The Semi-Finalists

Since I have waited so long to post my top-10, I thought I would wait even a little longer. Hopefully I will get it all done before Christmas, because I am sure that after the 25th I will be spending endless hours on my new Play Station 3, and won't have much time for blogging. Or maybe I will be reading a book or something.

As I was perparing my top 10, I ended up with 22 tracks in my second to last cut. THis cut was a challenging one to make, as I was cutting from 52 songs, and I really needed to make the list more manageable. So the songs that made the semi-finals were all very very good. Here is a list of the songs from that list that did not make the final cut:

1. Coyote - Joni Mitchell
   The Last Waltz recording is my favorite, although it is remarkably similar to the studio version.
2. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2 - The Joshua Tree
   The toughest choice I had to make. It's been more than 20 years since this album came out, and I am not sure that there have been 3 better albums released since then.
3. Third Movement from Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat - "Emporer"
   Pick whatever recording you like, I've spent many a late night parading around my own house conducting the orchestra in my stereo to this one. Sadly, I was not always alone during those episodes. The quiet section at the end with just the piano and timpani is absolutely amazing.
4. Warehouse - Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds - Live at Luther College
   Something crazy happens at the end of this one, when you can tell that they are positively jamming, and the audience is loving it.
5. Terrapin Station - The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
   There's a little bit of everything in this one, from what is my favorite Dead studio album. Lots of great memories of this one, including a re-make from the late 90's (by me) called "Impound Station." I am so glad I don't have to park on the street anymore.
6. Dead Souls - Joy Division - Substance
   I understand that they use to open a lot of shows with one, because it has 3 minutes of music before the lyrics kick in, and Ian Curtis could get a feel for the crowd during that time. 
7. Old Laughing Lady - Neil Young - MTV Unplugged
   During rehearsals for this performance, Neil walked out because the band wasn't ready. Production was delayed for a few weeks, and I still don't know exactly who the Old Laughing Lady is. Maybe I will find out someday, but I kind of like not knowing.
8. Range Life - Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
   There was lots of great Pavement to choose from. This is one of several albums that I have somepltely worn out in my day. A classic.
9. Schizophrenia - Sonic Youth - Sister
   I prefer my Sonic Youth in the more melodic and not so noisy way, and this is a good sing along as well. This was the encore at the outdoor concert they played the night Jonathan came to town.
10. Plush - Stone Temple Pilots - Core
    My second favorite karoake song, which I mean as a sincere compliment. Here's a tip - it's easier to sing this one after about 12 cigarettes.
11. Can't You Hear Me Knockin' - The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
    Honestly, I am not a big Stones guy, and I haven't heard very much of their music. This one I got from Guitar Hero, and if you ever want to rock, you can't do much better than this one. Plus I freaked out at a wedding reception one time when H&B played it.

So there it is, the best of the rest. The top 10 is right around the corner.