#638 - There's A Riot Goin' On, Sly & The Family Stone

"Riot represents an important point in the evolution of rock music. Sly Stone brought together funk, rock, and a disorienting amount of weird studio noise and vocal manipulations, then shot the whole thing through with an uncompromising take on the state of America at the tail-end of the 1960s. One of those albums that doesn't make it to the public very often." (real music guide)

#637 - Vespertine, Bjork

"Described by Björk as "about being on your own in your house with your laptop and whispering for a year and just writing a very peaceful song that tiptoes," Vespertine's vocals seldom rise above a whisper, the rhythms mimic heartbeats and breathing, and a pristine, music-box delicacy unites the album into a deceptively fragile, hypnotic whole." (allmusic guide)

#636 - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Emerson, Lake & Palmer

"Lively, ambitious, almost entirely successful debut album, made up of keyboard-dominated instrumentals ("The Barbarian," "Three Fates") and romantic ballads ("Lucky Man") showcasing all three members' very daunting talents. This album, which reached the Top 20 in America and got to number four in England, showcased the group at its least pretentious and most musicianly." (allmusic guide)

#635 - Haunted, Poe

"Haunted's initial concept alone is brilliant. Poe has outdone herself creatively and artistically; the drum machines and overlapping guitar riffs among her sampled vocals and stretched lyrics make this album more of a modern-day epic. It is also a sweet tribute to her late father, and a nice composite to speak to him." (allmusic guide)


#634 - Pat Metheny Group, Pat Metheny Group

"The first recording by the Pat Metheny Group features the innovative guitarist along with keyboardist Lyle Mays, bassist Mark Egan, and drummer Dan Gottlieb. The music is quite distinctive, floating rather than swinging, electric but not rockish, and full of folkish melodies. The best known of these six Metheny-Mays originals are "Phase Dance" and "Jaco." This music grows in interest with each listen." (allmusic guide)