Littlebear

We would have got several choices in common (Randy Newman, Judee Sill, Fairport Convention, Scott Walker...) They weren't in my top 20, but easily in my Top 100

None of mine did.

Well, not to offend Hardwood Floor's tastes, but personally, I don't think Matt Keating is a big deal. I know two albums of him, the two released before the new one, and they're just okay. Now so far I really didn't find anything extraordinary this year. Bad luck, I guess. But Sam Phillips' Don't Do Anything is really good.

I'm afraid that as early as the first one I find myself in disagreement... The Sinatra one that everyone should listen to, is Where Are You? At least for the pop fan, which I think basically most of us are. What is unforgettable on Where Are You? is the sound of Frank's voice with the strings of Gordon Jenkins. It's really impressive, the beauty is immediate and pure, and all the romantic souls will swoon. The Wee Small Hours is fine, it's the first concept album as a full LP, I think. That may be why it's considered historically important. Glad to see they didn't forget Jacques Brel's Ol

my favourite music from 1969: arghaghableureuharghbleleblehheeh

All your lists suck. (I also have a great sense of humor)

Sam Phillips' Don't Do Anything is really good.

You meant the other way around, right? Good picks, by the way, Mr Rain. Who's your avatar (if I may ask)?

Can't do it for the 50's: I don't have an album for each year of that decade. Those were still the times of singles and EPs.

60's: Shirley Collins - False True Lovers (60) Patsy Cline - Showcase (61) Anita Carter - Sings Folk Songs Old & New (62) Skeeter Davis - The End of the World (63) ...presenting the Fabulous Ronettes ~ featuring Veronica (64) Dionne Warwick - Here I Am (65) Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las (66) Sylvie Vartan - "2'35 de bonheur" (67) Bobbie Gentry - The Delta Sweete (68) Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking (69)

00's: Laura Cantrell - Not the Tremblin' Kind (00) Jenifer Jackson - Birds (01) Patty Griffin - 1000 Kisses (02) Amy Allison - No Frills Friend (03) Sam Phillips - A Boot & a Shoe (04) Rachel Ries - For You Only (05) Niobe - White Hats (06) Kristin Hersh - Learn to Sing Like a Star (07) ...why are women always the best?

90's: Robin Holcomb - Robin Holcomb (90) Kelly Willis - Bang Bang (91) Joy White - Between Midnight & Hindsight (92) The Pastels - Truckload of Trouble (93) Iris DeMent - My Life (94) Dar Williams - The Honesty Room (95) Amy Rigby - Diary of a Mod Housewife (96) Jill Sobule - Happy Town (97) Shaver - Victory (98) Ron Sexsmith - Whereabouts (99)

70's: Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon (70) Karen Dalton - In My Own Time (71) Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (72) Judee Sill - Heart Food (73) Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece (74) Jackie DeShannon - New Arrangement (75) Maddy Prior & June Tabor - Silly Sisters (76) Blondie - Plastic Letters (77) Steve Young - No Place to Fall (78) The B-52's - The B-52's (79)

That's the best way to set a list of favorites in my opinion.

The Roches - Nurds (1980) The Gun Club - Fire of Love (1981) Liliput - Liliput (1982) X - More Fun in the New World (1983) Shonen Knife - Yama-no Attchan (1984) The Velvet Underground - VU (1985) Loudon Wainwright III - More Love Songs (1986) The Jesus & Mary Chain - Darklands (1987) Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams (1988) Pixies - Doolittle (1989) Video Bonus: 80s French specialty http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=BfU4f64N7sY

You said: One of my primary criteria as I was trying to whittle down my list was balancing the greatness of the album, with 1) time and place it was released, what context it came from released in the middle of the 70's, BOTT surprised and impressed everybody 2) what it enabled other performers to do in its wake every album of divorce or heartbroken stories has to be up to BOTT since 3) it's lasting power upon continually listenings see what another guy is saying above Let me forward this to you, something I've read on another forum: I once took a class called "Sociology of

Blood on the Tracks fits as much with your criteria as the other albums you mention, minus your personal biases.

Good call. One of my favourite punk bands. Stop kidding me with U2 anyone.

I see you have nothing for 1981. So let me suggest Fire Of Love by The Gun Club to you. If you've never heard that, you may be stunned. Simply put, it's the best rock album of all time, along with the Stooges' Raw Power. Other gems of 1981: The Cramps' Psychedelic Jungle and The Undertones' Positive Touch.

My first purchase was the second BFF album when it was released in 1997. I liked it then. I also purchased the foolow up in 1999. I found it good, too. And after a while, I thought both weren't that good. And I rather think Ben Folds is overrated actually. At least, Ron Sexsmith is far better, as well as Rufus Wainwright, Josh Rouse, Joe Pisapia, Jeff Tweedy...

The funny thing to think is that the way he played then, would see him defeated as early as the first round of any tournament today. He wouldn't even win a female tournament. Venus Williams would have kicked his ass.

For my pleasure and hopefully yours, a reminding of how Tsonga defeated Nadal in Australia (semi-final 2008): http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=d6xzq7oOdW8

I loved tennis since like forever. I grew up watching Borg, Vilas, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, etc... I played tennis myself a lot (from 12 to about 20). I never ceased to follow how tennis evolved since. And it evolved a lot. Watching Federer and Nadal play today is amazing. Tennis looks like ping pong now! I also was curious enough to watch older matches on YouTube, with Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe... and they were amazing as well. I wish I could see how Bill Tilden was playing, too. He certainly was a kind of giant of his times. And the French mousquetaires. A few playe

As of today, I definitely disagree with me here. My lastest row of listens put Sweetheart of the Rodeo far ahead. I think it's definitive. It's not a matter of preferring country music to folk-rock or jangle pop, it's just that the Byrds songs have more power in this country setting. All the previous albums sound too formulaic and artificial in comparison. Their folk-rock formula was nice, but that's it.

I never had the joy to see her live, but have an idea of how her shows look and sound like, after I purchased a rare DVD of a show she did in Pittsburgh in 2003. She's really attaching and personal, she makes me laugh and can also move me to tears. I share her love for sweet pop hooks and heartbreaking, naked ballads. Her voice can sound too cute at first, but is actually more mature and affecting than we think. She wrote a song about Bobbie Gentry lately, I hope it'll be on her next album. I have all of her CDs (six). It's fun to be on her newsletter. There's also her site when you can read h