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 | Rank: 451 Album: 1 of 50 Artist: Jackson Browne Title: For Everyman Released: 1973 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Take It Easy (03:51) 2 Our Lady of the Well (03:39) 3 Colors of the Sun (04:17) 4 I Thought I Was a Child (03:44) 5 These Days (04:39) 6 Redneck Friend (03:59) 7 The Times Youve Come (03:39) 8 Ready or Not (03:35) 9 Sing My Songs to Me (03:25) 10 For Everyman (06:11) |
 | Rank: 452 Album: 2 of 50 Artist: Amy Winehouse Title: Back to Black Released: 2006-10-30 Tracks: 13 Duration: 46:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rehab (03:34) 2 You Know I’m No Good (04:17) 3 Me & Mr Jones (02:33) 4 Just Friends (03:13) 5 Back to Black (04:01) 6 Love Is a Losing Game (02:35) 7 Tears Dry on Their Own (03:06) 8 Wake Up Alone (03:42) 9 Some Unholy War (02:22) 10 He Can Only Hold Her (02:46) 11 Rehab (Hot Chip remix) (06:58) 12 You Know I’m No Good (UK version) (03:22) 13 Back to Black (The Rumble Strips remix) (03:48) |
| Back to Black : Allmusic album Review : The story of Back to Black is one in which celebrity and the potential of commercial success threaten to ruin Amy Winehouse, since the same insouciance and playfulness that made her sound so special when she debuted could easily have been whitewashed right out of existence for this breakout record. (That fact may help to explain why fans were so scared by press allegations that Winehouse had deliberately lost weight in order to present a slimmer appearance.) Although Back to Black does see her deserting jazz and wholly embracing contemporary R&B, all the best parts of her musical character emerge intact, and actually, are all the better for the transformation from jazz vocalist to soul siren. With producer Salaam Remi returning from Frank, plus the welcome addition of Mark Ronson (fresh off successes producing for Christina Aguilera and Robbie Williams), Back to Black has a similar sound to Frank but much more flair and spark to it. Winehouse was inspired by girl group soul of the 60s, and fortunately Ronson and Remi are two of the most facile and organic R&B producers active. (They certainly know how to evoke the era too; Remis "Tears Dry on Their Own" is a sparkling homage to the Motown chestnut "Aint No Mountain High Enough," and Ronson summons a host of Brill Building touchstones on his tracks.) As before, Winehouse writes all of the songs from her experiences, most of which involve the occasionally riotous and often bittersweet vagaries of love. Also in similar fashion to Frank, her eye for details and her way of relating them are delightful. She states her case against "Rehab" on the knockout first single with some great lines: "They tried to make me go to rehab I wont go go go, Id rather be at home with Ray" (Charles, that is). As often as not, though, the songs on Back to Black are universal, songs that anyone, even Joss Stone, could take to the top of the charts, such as "Love Is a Losing Game" or the title song ("We only said good bye with words, I died a hundred times/You go back to her, and I go back to black"). | ||
 | Rank: 453 Album: 3 of 50 Artist: John Prine Title: John Prine Released: 1971 Tracks: 13 Duration: 44:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Illegal Smile (03:13) 2 Spanish Pipedream (02:41) 3 Hello in There (04:30) 4 Sam Stone (04:15) 5 Paradise (03:12) 6 Pretty Good (03:36) 7 Your Flag Decal Wont Get You Into Heaven Anymore (02:52) 8 Far From Me (03:41) 9 Angel From Montgomery (03:45) 10 Quiet Man (02:52) 11 Donald and Lydia (04:28) 12 Six OClock News (02:51) 13 Flashback Blues (02:32) |
 | Rank: 454 Album: 4 of 50 Artist: Alice Cooper Title: Love It to Death Released: 1971-03-08 Tracks: 9 Duration: 37:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Caught in a Dream (03:10) 2 I’m Eighteen (02:58) 3 Long Way to Go (03:04) 4 Black Juju (09:11) 5 Is It My Body (02:39) 6 Hallowed Be My Name (02:29) 7 Second Coming (03:04) 8 Ballad of Dwight Fry (06:33) 9 Sun Arise (03:50) |
| Love It to Death : Allmusic album Review : Alice Coopers third album, Love It to Death, can be pinpointed as the release when everything began to come together for the band. Their first couple of albums (Pretties for You and Easy Action) were both largely psychedelic/acid rock affairs and bore little comparison to the bands eventual rip-roaring, teenage-anthem direction. The main reason for the quintets change was that the eventually legendary producer Bob Ezrin was on board for the first time and helped the Coopers focus their songwriting and sound, while they also perfected their trashy, violent, and theatrical stage show and image. One of the bands most instantly identifiable anthems, "Im Eighteen," was what made the album a hit, as well as another classic, "Is It My Body." But like Alice Coopers other albums from the early 70s, it was an incredibly consistent listen from beginning to end. The garage rocker "Caught in a Dream" as well as the ass-kicking "Long Way to Go" and a pair of epics -- the Doors-esque "Black Juju" and the eerie "Ballad of Dwight Fry" -- showed that Alice was easily in league with other high-energy Detroit bands of the era (MC5, Stooges). Love It to Death was the first of a string of classic releases from the original Alice Cooper group. | ||
 | Rank: 455 Album: 5 of 50 Artist: Los Lobos Title: How Will the Wolf Survive? Released: 1984-10-17 Tracks: 11 Duration: 33:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Worry Baby (02:49) 2 A Matter of Time (03:53) 3 Corrido #1 (02:42) 4 Our Last Night (03:08) 5 The Breakdown (04:13) 6 I Got Loaded (03:24) 7 Serenata norteña (02:53) 8 Evangeline (02:43) 9 I Got to Let You Know (02:36) 10 Lil’ King of Everything (01:21) 11 Will the Wolf Survive? (03:42) |
 | Rank: 456 Album: 6 of 50 Artist: Marvin Gaye Title: Here, My Dear Released: 1978 Tracks: 28 Duration: 2:33:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Here, My Dear (02:48) 2 I Met a Little Girl (05:02) 3 When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You? (06:17) 4 Anger (04:03) 5 Is That Enough? (07:46) 6 Everybody Needs Love (05:48) 7 Time to Get It Together (03:54) 8 Sparrow (06:12) 9 Annas Song (05:56) 10 When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (instrumental) (06:03) 11 A Funky Space Reincarnation (08:18) 12 You Can Leave, but It’s Going to Cost You (05:32) 13 Falling in Love Again (04:38) 14 When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (reprise) (00:47) 15 Ain’t It Funny (How Things Turn Around) (04:04) 1 Here, My Dear (Mocean Worker mix alternate take) (02:48) 2 I Met a Little Girl (Easy Mo Bee mix alternate take) (05:04) 3 When Did You Stop Loving, Me When Did I Stop Loving You (Leon Ware and Gerry the Gov Brown mix) (06:56) 4 Anger (extended mix alternate take) (05:51) 5 Is That Enough (Montez Payton mix alternate take instrumental) (04:06) 6 Everybody Needs Love (Prince Paul mix alternate take) (06:09) 7 Time to Get It Together (extended mix alternate take) (06:48) 8 Sparrow (Questlove mix alternate take) (06:07) 9 Anna’s Song (John Rhone mix alternate take instrumental) (02:09) 10 A Funky Space Reincarnation (extended mix alternate take) (09:10) 11 You Can Leave but Its Going to Cost You (extended mix alternate take) (06:42) 12 Falling in Love Again (Salaam Remi mix alternate take) (06:26) 13 A Funky Space Reincarnation (instrumental original 12″) (08:19) |
| Here, My Dear : Allmusic album Review : Pre-dating the voyeuristic tendencies of reality television by 20 years, Here, My Dear is the sound of divorce on record -- exposed in all of its tender-nerve glory for the world to consume. During the amazing success of I Want You and his stellar Live at the London Palladium album, Marvin Gaye was served with divorce papers from his then-wife Anna Gordy Gaye (sister of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy). One of the conditions of the settlement was that Gordy Gaye would receive an extensive percentage of royalties as well as a portion of the advance for his next album. Initially, Gaye was contemplating giving less than his best effort, as he wouldnt stand to receive any money, but then reconsidered at the last moment. The result is a two-disc-long confessional on the deterioration of their marriage; starting from the opening notes of the title track, Gaye viciously cuts with every lyric deeper into an explanation of why the relationship died the way it did. Gaye uses the album, right down to its packaging, to exorcise his personal demons with subtle visual digs and less-than-subtle lyrical attacks. The inner sleeve had a pseudo-board-game-like illustration entitled "Judgment," in which a mans hand passes a record to a womans. One side of the sleeve has Gayes music and recording equipment, while the other side of the board included jewelry and other luxurious amenities. Musically the album retains the high standards Gaye set in the early 70s, but you can hear the agonizing strain of recent events in his voice, to the point where even several vocal overdubs cant save his delivery. Stripped to its bare essence, Here, My Dear is no less than brilliantly unsettling and a perfect cauterization to a decade filled with personal turmoil. | ||
 | Rank: 457 Album: 7 of 50 Artist: My Morning Jacket Title: Z Released: 2005-10-04 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Wordless Chorus (04:12) 2 It Beats 4 U (03:46) 3 Gideon (03:39) 4 What a Wonderful Man (02:25) 5 Off the Record (05:33) 6 Into the Woods (05:21) 7 Anytime (03:56) 8 Lay Low (06:05) 9 Knot Comes Loose (04:02) 10 Dondante (08:01) |
| Z : Allmusic album Review : In 2004, a dreamy cover of "Rocket Man" concluded My Morning Jackets first volume of rarities. Which was prescient, because its Elton John that Jim James songs for 2005s Z first bring to mind. From the wistful recollection of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" to Honky Chateaus melodic and genre explorations, Johns ability to mesh styles and take detours within his sturdy pop songwriting applies to James here, particularly in the expansive opener, "Wordless Chorus," or the initial happy-go-lucky lilt of "Off the Record." Z is My Morning Jackets fourth full-length (and second for ATO), and its the one that might finally jump-start the reaction that James music has always deserved. It Still Moves from 2003 rightly enjoyed its accolades, but it meandered a little structurally, too, and sometimes got a little lost in its own reverb. On Z, MMJs traditional influences are present -- the folk, blues, and country tones of John, Neil Young, and the Band shaded by contemporaries like Mercury Rev and Mark Kozelek. But songs like "Lay Low" and "It Beats for You" are crafted tighter, their sound-drenched keyboard lines meeting the percussion head on and riding meaningful flourishes of electric guitar. "Gideon" climaxes in James calling out throatily over twinkling piano and big chords borrowed from the Who, and "What a Wonderful Man" is a raucous, crashing tumble of unhinged crash cymbals, barroom piano, and mirthful yelping. Z is intuitive, intensely creative, classicist-minded, nearly flawless. Its music thats extruded from Jim James id, and thats bearded, too. | ||
 | Rank: 458 Album: 8 of 50 Artist: Elton John Title: Tumbleweed Connection Released: 1970-10-30 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:00:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples AlbumCover | 1 Ballad of a Well‐Known Gun (04:57) 2 Come Down in Time (03:25) 3 Country Comfort (05:07) 4 Son of Your Father (03:47) 5 My Father’s Gun (06:20) 6 Where to Now St. Peter? (04:11) 7 Love Song (03:40) 8 Amoreena (04:59) 9 Talking Old Soldiers (04:07) 10 Burn Down the Mission (06:35) 11 Into the Old Man’s Shoes (04:03) 12 Madman Across the Water (original version) (08:52) |
 | Rank: 459 Album: 9 of 50 Artist: The Drifters Title: The Drifters’ Golden Hits Released: 1968 Tracks: 12 Duration: 30:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 There Goes My Baby (02:12) 2 (If You Cry) True Love, True Love (02:23) 3 Dance With Me (02:25) 4 This Magic Moment (02:30) 5 Save the Last Dance for Me (02:30) 6 I Count the Tears (02:15) 7 Some Kind of Wonderful (02:35) 8 Up on the Roof (02:37) 9 On Broadway (03:00) 10 Under the Boardwalk (02:41) 11 I’ve Got Sand in My Shoes (02:49) 12 Saturday Night at the Movies (02:29) |
 | Rank: 460 Album: 10 of 50 Artist: Hole Title: Live Through This Released: 1994-04-08 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Violet (03:24) 2 Miss World (03:00) 3 Plump (02:34) 4 Asking for It (03:29) 5 Jennifer’s Body (03:41) 6 Doll Parts (03:31) 7 Credit in the Straight World (03:11) 8 Softer, Softest (03:27) 9 She Walks on Me (03:23) 10 I Think That I Would Die (03:36) 11 Gutless (02:15) 12 Olympia (02:42) |
| Live Through This : Allmusic album Review : Courtney Love completely revamped Hole before recording their second album, keeping only Eric Erlandson in the lineup. That is one of the reasons why Live Through This sounds so shockingly different from Pretty on the Inside, but the real reason is Loves desire to compete in the same commercial alternative rock arena as her husband, Kurt Cobain. In fact, many rumors have claimed that Cobain ghostwrote a substantial chunk of the album, and while thats unlikely, theres no denying that his patented stop-start dynamics, bare chords, and punk-pop melodies provide the blueprint for Live Through This. Love adds her signature rage and feminist rhetoric to the formula, but the lyrics that truly resonate are the ones that unintentionally predict Cobains suicide. For all the raw pain of the lyrics, Live Through This rarely sounds raw because of the shiny production and the carefully considered dynamics. Despite this flaw, the album retains its power because it was one of the few records patterned on Nevermind that gets the formula right, with a set of gripping hooks and melodies that retain their power even if they follow the predictable grunge pattern. | ||
 | Rank: 461 Album: 11 of 50 Artist: Public Image Ltd. Title: Metal Box Released: 1979-11 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:00:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Albatross (10:35) 2 Memories (05:06) 3 Swan Lake (04:13) 4 Poptones (07:47) 5 Careering (04:34) 6 No Birds (04:42) 7 Graveyard (03:10) 8 The Suit (03:30) 9 Bad Baby (04:30) 10 Socialist (03:10) 11 Chant (05:01) 12 Radio 4 (04:23) |
| Metal Box : Allmusic album Review : PiL managed to avoid boundaries for the first four years of their existence, and Metal Box is undoubtedly the apex. Its a hallmark of uncompromising, challenging post-punk, hardly sounding like anything of the past, present, or future. Sure, there were touchstones that got their imaginations running -- the bizarreness of Captain Beefheart, the open and rhythmic spaces of Can, and the dense pulses of Lee Perrys productions fueled their creative fires -- but what they achieved with their second record is a completely unique hour of avant-garde noise. Originally packaged in a film canister as a trio of 12" records played at 45 rpm, the bass and treble are pegged at 11 throughout, with nary a tinge of midrange to be found. Its all scrapes and throbs (dubscrapes?), supplanted by John Lydons caterwauling about such subjects as his dying mother, resentment, and murder. Guitarist Keith Levene splatters silvery, violent, percussive shards of metallic scrapes onto the canvas, much like a one-armed Jackson Pollock. Jah Wobble and Richard Dudanski lay down a molasses-thick rhythmic foundation throughout thats just as funky as Cans Czukay/Leibezeit and Chics Edwards/Rodgers. Its alien dance music. Metal Box might not be recognized as a groundbreaking record with the same reverence as Never Mind the Bollocks, and you certainly cant trace numerous waves of bands who wouldnt have existed without it like the Sex Pistols record. But like a virus, its tones have sent miasmic reverberations through a much broader scope of artists and genres. [Metal Box was issued in the States in 1980 with different artwork and cheaper packaging under the title Second Edition; the track sequence differs as well. The U.K. reissue of Metal Box on CD boasts better sound quality than the Second Edition CD.] | ||
 | Rank: 462 Album: 12 of 50 Artist: R.E.M. Title: Document Released: 1987-03-21 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Finest Worksong (03:50) 2 Welcome to the Occupation (02:48) 3 Exhuming McCarthy (03:21) 4 Disturbance at the Heron House (03:34) 5 Strange (02:33) 6 It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) (04:05) 7 The One I Love (03:17) 8 Fireplace (03:24) 9 Lightnin’ Hopkins (03:21) 10 King of Birds (04:10) 11 Oddfellows Local 151 (05:22) |
| Document : Allmusic album Review : R.E.M. began to move toward mainstream record production on Lifes Rich Pageant, but they didnt have a commercial breakthrough until the following years Document. Ironically, Document is a stranger, more varied album than its predecessor, but co-producer Scott Litt -- who would go on to produce every R.E.M. album in the following decade -- is a better conduit for the band than Don Gehman, giving the group a clean sound without sacrificing their enigmatic tendencies. "Finest Worksong," the stream-of-conscious rant "Its the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," and the surprise Top Ten single "The One I Love" all crackle with muscular rhythms and guitar riffs, but the real surprise is how political the mid-tempo jangle pop of "Welcome to the Occupation," "Disturbance at the Heron House," and "King of Birds" is. Where Lifes Rich Pageant sounded a bit like a party record, Document is a fiery statement, and its memorable melodies and riffs are made all the more indelible by its righteous anger. In other words, its not only a commercial breakthrough, but a creative breakthrough as well, offering evidence of R.E.M.s growing depth and maturity, and helping usher in the P.C. era in the process. | ||
 | Rank: 463 Album: 13 of 50 Artist: Echo and The Bunnymen Title: Heaven Up Here Released: 1981-05-30 Tracks: 11 Duration: 44:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Show of Strength (04:50) 2 With a Hip (03:15) 3 Over the Wall (05:59) 4 It Was a Pleasure (03:14) 5 A Promise (04:06) 6 Heaven Up Here (03:44) 7 The Disease (02:27) 8 All My Colours (04:04) 9 No Dark Things (04:27) 10 Turquoise Days (03:51) 11 All I Want (04:05) |
 | Rank: 464 Album: 14 of 50 Artist: Def Leppard Title: Hysteria Released: 1987-08-03 Tracks: 27 Duration: 2:24:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Women (05:42) 2 Rocket (06:37) 3 Animal (04:04) 4 Love Bites (05:46) 5 Pour Some Sugar on Me (04:27) 6 Armageddon It (05:22) 7 Gods of War (06:37) 8 Don’t Shoot Shotgun (04:26) 9 Run Riot (04:39) 10 Hysteria (05:54) 11 Excitable (04:19) 12 Love and Affection (04:37) 1 Stagefright (04:16) 2 Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop) (03:32) 3 Women (06:14) 4 Too Late for Love (05:51) 5 Hysteria (07:00) 6 Gods of War (06:32) 7 Die Hard the Hunter (06:10) 1 Bringin’ On the Heartbreak (06:16) 2 Foolin’ (05:05) 3 Armageddon It (05:31) 4 Animal (04:51) 5 Pour Some Sugar on Me (04:52) 6 Phil Solo (03:06) 7 Rock of Ages (07:42) 8 Photograph (05:19) |
| Hysteria : Allmusic album Review : Where Pyromania had set the standard for polished, catchy pop-metal, Hysteria only upped the ante. Pyromanias slick, layered Mutt Lange production turned into a painstaking obsession with dense sonic detail on Hysteria, with the result that some critics dismissed the record as a stiff, mechanized pop sellout (perhaps due in part to Rick Allens new, partially electronic drum kit). But Def Leppards music had always employed big, anthemic hooks, and few of the pop-metal bands who had hit the charts in the wake of Pyromania could compete with Leppards sense of craft; certainly none had the pop songwriting savvy to produce seven chart singles from the same album, as the stunningly consistent Hysteria did. Joe Elliotts lyrics owe an obvious debt to his obsession with T. Rex, particularly on the playfully silly anthem "Pour Some Sugar on Me," and the British glam rock tribute "Rocket," while power ballads like "Love Bites" and the title track lack the histrionics or gooey sentimentality of many similar offerings. The strong pop hooks and "perfect"-sounding production of Hysteria may not appeal to die-hard heavy metal fans, but it isnt heavy metal -- its pop-metal, and arguably the best pop-metal ever recorded. Its blockbuster success helped pave the way for a whole new second wave of hair metal bands, while proving that the late-80s musical climate could also be very friendly to veteran hard rock acts, a lead many would follow in the next few years. | ||
 | Rank: 465 Album: 15 of 50 Artist: The Magnetic Fields Title: 69 Love Songs Released: 1999-09-07 Tracks: 46 Duration: 1:55:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Absolutely Cuckoo (01:34) 2 I Don’t Believe in the Sun (04:16) 3 All My Little Words (02:46) 4 A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off (02:41) 5 Reno Dakota (01:05) 6 I Don’t Want to Get Over You (02:22) 7 Come Back From San Francisco (02:48) 8 The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side (03:43) 9 Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits (02:25) 10 The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be (01:11) 11 I Think I Need a New Heart (02:32) 12 The Book of Love (02:42) 13 Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long (02:33) 14 How Fucking Romantic (00:58) 15 The One You Really Love (02:53) 16 Punk Love (00:58) 17 Parades Go By (02:56) 18 Boa Constrictor (00:58) 19 A Pretty Girl Is Like… (01:50) 20 My Sentimental Melody (03:07) 21 Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing (02:27) 22 Sweet‐Lovin’ Man (04:59) 23 The Things We Did and Didn’t Do (02:11) 1 Roses (00:27) 2 Love Is Like Jazz (02:56) 3 When My Boy Walks Down the Street (02:38) 4 Time Enough for Rocking When We’re Old (02:03) 5 Very Funny (01:26) 6 Grand Canyon (02:28) 7 No One Will Ever Love You (03:14) 8 If You Don’t Cry (03:06) 9 You’re My Only Home (02:17) 10 (Crazy for You but) Not That Crazy (02:18) 11 My Only Friend (02:01) 12 Promises of Eternity (03:46) 13 World Love (03:07) 14 Washington, D.C. (01:53) 15 Long‐Forgotten Fairytale (03:37) 16 Kiss Me Like You Mean It (02:00) 17 Papa Was a Rodeo (05:01) 18 Epitaph for My Heart (02:50) 19 Asleep and Dreaming (01:53) 20 The Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing (02:46) 21 The Way You Say Good‐Night (02:44) 22 Abigail, Belle of Kilronan (02:00) 23 I Shatter (03:09) |
| 69 Love Songs : Allmusic album Review : As the sprawling magnitude of its cheeky title suggests, 69 Love Songs is Stephin Merritts most ambitious as well as most fully realized work to date, a three-disc epic of classically chiseled pop songs that explore both the promise and pitfalls of modern romance through the jaundiced eye of an irredeemable misanthrope. A true A-to-Z catalog of touchingly bittersweet love songs that runs the gamut from tender ballads to pithy folk tunes to bluesy vamps, the sheer scope of the record allows all of Merritts musical personas to converge -- the regular use of guest vocalists recalls his work as the 6ths, the romantic fatalism suggests the Gothic Archies project, and the stately melodies evoke the Future Bible Heroes. The whole is much greater than the sum of its parts, however -- for all of Merritts scathing wit and icy detachment, theres a depth and sensitivity to these songs largely absent from his past work, and each one of these 69 tracks approaches lamour from refreshing angles, galvanizing the love song form with rare sophistication and elegance. Naturally, given a project of this size theres the occasional bit of filler, but all in all, 69 Love Songs maintains a remarkable consistency throughout, and the highlights ("I Dont Believe in the Sun," "All My Little Words," "Asleep and Dreaming," "Busby Berkeley Dreams," and "Acoustic Guitar," to name just a few) are jaw-droppingly superb. Also available as three individual releases, 69 Love Songs was nevertheless conceived as a whole and is best absorbed as such, with all of its twists and turns taken in stride; despite its three-hour length, the music boasts the craftsmanship and economy that remain the hallmarks of classic American pop songwriting, a tradition Merritt upholds even as he subverts the formula in new and brilliant ways. | ||
 | Rank: 466 Album: 16 of 50 Artist: Coldplay Title: A Rush of Blood to the Head Released: 2002-08-12 Tracks: 11 Duration: 54:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Politik (05:18) 2 In My Place (03:48) 3 God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (04:57) 4 The Scientist (05:09) 5 Clocks (05:07) 6 Daylight (05:27) 7 Green Eyes (03:43) 8 Warning Sign (05:31) 9 A Whisper (03:58) 10 A Rush of Blood to the Head (05:51) 11 Amsterdam (05:19) |
| A Rush of Blood to the Head : Allmusic album Review : After touring in support of their debut album, Parachutes, Coldplay was personally and professionally exhausted. Frontman Chris Martin insisted he was dry; by the time they closed their European tour in summer 2001, he hadnt written a song in months. The U.K. music press immediately pounced on the idea of Coldplay calling it quits, but somewhere lurked the beauty of "In My Place." The spirit and soul of this ballad allowed Coldplay to pull it together to make a second album. What came from such anguish and inquisition was A Rush of Blood to the Head. Coldplay has surely let it all go on this record. Acoustics are drowned out by Jon Bucklands riveting guitar work, and vocally, Martin has sharpened his falsetto, refining his haunting delivery. Its a strong album; you can feel, hear, and touch the blood, sweat, and tears behind each song, and thats exactly what Coldplay was going for. Co-producer Ken Nelson and mixer Mark Pythain (the team behind the blissful beauty of Parachutes) allowed Coldplay to make an album thats initially inaccessible, but thats what makes it intriguing. Lush melodies and a heartbreak behind the songs are there, but also a newfound confidence. From the delicate, shimmery classic "In My Place" to the piano surge of "The Scientist," Coldplay exudes an honest passion. The disco haze of "Daylight" and the love-drunk ballad "Green Eyes" are divine examples of solid lyrical arrangements, but "Politik" and the stunning guitar-driven "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" project a nervy edge to the band. Echoes of early post-punk showcase Coldplays ballsy musicianship. Dont fret -- its not exactly rock & roll, but Radiohead, Echo & the Bunnymen, and the Smiths arent exactly rock & roll either, and theyre well loved. "Yellow" didnt follow the rock formula, but it sold well, and similarly A Rush of Blood to the Head might not instantly grab listeners, but its not tailored that way. It pushes you to look beyond dreamy vocals for a musical inner core. Regardless of the band still being in their mid-twenties, theyve made an amazing record, and if it ends up being their last, A Rush of Blood to the Head didnt sugarcoat anything. Its a bittersweet design no matter what. | ||
 | Rank: 467 Album: 17 of 50 Artist: Bruce Springsteen Title: Tunnel of Love Released: 1987-09-30 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ain’t Got You (02:11) 2 Tougher Than the Rest (04:35) 3 All That Heaven Will Allow (02:39) 4 Spare Parts (03:44) 5 Cautious Man (03:58) 6 Walk Like a Man (03:45) 7 Tunnel of Love (05:12) 8 Two Faces (03:03) 9 Brilliant Disguise (04:15) 10 One Step Up (04:22) 11 When You’re Alone (03:24) 12 Valentine’s Day (05:10) |
| Tunnel of Love : Allmusic album Review : Just as he had followed his 1980 commercial breakthrough The River with the challenging Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen followed the most popular album of his career, Born in the U.S.A., with another low-key, anguished effort, Tunnel of Love. Especially in their sound, several of the songs, "Cautious Man" and "Two Faces," for example, could have fit seamlessly onto Nebraska, though the arrangements overall were not as stripped-down and acoustic as on the earlier album. While Nebraska was filled with songs of economic desperation, however, Tunnel of Love, as its title suggested, was an album of romantic exploration. But the lovers were just as desperate in their way as Nebraskas small-time criminals. In song after song, Springsteen questioned the trust and honesty on both sides in a romantic relationship, specifically a married relationship. Since Springsteen sounded more autobiographical than ever before ("Aint Got You" referred to his popular success, while "Walk Like a Man" seemed another explicit message to his father), it was hard not to wonder about the state of his own two-and-a-half-year marriage, and it wasnt surprising when that marriage collapsed the following year. Tunnel of Love was not the album that the ten million fans who had bought Born in the U.S.A. as of 1987 were waiting for, and though it topped the charts, sold three million copies, and spawned three Top 40 hits, much of this was on career momentum. Springsteen was as much at a crossroads with his audience as he seemed to be in his work and in his personal life, though this was not immediately apparent. | ||
 | Rank: 468 Album: 18 of 50 Artist: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Title: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Released: 1965-10 Tracks: 11 Duration: 38:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Born in Chicago (03:08) 2 Shake Your Moneymaker (02:28) 3 Blues With a Feeling (04:24) 4 Thank You Mr. Poobah (04:07) 5 I Got My Mojo Working (03:34) 6 Mellow Down Easy (02:51) 7 Screamin’ (04:36) 8 Our Love Is Drifting (03:34) 9 Mystery Train (02:36) 10 Last Night (04:18) 11 Look Over Yonders Wall (02:26) |
| The Paul Butterfield Blues Band : Allmusic album Review : Even after his death, Paul Butterfields music didnt receive the accolades that were so deserved. Outputting styles adopted from Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters among other blues greats, Butterfield became one of the first white singers to rekindle blues music through the course of the mid-60s. His debut album, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, saw him teaming up with guitarists Elvin Bishop and Mike Bloomfield, with Jerome Arnold on bass, Sam Lay on drums, and Mark Naftalin playing organ. The result was a wonderfully messy and boisterous display of American-styled blues, with intensity and pure passion derived from every bent note. In front of all these instruments is Butterfields harmonica, beautifully dictating a mood and a genuine feel that is no longer existent, even in todays blues music. Each song captures the essence of Chicago blues in a different way, from the back-alley feel of "Born in Chicago" to the melting ease of Willie Dixons "Mellow Down Easy" to the authentic devotion that emanates from Bishop and Butterfields "Our Love Is Drifting." "Shake Your Money Maker," "Blues With a Feeling," and "I Got My Mojo Working" (with Lay on vocals) are all equally moving pieces performed with a raw adoration for blues music. Best of all, the music that pours from this album is unfiltered...blared, clamored, and let loose, like blues music is supposed to be released. A year later, 1966s East West carried on with the same type of brash blues sound partnered with a jazzier feel, giving greater to attention to Bishops and Bloomfields instrumental talents. | ||
 | Rank: 469 Album: 19 of 50 Artist: Fugees (Refugee Camp) Title: The Score Released: 1996-02-12 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:09:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Red Intro (01:51) 2 How Many Mics (04:28) 3 Ready or Not (03:47) 4 Zealots (04:20) 5 The Beast (05:37) 6 Fu‐Gee‐La (04:20) 7 Family Business (05:43) 8 Killing Me Softly (04:58) 9 The Score (04:07) 10 The Mask (04:50) 11 Cowboys (05:23) 12 No Woman, No Cry (04:33) 13 Manifest/Outro (05:16) 14 Fu‐Gee‐La (Refugee Camp remix) (04:24) 15 Fu‐Gee‐La (Sly & Robbie mix) (05:27) |
| The Score : Allmusic album Review : A breath of fresh air in the gangsta-dominated mid-90s, the Fugees breakthrough album, The Score, marked the beginning of a resurgence in alternative hip-hop. Its left-field, multi-platinum success proved there was a substantial untapped audience with an appreciation for rap music but little interest in thug life. The Scores eclecticism, social consciousness, and pop smarts drew millions of latent hip-hop listeners back into the fold, showing just how much the music had grown up. It not only catapulted the Fugees into stardom, but also launched the productive solo careers of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, the latter of whom already ranks as one of the top female MCs of all time based on her work here. Not just a collection of individual talents, the Fugees three MCs all share a crackling chemistry and a wide-ranging taste in music. Their strong fondness for smooth soul and reggae is underscored by the two hit covers given slight hip-hop makeovers (Roberta Flacks "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and Bob Marleys "No Woman, No Cry"). Even when theyre not relying on easily recognizable tunes, their original material is powered by a raft of indelible hooks, especially the great "Fu-Gee-La"; there are also touches of blues and gospel, and the recognizable samples range from doo wop to Enya. Their protest tracks are often biting, yet tempered with pathos and humanity, whether theyre attacking racial profiling among police ("The Beast"), the insecurity behind violent posturing ("Cowboys"), or the inability of many black people in the Western Hemisphere to trace their familial roots ("Family Business"). Yeah, the Chinese restaurant skit is a little dicey, but on the whole, The Score balances intelligence and accessibility with an easy assurance, and ranks as one of the most distinctive hip-hop albums of its era. | ||
 | Rank: 470 Album: 20 of 50 Artist: L.L. Cool J Title: Radio Released: 1985-11-18 Tracks: 11 Duration: 47:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Can’t Live Without My Radio (05:28) 2 You Can’t Dance (03:37) 3 Dear Yvette (04:07) 4 I Can Give You More (05:08) 5 Dangerous (04:40) 6 El Shabazz (01:18) 7 Rock the Bells (04:01) 8 I Need a Beat (04:31) 9 That’s a Lie (04:41) 10 You’ll Rock (04:44) 11 I Want You (04:51) |
| Radio : Allmusic album Review : Run-D.M.C. was the first rap act to produce cohesive, fully realized albums, and LL Cool J was the first to follow in their footsteps. LL was a mere 17 years old when he recorded his classic debut album Radio, a brash, exuberant celebration of booming beats and B-boy attitude that launched not only the longest career in hip-hop, but also Rick Rubins seminal Def Jam label. Rubins back-cover credit ("Reduced by Rick Rubin") is an entirely apt description of his bare-bones production style. Radio is just as stripped-down and boisterously aggressive as any Run-D.M.C. album, sometimes even more so; the instrumentation is basically just a cranked-up beatbox, punctuated by DJ scratching. There are occasional brief samples, but few do anything more than emphasize a downbeat. The result is rap at its most skeletal, with a hard-hitting, street-level aggression that perfectly matches LLs cocksure teenage energy. Even the two ballads barely sound like ballads, since theyre driven by the same slamming beats. Though they might sound a little squared-off to modern ears, LLs deft lyrics set new standards for MCs at the time; his clever disses and outrageous but playful boasts still hold up poetically. Although even LL himself would go on to more intricate rhyming, it isnt really necessary on such a loud, thumping adrenaline rush of a record. Radio was both an expansion of raps artistic possibilities and a commercial success (for its time), helping attract new multiracial audiences to the music. While it may take a few listens for modern ears to adjust to the minimalist production, the fact that it hews so closely to raps basic musical foundation means that it still possesses a surprisingly fresh energy, and isnt nearly as dated as many efforts that followed it (including, ironically, some of LLs own). | ||
 | Rank: 471 Album: 21 of 50 Artist: Richard & Linda Thompson Title: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight Released: 1974-04 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 When I Get to the Border (03:27) 2 The Calvary Cross (03:53) 3 Withered and Died (03:26) 4 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (03:08) 5 Down Where the Drunkards Roll (04:05) 6 We Sing Hallelujah (02:52) 7 Has He Got a Friend for Me (03:33) 8 The Little Beggar Girl (03:25) 9 The End of the Rainbow (03:57) 10 The Great Valerio (05:22) |
 | Rank: 472 Album: 22 of 50 Artist: George Michael Title: Faith Released: 1987-11-01 Tracks: 9 Duration: 44:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Faith (03:15) 2 Father Figure (05:37) 3 I Want Your Sex (05:36) 4 One More Try (05:50) 5 Hard Day (04:48) 6 Hand to Mouth (04:36) 7 Look at Your Hands (04:37) 8 Monkey (05:06) 9 Kissing a Fool (04:35) |
| Faith : Allmusic album Review : A superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece, Faith made George Michael an international solo star, selling over ten million copies in the U.S. alone as of 2000. Perhaps even more impressively, it also made him the first white solo artist to hit number one on the R&B album charts. Michael had already proven the soulful power of his pipes by singing a duet with Aretha Franklin on the 1987 smash "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," but he went even farther when it came to crafting his own material, using sophisticated 70s soul as an indispensable part of his foundation. Of course, its only a part. Faiths ingenuity lies in the way it straddles pop, adult contemporary, R&B, and dance music as though there were no distinctions between them. In addition to his basic repertoire of funky dance-pop and airy, shimmering ballads, Michael appropriates the Bo Diddley beat for the rockabilly-tinged title track, and proves himself a better-than-decent torch singer on the cocktail jazz of "Kissing a Fool." Michael arranged and produced the album himself, and the familiarity of many of these songs can obscure his skills in those departments -- close listening reveals his knack for shifting elements in and out of the mix and adding subtle embellishments when a little emphasis or variety is needed. Though Faith couldnt completely shake Michaels bubblegum image in some quarters, the albums themes were decidedly adult. "I Want Your Sex" was the most notorious example, of course, but even the love songs were strikingly personal and mature, grappling with complex adult desires and scarred by past heartbreak. All of it adds up to one of the finest pop albums of the 80s, setting a high-water mark that Michael was only able to reach in isolated moments afterward. | ||
 | Rank: 473 Album: 23 of 50 Artist: The Smiths Title: The Smiths Released: 1984-02-20 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Reel Around the Fountain (05:56) 2 You’ve Got Everything Now (03:59) 3 Miserable Lie (04:27) 4 Pretty Girls Make Graves (03:43) 5 The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (04:37) 6 Still Ill (03:20) 7 Hand in Glove (03:23) 8 What Difference Does It Make? (03:50) 9 I Don’t Owe You Anything (04:04) 10 Suffer Little Children (05:29) |
| The Smiths : Allmusic album Review : Arriving in an era dominated by synth pop and gloomy post-punk, the Smiths eponymous debut was the bracing beginning of a new era. On the surface, the Smiths sound wasnt radically different from traditional British guitar pop -- Johnny Marrs ringing, layered guitars were catchy and melodic -- but it was actually an astonishing subversion of the form, turning the structure inside out. Very few of the songs followed conventional verse-chorus structure, yet they were quite melodic within their own right. Marrs inventive songwriting was made all the more original and innovative by Morrisseys crooning and lyrics. Writing about unconventional topics, from homosexuality ("Hand in Glove") to child molestation and murder, Morrissey had a distinctively ironic, witty, and literate viewpoint whose strangeness was accentuated by his off-kilter voice, which would move from a croon to a yelp in a matter of seconds. While the production of The Smiths is a little pristine, the songs are vital and alive, developing a new, unique voice within pop music. Though the Smiths continued to improve over the course of their career, their debut remains startling and exciting. | ||
 | Rank: 474 Album: 24 of 50 Artist: Manu Chao Title: Próxima estación: Esperanza Released: 2001-06-01 Tracks: 18 Duration: 49:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Merry Blues (03:36) 2 Bixo (01:52) 3 Eldorado 1997 (01:30) 4 Promiscuity (01:36) 5 La primavera (01:53) 6 Me gustas tú (04:00) 7 Denia (04:39) 8 Mi vida (02:33) 9 Trapped by Love (01:55) 10 Le Rendez-vous (01:57) 11 Mr. Bobby (03:49) 12 Papito (02:51) 13 La chinita (01:34) 14 La marea (02:37) 15 Homens (03:18) 16 La vacaloca (02:24) 17 Infinita tristeza (03:56) 18 La trampa (bonus) (03:31) |
| Próxima estación: Esperanza : Allmusic album Review : Clandestino, Manu Chaos first solo effort, owed its greatness to its character. It was a minimalistic, yet filled with experimentation, album. But, whats most distinctive, it was honest, direct, intimate: the personal diary of someone who had traveled a lot, not only around Latin America but through life. Unfortunately, Chao seems to lose his way a little bit in Esperanza. Apparently intended to be a continuation of what started in Clandestino, it ends being just a clone of it. The reiteration of ideas and formulas takes away from Esperanza everything that made of Clandestino a memorable piece of work. The problem with Esperanza is that Chao, instead of deepening what he proposed in his first album, seems to overfly the surface of his ideas. The consequence of this is that he transforms charm into cliché, leaving the listener with a very light flavor. Anyway, Esperanza still has a bunch of great songs ("Mr Bobby," "Mi Vida," "Trapped By Love," "Me Gustas Tú," "Bixo") and good lyrics ("Mi Vida") which amply justify its listening. Dedicated fans will find that Esperanza is not what they were expecting, yet its really easy-going and accessible so it will end working for them as well as for casual listeners. | ||
 | Rank: 475 Album: 25 of 50 Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions Title: Armed Forces Released: 1979-01-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 36:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Accidents Will Happen (03:00) 2 Senior Service (02:17) 3 Oliver’s Army (02:58) 4 Big Boys (02:55) 5 Green Shirt (02:42) 6 Party Girl (03:21) 7 Goon Squad (03:14) 8 Busy Bodies (03:34) 9 Sunday’s Best (03:17) 10 Moods for Moderns (02:48) 11 Chemistry Class (02:55) 12 Two Little Hitlers (03:11) |
| Armed Forces : Allmusic album Review : After releasing and touring the intense This Years Model, Elvis Costello quickly returned to the studio with the Attractions to record his third album, Armed Forces. 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 Costellos melodies, making the record more accessible than his first two albums. Perversely, while the sound of Costellos music was becoming more open and welcoming, his songs became more insular and paranoid, even though he cloaked his emotions well. Many of the songs on Armed Forces use politics as a metaphor for personal relationships, particularly fascism, which explains its working title, Emotional Fascism. Occasionally, the lyrics are forced, but the music never is -- the album demonstrates the depth of Costellos compositional talents and how he can move from the hook-laden pop of "Accidents Will Happen" to the paranoid "Goon Squad" with ease. Some of the songs, like the light reggae of "Two Little Hitlers" and the impassioned "Party Girl," build on his strengths, while others like the layered "Olivers Army" take Costello into new territories. Its a dense but accessible pop record and ranks as his third masterpiece in a row. | ||
 | Rank: 476 Album: 26 of 50 Artist: The Notorious B.I.G. Title: Life After Death Released: 1997-03-25 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:49:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Life After Death (intro) (01:39) 2 Somebody’s Gotta Die (04:26) 3 Hypnotize (03:50) 4 Kick In the Door (04:46) 5 Fuck You Tonight (05:45) 6 Last Day (04:19) 7 I Love the Dough (05:11) 8 What’s Beef? (05:15) 9 B.I.G. (interlude) (00:48) 10 Mo Money Mo Problems (04:17) 11 Niggas Bleed (04:51) 12 I Got a Story to Tell (04:41) 1 Notorious Thugs (06:07) 2 Miss U (04:59) 3 Another (04:15) 4 Going Back to Cali (05:07) 5 Ten Crack Commandments (03:24) 6 Playa Hater (03:57) 7 Nasty Boy (05:33) 8 Sky’s the Limit (05:29) 9 The World Is Filled… (04:54) 10 My Downfall (05:26) 11 Long Kiss Goodnight (05:18) 12 You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You) (04:56) |
 | Rank: 477 Album: 27 of 50 Artist: Merle Haggard Title: Down Every Road Released: 1996-04-02 Tracks: 27 Duration: 1:11:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Skid Row (01:46) 2 Sing a Sad Song (02:34) 3 You Don’t Even Try (02:17) 4 Sam Hill (02:33) 5 (My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers (02:30) 6 Just Between the Two of Us (02:44) 7 If I Had Left It Up to You (02:24) 8 I’m Gonna Break Every Heart I Can (02:00) 9 Swinging Doors (02:53) 10 The Bottle Let Me Down (02:48) 11 High on a Hilltop (02:58) 12 I’ll Look Over You (02:10) 13 The Fugitive (02:58) 14 House of Memories (02:47) 15 All of Me Belongs to You (02:40) 16 Mary’s Mine (02:57) 17 Someone Told My Story (02:32) 18 Go Home (02:35) 19 Whatever Happened to Me (02:58) 20 Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive (02:35) 21 I Threw Away the Rose (03:21) 22 Branded Man (03:07) 23 You Don’t Have Very Far to Go (02:20) 24 Somewhere Between (03:06) 25 Sing Me Back Home (02:49) 26 The Son of Hickory Holler’s Tramp (02:59) 27 Seeing Eye Dog (02:00) |
| Down Every Road : Allmusic album Review : Merle Haggard is a rarity: a complex artist whose rich scope can accurately be summarized through singles, but who has far more great material than can be fit on one or two discs. Which, of course, makes him the perfect candidate for a box set, and Capitol released the first comprehensive Hag retrospective in 1996 with the four-disc set Down Every Road. Since Haggard has such a rich, consistent body of his work -- the best of his MCA and Epic periods, two eras that are covered here, hold their own next to his seminal Capitol material -- even four discs leave behind many a great song, yet only those who already own all the albums would argue about omissions, because this offers a generous 100 songs, spanning from his earliest work for Talley in the early 60s to his Epic sides of the late 80s, containing all of his big hits and an expert selection of album tracks, such as "Tulare Dust," "Holding Things Together," and "Living With the Shades Pulled Down," that reveal the depth of his music. This is a body of work with few peers in all of popular music -- the variety of styles and sounds, his ease on freewheeling Western swing and plaintive ballads, his inventive, nuanced originals and expert ear for material, his supple voice and underrated guitar playing, and the support from his brilliant band, the Strangers, all add up to one of the greatest catalogs in 20th century music. And while you can get the basics from Razor & Ties excellent double-disc set The Lonesome Fugitive, only Down Every Road captures the full extent of his gifts, in a way that is compulsively listenable as well. Its not just the perfect Merle Haggard box set, its one of the greatest box sets ever released as well, since it truly presents all sides of its subject, while offering nothing but sheer pleasure in terms of mere listening. Plus, this is the only place to find some of these great songs, including the aforementioned trio of album tracks, on CD, which makes it necessary for those who already own the albums. | ||
 | Rank: 478 Album: 28 of 50 Artist: Loretta Lynn Title: All Time Greatest Hits Released: 2002-05-21 Tracks: 22 Duration: 57:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Wine, Women and Song (02:02) 2 Happy Birthday (02:04) 3 You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man) (02:13) 4 Dont Come A Drinkin (With Lovin On Your Mind) (02:09) 5 Fist City (02:13) 6 You’ve Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out on Me) (02:18) 7 Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone) (02:55) 8 Coal Miner’s Daughter (03:01) 9 After the Fire Is Gone (02:39) 10 Lead Me On (02:26) 11 One’s On the Way (02:39) 12 Rated X (02:40) 13 Love Is the Foundation (02:32) 14 Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man (02:32) 15 As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone (02:42) 16 Trouble in Paradise (02:10) 17 When the Tingle Becomes a Chill (03:02) 18 Feelins’ (03:00) 19 Out of My Head and Back in My Bed (02:42) 20 Somebody Somewhere (Don’t Know What He’s Missin’ Tonight) (03:02) 21 She’s Got You (03:07) 22 I Can’t Feel You Anymore (03:17) |
| All Time Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : This straightforward hits collection contains all 16 of Loretta Lynns number one country hits according to Billboard, five of them duets with Conway Twitty, plus three number two hits and three number three hits, all released originally between 1964 and 1979. The singer also scored one other number two hit, the Twitty duet "I Still Believe in Waltzes" from 1981, and several other number three hits, as well as numerous other major songs that are not included. Some of them could have fit on a CD that runs less than 57 and a half minutes, but from a record company point of view the issue is less the time than the number of tracks, since song publishers must be paid royalties on each title. That makes 22 tracks (none of which run longer than three minutes and 15 seconds) a packed disc from a profit perspective, even if consumers wonder why the album isnt more complete. As it is, there are enough of Lynns big records to justify the title and make this a good purchase for anyone seeking a single-disc hits collection. | ||
 | Rank: 479 Album: 29 of 50 Artist: Funkadelic Title: Maggot Brain Released: 1971-07-12 Tracks: 7 Duration: 36:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Maggot Brain (10:21) 2 Can You Get to That (02:50) 3 Hit It and Quit It (03:50) 4 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (03:36) 5 Super Stupid (03:57) 6 Back in Our Minds (02:38) 7 Wars of Armageddon (09:42) |
| Maggot Brain : Allmusic album Review : It starts with a crackle of feedback shooting from speaker to speaker and a voice intoning, "Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time, for yall have knocked her up" and talking about rising "above it all or drown in my own sh*t." This could only have been utterly bizarre back in 1971 and its no less so decades later; though the Mothership was well on its way already, Maggot Brain really helped it take off. The instrumental title track is the key reason to listen, specifically for Eddie Hazels lengthy, mind-melting solo. George Clinton famously told Hazel to play "like your momma had just died," and the resulting evocation of melancholy and sorrow doesnt merely rival Jimi Hendrixs work, but arguably bests a lot of it. Accompanied by another softer guitar figure providing gentle rhythm for the piece, the end result is simply fantastic, an emotional apocalypse of sound. Maggot Brain is bookended by another long number, "Wars of Armageddon," a full-on jam from the band looping in freedom chants and airport-departure announcements to the freak-out. In between are a number of short pieces, finding the collective merrily cooking up some funky stew of the slow and smoky variety. There are folky blues and gospel testifying on "Can You Get to That" (one listen and a lot of Primal Screams mid-90s career is instantly explained) and wry but warm reflections on interracial love on "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks," its drum hits distorted to give a weird electronic edge to the results. "Super Stupid" is a particular killer, pounding drums and snarling guitar laying down the boogie hard and hot, while "Hit It and Quit It" has a great chorus and Bernie Worrell getting in a fun keyboard solo to boot. | ||
 | Rank: 480 Album: 30 of 50 Artist: Raekwon Title: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Released: 1995-08-01 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:13:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Striving for Perfection (01:44) 2 Knuckleheadz (04:03) 3 Knowledge God (04:25) 4 Criminology (03:48) 5 Incarcerated Scarfaces (04:43) 6 Rainy Dayz (06:03) 7 Guillotine (Swordz) (04:23) 8 Can It Be All So Simple (remix) (05:39) 9 Shark Niggas (Biters) (01:39) 10 Ice Water (03:39) 11 Glaciers of Ice (05:21) 12 Verbal Intercourse (03:32) 13 Wisdom Body (02:39) 14 Spot Rusherz (03:14) 15 Ice Cream (04:12) 16 Wu-Gambinos (05:40) 17 Heaven & Hell (04:57) 18 North Star (Jewels) (03:58) |
| Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… : Allmusic album Review : A serious contender for the title of best Wu-Tang solo album (rivaled only by the Genius Liquid Swords), Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is also perhaps the most influential, thanks to Raekwons cinematic imagination. If the Genius is the Wus best overall lyricist, Raekwon is arguably their best storyteller, and here he translates the epic themes and narratives of a Mafia movie into a startlingly accomplished hip-hop album. Raekwon wasnt the first to make the connection between gangsta rap and the Cosa Nostra (Kool G Rap pioneered that idea), but he was the one who popularized the trend. Cuban Linxs portraits of big-money drug deals and black underworld kingpins living in luxury had an enormous influence on the new New York hardcore scene, especially Mobb Deep and Nas, the latter of whom appears here on the much-revered duet "Verbal Intercourse." The fellow Clan members who show up as guests are recast under gangster aliases, and Ghostface Killah makes himself an indispensable foil, appearing on the vast majority of the tracks and enjoying his first truly extensive exposure on record. Behind them, RZA contributes some of the strongest production work of his career, indulging his taste for cinematic soundscapes in support of the albums tone; his tracks are appropriately dark or melancholy, shifting moods like different scenes in a film. Cuban Linxs first-person narratives are filled with paranoia, ambition, excess, and betrayal, fast rises and faster falls. There are plenty of highlights along the way -- the singles "Criminology" and "Ice Cream," the gentle "Rainy Dayz," the influential posse cut "Wu-Gambinos" -- and everything culminates in "Heaven & Hell" and its longing for redemption. Like the Genius Liquid Swords, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx takes a few listens to reveal the full scope of its lyrical complexities, but its immensely rewarding in the end, and it stands as a landmark in the new breed of gangsta rap. | ||
 | Rank: 481 Album: 31 of 50 Artist: D’Angelo Title: Voodoo Released: 2000-01-25 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:34:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Playa Playa (07:07) 2 Devil’s Pie (05:21) 3 Left & Right (05:38) 4 The Line (05:15) 5 Send It On (05:57) 6 Chicken Grease (04:36) 7 One Mo’Gin (06:15) 8 The Root (06:33) 9 Spanish Joint (05:44) 10 Feel Like Makin’ Love (06:22) 11 Greatdayndamornin’/Booty (07:35) 12 Untitled (How Does It Feel) (07:10) 13 Africa (06:13) 14 I Found My Smile Again (06:13) 15 Heaven Must Be Like This (04:14) 16 Your Precious Love (04:36) |
| Voodoo : Allmusic album Review : Five years after his Brown Sugar album helped launch contemporary R&B, DAngelo finally returned with his sophomore effort, Voodoo. His soulful voice is just as sweet as it was on Brown Sugar, though DAngelo stretches out with a varied cast of collaborators, including trumpeter Roy Hargrove and guitarist Charlie Hunter, fellow neo-soul stars Lauryn Hill and Raphael Saadiq, and hip-hop heads like DJ Premier, Method Man & Redman, and Q-Tip. It must have been difficult to match his debut (and the frequent delays prove it was on his mind), but Voodoo is just as rewarding a soul album as DAngelos first. | ||
 | Rank: 482 Album: 32 of 50 Artist: Steve Earle Title: Guitar Town Released: 1986-03-05 Tracks: 11 Duration: 38:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Guitar Town (02:34) 2 Goodbye’s All We Got Left to Say (03:24) 3 Hillbilly Highway (03:38) 4 Good Ol’ Boy (Gettin’ Tough) (03:59) 5 My Old Friend the Blues (03:09) 6 Someday (03:48) 7 Think It Over (02:16) 8 Fearless Heart (04:07) 9 Little Rock ’n’ Roller (04:52) 10 Down the Road (02:38) 11 Good Ol Boy (Gettin Tough) (live) (04:10) |
 | Rank: 483 Album: 33 of 50 Artist: Gang of Four Title: Entertainment! Released: 1979-09 Tracks: 15 Duration: 50:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ether (03:50) 2 Natural’s Not in It (03:06) 3 Not Great Men (03:06) 4 Damaged Goods (03:26) 5 Return the Gift (03:06) 6 Guns Before Butter (03:45) 7 I Found That Essence Rare (03:13) 8 Glass (02:28) 9 Contract (02:39) 10 At Home He’s a Tourist (03:30) 11 5.45 (03:43) 12 Anthrax (04:23) 13 Outside the Trains Don’t Run on Time (03:27) 14 He’d Send in the Army (03:40) 15 It’s Her Factory (03:09) |
| Entertainment! : Allmusic album Review : Entertainment! is one of those records where germs of influence can be traced through many genres and countless bands, both favorably and unfavorably. From groups whose awareness of genealogy spreads wide enough to openly acknowledge Gang of Fours influence (Fugazi, Rage Against the Machine), to those not in touch with their ancestry enough to realize it (rap-metal, some indie rock) -- all have appropriated elements of their forefathers trailblazing contribution. Its vaguely funky rhythmic twitch, its pungent, pointillistic guitar stoccados, and its spoken/shouted vocals have all been picked up by many. Lyrically, the album was apart from many of the day, and it still is. The band rants at revisionist history in "Not Great Men" ("No weak men in the books at home"), self-serving media and politicians in "I Found That Essence Rare" ("The last thing theyll ever do?/Act in your interest"), and sexual politics in "Damaged Goods" ("You said youre cheap but youre too much"). Though the brilliance of the record thrives on the faster material -- especially the febrile first side -- a true highlight amongst highlights is the closing "Anthrax," full of barely controlled feedback squalls and moans. Its nearly psychedelic, something post-punk and new wave were never known for. With a slight death rattle and plodding bass rumble, Jon King equates love with disease and admits to feeling "like a beetle on its back." In the background, Andy Gill speaks in monotone of why Gang of Four doesnt do love songs. Subversive records of any ilk dont get any stronger, influential, or exciting than this. | ||
 | Rank: 484 Album: 34 of 50 Artist: Mott the Hoople Title: All the Young Dudes Released: 1972-09-08 Tracks: 9 Duration: 41:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sweet Jane (04:21) 2 Momma’s Little Jewel (04:26) 3 All the Young Dudes (03:31) 4 Sucker (05:00) 5 Jerkin’ Crocus (04:01) 6 One of the Boys (06:46) 7 Soft Ground (03:19) 8 Ready for Love / After Lights (06:47) 9 Sea Diver (02:52) |
| All the Young Dudes : Allmusic album Review : Just at the moment Mott the Hoople were calling it a day, David Bowie swooped in and convinced them to stick around. Bowie spearheaded an image makeover, urging them to glam themselves up. He gave them a surefire hit with "All the Young Dudes," had them cover his idols "Sweet Jane," and produced All the Young Dudes, the album that was designed to make them stars. Lo and behold, it did, which is as much a testament to Bowies popularity as it is to his studio skill. Not to discount his assistance, since his production results in one of the most satisfying glam records and the title track is one of the all-time great rock songs, but the album wouldnt have worked if Mott hadnt already found its voice on Brain Capers. True, Dudes isnt nearly as wild as its predecessor, but the bands swagger is unmistakable underneath the flair and Ian Hunter remains on a songwriting roll, with "Mommas Little Jewel," "Sucker," and "One of the Boys" standing among his best. Take a close look at the credits, though -- these were all co-written by his bandmates, and the other highlight, "Ready for Love/After Lights," is penned entirely by Mick Ralphs, who would later revive the first section with Bad Company. The entire band was on a roll here, turning out great performances and writing with vigor. They may not be as sexy as either Bowie or Bolan, but they make up for it with knowing humor, huge riffs, and terrific tunes, dressed up with style by Ziggy himself. No wonder its not just a great Mott record -- its one of the defining glam platters. | ||
 | Rank: 485 Album: 35 of 50 Artist: Pearl Jam Title: Vitalogy Released: 1994-11-22 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:08:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Last Exit (02:54) 2 Spin the Black Circle (02:48) 3 Not for You (05:52) 4 Tremor Christ (04:12) 5 Nothingman (04:35) 6 Whipping (02:34) 7 Pry, To (01:03) 8 Corduroy (04:37) 9 Bugs (02:44) 10 Satan’s Bed (03:30) 11 Better Man (04:28) 12 Aye Davanita (02:57) 13 Immortality (05:25) 14 Hey Foxymophandlemama, Thats Me (07:28) 15 Better Man (guitar/organ only) (03:55) 16 Corduroy (alternate take) (04:44) 17 Nothingman (demo) (04:36) |
| Vitalogy : Allmusic album Review : Thanks to its stripped-down, lean production, Vitalogy stands as Pearl Jams most original and uncompromising album. While it isnt a concept album, Vitalogy sounds like one. Death and despair shroud the album, rendering even the explosive celebration of vinyl "Spin the Black Circle" somewhat muted. But that black cloud works to Pearl Jams advantage, injecting a nervous tension to brittle rockers like "Last Exit" and "Not for You," and especially introspective ballads like "Corduroy" and "Better Man." In between the straight rock numbers and the searching slow songs, Pearl Jam contribute their strangest music -- the mantrafunk of "Aye Davanita," the sub-Tom Waits accordion romp of "Bugs," and the chilling sonic collage "Hey Foxymophandlemama, Thats Me." Pearl Jam are at their best when theyre fighting, whether its Ticketmaster, fame, or their own personal demons. | ||
 | Rank: 486 Album: 36 of 50 Artist: Earth, Wind & Fire Title: That’s the Way of the World Released: 1975-03 Tracks: 8 Duration: 36:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Shining Star (02:51) 2 Thats the Way of the World (05:45) 3 Happy Feelin’ (03:16) 4 All About Love (05:30) 5 Yearnin Learnin (03:39) 6 Reasons (04:59) 7 Africano (05:09) 8 See the Light (05:30) |
| That’s the Way of the World : Allmusic album Review : Earth, Wind & Fire has delivered more than its share of excellent albums, but if a person could own only one EWF release, the logical choice would be Thats the Way of the World, which was the bands best album as well as its best-selling. Open Our Eyes had been a major hit and sold over half-a-million units, but it was World that established EWF as major-league, multi-platinum superstars. Fueled by gems ranging from the sweaty funk of "Shining Star" and "Yearnin Learnin" to the gorgeous ballad "Reasons" and the unforgettable title song, EWFs sixth album sold at least five-million units. And some of the tracks that werent major hits, such as the exuberant "Happy Feelin" and the gospel-influenced "See the Light," are equally powerful. There are no dull moments on World, one of the strongest albums of the 70s and EWFs crowning achievement. | ||
 | Rank: 487 Album: 37 of 50 Artist: Cyndi Lauper Title: She’s So Unusual Released: 1983-10-14 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Money Changes Everything (05:05) 2 Girls Just Want to Have Fun (03:51) 3 When You Were Mine (05:06) 4 Time After Time (04:00) 5 She Bop (03:51) 6 All Through the Night (04:30) 7 Witness (03:40) 8 I’ll Kiss You (04:12) 9 He’s So Unusual (00:45) 10 Yeah Yeah (03:18) |
| She’s So Unusual : Allmusic album Review : One of the great new wave/early MTV records, Shes So Unusual is a giddy mix of self-confidence, effervescent popcraft, unabashed sentimentality, subversiveness, and clever humor. In short, its a multifaceted portrait of a multifaceted talent, an artist thats far more clever than her thin, deliberately girly voice would indicate. Then again, Laupers voice suits her musical persona, since its chirpiness adds depth, or reconfigures the songs, whether its the call to arms of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or the tearjerking "Time After Time." Lauper is at her very best on the first side, all of which were singles or received airplay, and this collection of songs -- "Money Changes Everything," "Girls," "When You Were Mine," "Time," "She Bop," "All Through the Night" -- is astonishing in its consistency, so strong that it makes the remaining tracks -- all enjoyable, but rather pedestrian -- charming by their association with songs so brilliantly alive. If Lauper couldnt maintain this level of consistency, its because this captured her persona better than anyone could imagine -- when a debut captures a personality so well, let alone a personality so tied to its time, the successive work cant help but pale in comparison. Still, when its captured as brightly and brilliantly as it is here, it does result in a debut that retains its potency, long after its production seems a little dated. | ||
 | Rank: 488 Album: 38 of 50 Artist: Hüsker Dü Title: New Day Rising Released: 1985-01 Tracks: 15 Duration: 41:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 New Day Rising (02:34) 2 Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill (03:06) 3 I Apologize (03:37) 4 Folk Lore (01:36) 5 If I Told You (02:08) 6 Celebrated Summer (04:02) 7 Perfect Example (03:17) 8 Terms of Psychic Warfare (02:19) 9 59 Times the Pain (03:15) 10 Powerline (02:24) 11 Books About UFOs (02:49) 12 I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About (02:23) 13 How to Skin a Cat (01:52) 14 Whatcha Drinkin’ (01:33) 15 Plans I Make (04:22) |
| New Day Rising : Allmusic album Review : For New Day Rising, the follow-up to their breakthrough double-album Zen Arcade, Hüsker Dü replaced concept with conciseness, concentrating on individual songs delivered as scalding post-hardcore pop. New Day Rising is not only a more vicious and relentless record than Zen Arcade, its more melodic. Bob Mould and Grant Hart have written tightly crafted, melodic pop songs that dont compromise Hüskers volcanic, unchecked power. Mould and Harts songs owe a great deal to 60s pop, as the verses and choruses ebb and flow with immediately catchy hooks. Occasionally, the razor-thin production and waves of noise mean that it takes a little bit of effort to pick out the melodies, but more often the furious noise and melodies fuse together to create an overwhelming sonic force. Its possible to hear the rivalry between Mould and Hart on the album itself -- each song is like a game of one-upmanship, as Mould responds to "The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill" with "Celebrated Summer." Neither songwriter slips -- both turn in songs that are catchy, clever, and alternately wracked with pain or teeming with humor. New Day Rising is a positively cathartic record and ranks as Hüsker Düs most sustained moment of pure power. | ||
 | Rank: 489 Album: 39 of 50 Artist: KISS Title: Destroyer Released: 1976-03-15 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Detroit Rock City (05:17) 2 King of the Night Time World (03:19) 3 God of Thunder (04:15) 4 Great Expectations (04:21) 5 Flaming Youth (03:00) 6 Sweet Pain (03:20) 7 Shout It Out Loud (02:50) 8 Beth (02:46) 9 Do You Love Me? (03:34) 10 Rock and Roll Party (01:25) |
| Destroyer : Allmusic album Review : The pressure was on Kiss for their fifth release, and the band knew it. Their breakthrough, Alive!, was going to be hard to top, so instead of trying to recreate a concert setting in the studio, they went the opposite route. Destroyer is one of Kiss most experimental studio albums, but also one of their strongest and most interesting. Alice Cooper/Pink Floyd producer Bob Ezrin was on hand, and he strongly encouraged the band to experiment -- theres extensive use of sound effects (the albums untitled closing track), the appearance of a boys choir ("Great Expectations"), and an orchestra-laden, heartfelt ballad ("Beth"). But theres plenty of Kiss heavy thunder rock to go around, such as the demonic "God of Thunder" and the sing-along anthems "Flaming Youth," "Shout It Out Loud," "King of the Night Time World," and "Detroit Rock City" (the latter a tale of a doomed concert-goer, complete with violent car-crash sound effects). But it was the aforementioned Peter Criss ballad, "Beth," that made Destroyer such a success; the song was a surprise Top Ten hit (it was originally released as a B-side to "Detroit Rock City"). Also included is a song that Nirvana would later cover ("Do You Love Me?"), as well as an ode to the pleasures of S&M, "Sweet Pain." Destroyer also marked the first time that a comic-book illustration of the band appeared on the cover, confirming that the band was transforming from hard rockers to superheroes. | ||
 | Rank: 490 Album: 40 of 50 Artist: ZZ Top Title: Tres hombres Released: 1973-07-26 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Waitin’ for the Bus (03:03) 2 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 3 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 4 Master of Sparks (03:33) 5 Hot, Blue and Righteous (03:17) 6 Move Me on Down the Line (02:31) 7 Precious and Grace (03:09) 8 La Grange (03:52) 9 Shiek (04:06) 10 Have You Heard? (03:14) |
| Tres hombres : Allmusic album Review : Tres Hombres is the record that brought ZZ Top their first Top Ten record, making them stars in the process. It couldnt have happened to a better record. ZZ Top finally got their low-down, cheerfully sleazy blooze-n-boogie right on this, their third album. As their sound gelled, producer Bill Ham discovered how to record the trio so simply that they sound indestructible, and the group brought the best set of songs theyd ever have to the table. On the surface, theres nothing really special about the record, since its just a driving blues-rock album from a Texas bar band, but thats whats special about it. It has a filthy groove and an infectious feel, thanks to Billy Gibbons growling guitars and the steady propulsion of Dusty Hill and Frank Beards rhythm section. They get the blend of bluesy shuffles, gut-bucket rocking, and off-beat humor just right. ZZ Tops very identity comes from this earthy sound and songs as utterly infectious as "Waitin for the Bus," "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Move Me on Down the Line," and the John Lee Hooker boogie "La Grange." In a sense, they kept trying to remake this record from this point on -- what is Eliminator if not Tres Hombres with sequencers and synthesizers? -- but they never got it better than they did here. | ||
 | Rank: 491 Album: 41 of 50 Artist: Albert King Title: Born Under a Bad Sign Released: 1967-08 Tracks: 11 Duration: 34:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Born Under a Bad Sign (02:48) 2 Crosscut Saw (02:35) 3 Kansas City (02:35) 4 Oh, Pretty Woman (02:50) 5 Down Don’t Bother Me (02:12) 6 The Hunter (02:47) 7 I Almost Lost My Mind (03:32) 8 Personal Manager (04:33) 9 Laundromat Blues (03:22) 10 As the Years Go Passing By (03:50) 11 The Very Thought of You (03:47) |
 | Rank: 492 Album: 42 of 50 Artist: Eurythmics Title: Touch Released: 1983-11 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:13:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Here Comes the Rain Again (04:53) 2 Regrets (04:43) 3 Right by Your Side (04:04) 4 Cool Blue (04:48) 5 Who’s That Girl? (04:48) 6 The First Cut (04:46) 7 Aqua (04:36) 8 No Fear, No Hate, No Pain (No Broken Hearts) (05:21) 9 Paint a Rumour (07:32) 10 You Take Some Lentils and You Take Some Rice (03:01) 11 ABC (Freeform) (02:37) 12 Plus Something Else (05:22) 13 Paint a Rumour (long version) (08:00) 14 Whos That Girl? (live) (03:30) 15 Here Comes the Rain Again (live) (03:10) 16 Fame (02:41) |
| Touch : Allmusic album Review : Eurythmics followed their 1982 breakthrough album Sweet Dreams with the superior Touch, which yielded three hit singles and kept the innovative duo at the forefront of the 1980s British new wave explosion and MTV phenomenon. Mixing cold, hard, synthesized riffs with warm, luscious vocals, the duo crafted some of the most unique and trendsetting music the 1980s had to offer. Subsequent albums found the duo leaning heavier toward straightforward rock -- this album found them at the height of their electronic incarnation. The lead single, "Here Comes the Rain Again," is a melodramatic opus, complete with pre-techno beats, sweeping strings, and Annie Lennox rushing, cool vocals. The soulful "Whos That Girl" is an icy, steamy throwback to the torch songs of yesteryear, with Lennox oozing sensuality from every syllable emitted from her lips. The final hit, "Right by Your Side," finds the duo in a cheerful, Caribbean-inspired mode. Other standouts include the seven-and-a-half-minute disco trance of "Paint a Rumour," the driving "The First Cut," and the icy, spellbinding, and sparse "No Fear No Hate No Pain (No Broken Hearts)." The cool, sophisticated musical experimentalism all over Touch cemented Eurythmics reputation as one of the most innovative duos of their time; the hit singles solidified their reputation as dependable 1980s hitmakers and MTV mainstays. Touch is a testament to what Eurythmics were at the height of their electronic-techno phase and, without doubt, is a milestone in 1980s pop music. | ||
 | Rank: 493 Album: 43 of 50 Artist: Wilco Title: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Released: 2002-04-22 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:13:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (06:58) 2 Kamera (03:30) 3 Radio Cure (05:08) 4 War on War (03:49) 5 Jesus, Etc. (03:51) 6 Ashes of American Flags (04:44) 7 Heavy Metal Drummer (03:08) 8 I’m the Man Who Loves You (03:56) 9 Pot Kettle Black (04:00) 10 Poor Places (05:18) 11 Reservations (07:23) 1 Camera (03:44) 2 Handshake Drugs (05:11) 3 Woodgrain (01:43) 4 A Magazine Called Sunset (02:39) 5 Bob Dylans 49th Beard (02:21) 6 More Like the Moon (06:07) |
| Yankee Hotel Foxtrot : Allmusic album Review : Few bands can call themselves contemporaries of both the heartbreakingly earnest self-destruction of Whiskeytown and the alienating experimentation of Radioheads post-millennial releases, but on the painstaking Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco seem to have done just that. In early 2001, the Chicago-area band focused on recording their fourth album, which ultimately led to the departure of guitarist Jay Bennett and tensions with their record label. Unwilling to change the album to make it more commercially viable, the band bought the finished studio tapes from Warner/Reprise for 50,000 dollars and left the label altogether. The turmoil surrounding the recording and distribution of the album in no way diminishes the sheer quality of the genre-spanning pop songs written by frontman Jeff Tweedy and his bandmates. After throwing off the limiting shackles of the alt-country tag that they had been saddled with through their 1996 double album Being There, Wilco experimented heavily with the elaborate constructs surrounding their simple melodies on Summerteeth. The long-anticipated Yankee Hotel Foxtrot continues their genre-jumping and worthwhile experimentation. The sprawling, nonsensical "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" is as charmingly bleak as anything Tweedy has written to date, while the positively joyous "Heavy Metal Drummer" jangles through bright choruses and summery reminiscences. Similarly, "Kamera" dispels the opening tracks gray with a warm acoustic guitar and mixer/multi-instrumentalist/"fifth Beatle" Jim ORourkes unusual production. The true high points of the album are when the songwriting is at its most introspective, as it is during the heartwrenching "Ashes of American Flags," which takes on an eerie poignancy in the wake of the attacks at the World Trade Center. "All my lies are always wishes," Tweedy sings, "I know I would die if I could come back new." As is the case with many great artists, the evolution of the band can push the music into places that many listeners (and record companies for that matter) may not be comfortable with, but, in the case of Wilco, their growth has steadily led them into more progressive territory. While their songs still maintain the loose intimacy that was apparent on their debut A.M., the music has matured to reveal a complexity that is rare in pop music, yet showcased perfectly on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. | ||
 | Rank: 494 Album: 44 of 50 Artist: MGMT Title: Oracular Spectacular Released: 2007-10-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Time to Pretend (04:21) 2 Weekend Wars (04:12) 3 The Youth (03:48) 4 Electric Feel (03:49) 5 Kids (05:03) 6 4th Dimensional Transition (03:58) 7 Pieces of What (02:43) 8 Of Moons, Birds & Monsters (04:46) 9 The Handshake (03:39) 10 Future Reflections (04:00) |
| Oracular Spectacular : Allmusic album Review : When MGMT were asked by their record label for a list of their dream producers, with low expectations they sarcastically replied: Prince, Nigel Godrich, Barack Obama, and "not Sheryl Crow." Columbia returned with Dave Fridmann, the producer extraordinaire best known for his work with Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. In typical Fridmann fashion, Oracular Spectacular is a glamorous mega-production through and through. Drums are massively distorted and shimmering keyboards are articulately layered as he takes the reins, leading the duo through his daisy chain of onboard compressors, delay units, and whatever other mysterious studio gizmos and gadgets he uses to get his trademark sound. Expectedly, the 14-karat polish enhances MGMTs blend of psychedelic and indie-electro to a shiny sonic gleam, resulting in some of the catchiest pop songs to come from N.Y.C. since the turn of the millennium. The tunes sound classic and new all at once, paying homage to Bowie, the Kinks, and the Stones, while updating traditional progressions with flashes of Royal Trux, Ween, and LCD Soundsystem. Its a wonderful mess of musical ideas, ranging from the dancy disco thump and Bee Gees falsetto of "Electric Feel" to the gritty acoustic-based "Pieces of What," to the grimy synth groove on the anthemic "Time to Pretend." With tongues planted firmly in cheeks, sardonic wit is as abundant as Andrew Van Wyngarden and Ben Goldwasser spoof the stereotypical rock & roll lifestyle with lines like "Lets make some music, make some money, find some models for wives/Ill go to Paris take some heroin and fuck with the stars." Despite the ever-present irony, the songs never feel insincere and the record is inherently strong throughout, making it a solid start to their career. | ||
 | Rank: 495 Album: 45 of 50 Artist: Bonnie Raitt Title: Give It Up Released: 1972-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Give It Up (Or Let Me Go) (04:30) 2 Nothing Seems to Matter (04:05) 3 I Know (03:48) 4 If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (03:00) 5 Love Me Like a Man (03:12) 6 Too Long at the Fair (02:58) 7 Under the Falling Sky (03:43) 8 You Got to Know How (03:36) 9 You Told Me Baby (04:12) 10 Love Has No Pride (03:47) |
| Give It Up : Allmusic album Review : Bonnie Raitt may have switched producers for her second album Give It Up, hiring Michael Cuscuna, but she hasnt switched her style, sticking with the thoroughly engaging blend of folk, blues, R&B, and Californian soft rock. If anything, shes strengthened her formula here, making the divisions between the genres nearly indistinguishable. Take the title track, for instance. It opens with a bluesy acoustic guitar before kicking into a New Orleans brass band about halfway through -- and the great thing about it is that Raitt makes the switch sound natural, even inevitable, never forced. And thats just the tip of the iceberg here, since 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 thats as mellow as Linda Ronstadt and far more seductive. Thats 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. Its all delivered in a fantastic set of originals and covers performed so naturally its hard to tell them apart and roots music so thoroughly fused that it all sounds original, even when its possible to spot the individual elements or influences. Raitt would go on to greater chart successes, but she not only had trouble topping this record, generations of singers, from Sheryl Crow to Shelby Lynne, have used this as a touchstone. One of the great Southern California records. | ||
 | Rank: 496 Album: 46 of 50 Artist: Boz Scaggs Title: Boz Scaggs Released: 1969 Tracks: 9 Duration: 43:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I’m Easy (03:08) 2 I’ll Be Long Gone (04:15) 3 Another Day (Another Letter) (02:58) 4 Now You’re Gone (03:49) 5 Finding Her (03:57) 6 Look What I Got (04:12) 7 Waiting for a Train (02:41) 8 Loan Me a Dime (12:31) 9 Sweet Release (06:14) |
| Boz Scaggs : Allmusic album Review : Departing from the Steve Miller Band after a two-album stint, Boz Scaggs found himself on his own but not without support. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, his friend, helped him sign with Atlantic Records and the label had him set up shop in Muscle Shoals, recording his debut album with that legendary set of studio musicians, known for their down-and-dirty backing work for Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett, among many other Southern soul legends. The Muscle Shoals rhythm section, occasionally augmented by guitarist Duane Allman, gives this music genuine grit, but this isnt necessarily a straight-up blue-eyed soul record, even if the opening "Im Easy" and "Ill Be Long Gone" are certainly as deeply soulful as anything cut at Muscle Shoals. Even at this early stage Scaggs wasnt content to stay in one place, and he crafted a kind of Americana fantasia here, also dabbling in country and blues along with the soul and R&B that grounds this record. If the country shuffle "Now Youre Gone" sounds just slightly a shade bit too vaudeville for its own good, it only stands out because the rest of the record is pitch-perfect, from the Jimmie Rodgers cover "Waiting for a Train" and the folky "Look What I Got!" to the extended 11-minute blues workout "Loan Me a Dime," which functions as much as a showcase for a blazing Duane Allman as it does for Boz. But even with that show-stealing turn, and even with the Muscle Shoals musicians giving this album its muscle and part of its soul, this album is still thoroughly a showcase for Boz Scaggs musical vision, which even at this stage is wide and deep. It would grow smoother and more assured over the years, but the slight bit of raggedness suits the funky, down-home performances and helps make this not only a great debut, but also an enduring blue-eyed soul masterpiece. | ||
 | Rank: 497 Album: 47 of 50 Artist: The White Stripes Title: White Blood Cells Released: 2001-07-03 Tracks: 16 Duration: 40:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (03:04) 2 Hotel Yorba (02:10) 3 I’m Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman (02:54) 4 Fell in Love With a Girl (01:50) 5 Expecting (02:03) 6 Little Room (00:50) 7 The Union Forever (03:26) 8 The Same Boy You’ve Always Known (03:09) 9 We’re Going to Be Friends (02:22) 10 Offend in Every Way (03:06) 11 I Think I Smell a Rat (02:04) 12 Aluminum (02:19) 13 I Can’t Wait (03:38) 14 Now Mary (01:47) 15 I Can Learn (03:31) 16 This Protector (02:12) |
| White Blood Cells : Allmusic album Review : Despite the seemingly instant attention surrounding them -- glowing write-ups in glossy magazines like Rolling Stone and Mojo, guest lists boasting names like Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson, and appearances on national TV -- the White Stripes have stayed true to the approach that brought them this success in the first place. White Blood Cells, Jack and Meg Whites third effort for Sympathy for the Record Industry, wraps their powerful, deceptively simple style around meditations on fame, love, and betrayal. As produced by Doug Easley, it sounds exactly how an underground sensations breakthrough album should: bigger and tighter than their earlier material, but not so polished that it will scare away longtime fans. Admittedly, White Blood Cells lacks some of the White Stripes blues influence and urgency, but it perfects the pop skills the duo honed on De Stijl and expands on them. The country-tinged "Hotel Yorba" and immediate, crazed garage pop of "Fell in Love With a Girl" define the albums immediacy, along with the folky, McCartney-esque "Were Going to Be Friends," a charming, school-days love song thats among Jack Whites finest work. However, Whites growth as a songwriter shines through on virtually every track, from the cocky opener "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" to vicious indictments like "The Union Forever" and "I Think I Smell a Rat." "Same Boy Youve Always Known" and "Offend in Every Way" are two more quintessential tracks, offering up more of the groups stomping riffs and rhythms and us-against-the-world attitude. Few garage rock groups would name one of their most driving numbers "Im Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman," and fewer still would pen lyrics like "Im so tired of acting tough/Im gonna do what I please/Lets get married," but its precisely this mix of strength and sweetness, among other contrasts, that makes the White Stripes so intriguing. Likewise, White Blood Cells ability to surprise old fans and win over new ones makes it the Stripes finest work to date. | ||
 | Rank: 498 Album: 48 of 50 Artist: The Stone Roses Title: The Stone Roses Released: 1989-04 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Wanna Be Adored (04:52) 2 She Bangs the Drums (03:45) 3 Elephant Stone (7″ version) (03:03) 4 Waterfall (04:40) 5 Don’t Stop (05:20) 6 Bye Bye Badman (04:06) 7 Elizabeth My Dear (00:56) 8 (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister (03:26) 9 Made of Stone (04:15) 10 Shoot You Down (04:13) 11 This Is the One (04:59) 12 I Am the Resurrection (08:14) |
| The Stone Roses : Allmusic album Review : Since the Stone Roses were the nominal leaders of Britains "Madchester" scene -- an indie rock phenomenon that fused guitar pop with drug-fueled rave and dance culture -- its rather ironic that their eponymous debut only hints at dance music. What made the Stone Roses important was how they welcomed dance and pop together, treating them as if they were the same beast. Equally important was the Roses cool, detached arrogance, which was personified by Ian Browns nonchalant vocals. Browns effortless malevolence is brought to life with songs that equal both his sentiments and his voice -- "I Wanna Be Adored," with its creeping bassline and waves of cool guitar hooks, doesnt demand adoration, it just expects it. Similarly, Brown can claim "I Am the Resurrection" and lie back, as if there were no room for debate. But the key to The Stone Roses is John Squires layers of simple, exceedingly catchy hooks and how the rhythm section of Reni and Mani always imply dance rhythms without overtly going into the disco. On "She Bangs the Drums" and "Elephant Stone," the hooks wind into the rhythm inseparably -- the 60s hooks and the rolling beats manage to convey the colorful, neo-psychedelic world of acid house. Squires riffs are bright and catchy, recalling the British Invasion while suggesting the future with their phased, echoey effects. The Stone Roses was a two-fold revolution -- it brought dance music to an audience that was previously obsessed with droning guitars, while it revived the concept of classic pop songwriting, and the repercussions of its achievement could be heard throughout the 90s, even if the Stone Roses could never achieve this level of achievement again. | ||
 | Rank: 499 Album: 49 of 50 Artist: B.B. King Title: Live in Cook County Jail Released: 1971 Tracks: 8 Duration: 38:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Introductions (01:51) 2 Every Day I Have the Blues (01:42) 3 How Blue Can You Get? (05:12) 4 Worry, Worry (09:53) 5 Medley: 3 O’Clock Blues / Darlin’ You Know I Love You (06:17) 6 Sweet Sixteen (04:22) 7 The Thrill Is Gone (05:27) 8 Please Accept My Love (04:01) |
| Live in Cook County Jail : Allmusic album Review : B.B. King has cut a lot of albums since the success of Live at the Regal. And, like the live shows they document, none of them are any less than solid and professional, hallmarks of Kings work aesthetic. But every so often B.B. truly catches fire; his playing and singing comes up an extra notch or two, and the result is a live album with some real sparks to it. Live in Cook County Jail is one of those great concerts that the record company was smart enough to be there to capture, documenting B.B. firing on all cylinders in front of an audience thats just damn happy for him to be there. Possibly the best live version of "The Thrill Is Gone" of all its many incarnations, and rock solid renditions of classics like "Everyday I Have the Blues," "How Blue Can You Get?," "Sweet Sixteen" and a great medley of "3 OClock Blues" and "Darlin You Know I Love You." Live at the Regal is still the champ of Kings live output, but many say this runs a close second, and they just may be right. | ||
 | Rank: 500 Album: 50 of 50 Artist: OutKast Title: Aquemini Released: 1998-09-28 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:14:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hold On, Be Strong (01:11) 2 Return of the “G” (04:49) 3 Rosa Parks (05:24) 4 Skew It on the Bar‐B (03:14) 5 Aquemini (05:19) 6 Synthesizer (05:11) 7 Slump (05:08) 8 West Savannah (04:03) 9 Da Art of Storytellin’, Part 1 (03:42) 10 Da Art of Storytellin’, Part 2 (02:47) 11 Mamacita (05:52) 12 SpottieOttieDopaliscious (07:06) 13 Y’all Scared (04:50) 14 Nathaniel (01:09) 15 Liberation (08:45) 16 Chonkyfire (06:10) |
| Aquemini : Allmusic album Review : Even compared to their already excellent and forward-looking catalog, OutKasts sprawling third album, Aquemini, was a stroke of brilliance. The chilled-out space-funk of ATLiens had already thrown some fans for a loop, and Aquemini made it clear that its predecessor was no detour, but a stepping stone for even greater ambitions. Some of ATLiens ethereal futurism is still present, but more often Aquemini plants its feet on the ground for a surprisingly down-home flavor. The music draws from a vastly eclectic palette of sources, and the live instrumentation is fuller-sounding than ATLiens. Most importantly, producers Organized Noize imbue their tracks with a Southern earthiness and simultaneous spirituality that come across regardless of what Dre and Big Boi are rapping about. Not that they shy away from rougher subject matter, but their perspective is grounded and responsible, intentionally avoiding hardcore clichés. Their distinctive vocal deliveries are now fully mature, with a recognizably Southern rhythmic bounce but loads more technique than their territorial peers. Those flows grace some of the richest and most inventive hip-hop tracks of the decade. The airy lead single "Rosa Parks" juxtaposes front-porch acoustic guitar with DJ scratches and a stomping harmonica break that could have come from nowhere but the South. Unexpected touches like that are all over the record: the live orchestra on "Return of the G"; the electronic, George Clinton-guested "Synthesizer"; the reggae horns and dub-style echo of "SpottieOttieDopaliscious"; the hard-rocking wah-wah guitar of "Chonkyfire"; and on and on. Whats most impressive is the way everything comes together to justify the full-CD running time, something few hip-hop epics of this scope ever accomplish. After a few listens, not even the meditative jams on the second half of the album feel all that excessive. Aquemini fulfills all its ambitions, covering more than enough territory to qualify it as a virtuosic masterpiece, and a landmark hip-hop album of the late 90s. | ||