Dan Wilson (Trip Shakespeare, Semisonic, solo artist)

Okay Darren, here are my picks! I’m sure if I thought about it more I’d only come up with a bunch more bonus picks, so I’m sticking to these.

Joni Mitchell’s Hejira album. If it were one song I’d say “Hejira” — there’s something so heartbreaking about Jaco Pastorius’ bass melodies intertwining with Joni’s lyrics. And the song is about love, travel, the temporary fixes of modern life, and the quest for something lasting. What more could you ask for in a song?

The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” single (from Magical Mystery Tour). Kinda sad to waste a pick on a single, but on the other side I guess is “Strawberry Fields Forever,” so I don’t feel so bad. “Penny Lane” is my favorite Beatles song by far and I love the music and lyrics equally. I can’t believe I’m not saying that about a Lennon song, but there it is.

Mitsuko Uchida playing Mozart’s K.545 piano sonata (from Mozart 2 Sonatas). This sonata is like peace and joy folded together into the world’s most profound dessert.

Radiohead’s OK Computer, in particular “Let Down.” When this album came out I listened to it every day for about a month. I’ve calmed down to about once a month but it’s still one of my favorite things to do with an hour.

Cat Stevens’ “Moonshadow” (from Teaser and the Firecat). What is this song about? Why is he threatened by all these terrible fates? And how can he stay calm about them? And what is a moonshadow? It’s nearly as nonsensical as “The Ocean,” and it’s just as great.

Okay, i’m taking a 6th pick.

Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy album. If I ever need to cheer myself up, I listen to “The Ocean.” Never fails.

Hugo Burnham (drummer, Gang of Four)

The Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed. One of the first albums I ever bought; defines the Stones’ best era — dangerous, druggy, sexy, confident, stunning drumming throughout…I ripped off/messed around with that “Monkey Man” riff for so much Gang of Four stuff.

David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. With the amazing drum riff opening “Five Years” at the top and all through it…this record changed my life…musically, personally.

Gang of Four’s Entertainment. There’s never a feeling that can match “…jesus — we did it. Wow.” [Check out "At Home He's a Tourist."]

The Who’s Quadrophenia. We skived off school one afternoon, went up to catch the 5:15 out of Waterloo to Brighton (…though I think it was actually 5:17)…and lay on the beach listening to it all on a crappy old mono cassette player. It roared like a lion all the way through. SO much better than Tommy. [Check out "The Real Me."]

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Green River. The first band I ever saw live, and felt was my own…not shared with my brother. Went with our Dad and him to their first ever UK show. Great. [Check out "The Night Time Is the Right Time."]

Sixth pick (sorry)…

Free’s Fire and Water. They were so young, they were so elemental, they defined ‘less is more’…not a beat or note too many. Simon Kirke…BIG influence on my style, too. [Check out "Fire And Water."]

Tim Smith (ex-Jellyfish, current member of Sheryl Crow’s band)

1. The Beatles, Rubber Soul

My favorite period for the band, as they were firing on all cylinders. Pre-self-indulgent, post-early-sugar-pop.

“If I Needed Someone”

2. XTC, Black Sea

Their last record as a true “band.” Full of experiments, sonically and musically. They are one of my all-time faves. “Respectable Street” has one of the most amazing guitar riffs.

“Respectable Street”

3. David Bowie, Hunky Dory

What a sweet record! When you can be a freak and still write songs like “Kooks,” that’s what I strive for.

“Kooks”

4. The Zombies, Odessey and Oracle

Saw them live a few years ago. They played so many songs from this record, and it was amazing! “Care of Cell 44,” “Rose for Emily,” “This Will Be Our Year” — all soundtracks to my life.

“Care of Cell 44″

5. World Party, Goodbye Jumbo

Wallinger’s best record. A mix of old and new technology, soul and pop — when I think he still believed in something. Put the message in the box!!!!

“Put the Message in the Box”

Michael Quercio (ex-Three O’Clock, Permanent Green Light, Jupiter Affect bassist/singer)

1. Pretty Things, S.F. Sorrow

It has all the elements of a record you can hear over and over again — great songs, great singing, sitars, heavy fuzz guitar. This record blows me very far away!

“S.F. Sorrow Is Born”

2. Judy Collins, Wildflowers

Judy sings in French, Italian, and English, all backed up by medieval instruments. A beautiful record.

“Both Sides Now”

3. Walter (Wendy) Carlos, Switched-On Bach

Love the Moog. Love Bach. Love the sex change.

“Chorale Prelude — Wachet Auf”

4. Nektar, Remember the Future

A concept album about reincarnation? Whatever the heck this thing is about, it is a terrific prog-rock fiesta.

“Remember the Future”

5. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sorry, all you rock snobs, but this is their best (which is saying a lot, because everything they did was off-the-chart fantastic). A splendid time is guaranteed!!!

“A Day in the Life”

Okay, maybe it’s a world only I dream about.

Regardless, I’ve chosen to use my considerable clout not to bed French models and have all my drinks comped, but to ask some of my favorite artists for those albums that mean enough to them to be Desert Island Discs.

So, without further ado …

Peter Holsapple (dB’s founder, auxiliary member of R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish):

Top five? Boy, make it hard on an old guy, would ya?

In no particular order:

1. Judee Sill – Heart Food Amazon

Incredible and ornate beauty, very baroque string arrangements, allegorical lyrics that don’t spoil the music (like Christian Rock, a nice oxymoron, usually does), and a voice, double and triple tracked that sounds like it has an envelope follower on it. I loved this record when it came out; I was a teenage record store guy and one of the older people suggested that I’d dig it, along with Lick My Decals Off Baby.

The Kiss (Live)

2. The Move – Split Ends Amazon

I’ll take this over Message From the Country because it’s got “Do Ya” and the other singles, and it ditches “My Marge”. I am still finding people who are newly stupefied by The Move, which attests to their lasting power and genius.

California Man (Live)

3. Big Star – Radio City Amazon

Um, duh. The confirmation that this kind of music was where my heart lay (and largely lies today). Interesting to see much of the rest of the western world catch up 30 years later, with the exception of Teenage Fanclub, of course.

September Gurls (Live)

4. Jeff Beck Group – Beck-ola Amazon

I know everyone thinks Truth is better, and it probably is. But I know every moment of this seven song album and love each one. Understated mayhem by Beck, fucking awe-inspiring bass playing from Ron Wood, a pretty Nicky Hopkins piano song. Some of the best Rod Stewart there is. And Tony Newman, who, although he’s no Micky Waller, is a treat on the hi-hat.

The Hangman’s Knee (Live)

5. The Stanley Brothers – 16 Greatest Gospel Hits Amazon

Another batch of religious stuff (see #1), but very different in style. The recording quality fluctuates from track to track, but the singing is superb and the repertoire is just phenomenal.

Rank Strangers

Chris (Stamey) and I are finishing up a follow-up to 1991’s Mavericks (itself reissued recently on Collector’s Choice) for Bar/None, and there is indeed a new dB’s album in the works (like making diamonds from coal, or like lava flow, good things take time).

I have a new place for my blog: halfpearblog.blogspot.com.

And I am a lover of Plush amplifiers, the likes of which were used on the first Jeff Beck Group tour. They look like Kustoms with tuck-and-roll metalflake naugahyde, but they’re tube amps and they have three portholes down the side, like Buicks. None cooler.

Eric Matthews (ex-Cardinal, critically acclaimed solo artist, and sideman for the likes of the Dandy Warhols, Ivy, and Tahiti 80):

1. Bee Gees – Best of the Bee Gees, Vol. 1 Amazon

This is the album collection that got me started with the ’60s-period Bee Gees that I love so much. My parents had it, so it was always part of my life. Hugely impacting songs, arranging, and production. Perhaps more important in my childhood than the Beatles.

Massachusetts (Live)

2. The Beatles – Rubber Soul Amazon

This is a total tie with Revolver for me. Best songs, best production, sassiest playing and singing. I strongly dislike Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the White Album. Some good songs there, but largely a mess of unrealized, drug-induced half stabs.

Nowhere Man (Live)

3. The Beach Boys – Today Amazon

Brian Wilson at his most together before blowing his mind out. Pet Sounds is beautiful, but – like Sgt. Pepper – full of strangeness. Pet Sounds blows Sgt. Pepper’s away, but Today is the strongest BB album.

Dance, Dance, Dance (Live)

4. David Sylvian – Secrets of the Beehive Amazon

The best album I know about. Beautiful, perfect.

When Poets Dreamed of Angels (Live)

5. Depeche Mode – Some Great Reward Amazon

Martin Gore is the best.

Somebody (Live)

Lastly, check out empyreanrecords.com, where people can hear a song, for free, from my coming album.

Anyone who was paying attention in 2006 surely caught wind of a great album by the Indiana-based band, The Elms. Based in John Cougar Mellencamp’s hometown of Seymour, Indiana and brandishing a heartland-flavored mix of super-charged country and rock, the band released the stellar Chess Hotel on Universal South. David Bianco’s production brought each song to life and then some, paying careful attention to the subtle nuances of songs such as “Come To Me” without sacrificing any of the band’s live energy.

He’s A Whore caught up with Owen during sessions for the band’s anxiously-awaited new album and asked him for a list of his Top 5 Desert Island Discs (along with his comments about each):

-Bruce Springsteen, “Nebraska” (1982): I know this is a typical pick among Boss fans, but the songs make me see cinema in my head.

-The Honeydogs, “Here’s Luck” (2001): A truly wonderful album from a sadly overlooked Minneapolis band.

-Mindy Smith, “One Moment More” (2004): All new country female singers should have to take vocal courses taught by Mindy. She massages every tune perfectly, and channels heartbreak like nobody I’ve ever heard.

-The Rolling Stones, “Beggar’s Banquet” (1968): I’m sure most people would choose “Exile On Main Street”, but this is my favorite Stones record. I can’t imagine not having “Salt Of The Earth” to listen to. It’s the Stones at their most southern-fried.

-The Jayhawks, “Rainy Day Music” (2003): This is The Jayhawks most gentle record, and every song is gorgeous.

Here are a couple recent live tracks from The Elms. Enjoy!

Jammin’ Me (Tom Petty cover)
Promises