escape by rupert holms is my all time favorite song & it's great to clean to.

Grateful Dead

Pink Floyd's Animals, all Klaatu albums, Starz' Coliseum Rock

You left out some great chick music:
Indigo Girls, "Closer to Fine"
and Norah Jones, of course.

gladys knight

Joan Biaz "Diamonds and Rust", love it!

Great article, but I must disagree that R.E.M.'s best album is "Automatic for the People." Their best music came before making it big nationally after the release of "Green". While "Automatic" certainly recalls Stipe and Co.'s return to making a cohesive album where the whole album is greater than the sum of the individual songs, it does not match the efforts of "Fables" or "Document" or "Green."

I am glad R.E.M. is recognized in this category of classic alternative artists. They are well deserving as they have greatly influenced many others. Readers should also re-review the efforts of The Feelies, Husker Du, Bob Mould, The Pixies and Camper van Beethoven (later reassembled as Cracker).

I really enjoyed Thom Duffy's article. My desert island jukebox picks:
Born To Run, Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
The Soundtrack to "The Last Waltz" - The Band
Dance The Devil - The Frames
How We Operate - Gomez
Rendezvous - Luna
Heart of Saturday Night - Tom Waits
Into The Music - Van Morrison
Goodbye Jumbo - World Party
Exile in Guyville - Liz Phair
and many, many more...

Wow, where to start? Randy Newman's "I love L.A." was new on the radio after my first trip there. Ace Freshley's "Back in the New York Groove" was the theme prior to a NYC trip. But the song that changed it all, from brushing my hair back (like Daddy & Elvis) to it's current style 43 years hence would be on the album, "Meet the Beatles"

Of all the music I've ever heard (or recorded), the best by far would have to be "Naked Monkeys in a Rainstorm of Cheese" by Jikadylrek Mohammad Killots.

Jagged Little Pill: Alanis Morisette
Shake your money maker: The Black Crows
August and Everything: Counting Crows
Back in Black: AC/DC
Sherly Crow: Globe Sessions
10,00 Maniacs: In My Tribe

Gee... does it have to be classic albums? If so, "Aretha's Gold" is good. "Sgt. Pepper's" -- just had its 40th anniversary this week. But, I just found out about the group Pearl Django, from Seattle on pandora.com and their music is simultaneously earthy and transcendent. Wonderful stuff and you can work on the computer or do housework with it filling the air (no vocals, just instrumentals.)

We have a gem of a songwriter in Canada. His name is Ron Sexsmith . Check out Retriever. Another great one is Feist. You won't be disappointed.

How could you not include these in your rock albums?
Ramones - Self Titled
AC/DC - Back in Black
U2-Joshua Tree

Even when there are a lot of new albums scattering around my player.. I prefer listening to my old favs
-R.E.M. - Out of time
-Sade - Diamonds Life
-Tracy Chapman (her 1st)
-Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californiacation
and some old Jazz and Classic LPs which I found at my grandparents house.
Listening to something new is great, but my old favs just give me comfort.

Joshua Radin (We Were Here) - A great singer/songwriter who has very mellow songs that have been popping up everywhere, from a JC Penney's commercial to several episodes of Scrubs.
Vienna Teng - She is a classically trained pianist who writes beautiful songs.
Kathleen Edwards (Back to Me) - Kind of country, kind of folksy, kind of rock/pop. Excellent album.
Imogen Heap (Speak for Yourself) - An interesting blend of mellow electronica sounds with an amazing voice. A little quirky, but still accessible.

Hey, I also love the Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer album, When I Go, that Anne Saunders selected as a new album to try. You may also enjoy this one: Rick & Audrey Engdahl sing "Kate and the Ghost of Lost Love" from the When I Go album on their own CD, Open the Gate, with their band, Sense of Wonder. All the other songs in the album are originals. A fresh new sound in contemporary folk music, Rick & Audrey also have a children's CD, Imagine That -- again most are originals. Contact www.SenseOfWonderMusic.com.

Everyone with a heart and mind should flock to www.overtherhine.com to check out this amazing couple's musical stylings. Karin's voice is unsurpassed in richness and passion and Linford's instrumentation is a stunning complement. Try Drunkard's Prayer as a primer and eventually work your way up to Ohio. You won't be disappointed.

Also, kudos to Real Simple for including Sufjan Stevens! Check out one of his live shows and leave with your life changed.

Anthony Hamilton, his CD- Ain't Nobody Worrying is one I can listen to over and over again, straight through, it has it all, love lost, love found, social commentary, gospel... AWESOME album, I'm surprised you missed him.

I saw the Sarah Mac Band live in Atlanta and picked up their EP. I was very impressed with them and thought that people should know who they are. Kind of funky, kind of jazzy, kind of folksy.

www.sarahmacband.com
www.myspace.com/sarahmacband

Jane Monheit--Live at the Rainbow Room
Monheit has a beautiful voice and her songs are mostly jazzy, though she sings a few songs in her native Portuguese.

Alison Krauss and Union Station--Live
A fabulous bluegrass group, their music was featured on the movie O Brother Where Art Thou. This CD duo is a good combination of vocal and instrumental pieces and has me hooked on bluegrass!

Girls Guns and Glory - a great roots/country band; the song writer/singer evokes great country writing and singing from the 50's and 60's, and the band really rocks; check them out at www.myspace.com/girlsgunsandglory

Ryan Adams--Heartbreaker This album changed my life!
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals---Jacksonville City Nights
Patty Griffin--Living With Ghosts
Cory Brannan--The Hell You Say
Cory is a singer-songwriter from Memphis,TN and he writes amazing lyrics. Check him out
Neko Case--Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Blair Combest--Prettier than Ugly
If you like Bob Dylan, you'll love Blair Combest