Top 500 Albums of All Time

Every year Rolling Stone Magazine releases a list of the top 500 albums of all time. My goal on this blog is to listen to one album a day for 500 days and write a post about each album.

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#434 Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)

Coming in with a very textbook indie album for you today. That's not to say this work isn't original or creative, but it frames the alt and indie scene of the 90's well. From what I can gather, the post punk 90's were all about slow and sad rock songs with slow and sad intentions. This is the second of five albums released by Pavement which ended up being their most popular album and contained some of their more well know tracks like Cut your hair and Range life. My initial reactions to this album is that it's firmly in the depressive, question everything, what is my life worth?, type of music. Even when the music is upbeat, the lyrics and vocal style are usually talking about how shitty it is to be where we are right now, and how cool it would be to be anywhere else in the world. This is a sentiment I think a lot of teens and pre teens go through, at least in the US where I grew up and still live. Some of the reviews and critiques of the album and the band focus on them complaining about teenage problems specifically but I think that's a cleaver way for the band to bring more existentialist topics into their music.

The most popular song on this album is Cut your hair which pokes fun at the importance of image in the music industry. I can't think of a more 90's indie band thing to do than make a song that makes fun of the industry that you are a part of. Not only that but it's done in a sarcastic and ironic way that you would only expect a group of lanky white dudes from California to be able to pull off. We do get a good display of lead guitarist Scott Kannberg's style in songs like 5-4=Unity and Stop Breathin' (could there be a more emo name to a song???) which in my mind blends popular rock styles like Red Hot Chilli Peppers with nods to slower and more introspective groups like maybe The Pixies. I've gotta say that this is a pretty well rounded album for a 90's indie band. They paint an immensely clear picture of who they are and what their mission is. I wasn't even alive when this album came out but from what I can gather about the early 90's is that the new generation of people was not super excited about the future that had been laid out for them by their parents and grandparents and the best way to solve it was to get angsty and get loud.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#435 Pet Shop Boys - Actually (1987)

Today's album is an upbeat synth-pop record from a British duo that feels quintessential 1980's. Actually is the second studio album released by Pet Shop Boys, a duo that started in London with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe and consists of futuristic and space age sounding tracks that fit in with the British disco scene of the day. Opening with One More Chance we can get a feel for what Pet Shop Boys are all about right out the gate. We hear a lot of heavy synth drums, with a thudding bass drum throughout the track, keyboard and bass guitar sounding devo-adjacent, complete with poetic, somewhat nonsensical lyrics. This track honestly sounds like something you would hear during a training montage of some kind of underdog sports movie that came out in the 80's or 90's. The top track on the album, It's a Sin, greets us with an in your face bass drum four count to start the track, followed by orchestral sounding electronic melodies as Neil Tennant critiques his religious upbringing, noting how being Catholic makes everything feel like a sin.

You can loop in a lot of familiar artists when listening to Pet Shop Boys. I can for sure hear some Devo, maybe a little David Bowie, and they apparently have history with Madonna, which is understandable with their loud and boisterous sound. This music does sound a little dated to my ears, but to be fair to the track, it came out almost ten years before I was born. Each track leans heavily on the synthetic keyboard, drums, bass guitar, and whatever other machines they were using at the time to make these kinds of noises. None of the music sounds like it came from a normal instrument, it's all either somehow distorted or electrified in some way. One cool thing about Pet Shop Boys, they're still around! I wouldn't expect that from a group that put an album out in the late 80's, but hey, some groups just last. They've got some nominations for GAFFA (some European magazine) awards coming up later this year.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#436 2Pac - All Eyez on Me (1996)

Now, I'm a big rap and hip hop fan, so I'm pretty excited for todays entry on the list. One of the most famous (if not the most famous) rapper on earth, 2Pac (Tupac Shakur) released this fourth studio album in 1996, just a few months before his unfortunate death in Las Vegas. If you've never listened to 2Pac or are unfamiliar with the costal rap beef that took place in the 1990's, what it boils down to is a feud between two record companies and their CEO's, Suge Knight of Death Row Records, and Sean Combs of Bad Boy Entertainment. Suge had 2Pac, and together they represented the west coast (mostly California) and Combs had Biggie Smalls representing the east coast (mostly New York), another larger than life rapper at the time. The origins of the feud are messy, some say there was gang involvement with the bloods and the crips, some say it was mostly for show, but the important part is that things became so heated between these two record companies that 2Pac was shot in Las Vegas in 1996 when he was only 25 years old, the next year, Biggie Smalls would be shot and killed at 24 years old, sealing in the legacy of the east coast/west coast rap rivalry. This is almost no detail on the real story, listen to the last podcast on the left series about biggie and 2pac if you'd like the full history of the rap beef and the gang involvement.

The fact that 2Pac died so shortly after the release of this record was a factor that propelled this album into a legendary status. That being said, it does contain some of his most famous tracks, California Love, Life Goes On, and Ambitionz As A Ridah being among some of 2Pacs most popular tracks. I think this record if a great look into the origins of gangster rap and the feel of west coast rap from the 90's. Containing elements like heavy bass, funky and playful synth music, and hard lyrics about living life in constant danger, this album is textbook gangster rap. One of the elements we can hear that sets this as more firmly west coast vs east coast is the more chill and relaxed feel given off by the tracks. California Love is a complete party track, its full of what sounds like auto tune (but I don't even know if auto tune was invented at this point) and goes hard while keeping the mood fun and inviting, if I had grown up in California I'm sure I'd claim this song as some type of state anthem. We can also hear features by other prominent California rappers, Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre being the most notable featured artists, which I think shows a special sense of regional pride when it comes to rap and hip hop music. I hope we get to hear some biggie later on in the list, the whole story of these two is fascinating and tragic all at the same time.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#437 Primal Scream - Screamadelica (1991)

Had a bit of a hiatus with some distractions, other projects, mental health blah blah blah, but were back.

The list is giving us a bit of a challenge today with todays album by Primal Scream. Screamadelica was the third studio album released by this Scottish band and was their biggest commercial success, while being released in the 1990's we get a funky combination of genres and influences that make this album tricky to place into one category. Primal Scream was more known for having an indie rock sound leading up to the release of this album, but we get quite a rollercoaster of different sounds presented to us as we go through the tracks. Right out the gate, Movin' on Up gives us a bit of a stereotypical rock sound, but mixes in some elements of R&B and soul feel to make it sound almost like gospel music. We get a huge diversion in style with the next track, Slip Inside This House, where the backdrop is a steady rock beat, but on top we can hear impressions of a sitar (or maybe its a real sitar but I think its just distorted guitar) that gives the song an Egyptian or Indian sounding feel.

Styles like alternative and indie get thrown around when trying to describe the sounds on the album, but I'm also seeing some interesting genre titles I've never seen before like neo-psychedelia and Madchester. Both of these styles were heavily influenced by drug use and play somewhat on the "free love" times of the 60's and 70's. Neo-psychedelia focusing on psychedelic use like acid and mushroom, and Madchester being more of a geographic and cultural style popularized in Manchester, UK, and also being more into MDMA use. I hate using this word but this album is incredibly unique, I think it fits the category we've seen before of being in the "art for artists" line of music. While casual listeners might not take the time to try and break down each song and appreciate the wide range of styles Primal Scream puts out in this album (and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, this is definitely not an album I could listen to every day), you can understand how elements from the album might go on to influence other indie, alternative, and post punk bands from the 90's and 2000's.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#438 Blur - Parklife (1994)

Today's entry is a more relaxed and fun album from the British post-punk scene. Parklife is the third studio album by Britpop band Blur and went platinum four times in the UK. Blur has an upbeat and rock centered sound that is laced with some whimsical and wacky elements at times that cement the group as a genre defining band of the 90's. The two opening tracks have catchy repetitive lyrics with great upbeat rock to support them. Girls and Boys, the opening track, and one of the most popular on the album, speaks of free and promiscuous love, fighting against established norms to encourage people to love those who will love them in return, regardless of sex or gender. Tracy Jacks follows another punk staple of someone having a mid-life crisis after following all of the normal progressions of modern life.

One fun part of Blur's sound is the addition of unconventional instruments. There is some trumpet (or some type of horn) featured in End of a Century, a synthy intro to London Loves, and a classic 'Omm pah pah' beat to The Debt Collector. These unique elements help us separate out the sound of Blur from past famous British groups like Sex Pistols and The Kinks, while giving us an idea of how their chart battle with Oasis was formed. Blur has a weird but still very approachable sound, its not like past indie artist we've heard on the list like Suicide that make the music challenging and uncomfortable on purpose. Their album bounces around genres so much that it feels like it wasn't all written by the same group. Weather or not you're familiar with Britpop groups, this group and the album are for sure worth checking out.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#439 James Brown - Sex Machine (1970)

Here's another 1970's famed album, a very different sound from our last entry but one that has just as much fame and notoriety from one of the most famous funk singers in existence. James Brown is often coined as "the hardest working man in show business" not only for his high volume of wildly successful tracks, but also his approach to the music industry as a self-managing artist. Sex Machine is a unique double album produced by Brown, that has songs from live performances, as well as songs changed to sound like they were done in at a live performance. The aura of the wild audience adds a powerful energy to the songs, it makes the album feel more immersive and all encompassing. Like many funk and soul singers from the era, Brown got his start singing with gospel choirs, and the energy he brings to the stage is strong and powerful, as if he's preaching every time he gets up to sing. His voice is soothing and punchy at the same time, and he sometimes (well, pretty often) lets out these high screams that boost up the energy of the track. The music that accompanies Brown is a tight sounding band with drums, guitar, bass, and a full brass section.

Sex, love, hard times, and dancing is what Brown is always singing about. Opening up the album is the famed Sex Machine, this particular track had sounds added to a studio recording to make it sound as if it was live. This seems like it would make it feel out of place, but the blending of live and recorded yet altered songs flows together so well that at first I thought the whole thing was a live recording. Another top Brown track we hear on the album is It's A Man's Man's Man's World, which, while maybe a tad problematic, it's intentions are sweet. Brown professes how even though this world is for men (I don't know if he means built by men, built for men, or run by men), man would be nothing without a woman (or a girl...I'm not sure how I feel about this line, 1970's sound like they were a strange time). Some of the most famous James Brown tracks are left off of this album, but the energy and power of Brown is put on display in a fun and funky way that would make even the most repressed Irish Catholic nun want to dance.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#440 Loretta Lynn - Coal Miners Daughter (1971)

Today we get a fun and gritty country album that takes us back 50 years, back to the era of The Doors, Richard Nixon, and old fashioned country music. Coal Miners Daughter is the sixteenth studio album release by the country legend Loretta Lynn. It's a pretty short album, like a lot of classic country albums, (at only about 30 minutes total) and focuses on themes like poverty, broken hearts, and exciting and slightly scandalous romantic encounters. Lynn opens with the title track, Coal Miners Daughter, which focuses on a family overcoming the difficulty of poverty through their love for one another. Lynn remarks on her life growing up in Kentucky during the great depression, where her family struggled to pay for food and clothing for the family. We get the distinctive twang of old country with this track, it's not so prominent that it covers up the song, but it compliments the vocals of Lynn nicely.

The later tracks on the album focus more so on broken hearts and a search for love. Hello Darlin' describes an encounter between Lynn and a former lover, where they both awkwardly have a conversation to check in on each other, and Lynn asks for forgiveness from "doin' him wrong", something that comes up a lot in this album. We get an altruistic and reflective track with Less Of Me, where Lynn recounts ways in which she could appear more happy and helpful to her fellow human beings, it's a song I think we should all listen to when we're feeling down. A little more fun and light hearted track we get later on is It'll Be Open Season On You, where Lynn accuses a woman in revealing clothing of making an attempt to get with her man. She give's her fair warning to keep eyes off, or else it'll be open season, a hunting reference meaning that certain restrictions are lifted and the hunters can just have at it. This album is a classic country staple, Lynn's voice rings out in a way that feels like she's singing at church, with a country feel that doesn't feel played out or pandering.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#441 Britney Spears - Blackout (2007)

We've got another modern electronic album following up the last album on the list today with this late 2000's genre defining work. Blackout is the fifth studio album released by Britney Spears and was released at the height of her fame. The album contains elements of electropop, dance-pop, and techno and is the textbook example of what a dance or club album would consist of at the time. While it's hard for me to think of this album as better than the Bowie or The Stooges albums that have made the list before, its impossible not to acknowledge the popularity and fame of this album. The songs focus on sex, money, media attention, and living the life of a pop-star with nothing to lose and an bottomless pit of money. Songs like Gimme More and Piece of Me focus on the attention she gets from, well, everyone, weather or not it's wanted attention. Piece of Me even mentions how "they're still gon' put pictures of my derriere in the magazines", focusing on how Spears became a sexual icon waaay before it was appropriate.

This album is dancy, catchy, and loud, which is exactly what Spears was going for. She wanted something that wasn't complex that would celebrate her and her womanhood and that's exactly what this album does. I can't mention Spears without talking about the conservatorship that's been in the news lately and try to wrap my head around exactly what that is. Now, I didn't exactly do enough research to write a thesis on this, but as I understand it, following some domestic issues with Britney and her children, her father Jamie was basically given control of her finances and day-to-day activities, that was about 13 years ago when she was 26. Cut to 2019 and we have video's going viral on TikTok calling for the end to the conservatorship (Spears is 39 now). There are allegations of abuse from Jamie to Britney and lots of issues with money not being used as Spears wants, it's a pretty fascinating topic and is worth taking a look at the #FreeBritney movement. But anyway, if you want something poppy and somewhat mindless to listen to, or you're throwing a 2000's party and have some girls over, throw on Blackout.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#442 The Weekend - Beauty Behind The Madness (2015)

Our artist today is a much more modern spin as to what we've been given so far in the list. With a much more electronic and dance focused sound, The Weekend gives us Beauty Behind The Madness, an intense and sexy album filled with tracks made for club dancing. I haven't listened to much of the weekend, but it happened at least three or four times while I was listening to this album that I thought "Oh I've for sure heard this song at a bar/club/dance club before" and it provided a lot of clarity for sure. I'm also going to admit (embarrassingly) that I thought The Weekend was a group and not just how one singer identified themselves, oops. The sound we hear from this album is a much more modern sound than we've heard from this list before. There are a lot of intense electronic beats, with singing that is often distorted by some computerized means. The topics are usually pretty sensual and sexy, usually about love and lust, and the desire to bring someone home.

One of the more popular tracks we get from this album is The Hills, a song whose only intention is about sexual affairs (not that there's anything wrong with that). It's very much a house centered track, with music that is all electronically enhanced and lyrics to match. Another popular track off the album is Can't Feel My Face, a song personifying drug use (cocaine if I'm not mistaken). The Weekend tries to chase the high of his addiction while attempting to ignore the consequences that he knows are coming. It's hard for me to say that there is a lot of substance to the music here, but damn if it isn't catchy. While this isn't music for music nerds like myself, there is 100% an audience for this kind of music, it comes on at any dance bar where you know the entire focus of the bar is going to be women dancing somewhere. I'm not sure how well this music will age, but it has a time and place for the 2020 list and it makes sense for the album to make an appearance on the top 500 list.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#443 David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)

I'm excited and a little intimidated to talk about todays artist. David Bowie is of course one of the greats of art pop, pop punk, post punk, whatever weird but incredibly attractive genre you can call it. If you're unfamiliar with Bowie (first of all I'm shocked, but hey there's a first time for everything) this is an immersive and impressive display of what his sound is. Containing elements of rock, wild synth beats, and his voice sounding like he barely cares enough to get the words out, it's an infectious sound that can be heard in similar wacky artists like Talking Heads or Brian Eno (who worked with Bowie on the production of this album. Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) is the 14th studio album released by Bowie (14! That's nuts!) and follows up some of the singles he is more famous for like Heroes and Low. Bowie's themes in this album cover some universal music themes, love and loss, as well as some punk themes like being disappointed and indifferent with society.

One of my personal favorites from this album is Ashes to Ashes which is a follow up to a previous release by Bowie, Space Oddity (which I first heard on Mr. Deeds). The track reveals that Major Tom from before is actually a drug addict, and discusses Bowie's personal struggles with drugs. The song blends funky guitar and piano with the choral and whispery singing of Bowie. Another favorite off of the album is Fashion, I have to admit that part of the reason I like it so much is because one of the lyrics is "We are the goon squad and we're coming to town, beep beep", and I just find that lyric to be so hilarious and weird that I couldn't pass up a chance to mention it. If Scary Monsters is your first time ever listening to David Bowie it can pretty instantly be heard how he influenced later artists. You can hear pieces from Talking Heads, B-52's, U2, just a countless amount of 70's, 80's, 90's inspiration and on.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#444 Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (2005)

Our album today is a deep and emotional, sometimes quirky art pop album by one of the top alt pop voices of the late 90's and early 2000's. Extraordinary Machine is the third studio album released by Fiona Apple, and was in the works for almost three years before it was released, even facing some scandal and track leaks due to the delays in the production. The lyrics are deep end evocative, focusing on lost relationships and broken hearts, the frustrations of love and the empowering feeling of self-preservation. Opening up with the title track, Extraordinary machine, we hear Apple sing about pulling herself up when times get hard. If people disappoint you or shelter you, you've gotta be your own extraordinary machine and keep going despite the worst. Get Him Back follows, supposedly being about the relationship between Apple and P. T. Anderson, however these claims were never confirmed. This track gives us a bit more of a rocky feel, but the blend of piano and stretched out voice of Apple makes it more jazzy and artistic.

We hear more about heartbreak with O'Sailor, and more about personal growth and strength with Better Version of Me, those seem to be pretty common themes throughout this album, which are universal truths we can all relate to. The style of music that Apple focuses on is unique, especially for mid 2000's pop. There are some classic drum and bass elements that we hear in other artists of the time, but it's complimented by some eccentric piano, at times we hear plucking of what sounds like orchestra string instruments, and some xylophone that I don't really recognize from other artists in the same circle. This is the first Fiona Apple album that I've listened to, I was honestly expecting it to feel a bit more dated just based on my own presumptions but I think it hold's up beyond being 2000's pop.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#445 Yes - Close to the Edge (1972)

A quick note before staring, Spotify has the standard issue album along with the deluxe version. I decided to listen to the first release, I have nothing against deluxe editions but it seems more appropriate for these posts.

We've got a fun, wacky and weird alternative rock album charting the list today. Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album released by Yes, and from what I've read it was quite an ordeal to record. The original album clocks in at only 37 minutes, but the crazy thing is that the first song Close to the Edge, is 18 minutes! The length itself is not only the impressive part of the song, but Yes decided to break it down into four different parts. Part 1, The Solid Time of Change, starts out with recordings of nature sounds, rivers and animals, that builds into an aggressive rock beat, similar to a ballad. Later on in Part 3, I Get Up I Get Down, we get pipe organ that builds into a psychedelic rock beat complete with keyboard, drums, and guitar. Some of the inspiration for the track was drawn from Lord of the Rings and music from composer Jean Sibelius.

We get a more folksy but still ballad like track with And You and I. Yes mixes in synthesizer in their sound in a unique and all encompassing way. The tracks are all a bit like a ballad, or even maybe more like a story. For one thing the shortest track on the album (which consists of only three songs) is Siberian Khatru, coming in at 8 minutes. Many bands might consider a song over 5 or 6 minutes to be excessive, but Yes uses it to their advantage. This is my first time hearing of the group but their influence can be heard in many groups to come. I think this album falls into the category of "art for artists" like we've seen before, perhaps it wouldn't be a popular radio tune for the morning drive, but it might have inspired every song that your favorite band wrote.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#446 Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda (1970)

Today's addition is quite a left turn from a lot of the other albums on the top 500 list but none the less it's one worth listening to. This is Alice Coltrane's fourth studio album, released as a reflection upon her late husband John Coltrane as well as the spiritual process she discovered to help her cope with her suffering. Alice is one of the only prominent jazz harpists, and I certainly was not expecting this album to be an instrumental jazz harp album, but don't judge and album by it's cover. Right from the start we get what I think is a sitar along with some rhythmic base paired of course with a glittering harp in the title track Journey in Satchidananda. Swami Satchidananda was an Indian spiritual guru who Coltrane had grown close to in her mourning, we can hear some transcendental and meditative sounds in the track as it combines some classic jazz elements with ones that are truly funky and abnormal.

I'm not sure if you would call this style of music acid-jazz, maybe just alternative jazz. It certainly sounds like someone was on acid when they were putting this stuff together. Hearing the harp throughout the album does provide a relaxing and calming quality to the music, while on occasion it does sound like a big jumbled fusion of sound, it'll find it's place before you realize it. Speaking of jumbled fusion of sound, the lack of lyrics and unique instrumental choices make the tracks seem to just melt together, making it unclear when we've gone to the next track. While it might not be the album you put on to impress a date or listen to while hanging out with friends (I guess this depends on your friends), it's one of a kind, and anyone who likes jazz would be able to appreciate it.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#447 Bad Bunny - X 100pre

We're going on another international trip today with a Spanish album from a Puerto Rican rapper who came out of nowhere. X 100pre is Bad Bunny's first studio album release, and his origin story is one we all fantasize about. He was discovered on Soundcloud of all places, and was working as a bagger at a grocery store when he first was discovered and signed, you can't write a more charming come up story. I remember first hearing about Bad Bunny from some of my Mexican coworkers back in college, they absolutely loved him, and then it seems like he blew up over night. His style is a unique mix of trap, rap, and reggaetón, while also incorporating a unique blend of synth elements not typically heard in trap music. I'm not incredibly familiar with Bad Bunny's discography but this seems to be a solid intro into his musical style.

While we get some of the typical braggy trap songs that I was expecting on the album, like ¿Quién Tú Eres? where we hear Bunny explaining how he's known worldwide while we're just nobody's, and La Romana, which is a more fun and upbeat party track, there's more to be heard by Bad Bunny on this album. Tracks like Tenemos Que Hablar and Si Estuviésemos Juntos, show us his more sensitive side. Tenemos Que Hablar gives us a narrative of a complicated relationship that isn't on a completely stable track, and Si Estuviésemos Juntos is more of a romantic song, where he expresses missing a past partner and what his feelings would be like if they were still together. I can understand why this album launched Bad Bunny into fame and prominence, it's full of catchy tracks even in you don't understand any Spanish.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#448 Otis Redding - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966)

We've got a more mellow and sorrowful soul addition for today's album. The fifth and final studio album released by Redding before his death, Dictionary of Soul (I'm not going to type out that full name any more than I have to) is a concise but memorable expression of blues, jazz, and soul sound brought out by one of the greats of the genre. The album gives us no confusion on what we should expect right from the start with Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song), they had to add that 'Sad Song' in there because Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa is just nonsense. With trumpets, saxophone, a whaling piano, and a whaling Otis, this track is of course sad but in a relatable and in-your-face way, even though he still wants us to be sad, we can't just dwell on the sadness but we need to fully feel it so we can move forward.

Redding shows us a great definition of Soul music with this album, there's often a brass section just like in a jazz or blues band, but combined with a rock and R&B sound giving it a unique fusion. The most popular track on Dictionary of Soul is Try a Little Tenderness, where we hear an full brass intro that transitions into synth piano but builds back up to a full orchestral sound as Redding pleads with us to be a little more tender with the one we love. This album gives a great top to bottom idea of Soul music for those who may be unfamiliar, and it wraps up at only about 30 minutes. It's not quite blues, not quite jazz, not quite R&B, but truly a Dictionary of Soul by one of the ultimate soul musicians.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#449 The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)

Today's album is one that transports me back to when I was a kid, I have vivid memories of how explosive this group was amongst my friends. Elephant is the fourth studio album by rock duo The White Stripes, and is by far their most popular album. I remember hearing Seven Nation Army everywhere for years after it came out, I was only seven when this album was released but I feel like TV, movies, commercials, school busses, half of the radio, my cd player, was constant Seven Nation Army. The White Stripes have a heavy rock sound, not so much as hard rock like a heavy metal group, but a heavy, trudging rock sound with some more indie and alternative vibes sprinkled in. Right off the bat with Seven Nation Army and Black Math we get fully immersed in the sound of Jack and Meg White and their heavy guitar riffs and powerful drums.

The White Stripes focus a lot on classic punk themes like questioning authority and facing down the whole world by yourself. One thing I really like about them, that sets them apart from other rock groups of the time and gives them a more indie feel is the willingness to explore softer styles. We get mostly heavy, trudging rock songs though the album but they decide to end it off with Well It's True That We Love One Another, a sweet little love tune that would feel out of place from the other songs if you heart it by itself. Replacing the heavy guitar riffs and slamming percussion is a tambourine and an acoustic melody. While Jack and Meg eventually went their separate ways, the cute goth indie love story that is The White Stripes I think adds an intimate and human element that you wouldn't otherwise see, or I guess hear, in other groups.

Give it a listen, see what you think.

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#450 Paul & Linda McCartney - Ram (1971)

Today's addition to the list is a bit of a fun and whimsical album that's release itself provides some juicy context for this former Beatle. Ram was only the second album released by Paul McCartney after the separation of The Beatles and the only album credited to be released with his wife Linda. The album is full of whimsical lyrics and tunes that do have a pretty classic Beatles sound, and occasional jabs at the former band members. It's been revealed that Too Many People had some pretty obvious criticism for John Lennon being preachy and controlling of the other Beatles members, and 3 Legs being about the relationship of Paul with the other three band members. While there is some audible tension in the album, there's also a light hearted quality to it that's pretty welcoming and easy to listen to. The music is often upbeat and rock forward, not being too heavy or sluggish, and even when the lyrics are pointed there always pretty light and easy.

Some of the notable easy listening tracks are Eat At Home, which just sounds like a song about a man convincing his partner to not stop for food but just head home so they can spend more time together, and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, which makes me wonder what horrible thing they did to Uncle Albert, but in a relaxing Zen way. Paul heads up the lead vocals on most of the tracks, but him and Linda share the spotlight for Long Haired Lady, one of my favorites on the album. This love song written about and for Linda is calming and warm, like a cat lying in the sun, it gives you a sense of peace. That's something nice about this album, the songs could be written about anything at all, like driving or avocados, but the way the lyrics and music don't take themselves too seriously provides a mellow feeling to the album you don't find often. When the album was released it got bashed pretty hard by critics, but I'm somewhat sad it took me so long to hear this music.

Give it a listen, see what you think.