1. Electric Warrior - T Rex 1971
Possible the best album to come out of England during the 70's, yet it's never given the credit that it deserves. With songs like Mambo Sun, Cosmic Dancer, Planet Queen, and Get It On, Electric Warrior is a must own, must listen to album. Only in recent years has it gotten some substantial acclaim, such as placing at #160 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums List, and some of its songs being included on the Billy Elliott Soundtrack. Unfortunately, very few people in America know how great this album is, and it usually gets forgotten when one talks about the best albums of all-time.
2. I Love Rock N' Roll - Joan Jett 1981
Joan Jett was first an amazing guitarist for a great group called the Runaways (a very underrated group themselves), but after she left, she started to release her own solo albums. And her best is/was, I Love Rock N' Roll. Most people only know the title track from this album, and forget that this is an extremely great album. Songs such as Love Is Pain, Nag, and her cover of Crimson And Clover, are brilliant. Jett gets down and dirty throughout I Love Rock N' Roll, and it's time that her hard work be recognized. I Love Rock N' Roll is one of the best albums of all-time.
3. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses 1989
How can anyone not like a group of guys from Manchester who tried to bring back California based LSD rock? The Stone Roses like many before them, and many after, were touted as the next big British band. But like many others, they never made it. Unlike many others though, they did leave a lasting impression, and legacy. That legacy was captured with their self-titled debut album, The Stone Roses. Songs like I Wanna Be Adored, Waterfall, I Am The Resurrection, oh forget it, the whole album, made many believe that they were the "second coming". With the licks performed by Jon Squire, Mani on bass, Reni on drums, and the legendary Ian Brown on vocals, how did they not become the next big thing. Well contract disputes, and not being able to perform regularly stopped them, and they only released one more album as a group. Still though, this album has influenced the likes of Oasis, Blur, Suede, and many more. This album will probably never get its due in America. A perfect example is when the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums List came out, and the Stone Roses' The Stone Roses wasn't on there. It took a letter writing campaign to get them in the revised book edition. It currently hold #497.
4. Figure 8- Elliott Smith 2000
Elliott Smith might have been the best lyricist of his generation. He released some amazing albums in his career, but he never seemed to get the acclaim from the general public as one with his talent should have. Instead, he stayed in obscurity as a critical darling, but without ever truly breaking through (though he was nominated for an Academy Award for Miss Misery). Figure 8 might have been his greatest work. In it he combined his talent for lyrics, with amazing melodies inspired by the Beatles and Oasis (and yes both are two separate inspirations.). Songs such as Happiness, Son of Sam, and Nothing Means Nothing To Me, truly encapsulates Elliott Smith's genius. Unfortunately, because of Smith's death in 2003, there will never be another album from this amazing talent. But Figure 8 will always be a testaments to his brilliance as songwriter, artist, and performer. Hopefully, more will begin to realize how truly great he was.
5. Definitely Maybe - Oasis 1994
It is hard to say that one of the greatest debut albums of all time is also one of the the most underrated, but Oasis' Definitely Maybe is. Many in America know about Oasis' sophomore album, What's The Story Morning Glory?, but few know about Definitely Maybe. I can quite literally say that there is no bad song on this album. There maybe a song that you don't like as much as the others, but there is not a bad song anywhere. And how could there be? Songs like Live Forever, Cigarettes And Alcohol, Married With Children, Slide Away (Paul McCartney's favorite Oasis songs), Supersonic, and Rock N' Roll Star, all perfectly sum up how the "average Joe" feels. With the sneer of Liam Gallagher's Lennon/Lydon voice, and the brilliance of Noel Gallagher's simplistic riffs, layered melodies, and thoughtful lyrics, Definitely Maybe can only be described as brilliant. Unfortunately though, few recognize that brilliance. When Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list came out, this album was nowhere to be found. For all the "were the best band in world", "were better than the Beatles" talk, Oasis truly were a great band. Many people forgot that, and to a point, Oasis let them forget that. But when one listens to Definitely Maybe, it is hard for one not to say, "hey, who is that band? They sound amazing."
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