#313 - In Between Dreams, Jack Johnson

"In Between Dreams is the ideal soundtrack to an island vacation: Jack Johnson artfully converts the sound of waves crashing gently on a sandy beach into musical form. His warm, soft vocals enhance the relaxed rhythms that shuffle verses and choruses along, making songs sound like whispers in your ear." (real music guide)

#312 - Tidal, Fiona Apple

"Apple's debut was a revelation upon release in 1996. Emerging as one of the most interesting songwriters in years, Apple blew minds with a teenaged talent that dropped big beats on top of haunting piano lines, an unforgettable voice and surprisingly dark lyrics. Tidal may have been a mega pop hit, and Apple an instant star, but the mania was deserved." (real music guide)

#311 - Discipline, King Crimson

"...all the elements that made other arty new wave rockers (i.e., Talking Heads, Pere Ubu, the Police, etc.) successful were evident. Combining the futuristic guitar of Adrian Belew with the textured guitar of Fripp doesn't sound like it would work on paper, but the pairing of these two originals worked out magically." (allmusic guide)


#310 - The Downward Spiral, Nine Inch Nails

"This 1994 release confirmed what long-time fans had already known -- Trent Reznor was a huge talent. With an eye finely tuned to detail, he created an album that somehow managed to eke into the mainstream. "Closer" received major airplay, despite (or because of) the brutal imagery. This album remains a defining sound in the music of the '90s." (real music guide)

#309 - Imagine, John Lennon

"While the album had a softer surface, it was only marginally less confessional than its predecessor. Underneath the sweet strings of "Jealous Guy" lies a broken and scared man, the jaunty "Crippled Inside" is a mocking assault at an acquaintance, and "Imagine" is a paean for peace in a world with no gods, possessions, or classes, where everyone is equal." (allmusic guide)

#308 - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, Smashing Pumpkins

"It often happens that an artist will overreach in an attempt to diversify their sound. This could have been the case with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, but Corgan and co. have hit their marks with precision. This double-CD was nominated for six Grammy Awards, proving songs such as "1979" and "Tonight, Tonight" had power enough to charm the mainstream." (real music guide)

#307 - Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson

"Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger perhaps is the strangest blockbuster country produced, a concept album about a preacher on the run after murdering his departed wife and her new lover, told entirely with brief song-poems and utterly minimal backing. It's defiantly anticommercial and it demands intense concentration." (allmusic guide)