Below is my list, in alphabetical order, with one honorable mention. Some new, some old, and some are in between. For consistency sake, each album is linked to the Allmusic database for a more concise review. To be perfectly honest, I was surprised how much in agreement I am with the site's reviewers. Out of the 12 albums below, 8 of them received 5/5 stars, 3 received 3.5/5, and 1 got 4/5. I know I'm good, but damn, I must be really good.

Oh, and don't ask me to put these in numerical order. Creating a top 10 list was difficult enough.

The Crane Wife, The Decemberists. Capitol Records, 2006.

Here is what I had to say in my top records of 2006 blog post on MySpace. This one topped the list.

The Decemberists fifth album and major label debut is based on the Japanese fairy tale the bears the same name. This album leaves me, well, for once, speechless. It's absolutely mind-blowing. Go listen to it if you haven't heard it yet, then call me. We'll discuss it over a pint.

Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth. Enigma Records, 1988.

Without this record, the Alternative music genre as we know it would cease to exist. My introduction to Sonic Youth was 1992's Dirty, and I began diving into their previous work. It's a challenging listen, and that's what makes it a work of art. They are the last remaining band of New York's art-punk scene and are punk rock to the core. They may possibly be the greatest rock band of last 25 years.

Let it Be, The Replacements. Twin/Tone Records, 1984.

An absolute masterpiece from a punk rock band that just didn't give a shit about what anybody thought about them or their music. Their attitude produced a few more great albums under a major label, but ultimately led to their demise. I Will Dare opens the album with a bang, and Answering Machine closes it out perfectly.

The Replacements were one of only two musical artists to be banned from Saturday Night Live, which makes me laugh.

Lifeline, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. Virgin Records, 2007.

Here is what I had to say about this record in my top records of 2007 blog post on my old blog, Life in the Key of Joe. This one clocked in at #2 on the list.

I have been waiting for an album like this for years. Ben Harper, one of my favorite artists, has a taste for being eclectic. Every album prior to Lifeline, Ben mixes his own blend of rock, soul, blues, funk, and jazz into releases that were great, but, well, all over the place. To my pleasure, Ben has found his focus, and created his masterpiece in a bluesy rendition of what he dubs as 'acoustic soul.' Soulful? Yes, but I prefer brilliant. Having Wings may be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

London Calling, The Clash. Epic Records, 1979.

The Clash made punk-rock not only cool with this record, but acceptable. The political overtones climatically began a mainstream punk revolution through London that was dying of drug addiction and unemployment. Where would British rock be without this record? I shudder to think.

Moondance, Van Morrison. Warner Records, 1970.

The perfect accompaniment to my Sunday paper and morning coffee. Or a hangover, depending on the weekend. It's soothing in every sense of the word.

My Aim is True, Elvis Costello. Columbia Records, 1977.

Punk rock with a smile.

Elvis Costello, by the way, was the other musical artist banned from Saturday Night Live. Unlike The Replacements, however, he was eventually allowed back.

No Code, Pearl Jam. Epic Records, 1996.

Most people tell me that I'm blasphemous for being such a hardcore PJ fan and not citing Ten as my favorite record. Quite frankly, I don't give a damn. No Code shows the band's growth as they purposely stripped themselves of their mainstream radio lives. It worked in more ways than one.

OK Computer, Radiohead. Capitol Records, 1997.

The best album of the 90s, period. No ifs, no ands, no buts.

Sky Blue Sky, Wilco. Nonesuch Records, 2007.

Again, from my top records of 2007 blog post on my old blog, Life in the Key of Joe. This one came out on top.

All I can say is, 'Wow.' Jeff Tweedy never ceases to amaze me. This record is so simple, so straightforward, that it's complex. Guitars are perfectly dubbed over each other creating an eerie yet intriguing sound that you can only hear if you're paying attention. While some may say that Wilco has mellowed, I say they've matured. This band reinvents themselves with every album, and they really did a number on themselves this time. Put on your best pair of headphones, crack open a cold one, have a seat and relax. Sky Blue Sky will take you to a place that you didn't think existed anymore.

The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle, Bruce Springsteen. Columbia Records, 1973.

I've been listening to the Boss since I was a child. While most kids were singing nursery rhymes, I was air drumming to Born to Run. This eclectic masterpiece chronicles Bruce's transgression from folk-rock promise to rock 'n roll icon. The rest is history.

Honorable Mention

Nevermind, Nirvana. Geffen Records, 1991.

Allow me to be cliché for a moment. I will never forget the first time I saw the Smells Like Teen Spirit video. Artists like C+C Music Factory and Color Me Badd dominated the airwaves, and all teenagers across America knew about hard rock was Extreme, Queensryche and Damn Yankees. Seeing that black Chuck Taylor sneaker tap to the sound of the opening riff has been embedded in my memory and changed my life forever. I was 12 years old.

Every music critic in the book lists this record as being the best album of the 90s, and even one of the greatest ever. It's not. Hell, it's not even Nirvana's best record (In Utero, by the way, was the last record cut from this list, coming in at #12). This one, however, is easily the most influential record of my generation and paved the way for the many bands that followed them. It's a shame that the band could not continue on, because they could have been one of the best ever.

Kurt Cobain was could have been our John Lennon. Obviously Nirvana wasn't as good as the Beatles and Kurt could never write a song like John, but Nirvana may have actually been bigger than Jesus. Nirvana exploded into the mainstream like the Clash did in the UK, and gave a voice to millions of teenagers waiting for a genre to call their own. And without this record, this list would cease to exist. Hence, the honorable mention.