Usually Top however-many lists come at the end of the year. I thought I'd shake things up and do one now because my Top 20 list isn't based on 2008. It's cumulative. And I really couldn't pick an order of fondness, so I went with alphabetical. I also did not include records by my friends, although I have met several of my favorite artists, and I still reserve one exception to my No Straight Girls rule for Sheryl Crow.

All that being said, here are my 20 favorite CDS:

Jeff Buckley – Grace: Mesmerizing. Plain and simple. Right? What more can you say, really?

Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman: “Fast Car” was a moment of perfection, I think. And for it to have come from a brand new artist... acoustic glory.

Shawn Colvin – Steady On: I've been listening to this disc (well, cassette for a long while) for 18 years, and I can still hear some little something for what seems like that first time. Between Shawn's brilliant writing and plaintive vocals and John Leventhal's precise, yet sneaky production and instrumentation, there's just so much wonder to unwrap.

Counting Crows – August and Everything After: I think I remember the first time I heard “Omaha,” which was the first song I heard of theirs. It happened in Santa Fe. You can't say that about many songs or artists. I just wish they would've fulfilled the promise that this record made, instead of sucking for the rest of forever after.

Sheryl Crow – The Globe Sessions: “Riverwide” is pure heart-on-your-sleeve brilliance. You can feel the darkness of Sheryl's mood on this whole CD. It's her ability to dance on that edge that I love so much about her.


Crowded House – Together Alone: What a great band these guys are/were. (Not quite the same since the death of drummer Paul Hester.) The vibe here is so fantastic, and Neil Finn always brings the goods.

Ani DiFranco – Evolve or Educated Guess: Two totally different-sounding discs and I dig them both. I kind of lean toward Guess simply because it's pure Ani, through and through.

Patty Griffin – Living with Ghosts: This is one of those records that tears you apart the first time you hear it and continues to do so with every subsequent listen. The raw emotion of Patty's performances and the fantastic lack of anything to get in the way make for an stunningly haunting and unforgettable piece of work.

Emmylou Harris – Wrecking Ball: The moody ambiance Daniel Lanois created with his production took Emmy's career to a whole new level. She became so much more than a country singer, stepping into her role as a fantastic artist who knows no bounds.

Indigo Girls – Come on Now Social: Wow, so hard to choose my favorite Indigo Girls disc. I don't love them all equally, but I love several of them a whole lot. I went with this one because it felt like they really stepped up their already impressive game. Every song is great, and the presentation is fun when it wants to be and aggressive when it needs to be.

Ray Lamontagne – Till the Sun Turns Black: This is one of my favorite nighttime driving listens. A fabulous sophomore effort.

k.d. lang – Ingenue: While I may very well owe my life to Steady On, I certainly owe my sanity to this record and its artist for they shone the light down the coming out tunnel, guiding my way with tenderness, courage and beauty. From the first shimmering notes of “Save Me” through the last uplifting refrains of “Constant Craving,” k.d. manages to get it all right.


Lyle Lovett – Joshua Judges Ruth: Two songs secure JJR's spot on this list: “North Dakota” and “She's Already Made Up Her Mind.” Go find them, put on headphones and lie down.

Erin McKeown – We Will Become Like Birds: The first thing that won me over here was Matt Chamberlain's insane drumming which is so utterly creative and rhythmically perfect. Once I got off the floor (from being bowled over), I realized the songs and arrangements and everything else in the package was just as creative and perfect. Way to go, erock!


Joni Mitchell – Clouds: I have argued about this with lots of people because most folks go with Blue. It's amazing, as well, but Clouds just hits me in a really deep place, so it wins in my book.

R.E.M. - Document or Green: Another tough choice because I love so many of R.E.M.'s records. These two come out on top simply for their impact on my life.

Kim Richey – Rise: Another perfectly everything record. The songs, performances, production... it's quirky but substantial, unexpected but accessible.


Sting – ...Nothing Like the Sun: Sting in his finest moment, if you ask me. I mean, “Little Wing”... come on.

10,000 Maniacs – In My Tribe: Right? Political, musical, cultural... this one helped change/form my palette.

Toad the Wet Sprocket – Fear: I have an emotional attachment to this record, but that doesn't mean it's not still great. It is. If all you know of Toad is “All I Want,” well, you're missing out because that is the least Toad-like song they've ever done.


What are your top listens???