It’s Britney, bitch. It’s a statement. It’s also the opening line of the album. This album followed that period in Britney’s life. Two babies, a divorce and a very public meltdown. This was her comeback and she came back with a statement. It was this album. It was “It’s Britney, bitch.” The album went on to sell 3.1m units worldwide and was included on many year end lists.

When I first heard ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ in 2015, little did I know that The Weeknd would become one of the biggest artists in the world. At first I thought he was a low key Michael Jackson tribute artist. I immediately connected with that song and listening to it again on this record, it still holds up.

Following the more experimental “Berlin Trilogy,” Bowie made a somewhat return to more of a mainstream sound. Somewhat. This album strikes a good balance between creativity and mainstream. Opening with the unusual, yet genius song, ‘It’s No Game (Pt. 1),’ a song beginning with Japanese spoken word over a slow and steady driving bassline; it’s a great sign of things to come – the unusual creativity coupled with the mainstream.

Fiona Apple has a very unique way of playing piano. In a way it reminds me of the unique way in which Joni Mitchell plays guitar. I could totally imagine an acoustic guitar subbing in for the piano. Coupled with that are her distinctive vocal phrasings. As acclaimed as she is, I think Fiona Apple is very underrated.

This is one of my all-time favourite prog rock records and it was noticeably missing for me on the last list. Justice prevails and for every Bad Bunny there’s a Yes.

The fourth solo album of Alice Coltrane, the wife of the late John Coltrane and talented musician in her own right. This record is pretty beguiling. Coltrane’s harp playing is mesmerizing and the constant drone of the tanpura is pretty hypnotising.

I really do try and be objective when listening to these albums. I try and understand context and why these albums have made it to the list. This album is terrible.

Never a more fitting opening track for an album; ‘Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song).’ The last studio album to be released in Otis Redding’s lifetime makes for a very sad song. One of the greatest vocalists of the past 100 years, Otis Redding would pass away just 14 months after this record was released at the young age of 26 years old (same age as Gram Parsons was, for those keeping count).

The White Stripes’ fourth studio album, ‘Elephant,’ changed everything we knew about rock music. Mainstream success from a duo that seemed to buck the trend. Two members, no bass guitar, lots of noise.

Amazingly, a new entry. This album is arguably McCartney at his most bitter. It was 1971, the break-up of The Beatles was still a raw wound and a bitter legal battle was ensuing. McCartney released this, his second solo album following the end of The Beatles and opening the ablum is ‘Too Many People,’ an acerbic swipe at former band member and best friend, John Lennon.