21. Mott the Hoople - Mott (1973)
Very influential album for more than just the music. The inclusion of D. H. Lawrence's poem "A Sane Revolution" on the inside of the album cover was probably as uplifting as the opening piano chords of "All the Way from Memphis" and became an important component in my overall philosophy of life. I didn't read that poem in school; I found it on the inside cover of a rock and roll album. Can probably thank Ian Hunter for that. Place reminiscent of: Dallas, Texas.

22. The Smithereens - Especially For You (1986)
"These guitars don't jangle, they bite" - so said the promo sticker on the front cover of the album, and they do. Well, they do jangle occasionally, but this was one of the best guitar power pop albums of the 80's. "Strangers When We Meet" is one of the best album openers ever and "Behind the Wall of Sleep" and "Blood and Roses" are truly dark and memorable anthems. I think I practically lived on this album driving back and forth to graduate school during my first year. Place reminiscent of: Dallas and Denton, Texas.

23. Jules Shear - Watch Dog (1983)
Most people would best know Shear for his songs that have been done by other artists. He wrote "All Through the Night" (on this album) and Cyndi Lauper made it a hit. He also wrote "If She Knew What She Wants" which the Bangles made into a hit. This album was produced by Todd Rundgren and it shows in the Brian Wilson-influenced "She is in Love Again" and a couple of manic Rundgren guitar solos. Both this album and the follow-up, The Eternal Return, are brilliant pop albums - as good as pop gets. Place reminiscent of: Santa Fe and eastern New Mexico.

24. Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)
The first of their collaborations with producer Brian Eno, this album was so out of step with the prevailing FM radio fare of the day (Styx, Foreigner, Jackson Browne, etc.) that it was totally cool. And it still got played on the radio (thanks to "Take Me to the River"). David Byrne yelps and growls his way through these songs like there's no tomorrow. To this day, this album sounds the most like you would expect an album made by a group called "Talking Heads" to sound like and it sounds like nothing else they ever recorded (although Fear of Music comes close). Art-school rock that really rocks! Just as good as "Take Me to the River" are the funky "Found a Job" and the poignant (?) "The Big Country". "I'm tired of traveling/I want to be somewhere..." Place reminiscent of: Lubbock, Texas.

25. Game Theory - Lolita Nation (1987)
An album and a group that virtually no one has ever heard of. That's a shame because this is one of the most intense, mind-bending listening experiences of the 80's. Produced by Mitch Easter (Let's Active guitarist/songwriter) it is less a collection of songs as a drive through a chaotic sonic landscape where some of the songs are mere shards of music (one of the songs is even called "Shard") and all the songs (27 of them) run together for 74 minutes plus. It is one of the most remarkable albums ever recorded, much in the same way as Todd Rundgren's A Wizard, A True Star is. Good luck locating it. The album has been out of print since 1988 and is hard as hell to find, but well worth the effort. Hint: Try Empire Records - (a shameless plug!); I have two copies, one of which is still sealed. Place reminiscent of: Denton, Texas and graduate school.

26. The Cars - The Cars (1978)
I'm sure I drove my college roommate crazy with this album by playing it every day the first month I had it. The beginnings of New Wave start here along with Blondie and Talking Heads. Actually they start earlier than that since the Cars' "formula" can be traced back to Tommy James and the Shondells (if you doubt this, go back and listen to "I Think We're Alone Now"). Anyway, this album is chock-full of memorable songs, not the least of which is "My Best Friend's Girl". This was the soundtrack for an ill-fated road trip to Colorado in a VW bug when I ran away from work. Place reminiscent of: Lubbock, Texas (birthplace of Buddy Holly).

27. The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady (1979)
This came out in '79? 1979? Has it been over 25 years now? This music sounds as great now as it did back then. Another 'punk' band that turns out to be more power pop - a melodic punk band if you will. This collection goes from strength to strength - great songwriting, catchy hooks and everything fast-paced. Not a bad song on this album. Personal favorites: "Love You More", "Harmony in My Head", "Lipstick" and "Something's Gone Wrong Again". Further proof that the best & most creative rock music came out during the era between 1977 and 1984.

28. Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
This could easily be the Boss' darkest album if it weren't for Nebraska, but I prefer "Darkness..." because it's electric, not acoustic-oriented. "Prove It All Night" and "Candy's Room" are great, intense and heartfelt songs and the longing in "Racing In the Street" is palpable in a way that makes you care about these characters he sings about. The follow-up to Born to Run is better and edgier and it's also better than the album that followed (The River). As social commentary, this album is way superior to Born in the U.S.A. and thankfully, no bullshit politician would dare use it as a patriotic slogan. Place reminiscent of: Lubbock, Texas in the kitchen of J. Patrick O'Malley's Irish pub.

29. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (1969), Houses of the Holy (1973)
I have had to revise my opinion of Led Zeppelin over the years. It's a toss-up between this album, Houses of the Holy and IV (Zoso) as personal fave for me, but I remembered that IV has "Rock and Roll" on it, which is currently being bastardized by Cadillac who makes the Escalade - an absolute gas-hog that I hate with a passion & should be, along the Hummer H2, banned from the roadways for getting 8 miles a gallon, but in George W.'s America, no one gives a shit about good gas mileage anymore and won't until the cataclysmic climate change happens The Day After Tomorrow and, well, you get the idea.... No matter how good "When the Levee Breaks" is, it can no longer redeem the sell-out. Jimmy, Robert - Cadillac? What the hell were you thinking? Booooo. But I digress... I is the one that started the Zep craze and has my favorite Zep song - "Communication Breakdown" on it, and they were a truly major group. Watching the double DVD set Led Zeppelin I was probably more impressed with them than I ever had been. The DVD is a jaw-dropper, especially that 2nd disc and I highly suggest you get it. Once again, it's too bad American rock 'n' roll radio had to overplay these guys. I like III too with "Immigrant Song" and all the acoustic stuff. And then I start thinking about "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "Dancing Days". OK, a tie between I and Houses of the Holy.

30. The B-52's - The B-52's (1979)
The little ol' band from Athens, GA that launched arguably the best music scene ever in this country - certainly one of the last great music scenes as you're ever likely to see since pop music is so fragmented now. This is a great album from start to finish and the first four songs from "Planet Claire" to "Rock Lobster" are all classics. For the full story get a copy of Rodger Lyle Brown's "Party Out of Bounds: The B-52's, R.E.M. and the Kids Who Rocked Athens, GA" - a very good entertaining read. Go on... "Dance This Mess Around."

31. Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow (1991)
Zion, Illinois produced two of the best power pop groups ever - Material Issue and Shoes, and if you're a fan of power pop, these guys are essential 'cause they were the real deal. Material Issue was arguably the best power pop band of the 90's (and one of the best ever) until the untimely death of lead singer/guitarist Jim Ellison. The band's secret? Ellison's songwriting. His songs were absolutely great; everything great power pop should be. On this album the hits just keep on coming from the opening track, "Valerie Loves Me", through "Renee Remains the Same", "Chance of a Lifetime", and "A Very Good Idea". In a perfect world, a change in listeners' taste and musical styles wouldn't necessarily doom a band to obscurity but that's what happened here. This album came out the same year as Nirvana's Nevermind. It's a shame because these guys deserved the radio (and MTV) every bit as much as Nirvana did. Spends a lot of quality time on my CD changer & iPod. Place reminiscent of: Denver and Georgetown, Colorado.

32. R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant (1986)
R.E.M.'s first five albums - Chronic Town, Murmur, Reckoning and Fables of the Reconstruction, and this one are all true classics in the best and every sense of the word. For me, Life's Rich Pageant continues to be the shining gem in their catalog and the R.E.M. album that spends the most time on the CD changer. "Begin the Begin" is a great song and really gets things moving. With this album they left behind the guitar-jangle and rocked harder than they ever would again. Place reminiscent of: Denton, Texas and graduate school.

33. The Plimsouls - Everywhere at Once (1982)
More power pop. This group was led by guitarist/vocalist Peter Case and was featured in the 1982 film "Valley Girl". They get lumped into the New Wave category on various compilations but they're really not New Wave as songs like "Lie, Beg, Borrow & Steal" and "My Life Ain't Easy" amply demonstrate. The group is best known for the song "A Million Miles Away" which is the standout on this album, but all the songs are strong from start to finish. One of the best albums of the early 80's from L.A. Contemporaries of Translator and, of course, R.E.M. Place reminiscent of: Dallas.

34. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Exodus (1976)
If Eric Clapton's version of "I Shot the Sheriff" introduced American listeners to reggae music, this is the album that solidified reggae in America forever. Bob's breakthrough album in the states; all of his albums are excellent - hard to choose among them. Also excellent is the "Songs of Freedom" box set.

35. The Cure - Disintegration (1990)
Toss up between this album and Faith - this album seems a little more epic maybe. Place reminiscent of: Dallas and Denton, Texas.

36. The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (1969)
Yes, this should be higher up the list and it probably will be very soon. Personally, my favorite of their albums and arguably their best along with Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. I keep thinking of the scene from Pulp Fiction where Uma Thurman is asking John Travolta whether he's a Beatles or an Elvis person, but it's really not between the Beatles and Elvis - it's whether you're a Beatles or a Stones' person (if you're comparing with Elvis, you're either an Elvis or a Buddy Holly person). Obviously I'm more of a Beatles' person.

37. R.E.M. - Murmur (1982)
The album that launched "alternative" on college radio - a watershed moment. Produced by Mitch Easter (Let's Active).

38. Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Armed Forces (1979)

39. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (1971)

40. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
The album that launched the grunge movement. One of the angriest albums ever recorded and one of the best ones at that, despite the goofiness of "In Bloom". This album, with its triumvirate of "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Come as You Are", and "Lithium" served as my soundtrack for the spring of '92 when I relocated from Houston, Texas to Georgetown, Colorado (population: 950). Place reminiscent of: Georgetown, Colorado.