FIRST CHOICE
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1 - Los Lobos: The Ride
Los Lobos are an amazing band - you can't take that away from them! The Ride is their best work since Kiko (1992). David, Cesar, Conrad, Louie, and Steve play everything from traditional Mexican folk, blues, jazz, soul, rock, r&b, zydeco, middle eastern, to gospel. The talents and vocals of Ruben Blades, Bobby Womack, Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Tom Waits, and Mexico's Cafe Tacuba all feature prominently throughout The Ride, and lend this particular CD even more varied styles and sounds than we are accustomed to with a "typical" Los Lobos release.
2 - Joe Jackson: Steppin' Out / Very Best of Joe Jackson
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock call him "one of the few genuinely interesting artists on the scene". Joe Jackson has never made the same song twice, and you owe it to yourself to hear some quality music. He's done it all - even alternative reggae ("Beat Crazy").
Steppin' Out shows what an artist compilation should be. The songs are an excellent selection of Jackson's work, ranging from his debut up through his latest album, Night and Day II. It includes the hits ("Steppin' Out", "Look Sharp!", "Is She Really Going Out With Him?"...), key album tracks, and a few tracks never before issued on CD.
Scott Schinder contributes a nice essay to the liner notes.
3 - Dave Alvin: Ashgrove
In a music world gone astray with false musicians and American Idols, it is comforting to know that the real thing exists. Dave Alvin is the real thing. He inhabits the exclusive group of gifted American singer-songwriter guitarists, which include the likes of Springsteen, Dylan, and Cash, who tell stories about this big country and its ordinary folks in songs the radio mostly seems to miss.
4 - Ry Cooder: Chávez Ravine
The last gem of American music from Master
Ry Cooder. This "historical" project, which can possibly become the next #1 seller on Priority Sound, grooves ("Poor Man's Shangri-La" or "Onda Callejera") and gets down ("Muy Fifi" and "3 Cool Cats") as well as it will move you with some slow burners ("It's Just Work For Me") and beautiful ballads ("In My Town," "3rd Base, Dodgers Stadium" and "Soy Luz Y Sombra").
Lalo Guerrero was wonderful on Chávez Ravine,
"Viejo Barrio" is just one of many highlights. This album is a celebratory lament for what we have all lost.
5 - 
George
Harrison (1943-2001) + Various Artists:
The Concert for
Bangladesh (Live) 2 Discs
Gathering most of the sidemen from the All Things
Must Pass album, and a lineup of stellar friends (Bob Dylan,
Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar) and former Apple cronies (Ringo
Starr, Badfinger, Billy Preston),
Harrison set about staging some hastily organized benefit concerts at
Madison Square Garden. This album resulted, which is one of the greatest efforts of its
genre. The All
Things material gets a lively live workout. The occasion also marked Dylan's
return to live performance after a long absence.
6 - The Blasters: Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985) 
The original Blasters consisted of Downey, California brothers Phil (vocals, harmonica, guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar) along with bassist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. The rare first album, American Music, was released in 1980, recorded in Rockin' Ronnie Weiser's garage. They signed with Slash Records in 1981 and released The Blasters later that year. The Blasters featured Gene Taylor on the keys and the dynamic saxophone duo of Steve Berlin and Lee Allen.
Guys, we are talking of one of the best bands in America! They were in '82 and still are. The first CD of the Testament compilation contains the songs from their debut album that most Blaster fans (and record collectors) now consider a classic. The second CD contains many cuts that have been laying in someone's closet entirely too long and are a welcomed addition.
This band creates a driving, up beat sound that has never been duplicated. If you ever get a chance to see the Blasters live, do it!
7 - System Of A Down: Mezmerize 
They are political motivated and keep coming back harder and better than before. System Of A Down: the best rock band of this generation! Mezmerize is "only" 36 minutes long but overall you get a feelings of metal (with prog rock influences) and Daron's voice is superb.
S.O.A.D. never disappoint!
8 - The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang 
They will never be as fresh as they were back in the late 60's with Let it Bleed, Beggars Banquet, Aftermath or even the 70s with Sticky Fingers, Exile, Goats Head, but man they still have the guts and the talent to keep on kickn' out some jams and yelpin' out some vocals, showing everyone that they can still get the job done. They love what they do and they are doing it with a Bigger Bang of pure new Rock and Roll tunes for Stones fans and rock fans all around this globe. I say, keep on rockin' Rolling Stones!
9 - 
Elvis Costello: King of America
(CD & DVD)
This album mantains perfect musical atmosphere and flawless songwriting and shows Costello's vitality of his early exploration of blues and rock'n'roll.
The 15 songs of
King of America are as flawless a whole album as anything from his early years and his most successful collaboration with a producer, in this case, T-Bone Burnett.
10 - John Mayer: Room from Squares
True original debut of singer-songwriter John Mayer, a
genius on par with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon.
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