My favorite music, '50, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s

'50s

100. I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
99. You Walked Out Of a Dream – The Four Freshmen
98. Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley & the Comets
97. See You Later, Alligator – Bill Haley & the Comets
96. Why Do Fools Fall In Love? – Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
95. School Days – Chuck Berry
94. Long Tall Sally – Little Richard
93. Come On, Let’s Go – Richie Valens
92. Sur L’Autoroute – Miles Davis
91. What Does It Take? – Nat “King” Cole
90. America – Leonard Bernstein
89. The Best Of All Possible Worlds – Leonard Bernstein
88. E & D Blues – Ella Fitzgerald
87. Cool – Leonard Bernstein
86. It Ain’t Necessarily So – Cab Calloway
85. Holiday For Strings – The Voices Of Walter Schumann
84. Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford
83. Only You – The Platters
82. I Put a Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
81. Cuban Nightingale – Joe Holiday
80. Darn That Dream – Sarah Vaughan
79. Love – The Four Freshmen
78. Let’s Face the Music and Dance – Anita O’Day
77. What About Us – The Coasters
76. Lush Life – Joe Mooney
75. Azure – Ella Fitzgerald
74. Which? – Jeri Southern
73. Jackie – Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
72. Run Red Run – The Coasters
71. Straight, No Chaser – Thelonious Monk
70. April In Paris – Sarah Vaughan
69. Manhattan – Blossom Dearie
68. Dripsody – Hugh Caine
67. The Comeback – Joe Williams
66. Dimples – John Lee Hooker
65. Surrey With the Fringe On Top – Ahmad Jamal
64. Imagination – Chet Baker
63. A Night In Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie
62. Oscalypso – Oscar Pettiford
61. How Long Has This Been Going On? – Ella Fitzgerald
60. In the Still Of the Night – The Five Satins
59. Down With Love – Blossom Dearie
58. 1956, 1957, 1958 – Lata Mangeshkar
57. Prelude To a Kiss – Sarah Vaughan
56. All In Fun – Jeri Southern
55. Rollin’ and Tumblin’ – Muddy Waters
54. Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams
53. Hound Dog – Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton
52. Lonely Woman – Ornette Coleman
51. Tennessee Waltz – Patti Page
50. Pagliacci - Mary Lou Williams
49. Jet Song - Leonard Bernstein
48. Ogguere – Tona La Negra
47. Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight – The Spaniels
46. Good Air – Raymond Scott
45. Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat – Stubby Kaye
44. Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
43. Searchin’ – The Coasters
42. Bird Dog – The Everly Brothers
41. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
40. Gee, Officer Krupke! – Leonard Bernstein
39. Honey Don’t – Carl Perkins
38. Sincerely – The Moonglows
37. Bacoa – Pérez Prado
36. Shulie A Bop – Sarah Vaughan
35. Poison Ivy – The Coasters
34. Third Man Theme – Esquivel
33. All Of Me – Esquivel
32. So What – Miles Davis
31. Apes and Peacocks – Duke Ellington
30. Philadelphia Bound – Jo Jones
29. Surrey With the Fringe On Top – Blossom Dearie
28. Moanin’ – Charlie Mingus
27. I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingoes
26. Oboe Mambo – Machito
25. Tonight, Tonight – Leonard Bernstein
24. Lush Life – John Coltrane
23. Love Me Or Leave Me – Nina Simone
22. Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline
21. Bye-Ya – Thelonious Monk
20. Guaglione – Machito
19. I Left My Hat In Haiti – Billy Eckstine
18. Be-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent
17. Luck Be a Lady – Robert Alda
16. I’m In the Mood – John Lee Hooker
15. If I Were a Bell – Jan Garber
14. I Just Want To Make Love To You – Muddy Waters
13. How High the Moon – Les Paul & Mary Ford
12. Oye Como Va – Tito Puente
11. Martinica – Pérez Prado
10. Motel (Diner Au Motel) – Miles Davis
9. What’d I Say – Ray Charles
8. Mr. Sandman – The Chordettes
7. Sh-Boom – The Chords
6. Adelaide’s Lament – Vivian Blaine
5. Bombokolea – Pérez Prado
4. Bye Bye Blues – Les Paul & Mary Ford
3. Mood Indigo – Nina Simone
2. Lullaby Of Birdland – Sarah Vaughan
1. Manteca – Dizzy Gillespie

'60s

100. Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock
99. 96 Tears - ? & the Mysterians
98. Monkey Man – The Rolling Stones
97. Mathar – The Dave Pike Set
96. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
95. Grazing In the Grass – Friends Of Distinction
94. Toe Hold – Wilson Pickett
93. I’m Movin’ On – Ray Charles
92. Jazz Samba – Bill Evans
91. Rain – The Beatles
90. It’s Gonna Work Out Fine – Ike & Tina Turner
89. Blue Moon – The Marcels
88. Lady Godiva’s Operation – The Velvet Underground
87. Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
86. One Note Samba/Spanish Flea – Sergio Mendes
85. She Said She Said – The Beatles
84. Every Time We Say Goodbye – John Coltrane
83. Samba Yantra – Chick Corea
82. Hot Fun In the Summertime – Sly & the Family Stone
81. Stella By Starlight – Bill Evans
80. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
79. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
78. Shangri-La – The Kinks
77. I’m Blue – Ike & Tina Turner
76. II B.S. – Charlie Mingus
75. No Fun – The Stooges
74. Arabesque Cookie – Duke Ellington
73. Sugar Rum Cherry – Duke Ellington
72. Cold Sweat – James Brown
71. Be My Baby – The Ronettes
70. In a Sentimental Mood – Sarah Vaughan
69. Chelsea Morning – Joni Mitchell
68. Rose In Spanish Harlem – Ben E. King
67. Amazing Journey – The Who
66. Piano Phase – Steve Reich
65. Alex Mambo – Machito
64. Little Egypt – The Coasters
63. Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker
62. Aye Que Rico – Eddie Palmieri
61. Tuareg – Gal Costa
60. Unsquare Dance – Dave Brubeck
59. Mother Popcorn, Pt. 1 – James Brown
58. A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
57. Hava Nagila – Dick Dale
56. Thank You Mama, Thank You Papa – The Dixie Cups
55. The Word – The Beatles
54. In My Life – The Beatles
53. It Didn’t Turn Out That Way – Mose Allison
52. I Thank You – Sam & Dave
51. Matrix – Chick Corea
50. I Am the Walrus – The Beatles
49. Something In the Way She Moves – James Taylor
48. Misfit Blues – Duke Ellington
47. Little G Minor Fugue – The Swingle Singers
46. Linus and Lucy – Vince Guaraldi
45. Good Morning – The Beatles
44. Tropicalia – Caetano Veloso
43. Cousin Mary – John Coltrane
42. Theme From ‘a Summer Place’ – Percy Faith
41. A Man and a Woman (Un Homme et un Femme) – Ferrente & Teicher
40. I’m Sick Y’All – Otis Redding
39. Concerto For 2 Violins; Vivace – The Swingle Singers
38. Small Portion Of Your Love – Sam & Dave
37. I’ll Be Your Mirror – The Velvet Underground
36. Ave Maria – Caetano Veloso
35. Femme Fatale – The Velvet Underground
34. Piggies – The Beatles
33. Ode To Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry
32. Manic Depression – Jimi Hendrix
31. Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix
30. Micaela – Pete Rodriguez
29. Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys
28. Shoppin’ For Clothes – The Coasters
27. The Empty Boat – Caetano Veloso
26. Tighten Up, Pt. 1 – Archie Bell & the Drells
25. Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
24. What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You – Marva Whitney
23. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? – Chicago
22. Beginnings – Chicago
21. Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
20. I Can’t Stand Myself – James Brown
19. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
18. Licking Stick – Licking Stick – James Brown
17. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix
16. Castles Made Of Sand – Jimi Hendrix
15. Soy El Rey – Pete Rodriguez
14. In My Room – The Beach Boys
13. Green Onions – Booker T. & MG’s
12. Oh That’s Nice – Pete Rodriguez
11. You Are My Sunshine – Ray Charles
10. Everyday People – Sly & the Family Stone
9. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles
8. Lost In the Paradise – Caetano Veloso
7. Irene – Caetano Veloso
6. Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles
5. Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles
4. I Like It Like That – Pete Rodriguez
3. Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix
2. Garota De Ipanema – João Gilberto
1. My Favorite Things – John Coltrane

'70s

100. Simple Joys – Stephen Schwartz
99. War Is a Science – Stephen Schwartz
98. Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
97. Magic To Do – Stephen Schwartz
96. A Fifth Of Beethoven – Walter Murphy
95. The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys – Traffic
94. Funky President – James Brown
93. Money (That’s What I Want) – The Flying Lizards`
92. Disorder – Joy Division
91. Deputy Of Love – Don Armando’s Second Avenue Rhumba Band
90. Hero Worship – The B-52’s
89. Next To You – The Police
88. I Found That Essence Rare – Gang Of Four
87. Bye Bye Love – The Cars
86. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – The Slits
85. Old World – The Modern Lovers
84. I Got a Bag Of My Own – James Brown
83. Satisfaction – Devo
82. You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
81. Music For Eighteen Musicians – Steve Reich
80. Popcorn – Hot Butter
79. ‘There is Nobody’ – Brian Eno
78. Inland Sea – Brian Eno
77. Six Fantasies On a Poem By Thomas Campion: Her Song – Paul Lansky
76. Cassetto – NEU!
75. Chovendo Na Roseira – Elis Regina
74. Two Rapid Formations – Brian Eno
73. Hot Blooded – Foreigner
72. Neuschnee 78 – NEU!
71. Sai Do Sereno – Gilberto Gil
70. Grease – Frankie Valli
69. El Bollinski En D7 – Charlie Santiago & Eddie Montalvo
68. If You Want Me To Stay – Sly & the Family Stone
67. John, I’m Only Dancing – David Bowie
66. One More Night – CAN
65. Saturday In the Park – Chicago
64. Clapping Music – Steve Reich
63. Paranoid – Black Sabbath
62. Across the Lake Of the Ancient Word – Terry Riley
61. Celestial Valley – Terry Riley
60. Trans-Europe Express – Kraftwerk
59. Desert Of Ice – Terry Riley
58. O Canto da Ema – Gilberto Gil
57. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
56. Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
55. Pink Moon – Nick Drake
54. Cravo e Canela – Milton Nascimento
53. Me and My Baby Brother – War
52. Neuschnee – NEU!
51. You Are the Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
50. Neon Lights – Kraftwerk
49. Rock Lobster – The B-52’s
48. Havana Affair – The Ramones
47. Downtown Dirt – Lou Reed
46. Monkey Girl – The Maytals
45. Kicks – Lou Reed
44. Koka Kola – The Clash
43. Jimmy Jazz – The Clash
42. Object – The Cure
41. I Feel For You – Prince
40. Ether – Gang Of Four
39. Anthrax – Gang Of Four
38. Holidays In the Sun – The Sex Pistols
37. Robots – Kraftwerk
36. Living For the City – Stevie Wonder
35. How Deep Is Your Love – The Bee Gees
34. Night Fever – The Bee Gees
33. Super Bad – James Brown
32. Baby – Os Mutantes
31. Make Me Smile – Chicago
30. Whitey’s On the Moon – Gil Scott-Heron
29. Sebastiana – Gal Costa
28. Chocolate City – Parliament
27. Cut the Cake – Average White Band
26. Hello Music – Fred Frith
25. All Around My Hat – Steeleye Span
24. Heroes – David Bowie
23. Drumming: Pt. I – Steve Reich
22. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
21. The Love I Lost – Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
20. TSOP – MFSB
19. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – AC/DC
18. Harvest For the World – The Isley Brothers
17. I Want More – CAN
16. Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
15. Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again – Lyn Collins
14. Lady Marmalade – Labelle
13. Time Warp – Richard O’Brian
12. Nervous Breakdown – Black Flag
11. Natural’s Not In It – Gang Of Four
10. Roadrunner – The Modern Lovers
9. Hallogallo – NEU!
8. The Money Song – Joel Gray & Liza Minelli
7. Drumming, Pt. IV – Steve Reich
6. I Wish – Stevie Wonder
5. Drumming, Pt. II – Steve Reich
4. It’s a New Day – James Brown
3. Fancy – Bobbie Gentry
2. God – John Lennon
1. Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ – Steve Reich

'80s

100. Sour Grapes – Descendents
99. Plum Dumb – The Dead Milkmen
98. Sextet – Steve Reich
97. Kiss Me On the Bus – The Replacements
96. No Sleep Till Brooklyn – The Beastie Boys
95. Cars – Gary Numan
94. Laughing – REM
93. Change In Speak – De La Soul
92. Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over) – Technotronic
91. How Soon Is Now? – The Smiths
90. Move This – Technotronic
89. Buckethead – Meat Puppets
88. River Euphrates – The Pixies
87. Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
86. Cotton Crown – Sonic Youth
85. Walk This Way – Run-DMC
84. Slip It In – Black Flag
83. The Headmaster Ritual – The Smiths
82. I Don’t Wanna Hear It – Minor Threat
81. Split Myself In Two – Meat Puppets
80. El Canelo – Los Lobos
79. Beauty Lies In the Eye – Sonic Youth
78. ‘Cross the Breeze – Sonic Youth
77. Oh, Me – Meat Puppets
76. Rebel Without a Pause – Public Enemy
75. Black Steel In the Hour Of Chaos – Public Enemy
74. I’ll Be Gone – Tom Waits
73. The Big Foist – The Minutemen
72. Away – Meat Puppets
71. Myage – Descendents
70. Paid In Full – Eric B & Rakim
69. Four Sections: Percussion – Steve Reich
68. The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts – The Minutemen
67. Under Pressure – Queen
66. D.M.S.R. – Prince
65. What’s Going On – Hüsker Dü
64. Kuru Field Of Justice – Philip Glass
63. Answering Machine – The Replacements
62. Turn On the News – Hüsker Dü
61. Shadow Of a Doubt – Sonic Youth
60. When You Were Mine – Prince
59. Go! – Tones On Tail
58. See a Little Light – Bob Mould
57. Gigantic – The Pixies
56. Rockit – Herbie Hancock
55. Wendy – Descendents
54. Rise Above – Black Flag
53. She’s Crafty – The Beastie Boys
52. Pocket Calculator – Kraftwerk
51. You’ve Got Everything Now – The Smiths
50. Click Click – The English Beat
49. Tears Of a Clown – The English Beat
48. Twist and Crawl – The English Beat
47. Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
46. The Desert Music IV: Moderate – Steve Reich
45. Close (To the Edit) – Art Of Noise
44. I Ain’t No Joke – Eric B & Rakim
43. I Know You Got Soul – Eric B & Rakim
42. Fight the Power – Public Enemy
41. Mo Beru Agba – King Sunny Adé
40. Eight Miles High – Hüsker Dü
39. Masochism World – Hüsker Dü
38. Junk Culture – Orchestral Manoeuvers In the Dark
37. Sister – Prince
36. More Than Rain – Tom Waits
35. Automatic – Prince
34. Mirror In the Bathroom – The English Beat
33. Up the Neck – The Pretenders
32. I’m In Love With a German Film Star – The Passions
31. The Desert Music II: Moderate – Steve Reich
30. Tehillim II: Psalms 34:13-15 – Steve Reich
29. New York Counterpoint: Slow – Steve Reich
28. Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
27. The Beautiful Ones – Prince
26. You Shook Me – AC/DC
25. She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
24. Breaking Us In Two – Joe Jackson
23. Filler – Minor Threat
22. Hang On St. Christopher – Tom Waits
21. Peek-A-Boo – Siouxsie & the Banshees
20. All Told – The Effigies
19. Maiden’s Milk – Meat Puppets
18. Magic Toy Missing – Meat Puppets
17. New York Counterpoint: Fast – Steve Reich
16. Chartered Trips – Hüsker Dü
15. Newest Industry – Hüsker Dü
14. Whatever – Hüsker Dü
13. Up On the Sun – Meat Puppets
12. New Gods – Meat Puppets
11. In a Glass House – Antietam
10. Teen Age Riot – Sonic Youth
9. Aurora Borealis – Meat Puppets
8. Bad Mouth – Fugazi
7. King Of the Hill – The Minutemen
6. Night Of the Living Bassheads – Public Enemy
5. Pilgrimage – REM
4. Waiting Room – Fugazi
3. Dirty Blvd. – Lou Reed
2. Radio Free Europe – REM
1. Something I Learned Today – Hüsker Dü

'90s

100. Walking Wounded – Everything But the Girl
99. The Sleepwalker – The Beau Hunks Sextette
98. Five Years – Björk
97. Valeti Boliyan – A.S. Kang
96. Johnny Feelgood – Liz Phair
95. Vogue – Madonna
94. The Summer – Yo La Tengo
93. Lions (Linden) – Pavement
92. Perfume-V – Pavement
91. Comely – Neutral Milk Hotel
90. Josephine – The Magnetic Fields
89. The First Part – Superchunk
88. Autriche – Autechre
87. Choserito Plena – Marc Ribot
86. Scars, Four Eyes – Sebadoh
85. Big Hands – Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
84. Four O’Clocker 2 – Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
83. From Now On – Pavement
82. Les Yper-Sound – Stereolab
81. Back From the Dead – House Of Pain
80. X-Flies – Mouse On Mars
79. Ju Ju – Mouse On Mars
78. Man In a Hat – The Klezmatics
77. Typing Music – Steve Reich
76. Typing Music Repeat – Steve Reich
75. What? – A Tribe Called Quest
74. Screenwriter’s Blues – Soul Coughing
73. Do the Digs Dug? – The Goats
72. Rape Me – Nirvana
71. Heart-Shaped Box – Nirvana
70. Sudden Organ – Yo La Tengo
69. La Femme Fetal – Digable Planets
68. Genesis XII – Steve Reich
67. Watching Windows – Roni Size/Reprazant
66. Song Against Sex – Neutral Milk Hotel
65. Noise Of Carpet – Stereolab
64. Percolator – Stereolab
63. Flower Called Nowhere – Stereolab
62. Wrong Pot 2 Piss In – The Goats
61. Got Kinda Hi – The Goats
60. Scenario – A Tribe Called Quest
59. Can’t Truss It – Public Enemy
58. Cherub Rock – Smashing Pumpkins
57. When My Boy Walks Down the Street – The Magnetic Fields
56. Things We Did and Didn’t Do – The Magnetic Fields
55. Acoustic Guitar – The Magnetic Fields
54. Little Trouble Girl – Sonic Youth
53. The Fool – Neutral Milk Hotel
52. Olson – Boards Of Canada
51. Open the Light – Boards Of Canada
50. Egon & Edith – Rachel’s
49. Expectations – Belle & Sebastian
48. Unfair – Pavement
47. You’re Just a Baby – Belle & Sebastian
46. Lineage – Zakir Hussein
45. Ticker-Tape Of the Unconscious – Stereolab
44. Rich Girl – Louchie Lou & Michie One
43. Jennifer’s Body – Hole
42. Gratitude – The Beastie Boys
41. Meetings Along the Edge – Philip Glass
40. All Apologies – Nirvana
39. The Night You Can’t Remember – The Magnetic Fields
38. Pacifics – Digable Planets
37. You Owe Me – Nas
36. From a Motel 6 – Yo La Tengo
35. Stratford-On-Guy – Liz Phair
34. Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat) – Digable Planets
33. Je Réve Encore – Paris Combo
32. Mundian To Bach Ke – Labh Janjua
31. Holland, 1945 – Neutral Milk Hotel
30. Music For Airports: 1/1 – Bang On a Can All-Stars
29. In Sarah, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven There Were Women and Men – Tortoise
28. Un Poquito Mas – Jimmy Bosch
27. Is This Desire? – PJ Harvey
26. The Woman Downstairs – The Handsome Family
25. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – Neutral Milk Hotel
24. Girl/Boy Song – Aphex Twin
23. I Don’t Want To Get Over You – The Magnetic Fields
22. Lost At Birth – Public Enemy
21. Taa Deem – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
20. Two-Headed Boy – Neutral Milk Hotel
19. Hyper-Ballad – Björk
18. 360 (What Goes Around) – Grand Puba
17. I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
16. Divorce Song – Liz Phair
15. Pass the Mic – The Beastie Boys
14. Stand Together – The Beastie Boys
13. Canned Heat – Jamiroquai
12. Lithium – Nirvana
11. Reno Dakota – The Magnetic Fields
10. Miss Modular – Stereolab
9. Tongue – Underworld
8. The Crankcase – Timber
7. So What’cha Want – The Beastie Boys
6. Spoonman – Underworld
5. Parsec – Stereolab
4. Brakhage – Stereolab
3. The King Of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1 – Neutral Milk Hotel
2. The King Of Carrot Flowers, Parts II & III – Neutral Milk Hotel
1. Papa Was a Rodeo – The Magnetic Fields

'00s

100. Watch My Ass - Rod Lee
99. Tight Sweater: Exposed Zipper - Marc Mellits
98. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
97. Hysteric - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
96. Ping Island/Lightning Strikes Rescue Op - Mark Mothersbaugh
95. Song Of the Sleeping Forest - susumu yokota
94. Vo Kuch - Kiran Ahluwalia
93. Salam - Gigi
92. Northern Line - The Old 97s
91. I Wish I Had an Evil Twin - The Magnetic Fields
90. I Don't Believe You - The Magnetic Fields
89. Woman On the Screen - Boris
88. The Empty Page - Sonic Youth
87. Lens Around - Growing
86. Flaming Love and Destiny - susumu yokota
85. And I've Seen a Bloody Shadow - Of Montreal
84. Women's Studies Victims - Of Montreal
83. Chain - School Of Seven Bells
82. You and Whose Army? - Radiohead
81. One Day I Had an Extra Toe - Black Moth Super Rainbow
80. Stratographic - Lithops
79. Idioteque - Radiohead
78. Train To Heaven - Motion Trio
77. Aeon - Antony & the Johnsons
76. Music Is Math - Boards Of Canada
75. Julie and Candy - Boards Of Canada
74. Gone - Kanye West
73. Post It - The Aluminum Group
72. Gold Lion (Diplo Remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
71. Gnosienne No. 1 - Chicha Libre
70. The Cell - Erykah Badu
69. Little Swallows - The Handsome Family
68. Clapping Music Variations - Glenn Kotche
67. I Saw the Bright Shinies - The Octopus Project
66. Rollerdisco - Black Moth Super Rainbow
65. You Saw It All - Herbert
64. The View From the People Wall - Mahaogany
63. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
62. Sanctus - Phil Kline
61. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
60. They Live In the Meadow - Black Moth Super Rainbow
59. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco
58. Canned Goods & Firearms - Sir Richard Bishop
57. No Money - The Evens
56. Little Eyes - Yo La Tengo
55. Kargashai - Mamer
54. Malibu Gas Station - Sonic Youth
53. The Times - Lightning Dust
52. Caña Brava (Fresh Sugarcane) - La India Canela
51. High In the Morning - Herbert
50. The Audience - Herbert
49. Waiting For the Moon To Rise - Belle & Sebastian
48. WannaBe In L.A. - Eagles Of Death Metal
47. Little Red Light - Fountains Of Wayne
46. Hip-Hop Is Dead - Nas
45. Bright Future In Sales - Fountains Of Wayne
44. The Infinite Descent - Thomas Newman
43. Roses - Mos Def
42. Ibitsu - Boris
41. Church - OutKast
40. Last Days Of Disco - Yo La Tengo
39. Bowtie - OutKast
38. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
37. I Knew - Lightning Dust
36. The Akara - Beirut
35. Duas Opinioes - Tom Zé
34. What New York Used To Be - The Kills
33. Quiet Dog - Mos Def
32. Don't Leave the Light On, Baby - Belle & Sebastian
31. Tamatant Tilay - Tinariwan
30. Labyrinthian Pomp - Of Montreal
29. Düsseldorf - Pole
28. Feeling Free - Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators
27. Dancing Choose - TV On the Radio
26. Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
25. Boyz - M.I.A.
24. Song Song Song - Final Fantasy
23. Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
22. Connecticut's For Fucking - Jesus H Christ & the Four Hornsmen Of the Apocalypse
21. Baiting the Public - Fucked Up
20. El Cholulu - Glover Gill & the Tosca Tango Orchestra
19. Oh, Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!) - Sufjan Stevens
18. Faberge Falls For Shuggie - Of Montreal
17. Bodysnatchers - Radiohead
16. El Anden - Bajofondo
15. The Model - Belle & Sebastian
14. A Woman Like Me - Spanky Wilson
13. Swing Set - Jurassic 5
12. Polaris - Bostich
11. Milligram Of Happiness - The Aluminum Group
10. Confutatis - Las Rubias Del Norte
9. Jacksonville - Sufjan Stevens
8. Sofera - Rajery
7. Belleville Rendezvous - -M-
6. Work It - Missy Elliott
5. Hey Ya! - OutKast
4. BKAB - Ethan Stoller
3. House Of Cards - Radiohead
2. Hsaing Kyaik De Maung - Bang On a Can All Stars
1. Pass That Dutch - Missy Elliott

My favorite music, 1947-2009

1947

10. "Solitude" - Billie Holiday
9. "Golden Earrings" - Peggy Lee
8. "Bouquet Of Roses" - Eddy Arnold
7. "I'm Going to Tell God" - Mahalia Jackson
6. "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" - Louis Jordan
5. "Ruby, My Dear" - Thelonious Monk
4. "Boggs Boogie" - Spade Cooley
3. "Scrapple From the Apple" - Charlie Parker
2. "Long John Blues" - Dinah Washington
1. "Trouble In Mind" - Tex Ritter

1948

10. "Once In Love With Amy" - Dean Martin
9. "Tennessee Saturday Night" - Red Foley
8. "Bumble Boogie" - Freddie Martin
7. "Sophisticated Lady" - Billy Eckstine
6. "Sonata #5" - John Cage
5. "Epistrophy" - Thelonious Monk
4. "Tin Tin Deo" - James Moody
3. "Ool Ya Koo" - Dizzy Gillespie
2. "My Bank Account Is Gone" - Jesse Ashlock
1. "I Just Can't Be Satisfied" - Muddy Waters

1949

10. "Move" - Miles Davis
9. "Dipsy Doodle" - Larry Clinton
8. "Black Coffee" - Ella Fitzgerald
7. "Remember" - Johnny Hartman
6. "Beans and Cornbread" - Louis Jordan
5. "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" - Hank Williams
4. "Brick Top" - Django Reinhardt
3. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" - Flatt & Scruggs
2. "Mondongo" - Miguelito Valdes
1. "Ran-Kan-Kan" - Tito Puente

1950

10. "The Third Man Theme" - Amos Karas
9. "Bushel and a Peck" - Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely
8. "Mona Lisa" - Nat "King" Cole
7. "If I Knew You Were Comin' (I'd Have Baked a Cake)" - Eileen Barton
6. "I'll Never Be Free" - Kay Starr & Tennessee Ernie Ford
5. "Rollin' and Tumblin'" - Muddy Waters
4. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" - Ella Fitzgerald
3. "Tennessee Waltz" - Patti Page
2. "Adelaide's Lament" - Vivian Blaine
1. "Bombokolea" - Perez Prado

1951

10. "School Days" - Dizzy Gillespie
9. "KC Blues" - Charlie Parker
8. "Cold Cold Heart" - Hank Williams
7. "Holiday For Strings" - The Voices Of Walter Schumann
6. "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" - Ahmad Jamal
5. "Pagliacci" - Mary Lou Williams
4. "I'm In the Mood" - John Lee Hooker
3. "If I Were a Bell" - Jan Garber
2. "Oye Como Va" - Tito Puente
1. "Martinica" - Perez Prado

1952

10. "The Birth Of the Blues" - Frank Sinatra
9. "Klangstudie II" - Herbert Elmert
8. "Blue Moon" - Billie Holiday
7. "What Does It Take To Make You Take To Me" - Nat "King" Cole
6. "Indian Love Call" - Slim Whitman
5. "Conquest" - Patti Page
4. "Straight, No Chaser" - Thelonious Monk
3. "Oboe Mambo" - Machito
2. "Ogguere" - Tony La Negra
1. "I Left My Hat In Haiti" - Billy Eckstine

1953

10. "I Want To Be Evil" - Eartha Kitt
9. "That's Amore" - Dean Martin
8. "I Want You To Love Me" - Muddy Waters
7. "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz" - Jean Shepard
6. "Imagination" - Chet Baker
5. "Your Cheatin' Heart" - Hank Williams
4. "Good Air" - Raymond Scott
3. "Hound Dog" - Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
2. "Bye-Ya" - Thelonious Monk
1. "Bye Bye Blues" - Les Paul & Mary Ford

1954

10. "The Man I Love" - Miles Davis
9. "Shulie-A-Bop" - Sarah Vaughan
8. "I Put a Spell On You" - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
7. "Sincerely" - The Moonglows
6. "A Night In Tunisia" - Dizzy Gillespie
5. "All In Fun" - Jeri Southern
4. "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" - The Spaniels
3. "I Just Want To Make Love To You" - Muddy Waters
2. "Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes
1. "Sh-Boom" - The Chords

1955

10. "Singing the Blues" - Marty Robbins
9. "Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford
8. "Dripsody" - Hugh Caine
7. "Earth Angel" - The Penguins
6. "Only You" - The Platters
5. "The Comeback" - Joe Willians
4. "Bo Diddley" - Bo Diddley
3. "Oscalypso" - Oscar Pettiford
2. "Love" - The Four Freshmen
1. "Lullaby Of Birdland" - Sarah Vaughan

1956

10. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
9. "Azure" - Ella Fitzgerald
8. "Let's Face the Music and Dance" - Anita O'Day
7. "In the Still Of the Night" - The Five Satins
6. "Dimples" - John Lee Hooker
5. "Candide: The Best Of All Possible Worlds" - Leonard Bernstein
4. "Bacoa" - Perez Prado
3. "I Walk the Line" - Johnny Cash
2. "Honey Don't" - Carl Perkins
1. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" - Gene Vincent

1957

10. "E & D Blues" - Ella Fitzgerald
9. "Lush Life" - Joe Mooney
8. "Searchin'" - The Coasters
7. "Conversation" - Machito
6. "West Side Story: Tonight, Tonight" - Leonard Bernstein
5. "Lush Life" - John Coltrane
4. "Mood Indigo" - Nina Simone
3. "Walkin' After Midnight" - Patsy Cline
2. "Motel (Diner Au Motel)" - Miles Davis
1. "Manteca" - Dizzy Gillespie

1958

10. "I Mean You" - Thelonious Monk
9. "Saturday Night On Saturn" - Les Baxter
8. "Yakety Yak" - The Coasters
7. "Hooray For Love" - Bobby Short
6. "Come On, Let's Go" - Richie Valens
5. "Summertime Blues" - Eddie Cochran
4. "Bird Dog" - The Everly Brothers
3. "Third Man Theme" - Esquivel
2. "Cuban Nightingale" - Joe Holiday
1. "Guaglione" - Machito

1959

10. "Darn That Dream" - Sarah Vaughan
9. "Lonely Woman" - Ornette Coleman
8. "Poison Ivy" - The Coasters
7. "So What" - Miles Davis
6. "Apes and Peacocks" - Duke Ellington
5. "Philadelphia Bound" - Jo Jones
4. "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" - Blossom Dearie
3. "Moanin'" - Charlie Mingus
2. "I Only Have Eyes For You" - The Flamingoes
1. "What'd I Say" - Ray Charles

1960

10. "Money (That's What I Want)" - Barrett Strong
9. "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" - Blossom Dearie
8. "Take Five" - Dave Brubeck
7. "New York's My Home" - Ray Charles
6. "Over You" - Aaron Neville
5. "'Til I Kissed You" - The Everly Brothers
4. "Sugar Rum Cherry" - Duke Ellington
3. "Cousin Mary" - John Coltrane
2. "Theme From a Summer Place" - Percy Faith
1. "Shoppin' For Clothes" - The Coasters

1961

10. "Runaway" - Del Shannon
9. "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" - Ike & Tina Turner
8. "Li'l Egypt" - The Coasters
7. "In a Sentimental Mood" - Sarah Vaughan
6. "Unsquare Dance" - Dave Brubeck
5. "Surrender" - Elvis Presley
4. "Blue Moon" - The Marcels
3. "A Rose In Spanish Harlem" - Ben E. King
2. "Alex Mambo" - Machito
1. "My Favorite Things" - John Coltrane

1962

10. "Doug's Room" - Mauricio Smith
9. "Watermelon Man" - Herbie Hancock
8. "The Inch Worm" - John Coltrane
7. "Baltimore Gas & Electric" - Raymond Scott
6. "Crying" - Roy Orbison
5. "I'm Blue" - The Ikettes
4. "Boom Boom" - John Lee Hooker
3. "It Didn't Turn Out That Way" - Mose Allison
2. "Green Onions" - Booker T & the MG's
1. "You Are My Sunshine" - Ray Charles

1963

10. "One Fine Day" - The Chiffons
9. "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" - The Jaynettes
8. "Da Do Run Run" - The Crystals
7. "II B.S." - Charlie Mingus
6. "Have Nagila" - Dick Dale
5. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes
4. "Vivace" - The Swingle Singers
3. "Stella By Starlight" - Bill Evans
2. "In My Room" - The Beach Boys
1. "Garota De Ipanema" - João Gilberto

1964

10. "Canteloupe Island" - Herbie Hancock
9. "You Can't Do That" - The Beatles
8. "Fiddler On the Roof: Tradition" - Jerry Bock
7. "Lupita" - Guillermo Gonzalez
6. "Out Of Sight" - James Brown
5. "Little Organ Fugue" - The Swingle Singers
4. "Thank You Mama Thank You Papa" - The Dixie Cups
3. "Linus and Lucy" - Vince Guaraldi
2. "So What?" - Joe Cuba
1. "Don't Worry Baby" - The Beach Boys

1965

10. "She's About a Mover" - The Sir Douglas Quintet
9. "Requiem" - The Swingle Singers
8. "Daddy Wong Legs" - Cal Tjader
7. "Pedro Pedreiro" - Quarteto Emly
6. "Spanish Flea" - Herb Alpert
5. "Shotgun" - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
4. "Descarga Cachao" - Tito Rodriguez
3. "Batman's Boogaloo" - Bobby Valentin
2. "Cold Sweat" - James Brown
1. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" - The Beatles

1966

10. "Jazz Samba" - Bill Evans
9. "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones
8. "One Note Samba/Spanish Flea" - Sergio Mendes
7. "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" - Willie Bobo
6. "Do the Boogaloo" - Pete Rodriguez
5. "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys
4. "It's No Secret" - Jefferson Airplane
3. "A Man and a Woman (un Homme et un Femme)" - Ferrente & Teicher
2. "I'm Sick Y'All" - Otis Redding
1. "Tomorrow Never Knows" - The Beatles

1967

10. "The First Cut Is the Deepest" - PP Arnold
9. "Dr. Feelgood" - Aretha Franklin
8. "Surfboard" - Esquivel
7. "Hip-Hug Her" - Booker T & the MG's
6. "Ode To Billie Joe" - Bobbie Gentry
5. "A Small Portion Of Your Love" - Sam & Dave
4. "Femme Fatale" - The Velvet Underground
3. "Strawberry Fields Forever" - The Beatles
2. "Oh, That's Nice" - Pete Rodriguez
1. "Hey, Joe" - Jimi Hendrix

1968

10. "I Thank You" - Sam & Dave
9. "Matrix" - Chick Corea
8. "Something In the Way She Moves" - James Taylor
7. "Ave Maria" - Caetano Veloso
6. "Piggies" - The Beatles
5. "Tighten Up, Part 1" - Archie Bell & the Dells
4. "Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash
3. "What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You" - Marva Whitney
2. "Licking Stick - Licking Stick, Part 1" - James Brown
1. "Castles Made Of Sand" - Jimi Hendrix

1969

10. "Aye Que Rico" - Eddie Palmieri
9. "A Boy Named Sue" - Johnny Cash
8. "Mother Popcorn, Part 1" - James Brown
7. "No Fun" - Iggy Pop & the Stooges
6. "Shangri-La" - The Kinks
5. "Beginnings" - Chicago
4. "Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
3. "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
2. "Everyday People" - Sly & the Family Stone
1. "Irene" - Caetano Veloso

1970

10. "If You See What I Mean" - PP Arnold
9. "Eleanor Rigby" - Aretha Franklin
8. "And I Love Him" - Rita Lee
7. "Chelsea Morning" - Sergio Mendes
6. "Moondance" - Van Morrison
5. "Chovendo Ma Roseira" - Elis Regina
4. "Super Bad" - James Brown
3. "Make Me Smile" - Chicago
2. "Whitey's On the Moon" - Gil Scott-Heron
1. "Fancy" - Bobbie Gentry

1971

10. "The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" - Traffic
9. "Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who
8. "What a Beautiful Place" - Catherine Howe
7. "Monkey Girl" - The Maytals
6. "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
5. "Baby" - Os Mutantes
4. "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor
3. "Drumming, Part I" - Steve Reich
2. "It's a New Day" - James Brown
1. "God" - John Lennon

1972

10. "Popcorn" - Hot Butter
9. "One More Night" - Can
8. "Saturday In the Park" - Chicago
7. "Clapping Music" - Steve Reich
6. "Pink Moon" - Nick Drake
5. "Cravo E Canela" - Milton Nascimento
4. "O Canto de Ema" - Gilberto Gil
3. "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder
2. "Hallogallo" - NEU!
1. "Cabaret: The Money Song" - Liza Minelli & Joel Grey

1973

10. "Me and My Baby Brother" - War
9. "Neuschnee" - NEU!
8. "If You Want Me To Stay" - Sly & the Family Stone
7. "John, I'm Only Dancing" - David Bowie
6. "I Got a Bag Of My Own" - James Brown
5. "Living For the City" - Stevie Wonder
4. "The Love I Lost" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
3. "Sebastiana" - Gal Costa
2. "TSOP" - MFSB
1. "Music For Mallet Instruments, Voices, & Organ" - Steve Reich

1974

10. "Love Epidemic" - The Trammps
9. "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe" - Barry White
8. "Funky President" - James Brown
7. "People's Parties" - Joni Mitchell
6. "Viva Tirado" - Fania All-Stars
5. "Bend Down Low" - Bob Marley
4. "Hello Music" - Fred Frith
3. "Pick Up the Pieces" - Average White Band
2. "Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again" - Lyn Collins
1. "Lady Marmalade" - Labelle

1975

10. "Say You Love Me" - Fleetwood Mac
9. "Pierre" - Carole King
8. "You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt
7. "Land" - Patti Smith
6. "Chocolate City" - Parliament
5. "All Around My Hat" - Steeleye Span
4. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" - AC/DC
3. "Zawinul/Lava" - Brian Eno
2. "Cut the Cake" - Average White Band
1. "Time Warp" - Richard O'Brian

1976

10. "Ponta de Lanca Africano (Umbabarouma)" - Jorge Ben
9. "A Fifth Of Beethoven" - Walter Murphy
8. "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
7. "Havana Affair" - The Ramones
6. "Kicks" - Lou Reed
5. "Harvest For the World" - The Isley Brothers
4. "I Want More" - Can
3. "Roadrunner" - The Modern Lovers
2. "Desert Of Ice" - Terry Riley
1. "I Wish" - Stevie Wonder

1977

10. "Peg" - Steely Dan
9. "Marquee Moon" - Television
8. "Mai Kinshasa" - Jose Mangual
7. "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac
6. "Disco Inferno" - The Trammps
5. "London's Burning" - The Clash
4. "Night Fever" - The Bee Gees
3. "Holidays In the Sun" - The Sex Pistols
2. "Trans-Europe Express" - Kraftwerk
1. "Heroes" - David Bowie

1978

10. "No Love Lost" - Joy Division
9. "Grease" - Frankie Valli
8. "Hot Blooded" - Foreigner
7. "Satisfaction (I Can't Get No)" - Devo
6. "Fat Bottomed Girls" - Queen
5. "Music For Eighteen Musicians" - Steve Reich
4. "Two Rapid Formations" - Brian Eno
3. "El Bollinski En D7" - Charlie Santiago and Eddie Montalvo
2. "Robots" - Kraftwerk
1. "Nervous Breakdown" - Black Flag

1979

10. "Dancin' and Prancin'" - Candido
9. "No Nos Pararan" - La Charanga '76
8. "Disorder" - Joy Division
7. "Next To You" - The Police
6. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - The Slits
5. "Money (That's What I Want)" - The Flying Lizards
4. "Rock Lobster" - The B-52's
3. "Object" - The Cure
2. "I Feel For You" - Prince
1. "Natural's Not In It" - Gang of Four

1980

10. "Jealous Again" - Black Flag
9. "Pay To Cum" - Bad Brains
8. "California Über Alles" - The Dead Kennedys
7. "Cars" - Gary Numan
6. "Kuru Field Of Justice" - Philip Glass
5. "You Shook Me" - AC/DC
4. "Jimmy Jazz" - The Clash
3. "When You Were Mine" - Prince
2. "Up the Neck" - The Pretenders
1. "Mirror In the Bathroom" - The English Beat

1981

10. "Sexuality" - Prince
9. "Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
8. "Button Up" - The Bloods
7. "Message Of Love" - The Pretenders
6. "Under Pressure" - Queen
5. "Tehillim II: Psalms 34:13-15" - Steve Reich
4. "Pocket Calculator" - Kraftwerk
3. "Rise Above" - Black Flag
2. "I'm In Love With a German Film Star" - The Passions
1. "Filler" - Minor Threat

1982

10. "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" - Mission Of Burma
9. "Gone Daddy Gone" - Violent Femmes
8. "(Keep Feelin') Fascination" - The Human League
7. "I Ran (So Far)" - A Flock Of Seagulls
6. "Myage" - The Descendents
5. "Mo Beru Agba" - King Sunny Ade
4. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock
3. "She Blinded Me With Science" - Thomas Dolby
2. "Breaking Us In Two" - Joe Jackson
1. "Automatic" - Prince

1983

10. "Uncertain Smile" - The The
9. "Hand In Glove" - The Smiths
8. "Back On the Chain Gang" - The Pretenders
7. "The Cutter" - Echo & the Bunnymen
6. "Coup D'etat" - The Circle Jerks
5. "Needle To the Groove" - Mantronix
4. "Swordfishtrombones" - Tom Waits
3. "Burning Down the House" - Talking Heads
2. "New Gods" - Meat Puppets
1. "Radio Free Europe" - REM

1984

10. "Love On a Real Train" - Tangerine Dream
9. "Slip It In" - Black Flag
8. "The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts" - The Minutemen
7. "Answering Machine" - The Replacements
6. "Close (To the Edit)" - Art Of Noise
5. "The Desert Music II: Moderate" - Steve Reich
4. "You've Got Everything Now" - The Smiths
3. "Junk Culture" - Orchestral Manoeuvers In the Dark
2. "The Beautiful Ones" - Prince
1. "Something I Learned Today" - Hüsker Dü

1985

10. "GCF" - The Descendents
9. "Close To Me" - The Cure
8. "Bitchin' Camaro" - The Dead Milkmen
7. "Kiss Me On the Bus" - The Replacements
6. "The Headmaster Ritual" - The Smiths
5. "Tango 'Til They're Sore" - Tom Waits
4. "All Told" - The Effigies
3. "New York Counterpoint: Fast" - Steve Reich
2. "Up On the Sun" - Meat Puppets
1. "King Of the Hill" - The Minutemen

1986

10. "Move Your Body" - Marshall Jefferson
9. "Eiffel Tower High" - Hüsker Dü
8. "Misirlou Twist" - Kronos Quartet
7. "The Queen Is Dead" - The Smiths
6. "I'm Bad" - LL Cool J
5. "Kiss" - Prince
4. "Wendy" - The Descendents
3. "She's Crafty" - The Beastie Boys
2. "Shadow Of a Doubt" - Sonic Youth
1. "In a Glass House" - Antietam

1987

10. "Isla de Encanta" - The Pixies
9. "Walk This Way" - Run-DMC
8. "In a Jar" - Dinosaur Jr.
7. "Skrip, Lezmerl, Skrip" - The Klezmer Conservatory Band
6. "Beauty Lies In the Eye" - Sonic Youth
5. "Four Sections: Percussion" - Steve Reich
4. "Go!" - Tones On Tail
3. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B & Rakim
2. "Hang On St. Christopher" - Tom Waits
1. "Peek-A-Boo" - Siouxsie & the Banshees

1988

10. "Pump Up the Volume" - MARRS
9. "Freak Scene" - Dinosaur Jr.
8. "Eye" - The Poster Children
7. "Big Fun" - Inner City
6. "Cowtown" - They Might Be Giants
5. "The History Of the Concept Of the Soul" - The Mr. T Experience
4. "Gigantic" - The Pixies
3. "El Canelo" - Los Lobos
2. "Teen Age Riot" - Sonic Youth
1. "Night Of the Living Bassheads" - Public Enemy

1989

10. "Ah Ndiya" - Oumou Sangare
9. "Shamas-Ud-Doha, Badar-Ud-Doja" - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
8. "Egg Man" - The Beastie Boys
7. "untiedundone" - The Creatures
6. "Change In Speak" - De La Soul
5. "Move This" - Technotronic
4. "See a Little Light" - Bob Mould
3. "Fight the Power" - Public Enemy
2. "Waiting Room" - Fugazi
1. "Dirty Blvd." - Lou Reed

1990

10. "Bird Brain" - Buffalo Tom
9. "Vogue" - Madonna
8. "The Summer" - Yo La Tengo
7. "Titanium Expose" - Sonic Youth
6. "Violin Doyna" - The Klezmatics
5. "Fortunately Gone" - The Breeders
4. "Make My Body Rock" - Jomanda
3. "Meetings Along the Edge" - Philip Glass
2. "Taa Deem" - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1. "The Crankcase" - Timber

1991

10. "Selailai" - The Mahotella Queens
9. "Josephine" - The Magnetic Fields
8. "Scars, Four Eyes" - Sebadoh
7. "Four O'Clocker 2" - Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
6. "From Now On" - Pavement
5. "Brittle" - Stereolab
4. "Scenario" - A Tribe Called Quest
3. "Lineage" - Zakir Hussein
2. "Lost At Birth" - Public Enemy
1. "Lithium" - Nirvana

1992

10. "Nouveau Western" - MC Solaar
9. "Mistadobolina" - Del, the Funkee Homosapien
8. "Sugar Kane" - Sonic Youth
7. "Don't Call Home" - The Breeders
6. "Untogether" - Lush
5. "Helpless" - Sugar
4. "Perfume-V" - Pavement
3. "Magdalena" - Sergio Mendes
2. "360 (What Goes Around)" - Grand Puba
1. "So What'cha Want" - The Beastie Boys

1993

10. "Insane In the Brain" - Cypress Hill
9. "The First Part" - Superchunk
8. "Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins
7. "Genesis XII" - Steve Reich
6. "Got Kinda Hi" - The Goats
5. "All Apologies" - Nirvana
4. "From a Motel 6" - Yo La Tengo
3. "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" - Digable Planets
2. "Stratford-On-Guy" - Liz Phair
1. "Spoon Man" - Underworld

1994

10. "Mount Pleasant" - Tuscadero
9. "Deep Shag" - Luscious Jackson
8. "Delia's Gone" - Johnny Cash
7. "Bull In the Heather" - Sonic Youth
6. "Back From the Dead" - House Of Pain
5. "Autriche" - Autechre
4. "Screenwriter's Blues" - Soul Coughing
3. "Unfair" - Pavement
2. "Rich Girl" - Louchie Lou & Michie One
1. "Jennifer's Body" - Hole

1995

10. "1979" - Smashing Pumpkins
9. "Blacktop" - Pell Mell
8. "Mookid" - Aphex Twin
7. "Little Trouble Girl" - Sonic Youth
6. "Born Slippy" - Underworld
5. "Twoism" - Boards Of Canada
4. "Schunkel" - Mouse On Mars
3. "Man With a Hat" - The Klezmatics
2. "Do While" - Oval
1. "Hyper-Ballad" - Bjork

1996

10. "Voleti Boliyan" - AS Kang
9. "Walking Wounded" - Everything But the Girl
8. "The Dicty Glide" - Don Byron
7. "The Sleepwalker" - The Beau Hunks Sextette
6. "Egon & Edith" - Rachel's
5. "You're Just a Baby" - Belle & Sebastian
4. "Song Against Sex" - Neutral Milk Hotel
3. "Percolator" - Stereolab
2. "Girl/Boy Song" - Aphex Twin
1. "I've Been Everywhere" - Johnny Cash

1997

10. "Dadyr Todur" - Huun Huur Tu
9. "Forget the Minions" - Karp
8. "Je Ne Vais Pas Travailler" - Pink Martini
7. "Shprayz Ikh Mir" - The Klezmatics
6. "Watching Windows" - Roni Size/Reprazant
5. "Subterranean Homesick Alien" - Radiohead
4. "Dog On Wheels" - Belle & Sebastian
3. "Juju" - Mouse On Mars
2. "Five Years" - Bjork
1. "Brakhage" - Stereolab

1998

10. "Praise You" - Fat Boy Slim
9. "Choserito Plena" - Marc Ribot
8. "Je Reve Encore" - Paris Combo
7. "Mundian To Bach Ke" - Labh Janhua
6. "Music For Airports: 1/1" - Bang On a Can All-Stars
5. "In Sarah, Mencken, Christ, and Beethoven There Were Women" - Tortoise
4. "Is This Desire?" - PJ Harvey
3. "The Woman Downstairs" - The Handsome Family
2. "Open the Light" - Boards Of Canada
1. "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Parts II & III" - Neutral Milk Hotel

1999

10. "Easy On Your Eyes" - The Aluminum Group
9. "Daremoshirairanai Chiisuanakuni" - susumu yokota
8. "A Cleaner Light" - Kristen Hersh
7. "Burn Don't Freeze" - Sleater-Kinney
6. "Mykologics" - Mouse On Mars
5. "Red Alert" - Basement Jaxx
4. "You Owe Me" - Nas
3. "Canned Heat" - Jamiroquai
2. "Un Poquito Mas"- Jimmy Bosch
1. "Papa Was a Rodeo" - The Magnetic Fields

2000

10. "You Said Something" - PJ Harvey
9. "Bam Bam" - Sister Nancy
8. "Possibility" - Thomas Newman
7. "Tensual" - Mouse On Mars
6. "Maria" - Feo-Gasy
5. "Snowflakes" - Languis
4. "Idioteque" - Radiohead
3. "The Last Days Of Disco" - Yo La Tengo
2. "The Model" - Belle & Sebastian
1. "Swing Set" - Jurassic 5

2001

10. "Bleida" - Nayim Alal
9. "Booc" - Plaid
8. "So Red" - susumu yokota
7. "Knuddelmaus" - Ulrich Schnauss
6. "Eros" - Tortoise
5. "Digital 2.0" - Mia Doi Todd
4. "You and Whose Army?" - Radiohead
3. "The Audience" - Herbert
2. "El Cholulu" - Glover Gill & the Tosca Tango Orchestra
1. "Polaris" - Bostich

2002

10. "Imaginary Places" - Busdriver
9. "Naita" - Ojos De Brujo
8. "Backfired" - Masters At Work
7. "Faraway" - Sleater Kinney
6. "All the World Is Green" - Tom Waits
5. "Astro Sister" - The Negro Problem
4. "The Empty Page" - Sonic Youth
3. "Julie and Candy" - Boards Of Canada
2. "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" - Wilco
1. "Work It" - Missy Elliott

2003

10. "Para Mi Barrio" - Vico C
9. "Comfortably Numb" - The Scissor Sisters
8. "Emerge" - Fisherspooner
7. "Little Eyes" - Yo La Tengo
6. "Bright Future In Sales" - Fountains Of Wayne
5. "The Infinite Descent" - Thomas Newman
4. "Ibitsu" - Boris
3. "Oh, Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)" - Sufjan Stevens
2. "Hey Ya!" - OutKast
1. "Pass That Dutch" - Missy Elliott

2004

10. "Galang" - M.I.A.
9. "Margerine Rock" - Stereolab
8. "Take Your Mama" - Scissor Sisters
7. "Ping Island/Lightning Strike Rescue" - Mark Mothersbaugh
6. "Northern Line" - The Old 97's
5. "I Don't Believe You" - The Magnetic Fields
4. "Train To Heaven" - Motion Trio
3. "Confutatis" - Las Rubias Del Norte
2. "Belleville Rendezvous" - -M-
1. "Hsaing Kyaik de Maung" - Bang On a Can All-Stars meets Kyaw Kyaw Naing

2005

10. "Canada/The Gambia" - Philip Glass
9. "Jill" - Dynamite Ham
8. "Cardo" - Novalima
7. "Watch My Ass" - Rod Lee
6. "Tight Sweater: Exposed Zipper" - Marc Mellits
5. "Vo Kuch" - Kiran Ahluwalla
4. "Woman On the Screen" - Boris
3. "Flaming Love and Destiny" - susumu yokota
2. "Gone" - Kanye West
1. "Jacksonville" - Sufjan Stevens

2006

10. "Baiting the Public" - Fucked Up
9. "Crazy" - Gnarls Barkley
8. "No Money" - The Evens
7. "Hip-Hop Is Dead" - Nas
6. "Ain't No Other Man" - Christina Aguilera
5. "Duas Opinioes" - Tom Ze
4. "Song Song Song" - Final Fantasy
3. "Connecticut's For Fucking" - Jesus H Christ & the Four Hornsmen Of the Apocalypse
2. "A Woman Like Me" - Spanky Wilson
1. "BKAB" - Ethan Stoller

2007

10. "Canned Goods and Firearms" - Sir Richard Bishop
9. "High In the Morning" - Paul Duncan
8. "Tamatant Tilay" - Tinariwan
7. "Düsseldorf" - Pole
6. "Feeling Free" - Nicole Willis
5. "Boyz" - M.I.A.
4. "Someone Great" - LCD Soundsystem
3. "Faberge For Shuggie" - Of Montreal
2. "Sofera" - Rajery
1. "House Of Cards" - Radiohead

2008

10. "Chain" - School Of Seven Bells
9. "One Day I Had an Extra Toe (Esopus Magazine)" - Black Moth Super Rainbow
8. "Gnosienne No. 1" - Chicha Libre
7. "The Cell" - Erykah Badu
6. "Caña Brava" - La India Canela
5. "WannaBe In LA" - Eagles Of Death Metal
4. "What New York Used To Be" - The Kills
3. "Dancing Choose" - TV On the Radio
2. "El Anden" - Bajofondo
1. "Milligram Of Happiness" - The Aluminum Group

2009

10. "Esketa Dance" – The Heliocentrics
9. "Aeon" – Antony & the Johnsons
8. "Little Sparrows" – The Handsome Family
7. "Sanctus" – Phil Kline
6. "Kargashai" – Mamer
5. "Malibu Gas Station" – Sonic Youth
4. "I Knew" – Lightning Dust
3. "The Akara" – Beirut
2. "Quiet Dog" – Mos Def
1. "Zero" – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

My favorite songs, 1947-2008

1947

10. "Solitude" - Billie Holiday
9. "Golden Earrings" - Peggy Lee
8. "Bouquet Of Roses" - Eddy Arnold
7. "I'm Going to Tell God" - Mahalia Jackson
6. "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" - Louis Jordan
5. "Ruby, My Dear" - Thelonious Monk
4. "Boggs Boogie" - Spade Cooley
3. "Scrapple From the Apple" - Charlie Parker
2. "Long John Blues" - Dinah Washington
1. "Trouble In Mind" - Tex Ritter

1948

10. "Once In Love With Amy" - Dean Martin
9. "Tennessee Saturday Night" - Red Foley
8. "Bumble Boogie" - Freddie Martin
7. "Sophisticated Lady" - Billy Eckstine
6. "Sonata #5" - John Cage
5. "Epistrophy" - Thelonious Monk
4. "Tin Tin Deo" - James Moody
3. "Ool Ya Koo" - Dizzy Gillespie
2. "My Bank Account Is Gone" - Jesse Ashlock
1. "I Just Can't Be Satisfied" - Muddy Waters

1949

10. "Move" - Miles Davis
9. "Dipsy Doodle" - Larry Clinton
8. "Black Coffee" - Ella Fitzgerald
7. "Remember" - Johnny Hartman
6. "Beans and Cornbread" - Louis Jordan
5. "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" - Hank Williams
4. "Brick Top" - Django Reinhardt
3. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" - Flatt & Scruggs
2. "Mondongo" - Miguelito Valdes
1. "Ran-Kan-Kan" - Tito Puente

1950

10. "The Third Man Theme" - Amos Karas
9. "Bushel and a Peck" - Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely
8. "Mona Lisa" - Nat "King" Cole
7. "If I Knew You Were Comin' (I'd Have Baked a Cake)" - Eileen Barton
6. "I'll Never Be Free" - Kay Starr & Tennessee Ernie Ford
5. "Rollin' and Tumblin'" - Muddy Waters
4. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" - Ella Fitzgerald
3. "Tennessee Waltz" - Patti Page
2. "Adelaide's Lament" - Vivian Blaine
1. "Bombokolea" - Perez Prado

1951

10. "School Days" - Dizzy Gillespie
9. "KC Blues" - Charlie Parker
8. "Cold Cold Heart" - Hank Williams
7. "Holiday For Strings" - The Voices Of Walter Schumann
6. "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" - Ahmad Jamal
5. "Pagliacci" - Mary Lou Williams
4. "I'm In the Mood" - John Lee Hooker
3. "If I Were a Bell" - Jan Garber
2. "Oye Como Va" - Tito Puente
1. "Martinica" - Perez Prado

1952

10. "The Birth Of the Blues" - Frank Sinatra
9. "Klangstudie II" - Herbert Elmert
8. "Blue Moon" - Billie Holiday
7. "What Does It Take To Make You Take To Me" - Nat "King" Cole
6. "Indian Love Call" - Slim Whitman
5. "Conquest" - Patti Page
4. "Straight, No Chaser" - Thelonious Monk
3. "Oboe Mambo" - Machito
2. "Ogguere" - Tony La Negra
1. "I Left My Hat In Haiti" - Billy Eckstine

1953

10. "I Want To Be Evil" - Eartha Kitt
9. "That's Amore" - Dean Martin
8. "I Want You To Love Me" - Muddy Waters
7. "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz" - Jean Shepard
6. "Imagination" - Chet Baker
5. "Your Cheatin' Heart" - Hank Williams
4. "Good Air" - Raymond Scott
3. "Hound Dog" - Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
2. "Bye-Ya" - Thelonious Monk
1. "Bye Bye Blues" - Les Paul & Mary Ford

1954

10. "The Man I Love" - Miles Davis
9. "Shulie-A-Bop" - Sarah Vaughan
8. "I Put a Spell On You" - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
7. "Sincerely" - The Moonglows
6. "A Night In Tunisia" - Dizzy Gillespie
5. "All In Fun" - Jeri Southern
4. "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" - The Spaniels
3. "I Just Want To Make Love To You" - Muddy Waters
2. "Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes
1. "Sh-Boom" - The Chords

1955

10. "Singing the Blues" - Marty Robbins
9. "Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford
8. "Dripsody" - Hugh Caine
7. "Earth Angel" - The Penguins
6. "Only You" - The Platters
5. "The Comeback" - Joe Willians
4. "Bo Diddley" - Bo Diddley
3. "Oscalypso" - Oscar Pettiford
2. "Love" - The Four Freshmen
1. "Lullaby Of Birdland" - Sarah Vaughan

1956

10. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
9. "Azure" - Ella Fitzgerald
8. "Let's Face the Music and Dance" - Anita O'Day
7. "In the Still Of the Night" - The Five Satins
6. "Dimples" - John Lee Hooker
5. "Candide: The Best Of All Possible Worlds" - Leonard Bernstein
4. "Bacoa" - Perez Prado
3. "I Walk the Line" - Johnny Cash
2. "Honey Don't" - Carl Perkins
1. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" - Gene Vincent

1957

10. "E & D Blues" - Ella Fitzgerald
9. "Lush Life" - Joe Mooney
8. "Searchin'" - The Coasters
7. "Conversation" - Machito
6. "West Side Story: Tonight, Tonight" - Leonard Bernstein
5. "Lush Life" - John Coltrane
4. "Mood Indigo" - Nina Simone
3. "Walkin' After Midnight" - Patsy Cline
2. "Motel (Diner Au Motel)" - Miles Davis
1. "Manteca" - Dizzy Gillespie

1958

10. "I Mean You" - Thelonious Monk
9. "Saturday Night On Saturn" - Les Baxter
8. "Yakety Yak" - The Coasters
7. "Hooray For Love" - Bobby Short
6. "Come On, Let's Go" - Richie Valens
5. "Summertime Blues" - Eddie Cochran
4. "Bird Dog" - The Everly Brothers
3. "Third Man Theme" - Esquivel
2. "Cuban Nightingale" - Joe Holiday
1. "Guaglione" - Machito

1959

10. "Darn That Dream" - Sarah Vaughan
9. "Lonely Woman" - Ornette Coleman
8. "Poison Ivy" - The Coasters
7. "So What" - Miles Davis
6. "Apes and Peacocks" - Duke Ellington
5. "Philadelphia Bound" - Jo Jones
4. "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" - Blossom Dearie
3. "Moanin'" - Charlie Mingus
2. "I Only Have Eyes For You" - The Flamingoes
1. "What'd I Say" - Ray Charles

1960

10. "Money (That's What I Want)" - Barrett Strong
9. "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" - Blossom Dearie
8. "Take Five" - Dave Brubeck
7. "New York's My Home" - Ray Charles
6. "Over You" - Aaron Neville
5. "'Til I Kissed You" - The Everly Brothers
4. "Sugar Rum Cherry" - Duke Ellington
3. "Cousin Mary" - John Coltrane
2. "Theme From a Summer Place" - Percy Faith
1. "Shoppin' For Clothes" - The Coasters

1961

10. "Runaway" - Del Shannon
9. "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" - Ike & Tina Turner
8. "Li'l Egypt" - The Coasters
7. "In a Sentimental Mood" - Sarah Vaughan
6. "Unsquare Dance" - Dave Brubeck
5. "Surrender" - Elvis Presley
4. "Blue Moon" - The Marcels
3. "A Rose In Spanish Harlem" - Ben E. King
2. "Alex Mambo" - Machito
1. "My Favorite Things" - John Coltrane

1962

10. "Doug's Room" - Mauricio Smith
9. "Watermelon Man" - Herbie Hancock
8. "The Inch Worm" - John Coltrane
7. "Baltimore Gas & Electric" - Raymond Scott
6. "Crying" - Roy Orbison
5. "I'm Blue" - The Ikettes
4. "Boom Boom" - John Lee Hooker
3. "It Didn't Turn Out That Way" - Mose Allison
2. "Green Onions" - Booker T & the MG's
1. "You Are My Sunshine" - Ray Charles

1963

10. "One Fine Day" - The Chiffons
9. "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" - The Jaynettes
8. "Da Do Run Run" - The Crystals
7. "II B.S." - Charlie Mingus
6. "Have Nagila" - Dick Dale
5. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes
4. "Vivace" - The Swingle Singers
3. "Stella By Starlight" - Bill Evans
2. "In My Room" - The Beach Boys
1. "Garota De Ipanema" - João Gilberto

1964

10. "Canteloupe Island" - Herbie Hancock
9. "You Can't Do That" - The Beatles
8. "Fiddler On the Roof: Tradition" - Jerry Bock
7. "Lupita" - Guillermo Gonzalez
6. "Out Of Sight" - James Brown
5. "Little Organ Fugue" - The Swingle Singers
4. "Thank You Mama Thank You Papa" - The Dixie Cups
3. "Linus and Lucy" - Vince Guaraldi
2. "So What?" - Joe Cuba
1. "Don't Worry Baby" - The Beach Boys

1965

10. "She's About a Mover" - The Sir Douglas Quintet
9. "Requiem" - The Swingle Singers
8. "Daddy Wong Legs" - Cal Tjader
7. "Pedro Pedreiro" - Quarteto Emly
6. "Spanish Flea" - Herb Alpert
5. "Shotgun" - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
4. "Descarga Cachao" - Tito Rodriguez
3. "Batman's Boogaloo" - Bobby Valentin
2. "Cold Sweat" - James Brown
1. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" - The Beatles

1966

10. "Jazz Samba" - Bill Evans
9. "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones
8. "One Note Samba/Spanish Flea" - Sergio Mendes
7. "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" - Willie Bobo
6. "Do the Boogaloo" - Pete Rodriguez
5. "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys
4. "It's No Secret" - Jefferson Airplane
3. "A Man and a Woman (un Homme et un Femme)" - Ferrente & Teicher
2. "I'm Sick Y'All" - Otis Redding
1. "Tomorrow Never Knows" - The Beatles

1967

10. "The First Cut Is the Deepest" - PP Arnold
9. "Dr. Feelgood" - Aretha Franklin
8. "Surfboard" - Esquivel
7. "Hip-Hug Her" - Booker T & the MG's
6. "Ode To Billie Joe" - Bobbie Gentry
5. "A Small Portion Of Your Love" - Sam & Dave
4. "Femme Fatale" - The Velvet Underground
3. "Strawberry Fields Forever" - The Beatles
2. "Oh, That's Nice" - Pete Rodriguez
1. "Hey, Joe" - Jimi Hendrix

1968

10. "I Thank You" - Sam & Dave
9. "Matrix" - Chick Corea
8. "Something In the Way She Moves" - James Taylor
7. "Ave Maria" - Caetano Veloso
6. "Piggies" - The Beatles
5. "Tighten Up, Part 1" - Archie Bell & the Dells
4. "Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash
3. "What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You" - Marva Whitney
2. "Licking Stick - Licking Stick, Part 1" - James Brown
1. "Castles Made Of Sand" - Jimi Hendrix

1969

10. "Aye Que Rico" - Eddie Palmieri
9. "A Boy Named Sue" - Johnny Cash
8. "Mother Popcorn, Part 1" - James Brown
7. "No Fun" - Iggy Pop & the Stooges
6. "Shangri-La" - The Kinks
5. "Beginnings" - Chicago
4. "Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
3. "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
2. "Everyday People" - Sly & the Family Stone
1. "Irene" - Caetano Veloso

1970

10. "If You See What I Mean" - PP Arnold
9. "Eleanor Rigby" - Aretha Franklin
8. "And I Love Him" - Rita Lee
7. "Chelsea Morning" - Sergio Mendes
6. "Moondance" - Van Morrison
5. "Chovendo Ma Roseira" - Elis Regina
4. "Super Bad" - James Brown
3. "Make Me Smile" - Chicago
2. "Whitey's On the Moon" - Gil Scott-Heron
1. "Fancy" - Bobbie Gentry

1971

10. "The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" - Traffic
9. "Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who
8. "What a Beautiful Place" - Catherine Howe
7. "Monkey Girl" - The Maytals
6. "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
5. "Baby" - Os Mutantes
4. "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor
3. "Drumming, Part I" - Steve Reich
2. "It's a New Day" - James Brown
1. "God" - John Lennon

1972

10. "Popcorn" - Hot Butter
9. "One More Night" - Can
8. "Saturday In the Park" - Chicago
7. "Clapping Music" - Steve Reich
6. "Pink Moon" - Nick Drake
5. "Cravo E Canela" - Milton Nascimento
4. "O Canto de Ema" - Gilberto Gil
3. "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder
2. "Hallogallo" - NEU!
1. "Cabaret: The Money Song" - Liza Minelli & Joel Grey

1973

10. "Me and My Baby Brother" - War
9. "Neuschnee" - NEU!
8. "If You Want Me To Stay" - Sly & the Family Stone
7. "John, I'm Only Dancing" - David Bowie
6. "I Got a Bag Of My Own" - James Brown
5. "Living For the City" - Stevie Wonder
4. "The Love I Lost" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
3. "Sebastiana" - Gal Costa
2. "TSOP" - MFSB
1. "Music For Mallet Instruments, Voices, & Organ" - Steve Reich

1974

10. "Love Epidemic" - The Trammps
9. "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe" - Barry White
8. "Funky President" - James Brown
7. "People's Parties" - Joni Mitchell
6. "Viva Tirado" - Fania All-Stars
5. "Bend Down Low" - Bob Marley
4. "Hello Music" - Fred Frith
3. "Pick Up the Pieces" - Average White Band
2. "Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again" - Lyn Collins
1. "Lady Marmalade" - Labelle

1975

10. "Say You Love Me" - Fleetwood Mac
9. "Pierre" - Carole King
8. "You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt
7. "Land" - Patti Smith
6. "Chocolate City" - Parliament
5. "All Around My Hat" - Steeleye Span
4. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" - AC/DC
3. "Zawinul/Lava" - Brian Eno
2. "Cut the Cake" - Average White Band
1. "Time Warp" - Richard O'Brian

1976

10. "Ponta de Lanca Africano (Umbabarouma)" - Jorge Ben
9. "A Fifth Of Beethoven" - Walter Murphy
8. "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
7. "Havana Affair" - The Ramones
6. "Kicks" - Lou Reed
5. "Harvest For the World" - The Isley Brothers
4. "I Want More" - Can
3. "Roadrunner" - The Modern Lovers
2. "Desert Of Ice" - Terry Riley
1. "I Wish" - Stevie Wonder

1977

10. "Peg" - Steely Dan
9. "Marquee Moon" - Television
8. "Mai Kinshasa" - Jose Mangual
7. "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac
6. "Disco Inferno" - The Trammps
5. "London's Burning" - The Clash
4. "Night Fever" - The Bee Gees
3. "Holidays In the Sun" - The Sex Pistols
2. "Trans-Europe Express" - Kraftwerk
1. "Heroes" - David Bowie

1978

10. "No Love Lost" - Joy Division
9. "Grease" - Frankie Valli
8. "Hot Blooded" - Foreigner
7. "Satisfaction (I Can't Get No)" - Devo
6. "Fat Bottomed Girls" - Queen
5. "Music For Eighteen Musicians" - Steve Reich
4. "Two Rapid Formations" - Brian Eno
3. "El Bollinski En D7" - Charlie Santiago and Eddie Montalvo
2. "Robots" - Kraftwerk
1. "Nervous Breakdown" - Black Flag

1979

10. "Dancin' and Prancin'" - Candido
9. "No Nos Pararan" - La Charanga '76
8. "Disorder" - Joy Division
7. "Next To You" - The Police
6. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - The Slits
5. "Money (That's What I Want)" - The Flying Lizards
4. "Rock Lobster" - The B-52's
3. "Object" - The Cure
2. "I Feel For You" - Prince
1. "Natural's Not In It" - Gang of Four

1980

10. "Jealous Again" - Black Flag
9. "Pay To Cum" - Bad Brains
8. "California Über Alles" - The Dead Kennedys
7. "Cars" - Gary Numan
6. "Kuru Field Of Justice" - Philip Glass
5. "You Shook Me" - AC/DC
4. "Jimmy Jazz" - The Clash
3. "When You Were Mine" - Prince
2. "Up the Neck" - The Pretenders
1. "Mirror In the Bathroom" - The English Beat

1981

10. "Sexuality" - Prince
9. "Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
8. "Button Up" - The Bloods
7. "Message Of Love" - The Pretenders
6. "Under Pressure" - Queen
5. "Tehillim II: Psalms 34:13-15" - Steve Reich
4. "Pocket Calculator" - Kraftwerk
3. "Rise Above" - Black Flag
2. "I'm In Love With a German Film Star" - The Passions
1. "Filler" - Minor Threat

1982

10. "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" - Mission Of Burma
9. "Gone Daddy Gone" - Violent Femmes
8. "(Keep Feelin') Fascination" - The Human League
7. "I Ran (So Far)" - A Flock Of Seagulls
6. "Myage" - The Descendents
5. "Mo Beru Agba" - King Sunny Ade
4. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock
3. "She Blinded Me With Science" - Thomas Dolby
2. "Breaking Us In Two" - Joe Jackson
1. "Automatic" - Prince

1983

10. "Uncertain Smile" - The The
9. "Hand In Glove" - The Smiths
8. "Back On the Chain Gang" - The Pretenders
7. "The Cutter" - Echo & the Bunnymen
6. "Coup D'etat" - The Circle Jerks
5. "Needle To the Groove" - Mantronix
4. "Swordfishtrombones" - Tom Waits
3. "Burning Down the House" - Talking Heads
2. "New Gods" - Meat Puppets
1. "Radio Free Europe" - REM

1984

10. "Love On a Real Train" - Tangerine Dream
9. "Slip It In" - Black Flag
8. "The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts" - The Minutemen
7. "Answering Machine" - The Replacements
6. "Close (To the Edit)" - Art Of Noise
5. "The Desert Music II: Moderate" - Steve Reich
4. "You've Got Everything Now" - The Smiths
3. "Junk Culture" - Orchestral Manoeuvers In the Dark
2. "The Beautiful Ones" - Prince
1. "Something I Learned Today" - Hüsker Dü

1985

10. "GCF" - The Descendents
9. "Close To Me" - The Cure
8. "Bitchin' Camaro" - The Dead Milkmen
7. "Kiss Me On the Bus" - The Replacements
6. "The Headmaster Ritual" - The Smiths
5. "Tango 'Til They're Sore" - Tom Waits
4. "All Told" - The Effigies
3. "New York Counterpoint: Fast" - Steve Reich
2. "Up On the Sun" - Meat Puppets
1. "King Of the Hill" - The Minutemen

1986

10. "Move Your Body" - Marshall Jefferson
9. "Eiffel Tower High" - Hüsker Dü
8. "Misirlou Twist" - Kronos Quartet
7. "The Queen Is Dead" - The Smiths
6. "I'm Bad" - LL Cool J
5. "Kiss" - Prince
4. "Wendy" - The Descendents
3. "She's Crafty" - The Beastie Boys
2. "Shadow Of a Doubt" - Sonic Youth
1. "In a Glass House" - Antietam

1987

10. "Isla de Encanta" - The Pixies
9. "Walk This Way" - Run-DMC
8. "In a Jar" - Dinosaur Jr.
7. "Skrip, Lezmerl, Skrip" - The Klezmer Conservatory Band
6. "Beauty Lies In the Eye" - Sonic Youth
5. "Four Sections: Percussion" - Steve Reich
4. "Go!" - Tones On Tail
3. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B & Rakim
2. "Hang On St. Christopher" - Tom Waits
1. "Peek-A-Boo" - Siouxsie & the Banshees

1988

10. "Pump Up the Volume" - MARRS
9. "Freak Scene" - Dinosaur Jr.
8. "Eye" - The Poster Children
7. "Big Fun" - Inner City
6. "Cowtown" - They Might Be Giants
5. "The History Of the Concept Of the Soul" - The Mr. T Experience
4. "Gigantic" - The Pixies
3. "El Canelo" - Los Lobos
2. "Teen Age Riot" - Sonic Youth
1. "Night Of the Living Bassheads" - Public Enemy

1989

10. "Ah Ndiya" - Oumou Sangare
9. "Shamas-Ud-Doha, Badar-Ud-Doja" - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
8. "Egg Man" - The Beastie Boys
7. "untiedundone" - The Creatures
6. "Change In Speak" - De La Soul
5. "Move This" - Technotronic
4. "See a Little Light" - Bob Mould
3. "Fight the Power" - Public Enemy
2. "Waiting Room" - Fugazi
1. "Dirty Blvd." - Lou Reed

1990

10. "Bird Brain" - Buffalo Tom
9. "Vogue" - Madonna
8. "The Summer" - Yo La Tengo
7. "Titanium Expose" - Sonic Youth
6. "Violin Doyna" - The Klezmatics
5. "Fortunately Gone" - The Breeders
4. "Make My Body Rock" - Jomanda
3. "Meetings Along the Edge" - Philip Glass
2. "Taa Deem" - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1. "The Crankcase" - Timber

1991

10. "Selailai" - The Mahotella Queens
9. "Josephine" - The Magnetic Fields
8. "Scars, Four Eyes" - Sebadoh
7. "Four O'Clocker 2" - Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
6. "From Now On" - Pavement
5. "Brittle" - Stereolab
4. "Scenario" - A Tribe Called Quest
3. "Lineage" - Zakir Hussein
2. "Lost At Birth" - Public Enemy
1. "Lithium" - Nirvana

1992

10. "Nouveau Western" - MC Solaar
9. "Mistadobolina" - Del, the Funkee Homosapien
8. "Sugar Kane" - Sonic Youth
7. "Don't Call Home" - The Breeders
6. "Untogether" - Lush
5. "Helpless" - Sugar
4. "Perfume-V" - Pavement
3. "Magdalena" - Sergio Mendes
2. "360 (What Goes Around)" - Grand Puba
1. "So What'cha Want" - The Beastie Boys

1993

10. "Insane In the Brain" - Cypress Hill
9. "The First Part" - Superchunk
8. "Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins
7. "Genesis XII" - Steve Reich
6. "Got Kinda Hi" - The Goats
5. "All Apologies" - Nirvana
4. "From a Motel 6" - Yo La Tengo
3. "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" - Digable Planets
2. "Stratford-On-Guy" - Liz Phair
1. "Spoon Man" - Underworld

1994

10. "Mount Pleasant" - Tuscadero
9. "Deep Shag" - Luscious Jackson
8. "Delia's Gone" - Johnny Cash
7. "Bull In the Heather" - Sonic Youth
6. "Back From the Dead" - House Of Pain
5. "Autriche" - Autechre
4. "Screenwriter's Blues" - Soul Coughing
3. "Unfair" - Pavement
2. "Rich Girl" - Louchie Lou & Michie One
1. "Jennifer's Body" - Hole

1995

10. "1979" - Smashing Pumpkins
9. "Blacktop" - Pell Mell
8. "Mookid" - Aphex Twin
7. "Little Trouble Girl" - Sonic Youth
6. "Born Slippy" - Underworld
5. "Twoism" - Boards Of Canada
4. "Schunkel" - Mouse On Mars
3. "Man With a Hat" - The Klezmatics
2. "Do While" - Oval
1. "Hyper-Ballad" - Bjork

1996

10. "Voleti Boliyan" - AS Kang
9. "Walking Wounded" - Everything But the Girl
8. "The Dicty Glide" - Don Byron
7. "The Sleepwalker" - The Beau Hunks Sextette
6. "Egon & Edith" - Rachel's
5. "You're Just a Baby" - Belle & Sebastian
4. "Song Against Sex" - Neutral Milk Hotel
3. "Percolator" - Stereolab
2. "Girl/Boy Song" - Aphex Twin
1. "I've Been Everywhere" - Johnny Cash

1997

10. "Dadyr Todur" - Huun Huur Tu
9. "Forget the Minions" - Karp
8. "Je Ne Vais Pas Travailler" - Pink Martini
7. "Shprayz Ikh Mir" - The Klezmatics
6. "Watching Windows" - Roni Size/Reprazant
5. "Subterranean Homesick Alien" - Radiohead
4. "Dog On Wheels" - Belle & Sebastian
3. "Juju" - Mouse On Mars
2. "Five Years" - Bjork
1. "Brakhage" - Stereolab

1998

10. "Praise You" - Fat Boy Slim
9. "Choserito Plena" - Marc Ribot
8. "Je Reve Encore" - Paris Combo
7. "Mundian To Bach Ke" - Labh Janhua
6. "Music For Airports: 1/1" - Bang On a Can All-Stars
5. "In Sarah, Mencken, Christ, and Beethoven There Were Women" - Tortoise
4. "Is This Desire?" - PJ Harvey
3. "The Woman Downstairs" - The Handsome Family
2. "Open the Light" - Boards Of Canada
1. "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Parts II & III" - Neutral Milk Hotel

1999

10. "Easy On Your Eyes" - The Aluminum Group
9. "Daremoshirairanai Chiisuanakuni" - susumu yokota
8. "A Cleaner Light" - Kristen Hersh
7. "Burn Don't Freeze" - Sleater-Kinney
6. "Mykologics" - Mouse On Mars
5. "Red Alert" - Basement Jaxx
4. "You Owe Me" - Nas
3. "Canned Heat" - Jamiroquai
2. "Un Poquito Mas"- Jimmy Bosch
1. "Papa Was a Rodeo" - The Magnetic Fields

2000

10. "You Said Something" - PJ Harvey
9. "Bam Bam" - Sister Nancy
8. "Possibility" - Thomas Newman
7. "Tensual" - Mouse On Mars
6. "Our Way To Fall" - Yo La Tengo
5. "Maria" - Feo-Gasy
4. "In Limbo" - Radiohead
3. "Snowflakes" - Languis
2. "The Model" - Belle & Sebastian
1. "Swing Set" - Jurassic 5

2001

10. "Bleida" - Nayim Alal
9. "Booc" - Plaid
8. "So Red" - susumu yokota
7. "Knuddelmaus" - Ulrich Schnauss
6. "Eros" - Tortoise
5. "You and Whose Army?" - Radiohead
4. "El Cholulu" - Glover Gill & the Tosca Tango Orchestra
3. "Digital 2.0" - Mia Doi Todd
2. "The Audience" - Herbert
1. "Polaris" - Bostich

2002

10. "Unionbusting" - Jenny Toomey
9. "Cheedy-Khan" - Huun Huur Tu
8. "Imaginary Places" - Busdriver
7. "Naita" - Ojos De Brujo
6. "Backfired" - Masters At Work
5. "Astro Sister" - The Negro Problem
4. "All the World Is Green" - Tom Waits
3. "Julie and Candy" - Boards Of Canada
2. "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" - Wilco
1. "Work It" - Missy Elliott

2003

10. "I'll Be Around" - Cee-Lo
9. "Para Mi Barrio" - Vico C
8. "The Infinite Descent" - Thomas Newman
7. "Comfortably Numb" - The Scissor Sisters
6. "Backdrifts (Honeymoon Is Over)" - Radiohead
5. "Bright Future In Sales" - Fountains Of Wayne
4. "Oh, Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)" - Sufjan Stevens
3. "Hot n' Cold" - Basement Jaxx
2. "Pass That Dutch" - Missy Elliott
1. "Hey Ya!" - OutKast

2004

10. "Take Your Mama" - Scissor Sisters
9. "Northern Line" - The Old 97's
8. "I Don't Believe You" - The Magnetic Fields
7. "Train To Heaven" - Motion Trio
6. "Insensible" - Juana Molina
5. "Margarine Melodie" - Stereolab
4. "Galang" - MIA
3. "Belleville Rendezvous" - -M-
2. "Confutatis" - Las Rubias Del Norte
1. "Hsaing Kyaik de Maung" - Bang On a Can All-Stars meets Kyaw Kyaw Naing

2005

10. "Jill" - Dynamite Ham
9. "Vo Kuch" - Kiran Ahluwalla
8. "Flaming Love and Destiny" - susumu yokota
7. "My Man Is a Mean Man" - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
6. "On and On" - Missy Elliott
5. "Woman On the Screen" - Boris
4. "Gone" - Kanye West
3. "Luvin' You" - Rod Lee
2. "Tight Sweater: I. Exposed Zipper" - Marc Mellits
1. "Jacksonville" - Sufjan Stevens

2006

10. "Clapping Music Variations" - Glenn Kotche
9. "The View From the People Wall" - Mahagony
8. "Baiting the Public" - Fucked Up
7. "Ain't No Other Man" - Christina Aguilera
6. "Crazy" - Gnarls Barkley
5. "Duas Opinioes" - Tom Ze
4. "Malherido" - Juana Molina
3. "A Woman Like Me" - Spanky Wilson
2. "Connecticut's For Fucking" - Jesus H Christ & the Four Hornsmen Of the Apocalypse
1. "BKAB" - Ethan Stoller

2007

10. "Canned Goods and Firearms" - Sir Richard Bishop
9. "Tamatant Tilay" - Tinariwan
8. "They Live In the Meadow" - Black Moth Super Rainbow
7. "Someone Great" - LCD Soundsystem
6. "Faberge For Shuggie" - Of Montreal
5. "High In the Morning" - Paul Duncan
4. "Düsseldorf" - Pole
3. "Feeling Free" - Nicole Willis
2. "Sofera" - Rajery
1. "House Of Cards" - Radiohead

2008

10. "Women's Studies Victims" - Of Montreal
9. "One Day I Had an Extra Toe (Esopus Magazine)" - Black Moth Super Rainbow
8. "Chain" - School Of Seven Bells
7. "WannaBe In LA" - Eagles Of Death Metal
6. "The Cell" - Erykah Badu
5. "Gnosienne No. 1" - Chicha Libre
4. "Caña Brava" - La India Canela
3. "What New York Used To Be" - The Kills
2. "El Anden" - Bajofondo
1. "Milligram Of Happiness" - The Aluminum Group

Fisking Mamet

The play, while being a laugh a minute, is, when it's at home, a disputation between reason and faith, or perhaps between the conservative (or tragic) view and the liberal (or perfectionist) view. The conservative president in the piece holds that people are each out to make a living, and the best way for government to facilitate that is to stay out of the way, as the inevitable abuses and failures of this system (free-market economics) are less than those of government intervention.

I took the liberal view for many decades, but I believe I have changed my mind.

Mamet's premise is flawed from the start. Arguing about whether people are inherently "good", as pointless as such as argument is, may have had relevance when "conservatism" stood for a Burkean preservation of aristocracy for the good of social order and "liberalism" stood for more of an Adam Smith view (classical liberalism). It may have some relevance if you're arguing with an anarchist who thinks that people are "good" in their natural state and therefore don't need a government to deal with the times when they're not.

But Mamet's premise has nothing to do with the liberal/conservative debate as it's presently understood in the contemporary American context -- that is, the context in which he believes that he is being relevant. If you believe that people are inherently "good," then why would you support the raft of liberal programs -- from the Civil Rights Act to the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Environmental Protection Agency -- that are predicated on the belief that sometimes you need the government to intervene when people don't act "good"?

Maybe Mamet takes a Hayekian point of view here, something along the lines that, in the absence of government, there's an organic logic to human society and messing with it leads to undesirable results. But this seems a lot closer to the view that people are "good" (which Mamet implies is naive) than anything contemporary liberalism comes up with, or at least that the sum total of untrammeled human interaction is "good" in the aggregate, even if individuals aren't.

Either way, Mamet starts off his political discourse with a flawed and incoherent predicate. Bad sign of things to come.

As a child of the '60s, I accepted as an article of faith that government is corrupt, that business is exploitative, and that people are generally good at heart.

These cherished precepts had, over the years, become ingrained as increasingly impracticable prejudices. Why do I say impracticable? Because although I still held these beliefs, I no longer applied them in my life.

Well, again, as applied to current policy debates, Mamet's hangups from the '60s aren't relevant. Government is corrupt and business is exploitative? How does that guide us in figuring out what to do about workplace safety or antitrust violations? If government is corrupt, then there's no answer to the exploitativeness of business?

Also, look at the obnoxious words Mamet uses: "faith", "prejudices", "impracticable." He's now changed his mind about some things, which is fine and good, and he ascribes the fact that he was wrong to a failure to think things out, which is fine and good. The implication, of course, which the title "brain-dead liberal" screams out, is that liberalism in general eschews critical thought. If the only the scales would fall from our eyes, like they have Mamet's, and we'd all be neoconservatives, liberals who have been mugged by reality!

Aside from the absurdity of thinking that reasonable people can't disagree with you, the funny part is that liberalism is almost cannibalistic in the self-doubt it puts all of its ideas through. This was a criticism of liberalism from the point of view of Marxists or anarchists (who Mamet sounds more like in this prior incarnation, actually); that liberalism was too self-critical to take the necessary radical stands against various power structures.

... we in the United States get from day to day under rather wonderful and privileged circumstances—that we are not and never have been the villains that some of the world and some of our citizens make us out to be, but that we are a confection of normal (greedy, lustful, duplicitous, corrupt, inspired—in short, human) individuals living under a spectacularly effective compact called the Constitution, and lucky to get it.

If Mamet's point is that most people in the U.S. enjoy a level of middle-class prosperity that makes us better off than a great majority of people in the human condition throughout history, then that's true, but a banal enough point to be utterly unresponsive to the issues at hand that divide liberals from conservatives. Does our privileged status mean that we shouldn't upset the apple cart with national health care? Or does it mean that it's endangered by the current health care system? Who knows? It's just a platitude.

If Mamet's point is that we are not "villains", well, what's he talking about? I'm awfully proud of the record of this country with regard to, say, the Marshall Plan, but pretty horrified by things that the US has done in places like Guatemala, Iran, Congo, Vietnam, Iraq, and Chile. An assertion like "we are not villains" may be fine and good, but for what purpose? To argue the merits of those individual cases? It doesn't do that. Rather, it's more about constructing a narrative that you can then use to shoehorn preconceived policy scenarios into (the Cuba embargo, the Iraq War, etc.) Again, ironically, it's the situational liberals who take these things on a case-by-case basis, supporting military action here in the Balkans and Afghanistan, but opposing it there in Iraq and Panama. The sweeping narratives that have little use for individual circumstances seems more the province of the flightier pretensions of neoconservatism.

And why is the Constitution "spectacularly effective", as opposed to often anachronistic, unfair, and ambiguous? Lots of countries do pretty well without bicameralism, rotten boroughs, winner-take-all first-past-the-post elections, a Second Amendment, and the Electoral College. I'm not saying that the Constitution is all bad, but vapid assertions on the "spectacular effectiveness" of the Constitution seems a lot closer to the impracticable faith-based prejudices of Mamet's prior life as a so-called liberal than a realistic look at our founding document.

For the Constitution, rather than suggesting that all behave in a godlike manner, recognizes that, to the contrary, people are swine and will take any opportunity to subvert any agreement in order to pursue what they consider to be their proper interests.

To that end, the Constitution separates the power of the state into those three branches which are for most of us (I include myself) the only thing we remember from 12 years of schooling.

Again, this is fine, but really, so what? Are parliamentary democracies like the UK or Israel, where there's a lot less separation of powers between the executive and legislative, really totalitarian hellholes? The Constitution didn't envision political parties (until the Twelfth Amendment, at least), which operate in opposition as just a good a check on the flaws of elected officials as different branches of government. But again, what's the policy implication for Mamet's gushing? And how does it square with Bushian conservatism, which seems to think that the legislative and judicial branches don't matter?

I found not only that I didn't trust the current government (that, to me, was no surprise), but that an impartial review revealed that the faults of this president—whom I, a good liberal, considered a monster—were little different from those of a president whom I revered.

Bush got us into Iraq, JFK into Vietnam. Bush stole the election in Florida; Kennedy stole his in Chicago. Bush outed a CIA agent; Kennedy left hundreds of them to die in the surf at the Bay of Pigs. Bush lied about his military service; Kennedy accepted a Pulitzer Prize for a book written by Ted Sorenson. Bush was in bed with the Saudis, Kennedy with the Mafia. Oh.

I agree with all of this, but how does this implicate liberalism? Election theft, lying, and ties to organized crime aren't the province of any political ideology. And it's not part of any liberal program I know to invade Cuba or start a war with Vietnam.

And I began to question my hatred for "the Corporations"—the hatred of which, I found, was but the flip side of my hunger for those goods and services they provide and without which we could not live.

Oh, wow. Again with the straw men. Look, just to be clear, the ability to pool large amount of resources -- capital -- for competitive enterprise facilitated by the limited liability of a state-chartered corporation has been an important cornerstone of modern prosperity. However, liberals get wary of corporations because they can also be vehicles by which powerful people can take resources from others, in the form of corporate welfare, pollution, securities fraud, or bad labor practices. No liberal I know wants to, say, ban the corporation, we just want them to fulfill the policy objective of economic prosperity, not do the opposite.

And I began to question my distrust of the "Bad, Bad Military" of my youth, which, I saw, was then and is now made up of those men and women who actually risk their lives to protect the rest of us from a very hostile world. Is the military always right? No. Neither is government, nor are the corporations—they are just different signposts for the particular amalgamation of our country into separate working groups, if you will. Are these groups infallible, free from the possibility of mismanagement, corruption, or crime? No, and neither are you or I. So, taking the tragic view, the question was not "Is everything perfect?" but "How could it be better, at what cost, and according to whose definition?" Put into which form, things appeared to me to be unfolding pretty well.

Still waiting for the payoff, of how this point of view, reasonable to the point of being boring, discredits liberalism rather than a cartoon version of it.

Do I speak as a member of the "privileged class"? If you will—but classes in the United States are mobile, not static, which is the Marxist view. That is: Immigrants came and continue to come here penniless and can (and do) become rich; the nerd makes a trillion dollars; the single mother, penniless and ignorant of English, sends her two sons to college (my grandmother). On the other hand, the rich and the children of the rich can go belly-up; the hegemony of the railroads is appropriated by the airlines, that of the networks by the Internet; and the individual may and probably will change status more than once within his lifetime.

Mamet is just factually in the wrong here. Social mobility exists to an extent, but his anecdotal yarn-spinning notwithstanding, it's actually getting harder to move from one social class to another in the US. Does Mamet really want to test his view of "penniless immigrants" against their actual earnings? Does Mamet really believe that the rich don't insulate themselves from competitive pressures? Has he heard of the debate over the estate tax? Guess which side the "brain-dead" take.

What about the role of government? Well, in the abstract, coming from my time and background, I thought it was a rather good thing ...

Didn't he say earlier that government was corrupt?

... but tallying up the ledger in those things which affect me and in those things I observe, I am hard-pressed to see an instance where the intervention of the government led to much beyond sorrow.

Umm, examples, please? How do those corporations that he reveres get the limited liability that defines them as corporations in the first place? Would Mamet get copyright protection for his screenplays in a state of nature? And how about roads, Social Security, the Voting Rights Act, subways, that military he likes so much, the GI bill, deposit insurance, and OSHA? Would he really want to eat food that isn't regulated for safety or live next to a factory that doesn't observe any environmental rules? Of all of the things Mamet has said in this article, this lazy anti-government reflex is the most vapid substitution for thought yet (although unfortunately common).

But if the government is not to intervene, how will we, mere human beings, work it all out?

I wondered and read, and it occurred to me that I knew the answer, and here it is: We just seem to. How do I know? From experience. I referred to my own—take away the director from the staged play and what do you get? Usually a diminution of strife, a shorter rehearsal period, and a better production.

Oh. That solves everything. The free rider problem, externalities, vigilantism ... just wished away. "We just seem to," because human society is just a theater production writ large? Right, Somalia's a lovely place to be.

Strand unacquainted bus travelers in the middle of the night, and what do you get? A lot of bad drama, and a shake-and-bake Mayflower Compact. Each, instantly, adds what he or she can to the solution. Why? Each wants, and in fact needs, to contribute—to throw into the pot what gifts each has in order to achieve the overall goal, as well as status in the new-formed community. And so they work it out.

See also that most magnificent of schools, the jury system, where, again, each brings nothing into the room save his or her own prejudices, and, through the course of deliberation, comes not to a perfect solution, but a solution acceptable to the community—a solution the community can live with.

Note how this contradicts Mamet's earlier disdain for the ostensibly naive liberal view that people are good.

The rest of the piece meanders along without much interesting to say. The bottom line is that Mamet suffers from the same problem someone like David Horowitz does: he starts out with an extremist, slapdash political worldview, and doesn't correct himself by moderating, but rather by projecting his personal flaws to everyone on that side of the political spectrum. The convert is more Catholic than the Pope, as they say.

The Wire: it's all over now

Just finished watching the series finale, and while it wasn't as satisfying as prior seasons, it was still a nice capper to the best television show in the history of the medium. First, some of the scenes were downright hilarious: Carcetti's sputtering when he finds out about the serial killer ruse; McNulty and Daniels standing silently and grimly in the elevator; and the murder of Cheese -- of all of the heartbreaking deaths of this series -- was most pleasant in the context. Good for gravelly-voice Slim Charles.

Of course, the fact that the bad guys get rewarded, the good get punished, and nothing ever really changes in inner-city Baltimore (and the American city in general) were familiar motifs, most clumsily explored in the justice-free Sun plot. Omar lives on as Michael, Bubbles is redeemed only to be replaced by the bridge-burning Dukie (with a junk dealer, both literally and figuratively), and Marlo throws away every break he's been handed. It was funny to see Chris and Wee-Bay hanging out in prison, and Leander approaching the judge in the manner identical to Jimmy in the first episode of the series. It was also funny to see Kima confess to Jimmy and Lester -- an interesting parallel to the Stanfield crew trying to find out who the (fictional) snitch was.

I'll miss this show, but it ended at a good time. "I'm a free-born man of the USA ..."

Wire season 5, episode 4 (major spoiler alerts)

First, what I didn't like about the episode: the Baltimore Sun stuff, so far, isn't the greatest. I don't mind it -- I remember feeling that way about the dockworkers plot at the this point in Season 2 and I ended up liking it a lot, so I'm patient. But I thought that the editor's reprimand of Gus for his profanity was over-the-top cartoonish. And Templeton's still an annoyingly one-dimensional character. But I did love the scene where the reporters try to come up with a better word than "incensed."

Aside from that, I thought this episode was pretty damn riveting, and it really brought home to me what I've heard David Simon say in interviews, that a lot of what the show is about is a critique of contemporary capitalism (poignantly timely these days). Prop Joe versus Marlo really underscores it nicely. Prop Joe and his co-op seem to represent the way that the American economy was conducted up through the '70s or so. There were big oligopolistic industries who were more interested in preservation of the status quo than cutthroat competition. Unions organized a big portion of workplaces, they got cut in on the deal, and no one really wanted to upset the apple cart too much. They all had a stake in it.

Then along come people like Marlo -- people who want more than these cooperative arrangements would otherwise get them. By trying to take down the competition, of course, they run the risk that they could someday get killed, too, a greater risk than the older, stodgy, cooperative Galbraithian parties used to run. But they're willing to go for it, nonetheless. So Marlo has to to kill Prop Joe, one of the more affecting scenes I've seen in television in a long time.

The other plot developments were interesting. I'm worried that Jimmy and Lester are headed for a fall, big-time (that and Marlo's ascendency would really cap off the pessimism of the series). If Jay keeps pissing off Bunk, who knows, maybe he'll get involved and get caught, too. With Beatrice finally ready to kick Jimmy out, he runs the risk of a loveless, jobless existence. Kima's maternal instinct got stroked, but didn't her girlfriend end up with someone else? And how many years has it been? That kid looks about four; it feels like he was born pretty recently. It was also amusing to see Herc in the office with Marlo.

The Wire: season 5, episode 3

Whoa! Butchie killed! And by ruthless motherfuckers (I talk this way after watching me some Wire) Chris and Snoop. I guess Omar's back.

I loved the fact that Lester was into the caper Jimmy's trying to pull. I'm sure he'll come up with better stuff than the ribbon, which is, after all, pretty lame when you think about it. I liked Jay's reaction, too -- a lot of versimilitude, I wager. Ahh, good old Lester, with his jazz and love of the hunt.

The newsroom plot looks a little less predictable now; the layoffs added another dimension to the story.

So now Carcetti's firing Burrell? I thought he tried to do that in a prior season, and Burrell was able to threaten him with retribution from "the ministers," as well as prove his usefulness for dealing with things like the Herc situation.

I love the frustration Prop Joe expresses about trying to civilize Marlo. Marlo's aggressive visit to the bank showed just how hard it is to civilize him.

I felt kind of sad seeing Dukie, Michael, and Michael's little brother going to Six Flags. It underscored how they really are still kids. I know that it's a cliche to talk about youth being stolen from them, but this episode showed that better than any way we could have been told that.

And ohh, Clay Davis. I like that actor, man. Carcetti handled him probably the only way he could be handled. I wonder if he'll try to team up with Burrell to sink him.

The Wire, Season 5, episode 2

I'd say that the worst thing about this episode was the portrayal of the newsroom stuff; so far it looks formulaic and predictable, but who knows? The writers have been known to throw curveballs at us before.

Aside from that, there was a lot of good stuff in this episode. For a guy who was such a villain in the first season, it was a pleasure to see Avon again, especially in contrast to the humorless Marlo -- who at least seemed to know how to talk to the Russian (and I see with the revival of the Greek connection that all of the seasons are getting tied in together -- I'm waiting to see when the Baltimore Sun's proposed series on education ends up in Prez's classroom).

I liked the humanization of Michael -- he can't shoot the kid who bears a pretty strong resemblance to his little brother. Pretty sad -- and powerfully bookended when Kima finds the other child hidden in the closet.

And Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. What was a he thinking? Well, I have an idea as to what he was thinking; throw some negative publicity on the crime issue to get the major crimes unit up and running again so that they can get Marlo. Strikes me as an unlikely bank shot, but he's driven, I guess.