Few albums kick this much ass. Almost a precursor to metal in some ways, this is HARD hard rock that deserves to be played on a windows down kinda day. If I could give half ratings, I would. Only four and half because of a few duds that drag on first listen, but probably hold up on more. STANDOUTS: -Waitin’ for the Bus -Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers -Move Me On Down the Line -Precious and Grace -La Grange -Sheik

Phenomenal debut, with masterfully crafted folk / chamber pop songs. Sounds like a solid mix between CSNY & The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds.’ STANDOUTS: -White Winter Hymnal -Ragged Wood -Tiger Mountain Peasant Song -Quiet Houses -He Doesn’t Know Why -Your Protector -Blue Ridge Mountains

A modern-day masterpiece. An ambitious piece of “prog-rap” that is nearly unequaled to this day. STANDOUTS: -Dark Fantasy -POWER -All of the Lights -Monster -So Appalled -Devil in a New Dress -Runaway -Hell of a Life -Lost in the World

Chilling, ethereal, and sometimes hypnotic - this is a good first look at a genre that has been much imitated since this release, but in the opinion of these fresh ears, not replicated. STANDOUTS: -One Hundred Years -The Hanging Garden -The Figurehead -A Strange Day -Cold

For a one-man project, not all that bad. But the songs can be a bit repetitively grungy - and because some were written during a time Nirvana still existed, you can’t help but wonder if they were supposed to BE for Nirvana. Overall though, there’s been worse - and admittedly, a fair amount are bangers. STANDOUTS: -This Is a Call -I’ll Stick Around -Big Me -Floaty -Weenie Beenie -For All the Cows -X-Static -Wattershed

A good record, but not my bag. A bit too long, but some songs make for some serene night driving. STANDOUTS: -Get Ready for Love -Cannibal’s Hymn -Hiding All Away -The Lyre of Orpheus -Babe, You Turn Me On -Supernaturally -O Children

Phenomenal debut, with masterfully crafted folk / chamber pop songs. Sounds like a solid mix between CSNY & The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds.’ STANDOUTS: -White Winter Hymnal -Ragged Wood -Tiger Mountain Peasant Song -Quiet Houses -He Doesn’t Know Why -Your Protector -Blue Ridge Mountains

A solid, early new wave record with some surprising instrumentation. STANDOUTS: -The Beat -Pump It Up -Hand in Hand -(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea -Lip Service -Living in Paradise -Lipstick Vogue -Radio, Radio

A haunting record with traces of noise rock, this has some great songs - and some I’d consider unlistenable, if not for the unique instrumentation. Definitely sticks with you though! STANDOUTS: -Schizophrenia -Stereo Sanctity -Pipeline / Kill Time -Hot Wire My Heart -Master-Dik

A stunning pop record with incredible diversity. Definitely electronic-based, but I’d argue brings a fair amount of alternative rock to the table as well. Unfortunately drags a bit in the second half. STANDOUTS: -Drowned World / Substitute for Love -Swim -Candy Perfume Girl -Skin -The Power of Good-Bye

I respect what the group was trying to do here, but this is way too long and droning for my tastes. I'm sure the lyrics were great - if I could hear them. And I understand the instrumentation was unheard of for the time, but the only thing - in my opinion - that makes this album stand up so much today is that it feels like a collection of tailor-made beat samples for songs that would probably better benefit from them. STANDOUTS: -Family Affair -(You Caught Me) Smilin'

A great pop album with well-written tunes; every song is bop-worthy with a lot of variety. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. STANDOUTS: -Faith -I Want Your Sex -One More Try -Hard Day -Hand Over Mouth -Monkey -Kissing a Fool

A great folk album with wonderful lyrics, but again, not my bag. I appreciate the artistry that went into this - but really only the “commercial sounding” songs appealed to me. STANDOUTS: -Tangled Up in Blue -Idiot Wind -Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts -If You See Her, Say Hello

A modern-day masterpiece. An ambitious piece of “prog-rap” that is nearly unequaled to this day. STANDOUTS: -Dark Fantasy -POWER -All of the Lights -Monster -So Appalled -Devil in a New Dress -Runaway -Hell of a Life -Lost in the World

A good folk album that has punk influences in its first half, but slows down - much to my disliking - in the second. STANDOUTS: -Fisherman’s Blues -We Will Not Be Lovers -World Party -And a Bang on the Ear

Music you can get lost in... A remarkable listen, with a good mix of straight-shooting hard rock and Latin jazz instrumental classics. Also nice that it’s short and sweet, and doesn’t prolong the fun. STANDOUTS: -Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen -Oye Como Va -Incident at Neshabur -Mother’s Daughter -Samba Pa Ti -Hope You’re Feeling Better

An immaculately produced jazz-pop record... Technically every song is a winner. Every song invokes a mood, and that’s a mood I want to be in all the time. STANDOUTS: -Faron Young -Bonny -Appetite -When Love Breaks Down -Goodbye Lucille #1 -Moving the River -Horsin’ Around -When the Angels

Few albums kick this much ass. Almost a precursor to metal in some ways, this is HARD hard rock that deserves to be played on a windows down kinda day. If I could give half ratings, I would. Only four and half because of a few duds that drag on first listen, but probably hold up on more. STANDOUTS: -Waitin’ for the Bus -Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers -Move Me On Down the Line -Precious and Grace -La Grange -Sheik

An enjoyable electric blues album. Typically not my style, but as the title implies, there’s a nice selection of harder-edged tracks on here that do occasionally hit. STANDOUTS: -Mannish Boy -I Want to Be Loved #2 -Jealous Hearted Man -The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock ‘n’ Roll -Crosseyed Cat -Walkin’ Thru the Park

A decent half psychedelic / half alternative new wave hybrid, but certainly nothing I’d go back to. Second half is EONS above the first. STANDOUTS: -Chocolate Cake -Fall At Your Feet -Whispers and Moans -There Goes God -All I Ask -As Sure As I Am -Italian Plastic -She Goes On