Let me suggest a microcosm for Camus' Sisyphisian universe- housework. Increase rock size exponentially if your home has small children. Any thought about the futility of one's efforts only leads to straitjackets, so I marched down to the basement and grabbed a random handful of cassettes to prevent any synaptic activity. Beginning with the making of breakfast and ending with the last scrubbed morning dish, tape sounds be doing their best to distract me from the final meltdown. Here are the ten best so far-

10. Thelonious Monster- Beautiful Mess- Tom Waits sings on this, the only production money that didn't go up Bob's nose or in his arm.

9. Tav Falco and Panther Burns- Life Sentence in the Cathouse- I own a cassette from Triple X Records.

8. SF Seals- Truth Walks in Sleepy Shadows- Barbara Manning has a beautiful voice.

7. R. L. Burnside- Mr. Wizard- "Snake Drive" is a monster, and it strangely drove Lucas to sing, "Do you really wanna hold my dirty hand?"

6. Roky Erickson- You're Gonna Miss Me- I finally got the Roky documentary today- a welcome release from Barry watch- why does anyone care if Bud Selig attends?

5. Andre Williams- Mr. Rhythm- it's never too early for "Jailbait," until your son asks what it means

4. Alex Chilton- A Man Called Destruction- "What's Your Sign, Girl" is the best 70's song written in the 90's.

3. Stud Cole- hello, dark and scary morning

2. Skip James-"Daddy, is that a ghost singing?"

1. Hank Williams- the perfect soundtrack to your dirty floor