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Desert Island Discs

(alpha order)

One of the most common questions in music discussions: If you were marooned on a desert island by yourself with nothing but food, water, and a working CD player, which CDs would you want with you if you had to choose just a few? [Limit commercial discs, no compilation albums.]

American Idiot, Green Day

Long live "punk rock opera"!

Bleed American, Jimmy Eat World

An outstanding album from a band that I was a little shocked ever made it to the big dance.

The Bliss Album...?, P.M. Dawn

A psychadelic blend of alt hip-hop and soul, this is one of my favorite hip-hop albums. Some beautiful love songs on this disc -- perhaps I'd just be re-inforcing my island loneliness.

Chrome, The Catherine Wheel

While CW's best songs are arguably on other albums, there's something special about Chrome as a whole. The album plays through like some sort of dream, and it's a perfect transition from The Wheel's early dreampop days to more of a hard rock sound towards the middle of its career.

Cure for Pain, Morphine

If you think that all rock music sounds the same, then I urge you to check out Morphine. The band is composed of standard rock drums, saxophone (instead of guitar), a two-string fretless bass, and a crooner on vocals. The band often jokingly classified themselves as "implied grunge."

Darkest Days, Stabbing Westward

This album is the only real question mark of the bunch. It is not a question of whether or not I like Darkest Days enough -- I'd have to say it's on my top 10 list -- but it is one of the most depressing records I've ever heard. So the real question is, if I was stranded by myself on a desert island, would I want to risk dragging myself into further misery by listening to this?

Diary, Sunny Day Real Estate

Often classified as emo. Not sure I agree, but I do agree that Sunny Day's lyrics are poetry in motion. And it has one of the coolest album covers to boot.

Dirt, Alice in Chains

An album that changed my life -- it's one of the reasons that I started listening to music.

Gorillaz, Gorillaz

Several famous music artists give their props and have said it's like this album invented a genre called "trip-pop." No one has ever blended pop-rock and hip-hop better. No one.

The Great Escape, Blur

Brit-pop at its best. Enough said.

Ling, Seed

One of those under-the-radar rock bands of the 90's that got lost in the metal vs. grunge war. Excellent unconventional song writing and a lot of vocal harmonies. Fretless bass is cool, too.

Loveless, My Bloody Valentine

Experimental music that really works! No, really!

Magazine, Jump, Little Children

Different. Runs the spectrum of emotions. "Cathedrals" may be one of the best ballads ever.

Mental Jewelry, Līve

Chock-full of Tribal American philosophy, this is one of my favorite albums on a lyrical basis.

Nevermind, Nirvana

Although Nevermind is not my favorite Nirvana album, the nostalgia and personal connection factors would be too great to even consider choosing one of their other discs over this one.

No Need to Argue, Cranberries

The Cranberries just might be the greatest [pure] pop group of the modern [music] era.

Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins

I have no idea why I like this album so much; I just do.

Split, Lush

A dream pop/space rock album that is a cut above the rest with its gorgeous vocal harmonies.

Supercoat, Solid Frog

A terribly underappreciated local band, this is what rock should have evolved into post-Grunge.

Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan

The definition of bittersweet, this is one of the most beautiful discs I've ever heard.

Synchronicity, The Police

Another example of pure pop music that rises above all the garbage.

Take This to Your Grave, Fall Out Boy

Just a great rock album from top to bottom.

Ten Summoner's Tales, Sting

My favorite concept album of all time.

Viva! La Woman, Cibo Matto

Whacky and fun. A "throwback" to the days when music didn't take itself too seriously and when hip-hop was still creative. Sounds like nothing else that came before or after it.

White Pony, Deftones

One of my favorite discs to listen to for venting -- I imagine that if I were trapped on this proverbial desert island, I would need something like this more often than not.

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