540
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3.99
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50%
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186
5-Star Albums
12
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third | 5 | 2.43 | +2.57 |
| ...Baby One More Time | 5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
| Music | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Remedy | 5 | 2.68 | +2.32 |
| Back to Basics | 5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
| My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts | 5 | 2.78 | +2.22 |
| Tago Mago | 5 | 2.79 | +2.21 |
| Southern Rock Opera | 5 | 2.82 | +2.18 |
| Live / Dead | 5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
| Street Signs | 5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Orange | 1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
| Billion Dollar Babies | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Get Rich Or Die Tryin' | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Beyond Skin | 1 | 2.77 | -1.77 |
| Yeezus | 1 | 2.77 | -1.77 |
| All Hope Is Gone | 1 | 2.7 | -1.7 |
| A Grand Don't Come For Free | 1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
| The Velvet Underground & Nico | 2 | 3.62 | -1.62 |
| The Madcap Laughs | 1 | 2.62 | -1.62 |
| Illmatic | 2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 5 | 5 |
| The Who | 4 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Beatles | 3 | 5 |
| Talking Heads | 3 | 5 |
| Prince | 3 | 5 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 5 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 5 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.67 |
| Joni Mitchell | 3 | 4.67 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Byrds | 3 | 4.67 |
| Amy Winehouse | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 2 | 5 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| Can | 2 | 5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 5 |
| Willie Nelson | 2 | 5 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 5 |
| Van Morrison | 2 | 5 |
| Madonna | 2 | 5 |
| U2 | 2 | 5 |
| Michael Jackson | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Kraftwerk | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kanye West | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial Artists
Artists you rate inconsistently
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Lou Reed | 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (186)
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Popular Reviews
Madonna
5/5
Madonna has had one of the most successful, enduring careers in modern music. Music is her eight studio album, and a significant departure from the pop singles that made her famous. This collection of tracks are closer to dance and electronica than her earlier work. This is a surprisingly good album, with memorable tracks like "Don't Tell Me."
3 likes
The Who
5/5
Tommy is the fourth album from the Who, and may be their first masterpiece. Tommy is a double LP rock opera. It is the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy that becomes a messiah figure. The story is told in the format of an opera: in two acts, with an overture and an underture, musical summaries played at the beginning of the acts. I think these two elements - the overture and underture - are among the most brilliant compositions in modern music.
The story is told in a series of incredible songs, some of which become hit singles, like "Pinball Wizard" and "Tommy Can you Hear Me." The opera tells the story of the life of the messiah figure. Imo, the entire story is really about "Sally Simpson," one of the fans of this messiah figure.
2 likes
Drive-By Truckers
5/5
Southern Rock Opera is double-disc, concept album from Drive-By Truckers. They imagine a world through the eyes of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band plays heavy guitar drive, Southern country rock, and Southern Rock Opera was the break-through release. The band "crowd-funded" the album, before crowd-funding was a term. The strong critical reception to the album led to a re-release, and the band began tour nationally. The band's gritty, rich sound became part of the mixture of popular alt-rock in the aughts and the 10s.
This album is a daring attempt to express the "duality of the Southern thing." The song "Three Great Alabama Icons" is a spoken word piece at the center of this theme. It voices the tension of a culture that is addressing its racist past.
2 likes
The Avalanches
5/5
The Avalanches Since I Left You is a masterpiece of sampling. This album is filled with inventive, creative tracks that uses samples and synthesizers to make joyful, engaging dance music.
There isn't much to compare the Avalanches to - they expanded the potentials of music made with samples. Their music has inspired generations of djs and producers in a range of electronic styles.
1 likes
Syd Barrett
1/5
This album is a collection of odd track from Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. After he was kicked out of the band for erratic behavior - due to mental issues (perhaps) related to excessive drug use - Barrett had a brief solo career. This is the first of his solo albums.
For those that worship Barrett as a music genius, this album could be seen as something interesting. For the rest of us, this sounds like a collection of out-takes and first drafts of songs. The few tracks that seem remotely complete are reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, but they do not give the impression that the songs have been well practiced or produced.
There are a few points where you can hear the imagination that made Barrett central to early Pink Floyd, but these moments are rare. The majority of the album is disappointing - little more than a reminder of lost potential.
1 likes
4-Star Albums (211)
1-Star Albums (12)
All Ratings
Funkadelic
5/5
A rich example of psychedelia and funk of time period, that is remarkably current.
The title track is a near-cliché of psychedelic rock. It's a dark, beautiful exploration of expression by guitar. It's beautifully played.
I hear so much of Bernie Worrell on this album. His style of funk keyboard is a big part of the Funkadelic sound.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
This is an unbelievable debut album. Her voice sounds so rich, so mature... This would appear to be the work of an experienced artists
This album is timeless - while she was of a particular era, this could have been released anywhere in the last fifty years. Great, soulful mix.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
This is an incredible album. It is joyful, soulful, and even angry (at time, in a "Stevie" way). This is an amazing expression of life, love, and strife. This is Stevie's 18th studio album, and may be his best.
Some of the songs are now classics, bigger that R&B, or pop, or rock. This is a cultural expression, and may be one of the greatest albums of all time.
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
I downloaded this album - when that was a common thing. I had this on a collection on a ipod mini that I filled with downloads. I love this album.
This is an incredible collection of dance tracks - simple, compelling, and fun. James Murphy can produce fun, catchy tunes with a punk-like attitude.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This is the first album on this last I had never heard of - knew of - in any way aware of... This is Jorge Ben's fourteenth album - a seasoned artist who apparently adopted an electric guitar and elements of American funk for this album.
I know very little of Brazilian music - this is of a dated funk/soul style - great vocalist and back-up singers in an r&b/motown-type sound. He integrates a range of latin rhythms with the other elements of a big funk band - a horn section and strong keys.
Judas Priest
3/5
This album is a metal classic. This was the band's sixth album, and by this time, the band had matured and found their sound.
Their sound inspired much of metal music - power chord riffs, driving drums, and a scream/ falsetto lead singer
Deep Purple
3/5
This band was a pillar of classic rock, and a few of their classics are on this album.
1. Drum solos are often disappointing.
2. Guitar solos have progressed significantly in the last 40 years.
3. There is a segment where the singer is mimicking what the guitarist is playing. They were having fun, but it was not that great to listen to.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
This may be the RHCPs at their best. This Rick Rubin-produced, 17 track effort established the band as an internationally known act. Their punk inspired funk flourished under Rubin's guidance. He has produced many of their subsequent albums. RHCP's history with Parliment and George Clinton is evident in their sound - especially "Sir Psycho Sexy."
This album was central to the sound of 90's popular music, and established RHCPs as an influential band in American music.
Röyksopp
4/5
This debut album of upbeat, ambient electronic began a long career for Royksopp. The tracks experiment with a variety of sounds, providing variety in music that could be critiqued as repetitive.
This album was clearly influential - there is a great deal of ambient and soundtrack music that sounds like Royksopp. In that vein, the tracks are fun, catchy, and danceable, but none of them stand out as particularly great.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Kraftwerk's fourth album may be the beginning of electronic pop - and the genesis of the soundtrack of video games. The title track is an attempt to represent the experience of driving on the Autobahn. It's rhythm and repetitive nature create the mesmerizing feeling of driving at highway speeds.
Kraftwerk's robotic, minimalistic sound was formative to several genres of music, including techno and house. The tracks on this album have a beautiful, simple elegance that has inspired many musicians.
Elliott Smith
4/5
This is a collection of orchestrated, produced pop songs in the tradition of late Beatles songs. It is not surprising that Elliott Smith found some fame covering a Beatles song. This was the final studio album of Smith's brief, tragic life, and part of the album's acclaim may be a recognition of lost potential.
Smith seems appropriately grouped with Sufjan Stevens, not only for stylistic similarity, but also for his singular vision and effort. Smith wrote and produced all of the songs, and played the majority of the instruments on the album.
There's an odd tension between these songs: some with melancholic, and even dark messages (songs "Son of Sam" and "Everything Means Nothing to Me") and others with an uplifting message ("Happiness" and "Everything Reminds Me of Her").
Daft Punk
3/5
This album was the enormously successful debut from the pair of French producers. They produced the tracks as singles, and compiled the album after a two of the singles met with commercial success.
The album contains a few of Daft Punk's hits, like "Da Funk" and "Around the World." These tracks have become classics of French house music and post-disco. These tracks are simple, catchy dance tracks with widespread appeal. With this album, Daft Punk help propel the commercial success of dance music.
The album is less consistent that DP's later efforts. Some track are so minimal that they approach "repetitive to boring" in segments - for example "Rock n Roll."
This album is an from a British rock group of the early 70s, a short-live project that included Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. This is a collection of fun, loose rock songs, like "Stay with Me," which showcases Rod Stewart's raspy, vocal prowess. The album also includes a cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis," providing a glimpse of the inspiration for Faces and British rock of the time.
Aerosmith
4/5
This is the tenth studio album from this productive band. Pump includes great examples of the band aggressive, confident style which creates polished hard rock songs with popular appeal. Songs like "Love in an Elevator" demonstrate the band's ability bring metal riffs into popular songs. The band also produces rich ballads, like "Janie's got a Gun" and "What it takes," showing the impressive range of the band's skills.
Elvis Presley
5/5
This is the debut album from the King of Rock and Roll. These songs are formative to rock and roll, broadly. Elvis had released a number of successful singles before this album. By the time of release, Elvis had already started touring extensively and his fame was growing.
Elvis was the first rock star. He became famous for his incredible voice; his boundless charisma made him a star. Elvis' music - including rock, ballads, and gospel - helped to establish the incredible range that exists in modern music. The legends about the King of Rock and Roll may be as significant.
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
This in a great EP from a modern R&B singer. The track include short, spoken word segments, and the songs that follow are studies of the character types expressed through the spoken word tracks.
Nas
2/5
This is Nas' debut album.
Aerosmith
3/5
This is Aerosmith's third album, and their biggest commercial success. This work contains some of their biggest hits, like "Walk this Way" and "Sweet Emotion." The band's raunchy, confident style is a defining element of their songs, and their popular appeal made them one of the biggest rock bands of the 70s and 80s.
Elliott Smith
4/5
This is Smith's third album, and contains some of his most famous songs. A few of these songs were in the film "Good Will Hunting," including the original "Miss Misery." That song received an Oscar nomination, and led to Smith's first few televised appearances. The success of the film propelled Smith's career. Smith's songs, with complex orchestrations and earnest, compelling lyrics worked well with the film's themes.
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is Dylan's first rock album. This was released just after the uproar around Dylan leaving folk music behind and "going electric." This is a collection of songs that have helped define modern popular music. It leads off with "Like a Rolling Stone," which is among the most influential songs from the sixties and from Dylan's extensive catalog. While he had "gone electric," Dylan's songs continue to tell rich stories full of vivid images, like "Highway 61 Revisited."
Dylan's music has elements of folk, blues, and threads of traditional American music which add dimension to his engaging storytelling.
Tom Waits
5/5
Tom Waits' work sits outside of genres - his jazz/blues/scat/vaudeville is a beautiful expression of the dark side of life. Waits tells stories about society's dispossessed and their stories in New York City.
Waits' raspy, expressive voice adds to his unique sound - a fascinating amalgamation of styles of American music.
Various Artists
4/5
This may be the greatest Christmas album. This is Phil Spector's collection of seasonal classics, in his well-produced, orchestrated style.
Kate Bush
4/5
This may be Kate Bush's best album; it was critically and commercially. This is a collection of beautiful songs, highlighting Bush's lovely voice. Bush's art pop has been remarkably influential on generations of musicians in a surprising range of genres.
Motörhead
3/5
This is Motorhead's first live album. They had released five studio albums and toured extensively at the time of this release. Motorhead had gained the polished confidence of a seasoned band. Their hard, driven style of rock helped create speed metal.
While practiced, their songs lack significant range
Sonic Youth
3/5
Sonic Youth's seventh studio album includes a collection of noise rock tracks, typical of their edgy, guitar driven sound. SY's sound - as clearly expressed on this album as any - was influential in avant-rock for decades
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
This is the third studio album from Simon & Garfunkel, and arguably their masterpiece. This collection of songs has the pair's characteristic harmonies, with beautiful orchestrations. Simon's passionate lyrics place these songs in the social upheaval of the sixties, and among the most influential of the folk rock albums of popular music.
Arrested Development
5/5
This is the brilliant debut album from Arrested Development. It is a joyful, wise, and diverse collection of tracks from the band that created Southern hip-hop, with their unique sound. They combine rap, sampling, and remixing elements with traces of funk, soul, and R&B.
This album met with wide-spread critical acclaim, and established Arrested Development as an influential group in hip hop and rap. Their positive, humble, thoughtful perspective sits in sharp contrast with the gansta rap that dominated that era (and most eras since).
Foo Fighters
4/5
This is the debut studio album from the Foo Fighters. This collection of songs was written and performed - almost entirely - by Dave Grohl. This collection of songs was recorded in a few days, and mostly written by Grohl while on tour with Nirvana. The product is a collection of songs that defined post-grunge modern rock.
Some tracks, like "This is a Call," sound like an obvious next step for an artist to take after Nirvana. Others, like "Big Me," could have come from a band in the late sixties - or any decade since. The timeless quality of some of Foo Fighters' work - with Grohl's impressive range of talents - has lead to their enduring appeal
Ray Charles
5/5
"Modern Sounds" may be Ray Charles' greatest album(s). Charles' move in to country and western was possible because he gained artistic control of his projects in the early 60s. Previous success afforded considerable freedoms - and a rare level of creative control for the era.
Charles crossed racial lines moving into country music. He brought his vocal skill, R&B background, and big band orchestrations to these country standards. His soulful renditions brought considerable critical and commercial success, and helped bolster Charles' position as one of the most influential American recording artists.
Guided By Voices
3/5
This is a collection of brief, indie-pop songs from a prolific group. The songs demonstrate the songwriting skills of the group's founder, Robert Pollard. Some songs are catchy, but all brief enough to leave you wanting more and to avoid becoming memorable.
This was clearly influential - you can hear glimpses of many other indie-pop artists in this work.
The Fall
3/5
The Fall was a prolific post-punk band from England. The Nation's Saving Grace is a collection of punk songs with catchy guitar riffs and strong bass lines - punk with a push toward pop sounds.
4/5
This is Bowie's break-out album. These glam-rock songs about the myth of Ziggy Stardust established Bowie as a a rock star and an icon of pop culture. Combining elements of blues, soul, and traditional rock, Bowie tells the story of a rock star/messiah that is trying to save a world that is spiraling toward disaster. While his "rock opera" may not have met with the success of other such efforts, these tracks did launch Bowie's career and add "glam rock star" to the mythology about rock stars in our culture.
Radiohead
5/5
Before Radiohead, nothing sounded like Radiohead. Even early Radiohead didn't sound like Radiohead. After OK Computer, everything changed.
Radiohead experiments with electronic elements in their approach to guitar rock. The results are soundscapes that influenced musicians all over the world, and made Radiohead one of the best-known bands in the world.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha Franklin has one of the greatest voices to ever record popular music. Her skill as a soul/gospel/R&B singer is unmatched. Her incredible voice changed popular music. Aretha showed that world that gospel and soul music were potent elements to add to R&B and rock.
Lady Soul includes some of Aretha's most famous tracks, and shows her impressive range. The album includes 60s rock classics like "Chain of Fools," and soulful ballads like "A Natural Woman."
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion had live shows that were describes as explosive and energetic. The recorded version of their music captures their energy, but does not present much of interest. The songs are repetitive, simplistic, and unpolished.
This is certainly not "blues," in any traditional sense. Described as "scuzz-rock" or "scuzz-blues," these songs have a post-punk sound, and some of the guitar riffs and bass lines may interest those drawn to punk. Even those drawn to this will likely be disappointed - these inconsistent songs are not that memorable.
Black Sabbath
3/5
With this album, Black Sabbath started heavy metal. They forged a hard, driven version of blues and rock with elements of psychedelia and ample use of distortion. Tony Iommi's technical guitar riffs connect Black Sabbath's music to both rocks' and blues' traditions of guitar driven songs. Ozzy Osbourne's unique, strained vocals pushed their music into something outside of those traditions.
Sabbath's associations with the occult has plagued hard rock throughout its history.
Calexico
4/5
Calexico has a unique sound. A fusion of folk, Latin, electronic, and jazz elements, Calexico has created a type of folk music that sounds like the American Southwest.
This beautiful collection of songs is the work of an experienced band - this is their fourth studio album. Calexico remastered Feast of a Wire for its twentieth anniversary, and added a number of live track with the reissue. The band's skill as a live act is evident, and adds another interesting dimension to this fantastic album.
Gillian Welch
3/5
This is a collection of well-crafted folk songs from Gillian Welch. She records and performs songs with her partner, David Rawlings. Her lovely, warbling voice evokes traditional, Appalachian folk songs. Welch tells stories in her songs about historical events and the role of music in our lives.
Big Star
4/5
This is an incredible album of not-so-popular pop music. Reminiscent of the Beatles and the Byrds, this is a collection of great pop songs, that was very influential on pop music for decades after its release.
The band was short lived, and the marketing and distribution of the album was a failure, so the band was far less known that it might have been (perhaps, should have been). One track, "In the Street," became the theme song for "That 70s Show," which helped revive interest in Big Star.
The Temptations
4/5
This is the Temptations' eighth studio album. This group of songs was influenced by the psychedelic soul that Sly and the Family Stone had made popular. These songs were a noticeable step from their previous efforts, which focused on romantic ballads.
The change was successful, and this album won a Grammy. The Temptation already had a successful career, and this collection of great tracks accelerated their success.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
This is an interesting collection of glam-rock and psychedelic pop songs. Super Furry Animals was a band from Wales, and this debut album met with modest success and critical reception. The album includes some great pop songs, like "Hometown Unicorn." The songs are somewhat inconsistent, where SFA's experimentations were not as fruitful, like "Gathering Moss" and "Long Gone."
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears is an interesting band - it's a jazz band, or perhaps an R&B band, playing rock/pop songs, and occasional classical pieces. The band was immensely talented, very well received, and very successful. Unfortunately, for a series of missteps and considerable turn-over in the lineup, the band did not have a very long career.
This album includes a few staples of 60's classic rock, like "You Make Me So Very Happy" and "And When I Die." The combination of R&B sounds, soulful singing, and support from the horn section made BS&T's rich sound so very interesting.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Rock, and popular music in general, is "cool." Often, popular music defines cool - from Elvis's snarl to Prince's swagger - rock stars set the standards for what we think of as "cool." When it is coupled with talent - like with Elvis or Prince - the result can be incredible music.
Sometimes, the cool kids without much talent make music. This music can still be thought of as "cool," but it may not be great music. Imo, Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground fit this description. With images of life in New York, and discussing drugs, and connections with Andy Warhol, and then add in Nico, the Velvet Underground is definitely cool. The songs are simplistic, bleak, and and cool because they were supposed to be cool.
Many of these songs are remarkably famous, and incredibly influential. VU set standards for punk and avant-garde musicians for decades. Broadly - even if music is popular and influential, that does not mean that we all have to like it.
Can
5/5
Can is a German, experimental rock band that produced beautiful, mesmerizing soundscapes. The tracks on Future Days have an atmospheric, ethereal quality, with a richness that comes from impressive musicianship and intricate composition. The complexity of their work supports their longer tracks; "Bel Air" clocks in at almost twenty minutes.
Can was clearly influential; it is not surprising that Radiohead notes that Can was an influence. Can's music also seems like a precursor to a number of electronic music styles.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Oar is a collection of dark songs that Skip Spence wrote while he was confined in a mental hospital. Spence had been a member of the band Moby Grape. During a drug induced melt-down, he tried to attack member of the band with an axe. While committed, he wrote the songs that appeared Oar. The songs were recorded soon after his release. Spence played all of the instruments on the album.
The album attracted little notice at its release, neither critically or commercially. In the decades following, the album has collected attention - and romanticized - as the work of a talented, but deeply troubled musician.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This Creedence Clearwater Revival's third studio album, and the second of three released during their very productive 1969. This album includes two of their biggest hits, "Green River" and "Bad Moon Rising." CCR played in a style that combined rockabilly, blues rock, and Southern rock, and featured John Fogerty's uniquely expressive vocals.
Despite their unique style, CCR's songs are among the classics of 60's rock. Fogerty's voice and poignant lyrics resonated with the protest movements of the sixties, and presented a nostalgic view of traditional American music.
Dire Straits
4/5
Dire Straits creates guitar-driven rock songs that are performed in a style reminiscent of blues rock and country rock. Dire Straits' distinct sound comes from Mark Knopfler's smoky, rich voice, and his crisp and expressive guitar solos.
Their self-titled debut album contains some of their most popular songs, like "Sultans of Swing" and "Water of Love." These songs became very popular all over the world, and helped Dire Straits become one of the world's most successful bands during the 80's.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead's second album, the Bends, transformed the band from "one hit wonder" status into international stars. While none of the songs was successful as the "one hit" from their first album, "Creep," the album is filled with songs that helped define alternative rock. With haunting ballads like "Fake Plastic Trees" and anthem-like tracks like "Planet Telex," the Bends established that Radiohead has significant range, and broad-based appeal.
Elton John
4/5
Madman Across the Water is Elton John's fourth album, which includes a few of his early hits, like "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon." This was early in the very productive period of John's career; through the 70's, he released at least an album per year, and they all met with at least modest success.
Elton John's songs are beautiful, piano-based songs, showcasing his skill on the piano and his rich, expressive voice. His songs tell poignant stories, which are the product of John's lyricist/songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. John's skills brought Taupin's stories to life, making the songs a part of the soundtrack of the 70's and 80's, and made Elton John one of the biggest stars of modern popular music.
Willie Nelson
5/5
Red Headed Stranger is often considered the greatest album in country music. In this concept album, Willie Nelson tells the story of a man who killed his wife and her lover. Some of the songs are simple simple and almost sparse - just Willie singing and his guitar. In others, Willie's band adds supporting instrumentation, including his sister, Bonnie, on the piano.
The strength of the recording is in the compelling story Willie tells. The fable of the Red Headed Stranger was perfectly expressed in Willie's simple but elegant songs. The album was incredibly successful, propelling Willie to stardom that reached far beyond country music circles.
Peter Tosh
3/5
The title track of this album propelled Peter Tosh to fame. It was banned from radio play, and this ban may have been entirely counterproductive. The song had been an anthem of legalization efforts for decades. It is a great song, and a reggae classic.
The rest of the album is not as noteworthy. The songs are pretty, danceable reggae tracks, but with limited range. Tosh expressive voice is the strongest element, and makes for a good - but perhaps not great - album.
Syd Barrett
1/5
This album is a collection of odd track from Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. After he was kicked out of the band for erratic behavior - due to mental issues (perhaps) related to excessive drug use - Barrett had a brief solo career. This is the first of his solo albums.
For those that worship Barrett as a music genius, this album could be seen as something interesting. For the rest of us, this sounds like a collection of out-takes and first drafts of songs. The few tracks that seem remotely complete are reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, but they do not give the impression that the songs have been well practiced or produced.
There are a few points where you can hear the imagination that made Barrett central to early Pink Floyd, but these moments are rare. The majority of the album is disappointing - little more than a reminder of lost potential.
David Crosby
3/5
David Crosby is better known for his work with group: the Byrds, CS&N, CSN&Y, and number collaborations. If I Could Only Remember My Name is is first solo album, which was recorded soon after his remarkable success first with CS&N's first album, and then CSN&Y's first album.
Crosby's solo work has the same defining elements as the the music of his successful bands; rich vocal harmonies and expressive acoustic guitar solos. However, the tracks on this album are not as consistent as Crosby's work with his well-known groupings.
The Who
5/5
This is the Who at the height of their powers. Pete Townshend's potent guitars and Roger Daltrey's soaring voice are central elements of the Who's sound, and Keith Moon's powerful drum fills and Roger Entwistle's active bass lines are as important to the Who's full, rich sound. The impressive contributions of all four gave life to Townshend's compositions, and made the Who one of the most successful rock bands in the world.
Who's Next includes some of their best known tracks, like "Baba O'Reily," "Bargain," "Going Mobile," and "Behind Blue Eyes." Their energetic sound and their range enabled them to create rock anthems and emotive ballads, which contributed to their popularity and their world-wide success.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
If You're Feeling Sinister is the second album from Belle & Sebastian, a Scottish indie pop group. This is a collection of songs that helped define indie pop: thoughtful, self-aware, and perhaps anxious tracks written with thoughtful lyrics and supported by catchy melodies and interesting arraignments
The band was very well received critically, and more popular than the band members expected. The band's character fit the songs - they were reclusive, avoiding publicity and the trappings of fame through popular music.
Metallica
3/5
... And Justice for All is the fourth album from Metallica, the most successful heavy metal band. The track on this album are full of fast, very technical guitar riffs, frequent time changes, and singer James Hatfield's angry, powerful voice. The songs on Justice are much longer than most rock songs, with several tracks longer than seven minutes, and two longer than nine minutes.
The lyrical content is often bleak, and most consistently expressing aggression. This fits with the aggressive, driven style the music captures. While technically impressive and intricately scored, the consistent not-so-contained rage makes for an album of limited range.
Supergrass
4/5
I Should Coco is collection of fun, catchy pop songs, which are done in a variety of styles. This was Supergrass's first album, and the members were all teenagers when the album recorded. These songs are teenage anthems - celebrations of the joy and frustration of youth. That said, these songs are not juvenile or simplistic. The songs are interesting and varied, showing the band's wide range of influences and surprising range.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is Lucinda Williams' most successful album, featuring "Can't Let Go," which may be Williams' most famous song. Her music is difficult to classify; she combines rock, folk, blues, and country. The album won a Grammy as the year's best folk album, but these songs do not sound like most music in the folk genre. "Can't let Go" earned Williams a Grammy nomination for best female rock vocal performance. Rolling Stone called the album "alternate country;" others called it "Americana."
Whatever genre it is, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is a rich collection of songs that showcase William's skill as a songwriter and her expressive voice. This collection of songs are of an impressive range, demonstrating the wide range of influences and genres she weaves together in her beautiful work.
Grateful Dead
5/5
The Grateful Dead's work is a central element of the American songbook. As a relentless touring band, they created a countercultural community around their shows. Their studio albums were not as famous as their live work, but they did establish the "standard" versions of their songs, which provided the background for their improvised versions they played live. Their music combined rock, bluegrass, folk, and country music into songs that have influenced and inspired generations of musicians.
American Beauty contains many of the Grateful Dead's best know songs, including "Trucking," "Ripple," "Box of Rain," and "Sugar Magnolia." These songs have become central elements of modern American culture, not only for their devoted fans - the "Deadheads" - but also for the music culture generally. The Grateful Dead's song have had a greater cultural impact than the work of any band in modern music. American Beauty contains a collection of songs that resonated with enough fans to establish that incredible impact.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Dusty Springfield had a very successful career in the early and mid-sixties. Her first four albums were recorded in England, and all met with considerable critical and commercial success. Dusty in Memphis was her first album recorded in United States. The album received incredible critical praise, but saw very little commercial success. Springfield never found the commercial success that had during the early years of her career.
Dusty in Memphis is regarded as the best of her work. It includes her best-known single, "Son of a Preacher Man." Her soulful voice is accompanied with orchestrations typical of late-sixties pop. This collection of lovely, well produced songs influenced pop singers for generations. Despite its very limited commercial success, Dusty in Memphis is regarded as one of the most important albums in pop music.
Dire Straits
4/5
Brothers in Arms was the album that propelled Dire Straits to international stardom. Propelled by some of the band's biggest hit songs, like "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life," this album set sales records all over the world, including a note as the first CD to sell over a million copies.
Brothers in Arms is more pop-oriented that the band's previous albums, but the band maintained its distinct sound based on Mark Knopfler's technical, precise guitar solos and his deep, rich voice.
Slade
4/5
Slade was a glam-rock band in the early 70's. They achieved remarkable success in Britain, and limited success in a few other countries, but very little notice in the United States. Slayed? is their third studio album, and was released in the middle of the band's most successful period - the first half of the 70s.
Slayed? is full of energetic, potent rock songs. These are fun, punchy tracks that seem precursors of glam rock/pop metal of the 80s. This album includes a interesting collection of songs of notable range, and makes Slade one of the curiosities of popular music - why were they not more successful...?
Pixies
5/5
Doolittle is the second studio album from the Pixies, and was among the most influential alt-rock albums of the the 80s. The Pixies combined punk-like jagged guitar riffs with pop-like melodic elements and added a "soft/loud" dynamic; their songs have quiet, reserved moments broken up with a loud punch, typically from a wailing guitar and Black Francis' near-screaming vocals.
Doolittle includes some of the Pixies' best known songs, like "Monkey Gone to Heaven," "Here comes Your Man," and "Debaser." These songs, and the Pixies' distinct sound, heavily influenced alt-rock for decades.
Radiohead
5/5
This is Radiohead's fifth studio album, containing a few of well known tracks like "Knives Out" and "Pyramid Song." The songs were recorded in the same sessions as their previous album, Kid A. As such, some have critiqued this album as a collection of "B Sides." The band members felt differently; they felt that the Kid A songs were a complete set, and these songs were from a different place than the Kid A material.
Radiohead continued with their exploration of experimental alternative rock and electronic music. They explore different textures and arraignments to create mesmerizing soundscapes in their work. With Amnesiac, they continue to define modern music.
Beatles
5/5
The Beatles are the most influential band in modern, popular music, and it's impossible to overstate their impact. They had an unmatched streak of hit songs, they combined a range of styles in their catchy, memorable songs, they were the first global rock stars, and they showed that a band could be far more than the sum of their very talented individual parts.
With the Beatles is the band's second studio album, which includes a few of the early hit songs written by Lennon and McCarthy, like "All My Loving" and "I Wanna Be Your Man." These songs are typical of early Beatles' songs with catchy melodies, and endearing lyrics delivered with polished harmonies. The album also includes covers of rock classics, like "Roll over Beethoven" and "Money (That's all I Want)," showing that early rock and roll were among the influences the Beatles incorporated into their music.
This album shows the range and depth of the Beatles' music. Through their career, they evolved considerably from the sound presented in this album. Nonetheless, With the Beatles' demonstrates all of the elements that made them global stars that would inspire decades of musicians.
The White Stripes
4/5
The White Stripe exuded the energy and creativity of Jack White. Meg White certainly played a role, and her drumming was a significant addition to the White Stripes sound. That said, Jack White wrote all of the songs, and their sound was defined by Jack's brash guitar work and his distinct vocals. The White Stripes have a raw, bold energy that few bands could ever match.
Elephant is their fourth album, and many regard this as the White Stripe's best work. It opens with "Seven Nation Army," which may be their most famous song, and has become a stadium anthem, especially in the soccer world. The rest of the album is filled with the White Stripes fierce version of alt-rock. Their sound has a foundation in the blues - like found in "Ball and Biscuit" - and developed with Jack's skilled, raw guitar riffs.
The Streets
1/5
The Streets is the work of British hip-hop artist Mike Skinner. A Grand Don't Come for Free is a concept album about the narrator's loss of on thousand pounds (a monetary loss) and his relationship with a woman.
The album had very few moments that could be called melodic. "Dry Your Eyes" stands out as a track where some sense of musicality accompanies the spoke word monologues. Most of the album is brash and atonal. The narrator's tale has a few interesting moments, but far from enough to overcome relatively unpleasant background "music."
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Marvin Gaye had a long, successful career as one of the greatest voices of R&B, funk, and soul. Let's Get It On is more overtly sexual than Gaye's previous work, and his smooth, rich voice works incredibly well with this type of material. The title track is one of the more pointedly sexual songs of modern music, and it isn't the only obviously sexual track on the album. For example, "You Sure Love to Ball" starts with the sound of a woman moaning.
Gaye's voice is one the strongest, most-recognizable voices in modern music. Let's Get it On differs from Gaye's previous socially conscious work, but adds to his catalog of beautiful, well-produced songs.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Introducing the Hardline... was an incredibly successful album. Within days of its release, it sold a million copies. Terence Trent D'Arby's mix of pop, soul, R&B, and rock made for great late-80's pop. His work could be seen as a funkier Michael Jackson, or a more grounded version of Prince. His songs have great range, developed arrangements, and catchy pop melodies that had widespread appeal.
This album is very much a product of the 80's, and Trent D'Arby remains a fixture of music of that time. He met with very little commercial or critical success after this, his first album. The limitations of his career reflect the limitations of this work. This album is product of the eighties, and seems very dated in retrospect.
ZZ Top
4/5
ZZ Top, the "Lil' Ol' Band from Texas," had a great lane, and they ran with it. They started as a guitar-driven blues rock band, and found modest success in that format. In the eighties, they moved in a pop direction, adding synthesizers and drum machines to their songs. This addition propelled them to stardom, and "Eliminator" was their most successful album in that format. The two in front, Billy Gibson and Dusty Hill, grew beards down to the middle of their chests, giving them a signature look to add to their signature sound.
Eliminator has some of their biggest hits: "Sharp Dressed Man," "Gimme All Your Loving," and "Legs." Their simple, guitar driven mixture of pop, blues, and rock drove a successful career. It isn't complex, or of significant range, but their work is solid rock songs.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
The Archandroid is Janelle Monae's ambitious debut album. She combines soul, funk, pop, and rap in elaborately orchestrated songs. Monae has a great voice, and her songs are of a remarkable range. The Archandroid is a concept album which contains a story about an android in the future.
For the range, the complexity, and the elaborate concept, I tried to love this album, but I couldn't muster it. The songs are scattered, and all feel like revisions of songs of other pop artists. For me, the sum did not add up to something greater than all of the parts.
Joe Ely
4/5
Joe Ely's songs are country rock, rockabilly, and ballads - he's a singer/songwriter that spent his life as a touring musician. Ely's a great story teller, and his songs reflect his skill in that role and present the lessons he acquired as a road-weary musician.
Honky Tonk Masquerade was widely critically acclaimed, but not very commercially successful. It includes a collection of interesting country rock songs, showing Ely's skill as a story teller and the work of a polished, practiced band.
Van Morrison
5/5
Astral Weeks is Van Morrison's second solo album, after starting his musical career with the band "Them. It's a beautiful collection of his version of soulful folk songs. His distinct, rich voice is the defining element of his work, and his expressive sound gives life to his thoughtful, engaging lyrics. Add skilled, complex orchestration, and Morrison is able to create a memorable set of tracks.
This album met with near-universal critical success, but didn't catch the attention necessary for commercial success. Regardless, Astral Weeks may be Van Morrison's masterpiece, and marked the beginning of his long, successful solo career.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds create a distinct version of alternative rock. His deep, warbling voice and his very dramatic lyrics are accompanied by a talented, energetic band. Henry's Dream includes a collection of songs that showcase Nick Cave's talent as a storyteller, which is one of the elements that draw his devoted fans.
Metallica
4/5
Metallica is the definitive heavy metal band. Master of Puppets was their major label debut, and the album that catapulted the band into stardom. The songs have the characteristic harsh, technical guitar riffs, and the scream like vocals of the genre, and have the longer than normal rock songs that was common in the band's early work.
Master of Puppets is regarded as the band's best work. Some claim this is the best heavy metal album. It's a consistent set of well written songs, and clearly genre-defining - generations of bands attempted to replicate the sound of Metallica.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Frank Sinatra has an astonishing catalog. He released successful albums throughout his sixty-year professional career. This album, Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim, was his experiment into bossa nova, a gentle style of samba music that was popular in the 50's and 60's.
While interesting, this is far from Sinatra's best work. The songs are pretty, but not particularly noteworthy. Jobim was known as the father of bossa nova, and his collaboration with American artists helped bring the music to audiences outside of Brazil.
John Lennon
4/5
John Lennon had an astonishing musical career - as a part of the Beatles, and then as a solo artist (or, as a recording artist with his wife, Yoko Ono). As a part of this incredible career, it seems odd to claim that he has one, "signature" song. "Imagine" may be that song.
Imagine, the album, includes that incredible song, and a collection of other songs showing Lennon's strength as a songwriter and recording artist.
The Pogues
4/5
The Pogues are a unique band - Celtic folk with punk sensibilities. "If I should fall from Grace With God" is their most successful album, commercially, and may be the best of their studio work. It is a combination of a range of styles - their Celtic background, with Turkish and Spanish elements that the band learned while touring. Through all of the various styles, Shane MacGowen's compelling storytelling ties the songs together into an incredible, danceable, heartfelt collection.
Jethro Tull
5/5
Jethro Tull combined an unusual collection of stylistic elements: classic rock guitar, some folk-like ballads, obscure to inscrutable lyrics, and more frequent use of a flute than almost any band in modern popular music. This unique mixture made for a remarkably successful band, and Aqualung was their most commercially successful album.
The title track is a great example of Jethro Tull's style, complete with dramatic transitions and religious overtones throughout the lyrics. The album contain other similarly intense songs, including "My God" and "Locomotive Breath." Several critics believed that Aqualung was a concept album discussing the relationship between God and religion. The band did not intend it as such - this is just the work that was typical for Jethro Tull.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
Herbie Hancock is an inspired keyboard player, with an extensive career in jazz, funk, fusion, and electronic music. Head Hunters was a breakthrough album for him, which brought his jazz/funk fusion to mainstream audiences. The album includes four long tracks, which wind through composition that sound as if they arose out of improvisation session.
The songs are centered on Hancock's impressive keyboard work, and he's supported by a talented jazz band. These are interesting tracks, like "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man," and makes for a good album, but perhaps not a great album.
50 Cent
1/5
I am not a fan of the genre. I do not like to celebrate violence. The closing track of this album has a line: "I don't like ya'll anyway - fuck all ya'll."
Green Day
5/5
Green Day has had a long, very successful career as a pop/punk band. American Idiot is a concept album, a punk rock opera, about Jesus from Surburbia. The band maintained their punk pop sound - guitar driven songs with catchy melodies and interesting lyrics - while telling a story about a disillusioned American kid.
The result was critically and commercially very successful. This album tells an interesting, thoughtful story, through some of Green Day's biggest hit songs, like "American Idiot," "Holiday," and "Wake Me Up When September Ends." This is an excellent album, and may be the high point of Green Day's career.
Kraftwerk
5/5
Kraftwerk are pioneers of electronic music who created minimalist, melodic music with early synthesizers. Trans Europe Express may be their best album, filled with catchy, melodic, danceable songs. In a decade dominated by classic rock and Motown, Kraftwerk made music with drum machines, and characterized their music as "robot pop" - the work of automatons.
Kraftwerk was incredibly influential - much of modern electronic music is inspired by their work. This album is arguably where modern electronic music began.
King Crimson
3/5
King Crimson was the definitive progressive rock band. Their work was something between rock and jazz; it has complicated orchestrations and interesting structures, but it is not danceable and not particularly melodic. All of the musicians display a clear level of talent, and the songs have a complexity that makes them engaging, but their work is not particularly pleasant to listen to. This is challenging music.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Songhoy Blues is a band that was inspired by political and civil unrest in their native Mali. After getting noticed by French producer, the recorded a few songs, and were invited to perform in the U.K. While there, they recorded their first album, Music in Exile. Their music is a modern spin on traditional Mali music - a fast-paced, guitar-driven style of African folk music.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Jeff Buckley tragically had a short career. A few years after his one solo album, Grace, Buckley died while swimming in the Mississippi river.
Grace is an exceptional album. Buckley's potent, near-operatic voice compliments a collection of rich, engaging songs. His cover of "Hallelujah" is lovely, and his songs "Last Goodbye" seems a near-perfect match to it. This is a beautiful collection of songs, and a testament to a career that could have been...
Beck
5/5
Sea Change is a different album for Beck - but all of Beck's albums are different. This is closer to traditional acoustic folk that most of his other work, and this is a somber effort. Most of the songs are about loneliness and heartbreak. These were songs Beck wrote after the end of a long-term relationship.
This is a beautiful collection of introspective, thoughtful songs, which is considered by some to be Beck's best work.
Brian Eno
3/5
Brian Eno has an incredible career in the music industry. He has been involved in a wide range of projects, with an almost impossible list of different recording artist. Among his various projects, he has recorded a few albums of ambient music.
Ambient 1: Music for Airports is a collection of pretty, but fairly innocuous ambient tracks. These are pleasant tracks, but not particularly memorable.
Pink Floyd
5/5
The Wall could be the high point - or, one of the high points - of Pink Floyd's illustrious career. A rock opera about a rock star, Pink, and the struggles he has with his life, fame, and the world we live in. The album was incredibly successful, and inspired several successful tours and a not-as-successful movie. The Wall has become a cultural icon as one of the most famous and influential albums of all time.
Some days, this can seem cliched and melodramatic - other days it can seem poignant and inspired. From either perspective, The Wall is compelling and and engaging.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Lost in the Dream is the third studio album from the indie rock band The War On Drugs. The songs on the album tell stories about loneliness and depression that Adam Grandeciel experienced while touring. The band is heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty, and their work has tracks that could have come from any of these artists. Grandeciel has a distinct, expressive voice, and his songs contain vivid expressions of the experiences of his life.
The Jam
4/5
The Jam is a great punk/pop band from Britain, that never found great success outside of Britain. They create catchy, melodic songs with punk sound, but cleaner and more skillfully played that many punk acts.
Sound Affects may be their best album. It includes short, pop songs like "Pretty Green" and "Monday," as well as acoustic tracks like "That's Entertainment." Their range and energy made them the most successful of the first wave of British punk bands.
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
I'm not a fan of the genre. That said, Wu-Tang Clan is very good at what they do. Hard core beats, piano riffs, and a rolling cast of MCs makes for the defining sound of rap in the 90's and the aughts.
I don't think we should celebrate violence this way, but I realize that I may be at odds with the majority on this count.
Pentangle
4/5
Pentangle is a product of the late 60's, and their music sounds like a manifestation of that time period. They are an acoustic rock band - or a folk band - with talented guitarists, an intricate rhythm section, and harmonic vocals. They would make a perfect double-bill with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
Basket of Light is their third studio album, and is filled with a collection of rich, lovely songs.
New Order
4/5
New Order is a definitive 80's band. They started in the 70's as Joy Division, and after the death of Ian Curtis, the remaining band members became New Order. They have recorded music and toured since that time, but their greatest success and impact was in the 80's.
Technique is the band's fifth album, and may be their most successful. It combines their punk roots and synthesizer based dance music in a set of engaging tracks. This album is the work of a great band at the height of their powers.
Os Mutantes
5/5
Os Mutantes are a brilliant psychedelic band from Brazil. Their self-titled album is a collection of fun, experimental songs that garnered world-wide attention. They embraced elements of American and British psychedelia - distortion, feedback, and a range of instruments and styles. The result is very entertaining, and a great example of the experimental music that arose our of sixties psychedelia.
Frank Ocean
1/5
Frank Ocean received significant critical acclaim for his first album, Channel Orange. This is a collection of almost-rap, almost R&B, and maybe soul songs. Generally, the tracks are not particularly melodic, not danceable, and not that interesting. Ocean's storytelling seems bitter and frustrated with the world.
This album is hard to listen to. He has a good voice, but doesn't seem interesting in creating melodic work.
Tina Turner
4/5
Tina Turner's Private Dancer marks one of the great come-back stories in popular music. Tina first found success as a singer in a band with her first husband, Ike Turner. Tina escaped from that abusive relationship, and then struggled to find success as a solo artist.
Private Dancer was the album that ended her struggles, and met with international critical and commercial success. Her songs are driven by her potent, soulful voice, like the title track and "What's Love Got to do With It." Her energetic performances drove a sequence of successful, international tours that made Tina into a superstar.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxygene is one of the very influential albums of early electronic music. This is Jarre's third album, and was an enormous commercial success. Jarre combined catchy, classically inspired melody lines with ethereal sounding echo effects, to create a sound that is definitively "new age." The songs are pleasant, but lack range - they all seem to be cut from the same ethereal cloth.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Tea for the Tillerman is the Album that made Cat Stevens a global star. "Wild World" was issued as a single before the album's release, and the song found substantial commercial success. The album includes some of Stevens' most famous songs, like "Father and Son" and "Where do the Children Play."
Stevens tells dramatic stories and adds catchy melodies in his folk rock songs. His distinct, expressive voice complements his memorable story telling. Tea for the Tillerman may be his strongest album, but there are other contenders in his extensive catalog.
The Verve
5/5
Sometimes, single songs can make an album great. \"Bittersweet Symphony\" may be one of those songs. It was a break-out hit, and could be make the band a \"one-hit wonder,\" but the rest of their work was far too good for that classification. Urban Hymns includes another hit song, \"Lucky Man,\" and a collection of great, alt rock songs. The album was the band's most successful, and got near-universal critical praise.
The Verve embody the sound of 90's alt rock: strong vocals, well produced tracks, and rich orchestrations to support their engaging sound.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead may be the most influential band in the world. They started as an alt rock/pop band, but they have moved far beyond that. They make music that is outside of any genre but their own.
In Rainbows may be the band at the height of their power. These songs have a simple sound, that is build of complex, beautiful arrangements. They creates tapestries of guitar rock, with synthesizers rich rhythms. A rare band that is far, far bigger than the sum of their very talented parts...
The Incredible String Band
2/5
The Incredible String Band is a Celtic folk band that would pair well with early Pink Floyd. This is a folksy side of early psychedelia: a string band with pan flutes, a harpsichord, a sitar, and lyrics with a noticeable Irish brogue.
The songs are amusing, but quirky - interesting, but not an album that I will be drawn to listen to again.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Depeche Mode's brooding, dramatic version of pop synth music fit particularly well with the 80s aesthetic. They make dance music with synthesizers and drum machines. The songs are catchy and danceable, but it is hard to notice any particular difference between the songs.
The band was quite commercially successful at the time, and have been able to sustain a successful career since. Music for the Masses may have had mass appeal at the time, but for the very dated sound of these songs, that appeal has certainly waned.
The Pogues
5/5
Rum, Sodomy & the Lash is an incredible effort from the Pogues. Their punk by way of Irish folk songs is their distinct sound, and it work so very well because of the vivid storytelling from Shane MacGowen. This is drinking music - and unapologetically so - and a brilliant version of drinking music.
The Pogues made a unique, distinct addition to modern popular music, and this album demonstrates why they had a devoted following. This talented band has instrumental songs - "Planxty Noel Hill" - but most of the tracks feature MacGowen's brogue and his engaging stories.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Gang of Four is one of the most successful and influential punk bands to come out of the 70s punk scene in England. Their raw sound combines brash guitar solos, precise base lines, and intricate drum rhythms to create an energetic, driven sound. Jon King's vocals riff on Marxist theory and societal problems, adding a social relevance to their work, and ensuring their influence among anyone listening.
Entertainment! is the first album from the band, and established their sound as a central figure in punk music.
Eminem
3/5
I'm not a fan of the genre. This is a better album that most rap, in my opinion. Eminem is a compelling story teller.
He has some issues - he's an angry man, and perhaps a disturbed one. This work is an semi-interesting portrayal of a damaged human. I still don't think that makes for great music.
John Martyn
4/5
John Martyn was a talented singer/songwriter from Britain. He plays is style of folk that is influence by jazz and blues. His guitar playing is of a distinct slapping style, and he frequently used electronic effects to enrich the sound of his guitar. Add a rich, raspy voice, and Martyn created a distinct sound that was very well received critically, and influenced generations of folk singer/songwriters.
Solid Air is one of Martyn's most successful albums, which helped establish an international fan base. It includes some his most enduring songs, like "Solid Air" and "I'd rather be the Devil."
Suede
4/5
Suede - or The London Suede, as they are known in the US - began the "Brit Pop" wave of the 90s. They may catchy, melodic pop songs, that capture a variety of moods. Singer Brett Anderson's expressive voice works well with Bernard Butler's effect-laden guitar work.
Suede may have been overshadowed by later entries of the Brit pop wave like Oasis, but their songs are great examples of engaging 90s alt rock.
Louis Prima
4/5
Louis Prima was a vocalist that helped establish the early sounds of rock 'n roll. He combined jazz, boogie-woogie, and R&B styles and added his expressive charisma to his songs. The songs on this album are the classic standards of rock: "Jump, Jive, 'an Wail," "Just a Gigalo," and "Night Train."
Prima was one of the formative voices of early rock music. His piano centered music with prominent contributions from his horn section helped create the sound of early rock 'n roll.
Björk
3/5
Bjork has a hauntingly beautiful voice. She makes odd songs. They are not all pretty - some are even uncomfortable. Some are strikingly beautiful: melodic, rich, and well orchestrated.
This album ranges from incredible songs, to the odd side of avant-garde. It is certainly memorable, and interesting, but may not be great...
Stereolab
4/5
Stereolab created an avant-garde version of alt-rock and dance music. They focused their creative process on looping, and by the time they recorded Emperor Tomato Ketchup, they had perfected their sound, and their process. The rich, well-produced tracks on the album use rhythms that are inspired by (or, inspiring to...) hip-hop, with arrangements and transitions that suggest jazz influences. Add some haunting vocals, and the combination yields a textured, engaging sound with the nature of complicated dance music.
Christina Aguilera
5/5
Christina Aguilera was one of the performers in the 90s reboot of the Mickey Mouse Club, and she may be the most talented of that very talented bunch. Her dynamic voice has an impressive range, and allows her to create pop songs with the sounds of R&B and soul tracks.
Back to Basics is an impressive double disk - 85 minutes with 22 tracks. The content is certainly not "basic." Several tracks are orchestrated and performed like vocal jazz standards from the 40s. The incredible range of the songs is impressive. While the album received mixed reception from critics, it was very well received commercially. This album, and the tour that followed, propelled Aguilera into superstar status - a performer with far more range and creativity than "just" a pop music star.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Curtis Mayfield's solo work is among the best examples of 70's funk. Bass-driven orchestration with a deep, talented band backing up Mayfield's soulful falsetto. He was well known for his socially conscious lyrics - much of Mayfield work is commentary on the African-American condition is our world.
Mayfield's critical and limited commercial success are responding to the beautiful songs and his expressive voice.
Bee Gees
3/5
The is a surprising album from the Bee Gees. This was a concept album, almost approaching sixties psychedelia at points. The concept of the album may have been lost in revisions and a significant rift in the band. The result is not a product of 70's disco stars - this is more the work of a country or folk band. Some tracks could be Creedence - without Forgerty's distinct sound.
Other tracks on this odd mix are orchestrated pieces which could be part of a John Williams movie score. It is a strange mix, and a strange album, composed of pretty songs.
Rush
4/5
Rush's Moving Pictures is the band's most commercially successful album. It contains some of their most successful songs, like "Limelight" and "Tom Sawyer." The three-piece band makes guitar driven hard rock driven by Alex Lifeson's technical guitar solos. Rush's sound is completed with Geddy Lee's distinct falsetto, and Neil Peart's intricate drum work.
Moving Pictures is full of shorter, more accessible tracks than the band's earlier work, which may have contributed to the album's commercial success.
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Grizzly Bear was one of more influential alt-rock bands of the aughts. The band started as the solo work of Ed Droste, who wrote indie/folk sounds with a elements of psychedelia. As the band matured, the four piece collaborated by adding jazz undertones and rich orchestrations.
When they recorded Veckatimest, the band had learned to collaborate effectively, and the result was their most successful album. Driven by a few hits, like "Tom Weeks," Grizzly Bear set a standard for alt-rock of the era: engaging story-telling in upbeat folk/pop songs.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
This album, and the collected sets of Fitzgerald's "songbooks," are canonical in modern popular music. Ella's songbooks are the first, encyclopedic recordings of American Songbook.
Ella's incredible voice may have been the only up to this task - a first complete draft of the American Songbook. This collection of fifty-eight songs of the Gershwins was the last installment of her "songbooks." It is beautiful collection of songs, with Ella's voice accompanied by a talented, rich orchestra.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin was one of the most influential rock bands, ever; they were the most dominant force in popular music of the 70s. This album, "II," is Zeppelin in their full, audacious swagger - Jimmy Page's guitar licks, and Robert Plant wailing.
The band was famous from the start. This album made them international rock stars - arena shows...
Billy Joel
4/5
The Stranger is Billy Joel's break-through album. His first four albums were successful - especially the second - but this album made Joel a star. His "Piano Man" role is supported by the band that his touring band.
This includes some of his biggest hits, like "She's always a Woman," "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," and "Moving Out." This may be the strongest album of Joel's catalog, establishing him as one of the most recognizable singer/songwriters in popular music.
Talking Heads
5/5
More Songs About Buildings And Food is the Talking Head's second album, when the band was developing their sound. Talking Head created a very rich version of minimalistic art-pop. They played simple chord progressions in complicated rhythmic patters. The band members were actually art school punks, and their music would create this impression. David Byrne's upbeat, random, lyrics are delivered with an anxious earnestness - completing the picture.
This is an incredible collection of songs from very early in the band's career. While their later albums were more commercially successful, More Songs about Buildings and Food may be more influential.
The Only Ones
3/5
The Only Ones are a British, punk/pop band that were more of a critical success than a commercial one. Their music is melancholy version of upbeat, 70s punk, The Only Ones is a good enough band to have been more famous, popular music is not always predictable.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Arctic Monkeys are the aughts' most successful British punk/pop band. Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm not, their debut, set the record for the fastest selling debut in British history. Driven by a few hits, like "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," and a very early command of social media propelled, the Arctic Monkeys to global stardom very quickly.
Their music is an energetic, skillfully played post-punk. The band's consistent lyrical focus created a (perhaps intentional) concept album: this is a snapshot of a young, club-hopping British man.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
Country Joe & The Fish were one of the great bands of 60's psychedelia that didn't become very famous. A politically-motivated, Bay area group that combined folk, blues, The band was best known for their anti-Vietnam war anthem, "I feel like I'm Fixing to Die Rag," but it was left off of this album.
Electric Music for The Mind and Body is their debut, and may be their best work. Country Joe is an excellent example of late 60's blues/rock, just not a particularly famous one.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
The Isley Brothers are an institution - they recorded music over an almost 50 year career, through a few lineup changes and styles of music. 3 + 3 is from the height of the soul/R&B phase of the band's career. It opens with "That Lady," a song that is one of their biggest hits, and one that sounds like a snapshot of the 70's.
Their polished vocals add a gospel sound to their version of bass-driven funk. They include a few interesting covers on this album, like "Sunshine (go away today)" and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."
Soul II Soul
4/5
Soul II Soul made positive, post-disco dance music. Late 80s London club music relied heavily on a mechanized back beat, and vocals in a disco/R&B style. Soul II Soul had a rotation of lead vocalists, which gave the band a range of sounds. Some of their most successful track featured Caron Wheeler, like "Keep on Moving." This is a strong collection of the dance tracks of the era.
Fleet Foxes
5/5
Fleet Foxes made lovely alt/folk music that is filled with rich vocal harmonies. Their self-title debut album met with notable critical success. They make upbeat, guitar and mandolin based folk songs, with a warm, near-falsetto sound to their vocals.
4/5
PJ Harvey makes guitar driven alt rock with punk sensibilities. Her strong vocals give her work a distinct energy; she presents vivid images, and her expressive voice brings them to life.
This is a collection of songs written after Harvey spent part of a year in New York City. Some of the tracks could be odes to the Big Apple.
Fiona Apple
5/5
In Fetch the Bold Cutters, Fiona Apple is experimenting with rhythms, and a collection of experimental percussion instruments. Apple's music is still centered around the piano and her clear, articulate vocals, like her earlier albums. This collection of songs is more experimental, and of a surprising range. By the end of the album, it isn't clear what genre to place Apple's music in.
Korn
3/5
Korn added rap to metal's vocabulary. Their sound has the bass driven rhythms of metal, with down-tuned guitars to add weight. The brooding, articulate lyrics wander from the scream of death-metal, through rap to scat in some sequences. Follow the Leader is their third album, and perhaps their most successful. Driven by a a few hit singles, like "Freak on a Leash," Korn became one of the biggest bands of the 90s.
Santana
5/5
Santana brought a Latin element to 60's psychedelic rock. Abraxas is the second studio album, which includes some of their biggest hits, like "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va." Santana combines Latin rhythms with the wailing guitar of 60's psychedelic rock, and the combination was so successful that Santana's music is part of the songbook of classic rock.
The Mamas & The Papas
5/5
The Mama's and the Papa's added a thread of harmonic folk music to the mix that was 60's pop music. Their four voices blended richly with acoustic guitar driven orchestrations. Like much of 60's pop, their music is mixed with a number of supporting parts - the string section parts add a layer of 60's psychedelia to their distinct, near-choral sound.
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears is their debut album, and includes some of their most famous hits, like "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin.'" This may be the strongest work of the band's short career, and this one adding a significant facet to 60's pop music.
Minutemen
5/5
Double Nickels On the Dime was the Minutemen's fourth album, which they released after the band had considerable critical and commercial success as a punk/hardcore band. Their relentless touring earned them a devoted following, and Double Nickels placed the Minutemen in the center of 80's punk.
The Minutemen made rhythmically complicated punk, with raw guitar and bass lines. Their music is eclectic and political - engaging and energetic punk that helped define the genre in the 80's
Circle Jerks
3/5
Circle Jerks made hard-core punk - short songs with aggressive guitar, and simple, angry lyrics. The drums are as aggressive, and may be the most skilled element of the band's music. This is a great example of hard-core punk, and as clear of a example of how hard-core punk isn't particularly great music.
Eagles
4/5
The Eagles' debut album includes some of their early hits, like "Take it Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling." They made guitar-driven, country rock with harmonies from a few strong singers. This album established the band's sound, and brought the band their initial fame.
This is a great collection of songs from a band that would become one of the biggest bands of the decade.
The Youngbloods
4/5
The Youngbloods could be called a "one hit wonder" from 60's folk rock. Their version of "Come Together" is their most famous effort by a significant margin. It is a great example of the band's folk/rock, centered on rich, vocal harmonies. The Youngbloods seem like a step between 60's psychedelia and 70's country rock
Elephant Mountain does not include their "one hit, but it does include a strong collection of melodic, interesting songs. While the Youngbloods did not achieve considerable success, this is an album that could (should?) have been much more famous.
Marty Robbins
4/5
Marty Robbins recorded popular country music over a thirty year year career. He recorded albums in a variety of styles - Elvis' odd, movie soundtrack section of his catalog may have been inspired by Robbins' eclectic mix. In the late 50's, Robbins recorded a few albums of "cowboy myth" country.
Gunfighter Ballads is one of those albums. This is simple, cowboy country - voices and guitars - and Robbins is at least partially responsible for popularizing this part of country music.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Violator is the Depeche Mode's seventh album, and one of their most successful. It includes some of their biggest singles, like "Personal Jesus" and "Policy of Truth." These tracks are great examples of the band's synthesizer based pop songs, with a dark, almost sinister sound. Depeche Mode made international pop hits out of dance club music, becoming one of the biggest, most influential band of 80s and 90s popular music.
Curtis Mayfield
5/5
Superfly is an arguable high point in the long, illustrious career of Curtis Mayfield. This was the soundtrack to a movie of the same name; this is a collection of songs commenting on the condition of African Americans.
Curtis' distinct falsetto gives a soul sound the the R&B he included on this album. He uses a punchy horn section and rhythmic varieties to give his song s rich texture. This is an incredible album this is a central element of the sound of 70s popular music.
The Jam
4/5
In the late 70s and early 80s, the Jam were most popular band in British pop music. The made short, melodic, guitar driven pop songs, and were a significant step in that tradition. Their sound impacted the 80s and 90s bands in that genre.
All Mod Cons is the band's third album, and was the album that propelled the band to popular success.
Drive-By Truckers
5/5
Southern Rock Opera is double-disc, concept album from Drive-By Truckers. They imagine a world through the eyes of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band plays heavy guitar drive, Southern country rock, and Southern Rock Opera was the break-through release. The band "crowd-funded" the album, before crowd-funding was a term. The strong critical reception to the album led to a re-release, and the band began tour nationally. The band's gritty, rich sound became part of the mixture of popular alt-rock in the aughts and the 10s.
This album is a daring attempt to express the "duality of the Southern thing." The song "Three Great Alabama Icons" is a spoken word piece at the center of this theme. It voices the tension of a culture that is addressing its racist past.
Beck
4/5
Guero is a Beck's ninth studio album - a collection of songs about Beck's childhood in a Hispanic neighborhood of Los Angeles. They are typical of Beck's style of alt-rock: vocals that wander toward spoken word and even rap, a range of rhythmic styles with regular transitions, and engaging melodies. Beck has made successful, popular songs throughout his career; this chapter includes "Girl" and "E-Pro." Guero is a great collection of songs that demonstrate Beck's range and songwriting abilities.
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
Michael Kiwanuka is a British man from a Ugandan family, who makes a modern version of soulful R&B. His songs have a joyful energy that Kiwanuka carries in his rich voice, and is developed in an interest mixture of musical influences. African rhythms are complimented by backup singers, a horn section, and synthesizers to give it a modern twist.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
5/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African choral group that was propelled to international fame for their contribution to Paul Simon's Graceland. Shaka Zulu is the album that the group release right after touring with Paul Simon. This Grammy winning album contains a collection of lovely songs with nothing outside of the sound of ten voices, in practiced, rich harmonies.
Brian Eno
3/5
Before and After Science was a solo effort from Brian Eno in the late 70's. This sounds of the same mixture that made early Talking Heads - guitar and synthesizer driven art pop of the seventies. On some tracks, Eno's affinity for ambient comes through.
These songs are not particularly melodic, and not as engaging as Eno's work with Roxy Music,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs make synthesizer-based alt rock with danceable beats, in which the most recognizable element is lead singer Karen O's sweet, strong voice. Their music is version of minimalism found in alt pop: simple chord progressions played with a rhythmic complexity.
It's Blitz is a great collection of songs - catchy, danceable songs with a generally uplifting tone and message.
Method Man
3/5
This is the debut solo album from Method Man, who was the first of the Wu-Tang Clan to launch a successful solo career. His long career has produced an extensive catalog, both as a solo performer and in various grouping.
Method Man's voice has a distinct, rich sound, making his vocals more melodic than most rap. I'm not a fan of the genre - I don't think we should celebrate violence. This album does include some of that, but does have a few tracks with more positive messages.
Norah Jones
5/5
Nora Jones has a stunning voice, and she makes beautiful pop song in the style of a slow, deliberate, talented jazz vocalist. Come Away with Me is her debut album, which propelled her to international stardom. The title track is a great example of the elegant, memorable songs she produces.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Fela Kuti brought afrobeat to the world's attention. Fela Kuti's dynamic personality as a bandleader, a multi-instrumentalist, and an ambassador for afrobeat music made him an international star. His bigger contribution may have been as a voice for Nigeria's poor and a political force in his country.
Live! is a recording featuring Ginger Baker which is a great example of Fela Kuti's music: polyrhythms, blaring horns, and his near-rap/scat vocals. The combination makes very danceable music of infectious energy.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits is his own genre - there is no one that sounds anything like him. His gravel, hoarse, rough voice one of the defining elements. The vaudeville-esque, cacophony of horns, piano, and percussion from a seeming assortment of found objects create the concoction that is Waits' folk/blues/ballad/blech.
His music is beautiful for the use of all of the ugly, out-of-sorts components he orchestrates.
Skepta
2/5
Skepta is a British rapper who is from a Nigerian family, who is a known in the UK grime scene. This is electronic based, rap/hip-hop, with a lyrically style that is very repetitive - to an odd, boring level at points. This is not particularly danceable dance music.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Milton Nascimento is a Brazilian musician that became an international star in the early 70s. Clube Da Esquina is an album credited to him, but the title is the name of an artists' collective that played on this double album.
This collection of songs are vocally-centered jazz songs with bossa nova rhythms and rock influences. These songs have become central to modern Brazilian music.
The Cars
4/5
The Cars made great, punk-inspired pop songs. Their clean, guitar driven sound uses synthesizers to fill out their melodic, catchy tracks. Ric Ocasek's vocals have a distinct sound, which help define the band's sound.
This self-titled debut album has some of the hits that propelled the band to stardom, like "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Good Times Roll."
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
This is Neil Young's tenth album, and his third with the band Crazy Horse. Some of the songs on this album were recorded live, during which Young experimented with effects on his guitar parts. For the effects, this album is credited with inspiring some grunge band. These songs are typical of Young's music - guitar based country/folk/rock.
T. Rex
4/5
T. Rex was an early producer of glam rock that was the creation of Marc Bolan. Bolan released a few solo tracks, and was part of a band called John's Children before forming Tyrannosauras Rex, a folk band that met with modest success in London's hippie scene. After four albums, the band changed directions, their sound, and their name became T. Rex.
T. Rex is part of the same tradition that gave us Ziggy Stardust - early 70's glam rock. This album includes "Bang a Gong," the arguable "one-hit wonder" of T. Rex's career - which was covered by Robert Palmer's supergroup, The Power Station.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Stevie Wonder is one of the most talented and prolific fixtures of modern popular music. His version of soulful R&B has been a creative force in music - Stevie has made critically and commercially successful music throughout his long career.
Innervisions is one of a series of remarkably successful albums he releases in the 70s. It includes "Higher Ground" and "Don't You Worry bout a Thing," which were some of his most successful tracks of the era.
Pavement
4/5
Pavement was the defining underground/punk band of the 90s. They were critically successful were well known, but never became pop stars. Their music is a product of the era: dramatic changes like Sonic Youth, feedback like the Pixies, with guitar driven punk like too many references to list.
Slanted and Enchanted is the band's debut studio album and may be the their best work. This album is a great snapshot of early 90s punk.
Rod Stewart
4/5
In the early part of his career, Rod Stewart was part of the band Faces, and recorded solo material. Gasoline Alley is his second solo album, and as Stewart often did, this is a mixture of his songs and covers of others' work.
Stewart is a crooner in modern music. He creates a blues-influenced version of rock songs that wander towards country ballads. He a modern Sinatra - a recognizable voice that has recorded an extensive collection over decades.
5/5
Oasis was "the Beatles for the 90s" - as a British band that made great pop songs that become international hits. Morning Glory is the bands second album, and the one that made the band into one of the biggest bands of the decade.
Oasis makes melodic, edgy pop songs, like their hit "Wonderwall," and this album is full of great tracks that helped define the sound of 90s pop music.
The Avalanches
5/5
The Avalanches Since I Left You is a masterpiece of sampling. This album is filled with inventive, creative tracks that uses samples and synthesizers to make joyful, engaging dance music.
There isn't much to compare the Avalanches to - they expanded the potentials of music made with samples. Their music has inspired generations of djs and producers in a range of electronic styles.
American Music Club
3/5
American Music Club was a San Francisco based country/folk/rock band. California is the band's third album, and is the product of a solid, consistent band.
These are good, but not-particularly noteworthy songs.
Living Colour
4/5
Living Color made hard rock that was clearly punk influenced. Their clean, technical guitar leads, provided by Vernon Reid, and charismatic vocals from Corey Glover made for a funky version of metal. Their hit, "Cult of Personality" pushed them to pop stardom, and the rest of the tracks on the album made them more than a one-hit wonder band. Vivid is their debut, and the most commercially successful of the band's work.
Sigur Rós
5/5
Agaetis Byrjun is the brilliant debut album from Sigur Ros. Their music is very difficult to categorize - first, they are from Iceland. They are a rock band that makes elegant ballads and soundscapes. Their lead singer, Jonsi, sings in a melodic falsetto, and is accompanied by a rock band and at times, an orchestra. They layer ambient electronic effects to create the full, rich sound of their songs.
Agaetis Byrjum was the album that made Sigur Ros into international stars. Their unique sound propelled the band to near-universal critical success, and world-wide commercial success.
Prince
5/5
Prince is like no other figure in modern music - a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist that produced critically and commercially successful work over decades, and who may be one of the coolest people to ever live. 1999 was Prince's fifth studio album, and this was the release that made him in to a star. His pop-infused version of R&B and funk was well polished by this album, and some of his big, early hits were the result: "Little Red Corvette," "Delirious," and "1999."
This was Prince's first album recorded with the Revolution, the band that he worked with for most of the 80's. This is an incredible collection of songs, and one of the masterpieces in Prince's catalog.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Thelonious Monk is a name that is synonymous with jazz. His crisp, percussive piano playing has become one of the defining elements of modern music. His extensive catalog spans almost thirty years, and his performing career lasted longer.
Brilliant Corners is a collection of Monk's own songs - complicated compositions that were difficult to record for their complexity. This album is considered one the very best jazz albums ever recorded.
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Flamin' Groovies was a band that could have been described as the best bar band you may ever see. Throughout their career, the band focused on "retro" sounds. On Teenage Head, the band's third album, their songs all have the sound of the classic R&B version of rock n roll. This is a 70s take on 50s and 60s rock, and the Flamin' Groovies present a rich, interesting version of that sound.
The band adds slide guitar, piano, and even a glimpse of an Elvis impersonation (at the end of "Evil Hearted Ada"), and a few covers of rock classics. This is a great collection of songs from a band that could have been more famous...
Kanye West
2/5
This is Kanye West's debut album. Before the release of this album, he had a successful career as a producer. This set of tracks has the elements that made Kanye famous: melodic tracks with consistent rhythms, and a basis in samples.
This album shows the arrogance that developed into Kanye's ego-centric lunacy. It's thoroughly anti-intellectual and full of Kanye's odd flexes - enough to makes this very hard to listen to.
Pixies
5/5
Surfer Rosa is the debut album from the Pixies, who combined punk-inspired guitar riffs, dramatic changes in timing and volume, and a male and female vocalist to harmonize on their abstract lyrics. Their edgy, melodic songs pushed alt-rock into the combination that became late 80s "pop music."
Surfer Rosa captures the raw energy that made the band famous, and made their music remarkably influential on the alt and pop music of the 90s and aughts.
Gene Clark
3/5
Gene Clark is the singer/songwriter that was with the Byrds during the mid-sixties. White Light is one of his solo albums. This is a collection of country rock songs from a historically important figure. These are good, but not particularly memorable songs.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Count Basie was a jazz pianist that led one of the most successful "big bands" in music history. He toured and recorded with his orchestra for almost fifty years.
The Atomic Mr. Basie is a studio album Count Basie recorded after his orchestra had been together for almost twenty years. This is an incredible collection of tracks of remarkable depth and range. This is potentially the best of Basie's extensive catalog, and a canonical part of American jazz.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
The Psychedelic Furs made post-punk songs that became very successful pop songs. Their danceable, guitar driven songs have the energy of punk songs and the distinct sound of Richard Butler's deep voice. Talk Talk Talk is their second album, and includes what may be their most famous song, "Pretty in Pink."
Madonna
5/5
Madonna has had one of the most successful, enduring careers in modern music. Music is her eight studio album, and a significant departure from the pop singles that made her famous. This collection of tracks are closer to dance and electronica than her earlier work. This is a surprisingly good album, with memorable tracks like "Don't Tell Me."
The Soft Boys
4/5
The Soft Boys were a short-lived British band that only recorded two albums. Underwater Moonlight, their second, is an album that was very influential on 80's alt-pop. They created a psychedelic version of alt-rock that sounds like a step between the punk-pop of the 70s and the alt-rock of the 80s.
Ramones
5/5
The Ramones were the pioneers of punk music, and their self-titled debut is full of songs that made them the model of a punk band. The feedback-laden guitar is driven and melodic, the songs are simple and catchy, and the lyrics range from morose to silly to absurd.
This is great, simple music that was incredibly influential.
Miles Davis
5/5
Miles Davis is an iconic figure in the history of jazz. His rich, expressive style of play is the consistent element throughout his catalog. He recorded extensively over his 50-year career, and Bitches Brew may be his most commercially successful. This is jazz-rock, reflective of the rock of the era. This is a brilliant album, with incredible performers play beautiful compositions.
Magazine
4/5
Magazine is a punk, or perhaps post-punk, band - they have punk timing, sound, and energy, but it's a rich, melodic, produced version of punk. They have a much wider range than most punk bands; they add transitions, pop production, and synthesizers to add depth to their material.
Real Life is the band's debut. While not particularly commercially successful, it was very well received critically. Magazine's work influenced new wave and alt-rock bands of the 80s.
5/5
The Beatles were one of the most influential bands in modern music, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band is one (at least arguably) of their best - most famous - most revered - albums. With their work, it is impossible to use enough superlatives. This is one of the most important albums of modern music.
Every song has left a mark on modern culture - these are songs that transcended popular music and became part of our cultural fabric, in movie and television soundtrack and in the unfathomable range of musicians that take their inspiration from the Fab Four.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Joni Mitchell is a revered songwriter with a distinct, expressive voice. She wrote haunting, thoughtful songs that are set to arrangements that are influenced by jazz. On The Hissing of Summer Lawns, her songs follow this pattern - complicated orchestrations and lyrics that could be written poems.
The Fall
4/5
The Infotainment Scan is the fifteenth, and most successful album release by the Fall. The band make post-punk, or alt-rock songs. Mark Smith's lyrics, which are closer to free-form poetry than any traditional song structure, are set to melodic, complicate songs with complicate arrangements.
The Fall had one of the longest, most prolific careers of punk or post-punk bands, and this album captures the mature, developed version of the band's work.
Justice
5/5
Cross is Justice's debut album, and the album made the French producers into international stars. They bill the album as a "disco opera," an the result is one of the best electronic dance album ever produced. Their electro-house songs make extensive used of samples, and have an upbeat musicality that make the songs unforgettable.
U2
5/5
War is the third full-length album from U2, and it is the work that pushed them to international stardom. Their songs are clear, energetic rock songs with the pace and feel of punk songs. Bono's strong voice makes the melodic songs into anthems that appealed to world-wide audiences.
War includes some of the band's early hits like "New Year's Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday," both great examples of the politically-motivated statements the band had made through their music.
De La Soul
5/5
De La Soul introduce a new perspective in hip-hop and rap - this is positive, encouraging, and uplifting hip-hop. The band makes a funky, pop-song version of rap, with catchy rhymes that wander towards goofy.
3 Feet High and Rising is an amazing collection of songs that made international stars of the band, and expanded the world of rap and hip-hop.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob Dylan is one of the most influential figures in modern music, with one of the most extensive catalogs of any recording artist. Blood on the Tracks is arguably his best - or one of his best - albums. Dylan's style of country rock makes for great melodic songs, but the strength of his work is in his brilliant lyrics.
This album includes "Tangled Up in Blue," and "Shelter from the Storm," perhaps the most famous of a group of incredible songs that demonstrate Dylan's skills as a songwriter.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
A Girl Called Dusty is the solo debut of Dusty Springfield, who may be the most acclaimed British soul and R&B Singer. She recorded songs with full orchestrations and rich arrangements, but the most notable sound is her strong, rich voice. This is a great collection of songs with the grandeur of early 60s pop song, with a timelessness that comes from Dusty's incredible voice.
Gene Clark
3/5
Gene Clark was the lead singer of the Byrds, and No Other is is the fourth of his solo albums. This album was a critical and commercial failure at its release. A release after Clark's death inspired a critical reevaluation.
This is a good collection of country rock songs, very much in keeping with the music that was popular in the mid-70s. These are good, but not particularly great songs.
B.B. King
5/5
B.B. King was the King of the Blues, and perhaps the most influential electric guitar player of the 20th century. He led his band with his rich voice and his expressive guitar solos. His crisp rhythms and extensive use of string bending taught the world what a solo guitar could do.
Live at the Regal is an incredible recording of B.B. in the middle of his career, and at the height of his power.
GZA
2/5
GZA is one of the founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Liquid Swords is his second solo album, which was release after Wu-Tang's debut, is very well regarded as a hip hop classic.
This is more melodic than most of the genre, but is still not terribly melodic. GZA is on a rant - and his rants aren't interesting enough to be engaging.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
You Want It Darker is the last studio album released by Leonard Cohen during his lifetime. Cohen had an unmatched literary and musical career that spanned decades, and this album is his curtail call.
Cohen made his near-monotonic baritone into an expressive instrument - his version of the jazz-crooner was not made from a strong voice. Cohen's somber delivery matches the stories and images in his songs. You Want It Darker is an incredible collection of songs - a few last words from one of the most talented songwriters in popular music.
Leftfield
4/5
Leftism is the debut album from the English duo Leftfield. Their work has been described as progressive house, but that label doesn't seem to be broad enough to describe what Leftfield is doing. It is very danceable house music, but they have expanded the range of the melodies, samples, and supporting elements that can be included in danceable house music.
This is a great album of very danceable tracks, and a timelessness that comes from inventive electronic music.
Le Tigre
3/5
Le Tigre made clean, energetic punk music that focused on Feminist messages. Their self-titled debut album is filled with danceable, new-wave tracks with a distinct element - edgy punk with only female voices.
These are good songs: melodic, engaging songs with a consistent focused message. Le Tigre has moved punk into the nineties, with synthesizers and drum machines.
Eminem
2/5
Eminem is a very talented rapper. He is a better story teller than I've heard amongst rappers; he is eloquent and has skill as a wordsmith that is unmatched. Unfortunately, Eminem is disturbed - his story trend toward abusive relationship, and violence toward women.
These songs are more melodic than most rap, but still lack the musicality that most genres employ. Eminem may be a great rapper, but these are disturbed, dark stories.
Roxy Music
4/5
Roxy Music found success with their version of pop-friendly glam-rock. They produced up-beat songs propelled by varied orchestrations and singer Bryan Ferry's rich voice.
For Your Pleasure is the band's second album, and the last to include synthesizer player Brian Eno. At release, the album met with limited commercial and critical success. Subsequent reviews have raised the critical reception significantly. While For Your Pleasure includes none of Roxy Music's best known tracks, this is a great collection of songs from the short window while Ferry and Eno were collaborating.
The Cure
3/5
Seventeen Seconds is The Cure's second album, which was released before the band embarked on their first world tour. While the album does not include any of the band's early hits, these songs do capture the Cure's ability to make catchy pop songs out of melancholic and even somber elements.
Robert Smith's are a well-produced version of post-punk; guitar driven songs with strong bass lines and a health dose of synthesizers. Smith's gloomy focus made this album a good example of early goth rock.
CHVRCHES
4/5
Chvrches makes catchy, synth-pop songs that are built around Lauren Mayberry's sweet, strong voice. Their music sounds like 80's pop redone with 2000's EDM influences. The Bones of What you Believe is the band's debut album, and propelled them to international fame. The opening track, "The Mother We Share," became one of the biggest pop hits of the 2010's.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You was released well into Aretha's career, but this was the album that made her the Queen of Soul. With tracks like "Respect" and "I Never Loved a Man...," Aretha made pop classics of her soulful efforts - these songs top lists of the "biggest" and "most influential" in popular music.
Aretha had one of the most potent voices to make popular music. Her rich, expressive sound made her one of the central figures of modern music.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Goo is the sixth album release by Sonic Youth, and their first after their switch to Geffen Records. The band's makes post-punk tracks with heavily distorted guitars, but their work has melodic and danceable elements that makes it accessible to pop music audiences.
Goo is regarded as a significant, influential work in the progression of alt-rock music. Sonic Youth had become popular with their 80s albums; Goo established them as a central element of post-punk alternative rock.
The Clash
5/5
The Clash may be the most successful punk band ever, and London Calling may be their best recorded work. This double album shows surprising range, with songs that sound of reggae, ska, rockabilly, and hard rock, all done with the band's essential punk sensibilities.
London Calling opened the doors to many of the genres that are in the post punk range. This is one of the greatest punk, and post punk albums of all time, and the influence that this band and this album had is so very broad that it is difficult to express.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Derek & The Dominos was a short-lived project of Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. The band only released one studio album and had one tour. While they recorded material for a second album, it was never finished. After Duane Allman's death, the group never reconvened.
Initially, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs was not a commercial success, and met with mixed critical reception. Over time, the consensus has changed considerably. This album includes "Layla," which may be Clapton's best song, and others like "Bell-Bottom Blues," which is on his top-ten list. This album is regarded as Clapton's best, and one of the best albums of blues-rock ever recorded.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Billy Bragg is a British singer songwriter that sings about politics and love. His political songs are socialist songs - he praises unions and social consciousness. His love songs are as passionate, and also carried by his strong, clear voice. Talking with the Taxman... is Bragg's third album, and in it, he added more supporting elements to the "solo singer and guitar player" formula of his earlier work.
This is a great collection of inventive, engaging modern folk songs. Bragg demonstrated that a singer and a guitar is still enough to make successful pop songs.
The B-52's
3/5
The B-52's created their own lane in new wave music; they make danceable music that is quirky and goofy - both musically and lyrically. Their self-titled debut album contains one of their most famous songs - "Rock Lobster" - which is a great example of the type of music the B-52's make. These are fun, danceable pop songs with catchy, memorable hooks.
This is a good collection of songs that showcase the band's work. Their version of silly, upbeat, new-wave pop songs made the B-52's into a successful band with an enduring career.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Tigermilk is the brilliant debut album from Belle and Sebastian. The album was recorded quickly with funds from a Scottish welfare program. The album was an unexpected success, and made the band an international, indie-rock sensation.
Belle and Sebastian make richly orchestrated alt-rock songs, with understated vocals. This collection is interesting, melodic, and of enough popular appeal to be the foundation for the band's career.
OutKast
5/5
Stankonia is the fourth OutKast album, and may be their most critically and commercially successful. The album contains two the pair's most popular songs - "So Fresh, So Clean," and "Ms. Jackson." With those pop hits, OutKast demonstrated the widespread appeal of their version of hip-hop.
This is melodic, funky, danceable hip-hop, showing a range of influences. The rap elements are harmonic and rhythmic, and the pace reflects the electronic music of the era. This is an incredible collection of songs of amazing range, pushing many to list Stankonia as one of the best albums in hip-hop, and perhaps even modern music.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers self-titled debut was not a success at its release - either commercially or critically. It includes tracks that became signature songs for the band, like "Breakdown" and "American Girl." Petty's version of country rock eventually met with popularity; his later albums were far more commercially successful.
Petty's distinct vocals are the central element of his guitar-based rock songs. This album includes a strong collection of his songs, which all have good hooks and catchy lyrics
Sabu
3/5
Sabu Martinez is one of the first musicians to make Latin jazz popular. He started his career at a very young age, and spent time both Dizzy Gillespie's and Benny Goodman's orchestras.
Palo Congo is Sabu's debut album as a band leader. It's an interesting collection of songs in a style known as Cuban Rumba. Sabu led a band with a distorted lead guitarist, strong percussionists, and vocals that lend a tribal sound.
The Who
5/5
My Generation is the Who's debut album, and made the band into international stars. The album includes some of their earliest hits, like "My Generation" and "The Kids are Alright." These was as hard as rock had yet gotten - with Pete Townsend's edgy guitar experimentation, Keith Moon's complicated drum fills, and John Entwistle's driven bass lines, the band pioneered elements that would inspire genres.
At the time, the Who called their work "Maximum R&B," and Roger Daltrey's soulful voice may have inspired that reading. My Generation is an incredible collection of songs that showed the promise of this band.
Kraftwerk
4/5
The Man Machine is the seventh Kraftwerk album, and it may be their most accessible album. This collection of tracks is not "as minimalist" as their earlier work; the songs have more of a melodic sense and incorporate more danceable rhythms.
Kraftwerk's minimalism - their "music made by automatons" - pioneered electronic music, and this album is a midpoint between the band's first few albums and 80's synth-pop. The Man Machine opens with "the Robots," which was part of the band's presentation of themselves as automatons.
Justin Timberlake
4/5
Justin Timberlake has had an unparalleled career: childhood star to 'Nsync, a solo music career, and then successful acting and producing projects. Justified is his first solo album, and it was a remarkable commercial and critical success.
Justin Timberlake makes a danceable version of soulful R&B. His strong voice carries these songs, but the harmonies and textured orchestrations do provide significant support. This is a great collection of tracks showing Timberlake's significant range, and his abilities both as a signer and a songwriter.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Siamese Dream is the Smashing Pumpkins' second album. After the surprising success of their first album, the band had considerable pressure to perform on their follow-up, and they responded well with Siamese Dream. This is a great collection of guitar driven, alt-rock songs. They are far from the grunge-dominated alt-rock of the era - closer to a metal sound.
Siamese Dream includes some of the band's early hits, Including "Today" and "Disarm." The success of these singles, and some very successful tours, propelled the band to international stardom. This is a great collection from the time when the band developed their sound.
Coldplay
4/5
A Rush of Blood to the Head is Coldplay's sophomore effort. This is a more intense effort that their first album; it has darker themes and more aggressive arrangements. The album includes some of the band's earlier hits, like "The Scientist" and "In my place." These songs are defined by Chris Martin's strong voice, with rich, full orchestrations in support.
Coldplay is the British pop sensation of the early aughts, that they have continued to make interesting, popular music since then. A Rush of Blood to the Head includes on of the band's biggest hits - "Clocks" - perhaps the biggest success of the band's long, successful career.
James Brown
5/5
James Brown had been making music for a decade by the time Live at the Apollo was release. His live show was polished, and Brown's unmatched, energetic performances were well polished, and well known. This live album captures the the full, rich sound of Brown and his band. His gospel-inspired vocal sound, and the R&B sound to the band helped define the early sound of popular rock music. His band's vocal harmonies and rich horn section also set standards for the music that could be called early rock 'n roll.
This is an incredible live album, both for the quality of the recording from that era, but more for the remarkable performance captured. This is an album that introduce the world to the hardest working man in show business.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
The Cocteau Twins were a Scottish band that made ethereal syn-pop songs, and Treasure was their third full-length album. The dreamy nature of the songs is achieved with affect-laden instruments and Elizabeth Frazer's vocals, which are often just vocalizations, and not distinct lyrics.
This is an interesting collection of engaging songs, that pushed the boundaries of pop music towards electronic soundscapes.
The Doors
4/5
L,A, Woman is the sixth Doors album, and the last to be release while singer Jim Morrison was still alive. This collection of songs was done with simpler arrangements than their previous two albums - just guitar-driven blues songs with strong support from the keyboards and bass.
The includes some of the bands biggest songs, including "LA Woman," "Riders on the Storm," and "Love Her Madly." These songs show Morrison's strength as a vocalist, and the potential of the band.
Fats Domino
4/5
Fats Domino was one of the first stars of rock 'n roll, creating songs in a New Orleans-based style of R&B. His deep, rich voice and boogie-woogie piano playing define his sound, with strong support from his horn section.
"This is Fats Domino" is his breakout record, which made him a national star. It includes some of his biggest hits, including "Blueberry Hill," "Blue Monday," and "Reeling and Rocking." Domino's songs help define early rock n roll, with songs that inspired generations of musicians.
Black Flag
3/5
Damaged was the first full-length album from Black Flag. and is regarded as one of the more important hard-core punk albums. The album was recorded soon after lead singer Henry Rollins joined the band, and features metal/noise guitar provided by Greg Ginn. This album was the subject of a lawsuit with Unicorn Records regarding itsdistribution;; as a result, the band could not use its name or its famous logo for almost two years.
The legal dispute did not stop the band's relentless touring, and they released an album under their individual names, adding to their legal problems. All the issues added to the band's mystique, and their role as a defining figure of American punk.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Elvis Costello is an incredibly prolific singer/songwriter, who creates music in a range of styles. Imperial Bedroom is his seventh album, and many say this is his best work. This is great collection of pop songs, that have orchestrations that prompts comparisons to the later work of the Beatles.
Imperial Bedroom does not include any of Costello's bigger hits, and did not find remarkable commercial success. The critical reception was near-universally strong, and has grown over time.
David Bowie
4/5
Low is David Bowie's eleventh studio album, and it was part of his period of collaborating with Brian Eno. The album had a few successful singles, like "Sound and Vision," but the album met with limited commercial and critical success.
Low has been reexamined over time, and has come to be regarded as one of Bowie's best albums - and perhaps his best. The album influenced post-punk and alt-pop, and created a pattern that many 80s and 90s bands explored.
Talking Heads
5/5
Fear of Music is the Talking Head's third album, and includes some of their biggest hits, like "Life During Wartime," "Cities," and "Heaven." The band's version of art-rock funk had fully development, complete with their intricate rhythms and Byrne's quirky lyrics.
Fear of Music was the second of the band's albums to be produced by Brian Eno. The collaboration was very successful, resulting in some of the band's most acclaimed work. This incredible collection of songs helped make the Talking Heads one of the most influential bands in popular music.
Youssou N'Dour
5/5
Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer and bandleader. His strong, soaring voice is the central feature of these upbeat, rhythmic tracks. He was featured in a Peter Gabriel song, "In Your Eyes," which catapulted N'Dour to international fame. Touring with Gabriel gave N'Dour a chance to perform world-wide.
Immigres is an album N'Dour released just before becoming a star, and is a good sample of the music N'Dour made relatively early in his career. These are infectious, danceable songs with universal appeal.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album from Pink Floyd, and this was the follow up to their most successful album, Dark Side of the Moon. As such, Wish You Were Here was not favorable received at the time. Consensus opinion has changed considerably in the intervening years.
This album is Roger Water's tribute to founding band member Syd Barret, and is Pink Floyd at their best: blues inspired guitar in electronic soundscapes. Water's existential bent as a songwriter give the songs eternal appeal.
Lou Reed
5/5
Transformer is Lou Reed's second solo album, and contains his biggest hit song, "Walk on the Wild Side." That track is transcendent, establishing Reed's career and driving the success of this album. This collection of songs shows the range of styles that he combined: he's a modern version of a jazz crooner, with band using elements from psychedelic music to make glam rock.
Reed's lyrics tell stories of drug use and non-traditional sexuality, adding to the mystic around "Wild Side" and this album. While Reed never matched the success of the song and the album later in his career, Transformer is regarded as one of the most important, influential albums in popular music.
David Gray
4/5
David Gray is a singer/songwriter who adds electronic soundscapes to an otherwise traditional format. White Ladder is his fourth album, and the release that propelled Gray to international fame. The album was self-recorded, and originally released to limited success in the United Kingdom. Gray opened for Dave Matthews for a few shows, and the album was subsequently re-released on Matthews' label.
White Ladder includes a few songs that became international hits, including "Babylon" and "Please Forgive Me." Gray's earnest voice and compelling songwriting create songs of widespread appeal.
Jurassic 5
4/5
Power in Numbers is the third album from Jurassic 5, an LA based hip hop collective. Jurassic 5 made tracks that are more melodic and rhythmic than the rap of the era; the result is a much more danceable product. This album includes a variety of styles: from danceable, "instrumental" sample tracks, like "Acetate Prophets," to melodic rap, like "Freedom,"
Jurassic 5 made an engaging version of hip hop with the danceable sense of club electronica and elements from jazz to give the songs a rich texture. J 5 adds an element that comes from four voices, rapping together, giving a potency - perhaps a harmony - to their work.
R.E.M.
5/5
Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album from REM, which many regard to be the band's best work. This collection of songs includes more ballads than the band's previous material, and incorporates string sections, contributing to the band's somber, serious tendencies.
This collection of songs showcases Michael Stipe's rich voice, and the band's collective songwriting abilities. REM dominated 80s and 90s pop and alt-rock charts, and this album is full of beautiful, engaging pop songs that can explain that dominance.
Nick Drake
4/5
Five Leaves Left is the first album from Nick Drake, British singer/songwriter. Drake's produced three albums during his short life. During his life, none of them achieved much commercial success and the critical reception was mixed, at best.
In the decades since, the consensus about Drake's work, and this album, have changed considerable. The album is full of pretty, somber folk songs, performed by a man with a rich voice.
Neil Young
4/5
Harvest is Neil Young's fourth album, and his most successful. It includes two of his biggest hits, "Heart of Gold," and "Old Man." While he was well know for his early work with Buffalo Springfield, this album made Neil Young into a star.
The album is a collection of country rock songs, and it has become a staple of that genre. Young's work is defined by his voice - a not-traditionally-good, but very expressive voice. The album initially met with mixed critical reception, but the consensus has improved over time.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Michael Jackson's Thriller is the biggest selling non-compilation album of all time; the album set records for sales, number-one pop songs, and Grammy awards. Thriller's unmatched success led to Jackson's claim to be the "King of Pop." The album was released when MTV was in its early stages, and Jackson's songs were propelled by a series of remarkably popular music videos.
The album includes a collection of songs of surprising range - from ballads to funk to dance tracks - but all packaged as remarkably catchy pop songs. Jackson's smooth, expressive voice is the consistent element across all of the styles. The songs on this album are iconic - "Beat It," "Billy Jean," "Pretty Young Thing," and "The Girl is Mine" - and among the reasons that Michael Jackson may deserve the "King of Pop" title.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Earth, Wind & Fire made a soulful version of funk, characterized by expressive, harmonic vocals. That's the Way of the World was the band's sixth studio album, and the soundtrack to a film of the same name. The result is concept album, of sorts: an expression of the rules of life.
The songs bass driven funk songs, with near-choral vocals as a consistent, defining element. The songs' messages are energetic and uplifting, and supported with a range of interesting rhythms.
Air
3/5
The Virgin Suicides is a soundtrack from the French electronic producers Air. The soundtrack met with commercial and critical success, much related to the success of the film. The music uses acoustic instruments with sustained synthesizer effects to create atmospheric pieces.
The album is inconsistent, with some rather boring tracks, like "Dark Messages," and "Empty House." It is also burdened by "spoken word" elements from the film. I have not seen the film, and with that admittedly limited perspective, the pieces are odd elements for the soundtrack.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Cosmo's Factory is the fifth studio album from Creedence Clearwater revival, and their most commercially successful. The album made international stars of the band, and includes tracks that show the range of influences that contributed to the band's success. CCR's music sounds of rockabilly, R&B, and Country, with a Southern, "swampy" under current, see "Born on the Bayou."
This album captures the band's impressive range, with the rockabilly-like "Baby Left Me," the Bakersfield-country ballad "Looking out My Back Door," and the soulful cover of "Heard it Through the Grapevine." This is the band at the height of their recording career, and this album is filled with songs that show why this band was so very successful.
AC/DC
3/5
AC/DC were an Australian band that made guitar based hard rock, with a near-scream vocal style that typical of hard rock and metal. For Highway to Hell, these vocals were belted by Bon Scott, who died not long after the recording of this album. The band had many iterations and line-up changes in the course of their career, but maintained a consistent sound.
Highway to Hell was the band's fifth album, and the one that made them into international stars. These are simple, potent songs, from a band that found a very successful formula. While very commercially successful, the songs all sound very similar, and are not particularly interesting.
Steve Earle
3/5
Steve Earle had a long career as a singer/songwriter who recording an extensive catalog. Guitar Town is is debut album, which was very well received as a a country album.
This is a collection of country rock songs that that aren't particularly noteworthy or memorable.
Carole King
5/5
Tapestry is Carole King's second studio album, and is her most successful album. It set records for sales, and sit high on most lists of the greatest albums of all time.
King has a rich, expressive voice and a talent for writing songs about relatable emotional moments. This album is full of her beautiful expressions of these moments, that became incredibly successful pop songs: "So Far Away," "I feel the Earth Move," and "Beautiful." King inspired generations of musicians with her work.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Shake Your Money Maker is the debut album from the Black Crowes, and includes some of their early hits. The band makes blues-inspired rock with a Southern element to their sound. Chris Robinson's confident vocals add a swagger to their songs like "Jealous Again," and is strong enough to carry ballads like "She Talks to Angels." Robinson's brother Rich provides driving guitar solos to compliment Chris' vocals.
Shake Your Money Maker is the Black Crowes' most successful album, in part for a limitation apparent on this album. This is a good collection of rocking songs, but they all sound very similar. The band writes and performs good, melodic, catchy songs - but with very little variety.
Public Enemy
5/5
Fear of a Black Planet is Public Enemy's third album - and their most successful. Public Enemy pushed rap in a socially conscious direction, and these songs are all about the racial issues that plague our world. From the title track to "Pollywannacraka," PE focused on the various manifestations of racism in society.
PE express their messages in fluent raps, from Chuck D and Flavor Flav, and layered samples from DJ Terminator X. This album is regarded as one of the greatest rap albums - and of the greatest albums - of all time.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
What's Going On is Marvin Gaye's finest work, and regarded by some at the greatest album in popular music. For this album, Gaye wanted to create a protest album, expressing a view of the Vietnam veteran, who has returned to the United States, and is disappointed by what he sees. Gaye's sweet, soulful voice brings an elegance to all of his work, and brings an earnest element to these beautiful protest songs.
Gaye met with resistance from Berry Gordy for the direction of recording, but Gaye's persistence was well worth it. The album met with immediate critical and commercial success. Over time, it has been recognized as one of the most significant recordings of modern music.
William Orbit
4/5
William Orbit's music is an interesting compilation of styles. He makes dance music with ambient backgrounds, pushing towards genres that he helped develop, like trip hop and progressive house.
Strange Cargo III is his fourth solo album, and the third in a series that experimented with ambient influences. Volume III is his most polished, and most successful of these albums. Orbit made fun, influential dance tracks created from the fusion of styles that Orbit made popular. .
Fatboy Slim
5/5
You've Come a Long Way, Baby is Fatboy Slim's second album, and is his most successful studio work. Fatboy Slim makes techno or big beat dance tracks that are driven, and engaging. He weaves a variety of samples into a mixture with a consistent rhythm, and whimsical samples mixed around it. He developed a style that became a standard for producers and DJs all over the world.
Fatboy Slim has recorded only four studio album, and released a number of singles. Most of his long career has been as a DJ, remixing his own track. This album includes a handful of tracks that made Fatboy Slim internationally famous.
Bee Gees
2/5
Trafalgar is the ninth album the Bee Gees released. This was well before their transformation into fixtures of the disco world. This is a collection of slow, easy-listening songs.
The vocals are very strong, the songs are melodic, but the product is boring and derivative. "Trafalgar" sounds like a homage to the Beatles; "Don't Want to Live Inside Myself" seems like Neil Young's "Helpless."
Cream
5/5
In a rather short career, Cream had an enormous impact on modern music. Among the first "supergroups," Cream made Eric Clapton a star. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker because legends, even if they didn't become the star that Clapton did.
Cream made blues-based, psychedelic rock, and Disraeli Gears may be their best recorded work. This album includes some of their hits - "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love." The album is a collection of incredible songs that helped define 60s psychedelic rock.
Britney Spears
5/5
... Baby One More Time is Britney Spears' debut album, and one of the best selling albums of all time. The album set - and still holds - several sales records for female artists and for young artists. It made Britney an international star, and a central fixture of pop music.
This is a great collection of pop songs of a surprising range, which show the strength of Britney's R&B influenced voice. The title track was global hit - one of the biggest songs of all time. Some of these are dance tracks, but there are as many sweet ballads. It may be bubble gum pop - but it's very, very good bubble gum pop.
Beastie Boys
3/5
License To Ill is the Beastie Boys' debut album, and considered by many as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The single "Fight for Your Right" was particularly successful, and contributed to the success of the album.
The Beastie Boys loop samples to rap around and with. Like most rap, their work lacks the melodic basis typical of other genres. That said, a few of these tracks - like "Girls" and "She's Crafty," as examples, successfully used melodic samples in a manner that helps to explain the group's widespread appeal.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Abdullah Ibrahim is a jazz pianist from South Africa, whose work is inspired by that of Thelonious Monk. For his birthplace, Ibrahim's work is often classified as "world music," when something akin to "New York City Jazz" would be more appropriate.
Water From An Ancient World is a beautiful collection of expressive sounds, from a piano-based jazz band with a talented horn section.
N.W.A.
3/5
Straight Outta Compton is the debut album from N.W.A. It is considered to be one of the greatest rap album of all times. This is the first successful gansta rap album - most of the lyrics are celebrations of violence and misogyny. The band "Fuck the Police" attracted the attention of the authorities in the 80s, and added to the notoriety of the album, and the band.
Like much of the genre, there is less of the melodic that is typical of most genres. Most of this album is angry and violent - certainly justified, but does not create a listening experience that makes great music. There are some surprises on this album - "Express Yourself" sounds like the product of a different group.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Songs From the Big Chair is Tears for Fears' second album, and the work that pushed the pair to world-wide fame. Tears for Fears made very well produced synth-pop, and their work dominated the pop charts in the 80's.
This album includes two of the band's biggest hits: "Shout" and "Everybody wants to Rule the Word." The later has become one of the canonical songs: it's a tune that has had such enduring popularity that everyone in the world may recognize the chorus.
Duran Duran
4/5
Rio is Duran Duran's second album, and their most famous work. The band benefited from the early explosion of music videos in the very early days of MTV, with a string of noteworthy, successful videos. The band's glam-rock version of synth-pop translated well to video.
Rio includes a few of the band's biggest singles: "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf." These are fun, danceable tracks that helped define 80s pop and establish music videos as a significant part of popular culture.
Peter Frampton
4/5
Frampton Comes Alive is one of the successful live albums of all time, and the most successful album of Frampton's career. Prior to Comes Alive, Frampton had released four solo albums, which met with limited success. This is a double album of live version of songs from the first four albums.
This is a great collection of songs, played by a seasoned performer with a strong voice and reasonable guitar skills. The remarkable success of this album made Frampton a star, and made popular anthems of some of the songs, like "Do You Feel Like I Do?" and "Show Me The Way."
Def Leppard
4/5
Hysteria is the fourth album from Def Leppard, and is one of the best selling albums of all time. The band found world-wide success with their third album, Pyromania, and benefited from well-produced videos on MTV. While recording the album, the band's drummer, Rick Allen, lost an arm in a car accident, adding to the anticipation for the album.
Hysteria includes some of the band's biggest hits, like "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Love Bites." This album may be the defining work of 80s pop metal.
CHIC
4/5
C'est Chic is the second album from Chic, and the most commercially successful of the band's work. It includes the band's first potential "one-hit," "Le Freak," and another hit single, "I Want Your Love."
Chic was possibly the best band of the disco era, and C'est Chic is potentially the best album of that genre.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
3/5
The Gilded Palace of Sin is the debut album from the Flying Burrito Brothers, and the band's best work. While not commercially successful, the album was critically celebrated, and very influential amongst musicians of the era. This was one of Gram Parson's early projects, and his success led to renewed interest in the Flying Burrito Brothers.
This is one of the early, definitive works of country rock. Gram Parsons and Flying Burritos set a pattern for the Eagles and the country rock that flourished in the 70s.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Here, My Dear is Marvin Gaye's fifteenth album, and this was the work produced after a divorce settlement. By decree, half the proceed of the album would go to Gaye's ex-wife. Considering the context, this is a brooding, angry, heart-broken work. At release, the album was not commercially or critically successful.
After Gaye's tragic passing, opinions of his catalog have changed, Some hold this album in high esteem. These aren't particularly beautiful songs, vocally or lyrically. While "very dark Gaye" may be interesting, I think the rest of his catalog is much more so.
Nirvana
5/5
Nevermind is Nirvana's second album, and is one of the most commercially successful albums of all time. The album's success was driven by the single "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which became a defining song for a genre, an era, and some would claim a generation. The song is a remarkably clear expression of random, misdirected, teenage angst; slow, melodic sections with thoughtful lyrics transition to loud, aggressive guitar-driven segments with lyrics that are angry and demanding.
This is a great collection of songs from a band that pushed punk energy into pop music. After Cobain's tragic death, the commercial success of the album continued and the critical opinions improved. This is a great album, but I do not agree with those that list it as one of the best albums ever.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Elvis is Back! is the fourth studio album from Elvis, and the first after his stint in the Army. This album does not include any of his popular hits, and was not commercially successful. In addition, the critical reception was mixed. Over time, the consensus regarding Elvis is Back! has improved considerably, and some have come to regard this as Elvis' best album.
This is an interesting collection of songs of a surprising range of styles. The tracks show the range of Elvis' voice, and his ability to create country, blues, rockabilly and even gospel.
1/5
John Zorn is a jazz saxophonist who is among the most prolific recording artists in history. Spy Vs. Spy is his tribute to jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman, who is known for his free jazz style of improvisation.
Zorn has recorded an incredible range of music, and this is some of the most difficult to listen to. The performers are technically talented remarkably so. While it is impressive that they are able to play this work, it is not a pleasant listening experience. It's aggressive, noisy, and frequently dissonant.
TV On The Radio
5/5
TV On The Radio is a band that made alt rock of a type that is difficult to classify; it is guitar based rock with funk, electronic, and punk influences that use loops and poly-rhythms to create a sound that is unique and beautiful. Dear Science is their third studio album, and their most critically and commercially successful. The album topped several "Album of the Year" lists for 2008.
Dear Science showcases the incredible mixture that TV on the Radio creates. Undercurrents of electronic ambience and polyrhythms create the textures of their work, and band's extensive use of loops makes the soundscapes of different tracks. Tunde Adebimpe's rich, unusual vocals and engaging lyrics adds one of the potentially defining elements to the band's sound. In particular, his use of falsetto vocalizations - like in "Love Dog" - or just falsetto, like in "Golden Age"- is one of the memorable parts of Adebimpe's skills.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bringing It All Back Home is Bob Dylan's fifth album. He had already become known as a prodigy in the folk world. In this album, Dylan went electric; on the first half of the album, he is back by an electric, rock band. This proceeded his electric performance at Newport Folk Festival, which was a milestone in the transformation of Dylan from a folk star into a rock/popular music star.
Bringing It All Back Home includes a few of Dylan's many hits, like "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man." This is one of many incredible albums in Dylan's catalogs, and some argue it is his best - but there are a few legitimate candidates.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Scream, Dracula, Scream! is the fourth release, and the major label debut, from Rocket From the Crypt, and is regarded as the band's best work. Rocket From the Crypt is a punk band that makes music with much more technical ability that most punk bands. This album could be called relatively "mature" punk in that the songs have complicated orchestrations - even a string section - and much cleaner production than is typical of the genre.
Scream, Dracula, Scream! includes "On a Rope," which is the band's most successful single, and other tracks like "Young Livers" that show the potential mainstream appeal of well-produced punk rock.
The Killers
4/5
Hot Fuss is the Killers debut album, and the work that made international stars of the band. Led by the success of the breakout single "Mr. Brightside," the Las Vegas-based band first became popular in the UK, and their commercial success quickly spread across the globe. A few of the songs on the album became international hits, like "Smile Like you Mean It" and "Somebody Told Me."
The Killers make guitar and synth based alt rock, with strong, soaring vocals from their lead singer, Brandon Flowers. The Killers' filled Hot Fuss with danceable, catchy pop songs that were so very successful that the band became a central figure of alt rock of the aughts.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Born to Run is a masterpiece of modern music, and arguably just one of Bruce Springsteen's masterpieces. This is the third of his albums, and the first to find significant commercial success. With Born to Run, his third album, Springsteen displayed the range of talents that have made him one of the most influential figures in modern music.
Springsteen voices earnest narratives in his lyrics, and tells vivid stories about the day-to-day challenges of life. His compelling stories suit his rich, expressive voice. He's supported by the E-Street Band, with strong keys and and even stronger saxophone player. Their guitar and piano centered, R&B based rock became one of the central elements of modern popular music.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Led Zeppelin III was not as commercially or critically successful as the band first two releases, but it would have been almost impossible to be more successful than the first two. The album was highly anticipated, which could explain some of the critical reception. Some of the negative feedback to III contributed to the band's reclusive, anti-media posture.
The band explored a more acoustic-based sound on this album, like in "Gallows Pole" and "That's the Way." These songs show the band's ability to expand the range of influences incorporated in their music, as they would continue to do for the rest of their career.
Talking Heads
5/5
Talking Heads: 77 is the debut work from the band, and includes one of their biggest hits, "Psycho Killer." The band created a nervous, dorky version of funk, let by the awkward, intellectualized lyrics from David Byrne. Their songs paint pictures of a character fitting into - and not fitting into - his world, which makes their music feel related to punk. The band created music with a rhythmically complicated version of minimalism: simple melodic progressions played with interesting rhythms. This helps makes the Talking Head's version of punk - a dorky, funky, punk - into work with popular appeal.
77 shows the early version of the band, with all of the elements that would make the band into stars. These tracks may lack the polish of the Talking Heads' later work, but they show the potential of the band and the engaging sound they were developing.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Architecture & Morality is the OMD's third album, and their first to become an international success. Driven by the success of singles "Souvenier" and "Joan of Arc," OMD hit pop charts around the world. They were one of the first synth-pop bands, and they help create the sound of pop music in the 80's.
This album is a collect of simple, melodic pop songs that are have a melancholy sense. This is decent, but not particularly memorable pop.
Radiohead
5/5
Kid A is Radiohead's fourth album, and has come to be regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was not as well-received at its release, as this is a challenging departure from their previous work. After their remarkably successful third album, OK Computer, Kid A was very highly anticipated, and that may have led to some of the push-back.
The music did not, and does not, appeal to all. This is far from the guitar-based alt-rock band of their first two albums, and of an experimental sense that has defined the bands' later work. These track are textured, rhythmic soundscapes, that are far more abstract than most popular music. The lyrics follow the pattern - more of a rhythmic, looped element than providing any narrative. Kid A is the album that made Radiohead into their own genre, and among the most influential bands in the world.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Lynyrd Skynyrd may be the definitive Southern-rock band. They toured for years before releasing this debut album, "Pronounced 'Leh-'Nerd..." It includes the song that might be their "one-hit" - Free Bird - if the band hadn't continued to make hit songs.
"Pronounced..." also includes "Gimme Three Steps" and "Tuesday's Gone," great examples of the country-rock storytelling in the band's music. The songs are supported by the three-guitar line-up, which gives the song a depth and complexity that added to their appeal.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Metal Box was Public Image Ltd.'s second album, released as three, 12" 45 rpm discs, in a metal box which resembled a 16mm film case. The production costs limited the first run of the box, so the material was re-released as Second Edition, a 2-LP version of the work. Public Image, Ltd. was formed by John Lydon - Johnny Rotton - after the break-up of the Sex Pistols. The band went through a number of line-up and stylistic changes in their career, and their progress is considered noteworthy in the development of post-punk genres.
Metal Box was created when PiL was exploring a bass-heavy, dub version of their sound. As a defining element, Lydon's vocals give the band's work the energy and angst of punk, through all of their post-punk experiments.
Sade
4/5
Diamond Life is the debut album from Sade, a British band that takes its name from their lead singer. Sade make a smooth-jazz style of soul, that had international appeal. The album's and the band's success was pushed by their hit single, "Smooth Operator."
Sade's strong, smooth vocals are accompanied with a simple, downbeat jazz band: bass, guitar, organ, and drums - with an occasional saxophone. The band made great pop songs in their modern rendition of jazz vocal standards.
The Temptations
4/5
The Temptations have had an incredibly long - 60 years, so far - and amazingly prolific - over 40 studio albums, and 22 others, live albums, compilations, and soundtracks. All Directions is their sixteenth album, and includes one of their most successful songs, "Papa was a Rolling Stone."
The Temptations have made songs centered around harmonic arrangements of a collection of five strong voices. They have incorporated soul and gospel elements as their career evolved though the decades. All Directions is more political than their earlier work, and the success of this album pushed the band in that direction for most of the 70s.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is the debut album from the Dead Kennedys, who may be the definitive, American hard-core punk band. The band makes thrashing, guitar driven punk, with politically focused lyrics from their front man, Jello Biafra.
The band's short career was defined by conflict, and their aggressive and intentionally confrontational work, like "Let's Lynch the Landlord" and "Kill the Poor," suggest why the band's songs provoked such strong reactions. The album also includes what may be the band's best known songs, "California Uber Alles."
Morrissey
2/5
Morrissey became famous as the lead singer of the Smiths, and his distinct, deep voice was the central, defining element of the band's sound. The band was also known for angst-ridden, melodramatic lyrics, and Morrissey continued in this vein through his solo career. You are the Quarry is his seventh solo album. It was released seven years his previous, and was more successful than his previous few releases. As such, it was regarding as something of a comeback.
Morrisey makes pop songs that wander toward music theater; his heavy-handed melodrama is overbearing. He has one of the stronger male voices in pop music, but with songs like "How Could Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel," with lines like "I've had my face dragged in fifty miles of shit, and I do not like it," Morrissey is hard to take seriously.
Otis Redding
5/5
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul is Redding's third album, and regarded as his best work. This collection of songs have all become soul/R&B classics. Redding's incredible voice makes this collection of songs - eight of eleven of which are covers - memorable renditions.
Otis Blue includes some of Redding's best known songs, like "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and "Respect," (a Redding song made more famous by Aretha Franklin's cover).
The Style Council
3/5
The Style Council was Paul Weller's project after he broke up The Jam because he did not like the band's musical direction. Weller wanted to add elements of jazz and soul to his songwriting, and he didn't think the Jam was up to the task. The Style Council made "sophisti-pop," R&B based songs, with technical musicianship typically found in jazz recordings.
Cafe Bleu is the band's first album, and may be their best work. It was also their most successful, perhaps attributable to Weller's previous success, and one single, "My Ever Changing Moods," which was close to the sound of a Jam song. Most of the album is outside of the bounds of typical pop music, and far enough from Weller's previous work to limit the Style Council's appeal to his previous fan base.
Sex Pistols
5/5
Never Mind the Bollocks is the only studio album release by the Sex Pistols, and is likely the most influential punk album of all time. A mixture of the thrashing energy of the guitars, and Johnny Rotten's snarling lyrics, the Sex Pistols's music defined punk. Their music scared people - "Anarchy in the U.K." was beyond what many were willing to accept from popular music.
This is simple, driven, guitar based punk, that became more popular than any album like it had even gotten. It has come to be regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, because of the raw energy the Sex Pistols were able to capture in their music.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third album from the Smashing Pumpkins, and a 2 CD. 28 song release. The album includes a number of the band's hits, including "Tonight, Tonight," "1979," "Zero," and "Bullet with Butterfly Wings."
The Smashing Pumpkins make distorted-guitar centered alt-rock that trends toward metal. Lead singer Billy Corgan's snarl is appropriate for his angst-ridden lyrics. The result is a sound that defined alt-rock of the 90s and made the Smashing Pumpkins one of the biggest bands of the era.
XTC
5/5
XTC was a British band that made music in a range of style through their career. Through its evolution, the band consistently met with critical success, but never found the commercial success to match. Skylarking is the band's ninth studio album, and is regarded as the band's best work.
Skylarking is a collection of elaborately arranged pop songs, with catchy lyrics and engaging melodies. XTC, and particularly Skylarking, is a great example of a confusing element of popular music: some incredibly good music does not become popular.
The Libertines
4/5
The Libertines are a British alt-rock band who had a short, tumultuous career. Their self-titled album was their second release, and the band's best work. Carl Barat and Pete Doherty were the songwriting pair that made the band. Doherty had recurring issue with narcotics that eventually broke up the band.
The Libertines were part of a "garage rock" resurgence of the aughts. They made guitar-driven rock songs, with interesting melodies. This is a collection of good songs from a band with great potential and an unfortunately short career.
Nitin Sawhney
1/5
Beyond Skin is an album from Nitin Sawhney, a British musician that has won a number of awards. This is an odd collection of songs, with downtempo electronic backgrounds, and elements of Indian influence throughout the work.
There are odd ballads, "Anthem without Nation," poorly executed rap, "Pilgrim," rhythmic exercises, "The Conference," and even near-pop songs, "Nostalgia." Some of the tracks are interesting, but the scattered collection is enough to dampen any interest.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Iron Maiden's self-titled album is the debut release from one of the most successful, enduring bands in history. The band's use of dual-lead guitars lent a prog-rock sound to their version of metal.
This is a collection of great songs, with richly textured guitar and bass parts. The band includes some ballads, like "Strange World," in their work, showing the impressive range of this influential band.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Idlewild is the fourth album from Everything But the Girl, a British pair that makes folk-pop. These are soft-rock songs, with extensive used of synthesizers. These songs sound like they are made for the soundtracks of romantic comedies.
This is a collection of pretty songs, but ones that are not particularly memorable. The elements are all there - voices, melodies, and arrangements - but in this case, the combination does not amount to very much.
Mike Ladd
1/5
Welcome to the Afterfuture is a studio album from Mike Ladd. The album is a strange mix, from not-so-danceable hip hop, like "Airwave Hysteria," to near ambient, like "Planet 10," then dissonant electronic, "I feel like $100," to spoken word, "Feb 4, 99." This isn't an album of any particular genre. The majority of the track are rap, and they're not noteworthy.
There are a few tracks that seem to be responses to pop samples, like "5000 West of the Future," that have a melodic hook. Here, the lyrics fail in a few verses; he has a decent chorus, but doesn't go anywhere with it.
Iron Maiden
4/5
The Number of the Beast is the third Iron Maiden album, and the first with vocalist Bruce Dickenson. Dickerson's crooning added a layer to the band's dual-lead guitar sound, and helped make Iron Maiden's sound part of "classic metal." The album met with considerable commercial and critical success, and has come to be thought of as one of the best metal albums every recorded. The Number of the Beast became infamous for the supposed Satanic references in the band's work. The band leaned into the issue, and became known as "the Beast" as an alternate name.
The album includes a few of the band's most popular songs, like the title track and "Head for the Hills." Iron Maiden makes aggressive, guitar driven songs that are technically complicated, and accompanied by Dickerson's soaring - and sometime screaming - vocals.
Frank Zappa
5/5
Hot Rats is Frank Zappa's second solo album, and the first released after the dissolution of the first rendition of his band, the Mothers of Invention. Hot Rats is primarily a collection of instrumental pieces. These are technically complicated, jazz-inspired compositions, with frequent solos from the musicians.
Zappa recorded the album with a 16 track system, which was unusual at the time. It allowed for overdubbing, and layering instrumental track to give the work its depth. This is potentially Zappa's best work, and regarded as one of the first, great prog rock albums.
The Who
5/5
Tommy is the fourth album from the Who, and may be their first masterpiece. Tommy is a double LP rock opera. It is the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy that becomes a messiah figure. The story is told in the format of an opera: in two acts, with an overture and an underture, musical summaries played at the beginning of the acts. I think these two elements - the overture and underture - are among the most brilliant compositions in modern music.
The story is told in a series of incredible songs, some of which become hit singles, like "Pinball Wizard" and "Tommy Can you Hear Me." The opera tells the story of the life of the messiah figure. Imo, the entire story is really about "Sally Simpson," one of the fans of this messiah figure.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Queens of the Stone Age made what some were calling stoner rock in the 90s, and heavy rock as QOTSA developed their sound in the aughts. QOTSA has had something of a revolving line-up, with frontman Josh Homme as the only bandmember involved for its entire career. Homme was previously in a band called Kyuss, and some of the original QOTSA members were also former Kyuss members.
The band makes heavy, guitar driven rock, embellished with a range of electronic effects. Homme's vocals fit the "heavy rock" classification, in that he a brash inelegance that matches the band's sound.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Dolly Parton has an incomparable career - she is a musician, actor, producer, and as a philanthropist (for her children's literacy project, alone, she is worthy of sainthood, and it is only one of her stunningly admirably projects). Coat of Many Colors was her eighth studio album. For her extensive career - 49 studio albums to date, and over 200 compilation albums - it may be impossible to rank any one album as "her best" or even "among her best." The album is on many "best albums of all time" lists. Ms. Parton has said that "Coat of Many Colors" is among the favorite songs she has written, and she has written over 3,000.
The is a lovely album of country ballads, showcasing Dolly's incredible voice. At root, the basis of all of the accolades in Dolly's storied career is her amazing voice, and her ability to recount relatable, engaging stories.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Pet Shop Boys were a British pair that made synth-pop in the 80s and the 90s. Behaviour is their fourth album, and more somber than their earlier work. The band makes danceable, melodic, synthesizer based pop songs, and they were one of the groups that help make this the defining sound of 80s pop.
Some of the tracks, like "Being Boring" and "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously," are upbeat, danceable tracts. The ballads weigh the work - for example "To Face the Truth" - with a sappy melodrama that wanders towards "easy listening."
David Bowie
3/5
Heroes is David Bowie's eighth studio album, and the second of his three "Berlin" albums. These were done in collaboration with Brian Eno, and the pair pushed Bowie's avant-garde rock towards Eno's fascination with synthesizers.
The title track is one of Bowie's biggest hits. The sound of that song, and much of the rest of the album, are part of the the foundation of 80s pop. The album is uneven, and most of the songs co-written with Eno are the low points.
Duke Ellington
5/5
Duke Ellington is one of most accomplished composers and bandleaders in jazz, who had an incredible career. Ellington at Newport was a "live" album - or, at least partially live. Ellington and his band played at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1956, and it was a historic performance. The show, and the very successful album, revitalized Ellington's career. Time has revealed that some of the tracks were re-recorded after the show, but that doesn't undermine this incredible recording.
Ellington composed pieces to allow the talented members of his band to shine - structures designed to create space for soloists. The soloists in his band were all of the very highest caliber, and all of the members of the very large group are capable of incredible work. On a potentially negative note, this record contains a late-concert drum solo, and this may be the first such recording, so it is potentially responsible, at least in part...
Scott Walker
2/5
Scott Walker made a particular, peculiar version of pop, which is called baroque pop. These songs sound like orchestrated musical theater songs, but are lyrically darker than the sound and style would suggest. For example, the subjects of the songs "The Girls From the Streets" and "Plastic Plastic People" seem at odds with music from a Frank Sinatra album.
These are awkward, confusing songs, without the depth to be confusing in an interesting way. When Walker's rich baritone sings, "The Windows of the World are covered with rain.," it sounds trite, not profound. These songs are not unpleasant, but they are not endearing.
Dr. John
4/5
Gris-Gris is the first album from Dr. John, a character created by musician Mac Rebennack. Dr. John makes New Orleans music - a combination of funk, R&B, and creole folk traditions. Dr. John is named after a historic voodoo doctor, and his music is imbued with folk mysticism.
At its release, Gris-Gris received little critical or commercial attention. As Dr. John became successful later in his career, critical consensus about the album has improved remarkably. His songs present an interesting mix of styles, a swampy blues that sounds like New Orleans.
D'Angelo
5/5
Brown Sugar is D'Angelo's debut album, and may be the album that started the neo-soul wave of the late 90's and the aughts. D'Angelo makes soulful R&B, that has incorporated the timing of hip-hop of the 90s.
The songs are centered around D'Angelo's incredible voice, at time utilizing falsetto in his expressive vocals. The bass-heavy orchestrations sound like traditional R&B; D'Angelo adds break-beats and the lyrical timing of hip-hop in his rendition of R&B.
Arcade Fire
5/5
Neon Bible is the second album from Canadian band Arcade Fire. The album met with considerable critical success, as their first album did, but this one found international commercial success. The album was the first of a string of successful albums that pushed them into becoming one of the biggest bands in the world through the 2010s.
The band makes rich, orchestrated alt-rock, giving their work a grandiose sound. Win Butler's earnest vocals add to the breadth of the sound, adding an element to their expansive sound. These songs, like "Keep the Car Running," have a danceable rhythms, and the energy of early Springsteen.
The Who
5/5
Live at Leeds was the Who's release that followed Tommy, their rock opera that made international stars of the band. The Who toured extensively through their career; after Tommy, the band refined their energetic performances through a prolonged world tour. Live at Leeds has been recognized as among the best live rock albums of all time.
This album captures the Who as they were developing into one of the biggest bands in the world. They had been propelled into stardom through their first masterpiece(s), and their performances were potent, technical, and engaged for their storytelling - among other reasons. Townshend's lyrics and Daltrey's vocals give the band part of its distinct sound, and are among the reasons the band is one of the most influential bands in rock - and in all of modern music.
Shivkumar Sharma
4/5
Call of the Valley is an introduction to Indian classical music for Western audiences. Shivkumar Sharma is a master of the santoor, an Indian instrument that is similar to a dulcimer. Call of the Valley is the best selling Indian music album across the world. Sharma and his fellow musicians became known after members of the Beatles showed an interest in their music.
The album is an instrumental tale of a day in the life of an Indian shepherd. The recording includes a santoor, a slide guitar, a flute, a bansuri, and tablas. These are interesting songs of a traditional cultural lineage.
Sarah Vaughan
5/5
Sarah Vaughan was among jazz and bop's greatest voices. She had a long, prolific career, and "At Mister Kelly's" was her eighth album - but some don't include this in her discography, as this is an "and Her Trio" work. This is a live album at the famous Chicago club, Mister Kelly's. The recording is incredible for a 1957 live recording. For most of the album, you may think this is recorded in the studio. A microphone bump, and a bit of laughter following in "Willow Weep for Me" will remind you that this is indeed a live recording.
Sarah Vaughan has an incredible voice. An instrument with considerable range. Her dynamic expression makes her performances fully engaging. As a live performance, this work is all the more impressive. She was a relaxed and confident performer, and this album captures her abilities early in her career.
Miles Davis
5/5
Miles Davis is among the best-known performers in jazz, and all of modern musicians. He is also among the most prolific of recording artists, with over 60 studio albums, over 40 live albums, and more than 50 compilations. In a Silent Way is his 41st studio album, and is Davis' first major work of fusion, a transition marked, in part, by his incorporation of electric instruments.
In a Silent Way is a jazz band playing rock, showing that Davis was responding, at least in part, to the popular music of the late 60s. While Davis' next album, Bitches Brew, drew far more attention initially, In a Silent Way has gained recognition in hindsight, and regarded as among his best recorded work.
Soundgarden
5/5
Superunknown is the fourth studio album from Soundgarden, and is their most successful work, critically and commercially. Their third album, Badmotorfinger, did well, and was very well received critically, but not as well as expected. Chris Cornell's and Matt Cameron's involvement in tribute project Temple of the Dog added to their notoriety, and help to build the anticipation for Superunknown. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200
The success of the album helped make he band's metal version of alt-rock part of the sound of the 90s. The album produced five charting singles, include what may be their best-known, "Black Hole Sun." Chris Cornell's wailing vocals helped define the band's sound, and Kim Thayil's driven guitar adds effects to create their grandiose, heavy sound.
Kanye West
1/5
Yeezus is Kanye West's sixth studio album, which was met with considerable critical acclaim, as "brash" and "experimental." These songs are slightly more melodic than most rap, but still not very melodic. What some may call brash, others may call jarring, and generally unpleasant.
The lyrics are the rants of a self-absorbed adolescent. He is offensively sexist, bitter, and paranoid. Where many see a "artistic genius reinventing himself," others may see the ranting of a person that may not be worth listening to.
Blur
4/5
Blur's self-titled album was their fifth, and a departure from their previous work. The band was among the successful brit-pop acts of the early nineties, and this album is more aggressive, edgier alt-rock than their first few albums. This led to mixed reviews in Britain, but was very well received outside of the UK. The single "Song 2" was the band's biggest hit single in the US, and pushed this album to be the band's most commercially successful.
With punchy guitars from punk or grunge, and electronic effects giving a psychedelic hint, these are not typically brit-pop songs. These songs sound like the band was influenced by other 90s artists like Pavement and Beck, and the result was an interesting development in the band's sound.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Dry is the debut from PJ Harvey, when she was still recording work as a trio, prior to moving to releasing work as a solo artist. Harvey is a singer songwriter that puts lyrics out of a folk song to a three piece, edgy rock band. These are angry, inspired, articulate songs that are engaging both for the storytelling and the catch hooks.
Harvey's emotional songs match the power chords and heavy bass lines of her work. Her stained, expressive vocals fill the pictures she creates with depth and impressive range. Her songs are interesting glimpses of her experiences, like "Dress," with plenty of undertones about the impacts of these elements of her life.
Ozomatli
5/5
Ozomatli is an unique mix - it's a band that sounds like all of the influences that make up Los Angeles. There is a Hispanic foundation, with hip hop beats, a funky horn section, and some rapping. This danceable mix has made the band cultural ambassadors through their near-constant, international touring. Street Signs, the group's third, full-length release, was very well received, and won the Latin/Alternative Grammy the year it was released..
These are fun, catchy songs, with layered orchestrations both from the talented members of the band, and from the use of samples and synthesizers. This is an incredible fusion of a range of styles - again, this sounds like the amazing mixture that is Los Angeles.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Muddy Waters is the biggest name in Blues. A gifted, singer, songwriter, guitar player, and band leader, Muddy's is the most recognizable, influential voice in the blues. His early recorded work, in the 40s and 50s, were singles. He started releasing albums in 1960, the same year he recorded and released At Newport. This is one of the first live blues albums, and influenced generations of blues and rock performers.
Muddy has a rich, rough voice that became the sound of American blues. His band, with slide guitar, harmonica solos, and bass-driven rhythms was filled with practiced, exciting performers. Muddy and his band put on fantastic performances, and this album captured one of them.
Metallica
3/5
S&M is Metallica's live, double album recorded with the San Francisco Symphony. This is a greatest hits collection, with only three original tracks among twenty-one. This is an odd album - in this case, the result is somehow less than the sum of the parts.
There is an incredible collection of talented musicians involved, and the orchestrations do work with the band's material. However, the result sounds like movie soundtrack material: complicated and well performed, but over-produced and somehow "sanitized." For example, the lyric "Nothing else Matters" seems at odds with a strictly timed performance, accompanied by a soaring string section.
Butthole Surfers
2/5
Locust Abortion Technician is the third album from the Butthole Surfers, the most infamously named band in modern music. The band makes art-rock, or noise-rock. Theirs is a style of psychedelia that sounds like it should come from Texas (and, it does...).
The Butthole Surfers tour constantly, and their performances are intentionally provocative. Like their name, the aim is the production of outrage. Their music is not pleasant, and it doesn't try to be. The band makes experimental punk, and at times, they show they are capable of melodic playing. Unfortunately, they were more interested in shocking than entertaining.
Arcade Fire
5/5
The Suburbs is the third album from Arcade Fire, which met with near-universal critical acclaim, and world-wide commercial success. Among many other accolades, the album won the Grammy for album of the year. The Suburbs is a "letter from the suburbs," as Win Butler said, comprised of a number of stories from his childhood.
The band makes up-beat, guitar and synthesizer based, alt-rock, with an earnestness that Win Butler's vocals match. These songs about Butler's childhood have a feeling of a nostalgic longing, told through beautiful, melodic songs.
Queen
5/5
A Night At the Opera is Queen's fourth album, and considered to be their best work. At the time, this was reportedly the most expensive rock album that had even been made. The band made a grandiose, soaring set of songs with a surprising range of influences. In addition to their basis of metal and prog rock, Queen added orchestral and operatic elements in this collection, with extensive production, giving each track intricate complexities of instrumentation and vocal harmonies.
The album included "Bohemian Rhapsody," the lengthy song that has come to be regarded as one of the greatest songs in modern music. The song, and the album, established the band as international stars.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Ritual De Lo Habitual is the second studio album from Jane's Addiction, and the band's most commercially successful album. The album includes a few of the band biggest singles, like "Stop" and "Been Caught Stealing."
Jane's Addiction combined metal guitars with punk sensibilities into a immersive, expansive sound. Perry Ferrell's brash confidence matches the raw energy of Dave Navarro's ripping guitars. This album is more produced - closer to pop singles - than their first album, and almost recreates the energy of that debut.
Alice Cooper
3/5
School's Out is the fifth studio album from the band Alice Cooper. The band released seven album, with considerable success, before Vincent Furnier, had a solo career as Alice Cooper, assuming the persona of the band's chosen name. The band was known for it's outrageous stage act, with snakes, lots of fake blood, and simulated hangings. Cooper and the band wore intricate costumes and make-up, pulling any and all stops to be intentionally provocative.
This album includes the band's most famous single, "School's Out." It is a good example of the guitar driven, classic rock that the band creates. The music is decent, well-performed hard rock, but not particularly noteworthy.
Pixies
4/5
Bossanova is the third Pixies' album, and the follow up to their breakout Dolittle. This album continues with the Pixies "loud-soft-loud" dynamic - their music often uses radical changes in volume, rhythm, and style, for the effect of the transition. Theirs is the hard, edgy side of guitar driven alt-rock, and "soft" segments do more to established melodies and narrative elements.
This collection of songs is a reasonable match to - but not much of a departure from - the band's previous work. These are good tunes, but seem to lack the glimmer of brilliance that ran through Dolittle.
Public Enemy
4/5
Apocalypse 91 ... The Enemy Strikes Back is the fourth album from Public Enemy, and the follow up to their incredibly successful third album, "Fear of a Black Planet." Apocalypse 91 was recorded shortly after all of their digital recordings were stolen. The group need to rush to reproduce material and relied more heavily on performing musicians after the loss of their sample library.
These are great tracks from a socially conscious, focuses group. While not as good as their "Fear of a Black Planet," these are thoughtful, interesting riffs, without the celebration of violence and delusional arrogance that dominates the genre.
Bad Company
4/5
Bad Company's self titled album was remarkably successful for a debut album. The band was a "supergroup," of sorts, comprised of former members of King Crimson, Mott the Hoople, and Free. Their previous work certainly gave them some notoriety, but their bluesy, guitar heavy hard rock is what really made them famous.
This album includes some of their biggest hits, like "Can't Get Enough," "Moving On," and "Bad Company." These songs feature Paul Rodger's soulful vocals and Mick Ralph's screaming guitars. Together, they made a sound that helped define 70s popular music, and had since become staples of "classic rock" stations.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
She's so Unusual is the debut album from Cyndi Lauper, and was the most successful work of her career. This album was released during the very early days of MTV, and Lauper's songs and style worked well with the video-driven music industry of the 80's.
This album contains Lauper's iconic "Girls just Want to Have Fun," which captured both her perky voice and her ability to make bouncy, danceable pop songs. The album also includes "Time after Time," a ballad that shows Lauder's voice has impressive strength and depth.
Parliament
5/5
Mothership Connection is Parliament's fourth album, and their first to find considerable success. This was the first of Parliament's recordings to include Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, horn players from James Brown's band. This concept album had George Clinton and Bootsy Collins narrating their funk to an outer space theme. This album has been recognized as among the Parliament-Funkadelic collective's best work, and one of the best funk albums of all time.
George Clinton's and Parliament's funk is a collective work, with a full band supporting the funk. The songs are bass-driven, engaging songs with outlandish narrative support. These are fun, danceable songs that are true to the funk that they talk about often; the funk draws you in because it is the convergence of a number of styles - R&B, soul, blues, with a good dose of afro-futurism.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Live Thru a Lens is the first solo album from Robbie Williams, who became famous in the boy band Take That. Williams makes brit pop. and this is album is a formulaic, overly produced example of it.
This could be Oasis, Blur or any of the 90s versions of Beatles' song. Unfortunately, these songs aren't as memorable as Williams more famous contemporaries. These are good - but the all seem to be derivative. For example, Williams' biggest song is on this album, "Angels," and it could be an Elton John song.
Suicide
4/5
Suicide debut album was not well received, initially. The band met with limited success in the UK, but were panned in the US. These songs are an interesting combination of styles. A background of minimalistic, mesmerizing electronic with a punk lyrics.
The band's synth punk influenced generation of musicians in the 70s and 80s. As the years passed, the reception of the album and the band's work has improved considerably. Suicide's synth punk is regarded as an important precursor to much of the pop of the 80s and 90s.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Aftermath is the fourth studio album from the Rolling Stones, and the first of entirely original material. This was the first milestone in the extensive songwriting career of Jagger and Richards, and this album is regarded as the Stones' first masterpiece. These songs are a development from the band's early focus on blues and R&B standards, and incredible example of the sound that made them the biggest rock band in the world.
This album captures an early rendition of the Stones' sound, with Jagger's brash swagger, and Richard's catchy, edgy guitar riffs. Brian Jones added elements not often found in popular music, like a sitar and a dulcimer. "Satisfaction," released the year prior, had made the band into stars, and this work started them on the path to become one of the most influential acts of popular music.
Aphex Twin
5/5
Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is the debut album from Aphex Twin, the on-stage moniker for Richard D. James. This is a brilliant work of electronic music, and the beginning of perhaps the longest and most influential career in electronic music. If the title is accurate, some of these tracks were composed when James was fourteen.
These songs feature techno rhythms and structures - the album was on many "best of dance albums" from the year and the decade - but played into an ambient sound space. The result is beautiful dance music, of a meditative sense and feel. Through his career, James played in a incredibly wide range of styles of electronic music; he is one of the artists credited with adding breadth to the genre.
Wire
4/5
Pink Flag is the debut album from Wire, a British post punk band that has had a long career as a band that consistently reinvented themselves. This first version of the band created raw, minimal, guitar driven punk. The songs are short, clean blasts of attitude and energy.
These songs are more melodic, and better executed that most punk - almost the polish and production of pop. For the sound, subject, and attitude, these are challenging songs, but nonetheless memorable ones.
Deerhunter
4/5
Halcyon Digest is the fifth studio album from Deerhunter, and one of the band's most successful album. On release, it met with widespread critical acclaim, and was on a few alt-rock "album of the year" lists.
The band uses effect-laden guitars and harmonic vocals to pop songs with a broad but delicate sound. Their songs have a chiming, cheerful sound, even when expressing somber thoughts like "I don't want to get old."
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Sticky Fingers is the Rolling Stones' ninth studio album, and is regarded by many as their best work. This was their first studio album without Brian Jones, and with Mick Taylor, who has joined the band for their previous release, the live album "Get your Ya-Yas Out." This album is of impressive range, in part due to a number of guests on the recording.
The album includes ballads, like "Wild Horses," and chart-topping rockers, like "Brown Sugar." The band still embraced their reputation as the "bad-boys" of rock, see "Bitch," and their early, blues-based recording, like "I got the Blues." In addition to the famous tracks, there are the surprises in the deeper cuts, like "Moonlight Mile." This range is one of the arguments supporting the band's claim to be the world's greatest rock & roll band.
The Offspring
3/5
Smash is the Offspring's third album, and was their breakthrough album. Pushed by the success of their videos in the late MTV era, the band's well-produced, energetic punk was in line with the 90's, alt-rock sound. The Offspring layers Dexter Holland's wailing vocals on Kevin Wasserman's ripping, distorted guitar, with Greg Kriesel's bass and Ron Welty's drums as their frenetic rhythm section.
These are great punk songs, with a 90's alt-rock framework - with rhythm and volume changes, and a grunge sound - like "Gotta Get Away." They likely benefitted from their near-Nirvana sound, in songs like "Self Esteem" and "Come Out and Play," the band's biggest hit at the time. This is good, but arguably derivative 90's music.
SZA
4/5
Ctrl is the debut album from SZA, who makes music in contemporary R&B. SZA has a voice the could have excelled in R&B and Soul in an era; in a time of autotune and vocal filters, her voice still shows through as beautiful, expressive and emotive. The album met with widespread critical and commercial success, and made a star out of SZA.
These are melodic, engaging stories told by a soulful voice. The production is an electronic, effect laden version of R&B, but that does distract from SZA's incredible voice. Songs like "Anything" demonstrates the not-always congruous elements of her music; it starts with a near-dancehall, distorted bass, and ends with a looped cadence with SZA's angelic voice.
Arcade Fire
5/5
In the year before writing and recording their debut album, several members of the band Arcade Fire had close family members die. The songs, and the recording process of Funeral was about their mourning process, and the band's understanding of mourning and mortality. The band's ambitious project met with universal critical acclaim, and propelled the band to international stardom.
Despite the serious topic, these are beautiful, melodic songs. The band utilizes rich orchestrations - with a string section and atmospheric effects - to give their songs a grandiose feel. Strong roles by both guitars and keys give their songs rich textures, and Win Butler's earnest vocals match the tone of the band's songs and style. This is an incredible debut from a group that would become one of the world's biggest bands.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy was a project that grew out of the Bay-area collective the Beatnigs; former members Michael Franti and Rono Tse made the socially conscious rap. Hypocrisy in the Great Luxury is the debut album album from the pair, which met with considerable critical success. The pair never found significant commercial success, and their career was short-lived.
These are engaging, challenging pieces. Franti is sweeping cultural critic; with "Television, Drug of a Nation," he takes aim at our numbing opiate of the masses. In "Socio-Genetic Experiment," Franti discusses his experience as a black individual who grew up in a white household. Franti takes on these sorts of challenging topics in an effort that didn't find the commercial success of which it was worthy. There are gems here, like "Music and Politics," that show Franti's potential, that he explored in later ventures.
Massive Attack
5/5
Massive Attack was one of the first groups to create trip-hop, a mixture of hip-hop rhythms, dub grooves, and looped samples. Their work met with universal critical success, and they influenced generations of musicians.
Protection is the group's second album, and while successful, was not as critically successful as their debut, Blue Lines.
Massive Attach is a mood - or a vibe. Their material is mesmerizing, engaging dance music. They have a range of guest vocalists on the tracks, giving the album an impressive range, while maintaining a consistent mood throughout. The album is excellent, but the last track, a live "Light My Fire" cover, did not help the cause.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Rufus Wainwright makes theatrical pop - dramatically orchestrated pieces that wander towards opera. His songs are beautiful, lush, rich pieces, with a narrative sense of songs from musical theater. Want Two is his fourth studio album, which was well received critically.
Wainwright makes lovely songs, with engaging stories and interesting arrangements. His music isn't of a particular era - it seems to be something of a throwback - but it certainly isn't typical of pop of the aughts.
Johnny Cash
4/5
American IV: The Man Comes Around is the sixty seventh studio album from Johnny Cash, and the last to be released while Cash was alive. This was part of his 'American' series, produced by Rick Rubin and released by his label. This series of albums led to a revival of Cash's career during the last years of his life.
The majority of the tracks on this double album are covers, including his acclaimed cover of Trent Reznor's "Hurt." These are sparse, but somehow still rich renditions of familiar songs from atraditional, country balladier. Cash's baritone and percussive guitar sound are iconic, and an essential part of country music.
The Young Gods
2/5
The Young Gods are a Swiss industrial band that makes extensive use of samples in their work. They make edgy, angry, driven music, featuring the screaming/singing of Franz Treichler. L'Eau Rouge, their second album, is regarded as their best work. Much of this album is a rage-filled version of heavy metal.
There are some bright spots, like the Tom Waits-ish "Charlotte," or the melodic opening track, "La fille de la Mort," which has a vaudeville feel to it, but these are unusual songs for the band. The majority of the songs are angry, and not particularly inspired.
Neil Young
5/5
After the Gold Rush is Neil Young's third studio album, and this and the album that followed, Harvest, are regarded has his best work. Young does not have a "great" voice, in any traditional sense. His voice has a sound of awkward earnestness that makes him a compelling storyteller.
This collection includes a few of Young's best known songs. From the contentious "Southern Man," to the nostalgic "After the Gold Rush," Young's songs have transcended their genre - they are something more than just country rock songs.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Harry Nilsson made orchestrated pop music, with strong melodies and interesting arrangements. Nilsson Schmilsson is his seventh studio album, which includes some covers with his original material, as Nilsson did throughout his career.
One of the cover on this album is is "Without You," a Badfinger song, that may be Nilsson's biggest hit. The rest of the album shows Nilsson's strength as a songwriters, from the quirky "Coconut," to the edgy "Jump into the Fire."
Portishead
5/5
Portishead is perhaps the best known group that made trip-hop, a term that the band helped define, even as the band was not crazy about being associated with the label. The band's work is a unique mix: Beth Gibbon's haunting vocals, atmospheric electronics, and slow-tempo, hip-hop rhythms. The result is haunting, lovely, and dark.
Third is the band's third, and perhaps last, studio album. Like their other albums, it was very well received critically, and found some commercial success. Portishead isn't a band that had hit singles; while popular - to an extent - this is not "pop." This album seems to be better with repeated listens, but of challenging enough that many may not get to the second listen.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Rumours is the seventh album from Fleetwood Mac. It is thought to be their best work, and is considered to be one of the greatest albums in modern popular music. The band explored a range of styles, with some electric and acoustic songs, and impressive harmonies throughout. The band was in a tumultuous period, involving the break-ups of romantic relationships between members, and excessive drug use. Their personal challenges provided incredible inspiration for these very memorable songs.
The album in includes some of the band's biggest songs, like "Go Your Own Way," "Dreams," and "Don't Stop." On this note, this list could include every song on this album. Every song on this album has become transcendent and ubiquitous; everyone has heard these songs because this album bears repeating, over and over again. This is as good of a collection of songs as you may ever find on an album, written and performed by a band at its very best.
Basement Jaxx
5/5
Remedy is the debut album from Basement Jaxx, which was met with near-universal acclaim. This is a great collection of house tracks - danceable, fun, and inventive songs. House music can be boring, and defaults toward repetitive elements. Basement Jaxx created this work to be a "Remedy" to the linear, robotic norms of early 90s dance music.
This album is considered among the best EDM albums ever released. It includes some of the pair's biggest hits, like "Red Alert," and "Rendez-Vu," and a collection of interesting, varied tracks that will get almost anyone up out of their seat.
Pink Floyd
5/5
The Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd's eighth album, and is one of the best selling albums of all time. The band had been successful before this release, but this work made them into international stars. Among other accolades, this album holds the records as the album with the longest run on Billboard's charts. This album has had appeal with generations of fans, helping the band become one of the most successful and influential bands of all time.
This is the first of the band's concept albums that were primarily authored by bassist Roger Waters. The songs focus on the pressures of life in a band that is touring the world, and the difficulties of mental illness. This was part of Water's work directed towards Syd Barrett, former band member that succumbed to mental illness. The songs are transcendent - "Time" and "Money" are among the band's most popular of the bands songs, and made the band's introspective psychedelic rock into an enduring part of popular music.
5/5
The Joshua Tree is U2's fifth album, and may be their best work. It won the Grammy as album of the year, and appears on many "best album of all time" lists. This is the second album the band produced while working with Brian Eno, who helped add the ambient sense that the band creates with its edgy, guitar driven rock. The album is about the stark differences between the mythic America of rights and grand design, and the real America.
These are songs of searching and longing - like "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Lookin For" - which the band developed into a central part of their sound. This sense is supported by Bono's soaring vocals, which help make their songs sound like anthems. The band captured the energy and potency of their early protest songs, and channeled it into these beautiful pop/rock songs.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Blonde on Blonde is often regarded as the best work of Bob Dylan's incredible career, and sits near the top of many "best albums of all time" lists. This was Dylan's seventh studio album, and the third of his "electric rock" albums of the mid-sixties. Among other accolades, this is one of the first double albums in rock music.
The album includes a few of Dylan's well-known songs, like "Rainy Day Women," "I Want You," and "Just Like a Woman." Dylan's career includes so much interesting, influential work; it's hard to suggest that there he has a "best album." If there is one, this may be it. With this and the two albums that preceded it, Dylan became a central figure in American rock, well outside of the folk/songwriter world he started his career within. His influence was significant; his version of country and folk infused rock inspired decades of popular music.
Charles Mingus
5/5
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is a 1963 studio album from Charles Mingus. Mingus releases an extensive list of recordings, and The Black Saint is regarded as one of his best, and one of the greatest jazz albums ever recorded.
This work was composed as a ballet, and was written for the "big band" format that Mingus was performing and recording with in the early 60s. This is Mingus' anguished and joyful picture of the world, told through his rich, textured compositions.
Ministry
2/5
Psalm 69, the commonly used name for an album title comprised of unpronounceable symbols, is the fifth album from industrial metal band Ministry. This is their most successful album, both critically and commercially. The band combines driven metal guitars, with samples and other looped effects to create their aggressive, driven sound. The lyrics - screamed and distorted - adds to the angry tone of all of these songs.
The songs do provide some some context; "Just One Fix" could explain some of the rage. Screaming "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" in the track "TV II" isn't as clear of a message, but does show the general hostility this band seems to direct at the world. When they can lay off the seething rage - like in "Jesus Built My Hotrod" - their songs approach tolerable, but the rage-filled stuff dominates the album.
Can
5/5
Can made a very skilled version of psychedelic, experimental rock. They created their songs through extended improvisation sessions, and the result is interesting, rich, exploring songs. Tago Mago is the second studio album from the band, and is regarded as the band's best work. The band, and this album in particular, influenced generations of musicians.
This album ranges from groove-based jam band rock to fairly odd experimentation. All of these songs could part of the recording of a modern, improv-based jam band. Some of the experimental material wanders toward self-indulgence, but it staying interesting throughout. Much of the later part of the album could be the "drums & space" sequences from Grateful Dead shows, which the band started doing seven years after the release of this album.
Merle Haggard
4/5
I'm a Lonesome Fugitive is the third album from Merle Haggard and the Strangers - the band Haggard recorded with at the beginning of his career. The title track, and the album, are the recordings that made Haggard into a country star.
These are traditional, acoustic guitar driven country sounds. Haggard's rich, deep voice worked well with music produced in the "Bakersfield sound," a simplified style that developed as a reaction to the "over produced" Nashville style of country. .
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Exodus, Bob Marley & the Wailers' ninth album, is regarded as their best work. It is arguably the most influential reggae album of all time, and sits near the top of many "best albums of all time" lists. The group had had already found international fame - but Exodus made Marley and the Wailers into superstars. Marley had a mythical status in Jamaica, and after an assassination attempt, Marley left Jamaica for more than a year. Exodus was inspired, in part, by Marley's exile from his home.
The songs on this album have become some of the most famous reggae tracks of all - "Exodus," "One Love," and "Three Little Birds." For many, Marley's anthems are what people know of as reggae; Marley defined the genre, and this album is a central element of it.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Duck Rock is like an odd mix tape - or a soundtrack - as an eclectic collection of songs of a range of styles. This was the debut album for Malcom McLaren, who achieved fame as the producer and manager for the New York Dolls, the Sex Pistols, Adam and the Ants, and Bow Wow Wow. McLaren's history as an impresario may have undermined the reception of his albums; his "adoption" of a number of styles, with a few legal battles over copyrighted material, has led to an impression that at least some of this material was appropriated.
The songs are a combination of South African elements, hip hop rhythms, early scratching, and folk music from a range of traditions. The result is an interesting mix, but hard to discuss as the work of one band... and comes across as rather scattered.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Vol. 4 is the fourth album from Black Sabbath, the band that arguably defined "heavy metal." Their first four albums are often regarded as among the best metal albums ever released. Vol. 4 does not include any of the bands biggest hit singles, but the album was still remarkably successful; a testament to the broad influence and appeal of the band's work.
Black Sabbath's distinct sound comes from Ozzy Osborne's wailing vocals and Tony Iommi's screaming guitar riffs. The created the basis of heavy metal, and influenced generations of musicians in the range of genres that metal has evolved into.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
Sunday At The Village Vanguard is a live album from the Bill Evans Trio, which at the time included bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. This was the last time Evans played with LaFaro, who died tragically shortly after the album was recorded. Evans played in a few groupings in his career, and considered this to be the strongest group - and this album may be this trio's best work. This is often regarded as one of the best live jazz recordings of all time.
Evans was an elegant, expressive pianist, and these songs show his skills with subtle expressions. LaFaro and Motain are also incredible musicians, and the trio had clearly established chemistry.
Beatles
5/5
The White Album is the eighth Beatles' album, and the only double LP among their studio albums. This was later in the band's career, and Lennon, McCarthy, and Harrison were largely writing their songs independently, and this gives this album an eclectic sense. This collection of songs from some of the greatest songwriters in modern music, at the height of their powers.
This incredible collection of songs has songs written by all four members: McCartney's pop, "Blackbird," Lennon's commentary, "Happiness is a Warm Gun," Harrison's introspection, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and Starr's irreverence, "Don't Pass Me By." They were all talented artists, in a rare situation where they amplified each other's strengths.
Slayer
3/5
Reign in Blood is Slayer's third studio album, and their first while working with famed producer Rick Rubin. This is regarded as one of the best metal albums of all time, and the best speed metal album.
Slayer makes intricate, technical metal that is played as fast as is possible. Tom Araya's vocals/screams focus on the darkest of topics: death, violence, torture, and the occult. The band is very good at making dark, angry music.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Nebraska is Bruce Springsteen's sixth album, and a significant departure from his previous work. These songs are solo, acoustic pieces, without the band that usually supports him. In addition, these are dark, solemn songs - far from the energetic exuberance that was typical in much of Springsteen's early work. Springsteen's change of direction was very well received critically. The songs on the album have been covered frequently, and the album is one of Springsteen's to influence generations of musicians.
Springsteen had originally planned to record these songs with his band; he was preparing this recording as a writing process to teach the songs to his bandmates. The result - these sparse, folk/Americana sounding renditions - demonstrates the strength and breadth of Springsteen's songwriting skills.
David Bowie
3/5
The Next Day is the twenty-fifth album of David Bowie's incredible career. This album was his first in ten years, and was released as a surprise - he managed to keep the project entirely under wraps until it's release. This was the penultimate album of Bowie's career, and gathered considerable attention as a favorably-received release so late in his career and after a considerable absence.
This is a collection of interesting art-rock songs - good, but not particularly great ones. They are grandiose, well-orchestrated and pretty songs, but this is not one of the albums to recommend from Bowie's extensive catalog.
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
Green Onions is the debut album from Booker T. & the MG's, who were the house band at Stax Records in Memphis. Their sound is an essential part of southern soul of the 60's, as they appear on recordings of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, among many others. When they weren't working as the supporting band for other artists, they recorded almost-exclusively instrumental tracks as Booker T. and the MG's .
The band was successful as a rare, instrumental rock band; the title track is one of the most popular instrumental tracks in modern popular music.
Their core members provided a great, funky basis for other artists - organ, piano, guitar, bass, and drums - and were all talented enough to create these instrumental classics.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Exile on Main Street is the tenth studio album, and the first double album from the Rolling Stones. They were literal exiles at the time, in a sense; they recorded the album while in "tax exile," which the band spend in the south of France. While holed up in a mansion, in what was described as a months-long party. the Stones recorded these songs on rudimentary equipment, while likely excessively inebriated. The result is raw, edgy, and in some way, perfect. At the time, the critical reception was lukewarm, at best. Over time, the album's repute has improved considerably: Exile on Main Street is regarded as one of the greatest albums - rock or otherwise - ever recorded.
This is the Stones at the height of their confidence - bluesy and rebellious - with Richard's catchy guitar riffs and Jagger's brash swagger. The album does not contain any of the bands' biggest hits, but is still regarded as their best work because of the strength and range of this set of songs. This is an incredible collection, recorded as the Stones were becoming the greatest rock and roll band in the world.
The Prodigy
4/5
The Fat of the Land is the third album from the Prodigy, a British electronic music group. This is their best selling album, and the work that propelled the group to international fame. The group's relentless touring had help the Prodigy gain popularity, moving them out of dance club and into larger venues. The Fat of the Land was successful enough to make festival headliners out of the Prodigy.
This album includes some of the group's biggest hits, including "Firestarter" and "Smack my Bitch Up." These are energetic, danceable tracks, with hip hop timing and the brash confidence of punk, that helped push electronica into popular music circles.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Post Orgasmic Chill is the third album from British alt/metal band Skunk Anansie. The band makes 90s alt rock, with timing and volume transitions and heavy, distorted guitars. The unusual element of their sound is their female vocalist, whose name is Skin. The result sounds like Soundgarden recruited Pat Benetar for an album.
This is a collection of songs that Skin described as "clit-rock," her term for the feminist rage she expresses as a British woman. These are good, but not particularly memorable songs, because the band can unfortunately be described as "another 90s alt-rock band."
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Walking Wounded is the ninth studio album from English pop duo Everything But the Girl. The band makes soft-spoken pop songs, featuring the smooth, rich vocals from Tracey Thorn, supported by an ambient version of techno and trip-hop elements. The result is an unusual, interesting mixture for pop songs.
Walking Wounded was the pair's most successful album; Thorn called it their "pop triumph." It includes what may be their biggest single, Walking Wounded, which has been described as "ambient jungle."
5/5
Bob Dylan's Royal Albert Hall Concert was infamous. He did an acoustic set, and then and electric set, backed by the the Hawks - soon to be known as the Band. In the second set, a member of the crowd yelled, "Judas," to which Dylan responds, "are you talking to me?"
This release in connection with an extensive collection of all of the recordings of Dylan's 65-66 European tour. This is an incredible recording of an milestone show; this, like the Newport Jazz Festival, is the "moment" Dylan went electric, and helped meld the folk and rock music worlds.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Axis: Bold as Love is the Jimi Hendrix Experience's second studio album. Their first album made him into an international star, and this follow-up only added to his renown as a brilliant guitar player, singer, and song-writer. Axis ranks highly on many "greatest albums of all time" lists. However, Hendrix's two other studio albums typically rank higher; making this stellar album in some way the weakest of his work - but there's nothing weak about this album.
These songs have Hendrix's incredibly expressive guitar, like in "Little Wing" and "If 6 was 9," backed by his soulful, blues inspired rock. Jimi's technical mastery and his raw, open vocals helped shape the sound of psychedelic rock.
The Byrds
4/5
After Bob Dylan blurred the lines between folk and rock, the Byrds walked into the space created and defined "folk rock." Appropriate that their first single, and first album's title, was a Dylan cover. The band's other popular single on the album, "All I really Want to Do," is another Dylan cover.
The Byrds distinct 12-string guitar leads and layered harmonies made folk rock into a dominant part of pop music of the mid to late 60's. These songs sound of the 60's "hippie counterculture," and all of the diverse music the band has inspired in the decades that followed.
Miles Davis
5/5
Kind of Blue is Miles Davis' masterpiece - or, one of them. It is regarded as the greatest jazz album of all time, and one of the greatest albums in modern music. This is an incredible set of songs with Davis experimenting with modal improvisation - which does not involve a chord progress like much of traditional jazz, but instead worked with scales to explore solos. Davis believed that this gave musicians more space to explore.
Davis assembled a group of remarkably talented musicians, who take turns leading the band with impressive solos. These are all incredible songs, from one of the most talented and influential musicians in jazz, and in all of popular music.
The Doors
5/5
The Doors self-titled debut album transformed the band from a good, local, LA band into nationally known, headlining act. The album is considered the Doors' best work, and is listed near the top of the "best albums of all time" lists. The album's, and the band's, repute is due, at least in part, to the cultural fascination/mystique around Jim Morrison. The album's status in "classic rock," psychedelia, and 60's counter-culture is iconic, and the "tragic hero mythology" around Morrison only seems to add to the cultural impact of the band's work.
The album's success was driven by single "Light My Fire," which became their first hit. It, like all of the Doors' work, is centered on Morrison's deep, dramatic vocals. Their sound is blues based, with strong, driving bass lines. Regular use of distortion on the guitars and organs help add the psychedelic background to the sound. From there, Morrison's content takes over - with tracks like "the End," the band's association with psychedelic counter-culture was inevitable.
Bobby Womack
3/5
The Poet is the thirteenth album from soul singer Bobby Womack. Womack's albums did well on the R&B charts, but never found much success with a broader audience, on the pop charts. The Poet is considered his best work.
This is a good collection of soul songs, including the successful single "If you think you're Lonely Now." Womack plays lead guitar, with a solid, R&B band behind him, including a group of background singers.
Bauhaus
3/5
Mask is the second album from Bauhaus, the founding fathers of goth rock. The band made guitar and bass driven alt-rock, with a distant, synthesized sound. Peter Murphy's dramatic vocals add to the generally gloomy sound of Bauhaus' work.
"Kick in the Eye" was the most successful single on the album; it's a catchy, near-pop crossover song for the band. The song could be the work of any of a number of 80's bands, demonstrating the influence of this band. Some tracks are not as engaging; the title track, for example, is a bit of a challenge to sit through.
Elastica
4/5
Elastica is a brit-pop band, and their self-titled debut was a critical and commercial success. Their guitar driven, alt-rock adds a rare element - a female lead singer in an alt-rock band - with Justine Frischmann's vocals. Her melodic voice has a hint of the snarl of punk, adding to the band's edgy sound.
This album includes "Stutter" and "Connections," two of the band's biggest hits. These songs, like the rest of the tracks on the album, are engaging and upbeat, and are of an interesting version of 90's pop.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Are You Experienced is Jimi Hendrix's debut album. It is one of the defining albums of the psychedelic era, and regarded as one of the very best albums of all time. Hendrix was one of the true guitar virtuosos in rock music; his skillful playing style and extensive use of effects expanded the range of sounds made by the electric guitar. In addition, Hendrix was a gifted songwriter, whose work became a central part of psychedelic rock.
Are You Experienced includes a few of Jimi's early hits, like the "Purple Haze," "Hey Joe," and "The Wind Cries Mary." Jimi's intense, expressive guitar work would make any songs well known. The incredible songwriting has made these - and the rest of the tracks on this album - into among the most famous songs in popular music.
4/5
Modern Life is Rubbish is the second album from Blur, and the release before their breakout album, Parklife. The album includes more experimental efforts than found on the band's debut, Leisure, with the band exploring a range of sounds, but all well within the world of brit pop. Blur is, unfortunately, the Brit pop band right before Oasis, and they may be lesser known for that timing.
Modern Life includes a fun selection of melodic, upbeat songs. While this album didn't find the commercial success that the band's later work did, these songs show the band's ability to craft great pop songs.
Silver Jews
3/5
Silver Jews make lo-fi country rock - unrefined, guitar based songs, defined by David Berman vocals, that is at times sardonic, and at others, approaches spoken word. He tells emotional, often dark stories; this album is telling the story of a man who is up all night, contemplating suicide.
The stories in Berman's work are the high point; his songwriting skills make this album worthy of a second listen. The music accompanying is good, and appropriate for the stories throughout, but isn't the part of the work I'll think about most often.
David Bowie
3/5
Blackstar is last album released during David Bowie's life; it was released just two days before his death was publicly announced. It has found near-universal critical acclaim, especially noted as Bowie's "curtain call."
With orchestrations from musical theater, these songs could be compared to Rufus Wainwright's; these could be described as an "operatic" version of pop songs. Bowie's rich voice makes interesting songs, but otherwise, these aren't particularly memorable songs. Imo, the most melodically interesting performance by the band is in "Tis' a Pity She Was a Whore," which makes the song, and the album, a bit less interesting...
4/5
Loretta Lynn is one of the biggest stars of country music, with a career that spanned decades. Don't come Home Drinkin'... is her ninth studio album, and the first full album of feminist based songs in her catalog. Loretta was the first country artist to present a woman's perspective; in doing so, Loretta changed country music as an artist that the average, working-class woman could relate to.
This album was one of many high points of Loretta Lynn's career. Her very poor background made her famous through song and film; Don't Come Home Drinkin' is part of her music that made her into a feminist icon.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Joan Armatrading is a British singer/songwriter with a deep, rich voice, who wrote a confessional type of folk rock songs. Her eponymous album was her third, and the work that propelled her to fame.
The album includes "Love and Affection," Armatrading's first hit single. These songs incorporate rich orchestrations - saxophones and 12-string guitar solos - to add to the rich sound of Armatrading's incredible voice.
Roxy Music
4/5
Country Life is the fourth Roxy Music album, which was the work that brought them fame in the US. The album is regarded as more consistent and refined than their earlier albums; the album's polished feel seems appropriate for the band's focus on art rock. The cover art features two models in translucent lingerie; the controversy around the artwork may have added to the notoriety of the album.
The album includes "All I Want is You," which was one of the band's most successful singles. Singer Bryan Ferry's seductive tenor is the most notable feature of Roxy Music; his crooning is part of the stylish, effortlessly cool persona that is at the center of Roxy Music's presentation of art rock.
Supertramp
4/5
Crime of the Century is Supertramp's third album, and their first to find critical and commercial success. Their first two albums were primarily filled with longer, prog-rock compositions; for this album, the band moved more toward pop formats, with shorter songs and a focus on melodic hooks.
The result produced a few of the band's first hits, like "Dreamer" and "Bloody Well Right." These catchy, upbeat tracks have become defining examples of early prog rock, with the technical elements and elaborate orchestration typical of the genre.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
A Short Album About Love is the fifth album from the Devine Comedy, an Irish "Orchestral Pop" group. The group's work could be placed alongside that of Andrew Lloyd Weber; these are akin to showtunes, pop songs that are played with a full orchestra.
These are melodic, reasonably performed, but not very interesting songs. They fall flat - between the over-produced sound and the melodramatic lyrics - these sound more like 60's movie soundtrack material, very produced but not actually popular music.
Jack White
5/5
Jack White's career is extensive and diverse: from his start with the White Stripes, work with the Raconteurs, work with the Dead Weather, then his solo albums, and then his work as a producer. His is one of the most extensive and impactful careers in modern music - and he is still a fairly young man. Blunderbuss is White's debut solo album, and it is as interesting and varied as White's career.
White makes blues based, alt rock, with elements of folk, country, and hints of jazz. These are rich, varied, textured songs, with the range of sounds and styles that Jack White incorporates. The result is incredible - a set of successful, expressive, beautiful musical experiments.
Johnny Cash
4/5
At Fulsom Prison is the first live album from Johnny Cash. Cash's career had a rocky period during the mid 60's; Cash kicked his drug habit, and during his rebound, he recorded this album. The live album he recorded became the biggest album of Cash's career. At Folsom Prison became a defining point for Cash's career; he has cultivated an image of an outlaw, and he grew into an advocate for some disaffected groups, including the incarcerated.
The album features "Fulsom Prison Blues," one of Cash's biggest songs. He wrote a version in the 50's, early in has career. The live version from this album became a hit in 1968, and became one of Cash's best known songs. This recording captures Cash's simple, elegant version of country - just a baritone voice and a guitar - that he developed through years of touring.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Shuggie Otis is one of the "could have been/should have been" stories in modern music. He was a guitar prodigy, and performed with his father's band starting in his early teens. Inspiration Information was his third studio album, which Otis produced himself and played most of the instrumental parts on the album. The album did not find commercial success, and marked the beginning of a long, quiet period in Otis' career. After a few notable musicians described the album as an inspiration, including Prince and Lenny Kravitz, it was released in 2001, leading to a late resurgence in Otis' career.
This is an incredible work of R&B and psychedelic soul, full of interesting, rich, textured songs. It's an album that should have been more famous, and had it been, Shuggie Otis could have produced more music...
4/5
Wild Girl is the second studio album from X, the LA based punk band. X made a unique version of punk; their work has a basis in rockabilly, in part from guitarist Billy Zoom's (Ty Kindell) previous work. X's distinct sound came, in part, from their two lead vocalists; John Doe (John Duchec) and Exene Cervenka (Christine Cervenkova) shared the role, and the dynamic between them was a distinct part of the band's song.
Wild Gift and the band's debut album, Los Angeles, were well known around LA, and made them regionally famous. After this album, X got a major-label contract, and much broader exposure. Wild Gift is a snapshot of the band in a raw, early stage as an influential punk band.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Ali Farka Toure performed African Blues, and Savane is the last album he recorded during his lifetime. Toure is one of the most internationally successful musicians from West Africa. He became famous in the 80s and 90s, as interest in "World Music" was developing. Toure was frequently compared to John Lee Hooker, for both vocal and musical style.
Toure's vocals tend towards lower pitches, like Hooker's, but Toure's delivery and message is more uplifting. He tends toward simple accompaniment, making his "desert blues" sound similar to Delta Blues in the United States. Toure's work differs significantly from American Blues in the rhythms and tonal scales used. His music is of a very different tradition from American Blues, which makes the similarities all the more fascinating.
Prince
5/5
Sign 'O the Times is one of Prince's masterpieces. It is his ninth studio album, an expansive double album including songs of a surprising range of sounds and styles. Prince released a concert film of the same title which is, in my opinion, among the best concert films ever produced.
Prince combines R&B, funk, soul, and rock in his work; the result is some of the most engaging, influential songs in modern music. This album included a few hit singles - the title track, "If I was Your Girlfriend," and "U Got the Look" - but these were not among his biggest singles. The album is so very well regarded for the incredible range of the tracks, which show the boundless talent behind the music.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Floodland is the second album from British gothic rock band, Sisters of Mercy. The albums is primarily the work of front man Andrew Eldritch. He credits the drum machine as a band member, Doktor Avalanche. Eldritch programmed or performed all of the parts on the record.
This is good, but not particularly noteworthy collection of songs. The album sounds like an edgy version of David Bowie's 80's/near-Simple Minds work.
The Stooges
4/5
The Stooges self-titled debut album was not particularly well received at the time of its release. Their simple, unrefined rock could be - as was - described as dirty and grungy. It is, and unapologetically so; Iggy Pop's songs and performances were intended to provoke reactions. The album was not commercially successful, either. The band influenced much of American punk and post-punk music; over time, the album has been recognized as one of the most influential early albums in punk.
The album includes two of the band's early singles "1969" and "I Want to be Your Dog," which are great examples of the band's sound: Iggy Pop's confident swagger, backed by guitars with heavy distortion effects and a solid bass line.
Van Halen
4/5
1984 was the sixth album from Van Halen, and the work that made the band into superstars. The were already well known, with a number of hit singles. The band was built around Eddie Van Halen's prodigious guitar skills. 1984 saw the band add synthesizers to their sound, which may have helped the work's popular appeal.
The album includes the singles "Jump," "Panama," and "Hot for Teacher," all of which feature Eddie's wailing guitars, and David Lee Roth's brash, provocative vocals.
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
Don't Stand Me Down is the third album from Dexys Midnight Runners - the follow up to their incredibly successful second album, Too-Rye-Ay. This work was a commercial flop, and received little critical attention as a result.
Dexys Midnight Runners made rich, orchestrated pop songs, with support from a string section and a horn section. Kevin Rowland, vocalist and driving force in the band, incorporates soul and Irish folk influences in his songs, which have an uplifting, energetic sound. Don't Stand Me Down is considered something of a "lost masterpiece;" a great album that flopped badly enough for the group to break up, and take 27 years before recording another album.
The Cult
4/5
Electric is the third album from British band The Cult. Rick Rubin produced this album, and he helped the band shift from their goth-rock sound to a metal sound. The result is a great example of guitar-led, 80s metal band.
Electric includes "Love Removal Machine," one of the band's biggest singles. Ian Astbury's soaring vocals and Billy Duffy's wailing guitars makes for great metal. These songs are all well produced enough to account for the band's popular appeal.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Time Out Of Mind is Bob Dylan's thirteenth studio album, and one of his more acclaimed albums; it even won a few Grammys. It was seen as something of a "comeback" for Dylan, who had only recorded two, not as well regarded albums in the decade prior.
These songs have Dylan become a wise, old man in his story telling. There's a sense of mortality to these stories, but it's not a dark picture. In the resigned sense of his songs, Dylan seems amused with place he finds himself in.
Steely Dan
3/5
Can't Buy A Thrill is the debut album from Steely Dan, a band primarily driven by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. They made jazz-inspired rock, and are a central figure is what has come to be called yacht rock. They incorporated Latin and Mambo rhythms into their own style of complicated, richly orchestrated, softer rock.
The album's success was driven by two hit singles: "Do it Again," and "Reelin' in the Years." The songs are staples of the "classic rock" world, and helped make soft, jazzy rock part of pop music in the 70s and 80s.
Eels
4/5
Beautiful Freak is the debut album from the Eels, which is really the work of Mark Oliver Everett. This could have been a "one-hit" story; their "Novocain for the Soul" was one of the songs of the summer of 1996. The Eels parlayed that early exposure, and have recorded fifteen albums to date, and their style developed considerably over that career.
This early rendition of the Eels made catchy, lo-fi alt-rock songs, that are comparable to some of the early work of Beck.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
4/5
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band were a Scottish band that made dramatic glam-rock. Their music has a vaudeville feeling to it, which was matched with elaborate costumes and stage shows full of theatrics. Their songs were blues based rock songs, with funk influences.
Next was the group's second album, which performed well in the UK and Europe. The band never achieved significant commercial success, but were influential on a number of acts, including AC/DC and Nick Cave.
Nick Drake
5/5
Nick Drake had a brief recording career - only three albums - but has become known as one of the great folk rock songwriters. Bryter Layter is his second album, and may be the most upbeat and of his work. That said, Drake's work, and the songs on this album, express an introspective, melancholy perspective.
Bryter Layter includes "One of These Things First," which has soaring piano and technical bass parts to accompany Drake's warm, rich voice. All of the songs on the album have interesting orchestrations, even employing horns and a string section, creating a sound closer to jazz than most folk rock.
Laibach
2/5
Laibach is a Slovenian group that makes "martial industrial" - industrial music with a militaristic bent, all performed as a parody, of sorts. The band presents rock concerts as absurd political rallies.
The album includes the band's biggest hit, "Live is Life," also known as "Opus Dei." This is dark, foreboding music, that seems like a soundtrack to a dystopian film.
The Shamen
4/5
En-Tact is the fourth album from the Shamen, a Scottish band that evolved from a psychedelic guitar band into an electronic, dance club band. Frontman Colin Angus combined house and techno elements to create the band's danceable tracks.
En-Tact features "Move Any Mountain," one of the band's biggest songs. It has become one of the early "classics" of industrial house. The simple, catchy lyrics run with the driving bass to make one of the most frequently remixed dance club songs in history.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
The Trinity Sessions is the second album from Cowboy Junkies, but it was their major label debut. The band makes lo-fi folk rock, led by Margo Timmins' ethereal, delicately-paced vocals. The tracks on the Trinity Sessions were recorded in one night, on one microphone, and they have a sense of simple, raw intimacy.
The Trinity Sessions includes the band's cover of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane," which was the band's biggest single. The band uses a steel guitar, a fiddle, and a harmonica, creating a sound like Americana folk.
The Beach Boys
5/5
Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album from the Beach Boys. It is regarded as their best work, and sits at the very top of most lists of the greatest albums of modern music. At the time of its release, it was not successful, critically or commercially. The complicated orchestrations and significant production were too much of a departure from the band's catalog of innocent, harmonic surf-pop. Over time, the album's repute has changed to universal acclaim.
These songs maintain the band's youthful, innocent perspective and vocal harmonies, like in "Wouldn't it be Nice," but added an array of instruments and production effects that changed the world's understanding of what could make a pop song.
The Blue Nile
3/5
The Blue Nile is a Scottish band that makes ambient synth-pop. A Walk Across the Rooftops is their debut album. At the time of its release, the album met with critical success, but did not have find significant commercial success. As years passed, its reputation grew, and subsequent releases from the band brought more attention to this debut.
The band creates upbeat, melodic songs, like their single "Stay," with ambient electronic backgrounds. Some tracks have a more serious sense, like "Tinseltown in the Rain," anticipating the drama inherent in later 80s pop.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
For a few years in the mid 1960s, Paul Revere & the Raiders were one of the biggest bands in the US. In 1966, the band released three studio albums. Midnight Ride was the second of those, and is regarded as the band's best work. The band made R&B based, guitar driven rock songs.
The album features "Kicks," which is one of the band's biggest singles, and "(I'm not your) Stepping Stone," which was covered by the Monkees. Some of the songs are goofy enough that they could be the Monkees, like "Melody for an Unknown Girl." Other songs could be Booker T., like "Shake it Up."
Van Halen
5/5
Van Halen's self titled debut is one of the defining albums of modern metal. Led by David Lee Roth's swagger, and Eddie Van Halen's stunning technique, Van Halen brought edgy, guitar driven metal to popular music.
The album includes some of the band's early hits, like "You Really Got Me" and "Running with the Devil," which showcase Roth's vocals, impressive harmonies, and a strong band. The most significant element, without question, is Eddie's remarkable talent, which raised the bar for metal guitarists.
Brian Eno
4/5
Here Come the Warm Jets is Brian Eno's debut solo album. Eno had already found considerable fame for his time in Roxy Music; this album sounds close to Roxy Music's glam rock. In his solo work, Eno continued his experimentation with synthesizers, and explored a range of song formats and styles.
This is an interesting collection of pop songs that are hard to date; this album doesn't the trends of early 70s pop - or any other decade. Eno created songs with the grandeur of Roxy Music's glam rock, and incorporating enough of Eno's synthesizer and production techniques to give the work a distinct sound.
Tito Puente
5/5
Tito Puente was a Puerto Rican bandleader and percussionist that grew up in Spanish Harlem. He has an incredibly extensive catalog, with over a hundred albums to his credit. Dance Mania was one of his most popular albums, and is a great example of Puente's dynamic Latin jazz.
All of Puente's music is based in Latin dance rhythms. He makes beautiful, uplifting music that will inspire everyone to move.
The Coral
4/5
The Coral was a British pop rock band that evolved through several styles in the course of their career. At the time of their self-titled debut, they were a retro-psychedelic rock band - retro, for the aughts - with effect-laden guitars and organs. They employ rhythms that approach rockabilly, giving their songs a bouncing, upbeat sense.
The album's success was driven by the single "Dreaming of You," the band's first hit, and the surprising range of sounds found on the album. The band wanders between an array of styles and sounds, making an interesting collection of songs.
Neil Young
3/5
On the Beach is Neil Young's fifth solo album, and the second of the "Ditch Trilogy," the trio of albums that are seen as follow-ups to his incredibly successful album, Harvest. The album was not well received at its release; the songs address anger and alienation, and the production was intentionally rudimentary. The album's repute has improved considerably as Young's career has continued.
The album does not include any of Young's bigger hits, but nonetheless, On the Beach is regarded as a significant part of Young's catalog. The songs show Young's tendency to create raw, introspective folk music.
Brian Eno
5/5
My Life In the Bush of Ghosts is a collaborative album created by Brian Eno and David Byrne. They used samples, extensively, in a manner that had never been done before. The album often sounds like the rhythmically complicated minimalism that was found in the work of the Talking Heads produced by Eno.
Eno described this album has his "vision of a psychedelic Africa." He and Byrne incorporated a number of African rhythms and samples in their recordings through the 80s and 90s.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Robert Wyatt was part of the British progressive band Soft Machine, and then embarked on a solo career. After his first album, he was paralyzed in a tragic fall. Since his accident, he has created solo album, with a number of guests from the British music scene. Wyatt makes progressive rock - or perhaps art rock - that's reminiscent of Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd.
The songs on the album are of a range of styles, but none that are particularly engaging, and most seem derivative. For example, "Blues in Bob Minor" sounds like a Bob Dylan-inspired version of REM's "End of the World."
The xx
4/5
British group the XX make atmospheric pop, with a distinct sound coming from dual lead vocalists: Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. Their vocal exchange is a defining element of the moody, soulful songs they create, with extensive production from Jamie Smith, who performs as a solo electronic producer as Jamie XX.
I See You includes a few of the XX's hits, like "Oh Hold" and "Dangerous," which made successful pop songs out of down-tempo dance tracks. Their ballads, like "Say Something Lovely," drift closer to an ambient electronic sound.
Sugar
4/5
Sugar was a band formed by Bob Mould, singer and guitarist that originally found fame as the frontman for the punk band Husker Du. In that band, Mould's solid, earnest vocals and guitar riffs helped define 80s punk, and his songwriting made the band's work memorable. After that band broke up, Mould released a pair of solo albums which were closer to folk than his earlier work.
Sugar marked Mould's return to an edgy, driven sound. The band's debut, Copper Blue, is filled with songs that are more melodic, better-produced versions of Husker Du songs, like "If I Can't Change Your Mind" and "Helpless."
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Born in the USA was Bruce Springsteen's seventh studio album, and is the album that made Springsteen into a superstar. The album followed Springsteen's solo, introspective album Nebraska, and continued that work's focus on working-class perspective and concerns. This focus, and the album's extraordinary success, helped inspire a trend of "heartland rock" that flourished in the 80s and the 90s.
The album includes several of Springsteen's biggest hits, including "Dancing in the Dark," "Cover Me," and the title track. These singles were supported by music videos, and the album's success was driven, in part, by the video-focused music industry of the decade.
TLC
4/5
CrazySexyCool is the second studio album from TLC, a trio from Atlanta that made music combining R&B, soul, and rap. They made catchy, melodic songs that appealed to pop audiences, with danceable, hip-hop based beats, which helped make some of their songs club classics. Their work has a confidence - a swagger - that show it's connection with rap and hip hop. CrazySexyCool incredibly successful, becoming the best-selling album by a "American girl group" of all time.
The album includes "Waterfalls," one of the group's biggest hit singles. The song's positive spin on a cautionary message was part of its universal appeal. It also includes "Creep," a song that has been remixed dozens of times by a range of DJs and producers.
David Bowie
3/5
Young Americans is David Bowie's ninth studio album, and his break through LP in the United States. This was a departure from his previous work; with Young Americans, Bowie wandered into "white soul," his version of American R&B and soul.
The album includes "Fame," Bowie's first #1 single in the US. Amongst Bowie's extensive catalog, this is not regarded as his best work. However, Young Americans is a significant milestone in his career, not only for the success in the US, but also for the beginning of Bowie's career as a musical chameleon. His exploration of sounds and styles - beyond his early "Ziggy Stardust" phase - continued throughout his career.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
The Scream is the debut album from Siouxsie and the Banshees, a British punk rock band. The bandmembers were all part of a group of avid Sex Pistols fans, known as the Bromley Contingent. The bands sound evolved considerably in the course of their career; their debut is primitive, abrasive art-punk.
These songs feature distorted, aggressive guitar riffs, and driven rhythms from an intentionally limited drum kit, adding to a minimalist sense to the band's work. The defining element of theirs songs is Siouxsie's raw, angst-ridden vocals. This album - and the rest of the band's catalog - were incredibly influential across a range of genres.
The Stooges
4/5
Fun House is second album from the Stooges, the Michigan punk band. The album was not particularly well received at the time of its release. Fun House has come to be regarded as the seminal proto-punk album, inspiring a range of bands.
Iggy Pop's aggressive, often-screaming vocals give the songs an angry edge. The driven, sloppy guitar adds a brash, raw energy to the tracks. This is the step before the New York Dolls, the Sex Pistols, and Ramones, among many, many others.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Felt Mountain is the debut album from Goldfrapp, a British pair made up of singer Alison Goldfrapp and producer Will Gregory. In their first album, they use ambient electronics with subtle orchestrations as support for vocals delivered in a cabaret style. The result is a version of trip hop, comparable to Portishead.
These are graceful, seductive songs with engaging melodies and Goldfrapp's sultry, expressive voice. They employ a range of rhythms, with some hints of the more danceable material the pair produced later in their career.
Carpenters
3/5
Close to You is the second album from the Carpenters, the brother/sister duo that made "soft rock" pop songs. Their songs are build around Karen Carpenter's strong, contralto voice, and her brother Richard's harmonizing and arranging. The album was an international success, and helped the Carpenters become one of the best selling artists of all times.
The album includes "Close to You," and "We've only Just Begun," the first two of the pair's hit singles, and a cover of the Beatles' "Help." These are pretty, melodic songs that have become fixtures on "easy listening" playlists.
Gorillaz
4/5
Gorillaz are a "virtual band" - a band comprised of fictional characters, that is primarily the work of Damon Albarn, and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett. The band makes music that weaves rap, hip-hop, and alt-rock into their version of trip hop. Their debut album was an international success, supported by extensive touring - making the band not just a cartoon entity, but instead a group with a designed, "branded" side to their public image.
The album includes "Clint Eastwood," featuring Del the Funky Homosapian rapping, so titled because the melody is close to the theme song from the movie "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." The band regularly collaborates with a range of musicians; the band's catalog has something of a rolling cast.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
5/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash was the self-titled debut from the folk rock supergroup; Crosby was in the Byrds, Nash in the Hollies, and Stills in Buffalo Springfield. The trio's sound was different that their respective predecessors, but their established notoriety contributed to CS&N's success. During their tour to support the album, they added Neil Young to their ranks, another Buffalo Springfield alum and an addition to the group's star power.
The album includes "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," and "Marrakesh Express." two of the band's early hits. The trio employed layered harmonies in their melodies, creating songs with a compelling, earnest sound. Their songs resonated with the social movements of the era, making CS&N's songs somehow essentially related to the time period.
The Doors
4/5
Morrison Hotel is the Door's fifth studio album, which was released in the middle of the band's tumultuous career. Their fourth release, the Soft Parade, is regarded as the weakest of the band's release; Morrison Hotel was something of a critical and popular "comeback" for the band.
The album does not include any of the band's biggest hits; "Roadhouse Blues" was the most successful track on the album. This is a good collection of the band's blues-based rock songs.
Björk
4/5
Medulla is Bjork's fifth studio album, and recording comprised almost entirely a cappella. Her previous effort, Vespertine, involved extensive electronic tracks, and these songs are as far from that format as possible. Bjork uses voices for all arranged parts - including a pseudo-slap bass.
These are interesting, challenging songs that could be called avant garde, or could be an "alt-classical." These are not songs that will appeal to all ears, but they are interesting, beautiful songs.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
Kings of the Wild Frontier is the second studio album from Adam & the Ants. This was a rebuilt "& the Ants;" after the band's first album, everyone but Adam Ant departed to become Bow Wow Wow. This album was far more successful than the band's first effort, both commercially and critically, and became one of the first successful post-punk new wave groups. They made version of glam rock, with catchy melodies and two drummers, making their work rhythmically focused.
The album includes some of the band's early hits, including the title track and "Ant Music," the band's self-referential anthem. Their songs feature Adam Ant's confident vocals, with extensive support from background vocals, adding to their glam-rock, campy sound.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Antichrist Superstar is the second full-length album from Marilyn Manson. It is composed a a rock opera; the story of a demi-god rock star that tries to bring about the end of days. The content inspired protests from right-wing Christian groups during the band's tours, adding to the band's, and especially the lead singer's notoriety. The album was the band's most successful work, and established Marilyn Manson as a fixture - both as a goth metal performing artist, and as a target for many offended by their work.
The album includes "the Beautiful People," an angry, industrial track that was an international hit, supported by a music video, in an era when MTV was still relevant. The track, and rest of the album, is not particularly noteworthy thrash, industrial metal. The concept did remarkably well in the 90s, and is fairly well presented, but is not interesting enough to make up for the predictable near-death metal.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
Raising Hell is the third album from Run-D.M.C., and it was the record that made them stars. This is the first commercially successful rap album, and helped define the first decade of the genre. The album sits high on the "greatest rap album" lists as well as the "greatest albums of modern music" lists.
Raising Hell includes a cover of Aerosmith's "Walk this Way," which helped drive the success of the album. The album also includes a few of the trio's early hits, like "My Adidas" and "It's Tricky." These tracks all had successful videos in the very early days of MTV, which helped Run-D.M.C. bring rap to a much wider audience.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Haunted Dancehall is the second studio album from British techno producers The Sabres of Paradise. This is a concept album, of sorts, with all of the songs about the spirts found in a Haunted Dancehall.
This is an interesting collection of dance track, in the sound and style of dance tracks of the early nineties.
Patti Smith
5/5
Horses is Patti Smith's debut album, and is often thought of as the first punk album. The album was very well received critically, but only found limited commercial success. Over time, Horses has come to be regarded as one of the best album ever recorded; it helped define the early part of punk and new wave, and influenced generations of musicians.
Smith made raw, edgy rock songs, with a minimalist feeling that became the norm in early punk. She added thoughtful, inciteful lyrics, adding a depth rarely seen in punk and most rock - an "art punk."
Smith made raw, minimal, edgy rock songs
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Franz Ferdinand is a British group that made a version of alt-rock that could be called dance punk. They made funky, danceable songs, that became a very successful version of brit-pop for the aughts. Their self-titled debut album won the Mercury Prize, and met with near-universal critical acclaim.
The album includes "Take Me Out," the band's breakout single, as well as "The Dark Side of the Matinee," and "Michael." These bass-driven, upbeat danceable tracks are great examples of the band's catchy pop songs.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
The Go-Betweens were an Australian band that made earnest, engaging pop/alt rock. They received consistent, strong critical reception, but never gathered more that a cult following. 16 Lovers Lane is the band's sixth studio album, and is regarded as the band's best work.
This is a interesting collection of catchy love songs, from a band that never quite made it.
Joy Division
5/5
Closer is the second and final studio album from Joy Division. The album was released two month after the suicide of the lead singer, Ian Curtis, which brought about the end of the band. The album has come to be regarded as one of the first post-punk masterpieces.
The band formed around the punk scene of mid-70s London, and added synthesizers to the sparse, bass-driven sound of early punk. Curtis' lyrics are moody and dark, far from the anger expressed in most punk. The interesting, innovative mix found in the band's music has influenced generations and genres.
Mudhoney
3/5
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge is the second studio album from Mudhoney, and the last before they made the jump to major label releases. Mudhoney made garage punk, or grunge, and of the Seattle bands that became famous in that wave, they may be the closest to punk.
These are edgy, guitar and bass driven songs, with a raw energy that some of their more famous counterparts lost in production. This album fits somewhere in between Nirvana and Husker Du...
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Ragged Glory is Neil Young's twentieth studio album, and the sixth he recorded with his band Crazy Horse. To record the album, the band played the songs, over and over again, at Young's ranch, over the course of weeks. They chose the best versions, and complied them for the album.
The result is an album with the feel of a live performance - the variances and imperfections that bring the spark to live music. The album is often called garage rock, and was influential with the bands that made 90s grunge.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
The Songs of Leonard Cohen is Cohen's debut, which lead to his remarkably fast path to stardom. He was a well established, famous novelist and poet before he stepped into music, and his poetic talents were central element of his successful musical career. Cohen's songs are somber, introspective stories, delivered in Cohen's deep monotone.
The album opens with "Suzanne," one of the songs that helped make Cohen famous. Judy Collins included the song on her album, My Life, and encouraged Cohen to start performing.
Kate Bush
4/5
The Sensual World is the sixth album from Kate Bush, a British musician that makes eclectic art pop. Bush's distinct soprano is the defining element of her songs, and she adds intricate orchestrations employing a range of instruments, voices, and synthesizers. The result is a rich, progressive version of pop that is difficult to place in a particular genre.
The album's title track was inspired by the story at the end of James Joyce's Ulysses: Molly Bloom steps out of the black and white world into this sensual world. Bush's song was an attempt to voice Molly's expression at the time.
Deep Purple
4/5
Deep Purple is a British Band who have had an incredibly long career as one of the central figures in "classic rock." They made guitar and bass driven, heavy, hard rock, before it was called metal. Deep Purple in Rock is the band's fourth album, and the first to find significant success.
Led by Ian Gillan's wailing vocals, the band's energy and technical ability helped define heavy metal in the early 70s, with Black Sabbath and Uriah Heap. This album showed the band developing its successful sound, and helped propel the band's career.
Buzzcocks
5/5
Another Music In a Different Kitchen is the first studio album from the Buzzcocks. The band were comprised of Sex Pistols fans, and tried to create a similar sound. Their music was more melodic and less political than the Pistols, and the result is a more accessible version of punk.
Another Music In a Different Kitche is full of catchy, energetic songs that created a different side of punk than the Sex Pistols developed - one that is closer to pop than most of early punk.
The Associates
3/5
Sulk is the second and last studio album from the Associates, a Scottish band that made grandiose post punk. The album was a critical and commercial success, and the band didn't survive their success. Their songs have a dramatic, theatric sense, driven by Billy Mackenzie's cabaret falsetto.
The album includes "Country Club," one of the band's biggest singles, a danceable track utilizing a drum machine with extensive use of synthesizers.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Deja Vu is the second album album from Crosby, Stills & Nash, and their first as a quartet, with Neil Young. C,S&N was regarded as a "supergroup;" the addition of a their fourth made term seem not quite strong enough. This album was the most successful album of the group's career long, storied career.
C,S,N&Y used layered harmonies as well as any group in popular music, with a mixture of guitar elements from folk and rock. The group's greatest strength is in their songwriting, with all members contributing to this incredible collection of songs.
Jane Weaver
4/5
Jane Weaver is a British singer/songwriter that has recorded in a range of styles during her career. Modern Kosmology is her eighth solo album, and an exploration of dreamy, ethereal "folktronica."
Weaver's talent as a songwriter is evident throughout her career. In this release, her melodic, electronic pop songs showcase her strong, rich voice.
Khaled
4/5
Khaled is an Algerian musician, and Kenza is his fourth studio album. The album is named after one of his daughters, whose name is the Arabic word for "treasure." This is a collection of songs of a style called Rai; Khaled is known as the "King of Rai." He is one of the best selling Arabic-language recording artists in history.
Khaled's songs are an interesting mix of styles. He combines element of traditional Algerian music, vocal styles and instrumentation, with elements of rock and hints of reggae. Through the success of his music, he became a cultural ambassador and a pioneer of "world music."
KISS
2/5
Destroyer is the fourth studio album from Kiss, and the follow up to their breakthrough live album, Alive! At first, Destroyer sold slowly, but the unexpected success of the b-side ballad "Beth" helped drive sales of the album. Destroyer was the band's first platinum album, establishing them as a fixture in the pop/glam/hard rock world.
The album is uneven, at best: for the few good rock songs - like "Shout it Out Loud" - there are far too many "Great Expectations" and "Sweet Pain."
Incubus
4/5
Make Yourself is Incubus' third album, and was their breakthrough work. They combined metal, rap, and timing and transitions from alt-rock, with extensive turntable work from DJ Kilmore.
The album's success was driven by a few of the band's early singles, like "Drive" and "Pardon Me," great examples of the interesting mixture that band produces.
New York Dolls
5/5
The New York Dolls invented punk, before it was called punk. They combined Bowie's glam rock, the Stooge's brash attitude, and pushed it towards the Rolling Stones' style of bluesy rock. The result was an amazing mixture that predated punk and glam metal by creating the first draft of both.
The band's self-title debut may be the best work of their short - but incredibly influential - career. The band only released two albums in the 70s, and regrouped in the aughts to release new music. This album captures the raw energy of a great, experimental young band.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Anada Skankar was a sitar player, and the nephew of the renowned sitarist Ravi, who released psychedelic versions of Western rock. His work has an Indian sound, for he sitar and supporting instrumentation, and included frequent use of synthesizers, adding electronic soundscapes to the tracks.
The album includes some famous covers - "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire" - with a collection of original tracks. The covers, and the connections, brought this work some fame.; the music is good, but not particularly great...
Wilco
4/5
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is Wilco's fourth album, and the best selling album of their career. The album met with near-universal critical praise, and is regarded as the band's best work. The band's label, Reprise, refused to release the album, because they were unhappy with the product. The band acquired the rights, and later released it through Nonesuch Records.
Jeff Tweedy writes engaging songs is a folk/country rock vein. They add electronics and a range of supporting instruments to create their version of alt-rock.
Madonna
5/5
Like a Prayer is Madonna's fourth studio album, and amongst her extensive catalog, it is regarded as her best work. Her first three albums were filled with singles that topped pop charts; Like a Prayer is an extensive experiment diverging from the dance/pop that made Madonna famous.
All of her experiments topped the pop charts, like the title track - an orchestrated, soaring near- hymn - became an anthem. Madonna included dance tracks - like "Express Yourself" - but even these were experiments. Like a Prayer was release in the middle of Madonna's dominance of popular music. In the 80s, she was showing the world how to do it.
Donovan
3/5
Donavan was a Scottish singer/songwriter with a confident, strong voice. Sunshine Superman was his debut album, and the title of one of his first successful singles. His songs have a wide-eyed optimism, which made him a good fit with the early part of the 60s hippy psychedelia.
These are sparse, bass-heavy songs, centered on Donavan's relaxed, engaging delivery. He had a few popular singles which, like Sunshine Superman, brought a little bit of edgy "rock-n-roll" to the otherwise folk-centered world of singer/songwriters.
4/5
XTC was a British band that made rich, orchestrated pop. The band could serve as an example of record company abuse; they spent much of the 90s on strike from Virgin Records. Apple Venus Volume 1 was their thirteenth album, and their first release after getting out from under their burdensome contract with Virgin. Volume 2 of this effort, released the following year as "Wasp Star," was the last studio release from the band.
These are interesting, complicated pop songs, with many segments recorded with a forty-piece orchestra. This may be the best of the band's work, but it never found great commercial success, in part due to lack of major label support (and potentially due to major label resistance...).
Sonic Youth
4/5
Sister is the fourth studio album from Sonic Youth, which met with mixed reviews, and limited commercial success at the time of its release. The band's fifth, Daydream Nation, was their break-through work, and the band's subsequent success has made for a favorable re-assessment of Sister.
Sonic Youth made a version of art rock or noise rock. Guitars are heavily distorted and sustained, giving the songs a heavy, full sound. Punk rhythms and attitude make their music a version of post-punk, which was clearly influential on much of the alt-rock of the late 80s and 90s.
Genesis
4/5
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway is the sixth studio album from Genesis, and the last with Peter Gabriel as their lead singer. The Lamb... is a double LP, which was composed as a concept album; it is a story about a Puerto Rican boy in NYC. Some reviewers have commented that the story doesn't make a great deal of sense.
The Lamb... did not fare particularly well, commercially, and the critical reviews were mixed at the time of its release. As years passed, and as this was the last release from the original lineup, the album is seen in a different light. The Lamb... is generally thought of as the best work from that grouping. These are dramatic, elaborate prog rock songs - Genesis, version one, at their best.
The Verve
4/5
The Verve was a British band that had a short but very successful career. A Northern Soul was their second album, which met with significant critical success, but limited commercial success. Their third album included the single "Bittersweet Symphony," which was incredibly successful, and unfortunately led to the band's demise. Their fame has led to renewed interest in their earlier work, and A Northern Soul got a "second look," both from critical and commercial audiences.
The Verve were one of the bands to dominate Brit pop in the 90s. They made a guitar-driven, psychedelic version of alt rock. This is an interest collection of songs that was fortunate enough to get a re-evaluation.
George Michael
4/5
George Michael is a British pop singer that originally found fame as a member of Wham! Faith is is first solo album, and one of the best selling albums of all time. It won the Grammy for album of the year, and established Michael as a global superstar.
The lead single, "I want Your Sex," is a subtle, reserved dance track that propelled the album's initial success. Later singles, "Father Figure," "Faith," and "Monkey," show Michael's range, and his ability to make great, danceable pop.
Japan
3/5
Japan is a British band that started with a sound that was close to Roxy Music. With Quiet Life, their third studio album, they moved into synth-pop. This is one of the first successful album in that genre.
These are catchy, dramatic songs, that are clearly a precursor to much of 80s British pop. This is the album that inspired bands like Duran Duran.
Todd Rundgren
5/5
Something/Anything? is the third solo album from Todd Rundgren, and the first to be released under his name. His first two were released under the band name "Runt," on which Rundgren played every instrument but the drums and bass. On the first three sides of double this double album, he even took on these parts. Side four is full of recordings of a session band, in the form of a "pop operetta."
This album contains an incredible range of great pop sounds, in an impressive collection of styles. Rundgren shows his skills as a songwriter, musician, and producer in making an set of songs that helped define 70's pop.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Bridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and last studio album from Simon & Garfunkel. These songs show the songwriting talents of Simon, and the pair's incredible abilities to make melodic harmonies in pop songs. The range of songs is also impressive: some need nothing more than an acoustic guitar, others have the graceful, subtle support of an orchestra.
This is Simon & Garfunkel at their best, and unfortunately, at the end of their run. These are beautiful, influential pop songs showcasing their impressive range of talents.
Slipknot
1/5
Slipknot makes hard metal, which consists primarily of angry screaming. At times, they are capable of melodic hard rock - close to an edgy Soundgarden. They, they start the ugly screaming again.
Their songs are all very similar: thrashing guitars, driven drum parts, and lots and lots of gratuitous screaming. Then, there's the odd ballad they call "Snuff" - because every metal band needs a parallel to Kiss' "Beth."
George Harrison
5/5
All Things Must Pass is the third solo album from George Harrison, but it is often thought of as his first. He released two albums before the Beatles disbanded: one of Indian music and another of synthesizer experiments. All Things Must Pass is a very different effort that his first two albums, and was released only six month after his first band's breakup, so it was seen as the first post-Beatles solo effort. It's a three-LP release, a rarity in popular music and an opportunity for Harrison to publish a fairly extensive catalog in one release.
Driven by the success of "My Sweet Love," the album was an international success. The album has an impressive collection of songs, some written while Harrison was still a Beatle. The sixth album side is a set of instrumentals, and part of the band involved became Derek & the Dominoes.
Slint
3/5
Slint was a very-short lived punk from Kentucky. Spiderland was their second and final album. It was released after the band broke up, so the album got no promotional support, and was commercially and critically ignored. In the few years after its release, the album got some critical attention in Britain.
Slint's songs employ dissonance, unusual rhythms, and frequent pacing changes, giving them an uneasy feeling. Brian McMahon's vocals alternate between spoken word and punk-like near screams. The result is interesting, edgy punk that inspired a few genres of 90s and aughts post punk.
Taylor Swift
5/5
1989 is Taylor Swift's fifth studio album, and the work that marked her transition from folk/country to more synth-based pop. The album was incredibly successful, both in its original release, and in the (Taylor's Version) re-release. In 2016, it won the Grammy for Album of the Year and for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Swift writes great, uplifting pop songs, and she has become an international superstar because of it.
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
Nick of Time was the tenth studio album from Bonnie Raitt, and her commercial breakthrough after a long run of critically - but not commercially - successful albums. Her rich vocals are the central element of her guitar driven, blues-based rock.
The album had successful singles with "Thing Called Love," "Have a Heart," and the title track, and won a handful of Grammys, including Album of the Year. It changed the trajectory of Raitt's career, making her into a star.
Scott Walker
2/5
Scott Walker grew up in Ohio, but became a British pop star in the 60s. He was a member of the Walker Brothers - not brothers, or really named Walker - that had a few successful singles and albums. Scott 4 is Walker's fifth solo album. It was originally released under "Scott Engel," and this is one of the reasons given to suggest why it was a commercial failure. The album is filled with original songs, and was celebrated for it. This was a departure from much of Walker's career, who most frequently recorded covers and songs for soundtracks.
These songs all sound like they belong in a musical theater production: overly orchestrated and histrionic. "This morning I played chess with death" is hard to take seriously.
The Byrds
5/5
Younger Than Yesterday is the Byrds' fourth studio album, and is the last album recorded entirely with (most of) the original lineup. Gene Clark left the band the year before this album was recorded; David Crosby and Michael Clarke left in the year after. Some regard this album as the band's best work, as the most mature and enduring of the albums from the first lineup.
The Byrds combined folk rock with a Beatles-esque pop song model. They played with the sound and skill of an acoustic-based folk rock band, and added rich harmonies to their melodic songs.
Missy Elliott
5/5
Supa Dupa Fly is Missy Elliott's debut album, and was so very successful that it made her into a star. Her raps are based in soul and R&B; she makes melodic, danceable tracks that live somewhere near where hip hop mixes with funk.
This is an amazing album - an incredible mixture of styles and influences. Elliott helped expand the range of sounds in 90s hip hop, and opened doors for women in rap and hip hop.
The Dictators
3/5
The Dictators were a tongue-in-cheek New York Band that help define the early sound of punk. Their shows were an intentional spectacle, including a "professional wrestler" as an MC, of sorts. Their music is brash, defiant, and campy, inspiring a range of acts like the Ramones and the Beastie Boys.
Go Girl Crazy is their debut album, which was released in 1975. It was a bit too focused on sarcastic humor to find much commercial success, and with it, they helped add a part to punk that is, for lack of a better word, weird.
Hot Chip
3/5
Hot Chip is a British band that made synthesizer based, danceable pop. The band's distinct sound comes from their vocalists, Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard. The combination of, and contrast between their voices allows the band to create a range of sounds. In Our Heads is their fifth studio album.
These are catchy, upbeat pop songs, with danceable bass and rhythm tracks - even the ballads. For an 2012 album, these songs have a retro-80s feel to them.
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
Throbbing Gristle is a British band that pioneered industrial music. D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle is the band's third album, but not actually their last. Most of this is non-melodic noise - random samples, feedback, and static.
Oddly, there are a few melodic spots - like the track "AB/7A" - that could be an Animal Collective track. For the few bright spots, there are too many tracks like "Hit by a Rock" and "Hamburger Lady."
Ravi Shankar
4/5
The Sounds of India was the second of Ravi Shankar's albums released in the West. This record a monologue from Shankar; he spent a lifetime sharing and explaining Indian classical music to Western audiences.
Skankar's mastery of the sitar is the featured element in these pieces, and his discussion is an interesting historical element to this recording.
Digital Underground
4/5
Sex Packets is the debut album from Digital Underground. They brought irreverent humor to their raps, with goofy songs like the "Humpty Hump," and "Doowutchyulike," all with a funky bass line and melodic sampling.
Most of Digital Underground's samples came from Parliament-Funkadelic, making the album something of an homage to P-Funk. Digital Underground pushed hip-hop towards a silly, jazzy sound - far from the gangster rap that dominated the era.
Kid Rock
3/5
Devil Without A Cause is Kid Rock's fourth album, and was the work that made him famous. His first three releases were a mixture of country and rap, and met with very limited success. For this album, Kid Rock mixed heavy metal with rap, and added an over-the-top persona. The combination worked well in the late 90s. The album is a strange mix - most is his "new formula" - metal/rap with a distinct swagger - but a few tracks are the county/rap from his earlier records.
Kid Rock presents a difficult art v. artist question. This album was successful and influential, and should be favorable reviewed as such. The artist is a horrible human being, and has chosen to support a right-wing, hate-driven agenda.
Mike Oldfield
5/5
Tubular Bells is Mike Oldfield's debut album, and was an international success. This rich, instrumental album was composed, performed, and recorded by Oldfield, when he was all of nineteen years old. The album was used as the soundtrack for the movie the Exorcist, which helped drive the notoriety and acclaim for the work. Among the many accolades for the work, it won a Grammy for Instrumental Composition, and was part of the initial success of the Virgin Records empire.
This is a beautiful, layered composition, that could be called prog rock, and is considered one of the first works of new age music. This is a brilliant album that has inspired musicians and even genres for decades.
Mudhoney
4/5
Mudhoney was the band that created the Seattle sound and grunge, before it was called grunge and before any of the more famous Seattle bands started. Superfuzz Bigmuff is the band's debut album, originally released as an EP. It didn't sell well, at first, but after the band's successful European tour, the album started selling. It has come to be regarded as one of the seminal records of grunge.
Mudhoney made aggressive, edgy rock songs, with intentionally sloppy mechanics, adding to their punk-like swagger.
Boston
5/5
Boston's self-titled debut album was the most successful pop debut until Whitney Houston's debut ten years later. Largely the work of Tom Scholz, guitarist and songwriter that built a 12-track recording system in his basement. He assembled a band, and they crafted well-produced, guitar driven arena rock songs.
The album includes hits "More than a Feeling," "Peace of Mind," and "Long Time," which drove the success of the album and established the band as a fixture on classic rock playlists.
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
Smoker's Delight is the second album from Nightmares on Wax, the band-turned-solo project of British producer George Evelyn. Evelyn creates downtempo electronic, or trip-hop. This is an instrumental version of hip hop, with interesting samples, instruments, and rhythms.
This is an extensive album, filled with tracks of an impressive range. Evelyn uses eclectic samples to build the rhythms and catchy melodic hooks, creating a mesmerizing collection of songs.
Liz Phair
5/5
Exile in Guyville is Liz Phair's debut release, but was not her first musical project. She first released a few limited release EP under the name Girly-Sound. This debut was created as a track-by-track response to the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. The album was very well received critically, and topped many "Album of the Year" lists. Commercial success came more slowly, but it did come.
Phair writes guitar-centered, indie rock songs, that use the elements that made the Stones' work famous: vivid story-telling, solid guitar riffs, in sparse, blues-based rock songs.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Teenage Fanclub is a Scottish alt rock/pop band that have recorded a dozen albums over their over thirty year career. Bandwagonesque is their third studio album, and the only to find significant success outside of the UK.
The album's hit singles, "Star Sign" and "The Concept, are great examples of Teenage Fanclub's power pop: sonically full, guitar driven anthems with great hooks.
Grateful Dead
5/5
Live / Dead is the fourth album from the Grateful Dead, and their first live release. The album was much more successful than their first three, and came close to capturing the live, improvisational dynamic of their live performances. The Grateful Dead was primarily a live act, and their shows became a cultural phenomenon.
The Grateful Dead's songbook is an iconic element of modern music, and their improvisational sound is the model for jam bands of a range of genres. Their impact on modern popular music cannot be overstated, and this live recording is a snapshot of the magic that was a Dead show.
James Taylor
5/5
Sweet Baby James is the second studio album from James Taylor, and the first to find significant success. Taylor's calm, clear voice matches his introspective songs, and his understated acoustic guitar playing supports the simple, elegant sound of his songs.
The album includes two of Taylors' first hits, "Fire and Rain" and "Sweet Baby James." These - and most of the other songs on the album - help start the career of one of the successful, celebrated singer/songwriters in popular music.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Ali Farka Toure was a West African guitarist that was often described as the African John Lee Hooker. He found some - but limited - success with his solo albums in the 80s. Talking Timbuktu was a 90s collaboration with Ry Cooder, which helped Toure gather international recognition, including the Grammy for Best World Music Album.
Toure's music is an example of Malian folk, and is often grouped in an indistinct net of "world music." On some tracks, Toure's guitar playing sounds like that of Delta Blues, supporting the repeated comparisons to John Lee Hooker. On most songs, Toure plays in faster rhythms - at the pace of bluegrass - in uplifting, danceable songs.
Blue Cheer
2/5
Vincebus Eruptum was the debut album from Blue Cheer, and is regarded as one of the first, if not the first, heavy metal album. Blue Cheer's over-amplified, bass heavy cover of "Summertime Blues" could be described as a one-hit wonder, but the song, and this album, was quite influential to down-play as "one hit."
The band laid down the elements of a heavy metal band - distorted guitar solos, driving bass lines, and near-screaming vocals. They created a great sound, but didn't create a particularly great collection of songs.
Coldcut
4/5
What's That Noise is the debut album from Coldcut, a British duo that pioneered sampling and looping in club music. Their first singles got some attention, and their debut full length album was a defining work for London's DJ club scene.
This is a great collection of dance tracks that sounds surprising current for a thirty-five year old album.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Bookends is the fourth studio album from Simon & Garfunkel. It was created as a concept album, exploring the journey from youth to old age. Bookends was released during the same year as the duo's soundtrack to the movie the Graduate; together, the releases made Simon & Garfunkel among the most popular acts in the world.
The album includes some of their biggest hits, like "America," "Mrs. Robinson," and "At the Zoo." Some of the "concept album additions" - like "Voices of Old People" - are not as strong as the singles.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
So is the fifth solo album from Peter Gabriel, and the most successful release of his career. Gabriel initially found fame in Genesis, and his solo work is similar to the dramatic, orchestrated pop he helped create in that band. Gabriel supported So with a series of very successful videos, and the album benefitted from MTV during its height.
So includes some of Gabriel's biggest hit singles: "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," and "In your Eyes." These songs are iconic elements of 80's pop, and helped Gabriel define the progressive rock side of 80s pop music.
Public Enemy
5/5
Public Enemy's second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, is a seminal album in rap's early history. PE used an extensive array of samples in this engaging sonic assault; Chuck D's focused, pointed social commentary made for an album that is as much a political statement as a musical release. The album is regarded as the best rap album of all time, and sits near the top of most "best album of all times" lists.
Public Enemy set standards for hip hop sampling and rap with singles like "Don't Believe the Hype," a comment on media in politics.
George Jones
3/5
The Grand Tour is George Jones fiftieth studio album, and is regarded as one of his best albums. His prolific career was overshadowed - to an extent - by his more successful ex-wife, Tammy Wynette. The title track is the story of his divorce, and the heartbreak around it. The rest of the album follows suit; these are songs of heartbreak and loneliness.
The album is classic George Jones country - based on his rich voice, and performed in his near-gospel style of country ballads.
Willie Nelson
5/5
Stardust is Willie Nelson's twenty-second studio album, and a departure from his previous work. This album is a collection of a covers of pop standards. Nelson won a Grammy for his cover of "Georgia on My Mind."
His versions of "Blue Sky," and "All of Me" were remarkably well received, as was the rest of the album. Willie's warm, gentle voice, and simple guitar accompaniment made elegant versions of these classic songs.
Miles Davis
5/5
After leaving Charlie Parker's quintet, Miles Davis started recording a different sort of jazz - cool jazz, Utilizing instrumentation that used unison to achieve a human voice-like effect, Davis began an experiment that expanded the range of jazz. Birth of The Cool is a compilation of tracks from two previous releases, all recorded during three sessions.
Davis' incredible skills and remarkably extensive catalog have made him one of the most influential figures in jazz. Birth of The Cool was among the first of his recordings to show the world that he was not only a remarkably skilled player, but also a composer that would change the sound of modern jazz.
Faith No More
2/5
Faith No More is a band from San Francisco that creates a version of metal with vocals that trend towards rap. The Real Thing is their third album, and the first to feature vocalist Mike Patton. The album was the group's most successful album.
The album includes "Epic," the band's most successful single, and the high point of the album. The tracks are bass-heavy, funk inspired hard rock, in the vein of Red Hot Chili Peppers. A few of them drag on for far too long...
Alice Cooper
1/5
Billion Dollar Babies is the sixth, and most successful album by Alice Cooper. Alice Cooper was the chosen name of the band; the lead singer Vincent Furnier eventually assumed the name, eventually legally changing his name to Alice Cooper. Billion Dollar Babies is the band's most successful album.
Cooper makes "shocking" glam rock, with tracks like "Sick Things," "Raped and Freezin," and "I love the Dead." They may have been regarded as shocking at the time, but sound campy and predictable a few decades later. The album includes one of the band's biggest hits - "No More Mr. Nice Guy" - but that song is not good enough to help an otherwise forgettable album.
Heaven 17
3/5
Penthouse and Pavement is the debut album from Heaven 17, a British synth-pop group. Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware were part of the group Human League until 1980; they added a few members and became the British Electronic Foundation. Heaven 17 started as a side-project; they recruited vocalist Glenn Gregory and changed their name for the release. The albums opening track, "(We don't need this) Fascist Groove Thing, was banned by the BBC for concerns that this may have slandered Ronald Reagan. The album was re-released as a self-titled work in the US, with this and two other tracks replaced with less political tracks, as a self-titled album.
These are melodic, danceable tracks, with a unusual political bent. The album is an interesting example of early 80s dance pop.
Steely Dan
3/5
Aja is the sixth, and most successful album from Steely Dan. Band leaders Walter Becker and Donald Fegan pushed the band's sound further into jazz experimentations for this album, utilizing a number of studio musicians to create the layered, complicated compositions. The album won the Grammy for the Best Engineered Nonclassical album, and is known among audiophiles for the remarkable recording.
Aja includes some of the band's biggest hits, like "Deacon Blues" and "Peg." These are strong examples of the soft rock side of 70s pop, much of which has become known as "yacht rock."
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
The Hour of the Bewilderbeast is the debut full-length album from Badly Drawn Boy, the stage name of British musician Damon Gough. The album was very well received, and won the Mercury Prize in 2000.
Badly Drawn Boy records richly orchestrated folk songs, with a light, serene tone to them. They wander a bit toward sappy self-indulgence, but not enough to detract from the impressive musicality of the work.
Television
5/5
Marquee Moon is the debut album from Television, a rock band from New York City. The album gathered critical acclaim, but found little commercial success. The band was short-lived; they broke up after a second studio album. Over time, the album has come to be regarded as among the very best of punk albums, and among the most influential albums of 70s rock.
Television used complicated rhythms and technical guitar elements - with a near-jazz sound, at times - in songs with punk's raw energy. The title track may be the most recognizable of the bunch, but they are all interesting songs from a great, under-appreciated band.
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Loveless is the second studio album My Bloody Valentine. It is regarded not only the band's best work, but also one of the best albums of all time. The band used heavy distortion and studio effects on their guitars and vocals, and the music they produced is full and overwhelming, while somehow being serene and uplifting.
This collection of songs is fascinating and engaging - and clearly influential. My Bloody Valentine created a sound that help define alt rock and pop of the 90s and the aughts.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Bug is the third studio album from Dinosaur Jr., and the last with the original bassist Lou Barlow, until their 2007 regrouping. The band is primarily the work of J Mascis, the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the group.
Driven by the success of "Freak Scene" - a late 80s college radio hit - Bug has become known as a "before they became famous" work from a band that helped shape alt-rock of the 90s.
Van Morrison
5/5
Moondance is Van Morrison's third album, and the most successful album of his career. The album has gathered extremely high praise over time, as perhaps the greatest "non-American" soul album, and among the best albums every released.
The title track and several others on this album have become fixtures of popular music, like "It Stoned Me," "Crazy Love," "Caravan," and "Into the Mystic." The album has been an enduring success, because every track is a beautiful, well-written, folk song.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Actually is the second album from British synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was their breakout work, and the first of a string of four albums that found remarkable international success. Through their career, Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 100 million albums.
Actually includes "It's a Sin" and "What have I Done to Deserve This," two of the pair's first hits. They make danceable, upbeat pop songs with great hooks.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
The Divine Comedy is the stage name of Neil Hannon, an Irish singer/songwriter that makes a theatrical version of pop, in the same vein as Scott Walker. Hannon's work sounds like musical theater, with extensive orchestrations and histrionic, first-person narratives.
The album includes "Songs of Love," which was the theme song for a British television show, which helped push the commercial success of the album.
The Beta Band
4/5
The Beta Band is a Scottish band with a short, but critically acclaimed career. Heroes to Zeroes is their third studio album, and the last released before the band broke up. The band opened for Radiohead's 2001 North American Tour, providing the band with significant exposure. Despite this, the band never found commercial success, which was reported to be a major factor in the band's breakup.
The band combined folk like ballads with electronic effects that approaches trip hop, and added elements of funk and psychedelia to make their version of alt-rock. This is a very good album, from a band that could have been more famous...
Cee Lo Green
4/5
Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine is the second studio album from the soul singer and rapper. Thomas DeCarlo Calloway-Burton records as Cee-Lo Green, and he originally found fame in the Goodie Mob. Green makes hip-hop that is a version of modern funk, and he sings in a distinct, falsetto voice.
Green added his soulful thread to the Atlanta based, "Dirty South" sound. Some of ego-heavy rants get a bit much, but the soulful sides make up for them.
Soft Machine
5/5
Soft Machine was a British band that made instrumental, jazz based rock, with extensive use of electronic instruments and effects. Their work is psychedelic and intricate, and near the origin of both progressive rock and acid jazz.
These are fascinating, challenging compositions, which employ a range of instrumentation. All of the players incredibly skilled, allowing them to explore a range of sounds with technical prowess.
The The
3/5
Soul Mining is the debut album from The The, but earlier work by songwriter Matt Johnson has been reissued as work of the band. Johnson is the only consistent member of the band - and sometimes the only member. The band made introspective synth-pop in this release; their sound evolved through the course of their career.
Soul Mining includes "This is the Day," the band's first, and perhaps defining hit. The album includes a good collection of 80s synth pop songs, with a sound similar to that of Simple Minds.
The Byrds
5/5
The Notorious Byrd Brothers is the fifth studio album from the Byrds, and was recorded while the band was in transition. David Crosby was fired early in the recording sessions, and Michael Clarke left briefly during recording, and permanently after the album was finished. The album was not a commercial success and does not include any of the band's biggest singles, but is regarded in some critical circles as the band's best work.
The album includes the single, "Wasn't Born to Follow," which was featured in the soundtrack for the film, "Easy Rider." These songs showcase the band's songwriting and their fusion of psychedelic rock with harmonic folk.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Blue is the fourth studio album from Canadian singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. It is regarded as her best work, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest albums ever recorded.
Mitchell has a distinct, beautiful voice, and plays a technical, textured guitar which adds to the rich sound of her songs. Her songwriting may be her greatest strength - her songs are honest, open, striking images from a woman in love.
Crowded House
4/5
Woodface is the third studio album from Australian band Crowed House, and is considered their best work. It is listed near the top of several "best Australian albums of all time" lists. The band makes alt-rock that could be a thread of brit pop - melodic, guitar based rock with interesting harmonies.
Woodface includes "Weather With You," one of the band's most successful singles, and a great example of the band's work - a catchy pop song, expressed in a few voices in practiced harmony, with interesting rhythms.
The Beau Brummels
4/5
The Beau Brummels were a San Francisco based, folk rock band that evolved toward psychedelic rock through the course of their career. Triangle is their fourth studio album, which was released in 1967 - and very much sounds like a product of that year. Triangle was very well received, critically, and is regarded as the band's best work.
The Beau Brummels incorporated elements of fantasy - with sounds approaching Celtic folk music, at times - into their psychedelic version of 60s folk-rock. Some of the fantasy material goes a bit over-the-top, but otherwise, this album is an interesting version of 60s psychedelia. The band found only limited commercial success, and is one of many examples of the odd, "inverse" rule of popular music: not all great music is popular, just as not all popular music is great.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds are an Australian band that make a cabaret-like version of alt-rock, featuring Cave as an intrepid storyteller. Murder Ballads are the ninth studio album from the band, and is the band's most critically acclaimed work. Traditionally, "murder ballads" are songs about crimes of passion, and the album is a collection of these dark, fascinating stories. This macabre genre suits Cave's brooding ramble quite well., and this material became a part of Cave's renown
Cave is hard to place into categories - his material wanders toward Tom Waits' - he's an interesting story teller with a dark, but amusing, view of the world.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Ghosteen is the sixteenth album from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Ghosteen is a far from the work the band recorded earlier in its career; the sound is defined by the ambient electronic support and the near-complete lack of percussion elements. The double album is a concept album; the songs are an exploration of the grief experiences by Cave after the accidental death of his son.
Ghosteen met with universal critical acclaim, and was regarded as among the best albums released in 2019. While perhaps too early to tell, some regard Ghosteen as the best release of Cave's extensive career. These are haunting, beautiful songs from a parent surviving the worst of losses.
King Crimson
5/5
In the Court of the Crimson King is the debut album from King Crimson, and is considered to be one of the first "progressive rock" albums. It is thought to be the band's best recorded work, and one of the best prog rock albums of all time.
King Crimson combined the instrumentation and technical skill from jazz and classical music, with folk rock songwriting. The result is challenging, complicated, and incredibly influential. These songs helped to blur the lines between rock, jazz, and classical music
Coldplay
4/5
Parachutes is the debut album from British band Coldplay, which was an international commercial success. Driven by the success of a few hit singles, including "Yellow" and "Don't Panic" - the album made the band into international stars.
The album, and the band, have found somewhat constrained critical success, as the band sounds quite a bit like their contemporaries, with a sound like early Radiohead, or a "soft-rock U2."
Boards of Canada
5/5
Music Has The Right To Children is the debut album from Scottish pair Boards of Canada. They make a version of downtempo electronica, with extensive use of samples, some from "found sounds." They use a range of hip hop beats, and some of the tracks are best described as trip hop.
These songs have ambient backgrounds, and use looped samples to construct melodies. This album includes "Roygbiv," one of the pair's most successful tracks.
Orbital
4/5
Orbital is a British duo that made techno that combined elements of trance and break-beat rhythms. Their first two albums were untitled, and have come to be known as #1 and #2, or the Green and Brown albums, respectively. Orbital 2, the Brown Album, is regarded as the band's best work, and one of the best dance albums of all time.
Orbital became well known for their live shows, in part, for the improvisational approach they take to their performances. These are great dance tracks, with impressive range for techno.
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
You're Living All Over Me is the second album from Massachusetts based band Dinosaur Jr. The band made punk based alt rock, which one reviewer has called "the missing link between Husker Du and REM." This album has come to be regarded as one of the most influential alt-rock albums recorded.
These songs are based in the lo-fi, driven guitars of punk, with paced rhythms to match. The band added lyrics filled with self-aware introspection, which became defining elements of a few alt-rock genres in the 90s and the aughts.
Lou Reed
2/5
Berlin is the third studio album from Lou Reed, who began his solo career after his time with the Velvet Underground. Berlin is a concept album; it is the story of a couple's struggles with drug abuse. The album was panned critically, and did find much commercial success. Over time, retrospective reviews have been increasingly positive.
It is not clear why the album's reputation should improve. These are not particularly interesting songs, that wander past melodramatic into an "oddly contrived" space. Reed ends the album with "Sad Song," in which Reed repeats "Sad Song," over and over again. It's so stupid that the album lost a star for this song, alone.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Gentlemen is the fourth studio album from the Afghan Whigs, an alt-rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. The band made guitar driven, post-punk grunge. Gentlemen is the band's most commercially successful album, and is generally regarded as the band's best recorded work.
The album includes two of the Afghan Whig's biggest singles, the title track and "Debonair." These songs seem typical of early 90s rock, effect heavy guitars and vocals in the era of U2 and Pearl Jam. These songs are catchy, but not particularly memorable.
Rod Stewart
5/5
Every Picture Tells a Story is the third solo album from Rod Stewart, who became famous as part of the Jeff Beck Group and the band Faces. The album is considered to be Stewart's best work, and appears on many "best albums of all time" lists.
Every Picture... includes "Maggie May," one of Stewart's biggest hits, and a great example of the mixture of folk, blues, and rock that Stewart perfected. A few of these songs, including the title track and "Mandolin Wind," have become classics, making Stewart's distinct, raspy voice among the most recognizable in modern music.
Killing Joke
5/5
Killing Joke was a British post-punk band that combined a range of elements into their very influential music. At the time of its release, their debut album found modest commercial success, and received limited critical attention. Retrospective reviews have become increasingly positive, as the wide-spread influence of this band has become clear.
Killing Joke started with the amped guitars and scream-like vocals of metal, added rhythmic experimentations from funk, and then used electronic effects extensively. The result is an interesting fusion that foreshadows much of the alt-rock/funk, grunge, and industrial of the 80s and 90s.
Destiny's Child
3/5
Survivor is the third studio album from Destiny's Child, and the first after lineup changes stated in the group. During these changes, Beyonce took control of the group, and eventually moved on to her solo career. The album was an international commercial success, but has met with mixed commercial reviews.
The group's songs fly on the incredible voices of the members, the melodic "nods" found throughout the album, and the message of feminine empowerment. The critiques focus on the very formulaic dance tracks, and content that rarely wanders beyond "dis tracks."
Girls Against Boys
3/5
Girls against Boys was an alt-rock, post-hardcore band from DC. They began as a studio side project for Fugazi member Brendan Canty and bassist Eli Jenney. Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby is the second studio album from the group, and the first after they moved to the Touch and Go label.
These are edgy, guitar driven, 90s punk songs - or perhaps more appropriately, post-punk songs. This is a good album from a band that could have been more famous; they have songs - like "7 Seas" - that could have been pop hits. The band provides a great example of the harder side of 90s alt rock.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners are frequently mentioned as an example of a "one-hit wonder" band. Their song, "Come on Eileen" is their one-hit, and the title of the album comes from the chorus in the song. The song is one of the most recognizable 80s pop hits; its distinct sound as a Celtic jig may have driven the song's popularity. As this is also the band's distinct sound, their consistency may have contributed to their association with their one big hit.
This is a good collection of songs, with a band that almost suffered for the tremendous success of their first single. They used a string section, a horn section, and singer Kevin Rowland's distinct, dramatic voice to make catchy pop songs.
UB40
4/5
Signing Off is the debut album from UB40, the British reggae group, and is regarded as the band's best work. While the band's later work found much greater commercial success, its debut is edgier - the product of a group of young men that are angry at the world they find themselves in.
UB40 made reggae in the style of imported Jamaican dub, intermingled with ska rhythms. This early rendition of the band created one of the best British reggae albums.
Jefferson Airplane
5/5
Surrealistic Pillow is the second studio album from Jefferson Airplane, and the first after Grace Slick and drummer Spencer Dryden joined the band. The album is regarded as the band's best work, and one of the defining albums of 60s psychedelic rock.
The album includes "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit," two of the bands biggest hits, both of which are among the most recognizable, iconic songs from 60s rock and counterculture. In addition to the hits, the album of impressive range, including tracks like "Embryonic Journey," an acoustic instrumental piece.
M.I.A.
3/5
Arular is the debut album from British recording artist M.I.A. She makes a pop/dancehall version of rap, with an underlying message of liberation politics. For a dance album, Arular has surprising range; the tracks utilize rhythms from a wide range of traditions.
Most of the album is closest to a dub/dancehall sound. M.I.A creates catchy melodies, and a sassy, punk-like delivery to make a unique, interesting version of pop rap.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Back to Black was the second and final studio album from Amy Winehouse, the British soul singer who died very young due to issues related to alcohol abuse. She recorded in a style reminiscent of 60s soul and R&B singers, and prompted a resurgence in British soul in the aughts and 2010s. The album won five Grammy awards, including Pop Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for "Rehab." (won a production Grammy, as well).
This is a great album, highlighting Winehouse's incredible voice. Her songs were inspired by a broken relationship, and earned Winehouse praise for her songwriting. The album is mythologized, in a way, for her tragically short life, and the dark irony of her hit song, "Rehab."
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Joanna Newsom is an American musician that makes a unique version of progressive folk. Newsom uses the harp extensively, and she has a distinct voice, whose only close parallel is Bjork's. The combination gives her music the sound of shanties, in a particular way. Newsom's music has a quirky intensity that prompts another parallel to Bjork.
Newsom's music is an interesting, raw version of folk, that is challenging at times. Her extensive orchestrations give the songs a dramatic, rich sound, and her compositions have an operatic sense.
Baaba Maal
4/5
Djam Leelii is the debut studio album from Senegalese musicians Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck. Maal is a guitarist, percussionist, and vocalist, who sings primarily in Pulaar, a Senegalese language. Seck is a vocalist and instrumentalist, whose career was boosted by his collaborations with Maal.
This album is an interesting collection of songs from a distinct, non-western tradition. Maal was one of the early beneficiaries of an interest in "world music," and became internationally famous as a result.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Safe As Milk is the debut album from Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. Captain Beefheart is the stage name for Don Van Vliet. Guitarist Alex St. Clair founded the band, but over time, the band evolved into a backing band for Van Vliet. During the band's original run, Van Vliet was the only consistent member. While they never achieved significant commercial success, they gathered a cult following, and enough support for a reunited version, which toured for a decade without Van Vliet.
The band made psychedelic, blues-based rock. It's heavy, and intense at times - weird and intense enough that it may have been a bit-too-much for mainstream success.
Deep Purple
5/5
Machine Head is the sixth album from British band Deep Purple, and was their most commercially successful release. The band made guitar-based hard rock, and are considered to be one of the pioneers of heavy metal. The band used a heavy, distorted effect on their guitar and bass lines; this saturated sound became the norm for hard rock and heavy metal in the 70s and the 80s.
Machine Head includes "Smoke on the Water," which may be the band's biggest hit. The song is about the difficulties the band faced in recording the album - one of the studios the band planned to used burned down before the scheduled sessions. It, like the rest of the album, is the product of a seasoned band that captured the energy of their live shows.
Talvin Singh
3/5
OK is the debut album from Talvin Singh, a British musician who plays the tabla, and produces electronic music. His work integrates Indian traditions - like the rhythmic patterns he performs on the tabla - into electronic music that ranges from ambient to dance tracks. The album was very well received, critically, and won the Mercury Prize in 1999.
This is an interesting collection of tracks, highlighting the unusual mixture of traditions Singh utilizes. The result is good, but uneven. The ambient material is slow - even boring - in places.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Juju is the fourth studio album for Siouxsie and the Banshees. While much of their music is influential, Juju is frequently noted as an inspiring work, both for Siouxsie's vocals and for John McGeoch's inventive guitar work. McGeoch was only briefly a member of the band; he only appeared on the band's third and fourth albums. Over time, Juju has become known as one of the defining works of post-punk.
Souixsie is iconic - her edgy, angry delivery made her an idol for generations of female vocalists. The Banshee's droning, effects-laden guitars were as influential; they inspired much of the alt-rock of the 80's and 90s.
Queen
3/5
Queen II is the second studio album from Queen, and perhaps the least known album of their catalog. It is a concept album, like their first, about a line of royalty confronting forces of darkness. This is classic Queen - Freddy Mercury's soaring vocals, Brian May's shredding guitars, and extensive over-dubbing.
Queen II does not include any of the band's big hits - the band was telling stories in an anthemic manner - but had not shifted its focus towards creating anthems. This is an interesting version of 70s prog rock.
Beyoncé
4/5
Beyonce's self titled album is her fifth studio album, which was composed, produced, and released as a "surprise album." The album was release with no promotion, no singles, and no prior announcement. As Bey collaborated with writers, producers, and a video team - it's released as a "visual album," a feature-length film was produced with the album - maintaining the "surprise" is a significant accomplishment. Nonetheless, it topped the album charts during the first week it was released.
The album includes a number of experiments into electro-soul - a range of dance beats as structures for Beyonce's incredible voice. These tracks are of an impressive range, leading many to suggest that this is the best of her work.
The 13th Floor Elevators
4/5
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators is the debut album from the band, and their most significant recording. This album is the first use of the world "psychedelic" in reference to music, and the 13th Floor Elevators first created a sound that so many were to emulate. The strained vocals and effect-laden guitars of Roky Erickson helped define psychedelic rock with his fusion of garage rock, R&B, and folk.
The band had one famous single - "You're Gonna Miss Me" - and it is included. Arguably, the band could be listed under the "one-hit wonders" in music; if so, they would be among the most influential of that group. That label would be limiting, as the rest of the album is good, and clearly influential. For example, the song "Roller Coaster" is describing a "trip" to "open up your mind."
Brian Wilson
4/5
Smile was an unfinished Beach Boys' project; intra-band disagreements and Brian Wilson's mental health issues led to the project being shelved. Wilson had envisioned the project as a modern "Rhapsody in Blue," and the Beach Boys had extensive recording sessions related to the album. Historically, the Beach Boys' Smile has become one of the most - if not the most - famous "unreleased" projects in modern music. After a series of concerts in 2003, Wilson decided to revisit the project, and released it to universal critical acclaim, including a Grammy for one of the instrumental tracks. Since the release of this album, much of the original recordings have been published, giving rise to debate over the "real" version of Smile.
Smile was to be the Beach Boys', and Wilson's, Magnum Opus. It was conceived as a rock opera, of sorts, in that window of time when bands were attempting this sort of project. It is a good album, but perhaps mythologized as the dream realized from the famous "unreleased" project.
The Smiths
3/5
Strangeways, Here We Come is the fourth and final studio album from the Smiths, a British band with a brief but very successful career. After completing the recording, but before the album had been released, guitarist Johnny Marr left the band. In the years since their breakup, the members of the band have all said that Strangeways... is their best work.
The Smiths made melodramatic, electro-pop, centered on their histrionic singer, Morrissey. The album includes some of their last hits, like "Girlfriend in a Coma," a great example of the catchy, upbeat, but oddly serious songs the band made.
Death In Vegas
4/5
The Contino Sessions is the second album from British electronic group Death in Vegas, of which Richard Fearless is the primary member. Death in Vegas makes music that is a mix of genres. Generally, their songs have a downtempo, trip-hop sound, but they add disparate elements from alt-rock, like effect-laden guitars and vocals. With these elements, Death in Vegas is grouped with neo-psychedelia and "shoegaze" - the sub-genre inspired in part by My Bloody Valentine and others, groups that spend most of their shows staring at their effects pedals.
This is an interesting collection of tracks, that are engaging and influential; these songs have been used fairly extensively for tv, movie, and video game soundtracks.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
The Low End Theory is the second studio album from A Tribe Called Quest, a hip-hop trio from New York City. The band made down-tempo hip-hop, based in jazz samples and rhythms. They were the center of a "conscious rap" trend of the early nineties, with lyrics based in social commentary and well-crafted rhymes. The Low End Theory is regarded as not only one of the best alt-rap albums, but also as one of the best albums of all time.
A Tribe Called Quest features rappers Q-Tip, Phife Dog, and Jarobi White, and DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed. This collection of songs is incredible. The samples and rhythms make the track worth repeating; the lyrics are well-considered enough to impress, even after many repeats.
Dirty Projectors
4/5
Bitte Orca is the fifth studio album from Dirty Projectors, a New York City based indie rock/art pop band. The band is primarily the work of singer/songwriter David Longstreth. They make songs with a sparse, light feeling to them, making catchy melodies with unusual rhythms.
The album includes "Stillness Is the Move," one of the band's biggest singles; it features vocals by Amber Coffman. It's an upbeat, synth-pop song, like about half of the album. The other half has some acoustic songs, and a few rockers, like "Useful Chamber."
Sonic Youth
3/5
EVOL is the third album from New York City based band Sonic Youth, and their first releases on SST records. Sonic Youth was a post-punk band, and evolved into a noise rock/alt rock icon. EVOL marks a significant step in that evolution; this album shows the band developing their style. They used effects, unusual tunings, and experimental playing styles to get different sounds out of their guitars.
Sonic Youth's noise rock was centered on their saturated guitar sound. They added vocals from both bassist Kim Gordon and guitarist Thurston Moore, giving the band a range of sounds within their distinct style.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
Astor Piazzola is the most accomplished tango composer in history. He has recorded more than 70 albums under his name, with many more recorded under band names and in various collaborations. His music was also featured in dozens of films. Piazzolla developed the "New Tango" - el Nuevo Tango - that combined elements from jazz and traditional orchestral music into tango. He was a master of the bandoneon, a type of concertina.
The New Tango, and an American release, is the first in a series of albums introducing Piazzolla's music to the West. This is a great album, and an introduction to Piazzolla's extensive catalog.
Prince
5/5
Prince's first masterpiece was Purple Rain, which was his sixth studio album and the soundtrack to the biographical motion picture. Prince was known for his funk/soul/R&B/rock fusion and his incredible presence. Purple Rain made him into a superstar.
The title track, "When Doves Cry," and "Let's Go Crazy" all became hits as iconic 80s anthems. Prince's range is always evident, with his soulful funk in "The Beautiful Ones" and "Take Me With You"
The Velvet Underground
3/5
White Light / White Heat is the second album from the Velvet Underground. After the first album, the band parted ways with Nico and producer Andy Warhol. For this album, the band tried to capture the raw energy of their live shows. At the time, the album was not well regarded, commercially or critically. Over time, regard for the album has improved, as it inspired a number of early punk artists.
The guitar tracks all have saturated effects and are played to include hints of feedback, giving them a live, edgy sound. The lyrics match the experimental sense of the music; Lou Reed and John Cale seem to improvise much of the lyrics, The album also includes some spoken word, in "The Gift," adding to the "art rock" pretense of the band.
Pink Floyd
4/5
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the debut album from Pink Floyd. This first album was mostly composed by Syd Barrett, who left the band just prior to the album's release because of his deteriorating mental health and accelerating drug use.
Barrett's psychedelic pop set the tone for the album; his quirky, silly songwriting became part of 60s psychedelia. Instrumental tracks on the album show clear hints of the direction Roger Waters would take the band after Barrett's departure.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Chris is the second full-length album from Christine and the Queens, also known as just "Chris," who is now known as Rahim Claude Redcar. Redcar is a French singer that makes electro-pop. The release includes English and French versions of the songs.
The album includes "Girlfriend," which was an international hit. It's a catchy, nu-disco dance track, and was near the top of several of "Best Song of 2018" lists.
Robert Wyatt
4/5
Rock Bottom is the second solo album from Robert Wyatt. Wyatt was part of the British progressive music scene in 60s and early 70s as part of the bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole. After Matching Mole disbanded, Wyatt began working on a solo album. He suffered a tragic fall, and was left paralyzed. The album was recorded immediately after his recovery, and is seen as a reflection on his life and his change is circumstance. The album was produced by Pink Floyd's drummer, Nick Mason, and the influence is clear at points.
These are keyboard-centered progressive rock songs, with rich orchestrations and rhythms, like the longer track titled "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road." There are two tracks with the same name, and the shorter version is not as interesting.
Cypress Hill
3/5
Cypress Hill's self-titled album is the debut from the Southern California based hip-hop group. They were one of the first successful Latin hip-hop group, and are known as outspoken advocates of marijuana - especially on their later albums. Even on this debut, the tracks "Stoned is the Way of Life" and "Something for the Blunted" make the band's position clear.
Cypress Hill is an interesting version of early hip-hop. This is hardcore - with "Pigs" and "How I Could Just Kill A Man" - but it isn't gangster rap. It's angry, edgy, and far more melodic than much of the genre.
Mott The Hoople
4/5
Mott is the sixth studio album from Mott the Hopple, the British glam rock band. The band found very limited commercial success through their first four albums, and were considering disbanding. David Bowie, who had been a fan for some time, convinced them to stay together, and produced their fifth album. Mott, their sixth release, is a good version of early 70s, Bowie glam-rock. The band was quite successful, for the time period; their North American tours had Aerosmith and Queen as openers, among others.
Mott includes "All the Way from Memphis," one of the band's biggest singles. The song has a leading piano part, support from a shredding guitar and a saxophone, and the soaring vocals needed to fill the glam-rock sound.
The United States Of America
4/5
The United States of America was an LA-based band that recorded only one, self-titled album. The band's work is an early example of progressive rock; they used a range of instruments and very early versions of electronic effects in compositions that are closer to experimental jazz than anything found in most "rock" bands. Singer Dorothy Moskowitz's vocals add a distant, almost cold, sense to the band's work. The band was critically acclaimed, but found very little commercial success, and broke up soon after the release of their album.
These are interesting, challenging songs, with an impressive range of instrumentation and sound effects. The band's avant-garde version of rock is a development in 60s psychedelic rock towards the prog rock sounds of the 70s.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Court and Spark is the sixth studio album from Canadian singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. This was the most commercially successful album of Mitchell's career. Court and Spark was regarded as one of the best albums of 1974, and in top one hundred of the "best albums of all time" lists.
The album includes "Help Me," Mitchell's most successful single. Her clear, distinct voice is one of the most recognizable in folk - and perhaps all of popular music. These are beautiful, thoughtful songs from one of the most accomplished songwriters of all time.
Meat Puppets
4/5
Meat Puppets II is the second studio album from the Phoenix-based band. This is a dramatic departure from the band's first release, which was primarily noise-filled hardcore. Their second effort contains hints of hardcore, but is a mixture of country, punk, and some folk. The album was critically and commercially successful, and helped the Meat Puppets become one of the most successful bands on their label, SST.
The mixture of genres in the band's music helped expand the range of music that's called "punk," and became part of a subgenre called "cowpunk." The band's ability to incorporate new sounds is evident in this early work, and helped propel their long career.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Off the Wall is Michael Jackson's fifth studio album. While a few of his later albums sold more copies, Off the Wall is considered with Thriller as Jackson's best work. The album is regarded as one of the most influential albums of the disco era, and is placed near the top of the "best albums of all time lists."
This album contains a few of Jackson's hits, including "Rock With You," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," and "Off the Wall." Jackson's songs are iconic pop classics; Jackson was already the King of Pop, even at this early point in his career.
The Mars Volta
4/5
Deloused in the Comatorium is the debut album from El Paso based band the Mars Volta. The band makes guitar driven progressive rock, featuring Cedric Bixter-Zavala's soaring, near-falsetto vocals and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's frenetic guitar work. Deloused... is a concept album, of sorts, based on a story by Bixter-Zavala. The album was co-produced by Rodriguez-Lopez and Rick Rubin, and Flea played bass, substituting for bassist Eva Gardner.
The band makes an interesting version of progressive rock. They incorporate elements of punk, Latin rhythms, and electronic effects to the skilled, textured sound of progressive rock.
Moby
5/5
Play is Moby's fifth album, and the work that catapulted him to international stardom. The album initially sold poorly, but through extensive licensing in film, television and advertisements, became a world-wide success. It is the most successful electronica album of all time.
Moby creates downtempo soundscapes, and used extensive samples from roots and blues music. His songs are elegant and emotive; their compelling sound makes for ideal soundtrack material, and every song on the album appear in a few memorable licensing arrangements. Moby's work sounds like the late nighties and early aughts - because at the time, the songs were everywhere.
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Tuesday Night Music Club is Sheryl Crow's debut album and the name of a collaborative group that helped Crow write the album. The album was remarkably successful, and launched her career. Crow won three Grammys for the effort, including Record of the Year.
Crow makes songs based in classic roots rock, with the story-telling of folk songs. Her clear, insightful lyrics and strong voice made a few of these songs into pop icons, including "Run, Baby, Run," "Strong Enough," and the biggest hit from the album, "All I Wanna Do."