Music: By Rating

These are the definitive scores for all music ranked from best to worst.

154 Wire

10/10
Wire is quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. Sure they’re arty and all, but I can’t get over... more

A Bell Is a Cup Until it Is Struck Wire

10/10
Wire continues its slide towards mid-eighties dance music with this collection of songs. There’s a dreamy, goth-y quality to... more

A Challenge to the Cowards of Christendom Knights of the New Crusade, The

10/10
A great follow up to their first Christian garage-rock album. The one is even scuzzier and louder and ends... more

A Far Out Disc Toy Dolls

10/10
Toy Dolls second album has a little more polish than the first and even includes a radio spot for... more

A-Z Colin Newman

10/10
After creating three of the greatest records of the early punk years, Wire fractured into various solo projects. As... more

America’s Funnyman Neil Hamburger

10/10
Neil’s premiere long player is an instant classic. It’s much less off the wall (e.g. there’s no obvious laugh... more

Anthology Vapors, The

10/10
This is basically a CD repackaging of New Clear Days with about a third of the songs from Magnets. The Vapors are... more

At Action Park Shellac

10/10
One of the best indie rock records released after I stopped caring about indie rock. Every Shellac album is... more

Bartender the Laugh’s On Me Neil Hamburger

10/10
WOW!!! Neil provides the side-splitting fun on this awesome work of comedy genius. It includes his take on religion,... more

Bomb the Twist 5.6.7.8's

10/10
Extremely cool Japanese all-girl garage rock. All six songs on this release are amazing this was one of my... more

Chairs Missing Wire

10/10
Of all the Wire releases, this one is my favorite. The music ranges from dreamy (“French Film Blurred”) to punky... more

Change Becomes Us Wire

10/10
For this record the band finished recording songs that they had been writing back when they broke-up in the... more

Come Spy With Us Various Artists

10/10
This is a great compilation of mostly 60’s era spy movie theme songs (and a few T.V. series themes... more

Compact Disc Public Image Ltd.

10/10
Sometime between The Flowers of Romance and this record P.I.L. imploded. P.I.L. had finally shed the noise and experimentation and took... more

Computer World Kraftwerk

10/10
The last great Kraftwerk record and probably their funkiest release. Yet they maintain most of their analog minimalism throughout.

David Nudelman Lays an Egg David Nudelman

10/10
Speaking of David Nudelman, I think it would be mistake to leave this record off this list. This is... more

Destroy All Astromen!! Man... or Astroman?

10/10
The first of many singles compilations from MorA? These early singles were some of the best racks the band... more

Dig That Groove Baby Toy Dolls

10/10
Toy Dolls skirt the edge of punk rock and novelty music. As such there will be some people who... more

Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

10/10
Not much to say here. Another great collection of instrumental perfection from Shadowy Men.

Dirt Track Date Southern Culture on the Skids

10/10
The major label follow-up to Ditch Diggin’ is every bit as good and the production sounds much better. Even thought it... more

Ditch Diggin’ Southern Culture on the Skids

10/10
Probably my favorite record by SCOTS. All of the checklist items are here: a little twangy country rock, a... more

Dollface Lights the Pilot!!! Dollface

10/10
This band was perhaps the best kept R’n’R secret in the nation. Hailing from the not-so-exciting Peoria, IL, these... more

Dual Supercollider

10/10
This is the better of the two Supercollider CDs. The sound is much bigger and they had gotten much... more

Edda Dell’Orso Performs Ennio Morricone Edda Dell'Orso

10/10
This is an absolutely perfect compilation of Ennio Morricone songs all of which feature the theremin-esque vocals of Edda... more

Elvis Elvis Presley

10/10
Unlike his debut album, this one feels much more complete and less like a singles collection. The production is... more

Elvis Double Features: Spinout / Double Trouble Elvis Presley

10/10
Spinout remains my favorite Elvis record. You could pair it with thirty minutes modem noises and this CD would still... more

Entertainment Program for Humans (Second Variety) Servotron

10/10
Where have all the good schtick bands gone? Servotron were an awesome concept and the music was equally great.... more

Fire Dances Killing Joke

10/10
This is my favorite Killing Joke album. It’s a great fusion of the more mainstreamed, dancable Joke that would... more

Foolish Superchunk

10/10
For most people, this is Superchunk’s finest moment. When this came out, I didn’t like it and it took several... more

Futuremuzik Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra

10/10
Peter Thomas’ arrangements live somewhere between the wacky space-age pop of Esquivel and the brassy action movie scores of... more

Get in your Ear Budget Girls, The

10/10
This is a killer single from Planet Pimp. This group is headed by two screaming chicks that know how... more

Goat Jesus Lizard, The

10/10
Jesus Lizard’s finest record. Crazy bluesy licks on top of a pounding rhythm section and off-the-wall vocals. This could... more

Goldfinger John Barry & Shirley Bassey

10/10
This is an essential item for your record collection. It contains the best Bond song from the best Bond... more

Haunted Hill Bassholes

10/10
Drums, Guitar, and a howling blues freak. Need I say more? Well, I will anyway. These songs rock to... more

Head/Pure Jesus Lizard, The

10/10
I’d have to say it’s a toss up between Goat and Head as my favorite Jesus Lizard album. Pure/Head... more

Hello Young Lovers Sparks

10/10
A masterpiece of epic, symphonic goofiness and left-of-center pop structuring. This, along with Lil’ Beethoven is Sparks best since Kimono my... more

Here’s Where the Strings Come In Superchunk

10/10
I may have to reassess where Foolish resides in the Superchunk pantheon. This CD pretty much took the direction set upon... more

Hollywood Barndance Dave and Deke Combo, The

10/10
Great hillbilly tunes. These are perhaps some of the most talented hicks around.

I Figli Chiedono Perché Ennio Morricone

10/10
Don’t be dissuaded by the fact that all the tracks lest one are titled, “I Bambini Ci Chiedono Perche.”... more

Idle Gossip Toy Dolls

10/10
This is the last truly great Toy Dolls record. It could have been their best release, but it suffers... more

Indagine Su Un Cittadino Al Di Sopra Di Ogni Sospetto Ennio Morricone

10/10
In my mind, this ranks up there with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly as one of Morricone’s most memorable... more

Is It… Man or Astro-Man? Man... or Astroman?

10/10
Man or Astroman? at their surf-iest. This is pretty much the blueprint for all of their pre Touch and... more

Jackson Tar

10/10
This probably is Tar’s best record. It’s a wall of loud, lumbering guitars and driving bass lines. This is... more

Jungle Exotica Part 2 Various Artists

10/10
I have yet to wipe the tears of joy that flow down my cheeks since I bought this disc.... more

Junior Citizen Poster Children

10/10
This is Poster Children at their very best. After pretty much defining the drone-tastic Champaign-Urbana style of the early... more

Killington Lost Killington Lost

10/10
This was the last band my brother was in before he left college. Great walls of guitar sound mixed... more

L’Uccello Dalle Piume Di Cristallo Ennio Morricone

10/10
Morricone’s subsequent Giallo soundtracks would rely heavily on improvisational and experimental music. However, this one retains quite a bit... more

La Califfa Ennio Morricone

10/10
For a brief period, this CD was my holy grail of Morricone soundtracks. I took to eBay in search... more

La Donna Invisibile Ennio Morricone

10/10
A very mellow, bossa nova tinged soundtrack from a film I’ve never seen. It includes the fantastic “La Moda” which... more

Las Vegas Grind Part 3 Various Artists

10/10
FINALLY!! Part 3 in the incredible Las Vegas Grind series. This disc, like its predecessors, is simply incredible and... more

Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene Ennio Morricone

10/10
Another great soundtrack from the Maestro box set. This one is a split between easy listening bossa numbers and avante garde... more

Let it Come Down Spiritualized

10/10
I was never much into this band when they were making waves in the late nineties. At some point... more

Lil’ Beethoven Sparks

10/10
After a decade and a half of creating dance floor music, Sparks decided to ditch the beats and try... more

Made From Technetium Man or Astroman?

10/10
The band’s second Touch ‘n’ Go release is one of their best. For the most part, they have abandoned... more

Marassa Duo Marassa Duo

10/10
Ever since the release of the movie Drum Line, percussion ensemble music has been all the rage. 50% of Marassa... more

Metti, Una Sera A Cena Ennio Morricone

10/10
I know I say this about every Morricone record I own, but seriously, this is one of his absolute... more

More Gone Gassers From The Untamed Youth Untamed Youth, The

10/10
One of my favorite records from the early nineties. This is a great mix of vocal numbers and surf... more

Night Time Killing Joke

10/10
Punk rock for the dance floor! One of my most listened too albums during my late high school years.... more

No Pocky for Kitty Superchunk

10/10
This was my introduction to Superchunk so, although I don’t think it’s their best, it still is one of... more

No Room for Humans Servotron

10/10
The first full-length outing by Servotron. More songs about the elimination of the human race. Includes songs about Small Wonder,... more

Oblivians Play 9 Songs with Mr. Quintron Oblivians

10/10
A concept album from the Oblivians, the kings of overdriven blues trash?!? Well, kinda… this is a collection of... more

On the Mouth Superchunk

10/10
Although it can be a toss-up between On the Mouth and Foolish, it think this is my favorite Superchunk record. It has just... more

Pet Sounds Beach Boys, The

10/10
I finally bought this CD after hearing so many good things about it from various sources. I found this... more

Pharaohization! The Best of Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs

10/10
Rhino knows how to put together a great compilation and this 24-track “Best of” Sam the Sham & The... more

Pink Flag Wire

10/10
Wire’s first album is the one that all my punk rock friends consider their best. For me, it’s a... more

Planet Pimp Records Presents…Thee Shatners Thee Shatners

10/10
One of the best releases from Planet Pimp Records is this Star Trek themed collection of surf music. A rare benefit... more

Popular Favorites Oblivians

10/10
Another amazing release from these lo-fi Memphis rockers. Buy this record! It will change your life… well, not really, but sure... more

Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection Sparks

10/10
This two-disc compilation was my introduction to 70s era Sparks. It covers their best songs all the way from... more

Quattro Mosche Di Velluto Grigio Ennio Morricone

10/10
I forgot how much I liked this score. I tend to only remember the prog-rockish opening number because it... more

Read & Burn 03 Wire

10/10
The third Read & Burn EP is the best of the lot. The band has moved beyond simply revisiting their punk... more

Red Barked Tree Wire

10/10
It took a while warm up to this record. Not nearly as aggressive sounding as the most of post-2000’s... more

Revelations Killing Joke

10/10
Everything that was great about What’s THIS for…! has been condensed and refined on Revelations. One of my favorite CDs.

Revolver Ennio Morricone

10/10
One of three discs included on the Crime box set of Poliziotteschi soundtracks. The highlight of the soundtrack is the nine minute long “Revolver.”... more

Rumble! The Best of Link Wray Link Wray

10/10
Rhino knows how to create an excellent compilation and they have done it again her with this Link Wray... more

Runnin’ on Empty Vols. 1 & 2 Mummies, The

10/10
The title is very appropriate for this posthumous release from one of the greatest garage rock bands. These two... more

Sandoz in Dub: Chant to Jah Sandoz

10/10
I am not sure why Richard H. Kirk released this as Sandoz because it doesn’t really sound anything like... more

Savvy Show Stoppers Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

10/10
While technically I could say that my love of surfy, guitar-based instrumental music started when I would listen to... more

Silver Apples Silver Apples

10/10
Silver Apples are a wild sounding collection of Radio Shack grade electronic noises backed with some great drumming. It’s... more

Sin Alley Part One Various Artists

10/10
rockabilly reissue series. Contains 30 Rockabilly and R&B “Howlers.” A must from Crypt records (Along with the Las Vegas... more

Stratosphere Boogie: The Flaming Guitars Of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant

10/10
Hott DAMN!! Insane steel guitar-guitar combo. It’s kinda like the Ren and Stimpy theme but more insane and with... more

Streets of Chicago: Missing Links Vol. 4 Link Wray

10/10
Unlike Volume 1, which focused on a more rockabilly and countrified Link, this compilation of rarities is full on chains... more

Surfer Rosa Pixies

10/10
The Pixies finest recording. Great raw, live-sounding production by Abini. Many people like Dolittle better than this, but I prefer this... more

The Best Of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

10/10
I found this used for $4! A 1967 collection of the best of this clever band from the 60’s.... more

The Best of the Waitresses Waitresses, The

10/10
“I Know What Boys Like” was a personal new wave favorite for me as a kid. It was featured... more

The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1 Ken Nordine

10/10
This is a great Rhino Records compilation of Ken Nordine’s “word jazz”—basically, spoken word stories told over free form... more

The End Of Rock And Roll "Blind" Rage And Violence

10/10
Guitarist and switchbladist extraordinaire “Blind” Rage is said to be the illegitimate son of Link Wray. From the liner... more

The Flowers of Romance Public Image Ltd.

10/10
As if annoying music couldn’t possibly get more annoying (and by annoying I mean awesome) P.I.L. followed up Metal Box (a.k.a. Second Edition) with The Flowers... more

The Golden Band American Analog Set, The

10/10
Admittedly, I was originally drawn to this band because of the cover of their first album, The Fun of Watching... more

The Ideal Copy Wire

10/10
After 154, Colin Newman picked up where 154 left off with A–Z and Graham Lewis went the experimental route and formed the almost unlistenable... more

The Iron Giant Various Artists

10/10
Although it contains two selections from Michael Kamen’s score, this is mostly a collection of songs featured in the... more

The Legendary Italian Westerns Ennio Morricone

10/10
This was a very important CD in the development of my musical tastes. It was the starting point of my love... more

The Man-Machine Kraftwerk

10/10
This is a great record, from the futurist (actually Russian constructivist) art direction to the sci-fi themes, pure perfection.... more

The Number of Magic The Number of Magic

10/10
This record fits nicely along side Virtual State. This is atmospheric electronica that the laptop kids probably have a specialized... more

The Planet Pimp Records Good Tyme Jahamboree Various Artists

10/10
Another winner from Sven-Erik and the gang. New David Nudelman song “Vegetabless” and also Deke Dickerson song and a... more

The Prisoner Various Artists

10/10
An absolutely fantastic collection of themes and incidental music from the sixties cult T.V. show, The Prisoner. I use this... more

The Rutles Rutles, The

10/10
The Rutles make you realize just how unique, yet weirdly predictable the Beatles were. Although intended as a joke,... more

This Side Up Supercollider

10/10
Supercollider is my favorite band from the nineties that no one seems to know about. I found about them... more

Trio Trio

10/10
This was a weird import CD when I got it and it turns out there are about two dozen... more

Una Lucertola Con La Pelle Di Donna Ennio Morricone

10/10
This was perhaps one of the first non-Spaghetti Western Morricone soundtrack that I discovered and it remains one of... more

Untamed Melodies Untamed Youth, The

10/10
Deke’s old band. CD compiles a bunch of this band’s great surf tunes. All the tracks are also available... more