Rhapsody in Blog

2006-03-03T13:32:00.000-05:00

Rhapsody in Blog is on hiatus until I can figure out what the hell I'm going to do with it. Please refer to the excellent Rhapsody Radish or thus spake drake for all of your playlist needs.

Thanks for your visitation up to this point. I guess I'm waiting for a little inspiration.

-A.

Separate Ways

2006-02-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

After a stunning five year break after his self titled debut album, Teddy Thompson has a new full-length called Separate Ways. The son of legendary songwriters Richard and Linda Thompson, Teddy writes and sings with sincerity and earnestness. I've given the album a couple of listens and it's great - worth the wait!

The Rhapsody review has this to say:

"Once in a blue moon an album comes along and makes you go "wow!" Such is the case with Thompson's stellar Separate Ways. Thoughtful, articulate and intuitive, Thompson's songs play like fragile, atmospheric shivers of regret, but instead of getting weighed down by mournful lyrics, you are buoyed by the airy, effortless arrangements and subtle pop sensibilities." - Linda Ryan

Listen to Teddy Thompson - Separate Ways

The Sunday News (but it's not Sunday)

2006-02-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

No, I haven't forgotten about my beloved pet project, The Sunday News. Instead of trying to make a gazillion posts for every week that I missed, here's a mondo (110-track) playlist with all the songs from December and January (excluding the all-Christmas show). Sometimes he plays too much emo and punk for my tastes but there are some nuggets of sonic goodness in there. Worth a listen!

Listen to The Sunday News, December '05 and January '06*

*See comments for track listing.

Really quick so it doesn't hurt

2006-01-30T14:45:00.000-05:00

We're gonna do this real fast-like, see? 'Cause I'm leaving for Disney World in two hours, see? And this blog hasn't been updated in way too long.

First, get your John Denver on. You know you want to. Just click it already. It's the only decent plane song out there. It makes you cry.

Someone helpfully suggested that I must be listening to something, right? Here's what it is.

First, one of my top ten of '05 (although according to the ads at Coolfer it doesn't come out til February??), Elbow's Leaders of the Free World. "Station Approach" will change your life. ("you little sod, I love your eyes.")

Next, how's about The Go! Team's Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Fun, boppy road trip music. Go play.

When you come down off the sugar high from having your third Dr. Pepper of the day from the vending machine at the office, chill with St. Etienne's new release Tales From Turnpike House. I haven't spent a large amount of time with this but it sounds good so far.

Yeah, I couldn't resist climbing onto the We Are Scientists bandwagon for this new one With Love and Squalor. It's got indie rock cred, supposedly. Probably a flash in the pan but the kids dig it.

That should tide ya'll over for a little while. Be nice to each other.

Oh, and one more thing:

Let's dump the ashtray, wipe the table clean

2006-01-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

Listen to Josh Rouse - Streetlights

Rock and roll
You are envy, I am
So uncool
Still I want to do the best I can
Let’s meet on the corner and act like we’re old friends

We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Surrounding you
In a haze

Won’t you tell me how it feels
To be a nervous man
At the wheels
You don’t have a master plan
But you will start today
You will start today

I called you up
Cause I felt so guilty
Ended up
It was not such a pretty scene
Let’s dump the ashtray, wipe the table clean

We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Surrounding you
In a haze

Won’t you tell me how it feels
To be an famous man
At the wheel
You don’t have a master plan
But you will start today
You will start today
You will start

When all of your fear is gone
And you’re thinking that you’re strong
Enough
To make the jump up to the big big sky, sky

We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Surrounding you
It’s a strong pull
We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Going down

And you will start today
You will start today
You will start today
You will start
Today
-----
Where am I going with this? Nowhere at the moment, apparently. I gots no fire. It just makes me feel like a shmuck for not updating. We'll see what happens.

Random Thoughts

2005-12-15T22:28:00.000-05:00

This time of year is so very strange. Everyone is trying to hurry up so they can relax. I say just relax. There's plenty of time for hurrying later. Or better yet, just forget the hurrying altogether.

Over the past several months I've been really getting into Wilco in a big way. I have to put my headphones on and queue up some tracks from Summerteeth or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and it takes time to truly understand everything that's going on in these songs. But it's so, so worth it. Every time I listen I discover something new. There is something so amazing about this band that I just never bothered trying to find. Wilco moves me. How awesome is it to drive down the road and yell the words to "Can't Stand It"?

Currently the song I'm obsessing over is Barbeque by Animal Liberation Orchestra. Normally I'm not the 'jam-band' type but this song is just about perfect.

welcome to your barbeque
where we roast all the dreams
that never came true
pig out and dream anew

Rhapsody Update

2005-12-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

There is an optional update to Rhapsody that you can download by clicking Help > Check for Updates... in the Rhapsody application. There is a new splash screen and "quick start" screen when you start the program (which can thankfully be turned off). The best part? The same quick-Rhaplink functionality from the web version is here in the software! Thank you Real.

Oh, and there's also this. Very cool.

All this found via a Technorati search and eventually the blog at Plutinosoft.

And, OK, one more thing. The Rhapsody Web Services team blog. Bookmark that for sure.

Like a Cracker Jack box

2005-12-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

While sifting through my inbox, I found a lovely little playlist I compiled of music from 2004 and 2005. This year I was really impressed with Hard-Fi, The Magic Numbers and Elbow (who actually made my top ten for the year, but that's another post entirely). My original name for this playlist was "TGIF," but it'll work on a Thursday as well.

Listen to the semi-new music playlist. (This link goes to the Rhapsody application)

# "Tied Up Too Tight (Album Version)" - Hard-fi
# "Welcome Home" - Idlewild
# "There's A Fire" - Longwave
# "Love Me Like You" - The Magic Numbers
# "Big Sur" - The Thrills
# "Shot Down" - Nine Black Alps
# "All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey" - The Dandy Warhols
# "All Night Disco Party" - Brakes
# "Paralyzed" - Bob Mould
# "Rock & Roll Queen (album version)" - The Subways
# "Teenage Kicks" - The Undertones
# "Forget Myself" - Elbow
# "The Purple Bottle" - Animal Collective

All Kinds of Happenings

2005-12-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

In case you live under a digital rock, you might not have heard that Rhapsody has unveiled a new web site where you can use the service without the software-based player. Neat! It's gotten some press (Digital Music News, Coolfer) and is part of a larger effort by Real to make Rhapsody more accessible for a larger number of users, including those with Macs and who use the Linux operating system.

I gave it a thorough test drive today and overall, it works pretty well. Some minor analysis:

The Pros:

The interface is basically the same from the application, just with a different color scheme

The player uses a small pop-up window with playlist functions and volume control

It is stunningly easy to create Rhap-links (no more emailing to yourself!)

The Cons:

Seems to use the same amount of memory as the application (boo! hiss!)

No access to your saved playlists, library, or saved radio stations.

No miniplayer or 'always on top' option

Obviously, I recognize that the web version is still in beta and may very well add more features as time goes on. It's a giant step for Rhapsody and I've gotta believe it's going to win them more subscribers as people finally realize that 'renting' music is in some ways infinitely better than 'owning.'

What will it mean for blogs like mine? Hopefully an upswing in traffic, readers, contributors, new bloggers. Maybe more recognition from Real as they realize that the more people who use Rhapsody to share music means money in their pockets. I am hearing good things about a web function for Rhapsody to actually link to the service directly from a web page.

Thoughts from subscribers? Readers? Bloggers? General interested parties?

Camille Paglia's Disco Playlist

2005-12-02T13:40:00.000-05:00

In an article at Salon.com today, author Camille Paglia takes aim at Madonna's latest release of tepid dance songs, Confessions on a Dance Floor. In the article she champions dance and disco music as music of the highest form, even inspirational. Well, I don't know about that. In any case, Ms. Paglia offers up her own playlist, calling it "a history in songs: from soul and funk to disco, 1960s-80s." It makes for funky Friday afternoon listening (into the evening, as the playlist clocks in at 6.8 hours!).

Listen to the Disco Playlist. Features classics from Isaac Hayes, Sly & the Family Stone, Donna Summers (a lot of Donna Summers), ABBA and Curtis Mayfield.

Yeah, I'm back.

Ten Years After: November 1995

2005-11-30T14:15:00.000-05:00

Try as I might, I really can't remember much of anything about November 1995. This is why I wish we had email and instant messenger and blogs back then - it would be so much easier to just go back and see the things we were pondering, and struggling with, and happy about. This is not the strongest CMJ disc, typically the holiday season is slow for record companies and it comes out in compilations like this. Nevertheless, the walk down memory lane is always fun.

Listen to CMJ, November 1995.

* "The Diamond Sea" - Sonic Youth
* "Jack Names The Planets" - Ash
* "In The Name Of The Father" - Black Grape
* "Ground On Down" - Ben Harper
* "Fear Of Falling" - The Badlees
* "Old Red Eyes Is Back" - The Beautiful South
* "Friends Of P." - The Rentals
* "Marijuana Motherfucker" - D.O.A.
* "Know Your Chicken" - Cibo Matto

The Sunday News

2005-11-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest additions to the playlist of The Sunday News for November 13, 2005. Features Ted Leo, The Subways and Lagwagon.

Listen to The Sunday News, 11/13/05

* "Radio" - American Eyes
* "I'm Looking Through You" - Ted Leo
* "Publish My Love" - Rogue Wave
* "Rock & Roll Queen (album version)" - The Subways
* "Headlock" - Imogen Heap
* "The Man" - Sponge
* "All Apologies (Solo Acoustic Demo)" - Nirvana
* "Retreat" - The Rakes
* "Heartbreaking Music" - Lagwagon

I'm Not Dead Yet

2005-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

We've had another excellent community playlist posted over at BlogCritics and the Radish, this time on the topic of songs you'd like to have played at your funeral. I had it narrowed down to "Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and "Orange Sky" by Alexi Murdoch. Here's what I wrote for the article:

I can't say that I ever really thought about what song I'd like to be played at my funeral, but this is the one. No, you can't dance to it, and it won't make you laugh or even chuckle. It's a very emotional song and although I am a fun person, more than anything else I would want to thank the people in my life who had shown me love. Alexi sings, in very nearly a whisper, "I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky, with my brother standing by," and then crescendoes with "my salvation lies in your love." In the end it's a song of optimism, hope and above all the bonds that hold us together. Sure, it might make them all cry, but somebody better be crying at my funeral.

People have a lot of different ideas about what happens at death. Ultimately I'd want my family and friends to know that I treasured their love and friendship and would hope that they felt the same.

Listen to the group playlist (includes "Orange Sky")

Listen to just "Orange Sky" and "Over the Rainbow"

The Sunday News

2005-11-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest additions to the playlist of The Sunday News for November 6, 2005. Features Sabrosa Purr, Her Space Holiday and Sun Kil Moon.

Listen to The Sunday News, 11/06/05

* "Helicopter (Whitey Version)" - Bloc Party/Whitey
* "The Lovely People" - Sabrosa Purr
* "The Living Dead" - Phantom Planet
* "The Only Medicine" - Scary Kids Scaring Kids
* "Neverending Math Equation" - Sun Kil Moon
* "Number 1 (Single)" - Goldfrapp
* "Forever And A Day" - Her Space Holiday
* "Lights And Sounds" - Yellowcard
* "A Day With Andrew" - Stiffed

The Sunday News

2005-11-07T07:45:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest additions to the playlist of The Sunday News for October 30, 2005. Features a Beatles cover by The Donnas, the new Matt Pond PA single, and Franz Ferdinand.

Listen to The Sunday News, 10/30/05

* "Where Is My Mind?" - Pixies
* "Drive My Car" - The Donnas
* "Wrong Time Capsule" - Deerhoof
* "You Could Have It So Much Better" - Franz Ferdinand
* "Spectacle" - Tokyo Rose
* "Lollipop" - Ben Kweller
* "Halloween (Pre-Release Version)" - Matt Pond Pa
* "Another Girl Another Planet" - blink-182
* "Medicating" - Boys Night Out
* "The Mark" - Swords

The Sunday News

2005-11-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest additions to the playlist of The Sunday News for October 23, 2005. Features tracks from some crazy alt-country dude called Eddie Spaghetti, a 50s cover from the Raveonettes, and Gang of Four.

Listen to The Sunday News, 10/23/05

* "I Don't Wanna Know" - Eddie Spaghetti
* "Pandamoranda" - Lovedrug
* "Only" - Nine Inch Nails
* "Come On Come On" - Nashville Pussy
* "The Sound Of Names Dropping" - Stretch Arm Strong
* "Riddle" - Lake Trout
* "My Boyfriend's Back" - The Raveonettes
* "Stars And Boulevards" - Augustana
* "I Love A Man In Uniform" - Gang Of Four
* "Riot Radio" - The Dead 60s
* "Velouria" - Pixies

The Sunday News

2005-11-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest additions to the playlist of The Sunday News for October 16, 2005. Features tracks from the new Imogen Heap solo album (a very good listen), a new Goo Goo Dolls single, and Wolf Parade.

Listen to The Sunday News, 10/16/05

* "Hide and Seek" - Imogen Heap
* "Better Days" - Goo Goo Dolls
* "One Way Ticket (Album Edit Explicit)" - The Darkness
* "Here Comes Your Man" - The Pixies
* "Twisted Transistor (Radio Edit)" - Korn
* "Watch Out For The Man" - The King Of France
* "Earth Angel" - Death Cab For Cutie
* "Do It Again" - Nada Surf
* "I'm So Sick" - Flyleaf
* "Shine A Light (Album)" - Wolf Parade
* "Problems" - Against Me!
* "All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey" - The Dandy Warhols

The Sunday News

2005-10-31T19:30:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest additions to the playlist of The Sunday News for October 9, 2005. Features tracks from Death From Above 1979, Mando Diao and Gang of Four.

Listen to The Sunday News, 10/09/05

* "Black History Month" - Death From Above 1979
* "People Don't Change" - Limbeck
* "Dony" - Big Star
* "Come Save Us" - The Warlocks
* "Down In The Past" - Mando Diao
* "Over" - Jimmy Eat World
* "The Ghost Of You" - My Chemical Romance
* "Damaged Goods" - Gang Of Four

Ten Years After: October 1995

2005-10-31T19:15:00.000-05:00

Almost forgot - it's the last day of the month and time for another Ten Years After!

Not that I remember much of this specific month, but I sure remember loving this edition of the CMJ CD. There are precious few tracks rhap-vailable, but what is here is mighty enjoyable. Does Buffalo Tom perfectly capture their time and place? Does Dishwalla do the same? Was that Dance Hall Crashers song played on college radio way too much? You bet.

Listen to CMJ, October 1995

* "Tangerine" - Buffalo Tom
* "Enough" - Dance Hall Crashers
* "7 Words" - Deftones
* "Travelling Light" - Tindersticks
* "Nothing Sacred" - Jonatha Brooke
* "Haze" - Dishwalla
* "Selling Jesus" - Skunk Anansie
* "You Do Something To Me" - Paul Weller

In trying to dig up the tracks from this CD, I stumbled across a very neat website called paper cd case. You can look up most any CD in the freedb or enter your own mix and then print out a paper sleeve to keep it in. These kids and their brilliant websites. Why can't I ever think of this stuff?

The Last Bastion of Good Radio

2005-10-31T13:30:00.000-05:00

Hopefully you've been missing The Sunday News playlists as much as I have. Here's the entire playlist for the October 2, 2005 show. We've got some catching up to do, so prepare yourself for some great listening.

Listen to The Sunday News playlist for October 2, 2005.

* "Ain't No Easy Way" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
* "Mea Bloanasir" - Sigur Ros
* "Pull The Curtains" - Grandaddy
* "St. Petersburg" - Supergrass
* "Stormy Weather" - Echo and the Bunnymen
* "Destroy Everything You Touch" - Ladytron
* "Precious" - Depeche Mode
* "Bottom Dollar" - Ric Ocasek
* "Image Of The Invisible (Radio Edit)" - Thrice
* "About You" - The Chemistry
* "All Night Disco Party" - Brakes
* "Jumpers" - Sleater-Kinney
* "Must Be You" - The Sun
* "We Drink So You Don't Have To" - The Blackout Pact
* "Wait For The Wheels" - Goldrush
* "There Will Be Violins" - The Sharp Things
* "Circles" - Bob Mould
* "One Shot" - Wired
* "Gideon" - My Morning Jacket
* "I Don't Want To Choose" - The Talk
* "Freaks in Uniforms" - Horrorpops
* "Crooked in the Weird of the Catacombs" - Oranger

885 Greatest Albums Countdown

2005-10-26T14:00:00.000-04:00

In the many, many posts below are albums voted on by listeners of WXPN during the fall of 2005. The page with the complete list in several formats can be found here.

If the album title is a link it will play in Rhapsody.

While this has been the biggest undertaking of my short blogging endeavor, it's also been the most educational and rewarding. While looking at and listening to the many albums on the countdown from all different genres, it gave me a chance to do something I've always wanted to do, in a very short period of time; spend time with 'the classics' of rock, jazz, pop and reggae. I can say now that I feel like a more well-rounded and informed music fan because I've listened to The Band's Music From Big Pink and Coltrane's My Favorite Things.

Then there's the fact that the Beatles occupy five of the top ten spots in the countdown. I've always liked the Beatles but was never an enormous fan, but going back and listening to Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's is most enjoyable. They deserve the #1 spot (and all the other albums they had on the countdown).

So what's the future hold for Rhapsody in Blog? Well, I have a lot of things to catch up on and have a growing list of new music to write about. Plus, special thanks to an old friend who is new again for designing my new banner. It was time, don't you think? As always, I welcome the chance to meet and correspond with fellow music fans, so leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading, happy listening and discovering.

2005-10-25T08:15:00.000-04:00

#1 - Abbey Road, The Beatles

"The last Beatles album to be recorded (although Let It Be was the last to be released), Abbey Road was a fitting swan song for the group, echoing some of the faux-conceptual forms of Sgt. Pepper, but featuring stronger compositions and more rock-oriented ensemble work. The group was still pushing forward in all facets of its art, whether devising some of the greatest harmonies to be heard on any rock record (especially on "Because"), constructing a medley of songs/vignettes that covered much of side two, adding subtle touches of Moog synthesizer, or crafting furious guitar-heavy rock." (allmusic guide)

#2 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles

"The Beatles consciously synthesized such disparate influences as psychedelia, art-song, classical music, rock & roll, and music hall, often in the course of one song. Not once does the diversity seem forced -- the genius of the record is how the vaudevillian "When I'm 64" seems like a logical extension of "Within You Without You" and how it provides a gateway to the chiming guitars of "Lovely Rita"...It's possible to argue that there are better Beatles albums, yet no album is as historically important as this." (allmusic guide)

#3 - Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd

"Classic Rock radio may have squeezed this one drier than dry, but Dark Side remains an unparalleled achievement (the anal retentive masterpiece has been on the charts for 24 years). Interestingly, one reason Syd Barrett got kicked out in 1968 was his desire to add saxophones and a female singer to the group." (real music guide)

#4 - Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen

"Born To Run was very much a do-or-die effort for Springsteen, and perhaps that's why it has such a bitter quality to it. This time out, the Boss succeeded in capturing a sound big enough to match the epic, cinematic quality of his lyrics. Springsteen has such a rich and varied career; songs such as "Born to Run" and "Thunder Road" are some of his finest moments." (real music guide)

2005-10-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

#5 - Blood On The Tracks, Bob Dylan

"If you've ever wondered what a perfect album sounds like, here it is. Dylan's 1975 return to acoustic form set the bar high without retro backpedaling. The first track, inspired by Joni Mitchell's Blue, is perhaps the most romantic narrative he ever wrote and the lyrics on "If You See Her, Say Hello" can kill you." (real music guide)

#6 - The Beatles [White Album], The Beatles

"Each song on the sprawling double album The Beatles is an entity to itself, as the band touches on anything and everything it can. This makes for a frustratingly scattershot record or a singularly gripping musical experience, depending on your view, but what makes the so-called White Album interesting is its mess. Never before had a rock record been so self-reflective, or so ironic." (allmusic guide)

#7 - The Joshua Tree, U2

"U2 joined the pantheon of World's Biggest Rock Bands with an album that deserved its monster sales and instant classic status. Great songs ("Running to Stand Still") and hit singles (the three opening tracks) abound." (real music guide)

#8 - London Calling, The Clash

"The band's masterpiece retains the convincing fire of their earlier LPs, but lets their passion loose across a range of styles. Whether they're playing old-fashioned rock 'n' roll, skanking behind a brass section or letting their love of Reggae shine, each track sounds like a perfectly natural extension of what they always did best: make you dance and think at once." (real music guide)

#9 - Revolver, The Beatles

"All the rules fell by the wayside with Revolver, as the Beatles began exploring new sonic territory, lyrical subjects, and styles of composition. It wasn't just Lennon and McCartney, either -- Harrison staked out his own dark territory with the tightly wound, cynical rocker "Taxman"; the jaunty yet dissonant "I Want to Tell You"; and "Love You To," George's first and best foray into Indian music. Such explorations were bold, yet they were eclipsed by Lennon's trippy kaleidoscopes of sound." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-25T07:45:00.000-04:00

#14 - Kind Of Blue, Miles Davis

"The best selling jazz album in history, Kind of Blue sounds better with each passing year. Miles explores modal improvisation with pianist Bill Evans and an incredible cast of musicians. This musical voyage proves that "relaxing" music can also possess incredible depth. The group dynamics are amazing; a perfect release." (real music guide)

#13 - Blue, Joni Mitchell

"Thirty-plus years after its release, Blue is still a revelatory record, defining the Singer-Songwriter idiom even as it demolishes the conventions that came both before and after it. Mitchell is a gargantuan talent and her art was never more evident than on this wrenching and triumphant record. Just look at the cover." (real music guide)

#12 - American Beauty, The Grateful Dead

"Sporting a more full-bodied and intricate sound than its predecessor thanks to the addition of subtle electric textures, the record is also more representative of the group as a collective unit, allowing for stunning contributions from Phil Lesh (the poignant opener, "Box of Rain") and Bob Weir ("Sugar Magnolia"); at the top of his game as well is Jerry Garcia, who delivers the superb "Friend of the Devil," "Candyman," and "Ripple." Climaxing with the perennial "Truckin'," American Beauty remains the Dead's studio masterpiece -- never again would they be so musically focused or so emotionally direct." (allmusic guide)

#11 - Who's Next, The Who

"Striking a balance between lush ballads ("Behind Blue Eyes") and unbelievably loud, crazed, synthesizer-adorned raucousness ("Won't Get Fooled Again"), the Who hit their peak on this 1971 album. Following Tommy, Who's Next marks a return from labored art back to high energy rock 'n' roll, which is what the Who does best." (real music guide)

#10 - Rubber Soul, The Beatles

"Obviously inspired by the folk-rock sound blossoming in the States, the songs on the U.S. Rubber Soul show the influence that the sound of the Byrds and the songwriting of Bob Dylan were having on the Beatles. The songs added from Help! (the pleading acoustic "It's Only Love" and the rollicking opener "I've Just Seen a Face") change the entire feel of the album, making it more earthy and textural. By dropping the piano-driven "Drive My Car" and the stark "Nowhere Man," the U.S. edition stands as a much more organic and warm musical whole." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

#19 - Blonde On Blonde, Bob Dylan

"Dylan's on a lyrical bender on this album, unleashing line after line of accusatory, unyielding prose that has moments of spot-on brilliance pitted against some ramshackle blues. Sure, he could have used an editor, but "Stuck Inside Of Mobile...," "I Want You" and "Absolutely Five Believers" are just a few of the many faultless tracks here." (real music guide)

#18 - Graceland, Paul Simon

"By searching out South African musicians and collaborators, Paul Simon reconnected with both his audience and the joy of making music. This life-affirming album saw Simon abandoning confessional lyrics while maintaining a personal vision. Graceland has aged much better than other '80s hits such as Born in the USA or Thriller." (real music guide)

#17 - Exile On Main St., The Rolling Stones

"Topping practically every critic's poll as one of the best rock records of all time, with many counting it as the best, Exile came out at a time when people thought the Stones had been taking too many drugs, losing too many friends and making way too much money for too long to really be able to pull off another great record. Well, they did it." (real music guide)

#16 - Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan

"Hands down one of the most important rock records ever, featuring Dylan moving even further away from his street folk start. Large doses of country and blues lay the foundation for his visions of total loss, bitter comeuppance, and pure, last-ditch defiance. A defining moment in rock music that affected pretty much everyone who heard it in 1965." (real music guide)

#15 - OK Computer, Radiohead

"Radiohead have stripped away many of the obvious elements of guitar rock, creating music that is subtle and textured yet still has the feeling of rock & roll. Even at its most adventurous -- such as the complex, multi-segmented "Paranoid Android" -- the band is tight, melodic, and muscular, and Thom Yorke's voice effortlessly shifts from a sweet falsetto to vicious snarls. It's a thoroughly astonishing demonstration of musical virtuosity and becomes even more impressive with repeated listens, which reveal subtleties like electronica rhythms, eerie keyboards, odd time signatures, and complex syncopations." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-25T07:15:00.000-04:00

#24 - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, David Bowie

"From the slow build of "Five Years" to the final blast of "Rock & Roll Suicide," Bowie's first hit album has only improved with age. FM radio has never stopped playing "Ziggy Stardust" and "Suffragette City" because even if you cut the platform shoes off and wipe the makeup away -- you're still left with incredible rock'n'roll." (real music guide)

#23 - Tapestry, Carole King

"Tapestry has at least four songs that you know by heart. A streamlined, fully-packed showcase of King's genre-defining gift for pop songwriting and a benchmark for '70s AM radio, Tapestry has withstood the test of time far better than Frampton Comes Alive -- the other record everybody and their brother bought in the '70s." (real music guide)

#22 - At Fillmore East (live), The Allman Brothers Band

"If you've never heard the version of "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'" on this live album, then you need to set the volume to 100 and wait for Duane Allman to come blazing in with such ferocity, you'll want to tear your teeth out because he's not around anymore. Then there's an hour of the best blues-rock band ever, nailing everything in sight." (real music guide)

#21 - Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys

"Classics such as "God Only Knows," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and "Sloop John B" blend into one rapturous symphony that combines 1960s pop, avant-garde arrangements, goofball innocence, and oddly reverential, pained genius. Initially ignored in the U.S., the record was instantly hailed as a masterpiece in the U.K. Paul McCartney still ranks it as the greatest album ever made." (real music guide)

#20 - Moondance, Van Morrison

"Astral Weeks wowed the critics, but it was this upbeat album that captured the public's attention and made Van a high charting man. It features the perennial FM hit "Moon Dance," but every song on the album, from "And It Stoned Me" to "Glad Tidings," rank among Van's best. A jazz, folk and soul-strewn celebration of life's gifts, this is perfect "feel good" music that doesn't insult your intelligence." (real music guide)

2005-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

#29 - The Wall, Pink Floyd

"Listening to this rich union of artistic endeavor and commercial viability was a rite of passage for suburban teenagers during the '80s. Using themes every teen can relate to (isolation, betrayal, anti-homeworkism), Waters delivered a record, stage show and film that, while of questionable taste, was undeniably what the kids were after in 1979." (real music guide)

#28 - Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin

"Encompassing heavy metal, folk, pure rock & roll, and blues, Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album is a monolithic record, defining not only Led Zeppelin but the sound and style of '70s hard rock. Expanding on the breakthroughs of III, Zeppelin fuse their majestic hard rock with a mystical, rural English folk that gives the record an epic scope. Even at its most basic -- the muscular, traditionalist "Rock and Roll" -- the album has a grand sense of drama." (allmusic guide)

#27 - Grace, Jeff Buckley

"Jeff Buckley was many things, but humble wasn't one of them. Grace is an audacious debut album, filled with sweeping choruses, bombastic arrangements, searching lyrics, and above all, the richly textured voice of Buckley himself, which resembled a cross between Robert Plant, Van Morrison, and his father Tim. And that's a fair starting point for his music: Grace sounds like a Led Zeppelin album written by an ambitious folkie with a fondness for lounge jazz." (allmusic guide)

#26 - The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle, Bruce Springsteen

"Springsteen's The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle was everything fans hoped his sophomore effort would be. Released seven months after his debut, The Wild…. incorporates a variety of upbeat music styles, as his poetic, 20/20 vision brims with optimism. The celebratory highs of songs such as "Rosalita" help make this album a definite classic." (real music guide)

#25 - August And Everything After, Counting Crows

"Counting Crows pretty much opened and shut the door on heartbroken-college-dude- radio-rock-by-way-of-Van-Morrison with this gazillion-selling album. "Mr. Jones" incorporates all the things that make Counting Crows what they are: fantastic songwriting; spot-on, rootsy playing; and Adam Duritz's pained, impassioned vocals." (real music guide)

2005-10-24T15:15:00.000-04:00

#34 - Ten, Pearl Jam

"Pearl Jam's debut, Ten, is a seamless merging of hard rock riffs and punk ideals delivered with growling conviction by frontman Eddie Vedder. With an emphasis on anthemic, stadium-sized hooks, the songs "Alive," "Evenflow" and "Jeremy" clicked with radio listeners and MTV watchers bored with hair bands. Ten marks one of the band's strongest releases to date." (real music guide)

#33 - Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones

"Brian Jones' death and the entry of Mick Taylor cast a shadow over this LP, making it as haunting as it is inspired. The wavering opening notes of "Gimme Shelter" and Keith's vocal on "You Got The Silver" are some of rock's finest moments. Part backwoods blues, part gospel epic, this is a dirty, life-saving record." (real music guide)

#32 - After The Gold Rush, Neil Young

"Everybody always talks about how Neil's second, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, is hard rock and After The Gold Rush is some kind coup because he plays acoustic guitar on it. Huh? It's Neil. He could be playing a toilet seat and it would rock -- hard. It would rock harder than the hardest hard rock can rock. That's what this record does." (real music guide)

#31 - Nevermind, Nirvana

"The phenomenon of this record in the early '90s was a definite "before and after" experience. Whether you felt that this album was the apex of alternative music or the beginning of the end, it's hard to deny the strength of these songs. Exceptional pop music, delivered by sludge-dishing punks with just enough polish on them to reinvent radio." (real music guide)

#30 - Aja, Steely Dan

"One of the defining albums of the late 1970s, Aja combines jazz fusion sophistication with sadly cynical observations on modern life. "Peg" was the hit single but "Deacon Blue" gave aging disco hustlers and suburban burnouts "a name when they lose."" (real music guide)

2005-10-24T15:00:00.000-04:00

#39 - Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

"They say that when Are You Experienced? was released in 1967, it actually scared people. Drenched in echo, panning from left to right every two seconds, howling feedback -- nothing had ever sounded this far out and blown apart. On top of it all there was this big black guy doing things with his guitar that seemed...dirty. Jimi changed the rules with this one." (real music guide)

#38 - Achtung Baby, U2

"Bono & Co's first foray into post-modern Euro pop and cold Kraut rock was one of the 1990s defining monster hits. Songs such as "The Fly" and "Zoo Station" experiment with sound, while "One" may just be their finest romantic ballad." (real music guide)

#37 - Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones

"This 1971 tour de force is one of the very best records of the '70s. Working from familiarly bluesy territory, the boys add country honk depression, honing the trademark combination of huckster cynicism and sonic authenticity that marks their best work. The ideas presented on Sticky Fingers were fleshed out and perfected on Exile On Main St." (real music guide)

#36 - Rumours, Fleetwood Mac

"Rumours catapulted Fleetwood Mac to the top of the charts throughout all of 1977, with songs such as "Go Your Own Way," "You Make Loving Fun," "Dreams" and "Don't Stop," providing the band with a handful of stunning, career-defining moments. Without a doubt, Rumours is the must-have Fleetwood Mac album for fans and novices alike." (real music guide)

#35 - Déjà Vu, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

"Déjà Vu lived up to its expectations and rose to number one on the charts. Those achievements are all the more astonishing given the fact that the group barely held together through the estimated 800 hours it took to record Déjà Vu and scarcely functioned as a group for most of that time. Déjà Vu worked as an album, a product of four potent musical talents who were all ascending to the top of their game coupled with some very skilled production, engineering, and editing." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-24T14:45:00.000-04:00

#44 - Court And Spark, Joni Mitchell

"There's rock music, pop music, etc. Then there's Joni Mitchell's flat-out incredible vision, which has ties to the Beat generation, folkies and hippies, but goes so much further than any of them. Her elastic vocal phrasing and even more elastic sense of song structure, not to mention her bizarro yet brilliant guitar playing, really come together on this 1974 release." (real music guide)

#43 - Harvest, Neil Young

"With a little help from the London Symphony Orchestra and some outstanding country rock musicians and singers, Neil Young's most popular album finds him singing about his search for new love, age and mortality, and losing a good friend to heroin abuse. Rich wooden tones and exquisitely layered arrangements bring Harvest's tracks to life." (real music guide)

#42 - Electric Ladyland, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

"Jimi's third and final album with the Experience, Electric Ladyland, is arguably his most experimental and ambitious LP to date. Awash in psychedelic studio wizardry, but still rooted in deep blues, it features key jams such as "Voodoo Chile," "All Along The Watchtower," and "Crosstown Traffic." Undeniably classic." (real music guide)

#41 - Quadrophenia, The Who

"For their second take on the Rock Opera, the Who get deep, examining their roots as Mods and the personality of the band as driven by four individuals. The double album soundtrack, besides thoroughly telling the Who's complex story, contains a number of standout songs ("The Real Me," "5:15," "I'm the One"). It's one of the last truly great albums the Who recorded." (real music guide)

#40 - Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs, Derek and the Dominos

"The guitar riff from "Layla" is arguably Clapton's most famous, but it's the shuffling country rock of "I Looked Away," Clapton's psychic pain (you can hear it), "Bell Bottom Blues," and Duane Allman that make this record the touchstone that it is. Just stay away from the blues standards and be careful not to overlook "I Am Yours."" (real music guide)

2005-10-24T14:30:00.000-04:00

#50 - Astral Weeks, Van Morrison

"Astral Weeks was recorded in less than 48 hours with an all-star jazz backing band that Van Morrison didn't know. Yet, it remains one of the greatest albums in the history of popular music. Over an ardent mix of jazz, folk and Celtic rock, Morrison's impassioned, gospel-rich vocals wind their way around words, breathing life into them. A stunning body of work." (real music guide)

#49 - The Band, The Band

"The Band's second album has two songs always on the radio: the stomping "Up On Cripple Creek" and the monumental "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." While these are great, landmark songs, "When You Awake," "Whispering Pines" and "Across the Great Divide" are among the Band's best songs. Basically any time Richard Manuel is singing you should be listening." (real music guide)

#48 - Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin

"Zeppelin treat many of the songs on Physical Graffiti as forays into individual styles, only occasionally synthesizing sounds, notably on the tense, Eastern-influenced "Kashmir." With John Paul Jones' galloping keyboard, "Trampled Underfoot" ranks as their funkiest metallic grind, while "Houses of the Holy" is as effervescent as pre-Beatles pop and "Down by the Seaside" is the closest they've come to country." (allmusic guide)

#47 - Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., Bruce Springsteen

"Springsteen's debut firmly established him as a potent songwriter and a talent to watch. As songs such as "Growin' Up and "Spirit In the Night" demonstrate, Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ bubbles with all the hunger and enthusiasm befitting a young, newly signed artist. Greater things would follow, but Greetings… certainly set some high standards." (real music guide)

#46 - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams

""Drunken Angel" is just one of the best rock 'n' roll casualty songs ever written. Work in her pronunciation of the word "derelict" and a perfect arrangement that finds the middle ground between Stones-y slop and alt country warmth, and you could listen to this one 10 times in a row and never get bored. There's a reason critics fall over themselves to praise this woman." (real music guide)

#45 - White Ladder, David Gray

"Gray originally released White Ladder himself, after being dropped by EMI. The record was an immediate hit, eventually even breaking in the US after pal Dave Matthews put it out Stateside on his ATO label. The album features Gray's tender songs accompanied by lite techno beats. "Babylon" was the hit." (real music guide)

2005-10-24T14:00:00.000-04:00

#54 - Songs In The Key Of Life, Stevie Wonder

"The essential Steve Wonder album. The sheer number of excellent tracks on Songs is astonishing, and Wonder balances his erudite social commentary with rapturous love songs and jaw-dropping musicianship. Funky, danceable and brilliant, the album is a culmination of his '70s aesthetic; it still sounds fresh today. Highlights include "Sir Duke" and "Pastime Paradise."" (real music guide)

#53 - Beggars Banquet, The Rolling Stones

"Released to clamoring applause in 1968, Beggars Banquet did as much for the Stones' sleazoid-satanism image as it did for their blues roots credibility. Packed from top to bottom with some of their best songs, the record is a good place to start with the band as there is little here that is less than genius, from "Sympathy For The Devil" to "Salt Of The Earth."" (real music guide)

#52 - So, Peter Gabriel

"This is the release that broke Gabriel into multiplatinum territory. Easily his most pop-flavored and accessible album to date, the hits "Big Time" and "Sledgehammer" dominated the charts in 1986. The masterful love song "In Your Eyes" may prove to be the most durable track; it found a place on the Say Anything soundtrack and melts hearts to this day." (real music guide)

#51 - Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd

"Floyd continued to peak with this '75 release, featuring the majestic, glittering ode to fallen member Syd Barrett that opens the set and runs nearly 15 minutes. The album closes with a variation on the same theme. In between you'll find nothing short of rock radio genius: three mid-length tunes you can and probably will be singing till the day you die." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

#58 - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco

"The esoteric but alluring collage of sounds on Wilco's latest earned them the #6 spot on our Best of 2002 poll. The songs traverse styles, from the bleak "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" to the perky "Heavy Metal Drummer," all the while retaining Wilco's signature pawnshop- guitar- run- through- a- dozen- effects- pedals sound." (real music guide)

#57 - What's Going On, Marvin Gaye

"A 1971 masterpiece, What's Going On's influence has endured since its release. A concept album that explores social problems and human relationships, the album paradoxically spawned three No. 1 hits and has never ceased influencing Soul. Gaye is in fine form, and songs such as the title track and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" are part of America's cultural fabric." (real music guide)

#56 - Darkness On The Edge Of Town, Bruce Springsteen

"Coming three long, litigation-filled years after Born to Run, Springsteen returned, bloodied but unbowed, with Darkness on the Edge of Town. Slightly worse for wear, the Boss' voice drips with bitterness as he sings about desperate, down-on-their-luck characters. Yet another classic, blue-collar offering from one of America's most gifted singer-songwriters." (real music guide)

#55 - Tommy, The Who

"The Who's 1969 Rock Opera, Tommy, launched the band to even higher levels of stardom. Nearly all twenty-four songs were written by Townshend, including "Pinball Wizard," "I'm Free," and the epic-length "Underture." The story of a deaf-mute-blind boy who happens to be a wiz at pinball inspired a movie, a Broadway show and, naturally, a pinball machine." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T20:30:00.000-04:00

#65 - Under The Table And Dreaming, The Dave Matthews Band

"On their major-label debut, Under the Table and Dreaming, the Dave Matthews Band is helped by the lean production of Steve Lillywhite, who manages to rein in the group's tendency to meander. The result is a set of eclectic pop/rock that is accentuated by bursts of instrumental virtuosity instead of being ruled by it." (allmusic guide)

#64 - Purple Rain, Prince & The Revolution

"The album that launched Prince into the mainstream on a catapult wire. He stripped down some of his trademark funk's heavier overtones, and dressed it back up with infectious pop hooks and heavy metal guitar licks. At once organic and ornate, this revolutionary album proved more successful than the film of the same name." (real music guide)

#63 - Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin

"Taking the heavy, distorted electric blues of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Cream to an extreme, Zeppelin created a majestic, powerful brand of guitar rock constructed around simple, memorable riffs and lumbering rhythms. But the key to the group's attack was subtlety: it wasn't just an onslaught of guitar noise, it was shaded and textured, filled with alternating dynamics and tempos." (allmusic guide)

#62 - Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos

"Tori Amos' greatest strength is her ability to move listeners with confessional lyrics that both attract and repel. On Little Earthquakes, she uses sparse arrangements to create an atmosphere thick with loneliness -- perfect for the unnervingly direct lyrics that examine rape, sexuality, coming of age and betrayal." (real music guide)

#61 - Crash, The Dave Matthews Band

"Fusing together folk-rock, worldbeat, jazz, and pop, the band is arguably the most musically adept of all their contemporaries...the band continues to get better -- their musical cross-breeding is effortless and seamless -- they often don't have an attractive frame for their skills. Strangely, the lack of memorable melodies doesn't particularly hurt the album -- it actually emphasizes the band's instrumental talents." (allmusic guide)

#60 - Automatic For The People, R.E.M.

"A sober, introspective collection -- as if the kids who wrote "Perfect Circle" in 1983 decided to make an album full of songs just like that. Only now they're famous grown ups who can afford string sections and have actually watched friends die. Not every track is successful, but most are, and a few achieve a majesty unlike anything else the band has ever recorded." (real music guide)

#59 - Eat A Peach, The Allman Brothers Band

"This was the band's tribute to Duane Allman, who died less than a year before its release. Listening to him scale the fret board on the 33-minute long "Mountain Jam" is almost an album unto itself. And of course the sweeping "Melissa" and bouncy strut of "One Way Out" also helped make this album a tried and true classic." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T20:15:00.000-04:00

#69 - Sweet Baby James, James Taylor

"Taylor's sense of wounded hopelessness -- "I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice," he sings in "Country Road" -- struck a chord with music fans, especially because of its attractive mixture of folk, country, gospel, and blues elements, all of them carefully understated and distanced. Taylor didn't break your heart; he understood that it was already broken, as was his own, and he offered comfort." (allmusic guide)

#68 - Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin

"While Led Zeppelin II doesn't have the eclecticism of the group's debut, it's arguably more influential. After all, nearly every one of the hundreds of Zeppelin imitators used this record, with its lack of dynamics and its pummeling riffs, as a blueprint." (allmusic guide)

#67 - My Aim Is True, Elvis Costello

"The 1977 debut album that introduced the world to Elvis Costello. The recording can hardly contain the sputtering, Punk energy of this young man. Yet when Costello slows down for the track "Alison," it's obvious that this voice was going to be around for a long, long time. An essential recording." (real music guide)

#66 - The Bends, Radiohead

"Fans and critics often are divided on which Radiohead album is the best, The Bends or OK Computer -- but it's not necessarily an either/or proposition as both are strong releases. Setting withered, angst-riddled lyrics to solid, chunky melodies, The Bend bucks "one-hit wonder" tags, while its expansive, soaring feel points to what's in the future." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T20:00:00.000-04:00

#74 - Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash

"With their stunning harmonies, Crosby Stills & Nash's self-titled effort is an impressive debut for this trio, whose collective resumes include the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Hollies. The socially conscious lyrics may date Crosby Stills & Nash a bit, but elegantly crafted songs such as "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Wooden Ships" are timeless, potent gems." (real music guide)

#73 - Late For The Sky, Jackson Browne

"Browne found his voice on his third album as he explores the thin line between fantasy and reality following the sad trajectory of a love affair in its final days. Almost a song suite about romantic illusion and delusion, his sheer, perfect poetry doesn't soften the blow, but sometimes you just have to purge the pain with tears. The quintessential break-up album." (real music guide)

#72 - Waiting For Columbus, Little Feat

"The versions on Waiting are full-bodied and fully-realized, putting the studio cuts to shame. Early classics like "Fat Man in the Bathtub" and "Tripe Face Boogie" aren't as revelatory, but it's still a pleasure to hear a great band run through their best songs, stretching them out and finding new quirks within them." (allmusic guide)

#71 - Animals, Pink Floyd

"Possibly the coldest music ever committed to tape, Animals is a negative trip with unbelievably cool guitars (four minutes into "Dogs" and all of "Sheep"), brain-shattering synthesizers (animal sounds continually turn into coded messages from the Grim Reaper) and songs longer than should be legally allowed. Still, it's near perfect." (real music guide)

#70 - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Sarah McLachlan

"A somber, spooky record released at the start of McLachlan's rise to fame. This strong set of atmospheric, well-crafted songs was so far from what McLachlan's supposed contemporaries (Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow) were doing at the time that people could not help but pay attention. The intensity of "Possession" didn't hurt, either." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T15:00:00.000-04:00

#79 - A Love Supreme, John Coltrane

"It's one thing to attempt to write and then improvise an epic aural poem to man's place in God's divine plan, but Coltrane pulls it off beautifully. A Love Supreme goes from free jazz to hard bop to genre-of-one gospel music, and yet Coltrane brings you into this moving, deeply felt work instead of using the piece as an exercise in ego." (real music guide)

#78 - A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Coldplay

"On their sophomore release, Coldplay ace the difficult task of hanging onto their original fan base while proving wrong those who initially wrote the band off as Radiohead-lite. A Rush of Blood To the Head is a solid collection of confidently played life's-gone-wrong songs, highlighted by "Clocks" and "In My Place."" (real music guide)

#77 - Making Movies, Dire Straits

"Dire Straits' great step foreword, this was also a career best for the band. Mark Knopfler keeps the group's rootsy feel but implants it into rockers that have the cinematic sweep hinted at in the album title. This wasn't a big hit at first, but the tracks "Tunnel of Love," "Romeo & Juliet," "Expresso Love" and "Skateaway" earned FM airplay – and new Dire Straits fans." (real music guide)

#76 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John

"Elton John's 1973 masterpiece has been called "a concept album without a concept." The eclectic mix of tunes proves he's a master of many styles: he bashes out prog-rock ("Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"), pop anthems ("Bennie and the Jets"), melancholy balladry ("Candle in the Wind") and more with equal aplomb." (real music guide)

#75 - Synchronicity, The Police

"Radio singles such as "King of Pain," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," and "Every Breath You Take" lend Synchronicity a weighty, greatest hits-type air. And while there's no arguing that these are some of the band's biggest hits, long-time fans may have trouble appreciating the mushy, AOR sound." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T14:30:00.000-04:00

#84 - Appetite For Destruction, Guns N' Roses

"One of the most important and influential records of the 1980s. The sleaze rock menace that was GNR's specialty had gone the way of the dinosaur until Appetite came out and the band flattened America like a steamroller. Sixteen years later, the album still rocks harder than anything else on the radio." (real music guide)

#83 - Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel

"This was S&G's biggest selling album by a few million copies, but it's actually their least cohesive work. That's not to say there isn't plenty of pop perfection here, including "The Oldest Living Boy in New York," "The Boxer" and the moving title track (which Smokey Robinson has called the best black spiritual ever written)." (real music guide)

#82 - Europe '72, The Grateful Dead

"The Grateful Dead commemorated their first extended European tour with an extravagant triple-LP set appropriately enough titled Europe '72. This collection is fashioned in much the same way as their previous release -- which had also been a live multi-disc affair. The band mixes a bevy of new material -- such as "Ramble on Rose," "Jack Straw," "Tennessee Jed," "Brown-Eyed Woman," and "He's Gone" -- with revisitations of back-catalog favorites." (allmusic guide)

#81 - Close To The Edge, Yes

"Close to the Edge comprised just three tracks, the epic "And You and I" and "Siberian Khatru," plus a side-long title track that represented the musical, lyrical, and sonic culmination of all that Yes had worked toward over the past five years. Close to the Edge would make the Top Five on both sides of the Atlantic, dispatch Yes on the longest tour of its career so far and, if hindsight be the guide, launch the band on a downward swing that only disintegration, rebuilding, and a savage change of direction would cure." (allmusic guide)

#80 - Born In The U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen

"Seven must be the Boss' lucky number because this, his seventh album, culled seven Top-10 singles. One of the biggest-selling albums of all time, Born in the U.S.A. reflects the Reagan-led '80s with despair and disenfranchisement, setting it to an anthemic, arena rock sound. Fans and casual listeners alike should start with this breakthrough album." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T14:15:00.000-04:00

#88 - Hejira, Joni Mitchell

"Some records are meant to be listened to, some danced to. Hejira is meant to be absorbed. With doomed Jaco Pastorius making an appearance and Mitchell's usual predilection for putting jazz and folk together in overdrive, this is the singer-songwriter's most adventurous album. If there is a cooler song than "Coyote," we can't find it." (real music guide)

#87 - Axis: Bold As Love, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

"Jimi moved deeper into the galaxy with Axis, his second deathblow aimed squarely at "straights" and "suits." There are no bad Hendrix songs; the only problem is when you think of how he might have felt had he seen how his spirit is exploited and how many "suits" know his music by heart today (all of them). Hendrix couldn't have wanted that." (real music guide)

#86 - Come Away With Me, Norah Jones

"A striking and seductive mix of pop, jazz, country, folk and blues. Jones' voice and piano playing are superb but so are the rich and layered guitars courtesy of Bill Frisell and others. Finally, the diverse fans of the Cowboy Junkies, Shelby Lynne, Rickie Lee Jones and Cassandra Wilson have an artist they can all embrace." (real music guide)

#85 - Tea For The Tillerman, Cat Stevens

"Tea for the Tillerman was the story of a young man's search for spiritual meaning in a soulless class society he found abhorrent. He hadn't yet reached his destination, but he was confident he was going in the right direction, traveling at his own, unhurried pace. The album's rejection of contemporary life and its yearning for something more struck a chord with listeners in an era in which traditional verities had been shaken." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

#95 - Music From Big Pink, The Band

"Music From Big Pink bumps and bounces with all that came before it and nothing that was to come after it -- because nothing like it ever did. A tragic, hilarious trip through the history of American music, this record positively breathes. In one motion the Band created and sealed forever a genre all their own." (real music guide)

#94 - Before These Crowded Streets, Dave Matthews Band

"Here, everything hangs out. Old trademarks, like jittery acoustic grooves and jazzy chords, are here, augmented by complex polyrhythms, Mideastern dirges, and on two tracks, the slashing strings of the Kronos Quartet. Some fans may find the new, darker textures a little disarming at first, but they're a logical extension of the group's work, and in many ways, this sonic daring results in the most rewarding album they've yet recorded." (allmusic guide)

#93 - The Unforgettable Fire, U2

"With help from Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, U2 created an album that, in losing the Post-Punk guitar, gained instead a gentle, epic moving sound that was both warm and completely emotional. Despite some lyrical pretensions, this is a stunning, beautiful record." (real music guide)

#92 - The Queen Is Dead, The Smiths

"With this album, the Smiths proved for certain that the Morrissey/Marr combination was one that could rival any of the great musical partnerships. Sounding confident as they rip through the title track and then on to the staggeringly well-crafted songs "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out." This is a gorgeous record." (real music guide)

#91 - Velvet Underground & Nico, The Velvet Underground

"One would be hard pressed to name a rock album whose influence has been as broad and pervasive as The Velvet Underground and Nico. While it reportedly took over a decade for the album's sales to crack six figures, glam, punk, new wave, goth, noise, and nearly every other left-of-center rock movement owes an audible debt to this set. While The Velvet Underground had as distinctive a sound as any band, what's most surprising about this album is its diversity." (allmusic guide)

#90 - Hotel California, The Eagles

"This is how country rock sounds in its most commercialized success. By 1976 Gram Parsons was turning in his grave as his old Flying Burrito Brother, Bernie Leadon was replaced by Joe Walsh for this multi-platinum classic that birthed hits like "New Kid In Town" and "Life In The Fast Lane" (and of course the title track)." (real music guide)

#89 - Murmur, R.E.M.

"Possibly the most modest-sounding album ever to start a revolution, Murmur's chiming guitar riffs and mumbled lyrics inspired a generation of bands. Featuring re-recorded versions of the songs from their debut single, plus ten equally impressive (and just as unintelligible) tracks, it sounded at once like nothing anybody else was doing and something anyone could do." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T12:45:00.000-04:00

#102 - Rites of Passage, The Indigo Girls

"Though not what you'd call polished or slick, Rites of Passage introduces a sound and structure that are a touch more refined than previous albums by Indigo Girls. Thanks to producer Peter Collins and a slew of amazing guests, including Jackson Browne, David Crosby, the Roches, and Lisa Germano, the added harmonies and diverse instrumentation put on a whole other spin." (allmusic guide)

#101 - The Doors, The Doors

"A tremendous debut album, and indeed one of the best first-time outings in rock history, introducing the band's fusion of rock, blues, classical, jazz, and poetry with a knockout punch. The lean, spidery guitar and organ riffs interweave with a hypnotic menace, providing a seductive backdrop for Jim Morrison's captivating vocals and probing prose." (allmusic guide)

#100 - Aqualung, Jethro Tull

"This was the album that made Jethro Tull a fixture on FM radio, with riff-heavy songs like "My God," "Hymn 43," "Locomotive Breath," "Cross-Eyed Mary," "Wind Up," and the title track...Mixing hard rock and folk melodies with Ian Anderson's dour musings on faith and religion (mostly how organized religion had restricted man's relationship with God), the record was extremely profound for a number seven chart hit, one of the most cerebral albums ever to reach millions of rock listeners." (allmusic guide)

#99 - Workingman's Dead, The Grateful Dead

"After almost falling off the edge of their own psychedelic planet, the Grateful Dead rode off into the sunset, venturing into the high lonesome sound of country rock. More high than lonesome, Workingman's garnered two radio hits with the bouncy, folkie "Uncle John's Band" and the country-funk strut of "Casey Jones."" (real music guide)

#98 - Bringing It All Back Home, Bob Dylan

"Dylan's first stab at electric rock 'n' roll incensed folkies back in 1965, but no one can deny the impact the music had on everything that came after it. This is where his careening take on America's past really came together. He was never so harsh as in "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" and never so far out as in "It's Alright Ma."" (real music guide)

#97 - This Year's Model, Elvis Costello & The Attractions

"1978's This Year's Model remains one of that blistering rock year's most indelible albums. Orwellian even when not directly alluding to the great man (a sly nod to 1984 on "Living in Paradise"), the 22-year-old and band crashed through the raging anti-party of "Pump It Up" ("When you don't really need it"), the perverted Spectorisms of "Hand in Hand," the punk manifesto "Radio, Radio," and the stylishly anti-fashion "This Year's Girl" (in the season of Suzanne Somers, no less) with no less force than the Clash. Probably his greatest, most elegantly imagined and rendered long-player." (amazon editorial guide)

#96 - Disintegration, The Cure

"Just when it seemed the Cure had become as widely accepted as possible with Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, they released this album in 1989. Disintegration brought the band into arenas on the strength of the tracks "Pictures Of You" and "Love Song." It showed what long-time fans already knew -- Robert Smith was a fantastic guitarist who wrote beautiful songs." (real music guide)

2005-10-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

#107 - Life's Rich Pageant, R.E.M.

"Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic "Begin the Begin" and the punky "Just a Touch." But the cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers." (allmusic guide)

#106 - Let It Be, The Beatles

"The album is on the whole underrated, even discounting the fact that a substandard Beatles record is better than almost any other group's best work. McCartney in particular offers several gems: the gospel-ish "Let It Be," which has some of his best lyrics; "Get Back," one of his hardest rockers; and the melodic "The Long and Winding Road."" (allmusic guide)

#105 - Innervisions, Stevie Wonder

"Released just three years after Signed Sealed Delivered, Innervisions shows Wonder's maturation as a songwriter. The stellar "Living For the City" and "Higher Ground" practically leap off the vinyl, and "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" keeps the humor rolling. The work of a man profoundly grappling with the realities of racism and economic disparity." (real music guide)

#104 - Doolittle, The Pixies

"The Pixies' finest combines Black Francis' maniacal glee with pop structure and loads of deranged melodies. One of the great guitar albums of all time -- from the catharsis of "Tame" through the perfection of "Here Comes Your Man," the album never falters. Without it, rock in the '90s would have been drastically different." (real music guide)

#103 - Houses Of The Holy, Led Zeppelin

"Jimmy Page's riffs rely on ringing, folky hooks as much as they do on thundering blues-rock, giving the album a lighter, more open atmosphere. While the pseudo-reggae of "D'Yer Mak'er" and the affectionate James Brown send-up "The Crunge" suggest that the band was searching for material, they actually contribute to the musical diversity of the album. "The Rain Song" is one of Zep's finest moments, featuring a soaring string arrangement and a gentle, aching melody." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-17T21:45:00.000-04:00

#114 - Desire, Bob Dylan

"Recorded before Dylan embarked on the crazed, legendary Rolling Thunder Revue, a tour in which he took about 20 musicians all over the U.S. "Hurricane," the story of framed prizefighter Reuben Carter, is one of Dylan's biggest hits, but "Isis" is the one on this album you need to listen to until your ears fall off." (real music guide)

#113 - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Genesis

"Being really into Peter Gabriel-era Genesis may not get you many dates, but that doesn't mean The Lamb Lies isn't worth checking out. First of all, prog rock was never so melodic, and a couple of songs -- "Back in N.Y.C.," in particular -- actually rock. In fact, "Back in N.Y.C." rules -- it's in 7/8! You gotta listen to something when you're tripping." (real music guide)

#112 - Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads

"Everyone's favorite concert movie is also a fine document of a group at the pinnacle of their form. Where the band's studio albums capture their darkness and frenetic energy, this portrait is one for the masses: full-color and glossy. Mainstream acceptance rarely sounded so vital." (real music guide)

#111 - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Neil Young & Crazy Horse

"As the introduction of Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere stands as a seminal album. But when you think about the impact the record's triptych of hits ("Cinnamon Girl," "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand") represent, it gets damn near scary. In 1969, who wasn't influenced by these songs? The title track and "Losing End" are just as good." (real music guide)

#110 - Pretenders, The Pretenders

"Time may have blunted some of the edges on the Pretenders' debut effort, but 20-plus years after its release, Pretenders still ignites like a powder keg. From start ("Precious") to finish ("Mystery Achievement"), the songs herein challenge convention and offer an emotional ally in love and life. A classic." (real music guide)

#109 - Exodus, Bob Marley & The Wailers

"This album features more instantly recognizable tracks than any other Bob Marley album. But it's also notable for the title track's use of Dub techniques (at the time of release, Dub was strictly an underground style of Reggae). The lyrical phrase "movement of the people" gets emulated with a steady pulse groove that remains consistent throughout the entire song." (real music guide)

#108 - Avalon, Roxy Music

"Avalon found Roxy Music smoothing out their arty, angular edges with lush orchestration and graceful arrangements. This 1982 album would prove to be the band's last studio effort, and, as fate would have it, their most popular release thanks to the singles "More Than This" and "Take A Chance With Me."" (real music guide)

2005-10-17T21:30:00.000-04:00

#118 - Odelay, Beck

"Beck managed to successfully bridge commercial success with artistic merit on this award-winning album. The production team of the Dust Brothers, in addition to Beck's own great songwriting, helped define a sound and create an album that nearly everyone agreed on." (real music guide)

#117 - Exile In Guyville, LIz Phair

"This touchstone of the 1990s is a smart, provocative and aesthetically spot-on work from one of the most talented artists of the slacker generation. Phair's Citizen Kane-like debut sketches the fears, wants and bitterness of twentysomething women living in a male-dominated scene with razor-sharp humor and stark honesty. Best college rock album ever." (real music guide)

#116 - Some Girls, The Rolling Stones

"By 1978, the Stones had sunk into such self-parody that another album could only be viewed as an exercise in cynicism. But Some Girls astounded the world as one of their very best records. From the disco sleaze of "Miss You" to Keith's high-water mark, "Before They Make Me Run," and the punk-dumb gem "Shattered," this is one of those records you need." (real music guide)

#115 - O, Damien Rice

"Part of Damien Rice's appeal is that his songs are so affecting, they hit you squarely in the gut. Rice's fervent, quavering delivery mingles with sparse instrumentation, allowing his stories to hang in your mind's eye, exposed like a raw nerve. O paints 10 visceral portraits using bold cinematic strokes." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T21:15:00.000-04:00

#123 - The Yes Album, Yes

"The album that first gave shape to the established Yes sound, build around science-fiction concepts, folk melodies, and soaring organ, guitar, and vocal showpieces. "Your Move" actually made the U.S. charts as a single, and "Starship Trooper," "Perpetual Change," and "Yours Is No Disgrace" became much-loved parts of the band's concert repertory for many tours to come." (allmusic guide)

#122 - Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Blood Sugar Sex Magic ushered in a new era for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as it established the band with the MTV audience. Although there's still plenty of funky bass and swagger to their lyrics ("Suck My Kiss," "Give It Away"), with songs such as "Breaking the Girl" and "Under the Bridge" the band proves there's more to them than what's inside their socks." (real music guide)

#121 - Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen

"Springsteen replaced the E Street Band with one acoustic guitar on this gripping album that explores the rot and confusion in heartland America. Born In the USA sold more copies, but two decades later it's Nebraska that remains both timeless and sadly timely." (real music guide)

#120 - Parachutes, Coldplay

"Coldplay's debut is a dark and melodic exploration of ground staked by their Brit Pop forebears, broken Stateside by such current big shots as Radiohead. Parachutes approaches things with a humanity not to be found on Kid A as well as a ragged guitar sound that pushes the envelope a bit as far as mainstream music is concerned. A deservedly acclaimed album." (real music guide)

#119 - Horses, Patti Smith

"Apart from Smith's revelatory demolition of "Gloria," Horses features the poetess/Keith Richards-worshipper at her freshest and most effective. Later records did some weirder stuff, but none of them had the perfection of "Redondo Beach" and "Kimberley." "Break It Up, "Free Money" and the bizarro title track are great, too." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T21:00:00.000-04:00

#129 - War, U2

"With this 1983 release -- the last "raw" album U2 would make -- the band created the concept of an alternative arena rock group. The word "anthemic" doesn't even come close to describing the grandiose post-punk that they play here: this is genuinely brilliant, flag-waving rock music. U2 never sounded so totally rocking, so passionate and, honestly, so good." (real music guide)

#128 - All Things Must Pass, George Harrison

"Without a doubt, Harrison's first solo recording, originally issued as a triple album, is his best. Drawing on his backlog of unused compositions from the late Beatles era, Harrison crafted material that managed the rare feat of conveying spiritual mysticism without sacrificing his gifts for melody and grand, sweeping arrangements." (allmusic guide)

#127 - Thriller, Michael Jackson

"The biggest selling record of all time, Thriller marked a zenith in pop music songwriting. With practically every song on here hitting the Top 5 at some point the album was a sensation in the truest sense of the word. Inspired millions across the country to dress like one-gloved space captains." (real music guide)

#126 - Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morrissette

"Alanis Morissette proves "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Her purging of emotions struck a chord with millions of listeners, all of whom snapped up Jagged Little Pill in droves. Burned and bitter, Morissette's scathing rants are shaped by producer/craftsman Glen Ballard, who forged songs such as "You Oughta Know" and "Ironic" into bonafide anthems." (real music guide)

#125 - Paul's Boutique, The Beastie Boys

"Arguably their best album, the Beasties' sophomore effort was commercially ignored when released in '89, and hailed as a classic years later. The production (much of it by the Dust Brothers) is out of control: an unrelenting barrage of ridiculously funky samples and thick breakbeats. Lyrically they step it up as well, with ill wordplay and sick metaphors galore." (real music guide)

#124 - Kid A, Radiohead

"Kid A is easily the most successful electronica album from a rock band -- it doesn't even sound like a rock band, even if it does sound like Radiohead. So, Kid A is an unqualified success? Well, not quite. Despite its admirable ambition, Kid A is never as visionary or stunning as OK Computer, nor does it really repay the time it demands." (Blogger's note: Actually, Kid A is personally my favorite Radiohead album.)

2005-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

#132 - Trick Of The Tail, Genesis

"All of it has some moments of tremendous beauty, and Banks' "Robbery, Assault and Battery," with its bold, hard-rocking choruses and extended song structure, would have been worthy of inclusion on any of the group's earlier records. Even "Los Endos," an instrumental finale that ought to be considered a cop-out in the absence of a good song, provides the quartet with an opportunity to showcase its still considerable collective skills to which few fans could object." (allmusic guide)

#131 - Selling England By The Pound, Genesis

"By the Ezra Pound, no doubt -- seriously, the influence of T.S. Eliot and other early 20th century literary figures crops up throughout the opening and closing portions of this album, with the rest of the songs given over to more conventional subject matter. The original group's strongest single album and, for those not predisposed to enjoy the double-disc Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, the peak of their output. The production is note-perfect, and not an instrument is out of place." (allmusic guide)

#130 - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan

"For his sophomore album, Dylan eschewed the traditional folk covers that originally brought him notice and focused mainly on his startling, original material. The resulting release sewed together graceful love songs with bitter vitriol and made him one of the best known and well-respected songwriters in the world." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T08:45:00.000-04:00

#138 - John Barleycorn Must Die, Traffic

"The band's new approach was closer to what it perhaps should have been back in 1967, basically a showcase for Winwood's voice and instrumental work, with Wood adding reed parts and Capaldi drumming and occasionally singing harmony vocals. If the original Traffic bowed to the perceived commercial necessity of crafting hit singles, the new Traffic was more interested in stretching out." (allmusic guide)

#137 - Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane

"This is the essential Jefferson Airplane album. Widely available in cut-out bins around the world, this cornerstone of Psychedelic music deserves to be listened to and absorbed by any fan of '60s rock. Most of their best-known songs come from this release, including "White Rabbit," "Somebody to Love," "Today" and "3/5 a Mile in 10 Seconds."" (real music guide)

#136 - Natty Dread, Bob Marley & The Wailers

"This 1974 release was the first to feature the Wailers. The line-up included the I-Threes vocal trio and the bass/drum combo of Aston and Carlton Barrett. They brought such a strong new dynamic to Marley's sound that he kept them for the remainder of his career. Highlights include "Lively Up Yourself," "Rebel Music," and the influential ballad "No Woman No Cry."" (real music guide)

#135 - Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols

"A violent, explosive record that is in no danger of ever sounding dated, this 1977 manifesto spews out equal amounts of nihilism and full-on rock 'n' roll. The band kicks out dirty, sloppy riffs that cut to the bone, while Johnny Rotten is probably the only vocalist whose sarcasm is worth listening to." (real music guide)

#134 - Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf

"This is Grand Guignol pop -- epic, gothic, operatic, and silly, and it's appealing because of all of this. Jim Steinman was a composer without peer, simply because nobody else wanted to make mini-epics like this. And there never could have been a singer more suited for his compositions than Meat Loaf, a singer partial to bombast, albeit shaded bombast. The compositions are staggeringly ridiculous, yet Meat Loaf finds the emotional core in each song." (allmusic guide)

#133 - Madman Across The Water, Elton John

"Madman Across the Water is another feather in Elton John's cap, gaudy as it may be. This time out, haunting strings -- which add depth and color to an already colorful performer -- augments Elton's beautiful, piano-driven songs. "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" are the highlights of this nine-song disc, most of which is superb." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

#144 - Days Of Future Passed, The Moody Blues

"What surprises first-time listeners -- and delighted them at the time -- is the degree to which the group shares the spotlight with the London Festival Orchestra without compromising their sound or getting lost in the lush mix of sounds. That's mostly because they came to this album with the strongest, most cohesive body of songs in their history, having spent the previous year working up a new stage act and a new body of material (and working the bugs out of it on-stage), the best of which ended up here." (allmusic guide)

#143 - Back In Black, AC/DC

"Back in Black is the ultimate example of a band turning a career-threatening negative into a remarkable positive and stands alongside such landmark albums as Van Halen, Led Zeppelin II, Are You Experienced?, and Paranoid as hard rock's greatest achievements. Rock music rarely gets better than Back in Black." (allmusic guide)

#142 - Bitches Brew, Miles Davis

"This is the album that found Miles losing some of his older jazz audience while gaining a new rock fan following. Considered by some at the time to be a sell-out, this is actually daring music that still challenges and inspires. Wayne Shorter remains on soprano sax, though new musicians John McLaughlin, Chick Corea and Larry Young all shine in the spotlight." (real music guide)

#141 - Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young & Crazy Horse

"Young divided his record into acoustic and electric sides while filling his songs with wildly imaginative imagery. The leadoff track is the most concise and knowing description of the entertainment industry ever written; it was followed by "Thrasher," which describes Young's parallel artistic quest in an extended metaphor that also reflected the album's overall theme -- the inevitability of deterioration and the challenge of overcoming it." (allmusic guide)

#140 - The Rising, Bruce Springsteen

"With an understated yet intense power, Bruce examines the open sore left on the American people's psyche following the events of September 11, 2001. More importantly, he's written some great songs here. Many will find The Rising inspirational and moving in a way few rock records have ever been." (real music guide)

#139 - The Stranger, Billy Joel

"Joel delivered a radio-perfect smash with The Stranger in 1977, and its title track is the quintessential Joel song -- a melody you can't shake, that clean studio feel, and mean-spirited lyrics. He turns that trick with sharpshooter accuracy on this one; chances are you know six of the nine songs on here by heart." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T08:15:00.000-04:00

#148 - Katy Lied, Steely Dan

"Steely Dan created an alluringly sophisticated album of jazzy pop with Katy Lied. With this record, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen began relying solely on studio musicians, which is evident from the immaculate sound of the album. Usually, such a studied recording method would drain the life out of each song, but that's not the case with Katy Lied, which actually benefits from the duo's perfectionist tendencies." (allmusic guide)

#147 - The Last Waltz, The Band

"The Band are in fine if not exceptional form here; on most cuts, they don't sound quite as fiery as they did on Rock of Ages, though their performances are never less than expert, and the high points are dazzling, especially an impassioned version of "It Makes No Difference" and blazing readings of "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."" (allmusic guide)

#146 - Indigo Girls, Indigo Girls

"With their first major label release, the Indigo Girls come on strong with an outstanding batch of tunes, watertight harmonies, impeccable musicianship, and flawless production. And entering the folk-rock music scene on the successful heels of R.E.M., Tracy Chapman, and 10,000 Maniacs pushed their sales over the million mark and earned the duo a Grammy for Best Folk Recording." (allmusic guide)

#145 - Remain In Light, The Talking Heads

"Many forward-thinking releases are so unique it takes years for audiences to catch up with them. A weird thing happened with this 1980 Talking Heads classic -- nobody had ever heard anything like it yet everyone loved it. An amazing best-selling mix of African and funk rhythms, urban paranoia, rock, and intellect and heart, Remain in Light hasn't aged a nanosecond." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

#152 - Abraxas, Santana

"Ah, 1970. You could start an album with wind chimes and impressionistic piano and people would listen -- and love it. Thank Abraxas for some of Santana's greatest songs ("Black Magic Woman," "Oye Como Va"), but lesser-knowns like "Incident At Neshabur" and "El Nicoya" are just as interesting. This was the final flowering of San Francisco's vibrant 1960s rock scene." (real music guide)

#151 - Look Sharp!, Joe Jackson

"Joe Jackson's lean, stripped-down New Wave debut didn't take off in his native England, but buoyed by the hit "Is She Really Going Out With Him," it took off in the States, and continued selling into the 1980s. Not a great album overall, but it contains many Jackson classics besides "Is She…," including "Sunday Papers," "One More Time" and "Fools In Love."" (real music guide)

#150 - Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin

"Led Zeppelin III provided the band with the necessary room to grow musically. While there are still a handful of metallic rockers, III is built on a folky, acoustic foundation that gives the music extra depth. And even the rockers aren't as straightforward as before: the galloping "Immigrant Song" is powered by Robert Plant's banshee wail, "Celebration Day" turns blues-rock inside out with a warped slide guitar riff, and "Out on the Tiles" lumbers along with a tricky, multi-part riff." (allmusic guide)

#149 - Excitable Boy, Warren Zevon

"Musically, most of Excitable Boy is stuck in a polished but unexceptional FM pop groove, and only "Veracruz" hints at the artful intelligence of Warren Zevon's finest moments. It's hard to say if Zevon was feeling uninspired or just dumbing himself down when he made Excitable Boy, but while it made him famous, it lacks the smarts and substance of his best work." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

#156 - Pink Moon, Nick Drake

"Nick Drake's final album overflows with bleak, gorgeous folk songs that manage to be both lush and harrowing. His spare guitar strumming and far-away voice somehow sound fully orchestrated. Simple, stark and stunning -- this is some of the finest music you'll ever hear come out of an acoustic guitar." (real music guide)

#155 - The River, Bruce Springsteen

"This double-disc finds Springsteen mixing the dour disillusionment that permeated Darkness On the Edge of Town with confident, light-hearted stabs at love, and one style is just as winning as the other. Songs such as "Hungry Heart," "Fade Away" and "The River" are timeless classics that remain live favorites. The River is required listening for any fan." (real music guide)

#154 - MTV Unplugged In New York, Nirvana

"Released a few months after Kurt Cobain's death in 1994, this record served as a sort of kick in the teeth to anyone who might have doubted Nirvana's strength as musicians. Stripped-down covers of well-chosen songs are aligned with desolate takes on their own material -- the result is stunning." (real music guide)

#153 - Pearl, Janis Joplin

"Janis Joplin's second masterpiece (after Cheap Thrills), Pearl was designed as a showcase for her powerhouse vocals, stripping down the arrangements that had often previously cluttered her music or threatened to drown her out. Thanks also to a more consistent set of songs, the results are magnificent -- given room to breathe, Joplin's trademark rasp conveys an aching, desperate passion on funked-up, bluesy rockers, ballads both dramatic and tender, and her signature song, the posthumous number one hit "Me and Bobby McGee."" (allmusic guide)

2005-10-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

#160 - Forever Changes, Love

"Although it has all the orchestrated trappings of a sunshine pop record, Forever Changes is far from a tiptoe through the tulips. The album is as harrowing as it's beautiful to listen to, and Arthur Lee's confusion and paranoia come through in every song. When coupled with the baroque, psychedelic arrangements, it turns into a nearly perfect album." (real music guide)

#159 - Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes

"One of the most distinctive records of the early alternative movement and an enduring cult classic, Violent Femmes weds the geeky, child-man persona of Jonathan Richman and the tense, jittery, hyperactive feel of new wave in an unlikely context: raw, amateurish acoustic folk-rock. The music also owes something to the Modern Lovers' minimalism, but powered by Brian Ritchie's busy acoustic bass riffing and the urgency and wild abandon of punk rock, the Femmes forged a sound all their own." (allmusic guide)

#158 - The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys, Traffic

"Where their previous album had grown out of sessions for a Steve Winwood solo album and retained that focus, Low Spark pointedly contained changes of pace from his usual contributions of midtempo, introspective jam tunes. "Rock & Roll Stew" was an uptempo treatise on life on the road, while Jim Capaldi's "Light up or Leave Me Alone" was another more aggressive number with an unusually emphatic Capaldi vocal that perked things up on side two." (allmusic guide)

#157 - Living With Ghosts, Patty Griffin

"Patty Griffin's major-label debut was actually recorded as a demo cassette. A&M executives were so impressed with this raw display of talent that they snatched up the tape and threw it, unaltered, into the marketplace. Griffin recorded her songs exactly as she performed them live, armed with only her acoustic guitar and a voice that can rattle fences." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-17T07:15:00.000-04:00

#167 - The Royal Scam, Steely Dan

"Widely considered Steely Dan's weakest effort, The Royal Scam actually remains one of their most enjoyable. No lasting hits here, but "Kid Charlemagne" updates classic gangster movies for the cocaine and 'ludes era while "Sign In Stranger" presaged Fagen's combination of film noir and Sci Fi that would resurface in the Kamarkiriad album." (real music guide)

#166 - Being There, Wilco

"Seven years before guitarist Jay Bennett left and long before singer Jeff Tweedy decided to go indie rock, Wilco gave alt country a golden crown and scepter in the form of this sophomore double album. The band's chemistry was at such a peak on these sessions that no alt country rockers since have come close to touching the album's perfection -- not even Ryan Adams." (real music guide)

#165 - Something/Anything?, Todd Rundgren

"It's an amazing journey that's remarkably unpretentious. Rundgren peppers his writing with self-aware, self-deprecating asides, indulging his bizarre sense of humor with gross-outs ("Piss Aaron") and sheer quirkiness, such as an aural tour of the studio at the beginning of side two. There are a ton of loose ends throughout Something/Anything?, plenty of studio tricks, slight songs (but no filler), snippets of dialogue, and purposely botched beginnings, but all these throwaways simply add context." (allmusic guide)

#164 - A Night At The Opera, Queen

"The benchmark for all fey-prog pomp rock, this is Queen's best album and an essential buy for any collector with a taste for the absurd. Even though people mistake the joke for indulgence these days, anyone with a brain can tell that the ultra-excessive arrangements of Queen's magnum opus were as tongue-in-cheek as they were (inexplicably) influential." (real music guide)

#163 - Weezer (blue album), Weezer

"Weezer's debut LP from '94 was a surprising vital-sounding group of pop songs led by a buzzing guitar and Rivers Cuomo's occasionally silly (yet hard not to sing along to) lyrics. "Undone-The Sweater Song" and "Buddy Holly" were alt-radio hits and managed to bridge the gap between the Pixies and the aftermath of Nirvana. Ric Ocasek's production adds the perfect pop gloss." (real music guide)

#162 - Hunky Dory, David Bowie

"Bowie brought twisted futurism, the English music hall and the Velvet Underground to the touchy-feely Singer-Songwriter genre on his first truly great album. Ignored on it's initial 1972 release, "Changes" became a hit single years later, while "Life on Mars," "Queen Bitch," "Pretty Things" and others deserved the same fate." (real music guide)

#161 - Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins

"If Gish unlocked the door for the Pumpkins, then Siamese Dream kicked it down. Epic songs such as "Disarm," "Cherub Rock" and "Today" helped make Siamese Dream one of the decade's supreme, shining moments. Appealing both to the alternative and mainstream crowds, Siamese Dream is essential for any collection." (real music guide)

2005-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

#173 - Unplugged, Eric Clapton

"A huge success for Clapton (and for the "unplugged" genre as a whole), Unplugged is an effective acoustic album from the British blues master. Fans of Clapton's more rugged originals might find it a little infuriating, but the record works (and garnered Clapton a whole new generation of fans). The pleasant, easy atmosphere just can't be denied." (real music guide)

#172 - Brothers In Arms, Dire Straits

"A monster seller that was kicked off by the defining single and MTV hit, "Money For Nothing," Brothers In Arms hasn't aged as well as Dire Strait's earlier studio albums. That said, "So Far Away," still gets plenty of FM rock airplay and "Walk of Life" continues to get dragged out at every single sporting event happening anywhere on the planet, at any time." (real music guide)

#171 - Piano Man, Billy Joel

"Thanks to the hit title track, Billy Joel's breakthrough album remains a radio staple. Joel brought an old fashioned sense of Broadway flair to the sensitive singer-songwriter genre, and the album has aged very well. "The Ballad of Billy The Kid" remains one of his best numbers." (real music guide)

#170 - Boston, Boston

"Boston's debut may be the apex of studio tech nerdiness, the most soulless rock 'n' roll of all time and unspeakably trite, but the fact remains: you know every single lick that weirdo Tom Scholz plays and when you are alone you sing along with Brad Delp with all your white afro-ed might. And if you ever wanted to play the keyboards, you'd learn "Foreplay."" (real music guide)

#169 - Rain Dogs, Tom Waits

"Rain Dogs is the middle chapter in Waits' dark, Kurt Weill-styled triumvirate of ornate storytelling. But this album features Marc Ribot, whose distinct, pointed guitar work adds an element of scratchy chaos to the murky beauty found on tracks like "Clap Hands." "Anywhere I Lay My Head" is one of Waits' best moments." (real music guide)

#168 - Shoot Out The Lights, Richard & Linda Thompson

"There is a palpable tension to Shoot Out The Lights which gives songs like "Don't Renege On Our Love" and "Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed" an edgy bite different from the Thompsons' other albums together; there's a subtle, unmistakable undertow of anger and dread in this music that cuts straight down to the bone." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-14T15:30:00.000-04:00

#177 - Armed Forces, Elvis Costello & The Attractions

"In contrast to the stripped-down pop and rock of his first two albums, Armed Forces boasted a detailed and textured pop production, but it was hardly lavish. However, the more spacious arrangements -- complete with ringing pianos, echoing reverb, layered guitars, and harmonies -- accent Costello's melodies, making the record more accessible than his first two albums." (allmusic guide)

#176 - Gold, Ryan Adams

"Everyone has their influences, and Adams seems determined to make the most of them on Gold; it's a far more ambitious album than his solo debut, Heartbreaker. The performances are polished, Ethan Johns' production is at once elegant and admirably restrained, Adams is in strong voice throughout, and several of the songs are superb." (allmusic guide)

#175 - Abandoned Luncheonette, Hall & Oates

"The duo's second album from 1973 is a blue-eyed soul delight with fragments of genius. The LP fuses together laid-back folk, analog synths and Philly-style soul harmonies. The big hit here is "She's Gone," but check out the knockout opening track, "When The Morning Comes," as well as "Had I Known You Better Then."" (real music guide)

#174 - Document, R.E.M.

"The first R.E.M. record produced by Scott Litt mixes exuberant rockers with more brooding numbers. The political engagement hinted at in earlier, eco-friendly songs like "Fall On Me" is given freer rein this time out, with mixed results: "Exhuming McCarthy" is so bouncy you don't care what they're singing about, whereas "Welcome to the Occupation" is dull AND didactic." (real music guide)

2005-10-14T15:15:00.000-04:00

#181 - Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles

"The psychedelic sound is very much in the vein of Sgt. Pepper, and even spacier in parts (especially the sound collages of "I Am the Walrus"). Unlike Sgt. Pepper, there's no vague overall conceptual/thematic unity to the material, which has made Magical Mystery Tour suffer slightly in comparison. Still, the music is mostly great." (allmusic guide)

#180 - Harvest Moon, Neil Young

"Right before he had been tagged the "Godfather of Grunge," Neil Young still recorded twangy tunes. While 1992's Harvest Moon may not have sounded like Pearl Jam, but as a follow-up to 1972's Harvest, songs like "From Hank To Hendrix," paint pictures of living twenty years after the canyon rock dream died." (real music guide)

#179 - Four Way Street, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

"Although imperfect, 4 Way Street is essential for fans of CSN&Y. Its downfall is the way members take their individual turn in the spotlight, sidestepping the sharp harmonies that endeared CSN&Y to us in the first place. On the upside, the remastered version released in 1992 includes Young's "Cinnamon Girl/The Loner" medley and Nash's "King Midas in Reverse."" (real music guide)

#178 - Terrapin Station, The Grateful Dead

"Terrapin Station marks several milestones for the Grateful Dead: It was the band's first studio album in two years, as well as their return to a major label -- in this case Arista Records. More significant however is the use of an outside (read: non-Grateful Dead) producer. This was only the second time in which the Dead did not seize complete control. And the first time in a decade that they would relinquish their production reigns." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-14T15:00:00.000-04:00

#185 - All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2

"U2 returned to airwave dominance in 2000 with the release of this -- their 12th album. Powered by the ringing, Trip-Hop-touched "Beautiful Day" and the surging "Elevation," the album furthers the band's near-perfect track record in terms of incorporating contemporary elements into the post-modern pop style they are famous for." (real music guide)

#184 - Every Picture Tells A Story, Rod Stewart

"Rod's potent combination of Sam Cooke, Folk-Rock, and plain old rock 'n' roll was never more perfectly realized than on this, his third record. "Maggie May" became his signature tune, and the title cut rocks with the indefinable spirit that makes all of Stewart's work from this period not just essential, but vital." (real music guide)

#183 - Nashville Skyline, Bob Dylan

"Leaving his trademark nasal inflections behind for a throaty country croon, Dylan delivered this seminal twang-rock album in 1969. Those unfamiliar with this underrated classic will instantly recognize the hit "Lay Lady Lay" as well as the baritone bark of Johnny Cash, who lends his backing vocals." (real music guide)

#182 - John Prine, John Prine

"A revelation upon its release, this album is now a collection of standards: "Illegal Smile," "Hello in There," "Sam Stone," "Donald and Lydia," and, of course, "Angel from Montgomery." Prine's music, a mixture of folk, rock, and country, is deceptively simple, like his pointed lyrics, and his easy vocal style adds a humorous edge that makes otherwise funny jokes downright hilarious." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-14T14:45:00.000-04:00

#190 - The Village Green Preservation Society, The Kinks

"As the opening title song says, the Kinks -- meaning Ray himself, in this case -- were for preserving "draft beer and virginity," and throughout the rest of the album, he creates a series of stories, sketches, and characters about a picturesque England that never really was. It's a lovely, gentle album, evoking a small British country town, and drawing the listener into its lazy rhythms and sensibilities." (allmusic guide)

#189 - Girlfriend, Matthew Sweet

"Matthew Sweet's third album is a remarkable artistic breakthrough. Grounded in the guitar pop of the Beatles, Big Star, Byrds, R.E.M., and Neil Young, Girlfriend melds all of Sweet's influences into one majestic, wrenching sound that encompasses both the gentle country-rock of "Winona" and the winding guitars of the title track and "Divine Intervention." Sweet's music might have recognizable roots, but Girlfriend never sounds derivative; thanks to his exceptional songwriting, the album is a fresh, original interpretation of a classic sound." (allmusic guide)

#188 - Can't Buy A Thrill, Steely Dan

"This album started it all for Steely Dan. Tracks such as "Reeling In The Years" were considered ahead of their time, yet appealed to everyone from straight-ahead jazz aficionados to barhopping rock fans. Some tracks, such as "Dirty Work," feature David Palmer on lead vocals rather than bandleader Donald Fagen." (real music guide)

#187 - Closing Time, Tom Waits

"Before he started putting out all those weird (and great) records with midgets on the cover, Waits was interested in the heartbreak of the American Dream and the smell of barrooms in the daytime as this, his debut record, suggests. The first cut is a real stunner, way better than the Eagles cover of it, while the song "Martha" is absolutely one of his finest moments." (real music guide)

#186 - Disraeli Gears, Cream

"Sure, it sounds like it was recorded with a pillow over the mic, but Disreali Gears is still one of the best blues-rock albums ever produced. The trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker mixes up acid visions, heavenly vocals and ripping leads, creating music of depth and complete heavy-osity." (real music guide)

2005-10-14T14:30:00.000-04:00

#194 - Skylarking, XTC

"Ironically, Skylarking had little to do with new wave and everything to do with the lush, post-psychedelic pop of the Beatles and Beach Boys. Combining the charming pastoral feel of Mummer with the classicist English pop of The Big Express, XTC expand their signature sound by enhancing their intelligently melodic pop with graceful, lyrical arrangements and sweeping, detailed instrumentation." (allmusic guide)

#193 - Whatever And Ever Amen, Ben Folds Five

"Their second album of cerebral pop (i.e. pop with no guitars) was a huge success based on the effective, solemn "Brick." A strong sense of hooks and a wry way with lyrics is what sets Ben Folds and company ahead of the pack. Even if you've already heard Joe Jackson, this is good stuff." (real music guide)

#192 - American Idiot, Green Day

"The East Bay punk-pop godfathers turn their sights toward the political. After spending a decade-plus being the voice of California youth ennui, the band sets its three-chord genius on big media, gay bashing, the propaganda of fear and "redneck agendas" -- all within three minutes. Turn it up." (real music guide)

#191 - Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman

"Arriving with little fanfare in the spring of 1988, Tracy Chapman's eponymous debut album became one of the key records of the Bush era, providing a touchstone for the entire PC movement while reviving the singer/songwriter tradition. And Tracy Chapman is firmly within the classic singer/songwriter tradition, sounding for all the world as if it was recorded in the early '70s -- that is, if all you paid attention to were the sonics, since Chapman's songs are clearly a result of the Reagan revolution." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-14T14:15:00.000-04:00

#199 - Out Of Time, R.E.M.

"Where previous R.E.M. records captured a stripped-down, live sound, Out of Time was lush with sonic detail, featuring string sections, keyboards, mandolins, and cameos from everyone from rapper KRS-One to the B-52's' Kate Pierson. The scope of R.E.M.'s ambitions is impressive, and the record sounds impeccable, its sunny array of pop and folk songs as refreshing as Michael Stipe's decision to abandon explicitly political lyrics for the personal." (allmusic guide)

#198 - Fragile, Yes

"The band's breakthrough album, dominated by science-fiction and fantasy elements and new member Rick Wakeman, whose organ, synthesizers, Mellotrons, and other keyboard exotica added a larger-than-life element to the procedings. Ironically, the album was a patchwork job, hastily assembled in order to cover the cost of Wakeman's array of instruments. But the group built effectively on the groundwork left by The Yes Album, and the group had an AM-radio sucker-punch." (allmusic guide)

#197 - The Pretender, Jackson Browne

"...he delivered "The Pretender," a cynical, sarcastic treatise on moneygrubbing and the shallow life of the suburbs. Primarily inner-directed, the song's defeatist tone demands rejection, but it is also a quintessential statement of its time, the post-Watergate '70s; dire as that might be, you had to admire that kind of honesty, even as it made you wince." (allmusic guide)

#196 - Live Dead, The Grateful Dead

"The album's four sides provided the palette from which to replicate the natural ebb and flow of a typical Dead set circa early 1969. Tomes have been written about the profound impact of "Dark Star" on the Dead and their audience. It also became a cultural touchstone signifying that rock music was becoming increasingly experimental by casting aside the once-accepted demands of the short, self-contained pop song." (allmusic guide)

#195 - Silk Degrees, Boz Scaggs

"Boz Scaggs' augmented his solid blues rock credentials and smoky blue-eyed croon with mellow Philly soul strings on his biggest seller. Silk Degrees contains the brilliant, strutting, hipster taunt "Lowdown," the disco-rocking "It's Over" and the megahit "Lido Shuffle," making it the soundtrack to mid-'70s condo life, pool parties and bay cruises." (real music guide)

2005-10-14T14:00:00.000-04:00

#204 - Play, Moby

"Although several tracks are based on field recordings made by folklorist Alan Lomax in the early 1900s, one cannot overlook Moby's daring and brilliant success with Play (1999). Abandoning (thankfully) his brief flirtation with alternative rock, he turned to gospel and blues, coming away with a fresh sound and vocal highlights that put him in the pop spotlight." (real music guide)

#203 - Time Out, The Dave Brubeck Quartet

"More than just a brilliant experiment in grafting foreign time signatures to modern jazz, this album also features superb songs, a hit single in the form of the perennial classic "Take Five," and an over-riding feeling of pure joy. This was a crossover popular smash and it also helped free jazz's boundaries." (real music guide)

#202 - Let It Be, The Replacements

"The 'Mats first classic album balances ramshackle, juvenile punkiness with Paul Westerberg's quickly blossoming songwriting talents. "I Will Dare," "Androgynous" and "Unsatisfied" all became fan favorites by turning fragile, private emotions into outward expressions of confusion and need. And they'd get even better than this!" (real music guide)

#201 - In My Tribe, 10,000 Maniacs

"Although it is the band's strongest record, that doesn't mean that it's held up incredibly well. Political correctness and heavy messages are stretched to the breaking point while the smart, jangling, folk-pop arrangements are polished and re-polished. Still, "What's The Matter Here" and "Like The Weather" are simple pleasures." (real music guide)

#200 - Reckoning, R.E.M.

"The sound of an indie band that's been touring incessantly. While the songs are every bit as strange and beautiful as the ones on Murmur, they're also more driving -- tailor-made for a band that can't stop spinning around on stage. Even the slow, sad numbers feature insistent rhythms. "Harborcoat" and "7 Chinese Brothers" are early-period R.E.M. at their best." (real music guide)

2005-10-14T13:45:00.000-04:00

#208 = Give It Up, Bonnie Raitt

"Give It Up is filled with great songs, delivered in familiar, yet always surprising, ways by Raitt and her skilled band. For those that want to pigeonhole her as a white blues singer, she delivers the lovely "Nothing Seems to Matter," a gentle mid-tempo number that's as mellow as Linda Ronstadt and far more seductive. That's the key to Give It Up: Yes, Raitt can be earthy and sexy, but she balances it with an inviting sensuality that makes the record glow." (allmusic guide)

#207 - Bookends, Simon & Garfunkel

"The first half of S&G's best original album is a complex song cycle about life and love in modern America, while the second half offers one great tune after another, including "America," "Mrs. Robinson" and "A Hazy Shade of Winter." A dark and beautiful work that has lost little of its power over the years." (real music guide)

#206 - Loaded, The Velvet Underground

"Label head Ahmet Ertegun supposedly asked Lou Reed to avoid sex and drugs in his songs, and instead focus on making an album "loaded with hits." Loaded was the result, and with appropriate irony it turned out to be the first VU album that made any noticeable impact on commercial radio -- and also their swan song, with Reed leaving the group shortly before its release." (allmusic guide)

#205 - Meet The Beatles!, The Beatles

"Meet the Beatles! wasn't simply an album; it gave the intangible yearnings of youth a voice and a face (actually, four voices and four faces), and it created a parallel world where escape was only a turntable away. Today, Meet the Beatles! is a collectible in danger of becoming forgotten, if not for the diligence of Beatles fans around the world." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-14T12:15:00.000-04:00

#214 - The Harder They Come, Jimmy Cliff

"In 1973, when the movie The Harder They Come was released, reggae was not on the radar screen of American pop culture. The soundtrack went a ways toward changing that situation. It is a collection of consistently excellent early reggae songs by artists who went on to thrive with reggae's increased popularity and others for whom this is the most well-known vehicle. Jimmy Cliff is both the star of the movie and the headliner on the soundtrack." (allmusic guide)

#213 - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill

"The solo debut from the Fugee's front-woman, Miseducation topped the charts, won several Grammy awards, and helped jump-start the "neo-soul" revolution. Blending hip-hop, R&B, soul, and pop, it fast became one of 1998's best-selling and most-praised albums. Includes the hit singles "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "Everything Is Everything."" (real music guide)

#212 - Liege & Lief, Fairport Convention

"For their fourth album, Fairport Convention released what is regarded by many as not only the best record in their history but also one of the seminal English folk-rock albums of all time. This was also the album that marked the transformation of the group from, essentially, a rock band that utilized folk music (in tandem with modern singer/songwriter material) as a source for part of their sound, and an inspiration for their own songwriting, into a group specializing in reinterpreting traditional English songs." (allmusic guide)

#211 - Rumor and Sigh, Richard Thompson

"1991's Rumor and Sigh is arguably the best album for those wanting to sample Thompson's work for the first time. It captures Thompson at the top of his form on all fronts, but also gives his songs just enough polish to make them approachable for the unconverted, and though it's several shades darker than the average adult-contemporary album, it honors Thompson's obsession with romantic despair and the less pleasant quirks of fate without sounding depressing in the process." (allmusic guide)

#210 - In The Court Of The Crimson King, King Crimson

"As if somehow prophetic, King Crimson projected a darker and edgier brand of post-psychedelic rock. Likewise, they were inherently intelligent -- a sort of thinking man's Pink Floyd. Fripp demonstrates his innate aptitude for contrasts, and the value of silence within a performance, even as far back as "21st Century Schizoid Man." The song is nothing short of the aural antecedent to what would become the entire heavy alternative/grunge sound." (allmusic guide)

#209 - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Public Enemy

"After shocking the world with their stellar debut, Yo! Bum Rush The Show, Public Enemy come back even harder on their second full-length. Armed with essential jams like "Don't Believe the Hype," "Night of the Living Baseheads" and "Rebel Without a Pause," Chuck, Flav and co. deliver one of the greatest LPs in hip-hop history." (real music guide)

2005-10-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

#220 - Buena Vista Social Club, Buena Vista Social Club

"All of these songs were recorded live -- some of them in the musicians' small apartments -- and the sound is incredibly deep and rich, something that would have been lost in digital recording and overdubbing. Cooder brought just the right amount of reverence to this material, and it shows in his production, playing, and detailed liner notes. If you get one album of Cuban music, this should be the one." (allmusic guide)

#219 - Turnstiles, Billy Joel

"Combining sharp pop instincts with agile piano playing, Joel hits his stride here and rarely misses, from the Phil Spector stylings of the opener, through the lounge atmosphere of "New York State Of Mind," and on to the patented semi-rock of "Angry Young Man." As always, Joel is an outspoken, somewhat unpleasant lyricist, but his talent with a melody cannot be denied." (real music guide)

#218 - L.A. Woman, The Doors

"The Doors would carry on without Jim Morrison but come on, this is the group's finale. Not a great album by any stretch, but it contains some stellar cuts, including the title track, "Love Her Madly" (which missed the top 10!), and the hippy lounge classic "Riders On the Storm" (a wake-up call to off-duty nurses: decline the Cutty Sark refill and head home alone)." (real music guide)

#217 - Tumbleweed Connection, Elton John

"Tumbleweed Connection is a loose concept album about the Old West, and as hokey as that sounds, the album is actually quite good, thanks mostly to the pointed lyrics of Bernie Taupin and Elton's acute sense of expression. In fact, these songs rely on Elton's emotive voice rather than the pop melodies and showmanship for which he'd later become known." (real music guide)

#216 - Wildflowers, Tom Petty

"Under the guidance of producer Rick Rubin, Tom Petty turns in a stripped-down, subtle record with Wildflowers. Coming after two albums of Jeff Lynne-directed bombast, the very sound of the record is refreshing; Petty sounds relaxed and confident. Most of the songs are small gems...several (tracks) match the quality of his best material, making Wildflowers one of Petty's most distinctive and best albums." (allmusic guide)

#215 - Summerteeth, Wilco

"Anyone following Jeff Tweedy's songwriting path since Uncle Tupelo was not surprised when Wilco released Summer Teeth in '99. A lush-sounding record that is more Beach Boys than Hank Williams -- Wilco took the studio-as-instrument approach and created an at-times majestic album that effectively balanced the solemn with the joyous." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T22:00:00.000-04:00

#224 - Heartbreaker, Ryan Adams

"Heartbreaker leaves rock & roll on the shelf in favor of a sound that blends low-key folk-rock with a rootsy, bluegrass-accented undertow, and while the album's production and arrangements are subtle and spare, they make up in emotional impact whatever they lack in volume." (allmusic guide)

#223 - (What's The Story) Morning Glory, Oasis

"As musicians, Oasis are hardly innovators, yet they have a majestic grandeur in their sound that makes ballads like "Wonderwall" or rockers like "Some Might Say" positively transcendent. Alan White does add authority to the rhythm section, but the most noticeable change is in Liam Gallagher. His voice sneered throughout Definitely Maybe, but on Morning Glory his singing has become more textured and skillful." (allmusic guide)

#222 - Catch A Fire, Bob Marley & The Wailers

"Catch a Fire was the major label debut for Bob Marley and the Wailers, and it was an international success upon its release in 1973. Although Bob Marley may have been the main voice, every member of the Wailers made valuable contributions and they were never more united in their vision and sound." (allmusic guide)

#221 - Ladies Of The Canyon, Joni Mitchell

""Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock" are among Mitchell's most famous songs but the monumental songwriter had her best material ahead of her when this came out in 1970. The real rewards of the album are in marking Mitchell's growth as an artist and catching the flashes of that experimental nature that made her subsequent records such events." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T21:45:00.000-04:00

#228 - Living In The Past, Jethro Tull

"It's all so solid that it needs no apology or explanation. Not only was Ian Anderson writing solid songs every time out, but the group's rhythm section was about the best in progressive rock's pop division. Along with any of the group's first five albums, this collection is seminal and essential to any Tull collection." (allmusic guide)

#227 - Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams

"Lucinda Williams took eight years to write and record her second album of original songs. While some producers and record executives have said that she is difficult to work with, one can never argue with the finished product. She crafts each song meticulously and deftly blends country, blues, and folk to create a unique sound that cannot be pigeonholed into any particular format." (allmusic guide)

#226 - Sea Change, Beck

"Beck leaves the Hollywood freaks behind and heads to the country on this excellent disc. It's a refreshing change from Beck's post-modern party guy persona. The focus on singing and songwriting recalls Mutations, while the melancholy lyrics are backed by full arrangements for strings, piano and acoustic guitar." (real music guide)

#225 - Tunnel Of Love, Bruce Springsteen

"The often-overlooked follow-up to Born in the USA finds Springsteen -- struggling in a marriage of two years -- leaving his hot-rod parked outside and instead telling stories from inside the marital home. "Spare Parts" chills the soul; "Valentine's Day" is a mystical gem. Haunting stuff." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T21:00:00.000-04:00

#233 - Swamp Ophelia, Indigo Girls

"Reflecting back to their pioneering singer/songwriting days of the late '80s and early '90s, this album is confident in the face of the male-dominated music industry and the Indigo Girls are no longer afraid to hit upon past relationships and personal emotion. Saliers and Ray's incredible harmonies are most stylish and songs such as "Language of the Kiss" and "Touch Me Fall" are illustriously romantic and serene." (allmusic guide)

#232 - Brushfire Fairytales, Jack Johnson

"If surfer hunk Jack Johnson's debut album sounds reminiscent of Ben Harper, it could be on account of producer J.P. Plunier (Harper's mix master) helping in the studio. Fans of Johnson's hushed vocal groove and earthy tones should check out Motherhips' Tim Bluhm, another handsome surfer bard with happy hippie folk songs." (real music guide)

#231 - Pinkerton, Weezer

"Loosely structured as a concept album based on Madame Butterfly, each song works as an individual entity, driven by powerful, melodic hooks, a self-deprecating sense of humor ("Pink Triangle" is about a crush on a lesbian), and a touching vulnerability ("Across the Sea," "Why Bother?"). Weezer can still turn out catchy, offbeat singles." (allmusic guide)

#230 - Morrison Hotel, The Doors

"Morrison managed to keep the shaman out of the fire pit in 1970, finally delivering a solid album marked by blues, barroom piano and the occasional nautical theme. You'll find odd respite in "Peace Frog" (probably the best song they ever recorded), and enter into a quasi-mystical dream state during "Indian Summer."" (real music guide)

#229 - The Clarence Greenwood Recordings, Citizen Cope

"One-man-band Greenwood does an "Eminem," titling a record after his given name. By stripping the sound of his well-produced debut down to the bone, Greenwood dials into a new urgency on cuts "A Bullet and a Target" and "Penitentiary." What hasn't changed is the man's musical gumbo of rap, folk, rock and 1970s soul." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T09:15:00.000-04:00

#238 - Imperial Bedroom, Elvis Costello

"Costello's music is complex and intricate, yet it flows so smoothly, it's easy to miss the bitter, brutal lyrics. The interweaving layers of "Beyond Belief" and the whirlwind intro are the most overtly dark sounds on the record, with most of the album given over to the orchestrated, melancholy torch songs and pop singles. Never once do Costello and the Attractions deliver a rock & roll song -- the album is all about sonic detail." (allmusic guide)

#237 - Hounds Of Love, Kate Bush

"Kate Bush's strongest album to date marked her breakthrough into the American charts, and yielded a set of dazzling videos. The material ranges from the sensual to the mystical. This was also the first album produced by Bush entirely at her own home studio, and the results are spellbinding, the layered instruments recalling the Beatles at their most ornate, but also displaying an exquisite timbrel range, bringing out the richness of the individual instruments." (allmusic guide)

#236 - XO, Elliott Smith

"Smith's major label debut from 1998 was also his first album after being nominated for an Oscar. With the shadow of expectation looming, he delivered exactly the sort of lush, song-driven work that his long-term fans had been praising for years. Augmented by strings and brighter production, tracks like "Baby Britain" and "Independence Day" showcase Smith at his poppiest." (real music guide)

#235 - Alone Together, Dave Mason

"Alone Together contains an excellent batch of melodically pleasing songs, built on a fat bed of strumming acoustic guitars with tasteful electric guitar accents and leads. Mason's vocals are embellished with harmonies from Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear, and Delaney & Bonnie. Besides the well-known semi-hit "Only You Know and I Know," and which was also a number 20 hit for Delaney & Bonnie, highlights include the bouncy gospel-inflected "Waitin' on You" and the banjo-bejeweled "Just a Song."" (allmusic guide)

#234 - Garden State, Original Soundtrack

"If it wasn't enough to create the lovely Garden State, Zach Braff now puts other music supervisors out of business by assembling a perfect soundtrack. Every track fits the action perfectly and every single one is a winner. From Simon & Garfunkel to Nick Drake to the Shins to Frou Frou, you don't even need to see the film to want this collection." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

#242 - The Heart Of Saturday Night, Tom Waits

"If Closing Time, Tom Waits' debut album, consisted of love songs set in a late-night world of bars and neon signs, its follow-up, The Heart of Saturday Night, largely dispenses with the romance in favor of poetic depictions of the same setting. On "Diamonds on My Windshield" and "The Ghosts of Saturday Night," Waits doesn't even sing, instead reciting his verse rhythmically against bass and drums like a Beat hipster." (allmusic guide)

#241 - Running On Empty, Jackson Browne

"Having acknowledged a certain creative desperation on The Pretender, Jackson Browne lowered his sights (and raised his commercial appeal) considerably with Running on Empty, which was more a concept album about the road than an actual live album, even though its songs were sometimes recorded on-stage (and sometimes on the bus or in the hotel). Unlike most live albums, though, it consisted of previously unrecorded songs." (allmusic guide)

#240 - Sublime, Sublime

"The trio does have a surprising grace in its unabashedly traditionalist fusion of Californian hardcore punk, light hip-hop, and reggae. Switching between bracing hardcore and slow, sexy reggae numbers, Sublime display supple, muscular versatility and, on occasion, a gift for ingratiatingly catchy hooks, as on the hit single "What I Got."" (allmusic guide)

#239 - Room For Squares, John Mayer

"An Atlanta-based singer-songwriter with a style akin to Dave Matthews (they share the same producer), John Mayer returns with the follow-up to his 1999 debut Inside Wants Out. Smooth, slick, and undeniably catchy, Room For Squares features his current single "No Such Thing."" (real music guide)

2005-10-13T08:45:00.000-04:00

#246 - Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison

"The kick-off tune "Wild Night" earned Van another deserved FM hit, while the rest of the album offers more mellow celebrations of nature and love. Folksier than Moondance, this delightful album finds Van exploring different sides of his musical and vocal talents. The title track is a flat out beauty." (real music guide)

#245 - Bring The Family, John Hiatt

"Hiatt and his dream band went into an L.A. studio and knocked off Bring the Family in a mere four days, and the result was the best album of Hiatt's career. The musicians certainly make a difference here, generating a lean, smoky groove that's soulful and satisfying (Ry Cooder's guitar work is especially impressive, leaving no doubt of his singular gifts without ever overstepping its boundaries), but the real triumph here is Hiatt's songwriting." (allmusic guide)

#244 - Either/Or, Elliott Smith

"Elliott Smith's third album sees his one-man show getting a little more ambitious. While he still plays all the instruments himself, he plays more of them. Several of the songs mimic the melody mastery of pop bands from 1960s. The most alluring numbers, however, are still his quietly melancholy acoustic ones." (allmusic guide)

#243 - Woodstock (Music From The Original Soundtrack), Original Recording

"Officially it was "Music From the Original Soundtrack [of Michael Wadleigh's documentary feature film Woodstock] And More," but the triple-LP (later double-CD) Woodstock was really rock's first "coffee table" album. Bought by millions but not really listened to that often, it's amid a flood of wrong notes and the inherent flaws in recording live in front of hundreds of thousands of people in a temporary, makeshift venue." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-13T08:30:00.001-04:00

#251 - Flood, They Might Be Giants

"On their major-label debut, Flood, They Might Be Giants exchange quirky artiness for unabashed geekiness and a more varied and polished musical attack. Although the album contains two of the group's finest singles in "Birdhouse in Your Soul" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," ... Even with its faults, Flood has a number of first-rate songs, and it's a strong addition to their catalog, even if it isn't as weirdly intoxicating as its predecessors." (allmusic guide)

#250 - Live At Leeds, The Who

"A loud, raunchy concert showcase for the group, with surprisingly little material from Tommy. The group's R&B roots are showcased here far better than on their post-My Generation studio albums, and the only problem for some listeners is the lack of the sophisticated studio sound they'd developed on previous releases." (allmusic guide)

#249 - Rhythm Of The Saints, Paul Simon

"Poetic and haunting, Rhythm showcases Simon's impressionistic lyrics ("Further To Fly") and mirrors South Africa's tense climate in the early 1990s ("The Cool, Cool River"). The album's controversy centered around whether Simon was commercially exploiting a troubled situation or just following his muse and conscience." (real music guide)

#248 - At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash

"Part of the appeal of the (prison) records is the way Cash plays to the audience, selecting a set of songs that are all about prison, crime, murder, regret, loss, mother, God, and loneliness. Cash stimulates the audience's emotions, which in turn stimulates his performance, especially since he delivers the songs with the conviction of someone who has lived through it." (allmusic guide)

#247 - Tonight's The Night, Neil Young

"Recorded when Young was in a very, very dark place -- touring in support of a successful album shortly after both bandmate Danny Whitten and roadie Bruce Berry OD'd -- Tonight's the Night is one of the most emotionally ravaged records of all time. Even the title cut "single" is disturbing. Music this real just doesn't make it to the general public very often." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

#258 - Rift, Phish

"Rift, Phish's follow-up to their major-label breakthrough A Picture of Nectar, follows the same pattern as its predecessor, but doesn't live up to the surprising, adventurous music on Nectar. Instead, most of the album sounds like an uninspired retread, as the band tries to fashion their songs into a loose concept album. The concentration on thematic unity tends to rob Phish of the loose spontaneity that makes them unique and makes Rift a bland, tedious listen." (allmusic guide)

#257 - Supernatural, Santana

"In 1999, Carlos Santana reaffirmed his superstar status with the surprise hit "Smooth." The song is a perfect mix of rhythmic guitar rock and sing-along-at-the-top-your-lungs melody, a combo rarely heard these days. But don't stop there, Supernatural is the best overall album the veteran rocker has put out in years." (real music guide)

#256 - Hot Rats, Frank Zappa

"The first time Zappa focused his efforts in one general area, namely jazz-rock. The result is a classic of the genre. Hot Rats' genius lies in the way it fuses the compositional sophistication of jazz with rock's down-and-dirty attitude -- there's a real looseness and grit to the three lengthy jams, and a surprising, wry elegance to the three shorter, tightly arranged numbers." (allmusic guide)

#255 - Eli And The 13th Confession, Laura Nyro

"The album as a whole is so outstanding, with its invigorating blend of blue-eyed soul, New York pop, and early confessional singer/songwriting. Nyro sang of love, inscrutably enigmatic romantic daredevils, getting drunk, lonely women, and sensual desire with an infectious joie de vivre. The arrangements superbly complemented the material with lively brass, wailing counterpoint backup vocals, and Nyro's own ebullient piano." (allmusic guide)

#254 - The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses

"The Stone Roses' affection for '60s-style hooks and House-inspired beats ignited the "baggy" movement that took over England in the late '80s. Songs such as "Elephant Stone," "I Am the Resurrection" and "She Bangs the Drums" are just three reasons why this record is a classic." (real music guide)

#253 - Ghost In The Machine, The Police

"This 1981 album was a huge smash hit, and for good reason. Before Sting went off to become the most sanctimonious dweeb that ever lived, the Police hit on a formula that combined elements of reggae, new wave and prog rock, coming away with truly distinctive music you could dance and sing to. It didn't hurt that the hits off here were catchier than West Nile Virus." (real music guide)

#252 - Brothers And Sisters, The Allman Brothers Band

"Brothers and Sisters, the Allman Brothers Band's first new studio album in two years, shows off a leaner brand of musicianship, which, coupled with a pair of serious crowd-pleasers, "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica," helped drive it to the top of the charts for a month and a half and to platinum record sales. This was the first album to feature the group's new lineup, with Chuck Leavell on keyboards and Lamar Williams on bass, as well as Dickey Betts' emergence as a singer alongside Gregg Allman." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-13T08:15:00.000-04:00

#262 - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion, The Black Crowes

"Sure, this isn't really the Stones, or the Faces, or any of the bands echoed in each song, but, damn, it all sounds so good when you turn it up loud. Clearly, the brothers Robinson and their pals know how to play rock music that anyone who grew up with FM radio can truly relate to." (real music guide)

#261 - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Pavement

"Pavement may still be messy, but it's a meaningful, musical messiness from the performance to the production: listen to how "Silence Kit" begins by falling into place with its layers of fuzz guitars, wah wahs, cowbells, thumping bass, and drum fills, how what initially seems random gives way into a lush Californian pop song. That's Crooked Rain a nutshell -- what initially seems chaotic has purpose, leading listeners into the bittersweet heart and impish humor at the core of the album." (allmusic guide)

#260 - Wheels Of Fire, Cream

"The strength of the performance is in the improvisation. When it worked, as it does on "Spoonful," they were brilliant. When it didn't, as on "Traintime" and "Toad," the band became excess incarnate. The studio disc contained their second Top Ten single, Jack Bruce's "White Room," as well as a stunning cover of Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign."" (allmusic guide)

#259 - Ten Summoner's Tales, Sting

"...his best solo record. In places, it's easily as pretentious as his earlier work, but that's undercut by writing that hasn't been this sharp and melodic since the Police, plus his most varied set of songs since Synchronicity. True, there isn't a preponderance of flat-out classics...but, as an album, Ten Summoner's Tales is more consistently satisfying than anything else in his catalog." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

#270 - Zenyatta Mondatta, The Police

"Arguably the best Police album, Zenyatta contains perhaps the quintessential new wave anthem, the haunting "Don't Stand So Close to Me," the story of an older teacher lusting after one of his students. While other tracks follow in the same spooky path (their second Grammy-winning instrumental "Behind My Camel" and "Shadows in the Rain"), most of the material is upbeat, such as the carefree U.S./U.K. Top Ten "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," "Canary in a Coalmine," and "Man in a Suitcase."" (allmusic guide)

#269 - The Cars, The Cars

"Perfect pop/rock tunes topped off with a detached New Wave perspective make this a great debut in the same way that the first Boston and Ramones albums are (everything that came after refined the same formula). Not a big hit in 1978, The Cars continued selling throughout the '80s, bridging the gap between classic rockers, New Wavers, and the general public." (real music guide)

#268 - Santana, Santana

"His first record, as with the best fusion, created something a little different than just a mixture -- a new style that, surprisingly remains all his own. Granted that Latin music has seeped into the mainstream since, but why aren't Van Halen and Metallica listening to this? Where they simmer, Santana boils over." (allmusic guide)

#267 - Child Is Father To The Man, Blood, Sweat & Tears

"This is one of the great albums of the eclectic post-Sgt. Pepper era of the late '60s, a time when you could borrow styles from Greenwich Village contemporary folk to San Francisco acid rock and mix them into what seemed to have the potential to become a new American musical form...This is the sound of a group of virtuosos enjoying itself in the newly open possibilities of pop music." (allmusic guide)

#266 - Sign O' The Times, Prince

"Prince shows nearly all of his cards here, from bare-bones electro-funk and smooth soul to pseudo-psychedelic pop and crunching hard rock, touching on gospel, blues, and folk along the way. This was the first album Prince recorded without the Revolution since 1982's 1999, and he sounds liberated." (allmusic guide)

#265 - Violator, Depeche Mode

"In a word, stunning. Perhaps an odd word to use given that Violator continued in the general vein of the previous two studio efforts by Depeche Mode: Martin Gore's upfront lyrical emotional extremism and knack for a catchy hook filtered through Alan Wilder's ear for perfect arrangements, ably assisted by top English producer Flood." (allmusic guide)

#264 - The Trinity Session, The Cowboy Junkies

"This 1988 album was a revelation in that the idea of combining the Velvets and country hadn't really existed before this. Not to mention the idea of playing country like you were loaded to the gills on enough heroin to flatline King Kong. Margo Timmins' zombie-vocals and her brothers' playing make this one of those records where style and substance are equally important." (real music guide)

#263 - Surfer Rosa, The Pixies

"The Pixies' first full-length is a brilliant end-to-end album that makes the transition from loud to quiet seem almost revolutionary. The band's combination of rabid, surreal aggression and sing-along, nihilistic pop set a template for indie rock throughout the following decade (the album came out in 1988). The massive, raw drums and guitar spasms still sound amazing." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T07:45:00.000-04:00

#275 - Sandinista!, The Clash

"The finest rock band of the late-'70s and early-'80s seemed a might over-ambitious when this 3 record set first came out, but 22 years later it's clear there are at least 2 platters worth of brilliance here. "The Call Up," "Somebody Got Murdered," "Charlie Don't Surf" and "The Equaliser" all rank amongst their best." (real music guide)

#274 - Diva, Annie Lennox

"The enigmatic vocalist who made a career toying with different notions of gender now plays on the concept of fame -- Lennox dressing up in the persona of a solitary Diva trapped by counterfeit glory. The framework offers an effective stage for Lennox's husky voice, showcasing her as much more of a chanteuse than in the past. But the music is strangely muted and understated. In fact, the album almost works best as one integrated mood-piece rather than a collection of individual songs." (allmusic guide)

#273 - For Everyman, Jackson Browne

"Did you know that Jackson Browne wrote the Eagles' hit "Take It Easy" (featured here), or that he was a full-blown country rocker who was part of L.A.'s canyon rock scene of the early '70s? "These Days" (which Nico covered on the Royal Tenenbaums soundtrack) is also here in its twangy, B-Bending glory." (real music guide)

#272 - Boys For Pele, Tori Amos

"Amos frequently discards traditional song structures and employs wide-ranging, eclectic instrumentation in her music, while her lyrics seem to grow even more obscure, giving the album a very impressionistic feel. While there are certainly worthwhile moments, her experiments don't always work; some of the songs fail to stick, and it takes a few plays before many start to sink in. Ultimately, Boys for Pele is polarizing." (allmusic guide)

#271 - Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan

"Every 1970s hipster with a waterbed seemed to own this album without realizing that Donald Fagen's cutting barbs were aimed directly at them. Jazzier and with less blistering rock guitar than before, the eternal hit "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" took its piano hook from Horace Silver's "Song For My Father." "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" is an unheralded gem." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T07:30:00.000-04:00

#282 - Meddle, Pink Floyd

"Released in 1971, Meddle stands as one of Floyd's most satisfying records, the first to combine truly spaced-out rock with strong commercial appeal. Highlights are the horror-comic opening cut; a 20-minute excursion into "Across the Universe" titled "Echoes"; and what is perhaps the band's finest moment, "Fearless."" (real music guide)

#281 - Time (The Revelator), Gillian Welch

"Gillian Welch dresses up her third album with hooks reminiscent of an everyday pop/rock song, but she does it in a sublime way that doesn't sacrifice the tone of her craft. Welch still sounds musically outlandish and pastoral, though the old-timey approximations are nearly gone from her songwriting. Fans will be glad to know that she still pens a perfect tear-jerker." (real music guide)

#280 - Rainy Day Music, The Jayhawks

"Rainy Day Music goes back even further than the band's first albums, channeling the ghosts of the Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Buffalo Springfield, and interpreting their '60s folk jangle and lazy, sunny harmonies through the Jayhawks' own sweetly awkward formula. "Madman," in particular, gives the listener a sense of Déjà Vu, sounding like a long lost CSNY demo, and the chiming Rickenbacker 12-string guitar of the leadoff track, "Stumbling Through the Dark," could've been lifted right from the master tapes of "Mr. Tambourine Man."" (allmusic guide)

#279 - Foxtrot, Genesis

"This was the point where all of the talent simmering and occasionally boiling up out of Genesis blew the lid off the pot. There isn't a weak song here, and the two showpieces, "Watcher of the Skies" and "Supper's Ready," presented the group at its strongest in medium-length and extended-length songs. The lyrical complexities of the latter were not easily sorted out, but they were clever enough and inviting enough not to put off any potential fans, and as handled by Peter Gabriel, they demanded attention." (allmusic guide)

#278 - Pirates, Rickie Lee Jones

"From the opening track, "We Belong Together," Jones served notice that she was willing to challenge herself and experiment with more unusual, complex song structures. Her unique phrasing and style reflect her interest in beat poets and the bohemian lifestyle, and on this album she relies on more obscure imagery than the direct, detailed observations on comrades used on her first album. There are a wide range of musical influences represented (rock, jazz, soul), but the acoustic arrangements are more piano-based than most of her other albums." (allmusic guide)

#277 - Small Change, Tom Waits

"It's as if Waits were determined to combine the Humphrey Bogart and Dooley Wilson characters from Casablanca with a dash of On the Road's Dean Moriarty to illuminate a dark world of bars and all-night diners. Of course, he'd been in that world before, but in songs like "The Piano Has Been Drinking" and "Bad Liver and a Broken Heart," Waits gives it its clearest expression." (allmusic guide)

#276 - Sounds Of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel

"The title track was buried on their first album, but it became a hit when it was refurbished here with a Folk Rock beat. That same Byrds-style guitar jangle is featured on half of this winning album, but Simon's excellent songs are still the foundation. "I Am a Rock" is the ultimate teen angst tune, while "April Comes She Will" could be the duo's most beautiful song." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T07:15:00.000-04:00

#286 - Wrecking Ball, Emmylou Harris

"Wrecking Ball is a leftfield masterpiece, the most wide-ranging, innovative, and daring record in a career built on such notions. Rich in atmosphere and haunting in its dark complexity, much of the due credit belongs to producer Daniel Lanois; best known for his work with pop superstars like U2 and Peter Gabriel, on Wrecking Ball Lanois taps into the very essence of what makes Harris tick -- the gossamer vocals, the flawless phrasing -- while also opening up innumerable new avenues for her talents to explore." (allmusic guide)

#285 - Trace, Son Volt

"Throughout Son Volt's debut, Trace, the group reworks classic honky tonk and rock & roll, adding a desperate, determined edge to their performances. Even when they rock out, there is a palpable sense of melancholy to Farrar's voice, which lends a poignancy to the music. Trace isn't a great step forward from Tupelo's last album, the lovely Anodyne, but it is a fine continuation of the ideas Farrar has pursued over the course of his career." (allmusic guide)

#284 - Blind Faith, Blind Faith

"Blind Faith became synonymous with the idea that the "supergroup" was doomed to fail, and their debut record is not exactly the sum of its parts (Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker). But "Presence of the Lord" is one of Clapton's very best songs, and under the right circumstances (it's 1970, you're in a van) "Can't Find My Way Home" will get you laid." (real music guide)

#283 - Billy Breathes, Phish

"As many of their albums do, Billy Breathes marks a change of songwriting direction for the band. Acoustic-based ballads such as "Waste" and "Talk" reveal a more serious side. Producer Steve Lillywhite cut the LP to just 47 minutes (the band saved the extended jams of "Free" and "Character Zero" for their live shows)." (real music guide)

2005-10-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

#293 - Anodyne, Uncle Tupelo

"Uncle Tupelo's first major label release also happened to be their last album. It's fitting in that they seemed to have reached their apex here, having created a work that meshes folk, country and rock in a way that's almost revelatory in its directness. The Doug Sahm-assisted "Give Back The Key To My Heart" is a highlight." (real music guide)

#292 - Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!, The Rolling Stones

"Culled from the 1969 U.S. tour that ended in chaos, tragedy and a sea of frightened hippies at Altamont, Ya-Ya's is just one of the best live records there is. Starring new guitarist Mick Taylor and the ever-exciting Charlie Watts, the band runs through disgusting Chuck Berry covers, personal bests and odes to underage groupies that cannot be played loud enough." (real music guide)

#291 - Damn The Torpedoes, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

"Damn The Torpedoes not only stands as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' third-time's-the-charm breakthrough, but it may well be the brightest jewel in a very well-encrusted crown. All nine songs herein, including "Don't Do Me Like That," "Here Comes My Girl" and "Refugee," have become classic rock staples." (real music guide)

#290 - Peter Gabriel (3), Peter Gabriel

"For the first time, Gabriel has found the sound to match his themes, plus the songs to articulate his themes. Each aspect of the album works, feeding off each other, creating a romantically gloomy, appealingly arty masterpiece. It's the kind of record where you remember the details in the production as much as the hooks or the songs, which isn't to say that it's all surface -- it's just that the surface means as much as the songs, since it articulates the emotions as well as Gabriel's cubist lyrics and impassioned voice." (allmusic guide)

#289 - Marquee Moon, Television

"One of the most astonishing albums of the '70s, Marquee Moon emerged from the same CBGB's scene that bore Blondie, Talking Heads, Ramones, Patti Smith, etc. Television may never have been played on the radio, but the telepathic reverberations between guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd can still be felt today." (real music guide)

#288 - Kiko, Los Lobos

"...with the guitars clean but cutting like a switchblade and the drums snapping hard, and the more contemplative selections drip with a mysterious, otherworldly ambience that's matched by the impressionistic imagery of David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez's superb songs. At its best, Kiko sounds like the musical equivalent of a Luis Buñuel dream sequence, balancing beauty and menace with intelligence and a skill that's little short of dazzling; it's a brilliant, singular achievement, and the most rewarding album in the group's catalog." (allmusic guide)

#287 - Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, Elton John

""Somebody Saved My Life Tonight" alone makes Captain Fantastic an album you want to hear. The whole set shows off Elton and Bernie at the top of their powers, writing tight little gems then tossing in that perfect Mick Ronson guitar sound here and there to roughen up the edges of otherwise slick pop/rock." (real music guide)

2005-10-12T07:15:00.000-04:00

#297 - Time Out Of Mind, Bob Dylan

"The songs themselves are uniformly powerful, adding up to Dylan's best overall collection in years. It's a better, more affecting record than Oh Mercy, not only because the songs have a stronger emotional pull, but because Lanois hasn't sanded away all the grit. As a result, the songs retain their power, leaving Time Out of Mind as one of the rare latter-day Dylan albums that meets his high standards." (allmusic guide)

#296 - Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty

"Tom Petty's first record without the Heartbreakers was a massive success, powered by a number of hit singles, most notably "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down." The record was produced by ELO's Jeff Lynne, who also co-wrote nearly half the songs. Petty's best record since Hard Promises." (real music guide)

#295 - X&Y, Coldplay

"This is Coldplay at their most epic, recalling all the grandiose moments of the bands that inspired them (U2, Radiohead, the Verve, Echo & the Bunnymen). There are a few scattered instances of frantic guitars, but mainly the group offers track after track of stargazing ballads rooted firmly in the ground." (real music guide)

#294 - Trouble, Ray Lamontagne

"The best songs on Trouble, the debut release from songwriter Ray LaMontagne, draw on deep wells of emotion, and with LaMontagne's sandpapery voice, which recalls a gruffer, more sedate version of Tim Buckley or an American version of Van Morrison, they seem to belie his years. The title tune, "Trouble," is an instant classic." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

#302 - Nick Of Time, Bonnie Raitt

"(Producer Don) Was used Raitt's classic early-'70s records as a blueprint, choosing to update the sound with a smooth, professional production and a batch of excellent contemporary songs. In this context, Raitt flourishes; she never rocks too hard, but there is grit to her singing and playing, even when the surfaces are clean and inviting." (allmusic guide)

#301 Live Rust, Neil Young & Crazy Horse

"Recorded live in 1978 at San Francisco's Cow Palace, Live Rust is an epic double disc that balanced Young's lush, live acoustic songs with his Fender amp-crunching Crazy Horse style. This is the very sound that inspired a generation of ripped-jeans-and-flannel-clad Pacific Northwestern musicians in the early '90s." (real music guide)

#300 - Licensed To Ill, The Beastie Boys

"The Beasties' classic 1986 debut hit the scene like a 500 ton megablast -- the first rap record to reach No. 1. It's loaded with crass humor, pop culture references, and numerous odes to dust, beer, and girls. Backed by rock-tinged 808 beats from Rick Rubin and Run-D.M.C., the album is a far cry from their later, more politically correct work. Obnoxious rap at its finest." (real music guide)

#299 - The Clash, The Clash

"The power chords may have been borrowed from the Who, and their sense of purpose lifted from the Sex Pistols, but the Clash's debut showcased something wholly their own. Fierce, politically engaged music with just a hint of Reggae peeking through the Punk Rock anthems." (real music guide)

#298 - Help!, The Beatles

"(John Lennon's) Dylan infatuation holds strong, particularly on the plaintive "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and the title track, where the brash arrangement disguises Lennon's desperation. Driven by an indelible 12-string guitar, "Ticket to Ride" is another masterpiece and "You're Going to Lose That Girl" is the kind of song McCartney effortlessly tosses off." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-12T06:45:00.000-04:00

#306 - Dookie, Green Day

"Green Day's 1994 major label debut is considered by many to be their best album. The songs are loaded with hooks, played with an unprecedented professionalism (for Green Day) and leave no question as to why they became as successful as they did. It's an album of catchy pop songs that are just edgy enough to make the kids happy and keep the parents on guard." (real music guide)

#305 - Boy, U2

"U2's debut is remarkable in both its scope and its success in achieving that scope. Anthemic from the moment they're let out of the gates, all members seem possessed by the hope and fury of being young. Yet, innocence and wonder can still be found in "Electric Co." and "Out Of Control." The balance between youth and ambition make this record so great." (real music guide)

#304 - Tomorrow The Green Grass, The Jayhawks

"While the band's earlier efforts perfected a more traditional brand of country-rock, their fourth record is marvelously eclectic, both musically and emotionally; never before had they rocked as hard as on "Real Light," dug as painfully deep as on "Two Hearts," or hit quite the same peaks of exuberance as on "Miss Williams' Guitar," a tribute to Olson's new wife, neo-folkie Victoria Williams." (allmusic guide)

#303 - Rage Against The Machine, Rage Against The Machine

"Nothing compares to the brute force of this album; from the shocking cover to the songs therein, Rage Against the Machine prove they mean business. With an eye toward political activism, Rage's message inspires as much as it exposes. Mixing politics and music is difficult, but this quartet makes it sound natural. This is the must-have album in the band's catalog." (real music guide)

2005-10-12T06:30:00.000-04:00

#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)

2005-10-12T06:15:00.000-04:00

#318 - Our Time In Eden, 10,000 Maniacs

"10,000 Maniacs offer up a baker's dozen of wonderful folk-pop songs with hard-hitting messages, nearly matching the brilliance of their debut. Natalie Merchant is a few years older here, a few tribulations wiser, and a few shakes looser, although that's not to say she doesn't have a point (or 13) to make. Whether with old-school R&B horns ablaze or the simple elegance of a piano and strings, she glorifies, condemns, and cherishes the world she witnesses." (allmusic guide)

#317 - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, The Byrds

"Ask any country rocker from Hank Williams III to Steve Earle to name his favorite country rock album, and he'll likely say Sweetheart of the Rodeo. This seminal 1968 album revolutionized country rock, a genre that eventually spawned the Eagles, numerous country music "Outlaws," and the entire alt country movement." (real music guide)

#316 - Fear Of Music, Talking Heads

"...the music has become even more compelling. Worked up from jams (though Byrne received sole songwriter's credit), the music is becoming denser and more driving, notably on the album's standout track, "Life During Wartime," with lyrics that match the music's power. "This ain't no party," declares Byrne, "this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around."" (allmusic guide)

#315 - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme, Simon & Garfunkel

"Their best album after Bookends, this one combines baroque, psychedelic and rock elements with S&G's beautiful Folk Pop. Contains the hits "Scarborough Fair," "Homeward Bound," "For Emily..." and "The 59th Street Bridge Song" which, like the album itself, can still make listeners feel very groovy." (real music guide)

#314 - Apostrophe ('), Frank Zappa

"The first half of the album is full of nonsensical shaggy-dog story songs that segue into one another without seeming to finish themselves first; their dirty jokes are generally more subtle and veiled than the more notorious cuts on Over-Nite Sensation. The second half contains the instrumental title cut, featuring Jack Bruce on bass." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

#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)

2005-10-10T07:45:00.000-04:00

#330 - Marc Cohn, Marc Cohn

"Marc Cohn is one of the finest debut albums of the 1990s, and it brought adult piano pop back to the radio. Every song is well-crafted, and Cohn's singalong choruses, introspective lyrics, and vocal stylings reveal his '60s soul and '70s singer/songwriter influences. His voice is rich, but has a roughness that adds emotion when stretching to the upper end of his range while remaining subtle at the lower end. Marc Cohn shows himself to be an accomplished and versatile songwriter." (allmusic guide)

#329 - Welcome Interstate Managers, Fountains Of Wayne

"The group's third album (their first in four years) puts them back on top in the clever tunesmith game. With their shamelessly perfect arrangements, Fountains of Wayne create instantly catchy pop songs that feel vaguely familiar, but have lyrics that no one else would write. Summery, post-modern pop fun." (real music guide)

#328 - Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand

"The Scottish group's debut is a dirty, stylish racket filled with needling guitars courtesy of the school of art/punk (circa 1982). Throw in their tendency to fall back on a solid 4/4 beat, and you've got a recipe for mega-hipness in 2004. This wouldn't mean a thing if the songs weren't good, but they are." (real music guide)

#327 - Pleased To Meet Me, The Replacements

"The Nevermind for those who'd already lost faith in rock'n'roll heroes, even the music industry thought this far-reaching album would turn the 'Mats into the next big thing. Crossover success didn't happen, but such tracks as "Alex Chilton," "Never Mind," "Skyway," and "Can't Hardly Wait" ensure this disc will be cherished by each new generation of wounded romantics." (real music guide)

#326 - Texas Flood, Stevie Ray Vaughan

"It's hard to overestimate the impact Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut, Texas Flood, had upon its release in 1983. At that point, blues was no longer hip, the way it was in the '60s. Texas Flood changed all that, climbing into the Top 40 and spending over half a year on the charts, which was practically unheard of for a blues recording. Vaughan became a genuine star and, in doing so, sparked a revitalization of the blues." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-10T07:30:00.000-04:00

#338 - Musicforthemorningafter, Pete Yorn

"The year 2001 belonged to Yorn, and his critical praise was not unwarranted, and Musicforthemorningafter, his debut for Columbia, marks a stunning beginning. It's a raw selection of heartland and American trad rock, yet Yorn's love for Brit-pop is also quite evident. Songs such as "Sense" and "Simonize" resemble threads of the Smiths, and are delicate with breezy acoustics woven inside of Yorn's hushing vocals." (allmusic guide)

#337 - Loveless, My Bloody Valentine

"One of the finest recordings of the 1990s took years to complete and almost brought its parent label down with it. But the end result was miraculous -- a blend of blistering sound and angelic melody brought to life through Kevin Shields' fervent attention to studio detail and his hazy guitar pyrotechnics." (real music guide)

#336 - Ramones, The Ramones

"With the three-chord assault of "Blitzkrieg Bop," The Ramones begins at a blinding speed and never once over the course of its 14 songs does it let up. The Ramones is all about speed, hooks, stupidity, and simplicity. The songs are imaginative reductions of early rock & roll, girl group pop, and surf rock. Not only is the music boiled down to its essentials, but the Ramones offer a twisted, comical take on pop culture with their lyrics." (allmusic guide)

#335 - Moving Pictures, Rush

"Known mostly for the behemoth hits "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight," Rush's ninth album remains the band's most celebrated release to date. By blending Hard Rock guitars with New Wave synthesizers in cool, calculated arrangements, Rush forged a signature sound that catapulted them out of the Prog Rock pigeonhole." (real music guide)

#334 - Let's Stay Together, Al Green

""Let's Stay Together," achieved (#1) status and held it for nine consecutive weeks. Green's ingenuity produced one of the all-time classics, which has the bounce of a dance cut and the passion of a ballad. The dynamic soul singer's whispers, animated cries, and riffing enhance his already stirring delivery. This album was sold on the strength of the title track as there were no other selections to grace the Billboard charts. However, this album includes other timeless gems." (allmusic guide)

#333 - Talking Book, Stevie Wonder

"Talking Book is another Stevie Wonder album that made its mark in 1972 and whose influence hasn't stopped since. Effortless, finely honed songwriting, hints of psychedelia and solid funk resulted in gems like "Superstition," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," and "Lookin' for Another Pure Love." There isn't a rock in the bunch; every song is a gem." (real music guide)

#332 - The Low End Theory, A Tribe Called Quest

"Tribe's stellar second LP, Low End Theory finds Tip, Phife, and Ali-Shaheed getting deeper into jazz territory, with smooth, sample-heavy beats and live bass work from Miles Davis associate Ron Carter. Arguably their best work, this '91 classic features choice jams like "Scenario," "Jazz (We've Got)," and "Excursions."" (real music guide)

#331 - Flaming Red, Patty Griffin

"Griffin decided to flesh out the instrumentation on her second album Flaming Red and the results are revelatory. Griffin didn't stick with traditional rock arrangments -- she also recorded country-rock, folk, catchy pop and even trip-hop songs, as well. Instead of camouflaging her songwriting, it actually reveals the richness of her music and lyrics. Her sonic revision may be more accessible, but it's no compromise -- Flaming Red is evidence that Griffin is one the more talented and ambitious singer/songwriters to emerge in the late '90s." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-10T07:15:00.000-04:00

#345 - Nomads Indians Saints, Indigo Girls

"Nomads Indians Saints shows Emily Saliers and Amy Ray in fine form, delving a little deeper into the themes of love and faith that run through all of their work. Now that they've had the chance to travel around, see the world, and hear people's stories, their poetic vision has expanded somewhat to include a more global perspective, but without losing the intimacy that makes their songs so potent." (allmusic guide)

#344 - Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Appropriately, Cosmo's Factory's first single was the working band's anthem "Travelin' Band," a funny, piledriving rocker with a blaring horn section -- the first indication their sonic palette was broadening. Two more singles appeared prior to the album's release, backed by John Fogerty originals that rivaled the A-side or paled just slightly." (allmusic guide)

#343 - Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1, The Traveling Wilburys

"The Traveling Wilburys are the only supergroup that lives up to expectations because they underplay them. They never shoot for the moon on their 1988 debut, they simply lay back and have a little fun. Anyone expecting something monumental will be disappointed, yet that's precisely what's fun about it." (allmusic guide)

#342 - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, The Flaming Lips

"A multicolored, faux-concept album regarding robots and interplanetary hi-jinx, this 2002 release continues the Flaming Lips' increasingly pop-oriented path. Not as brilliant as The Soft Bulletin, but still a creative, sparkling landmark in the major label world." (real music guide)

#341 - Central Reservation, Beth Orton

"On her stunning sophomore album, Central Reservation, Beth Orton slips free of the electronic textures that colored her acclaimed 1996 debut, Trailer Park, stripping her music down to its raw essentials to produce a work of stark simplicity and rare poignancy." (allmusic guide)

#340 - Rattle & Hum, U2

"Most of this 1988 release was recorded during the band's Joshua Tree tour. It is often derided for marking the moment U2 began to balloon out of control, veering into something near parody. To be fair, there are several highly inspired moments including "Desire," "Heartland," and "All I Want Is You." An uneven listen." (real music guide)

#339 - Dire Straits, Dire Straits

"This 1978 debut sailed to No. 2 in the U.S. charts, thanks in part to the major FM hits "Sultans of Swing" and "Water of Love," making Dire Straits the only back to basics English pub rock act to score really big in the States. In part, this was because of Mark Knopfler's "J.J. Cale-meets-Dylan" song craft and stinging guitar lines show so much love for his American heroes and myths." (real music guide)

2005-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

#351 - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Bright Eyes

"I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is the album the Omaha native has always threatened to make, channeling his country rock influences into articulate, witty ballads that come to life with gorgeous harmonies supplied by Emmylou Harris. The tumbling "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" might be his first actual masterpiece, while the words of album closer "Road to Joy" ("I could've been a famous singer if I had someone else's voice/ But failure's always sounded better") indicate that Oberst might have his head screwed on right after all.." (amazon editorial review)

#350 - Throwing Copper, Live

"On Throwing Copper, Live tightened their sound, added crashing crescendos for dramatic effect, and injected some anger into their sound and songwriting. They also eased up a bit on the Eastern philosophy; the result is a more cohesive, memorable record overall, and quite an improvement from the sometimes overly precious Mental Jewelry." (allmusic guide)

#349 - Whatever, Aimee Mann

"On her debut solo album, Aimee Mann proves she is a singer/songwriter to be reckoned with. Mann, the pony-tailed punk who once fronted 'Til Tuesday, has a lush, emotive voice that lends credence to the tales of woe on Whatever. Mann's acerbic wit, coupled with producer Jon Brion's affinity for pop hooks, brings to mind Elvis Costello. That's high praise, indeed!" (real music guide)

#348 - Joshua Judges Ruth, Lyle Lovett

"Compared to his previous work, Joshua Judges Ruth sounds startlingly spare -- producer and engineer George Massenburg brings a clear and keenly detailed sound to these sessions that allows all the details of the low-key arrangements to be heard, and "She's Already Made Up Her Mind," "Baltimore," and "Family Reserve" seem to have been recorded with this in mind. The songs also reflect a shift toward more serious and introspective themes for Lovett." (allmusic guide)

#347 - More Songs About Buildings And Food, Talking Heads

"Through the first nine tracks, More Songs was the successor to 77, which would not have earned it landmark status or made it the commercial breakthrough it became. It was the last two songs that pushed the album over those hurdles. First there was an inspired cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River"; released as a single, it made the Top 40 and pushed the album to gold-record status." (allmusic guide)

#346 - On The Beach, Neil Young

"The last album of an early '70s triptych known as "The Doom Trilogy" finds Neil Young threatening the stars of L.A.'s Laurel Canyon, singing that he hated them worse than lepers and that he would kill them in their cars. This album of gritty, blues-tinged country rock comes off as savage and dark as Young's words." (real music guide)

2005-10-09T22:45:00.000-04:00

#358 - Turn On The Bright Lights, Interpol

"Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the best indie records of 2002, Interpol's debut unapologetically apes the jagged Post-Punk pioneered by bands such as Joy Division and the Chameleons. But with its tight structures and strong melodies, their excellent dirge-rock is more an extension of the past than an exhumation." (real music guide)

#357 - In Utero, Nirvana

"The follow-up to Nevermind was an uncompromising slab of Post-Punk dissonance. It also contains some of Nirvana's finest songs and Kurt Cobain's best writing (see "All Apologies" or "Pennyroyal Tea."). After the critical and massive success of Nevermind, this is the album they needed to make. Unfortunately, it was also their last." (real music guide)

#356 - Elephant, The White Stripes

"Lit up by the punked-out blues riff of "Black Math" and the high-pitched Queen-like squall of "There's No Home For You Here," the group's fourth LP is probably its dirtiest but has the smartest lyrics of them all. "Ball And Biscuit" goes back to the altar of Jeff Beck worship; the fact that "Seven Nation Army" gets radio airplay is a modern miracle." (real music guide)

#355 - Teaser And The Firecat, Cat Stevens

"Cat Stevens never stopped being a pop singer at heart, and with Teaser and the Firecat he reconciled his philosophical interests with his pop instincts. Basically, Teaser's songs came in two modes: gentle ballads that usually found Stevens and second guitarist Alun Davies playing delicate lines over sensitive love lyrics, and up-tempo numbers on which the guitarists strummed away and thundering drums played in stop-start rhythms." (allmusic guide)

#354 - Slowhand, Eric Clapton

"Clapton paid tribute to the woozy shuffle of J.J. Cale on this career-defining record. With a handful of giant radio hits and stellar material throughout, Slowhand earned classic status upon its release -- and remains the point where many beginners start with his work." (real music guide)

#353 - Green, R.E.M.

"While the band's political convictions were now so central they went and named their major label debut after them, the perfect pop songs remain the most memorable things about "Green" (especially the insanely catchy "Stand"). "You Are the Everything" has an early taste of the mandolin riffing that would crop up to more lucrative commercial effect on "Losing My Religion."" (real music guide)

#352 - Fight For Your Mind, Ben Harper

"As a singer-songwriter, Ben Harper has grown in leaps and bounds from his debut album. His sophomore effort reflects this growth via a handful of confident, expressive songs that speak to both heart and mind. It's not the definitive album of Harper's career, but it's a solid, enjoyable effort nonetheless." (real music guide)

2005-10-09T22:30:00.000-04:00

#362 - Metallica, Metallica

"This 1991 release signalled Metallica's entry into the mainstream with the explosive success of its singles and videos, widening the band's fanbase to unheard of (in Metal) parameters of acceptance. While the songs are simpler and more direct than their earlier material, none of the power is lost. Not their best album, but the definitive starting point for beginners." (real music guide)

#361 - Mermaid Avenue, Billy Bragg & Wilco

"Mermaid Avenue is the album that completed Alt Country, answering the age old question "will the circle be unbroken" with a resounding "Yes!" The concept was brilliant -- to take bare bones Woody Guthrie lyrics and write catchy melodies for them. Wilco and Billy Bragg did just this, recording with some old-timey backline and warm, modern production." (real music guide)

#360 - Breakfast In America, Supertramp

"Supertramp's biggest record came out in that period in-between the excesses of the 1970s and the Reagan era, when all music started to sound like it was actually made out of cocaine. "The Logical Song" and "Take the Long Way Home" ensured perpetual classic rock rotation, but everybody knows Supertramp's real contribution was the beautiful "Goodbye Stranger."" (real music guide)

#359 - Concert In The Park, Paul Simon

"Ten years after playing a free concert in New York's Central Park with Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon returned, backed by the New York session musicians and the native musicians from South Africa and Brazil who had enlivened his solo work. The show was filmed and recorded, and the audio release was a 23-track double-disc set running nearly two hours." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-09T22:00:00.000-04:00

#369 - Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon

"...charts his loss of faith in his parents, country, friends, fans, and idols. It's an unflinching document of bare-bones despair and pain, but for all its nihilism, it is ultimately life-affirming; it is unique not only in Lennon's catalog, but in all of popular music. Few albums are ever as harrowing, difficult, and rewarding as John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band." (allmusic guide)

#368 - The Honesty Room, Dar Williams

"When an all-out rock song combines a gorgeous singalong melody with lyrical references to Ronald Reagan and Sid Vicious in the very first line, you know you've stumbled across something very special and you tend not to notice the quirks of delivery so much. And then there's "The Babysitter's Here," a song that manages to deal simultaneously with early childhood and incipient adulthood, that will make you bawl every time you hear it." (allmusic guide)

#367 - Little Plastic Castle, Ani DiFranco

"This is the most creatively produced Ani DiFranco album to date, combining her distinctively frenetic acoustic fingerstyle with computer samples, dance rhythms, mariachi brass and full-band rock jams. The result is colorful -- almost cartoony -- but almost never overshadows the emotional content." (allmusic guide)

#366 - Tim, The Replacements

"Leave it to the Replacements to hide their greatest collection of tunes behind a tossed-off title and a worthless cover painting. Not only are Paul Westerberg's songs wonderfully written (the autumnal beauty "Here Comes a Regular" alone would make the album special) but the 'Mat's ragged cohesion and sputtering energy is actually captured on tape. Definitive." (real music guide)

#365 - Mud Slide Slim & The Blue Horizon, James Taylor

"The songs were full of references to the road and the highway, and he was uncomfortable with his new role as spokesman. The confessional songwriter was now, necessarily, writing about what it was like to be a confessional songwriter: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon served the valuable function of beginning to move James Taylor away from the genre he had defined, which ultimately would give him a more long-lasting appeal." (allmusic guide)

#364 - Us, Peter Gabriel

"Since the music is so muted, it's no surprise that the album failed to capture a mass audience the way So did, but it's foolish to expect anyone but serious fans to unravel an album this deliberate. Gabriel is as adventurous as ever, yet he is relentlessly sober about his experiments, burying exotic sounds and percussion underneath crawling tempos measured atmospherics." (allmusic guide)

#363 - Dixie Chicken, Little Feat

"Lowell George became infatuated with New Orleans R&B and mellow jamming, all of which came to a head on their third album, 1973's Dixie Chicken. Although George is firmly in charge - he dominates the record, writing or co-writing seven of the 10 songs - this is the point where Little Feat found its signature sound as a band, and no album they would cut from this point on was too different from this seductive, laid-back, funky record." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-09T19:45:00.000-04:00

#374 - Miles Of Aisles, Joni Mitchell

"Like most live albums, this two-record set was a profit-taking release on which the artist re-presented many of her old songs for a new acceptance now that she had a larger pop audience. Backed by the pop-jazz ensemble the L.A. Express Mitchell reprised the best from her first five albums, pointedly ignoring Court and Spark, and including two new cuts, "Love or Money" and "Jericho."" (allmusic guide)

#373 - #1 Record/Radio City, Big Star

"This two-for-one collection of the first two Big Star records (from '72 & '74) is probably one of the finer musical documents of the '70s, as well as pop music in general. There is such a fine array of great pop songs, cock-of-the-walk rock, and blessed ballads on here that to list them all would be redundant. If you even think you like music, you should hear this." (real music guide)

#372 - Come On Come On, Mary Chapin Carpenter

"With an astounding seven hit singles, Come on Come On climbed all the way to number six on the country charts, fully revealing Carpenter's astuteness and magnitude as one of the decade's most illustrious country artists. With friends such as Rosanne Cash, Joe Diffie, Shawn Colvin, and the Indigo Girls lending a hand, there's a full range of country, folk, and pop-styled songs strewn across the album, helping it and Carpenter herself gain enormous recognition from other audiences outside of country music." (allmusic guide)

#371 - Under The Pink, Tori Amos

"She's quaint at first, but rages into a scalding vocal queen. It makes her even more a pioneer for female originality and independence. Singles such as "God" and "Cornflake Girl" are sultry and provocative, depicting that she's everything but shy. Under the Pink is typically melodic, but it contains a heavy desire. Amos is still breaking into something more definitive as both a woman and a singer/songwriter." (allmusic guide)

#370 - Blow By Blow, Jeff Beck

"Blow by Blow is balanced by open-ended jamming and crisp ensemble interaction as it sidesteps the bombast that sank much of the jazz-rock fusion of the period. One of the album's unique qualities is the sense of fun that permeates the performances. On the opening "You Know What I Mean," Beck's stinging, blues-based soloing is full of imaginative shapes and daring leaps. On "Air Blower," elaborate layers of rhythm, duel lead, and solo guitars find their place in the mix." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-09T19:30:00.000-04:00

#381 - Electric Warrior, T. Rex

"You can listen to Electric Warrior for a few different reasons. First, as a document marking the heady days of glam rock, or as record that in its best moments brings back the simplicity of real rock 'n' roll, only dirtier. Or you can listen to it because the guitars sound wicked awesome. So do the drums." (real music guide)

#380 - Woodface, Crowded House

"This 1991 album marked the first time since Split Enz that the brothers, Tim and Neil Finn wrote and sang songs together. The result is a wonderful exploration of harmony and lyrics that run from clever to just plain amazing. "Whispers And Moans" and "It's Only Natural" are just some of the highlights." (real music guide)

#379 - Recovering The Satellites, Counting Crows

"The music is slightly more somber, yet the approach is harder and more direct, which gives even the ballads a more affecting, visceral feel. Recovering the Satellites occasionally bogs down in its own pretentiousness -- for a roots rock band, the group certainly has a lot of artsy goals -- yet when they scale back their ambitions to simple folk-rock, such as on the single "A Long December," they are at their most articulate." (allmusic guide)

#378 - Countdown To Ecstasy, Steely Dan

"This is Donald Fagen's favorite Dan album but it didn't click with the public. Perhaps that was because it's a strong album without any knockout singles on the level of "Do It Again." Still, with songs as sublime as "Gold Teeth" and "My Old School," the public was clearly wrong." (real music guide)

#377 - Vs., Pearl Jam

"If there were any doubt as to whether Pearl Jam's success was a result of talent or hype, it was erased with the release of the band's second album, Vs. A solid, deliberate effort, Vs. finds Eddie Vedder passionately tackling subjects with an acumen that comes from the heart of a true believer. One of the band's strongest releases." (real music guide)

#376 - Mock Tudor, Richard Thompson

"Thompson structured the album as a portrait of suburbia, tackling a different subject with each song. It's not all about desperation, although there certainly is a lot of that there. Instead, Thompson is at the top of his form, offering subtle shadings in his lyrics and remarkably catchy, memorable melodies throughout the album. As a matter of fact, it's a bit of a tour de force." (allmusic guide)

#375 - Outlandos D'Amour, The Police

"Although Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland were all superb instrumentalists with jazz backgrounds, it was much easier to get a record contract in late-'70s England if you were a punk/new wave artist, so the band decided to mask their instrumental prowess with a set of strong, adrenaline-charged rock, albeit with a reggae tinge." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-09T19:15:00.000-04:00

#385 - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

"At the time Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' debut was released in 1976, they were fresh enough to almost be considered punk. They weren't as reckless or visionary as the Ramones, but they shared a similar love for pure '60s rock and, for the Heartbreakers, that meant embracing the Byrds as much as the Stones. And that's pretty much what this album is -- tuneful jangle balanced by a tough garage swagger." (allmusic guide)

#384 - A Ghost Is Born, Wilco

"Watch out, Ryan Adams. Your rivals are effortlessly inhaling the indie cred you desire. While Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was Wilco's first attempt to disassociate themselves from the alt country genre, Ghost pulls it off. The album floats cohesively and boasts some of the best guitar solo jams since Mark Kozelek decided he's Crazy Horse." (real music guide)

#383 - Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth

"Sonic Youth deserve every compliment that's been thrown at them for making this album. Youthful empowerment, suburban malaise, punk rock noise, beatnik bliss and artful overindulgence are just a few of the areas touched on in this unbearably tuneful and explosive release. Gerard Richter's painting for the cover is the icing on the cake." (real music guide)

#382 - Dilate, Ani DiFranco

"Ani DiFranco doesn't really expand her sonic palette on Dilate, but she doesn't need to. DiFranco racked up a dedicated cult audience on the basis of her conviction. There's not much melody on any of her songs, but there are messages and, thankfully, a fair share of humor." (allmusic guide)

2005-10-09T19:00:00.000-04:00

#391 - Joan Armatrading, Joan Armatrading

"Joan Armatrading's eponymous third album is a charmer, almost single-handedly elevating her into the ranks of rock's leading female artists. Up to this point, Armatrading had shown that she had a lovely voice and an ear for interesting arrangements, but her work had been steeped in the folk idiom of the early '70s. Her third album changed all that." (allmusic guide)

#390 - A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles

"A Hard Day's Night not only was the de facto soundtrack for their movie, not only was it filled with nothing but Lennon-McCartney originals, but it found the Beatles truly coming into their own as a band. All of the disparate influences on their first two albums had coalesced into a bright, joyous, original sound, filled with ringing guitars and irresistible melodies." (allmusic guide)

#389 - Machine Head, Deep Purple

"Simply one of the most important rock records of all time. Not only does every guitarist learn "Smoke On the Water" at some point, there are few moments in rock as jarringly, unspeakably great as Ian Gillian shrieking in "Space Truckin'." Then there's the rest of "Space Truckin'." And "Highway Star." And "Space Truckin'."" (real music guide)

#388 - Past, Present, Future, Al Stewart

"...the record where Al Stewart truly begins to discover his voice. This is largely through his decision to indulge his fascination with history and construct a concept album that begins with "Old Admirals" and ends with "Nostradamus" and his predictions for the future." (allmusic guide)

#387 - Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins

"Easily avoiding the second album slump, Chutes is a celebration of the three-minute pop song. The tracks are a natural extension of the shimmering finesse the group presented on 2001's Oh, Inverted World, exemplified by the leadoff tune, "Kissing the Lipless," and the single "So Says I."" (real music guide)

#386 - Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons

"n 1972, Gram Parsons recorded two solo albums. He was only 26 when he died the following year, but these two records reveal an old soul. The music is a melting pot of country, gospel, soul and rock. Take a listen and understand why some say he invented country rock, and that there'd be no Eagles or alt country without him." (real music guide)