Top 5 Albums - But Better

New Rules:

a) No legacy albums. It doesn't matter how many times I bought it, or what effect it had on me growing up. Do I listen to it now and think it showcases outstanding musical talent? What do I like - that's the key.

b) Looking cool matters. No more white toast options. I want hipster picks fewer people will have heard of so I can be proud of my tastes by next week.

c) No repeats from the last list. Cause you know, that's boring.

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5. Automatic for the People - R.E.M.

The hits are absolute bangers, but it dies off a bit in the middle, keeping it from the top of this list. A lot of these albums give me a strong sense of nostalgia for a time period I never experienced, in this case the early 90s. Then again, how could "Nightswimming" not convey that feeling. One of the greatest songs I can think of with such simple musical backing.

4. Closing Time - Tom Waits

Wix's picture editing is showing flaws again, because I can't shrink this behemoth. Anyway, it's too tempting not to quote Daniel Durchholz's description of Tom Waits' voice: "it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."

'Nuff said.

3. Still - Rhonda Stakich

Hipster pick! Randy Bachman played her song "Cowboys" on Vinyl Tap, and I loved it so much that I tuned into CBC Vancouver on the Radio and listened to the program for another hour to hear it again. It's a wonderful album from soup to nuts, with great spacing. Simple, but she has a lovely voice.

2. For the Roses - Joni Mitchell

One Joni Mitchell album is still obligatory. Roses isn't her most musically striking work (remember, hipster take), and it's mostly known now for "You turn me on, I'm a radio", which is a cheesy pop hit (and a good one at that). It may be her most lyrically profound, though, with songs like "Let the Wind Carry Me" and "Barangrill" posing as a window to her soul. Let your mind be carried away to Vancouver Island while you rue losing James Taylor to Carly Simon, and you'll feel it.

1. Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake

Just listen to it.