1. Time Out of Mind-Bob Dylan (1997):

This one was easy for me. I think this is one of Dylan's very finest albums of any decade. Daniel Lanois' production and guitar work make this album spooky and mysterious. This is a continuation of Dylan/Lanois collaboration that began on Oh Mercy in the 80's. I always loved that album, but this one actually exceeded it for me. This is like Blood on the Tracksfor the 90's and it holds up to repeated listening like no other. There are also some great sidemen like Jim Keltner, Brian Blade, Duke Robillard and Augie Meyers.

Sequel albums rarely work very well, but this sequel to Neil's classic Harvest might be better than the original. Neil recruited virtually the same band and back up singers from the original Harvest, including, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. The sound is mostly acoustic and spare. Neil hasn't written any better songs than "One of these Days", "Old King" or the title track. I remember floating down the Nile in 1993 listening to this album on a cheap Egyptian tape deck played at about half speed but it still sounded great.

3. Rhythm of the Saints-Paul Simon (1990):

I remember when this came out everybody was wondering if it would be as good as Graceland. The general consensus seemed to be that it was not, but I disagree. It is much less accessible than Graceland, but it also has more layers to explore. That is not always a good thing, but in this case it is. This is a great recording. The songs are darker and more mysterious, but still maintain these incredible textures and rhythm. Highlights include "Born at the Right Time", "She Moves On" and "Proof".

4. Garcia/Grisman-Jerry Garcia and David Grisman (1991):

Garcia and Grisman played together regularly in the 70's in the bluegrass band, Old and in the Way, but then they didn't play together for the next 15 years or so. In 1990 they reconvened their musical conversation with amazing results. During the next 5 years they recorded something like 40 sessions of bluergrass, blues, jazz and folk. Those sessions are still being slowly released today, but this is the first of their collaborations. Every time I put on the album and the first notes of their acoustic guitar/mandolin version of B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone" start up I get a smile on my face.

5. Black Eyed Man-Cowboy Junkies (1992):

The Cowboy Junkies put out quite a few good albums in the 90s, but I think this one captured their style and appeal the best. They augmented their core band with extra instruments for this album and ensuing tour. Michael Timmons song writing matured and peaked on this album. "If You Were the Woman and I was the Man", a duet with Margo Timmons and John Prine, sounds like it could be a lost Patsy Cline song. They also cover a couple of Townes Van Zandt tunes with good results.

6. Mermaid Avenue-Billy Bragg and Wilco (1998):

The Guthrie family approached Billy Bragg and Wilco to put music to a batch of Woody Guthrie songs that either didn't have music or the music was lost when Woody died. This was a musical crapshoot that paid off. Billy Bragg and Wilco decide not to cast the songs in traditional Guthrie-esque surroundings but instead not to ignore the fact they had heard and been influenced by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Beck. The result sounds like a modern version of The Basement Tapes. These songs sound like they have been around forever, but also brand new. Of course both of these thing are true. That is what is so cool about this album. Corey Harris and Natalie Merchant also help out on a few tracks. They recorded enough material for two albums and supposedly vol. 2 will be out this year.

7. The Missing Years-John Prine (1991):

An older and wiser John Prine came out of nowhere with this album of songs that stand up to anything he has done. There are funny songs like "Big Old Goofy World>", blues songs like "Great Rain", and talking songs like "Jesus: The Missing Years" and they are all great.

8. Kiko-Los Lobos (1992):

I love this album because it is at once very accessible and experimental. This album probably contains Los Lobos' best song writing and the production by Mitchell Froom gives it that creepy late night feel. Lots of crazy keyboards and percussion. This is not exactly what they sound like live, but it is a very cool album.

9. Casino-Blue Rodeo (1990):

In 1990 I went to go see Edie Brickell and New Bohemians and this Canadian band that I had never heard of called Blue Rodeo opened for them. Edie Brickell was great, but I was surprised by how good Blue Rodeo was so I went out and bought this album to see what it sounded like. What it sounds like is modern day version of The Band crossed with Byrds. They have two strong lead singer/songwriters, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, and the whole band is top notch musically. At this time their keyboardist was Bob Wiseman who is also a jazz player who could improvise over their folk/rock structures. This album was produced by Pete Anderson who is famous for albums he worked on with Michelle Shocked and especially Dwight Yokum.

10. Trios-Rob Wasserman et al. (1994):

This album didn't make much of a splash with the public, but it is one of my favorites. Rob Wasserman is a bay area bassist with a very distinctive sound who has played with everybody from David Grisman to Lou Reed. The idea of this album was to bring together interesting Trios of players to record tracks. The results are consistently great. The two tracks with Jerry Garcia, Edie Brickell and Wasserman are totally improvised and fantastic. The unlikely pair Chris Whitley and Les Claypool join Wasserman for a cool song called, "Home is where you get across". Also of note is one of the great Willie Dixon's last sessions with Wasserman and drummer, Al Duncan called "Dusting off the Bass". Also on this album are Brian Wilson, Neil Young, Bob Weir, Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis.

Good As I Been to You-Bob Dylan (1992)

World Gone Wrong-Bob Dylan (1993)

Train a Comin'-Steve Earle (1995)

Mule Variations-Tom Waits (1999)

Mellow Gold-Beck (1994)

Trading with the Enemy-Tuatara (1998)

Wrecking Ball-Emmylou Harris (1995)

All Kooked Out-Stanton Moore (1998)

Nothing but a Burning Light-Bruce Cockburn (1991)

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road-Lucinda Williams (1998)

Jer Out.