Lester Bangs died in April 1982, about eight months too early to participate in that year’s Pazz & Jop critics’ poll. He’d turned in a blank ballot the year before, expressing his disgust with the rock product of 1981 and the boredom that crept in when he tried to write about the new music of the day: “I simply cannot pretend to find anything compelling in the choice between pap and mud,” Bangs complained.

Despite the barriers of death and indifference, Bangs still got a year-end ballot published in the February 22, 1983 issue of the Village Voice. Some of you will conclude that one or more of Bangs’ pals came up with this imaginary top ten in tribute to their late buddy, but I prefer to believe that he voted from beyond the grave.

1. Robert Quine: I Heard Her Call My Name Symphony (Columbia)
2. DNA Live at Madison Square Garden (Prestige)
3. Richard Hell Sings the R. Dean Taylor Songbook (Tamla)
4. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Heard Ya Missed Us, Well We’re Back (Factory)
5. The Clash: Rappin’ with Bert ‘n’ Big Bird (Guest Artist: Oscar the Grouch) (Sesame)
6. Ramones: 14,000,000 Records (Epic)
7. Sue Saad and the Next with Robert Fripp: Jiggle Themes from Prime Time (Verve)
8. Lichtensteiner Polka Band: Hamtramck Oi Gassers (WEA)
9. Brian Eno: 24 New Songs with Brides & Everything (Egregious 2-album set)
10. Miles Davis: Rated X (Alternate Take) (Columbia)

A Box of Rocks is a student film exploring the formative years of Lester Bangs. Bangs grew up in El Cajon, CA, a Southern California suburb just east of San Diego.  Many of Bangs’ childhood and high school friends are interviewed.