Music is one of my favorite things, and it seems one our favorite things to discuss is what bands are the greatest, what albums are the greatest, what songs are the greatest, what guitar solos are the greatest, who is the best drummer, frontman/frontwoman, etc. I thought I'd put together a list of my all-time favorite albums. I'm not saying these are the greatest or the most influential, they're just my favorites. And, of course, this list could change next week. So, here they are...

10. Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin--I'm a huge Zeppelin fan, and while they had they're limits (vocals and lyrics come to mind) there was no one who offered straight ahead rock 'n roll they way these boys did. III is awesome because of it's diversity. There's acoustic, there's electric. There is blues, there is English folk music. If you're not familiar with Zeppelin, I recommend you start with this one.

9. Surfa Rosa by The Pixies--This album is where you can find our (Brian and Alisha's) wedding song ("Where is my Mind?"). Also, you'll find the blueprint for bands like Nirvana. The screams, the melodies, the random talking...this album is just plain fun.

8. Viva Wisconsin by The Violent Femmes--This is a live acoustic album recorded during a tour of the Femmes home state. This is first album that Alisha and I really listened to after getting married--it was almost always in our car CD player. To this day, if you happen to pass us in the car, you're likely to see us unashamedly singing along to "American Music."

7. Francis the Mute by The Mars Volta--This is an album beyond description. It's bilingual (English and Spanish), it's a concept album, it's an "unconcept" album, it's just amazing. During our survey trip to Vienna last year this was the only CD we brought with us. Every time we listen to it we think of Vienna and that's exciting for us.

6. The Colour and the Shape by The Foo Fighters--This is hands down one of the best albums of the 90s. There isn't a boring note here. "Everlong", "My Hero", and "Monkey Wrench", just to name a few. If you don't know, then I can't explain it to you. You have to experience it.

5. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles--This was the first Beatles album I ever owned. I bought the cassette tape when I was a senior in high school. My junior year in college Ira borrowed and when I got it back, it was broken (what a punk). Alisha and I bought the CD on our honeymoon.

4. Achtung Baby by U2--Don't let anyone fool you with talk about The Joshua Tree, this album is U2's preeminent album. The electronica, for which they'd be known throughout the 90s, is here, as well as the guitar layered music, for which they were known throughout the 80s. The subsequent tour, The ZooTV tour, was a commentary on consumerism and media inundation that, ultimately, even their most devoted fans had difficultly understanding. Still, no band is as successful at challenging they're fan base and coming out on top as is U2.

3.  Versus by Pearl Jam--For my money (all $10 of it), this is one of the best albums ever. What Exile on Main Str. was/is for the Baby Boomers, Versus was/is for Generation X.

2. OK Computer by Radiohead--OK Computer is about how technology dehumanizes people. The concept is marvelously interesting, but the music makes it the best album released in the last half of the 90s...maybe even the whole decade. I went to the record store one day and couldn't find anything, so I just picked out an album at random and it was this one. Radiohead have been one of my favorite artists ever since.

1. The Wall by Pink Floyd--This album is amazing. What can I say that hasn't been said? Only a band with a clear and concise vision could create an album such as this. Interestingly enough, the band was on the verge of breaking up throughout the recording of The Wall, and the keyboardist was actually kicked out before it was all said and done. Still, this is as good as they come.