Here’s a fun 80s thrash album. It’s actually pretty reminiscent of early Scott Ian–era Anthrax, especially in the riffing and that crossover energy pulled from hardcore. And if you’re into speed metal, this one definitely delivers. It’s fast paced from start to finish.

This was a pretty cool album for galloping, speedy 80s style power metal. It actually reminds me a lot of early Iron Maiden. It definitely seems to be a cult classic within the 80s metal scene, but overall, I doubt I’ll ever come back to it.

This was probably the defining album for groove metal and really set the direction that heavy music would take throughout the 90s. I’ve listened to it so many times over the years that it honestly comes off kind of sleazy now, especially with that tough boy anthem energy, but there’s no denying how influential it was for its time.

Listening to Happy Mondays always gives me this weird false sense of nostalgia, like I’m longing for a time and place I wasn’t actually around for. But they really do capture a unique moment in British music history. They had a smooth blend of indie rock mixed with acid house, and their whole vibe was aimed for the dance floor, but done within the framework of an actual band instead of a DJ or producer.

The album’s production was handled by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne, ... read more

This is another one of those classic early 90s electronic albums that instantly evokes a sense of nostalgia. It’s packed with those classic piano and keyboard sounds that made me fall in love with electronic music in the first place. You can still hear traces of the earlier, more club oriented aesthetic, but now it’s filtered through the framework of early IDM and experimental electronic music. It’s also a great early example of ambient house and ambient techno, with ... read more

Whenever I think about the Laurel Canyon scene, this is one of the albums that immediately comes to mind. On the surface, a first-time listener might hear this and think it’s just stereotypical late 60s folk and soft rock. Like the kind your dad or grandfather might’ve had on vinyl. But the truth is, this record helped define that entire sound. It set the standard.

Each member brings their own flavor to the mix. David Crosby adds the ethereal, psychedelic edge with his mystical, ... read more

So far, The Brian Jonestown Massacre has been a pretty solid band for modern neo-psychedelia. This album leans heavily into that garage rock revival sound, mimicking a lot of the Nuggets era bands from the 60s. There’s also something about it that really reminds me of early Rolling Stones.

Overall, if you’re into neo-psychedelia and garage rock revival, this is definitely a good album to check out, especially with its stripped down, lo-fi production.

This was a pretty cool album from the generator, but not really something I’d seek out on my own. It’s mostly traditional and acoustic African folk music, that has a meditative and ethereal soundscape. Overall, it’s an album I doubt I’ll ever come back to, but I don’t regret listening to it either.

For anyone who enjoys classic synth based music, this is a really fun album to check out. The exact style is called Italo Disco, which emerged as a more electronic form of European disco after the genre died out in the U.S. Kano was actually one of the first artists I ever heard in this style. I discovered them years ago on a DJ mix tape, and they were a key part of what drew me into this kind of music.

Even if you’re more into hip hop or EDM, you’ll probably recognize a lot of ... read more

This was a great collaboration, so good that Frank Sinatra’s voice feels completely natural over the music. His vocals and the instrumentation complement each other perfectly, with neither one overpowering the other.

As for Antônio Carlos Jobim, I won’t pretend to be an expert, but from what I understand, he was one of the founding figures of bossa nova. That makes this project even more significant, because two of the most highly respected artists in their respective corners ... read more

I think it’s kind of fascinating that, considering The Kinks started in the early to mid 60s, they were still able to keep up with the times by the 1980s and release albums like this one. This may not be talked about much these days, but you can tell it definitely had its moment in the spotlight.

I even remember hearing “Destroyer” on the radio when I was a kid, so it clearly had some reach and radio play. It’s impressive how they managed to evolve with the era and ... read more

When it comes to darkwave goth pop, Nuovo Testamento is one of my favorite artists. They originally started out as a more traditionally cold and atmospheric darkwave band, but over time they’ve evolved into this odd mix of Eurodance, Italo disco, and goth pop.

Let’s just say if you were ever to host a goth night at a roller skating rink, this is the band you’d want to blast through the speakers. Especially their lead single “Heartbeat.”

What really stands out for ... read more

If you listen to some of Kraftwerk’s earlier stuff, like Radio-Activity or even their early krautrock albums, this is where things started to shift. This feels more focused and structured, and you can really hear them moving toward the kind of pop leaning, song based approach they would explore on later albums.

This record was also a huge influence on early 80s minimal electro and the hip hop scene that branched off from it. Afrika Bambaataa even sampled the title track on “Planet ... read more

Out of all the Frank Zappa albums I’ve heard, this one is definitely one of my favorites. It’s hard to pick just one, especially since his catalog spans so many styles, but when it comes to experimental and avant-garde 60s psychedelia, this one always scratches that itch.

One thing I’ve always admired about Frank Zappa is how he never got caught up in the left versus right politics of the counterculture. He mocked both sides equally. This album is a great example of that ... read more

This album pretty much encapsulates all the different styles of music that contributed to the late 60s counterculture movement. Some tracks lean toward folk rock, others dip into psychedelic or baroque pop, and a few even carry a more garage rock edge. I can’t say it’s my favorite album from the 60s, but it’s still a solid listen and definitely worth checking out.

The Chameleons is a band I’ve known about for a long time, mostly for a handful of standout tracks I’ve always enjoyed, but beyond that I never really explored their full albums or history. That changed when I saw they had just released this new album, and it inspired me to finally dive in and start my journey with them.

This album ended up being a really solid starting point. It has this beautiful balance of being melancholic yet uplifting, and at times it drifts into a dream pop ... read more

I’ve been criticized before for giving high ratings to some of Pink Floyd’s earlier, more experimental albums, but the truth is, I really enjoy this era, especially the Syd Barrett years. When I listen to their psychedelic material, I compare it to a lot of other albums from the same time period, and Pink Floyd really seemed to push the boundaries more than most bands back then, particularly in their use of studio effects and production techniques. I honestly think their psychedelic ... read more

So the first song on this album is easily a 4.5 out of 5, and then the rest of the album sits more at a 3.5 out of 5. “Lenny Valentino,” my favorite track, opens the album with a stripped down indie alternative feel. It’s slightly heavy and gritty, but not enough to fall into grunge territory.

Once you move past that track, the rest of the album settles into a much more mellow space, with a slightly orchestral edge, especially with the use of a cello. It strikes a solid ... read more

I listened to this album without knowing anything about it beforehand, and on the surface, it wasn’t all that bad. It’s a decent retro rock revival record with strong psychedelic aesthetics. Unfortunately, once I did a bit of research, I found out it’s not even a legitimate band. It’s an AI project. And that completely ruined it for me.

At that point, I felt like I’d been taken advantage of, like a teenager buying weed for the first time, only to realize later ... read more

This is a pretty solid album for early 80s synth funk and post disco, but I’ll definitely say that “Precious Little Diamond” is the best song here. It’s easily the highlight of the album and really stands out from the rest.