album.










Take a listen to "Radio Free Europe" and "We Walk" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#49)

(#49, Made in England by Elton John)

I've gone on record many times, saying Elton John was the greatest album artist of the 70s, and this album is his best album since the mid 70s, and he hasn't been able to touch it since.  Musically, this may be his best record ever.  I've listened to it hundreds of times, and it seems to get better with every listen.












Take a listen to "Made in England" and "Belfast" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#50)

(#50, Nevermind by Nirvana)

Back in high school, you had your Pearl Jam contingent, you had your Nirvana peeps, and of course, you had Greg Maternowski, waxing poetic about House of Pain.  I was in the Nirvana camp.  Oh, and Butch Vig's mustache.














Take a listen to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "In Bloom" ...