Category Archives: Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #481: D’Angelo – Voodoo

#481
D'Angelo - Voodoo
For the year 2000, D'Angelo possesed the world's most famous abs.

D'Angelo, Voodoo

Release Date: 2000
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions:  D'Angelo is never in a rush. Songs take as long as they need to (the shortest track on this album is still four and a half minutes.) He starts singing when ever he feels like it and he puts out albums when ever he wants to. Voodoo came out five years -an eternity in pop music- after his successful neo-soul debut Brown Sugar. Take the opening song; "Playa … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #482: Steve Earle – Guitar Town

#482

Steve Earle, Guitar Town

Release Date: 1986
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Steve Earle, Guitar Town
Steve is going to go to town on that guitar.
Impressions:  Modern country isn't exactly my bag, but over the years I've grown to appreciate older country stars like Johnny Cash & Patsy Cline, and so-called alt-country artists like Uncle Tupelo, but the sheen of modern Nashville country still bores me. I guess lots of these newer country stars just seem to me like they are doing lame arena rock dressed up with a "country" packaging. Steve Earle seems … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #483: Gang of Four – Entertainment!

#483

Gang of Four, Entertainment!

Release Date: 1979
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Gang of Four - Entertainment!
Not just "Entertainment!" but other things like "Guitars!" "Politics!" and "Robot Vocals!"
Impressions:  Weird that I never heard of these guys before. Unlike the previous album on this list, it's  completely in my wheel house: no-nonsense, angular, angry-ular punk rock with a touch of dub and funk. "Not Great Man" sounds like, and better than, all of those spiky-punk-pop bands who came out in the 2000s (ie The Futureheads,) but with actually … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #484: Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes

#484

Mott The Hoople, All The Young Dudes

Release Date: 1972
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes
Pictured are some of the young dudes, but not all.
Impressions:  A great Bowie album, without Bowie's voice (mostly). A cover of Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" is no-brainer slam-dunk, and although it doesn't dispell the weird feeling of imitation, it's beautifully done. Lead singer Ian Hunter has a lot of Dylan, a lot of Bowie, and a sharp sense of humor and self awareness. The band plays pitch-perfect glammy rock that doesn't get … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #485: Pearl Jam, Vitalogy

#485

Pearl Jam, Vitalogy

Release Date: 1994
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: No (I went to college that year, c'mon)
Impressions:  Let's start with this: I don't hate Pearl Jam, nor do I love them. For whatever reason, they generally fail to leave a mark, but let's give them a fair shake shall we? Album ON! The dry, unadorned production helps the songs like the opener "Last Exit" and the punk-tempoed "Spin The Black Circle" and the hits like "Not For You" "Nothingman," "Better Man." But these songs seem like they are aiming for classic rock radio rotation twenty years in the future: solidly played, lean … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #486: Earth, Wind and Fire – That’s The Way of The World

#486

Earth, Wind and Fire, That's The Way of The World

Release Date: 1975
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
I guess it's hard to fit nine band members on the front of the LP cover. Sorry, guys to the left!
Impressions:  Not sure why, but I had a feeling this was gonna be a monster. But, I realized for the benefit of the blog, I must manage expectations and approach this album dispassionately. I was so dispassionate that I went on Spotify and listened to the wrong album. As it turned out, I listened to the … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #487: Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual

#487

Cyndi Lauper, She's So Unusual

Release Date: 1983
Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Let's not get carried away... she's only 'somewhat' unusual.
Impressions:  Ah Cyndi, I was numb to your music when this album came out, as your hits were so hard to get away from. Radio. MTV. Commericals. I couldn't even find refuge in pro-wrestling because you'd show up there too! Let's give this a listen... Not a bad guitar-driven opening number, "Money Changes Everything" almost sounds like Psychedelic Furs or New Order-ish (although it's two minutes too long.) "Girls Just Want To Have … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

RS #488: Hüsker Dü – New Day Rising

#488

Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising

Release Date: 1985
Previously Owned: Yes
Why yes, I do remember New Day Rising.
Impressions:  Back in junior high (mid '80s,) lots of friends of mine started getting in to hardcore music. They got mohawks, would wear punk t-shirts to school and go slamdancing at shows at the Caberet Metro or Aragon Ballroom (aka the "Brawlroom.") Naturally, I was interested in hearing what kind of music would make someone shave their head for it. I couldn't really find any of this stuff on the radio, so I gave … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

#489: KISS, Destroyer

#489

KISS, Destroyer

Release Date: 1976
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
I enjoy the jauntiness of this drawing
Impressions: When I was in first grade, I would avoid getting beaten up by older kids by drawing pictures of the KISS on other kids' folders and textbook covers. I vividly recall referencing photos in magazines of KISS members rocking outlandish costumes, having pet tigers, crazy pyrotechnics at shows or shooting fire and/or blood out of their mouths onstage. It all seemed so larger than life. I was too young to buy their records so I never actually heard … Continue Reading ››
Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

#490: ZZ Top – Tres Hombres

#490

ZZ Top, Tres Hombres

Release Date: 1973
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Having been exposed to ZZ Top in the dreaded '80s, I grew up thinking these guys were just weird, long-bearded curiosities who made goofball music videos and spun guitars around their midsections. But this rockin slab of '70s blues/rock shows they can play a little when those guitars stop spinning. "Waitin for the Bus" starts off the set with a catchy, crunching riff and from there  there's no let up ("Have mercy! I've been waiting for the bus all day!") Fun, no-nonsense tracks with airtight production and Tres Hombres, ZZ … <a href=Continue Reading ››