1001 Albums Summary

Control is the third full-length album by Pedro the Lion. It was released on April 16, 2002 on Jade Tree Records. It is a concept album about a businessman who is having an extramarital affair, and his untimely death at the hands of his spurned wife. It covers such subject matter as infidelity, parenthood, greed, commercialism, vengeance, and fear of death. Pedro the Lion is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, United States. David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. In 2006 Pedro the Lion was dissolved as Bazan went solo; Bazan reformed the band and resumed performing under the Pedro the Lion moniker in late 2017. Releasing five full-length albums and five EPs over 11 years, the band is known for its first person narrative lyrics with political and religious themes.

McDonald and Giles is an album released by British musicians Ian McDonald and Michael Giles in 1970. The album was first issued on Island Records (ILPS 9126) in the UK and Cotillion Records (SD 9042), a division of Atlantic Records, in the US. (The album was released on Atlantic itself in several countries.) The album was recorded at Island Studios between May and July 1970. Although McDonald and Giles remains popular among King Crimson fans,[2] its commercial success was limited. The duo did not record a second album, but Giles did contribute drums and vocals to "Demimonde" on McDonald's solo album Drivers Eyes.

Bloody Kisses is the third studio album by the American gothic metal band Type O Negative and the last recording with their original lineup, as drummer Sal Abruscato left the group in late 1993 to join labelmates Life of Agony. The album includes two of their best known songs, "Christian Woman" and "Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)", both of which earned the band a considerable cult following. The album further established recurring motifs of the band's music, such as including cover songs recorded in their own unique style, sample-heavy soundscape interludes and lyrics replete with dry, satirical humor. In 2005, Bloody Kisses was ranked number 365 in Rock Hard's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[17] Loudwire called Bloody Kisses the best album of 1993,[18] in addition to ranking it at number 42 on its Top 90 Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Albums of the 90s.[19] Rolling Stone placed Bloody Kisses at number 53 on its Top 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time list, citing memorable songs such as "Christian Woman", "Bloody Kisses (A Death in the Family)", their cover version of "Summer Breeze", and "Black No. 1". The latter was cited by the author J. D. Considine as the band's signature song.[20]

22, A Million is the third studio album by American indie folk band Bon Iver, released on September 30, 2016.[3] Recorded in lead member Justin Vernon's April Base studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the album marks a major shift in the band's sound and incorporates elements of electronic music and hip hop production influenced by Vernon's prior work with Kanye West. Most of the lyricism concerns Bon Iver's rise in popularity and how Vernon's relationship with the world has changed as a result. 22, A Million received acclaim from critics, garnering a score of 87 out of 100 on Metacritic, signifying "universal acclaim" based on 41 critic reviews.[5] Writing for Pretty Much Amazing, Peter Tabakis praised the album in his review, giving it an A, and remarking, "Not since Kid A has an album so superb pushed away and pulled closer its audience, simultaneously and with such aplomb."[15] In his review for Rolling Stone, Will Hermes opined, "Vernon remains an oblique lyricist, but the knottiness can be compelling." It gave it four stars out of five.[14] Paul Bridgewater of The Line of Best Fit awarded the record full marks, writing that "22, A Million captures personal crisis and resolution better than any album this century".[16] Writing for No Depression, John Amen commented that 22, A Million "integrates the high points of Bon Iver's first three recordings ... his most focused and ambitious permutation to date."[17]

Continuum is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter John Mayer, released on September 12, 2006, by Aware and Columbia Records. Recording sessions took place from January 2005 to July 2006 at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, Avatar Studios and Right Track/Sound on Sound in New York City, and Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.[4] Produced by singer and drummer Steve Jordan, it marked a change in Mayer's musical style, incorporating elements of blues and soul more heavily than in his previous work with pop rock.[3][5][6] Bassist Pino Palladino also performs on the album; Mayer, Jordan, and Palladino had toured the previous year under the name John Mayer Trio and had released a live album, Try!. Studio versions of two of the songs from that album appear on Continuum.

A Salty Dog is the third studio album by English rock band Procol Harum, released in 1969 by record labels Regal Zonophone and A&M. When Gary Brooker first played Keith Reid's lyrics of "A Salty Dog" on the piano for the benefit of B.J. Wilson, the room was filled with sunlight shining through the windows. Wilson, with a sunbeam on his face, told Brooker he thought "it was the most beautiful song he had ever heard."[7] John Mendelson, writing for Rolling Stone, called it "a confusing album. At its best it represents the group's greatest success to date with the brand of rock for which the group is known; at its worst it is both surprisingly mediocre and trivial".[8] Robert Christgau was more enthusiastic in The Village Voice, giving it an "A+",[9] although he later said the printed grade was "a mistake" and should have probably been a "B+".[10] In a retrospective review, Bruce Eder of AllMusic wrote, "This album, the group's third, was where they showed just how far their talents extended across the musical landscape, from blues to R&B to classical rock. In contrast to their hastily recorded debut, or its successor, done to stretch their performance and composition range", calling the title track "one of the finest songs ever to come from Procol Harum and one of the best pieces of progressive rock ever heard".[11]

Cleopatra is the second studio album by American indie folk band the Lumineers. The album was released in the United States on April 8, 2016, and contains the singles "Ophelia", "Cleopatra", "Angela" and "Sleep on the Floor". The album received positive reviews and commercial success, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. It is the last album by the band to feature Neyla Pekarek, who left in October 2018 to pursue a solo career.

The Lion's Roar is the second studio album by Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit. It was produced by Mike Mogis and features contributions from Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Nate Walcott, and The Felice Brothers. The album was released on 18 January 2012. The Lion's Roar received general acclaim from music journalists. The album holds an aggregate score of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic, which indicates "universal acclaim".[2] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian commented that it was "a bigger, better record than their debut, rounded out with the confidence of maturity and a smooth, assured indie-country sound."[5] Helen Clarke of musicOMH was similarly positive, stating that "this follow-up could be the album that sees them nudge the likes of Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons out of the way in order to claim a place at the top table."[13] As with the band's previous work, critics praised Klara and Johanna Söderberg's singing, with The Independent highlighting the band's "clear, characterful voices, employed in beautifully modulated, bell-like harmonies."[14]

Racine carrée (French for 'square root', stylised as √) is the second studio album by Belgian musician Stromae. It was released digitally on 16 August 2013 and three days later physically in France and Belgium. Stromae expressed his desire to incorporate Caribbean and African musical influences along with his signature 1990s-inspired dance beats. The album, recorded in an attic, explores themes as diverse as alienation from social networks, relationship issues, discrimination, cigarettes and lung cancer, AIDS and absent father figures. Prior to its official release and afterwards, Racine carrée received critical acclaim for its thoughtful lyrics and gained comparisons to fellow Belgian recording artist Jacques Brel.

Nuyorican Soul is the debut studio album by Nuyorican Soul, released in 1997. It featured guest appearances from George Benson, Roy Ayers, Tito Puente, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jocelyn Brown, Vincent Montana Jr., Salsoul Orchestra, and India.[2] It peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart.[3]

Because the Internet is the second studio album by American recording artist Donald Glover, under the stage name Childish Gambino. It was released on December 10, 2013, by Glassnote Records. The recording process began in 2012 and ended in October 2013. Recording primarily took place at a mansion owned by basketball player Chris Bosh, which Gambino rented. The album features guest appearances from Chance the Rapper, Jhené Aiko, and Azealia Banks, with production primarily handled by Gambino himself, Stefan Ponce, and Ludwig Göransson, among others.

Music for People in Trouble is the fifth studio album by Norwegian singer-songwriter Susanne Sundfør, released on 8 September 2017 through Bella Union.[1] Recorded with longtime collaborator Jørgen Træen in breaks between Sundfør's travels across the world, the album represents a departure from the synth-pop of Ten Love Songs (2015) in favor of a return to her roots as a folk singer-songwriter.[2] usic for People in Trouble represents a departure from the synth-heavy, "disco-infused prog" Ten Love Songs (2015), with a stripped back focus on Sundfør's "high, plangent" voice and acoustic guitar and piano.[9][10][8] Sundfør explained this by being "tired of technology": "I wanted to feel like I was a musician again. But also, what I wanted to say needed something organic to convey it."[8] She called the album a return to her roots, whereas Ten Love Songs was "more of a detour." Throughout the album, Sundfør's vocals are mostly accompanied only by piano or guitar, with occasional usage of samples and electronic textures which "take the songs into experimental territory," such as "trickling water sounds, wiry bleeps and animal peeps," inspired by Sundfør's travels from North Korea to the Amazon rainforest.[11][10] Sundfør stated she wanted to "try and mix up some innocent romantic sounds with something very industrial and dry sounds."[5] The album has been described as Sundfør's most personal, affecting and poignant record yet.[12][13] Characterized primarily as an art pop and folk album,[14] Music for People in Trouble also incorporates jazz, ambient, chamber pop, country, drone and musique concrète.[15][16][17][14] Sundfør co-produced the album with Jørgen Træen, who could contribute through his arrangements, "such as the sounds of an old lady in her apartment and a ticking grandfather clock on 'Bedtime Story' or the spoken-word intro on 'Music for People in Trouble'." Sundfør has cited several influences on this album, including Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Leonard Cohen, and alternative music.[9] The Daily Telegraph described the album's subject matter as "dark, conflating a destructive personal relationship with environmental damage, heartbreak and climate change," while also noting that it represents an almost complete about-turn from the shiny commercialism of Ten Love Songs.[8] The Guardian called the album Sundfør's Biophilia moment.[10] PopMatters noted the experimental sound of the album, and thought it resonates with the music of Jenny Hval.[14

Night Drive (alternatively known as Original Motion Picture Soundtrack IV) is the third studio album by Chromatics, released on August 28, 2007[1] on the Italians Do It Better record label. The label reissued an analogue remaster of the album as a "Deluxe Edition" in 2010, on both CD and double LP formats. A limited print run of the double LP was pressed on colored vinyl: blue for Sides A and B, and red for Sides C and D.[2] The "Deluxe Edition" restores five tracks that had originally constituted Side D of the album, but had been scrapped before the original 2007 release date due to technical problems and time constraints.[3]

Englabörn is the first full length studio album by Icelandic musician Jóhann Jóhannsson, released by Touch Music in 2002. Music included on Englabörn was composed for a play by Hávar Sigurjónsson and was played by string quartet, percussionists and Jóhansson himself on several instruments. The album consists of mostly short pieces combining classical, ambient and electronic influences.

Discosis is the second album by Canadian group Bran Van 3000, released in 2001. The album features several collaborators, including Curtis Mayfield, Youssou N'Dour, Jean Leloup and reggae artist Eek-a-Mouse. The album cover was derived from an artwork by Boris Vallejo. The album debuted at #5 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 9,236 copies during its first week.[2] The album featured the single "Astounded", which was a hit in Canada. Discosis was among the top 150 best-selling albums of 2001 in Canada.[3]

Emotional Mugger is the eighth studio album by American garage rock musician Ty Segall, released on January 22, 2016 on Drag City Records. The album was produced by both Segall and F. Bermudez. The album has a Metascore at Metacritic of a 79 out of 100 from 19 reviews.[6] Mark Deming for AllMusic writing "As Segall's profile has risen in the 2010s, it's a welcome thing that he hasn't diluted his musical vision and is still willing to let his music howl when the spirit moves him, and Emotional Mugger is a stiff shot of raw, cocky joy that hits its target beautifully."[7] Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone saying "The San Francisco garage-punk wunderkind flaunts all his frantic energy and wild-eyed humor on Emotional Mugger."[4] Annie Zaleski for Spin writing "This somewhat-disjointed philosophy adds just the right amount of friction and intrigue to Emotional Mugger, informing the music but not overwhelming it."[14] Evan Minsker in Pitchfork Media saying "'Emotional Mugger still feels transitional—either the moment before he tucks in and gets way weirder or another stepping stone before he switches gears all over again."[13] Collin Fitzgerald for PopMatters writing "Emotional Mugger proves it’s still possible to evolve as an artist within the relatively limiting framework of rock traditionalism, even if the answer is to crank everything up to new extremes, give way to violent stylistic mutation, and completely deconstruct whatever’s comfortable."[1] Michael Madden in Consequence of Sound saying "Emotional Mugger bolsters his status as a singular mind in today’s rock landscape while keeping that reputation in his control."[15] Ryan J. Pardo for Paste saying "In all, Emotional Mugger, for all its elegant distortions, abrasive melodies and overdriven guitar-porn spasms, somehow makes absolute perfect sense as a follow-up to such a universally acclaimed LP like Manipulator."[12] Kevin Warwick in The A.V. Club writing "Which makes Emotional Mugger, Segall’s eighth solo effort, all the more impressive."[9]

Dimanche à Bamako (English: Sunday in Bamako) is the fourth album by Malian duo Amadou & Mariam featuring, and produced by, French singer Manu Chao. It was released on the Nonesuch Records label on 2 August 2005.

A1A or A-1-A[1] is the fifth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the third major label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase". It was initially released in December 1974 as Dunhill DS-50183 and later re-released on Dunhill's successor labels ABC and MCA.

El circo is an album recorded by Mexican rock band Maldita Vecindad. The album was released on 24 September 1991 under the BMG Entertainment Mexico label. La Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del Quinto Patio (English: The Damned Neighborhood and the Sons of the Fifth Patio, usually called only "La Maldita") is a band formed in Mexico City in 1985. They are pioneers of rock en español and one of the most influential rock bands in Mexico. They first made an impact with Mojado, Un poco de sangre, Cocodrilo, Pachuco and Un gran circo, songs that narrate the problems, adventures, and beauty of a society anxious to improve its economic status. Their wardrobe has incorporated elements of the pachuco, an archetypical character represented by Tin Tán in Mexican cinema. Tin Tan is sampled in one of the group's biggest hits, 1991's Pachuco.

Daisies of the Galaxy is the third studio album by American rock band Eels. It was released on February 28, 2000, in the United Kingdom, and March 14 in the United States, by record label DreamWorks. Fred Kovey of PopMatters called it "a fine pop record in an era that seems uninterested in pop unless it’s marketed with dance steps and a quicky [sic] bio. Though not the equal of the best work of Stephen Merritt [sic] or Elliot Smith [sic], Daisies of the Galaxy is worthy of attention by alterna-pop fans and anyone else desperate for catchy music for grown-ups."[14] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote: "Unlike its predecessor, the album doesn't play like [E's] private diary; instead, it feels as if one is rummaging through his sketchbook. And, like many sketchbooks, some moments have blossomed, and others remain just intriguing, unformed ideas. For the dedicated, it's worth sifting through the album to find the keepers, since there are enough moments of quirky genius. But not all longtime fans will find this rewarding, since [E] has spent more time in creating mood than crafting songs. There are very few melodies that resonate like his best work, and the stripped-down, yet eccentric production – sounding much like a cross between Jon Brion and Beck – never feels realized."[4]

Relatives in Descent is the fourth studio album by American post-punk band Protomartyr released on 29 September 2017. Their first to be released through Domino Recording Company, the album is much darker and more philosophical than its predecessors. While lyrically not a concept album,[1] it is produced so that many songs flow from one to another seamlessly. Relatives in Descent received critical acclaim upon release, with many publications ranking it one of the best albums of the year.

Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is the debut studio album by American rock band Tally Hall, originally released on November 12, 2005. Their previous recordings were all independently produced and distributed demos. All of the tracks on the album are finished versions of their demo tracks, with the exception of "Haiku," which is a completely new song. The album gets its name from a museum of mechanized curiosities that is located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The album's cover art is also based on a number of machines located within the museum.

The Black Parade is the third studio album by American rock band My Chemical Romance. Released in Europe on October 23, 2006, and the United States on October 24, 2006,[1] through Reprise Records, it was produced by the band with Rob Cavallo, known for having produced multiple albums for the Goo Goo Dolls and Green Day. It is a rock opera and concept album centered on a dying man with cancer known as \"The Patient\". The album tells the story of his apparent death, experiences in the afterlife, and subsequent reflections on his life. It is the band's only studio album to feature Bob Bryar on drums before his departure in 2010. The Black Parade has received generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 79, based on 24 professional critic reviews, which indicates \"generally favorable reviews\".[56] Dan Martin from NME compared the album to Green Day's American Idiot, positing that \"it's a piece of work that will challenge every preconception you ever had about the people who made it.\"[5] Tim Karan of Alternative Press called The Black Parade \"MCR's whole raison d'etre rolled up into one mega-decibel calling card\".[56] IGN's Ed Thompson wrote, \"The Black Parade is a rock and roll gem that celebrates everything that was over the top about the 1970s rock scene.\"[14] David Fricke of Rolling Stone praised the classic rock feel of the album.[65] Entertainment Weekly stated that \"On their third studio album, a musical H-bomb of an effort, the Jersey quintet combine the rock-opera pomp of Queen with the darker, dirtier tones of their screamo past: Call it a Bro-hemian Rhapsody. Even without its broad concept — a dying cancer patient seeks revenge and redemption — Parade stands as one of the most cohesive, engaging rock records of 2006.\"[9] Robert Christgau gave the album a two-star honorable mention saying, \"In prog, a good sense of humor means so much.\"[66]

A Live One is a live album by the American rock band Phish, released on June 27, 1995, by Elektra Records. The album was the band's first official live release, their first album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and one of the best-selling releases in their catalog.[8]

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (stylised as Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino) is the sixth studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, released on 11 May 2018 by Domino Recording Company. The album was written by frontman Alex Turner in 2016 on a Steinway Vertegrand piano in his Los Angeles home. It was produced in Los Angeles, Paris and London by frequent Arctic Monkeys collaborator James Ford and Turner, alongside a wide array of guest musicians including Tom Rowley, Loren Humphrey, James Righton, Zach Dawes, Tyler Parkford and Cam Avery. Turner designed the album artwork himself, which depicts the eponymous resort with cardboard cut-outs and a tape recorder. Its title refers to Tranquility Base, the site of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Yeti is the second studio album by German rock band Amon Düül II, first released in April 1970[1] on Liberty (Germany: LBS 83359/60 X; United Kingdom: LSP 101) as a double LP. The album was produced by Olaf Kübler and Amon Düül II, and engineered by Willy Schmidt, "with a little help of Siegfried E. Loch". Including both short songs and longer, improvisational tracks, British avant-garde music magazine The Wire describes Yeti as "one of the cornerstones of both Amon Düül's career and the entire Krautrock movement".[2] In 2015 Yeti was chosen by Rolling Stone as the 41st greatest progressive rock album of all time. Dan Epstein described it as "one of the finest records of the entire original psychedelic era."[

Currents is the third studio album by Australian musical project Tame Impala, released on 17 July 2015 by Modular Recordings. It was released by Interscope Records in the United States and by Fiction Records in the United Kingdom, while Caroline International released it in other regions. Like the project's previous two albums, Currents was written, recorded, performed, and produced by Kevin Parker. For the first time, Parker mixed the music and recorded all instruments by himself; the album featured no other collaborators. Currents features styles of psychedelic pop,[27] disco,[28] R&B,[29] and electropop,[30] but the album's chord progressions and rhythms are most indebted to R&B.[31] Kevin Parker listened to R&B from the 1990s during recording,[18] which he had forced himself to reject while growing up due to peer pressures. He said, "Music guys aren't allowed to be into R&B when they are teenagers because all the teenybopper kids blast that shit in their cars." As such, learning to let go of preconceptions and embracing the music felt liberating to him.[32] He had previously refrained from making his music more pop-oriented because he thought "indie-music snobs would turn their nose up at it,"[33] and he discovered that writing pure pop music was a challenge.[34] Parker attributed his openness on Currents to producer Mark Ronson, whose album Uptown Special he collaborated on.[22][32] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked Currents 382nd on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[69] In 2023, writer Andrew McMillen of The Australian included the album in a list of albums that he considers "flawless" from recent decades. He wrote that Parker "let go of his classic rock roots to explore alternative dance and electronica, and the results were spectacular".[70]

Frosting on the Beater is the third album by American rock band The Posies, released in 1993.[7] It featured a darker sound than the band's prior works, in part due to production duties being handled by Don Fleming. "Dream All Day", "Solar Sister" and "Definite Door" were released as singles, with the first two getting moderate airplay and the third being the band's only single to break the UK top 75. Frosting on the Beater was the last album original drummer Mike Musburger appeared on. Flavor of the Month" was a swipe at the many overnight-sensation grunge bands in The Posies' hometown of Seattle.[citation needed] "Coming Right Along" appeared on the soundtrack to the movie The Basketball Diaries (1995, Island Records). "Dream All Day" was later used as the title of the band's best-of compilation, released in 2000. The Posies later remade "Flavor of the Month" with brand-new lyrics as "Voyage of the Aquanauts" for the series Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Hand. Cannot. Erase. is the fourth solo studio album by English musician Steven Wilson. The album was released on 27 February 2015 through Kscope.[3] According to Wilson, the album is written from a female perspective, and the concept and story are inspired by the case of Joyce Carol Vincent, where a woman living in a large city dies in her apartment and no one misses her for over two years, despite her having family and friends.[7] Wilson explained: "The basic story, or concept of the record – it's about a woman growing up, who goes to live in the city, very isolated, and she disappears one day and no one notices. There's more to it than that. Now, what's really interesting about this story is that your initial reaction when you hear a story like that is, 'Ah, little old bag lady that no one notices, no one cares about.' [Vincent] wasn't [like that]. She was young, she was popular, she was attractive, she had many friends, she had family, but for whatever reason, nobody missed her for three years."[7]

King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown is a dub studio album by Augustus Pablo and King Tubby, released in 1976. It features Carlton Barrett on drums, Robbie Shakespeare and Aston Barrett on bass guitar, and Earl "Chinna" Smith on guitar. Pablo produced the album and played melodica, piano, organ and clavinet. The album was recorded at Randy's in Kingston, Jamaica. A distinctly different mix of the title song with vocals and dub, titled "Baby I Love You So", can be found on the Jacob Miller and Augustus Pablo 1975 album, Who Say Jah No Dread.

Kick is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on 19 October 1987 through WEA in Australia, Mercury Records in Europe, and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. The album was produced by British producer Chris Thomas, recorded by David Nicholas in Sydney and Paris and mixed by Bob Clearmountain at Air Studios in London Kick is the band's best-selling album, with reported sales approaching 20 million worldwide as of 2012.[50] According to the band's official autobiography, the album sold nearly 10 million units internationally only two years after its release.[11] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Kick as six times Platinum, with shipments of six million units, in 1997.[51] In Canada, Kick is the second album by an Australian act to receive a diamond accreditation, the first being AC/DC's Back in Black. Kick remains the band's best selling album in the UK, having gone three times platinum in 1989, with over 1 million units sold.[45] In the band's native Australia, Kick has gone seven times platinum, marking just over 500,000 in sales.[36] 27 years after its release, Kick re-entered the Australian and New Zealand charts where it peaked again at No.2 in Australia and No.11 in New Zealand.[52]

Maestro is the third studio album by Norwegian alternative rock band Kaizers Orchestra. It was released on 15 August 2005 by Kaizerecords and Universal Music Group. It was later released as a 2-CD limited edition with bonus tracks and videos.

I and Love and You is the 2009 major label debut by The Avett Brothers and produced by Rick Rubin. I and Love and You has received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregation site Metacritic, the album has a score of 73 out of 100, indicating "Generally favorable reviews".[13] Bart Blasengame of Paste gave the album a very positive review, writing that the Avett Brothers "...constructed something beautiful" while still making their sound more mainstream. The review continued: "The depth and beauty that spread all across I and Love and You will, with any luck, keep The Avett Brothers from becoming The Jonas Brothers."[24] PopMatters' Steve Leftridge called the album the band's best record yet, writing "I and Love and You's new elegant musical direction and very strong set of new songs indicate that they are band that is indeed just getting revved up. They might remain too folk-fringe-y to be pop's Next Big Thing, but the Avetts' latest fully delivers on this band's considerable potential." Leftridge also praised Rick Rubin's contributions.[25]

When Smoke Rises is the debut studio album by Canadian musician and poet Mustafa. It was released on May 28, 2021, through Mustafa's Regent Park Songs imprint. The album was produced by frequent collaborator and executive producer Frank Dukes with contributions from James Blake, Jamie xx, and Sampha, among others. The songs "Stay Alive", "Air Forces", "Ali", and "The Hearse" were released as singles prior to the album's release. The album is self-described as 'inner city folk music' and is thematically centered on Toronto's Regent Park community.[1]

Give Up is the only studio album by American electronic duo The Postal Service, released on February 18, 2003, by Sub Pop Records. The Postal Service was a collaboration between singer-songwriter Ben Gibbard, best-known for his work with indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, and musician Jimmy Tamborello, who also records under the name Dntel. Gibbard rose to prominence in the early 2000s as frontman of Death Cab, while Tamborello gained a cult following as a pioneer of contemporary glitch music and electronica. The two first collaborated with the song "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan", for Dntel's debut LP, Life Is Full of Possibilities (2001). Give Up was released during a period in which independent music first began to garner mainstream interest. It has been considered "one of the touchstones of a new generation of indie music."[19] It was suggested that its success was a reaction to more heavy or aggressive indie rock, such as the White Stripes or the Strokes.[21] In addition to the younger indie fanbase, the album also connected with older listeners, who appreciated its synth-pop influences.[21] New York Times editor Jon Pareles observed in 2013 that the album was influential on groups like Owl City and Passion Pit.[52] Give Up represented Sub Pop's second biggest-selling album in its history, only behind Nirvana's Bleach (1989). The Postal Service eclipsed the Shins and Hot Hot Heat as the record label's most popular act in the early aughts.[23] Gibbard has remarked that between Give Up and Death Cab's Transatlanticism, "I’ve never had a more creatively inspired year."[59]

Lahai is the second studio album by English musician Sampha, released on 20 October 2023 through Young, marking his first release in over six years.[6] The album is named after Sampha's paternal grandfather.[7] The album features contributions from Yaeji, Léa Sen, Sheila Maurice Grey, Ibeyi, Morgan Simpson, Yussef Dayes, Laura Groves and Kwake Bass.[6]

Osees is an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1997, now based in Los Angeles, California. Originally the solo recording project of John Dwyer, the band has evolved through numerous line-up and name changes since its founding, with Dwyer serving as the band leader and primary songwriter throughout. The group's sound draws from a wide variety of influences, including garage rock, krautrock, psychedelia, and folk music. Osees are noted for their prolific recording output, energetic live shows, and whimsical visual aesthetic.

Enema of the State is the third studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on June 1, 1999, by MCA Records. After a long series of performances at various clubs and festivals and several indie recordings throughout the 1990s, Blink-182 first achieved popularity on the Warped Tour and in Australia following the release of their second album Dude Ranch (1997) and its rock radio hit "Dammit." To record their third album, Blink-182 turned to veteran punk rock producer Jerry Finn, who previously worked on Green Day's breakthrough album Dookie (1994). Enema was the band's first album to feature drummer Travis Barker, who replaced original drummer Scott Raynor. Enema of the State is considered by critics as pop-punk[35][36][37] and skate punk.[38][39] The songs on Enema of the State are fast-paced songs regarding "adolescent aimlessness, broken hearts and general confusion over the care and feeding of girls."[40] Summarizing the album's content, The New York Times called Enema of the State a sampling of "ecstatic, goofy numbers about teenage uselessness, with a smattering of tender introspection."[41] The songs are mainly autobiographical, or are inspired by stories from friends' experiences.[42] Enema of the State largely revolves around age and maturity—"more specifically, their lack of it, their attitude toward their lack of it, or their eventual wide-eyed exploration of it."[43] The band decided to emphasize arrangements, harmonies and melodic ideas rather than the fast-paced nature of Dude Ranch; the change was brought about by the band, rather than the label.[42] Barker hoped to give the songs varying tempos, something missing in the group's prior recordings. "I told Mark and Tom, 'It's going to be repetitive if all our songs have the same punk-rock beat all the time. Why don't we try some different tempos?'" DeLonge noted he was open to his proposals, and responded, "Dude, I just play guitar and write melodies. You own the beats. If you have an idea, that's what you're supposed to do."[44] DeLonge later reflected on his desire for a more "pop" sound:

Before These Crowded Streets is the third studio album by the American rock band Dave Matthews Band. It was released on April 28, 1998, through RCA Records. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite, his last collaboration with the group until 2012's Away from the World. Recording took place at The Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, California and Electric Lady Studios in New York.[1] Taking its title from a line in "The Dreaming Tree", the album marked a shift in the band's sound, having darker themes and textures and more complex arrangements. Certain songs see the band apply polyrhythms and Middle-Eastern scales.[2] Numerous guests are featured on the album, including Béla Fleck, Alanis Morissette and the Kronos Quartet. Additionally, guitarist Tim Reynolds guests on every track; he would later join the band as a full-time member. Lyrically, the album tackles both personal and socio-political themes, such as war in "The Last Stop" and the slaughter of Native Americans in "Don't Drink the Water".

Men I Trust is a Canadian indie band from Montreal, Quebec. Formed in 2014, the band consists of Emmanuelle Proulx (lead vocals, guitar), Jessy Caron (guitar, bass guitar), and Dragos Chiriac (keyboards). The group has self-released all of their music and has released physical editions on the Canadian indie label Return to Analog. Men I Trust has independently released four studio albums: Men I Trust (2014), Headroom (2015), Oncle Jazz (2019), and Untourable Album (2021). They have also released two physical-only EPs, Men I Trust (2017) and Tailwhip (2018).

Game of Fools is the second album of the hard rock band Koritni. The Album was released on 16 March 2009 by the record label Bad Reputation.

Dogrel is the debut studio album by Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C. It was released through Partisan Records on 12 April 2019 on cassette, CD, digital download, and vinyl formats.[8] The album was nominated for Album of The Year at the Choice Music Prize and Mercury Prize in 2019.[9][10]

Extrechinato y Tú (Spanish pronunciation: [e(ɣ)stɾetʃiˈnato j ˈtu]) was a musical project by Robe Iniesta (Extremoduro), Iñaki "Uoho" Antón (Platero y Tú and Extremoduro) and Fito Cabrales (Platero y Tú and Fito & Fitipaldis). It is a tribute to the poet Manolo Chinato. The unique album of this supergroup Poesía Básica puts music to the poems by Manolo Chinato so most of the lyrics are verses made by him.

Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 is a concert video and the fourth live album by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, released in 2006. It is a full-length recording of their performance on November 18, 1975, at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, during their Born to Run tours. It was first released as a DVD on November 14, 2005, as part of the Born to Run 30th Anniversary Edition package, and then several months later on February 28, 2006, released as an audio CD. The album was reissued on vinyl for the first time for Record Store Day on April 22, 2017.[3]

Forced Witness is the second studio album by Australian musician Alex Cameron. It was released by record label Secretly Canadian on 8 September 2017, and includes songs featuring Brandon Flowers and Angel Olsen.[9][5] The album is defined by Cameron's characteristic 1980s instrumentation and first-person storytelling.[6] It received moderately positive reviews from critics.[4]

F♯ A♯ ∞ (pronounced "F-sharp, A-sharp, Infinity") is the debut studio album by Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was first released on August 14, 1997, through Constellation Records on a single LP and on June 8, 1998, through Kranky on CD. The CD version and the LP version have substantial differences between them. Recorded at the Hotel2Tango in the Mile End of Montreal, the album, as became common for the band, is devoid of traditional lyrics and is mostly instrumental, featuring lengthy songs segmented into movements. It was initially released in limited quantities, and distributed through live performances and developed a cult following via word of mouth.

Am is the ninth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in June 1979 by ARC/Columbia Records.[2] The LP rose to number one on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart, and number three on the Billboard 200 chart.[3][4] I Am has been certified Double Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA, Platinum in the UK by the BPI, and Platinum in Canada by Music Canada.[5][6][7] Eric Sieger of The Baltimore Sun described I Am as "faultlessly produced." Sieger added, "The album features a horn and string section, synthesizers, congas ,and kalimbas and the material ranges from straight boogie to soulful ballads. Lyrically, some of the numbers leave something to be desired, but Earth, Wind & Fire is one group where the musicianship is so sharp and vibrant that the words don't seem to matter quite so much."[20] AllMusic's Alex Henderson noted, "I Am isn't a radical departure from its predecessor, All 'n All. Though not in a class with That's the Way of the World, Spirit, or All 'n All, I Am is a rewarding album that has a lot going for it."[16]

St. Jude is the debut studio album by English rock band the Courteeners, released on 7 April 2008 by Polydor Records. There is also a special edition album which includes a second disc of acoustic versions of songs which feature on the actual album. Although the album was released to mixed reviews from critics, it has become a somewhat cult success though many fans [who?] are more favorable to the versions of songs seen on Here Come the Young Men EP and various other demos.[citation needed] In support of the album the band embarked on a European tour.

Peasant is a studio album by avant-garde folk musician Richard Dawson, released on 2 June 2017 by Weird World. Each song on the album is from the perspective of a different fictional narrator. Although it is set in the Kingdom of Bryneich, from the 400s to the 600s CE, it is intended to be a modern record, the stories and plight of each character largely contain universal themes that connect to the present day.[1]

Spilt Milk is the second and last studio album by American rock band Jellyfish, released on February 9, 1993, by Charisma Records. It features a harsher and more ornate sound than their previous, Bellybutton (1990). As with Bellybutton, Spilt Milk was written and co-produced by founding members Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning. Albhy Galuten and Jack Joseph Puig also returned as producers.

Hot Fives & Sevens is a 2000 box set collection of recordings made by American jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong with his Hot Five, Hot Seven, and other groups between 1925 and 1930. First released on JSP Records on 22 August 2000, the set was subsequently reissued on Definitive in 2001. A four-disc compilation, the set has received a "crown" as an author's pick in The Penguin Guide to Jazz and is also included in the book's "core collection" recommended for jazz fans.[1] Allmusic concurs that it is "beyond indispensable", suggesting that "you can't have a Louis Armstrong collection without this historic set" or "any kind of respectable jazz collection"[2] Alternatively, Ben Ratliff, writing in 2002, preferred Columbia's release The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings.[3]

Rêver mieux is the third studio album by Québécois singer and musician Daniel Bélanger.[1] It was his first album to incorporate electronic music elements into his sound,[2] which Bélanger attributed to the influence of recent music by Beth Orton, DJ Shadow and Depeche Mode.[1

Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, at various times also known as Velvet Opera, was a British rock band active in the late 1960s. Members of the band, Richard Hudson, John Ford and Paul Brett, would later become members of The Strawbs, Hudson Ford and Stretch. The group emerged from a soul/blues band called The Five Proud Walkers.[1] After supporting Pink Floyd on tour, they were inspired to change their approach and become a more psychedelic outfit. The band consolidated as Richard Hudson on drums, John Ford on bass, Colin Forster on lead guitar, Jimmy Horrocks (Horovitz) on organ and flute (who left early in the band's history[2]), and Dave Terry on vocals and harmonica.[3] Initially just calling themselves Velvet Opera, they developed their full name when Terry took to wearing a cape and preacher's hat in the style of the title character in the 1960 film adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' novel Elmer Gantry.

The Hazards of Love is the fifth album by the American indie rock band The Decemberists, released through Capitol Records and Rough Trade in 2009.[5] The album was inspired by an Anne Briggs EP titled The Hazards of Love. According to the band, frontman Colin Meloy had set out to write a song with the album's title, which eventually developed into an entire album. Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond), Shara Nova (of My Brightest Diamond), and Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) provide guest vocals throughout the album,[6] while Robyn Hitchcock makes a cameo guitar appearance on "An Interlude". While riding through the taiga, Margaret finds an injured fawn. When she stops to help it, the fawn changes into a young man named William, and the two make love ("The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)"). Margaret soon learns she is pregnant ("A Bower Scene") and flees to the forest to find William ("Won't Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)"). William comes to Margaret and proclaims his love for her ("The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)"), but a short, mysterious instrumental announces the threat of William's mother, the Forest Queen ("The Queen's Approach"). William and Margaret reminisce about their first meeting and anticipate the birth of their child ("Isn't It a Lovely Night?") when they are discovered by the Forest Queen. William begs the Queen to allow him to be with Margaret, but the Queen accuses him of being ungrateful, pointing out that she rescued him from the human world when he was a baby and bestowed on him immortality. Their exchange continues until the Queen resolves to allow William one night as a mortal man with Margaret, but afterwards reclaim him forever ("The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid"), ending the first act. Another short instrumental ("An Interlude") represents the "intermission" between the two acts. Elsewhere, we meet the Rake, a widower and philanderer who feels no remorse at having murdered his three children in order to be rid of the responsibility of raising them ("The Rake's Song"). He kidnaps Margaret ("The Abduction of Margaret"), and then the Forest Queen ruthlessly breaks her promise by inviting the Rake to violate Margaret and assists his escape from William by parting a raging river ("The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing"). William arrives at the river but is unable to cross until he offers his own life in exchange for safe passage ("Annan Water"). The Rake gloats over Margaret, while she calls for William to rescue her ("Margaret in Captivity"). But before the Rake can strike, the ghosts of his three murdered children appear and thwart him ("The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)"). William arrives and escapes with Margaret ("The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)"), but, as they approach the river, the lovers vow to marry each other by drowning themselves in the river while William is still a mortal man. As they sink into the water, William and Margaret proclaim their love a final time, reflecting that, in death, "the hazards of love" can no longer trouble them ("The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)").

A City Dressed in Dynamite is the debut album by That Handsome Devil, released in 2008. It was recorded at Cybersound Studios in Boston, Massachusetts. The songs featured on the album are darker in tone and content than those on the band's debut EP, with some dealing explicitly with drug addiction and death. The album includes numerous samples of the 1967 educational video "Narcotics: Pit of Despair". The cover art and illustrations in the album booklet were done by Neil "Women 158" Parkinson.[2] The band mixes genres such as rock, funk, jazz, jive,[2] blues, surf, rhythm and blues, reggae,[3] rockabilly, rap, and psychedelic. Their sound has also been described as "equal parts Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, bizarre electronica, creepy hip hop and in-your-face gonzo rock".[4] Gypsy jazz has been used in description of the band while frontman Godforbid describes the band's music as "fringe pop".[5]

Sublime is the self-titled third studio album by American ska punk band Sublime. Produced by Paul Leary and David Kahne, the album was released on July 30, 1996, in the United States by MCA Records.

Blue Is the Colour is the fifth studio album from English band the Beautiful South, released in October 1996 through Go! Discs and in America through Ark 21 Records. The album was released following the two singles "Pretenders to the Throne" and "Dream a Little Dream", which never featured on any album until the release of the second greatest hits Solid Bronze in 2001.

Nonagon Infinity is the eighth studio album by Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. It was released on 29 April 2016 on ATO Records.[1] The album is designed to play as an "infinite loop" where each song segues into the next and the last song segues into the first, so that "the record can be played front-to-back-to-front-to-back and the sound won't break".[3] The title is a reference to this idea, as there are nine songs on the album that could be played "infinitely"

Gotcha! is a Dutch funk band founded in 1989; their music, a mixture of sixties-trip-rock with funk and hip-hop, is influenced by George Clinton.

Silent Alarm is the debut studio album by English rock band Bloc Party. Recorded in Copenhagen and London in mid-2004 with Paul Epworth as producer, it was released on 2 February 2005, by Wichita Recordings. The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. In the United States, it entered the Billboard 200 at number 114 and the Billboard Independent Albums at number seven. The double A-side "So Here We Are/Positive Tension", "Banquet" and "The Pioneers" were released as singles. Silent Alarm went on to achieve worldwide sales of over one million copies. Silent Alarm was shortlisted for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize, but was beaten by Antony and the Johnsons' second album I Am a Bird Now.[62] It was also nominated for the 2005 Shortlist Music Prize, but lost to Sufjan Stevens' fifth album Illinois.[63] The record was named Album of the Year for 2005 by NME ahead of Arcade Fire's debut album Funeral,[64] by Intro in Germany,[65] and by Rumore in Italy.[66] URB included Silent Alarm in its unnumbered shortlist of the best records of 2005.[67] It figured highly in other end-of-year best album lists: at number two by Hot Press[68] and by Stylus Magazine, at number four by Drowned in Sound, at number six by Spin, at number seven by Metacritic's chief editor,[67] and at number nine by The Denver Post.[69] Silent Alarm earned Bloc Party several nominations, including Best Alternative Act at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards,[70] Best British Band at the 2006 NME Awards,[71] and Artist of the Year at the 2006 PLUG Awards. The record itself won Indie Rock Album of the Year at the 2006 PLUG Awards.[72] It was also nominated as Best Album at the 2006 NME Awards,[71] and as Album of the Year at the 2006 PLUG Awards.[72] In 2006, NME placed Silent Alarm at number 55 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever!,[73] while Drowned in Sound ranked it at number three in its list of the editorial staff's 66 favourite albums of 2000–2006.[74] In 2009, Clash placed the record at number 11 in its list of the 50 Greatest Albums, 2004–2009.[44] The same year, Pitchfork ranked it at number 156 in its list of The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s,[75] while NME included it at number 38 in the list of The Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade decided by the publication's staff and music industry members.[76] In 2010, Stylus Magazine placed Silent Alarm at number 31 in its list of the Top Albums of the previous decade.[77

Zuckerzeit (German: Sugar Time) is the third studio album by German band Cluster, released in 1974 on Brain Records. It was co-produced by Michael Rother, their bandmate in side-project Harmonia. The music on Zuckerzeit marks a shift from Cluster's abrasive early work toward a more rhythmic, pop-oriented sound.[4] Pitchfork ranked the album at number 63 on its list of the top 100 albums of the 1970s,[5] while writer and musician Julian Cope included Zuckerzeit in his "Krautrock Top 50" list.[6]

Don't Throw Stones is the second studio album by Australian rock and pop band The Sports, released in February 1979; a limited edition with a bonus 7" promotional single of "Reckless". The album peaked at number 9 on the Australian Kent Music Report and was certified gold.[1]

Nurture is the second studio album by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson, released on April 23, 2021 by Mom + Pop Music. The album was written in the years following Robinson's debut album Worlds (2014), a period when Robinson struggled with mental illness and writer's block. As a result, the album represents a significant stylistic shift in his work; critics noted that the album features a greater emphasis on acoustic instruments and personal lyrics, while retaining many elements of the innovative electronic style of Worlds. The album also prominently features Robinson's voice, as well as a processed, higher-pitched version. The album features themes of depression, and of learning to find beauty in everyday life and the natural world. Several songs also explore themes of family and love for the first time in Robinson's discography.

Chucklehead is an American funk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1988, the band reached the height of their popularity in the mid-1990s through constant touring and their lavish theme-based live shows. Chucklehead disbanded in 1997 following the release of their final album Belly Up. After a 17-year hiatus the band reunited in 2013 for several performances.

Ænima (/ˈɑːnɪmə/ AH-ni-mə)[6] is the second studio album by the American rock band Tool. It was released in vinyl format on September 17, 1996, and in compact disc format on October 1, 1996,[1][2][7] through Zoo Entertainment. The album was recorded and cut at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood and The Hook in North Hollywood from 1995 to 1996. It is the first album by Tool to feature bassist Justin Chancellor, who replaced original bassist Paul D'Amour the year prior. The album was produced by David Bottrill. The album appeared on lists of the best albums of 1996 in Kerrang![10] and Terrorizer.[11] The track "Ænema" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1998.[12] In 2003, Ænima was ranked the 6th most influential album of all time by Kerrang![13] In 2006, it placed 14th on a Guitar World readers poll that attempted to find the best 100 guitar albums.[56] In 2014, readers of Rhythm voted it the third greatest drumming album in the history of progressive rock.[57]

Don't Say No is the second studio album by Billy Squier, released on April 13, 1981. It stands as Squier's biggest career album, including the hits "Lonely Is the Night", "In the Dark", "My Kinda Lover" and "The Stroke". The album hit the Top Five on the Billboard album chart and remained on the chart for over two years (111 weeks).[2]

Madvillainy is the only studio album by American hip hop duo Madvillain, consisting of British-American rapper MF Doom and American record producer Madlib. It was released on March 23, 2004, on Stones Throw Records. While Madvillainy achieved only moderate commercial success, it became one of the best-selling Stones Throw albums. It peaked at number 179 on the US Billboard 200, and attracted attention from media outlets not usually covering hip hop music, including The New Yorker. Madvillainy received widespread critical acclaim for Madlib's production and MF Doom's lyricism, and is regarded as Doom's magnum opus.[2] It has since been widely regarded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time in general, being ranked in various publications' lists of all-time greatest albums, including at 411 on NME's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,[3] at 365 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,[4] and at 18 on Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time.[5] Madvillainy influenced a generation of artists.[96][97] Among some of them are rappers Joey Badass, the late Capital Steez, Bishop Nehru, Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt,[9] Danny Brown,[98] Kirk Knight,[99] producer and rapper Flying Lotus,[100] producer and DJ Cashmere Cat,[101] neo soul collective Jungle,[102] indie rock band Cults,[103] and Radiohead singer Thom Yorke.[9][104] The singer Bilal names it among his 25 favorite albums.[105] According to Earl Sweatshirt, Madvillainy influenced his generation the same way Wu-Tang Clan influenced the rappers of the 1990s with their album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).[106] In 2009 a video of Mos Def working on his album The Ecstatic in a studio was released. In the video he praised Doom, saying that "he rhymes as weird as I feel", and recited some of Doom's lines, including the ones from Madvillainy.[107] He added:[9]

Nº 1 in Heaven is the eighth studio album by American rock band Sparks. Recorded with Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder, the album marked a change of musical direction for the group and became influential on later synth-pop bands.[citation Joy Division cited "Number One Song in Heaven" as a primary influence during the recording of "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Joy Division's drummer Stephen Morris stated: "When we were doing 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', there were two records we were into: Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits and 'Number One Song in Heaven' by Sparks. That was the beginning of getting interested in Giorgio Moroder

Boys and Girls in America is the third studio album by the Hold Steady, released on October 3, 2006, by Vagrant Records. The album received a metascore of 85 out of 100 on Metacritic, making it tied with four other albums for the 12th best-reviewed album of 2006. Magnet and The Onion's AV Club named it the best album of 2006. Pitchfork rated Boys and Girls in America 9.4 out of 10, and named it the fifth-best album of the year.[17] They later ranked it as the 64th best album of the decade.[18]

Vedergällningen (The Retribution) is Garmarna's third full-length album. All the songs are sung in Swedish. "Euchari" also contains some Latin.

Recipe for Hate is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on June 4, 1993. It was their last album on Epitaph Records for nine years (until 2002's The Process of Belief) and the band had switched to Atlantic Records, who re-released the album several months after its release.

Korn (printed and stylized as KoЯn) is the debut album by the American nu metal band Korn. It was released on October 11, 1994, through Immortal and Epic Records. Before recording the album, the band was approached by Immortal/Epic Records after a performance at Huntington Beach, California. The band signed to their label because they did not want to "sign away all of their creative freedom".[1] The band would record at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California, with producer Ross Robinson, who also produced their 1993 demo Neidermayer's Mind. The recording took place from May to June 1994. After the recordings, Korn toured with Biohazard and House of Pain.

Apostrophe (') is the sixth solo album and eighteenth in total by Frank Zappa, released in March 1974[1] in both stereo and quadraphonic formats. An edited version of its lead-off track, "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow", was the first of Zappa's three Billboard Top 100 hits, ultimately peaking at number 86. The album itself became the biggest commercial success of Zappa's career, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard 200.

I Need to Start a Garden is the debut studio album by American musician Haley Heynderickx. It was released in March 2018 under Mama Bird Recording Company.

Misplaced Childhood is the third studio album by the British neo-prog band Marillion, released in 1985. It is a concept album loosely based on the childhood of Marillion's lead singer, Fish, who was inspired by a brief incident that occurred while he was under the influence of LSD. Misplaced Childhood was Marillion's first full concept album consisting of two continuous pieces of music on the two sides of the vinyl record. The story has thematic elements of lost love, sudden success, acceptance, and lost childhood, along with an upbeat ending. As Fish explains, he conceived the concept during a 10-hour acid trip. Several of the songs and titles contain notable autobiographical references; for example, "Kayleigh" references the breakdown of relationships as a whole but is centered around Fish's past girlfriend named Kay Lee. Fish came up with the name Kayleigh in order to obscure the original name due to the song being too personal.[7] Another example is "Heart of Lothian" ("I was born with the heart of Lothian") which is a reference to a traditional region of Scotland – Fish himself being from Midlothian – and a reference to the Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile) – a mosaic heart in the pavement of Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

The Animal Years is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.[2] The album was originally released in the UK on March 20, 2006, and in the United States on April 11, 2006. It was Ritter's first album released on V2 Records.[3] A double-disc deluxe edition was released in Ireland on January 17, 2010, and in the US on February 15, 2011. Joshua B. Ritter[1] (born October 21, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author who performs and records with the Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics.[2][3][4] In 2006, he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine

The Beautiful Letdown is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Switchfoot, released on February 25, 2003, by RED Ink Records, and later re-released through Sony Music. It marked the band's first release on a major label and their first release with keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas. The album was produced by John Fields and Switchfoot and recorded over a span of around two weeks; all songs on the album were written either in part or entirely by lead singer Jon Foreman.

Carrie & Lowell is the seventh studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released on March 31, 2015, by Asthmatic Kitty. It was produced by Stevens, and features guest contributions from Thomas Bartlett, Sean Carey, Casey Foubert, Ben Lester, Nedelle Torrisi, and Laura Veirs.

10,000 gecs is the second studio album (and major-label debut) by American hyperpop duo 100 gecs. It was released on March 17, 2023, through Dog Show and Atlantic Records following numerous delays and a 2021 promotional tour.[4] The album is a follow-up to their debut album 1000 gecs (2019) and the remix album 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues (2020). It was supported by the pre-release of three singles: "MeMeMe", "Doritos & Fritos", and "Hollywood Baby".

Version 2.0 is the second studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on May 11, 1998, by Mushroom Records worldwide, with the North American release on Almo Sounds the following day. With this album, the band aimed to improve and expand upon the style of their 1995 eponymous debut rather than reinventing their sound. Lead singer Shirley Manson wrote dark, introspective lyrics, which she felt complemented the songs' melodies.

Weezer formed in Los Angeles in 1992, and initially struggled to engage audiences, who were more interested in grunge. In November, they recorded a demo, The Kitchen Tape, which brought them to the attention of DGC owner Geffen Records. Weezer selected Ocasek to produce because of his work with the Cars. Most of the album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City between August and September 1993. The group treated the guitars and bass as a single, 10-string instrument, playing in unison. Guitarist Jason Cropper was fired during recording, as the band felt he was threatening their chemistry; he was replaced by Brian Bell. The Blue Album received critical acclaim.[50] Rolling Stone praised the album in its year-end review, saying, "Weezer's Rivers Cuomo is great at sketching vignettes (the Dungeons & Dragons games and Kiss posters that inspire the hapless daydreamer of 'In the Garage'), and with sweet inspiration like the waltz tempo of 'My Name Is Jonas' and the self-deprecating humor of lines like "I look just like Buddy Holly / And you're Mary Tyler Moore", his songs easily ingratiate."[51] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice was less complimentary and awarded the album a "neither" rating.[52] The "Buddy Holly" video won four awards at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, including prizes for Breakthrough Video and Best Alternative Video.[53] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 294 on its updated “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.[54] The Blue Album has become one of the most highly regarded albums of the 1990s, as well as of all time, appearing on many "best of" lists. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 294 on its 2020 list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[55] It was previously ranked at 297 in 2003, and 299 in 2012.[2][56] In 2002, the readers of Rolling Stone ranked the album the 21st greatest of all time.[57] Blender named the Blue Album among the "500 CDs You Must Own", calling the album "Absolute geek-rock, out and proud."[5] Non-U.S. publications have acclaimed the album as well: Visions of Germany ranked it number 32 on a list of "The Most Important Albums of the 90s".[58] In November 2011, the Blue Album was ranked number three on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994, with Bad Religion's Stranger than Fiction and The Offspring's Smash in first and second places respectively.[59] The album also peaked at number 25 on Guitar World's "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[60]

Boy Azooga are a Welsh indie rock group from Cardiff, Wales. Formed in 2017, the group is led by front man Davey Newington (vocals, guitar), who is joined live by band members Dafydd Davies (drums), Sam Barnes (bass), and Dylan Morgan (keyboard).

Join Us is the fifteenth studio album from the rock band They Might Be Giants, released on July 19, 2011. It is the band's first adult album in four years since The Else in 2007. Following the success of their 2009 children's album, Here Comes Science, the band returned to their adult audience with Join Us, an eclectic collection of 18 songs.[2][3]

Wild Planet is the second studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1980 by Warner Bros. Records. Billboard gave Wild Planet a positive review, calling it an improvement over the band's debut album and "a cinch for hot rotation in rock-oriented discos".[12] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice observed, "'Party Out of Bounds' and 'Quiche Lorraine' are expert entertainments at best and the wacko parochialism of 'Private Idaho' is a positive annoyance. Only on 'Devil in My Car' and 'Give Me Back My Man' do they exploit the potential for meaning—cosmic and emotional, respectively—that accrues to the world's greatest new-wave kiddie-novelty disco-punk band."[13] Frank Rose of Rolling Stone felt that it "plainly lacks the relentless exuberance of the group's debut disc", which he considered "partly a result of the production: flatter and duller sounding than its predecessor".[14] While Trouser Press thought the album had its "inspired moments", they concluded that "too much of the album, with its short length and recycled ideas, comes across as a pale imitation of its predecessor."[15]

Silence Yourself is the debut studio album by the English post-punk band Savages, released on 6 May 2013 on Matador Records and Pop Noire, a label owned by vocalist Jehnny Beth.[3] It was nominated for the 2013 Mercury Prize.[citation needed] Retrospectively, Silence has continued to earn critical praise. In 2016, Treble placed it on their list of the 21st century's essential post-punk albums.[19] In 2020, NME included Silence in their list of 15 "wildly influential" records in the post-punk genre. Noting Savages' "much-needed dose of self-mythology" they brought with them, they credited the band with sparking important questions about the perceived "bolshy [and] intimidating" nature of women in punk music.[20] In 2019, Pitchfork ranked Silence Yourself at number 178 on their list of "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s"; senior editor Stacey Anderson wrote: "Silence Yourself carries every bit of [Savages' live show] adrenaline; in its coiled, sparking guitars and rabid screams, it warns of the dangers of technology while weaponizing its potential."[21]

Piledriver is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released in 1972. It was the first to be produced by the group themselves, and their first on the Vertigo label. It peaked at number five in the UK and included several favourites that would be featured frequently in live concerts

Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides (stylized in all caps) is the only studio album by Scottish recording artist and producer Sophie. It was released on 15 June 2018, through Transgressive, Future Classic and Sophie's own label, MSMSMSM.[8][9] The title may be a mondegreen of the phrase \"I love every person's insides\".[10] The album was Sophie's first as a solo artist, and the first to embrace her transgender identity.

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the second and final studio album by American band Neutral Milk Hotel, released on February 10, 1998, by Merge Records. The album is predominantly indie rock and psychedelic folk and is characterized by an intentionally low-quality sound. Traditional indie rock instruments like the guitar and drums are paired with less conventional instruments like the singing saw and uilleann pipes. The lyrics are surrealistic and opaque, exploring themes that range from nostalgia to love. An important influence for the album was The Diary of a Young Girl, a book of writings from the diary of Anne Frank. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea's critical standing rose in the years after its release.[64] Mark Richardson of Pitchfork awarded the 2005 reissue a perfect 10/10 score. Richardson said that although he initially found Mangum's infatuation with Anne Frank embarrassing, he grew an appreciation for the lyrics, and called them the album's defining characteristic. He highlighted the surrealistic imagery, and wrote: "It's a record of images, associations, and threads; no single word describes it so well as the beautiful and overused kaleidoscope."[82] In the 2004 edition of The Rolling Stone Album Guide, critic Roni Sarig described the album as "timeless transcendentalist pop steeped in a century of American music, from funeral marches to punk rock...Aeroplane is a fragile, creaky, dignified, and ballsy record".[32] Ankeny wrote that: "Neutral Milk Hotel's second album is another quixotic sonic parade; lo-fi yet lush, impenetrable yet wholly accessible".[26] Ankeny also said the lyrics were too abstract to discern meaning.[26] Marvin Lin of Tiny Mix Tapes found it challenging to concisely explain why the album is so great, and ultimately summarized his review with the statement: "As beautiful as it is disturbing, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is a stunning piece of art that draws you deeper with each listen. Most great art takes time to appreciate, and this album is no exception."[84] Despite the generally positive critical reevaluation, the album had its detractors.[82] According to Richardson, listeners who dislike the album have often found its lyrics to be awkward, infantile, or disconcerting, and he said Mangum could be perceived as a "privileged dude sharing naive stoner wisdom".[38] Grantland writer Steven Hyden, once an admirer of the album, felt his appreciation diminish over time, which he ascribed in part to the gradual loss of its original mystique.[85] Just as the album itself became a meme, the tendency to lavish it with hyperbolic praise also became an online in-joke, exemplified by a 2015 headline from the satirical website ClickHole: "Disgusting: ISIS Just Released a 2-Star Review of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea".[79]

Awaken, My Love!" is the third studio album by American recording artist Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released by Glassnote Records on December 2, 2016. Consisting of tracks being sung rather than rapped, its fusion of psychedelic soul, funk and R&B influences was considered a bold departure from the predominantly hip hop style of his prior work. The album was produced by Glover and his longtime collaborator, Ludwig Göransson.

The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking is the first solo studio album by Roger Waters, bassist/songwriter and co-founder of English rock band Pink Floyd; it was released in 1984. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1995.

La cagaste... Burt Lancaster (the Spanish for "You screwed it up... Burt Lancaster") is the second studio album by Spanish rock band Hombres G, released in 1986.[1][2][3]

People is the sixth full-length album by the Canadian indie rock band The Burning Hell, released in April 2013 in Canada, May 2013 in Europe and April 2014 in the UK. The album was recorded in Berlin by Norman Nitzsche and Ramin Bijan. The Burning Hell is a band fronted by songwriter Mathias Kom and multi-instrumentalist Ariel Sharratt, particularly known for their literate songwriting, DIY ethos, and dynamic live performances. Kom holds a PhD in ethnomusicology at Memorial University of Newfoundland,[1] where he studied the political economy of DIY music.

Funeral Dress, the debut album by Wussy, was released on December 6, 2005.[2] The label, Shake It Records, released the album on CD format only Wussy is an American four-piece indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001.[1] The band consists of Chuck Cleaver (vocals/guitar), Lisa Walker (vocals/guitar), Joe Klug (drums) and Mark Messerly (bass).[2][3] Former members include Dawn Burman (drums) and John Erhardt (pedal steel). Cleaver and Walker write most of the songs and either alternate lead vocals or sing them in harmony.[1] Live performances feature the two vocalists having a "combative rapport".[4] They have released seven albums, one live album, two EPs, one mini LP and a number of singles. The group has received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone,[5] Robert Christgau,[6] Chicago,[7] and SPIN.[8]

Sailing the Seas of Cheese is the second studio album and major label debut by the American rock band Primus. It was released on May 14, 1991, through Interscope Records. It spawned three singles: "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver", "Tommy the Cat", and "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers

Afraid of Sunlight is Marillion's eighth studio album, released in 1995. It was their last for EMI (who would, however, continue to release back-catalogue material on compilations and re-issues, as well as distribute some later recordings). Although not a concept album as such, Afraid of Sunlight repeatedly examines the destructive side of celebrity. In particular, "Gazpacho" lampoons the Hollywood lifestyle and seems to refer to O. J. Simpson. "Cannibal Surf Babe" is a Beach Boys pastiche inspired by late-night horror movies. "Out of This World" is dedicated to world land and water speed record holder Donald Campbell, killed in 1967. The song later inspired diver Bill Smith to look for the actual wreckage, and the main wreckage of Campbell's Bluebird K7 hydroplane was recovered from Coniston Water on 8 March 2001. Both Steve Hogarth and Steve Rothery were present at the raising.[6] The title track refers to self-destructive thrill-seekers such as James Dean, while "King" is about Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain and Michael Jackson. "Beyond You" is reminiscent of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound productions and, in homage, was mixed in mono.[7]

After Hours is the fourth studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on March 20, 2020 by XO and Republic Records. Primarily produced by the Weeknd, it features a variety of producers, including DaHeala, Illangelo, Max Martin, Metro Boomin, and OPN, most of whom the Weeknd had worked with previously. The standard edition of the album has no features, but the deluxe edition features Ariana Grande and the remixes edition contains guest appearances from Chromatics and Lil Uzi Vert. Thematically, After Hours explores loneliness, self-loathing, and escapism.

Transatlanticism is the fourth studio album by rock band Death Cab for Cutie, released on October 7, 2003, by Barsuk Records. At this point in their career, the group had toured and recorded for nearly a half-decade. With tensions rising, the band decided to take time away from one another; notably, Ben Gibbard collaborated with electronic musician Dntel (Jimmy Tamborello), and released an album, Give Up, under the name the Postal Service. Death Cab regrouped in late 2002 to create Transatlanticism, which was recorded in a leisurely manner over five-day stretches until June 2003.

Blink-182 (also referred to as the untitled album) is the fifth studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on November 18, 2003, by Geffen Records. Following their ascent to stardom and success of their prior two releases, the trio was compelled to take a break and participated in various side projects (Box Car Racer and Transplants). When they regrouped, they felt inspired to approach song structure and arrangements differently on their next effort together.

Nail is the fourth studio album by Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel. It was released in October 1985, through record labels Self Immolation and Some Bizzare.

Come and Get It is the second solo studio album by English singer Rachel Stevens, released on 17 October 2005 by 19 Recordings and Polydor Records. It spawned three singles, two of which reached the top 10, while the album itself reached number 28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album received almost universally positive reviews; two years after the album's release, The Guardian placed it on their "1000 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list.[12]

The Marcus King Band is a southern rock/blues band from South Carolina formed in 2013. On August 22, 2018, it was announced the band would release their third full-length LP, Carolina Confessions, on October 5, 2018, via Fantasy Records. The album was recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville and produced and mixed by Dave Cobb.[5] While not entering the Billboard 200, it was the band's first entry on the magazine's US Top Current Albums chart, peaking at No. 55,[6] and was another No. 2 hit on the Blues chart for them.[3] The album also reached No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[7]

Gemstones is the third solo album by American musician Adam Green. It was released on January 10, 2005 in Europe and on February 22, 2005 in the United States. The album is characterised by the heavy presence of Wurlitzer piano, whereas its predecessor relied on a string section in its instrumentation.

Watch Out! is the second studio album from Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on June 8, 2004. The album debuted at number 6 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 6,580 copies in its first week of release, and was certified Platinum (indicating sales of over 100,000 copies) by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) in 2007. [1]

Re is the second studio album by Mexican rock band Café Tacuba, released in 1994. The album has been called "the equivalent of The Beatles' White Album for the rock en español movement" by The New York Times.[3] In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it at number one on its list of "The 10 Greatest Latin Rock Albums of All Time".[4]

Stranger in Town is the tenth studio album by American rock singer Bob Seger and his second with the Silver Bullet Band, released by Capitol Records in May 1978. As with its predecessor, the Silver Bullet Band backed Seger on about half of the songs and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section backed Seger on the other half.

Home Sweet Home is the debut album by British rapper Kano. It was released on 27 June 2005 by 679 Recordings. Kano was 20 years old when the album was released. The album received highly positive reviews from music critics and peaked at number 36 on the UK Albums Chart. Six singles were released from the album— "P's and Q's", "Typical Me" featuring Ghetts, "Remember Me", "Nite Nite" featuring Leo the Lion & The Streets, "Brown Eyes" and "Signs in Life". Two of the singles, "Typical Me" and "Nite Nite", peaked within the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart.