My Top 50 Albums

[murlough23]

I've been working on this on and off for a little while now... we could argue about critical merits until the cows come home, of course, but that aside, I thought I'd share my list with the rest of you. I'm sure everyone will have their gripes, but on the upside, I think there's a little something for everyone in there.

1. Jars of Clay - Much Afraid (1997)
2. dc Talk - Supernatural (1998)
3. Iona - Beyond These Shores (1993)
4. Chasing Furies - With Abandon (1999)
5. Vienna Teng - Waking Hour (2002)
6. Sufjan Stevens - Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State (2003)
7. Caedmon's Call - Caedmon's Call (1997)
8. Caedmon's Call - Share the Well (2004)
9. dc Talk - Jesus Freak (1995)
10. Iona - Open Sky (2000)
11. Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel the Illinoise! (2005)
12. Earthsuit - Kaleidoscope Superior (2000)
13. Jars of Clay - If I Left the Zoo (1999)
14. Jars of Clay - Who We Are Instead (2003)
15. Iona - Journey into the Morn (1995)
16. Jars of Clay - Jars of Clay (1995)
17. U2 - Pop (1997)
18. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
19. Out of the Grey - Out of the Grey (1991)
20. Steven Delopoulos - Me Died Blue (2003)
21. Eric Champion - Transformation (1996)
22. Incubus - Morning View (2001)
23. Five O'Clock People - The Nothing Venture (1999)
24. Caedmon's Call - 40 Acres (1999)
25. Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
26. U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
27. The Juliana Theory - Emotion Is Dead (2000)
28. Burlap to Cashmere - Anybody Out There? (1998)
29. Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown (2003)
30. Iona - Heaven's Bright Sun (1997)
31. Eisley - Room Noises (2005)
32. Tool - Lateralus (2001)
33. Steve Taylor - Squint (1993)
34. Kevin Max - Stereotype Be (2001)
35. Vienna Teng - Warm Strangers (2004)
36. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (1995)
37. Evanescence - Fallen (2003)
38. Falling Up - Crashings (2004)
39. Something Like Silas - Divine Invitation (2004)
40. Sleeping at Last - Ghosts (2003)
41. Delirious? - Glo (2000)
42. Cindy Morgan - Listen (1996)
43. The Corrs - Forgiven, Not Forgotten (1996)
44. Aleixa - Disfigured (1999)
45. Luna Halo - Shimmer (2000)
46. Nickel Creek - This Side (2002)
47. Pax217 - Engage (2002)
48. Rebecca St. James - Pray (1998)
49. Sixpence None the Richer - Divine Discontent (2002)
50. Michelle Tumes - Listen (1998)

[Josh]

Wow. I've actually heard most of those-- 35, to be exact-- and most of those are ones that I do enjoy or appreciate on some level, even if it's not nearly as much as you do. Also, it's a pleasant surprise to see such high appearances for U2 and Radiohead. (I would have NEVER expected to see OK Computer on your list!)

[murlough23]

(I would have NEVER expected to see OK Computer on your list!)

Really? I didn't gush about it enough in my review? OK, so it took me a while to get into it, but now that I've taken the time to fully appreciate it and even make up my own psuedo-story connecting all of the songs, there isn't a track that I don't like. And it flows wonderfully once you get used to the overall slowness (which was the only thing I disliked about it at first, which prbably explains why I'm still a big fan of "Electioneering").

[bloop]

I'm not griping, especially since a - the albums on that list that I know are at least rather good and b - I would never even attempt such a list.  The task just seems overwhelming to me.  As you said, I think there's at least something for a rather wide range of musical tastes here.  (Rap and hip-hop folks, as well as classical, jazz, and others would probably scoff, but you can't cover every base and widdle it to 50 I would guess).

[eatahouse]

Seems like Jars and Iona are neck and neck... and Caedmon's Call isn't too far behind.

EISLEY IS ON TEH LIST!!!! OMGZOMGGZGZGZZZZZ!!! *does a dance*

Sorry, I'm just gushing.

[Josh]

I'm not griping, especially since a - the albums on that list that I know are at least rather good and b - I would never even attempt such a list.  The task just seems overwhelming to me.  As you said, I think there's at least something for a rather wide range of musical tastes here.  (Rap and hip-hop folks, as well as classical, jazz, and others would probably scoff, but you can't cover every base and widdle it to 50 I would guess).

Yeah, coming up with a favorites list is hard enough for me when I regulate it to pop, rock, country, and folk stuff; throwing classic jazz into the mix just makes it too tough. I mean really, how does one even begin to compare a Miles Davis record to a Bob Dylan one? And what would the point be?

[bloop]

You know I'm not one to completely give in to subjectivity, but I think quality at the high end really gets to the point where you just go "Well, critical merits being approximately equal, I listen to this one a lot more, hence the rank order".  Even the yearly lists work this way.  Ranking 50 albums that are critically superb would just be a bear, and it would tend to just end up being highly subjective in the end by necessity.  

So, if I ever did do something like this, just look at what made the list and don't worry about how I ordered them, yes?

[murlough23]

You know I'm not one to completely give in to subjectivity, but I think quality at the high end really gets to the point where you just go "Well, critical merits being approximately equal, I listen to this one a lot more, hence the rank order".  Even the yearly lists work this way.  Ranking 50 albums that are critically superb would just be a bear, and it would tend to just end up being highly subjective in the end by necessity.  

So, if I ever did do something like this, just look at what made the list and don't worry about how I ordered them, yes?

Yeah, it kind of becomes a matter of splitting hairs once I get past about the top 10 or so. It doesn't really matter whether something is #23 or #24 - at that point, it's just important that I made it.

As for my "something for everybody" comment... I mean in terms of everybody here, though I guess ther are a few rap fans here, but they listen to other stuff too. I haven't listened to enough rap albums to even bother listing a favorite without getting laughed at.

[PaulDA]

My top 50 albums would all be a combination of James Brown,  RSJ albums, Nicole C. Mullen, the Cathedrals and Robin Mark, Tramaine Hawkins, then some specific albums like:
The Pilgrim Jubilees...IN REVIVAL
Newsboys.................DEVOTION

[murlough23]

Newsboys.................DEVAOTION

Heh. That one might go in my Bottom 50.

[danny316]

My top 50 albums would all be a combination of James Brown,  RSJ albums, Nicole C. Mullen, the Cathedrals and Robin Mark, Tramaine Hawkins, then some specific albums like:
The Pilgrim Jubilees...IN REVIVAL
Newsboys.................DEVAOTION

Much Afraid would be on it though, right?

I find this list very surprising. No love for Over the Rhine, not what I was expecting in terms of Sixpence, and a few surprises as to where you'd position things too. I've only heard 16 of these, but the ones I've heard would be in a completely different order. This is kind of bizarre for me to notice, because I generally think we have similar tastes....but man, I guess not as much as I thought.

Am i the only one who doesn't get what the big deal is about Sleeping at Last? I've only given Ghosts a few spins so far, but it hasn't been doing anything for me.  

[bloop]

Yeah, it kind of becomes a matter of splitting hairs once I get past about the top 10 or so. It doesn't really matter whether something is #23 or #24 - at that point, it's just important that I made it.

When it comes to a list of critical favorites, I would imagine that it would be "splitting hairs" well beyond the first 10.  I may well know which I listen to more, so it wouldn't from that vantage point, but I don't think I'd even be able to really say #1 is a better album than #24, or #50 for that matter - only that #1 is more rewarding to me.  I can't say with any certainty that Kid A is better than A Love Supreme, but I do listen to the former fantastic album a lot more than the latter.  We're dealing with "5 star" albums here, and comparing them.  That's what I mean about such a list being very subjective in terms of rank order, whether it's from me, you, or a critical publication.

[dgp11776]

 A top 50 list that I actually recognize every album!!!  I have actually listened to 32 of them, and I own 31 of them.  I was particulary happy to see Delirious?, Sleeping At Last, and Luna Halo on the list.

I'm with bloop and Josh on this, though - I could never come up with a top 50 list that would satisfy me.  I have a hard enough time ranking albums from year-to-year.

[Tom]

i'll defend Murlough for including Sleeping at Last. "Ghosts" is a wonderful album. though i'll admit it is a grower. my first exposure to SAL was their indie release "Capture." "Capture" instantly blew me away. to think a 16 year old did that was remarkable. so naturally i was highly anticipating "Ghosts" (A) because none other than "the great pumpkin" himself Billy Corgan helped them get signed (B) Alan Moulder (one of the best mixers in the music world) agreed to mix it © i expected an improvement on "Capture."

"Ghosts" is top notch, but it isn't for everybody.

now why Murlough didn't show love to Over the Rhine i don't know...

[murlough23]

No love for Over the Rhine

Films for Radio just missed the Top 50. All other albums I've heard by the group are in the 4-star range. You have no idea how many groups I was sad to leave out... but I was thinking about albums here, and not all of them had an album solid enough to make my list.

not what I was expecting in terms of Sixpence

Up until Divine DIscontent, I liked Sixpence for a lot of scattered tracks that were really good, not so much for their full albums, which I found to be inconsistent. The self-titled was another close call, though. It's probably a more artistic album than Discontent, but the music is a bit dry in too many instances for me to call it their best work.

Am i the only one who doesn't get what the big deal is about Sleeping at Last? I've only given Ghosts a few spins so far, but it hasn't been doing anything for me.

That one took a while to grow on me, too. I didn't realize how much I loved about it until I reviewed it and forced myself to listen carefully. It's not one of those albums that blows you away right from the get-go. Give it time.

I may well know which I listen to more, so it wouldn't from that vantage point, but I don't think I'd even be able to really say #1 is a better album than #24, or #50 for that matter - only that #1 is more rewarding to me. I can't say with any certainty that Kid A is better than A Love Supreme, but I do listen to the former fantastic album a lot more than the latter.

Yeah, that's what I went for - what was most rewarding to me. No way that Much Afraid is critically better than absolutely everything on this list - it's wonderfully creative, but there are several things 10 times more groundbreaking that I didn't even consider for the list, because they just didn't have as much of an effect on me. Some of the ordering may even be inconsistent with how I rated these albums when I first reviewed them. I wanted to get away from being motivated by guilt to put certain records at or near the top. Just because they're the critical best doesn't mean that my list should be written for me, you know?

my first exposure to SAL was their indie release "Capture." "Capture" instantly blew me away.

I must have downloaded something by another band masquerading as SAL, because that doesn't sound much like them to me. I couldn't get into that album.

[Blindman]

Murlough, I own 24 out of your 50.  I think we have some similar tastes, so I'll definitely keep an eye out for being able to pick up some of these albums used (I bought the Five O'Clock People CD a while ago based on your review alone, since it sounded like it would be right up my alley).  

Incidentally, I knew you were fond of Caedmon's but I didn't know they rated as highly as they do on your list.  I also don't recall ever seeing a review of the self-titled album... have you written one?  I haven't put much thought into my own ranking of Caedmon's albums, but I do know I'd love to try and figure out the guitar intro to the second track on the self-titled... haven't been able to find a tab yet.

[eatahouse]

1. Jars of Clay - Much Afraid (1997)
7. Caedmon's Call - Caedmon's Call (1997)
8. Caedmon's Call - Share the Well (2004)
9. dc Talk - Jesus Freak (1995)
11. Earthsuit - Kaleidoscope Superior (2000)
12. Jars of Clay - If I Left the Zoo (1999)
13. Jars of Clay - Who We Are Instead (2003)
15. Jars of Clay - Jars of Clay (1995)
20. The Benjamin Gate - Untitled (2001)
24. Caedmon's Call - 40 Acres (1999)
29. Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown (2003)
31. Eisley - Room Noises (2005)
34. Kevin Max - Stereotype Be (2001)
37. Evanescence - Fallen (2003)
38. Falling Up - Crashings (2004)
39. Something Like Silas - Divine Invitation (2004)
41. Delirious? - Glo (2000)
47. Pax217 - Engage (2002)
48. Rebecca St. James - Pray (1998)
49. Sixpence None the Richer - Divine Discontent (2002)
 

Those are the albums I've heard of and enjoy.

I'm surprised that none of Nordeman's work made your list.

[Josh]

So far I think I'm the one who has heard the most of murlough's top selections-- a whopping 35.

Can anyone top that?
 

[plvarona]

Nope.  I can't top Josh.  I've only heard 21 of the 50, although there are roughly 3 or 4 more I've been meaning to check out and just haven't had a chance to do so just yet.

I will say that almost all of the ones on the list I have heard, I enjoy.

I actually also having a CD rating system going and for comparison's sake I might post my list in a few days.  I'd get it up sooner except I have to add ratings for a few older CDs.
 

[Tom]

i just counted. i've heard 34 of Murlough's picks. i lost a lot of ground on Iona & Vienna Teng. i've heard part of 1 Iona album, but i couldn't honestly claim i'd heard the whole thing.

overall i'd say his picks are very good. many of his favs are mine too. and he impressed me with his high placement of U2's  Pop. sometimes i feel like the only one who "gets" Pop. i'm glad he shares my admiration for that much maligned U2 album.

[bloop]

I counted 36.  Yeah, I like Iona, too.

I'd think someone would complain about ranking order before registering concerns about things that were included, but I guess I was wrong.

[murlough23]

I'd say overall i'd say his picks are very good. many of his favs are mine too. and he impressed me with his high placement of U2's  Pop. sometimes i feel like the only one who "gets" Pop. i'm glad he shares my admiration for that much maligned U2 album.

I'd say Josh gets that album too... he just doesn't rank it as high as I do. He still likes it a lot, though, if I'm not mistaken.

[Wildcatblue7]

are y'all ready for this?

I have heard a whoppin' EIGHT albums from that list all the way through.

haha.

[bloop]

I'd say Josh gets that album too... he just doesn't rank it as high as I do. He still likes it a lot, though, if I'm not mistaken.

How could you be mistaken?  It's a U2 album.

[Josh]

Tee hee-- mur's list has two albums called Listen.

[PaulDA]

My top 50 albums would all be a combination of James Brown,  RSJ albums, Nicole C. Mullen, the Cathedrals and Robin Mark, Tramaine Hawkins, then some specific albums like:
The Pilgrim Jubilees...IN REVIVAL
Newsboys.................DEVOTION

Much Afraid would be on it though, right?
 

Not really.
I mean, I did like the album, but Jars Of Clay are not one of my favorite artists in general, so I kind of lost interest in it.

[murlough23]

Not really.
I mean, I did like the album, but Jars Of Clay are not one of my favorite artists in general, so I kind of lost interest in it.

I wouldn't have expected it to be on your list, so I kind of thought it was non-sequitur for someone to ask you about it. Glad your opinion of it is at least positive, though. A lot of people who are supposedly big fans of Jars won't give that album the time of day.

[PaulDA]

Not really.
I mean, I did like the album, but Jars Of Clay are not one of my favorite artists in general, so I kind of lost interest in it.

I wouldn't have expected it to be on your list, so I kind of thought it was non-sequitur for someone to ask you about it. Glad your opinion of it is at least positive, though. A lot of people who are supposedly big fans of Jars won't give that album the time of day.

Actually, if I take out all the James Brown albums, and only concentrate on CCM and other CHristian albums, then it would be in my top 50.  

[bethany]

I've only heard 12 of those all the way through.  

[plvarona]

Well, since I have just updated my favorites list to include some older albums, and because we now have a CD mixing challenge going on, I figure I should go ahead and reveal my top 50 list now.  If nothing else, this will show exactly what I have to work with for the challenge.

So without any further ado, here's my list:

50. Dakota Moon: self-titled (1998)
49. Steven Curtis Chapman: Signs of Life (1996)
48. Billy Joel: The River of Dreams (1993)
47. Lifehouse: No Name Face (2000)
46. Bethany Dillon: self-titled (2004)
45. Dream Theater: Images & Words (1992)
44. Derek Webb: She Must and Shall Go Free (2003)
43. No Doubt: Tragic Kingdom (1995)
42. Jennifer Knapp: The Way I Am (2001)
41. Sixpence None The Richer: Divine Discontent (2002)
40. Jars of Clay: self-titled (1995)
39. Anberlin: Never Take Friendship Personal (2005)
38. Nichole Nordeman: This Mystery (2000)
37. Pink Floyd: The Division Bell (1994)
36. Relient K: mmhmm (2004)
35. The Wallflowers: Bringing Down The Horse (1996)
34. The Pool Boys: My Time Alive (2002)
33. Jennifer Knapp: Kansas (1997)
32. Caedmon's Call: Long Line of Leavers (2000)
31. Andrew Peterson: Carried Along (2000)
30. Jars of Clay: If I Left the Zoo (1999)
29. All Star United: International Anthems For the Human Race (1998)
28. Steven Curtis Chapman: Speechless (1999)
27. PFR: Great Lengths (1994)
26. Jeremy Camp: Stay (2002)
25. Jars of Clay: Who We Are Instead (2003)
24. Clear: self-titled (1998)
23. Shaun Groves: Invitation to Eavesdrop (2001)
22. Amanda Marshall: self-titled (1995)
21. Switchfoot: Learning to Breathe (2000)
20. Derek Webb: I See Things Upside Down (2004)
19. Burlap to Cashmere: Anybody Out There? (1998)
18. Jill Paquette: self-titled (2003)
17. Rebecca St. James: Transform (2000)
16. Dream Theater: Awake (1994)
15. Caedmon's Call: 40 Acres (1999)
14. Shaun Groves: Twilight (2003)
13. Edwin McCain: Messenger (1999)
12. Seal: self-titled (1994)
11. Steven Delopoulos: Me Died Blue (2003)
10. Jars of Clay: The Eleventh Hour (2002)
09. U2: The Joshua Tree (1987)
08. Nichole Nordeman: Woven & Spun (2002)
07. Caedmon's Call: Share The Well (2004)
06. Michael W. Smith: Live The Life (1998)
05. Cool Hand Luke: The Fires of Life (2004)
04. Nichole Nordeman: Wide Eyed (1998)
03. Switchfoot: The Beautiful Letdown (2003)
02. Mae: The Everglow (2005)
01. Jars of Clay: Much Afraid (1997)

If I counted correctly, I believe my list and murlough's list have 12 albums in common.

[Aaron]

So far I think I'm the one who has heard the most of murlough's top selections-- a whopping 35.

Can anyone top that?

I've heard all 50.  


My biggest disagreement is Pax217 which is some of the biggest crap christian rock has ever given us.

[eatahouse]

02. Mae: The Everglow (2005)

Wow... It's on my top 30 list, but not that high...

It is a great album though.

[murlough23]

My biggest disagreement is Pax217 which is some of the biggest crap christian rock has ever given us.

I didn't care much for them before Engage; I thought they were a P.O.D. ripoff. Engage even annoyed me quite a bit at first, but it grew on me like nobody's business. Something about the quirkiness and the overall happier tone set it apart from the glut of other rap/rock albums at the time. And "What Is Love" remains one of the most haunting songs of any genre that I've heard to this day.

[bloop]

My biggest disagreement is Pax217 which is some of the biggest crap christian rock has ever given us.

Just take it for what it is - a favorites list.  A "this is what I think is best" kind of list, for one, probably wouldn't be so Christian musician-dominated.  

As stated, there's really nothing to disagree with.  You differ rather than disagree.  I guess that's a subtle distinction, but it makes sense to me that way.

I'm trying to put together a list, but it's looking rather orthodox with only a few minor heresies.

*hasn't heard Engage, but guesses it wouldn't be as rewardingto me as it would to others*

[Aaron]

Just take it for what it is - a favorites list.  A "this is what I think is best" kind of list, for one, probably wouldn't be so Christian musician-dominated.  

As stated, there's really nothing to disagree with.  You differ rather than disagree.  I guess that's a subtle distinction, but it makes sense to me that way.

I'm trying to put together a list, but it's looking rather orthodox with only a few minor heresies.

*hasn't heard Engage, guesses it wouldn't be as rewarding*

Point taken

[murlough23]

Eh, I don't mind Wanderer's objections to Engage. He's probably been exposed to much more of the genre than I am and got sick of it long before Pax217 came around... either that or it was just never a genre he could get into in the first place. Engage would probably annoy a lot of people, and it even annoyed me slightly at first... I was quite surprised to realize that it was my favorite CD of the year 2002 (later usurped by Vienna Teng's Waking Hour, and I guess I put Sixpence above it in this list as well).

NP: "God Only Knows", Joy Williams

[Aaron]

David,


Your first guess is accurate.  I was into the rap-rock scene for a long time.  I was a fan of P.O.D. before most people even knew who they were.  Pax217, to me, is like Kutless but a bit better.  Their lyrics are eerily similar but they have a bit more musical talent.  

[murlough23]

Pax217, to me, is like Kutless but a bit better.  Their lyrics are eerily similar but they have a bit more musical talent.

I'm seriously not tracking with you on the lyrics thing there. Sure, they're cliche sometimes, but their lyrics are easily better than P.O.D.'s, which makes them at least 3 times as good as Kutless's.

NP: "No One Like You (Thanksgiving Mix)", David Crowder Band

[Aaron]

I'll give you that Pax217 has better lyrics than P.O.D. post 2001, but in the days of Brown, Snuff The Punk and Live At Tomfest, P.O.D. had great lyrics

[Josh]