5 Albums You Probably Don't Own, But Should... (Vol. 1)

1. Fleetwood Mac - "Tusk" (1979)



Easily the most underrated album to ever go double-platinum. Fleetwood Mac were only two years removed from the mega-million selling hit machine of an album "Rumours" when they released this follow up. Lindsey Buckingham tackled the production of the album, which was one of the first albums to be digitally mixed. I was 20 years old the first time I dove into "Tusk" and from the opening notes to the closing sounds...I have been hooked ever since.

Favorite Tracks:

"Sara"
"Beautiful Child"

2. New Order - "Power, Corruption & Lies" (1983)



The greatest sophomore release of all time in my opinion. New Order created the synth-pop genre and the seeds were planted here. Ranked #94 in Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 greatest albums of the 1980's, this 8 track LP is just as stunning now as it probably was in 1983. I love the song "Age of Consent" so much that I named this very blog after it.

Favorite Tracks:

"Age of Consent"
"Leave Me Alone"

3. Brian Eno - "Discreet Music" (1975)



On "Discreet Music", Brian Eno created an ambient masterpiece. The song 'Discreet Music' is a 30 minute piece of "furniture music". This means music that is intended to blend into the ambient atmosphere of the room rather than directly focused upon. If you ever want to feel like you are floating in space in the very place you sit, put this album on. A true listening experience.

Favorite Tracks:

"Discreet Music"
"Variation on the Canon in D major: (ii) French catalogues"

4. The Anniversary - "Designing a Nervous Breakdown" (2000)



If the Ramones, New York Dolls and others created punk in CBGB's, then The Anniversary helped to create emo pop/punk in the late 90's. The Anniversary brought MOOG keyboards to the guitar party that was emo rock and happened upon the genesis of the next phase of modern indie music.

Favorite Tracks:

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"
"Perfectly"

5. The Black Heart Procession - "Three" (2000)



It's dark, it's brooding, it's depressing...and it's downright amazing. For a group of guys from San Diego, CA one would think they would create a style of music inspired by the sun of the west coast. This is not the case with BHP. I was obsessed with this album in the winter of 2000 and I have very fond memories of the soundtrack quality it brought to my life at that time. A brilliant album filled with heavy on the heart songs.

Favorite Tracks:

"On Ships of Gold"
"Never From This Heart"