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Greg's "Critically acclaimed music that's actually good (in progress)"

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Often after hearing a work of recorded music that I’ve seen touted on countless "Best of the Year" or "Best of the Decade" or "Best Ever" lists, my reaction is: "Really? THIS is among the finest musicianship ever burned onto CD? ! ? !"

This list will attempt to encapsulate those that turn up often on "best ever" lists that I’ve discovered to be genuinely worthwhile. I’m skipping some of the more generally popular titles with the general public (no SGT. PEPPER for example) in the belief that the "average" person (i.e. someone who probably owns 100 or fewer CDs) will have already heard those.

Admittedly, what I consider to be "generally popular" is entirely subjective but I’ll explain the reasoning behind my picks with comments as I get time. Enjoy.

  1. 1.
    69 Love Songs 1
    by Magnetic Fields

  2. 2.
    3 Feet High & Rising
    by De La Soul

  3. 3.
    Age to Age
    by Amy Grant

  4. 4.
    American Recordings
    by Johnny Cash

  5. 5.
    American IV: The Man Comes Around
    by Johnny Cash

  6. 6.
    At Folsom Prison
    by Johnny Cash

  7. 7.
    Johnny Cash Live at San Quentin
    by Johnny Cash

  8. 8.
    Bellybutton
    by Jellyfish

  9. 9.
    Big Picture
    by Michael W Smith

  10. 10.
    Blood Sweat & Tears
    by Johnny Cash

  11. 11.
    Blue
    by Joni Mitchell

  12. 12.
    II
    by Boyz II Men

  13. 13.
    Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
    by Lucinda Williams

  14. 14.
    Chase the Kangaroo

  15. 15.
    Child Is Father to the Man (Exp)
    by Blood Sweat & Tears

  16. 16.
    Circle Slide
    by The Choir

  17. 17.
    Confessions
    by Usher

  18. 18.
    Copper Blue
    by Sugar

  19. 19.
    Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws
    by Bruce Cockburn

  20. 20.
    Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
    by Elton John

  21. 21.
    Drum Hat Buddha
    by Dave Carter

  22. 22.
    Dusty in Memphis
    by Dusty Springfield

  23. 23.
    East Side Story
    by Squeeze

  24. 24.
    Eldorado
    by Elo

  25. 25.
    Every Picture Tells a Story
    by Rod Stewart

  26. 26.
    Elvis Presley
    by Elvis Presley

  27. 27.
    Farmhouse
    by Phish

  28. 28.
    Fashion Nugget
    by Cake

  29. 29.
    Fear of a Black Planet
    by Public Enemy

  30. 30.
    Flood
    by They Might Be Giants

  31. 31.
    Forever Changes
    by Love

  32. 32.
    Freak Out
    by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

  33. 33.
    GP / Grievous Angel
    by Gram Parsons

  34. 34.
    Headhunters
    by Herbie Hancock

  35. 35.
    Headquarters
    by Monkees

  36. 36.
    Heavy Weather
    by Weather Report

  37. 37.
    Highway 61 Revisited (Reis)
    by Bob Dylan

  38. 38.
    Humans (Dlx)
    by Bruce Cockburn

  39. 39.
    Hollywood Town Hall
    by Jayhawks

  40. 40.
    I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
    by Aretha Franklin

  41. 41.
    ?
    In Another Land

  42. 42.
    In the Court of the Crimson King
    by King Crimson

  43. 43.
    In the Wee Small Hours
    by Frank Sinatra

  44. 44.
    Ingenue
    by K.D. Lang

  45. 45.
    Innervisions
    by Stevie Wonder

  46. 46.
    It Takes a Nation of Millions
    by Public Enemy

  47. 47.
    It's a Beautiful Day
    by It's a Beautiful Day

  48. 48.
    It's a Shame About Ray
    by Lemonheads

  49. 49.
    Jordan's Sister
    by Kendall Payne

  50. 50.
    Journeyman
    by Eric Clapton

  51. 51.
    Kiko
    by Los Lobos

  52. 52.
    King of Fools
    by Delirious?

  53. 53.
    The Village Green Preservation Society
    by Kinks

  54. 54.
    Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
    by Spiritualized

  55. 55.
    Lead Me on
    by Amy Grant

  56. 56.
    Led Zeppelin III
    by Led Zeppelin

  57. 57.
    Licensed to Ill
    by Beastie Boys

  58. 58.
    Life's Rich Pageant

  59. 59.
    Live at the Apollo 1962
    by James Brown

  60. 60.
    London Calling
    by The Clash

  61. 61.
    Long Way From Paradise

  62. 62.
    LOVE LIFE
    by Charlie Peacock

  63. 63.
    Maggot Brain
    by Funkadelic

  64. 64.
    The Man Who
    by Travis

  65. 65.
    Marc Cohn
    by Marc Cohn

  66. 66.
    Marquee Moon (Dig)
    by Television

  67. 67.
    Marshall Crenshaw (Dlx)
    by Marshall Crenshaw

  68. 68.
    Meltdown

  69. 69.
    More Power to Ya
    by Petra

  70. 70.
    My Aim Is True (With Bonus Disc)
    by Elvis Costello

  71. 71.
    Nick of Time
    by Bonnie Raitt

  72. 72.
    Nilsson Schmilsson
    by Harry Nilsson

  73. 73.
    Nu Nation Project
    by Kirk Franklin

  74. 74.
    O Brother, Where Art Thou?
    by Various Artists

  75. 75.
    Odessey and Oracle
    by The Zombies

  76. 76.
    Only Visiting This Planet

  77. 77.
    Oranges & Lemons
    by Xtc

  78. 78.
    Our Endless Numbered Days
    by Iron & Wine

  79. 79.
    Out of the Grey
    by Out of the Grey

  80. 80.
    Parachutes
    by Coldplay

  81. 81.
    Parallel Lines
    by Blondie

  82. 82.
    Parklife
    by Blur

  83. 83.
    Perfectly Good Guitar
    by John Hiatt

  84. 84.
    Ziggy Stardust
    by David Bowie

  85. 85.
    Scarecrow (Rpkg)
    by John Mellencamp

  86. 86.
    Skylarking
    by Xtc

  87. 87.
    Soft Bulletin
    by Flaming Lips

  88. 88.
    Something / Anything
    by Todd Rundgren

  89. 89.
    Speechless
    by Steven Curtis Chapman

  90. 90.
    Stand
    by Sly & Family Stone

  91. 91.
    Stardust
    by Willie Nelson

  92. 92.
    Steady On
    by Shawn Colvin

  93. 93.
    Stones in the Road
    by Mary Chapin Carpenter

  94. 94.
    Sunflower
    by Beach Boys

  95. 95.
    Sweetheart of the Rodeo
    by Byrds

  96. 96.
    Take 6
    by Various Artists

  97. 97.
    Tanglewood Tree
    by Tracy Grammer

  98. 98.
    Temple of Low Men
    by Crowded House

  99. 99.
    Ten Songs by Adam Again

  100. 100.
    This Beautiful Mess
    by Sixpence None the Richer

  101. 101.
    Time (The Revelator)
    by Gillian Welch

  102. 102.
    Time Out
    by Dave Brubeck

  103. 103.
    Beach Boys Today
    by Beach Boys

  104. 104.
    Tracy Chapman
    by Tracy Chapman

  105. 105.
    Turning
    by Sam Phillips

  106. 106.
    Velvet Underground & Nico
    by Velvet Underground

  107. 107.
    Violator (Deluxe Edition CD+DVD)
    by Depeche Mode

  108. 108.
    Welcome to Paradise

  109. 109.
    Whatever
    by Aimee Mann

  110. 110.
    The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume 1
    by Rich Mullins

  111. 111.
    Woven & Spun
    by Nichole Nordeman

  112. 112.
    Songs for Swingin Lovers
    by Frank Sinatra

  113. 113.
    The Genius of Ray Charles
    by Ray Charles

  114. 114.
    Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music
    by Ray Charles

  115. 115.
    Bringing It All Back Home (Reis)
    by Bob Dylan

  116. 116.
    Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
    by Simon & Garfunkel

  117. 117.
    Disraeli Gears
    by Cream

  118. 118.
    Something Else By the Kinks
    by Kinks

  119. 119.
    Lady Soul
    by Aretha Franklin

  120. 120.
    Music From Big Pink
    by The Band

  121. 121.
    Layla
    by Derek & Dominos

  122. 122.
    Plastic Ono Band
    by John Lennon

  123. 123.
    Paranoid
    by Black Sabbath

  124. 124.
    Deja Vu
    by Crosby Stills Nash & Young

  125. 125.
    After the Gold Rush
    by Neil Young

  126. 126.
    Bridge over Troubled Water
    by Simon & Garfunkel

  127. 127.
    Madman Across the Water
    by Elton John

  128. 128.
    Can't Buy a Thrill
    by Steely Dan

  129. 129.
    Harvest
    by Neil Young

  130. 130.
    Talking Book
    by Stevie Wonder

  131. 131.
    Paul Simon
    by Paul Simon

  132. 132.
    Head Hunters
    by Herbie Hancock

  133. 133.
    Steely Dan Countdown To Ecstasy
    by Steely Dan

  134. 134.
    Tres Hombres
    by Zz Top

  135. 135.
    461 Ocean Boulevard
    by Eric Clapton

  136. 136.
    Pretzel Logic
    by Steely Dan

  137. 137.
    Grievous Angel
    by Gram Parsons

  138. 138.
    Red Headed Stranger
    by Willie Nelson

  139. 139.
    Hotel California
    by Eagles

  140. 140.
    Songs in the Key of Life
    by Stevie Wonder

  141. 141.
    The Stranger
    by Billy Joel

  142. 142.
    The Clash (UK Version)
    by The Clash

  143. 143.
    Aja
    by Steely Dan

  144. 144.
    Pacific Ocean Blue
    by Dennis Wilson

  145. 145.
    Bat Out of Hell
    by Meat Loaf

  146. 146.
    Off the Wall (Spec)
    by Michael Jackson

  147. 147.
    Moving Pictures
    by Rush

  148. 148.
    The Nightfly
    by Donald Fagen

  149. 149.
    She's So Unusual
    by Cyndi Lauper

  150. 150.
    War
    by U2

  151. 151.
    Run Dmc
    by Run Dmc

  152. 152.
    Songs From the Big Chair
    by Tears for Fears

  153. 153.
    Trio
    by Dolly Parton

  154. 154.
    Faith
    by George Michael

  155. 155.
    Actually
    by Pet Shop Boys

  156. 156.
    Technique
    by New Order

  157. 157.
    Like a Prayer
    by Madonna

  158. 158.
    Disintegration
    by Cure

  159. 159.
    Violator by Depeche Mode (1990)
    by Depeche Mode

  160. 160.
    Mama Said Knock You Out
    by Ll Cool J

  161. 161.
    Little Earthquakes
    by Tori Amos

  162. 162.
    Modern Life Is Rubbish
    by Blur

  163. 163.
    Tuesday Night Music Club
    by Sheryl Crow

  164. 164.
    Crazysexycool
    by Tlc

  165. 165.
    (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
    by Oasis

  166. 166.
    Jagged Little Pill
    by Alanis Morissette

  167. 167.
    Beautiful Freak
    by Eels

  168. 168.
    Murder Ballads
    by Nick Cave

  169. 169.
    The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
    by Lauryn Hill

  170. 170.
    Californication
    by Red Hot Chili Peppers

  171. 171.
    Gold
    by Ryan Adams

  172. 172.
    Power in Numbers
    by Jurassic 5

  173. 173.
    Come Away With Me
    by Norah Jones

  174. 174.
    Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
    by The Flaming Lips

  175. 175.
    Stripped
    by Christina Aguilera

  176. 176.
    Elephant
    by White Stripes

  177. 177.
    Get Behind Me Satan
    by The White Stripes

  178. 178.
    Ta-Dah
    by Scissor Sisters

  179. 179.
    Scissor Sisters
    by Scissor Sisters

  180. 180.
    No Depression
    by Uncle Tupelo

  181. 181.
    Faithless Street
    by Whiskeytown

  182. 182.
    Love Scenes
    by Diana Krall

  183. 183.
    Hazel & Alice
    by Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard

  184. 184.
    In Search of
    by N.E.R.D.

  185. 185.
    Wooden Leather
    by Nappy Roots

  186. 186.
    Down to the Moon
    by Andreas Vollenweider

  187. 187.
    Permanent Waves
    by Rush

  188. 188.
    Incredible Jazz Guitar
    by Wes Montgomery

  189. 189.
    Ask the Ages
    by Sonny Sharrock

  190. 190.
    Boy With the Arab Strap
    by Belle & Sebastian

  191. 191.
    Bang Bang Rock & Roll
    by Art Brut

  192. 192.
    Modern Times
    by Bob Dylan

  193. 193.
    Stadium Arcadium
    by Red Hot Chili Peppers

  194. 194.
    Continuum
    by John Mayer

  195. 195.
    Whatever People Say I Am Thats What I Am Not
    by Arctic Monkeys

  196. 196.
    The Black Parade
    by My Chemical Romance

  197. 197.
    Broken Boy Soldiers
    by The Raconteurs

  198. 198.
    Friendly Fire (CD+DVD)
    by Sean Lennon

  199. 199.
    Extraordinary Machine
    by Fiona Apple

  200. 200.
    I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
    by Bright Eyes

  201. 201.
    I've Got My Own Hell to Raise
    by Bettye LaVette

  202. 202.
    X&Y
    by Coldplay

  203. 203.
    Plans
    by Death Cab for Cutie

  204. 204.
    There's More Where That Came From
    by Lee Ann Womack

  205. 205.
    Employment
    by Kaiser Chiefs

  206. 206.
    Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
    by Paul Mccartney

  207. 207.
    Give Up
    by Postal Service

  208. 208.
    Exile in Guyville
    by Liz Phair

  209. 209.
    Girlfriend
    by Matthew Sweet

  210. 210.
    Out of Time
    by Rem

  211. 211.
    "Love and Theft"

  212. 212.
    Her Majesty the Decemberists
    by The Decemberists

  213. 213.
    Young, Gifted and Black
    by Aretha Franklin

  214. 214.
    What's the 411
    by Mary J Blige

  215. 215.
    Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
    by Sarah Mclachlan

  216. 216.
    Fly
    by Dixie Chicks

  217. 217.
    Ropin the Wind
    by Garth Brooks

  218. 218.
    No Fences
    by Garth Brooks

  219. 219.
    Always on My Mind
    by Willie Nelson

  220. 220.
    Summer Days
    by Beach Boys

  221. 221.
    Psonic Psunspot

  222. 222.
    Shoot Out the Lights
    by Richard Thompson & Linda

This is Greg's list. Only Greg can edit it. You can make your own version of this list.
Created by Greg on Jun 16, 2006.
 

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