…according to the music geek pictured on the right.

I haven’t really discussed my love of music here. I am obsessed with music in the same way I am with books. I still buy CD’s (I find vinyl exciting, but also a physical burden once you reach a certain number). My office is full of CD’s. My iTouch (the 64mb vesion) has 30mb free. I have close to 200gb of music on my desktop hard drives (the computer I’m typing  this post on). I participate on the fantastic website Rate Your Music, where you can see ranking charts for “All Time” and each specific year. The albums are rated by those who register with the site, where much hilarity and discussion ensues.

When I write fiction (or anything, really) I’m listening to music. I have specific iTunes playlists for novels. The opening chords to a song can put me into the mindset I need to be in, even more so than green tea or chocolate.

Please note that this list is simply what I’ve been listening to the most the past several years. It can change at any time, for a variety of reasons. However, many of the same players will be in any list I produce. A list stretching beyond fifty albums would surely have a Stooges album, a Stones album or two, and a Zeppelin album or two. The Rate Your Music ranking is for “all time” unless noted otherwise (such as “Album X was ranked #50 for 2011”). Also, you’ll find repeat artists on the list. There are three kinds of list-making realms a music nerd can fall into. The first kind is the “IYF” list (Impress Your Friends). You’ll find a lot of obscure items thrown in that the list maker probably never listens to. The second kind is the Canon List, one that mirrors Rolling Stone or some of the modern online magazines. The third kind is the Honest List. I hope that’s what this is.

Rather than bloviate about how awesome each record is, I’ll allow for only a sentence or two. After all describing music endlessly is pointless when you can just listen to it. It’s like exiting the grocery store and having a stranger ask if he can take your quarter and purchase that shiny orange gumball for you. Why do you need a guy between you and the gumball machine?

50. In Rainbows – Radiohead (#71 at RYM) 2007

A fine mix of intriguing sonics and emotional resonance. A welcome return to form.

49. Sebastopol – Jay Farrar (#703 for 2001 at RYM) Continue reading →