The second full-length album from Soul Asylum. Their music in the 80's was a lot harder than what they started doing in the 90's.
Best Songs: Tied To The Tracks; Never Really Been
431) Slipknot - Slipknot (1999)
When this album was released in 1999, most people didn't know what to make of it. Nobody had ever heard anything like it before, and a lot of people just considered it pointless noise, and the people who did like it were treated with the same kind of derision that My Chemical Romance are treated with now. There's no doubt, this is probably one of the loudest mainstream records ever to be released, and that's not to everyone's taste. But over time it's grown on me. Without the melodies that Corey Taylor intermittently sings, I probably wouldn't like it half as much as I do now, but the band as a whole are really talented, even if they didn't really begin to show their diversity until much later. Joey Jordison is one of the best drummers in metal.
Best Songs: Wait And Bleed; Spit It Out
430) Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1989)
'Where Is My Mind?' is the Pixies best known song... most people will know some version of it, even if they've never actually heard the name Pixies. But I'll confess bias in including 'Tony's Theme' in the best songs here (that's my real name). As the band's first full-length album, it would later go on to inspire an entire generation of musicians.
Best Songs: Where Is My Mind?; Tony's Theme
429) Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators - Apocalyptic Love (2012)
Slash's follow-up to his brilliant debut solo album eschews the guest singer idea, and instead uses his band from the tour for that album, including drummer Brent Fitz, bassist Todd Kerns and Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy. As I've said before, with Alter Bridge, Myles is an excellent singer, but for some reason with Slash he seems to be trying to mimic Axl Rose, and goes for high notes he can't actually hit and instead ends up sounding like Axl Rose circa 2002 (if you don't know, that tour was the worst he's ever sounded). He isn't always bad, but it is enough to make this album feature far lower than it would have done otherwise, as musically Slash is on his best role for a while. The intro to 'Anastasia' in particular is brilliant.
Best Songs: Halo; Anastasia
428) Pearl Jam - No Code (1996)
The moment where Pearl Jam really started to expand its sound past what they had become known for, which was met with a mixed response. Personally, I like all the twists and turns this album takes, and the band didn't really go too far with until 'Binaural' and 'Riot Act' at the beginning of the 21st Century. I always enjoy hearing the evolution of a band from their earliest days just bashing out rock tunes, to when they decide they want to try something new. Pearl Jam have been one of the most successful at this to my ears, whereas some bands I wish had just kept rocking out.
Best Songs: Off He Goes; Mankind
427) Ryan Adams - Gold (2001)
The second, best-selling and best solo album from Ryan Adams. Unfortunately, it was packaged differently to how Adams intended, with five tracks which were supposed to be the end of a double album put on a bonus disc that was only available on the first 150,000 copies. It's a shame, because it could have been even better if it were released in the proper fashion.
Best Songs: New York, New York; Nobody Girl
426) The Cure - Pornography (1982)
The first part of what is considered to be a trilogy of albums (along with 'Disintegration' and 'Bloodflowers') features The Cure really starting to hit their stride. Poorly received at the time, it's now considered to be a classic of the gothic rock genre.
Best Songs: One Hundred Years; A Strange Day
425) Eminem - Recovery (2010)
Technically, the disappointing 'Relapse' was Eminem's comeback album, but it's 'Recovery' that sees him back on top form for the first time since 'The Eminem Show'. Like that album, this is also more introspective than his other work, and mostly acts as a confessional, especially in the song 'Talkin' 2 Myself'. The highlight of the album though is 'Love The Way You Lie', featuring Rihanna. Even if it is a bit disturbing hearing that particular person singing about how she likes to be hurt...
Best Songs: Talkin' 2 Myself; Love The Way You Lie
424) Pixies - Come On Pilgrim (1988)
The debut for the Pixies. The eight tracks are over in just 20 minutes, but it's the 20 best minutes the band ever produced.
Best Songs: Caribou; I've Been Tired
423) Lynyrd Skynyrd - Last Of A Dyin' Breed (2012)
Another album by the Southern rockers that make me embarrassed to admit that I like it when I listen to its lyrics. If you just listen to the music, however, it's a good solid piece of rock music, this time featuring John Lowery (otherwise known as John 5 of Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie fame) on guitar. A lot of people don't realise that he was playing this kind of music before ever joining Manson's band.
Best Songs: Last Of A Dyin' Breed; Mississippi Blood
422) Gilby Clarke - The Hangover (1997)
The second solo album from Clarke, and his first since leaving Guns N' Roses behind just before the release of his previous album. No reinventing the wheel here, just rock 'n' roll, straight up.
Best Songs: Wasn't Yesterday Great; Hang On To Yourself
421) Korn - The Path Of Totality (2011)
Korn once again try to shake up their sound by collaborating with some of the top dub-step producers. They seemed to believe they were creating a new genre with the album, despite the fact that Trent Rezor has been releasing similar sounding tracks since the early 90's, but by and large this is a surprisingly good collection of tracks. Certainly more successful than Muse's similar dip into the dub-step world.
Best Songs: Get Up!; Chaos Lives In Everything
420) Black Label Society - The Blessed Hellride (2003)
More Black Label Society. I didn't realise I liked them this much, either.
Best Songs: Stillborn; The Blessed Hellride
419) Michelle Shocked - Short Sharp Shocked (1988)
Alternative folk musician with a political bent. The cover of this album is a photo of her getting arrested during a protest at the 1984 Democratic Convention.
Best Songs: When I Grow Up; Anchorage
418) Dave Stewart - The Ringmaster General (2012)
The former Euryphmic has been releasing little-heard solo albums and producing other artists for years since his most famous band split. This is his latest, featuring guest appearances from the likes of Joss Stone, and the amazing Orianthi providing the lead guitar for 'Girl In A Catsuit'.
Best Songs: I Got Love; Girl In A Catsuit
417) At The Drive-In - Relationship Of Command (2000)
At The Drive-In hit their peak both musically and commercially with this album, which would end up being their last. 'One-Armed Scissor' is one of the standout rock songs of this century.
Best Songs: One-Armed Scissor; Rolodex Propaganda
416) Brad - Interiors (1997)
The second album from the Seattle group.
Best Songs: Secret Girl; Some Never Come Home
415) Zakk Wylde - Book Of Shadows (1996)
An introspective, mostly acoustic southern rock and folk album from the man best known as a heavy metal shredder. I never thought that Zakk Wylde would be able to pull something like that off before I listened to this, and it is really quite beautiful.
Best Songs: Between Heaven And Hell; Sold My Soul
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