913. Figure 8

Figure 8
Elliott Smith
2000

Tracks
1. Son Of Sam
2. Somebody That I Used To Know
3. Junk Bond Trader
4. Everything Reminds Me Of Her
5. Everything Means Nothing To Me
6. L.A.
7. In The Lost And Found (Honky Bach)/The Roost
8. Stupidity Tries
9. Easy Way Out
10. Wouldn't Mama Be Proud
11. Colorbars
12. Happiness/The Gondola Man
13. Pretty Mary Kay
14. Better Be Quiet Now
15. Can't Make A Sound
16. Bye

I was under the impression that Either Or would be the dark send off to Elliott Smith, but the Powers That Be decided to include his last album that was released during his lifetime. It's surprisingly cheerful, and I will continue to maintain that his death was a homicide.

So this was an excellent collection of thoughtfully written songs. This album was made after Smith was picked up by a big label. That could have easily meant the lost of Smith's unique sound, but he manages to keep his individuality while still evolving into something different.

I just wish he could have kept evolving.

RATING: 4/5

885. 69 Love Songs

69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
1999

Tracks
Disc: 1

1. Absolutely Cuckoo
2. I Don't Believe in the Sun
3. All My Little Words
4. Chicken With It's Head Cut Off
5. Reno Dakota
6. I Don't Want to Get Over You
7. Come Back from San Francisco
8. Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
9. Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits
10. Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be
11. I Think I Need a New Heart
12. Book of Love
13. Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long
14. How Fucking Romantic
15. One You Really Love
16. Punk Love
17. Parades Go By
18. Boa Constrictor
19. Pretty Girl Is Like
20. My Sentimental Melody
21. Nothing Matters When We're Dancing
22. Sweet-Lovin' Man
23. Things We Did and Didn't Do

Disc: 2

1. Roses
2. Love Is Like Jazz
3. When My Boy Walks Down the Street
4. Time Enough for Rocking When We're Old
5. Very Funny
6. Grand Canyon
7. No One Will Ever Love You
8. If You Don't Cry
9. You're My Only Home
10. (Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy
11. My Only Friend
12. Promises of Eternity
13. World Love
14. Washington, D.C.
15. Long-Forgotten Fairytale
16. Kiss Me Like You Mean It
17. Papa Was a Rodeo
18. Epitaph for My Heart
19. Asleep and Dreaming
20. Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing
21. Way You Say Good-Night
22. Abigail, Belle of Kilronan
23. I Shatter

Disc: 3

1. Underwear
2. It's a Crime
3. Busby Berkeley Dreams
4. I'm Sorry I Love You
5. Acoustic Guitar
6. Death of Ferdinand de Saussure
7. Love in the Shadows
8. Bitter Tears
9. Wi' Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget
10. Yeah! Oh, Yeah!
11. Experimental Music Love
12. Meaningless
13. Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin
14. Queen of the Savages
15. Blue You
16. I Can't Touch You Anymore
17. Two Kinds of People
18. How to Say Goodbye
19. Night You Can't Remember
20. For We Are the King of the Boudoir
21. Strange Eyes
22. Xylophone Track
23. Zebra

69 tracks, and almost three hours of music. That's a crazy length for an album, and I fully expected to this to wear me out quickly. 

But it didn't! The Magnetic Fields is keenly aware that they are asking a lot from their listeners, so they are constantly shifting sounds and offering bite size, delightful songs. The lyrics are really funny too. They say everybody has their own love language. Well, this band is fluent in my love language. Romantic, without being sappy. 

It's hard to select the best track when there are so many great choices, but some of my favorites were "I Think I Need a New Heart," "If You Don't Cry," "Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side," and "Papa Was a Rodeo." A wonderful album.

RATING: 5/5

836. If You're Feeling Sinister

If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle and Sebastian
1996

Tracks
1. Stars Of Track And Field
2. Seeing Other People
3. Me And The Major
4. Like Dylan In The Movies
5. Fox In The Snow
6. Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying
7. If You're Feeling Sinister
8. Mayfly
9. Boy Done Wrong Again
10. Judy And The Dream Of Horses

I didn't realize there was another Belle and Sebastian album on this List, so this was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I think we are done for good now.

I actually liked this better than the previous entry, Tigermilk. Others will disagree, of course; they will view the lack of a random electronica track as proof that the band is compromising its sound. But I think they were still searching for their voice in Tigermilk, and this album is a lot more certain.

Just an amazing album from start to finish, and essential listening.

RATING: 5/5

815. Tigermilk

Tigermilk
Belle and Sebastian
1996

Tracks
1. State I Am In
2. Expectations
3. She's Losing It
4. You're Just A Baby
5. Electronic Renaissance
6. I Could Be Dreaming
7. We Rule The School
8. My Wandering Days Are Over
9. I Don't Love Anyone
10. Mary Jo

I really needed a five star album, so thank you Belle and Sebastian!

I absolutely loved this, even enough to tolerate the electronica track that rudely interrupted the album. I especially liked "She's Losing It" and "My Wandering Days Are Over." The entire album was just strange enough to be surprising, without sacrificing any accessibility. 

I was really struck by the lyrical quality of the songs, and the gentle delivery. Just plain lovely.

RATING: 5/5

737. New Wave

New Wave
The Auteurs
1993

Tracks
1. Show Girl
2. Bailed Out
3. American Guitars
4. Junk Shop Clothes
5. Don't Trust the Stars
6. Starstruck
7. How Could I Be Wrong
8. Housebreaker
9. Valet Parking
10. Idiot Brother
11. Early Years
12. Home Again

I have tentative plans to binge on albums this weekend while performing long overdue household chores, which I have somehow managed to put off despite being in quarantine for several months now.  So you might get a wave of posts that steadily increase in crankiness. Stay tuned!

Anyway, I won't stick around for long, but I will say this album had some interesting glam rock influences. It actually reminded me of the album we just recently listened to, Suede. I think this was better though.

So another album that proves 1993 was a wonderful year for our planet.

RATING: 4/5

544. Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
1984

Tracks
1. Perfect Skin 
2. Speedboat 
3. Rattlesnakes 
4. Down On Mission Street 
5. Forest Fire 
6. Charlotte Street 
7. 2cv 
8. Four Flights Up 
9. Patience 
10. Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? 

We continue our streak of decent to superb albums with "Rattlesnakes." I will once again demonstrate my musical ignorance by admitting that I had never heard of Lloyd Cole before. I really liked my first foray into his music and I hope he is represented on the List again.

All of the songs were fairly catchy and Lloyd Cole has a pretty unique voice that manages to be soft and powerful at the same time. I particularly enjoyed "Patience" and "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" Damn, we haven't had good love songs like that in awhile. They warm my shriveled heart.

RATING: 4/5