Funny, I forgot
Taking Liberties existed since the reissues have made it obsolete.
Okay, here we go. First, I'm just going to rank the albums:
1. Blood & Chocolate
2. This Year's Model
3. Trust
4. King of America
5. Punch the Clock
6. Get Happy!!
7. Imperial Bedroom
8. Painted from Memory
9. Armed Forces
10. Mighty Like a Rose
11. My Aim Is True
12. Spike
13. Brutal YouthI know I said I liked
Brutal Youth but looking at the track listing, only a couple of songs are jumping out at me. I'm just not that familiar with it. Likewise,
The Juliet Letters and
All This Useless Beauty have completely faded from memory. And I thought I had listened to
Goodbye Cruel World at some point, but maybe I've just avoided it due to its reputation.
Now, songs... I went through and jotted down any I would consider for a top 5 and ended up with THIRTY-TWO. Paring it down to 5 would be too painful. Here's a top 10:
1. "I Want You" - I'm cheating here and using this as a representative for the entire Blood & Chocolate album, where only the shortest song ("Honey Are You Straight or Are You Blind?") doesn't thrill me.
2. "New Lace Sleeves" - I actually performed this one myself once.
3. "Everyday I Write the Book" - My introduction to EC. Sometimes dismissed by fans, but I think it's a perfect pop song with clever lyrics. I'm a huge fan of 12" singles, but somehow I don't think I've ever heard the club version (why is it not on Rhino's reissue?). Thanks KOL!
4. "Almost Blue" - gonna sneak "Shipbuilding" in here as well because they have a connection. Elvis invited Chet Baker to play trumpet on "Shipbuilding". Chet returned the favor by recording a
cover of "Almost Blue" in the excellent documentary
Let's Get Lost.
5. "Alison" - a cliché pick, perhaps, but oh so singable.
6. "Living in Paradise" - Like
B&C, I love everything on
This Year's Model, so I'm picking this as a placeholder for the album as a whole. This song has always stuck out to me for its videogame-y sounds.
7. "Beyond Belief" - I get swept up in the majesty of this song. The way it builds is fantastic.
8. "Indoor Fireworks" - So lovely. Another one I love to sing along to.
9. "God Give Me Strength" - Used nicely in the film
Grace of My Heart.
10. "Possession" - "You lack lust, you're so lackluster" is a great line.