This album is nuts! Elaborate production (co-produced by the band themselves, but I suspect synth genius, Brian Eno was the main contribution on the band’s behalf) and an ode to a blow-up doll. Yes. A love song about a blow-up sex doll on the song ‘In Every Dream Home a Heartache’ with the jarring lyrics “I blew up your body/but you blew my mind!”

This album is a problem for me. On his major label debut, Eminem re-introduces his alter-ego, Slim Shady, a character unleashed on the world on his 1997 EP, ‘The Slim Shady EP.’ Through that character, Eminem raps about murder, date rape (of a 15-year old girl, no less), rape, misogyny, guns, drugs etc. Eminem is actually a great rapper. Machine gun-like delivery. So much better than this.

I went back and re-read my review of this album from last time. It seems that I wasn’t all that impressed last time. In fact, I ended the review by saying “Sorry automobile enthusiasts.” (I find that hilarious). This time around, I seemed to be listening with different ears, because I thought it was brilliant. The simple pop melodies, intricate guitar lines and the harmonies.

The first and last time I heard of X-Ray Spex was when lead vocalist, Poly Styrene passed away in 2011. X-Ray Spex only ever released 5 singles and 1 album. The short-lived band broke upsoon after the release of this album, with Poly Styrene leaving to record a solo album and join the Hare Krishna movement.

With the release of this record, the Heavy Metal genre was born by former blues musicians and hippies. Opening with the sounds of rain and ominous tolling of a bell, the eponymous ‘Black Sabbath’ is widely regarded the first ever Doom Metal song. I just love Ozzy Osbourne’s cries and pleas of “Oh no! Please God help me,” before the tempo change and Tony Iommi’s guitar solo.

The perfect record to follow Tom Waits. One can argue that this record even had a major influence on Waits’ record. Dr. John, a New Orleans native, delivered a debut album soaked in gumbo & Creole rhythms with an undercurrent of voodoo. Due to drug problems and trouble with the law, Dr. John aka Mac Rebennack recorded the album in Los Angeles, albeit with musicians from the Crescent City.

With the utmost respect to Mr. Waits, this album is demented. In a good way, of course. On this record he chose to use an unusual motley of instruments, giving the album its unique sound; marimba, accordion, double bass, trombone and banjo. The result is an album that sounds like a 1930s New Orleans Jazz record, crossed with a Kurt Weill opera made in the basement of a gritty 1970s rock club while a samba party is happening upstairs.

Although the band’s 6th studio album this was their major label debut. The album is more socially conscious than any of their previous works dealing with themes such as female empowerment and pop culture.

The sophomore record by Big Star saw the band reconfigure themselves as a three-piece following the departure of key member, Chris Bell. This album is pure power pop perfection and having listened to both this album and the debut in the last challenge, makes me wonder why I never listened to these albums more.

This album was Funkadelic’s most commercially successful album and is considered by many as the greatest funk album of all time. As previously mentioned, George Clinton was a hip hop innovator before hip hop was even a thing.

Emo rock has been around since the ‘80s, essentially, but it hit its zenith in 2006 and this was one of the preeminent records of the genre. I clearly remember when this album was released. An ex-girlfriend introduced me to MCR’s music with the album ‘Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge,’ but this album was the one that shot them into the stratosphere, along with sales of guyliner (probably).

Luther Vandross started his career as a backing vocalist, most notably for David Bowie on the record ‘Young Americans.’ His other credits are too numerous to mention. ‘Never Too Much’ was his debut record and after listening to this, it’s difficult to imagine him as anything other as the lead artist. This album has been certified at double platinum and earned Vandross two Grammys.

Coming to you directly from The Mothership, ‘The Mothership Connection’ is a concept album based on a black pimp sitting in outer space on a spaceship shaped like a Cadillac. Whatever drugs George Clinton was on, they made him funky as hell. This album was entered into the National Recording Registry declaring that "The album has had an enormous influence on jazz, rock and dance music." Surprisingly, it wasn’t entered for its influence on Hip Hop. George Clinton was a major influence on Hip Hop.

The second album by Talking Heads gets straight into it with the rollicking ‘Thank You For Sending Me An Angel,’ and then straight into ‘With Our Love.’ Talking Heads made a statement with this record. They were a force to be reckoned with in New Wave music. David Byrne’s unique vocal delivery is immediately recognisable from the get go with a rhythm section that just does not quit.

I love it when an album surprises me. This is totally not what I expected. I went in thinking this would be another hardcore hip hop record following the past few entries. This album actually knocked me off my feet. The debut record by Madvillain, a Hip Hop duo consisting of MF DOOM (the guy in the mask) and Madlib on production. Being familiar with some of Madlib’s stuff, this album makes total sense, but I went in blind, not knowing who was in the group.

Thanks to their later schmaltzy hits, I always forget how hard rocking Aerosmith actually were. Steve Tyler & Joe Perry are reminiscent of partnerships like Mick & Keef, Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora, Axl & Slash etc. This album has been cited by Kurt Cobain, James Hetfield and Slash as major influences on their lives and it’s easy to see why. It became a bit of a blueprint for hard rock bands who sought commercial success. It’s got major riffs and huge vocals, not discounting the contribution of the rest of the band.

This album dropped online in February 2015 without any major fanfare; a simple tweet with a link to iTunes. At the same time it was uploaded to Soundcloud but was quickly removed. The removal of the album created way more publicity than the initial upload. The next day the album was officially released online and within 3 days, it had amassed 17.3 million streams in the first 3 days on Spotify alone. He broke Spotify’s record with that (which was previously also held by Drake).

Following the breakup of The Beatles, each member raced to release an album of their own. ‘All Things Must Pass’ was the third album to be released following Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and preceding John Lennon by a month. Lennon & McCartney, arguably the greatest songwriting duo of all time, dominated The Beatles’ albums. Usually they’d give George Harrison one, maybe two songs per album, but for the most part, Harrison’s compositions were rejected, especially in the second half of the band’s career.

The second album by Q-Tip-discovery, Mobb Deep, has been hailed as a cornerstone record in the East Coast rap renaissance, along with Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),’ Nas’s ‘Illmatic’ and Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Ready To Die.’ The duo had initially been drop by their label following the failure of their debut record. Due to the success of Wu-Tang’s single, ‘Protect Ya Neck,’ Loud Records was looking for a new act to sign, and Mobb Deep was it.

It always surprises me to see Lil Wayne on this list. Last time it was the third instalment of this record, this time, the second. He makes some big claims on this record, for example that he’s the ‘Best Rapper Alive’ (he’s not) and on ‘Hustler Musik’ that he deserves the throne (he doesn’t). This album is typical Southern Rap; it’s hard and lyrical. His rhymes free-flowing.