280 - U2 - All That Can't Be Left Behind

The songs are a good reset to U2's sound. There were songs that reminded me of Achtung Baby with less keyboards and effects and songs that reminded me a little of The Joshua Tree. It's like they decided to take what they liked best about all of the songs in their collection and picked their favorite aspects to utilize in a new album. While it creates an album that is mostly pleasing, there is very little WOW-factor for me other than "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation." Everything else is just an exercise in good song execution. I don't know how much the "recovery" by U2 after Pop and the fact this is a "latter day" release that reignited their popularity is a chunk of the reason why the album is this high on the list.

Songs I knew I liked: "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Wild Honey" and "When I Look At the World"

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

279 - David Bowie - Alladin Sane

The songs on this album are all over the Bowie-glam map. It comes across more of a compilation album than a cohesive unit. Maybe, more accurately, it sounds like two partial albums and an EP. First you have the jazzy, cabaret EP of "Aladdin Sane," "Time," and "Lady Grinning Soul." Then a collection of songs that have a kind of doo-wop/old school rock 'n' roll sound ("Drive In Saturday" and "The Prettiest Star," in particular). While these songs didn't float my boat, the aspect of "futuristic retro" was interesting. The remaining songs are very much in the sound of Ziggy Stardust... with a bit of a Chuck Berry and Rolling Stone thing going on. I can't help but think that some cutting of tracks and more time in production/composition could have made the two "half-albums" into a single whole.

Like the U2 album, there are numerous songs that I thought were good, but didn't really do anything for me. Another one of those cases that an album that consists of songs that are good with few stand outs can sometimes overcome other albums with a couple of classics and a couple of duds on the Rolling Stone Top 500 list.

Songs I knew I liked: "The Jean Genie"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)" and "Panic in Detroit"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: "Let's Spend the Night Together" is just plain painful to hear to me.