When I was about 12 or 13, my best friend at the time had me over for a sleepover on a Friday night and we stayed up late and smoked cigarettes and chewed tobacco and listened to Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and this album. It was the first time I had heard the whole thing and I was blown away on how good it was. Not surprising after all those years ago, I still think this album is really good. Hard to find any flaws on it, and I'm not shocked that it was one of the best selling debut albums ever. 5/5 Can't miss tracks: More Than A Feeling Smokin' Hitch A Ride Yes, you should hear this album before you die. You'd be an idiot if you didn't.

FYI: I'm reviewing the Deluxe Edition which includes all of the singles and other stuff that Trent and gang were putting out around the release of this album. I'm a huge fan of NIN's early stuff meaning this album, Pretty Hate Machine, The Fragile (some of it), and Broken. This album ranks pretty high for me because it's such a huge departure from Pretty Hate Machine. Where PHM was designed and packaged for radio and MTV airplay, Downward Spiral goes all over the place. Closer being the lead single was pretty awesome though. It's the best song on this album, no contest. While I like the album enough to give it a 5 just for fanboying, I don't think it's as good as PHM which is a definite 5 out of 5. This is a solid 4 out of 5 for me.

When I was about 12 or 13, my best friend at the time had me over for a sleepover on a Friday night and we stayed up late and smoked cigarettes and chewed tobacco and listened to Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and this album. It was the first time I had heard the whole thing and I was blown away on how good it was. Not surprising after all those years ago, I still think this album is really good. Hard to find any flaws on it, and I'm not shocked that it was one of the best selling debut albums ever. 5/5 Can't miss tracks: More Than A Feeling Smokin' Hitch A Ride Yes, you should hear this album before you die. You'd be an idiot if you didn't.

Probably going to be a controversial album in the reviews, but I'll go right ahead and say this is my second favorite Van Halen album ever, including the Hagar stuff. It starts off with the electronic sync instrumental of 1984, which I KNOW pissed a lot of hardcore VH fans off immediately. What?!?! Van Halen is going New Wave?!?! What!?!?!! But then it hits you like a steam train.. Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy and finishing off the first side with the amazing Drop Dead Legs. I mean, those 4 songs all in a row are straight bangers. The guitar work is amazing, the vocals are great, everything is just perfect. Side 2 starts with Hot For Teacher and what a doozie out of the gate. I remember playing this in 4th grade with my friend because we literally DID have the hots for our 4th grade teacher who was maybe 23, 24 at the time and gorgeous, and I was just realizing that girls are pretty cute when they don't have cooties. I'll Wait was a track I skipped, but now I listen to it more as I found out that Michael McDoanld helped the boys write this tune, and it makes it a more interesting song. Definitely not a typical Van Halen song, but still really good. Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain are straight up strip club songs as Van Halen was going right after the Motley Crue fans. Simple as that. Is it good for their image? No, they broke up after this album... well they didn't break up, but David Lee Roth left to do his own thing, and actually had a couple of solid solo albums with the help of Steve Vai. The rest of the boys hooked with Sammy Hagar and you know how that came out. Good, but just not the same. 1984 was a bittersweet goodbye to the old Van Halen, but I still think overall, it's one of their most complete and well done records. 5/5

Ahh yes, the album that Jane's Addiction sold out. Well, that's what the cool kids always like to say. I wouldn't say they sold out. They got better, and this album is proof of it. It's a shame they couldn't perform or work better together because this album is magic. Screw you, Perry. Let's take a deeper dive since I know this album inside out, having heard it too many times to count. The album starts off with Stop! which just rocks right of the gate, and then following is No One's Leaving where you start to hear how fucking good Dave Navarro is on guitar. Perry Ferrell's lyrics and voice are like an instrument as well, and Eric Avery on bass and Stephen Perkins on drums are all going at it. Just check out how insane the drumming is on this song. The bass intro to Ain't No Right is so damn good.. again, this is like surfing, you start paddling out (Perry's weird ramblings), and then you paddle paddle paddle and you're up and going as the guitar and drums come in. So damn good. Obvious is my favorite song on the album, again, just pure magic on the guitar from Navarro. Been Caught Stealing was Jane's biggest hit to date, save maybe "Jane Says", but this is the one that put them on the MTV radar. It's a good song, not totally my favorite, but still solid. Three Days and Then She Did... are rock opera opus material stuff. The guitar solo in Three Days is so epic, it's almost 2 and a half minutes long. The last 2 songs are Of Course which kind of drags on a bit too long and Classic Girl is a classic love song to end the album and the end of the first era of Jane's Addiction. They would come back together, but nothing they did ever came close to how good their first 3 albums were, culminating in this one. 5/5

Look, I'll give Metallica credit for doing this, and it's an interesting take on a lot of their great songs. But, it's not what you'd want to hear every day from Metallica if you're rocking out in your van down by the river. 2.25/5 for some awesome string arrangements.

The first Maiden album with Bruce Dickinson, and that started a run of amazing albums. This one is special to my heart as it was the first "real" heavy metal album I had ever heard growing up. My friend's brother had it on cassette and one day after school, I went over and hung out and he put it on. I felt so cool listening to "devil music". Now, as I'm much much older, I still appreciate this album but have gotten beyond just listening to the title track and Run To The Hills. Both solid songs, but I've grown to appreciate Invaders, The Prisoner, and Hallowed Be Thy Name which really features Bruce's voice. 3.67/5 stars = 4.

Colour me surprised when these guys released Cult of Personality and I heard it on the radio and was instantly hooked. Amazing guitar work, strong vocals, really good drums and bass. Bought the CD and loved it. They came out of nowhere! Saw them on tour opening for The Stones and there were people actually booing them because they wanted to see The Stones. Granted, I still don't think it was a good fit for a opening band for a bunch of old dudes and Stones fans, but who am I to question that when I'm only 13 years old? Living Colour really defined my early teen years and this album was the catalyst. Love it still very much to this day. 3.5/5 stars. PS: Do not miss their cover of Talking Heads' Memories Can't Wait, it's outstanding and one of the best songs on this album.

Album starts off with power, ends with power. The whole thing is a vulgar display of power. And confidence. Just saw these guys open for Metallica in Santa Clara. They still rock even though Dimebag and Vinnie are no longer with us. Zakk Wylde is a fine replacement for Dimebag though. This album though... should be in the Bible of Metal albums you must hear if you even think about calling yourself a fan of heavy metal. 3.77/5 = 4 stars.

I'm not a huge fan of live albums, and this one actually kept my attention for longer than most. I like it! Surrender is my favorite Cheap Trick song, and they nailed it's energy live. The screaming ladies was a bit much, but overall, a fun listen. 3.25/5

Not as strong as the Experience's first album, and much more tight than Electric Ladyland. It just seems heastily thrown together, but there are bangers on here and tracks that prove that Hendrix is the greatest guitar player of all time, hands down. 3.46/5 stars. Bangers: If 6 Was 9 Bold as Love Must hear: Wait Until Tomorrow Spanish Castle Magic Castles Made of Sand

Beavis and Butthead were not wrong about Smoke On The Water. Most recognizable guitar riff ever. Good album overall. Not one I'd listen to every day, but one that if it was on at a bar or something, it would be great background music. 2.93/5 stars = 3.

Like a low budget Bowie. Did not enjoy. 2.25/5. There's better glam rock out there.

On my other project, I rated this pretty high. I wish I could modify that score after hearing this album a bit more. It's good, but only a few tracks are great. 3/5

I really dislike the majority of KISS's work. I like a few select songs, so going into this album already knowing a few of the songs, I was a bit jaded. I guess my gut feeling about KISS still holds true. Good songs, and some terrible songs. I liked: Detroit Rock City Sweet Pain Flaming Youth I hated: Beth God of Thunder (this is a horrible song) Great Expectations 2.44 / 5 stars = 2 on this scale.

Jane's first "real" release under a major label. This pretty much introduced Jane's Addiction to the real world, yet nobody took notice until Ritual De Lo Habitual came out a few years later. By far, this is a very ambitious album but it's outstanding. Perry Farrell's lyrics and singing are the perfect harmony to Dave Navarro's amazing guitar work. Still think he's one of the most underrated guitarists ever. This album ranges in styles, but psychedelic fuzz rock is a good description for most of it. Get stoned and listen to it, and you'll get it. 4.25/5 Can't Miss Tracks: Ocean Size Ted, Just Admit It... Summertime Rolls Jane Says

After hearing this album, I can confidently say that I really enjoy glam rock. I can hear how this band influenced other glam rock acts to come after, like Poison, Guns N' Roses, L.A. Guns, etc.. a lot of that Sunset Strip sound of the mid to late 80's was definitely influenced by Hanoi Rocks. Good album, not groundbreaking, but definitely worth a listen before you die. 3.25/5 stars.

This album is fine. Neither amazing or terrible. I liked Empty Pages. That's about it. Steve Winwood's voice gets a bit grating after a bit.

What the hell is this garbage? How is this something I should hear before I die? No thank you. Author dude! NOT EVERY ENGLISH BAND EVER IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO HEAR BEFORE WE DIE!! 1/5

This album kicks ass. It starts fast, ends super fast with Imitation of Life. A must listen for anyone who says they like heavy metal. 3.72/5 stars = 4.

I think Fishbone is one of those groups that evolved into something way different than what they had intended to be in the first place. Their first EP is legendary. Ska/Punk/Funk Metal and good social commentary. That prevails throughout all of their work. Truth and Soul is pretty much their pinnacle in terms of solid music while maintaining their roots in ska/funk/reggae/punk, while pretty much every song is a commentary on life in the late 80's. I myself am a huge Fishbone fan and while I like this choice of album for this list, I do think their first EP should have gotten the nod over this just because it was really the pioneer album in the ska world. 3.5/5 stars = 4 on this scale. Must listen: Bonin' In The Boneyard (some of the best bass work you'll ever hear) Question of Life Pouring Rain Ghetto Soundwave

Probably going to be a lot of haters on this one. I like the album, and I like System of a Down. There, I said it. Pretty kickass music. 3.65/5 = 4 stars Check out: Suite-Pee Sugar DDevil P.L.U.C.K.

Never have been a huge fan of Slade. I only really knew them from their 80's hit, Run Runaway, which is an OK song. Didn't realize they had been around for a while. This album is not my cup of tea, but it was fine. Probably more intended for British audiences. 2.5/5 stars = 3.

Pretty good debut album from a group who would go on to greatness with later work. I personally like their later work rather than this, and it reminds me a ton of The Beatles where their early work was very pop rock and jingle jangle. Simple stuff to sell records. This album closes with The Ox, however and man, that is a jam! Way more blues-influence overall on this album than anything The Beatles were doing at this time. 3.08/5 stars

Classic metal album. I can hear how this group was influential to so many metal bands to come after. Very punkish with some of the riffs and beats, but definitely metal. Rock on. 3.36/5 stars = 3.

I came into this as a not-a-big Jethro Tull fan. I think the song Aqualung is kind of cool. A bit too long, but the guitar riff is pretty sweet. *Beavis and Butthead head banging here* The entire album is decent. I don't think I could rate this higher than 3. The flute stuff is neat at times, but I like how other bands have utilized a flute in rock music. *shrugs* Sorry, not an essential album in my eyes. 2.75/3

I couldn't take it anymore. The singing is god awful and shrieky. The music is annoying. I don't know why I needed to hear this at all before I die. 1/5

I Love the Dead too, Alice. This album is fine. Just fine. 3.5/5 = 4 stars

I'm sure there will be a ton of haters on this one. Yeah yeah, NuMetal is bad and lame and whatever. But, I am glad this album is on this list. This changed the game on traditional metal. Freak on a Leash is a really good song. The rest of the album is pretty solid. You would scream like their lead singer if you lived in Bakersfield too. This music matches living there perfectly. 3.55/5 stars = 4 on this scale.