My Top 666 Albums Ever Part 16

396) Aerosmith - Honkin' On Bobo (2004)

After taking their commercial sound a step too far on 'Just Push Play', Aerosmith returned to their roots (literally) on 'Honkin' On Bobo'. With the exception of one song, every track is a cover of an old blues standard recorded live (as opposed to multitracked), and given a distinct Aerosmith feel. It was a welcome return for Aerosmith, even if it didn't stick.
Best Songs: Shame, Shame, Shame; Baby, Please Don't Go

395) Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995)

'Ironic' may have been the track that made Alanis a superstar (briefly), but the rest of 'Jagged Little Pill' features some nice pop-rock tunes. 'You Oughta Know', featuring Flea and Dave Navarro is a particular stand-out. Alanis would never recapture what she had on this record.
Best Songs: You Oughta Know; You Learn

394) Green River - Come On Down (1985)

Years before Nirvana made the Seattle music scene famous, future members of Mudhoney (Mark Arm and Steve Turner), and Pearl Jam (Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament) were members of Green River, one of the band's that pioneered the punky sound that Nirvana later bought into the mainstream. The standout track from their debut EP - 'Swallow My Pride' - was later covered by Soundgarden.
Best Song: Swallow My Pride

393) Marilyn Manson - The High End Of Low (2009)

The former king of shock rock has fallen out of grace in recent years. But this first album since the return of Twiggy Ramirez to the band, I always felt was almost a return to the form he showed in the 90's. I say almost, because when you've become accepted by the mainstream as Manson had years before, your attempts to shock just seem tame and desperate.
Best Songs: Pretty As A Swastika; Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon

392) Halestorm - ReAniMate: The Covers EP (2011)

Unfortunately, a miscommunication between the management of Halestorm and Guns N' Roses have led to the physical release of this EP becoming a rarity, and it now being only available as a download. Which is a shame, because their cover of that band's 'Out Ta Get Me' is one of the best covers of a GN'R song I've ever heard. And to find it on the same record as a rock 'n' roll version of Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance', and a surprisingly faithful version of Heart's 'All I Want To Do Is Make Love To You' is a real surprise. Showcases the diversity of the band's taste and their abilities.
Best Song: Hunger Strike

391) Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (1997)

The second album by Incubus is a much more nu-metal sounding record than their later albums, with a funk twist, thanks to distinctive bass from original member Dirk Lance.
Best Songs: New Skin; Nebula

390) The Who - Who's Next (1971)

Classic album from rockers. 'Won't Get Fooled Again' showcases both the insane drumming talents of Keith Moon, and the guitar genius of Pete Townshend.
Best Songs: Baba O'Riley; Won't Get Fooled Again

389) The Cure - Bloodflowers (2000)

A return to gothic rock for The Cure, to finally complete their so-called trilogy, that they began with 'Pornography' nearly 20 years earlier.
Best Songs: 39; Bloodflowers

388) Soul Asylum - Grave Dancer's Union (1992)

The breakthrough sixth album from the alternative rockers.
Best Songs: Black Gold; Runaway Train

387) Three Fish - The Quiet Table (1999)

A world music experiment featuring Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament, Robbi Robb of Tribe After Tribe, and Richard Stuverud of The Fastbacks. Around half the tracks are instrumental, but all of them have the unique sound of rock music mixed with ethereal Middle-Eastern music.
Best Songs: Shiva And The Astronaut; Resonate

386) Tori Amos - American Doll Posse (2007)

Tori Amos combines her usual piano balladry with a more conventional rock sound on this concept album in which she takes the persona of five distinct characters that each exhibit different traits, accounting for the sheer amount of musical styles the record encompasses. As far as I'm concerned, this is Amos' crowning achievement.
Best Songs: Bouncing Off Clouds; Girl Disappearing

385) Smashing Pumpkins - Judas O (2001)

Packaged with the band's Greatest Hits album, 'Judas O' consists of rarities and outtakes from the band's 'Adore' and 'Machina' era.
Best Songs: Here's To The Atom Bomb; Saturnine

384) The Crying Spell - Through Hell To Heaven (2008)

The debut album from a modern rock band from Seattle.
Best Songs: Suicide Woman; Prayers

383) Mastodon - The Hunter (2011)

The latest album from the Atlanta progressive metal band. The second of only two albums by the band that aren't concept albums.
Best Songs: Stargasm; Creature Lives

382) Incubus - Morning View (2001)

A massive departure from their earlier albums, and probably the best collection of music Incubus will ever produce. 'Aqueous Transmission' uses Far Eastern instruments such as the pipa with accompaniment from a Japanese orchestra. Not many "nu-metal" bands of the era would have had the guts to do something like this, and perhaps it only worked here because Brandon Boyd's voice suits a more chilled out, ambient sound.
Best Songs: Wish You Were Here; Aqueous Transmission

381) Michael Jackson - Michael (2010)

Yes, I know it's a hastily thrown together collection of unfinished demo's used to cash in on the death of a superstar, but the quality of this album actually surprised me. I'm not a fan of every track here, but the ones that I do like, I like enough to elevate it to a space on this list.
Best Songs: Monster; Behind The Mask

380) Malfunkshun - Return To Olympus (1995)

A collection of tracks from a classic Seattle band from the 1980's fronted by the ill-fated Andrew Wood (who, as singer for Mother Love Bone, died of a heroin overdose just before the release of their debut album in 1990). This album was compiled by fellow Mother Love Bone member, Stone Gossard as a tribute some years later. While characterised as "grunge", Malfunkshun actually weren't much different to what was going on elsehwere at the time.
Best Songs: Mr. Liberty (With Morals); Jezebel Woman

379) Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)

If 'Superstition' was the only track on this album, It'd be enough to secure its place here. One of the highlights of not only Wonder's entire career, but also of the funk genre in general.
Best Songs: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life; Superstition