After an extended period away in which Trent Reznor dealt with his alcoholism and cocaine addiction, Nine Inch Nails returned beginning what would become something of a second renaissance for them. As is tradition with NIN records, most of the music is handled by Reznor, with only additional programming from longtime collaborator Atticus Ross, and in a departure from most albums, live drums on most of the record handled by touring member Jerome Dillon on one track, and the legendary Dave Grohl on a further seven. The industrial metal can still be heard, but the back to basics approach means that it's actually the most commercially accessible NIN album since the 1989 debut, 'Pretty Hate Machine'.
Best Songs: The Collector; The Hand That Feeds; Sunspots
197) Queen - A Kind Of Magic (1986)
In 2013, the soundtrack to Highlander is the only thing about that film that still holds up - I was a huge fan when I was kid. It's probably the most cheesy that Queen ever got, but Queen cheese is infinitely preferable to say, Warrant cheese. And it's far better than the godawful 'Flash Gordon' soundtrack.
Best Songs: One Vision; Who Wants To Live Forever
196) Black Sabbath - Mob Rules (1981)
The second Black Sabbath album to not feature Ozzy Osbourne, this would be his replacement Ronnie James Dio's last contribution to a Sabbath record for over a decade. Another change is Vinny Appice replacing Bill Ward on drums. So far, it's the last great Sabbath album, though hopefully that will change in June.
Best Songs: Turn Up The Night; The Sign Of The Southern Cross
195) Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden (1980)
The debut album from the legendary metal band. Maiden had yet to cement what would become their trademark sound, due largely to the fact that Bruce Dickinson had not yet joined the band. Instead, vocals were handled by Paul Di'Anno, whose approach was far more punky than the air raid siren operatic Dickinson. I actually mostly prefer this earlier sound, with the exception of one album.
Best Songs: Running Free; Phantom Of The Opera
194) Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead (2007)
System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian's debut solo album, in which he eschews that insane schizo-metal of the band that made him famous in favour of a more melodic sound. Of particular note is Tankian's piano-playing that receives a showcase throughout the record. Drums were mostly played by former Primus and Guns N' Roses drummer, Brain, though SOAD's John Dolmayan does make an appearance too.
Best Songs: Empty Walls; Saving Us; Lie Lie Lie
193) Queen - News Of The World (1977)
The album that spawned two songs that have been haunting sporting events ever since ('We Will Rock You' and 'We Are The Champions'). This marked a shift away from the heavier hard rock of their early albums towards a more commercial sound.
Best Songs: We Are The Champions; Get Down, Make Love
192) Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1992)
The song 'Plush' on this album features vocals that are eerily reminiscent of Eddie Vedder. That one song was enough to have Stone Temple Pilots unfairly marked as "Pearl Jam rip-offs" and derided for the entirety of their career. The rest of this album, and their releases since then are enough to more than prove that STP are a very different band to Pearl Jam in almost every way. In fact, if at this point they bore any resemblance to a Seattle band, it would have been Alice In Chains, as at the time Weiland and Staley looked, moved and sounded just like each other. But even then, labelling them as rip-offs would be unfair. The early 1990's are one of my favourite times for music, and this is one of the best albums from that era.
Best Songs: Sex Type Thing; Creep; Crackerman
191) Screaming Trees - Uncle Anesthesia (1991)
This is another of the strongest albums from that era. This album - co-produced with legendary producer Terry Date, and Soundgarden's Chris Cornell - is the closest that the Screaming Trees ever came to breaking through to the mainstream. And for good reason, too, as it has remained their - and Mark Lanegan's - finest moment.
Best Songs: Beyond The Horizon; Before We Arise; Ocean Of Confusion
190) Ron Thal - Hermit (1997)
Ron Thal's second album followed on from the instrumental guitar virtuoso release, 'The Adventures Of Bumblefoot'. Ron however never considered himself to be that kind of guitarist, and pushed to allow his second album to include vocals and genuine songwriting rather than just guitar wankery. His attitude to people who just seem to play fast for the sake of it can be heard on 'I Can't Play The Blues'... "I got no feel, I got no emotion/My riffs aren't real, I just go through the motions/I'm fulla trick and trinkets that I always use/I ain't got much choice, I can't play the blues". Of course, that song ends with a blues-based riff just to prove that yes, he in fact can play the blues. That sense of humour can be found throughout Ron/Bumblefoot's career, but there also far more serious, grungy sounding tracks like 'Zero' and 'Freak'.
Best Songs: Zero; Freak; I Can't Play The Blues
189) Deftones - Around The Fur (1997)
'Adrenaline' was an impressive debut by the Deftones, but it was 'Around The Fur' that really showed what they were capable of. 'Headup', written and performed with Sepultura/Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera was written as a way of dealing with the loss of Chino Moreno's friend and Max's step-son. It's 'My Own Summer (Shove It)', though, that will be the most remembered song from this record.
Best Songs: My Own Summer (Shove It); Headup
188) Alice In Chains - Sap (1992)
Released a few months before the classic 'Dirt' which would put Alice In Chains on the map, 'Sap' is an acoustic EP. Heart's Ann Wilson appears on two tracks ('Brother' and 'Am I Inside'), but the best song in the set has to be 'Right Turn', featuring additional vocals by Mudhoney's Mark Arm and Soundgarden's Chris Cornell (the song is attributed to Alice Mudgarden on the record).
Best Songs: Right Turn
187) Tommy Stinson - Village Gorilla Head (2004)
Being a member of Guns N' Roses at the beginning of the 21st century meant that you had a lot of down-time. That time was well used by founding member of The Replacements Tommy Stinson when he used it to record 'Village Gorilla Head'. Recruiting his bandmates in Guns, Richard Fortus and Tommy Stinson, as well as former bandmates Gersh (from his short-lived Perfect) and Josh Freese (who had been a part of Guns when Tommy first joined, but had since left to join A Perfect Circle) over the course of five years, Stinson created his first solo album, incorporating some of the more obvious influences from Paul Westerberg and The Replacements, and also adding a little of what he'd learned since. The title track for instance features electronic/dub elements. When the album is best though, is when it's a simple rock 'n' roll album. When touring behind this album, Stinson recruited Alien Crime Syndicate (who have previously appeared in this list) as his backing band. This means bass player Jeff Rouse (who is currently a member of Duff McKagan's Loaded) has the distinction of playing bass for both Guns N' Roses bassists.
Best Songs: Light Of Day; Motivation
186) Muse - Origin Of Symmetry (2001)
Back in 2001, I was a regular reader of Kerrang! magazine. Every few months, it would come with a VHS tape collecting some music video's. On one of these video's was the video to 'Plug In Baby' by Muse. The almost classical guitar, along with the falsetto vocals had me hooked. From that point on, I was a Muse fan. I got this album on the day of release, and from the first few notes of 'New Born', I knew that this band was going to go on to do big things. Twelve years on, and I've still never managed to see them live (every time they've announced a UK tour, I've had no money), but in spite of not being a big fan of their latest album, I am proud of everything they've achieved.
Best Songs: New Born; Plug In Baby
185) The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main St. (1972)
Possibly the most universally acclaimed album in the Stones' entire 50+ year history. Whilst it's not my favourite of their albums, it's pretty easy to see why it's so highly regarded. There aren't many bands who are able to release a double album that doesn't feature a single filler track, and the Stones at their creative peak in the early 70's are one of the band's who managed it. If you have even a passing interest in rock music and you don't love this album, you quite possibly have no soul.
Best Songs: Tumbling Dice; Sweet Virginia; Happy
184) Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of NiggyTardust! (2007)
Another credit for Trent Reznor, as he takes alternative hip hop artist Saul Williams and co-writes/produces one of the strangest and most interesting hip hop albums to ever be recorded. 'NiggyTardust!' takes all of the elements heard in Williams' previous releases, and throws in some of the industrial disonance of Nine Inch Nails albums. When it was first made available, it was under the then-revolutionary release model of an optional $5 download. As well as the original tracks, there is also a cover of U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', in which Williams gets to showcase his soulful singing voice.
Best Songs: Convict Colony; NiggyTardust; WTF!
183) Smashing Pumpkins - Pisces Iscariot (1994)
This collection of B-sides and rarities was released a way to pacify fans hungry for the follow-up to the massively successful 'Siamese Dream'. It became a huge international hit, surprising Billy Corgan. Several of the tracks on this record have become huge fan favourites. Nowhere is this more evident than with the slow-burning 11 minute epic, 'Starla' which showcases Billy Corgan's songwriting ability and fantastic guitar-playing skills simultaneously.
Best Songs: Frail And Bedazzled; Pissant; Starla
182) Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
By 2004, Green Day had all but fallen by the wayside, with the likes of Blink-182 and Sum 41 becoming the (temporary) kings of the style that Green Day helped popularise. One politically themed concept album, featuring a couple of 9 minute tracks, and some crossover hits later and all that had changed. Green Day grew beyond being at the top of the pop-punk heap to being one of the world's biggest rock bands in a matter of months. Despite what the (frankly elitist) critics say, there is good reason for this, as 'American Idiot' is genuinely a great album. The band have done better both before and since, but that's beside the point.
Best Songs: American Idiot; St. Jimmy; Letterbomb
181) Lacuna Coil - Comalies (2002)
The album where international success finally became within the grasp of the Italian gothic metal band. Whereas other similar bands have a classical influence (Nightwish. Within Temptation. Even Evanescence to an extent) shine through in their music, Lacuna Coil's music has more of an electronic feel. Their first few albums used them for gothic atmospherics, but for 'Comalies' and their later albums, they went for an increasingly nu-metal sound.
Best Songs: Heaven's A Lie; Tight Rope; Entwined
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