David Bowie -- Blackstar

  So... I bought Blackstar on the day of Bowie's death, I suppose I wanted to hear his last breath to his fans ... riddled with guilt I hated this album, it's the same damn crap he had been putting out since his Trent Reznor phase ... my only saving grace or rational from my malaise is, c'mon, I'm pretty sure the mainman had one of the best lives of the 20th century and is in the company, as cultural influence, with The Beatles and Andy Warhol, so, in fact it's perfectly ok for me to not like this record, and damn some of the lyrical foreshadowing on this release is kind of creepy, but he knew what he was going through!

Linda Perhacs -- Parallelograms

  This Laurel Canyon psychedelic folk soundscaped masterpiece is like a cross between Joni Mitchell and Chealsea Girl Nico.  How this record made by a dental technician went under the radar all these years, I have no clue, other than its so damn good it can only, finally, be relevant today!

Ornette Coleman -- The Shape Of Jazz To Come

  Way before there was skronky math or even art rock, there was Ornette Coleman's The Shape Of Jazz To Come, to which he was initially booed and laughed at, until a group of musicians appreciated what he was trying to do, by opening the floodgates of creative rhythm.

Gene Clark -- Roadmaster

  After Gene Clark's departure from The Byrds, funny enough due inability to tour extensively from a fear of flying, he moved on to a solo recording career.  His sophomore release is a blissful 70's hipster country classic that sits nicely between your Van Zandt and Parsons albums.

Townes Van Zandt

  I've definitely developed a weird relationship with Townes Van Zandt lately, maybe I've become too sad and too lonely, or maybe I'm just drinking too much, but I'd like to think it's his deep insight and brilliant mix of Americana and minimalism, which is exemplified on this self titled release.  

Nick Drake -- Bryter Layter

  Filled with a plethora of luminary musicians Bryter Layter is Drake's most accessible album, it has a Van Morrison'd jazzy pop/ folk baroque feel, unfortunately it never garnered a hit, Nick remained a recluse, the record sounds like a hopeful attempt at some kind of stardom, but the masses weren't ready yet for his music!

Alexander Spence -- Oar

  Holy fuck!  Lo-fi psych anti folk done way before such words even existed.  Skip Spence might not have done much good to himself ... or anyone else, with his time in Moby Grape, but obviously a stint in the mental institution did something, 'cause once out he headed to Nashville and recorded this master work, written, played and produced by himself.  There are so many moments on this lp that are 30 years ahead of it's time, good luck keeping track of 'em all!