Sabrina Claudio's debut record "About Time" is intimate and cohesive. Predominantly alternative R&B with jazz and electronic music elements, the record definitely has a "sound". Lyrically, Claudio touches on themes of escapism, loneliness, romance and individuality. "About Time" is a solid body of work that at times is held down by some of its weaker songs.

Favorite Tracks: Unravel Me, Frozen, Wait, Belong to You & Stand Still.

"Madame X" is essentially wasted potential. Lyrically & sonically, the record is actually moderately good; however, a lot of the artistic choices kill the initial impact of many tracks on the record. "Dark Ballet", an immediate stand-out goes into a downward spiral after hitting the 2-minute mark & proceeds to go into a strange auto-tune saturated rant. On top of the very chaotic atmosphere, some of the tracks on this record are very forgettable and/or junk including ... read more

Grimes is astronomically talented; writing, producing, arranging "Art Angels" and even designing the artwork for the record. This 2015 release is ambitious and simply put - brilliant. The record plays sonically like a horror film adorned with 1980s video game sounds; it's wonderfully grotesque, emotive and distinctive. Lyrically, some of the themes Grimes discusses are climate change, violence, control, fame and the music industry.

Favorite Tracks: Kill V. Maim, Venus Fly, ... read more

Led Zeppelin's 1969 eponymous debut record is a pioneering body of work laying the ground for the heavy metal genre. Featuring multiple 6+ minute epics including the absolutely glorious "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", this record is cohesive and beautiful. Lyrically, the band touches mainly on different aspects of love. Robert Plant's vocal delivery is brilliant as is the rest of the band's instrumental performance.

Favorite Tracks: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, You Shook Me, I Can't Quit ... read more

Despite being a solid record, "so sad so sexy" doesn't feel fully developed, it contains some mediocre songs and it ultimately results in being a lackluster record by comparison to its predecessors. However, the fact that one of her weakest bodies of work is still quite good is a testament to the immense talent that Lykke Li is. Lyrically, the record mainly revolves around heartbreak and love.

Favorite Tracks: deep end, better alone, so sad so sexy & sex money feelings die.

FKA twigs' debut record "LP1" is a beautiful mixture of multiple genres. Produced in part by twigs, Arca, and Emile Haynie - "LP1" features superb production accompanied by twigs' seductive and emotive vocals. Lyrically, the artist sings of intimacy, trust, dependence and love. Overall, a truly outstanding project.

Favorite Tracks: Two Weeks, Lights On, Give Up & Video Girl.

The latin translation for "cure for wounds" - "Vulnicura" is a stunning, superb record by Björk. With brilliant instrumentalization and production, along with the artist's fantastic vocal delivery - "Vulnicura" is one of the strongest records from the last 5 years. Genre-wise, it's an avant-garde + electronic hybrid. The record deals with themes of healing and sorrow surrounding her separation from her partner of 13 years, Matthew Barney. A stand-out from the ... read more

Joni Mitchell's 1970 record "Ladies of the Canyon" got its name from the iconic Laurel Canyon, which was smack dabbed in the middle of a counterculture due to the many now-legendary people that once inhabited it; including Mitchell herself, Jim Morrison, Neil Young, Frank Zappa and Carole King. Joni sings about environmental causes including pollution, as well as capitalism, greed & Woodstock, which she named a song after and it would later become a major hit for the artist. The ... read more

"Wild Things Run Fast" is Joni Mitchell's 11th studio album and her first under Geffen Records. Sonically, the record marked a departure from Mitchell's folk and jazz roots and was instead mainly soft rock/pop. Lyrically, the artist sings of past lovers and love in general. "Wild Things Run Fast" is a decent record with some lackluster, unimpressive moments.

Favorite Tracks: Chinese Cafe, Solid Love, Ladies' Man, You Dream Flat Tires & Wild Things Run Fast.

"Rainbow" is without a doubt Kesha's strongest body of work. Kesha showcases her vocal and songwriting ability during this record masterfully. The record features wonderful collaborations with Eagles of Death Metal, The Dap-Kings Horns and music legend Dolly Parton. "Rainbow" opens up with a message to the misfits during "Bastards", Kesha reminds the listener that she's a motherfucking "Woman" during an empowering track of the same name, she sings of ... read more

One of Leonard Cohen's most cohesive records, "Various Positions" ranks amongst his best bodies of work. Containing potent tracks such as "Dance Me to the End of Love" and "Hallelujah" & lyrically touching on themes of religion, love and despair - this record marked a turning point in Cohen's career, one however not necessarily radical.

Favorite Tracks: Dance Me to the End of Love, Hallelujah, The Law & Night Comes On.

"Promise" blends soul music with pop elements and has Sade gently and elegantly singing about desire, shattered innocence, love, and motherhood. The record is beautiful both lyrically and vocally and contains stand-outs from the band's repertoire; including "Is It A Crime" and "The Sweetest Taboo". Sade provides an absolutely sultry and ethereal vocal performance throughout this 1985 album.

Favorite Tracks: Is It A Crime, The Sweetest Taboo, Tar Baby, Fear & ... read more

"Fever" is intoxicating; containing some of Kylie Minogue's greatest dance tracks - it naturally sits atop her discography in terms of quality. The record has some outstanding moments such as "Come Into My World", "In Your Eyes" & "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", which instantly became Kylie's signature song. "Fever" does contain a few dodgy moments but overall, this is Minogue reigning supreme as a dancefloor queen.

Favorite Tracks: In Your ... read more

"Back To Black" is entirely gorgeous and touching from beginning to end. Featuring heartfelt confessions from Amy Winehouse, this record is one of the most personal bodies of work released in recent history. Winehouse's powerful, rich vocals along with her melancholic, heartbreaking and at times self-loathing lyrics make "Back to Black" one of the strongest, most honest records since the turn of the millennium.

Favorite Tracks: Wake Up Alone, Tears Dry On Their Own, Some ... read more

Kate Bush's 1978 debut record "The Kick Inside" is absolutely wonderful. It's hard to believe the British music legend was still a teenager when she wrote and released this record. Bush's style is perfectly and effortlessly embodied in this record - childlike, witty, and absolutely stunning.

Favorite Tracks: Wuthering Heights, Moving, Strange Phenomena, Them Heavy People & The Saxophone Song.

Nina Simone is breathtaking in her vocal performances throughout "I Put A Spell On You". Simone brilliantly exudes an immense strength and a soft gentleness that only a battered soul could know. The record features jazz, soul and some pop elements and lyrically touches on themes of love, marriage, heartbreak and freedom.

Favorite Tracks: Feeling Good, Take Care of Business, Ne Me Quitte Pas, I Put A Spell On You & You've Got To Learn.

The Doors' second studio album ranks amongst the band's best work. With meticulous instrumentalization, the record has a dark, haunting energy; sonically it's what I imagine would be played at an occult church. The record starts out strong with "Strange Days" and "You're Lost Little Girl", halfway through Jim Morrison delivers a poem in the manner of a poet/preacher hybrid. Lyrically, Morrison sings of being different, isolation, sex, the power of music and the strangeness ... read more

Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" is a rock/heavy metal masterpiece, lyrically discussing themes of depression, war, atomic weapons and skinheads. Instrumental and production-wise the 1970 record is sacred. Considered controversial by many for what was deemed "satanic" at the time of its release as well as the fact that the band was discussing war at the height of the Vietnam War. Unapologetic, defiant and dark - "Paranoid" is both a classic and a masterpiece.

Favorite ... read more

"Norman Fucking Rockwell!" is Lana Del Rey at her absolute best; a sublime, complex record with as much of an introspective edge as a contemplative one. Del Rey sings about everything from her battered past to the reminiscence of better times and even sings of climate change and the political atmosphere in which she is living. Recruiting Jack Antonoff as a producer, the record is mainly a psychedelic rock + folk fusion saturated with pop culture references and stunning melodies. ... read more