286 - X - Los Angeles

I did like X's Los Angeles, but for some reason, I didn't like it as much as the lower-ranked Wild Gift. Maybe it is because the sound of X is basically the same on both. But Los Angeles comes first, so it deserves some credit as the original release from the band.

Songs I knew I liked: "Johnny Hit & Run Paulene" and "Los Angeles"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not," "Sugarlight," "The World's a Mess; It's in My Kiss," and "Sex and Dying in High Society"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None

285 - Al Green - I'm Still in Love With You

Another album that is a follow-up album to another recently covered in the list, Al Green's I'm Still in Love With You is very similar to Call Me. But I found the flow of this album to be a bit nicer. While one might shy away from putting on Call Me for a date because of the potential bad timing of coming across "Jesus is Waiting," the coast is clear for this album. Al has an interesting variety of songs that he is able to make his own. This is a great collection of smooth soul. While there are few songs that stood out to me a particular favorites, I really enjoyed listening to this album.

Songs I knew I liked: "I'm Still in Love With You" and "Love & Happiness"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "I'm Glad You're Mine"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None

284 - Stevie Wonder - Music in My Mind

Most of my exposure to Stevie Wonder's music is via singles and a couple of compilations. I bought Songs in the Key of Life a few years ago on vinyl because I've always read raves about it. I don't know, I just can't get into that album. After listening to Music in My Mind, I found the nucleus of the Stevie Wonder sound that I love and is a major component to many of my favorite Jamiroquai songs.

This is the album that Stevie Wonder really stretches for the first time from his "Little Stevie" days with Motown. Music of My Mind introduces much of what his 70's music would sound like. Two major contributors for this is his use of Moog and Arp synths. But this isn't a synth-squeaky album. He knows that synths sound odd by themselves and dresses up the tracks with vibrant acoustic tones that breathe life into these songs.

Music of My Mind grooves and bounces, but not too hard. The songs get sweet and soft, but don't lull you to sleep. This album came very close to the best possible "Goldilocks" situation of being a mainstream-/cross-genre- palatable joy with genius. "Superwoman" is the greatest song on this album and makes me wonder why I haven't heard this song a zillion times already on the radio. Oh, yeah, it's an eight minute song. *sigh* Hey, folks find time for "Stairway to Heaven" and "American Pie," so surely they can throw in "Superwoman" once or twice a week.

What pulls this album from perfection is "Sweet Little Girl." The biggest problem I have with it is how it seems like an old track of his that someone decided to throw on there in case all of the other music scared an old fan too much. It is a bad distraction from how the rest of the album sounds.

Songs I knew I liked: None

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Love Having You Around," "Superwoman," "I Love Every Little Thing About You," and "Keep on Running"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: "Sweet Little Girl"