OK, picking this list was really hard.  I thought it would be easier if I did 50 and Keen did 50 since he leans towards classic and metal rock and I’m an alternative girl, but our tastes overlap so I thought that would be a really good cross-section of everything we like, right?  However, first, I suck at ranking anything.  I’ve never been one to have “an absolute favorite” in anything; I’ve always had groups of favorites, so trying to order this list was pure torture.  Please don’t think the numbers mean anything here (except maybe the top fifteen).  Second, when you only pick 50, instead of 100, then you have to trim out bands you would normally include (duh, wg).  Third, remember how I said this might turn into a massive CD organization project?  Well, it was worse than I thought.  We seriously need a new cabinet/system/labeling/something-or-other.  Some albums I know we have but I couldn’t find.  (WTF?)  And that doesn’t include the albums on audio cassette I was trying to find because they are favorite albums – even though I haven’t gotten CD copies yet (slacker).  Sadly, I even have a pile of new artists I’ve bought in the last year or two that I haven’t even opened.  (What?  I’m a mom.)  Fourth, I don’t know if Keen is actually going to do his list.  He’s talked about it, but he’s been very absorbed in Sudoku puzzles lately.

So here are the guidelines (copied from everyone else’s blogs):

  • One album per artist.  – Keen has already nixed this rule, as how can anyone not have at least two Led Zeppelin albums in their top ten?
  • No greatest hits packages, compilations, or boxed sets. – This one might get stretched a little.
  • No artists that would make me look hip or cool.  – I seriously don’t even know what this means. Can someone give me an example?
  • I must own the LP, CD, or cassette tape of every one of these entries. No mp3s.

Oh yeah, I actually have 60 albums and I know everyone did nice pictures and blurbs but… um… OK then!  I’ll stop talking now.            – wg

46. Oingo Boingo – Only a Lad / Best of Boingo 

I’m completely torn between these two albums which I listened to equally.  I would disregard the best of album but it’s SO GOOD.

47. Voice of the Beehives – Let It Bee

Never heard of them?  I loved this album.  It’s pop rock but sassy, full of spunk, and in a couple songs just tells it like it is (way before Alanis Morissette was doing it).

48. Modern English – After the Snow

We kicked off our wedding with “I Melt With You”

49. Jimi Hendrix – Kiss the Sky / Live at Winterland 

It’s Hendrix; how am I supposed to choose one?

50. Three Doors Down – The Better Life

51. 4 Non Blondes – Bigger, Better, Faster, More!

52. Janis Joplin –

Pearl

53. Prodigy – Fat of the Land

54. They Might Be Giants – Lincoln

55. George Thorogood & the Destroyers – self-titled

56. Love & Rockets – Earth Sun Moon

57. Primal Scream – Screamadelica

58. Toadies – Rubberneck

59. Rancid – And Out Come the Wolves

60. Eve 6 – Eve 6

Honorable mentions to the following because I only have them in greatest hits or compilation packages:  Joe Jackson, Ministry, Ramones, Art of Noise, This Are Two Tone, Boomtown Rats, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, David Bowie, Queen, Santana, Stray Cats, all the rest of my Blues, Ska, and punk albums.  Oh yeah, and Gershwin.  Rhapsody in Blue rocks.