[Review] Vangelis: Spiral (1977)
A direct and accessible album of sequencer-based songs sandwiched in between some of his heaviest concept albums.
[Review] Mike Oldfield: Hergest Ridge (1974)
A soothing successor to the turbulent Bells, with deceptively simple pastoral and sea themes masking intricate overdubs.
Icehouse: “We Can Get Together” (1980)
The band’s first big hit, it’s good enough to give The Cars a run for their money.
[Review] The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out! (1966)
A freaking brilliant, sarcastic sendup of society and popular music in which all pretense to normalcy and decency is dropped.
[Review] The Police: Reggatta de Blanc (1979)
A #1 record with two #1 singles. Not a bad showing for their worst album.
Joni Mitchell: “Coyote” (1977)
Rolling thunder along the highway and the first encounter on Hejira.
[Review] Adrian Belew: Young Lions (1990)
Even with a couple of cameos from The Thin White Duke himself, Belew couldn’t get arrested. Great album, though.
[Review] Spirit (1968)
An amazing debut from the most underappreciated psychedelic rock band of the 60s.
[Review] Queen: A Night at the Opera (1975)
The royal flush of rock and roll albums, revealed card by card with unconfined joy.
[Review] Klaus Schulze: Irrlicht (1972)
The first in a musical odyssey of electronic soundscapes and sculptures that combines equal parts art and artifice.
Styx: “Lady” (1973)
The song that proves behind every successful band is their old “Lady.”
[Review] Procol Harum: Grand Hotel (1973)
An almost full return to their earlier grand estate, despite being down to only three original members.
[Review] Ginger Baker: Stratavarious (1972)
Basically half a Fela album and half an album of rock + drum workshop.
Big Country: “Fields of Fire” (1983)
The song that introduced the world to Big Country and the e-bow.