#325 - SMiLE, Brian Wilson

"The original Smile was supposed to come out in 1967. The album was "lost" and released as the great but compromised Smiley Smile instead. Nut job genius Brian Wilson has re-recorded the "greatest lost album ever" as he envisioned it back in the '60s. This is a very big deal, there's just no getting around it." (real music guide)

#324 - Slanted And Enchanted, Pavement

"The group's debut from '92 was an invigorating mixture of post-punk scratch, snarling pop smarts and lyrics that read like the post-graduate's Junior Jumble. Its scattershot nature kick-started dozens of copycat bands and almost made Lo-Fi a household word -- need we mention it was of the decade's best records?" (real music guide) (Rhapsody link for S&E: Luxe and Reduxe)

#323 - Bryter Layter, Nick Drake

"Nick Drake's second album enlisted musicians like Richard Thompson and John Cale to help flush out his more baroque elements. Drake's lost voice and detailed acoustic leads remain the core of these songs, but the soulful instrumentation is equally amazing. File this next to Van Morrison's genius Astral Weeks." (real music guide)


#322 - Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground

"With Lou Reed leading the VU with his elegant fascism, it's almost immaterial that John Cale is missing. A brilliant album with a downbeat vibe, this is one of the greatest guitar rock records ever. This contains many of Reed's most riveting songs, including "I'm Beginning to See the Light," "Pale Blue Eyes" and "Candy Says," which kicks off the album with the line "I've come to hate my body."" (real music guide)

#321 - Frampton Comes Alive!, Peter Frampton

"The biggest-selling live album of all time, it made Peter Frampton a household word and generated a monster hit single in "Show Me the Way." And the reason why is easy to hear: the Herd/Humble Pie graduate packed one hell of a punch on-stage -- where he was obviously the most comfortable -- and, in fact, the live versions of "Show Me the Way," "Do You Feel Like I Do," "Something's Happening," "Shine On," and other album rock staples are much more inspired, confident, and hard-hitting than the studio versions." (allmusic guide)

#320 - Fat City, Shawn Colvin

"In addition to turning in a strong batch of songs, Colvin shows much more diversity, tackling everything from rootsy rockers to more sensitive folk ballads with equally passionate delivery. "I Don't Know Why" (the first song she wrote) and "Round of Blues" both found considerable success in adult contemporary radio formats, adding to her growing fan base." (allmusic guide)

#319 - Cheap Thrills, Big Brother & The Holding Co.

"Janis Joplin made her debut on this 1968 record by the Bay Area-based acid/blues rock outfit. The album embodies the free-form spirit that marks some of the best (and worst) of '60s rock, but it's Janis that stands out. "Summertime" and "Piece Of My Heart" are overplayed, but her vocals on these songs are raw and stunning." (real music guide)