"What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?
- Rob
Music geeks are no strangers to developing their own top 5, 10, or 50 "best of" music-related lists. In this particular day in age, Internet consumers are accustomed to Buzzfeed inspired listicles. Today, I decided to merge both trends by personalizing some of my favorite High Fidelity "top five" lists. I have included my preferences for the following "top 5" lists featured in the book and adapted film.
Perhaps many of these albums and tracks have molded me into the person I am today; while others have functioned as a sort of companion in times of need. Go ahead and include your own "top 5" albums....you know, when you aren't reorganizing your records in autobiographical order.
Desert Island Albums
1. Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
2. Want One - Rufus Wainwright
3. The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding ("Do you have soul?" "That all depends.")
4. I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen
5. Actor - St. Vincent
Bonus:
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
Blonde on Blonde - Bob Dylan ("Don't tell anyone you don't have Blonde on Blonde. It's going to be ok.")
Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
A Ghost Is Born - Wilco
Rain Dogs - Tom Waits
Glory Box - Portishead
The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
Greatest Hits - Al Green
Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads
Back To Mono - Phil Spector
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club - The Beatles
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Top 5 Songs About Death
1. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
2. Knocking On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan
3. About To Die - The Dirty Projectors
4. Bottom Of Everything- Bright Eyes
5. King's Crossing - Elliott Smith
Dream Jobs
1. Music Supervisor
2. Public Radio Music Director
3. Music Critic
4. Musician
5. SNL Cast Member
Songs For My Funeral
1. In My Arms - Nick Cave
2. Wake Up - The Arcade Fire
3. Do You Realize - The Flaming Lips
4. Free At Last - The Blind Boys of Alabama
5. We'll Meet Again - Vera Lynn
Side One Track Ones
1. Devil's Haircut - Beck
2. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
3. Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
4. Airbag - Radiohead
5. Alone Again Or - Love
Photo Credit: High Fidelity - WikiScreenplay
