ELO "Telephone Line"

I declare this to be the greatest song for tonight and tonight only. July 17, 2014.

There is absolutely no reason other than it has a magical chorus.

Also, it reminds me of Billy Madison.

"Dry Bones" Bascam Lamar Lumsford

"I saw, I saw the light from heaven

A-shinin' all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw that light come down."

"Fatty Fatty" Clancy Eccles

"Broken Bottle" Alejandro Escovedo

"Love is a scar that I wear for you,
like a crown of thorns, like a bad tattoo.
I wear sin like a ring of beauty
just to find you've gone."

Beck's Albums From WORST to BEST

"Modern Guilt" 2008

Beck and Danger Mouse. Together. Meh. I wasn't 

excited for this when it came out. It didn't help that the

 lead single was the snoozer, "Chemtrails." 

Best track: Gamma Ray

"Stereopathetic Soulmanure" 1994

This is the randomest (and least good) of Beck's three 1994 albums.

But it still shows wild Beck lighting up the magic that was the possibility

of alternative music in the 1990s. Even though no radio station would go

anywhere near anything off of this record.

Best Track: Rowboat

"The Information" 2006

The whole There-Goes-Rhymin-Simon-Choose-Your-Own-Album-Cover

 idea was pretty mediocre. Beck explores some interesting sounds here, 

but overall, this record doesn't leave much of an impression.

Best track: Cellphone's Dead

 "Morning Phase" 2014

A gorgeous record companion to Sea Change. The problem 

here is that while Morning Phase matches the shine and

 production of Sea Change, Beck is unable to recapture the

 emotion that drives Sea Change's songs.

Best track: Country Down

"Midnite Vultures" 1999

Beck's end of the century party album has grown on me.

But it still lives here. Middle of the pack.

Best track: Get Real Paid 

"Guero" 2005

This was supposed to be Beck getting back to Odelay.

He didn't get there, but still a strong batch of songs. 

Best track: Earthquake Weather

"Mellow Gold" 1994

Beck's breakthrough success. This is alternative nation.

This is the 1990s. 

Best track: Beercan

"Mutations" 1998

I'm running out of things to say. This is a superb album.

Not a bad song on here.

Best track: We Live Again

"Sea Change" 2002

One of the most beautiful, moving, break-up

albums ever. A Blood On the Tracks for 

Generation X.

Best track: Guess I'm Doing Fine

"One Foot in the Grave" 1994

Some might think I'm crazy, or just trying to be difficult,

 by saying this is my second favorite Beck album. 

But I'm not. And it is. 

Best Track: Asshole

"Odelay" 1996

Poor Beck. He will never make anything better than Odelay. 

But he shouldn't feel bad. Not many other people will even 

come close. It's the perfect incarnation of post-modernism 

on the turntables, mixing everything that's great about American

 music and spinning it into something immaculate. And new.

 Best album of the entire 1990s? Maybe.

Best track: Jack-Ass

My 30 Favorite Tracks of 2013

30. "Dream the Dare," Pure Bathing Culture

29. "El Rito," Destroyer

28. "Frosted Tips," Califone

27. "Caught in the Briars," Iron and Wine

26. "Toe Cutter/Thumb Buster," Thee Oh Sees

25. "One Million Lovers, " Growlers

24. "You're Not Good Enough," Blood Orange

23. "A Tooth for an Eye," The Knife

22. "Don't Look Down, " Alex Bleeker and the Freaks

21. "So Good at Being in Trouble," Unknown Mortal Orchestra

20. "Varsity," Smith Westerns

19. "Dead in Your Head," Bleached 

18. "Heavy Feet, "Local Natives

17. "When a Fire Starts to Burn, " Disclosure

16. "Holy Roller," Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

15. "Mean Streets," Tennis

14. "Wakin' On A Pretty Day," Kurt Vile

13. "In the Kingdom," Mazzy Star

12. "San Francisco," Foxygen

11. "We Know Who U R, "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

10. "My Number, "Foals

9. "All I Know," Washed Out

8. "In Another Way, "My Bloody Valentine

7. "Get Lucky," Daft Punk

6. "Stay Young," Okkervil River

5. "Afterlife," Arcade Fire

4. "Sea of Love," The National

3. "Step," Vampire Weekend

2. "Ohm," Yo La Tengo

1. "Song for Zula," Phosphorescent

My Ten Favorite Albums of 2013

10. "Dream River," Bill Callahan
Baritone songs that turn your soul into a puzzle that you cannot wait to reassemble.

9. "Paracosm," Washed Out
Bells ring, Chimes chime, and Washed Out washes away space and time.

8. "Push the Sky Away," Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

The mustache is gone, but Hannah Montana is here to stay.

7. "Random Access Memories," Daft Punk

Robots return to form with friends and files that you thought you had sent to the Recycle Bin years ago.

6. "Reflektor," Arcade Fire

It was dark in the disco when I realized I missed my home in the suburbs.

5. "Wakin' on a Pretty Daze," Kurt Vile

What happens when you mix one part De Ja Vu with one part nostalgia?

4. "Muchacho," Phosphorescent

Weariness is a burning thing. That's ok because, I've been tired, too.

3. "Trouble Will Find Me," The National

 We didn't have to smoke forever. And we didn't have to scream forever.

2. "mbv," My Bloody Valentine

The past is a beautiful thing. 

1. "Modern Vampires of the City," Vampire Weekend

I'm almost surprised, as well.