The Book of Lists

2. Tricky, Maxinquaye (Island)
3. P J Harvey, To Bring You My Love (Island)
4. Morphine, Yes (Rykodisc): The axeless "honey white" ruminations of this lo-fi Boston trio still hold up after a year of play and press.

5. Doo Rag, Chunked and Muddled reissue (Bloat): How can you go wrong with demented Delta-inspired blues played on a Budweiser case?

6. The The, Hanky Panky (Epic): Did everyone miss Matt Johnson's moving ode to Hank Williams Sr.? Given the fact that Johnson looks the spitting image of Williams -- pre-prison dilapidation, of course -- it's no wonder that his adaptations of Williams' material would take on such a personal and intimate flavor without losing the edge fans expect.

7. Supergrass, I Should Coco (Capitol): I could never get enough of those British teeny-poppers.

8. Swingin' Utters, The Streets of San Francisco ... (New Red Archives): Despite the vast multitude of neopunk to choose from, no other album came close to this indie debut. The Utters got it down, capturing all the raw energy and gritty back-alley sound that made punk interesting in the first place. Let's hope a major record deal doesn't clean 'em up too much.

9. Preacher Boy & the Natural Blues (Blind Pig): Ralph Carney on reeds, Jim Campilongo on guitar, and Chris Watkins fronting the mix with his raspy, backwater vocals ... it don't get much better than that. Unlike most debuts, this album showcases all of the band's range, from a festive ragtime dittie to down 'n' dirty blues.

10. Go Van Gogh (Accretions): I don't know why all the record stores file this album under New Age. With two sax players and a violinist bringing a sprightly Middle Eastern flavor, these locals deliver one of the most delightful world jazz albums I've heard this year.

Colin Berry's "Destined for Failure: 1996"
1. Balaam & Angel Greatest Hits
2. Ramones Unplugged
3. Killdozer Dance Remixes
4. Bunny Brains block on Live 105
5. Courtney Love/Steve Case of AOL marriage
6. Eno-produced Three Day Stubble record
7. Jello Biafra's 12-CD spoken-word box set
8. Ruins' Django Reinhardt tribute
9. Contract With America comic book with 7-inch flexi series
10. Gangsta polka
Samples, Recordings, and Night Crawler will return next week.