In 1987, it's clear to see how this record was ahead of its time; eschewing the clean polished guitar tones of hair and glam metal bands, dinosaur jr pushed the limits of noise with distortion, grime and sludge. The resulting record is not just ahead of its time; it's the father of many musical genres, the prognosis of grunge, screamo, noise, hardcore, shoegaze. It's hard to understand how clearly these sounds shine through in tracks like Lose which could fit on a Nirvana album, or the opener little fury things which sounds picked off of a MBV record. Dinosaur Jr manages to clear every hurdle and land as a statue to underground, noise, and the influence of indie to this day

Public enemy proves it is one of the heavy hitters of 90s hip-hop with a classic boom bap record that dares to use hip hop as a vehicle for conversations on a myriad of topics facing the community and country. The flows and prose are of a caliber few artists attempt nowadays and for that it deserves its laurels

It's clear to see how influential this album has become in light of the explosion of grunge and post-punk. The bands carefree attitude is starkly contrasted by their attention to greater social and personal issues or isolation. A fantastic underground record, 8/10

Californication is punctuated by poignant funk bass lines and guitar riffs, however after the title track, the album falls into a state of inconsistent and uninspired tracks, running out of steam from an otherwise amazing and fresh first half.

Hard to believe this record is from the 70s! With a timeless punk sound that bends genres, lyrics and topics that are still relevant to today, and a relatively condensed runtime, The clash S/T is almost a perfect album, just missing the infectious ear worms and tighter song writing that can be found on other records like London's Calling

An incredibly innovative record blending folk and rock with psychedelia. This album is loaded with unexpected progressions and thought provoking lyrics which makes it an undeniable treasure

Some of the greatest electronic hits of all time with forward thinking melody and synths. That said it's lacking some depth outside of the leading singles

The album is bookmarked by two of the greatest Stones songs, but between the bread is plenty of interesting fillings to keep one satisfied and nourished. With eclectic mixes of blues, gospel, rock, and country recorded and brought to you by the U.K, this is a standout Stones record

At first, Liz's monotonous delivery and sparse instrumentals suggest a snoozy record; however once the record picks up steam, this facade soon fades. Beneath the droll tone, Liz provides energetic, clever, and direct lyrics with wonderful backing that makes the overall record incredibly enjoyable. The influence is incredibly visible on indie even 30 plus years later

An amazing jazz piano album with wonderful improvisation and a surreal mythos.

Filled to the brim with Sinatra classics this is an absolute classic. Of course the composition and arrangement is simple compared to modern standards, but there is a timeless charm here that makes the album worth revisiting over and over

Some standout tracks that break the mold and serve as stupendous arena rock anthems, but outside of the bookend tracks the remainder of the track list lacks the same substance and sounds cliched by comparison

Great set of folk country tracks, with every track containing a poignant commentary on some aspects of the state of Young's life at the time. That said while quite enjoyable, there is not much in the way of standout tracks or tight cohesion that would elevate this record, making it enjoyable but not an exceptional listen to those not absorbed in Young's self mythology

I am certainly biased; living in Seattle the past 4 years, this record snapshots the cultural forces present in the area in a way no other collection of music ever has. Beyond it's bold, unique chamber and choral elements, devastating lyrics, and gorgeous guitar tones, this record speaks to something greater; it's sparse instrumentation and reverberant vocals conjures a feeling of isolation that resonates in the region and time it was recorded and echoes into modern life. This record is truly a modern classic, perhaps the greatest indie record of the 2000s

While the significance to brit pop is worth lauding, this record seems more derivative of other famous acts like the Smiths than it is confident in its own sound. And in that, this record commits a grave sin; it is boring. Banal, inoffensive, and with little standing out, New Wave manages to do something few other records on this list does, and that is to bore me to tears

A fun and unique album, fusing reggae, jazz, and funk. While the tracklist does lag towards the end, this album remains an enjoyable and exciting adventure

A masterclass in soul and funk, this album has a jubilant energy that is infectious. Wails, screeches, and screams pan in the mix over grooving bass lines, and jam tracks manage to sustain the groove. Different strokes maybe for different folks, but everyone can find something to love on this record!

Full of energy and charisma, Van Halen's debut album contains to rock! Variations on the blues, metal, and rock and roll collide to give birth to glam metal and influence an entire generation of artists. There is a lack of variety on the album but given it's relatively short runtime this isn't necessarily a bad thing. A very enjoyable listen packed with classics

Besides the attention grabbing moniker, the flying burrito brothers manages to pull the listener into a captivating world where country ballads are interrupted by guitar solos and banging keys. The Prometheus of country rock and full of catchy tunes, counter culture, and memorable tales. Everything one could want from a country album and more!

A wonderful foray into avant garde art pop containing many interesting textures. I could mull over the soundscapes presented in this album forever; however at the end of the day this album seems so concerned over the landscapes it paints that it overlooks the impact on the listener, which in my opinion not resounding but muted in contrast to the colors this album tries to present

A perfectly serviceable foray into punk, bursting with energy making for a fun listen. It is a distinctive brand of instrumental aggression that is engaging but perhaps not enough to stand out from talented peers

A indie rock classic, this record contains ear worm hits like where is my mind as well as deeper cuts. The albums influence is widespread, and discoverable in bands that follow like Nirvana and PJ Harvey. The Pixies at their best!

While the album is only 8 tracks, this record is arguably the greatest collection of singles ever put on wax. A landmark on rock and roll, shifting the genre towards arena rock and somehow perfecting it before the genre even had it's legs underneath it. Gorgeous guitar tones, reverberating organs, and layered vocals - Boston's self titled is a must listen!

While admirable that the band dares to try so many different sounds, from hard rock to ska to reggae to funk, the album's social message seems to get buried under the cartoonist impressions band members exude during the recording. It's high energy and has something to say but just doesn't feel focused enough

A stunning, heavy metal record with amazing vocal performance and insane guitar riffs. A surprising mixture of heavy metal with softer and deeper cuts like Changes. Ozzy will be missed, and his influence on Metal can't be overstated

Incredibly skillful blues, harmonica, and guitar playing on display, and the influence on rock is evident! Amazing and classic guitar tones that make this record great but I don't find much standout to revisit here

The Stranger is a master class in pop rock, showcasing Joel's unique ability to write infectious and catchy songs with storied subjects and really engage the listener to care about each and every person we meet on this record. Truly an amazing album deserving of every accolade it's received

Drake's lyrics and instrumentation shine as always on this record, with a unique blend of introspection and magenta colored glasses through which he sees the world

I cannot fathom how this record stands out amongst a sea of derivative alternative groups in the 90s. I suppose what sets it apart is the atrocious mixing between the vocals and guitar. One of the most unoriginal and uninspired records I've heard in my lifetime

This album manages to be an enjoyable record with some funk elements that are intriguing, but it feels like it struggles to stand out or maintain a palpable identity

Divine comedy manages to strike a chord of sardonic humor that resonates in ways other heartbreak albums just don't; the song writing is witty and vocal delivery manages to be varied and engaging. While a bit over produced, the tracklist is tight and cohesive making the album quite enjoyable

A wonderful and emotional record that contains stupendous hits like Father and Son and pleads to be bigger than it's parts, like acres of sky

Did not expect meatloaf to produce so many droll love songs on one record

Fats Domino encapsulates the sound of rock and roll, soul and blues in the 50s in such a perfect manner it's hard to rate this record as anything other than great.

A seminal prog rock album with a standout opener, that said the second side falls off in consistency but does not mean the music is any less impressive, just not as cohesive thematically

In 1987, it's clear to see how this record was ahead of its time; eschewing the clean polished guitar tones of hair and glam metal bands, dinosaur jr pushed the limits of noise with distortion, grime and sludge. The resulting record is not just ahead of its time; it's the father of many musical genres, the prognosis of grunge, screamo, noise, hardcore, shoegaze. It's hard to understand how clearly these sounds shine through in tracks like Lose which could fit on a Nirvana album, or the opener little fury things which sounds picked off of a MBV record. Dinosaur Jr manages to clear every hurdle and land as a statue to underground, noise, and the influence of indie to this day

The Mama's and the Papa's deliver a timeless classic where vocal harmony shines front and center in this classic folk rock record, with multiple standout tracks. While the album lacks any particular standout or redefining feature it is an incredibly strong and consistent record

Public enemy proves it is one of the heavy hitters of 90s hip-hop with a classic boom bap record that dares to use hip hop as a vehicle for conversations on a myriad of topics facing the community and country. The flows and prose are of a caliber few artists attempt nowadays and for that it deserves its laurels

With a number of catchy rock and roll anthems with a heap of trash metal, Motörhead manages to produce strong album of singles; however the sound does get repetitive after some time and some of the songs like "jailbait" are deserving of a scolding.

This record feels like an attempt at soul but it is missing all of the heart that should go there. No songs are bad, but none are elevated by vocal performances that stand out besides perhaps the title track.

A record that satires the war machine and fascism of 20th century Europe should not be this catchy, but it is. Life is life!

Albans songwriting chops are on full display in this record, containing some fun and catchy britpop songs but the album does drag on a bit too long and too varied in focus

This album is a lovely mix of funk, soul, and latin that I would have never discovered if not for this project. Wonderful sampa rock record that's sound and influence is heard today!

An outstanding foray into rock, covering everything from rockabilly to punk and back. Few records have ever maintained the musicality and social commentary that this record does and for that it is a perfect record

An experimental and bizarre album, with sections of crooning and whining strings that succeeds in creating an atmosphere that feels like a rip off of world music. While it is clear to see the influence of the album, that does not mean it is an enjoyable listen, but some tracks like Minotaurs Song do standout

Parachutes doesn't break the mold, but instead approaches near perfection for an enjoyable and easy listen; a smooth indie rock experience that continues to worm its way into charts from sound bites on tiktok. The melodramatic vocals and instrumentals give a greater gravity to this record than the simple pop rock atmosphere would indicate, and so it's easy to misconstrue the record as something grander than it is, but it does remain a light, enjoyable experience - the McDonald's of indie rock

In purple rain, Princes skill as an instrumentalist, composer, and producer is on full display. Undeniable talent combines with music that is catchy and socially aware, making the record an obvious standout even on such a list as this

When folks think of the greatest live albums of all time, the list is short - and Nirvana's unplugged is at the top. In one hour long live set, Nirvana vaulted to the zeitgeist of 90s, fueled by a punk aesthetic packaged in a lackadaisy grunge band. The genius of the record though is in the acoustic and slower pace which shows Nirvana's depth as a band. The playing is wonderful, and perhaps the best segments are the interactions of Kurt and the crowd. An all-star record, showcasing just how much impact Nirvana had on the world of music

A dark, moody record that does some interesting things with the guitar work and noise; however while listening to the record one can't help but call comparisons to predecessors like Joy Division which simply sound like an elevated version of this record. It's serviceable, even enjoyable at times but doesn't stand out much otherwise

A surprisingly good brit indie record. Is it over produced? Yes. Is it overdramatic? Also yes. Is it overrated? Certainly not, deserving of an entry on this list.

A gothic record that contains many gorgeous soundscapes. The plucked strings are enjoyable and hollow drums contribute to the spacy and dissonant feel of the record. A solid and enjoyable work, with standouts like the forest and in your house

Funky, full of social commentary, and ever so relevant. Super fly is a phenomenal soundtrack, arguably one of the greatest sound tracks of all time. Freddies dead, No Thing On Me, and Superfly are master classes in funk, making this record a landmark