#258 - Rift, Phish

"Rift, Phish's follow-up to their major-label breakthrough A Picture of Nectar, follows the same pattern as its predecessor, but doesn't live up to the surprising, adventurous music on Nectar. Instead, most of the album sounds like an uninspired retread, as the band tries to fashion their songs into a loose concept album. The concentration on thematic unity tends to rob Phish of the loose spontaneity that makes them unique and makes Rift a bland, tedious listen." (allmusic guide)

#257 - Supernatural, Santana

"In 1999, Carlos Santana reaffirmed his superstar status with the surprise hit "Smooth." The song is a perfect mix of rhythmic guitar rock and sing-along-at-the-top-your-lungs melody, a combo rarely heard these days. But don't stop there, Supernatural is the best overall album the veteran rocker has put out in years." (real music guide)


#256 - Hot Rats, Frank Zappa

"The first time Zappa focused his efforts in one general area, namely jazz-rock. The result is a classic of the genre. Hot Rats' genius lies in the way it fuses the compositional sophistication of jazz with rock's down-and-dirty attitude -- there's a real looseness and grit to the three lengthy jams, and a surprising, wry elegance to the three shorter, tightly arranged numbers." (allmusic guide)

#255 - Eli And The 13th Confession, Laura Nyro

"The album as a whole is so outstanding, with its invigorating blend of blue-eyed soul, New York pop, and early confessional singer/songwriting. Nyro sang of love, inscrutably enigmatic romantic daredevils, getting drunk, lonely women, and sensual desire with an infectious joie de vivre. The arrangements superbly complemented the material with lively brass, wailing counterpoint backup vocals, and Nyro's own ebullient piano." (allmusic guide)

#254 - The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses

"The Stone Roses' affection for '60s-style hooks and House-inspired beats ignited the "baggy" movement that took over England in the late '80s. Songs such as "Elephant Stone," "I Am the Resurrection" and "She Bangs the Drums" are just three reasons why this record is a classic." (real music guide)


#253 - Ghost In The Machine, The Police

"This 1981 album was a huge smash hit, and for good reason. Before Sting went off to become the most sanctimonious dweeb that ever lived, the Police hit on a formula that combined elements of reggae, new wave and prog rock, coming away with truly distinctive music you could dance and sing to. It didn't hurt that the hits off here were catchier than West Nile Virus." (real music guide)

#252 - Brothers And Sisters, The Allman Brothers Band

"Brothers and Sisters, the Allman Brothers Band's first new studio album in two years, shows off a leaner brand of musicianship, which, coupled with a pair of serious crowd-pleasers, "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica," helped drive it to the top of the charts for a month and a half and to platinum record sales. This was the first album to feature the group's new lineup, with Chuck Leavell on keyboards and Lamar Williams on bass, as well as Dickey Betts' emergence as a singer alongside Gregg Allman." (allmusic guide)