Brandon Williams

This is an album likely everyone has heard. Whether that’s at a Halloween Party, at the roller rink or just out and about. The album has some very bopable songs such as PYT, Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller. Luckily the album has very strong singles because if not this album wouldn’t be as great as it’s considered now. (Wanna Be Started Something) falls in the middle of those classic songs and the garbage that is (The Girl is Mine/ The Lady In My Life).

I like some of the concepts that The Boss delves into in this album. But in my personal opinion, it is not the easiest album of his to listen to. There are indeed some classics such as (Thunder Road/Born to Run/ Jungleland/ Tenth Avenue Freeze Out). But personally that’s all I’ll give this album. The songs flow very well but at the same time that is likely because they all sound the exact same. But on the other hand I can appreciate what the album stands for in regards to its importance.

If you’re out taking a long walk on a peaceful day then this is the album to listen to. To truly just walk around and take part in understanding the lyrics of Bob Dylan is a pilgrimage in itself. This is a weird album because it partially is one of the easiest Bob Dylan albums to listen to due to his guitar playing and voice. Yet at the same time this is his hardest one to listen to ( of his early masterpieces) because you truly may not understand what is going on. A must listen if I were to summarize this whole opinion.

Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitarist of all time and this is his introduction to the world. Out of the three albums he created this one is his best and has his best material on it. The way Jimi and the Experience bring music together is nothing short of magical. I won’t go as far as to say that this album doesn’t have any songs that aren’t great because there are a few weaker songs. But I will say that the overall vibe of this album is very easy to get behind. Purple Haze, Hey Joe, Foxey Lady, The Wind Cries Mary and Fire all evoke a different type of energy that one should EXPERIENCE.

I have a major unpopular opinion when it comes to Abbey Road. While this is not by any stretch of the imagination a bad Beatles album. It is by far the most overrated. There are some grand songs to listen to on it. But to be frank this is the one case where their “ hits” really drive the album unlike the fillers because to be quite frank the fillers are very weak on this album (with the exception of Carry That Weight). I find ‘Come Together’ to be a very overrated/ overplayed song. ‘Here comes the Sun’ is a very pleasant song to hear when spring begins but outside of that I never really crave listening to this song. If I were to give my top picks for major songs in this album I would go with ‘ Something’ and ‘ Octopus's Garden’. To me Something is George Harrison’s best song as a Beatle and a very beautiful song to vibe with. Octopus's Garden really brings Ringo alive if he hadn't already. But as I said this is definitely an album you should listen to in order to understand The Beatles discography. Just don’t be disappointed when it doesn’t match up with Rubber Soul, Revolver, Help or Sgt. Peppers.

This is one of the most clever albums ever created. Once you give this album a listen you will truly get an insight into how experimental they were trying to be. The Velvet Underground coming together with both Nico and Andy Worhol was something that would change music history forever. The production is likely the most unusual type of album that you’ll ever hear. There also seems to be a few nods to past rock genres that are exhibited in this album as well. The introduction ( Sunday Morning) is a pleasant tune that really makes you happy and questions the world around you. Then the next song ( I’m Waiting for the Man) comes on and it also is an upbeat tune, yet this time it is about a man waiting for his drug dealer to come around. The next two tracks ( Female Fatale/Venus In Furs) delves into some interesting terrain regarding women who may also participate in this counterculture lifestyle. If you wanted to get an insight into what Andy Worhols factory was like ( All Tomorrow's Parties) provides a very interesting insight into Lou Reed's take on it. Then the most powerful song about drugs ever created ( Heroin) really takes another turn into everything that you’ve heard up to that point. Then I will say the last few tracks ( excluding I'll Be Your Mirror) could be taken or left behind. But the beauty of the album as a whole, Lou Reed's songwriting, Nicos voice, the Velvet Underground power and the banana had already won your heart by that time.

If there were any album you want to be driving around on a cold-rainy day then look no further. Miles Davis takes you into a journey into his soul and you are transformed into your own after listening to it. One of the best jazz albums I’ve ever heard.

The first track of this song speaks about the vibe that this whole album is about to give. With the first riff you’re introduced into a new world where people in London are panicking. Here comes this young punk group by the name of The Clash who is going to save all of those people. This is another one of my favorite albums and it has many iconic tracks on it such as London Calling, Clampdown, Lost in the Supermarket, Spanish Bombs, Train In Vain and many more. I am not one who fits into the aesthetic of being a true punk rocker but I would give anything to be in the moment where Paul Simonon is destroying his bass in angst. I also love the nod to another famous album cover on this list with Elvis Sun Studios.

This is The Rolling Stones best Double Length and most technical album. The instrumentals and layout of this album are perfect. It’s a great mix of blues, rock and country with a perfect dose of songwriting. This is not my personal favorite album of theirs, it is for sure their best work. Surprisingly this album only contains one massive hit ( Tumbling Dice), which surprises me because this album could be loaded with songs that should be played on classic rock radio stations. If nothing else there’s a lot of nostalgia that comes with listening to this album. Some of the other songs to check out are Happy, All Down the Line, Casino Boogie, Sweet Virginia and Sweet Black Angel.

I love three things Marvin Gaye, Motown and albums with strong beginning and endings. This classifies as all three as Marvin Gaye is one of the best singers of the 60’s and 70’s, one of the best artists to come out of Motown and ‘What's Going On’ begins the album, while Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) ends the album on the original studio album which I am going off of. Very powerful album to listen to that was created during a chaotic time in history.