Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS # 374 – Roxy Music – Siren

#374

Roxy Music Siren

Release Date: 1975
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

Siren songs. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Even though I've heard it a million times, "Love is the Drug" is still a hell of an cut. Funky, sexy, funny, catchy, just aces. I can't imagine the album keeping that pace up, but bright punchy "End of The Line" really does. So far, a tiny bit more commercial than their previous outings but still great, weird songs and Brian … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #375 – Jackson Browne – Late For The Sky

#375

Jackson Browne, Late For The Sky

Release Date: 1995
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen:  Yes

This is a soothing album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Well, Mr. Browne...we meet again. I was pleasantly surprised by For Everyman. but didn't quite dig The Pretender. So, let's put on the tie-breaker ... Title track sounds a little closer to "For Everyman," so far, down-the-middle '70s soft-ifornia rock. Slow start. … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #377: John Lee Hooker – The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990)

#377 

John Lee Hooker The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990)

Release Date: 1990
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

 Very, very early '90s boxed-set album cover design. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Uh oh. I'm doomed. 1948-1990. That's DECADES of music. Oh whew, it's only 2 discs. And it's great stuff, so no big deal. Wow, there are an endless amount of compilations out there of his music. But of course, this specific one … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #378: Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?

#378 

Oasis (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

Release Date: 1995
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

 The story is middling Brit-pop that doesn't really leave a mark. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: This falls into Cheap Trick category for me: I should like this, in theory. These guys throw The Smiths, Stone Roses, Beatles, The Jam, Stones, etc in a blender and make a Brit-pop smoothie. … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #379: TLC, Crazysexycool

#379

TLC Crazysexycool

Release Date: 1994
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

Love a great '70s drawn album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Well, if you want to try to win me over from the jump, throw a Phife cameo rap at the beginning that references A Tribe Called Quest in a almost Marvel comic crossover fashion. Good start. Sounds like vintage early '90s hip hop-infused new Jack Swingish, R&B. "Creep" showcases TLC at their best: solid samples, … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #380: Toots and the Maytals, Funky Kingston

#380

Toots and the Maytals Funky Kingston

Release Date: 1975
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

Love a great '70s drawn album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: From the first beat, this classic reggae sound fits like your favorite t-shirt. The sound is like Al Green on the 1 and 3, with the gruff vocals of Toots Hibbert (who to Americans serves as the Kevin Durant to Bob Marley's LeBron James.) R&B, Soul, Rock, Ska, Funk, it's all in … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #381: Beach Boys, The Smile Sessions

#381

The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions

Release Date: 2011
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Well, sort of. I used to try to download versions of this album during the old Napster heyday.

Smile. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Here. Here's a whole box of toys. Some are broken. Most don't quite match. I'm going to spill it out on this table and you can try to enjoy it, or better yet, figure it out yourself. Maybe if this Beach Boys … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS# 382: Modern Lovers, Modern Lovers

#382

The Modern Lovers Modern Lovers

Release Date: 1976
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: No

Absolutely classic rock logo. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Proto-punk, proto-New Wave, proto-Talking Heads (with an actual future-Talking Head on keyboards)...but solid, simple...sounds perfect. Velvet Underground meets Punk or something. Again, weird I never really got into this album when I was younger. With the organ like in "Astral Plane", sometimes they sounds even Doors like, but swap Jonathan Richman's nerdy … Continue Reading ››

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #383: Talking Heads, More Songs About Buildings And Food

#383

Talking Heads More Songs About Buildings And Food

Release Date: 1978
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: No

This album cover is made up entirely of smaller Polaroid photos. By Source, Fair use, Link

Impressions: Okay, now here is a second album! Not to mention one of my favorite album covers and album titles of all time. In some ways, More Songs About Buildings and Food really more like their actual debut. Talking Heads 77 was slightly … Continue Reading ››