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Avenged Sevenfold ‘Waking The Fallen’ (2003)
Waking the Fallen sits alongside Killswitch Engage’s The End of Heartache as a massively influential album in my love for contemporary metal music. As I’ve detailed endlessly over the past few years I was a huge punk rocker during my formative years. Avenged Sevenfold was one of those bands that, despite being a heavy metal…
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Cherub ‘Year of the Caprese’ (2014)
If you’re looking for a hedonistic ride through a world where druggy electronica meets slick indie pop, Cherub’s Year of the Caprese is kind of made for you. The Nashville duo leans heavily into funk-laced synths, bouncy beats, and falsetto-driven hooks in an album tailor-made for late nights and hazy mornings. At the heart of…
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Inhaler ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ (2021)
Inhaler’s It Won’t Always Be Like This was a fresh and energetic debut that blends the shimmering synth-pop of the 1980s with the raw edge of modern indie rock, creating a sound that draws on nostalgia while keeping things fresh and new. Drawing clear inspiration from bands like The Killers, The Strokes, Kings of Leon,…
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Mary O’Hara ‘Down by the Glenside’ (1958)
Mary O’Hara’s Down by the Glenside is a beautiful collection of traditional Irish songs, showcasing her whimsical soprano and delicate harp playing that bring these folk melodies to life. Her voice floats effortlessly in these hauntingly beautiful and bitter sweet renditions, capturing the deep emotion and storytelling of Irish music. One of the standout tracks,…
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Black Sabbath ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970)
With its ominous, tritone-laden riffs, thunderous rhythms, and dark, foreboding lyrics, Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album laid the foundation for what would become heavy metal. Tracks like the titular opener, with its haunting bell tolls and Tony Iommi’s crushing guitar work, and the relentless groove of “N.I.B.” (that bass line was legitimately everything to me…
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D.O.A. ‘Hardcore ’81’ (1981)
D.O.A.’s Hardcore ’81 not only helped define a genre but gave it a name—it was the first record to explicitly use “hardcore” to describe the raw, aggressive offshoot of punk rock. Hailing from Canada’s underground scene, D.O.A. blended the fury of classic punk rock a la The Ramones with the muscle of 1970’s rock ‘n’…
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The Beatles ‘Please Please Me’ (1963)
The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me marked a seismic moment in rock and roll history. It basically flipped rock and roll upside down. Released in 1963 the album was a mix of spirited covers and original compositions that was actually a rarity at the time. Self-contained rock bands who could write their own songs…
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Steely Dan ‘Can’t Buy A Thrill’ (1972)
Steely Dan’s lead singer Donald Fagen’s obsession with songwriting is the stuff of legend, a tireless pursuit of the perfect chord progression and lyric that helped define the sound of 70s rock. Known for his meticulous perfectionism in the studio, Fagen approached music like an alchemist, blending elements from jazz, rock, and pop to create…
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Frightened Rabbit ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ (2008)
Frightened Rabbit sounds like the soundtrack to nearly every Indie film from the mid-aughts. Sentimental and cinematic, hazy with reverb and quiet in its approach. There’s a subtle longing in every word and note on The Midnight Organ Fight that feels like you’re opening a diary and reading the words verbatim on the page. It’s…
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The Red Clay Strays ‘Made by These Moments’ (2024)
The Red Clay Strays’ Made by These Moments is a really nice blend of 1960s Americana and modern country rock that hits all the right nostalgic notes. Drawing from the roots of country, rock, and soul, the band weaves stories of love, loss, and resilience into the album that pays homage to a bygone era…
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Incubus ‘Make Yourself’ (1999)
Make Yourself was a musical revelation for me the first time I heard it. It was one of the first albums I can remember playing on repeat on my trusty blue Sony Walkman CD player. This album legitimately went everywhere with me in the early 2000’s– baseball practice, family road trips, walks to a friend’s…
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Fitz and The Tantrums ‘More Than Just A Dream’ (2013)
I wouldn’t call Fitz and The Tantrums a guilty pleasure because I don’t feel guilty for liking them, but I do recognize the fact that their brand of pop meets 70’s disco soul is a little heavy on the cheese factor. But damn do I ever enjoy flipping them on whenever I’m in the mood…
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Nirvana ‘Bleach’ (1989)
Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and an evolving roster of drummers (Dave Grohl wouldn’t join the band until 1991’s Nevermind) came together to distill raw, unpolished essence of the Pac Northwest’s burgeoning grunge scene with their debut album Bleach, setting the stage for a sound that would eventually change a generation. Recorded in a modest session…
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Simon & Garfunkel ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ (1970)
By 1970 Simon & Garfunkel were already household names, celebrated for their rich harmonies and evocative storytelling that defined a generation. Their previous album Bookends had solidified their place as folk rock icons with hits like “Mrs. Robinson” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter,” blending poetic lyrics with lush, genre-defining arrangements. The duo’s ability to…
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Quiet Riot ‘Metal Health’ (1983)
Quiet Riot’s Metal Health was a milestone for heavy metal music, becoming the first metal album to top the Billboard 200 and selling over 10 million copies worldwide. The album’s explosive success was propelled by their raucous cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize,” which turned into an anthem for headbangers everywhere. But beneath…
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The Who ‘Tommy’ (1969)
The Who’s groundbreaking rock opera Tommy emerged in 1969 as a visionary project primarily penned by guitarist Pete Townshend, who basically wrote the whole thing by himself. The double album weaves the fictional tale of Tommy Walker, a boy who becomes deaf, dumb, and blind following childhood trauma, only to rise as a spiritual leader…
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Linkin Park ‘Hybrid Theory’ (2000)
In 2000 I was in seventh grade when Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory dropped. At that point I was starting to get into some of the nu-metal bands (as I discussed in my write up for Limp Bizkit’s Significant Other) but once Linkin Park stormed onto the scene it sort of redefined the possibilities of rap-rock…
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Beastie Boys ‘Licensed To Ill’ (1986)
Once a hardcore punk band, the trio of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock brought their raw, chaotic energy into the world of rap, trading guitars for turntables without losing an ounce of their rebellious spirit. Their debut album Licensed To Ill is pretty much a masterclass in blending irreverence with innovation, marking one of the…
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Queen ‘Queen’ (1973)
Queen’s journey began with a chance encounter in London’s dirty rock clubs. Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor were part of a band called Smile when a charismatic fan named Freddie Mercury entered the picture. A visionary with a flair for the dramatic, Freddie suggested the band adopt a more theatrical approach to their…
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Pulp ‘Different Class’ (1995)
Different Class is a cornerstone of 1990’s Britpop, synth-pop theatrics combined with razor-sharp lyricism that at one point put them in the same stratosphere as the legendary Oasis. Released in 1995, the album examined themes of sex and social class through a lens that was biting and witty in a way our friends across the…
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Dredg ‘Catch Without Arms’ (2005)
Growing up in the Bay Area I always felt a special connection to the local music scene and the bands that came from it. Dredg was one of those band for me– they formed just down the road from my hometown in Los Gatos, CA and had a pretty big pop into the mainstream when…
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Whiskey Myers ‘Firewater’ (2011)
As a huge fan of Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling, I’ve always admired the way his shows like Yellowstone and Landman (which I’m watching right now and absolutely loving) weave authentic, salt-of-the-earth country music into their soundtrack. It’s through his shows I discovered Whiskey Myers. They were featured on an episode of Yellowstone as the house band…
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Misfits ‘Walk Among Us’ (1982)
Walk Among Us marked the Misfits’ official album debut (although it was actually the third record they had recorded). A curious blend of 1950s pop sensibilities and blistering punk energy, the album reimagined doo-wop harmonies and rockabilly-inspired melodies through the chaotic, snarling lens of punk rock. Misfits have always had a knack for crafting infectious…
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Elton John ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
By the early 1970s Elton John was already a cultural phenomenon. His self-titled debut and Honky Chateau had already accelerated his rise from London’s pub scene to international superstardom. All of the elements that made him one of the defining artists of the past 50 years were beginning to truly bloom– his flamboyant stage presence,…
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Rancid ‘…And Out Come The Wolves’ (1995)
Released during a time when punk was flirting with mainstream acceptance, Rancid’s …And Out Come The Wolves stood out with its unapologetic grit and raw authenticity. Tim Armstrong’s sneering vocal delivery that just barely hits the right note is immediately recognizable for anyone who is even remotely familiar with punk rock, his raspy tone dripping…
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Tool ‘Lateralus’ (2001)
Maynard James Keenan is one of alternative rock’s most enigmatic and influential figures. The dude the genre over the past three decades with his distinct voice, intellectual lyricism, and multifaceted artistry. As the frontman of three pretty killer rock bands (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) he has a chameleon-like ability to shift between various forms–…
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Ashley McBryde ‘Girl Going Nowhere’ (2018)
With a voice as rich as the country storytelling traditions she draws from, Ashley McBryde weaves tales with a nod to the grittier side of life that’s increasingly rare in modern country music. Songs like the poignant title track underline her knack for crafting lyrics that tell a relatable story while still feeling like each…
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Pink Floyd ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973)
Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon stands as one of the most profound explorations of human fragility ever captured. It’s one of my favorite albums of all-time for literally a hundred reasons, an introspective and powerful concoction of musical genius mixed with thematic brilliance. This is an album that makes you think and…
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The Killers ‘Hot Fuss’ (2004)
The Killers’ Hot Fuss remains one of the most electrifying debut albums in alternative rock history, a record that blends the grandeur of synthesizer-driven melodies with the grit of heavy, intricate guitar work. Tracks like “Mr. Brightside” showcase the band’s technical prowess, with its instantly recognizable riff being deceptively difficult to play (seriously that thing…
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Led Zeppelin ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
1969 was a busy ass year for Led Zeppelin. They were proving out their status as rock’s rising titans with a world tour and the release of Led Zeppelin II, which came a mere ten months after their self-titled debut album. This sophomore effort, forged in a patchwork of studios across North America and the…
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Dag Nasty ‘Can I Say’ (1984)
Emerging from the vibrant hardcore punk scene of Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s Dag Nasty was a band that bridged the visceral intensity of their peers with melodic sensibilities. Formed by guitarist Brian Baker—who was already a hardcore legend from his days with Minor Threat—Dag Nasty’s sound on their first-full length 1986 debut Can I…
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The Goo Goo Dolls ‘Dizzy up the Girl’ (1998)
Buffalo, New York in the mid-80s was the unassuming cradle of The Goo Goo Dolls, a scrappy trio carving their niche in the hardcore punk scene. With John Rzeznik’s gritty guitar riffs and Robby Takac’s punk ethos their sound was raw and in your face aggressive (yes, really). They were far from the polished, radio-friendly…
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The White Stripes ‘White Blood Cells’ (2001)
In the early 2000s The White Stripes almost singlehandedly reinvigorated garage rock and sparking a renaissance for the raw, unpolished sound the genre was known for. At their core was an enigma– Jack and Meg White, a duo whose relationship was shrouded in mystery. Were they siblings? Ex-spouses? The band reveled in the ambiguity, allowing…
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Wunderhorse ‘Cub’ (2022)
Two years ago I set out on a mission to listen to one album per day. I’m beginning year 3 of that journey starting today, and there’s no album more fitting to kick off 2025 with than Wunderhorse’s debut album Cub. It’s an album that demands to be listened as a cohesive whole, and one…
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The Magic Beans ‘Casino Cabaret’ (2018)
The Magic Beans’ Casino Cabaret is a genre-blending shot of adrenaline that feels like a late-night celebration at the crossroads of funk, big band flair, and irresistible pop hooks. The album exudes a vibrant energy, with funky basslines and shimmering keyboards that transport listeners to a dazzling dance floor where every groove is a jackpot.…
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Peter Cat Recording Co. ‘BETA’ (2024)
Peter Cat Recording Co.’s BETA is a kaleidoscopic journey through sound that defies genre conventions with its avant-garde spirit and restless creativity. Emerging from the vibrant indie scene of New Delhi, the album feels like a sonic experiment conducted in a dimly lit jazz club on a spaceship. Layers of waltzing horns, hypnotic vocals, and…
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About the Author
Jason Matthew Plank listens to copious amounts of music and writes about one album each day. He is currently active in the bands Related to Strangers (post-hardcore) and Kindergarten Cartel (punk covers of children’s nursery rhymes).
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