Gram Parsons has long been on my list of cult music heroes that I should really get around to listening to someday. So as the end of the year rolled around and I grew tired of compiling my top tens list, the time seemed right.

This guy can tell a great story, something I've always admired and sought out in country music. From one night stands in "We'll Sweep Out the Ashes in the Morning" to being ditched by his girlfriend for "The Streets of Baltimore," each song captures complex emotional responses to trying situations, something not found in most top-40 country.

His duets with Emmylou Harris reveal the warmth of his raw timbre that I never noticed in his work with The Flying Burrito Brothers, as he's contrasted by her sweet, soaring tone.

I don't think I'd recommend these records to someone who avowedly hates country music, but if you've been drawn to bands like Wilco, The Byrds, The Band, or Big Star, there's probably something here for you.