What a record. Bruce Dickinson's first with the band, and the first in the Unholy Trilogy. The whole album rips, but standout tracks are "Invaders", "The Prisoner", the title track, "Run to the Hills", and "Hallowed Be Thy Name".
Another formative album for me. I first heard Lauryn Hill on "Killing Me Softly" and like a lot of others of my generation, I was hooked. So many standouts on this one. "Ready Or Not", "Fu-Gee-La", "Family Business", "Killing Me Softly", the title track.
Ah, old friend. I bought a copy of this while I was in art school and it's still one of my favorite Dylan records.
Glossier than Pure Heroine, more produced. Same framework. Still leaning on vibe. My favorite moments are the ones that are as spare as Pure Heroine's stripped-down yet haunting sonics.
There's nobody like Miles. As George Wein once said, Miles wasn't ahead of his time, he was the time. This is such a wonderful step between the second great quintet era and the fusion era.
My first memory of this was listening to it in art class. Freshman year. Steven, the kid who sat in the back, waved me over. "You gotta listen to this. She talks about giving a blowjob in a theater!" The meaning of "You Oughta Know" has morphed for me over the years-- I didn't really get it when I was 15, but I get it now. My feelings about this whole record have changed as well. It is not just the record with "You Oughta Know" on it. It is a record that shouldn't have been successful in the fickle, misogynist music industry of it's day. It's a truly genuine record, the good and the bad, and it's a record that the industry tried to copy but just could not.
Not my introduction to The Black Keys, but this record is most definitely the one that got me into The Black Keys. Not as lo-fi as the earlier stuff, but I prefer that. We can hear all of the things that make this band so good, yet it still has that Rust Belt grunge on it. Stand out songs: "Next Girl", "Tighten Up", "Howlin' For You", "Never Gonna Give You Up".
What a debut. The first three Steely Dan records are pure magic. Listening to this music is always a real treat, like a pleasant day on the porch in the sun.
This is not a record I would usually listen to but it was a pleasant surprise. I do remember the lead single, Babylon. The album features a cool mix of genres that is very much of it's time, but not dated. Reading up on it a bit, I was impressed that David Gray recorded it all at his flat. It sounds fantastic.
I've never been to Carnival in Brasil, but this sounds like Carnival in Brasil to me. Fantastic Afro-Brasilian sounds. It sounds so alive.
The year, 1997. Grunge was dead. Pop, nu-metal and corporate rap were all over the airwaves. There was pop punk, sure, but it wouldn't really take off for another couple of years. Like many USAians, I was introduced to Blur via "Song #2". I didn't know that I needed Blur in my life, but did and they came through for me. After seeing the "Beetlebum" video on MTV Europe, I was sold. I dove deep into their back catalog and this record in particular really grabbed me. The first five tracks are just perfect, and the rest of the album is deep and timeless.
What a record. Bruce Dickinson's first with the band, and the first in the Unholy Trilogy. The whole album rips, but standout tracks are "Invaders", "The Prisoner", the title track, "Run to the Hills", and "Hallowed Be Thy Name".
What a debut. The first five tracks are all bops and bangers, especially "Mr. Brightside", "Somebody Told Me", "All These Things I've Done", and "Smile Like You Mean It". This record was definitely a part of the soundtrack of my life 20 years ago. It is always a treat to revisit this modern classic.
I don't really know what to say about this record other than it's just pure magic. Billy Bragg's songs are especially great. "California Stars" introduced me to this album, songs like "Walt Whitman's Niece" made me fall head over heels with it.
I get the concept but it is just not for me. Chris Squire's bass tone is sick, though.
What can I say, it’s Dr. Dre.
One of my favorite Wailers records. There are so many standouts-- "Concrete Jungle", "400 Years", "Stop That Train", "Stir It Up", "Kinky Reggae". The original Zippo lighter album cover is sick as well.
McCartney is my second favorite Beatle, just behind George, but "Maybe I'm Amazed" is one of my favorite songs of all time. It is interesting to hear it in the full context of this record. It is a fascinating exploration, a mix of light sketches and poignant ballads.
Big Star is the most power pop of all the power pop bands. The OGs. This record features my favorite Big Star song, "In the Streets". Other standouts are "Feel", "Thirteen", and "When My Baby's Beside Me"
Classic 90s West Coast rap. It really defined the genre going forward, and Tupac's lyricism is at it's best. "Dear Mama" will always be my favorite 2pac song, and there really isn't any filler on this record. Rest in Power.
Another formative album for me. I first heard Lauryn Hill on "Killing Me Softly" and like a lot of others of my generation, I was hooked. So many standouts on this one. "Ready Or Not", "Fu-Gee-La", "Family Business", "Killing Me Softly", the title track.
This album, Violator, and Songs of Faith and Devotion are the holy trinity for me when it comes to Depeche Mode. There is such a wonderful metamorphosis that happens across those records, from synthpop masters to full on rock stars. Standouts on this album are "Never Let Me Down Again", "Strangelove", "Little 15", and "To Have and To Hold".
One really cool thing about this record for me is hearing the Krautrock ancestry. That DNA combined with the heavy injection of dance rhythms really makes Kraftwerk such a unique act.
Not my cup of tea, but I can hear the influence of this on so many industrial bands who came after.
One of the best albums of the 90s, hands-down. While Blur won my heart, Oasis deserves all of the respect they get, especially on this record. It's big, anthemic, full of great sing-alongs. Anyway, here's Wonderwall.
Classic Sinatra. I am not a fan of him as a person, but he sure had pipes.
Any Stevie Wonder album from the 70s is a good Stevie Wonder album. Standouts for me are "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "You Haven't Done Nothin'".
I was not familiar with this record. I like the introspective yet laid-back vibes. It makes for a great background album, something that you are not obligated to really dig into, but the option is there.
Ritchie Blackmore ran so that Eddy Van Halen could run a bit faster. Mark II Deep Purple will always be my favorite.
Ziggy Stardust era Bowie is my favorite David Bowie. Aladdin Sane is the record I am least familiar with from this era-- I have listened to a hell of a lot of Rise and Fall as well as Diamond Dogs. The more that I listen to this one, the more I like it, though. Standouts are "Drive-In Saturday", "Panic in Detroit", "Let's Spend the Night Together", and "The Jean Genie".
I've never been a big The Doors listener but they've got some great songs. "Break On Through" and "Light My Fire" are my favorites from this album.
Björk knows how to do emotions. This is one of the saddest records I have ever heard-- in a good way.
Simple Minds were all over the radio when I was a kid so I am sure I had heard at least one of the songs on this album in my youth, but I am unfamiliar with their music outside of the ever-present "Don't You (Forget About Me)". This is a great record, I can see it was their breakthrough.
This is about as Roxy Music as it can get.
RIP Shane McGowan. This is the Pogues at their best. There's not much else to say.
One of the best records that has ever, and will ever, be made. This is where everything came together for Robert Smith and the lads. It has the perfect opener, "Plainsong", a song that immediately piques our interest-- what are these quiet little chimes all about? Then we're hit with the wall of sound, and our journey begins. There are so many amazing songs on this album. "Pictures of You" is one of the loveliest, most sentimental love songs ever, "Lovesong" followed by the raw honesty and yearning of "Lovesong". "Lullaby" is delightfully creepy, inviting the spider man in to have us for dinner tonight. "Fascination Street" is a punky rager in a raucous back-alley venue, reminding us that The Cure will always be a post-punk band. "Prayers for Rain" and "Same Deep Water as You" flow into each other like an English rainstorm. "Untitled" is an optimistic tune paired with devastating lyrics, a perfect closer to a perfect record.
I miss 80s Morrissey. This isn’t my favorite Smiths record but it’s still a fantastic album.
Jimi Hendrix was the primary force that made me want to learn how to play guitar.