#15 Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Columbia, 1963

Category: Folk, American Folk

My dad LOVES Dylan, so I grew up with a lot of these songs. I love the album for that reason, and also for its intrinsic merit and historic relevance. As I have said of a couple albums before this, it takes me back to a time of change, and of hope for change. One thing I appreciate about Dylan is the element of anger, or perhaps more accurately frustration, in his songs. In Masters of War, for example, there is a hard tone that is not always heard in American 60s folk. It always resonated with me. As much as I value peace, I think it's fair to acknowledge some anger toward those that literally destroy our world for personal gain. Dylan does that. Great record.

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#71 The Stooges - Raw Power

Columbia Records, 2010 (remastered); original 1973 Early Punk, Hard Rock This album was a gift from Stu, and a most welcome one. I love this album, and listened to it regularly for years. Search and Destroy was my softball entrance music when I briefly played for the Gus' Pub Patties. When I lived alone in the woods I would plug in my IPad Mini and play the mp3s at high volume in the car after a rough teaching day, and feel like I'd vented to pals. For me, this album is the perfect mix of high spirits and cathartic emotional expression. It taps into the feelings of unbeloging that often punctuate human existence, and transmutes that doubt to power. Raw power. Perfect title.

#66 Harmonium - Les Cinqs Saisons

Celebration, 1975 Quebeqois folk-prog I had to include the full gatefold for this album, because it's so enticing. One thing I love about vinyl is how many ways a record can function as an art piece. The visual art is so much more satisfying than on a cd. This record was given to me by my dad. It's groovy, and interesting from a compositional standpoint. It's a record that I always enjoy while I'm listening to it, but which doesn't stick in my mind the way some others do. It's a solid piece, and worth many more words than I am offering right now. I also love having some representation for La Belle Provence in my collection, so it will definitely be staying.

#21 Blondie - Autoamerican

Chrysalis, 1980 Genre: New Wave Blondie is another CBGB band that walks a line between genres. I've always enjoyed listening to them, and this album. Debbie Harry was a bit of an idol for me in my younger years, because she was super cool and super gorgeous and fronted a band. I didn't really emulate her style-wise, but I WANTED to emulate her. My friend Megan was much better at harnessing her inner Debbie Harry, as she was generally more confident with clothes than me. I did allow Megan and Juele to convince me to bleach my hair blonde at one point, but as it was super long and quickly turned brassy, it didn't really have the desired effect. This is a standard for my collection. A good, reliable crowd pleaser, or enjoyable solo listen.

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