“Something happened with me during that period. I felt the strong urge to write music and to write lyrics that would touch the souls of men. And in that way I thought I could help ” – Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye defines his mindset when creating his landmark “What’s Going On,” while indirectly stating what every artist goes through in building a classic album. Few musicians can create a completely unique piece of art with the aptitude to evoke powerful emotions from the audience. These albums touched my heart in ways no one really could. The following list comprises the great works of the contemporary era loved by audiences around the world.
The Who- Tommy (1969)
Hailed as the first rock opera, the story portrays a traumatized boy who became blind, deaf and mute and his struggles growing up in a dysfunctional family. From the grand overture to the climactic ending, the experience of “Tommy” sets a new tone in music. Unlike many albums released during its time, The Who structured the album unified by a concept, with songs transitioning to one another. The “See me, feel me, touch me, heal me” refrain heard throughout the record has a special place as one of the most raw and emotional moments in music. The use of parallelism and heartfelt writing sets the album apart from most mainstream musicians. “Tommy” remains one of my favorites because the fictional character feels so real and vivid, and I relate and understand his struggles as he has attempts to find identity and fit into society.
The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Critically acclaimed as one of the best albums of all time, the Beatles’ magnum opus reached new grounds enchanting the mind with its eccentric lyrics. The bizarre album cover depicting the Beatles in colorful 19th century military uniforms around a grave site surrounded by their idols sets the outlandish and peculiar tone. One of the first albums to feature songs united by a concept, the Beatles affected pop music with their experimental incorporations of various styles of music. The record may sound a bit dated at times but it became a timestamp of the drug riddled, delirious and wild era of the 60s.
The Velvet Underground- The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)
Although the album initially did poorly commercially, many modern artists cite it as one of the most influential and daring records in rock history. The simple album artwork featuring a banana, illustrated by Andy Warhol sets an offbeat tone for the record. The Velvet Underground took a giant leap in subject matter in music with controversial content of drug abuse, prostitution and sexual deviancy. The album starts off with Lou Reed crooning in a sedated and depressed voice about the monotony of everyday life and later escalates into more philosophical matters. “The Velvet Underground and Nico” may not have been popular, but it set a precedent for other musicians to refrain from inhibition and to break the limits of music.
Nas- Illmatic (1994)
Nas’s debut album arrived on the shelves and transformed hip-hop. Written with first-hand experience living in the impoverished and desolate ghettos of Queens, New York, Nas brought a social consciousness to rap music. Nas’s down to earth yet poetic writing expressed the social injustice in the decaying urban areas across America. The jazz-influenced record combined with Nas’s scratchy vocals gave a voice to the people stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty who could not speak for themselves. Nas’s incredible storytelling solidified rap’s credibility as a serious genre and influenced many modern rappers to follow in his footsteps.
The Clash- London Calling (1979)
When rock music started to fade in popularity along with artistic creativity in the late 70s, the ardent and idealistic British punk rockers created their most energetic and rowdy record, which saved rock from losing its momentum as the dominant genre. The album facilitated the punk rock movement and with its catchy riffs and insightful lyrics commenting on the shallowness of western consumer culture and social alienation. The lyrics have just as much relevance to angsty adolescents today as they did in the 70s. The cover of the album also pays homage to Elvis Presley, king of rock.
Miles Davis- Kind of Blue (1957)
Miles Davis composed beautiful and calming jazz numbers, touching the heart and soothing the mind. The beauty of instrumental records enables people to find meanings themselves or to simply sit back and enjoy the tunes. Every time I listen to “Kind of Blue,” I drift away into a sedated and introspective state, where I can retreat into my mind for hours on end.
Nirvana- Nevermind (1991)
The mainstream rock scene gained an grungy and aggressive momentum from Nirvana’s angsty and “Nevermind”.Frontman Kurt Cobain became an idol to apathetic and depressed teenagers and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an anthem for confused and insecure adolescents. Cobain’s death further highlighted his idol status and made the album even more famous. “Nevermind” remains a staple in class radio and an exemplification of teenage angst.
Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
The first time I listened to “Dark Side of the Moon,” it was like jumping into a black hole and traveling through the fabric of time. When it was over, I came back to earth as an enlightened and a redefined individual. As pretentious as that sounds, the “Dark side of the Moon” is unlike any other record. Pink Floyd arrived into the mainstream and pushed the boundaries of rock music with innovative song structure and abstract lyrical content. Both commercially and critically successful, It took me out of this world and sent me to the next.
Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On (1971)
The concept album opens up from the point of view from a war veteran returning home and seeing nothing but injustice and desolation. Gaye sang of the social issues concerning prejudice, hatred and the ongoing human suffering around the world. To help, he wanted to make music to help relieve their pain and anger. “What’s Going On” captured the social problems of the 70s vividly enough for the audience to feel and experience the pain and suffering many people went through. R&B music became an outlet to express deep, raw emotion.
These albums made a huge impact on the lives of millions, and will continue for generations after their release.
