Quote: Originally Posted by VicAjax oh! Leo Kottke duhhhhh. Good call. Can't mention Kottke without mentioning Fahey, though.

Yes, definitely the indiepoprock album of the aughts so far to my ears. They have instilled a long-missing sense of unmitigated, UNIRONIC passion back into indie music. Passion in rock music? It'll never work!

Keith Fullerton Whitman - Multiples Iron & Wine - Woman King The Fiery Furnaces - EP Andrew Bird - & The Mysterious Production of Eggs Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning

Harriet Wheeler Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) Beth Gibbons Honorable mention: Cesaria Evora, PJ Harvey, Kristen Hersh, Kim Deal, Bjork, Elizabeth Fraser, Cat Power, Joanna Newsom, Barbara Manning

And, as I suppose is inevitable with any list like this, I just remembered another amazing album that I listen to at least once a week: The Olivia Tremor Control - Music from the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle (1996) It should go right below Neutral Milk Hotel in my "favorites...

And here, as promised, is my list in order of preference (as of this moment, subject to change without notice, your mileage may vary, professional driver closed course, caveat auditor, side effects are generally mild and may include death): My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991) Slint -...

Since we're a good half decade removed, we can now safely commence the '90s nostalgia movement. This was the decade that irrevocably shaped my musical taste, so I'm eternally grateful that it was such a golden age for independent and adventurous music. Okay, so without further ado, here are...

Quote: Originally Posted by Masonjar No. While many of your big acts sucked mightily in the 80's, and most top40 was pretty yucky, esp the 2nd half of the 80s with all the lame hair bands, most of the good stuff was bubbling under the surface. To me, these bands are why I think the 80s...

Oh oh oh! Just remembered another one, and this one may just be my favorite debut ever: Music From the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle by Olivia Tremor Control. Absolutely perfect to my ears, and I wouldn't change one single note.

Quote: Originally Posted by phoenix808 I'd add DJ Shadow - Endtroducing as well EXCELLENT choice!

Excellent selections so far. I would add Portishead - Dummy to my personal list. Also, if we're talking debut LP (as opposed to EP), Surfer Rosa by the Pixies would definitely make my list. Throwing Muses' debut was also brilliant. My favorite second album? Slint - Spiderland, easily.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeff Guidry To corral some of the loose horses... we're talking about the genre of 'stoner rock', not 'rock that in my opinion is good to get stoned to'. The band Sleep's record Jerusalem is a cornerstone of the genre. Aye! As is their "remake,"...

Quote: Originally Posted by redshifter most recently: also, whatever boards of canada releases next. Yes, that is indeed something to look forward to, almost as excited about that as the next Stars of the Lid.

Quote: Originally Posted by bln Other upcoming releases I'm anxiously awaiting: Spoon's Gimme Fiction and Sufjan Stevens's Illinois (sample song title: The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for...

Currently, the only upcoming release that I am REALLY eagerly awaiting is the next Stars of the Lid, although I don't know how they can possibly top Tired Sounds (to my ears). I have picked up every new Tom Waits on the day of release, and will continue to do so. Ditto Calexico, Iron & Wine...