#5DebutAlbums9599 Big Stick - Pro Drag After years of cult favorite singles and EPs, Big Stick finally delivered a full length and it is truly one of a kind. Not something I listen to often but when the mood hits, nothing else will scratch that itch.

11/10 (one point for each song), favorite/second favorite album of all time depending on the day, perfection, no notes.

#MusicSky #NowListening Super Furry Animals - Fuzzy Logic B-Sides and Besides May as well finish the night off with the b-sides.

#5DebutAlbums9599 Super Furry Animals - Fuzzy Logic A wild and wonderful debut that set the stage for THE band of our times; there are albums in this bracket that I rank higher but as far as whole careers go, SFA are peerless in my opinion.

#MusicSky #NowListening Super Furry Animals - Precreation Percolation Ending the first day of 46 with the new early SFA comp which arrived today, though the pressing is more turquoise than mint green as advertised. Early SFA is so special, I’m thrilled for this collection.

#5DebutAlbums9599 Spice Girls - Spice Some might call it the ‘Nevermind’ of girl pop and I am part of that some. Removed from the hype and world domination it has held up as an incredible R&B-inspired Super-Pop album…though I prefer the madcap unhinged vibe of ‘Spiceworld’ to be honest.

#5DebutAlbums9599 Erykah Badu - Baduizm First outing for the so-called Queen of Neo-Soul. An incredible album in its own right, but it only hints at the masterpieces she would produce over the next decade.

#5DebutAlbums9599 Ash - 1977 I always forget that I share a release date with one of the greats. 30 years feels insane, but time is like that. Sadly no room in my top 5 for it but I always give it a birthday spin.

#5DebutAlbums9599 The Kelley Deal 6000 - Go To The Sugar Altar While Kim was (barely) holding the Amps together, Kelley was out of rehab and making this ramshackle album. There’s definitely a charm here that keeps me engaged but I doubt it’s making anyone’s Top 5 for this poll.

#5DebutAlbums9599 The Amps - Pacer The third Breeders album in all but name - Kim wouldn’t do one without Kelley - this is my third favorite Kim album behind ‘Title TK’ and ‘Nobody Loves You More’. Given it’s here on a technicality, I feel better that it might miss my top 5, but I do love it lots.

#5DebutAlbums9599 GusGus - Polydistortion One of my 3 favorite albums of all time so an easy choice for my number 1 this round. Its mindmelting fusion of genres and ideas into one delicious electro whole still blow my mind 29 years later; I will never tire of losing myself in its majesty.

#5DebutAlbums9599 Imperial Teen - Seasick Magnificent debut from indie rock super group of sorts; I’m so bummed they’re only opening for the Breeders in San Francisco this summer, I’d love to see them again. (Also can someone get on an LP reissue of this please?)

#5DebutAlbums9599 Cibo Matto - Viva! La Woman Even in an era where music inventiveness was off the charts, Cibo Matto stood out from the crowd with their idiosyncratic debut. It kills me that I might not have room in my top 5 for this, it’s such a wonderful album. 💖

#5DebutAlbums9599 Geneva - Further One of my most beloved bands of all time and one of two stunners on Nude in this bracket, I can’t see it not making my Top 5; I’m forever crushed their reunion stalled a few years back and the reissue program was a mess.

#5DebutAlbums9599 Adina Howard - Do You Wanna Ride? Sadly it’s mostly “Freak Like Me” and 12 other songs that aren’t “Freak Like Me”, but godDAMN “Freak Like Me” is a fucking incredible song.

I feel similar about #5DebutAlbums9599 as many expressed they did about 7579: my number 1 is locked in since it’s a Top 3 album of all time for me, but I have no idea how I’m going to choose only 4 more. (And I’m sure I’m forgetting something important on the long list.)

#5DebutAlbums7579 The Human League - Reproduction From the fairly brutal album cover to the brilliant deconstruction of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and the air of helplessness that covers the whole thing, this is hands down my favorite Human League album and will definitely be in my top 5.

Another fantastic single from The Early Years, May 22 cannot come fast enough. 💚

#Booksky #NowReading The Fountain - Casey Scieszka Took a chance on this one due to a @bookshop.org blurb and am really enjoying it so far. (It also reminds me I’m well overdue a long weekend trip to the Catskills.)

#5DebutAlbums7579 Squeeze - Squeeze Not my go-to when I’m in the mood for some Squeeze, but the seeds for what they would become are there.

#5DebutAlbums7579 Prince - For You A relatively inauspicious beginning for (I’m just going to say it) the single greatest musician of our times. That said, it’s a perfectly acceptable genre exercise with some absolutely fantastic tunes and deserves way more credit than it usually gets.

#5DebutAlbums7579 Grace Jones - Portfolio I generally prefer the Compass Point trio & ‘|Slave to the Rhythm’, however there’s something captivating about the high camp of side A’s Broadway medley, and the second side contains some of her finest Disco era moments.

#NowListening #5DebutAlbums7579 Telex - Looking for Saint-Tropez Starting Monday off with an underrated left of center mini-masterpiece; their funereal take on “Rock Around the Clock” is one of my favorite deconstructive cover versions.

The B-52’s - The B-52’s My top pick for #5DebutAlbums7579 …and, really, for the whole thing. Almost 50 years on, it still sounds like both the past and future rolled up into one incredible record.

#MusicSky #Last4Albums Rainy Friday Night with Hilary Woods edition.

#MusicSky #NowListening Hilary Woods - Colt One more shout for my top pick for #5DebutAlbums1519 , an ethereal masterpiece that is the perfect soundtrack for this rainy Friday evening. 💙

Oh, this single is fab.

#5DebutAlbums1519 R. Ring - Ignite the Rest Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery pair up to create the ultimate mid-90’s indie throwback record; similar in style but more consistent than the KD6K records, will definitely be in my top 5 this round.

#5DebutAlbums1519 Flasher - Constant Image Nervous, jerky indie from DC; they’re definitely familiar with Devo and Elvis Costello and think Kim Deal is pretty cool. A certainty for my top 5; the locked groove at the end of “XYZ” is an incredible moment.

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 1 I Just Wanna Get Along The highlight of the album for me belongs to Kelley and this spiky, surf-rock influenced banger, which features yet another all-timer of a line: If you’re so special, why aren’t you dead? youtu.be/YhvcqbS6P-s

#5DebutAlbums1519 Hilary Woods - Colt The former JJ72 bassist reintroduced herself with this haunting minimalist ambient pop masterpiece; honestly quite likely my number 1 this round, I never tire of getting lost in it.

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 2 Roi Similar to “Mad Lucas”, part of the underrated core of the album. Also, the highlight for me of ‘LSXX’ live; I’d love to hear it at a show again. Raw, where the shot leaves me gagging for the arrow. youtu.be/dHfR0BkU4p4

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 3 Mad Lucas They get less attention but the oddball moments like this shuffling beauty are the heart of the album for me. Contains my favorite lyric on the LP as well: you’re a nuisance and I don’t like dirt. youtu.be/Te8RimNJDBk

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 4 Divine Hammer In contrast to its b-side, this majestic slice of guitar pop perfection was my initial favorite off the album and still ranks very high amongst Kim compositions for me. youtu.be/tUiP5eyx3NM

#5DebutAlbums1519 The Rectangle Shades - Mystical Numbers John Davis’ country rock-tinged project; honestly not my favorite of his bands but I’m quite enjoying it on probably my first listen since it came out in 2018…I’m getting some strong Matthew Sweet vibes as well.

#5DebutAlbums1519 The Beths - Future Me Hates Me The Beths have rarely put a foot wrong over the course of four albums, however their punchy debut remains my favorite; will likely end up in my Top 5.

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 5 Hoverin’ Two drum kits chase each other, guitar and bass struggle to keep focus and Kim rambles on over the racket; a glorious ramshackle slice of chaos that appeared as a b-side to “Divine Hammer” and was later redone for ‘Pacer’. youtu.be/xj3jMpxjUfo

#5DebutAlbums1519 Guy Garvey - Courting the Squall This laid back song cycle was a wonderful surprise after the previous two Elbow albums felt like they were (not entirely successfully) chasing the high naturally achieved on ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’

#5DebutAlbums1519 Cindy Wilson - Change B-52’s vocalist signs to Kill Rock Stars and creates a largely downtempo indie guitar record to showcase her incredible vocals. A truly special record that makes so much sense that it’s crazy it took so long for it to happen.

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 6 Cannonball If I’ve heard it a million times, I’m still just as excited to hear it the million and first as I was the very first. Still and absolute thrill and one of the weirdest (in a good way) megahits ever. youtu.be/fxvkI9MTQw4

#5DebutAlbums1519 Bas Jan - Yes I Jan Sparsely arranged chamberpop from one of the more intriguing bands of the last 10 years, proving minimalistic doesn’t have to mean dull; they’ve always reminded me a bit of a modern day Waitresses.

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 7 New Year The opening chimes of this still send chills up my spine as I know what they herald. We have come for light… youtu.be/aejRd0U_kL4

I was surprised to discover that I don’t have nearly as many debuts for #5DebutAlbums1519 as I thought I would, but there are some big favorites amongst this list. (As usual, I’m sure I’m forgetting/overlooking some that the group will remind me of.)

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 8 Saints Summer is ready when you are. youtu.be/lGsR-CVp0JE

Like many of my generation, ‘Flowers in the Attic’ at maybe 7 or 8. (And I go back for a reread every few years.)

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 9 - S.O.S. The sound of Kelley’s sewing machine fed through an amp, a guitar tries to tune itself and then we’re off; the galloping rhythm section demonstrates how formidable and underrated the Wiggs/Macpherson combo was/is. youtu.be/6zqFYFOjYMI

#ArtistFaveLP the Breeders - Last Splash 10 - No Aloha The gorgeous first half of Kim solo gives way to the blistering second half where the full band kicks in. Seemingly ending just as we’re taking off, part of the magic is it’s exactly as long as it needs to be. youtu.be/lt4um_Yl3r8

In celebration of their just announced show at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in June, we’ll go with a Breeders classic this month. (‘Title TK’ is my actual favorite but that’s the wrong line up.) #ArtistFaveLP

Absolutely adore this album, thrilled to see it getting a proper revisit; sign me up for all of it.

#5DebutAlbums8589 FFA Coffi Pawb - Dalec Peilon First album from the band that would eventually lead to Super Furry Animals; definitely rough around the edges but you can hear the seeds of the Ankst EPs and ‘Fuzzy Logic’ in here for sure.