1. Lucinda Williams, ''Car Wheels on a Gravel Road'' (Mercury)
A cool insouciance defines this exquisite disc. As a lyricist, Williams punctures every pretension imaginable. As a singer, she's influenced by Dylan, but has grown into her own voice.
2. Lauryn Hill, ''The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'' (Ruffhouse)
Hill took a break from the Fugees to make this missive of conscience. She raps and sings with equal skill, forging a streetwise yet remarkably idealistic album.
3. (tie) Bruce Springsteen, ''Tracks'' (Columbia), and John Lennon, ''The John Lennon Anthology''(Capitol)
The boxed-set genre has given us some stinkers, but these new sets are exemplary. The Springsteen box has 56 previously unreleased original songs, while the Lennon is truly historic.
4. Korn, ''Follow the Leader'' (Epic)
Brutishly intense, no-holds-barred rap-metal with guests from Ice Cube to Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst running amok. Perfect for Newt Gingrich's retirement party.
5. Allison Moorer, ''Alabama Song'' (MCA/Nashville)
Nice to see a new singer respecting country music without trying to cross over to pop. Moorer shines like a young Reba McEntire.
6. Madonna, ''Ray of Light'' (Maverick)
The newly yoga-loving Maternal Girl took a risk with this spiritually adventurous, techno-layered album, but her heart was in it all the way.
7. Waterbone, ''Tibet'' (World Disc)
What happens when some Los Angeles guys go to Katmandu to sample sounds from monks, students, and street musicians, then weave ambient, trip-hop grooves into the mix? Sheer bliss, in this case.
8. Public Enemy, ''He Got Game'' (Def Jam)
This soundtrack to a Spike Lee film allowed the New York rappers to spout general philosophy as well rip the ''sneaker pimps'' and ''super agents'' who hover around basketball. NBA lockout, anyone?
9. Sinead Lohan, ''No Mermaid'' (Interscope)
Earlier, I wrote that it would take a forklift to get this off my Top 10 list, and I'm sticking to it. The Ireland-bred Lohan has a hynoptic voice that evokes Sandy Denny and Sinead O'Connor.
10. B.B. King, ''Blues on the Bayou''(MCA)
The legendary bluesmeister took his own band, not hired studio types, to Louisiana for an intimate, get-down immersion in the blues.
Singles: Harvey Danger, ''Flagpole Sitta''; Eric Clapton, ''My Father's Eyes''; Sarah McLachlan, ''Adia''
