#11 Five Greatest Albums of All Time

Saturday March 8th
Conclusion to week 2/16 for Mohican 100 miler.

I didn't bother adding the mileage for this week, 10 miles yesterday and another 8 planned today. I chalked the week up to a bust and began planning out an epic week of training! First workout geared toward the 100 miler, PB for most miles in a week, and a lot of good reads via Digem's Trails! I'll raise my glass of Orange/Banana juice to that. I tried that out while grocery shopping; wouldn't recommend it. Don't want people stealing my drank. Last night reeked of awesomeness because Luke from Wheeling Jesuit came down for his 22nd birthday and brought the entire gang. 8 cardinals and me hit downtown Morgantown last night and it must have been tantalizing as hell for the town. All the bros headed east on the PA turnpike for spring break and in poured in the coolest group of guys around and I know Morgantown thinks that is going to be normal now, but the bros will return. And all but one cardinal must return to their nest, too. We are fortunate enough to keep Russell. The two of us had quite the run on the pool tables last night. Don't wanna brag, but if our bladders weren't overflowing, I think we would still be there putting on a show. Only exciting news about today, aside from the 5 greatest albums of all time, I am officially in my trimester! It's going to be a super burrito from Chico's Fat <3 Tasted so good going down, but I'm on borrowed time as far as keeping that s.o.b in me. Luckily I have this to do during pregnancy. And yes, 2/5 of the top 5 list was typed up during labor; enjoy.



                                                                                                                                                                 

You are about to learn about the five greatest albums of all time. This isn't a disputable list because my mind can only be changed by myself, but I assume no one has an identical list. I also assume that if I say these are the best albums ever someone may take it for fact; that is what we are raised to do, not ask questions. So take this list as fact, but it will change in coming years as most facts do. I will start with a few albums that were just on the outside of my top five for a few reasons.

• Passenger's All the Little Lights is very close to a top five spot. I haven't sunk my teeth into this beautiful man's music until recently; making my feelings less strong for his work. Out of the 16 track on this album I give 12-13 an A with ease; All the Little Lights, the track is an amazing song about life. Doesn't get more broad and relatable than that. I am a sucker for male singers from his region which probably boosts him higher on my list than morons who can not just lay and listen to he, James Blunt, The Kooks, and other English speaking non-Americans sing. I'd exchange draws in a heartbeat with a Brit. The most known track on the album is Let Her Go which is a brilliant song, but it doesn't mesh too well with me as it seems to with the mass public. Perhaps it's because I have never let anyone go that I didn't want to go. Things That Stop You Dreamin is one of the best songs ever and I can't relate to most songs as well as I do with Wrong Direction. Common themes in his album is tobacco and internet porn; I can only relate to 50% of those things. But relatability, gonna make that word up, doesn't necessarily make or break a song for me. As long as it kicks ass, I like it. If you look up Mr. Rosenberg you will notice that he looks close enough to me to where you might think I give him extra credit for that semi-fact; you would be right.

• Elliott Smith's Either/Or, Avett Brothers' Emotionalism, and every album written by Conor Oberst is off of the list because I wanted to list five separate artists to project a false sense of variety in my music listening. All three of these men write pure gold and have three extremely different voices; all beautiful in their own ways. I will discuss them in thick in a few seconds/minutes (pending on how quickly you read). My first iPod had nothing on it but Either/Or on it for months! Those were some damn good months. When I find something I don't hate I usually hold on to it. I discovered very early on that I loved video games, ice cream, and pizza. I have had a steady diet of those three activities for my entire life. Yes, eating is certainly an activity though I treat is as a chore sometimes. All of my closest friends I meshed with the first time hanging out and we've been tight ever since. Not in my nature to make things complicated. There are a lot of things/people I haven't gotten along with initially and I only eat them once and move on. Getting off track, pun kind of intended. I saw it coming. Also, Kurt Cobain is one of my favorite people to have lived. His biography Heavier Than Heaven will force you to fall in love with that beautiful angel. Nevermind is a classic and a lock for the 6-10 spot in my ranks. If I had a list of top five albums and could use the same artist, it would be just these three probably. But I don't make the rules, only enforce them. Also, I make the rules.

Let's get this started! #5- Blind Pilot's 3 Rounds And A Sound is still pretty new to me. The other four albums on this list have been in my arsenal for 5+ years and this group have only welcomed me this past year. I have the aspirations of watching these stellar folks live. They are just as sweet live as they are recorded from what I have heard. Also, I want to listen to my favorite musicians while I can. You never know when that opportunity will escape you through either a Yoko Ono or a Kurt Cobain. Sidenote, I apologize Blind Pilot, I referenced the Beatles but I could not feel more strongly about how damn over rated they are. The best band ever? No. Sometimes you can wrestle the kids of this generation to a 'Well they were the first, so the best' or some shit along those lines. That is absurd! They are rubbish. If someone said listen to the Beatles, they are alright- I would and I would say yep they aren't too bad. But when people cram it in your face and promise the best thing in the world I am critical. Even if they were the first Great Band, that doesn't make them the best. Roger Bannister wouldn't qualify for NCAAs in the mile today, he's not the best miler ever. The Beatles are not the best ever. Now John Lennon post Beatles is the closest thing this world has probably seen to a God. If you don't love Imagine then you are deaf, dumb, and blind. Back to the good good. 3 Rounds and a sound is one of those albums that have 11 great songs, but when listened to in order (like it should be) turn into epic songs. This album is what will be playing Summer '16 when I attempt to make a permanent run to the Rockies. And not the baseball club, I quit that sport after getting hit a handful of times. I figured- I don't have to stand here(in the batter's box) and take this crap. Shit hurts. Take a fast ball to the small of the back and tell me you want to play baseball. I prefer my pain via not little balls being thrown at me by men much manlier than me.

 Like I said, the entire album is great. I could talk up each individual song. I'll pick...2. Two Towns From Me is great because I habitually build friendships with distance in between us. On purpose. The closer one of the opposite sex is to you, the more they expect from you. I hate expectations, makes me lazy. Lemme alone. It's perfect if you think about it. Talk when you want, they can't have their nose in your business; but some nights it'd be nice if that distance was only two towns. One Red Thread is greatness in one line. Oh man, oh man, you can do what you want. How is that not simply gold? I hate it when people are not doing what you want. I also hate when people ask me why I am doing anything. The answer is always the same: I want to. Regardless of what I am doing, I want to be doing it. There are a few exceptions that life forces you to do, but those events never seem to stick in my memory. "Whatever, whatever, I do what I want"- the great thinker Eric Cartman. Oviedo and The Story I Heard are both brilliant and probably should be the first two tracks to introduce the album. If I ever learn how to play the guitar, The Story I Heard is on my first cover EP. Got it allllll planned out. Thing I Can't Recall as well as 3 Rounds And A Sound have cliche themes that most of us can relate to. Ever went to high school? Maybe a school dance with a girlfriend once or twice? These will be quick to trigger those bitter memories. I mean sweet memories.. Just like that I've touched on over half of the album. I will get carpal tunnel if I touch on every song on this list; there's a lot. Plus I want you *'s to listen to my tunes. Future reference, I will be using Kurt Vonnegut's * to replace the word asshole. If you haven't read Vonnegut I will assume you have not read/can't read. Here is a song I didn't even mention yet, this makes it 7/11 references. Which makes me think of one of the worst brain freezes I've ever had. Took place last week with a Taco Bell slushy; I literally crumbled to my knees and prayed for death. Actually almost vomited. It was intense.
















#4- Elliott Smith's New Moon. Elliott Smith touches me in a way no one else has ever been able to. The is probably because there will forever only be king of tragedy; king of heartbreak. When you are listening to a band that raises their voices when they want to express emotion, you obviously know that they are passionate or that they want to portray themselves as such. Elliott doesn't have to raise is voice to get his feelings across; not to me at least. I have met a lot of people who don't connect with his music like I do. But they don't connect with me either. This man has the sweetest voice ever. You can turn the volume all the way up and still be able to have a gentle conversation with someone next to you. But that would be disrespectful. The only way to really feel Elliott Smith is to lock yourself in a room with nothing but Elliott Smith and enter his world. Warning: it is not for the easily depressed. I can not stand when people bash his work for being 'too depressing' or 'too sad' to listen to. That's what you get when you write about life, grow up. I hate musicians that write annoying beats and stupid lyrics that people listen to while avoiding their depression. Elliott Smith has never made me an ounce more depressed than I was before listening to his music. I measure my depression in ounces. Happy to report it is dry. Elliott Smith enhances my evaluations on my life. Sometimes I get criticized for only having a few artists in my iTunes. I get comments like 'You don't even use your iTunes.' My response is shut up Cadence the Corgi you don't even have iTunes; and check the times played stat! (Cadence is my only company/ iTunes critic/ life critic.) Every track of New Moon has over 400 hits on my iTunes. And yes I can recite the 24 track album. Back to what I was saying about enhancing my evaluations. Every night I try to evaluate why things happen and why I feel like I feel. I am a closet over thinker. Shh. I have a book that serves as a dream log; once I wake up I write in detail everything that happened in my dreams. Constantly trying to figure everything out and often jumping to conclusions. Elliott's music will open up your mind and allow you to think about every little thing that you try to not think about. That's why I say if you are a little chickenshit, don't listen to it. You may fall into a depression if you can't handle thinking about life. Keep in mind, there's nothing wrong with crying. I do it all the time. If you haven't cried in awhile here you go- 
Now wipe those tears off, thank Will Smith for being the best actor of all time at one point in his career, and let's continue. As far as hits go for tracks, you honestly can't go wrong with any of the songs. High Times, All Cleaned Out, New Monkey, Angel in the Snow are all so so good. If you have ever watched a sitcom in the last twenty years you have heard Thirteen and you didn't even know it! It's a beautiful song that makes me mad. I don't know why, but I get salty listening to that song. I do know why actually. Ever watched MTV when it made sense for the network to be called Music Television? I sure didn't! But if you did, you probably watched Elliott's legendary Miss Misery music video. If you click the word Miss Misery it will take you to the video because this blog is fancy as fish. Elliott Smith is on human that I would have loved to have met in this lifetime; perhaps next one. Taking your own life is always selfish in a sense, but I am grateful that he has left his mark on this planet. And honestly, he isn't gone. Like I said, the s.o.b has 400+ listens just on my iTunes and I rarely use that as a form of listening to music. I listen to him every night; he is my co-night owl. And he will ride this crazy ride with me until it ends and I hopefully get to meet him and listen to him play live. So, New Moon was released after he passed away. Technically the last song released just happens to be one of my favorite. It holds such passion; hatred. A perfect one to end on. I have listen to it close to a thousand times and it still gives me chills; whether I'm driving or lying in bed. I think those chills is Elliott's way of saying he appreciates how much I appreciate him. Or perhaps it's his way of saying, you're feeling what you are suppose to feel! While lying here typing this up I had
a disgustingly dark epiphany. My most recent tattoo wasn't tweeked at the last minute
to a dagger going through a heart and bleeding ink. There is other symbolic meaning behind the tattoo, but I can't tell you all everything. Then I'd have no secrets that you unlock after a few dates. Dagger through the heart- the way Mr. Smith himself exited this world. I subconsciously got a tattoo that tributes one of my favorite humans of all time. He will continue to help me with my journey. Here is the king himself!! ->>

#3- Avett Brothers' I and Love and You is my favorite album of theirs and was really hard to pinpoint as third. I enjoy the Avetts more than the artists I mention at #2, but they have an album that is all around the greatest album ever constructed. Second greatest to be exact. It was also hard to put this album on here because these guys make so many great albums! Emotionalism, Mignonette, The Carpenter would probably be the next three in line for me. All excellent albums by the same wonderful men. I recently saw these fabulous performers for the third time as they came to Morgantown to lift my spirits. If I had to choose a band to play with, or sing with; I enjoy singing more than playing even though I am not a good singer. Actually I think I am because I enjoy it. That's a good one. Their songs are my favorites to crank up in my car and just go crazy singing. I get so damn into it, more into it than any other music; yet so much less into it than they get. I think watching those guys is a preview to the joy I will feel when watching a child do what they love doing. I get so much happiness from watching them perform or even listening to them not live; you can tell that they couldn't be happier doing what they are doing. And that makes everyone around them happier. If you can sit through an Avett Brothers concert and not leave happier; still not in a good mood, you're a hopeless prick. Life is short and meaningless/meaningful so enjoy it. I try to enjoy it half as much as these guys do. Plus, have you seen a more beautiful set of brothers?

I and Love and You couldn't be in a tighter race for my favorite with Emotionalism. Honestly, my absolute favorite song, aside from November Blue, is Ballad of Love and Hate. It is one of the best poems I've ever read. Sometimes I just get online and read it. Granted, Seth Avett tells the story so much better than you can tell it to yourself. I was all warm inside when he told me the Ballad I have memorized for the past few years. It's an amazing feeling to know all the words and feel like you are singing with your idols, regardless of how far away you are standing from the stage. But I gave the nod to this album. 13 can not be seen unlucky anymore, because these 13 tracks have each been my daily favorite song on several occasions. I credit the Avetts' I and Love and You for the relocation of the Brooklyn Nets and soon to be Brooklyn Islanders. No one asked nicer for Brooklyn to take them in than these brothers. January Wedding is one of my favorite songs when I think about caring about someone and makes me want to get married in January just so I can pay them all of my money to sing that at my wedding. Holy hell! Is my favorite oxymoron. Could you imagine Avetts as a wedding band? No way. There's a tig ol chance I won't have wedding in any month due to my love for doing things my way. Who knows. I sure don't. There isn't one song that isn't therapeutic to listen to and sing along with. I enjoy each, but Head Full of Doubt, Kick Drum Heart, and Tin Man are three songs that I think outsiders will enjoy. Sometimes I pretend to know what the normal people would dig. I plan on devoting days and days surrounding myself with the rest of their work and continuing to love these Appalachian men. When I think of this area and try to find some sense of pride I think......Avetts are from this stretch of mountains. Like everyone on this list, these men have been extremely influential on my life and decisions. I plan on seeing these performers as often as I can and aspire to be able to shake hands with them one day. Or touch beards once I grow mine back out. I'm a baby face beech right meow. Really doesn't help me when I get ID'd because I show no resemblance to the man that I was with my beard. I look like his younger sister now. It's hard for me to talk about the Avett Brothers and out of all five artists I honestly believe that it's safe to say that they are the last ones that I have to pitch to my audience. If you're going to listen to music, just listen to anything by these men; can't go wrong. Laundry Room is my favorite track on this album and one of my favorite songs ever written. It stings like a blade in the ribs, but it hurts so good. Plus, if you ever hear them rev up this song you are guaranteed a treat at the end as they always shred to end the song. It's impressive as shit and probably the only time you'll see me willingly dance. There's an abundance of excellent live versions of this song; no known versions to not be excellent. But I like this video the best because there's no crowd, just the brothers.

#2- Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism is a brilliantly constructed album. Maybe the best flowing album ever. I do love each song individually, but I don't really care to hear any of them standing alone. I feel like this album is the greatest song ever written. And it's impossible to not listen to on repeat because the final song leads right back into the introduction; it's majestic, like cookie dough that's wrapped around mixers. Like I mentioned in #3, I do like Avett Brothers more than Death Cab in the big picture, but as far as albums go: I think this album trumps any individual album of the Avetts. One hit wonder in a sense. I don't know the actual runtime in comparison to the other albums, but this one seems to be the shortest. Perhaps it feels that way because it all sounds like one song to me. Like the previous albums, I enjoy turning it up and jamming out with Death Cab. Who wouldn't want to jam with these fellas?

The New Year - Lack of Color almost seems like the circle of life to me. Seriously, I want to know if others think this, too. I think this album is one big book basically. It's the best story ever told over an eleven song album. I love everything about every single song and they couldn't not transition any better than they do. There are several songs that have the potential to break me down: Title and Registration, We Looked Like Giants, Expo '86, A Lack of Color. Some of them make me feel a very warm numbness: Tiny Vessels, The Sound of Settling, Passenger Seat. By this numbness I mean they hit nerves in me when I lie back and listen to them that make me feel emotionless; Tiny Vessels summarizes my second life that is everything, but emotion. Lightness  may be the most relaxing song I have ever heard and I have turned it on to calm my nerves if anxiety ever tries to settle in. I am pretty good at keeping that knight at bay. I haven't been able to describe how the song Transatlanticism makes me feel, but it is worthy of sharing the title of the album; such a great song. The instrumentals alone in this album are just amazing. If Death Cab did not have the most beautiful voice I think it would ruin the quality of the instruments that are easily my favorite of the 5 albums. Not easily. It's just music that I can listen to in any environment. That's before you throw in some of the best lyrics I've ever heard. Which is abnormal from Death Cab; I don't think they have great lyrics and they are not that great outside of this album. They are okay; I own all of their music, but it's several levels below this album. Most everything is though. I'm trying to think of a video/song to share from the album but it's the second hardest decision ever. Behind deciding what song to share on the greatest album ever. Here you go: Sneak peak into life outside of running. No going back now. Crackin the spine to my book. Soundtrack to my life. However you wanna word it. Honestly, this is my favorite music video because I feel like someone followed me around with cameras to shoot it.

#1!!!!! Bright Eyes' I'M WIDE AWAKE IT'S MORNING is the greatest album of all time written and sung by the greatest artist on Earth. Conor Oberst is hands down the most influential man in my life that I have never met. He is practically my best friend. Patrick is my best friend. Conor practically is. Back in '07 Patrick handed me Lifted (another Bright Eyes album) and I vividly recall crawling onto my old water bed, turning all of the lights off, putting headphones on, and evolving into the person I am today. I love everything Conor has written and own everything I could get my hands on. He has been putting great music out since he was 13! <---- Click that, little son of a gun was 13 when he wrote/played that. Prodigy. I think this man shits gold. I can't wait to finally be blessed by his presence in May. My first leg tattoo is a direct image of one of the symbols Conor uses in this album and has the title to one of his songs on another album written on my leg. So yes, he's my favorite and forever will be. Until Patrick makes it BIG. Then I will manage his band wagon. Since I was 14 years old, Conor has been in my ears; guiding me through life. I hope I never meet him in person because there is no way I could keep my cool. I'd have to say he is my biggest obsession. He has brought so much clarity to my life and is always there when I need anything. Granted, it is my choice who is there when it comes to music. First of all, he has my favorite voice in the world. Far from the best singer in the world, but my favorite. 2nd, lyrical god. Best lyrics in the world. He has written a cure to anything that could possibly be bothering you. I hate it when people say this about celebrity figures or people they have never met in person, but I'm a do it.... I love Conor Oberst. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for him and I oddly feel like he'd be the same way to me. Because the only thing I would ask him for is a chance to hang out.

Track by Track here we go:

1. At The Bottom Of Everything is an awesome story turned song by Conor. I will probably post this video below because I really like the video. It's an epic tale of a plane crash and the celebration that goes on by all of the passengers on the way to the ocean. It's a great song that hits damn near every part of the life and makes you sing along. Originally it was named Sing Sing Sing, probably because that series of sing's comes up in the lyrics and because it is such a catchy song. This song has been stuck in my head since Algebra 1 class. What a humbling ending to the song, too. I'm happy just because... I found out I am really no one!
2. We Are Nowhere And It's Now is the song I listen to EVERYtime that I feel like socializing and going downtown. I feel like this song tells the tale of life as a young adult. You are nowhere and seem to be going nowhere. A little repetition in life without much of a clue as to what the next chapter brings. This is the first reference to what I got tattooed on the side of my leg. I got no plans and too much time, feel too restless to unwind. I absolutely love the bar scene in this song. It is beautiful. This whole album is beautiful. Only word there is to describe it.
3. Old Soul Song starts with a grey day in New York City, so it must have been one of the prettier days. I love this song so much. It reminds me of walking around with a friend in NYC and just being out anywhere with a friend. Young love and awkwardness. That could've been the titled of this blog if I chose a different theme for my entries.
4. Lua is a fan favorite I would assume. Another NYC adventure with a friend. Such an incredible outlook on life. What's so simple in the evening by the morning never is. Everyone should be able to relate to how everything changes with the moon. At nighttime you will never think like you do in the morning. Every one of these songs can be pegged as an anthem to living. This song gives me chills. I can't finger what memory it triggers, but it definitely hits home. It's weird, this is the only song I won't sing along with even though I know the words. It is just something that I have to listen to. Conor is enchanting in this song, to sing along would be disrespectful. This song is a piece of art.
5. Train Under Water was for a very long stretch my favorite song. Especially the ending of the song. This transitions into the next song better than any two songs go together. Riding around this island, looking for something to open my eyes. Unlike the previous two songs, back alone and looking for a hand to help you out of the shadows. Meanwhile helping your peers that are also in the shadows.
6. First Day of My Life is the most popular Bright Eyes song and I resent it slightly for that. It is one of the most optimistic songs Conor ever wrote. And it is the greatest happy, new love song there is. I love every single line of it and the sweetness of the lyrics gave it no choice but to be well known by everyone. I could talk for days about each of these songs, but my hands are breaking on me. If for some chance you haven't listened to it, I'll post it above here. It's a great video, too.
7. Another Travelin' Song is the first song me and Patrick will play on every road trip just to be cliche. Every time that I listen to this song and I am not traveling across the country, I am damn close to switching my route and leaving for my sanctuaries. This has also been my favorite song for a very long stretch; all of these have been. That is why this is the greatest album; these are ten of the greatest songs ever written. All on one CD, how convenient. Now I'm hunched over a typewriter, I guess you call that paintin in a cave. And there's a word a can't remember and a feeling I cannot escape.... Now my ashtray's overflowin I'm still starin at a clean white page! Oh and mornings at my window, she is sending me to bed again.
8. Landlocked Blues is Emmylou Harris at her prettiest. They sing so well together and tell such an epic tale. Just....listen to it! That's all I can say. I can't explain music well; I have done none of these artists or songs any justice. This is such a great song. I can't write about it because I am listening to it now. Hundreds of songs on shuffle and this song comes on while I am writing about it...Madness.
9. Poison Oak continues the blues as it looks back on those you have lost. We will always lose people and we will always have to think back to times when we were with old friends. Having lost more people close to me than most people twice my age I have taught myself to remember and move on without being drug down too deep. I do fear that I am desensitized to events that no one should be. This song is beautiful and I think when he's sitting on the piano singing about how the sound of loneliness makes him happier changed me in my sad days. I translated that as having to be able to live on your own; loving yourself. Because it is inevitable that you will be alone for stretches of time and if you can't keep it together while alone, you're going to have troubles. My tattoo is referenced for the second time in this song.
10. Road To Joy ends the mourning and we begin to rejoice and move forward a better person. This is my anthem to living. It's the perfect ending to a perfect album. The sun is coming up with no conclusions today. I could have been a famous singer, if I had someone else's voice.

I'm Wide Awake! It's morning.

I seriously did not do any of this music justice, go listen for yourself.

I hope you enjoyed the list. You should have gotten some quality tunes in just from the links. If you liked the list, share the blog! Or comment your thoughts below. If you didn't like it, share the blog or leave your comments below. I will happily read all of your negative thoughts.

One Love!