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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, Pt. 1
    by Magnetic Fields

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

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  3. 3.
    Age to Age
    by Amy Grant

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  4. 4.
    American Recordings
    by Johnny Cash

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

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  6. 6.
    At Folsom Prison
    by Johnny Cash

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  7. 7.
    At San Quentin (The Complete 1969 Concert)
    by Johnny Cash

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  8. 8.
    Bellybutton
    by Jellyfish

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  9. 9.
    The Big Picture
    by Michael W. Smith

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  10. 10.
    Blood Sweat & Tears
    by Johnny Cash

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  11. 11.
    Blue
    by Joni Mitchell

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  12. 12.
    II
    by Boyz II Men

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

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  14. 14.
    Chase the Kangaroo

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

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  16. 16.
    Circle Slide
    by The Choir

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  17. 17.
    Confessions
    by Usher

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  18. 18.
    Copper Blue
    by Sugar

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

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

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  21. 21.
    Drum Hat Buddha
    by Dave Carter

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  22. 22.
    Dusty in Memphis
    by Dusty Springfield

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  23. 23.
    East Side Story
    by Squeeze

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  24. 24.
    Eldorado
    by Electric Light Orchestra

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

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  26. 26.
    Elvis Presley
    by Elvis Presley

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  27. 27.
    Farmhouse
    by Phish

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  28. 28.
    Fashion Nugget
    by Cake

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  30. 30.
    Flood
    by They Might Be Giants

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  31. 31.
    Forever Changes
    by Love

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

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  33. 33.
    G.P./Grievous Angel
    by Gram Parsons

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  34. 34.
    Headhunters
    by Herbie Hancock

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  35. 35.
    Headquarters
    by The Monkees

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  36. 36.
    Heavy Weather
    by Weather Report

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  37. 37.
    Highway 61 Revisited
    by Bob Dylan

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  38. 38.
    Humans
    by Bruce Cockburn

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  39. 39.
    Hollywood Town Hall
    by Jayhawks

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

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  41. 41.
    ?
    In Another Land

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

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

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  44. 44.
    Ingénue
    by k.d. lang

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  45. 45.
    Innervisions
    by Stevie Wonder

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  46. 46.
    It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
    by Public Enemy

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

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

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  49. 49.
    Jordan's Sister
    by Kendall Payne

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  50. 50.
    Journeyman
    by Eric Clapton

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  51. 51.
    Kiko
    by Los Lobos

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  52. 52.
    King of Fools
    by Delirious?

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  53. 53.
    The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
    by The Kinks

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

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  55. 55.
    Lead Me On
    by Amy Grant

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  56. 56.
    Led Zeppelin III
    by Led Zeppelin

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  57. 57.
    Licensed to Ill
    by Beastie Boys

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  58. 58.
    Life's Rich Pageant

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  59. 59.
    Live at the Apollo
    by James Brown

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  60. 60.
    London Calling
    by The Clash

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  61. 61.
    Long Way From Paradise

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  62. 62.
    Love Life
    by Charlie Peacock

    Drag me to re-order


  63. 63.
    Maggot Brain
    by Funkadelic

    Drag me to re-order


  64. 64.
    The Man Who
    by Travis

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  65. 65.
    Marc Cohn
    by Marc Cohn

    Drag me to re-order


  66. 66.
    Marquee Moon
    by Television

    Drag me to re-order


  67. 67.
    Marshall Crenshaw
    by Marshall Crenshaw

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  68. 68.
    Meltdown
    by Steve Taylor

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  69. 69.
    More Power to Ya
    by Petra

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

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  71. 71.
    Nick of Time
    by Bonnie Raitt

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  72. 72.
    Nilsson Schmilsson
    by Harry Nilsson

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  73. 73.
    The Nu Nation Project
    by Kirk Franklin

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

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  75. 75.
    Odessey and Oracle
    by The Zombies

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  76. 76.
    Only Visiting This Planet

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  77. 77.
    Oranges & Lemons
    by XTC

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

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

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  80. 80.
    Parachutes
    by Coldplay

    Drag me to re-order


  81. 81.
    Parallel Lines
    by Blondie

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  82. 82.
    Parklife
    by Blur

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  83. 83.
    Perfectly Good Guitar
    by John Hiatt

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  84. 84.
    The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust
    by David Bowie

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  85. 85.
    Scarecrow
    by John Mellencamp

    Drag me to re-order


  86. 86.
    Skylarking
    by XTC

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  87. 87.
    The Soft Bulletin
    by The Flaming Lips

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  88. 88.
    Something/Anything?
    by Todd Rundgren

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  89. 89.
    Speechless
    by Steven Curtis Chapman

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  90. 90.
    Stand!
    by Sly & the Family Stone

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  91. 91.
    Stardust
    by Willie Nelson

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  92. 92.
    Steady On
    by Shawn Colvin

    Drag me to re-order


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

    Drag me to re-order


  94. 94.
    Sunflower
    by The Beach Boys

    Drag me to re-order


  95. 95.
    Sweetheart of the Rodeo
    by The Byrds

    Drag me to re-order


  96. 96.
    Take 6
    by Take 6

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  97. 97.
    Tanglewood Tree
    by Tracy Grammer

    Drag me to re-order


  98. 98.
    Temple of Low Men
    by Crowded House

    Drag me to re-order


  99. 99.
    Ten Songs by Adam Again

    Drag me to re-order


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

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  102. 102.
    Time Out
    by Dave Brubeck Quartet

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  103. 103.
    Today!
    by The Beach Boys

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  104. 104.
    Tracy Chapman
    by Tracy Chapman

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  105. 105.
    The Turning
    by Sam Phillips

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  106. 106.
    The Velvet Underground & Nico
    by The Velvet Underground

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

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  108. 108.
    Welcome to Paradise

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  109. 109.
    Whatever
    by Aimee Mann

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

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  111. 111.
    Woven & Spun
    by Nichole Nordeman

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  112. 112.
    Songs for Swingin' Lovers!
    by Frank Sinatra

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

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

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  115. 115.
    Bringing It All Back Home
    by Bob Dylan

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

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  117. 117.
    Disraeli Gears
    by Cream

    Drag me to re-order


  118. 118.
    Something Else by the Kinks
    by The Kinks

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  119. 119.
    Lady Soul
    by Aretha Franklin

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  120. 120.
    Music from Big Pink
    by The Band

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  121. 121.
    Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
    by Derek and the Dominos

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  122. 122.
    John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
    by John Lennon

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  123. 123.
    Paranoid
    by Black Sabbath

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

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  125. 125.
    After The Gold Rush
    by Neil Young

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  127. 127.
    Madman Across the Water
    by Elton John

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  129. 129.
    Harvest
    by Neil Young

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  130. 130.
    Talking Book
    by Stevie Wonder

    Drag me to re-order


  131. 131.
    Paul Simon
    by Paul Simon

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  132. 132.
    Head Hunters
    by Herbie Hancock

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  133. 133.
    Countdown To Ecstasy
    by Steely Dan

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  134. 134.
    Tres Hombres
    by ZZ Top

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  135. 135.
    461 Ocean Boulevard
    by Eric Clapton

    Drag me to re-order


  136. 136.
    Pretzel Logic
    by Steely Dan

    Drag me to re-order


  137. 137.
    Grievous Angel
    by Gram Parsons

    Drag me to re-order


  138. 138.
    Red Headed Stranger
    by Willie Nelson

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  139. 139.
    Hotel California
    by Eagles

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

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  141. 141.
    The Stranger
    by Billy Joel

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  142. 142.
    The Clash
    by The Clash

    Drag me to re-order


  143. 143.
    Aja
    by Steely Dan

    Drag me to re-order


  144. 144.
    Pacific Ocean Blue
    by Dennis Wilson

    Drag me to re-order


  145. 145.
    Bat out of Hell
    by Meat Loaf

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  146. 146.
    Off the Wall
    by Michael Jackson

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  147. 147.
    Moving Pictures
    by Rush

    Drag me to re-order


  148. 148.
    The Nightfly
    by Donald Fagen

    Drag me to re-order


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

    Drag me to re-order


  150. 150.
    War
    by U2

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  151. 151.
    Run-D.M.C.
    by Run-D.M.C.

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  152. 152.
    Songs from the Big Chair
    by Tears For Fears

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  153. 153.
    Trio
    by Dolly Parton

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  154. 154.
    Faith
    by George Michael

    Drag me to re-order


  155. 155.
    Actually
    by Pet Shop Boys

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  156. 156.
    Technique
    by New Order

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  157. 157.
    Like a Prayer
    by Madonna

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  158. 158.
    Disintegration
    by The Cure

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  159. 159.
    Violator
    by Depeche Mode

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

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  161. 161.
    Little Earthquakes
    by Tori Amos

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  162. 162.
    Modern Life Is Rubbish
    by Blur

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  163. 163.
    Tuesday Night Music Club
    by Sheryl Crow

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  164. 164.
    CrazySexyCool
    by TLC

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

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  166. 166.
    Jagged Little Pill
    by Alanis Morissette

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  167. 167.
    Beautiful Freak
    by Eels

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  168. 168.
    Murder Ballads
    by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

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

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  170. 170.
    Californication
    by Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Drag me to re-order


  171. 171.
    Gold
    by Ryan Adams

    Drag me to re-order


  172. 172.
    Power in Numbers
    by Jurassic 5

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  173. 173.
    Come Away with Me
    by Norah Jones

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  175. 175.
    Stripped
    by Christina Aguilera

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  176. 176.
    Elephant
    by The White Stripes

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  178. 178.
    Ta-Dah
    by Scissor Sisters

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  179. 179.
    Scissor Sisters
    by Scissor Sisters

    Drag me to re-order


  180. 180.
    No Depression
    by Uncle Tupelo

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  181. 181.
    Faithless Street
    by Whiskeytown

    Drag me to re-order


  182. 182.
    Love Scenes
    by Diana Krall

    Drag me to re-order


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

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

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  185. 185.
    Wooden Leather
    by Nappy Roots

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  186. 186.
    Down to the Moon
    by Andreas Vollenweider

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  187. 187.
    Permanent Waves
    by Rush

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  188. 188.
    The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
    by Wes Montgomery

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  189. 189.
    Ask the Ages
    by Sonny Sharrock

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  190. 190.
    The Boy with the Arab Strap
    by Belle & Sebastian

    Drag me to re-order


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

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  192. 192.
    Modern Times
    by Bob Dylan

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  193. 193.
    Stadium Arcadium
    by Red Hot Chili Peppers

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  194. 194.
    Continuum
    by John Mayer

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  195. 195.
    Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
    by Arctic Monkeys

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  196. 196.
    The Black Parade
    by My Chemical Romance

    Drag me to re-order


  197. 197.
    Broken Boy Soldiers
    by The Raconteurs

    Drag me to re-order


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

    Drag me to re-order


  199. 199.
    Extraordinary Machine
    by Fiona Apple

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

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

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  202. 202.
    X&Y
    by Coldplay

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  203. 203.
    Plans
    by Death Cab for Cutie

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

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  205. 205.
    Employment
    by Kaiser Chiefs

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  206. 206.
    Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
    by Paul McCartney

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  207. 207.
    Give Up
    by The Postal Service

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  208. 208.
    Exile in Guyville
    by Liz Phair

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  209. 209.
    Girlfriend
    by Matthew Sweet

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  210. 210.
    Out of Time
    by R.E.M.

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  211. 211.
    "Love and Theft"

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  212. 212.
    Her Majesty
    by The Decemberists

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

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

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  215. 215.
    Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
    by Sarah McLachlan

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  216. 216.
    Fly
    by Dixie Chicks

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  217. 217.
    Ropin' the Wind
    by Garth Brooks

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  218. 218.
    No Fences
    by Garth Brooks

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  219. 219.
    Always on My Mind
    by Willie Nelson

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  220. 220.
    Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
    by The Beach Boys

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  221. 221.
    Psonic Psunspot

    Drag me to re-order


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

    Drag me to re-order


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.