Highly unique yet strangely comforting? Just ask the king of the carrot flowers.

Highly unique yet strangely comforting? Just ask the king of the carrot flowers.
Some albums are better than others.
Alt rock with an ironic edge that still nonetheless rocks.
There’s something about the vibe that takes me back to the Nag’s Head pub in Rochester, Kent.
Drink smoke drink smoke this is what we do. Well, not what I do necessarily but… you get it.
I’d tell you, but don’t make me say it… Okay, you oughta know, right?
A self-assured, unique, and uniquely good debut album from Chrissie Hynde and crew.
Get that body up.
There are some powerful powerful, favorite favorite, classic classics going on here.
The secret’s out on this one.
Join us on the journey to become a proud card-carrying Phase IV ABBA fan.
Matthew Sweet is a power pop master craftsman.
It will, I suppose you could say, make you (sha, sha-ba-da) feel good.
Is the movie Swingers and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy partially responsible for my moving to the west coast from NYC? It’s a long story…
For that uniquely trip-hoppy, moody, atmospheric, and posh-sounding vibe.
Playful and orchestral, bombastic and pulsing, trippy and sultry.
Amazing soundtrack from an amazing movie… almost too amazing? Nah.
I don’t think it’s crazy at all to say that this is one spectacular musical collection.
It’ll get stuck in your head and make you go wild.
Not your typical album of cover songs. Just ask Alice, I think she’ll know…
Garage rock with the perfect concoction of indie, moody, and psychedelic influences.
Intelligently lucid hook-driven, guitar rock. But, you know, also fun.
Record scratches, catchy pop hooks, and Indian influences that will butter the soul.
The magic of the live and acoustic setting shines through for Natalie Merchant and crew.
Simply classic late 1950s rock n’ roll and simply great. Come on, let’s go.
Chic, posh, and pulsing synth pop are tops for the lads of the furry, fluffy, feathered and/or aquatic creature shop.
When you gonna learn?
It’s gorgeous and piercing and moving all at once.
Do you believe in this sweet sensation? You should.
From jangle pop to post-punk to quiet ballads, this one has great range (and each range is great).
I mean, just ask any police officer who happens to be at a local fried carbohydrate treat market.
This coat expertly spans country and pop.
A highly pleasurable mix of mid-‘90s tuned and one absolute stunner.
The grooviest, swinging, British Invasion-est music that most people these days have not (yet!) heard.
Not fade away, indeed. That says it all for one of the early rock n’ roll greats.
Even upon a midnight eerie, you’re not gonna want to give this album a run-around.
Endlessly timeless, infinitely rock n’ roll.
Can an album be “too pop”? Please refer to the sign that says, “We’re gonna go with nope.”
Here’s how I’ll describe it: it’s just flipping gorgeous.
Heads will rock n’ roll to this one.
Much more than a standard issue album handed out at my undergrad college dorms.
Now that IS workin’, that’s the way you do it.
You might just say that I’m so excited and yet I’m encountering a great deal of difficulty with regard to the prevention of obfuscating that emotional state.
These dudes out of Germany ain’t messing around with normal sounds. Oh no.
Who can it be now? Why, it’s the band from down under, of course.
Tremendous energy and jumping rockabilly bluesy swing vibes abound.
It makes you feel like you’ve walked into the world of a Martin Scorsese movie. There are much worse things.
Inviting, energetic, and catchy pop punk.
It’s fun and rock and pop and a little quirky and very British Invasion.
A pop grunge vibe that completely works.
It’ll make you want to adorn yourself with footwear of a particular color and material and… go cat go!
Great hard rock with just the right touch of prog rock-y flair.
Mellow, optimistic roots rock with perfect vocals from Darius Rucker.
“Ray, Robbie, and John did Doors stuff post-Jim?” Yep, and this one’s really good!
Britney at her darkest, sleekest, pulsing synth-est best. Best-est?
Shmaltzy, glammy, proto-punk? Yeah, this is one unique album.
Come on everybody, it’ll get you feeling dizzy.
A sweet talkin’ – not to mention singin’ – pop-soul gem.
Groovy and swinging (and clever and funny).
What’s difficult to define and describe becomes essential to why I’m drawn to it.
Striking, powerful, and evocative vocals mapped against a wild variety of musical styles.
The first U2 album sounds as fresh and energetic and urgent as ever.
Take a freewheelin’ classic folk rock ride with a young artist named Bob Dylan, early ‘60s style.
Kravitz doing funk rock and hippie rock for the ‘90s pushes 5 into my top 1,000.
Pop gems from a UK-based singer-songwriter with a flat-out gorgeous voice.
Legit excellent world music, alt rock, funk, and pop from an eclectic group of bands and musicians.
Don’t call this a jam band… album.
Curl up your smile and take your time, take your chances.
A kaleidoscopic spectacle of psychedelic hippie rock.
Loud, brash, insanely catchy, and fun as hell. What’s not to like?
A bombshell of a singer songwriter album from 1968.
It’s complicated… but with this Kanye album, something broke through for me.
A crucial late ‘60s rock and country album that would influence much of what was coming in the ‘70s. And, bonus: a great listen all the way through.
Robert Palmer and members of Duran Duran and Chic combo for some super group action, 1980s style.
Melancholy and hauntingly beautiful, with lyrics that are strikingly original and poetic.
An iconic voice and tremendous career packaged into a massive double album.
Slinky, mysterious, and sexy synth pop that’s very early ‘80s in the best way.
This is a (small!) collection of songs that demanded to make this list by a fun, brash, and talented band at their early best.
Alt country that pleasantly zooms along with lyrics that are genuinely funny and clever.
Spanning elegant, gorgeous pop, soul, and down and dirty blues in the best kind of way.
Adams spans singer songwriter-y pop to chilled out rock to alt country for quite a moody trip.
I defy you to come away from this one without humming “I need a dollar, dollar, dollar that’s what I need…”
Serious about its 1970s and 1980s guitar rock sensibilities. Doubly serious about having a gas in the lyrical content department.
Smooth, sexy, doo wop-y, rocking late 1950s vibes that project energy and fun.
Incredible songcraft, wild variety, and the magical odd couple mesh of Campbell’s whispery delightful voice and Lanegan’s world weary soft growl.
Love love “Bulletproof,” and the whole album has a high-octane dance pop energy.