the top 4!

indiecontextual's top 50 albums:
the 4 best albums ever according to me:

#1. arcade fire--funeral (whole album) *they're currently working on a new album to impress the universe (and their ep is great)
#2. flaming lips--transmissions from the satellite heart (turn it on, be my head) *I'm also very into in a priest-driven ambulance
#3. modest mouse--the moon and antarctica (third planet, I came as a rat) *every bit of modest mouse is spectacular
#4. pixies--doolittle (wave of mutilation, hey) *surfer rosa was runner-up

#. artist--album (rad songs I played on the show) *their other best stuff

indiecontextual's top albums #5-22

listen next week for the top 4!


#5. nirvana--unplugged in new york (about a girl, plateau) *nevermind and in utero were also contenders for this spot
#6. beck--mellow gold (truck drivin neighbor downstairs, nitemare hippy girl) *mutations once occupied my #1 spot, and one foot in the grave, sea change, and midnite vultures are also among my favourites
#7. bjork--debut (there's more to life than this, like someone in love) *could hardly go wrong with post, homogenic or vespertine either
#8. bob dylan--bringing it all back home (on the road again, it's alright ma [I'm only bleeding]) *I also love freewheelin', another side, bob dylan, and desire
#9. the white stripes--the white stripes (when I hear my name, do) *white blood cells is my second favourite
#10. john lennon--plastic ono band (working-class hero)
#11. bright eyes--lifted, or the story is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground (from a balance beam)
#12. neutral milk hotel--on the aeroplane over the sea (king of carrot flowers, pt. 1)
#13. pavement--crooked rain, crooked rain (range life)
#14. the velvet underground--the velvet underground and nico (I'm waiting for the man)
#15. weezer--pinkerton (pink triangle)
#16. fiery furnaces--gallowsbird bark (I'm gonna run)
#17. wolf parade--apologies to the queen mary (we built another world)
#18. joanna newsom--the milk-eyed mender (the book of right on)
#19. sunset rubdown--shut up I am dreaming (us ones in between)
#20. the modern lovers--the modern lovers (pablo picasso)
#21. the strokes--is this it (hard to explain)
#22. animal collective--feels (grass) *sung tongs is also maniacally infectious



#. artist--album (songs I played) *other exceptional albums to check out

erin's top 50

I'm half way through counting down my authoritative list of the best albums ever. according to me. right now. and how I feel, and how I have always felt. numbers are the most emotional of signifiers. what. so here's what I've played so far, and check out indiecontextual next week and the next to find out what's even better and dearer than this.

#23 - the unicorns - who will cut our hair when we're gone? (sea ghost)
#24 - rilo kiley - the execution of all things (paint's peeling)
#25 - final fantasy - has a good home (this is the dream of win and regine) *also check out he poos clouds
#26 - yeah yeah yeahs - fever to tell (tick) *ep also worthwhile
#27 - my bloody valentine - loveless (sometimes)
#28 - the beatles - let it be (dig a pony) *magical mystery tour is another of my favourites
#29 - the shins - chutes too narrow (young pilgrims) *oh inverted world is also amazing
#30 - frog eyes - the folded palm (bells in the crooked port) *the golden river and ego scriptor also tear at my heart
#31 - the weakerthans - left and leaving (this is a fire door, never leave open) *and reconstruction site
#32 - daniel johnston - songs of pain (grievances)
#33 - radiohead - kid A (the national anthem)
#34 - MIA - arular (bingo)
#35 - tom waits -rain dogs (tango till they're sore)
#36 - cat stevens - harold and maude soundtrack (trouble)
#37 - regina spektor - soviet kitsch (us)
#38 - hawksley workman - for him and the girls (paper shoes) *last night we were the delicious wolves also rocks significantly
#39 - sleater-kinney - one beat (oh)
#40 - veruca salt - american thighs (get back)
#41 - the libertines - up the bracket (the boy looked at johnny)
#42 - sufjan stevens - come on feel the illinoise (john wayne gacy jr.)
#43 - akron/family - akron/family (running, returning)
#44 - BARR - beyond reinforced jewel case (a call)
#45 - blind melon - soup (toes across the floor) *blind melon also very fine
#46 - blur - blur (look inside america)
#47 - metric - old world underground, where are you now? (hustle rose) *live it out too
#48 - of montreal - the sunlandic twins (the party's crashing me)
#49 - the papillomas - when years were bee stings (we're the golden cleats united)
#50 - smashing pumpkins - adore (ava adore) *I also love gish and mellon collie and the infinite sadness


# - this is the rad band - this is the mindblowing album (this is the representatively heart-gripping and thought-provoking song that I played) *this is the other extremely important album by this brilliant artist