#700 - Guitar Town, Steve Earle

"Released in 1986, Steve Earle's debut is now considered the bridge between 1970s Country Rock and '90s Alt Country. The album's polished production contrasts nicely with the gritty soul of Earle's Americana anthems. Fans and critics alike recognize these tunes as classics." (real music guide)


#699 - Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division

"From the discordant rush of "Disorder," it's clear that this early Joy Division LP is about as emotionally difficult as it gets. Troubled singer Ian Curtis injects songs with the intensity of a man on the verge of a breakdown, and the music follows along, weighted with pain and sighs. A searing, visceral work." (real music guide)


#698 - Truth, Jeff Beck

"Despite being the premiere of heavy metal, Jeff Beck's Truth has never quite carried its reputation the way the early albums by Led Zeppelin did, or even Cream's two most popular LPs, mostly as a result of the erratic nature of the guitarist's subsequent work. Time has muted some of its daring, radical nature, elements of which were appropriated by practically every metal band (and most arena rock bands) that followed." (allmusic guide)

#697 - Jar Of Flies, Alice in Chains

"Where Dirt found catharsis in its unrelenting darkness and depravity, Jar of Flies is about living with the consequences, full of deeply felt reflections on loneliness, self-imposed isolation, and lost human connections. The mood is still hopelessly bleak, but the poignant, introspective tone produces a sense of acceptance that's actually soothing, in a funereal sort of way." (allmusic guide)

#696 - October, U2

"The glaring omission of songs such as "Gloria" and "Rejoice" from the U2's Best Of... makes one think that even the band itself views October as a low. Sure, some of the songs could've benefited from a bit more work, but U2's oft-maligned sophomore album stands tall some twenty years after its release. Rediscover this atmospheric beauty." (real music guide)

#695 - Boomtown, David and David

"It is not an easy album to listen to, as the characters depicted in the songs are often dealing with major problems such as drugs and domestic violence. But it is an artful record, full of poetry and convincing stories of the hard times that many silently endured. At times the record is full of pop hooks, and at other stages a more bleak sound dominates." (allmusic guide)