Desert island albums

For no reason whatsoever, I finally sat down and chose my 10 desert island albums.

Since the very idea of a full album is forgotten by most twentysomethings and foreign to the teenyboppers, this is probably an irrelevant list. Plus, music tastes are very personal, so score one more point for Team Irrelevance.

Do you care about this list? Probably not. Will that stop me from typing it all out anyway? Well, since I trust your ability to glance down a few inches to the rest of this post, I suppose you know the answer to that one. Let’s just get through this quickly so I can get started on reconsidering the purpose of my stupid site and life.

By the way, I tried to rank these. Not possible.

Beatles “Abbey Road” (I ‘m not exactly a Beatles fanatic, but I certainly enjoy their music, and this album has my favorite song of theirs – “Something” – along with that incredible Side 2.)

The Decemberists “Castaways and Cutouts” (Much simpler, and superior, than their many still-awesome following albums. Hello serenity. Look at those beautiful waves. Am I ever going to get off this island? Don’t know, don’t care.)

The Flaming Lips “The Soft Bulletin” (I’ve always felt a kinship with writer Will Leitch – our shared opinions, experiences and personality quirks are too numerous/coincidental to mention – but I never agreed with him more than when he described it as “an album that is so wonderful and joyous and sad that it’s hard to listen to it.” Can’t say it any better than that.)

The Format “Dog Problems” (A bunch of bright sunny bouncy pop music. “Dog Problems” is probably my least favorite on this list, but I need an album like that on the island, and there is no better selection than this. Plus, it reminds me of being a jackass a few years back with my now-wife and our group of friends, so the memories recalled while listening will probably get me through some tough times on the island, and then probably drive me to suicide once I realize there is no help on its way.)

Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers” (Discovered the Stones in college. I realize “Exile” is considered their masterpiece, but “Exile” doesn’t have “Moonlight Mile” on it.)

White Stripes “Elephant” (Listening to “Ball and Biscuit” makes me want to run through a wall and beat the tar out of any and all naysayers. Fucking try me. “Elephant” is to date the only album I have listened to and immediately claimed, after the very first listen, “this is a classic.” I remember where I first heard it and who I was with (hi Gates). I had like $27 to my name when “Elephant” came out and I didn’t think twice about buying it. A few weeks later I got a speeding ticket and my mom had to pay it for me.)

Wilco “Summerteeth” (Wilco is and will probably forever be my favorite band. This is their take on pop music. It is stupendous.)

Wilco “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” (Perfection. If you’re one of those people whose heart breaks while listening to groundbreaking, beautiful music, your heart will explode during YHF. The mere mention of “Jesus Etc” makes me choke up a little.)

Stevie Wonder “Songs in the Key of Life” (“Innervisions” might be better. They’re neck-and-neck. I just knew I needed some Motown on this list, and this one keeps rising to the top.)

2Pac “All Eyez On Me” (A goddamn masterpiece. In my opinion, nothing in rap comes close. And this is coming from someone who grew up on Dre, Snoop and Biggie.)

—

Honorable mentions: Radiohead “The Bends,” Band of Horses “Cease to Begin,” Whiskeytown “Stranger’s Almanac,” The Flaming Lips “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” Replacements “Tim”