Top Ten Desert Island aka Rota discs

I tend to find live discs bring out a band's sound better than the relatively sterile studio offerings. I'm also not won over by the current enthusiasm for hip hop or the poppy dance stuff. If this officially means I'm old, then so be it.

1. Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? Greatest album, greatest musician, Jimi was a God among mortals, nothing else measures up. My favorite song is the relatively unknown Love or Confusion on this disk.

2. The Beatles - Abbey Road. Most people understandably have this number one, and it is the best album from the best band ever. There are a few weak moments like Maxwell's Silver Hammer, but Here Comes the Sun and the whole She Came in through the Bathroom Window/Polythene Pam section is just great.

3. Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same. The groove on the title track haunts me, and it melds with the Rain Song real well."

4. Dave Matthews Band - The Concert in the Park. This is the album that got me into the DMB, really the DVD. Incredible setlist, including the great song "Granny" seldom heard elsewhere. The DVD captures this even better.

5. Paul Simon The Concert in the Park This is so brilliant. It has far more life than the studio versions. Great musicianship, great songs. The Coast and Cool, Cool River are the highlights. These are more alive than the studio versions of Graceland and Rythym of the Saints, which are great albums.

6. U2 - Achtung Baby. Tough choice between this and Rattle and Hum, but this is too great not to add to this list. Until the End of the World would be the highpoint.

7. Rush - Moving Pictures In terms of playing, Rush are the best rock musicians ever, this captures their creative zenith. Red Barchetta and Limelight are some notable highpoints.

8. Nirvana - Unplugged in New York. Oh, Me was a particularly great song.

9. The Cars - Debut Album. The Cars get no respect, but this is a great album, if you took about half of this, and half of their follow up, Candy-O, it would be the greatest album ever.

10. Rage Against the Machine - Live at the Olympic Auditorium. Great group, great songs, great energy, and the right politics. Testify and Bulls on Parade are pretty heavy.

Honorable Mention for the Ipod Age: Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head, Neil Young's Weld, John Mellencamp's Human Wheels, Madonna's Ray of Light, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, The Who's Quadrophenia, Radiohead's Amnesiac, Miles Davis Kind of Blue and Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.