#536 - Poetic Champions Compose, Van Morrison

"Completely breaking away from rock with this one, Morrison crafted a mellow, reflective album that mixed new agey, smooth jazz tinged instrumentals with fine vocal numbers like "Queen of the Slipstream" and "Did You Get Healed." It would take a couple of years to hit, but the achingly romantic "Someone Like You," would become one of Van's biggest ballads." (real music guide)

#535 - Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus, Spirit

"Although this has the reputation of being their most far-out album, it actually contains the most disciplined songwriting and playing of the original lineup, cutting back on some of the drifting and offering some of their more melodic tunes. The lilting "Nature's Way" was the most endearing FM standard on the album, which also included some of Spirit's best songs in "Animal Zoo" and "Mr. Skin."" (allmusic guide)


#534 - From The Cradle, Eric Clapton

"Heavy, distorted guitars, a rock-solid rhythm section and an excellent set list of classic Blues standards and forgotten gems make this record a major find for Clapton fans and Modern Blues hounds alike. The only problem is that sometimes Clapton sings kind of weird, like he's trying to sound like Howlin' Wolf instead of Eric Clapton." (real music guide)

#533 - Strange Days, The Doors

"This sophomore effort was actually considered a letdown coming on the heels of their superb debut but time's been kind to this. Future FM rock and AM oldies classics "People Are Strange" and "Love Me Two Times" (which only went to 25 in the charts!) join "When the Music's Over," (a bloated "The End" rewrite), "Horse Latitudes," and "Moonlight Drive" as fan favorites." (real music guide)

#532 - The Lion And The Cobra, Sinead O'Connor

"Like many debuts, it's entirely possible to hear her influences, from Peter Gabriel to Prince and contemporary rap, but what's striking about the record is how she synthesizes these into her own sound -- an eerie, expansive sound heavy on atmosphere and tortured passion. If the album occasionally sinks into its own atmospheric murk a little too often, she pulls everything back into focus." (allmusic guide)

#531 - Rickie Lee Jones, Rickie Lee Jones

"This 1979 debut introduced Rickie Lee Jones's sassy jazz pop and childlike folksy songs to a world about to shed the comforts of the 1970s. While the first song unveils her obsession for Chuck E. Weiss, the second song (used in the soundtrack to the teen camp film Little Darlings) nails what it feels like to come of age." (real music guide)


#530 - Is This It, The Strokes

"The much-hyped New York group's debut is undeniably infectious. Combining the tonal inflections of young Lou Reed with the poppiest elements of late-'70s, East Coast art-punk, the Strokes made a frenetic, jittery pop record that clicked with fans and otherwise uptight critics." (real music guide)