Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 1(s)

My number one bears a striking resemblance to Jolemite's, though I did manage to limit it to two rather than five (or three) as I'd have liked. It's The Beatles. What more is there to say?

Charmingly horrible animation for Good Day Sunshine:


Fan Video for Here Comes the Sun:


Something:


The Sunshine Empire closes out with absolute Garbage and Jolemite as shown above displays exquisitely good taste.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 2

There's only one minor hit on this groundbreaking Queen album, but it set the stage for what they'd become. It has the best collection of songs from top to bottom of any of their albums as well. Here are a few:

Ogre Battle


Father to Son


White Queen


The Sunshine Empire picks a good 'un.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 3

Once upon a time they were my favorite band, and this is their best album. It holds up over time. Remedy:



Jolemite makes a divine choice and The Sunshine Empire wants to mess with your head.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 4

I had to include an Elliott album in here, and Jolemite is right about it being a tie, roughly, between several. So I'll go with XO. It was his first big label number and the sound is generally cleaner. The production is more involved as well. All that aside it is still largely a collection of jaundiced and melodic folk/pop songs. So here's XO:



The Sunshine Empire loooooves the French. Jolemite's is linked above, but here it is again.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 5

Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man of wealth and taste. That taste ranks this incredible grouping of raw blues songs in my top five. My taste, in other words, is damn near impeccable. Here's a little love for the dark side:



The Sunshine Empire let's Jimi take over and Jolemite has an album not to cry over.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 6

The Cheat is overwhelmed by the size of this pic

The Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds on his own, it's all good. But I had to narrow it down to one album, and Whatever and Ever Amen captures both the energy of the self-titled album and the instrospection of later releases. Also, it has the only massively popular pop song about a trip to the abortionist, which while kind of ooky is also kind of awesome. Best of all it has what could be considered my theme song:



Jolemite's 6er and The Sunshine Empire's science is too tight.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 7

Clocking in at a little over thirty minutes this seven song album or EP or whatever you want to call it is pretty much perfect. It's more mellow than your standard Alice in Chains offering, and perhaps that's why I like it so much. From the haunting "Rotten Apple" to the novelty of "Swing on This" it's just damn good. And here's a creepy claymation video:



Jolemite gives you the Badfinger at 7 while The Sunshine Empire talks about their true love.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 8

Coming in at number eight we have an album that actually came out during my childhood. I remember the cool kids liking this in 5th grade. I didn't really. Then Use Your Illusions came out in junior high and I discovered this one. It holds up with its darker version of the LA scene that all of the hair bands celebrated. Slash kicked ass, Axl wasn't so pretentious yet and the whole album just rocks from start to finish. For example:



The Sunshine Empire chooses wisely and Jolemite's #8 is for The Byrds (That's gold!)

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 9, Number 9

In your face sanity!

Up next we have Elton John's first breakthrough album. Everyone knows "Tiny Dancer", the opener. "Levon" follows it nicely. There are a few listenable, but not great tracks before you get into "Holiday Inn" and "Rotten Peaches" and it closes pretty well. If you're going to own an Elton John album I recommend this one. I also recommend you own several others. I leave you with Rotten Peaches, courtesy of the beeb.



The Sunshine Empire goes royal with their #9 choice and Jolemite tries to have his cake and eat it too because he is a greedy fucker.

Top 10 Album Countdown - Number 10

The staff at the Sunshine Empire blog, Jolemite and I agreed to count down our top ten albums. My first dates back to the late, great 1972, three years prior to my birth. Actually, many of those in the countdown will predate me. I chose this one because it's everything great about glam Bowie: the out front piano, the heavy guitar, the otherworldly lyrics, the androginy. I'm not going to break it down song by song, suffice to say they're all between good and great. Here's kinda the title track live and everything:



Jolemite kicks it off by working out The Kinks and The Sunshine Empire just threw a bunch of words together.