Outstanding album, lots of energy and great riffs.

Perennial classic Led Zeppelin. Moved away from the heavy blues-influenced songs and went for more classic rock with blues-inspired riffs. Contains the masterpiece, "Stairway to Heaven", but the real bangers on this album are 4 Sticks, Going to California, and Misty Mountain Hop. Not a bad song on this album.

I absolutely love Joni Mitchell and her work. I was raised hearing her early work and fell in love with it. I basically made it up to "Court and Spark" and was introduced to this album just recently. This album continues where 1974's masterpiece, "Court and Spark" left off and gives us the jazz-rock sound that was such a departure from her earlier work. Overall, I love this album and can't understand how it was panned when it was first released, but it makes sense because Court and Spark was a masterpiece and a sequel to a masterpiece always falls short. This one has it's highlights too and can be considered an equal. Highlights: "In France They Kiss on Main Street": The only single from this album that gained any popularity, and for good reason. It features Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on guitar who did a lot of work with Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers and lots of other L.A.-based musicians. Victor Feldman on electric piano (read Rhodes), who also contributed a lot to the Yacht Rock scene of Los Angeles later in the decade. James Taylor, Graham Nash, and David Crosby all provide backing vocals to this song which is catchy and gets you right into the mood. It reminds me a lot of "A Free Man in Paris" and could be considered a sequel to that song although the lyrics have nothing to do with Paris or France. Heh. "Don't Interrupt The Sorrow" - Kinda funky, groovy and I love the guitar work on this one. Lyrics refer to a woman standing up to male dominance, which is just awesome. "Shades of Scarlett Conquering" - I wonder if Taylor Swift has heard this. It's very woman empowering and standing up for women's rights. Great tune. "Harry's House ⁄ Centerpiece" - Really good song, probably the best on this album. Love the bridge to classic jazz moving into the Centerpiece part of this song.

A must listen for any rap/hip-hop enthusiast. This is definitely east coast rap, not as funky as west coast. But still, this is an important album and very well done.

Classic country album, by the master of the "Bakersfield Sound". I was originally going to list what songs I liked those most, but after listening to the entire album, there really isn't a bad song on this one! Check it out if you want to hear some great classic country and western music. Don't miss/skip these tracks: Let The Sad Times Roll On Streets of Laredo A Maiden's Prayer 3.5/5 if I could, so I'll go for the higher of the 2 and rate it a 4. :-)

Full Disclaimer: I know this album is very influential for other prog rock groups to come, but to be quite honest, this album is just a bit beyond my level of prog rock enjoyment. It goes way too wacky in too many spots. It's a bit chaotic to start with 21st Century Schizoid Man, lots of noise and random bits of instruments thrown in there. I Talk To The Wind is a lot more mellow with a very nice flute solo to end out the song. I fell asleep listening to Epitaph and Moonchild. The last track, The Court of the Crimson King, is a nice wrap-up for this album. Again, not my favorite stuff here, but I appreciate the influential nature of it. 2.25/5, so I'm rounding down to 2.

Have heard of this group before because of the song "Maps", but really never listened to any of their full albums, this is my first full listen. This has a real garage band sound but so much guitar fuzz and awesome lyrics makes it approachable and I enjoyed it a lot. The song "No No No" goes a bit spacey and annoyed me. "Modern Romance" is a cool song but I had to give it a 1 star because they did the stupid "air of silence" to get to "Poor Song" which sucks. Songs I dig: Date With the Night Tick Black Tongue Maps (best on the album) Yeah! New York After doing the math in Apple Music, I came up with a 2.75/5 rating, so I'm rounding up to 3. Good album!

I really enjoyed this album. Not very long but filled with beautiful soul. Otis nails it perfectly. I really liked it, and recommend it to anyone who wants to experience a perfect soul and blues album. 3/5

I have never heard of this group, so this was a pleasant surprise for me. I liked this album a lot. Reminds me a bit of The Smiths, but less depressing. Songs I like the most: Rattlesnakes Forest Fire Four Flights Up Patience 3/5.

I'm a huge Fishbone fan. This album is probably their best as an overall work although their other albums have great tunes on it. This one covers the entire range of music that Fishbone embodies. Funk, Ska, Punk, Rock. They are extremely talented musicians and it shows in all of the songs on here. Top listens: Bonin' In The Boneyard Question of Life One Day Ma and Pa Freddie's Dead (great cover)

Was a bit of a rough listen for me. Sounds a lot like a mixture of classic country with Irish folk/bar music. Not as innovative as My Morning Jacket, just blah songs one after another. I did enjoy "Birds and Ships" though. 2.33/5 according to my album rating on iTunes, so I'm going with a 2.

A masterpiece of soul. The standard for which every soul singer should set for themselves. This is outstanding. 5/5.

I grew up listening to this album, and grew to love it more and more as time has gone on. Highlight songs: Sail Away Burn On 4/5

I really enjoy this album. Much different than their 90's work, but still heartfelt and emotion in the lyrics. Highlight songs: These Early Days I Always Was Your Girl Oxford Street Blue Moon Rose 4/5

Classic California folk rock album. John Phillips is a brilliant songwriter and it shows on this entire piece of work. Song Highlights: Monday, Monday Got A Feelin' Go Where You Wanna Go California Dreamin' Spanish Harlem 4.5/5 which turns into a 5.

Fun story about this album for me. When it first came out, and MTV couldn't stop playing Smells Like Teen Spirit over and over, I disliked it. As I got older, I started to respect the album more and more. Now, I absolutely understand that is one of the best rock albums of all time. Generation defining work here. Check out the bass line on Come As You Are and tell me it doesn't sound like Killing Joke's song "Eighties". Interesting! Great album all throughout. 5/5

Definitely one of her best albums. Goes away from the sugar pop music she had from her early releases and definitely hits more to home and she opens up a lot about herself. I enjoyed it, but it's nothing to write home about. Beautiful is a great song, along with Dirrty, and I liked Loving Me 4 Me too. 2/5

Not much that I like on this album. Lots of sitar music and it's like Donovan is on the cusp of the hippie psychedelic scene, but he's Scottish. 1.5/5 = 2 stars.

This is a very British folk album and I like it. Great drinking songs on here, even though I don't drink. ;-) Highlights: Come All Ye Matty Groves Farewell, Farewell Medley∶ The Lark in the Morning ⁄ Rakish Paddy ⁄ Foxhunter's Jig ⁄ Toss the Feathers 4/5

When this album came out, I was worried that Radiohead would fall into the infamous sophmore slump that many bands do on their second album. Their debut was excellent, so I went into this album a bit weary. Turns out, this is a great album, far better than Pablo Honey in my opinion and set that stage for their best album, OK Computer a couple years later. Highlight songs: (Nice Dream) My Iron Lung Fake Plastic Trees 5/5

Raw power hardcore punk music. Rollins is angry and he shows it through every song. My favorites: Six Pack TV Party Thirsty and Miserable Room 13 Must-listen if you say you like punk music. 5/5

I can thank the GTA series of video games to introducing me to Heaven 17. Penthouse and Pavement was in GTA Vice City Stories and I immediately enjoyed it. I went out and bought this album on CD not long after it and fell in love with it. It's by far their best album and completely envelopes the entire New Wave Synth-Pop song with some very funky bass playing thrown on top of it. Bonus points: The lead singer looks like an adult Draco Malfoy in the video for the title track. lol Must listen to songs: (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang Penthouse and Pavement Soul Warfare (check out the awesome bass solo in this one!) Let's All Make a Bomb Essential New Wave album. Rating 4/5. Not a 5 because a few of the songs are boring and I skip them even after trying to make it through them a few times. (I'm looking at you Song With No Name.)

More pub drinking tunes from the Fairport Convention folks. It's got a few nice songs, but mostly it's meant for drunks in a pub. 3/5

This album really changed how Ministry would sound going forward. Gone were the new wave synth and vocals. In comes a chain smoking Al Jougerson and heavy drum loops, samples and angry guitar riffs. This is my favorite Ministry album and it's not even close. Song Highlights: Just One Fix Jesus Built My Hot Rod Psalm 69 Grace 5/5

So if you've never heard any songs by Cocteau Twins, this album is a good introduction, but it can be quite jarring at first listen because it's a bit disjointed in areas. The genre can be described as Dream Pop, just a bit wispy and floaty with the music and singing. Speaking of lyrics, a lot of them are just thrown together with no real reason or meaning and they're often hard to understand. Overall, the album is OK, but it's not something I would listen to every day. 2/5 Song Highlights: Lorelei Pandora (For Cindy) Aloysius Cicely

Did not like this at all. Boring songs, can barely hear lyrics, just random feedback on the guitar. Just crap. 1/5

Good rock album for the most part. The songs sound a bit the same as I got further into the album. Hard driving drums, guitar and feedback vocals. Nothing really hit home as a masterpiece or outstanding track on the album. On the whole, it's fine, but just not my cup of tea I guess. 2/5 Highlight songs: Soma Someday

Throwback hip hop and soul with a message that everyone should hear. I love this album so much. Must listen songs: Zealots The Beast Killing Me Softly No Woman, No Cry 4/5

This album gets really going with "Sacrifice" and gets better and better from there. Great songs to check out: Sacrifice Break You Off Quills (nice sample of Swing Out Sister's Breakout)

This should be mandatory listening to anyone younger than 30 for what real music should sound like. Perfect album all the way through. Can't Miss Songs: Five Years Starman Ziggy Stardust Suffragette City

You can't say you like reggae music and not have heard this album and rank it in the top 10 reggae albums of all time. Must listen: Concrete Jungle Slave Driver Stir It Up 5/5

Definitely have heard of The Yardbirds, but really never listened to any of their work. I've definitely heard of Jeff Beck who's guitar work on this album is outstanding. The blues influence is felt throughout mixed in with typical 60's British Pop. Great album, I enjoyed it a lot. 4/5

I must have been sheltered growing up, because I've never heard of Fred Neil until today when this album popped up on my listen for the day. I had no expectations going into this, but overall I'm liking this. Definitely folk music, but with some funky psychedelic guitar work. Very neat. I had no idea Fred Neil wrote Everybody's Talkin', I love the Nilsson version, this one is excellent too. Best song on this album by far. I rated a lot of songs 2 and 3 stars because of how I listen to music, but overall I understand the importance of this album and I believe it should be heard by more people. 4/5

Definitely not my cup of tea. I appreciate the free-form electronic music here, but I can't get behind any of it. It's all over the place. 1/5

Ugh, stop sending me these horrible experimental krautrock albums! I hated this as much as that Holger guy. 1/5

Poppy bouncy Brit Rock. Not as good as The Smiths, but fun to listen to. 3/5

Reminds me a bit of Sonic Youth, with a bit of Foo Fighters. Nothing really stands out, but it's good overall.

Solid album, nothing standing out too much on it. Got kind of bored in the second half of it as all the songs started to sound the same. Not sure why this is an album I must hear before I die, I think I would've been fine never hearing it before. *shrug* 2/5

This is the one album that everyone should hear before they die.

Jurassic 5 came into my hemisphere in the late 90's with their first EP. It was full of quirky samples and songs, but nothing really cohesive. Power In Numbers is when they put it all together and delivered a great album. Again, loaded with samples and old school rap references, but now with a more powerful message. Great stuff here, don't miss out. 4/5

I've heard Bitter Sweet Symphony way too many times to really enjoy it anymore. I do think it's a good song, but I'm still quite burned out on it. I was interested to hear the rest of this album. Overall, I really liked this album and was going in expecting to hear a knockoff of Oasis or Radiohead and other 90's Britpop acts, but these guys are distinctly different. They remind me a lot of Echo and the Bunnymen in parts, and even older acts like The Beatles and Rolling Stones. 4/5

This is by far Echo's best album, although personally I like Porcupine on the whole better. This one has everything going for it, just amazing songwriting, and I pretty much love every song on it. Pinnacle of their career and never made an album close to this. 4.5/5 which rounds up to a 5.

When this album came out, I disliked it immediately. Mainly due to the fact that Enter Sandman was being played NON-STOP on every medium available to assault my ears. Granted, it's a good song, but overexposure caused me to really dislike this whole album. I was big into Metallica and especially thought their Cliff Burton works (Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Matser of Puppets) were brilliant and probably their best work. I did like And Justice for All a lot as well, and thought it was their most polished piece of work, and they finally got attention from MTV with their video for the song "One". When the Black Album came out, it was non stop hype. I bought the CD the first day it was available and listened to it all. I was impressed with a couple of tunes, but overall I hated it compared to their older works. Over time, I've listened to this album more and more and have grown to appreciate all of it. It's not their best, nor is it ground breaking in anything other than putting a heavy metal band in the mainstream media's eyes. Can't Miss Tracks: Sad But True Wherever I May Roam Of Wolf and Man Nothing Else Matters 3.25/5 which translates to a 3/5 on this scale.

I get a lot of Crosby, Stills and Nash off this album. The opening track, Southern Point is really good. Overall, it's a good album, but I highly doubt it's one everyone needs to hear before they die. 2/5

This is a big departure from other Byrds releases and it was a bit jarring to hear at first, but overall, it's a very good country and western album. 3/5