Albums released on 23 May
2005 · 22 YEARS
Be
Common
Kanye West produced almost all of Be, helping Common craft a soulful, lean hip-hop record. It remains a focused love letter to the Chicago scene from 2005.
2018 · 9 YEARS
Goodbye & Good Riddance
Juice WRLD
Heartbreak drives this 2018 record, which mixes melodic trap with raw, unfiltered emotional vulnerability. It transformed personal angst into a series of infectious, widely known anthems.
1980 · 47 YEARS
I Just Can't Stop It
The Beat
Released in 1980, this record fuses punk energy with Jamaican rhythms to define the UK ska revival. It stands as a document of a movement using music to challenge the status quo.
1980 · 47 YEARS
Travelogue
The Human League
Travelogue features experimental synthesizers and a dark pop sensibility. It marks the last work of the band's initial lineup before they shifted toward polished synth-pop.
2000 · 27 YEARS
Mer De Noms
A Perfect Circle
Mer De Noms arrived at the turn of the millennium, blending alternative rock with progressive arrangements. It highlights the chemistry between Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan.
1979 · 48 YEARS
Dynasty
Kiss
Dynasty marks the 1979 moment Kiss moved toward disco-influenced pop. This shift caused friction with fans but led to a global hit and a new mainstream aesthetic.
1969 · 58 YEARS
Power To The People
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson explores electric jazz on this 1969 release, aided by Herbie Hancock on Fender Rhodes. It tracks the evolution from hard bop to expansive, spiritual fusion.
2012 · 15 YEARS
Valtari
Sigur Rós
Valtari is a quiet, meditative record from 2012 that moves away from rock roots. It favors minimalist, ambient melodies over the band's earlier, louder output.
1989 · 38 YEARS
Badlands
Badlands
Badlands features Jake E. Lee and Ray Gillen on a blues-influenced rock record from 1989. It captures a moment where heavy metal moved toward a grittier, more soulful sound.
1988 · 39 YEARS
Up Your Alley
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Up Your Alley leans into the tough persona Joan Jett established over her career. It mixes punk attitude with high-gloss production to create a series of punchy tracks.
1980 · 47 YEARS
Flesh + Blood
Roxy Music
Flesh + Blood marks the 1980 transition where Roxy Music adopted a radio-friendly, high-gloss sheen. It is a mood-focused record with immaculate production values.
1995 · 32 YEARS
Sparkle And Fade
Everclear
Sparkle And Fade is a 1995 record driven by Art Alexakis and his experiences with addiction. It blends post-grunge angst with pop-conscious songwriting.
2014 · 13 YEARS
Divide And Exit
Sleaford Mods
Divide And Exit utilizes minimalist beats and spoken-word commentary to critique life in the UK. It is a raw, punk-influenced 2014 release that prioritizes attitude.
2011 · 16 YEARS
Born This Way
Lady Gaga
Born This Way combines theatrical pop with industrial grit. Released in 2011, it acts as a manifesto for the disenfranchised through arena-sized, high-energy music.
1989 · 38 YEARS
Tin Machine
Tin Machine
Tin Machine features David Bowie in a guitar-heavy quartet that emphasized equal voting rights. This 1989 record rejected the synthesizer trends of the era.
1967 · 60 YEARS
Hip Hug-Her
Booker T & The MG's
Hip Hug-Her captures Booker T & The MG's at their most precise in 1967. It shows the band moving toward a tighter, more melodic style at Stax Records.
1969 · 58 YEARS
Tommy
The Who
Tommy invented the rock opera in 1969, featuring a narrative about a deaf, dumb, and blind pinball champion. It remains a definitive document of the era's grand scale.
2000 · 27 YEARS
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP is a visceral 2000 record that defines the Y2K era of hip-hop. It remains a masterclass in storytelling and aggressive, sharp rap verses.
2005 · 22 YEARS
Tyranny Of Souls
Bruce Dickinson
Tyranny Of Souls is a 2005 metal record showcasing Bruce Dickinson's vocal power and intricate riffs. It blends traditional metal with modern production values.
2000 · 27 YEARS
Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030 is a 2000 concept album set in a dystopian, space-age future. It features cinematic production and a narrative about fighting a digital dictatorship.