Another Take on the Top 100 Albums of All Time
Monday, February 05, 2001
 

VH1's recent list of the top 100 rock 'n' roll albums initiated a firestorm of controversy in the Courier & Press newsroom. 

What in the world was it thinking? While the usual suspects make their justified appearances (five albums by the Beatles, four by the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan), some of the choices left us scratching our heads. Such as, Madonna? The Jackson Five? 

We've sent each other several e-mails back and forth about albums that should've made the top 100. Instead of presenting you with the coulda-shouldas, I thought it would be more fun making a top alternative and semi-obscure list. No best-of collections or live albums need apply. And of course, no groups/artists on VH1's list are eligible. 

Although these albums are outside the mainstream, I'm not heading too far underground. You can read "Alternative Press" for that list. 

Speaking of categorization, alternative used to be called New Wave in the late 1970s and early '80s. Alternative became the mainstream in the early '90s, thanks to Nirvana's chart-topping success. So what was once alternative is called new rock. But isn't any new rock that comes out new rock, whether it's alternative or not? 

Alternative/New Rock 

1. Sublime -- Sublime. This is one of the best albums of the 1990s, alternative or otherwise. Tortured singer-guitarist Brad Nowell and his bandmates created a diverse mixture of ska, reggae, pop and even the kind of rap I could listen to without running from the room screaming. Tragically, Nowell died of a heroin overdose before this gem was released in '96. 

2. Nick Lowe -- Labour of Lust. Along with Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps, Labour of Lust helped me get through my first "real" job in 1979, working for a tiny newspaper in a tiny town in northern Illinois. It's a brilliant concoction of pure pop (Cruel to be Kind) bawdy punning (Switchboard Susan), surly wit (Crackin' Up) and even a hint of country (Without Love, later covered by Johnny Cash). 

3. Blondie -- Parallel Lines. A perfect synthesis of new wave cred and girl-group camp, Blondie broke all kinds of barriers, even creating a disco song I could enjoy (Heart of Glass). Hanging on the Telephone and One Way or Another are New Wave classics. Debbie Harry made it cool to be campy. 

4. Los Lobos -- How Will the Wolf Survive? Unfortunately, just another band from East L.A. gained more popularity from the soundtrack to La Bamba than its immensely varied group albums. How Will the Wolf Survive? is Los Lobos' major-label debut, mixing traditional Mexican stylings with roots rock packing a wallop. 

5. Uncle Tupelo -- No Depression. Uncle Tupelo energized country punk, which spawned the alt-country movement named for this album. Weary Jay Farrar went on to more high-profile success with Son Volt; same with more optimistic Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. While they grew far more polished, their talents were never more evident than on their Uncle Tupelo debut and second LP, Still Feel Gone. 

6. Squeeze -- East Side Story. If not for New Wave, English pop marvels Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook might've been out of work. Soul, country and psychedelia can all be found on East Side Story, the band's finest release. Tempted is playing on the radio as Winona Ryder crashes her car into Ben Stiller's during the opening moments of Reality Bites. 

7. Violent Femmes -- Violent Femmes. Skeletal acoustic instrumentation enhances this college cult classic. Local solo singer/guitarist Addison Ellis used to sing Blister in the Sun. Maybe he still does. 

8. Green Day -- Dookie. Snot-nosed punks deliver the goods. When I Come Around is one of the most tuneful punk songs I've ever heard, not to mention the killer guitar riff. 

9. Jayhawks -- Tomorrow the Green Grass. Some critics believe this band's major-label debut, Hollywood Town Hall, is its best, but I happened to hear Tomorrow the Green Grass first, so it was already ingratiated in my head. Singer-guitarist Mark Olson bolted after this album, so the full potential of one of the best alt-country groups was never fully realized. It includes a fine rendition of Grand Funk's hit Bad Time. 

10. Lucinda Williams -- Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. This country-rock paean to Louisiana took five years to finish, but hey, she's a perfectionist. 

11. Crowded House -- Woodface. Tim Finn joined brother Neil for Crowded House's most well-rounded moment. 

12. Big Star -- No. 1 Record. Although Big Star was regarded as the cult band from the '70s, we didn't even know it existed then. Replacements singer Paul Westerberg penned Alex Chilton, an homage to Big Star leader Alex Chilton, during the '80s, and the legend flourished. Revamped by Cheap Trick, Big Star's In the Street is the theme song for That '70s Show. 

Semi-Obscure 

1. Spirit -- Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus. Back in the 1970s, I saw Spirit in concert backing up Styx (yes, I'll admit I went to the concert primarily to see Styx, the headliner. I was a college kid then, so cut me some slack). After a lengthy search, I finally found many of the magical songs Spirit played live on Twelve Dreams, a wonderful concept album blending psychedelia (Nature's Way) and goofy fun (Animal Zoo). 

2. Todd Rundgren -- Something/Anything? While it contains the timeless pop smash Hello, It's Me, I doubt if many of you own this double-album masterpiece from 1972. Rundgren was at the height of his pop sensibilities then. He promptly veered into a different direction after this album and fell off a cliff. Not many double albums hold up, but there is a minimum of filler and a nice variety of pop, hard rock and a dash of blue-eyed Philly soul. 

3. Pink Floyd -- The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. You could call me nuts for including a Pink Floyd album on this list, but consider that many Floyd fanatics who wore out the grooves of Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall didn't even realize the group was originally led by Syd Barrett. Piper is Floyd's debut, before its psychedelic pop genius went round the bend. Shine On, You Crazy Diamond, from Wish You Were Here, is the latter-day Floyd's ode to Barrett. 

Honorable Mention 

1. Dwight Twilley -- Sincerely

2. The Jam -- Sound Affects

3. Echo and the Bunnymen -- Crocodiles

4. John Hiatt -- Bring the Family

5. X -- More Fun in the New World

6. Joe Jackson -- I'm the Man

7. Marshall Crenshaw -- Marshall Crenshaw

8. P.J. Harvey -- Dry

9. XTC -- Skylarking

10. John Prine -- John Prine

11. Pixies -- Surfer Rosa

12. Matthew Sweet -- Girlfriend