882. Incubus - Make Yourself

Release Date: 1999
Label: Epic

"I quite liked that 'Drive' song when I heard it twenty years ago, perhaps this album won't be so bad."
I was wrong, it was very bad.

Rating: 4/10

839. Finley Quaye - Maverick A Strike

Release Date: 1997

Label: Epic

This album reached #3 in the UK Charts, but doesn't even have it's own Wikipedia page.

Rating: 4/10

826. Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go

Release Date: 1996
Label: Epic

There are two periods of the Manic Street Preachers - With Richey (WR) and Without Richey (WR). This is their first album released WR.

Rating: 10/10

808. Screaming Trees - Dust

Release Date: 1996
Label: Epic

The most surprising thing I found out when listening to this album was that I'd heard of the lead singer, Mark Lanegan. I haven't actually heard any of his stuff (I just know him from his colloborations with Isobel Campbell) so he wasn't immediately recognisable.

Anyway, the album was better than I expected it to be.

Rating: 6/10

777. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

Release Date: 1994
Label: Epic

I own this. It's often my favourite album of all time.

Rating: 10/10

773. G Love and Special Sauce - G Love and Special Sause

Release Date: 1994
Label: Epic

Interesting, but ultimately forgettable.

5/10

715. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

Release Date: 1992

Label: Epic

Of course I was only familiar with the festive classic, 'Killing In The Name', which is really just an angry version of 'With God On Our Side' and I expected to be quie dismissive of this album, but it was suprisingly interesting to hear.

Rating: 8/10

698. Pearl Jam - Ten

Release Date: 1991
Label: Epic

When I listened to 'Alive' on this album I thought 'actually this isn't too bad'. Then it was too bad.

Rating: 4/10

616. Living Colour - Vivid

Release Date:  1988
Label: Epic

For a few years I used to go to a local club in the town centre that played 'Cult of Personality' every weekend because it has something to do with WWE. I've never liked it.

Rating: 4/10

607. Michael Jackson - Bad

Release Date: 1987
Label: Epic

Not too bad.

Rating: 9/10

534. Sade - Diamond Life

Release Date: 1984
Label: Epic

After their success in the early 70s, black-country botherers Slade dropped the 'L' from their name and reinvented themselves as the soft-jazz soulstress Sade. Gone are Noddy's cobblestone vocals, replaced with a new ice-cool coltrano. This is an album it'd be difficult to impress your friends with, but impress them you must.

Rating: 8/10

508. Michael Jackson - Thriller

Release Date: 1982
Label: Epic

How do you review the biggest selling album of all time? To be honest, you can't really. Being the best-selling doesn't necessarily mean it's the best ever - and that's true of this record. There are many albums that I'd prefer to listen to instead of this. What this album does have though are a number of fantastic singles - and for that, it's worth it.

Rating: 8/10

495. Abba - The Visitors

Release Date: 1981
Label: Epic

Without a strong hit single (One of Us did get to number 3, but it isn't as good as their best songs), this was always going to struggle to convince. Benny and Bjorn do their best to entertain with what they've got and their two (now ex) wives willfully sing of love and flat-pack furniture.

Rating: 7/10

450. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall

Release Date: 1979
Label: Epic

This was the fifth studio album released by Michael Jackson, but the first important one - the first four having been released during his years as a prodigiously talented child in the Jackson 5. There is an innocence to the record which is perhaps lost by the time 'Thriller' and especially 'Bad' are released during the 1980s. At this point, Jackson is just a very talented young man.

Rating: 9/10

446. Cheap Trick - At Budokan

Release Date: 1979
Label: Epic

I've never been a huge fan of live albums, and though I have admitted to liking some in the past (and there are some I've bought because of this book, such as The Who's 'Live at Leeds') this is another offering which makes me want to put 'live albums' into Room 101.

Rating: 4/10

390. Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell

Release Date: 1977
Label: Epic

Despite its flaws, this album was better than I ever thought it would be. Of course it's bombastic, over the top and completely ridiculous, but these can be taken as either positives or negatives - depending on which side you fall. If this were an album for a Musical, it would be adored. For all it's quality though, there are sections that just irritate, and the joke soon tires.

Rating: 6/10

353. Boston - Boston

Release Date: 1976
Label: Epic

Everyone knows the opening track, and to be honest the rest of the album is even worse. Don't bother.

Rating: 3/10

328. The Dictators - Go Girl! Crazy!

Release Date: 1975
Label: Epic

I have never heard of The Dictators, and after this album, I'm not sure my life has improved. The album appears to be in the list due to its perceived influence on punk rock and frat-boy culture. You can certainly hear elements of both styles in the music and lyrics, but it's clearly not reached its peak. There is nothing much to shout about on this album to be honest.

Rating: 5/10

320. George Jones - The Grand Tour

Release Date: 1974
Label: Epic

George Jones recorded this album - the soundtrack to the Clarkson, Hammond and May programme of the same name - whilst in the midst of a divorce with fellow country legend Tammy Wynette. At under thirty minutes long, it is short and sweet, and full of country music cliches. OK, but not great.

Rating: 4//10

304. Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information

Release Date: 1974
Label: Epic

Released and quickly forgotten, this record has since gained something of a cult status as a 'little known gem' for the past forty-five years. It begins with a cracking tune, and at first there are high hopes. These hopes begin to fade as the album continues until you're left with the realisation that they've tried to hook you in by putting the best stuff right at the beginning.

Rating: 6/10