Albums 100 thru 91

100. The Darkness – “Permission To Land” You will remember this album for their one hit, “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, which is a throw-back to classic rock. After speculation, I decided to drop it from 79 down to 100. You are now reading this as the first album when it was originally supposed to be 79. But it would be disrespectful to the other albums 80 through 99.I sometimes feel like I need to defend the greatness of this album. I promise it is a good album beyond the one hit song. Whenever this album is played it triggers memories from me and my wife, Marie's trip from the Midwest to Utah for our fall wedding in 2003... so I suppose it holds a special spot in my life.

Key Tracks – "I Believe In A Thing Called Love", "Love Is Only A Feeling" and "Get Your Hand Off My Woman"

99. Alicia Keys – “ Songs in A Minor” "Fallin’" is one of those songs that everyone loves and knows. This is the first album from Keys, and its my favorite. At a time when R&B was topping chart and the radio with a very formulaic style, Alicia Keys took us back to classic soul.

Key Tracks - "Fallin'", "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" and "Girlfriend"







98. Cormega – “The True Meaning” Cormega is one of the most underrated east coast MCs out there. This album brings a solid delivery. Listening to this album you feel that even Cormega knows he will never make it big like his one time mentor Nas. After time their relationship soured after he was removed from the super group “The Firm” because he would not sign a production deal. If you are a true hip-hop fan this is a must have.

Key Tracks – "The Legacy", "Ain’t Gone Change" and "Love In Love Out"

97. Nelly Furtado – “Whoa, Nelly” This is a great pop album that I felt at the time was new and fresh. Her voice is unique and the production sound was a perfect fit. This album was one of the 3 or so non-hip hop albums that I was listening to in early 2000.

Key Tracks – "I’m Like a Bird", "Turn Off The Lights", and "Hey Man"

96. Kings of Convenience – “Riot On A Empty Street” This album was one of those you come across in a music shop that you've never heard of but you give it a try anyway. I found in a hole in the wall shop in Wakefield, RI. I left, got into my car for the 20 minute drive back up the coast to Newport, and listened to the calming opening track, “Homesick” and it immediately reminded me of Simon and Garfunkel. This album is why I love searching for lost gems at record shops. Its sad that our kids may not have this opportunity when they are teens and adults. SO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD SHOPS FOR OUR KIDS SAKE !

Key Tracks – "Homesick", "Cayman Islands", and "Know-How"

95. Steve Earle – “The Revolution Starts Now” Its a bit of a country album, but what a country album! It’s also an amazing mix of rock, country and folk protest music. You will never hear this on CMT because Earle's topics of song writing are not the overly patriotic or sappy love songs you'd normally expect from country- but is still has a real country feel. If you like to read biographies, you need to check out his "Hardcore Troubadour"... it is quite the amazing story.

Key Tracks - "Rich Man’s War", "Condi Condi", and "Comin’ Around" feat. Emmylou Harris



94. Nas – “Lost Tapes” You can find three of Nas’ deepest cuts on this album. “Doo Rag” is a look back to his lyric story telling that not to many MCs can match up to. “Purple” tells us about the unjust treatment for the people of his community and the jealousy that runs wild among people. The best song is “Black Zombies”, he states “F black leaders/ whites ain't got none leading them”, which is a powerful and true statement. When we look back in hip hop history, it is easy to see Nas as the best lyricist ever. He may never sell as many as the others at the top of the list, but he is the best.

Key Tracks – "Black Zombies", "Purple" and "Doo Rag"

93. K’naan – “Troubadour” Hip-Hop is mixed with a touch of world music in this album. K'naan is from Somalia, Africa. This is by far the best hip-hop from a non American that I’ve heard. What makes this album so great is that he raps about what he knows and not about being tough. The first time I heard K’naan was when I saw him opening for Matisyahu this year. Unknowing to me he had a hit on the radio with “Bang, Bang” feat Adam Levine. K’naan was a better act than Matisyahu, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Key Tracks - "Somalia", "Bang Bang", "Wavin’ Flag", and "Take a Minute"


92. Danger Mouse – “The Grey Album” You won’t find this album in stores (Does anyone go to a store to buy music still besides me?) This is a mash up of The Beatles “White Album” and Jay-Z’s “Black Album”. It is a high quality mix that's better than all other mash up artists (except Girl Talk, but we’ll get into that later.) He didn’t force the sound and that is why it is so good. I now enjoy the solo albums more after this album came out. Danger Mouse is now a promenade producer and one half of the group Gnarls Barkley. If you are interested in finding this album Google “The Grey Album, Download”.

Key Tracks - "What More Can I Say", "Encore", and "My 1st song"

91. Gorillaz – “Demon Days” English Rock fused with Hip-Hop. The thing that you can really respect about the way Gorillaz go about the mixing of these two genres is that they leave the rapping to real MCs like Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul.




Key Tracks – "DARE", "Feel Good Inc."* and "Dirty Harry"

(*editor's note: Take out "Feel Good Inc." and replace it with "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head".)