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From	rob@splitsville.com
Subject	=?US-ASCII?B?TXkgVG9wIDIwIFBvcA==?=
Date	Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:12:55 -0500

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A couple of people imposed a couple of rules on their list making, which I thought was a good idea. No more than one album by an artist, and no album before 1970, which helps to eliminate the usual suspects. No one needs to read about me getting engorged about the Who for the ump-teenth time. 

1.	The La’s/The La’s
This CD is like a fabulous breath of fresh air. “There She Goes” remains one of my desert island singles. Noel Gallagher has been quoted as saying he ‘wanted to continue where the La’s left off’. 
2.	Elvis Costello/Imperial Bedroom
The greatest post-1970 songwriter, ever. Simple. Just a fantastic album with a beautiful sound. “Beyond Belief” is just that. It pains me to not include ‘Armed Forces’ and “This Year’s Model”.
3.	Supergrass/In It For The Money
While Oasis and Blur were battling it out, while bands like Pulp and Elastica came and went, Supergrass quietly became possibly the greatest of the Britpop bands. While their entire catalogue is a ‘must buy’, this is their masterpiece.
4.	Fountains of Wayne/Welcome Interstate Managers
This has a harder edge than the first two, and not quite as lyrically ‘cute’, which is a good thing. “Stacy’s Mom” aside, “Big Red Light”, “Bought For A Song” and “No Better Place” make this album soar.
5.	Squeeze/Argybargy
The “new Lennon and McCartney”? No. Close? Mmmaybe. 
6.	Crowded House/Woodface
The Finn Brothers have never sounded better. “Weather With You” is still wondrous, although I can probably live without “Chocolate Cake”
7.	The Knack/Get the Knack
The Harry S Truman of this list. Held the top spot for a while, was reviled after it gave it up, and then has been judged by history much more favorably (and accurately).
8.	The Ramones/Rocket to Russia
Who would’ve thought that by the time they retired they would be considered underappreciated geniuses? Sad that praise for them came too little, too late. Thankfully the rest of the world finally caught up.
9.	Marshall Crenshaw/Field Day
My favorite of a terrific catalogue (for the most part). Yes, those drums are loud, but they help make this album less pop and more Power Pop. And the tunes are ace, regardless of the production.
10.	Incorporated/Splitsville
My association with them be damned, this is a fantastic album track 1-10. Tony Waddy joining and making the band a four-piece changed their sound and dynamic tremendously. Just about any band would be happy to include in their catalogue tracks like “Headache”, “The Next One”, “Brink” and in particular, “White Dwarf”.
This beats out ‘Repeater’ by a nose.
11.	The Posies/Frosting On The Beater
Starting with and incredible one-two punch, “Dream All Day” and “Solar Sister” bring a ton of power to the pop. Great live band, too, when they’re sober.
12.	Oasis/(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
Yes, Noel was going for stadium anthems, and he hit the bull’s eye with, of course, “Wonderwall”. Overplayed but never overestimated. And “Roll With It” is a great straight-ahead stomp.
13.	The Greenberry Woods/Rapple Dapple
GBW before the egos collided. Splitsville still plays “Trampoline” and “Adieu” to this day (as they should).
14.	The Romantics/The Romantics
Yep, we all know if for “What I Like About You” (anybody ever get tired of that track?) but the lesser-known “Tell It To Carrie”, “When I Look In Your Eyes”, etc make it a Top 20 no-brainer.
15.	The Jam/Sound Affects
Another tough band to limit to one album. Weller was the true heir to Pete T. and Ray Davies. Like the Ramones, their stature in the US grew after their demise (we all know they were HUGE in the UK when they were together).  PW called this “Off The Wall” Meets “Revolver”.
16.	 Ben Folds Five/Whatever and Ever Amen
Early Elton updated for the 90’s. This band was a refreshing change of pace when they emerged out of Chapel Hill.
17.	 Cheap Trick/At Budokan 
Shouldn’t all live albums be like this, performances bringing something new and more exciting to studio tracks?
18.	 Matthew Sweet/Girlfriend
Can’t go wrong bringing in guitar heroes Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd. Athens, GA meets the Bowery, via Nebraska. Sweet’s career appears to be one of diminishing returns, but this is undoubtedly his peak.
19.	 Starbelly/Lemon Fresh 
A great collection that everyone on this board should own. This is basically a coin-flip over Myrcale Brah’s “Life On Planet Eartsnop” (which featured Splitsville’s Paul Krysiak). 
Must be something in the Baltimore water. 
20.	 Weezer/Green Album
The Uber-nerds at their poppiest and most accessible. Excellent production by Ric Ocasek. I pick this just ahead of Maladroit (gotta love “Dope Nose”)

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