Shark's Ultimate Pocket Guide and Resource for Challenging Music
Index & Content
Note: Since this is an extensive publication, some links might not work only on iPhones due to technical issues beyond our control. If that is the case, scroll down the webpage manually until you reach the desired section, or use the search feature of your browser.
With Understanding comes Appreciation
Hi everyone, in case you haven't noticed, there's a reason I'm dedicating a whole page of my blog to this publication: this is a super deluxe, original, resourceful issue. This is not another simple post that you can read from start to bottom in one sitting. A lot is going on throughout this writing. It will require an attentive reading and—mostly—listening to the music presented. Sometimes you may need to consult additional information before continuing through the provided links, which will redirect you to amazing original content and reviews published by your Shark here on the blog. Heck, this is an artisanal and state-of-the-art effort that has taken me literally my whole life (and keeps racking up) to put together, so yes, this goes beyond sharing just another stupid ranking, as plenty published out there, even by the so-called "prestigious media," which typically don't even give context, reference, facts, evidence or at least decent arguments to rate music. I'm really excited to share this with you because this is intended to work as your primary
Ultimate Pocket Music Guide and Resource of Challenging Music —and beyond...
Having said that, my primary aim is to meet the following goals:
1. To share with you what I call 'My Gods' in music. It's interesting, especially after writing this post, because they share the same attributes I value the most from an artist. They are prolific in the strictest sense of the definition. They share a similar work ethic and uncompromising talent; they always pushed the boundaries in music, regardless of whether they were countercurrent to mainstream and commercial music. While their music is considered by most listeners as an acquired taste, once you "get hooked" by their genius, your approach to music will change forever; you inevitably will start seeing everything else as primitive and rudimentary, technically speaking, and based on music theory. They were always surrounded on both stage and studio by high-caliber, exceptionally talented musicians. They covered a lot of ground in music while stretching and (arguably) giving birth to several of today's music styles. I could go on and on, but I don't want to screw this up, so I'll let you figure it out by yourselves in case you want to give them a try. For instance, I recommend you listen to their top 10 albums I'm ranking, and eventually to the playlists I assembled for each God. Each playlist includes the entire official catalog of each God available for streaming on Apple Music (Why Apple Music?) The latter will save you days, if not weeks, to put them together, since their discographies are enormous and many albums are hard to find across streaming platforms. I also encourage you to delve deeper into their music and career on my Shark's Gods in Music post, dedicated exclusively to the Gods.
2. To rank my musical taste. In this post, I'm attempting to rank my favorite artists and their top 10 albums —when they apply (some artists haven't even released five records) and/or I consider they deserve to make my ranking. While I'm assembling an overall ranking of my favorite artists, I'm also ranking the artists by music style. The latter could make more sense for some people because it would be comparing "apples to apples," plus, it might be helpful; say you are more inclined to a specific music style like experimental/art rock, or maybe you want to explore new territories in music like jazz fusion, but beyond the rankings, my ultimate goal is to share with you artists and music you might not have heard before, while broadening your musical taste. If somehow this work ignites your appetite to seek brand new avenues in this marvelous art, all the passion put here will be worth every second spent, trust me. There's no way we let this superb and beautiful music remain in oblivion, right? After all, the latter was the main reason I started this blog in the first place —to unveil the beauty of challenging music. I also highly recommend reading the reviews I have posted on this blog for some of the albums I'm presenting below. My insights may help you gain a better understanding and appreciation of the artists suggested here.
3. To share with you some great compilations and albums by some artists who are not necessarily at the top of my book, but can't be missed. Those definitely enrich and complement my musical taste.
4. To share with you some superb under-the-radar songs to round out my whole selection.
5. To share with you the public digital playlists of everything presented here. These playlists include all the artists and albums of each ranking, so if you like what I'm sharing here, the playlists alone will be worth the whole thing. Trust me, it took me weeks, if not months, to assemble them.
...so grab a cigar and a glass of scotch, and put yourself comfortable since there's a lot to explore, disseminate, and digest here.
For any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Music is the best. Enjoy it!
Background: How Was This Cooked?
First things first. Music has always been a great hobby and passion in my life, to the point that I take the subject kind of seriously when a respectful, open-minded, well-documented, and high-level discussion/debate begins. Back in the early '80s, when I was a kid, I was deeply influenced by the music my parents listened to. They mainly used to play classic rock of the sixties and seventies (The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Grand Funk Railroad, The Eagles, Chicago, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Santana, John Mayall, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Supertramp, Elton John, Queen, etc.). From there, I began to explore all kinds of avenues, not only in the pop/rock realm but in the avant-garde, jazz, and even the classical world. At this point in my life, I’d rather listen to challenging, experimental, elaborated, cerebral, complex, uncompromising, sophisticated, and refined music, which, unlike most people, I find very appealing, fascinating, and beautiful. Technically speaking, I love music that sports dissonant sounds, counterpointing melodic lines, atonal/polytonal harmonies, odd time signatures, complex polyrhythms, weird accent notations through the percussion, and all the bizarre and unearthly technical features in music you can imagine in its composition; i.e., just the opposite of what mainstream and commercial music typically offer. While I have no problem listening to almost all genres, these days I’d rather listen to music styles that provide the latter—Avant-Garde, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Experimental, Jazz Fusion, Guitar Virtuoso, Modern Composition, XX Classical Music, Metal, and most of their branches. Why? I guess my musical taste has evolved throughout my life, and this is the current product.
Tip 1: If you are not familiar with the music styles mentioned above, their definitions and offshoots, I recommend that you learn more in the following document, which I gladly prepared for you.
As Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Thelonious Monk, Sun Ra, Miles Davis and other genius composers, I'm also a self-taught of music theory, and while way far at their level of knowledge, I have developed a basic acumen of the technical stuff, which has helped me a lot to get into it, and love this kind of music each day more and more. Add to the equation that only high-caliber and virtuoso musicians can perform this kind of music properly, and it becomes even more interesting, intriguing, appealing, and fascinating. Yes, this is an acquired taste for most people, but remember: everything in life that is an acquired taste is worth at least a try. Also, it’s worth mentioning that the artwork covers, booklets, and packaging of these albums (often) are very creative, stunning, and luxurious, a perfect match for the pristine music offered by the artists. Unfortunately, most albums in these music styles are often expensive and/or hard to find, especially on vinyl and even on CD...
Digital Era: Lossless & Remastered Music
... but guess what? These days almost everything I'm about to share here is available on most streaming platforms even in lossless resolutions and several in remastered versions, so I thought that it was worth to take advantage of our today's advanced digital era, and assemble a digital playlist of the tip of the iceberg of my library; i.e. what I call my Overall Ranking, which attempts to include my essential/favorite artists and their best albums. Yeah, it literally took me my whole life not only to do the listening, but to do the research by reading tons of reviews of each artist/album to understand and appreciate each one better and select what I finally consider la crème de la crème of my library. This is why I baptized the playlist as:
Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist
While my digital library is over 100,000 songs, my Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist represents approximately only 40%, so you won’t get tired of listening to the same thing over and over again, because it contains thousands of songs, considers several styles of music & moods, and different eras in time. As I said, I ranked the artists and their albums in the order of my preference, so maybe we'll agree to disagree in some cases, and that’s fine. The least of my purposes here is to inflict or change your core musical preference, but to share with you some gems you might never have listened to before, while increasing your range of musical taste to some degree. If I meet the latter, I'll call it a day!
Yes, Frank Zappa is my favorite musician. At the same time, my favorite music style of all time (he plays in a league of his own), and IMHO no artist non named John Zorn (Avant-Garde God), comes close to this one-of-a-kind genius in popular music and even the classical world; heck, Frank was always ahead of his time by pushing the boundaries of music without commercial commitments. I left behind many great artists/bands in the selection process. Still, I’m always open and humble to reconsider or to new suggestions to add to the ranking and the playlist, great music, but remember, the selection will not be taken lightly by any means based on my musical taste.
While most of the music gathered here is complex, challenging, and cerebral, I'm also including some great "mainstream" artists who have helped me develop my current musical taste. Some of them are considered the greatest of all time, mainly in popular music —The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Prince, etc. I’m also including some great albums, compilations, and songs by artists who aren't necessarily at the top of my book; nevertheless, they round out quite well my objective — to present what I consider the very best of my library. I’m sharing a brief Bio of each artist as well, in case you are not familiar with someone and/or you want to explore new territories in music.
I'm also presenting rankings by music style, so in addition to my Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist, I created Playlists by each Music Style Ranked, so if you are more inclined to listen to a specific music style, like prog-rock, or want to explore more avenues in music like jazz fusion, these playlists might be more appealing. The milestones for each ranking were also added to the playlists' descriptions on Apple Music. Again, the rankings and playlists will be updated if I discover a new artist/album that deserves consideration, so I encourage you to follow this post and subscribe to my blog to stay tuned. This is a living thing by definition.
You can sort the playlists by your preferred order —year, artist, genre, album, etc. Once in a playlist, just tap the search button in the app to find what you are looking for, and voilà! But if you ask me, I highly recommend shuffling them, because you will never know what is coming (unless you see the queue list). At the same time, you might be sporadically taken by surprise (with joy), by some gems you might never listened to before or haven’t listened to for a while —i.e., as radio stations do but without commercials. Also, if you share a similar musical taste to what's presented here, or find it interesting to explore, you can add the playlists to your library by tapping the (+) button in the App. Trust me, it will save you weeks, if not months, of manual assembling.
The playlists are only available on Apple Music (you can transfer them through playlist-transfer platforms like soundizz.com, though), because after doing my research, all in all, it is the only music streaming platform that has some unique features that allow you to manage and organize your digital music and library in very cool ways.
Audiophile Experience: Devices
If you want to take your listening experience to the next level, get a DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), and you will enjoy and appreciate this music far better, since you will be able to unfold the lossless resolutions offered on most streaming platforms. Remember, a lot is going on with the musicianship and soundstage, especially in this kind of music (the music styles I mentioned above and the artists shown below), and you don’t want to miss a single note/instrument, do you?
Tip 2: Apple's music in Dolby Atmos can be unfolded by Apple’s IEMs and Headphones without a DAC—AirPod Pro and AirPod Max.
For instance, I use a FiiO BTR7 DAC, which drives a Yanyin Canon IEM set through its 4.4 mm balanced output. I also use a 21-core, 2-pin cable. This DAC handles PCM/MQA/LDAC/aptX HD 384K/32-bit DSD256 resolutions without an issue. I really recommend this IEM. It features the following: 1 Dynamic + 4 Balanced-Armature HiFi Hybrid Earphones, High-Quality Single-Crystal Copper-Silver-Plated Cable, 3 Tuning Switches, Changeable Collocation, Medical Resin Shell, Ergonomic Design, and Professional Crossover Technology. I recommend setting its switches at 0-I-0; trust me, you won't need more bass, but again, it's up to you. Also, at its 350 USD price tag, you won't notice much difference from other IEMs that cost even more. To really upgrade your listening experience, you gotta go to the 1,500 USD segment, and yet this set won’t let you down. Do your own due diligence, though. It’s worth noting that this audio configuration (DAC, IEM, and Cable) won’t cost you more than 500 USD, and you will likely hear details, textures, and nuances you might never have before—if you don’t consider yourself an audiophile, of course. Man, I still use my old 2009 MacBook Pro and Motu Ultralite mk3 audio interface combo, which drives my set of Cerwin-Vega speakers (4 CVA-28 and 1 CVA-118). It's unbelievable that this audio interface can still handle today's 192 kHz sample rates, thanks to its (then) state-of-the-art DAC chips. The music still sounds pretty cool and detailed, especially regarding the soundstage throughout this set.
That said, I took the time to explain the latter because when you listen to your music at the best possible sound quality (the source, proper audio devices to support lossless formats, and a decent set of speakers/headphones/IEMs), you will likely experience nirvana, and you don’t really have to break the bank these days especially with the CHI-FI hype we are living. Out there, there are plenty of options for every budget. I encourage you to dig a bit and do your own due diligence.
Overall Ranking Milestones
5,000+ Albums
50,000+ Songs
400+ Artists Ranked
300+ Compilation Suggestions
800+ Under-the-radar Songs
190+ Days of Continuous Listening
600+ GB Music Stored
Updated: 2.12.2025
Gods’ Music Milestones
1,900+ albums
18,000+ songs
270+ GB of music stored
80+ days of continuous music
11 Gods
Disclosure
While these rankings DO NOT intend or mean better or worse of the music presented here by any means, they take into consideration several criteria to standardize the selection of the artists and the rankings —musicianship, elaboration and complexity of the compositions, instrumentation, arrangements, quality of the productions, impact and influence in music, career and prolificness, musicians & staff, etc. Again, while the latter is still, and indeed, a subjective matter, it definitely provides more context and reference, making the debate more credible, substantial, and enriching. At the end of the day, these rankings just try to represent my musical taste and personal preference, and aside from my Gods in Music, I still believe they could change a bit depending on my mood on a particular day. That said, all the artists, albums, and songs considered here are great in their own merit. The same goes for the rankings of the artists' albums listed here.
The music genres assigned to the artists are also attempts to represent the main styles of music a particular artist played. While this is a personal take, it is aligned with what most reliable, fair, and legitimate music sources suggest. In the end, we can agree to disagree here, and that’s fine; the final word is up to you.
Likewise, the definitions and offshoots of the music genres shown in this document, which I gladly prepared for you, are merely attempts to guide and orient inquisitive listeners to new territories in music when they are not familiar with a particular artist or music style.
I’m giving artists symbols to quickly identify key information: their nationality, the main music genres an artist (used to) play, whether an artist was recently added to the rankings, and whether your Shark published original content from a particular artist on the blog. This will be very useful if you are not familiar with some artists and their work, but most importantly, if you want to explore new avenues in music. For newly added artists, their rankings will be temporarily highlighted in yellow; their positions will likely remain there, but they are still under review.
🦈 Original Content of the Artist Published by The Shark
🆕 Artist Just Added to the Rankings
🇺🇸 Nationality
🎸 Pop/Rock
🎷 Jazz
🎹 Classical
🎺 R&B
🎻 Avant-Garde
🎤 Folk
🪕 Blues
🪘 Latin
🪗 Country
🪇 International
🎬 Stage & Screen
📟 Electronic
🎙️Vocal
🪈New Age
🎚Rap
As you might know, each core music genre encompasses several subgenres. For example, within Pop/Rock you’ll find subgenres such as Hard Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk/New Wave, Psychedelic/Garage, Soft Rock, Art-Rock/Experimental, and more. Likewise, within these subgenres, there are additional music styles to classify the music further. For example, within Art-Rock/Experimental, you’ll find more styles of music like Art Rock, Avant-Prog, Canterbury Scene, Experimental Rock, Kraut Rock, Neo-Prog, Noise-Rock, Prog-Rock, and way more. Ultimately, labels are only there to classify music better, since it is rapidly evolving, especially these days. While many sources classify music, you have the final word on how you want to label it. This is only a (fair) guide based on the most reliable music sources, mixed with my own takes, and intended to standardize the classification of the music presented here. Under any circumstance, I DO NOT pretend to hold the whole truth for what I’m presenting here; again, the ultimate decision on how you want to classify your music is up to you.
Tip 3: The more symbols of music genres given, the more ground in music covered and/or the more music styles blended by an artist.
If you want to go deeper into music genres, consult this document, which I gladly prepared for you.
My Gods in Music
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎹 🎺🎻God of Gods: Frank Zappa (1940–1993); IMHO the greatest composer in the XX century. My all-time hero. He opened me the door to all kinds of avenues in music. The creator of “radical rock” during the '60s who later pursued even more adventurous avenues, ranging from R&B to jazz fusion to comedy rock, hard rock, art rock, prog rock to experimental music, avant-garde, modern composition, musique concrète to avant-garde classical composition, chamber music to complex & elaborated computer music to… you name it; yet rabid and die-hard fans (are out there any other kind of Zappa fans, anyways?) will tell you labels are far and away from his colossal catalog since the master plays in a league of his own. Multi-instrumentalist, uncompromising talent and creativity, self-taught, eclectic, boundary-pushing & prolific composer, virtuoso guitarist, film maker, arranger, producer, orchestral conductor, demanding recruiter, perfectionist bandleader, successful businessman, and not the least, uncensored and sharp articulated speaker, especially on social and political critique of the American culture.
His disparate influences included Chicago blues (Muddy Waters, Guitar Slim, Howlin’ Wolf, Johnny “Guitar” Watson), doo-wop music (The Penguins) and avant-garde classical music (Igor Stravinsky, Edgard Varèse, Anton Webern, Béla Bartók); although he led groups that could be called rock & roll bands for much of his career, he used them to create a hybrid style that bordered on jazz and complicated, modern serious music, sometimes inducing orchestras to play along. As if his music were not challenging enough, he overlay it with highly satirical and sometimes abstractly humorous lyrics and song titles that marked him as coming out of a provocative literary tradition that included Beat poets like Allen Ginsberg and edgy comedians like Lenny Bruce. Nominally, he was a popular musician, but his recordings rarely earned significant airplay or sales, yet he was able to gain control of his recorded work and issue it successfully through his own labels while also touring internationally, in part because of the respect he earned from a dedicated cult of fans and many serious musicians, and also because he was an articulate spokesman who promoted himself into a media star through extensive interviews he considered to be a part of his creative effort just like his music. The Mothers of Invention, the '60s group he led, often seemed to offer a parody of popular music and the counterculture (although he affected long hair and jeans, Zappa was openly scornful of hippies and drug use). By the '80s, he was testifying before Congress in opposition to censorship (and editing his testimony into one of his albums). But these comic and serious sides were complementary, not contradictory. In statement and in practice, Zappa was an iconoclastic defender of the freest possible expression of ideas. And most of all, he was a composer far more ambitious than any other rock musician of his time and most classical musicians, as well. In short? one-of-a-kind genius.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. The Yellow Shark 2. Hot Rats, 3. Läther, 4. Civilization Phase III, 5. Absolutely Free, 6. Uncle Meat, 7. Apostrophe (‘), 8. Lumpy Gravy Primordial, 9. Over-Nite Sensation, 10. Joe’s Garage.
Frank Zappa’s Milestones:
132 albums
3,323 songs
11 days of continuous listening
41 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Guide to Frank Zappa’s Discography by The Shark (Exclusive Content)
Playlist of the Official Discography of Frank Zappa SoA assembling by The Shark
Hot Rats by Frank Zappa: flawless, impeccable and exquisite; the birth of jazz-rock fusion by The Shark (Original Review)
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎹 🎷🎻🎬🪇Avant-Garde God: John Zorn (1953-present); The one word virtually everyone can agree on in any discussion of the work of composer John Zorn is "prolific" in the strictest sense of the definition. Titles under his own name number well over 150, and the sheer number of works he has composed, produced, or played on easily doubles that. Zorn's compositional diversity is staggering. He's written elaborate "game pieces" (Cobra), fused hardcore punk and avant-jazz on Spy vs. Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman, and classical chamber works. He has penned numerous books of compositions numbering in the thousands. He's written dozens of soundtracks, solo organ works, chamber pieces, rock, jazz exotica recordings (Dreamers), and lieder (Madrigals). His revolving cast of musicians, ranging from the obscure to the internationally renowned includes Kronos Quartet, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Pat Metheny, and Frank London. Zorn has also mentored countless musicians in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and through his long-running Tzadik label. In 2023, Tzadik released Bagatelles, Vol. 3: Trigger, comprising four discs of unpublished works performed by four different ensembles. In 2024 he issued a dozen albums that included the Shakespeare-inspired Her Melodious Lay, Ballades, and Lamentations. Through the Looking Glass, performed by a quartet that included John Medeski and Matt Hollenberg, appeared in 2025, followed by Impromptus, a set of freewheeling piano trio compositions.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. Bar Kokhoba, 2. Andras: The Book of Angels, Vol. 28, 3. The Gift, 4. Godard/Spillane, 5. Cobra: Game Pieces, Vol. 2, 6. Naked City 7. Masada - The Circle Maker, 8. At the Mountain of Madness - Live In Europe, 9. The Big Gundown, 10. The Best of Filmworks - 20 Years of Soundtrack Music.
John Zorn’s Milestones:
358 albums
3,605 songs
13.2 days of continuous listening
54 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Guide to John Zorn’s Discography by The Shark (Exclusive Content)
Playlist of the Official Discography of John Zorn SoA assembling by The Shark
Bar Kokhba by John Zorn: a journey to an elegant and sophisticated avant-garde territory by The Shark (Original Review)
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Jazz God: Miles Davis (1926–1991); A monumental innovator, icon, and maverick, trumpeter who helped define the course of jazz as well as popular culture in the 20th century, bridging the gap between bebop, modal music, funk, and fusion. Throughout most of his 50-year career, Davis played the trumpet in a lyrical, introspective style, often employing a stemless Harmon mute to make his sound more personal and intimate. It was a style that, along with his brooding stage persona, earned him the nickname "Prince of Darkness." However, Davis proved to be a dazzlingly protean artist, moving into fiery modal jazz in the '60s and electrified funk and fusion in the '70s, drenching his trumpet in wah-wah pedal effects along the way. More than any other figure in jazz, Davis helped establish the direction of the genre with a steady stream of boundary-pushing recordings, among them 1957's chamber jazz album Birth of the Cool (which collected recordings from 1949-1950), 1959's modal masterpiece Kind of Blue, 1960's orchestral album Sketches of Spain, and 1970's landmark fusion recording Bitches Brew. Davis' own playing was obviously at the forefront of those changes, but he also distinguished himself as a bandleader, regularly surrounding himself with sidemen and collaborators who likewise moved in new directions, including the luminaries John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and many more. While he remains one of the most referenced figures in jazz, a major touchstone for generations of trumpeters (including Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, and Nicholas Payton), his music reaches far beyond the jazz tradition, and can be heard in the genre-bending approach of performers across the musical spectrum, ranging from funk and pop to rock, electronica, hip-hop, and more.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. In a Silent Way, 2. Bitches Brew, 3. A Tribute To Jack Johnson, 4. Kind of Blue 5. Miles Ahead 6. Get Up With It, 7. 'Round About Midnight, 8. Sketches of Spain, 9. Miles Smiles, 10. On the Corner.
Miles Davis’ Milestones:
139 albums
1,800 songs
8.7 days of continuous listening
27 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Guide to Miles Davis’ Discography by The Shark (Exclusive Content)
Playlist of the Official Discography of Miles Davis SoA assembling by The Shark
In a Silent Way by Miles Davis: revolutionary and blowing away Milestone; progress, vision, execution and promising young-bloods by The Shark (Original Review)
🇺🇸🦈🎻🎹 🎷Structured Improviser God: Anthony Braxton (1945-present); Innovative avant-garde multi-instrumentalist and composer, one of the most important figures in the later free jazz community. Multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton is among the most influential and prolific musicians and theorists to emerge from the 20th century. His hundreds of albums offer everything from experimental compositional techniques, graphic and non-specific notation, serialism, electronic, and improvisation, while employing vast knowledge of the jazz tradition from bebop to vanguard to post-bop. Braxton's recording career began with Three Compositions of New Jazz in 1969 and the iconic, solo For Alto in 1971. Arista, SteepleChase, and other labels issued '70s-era recordings including both In the Tradition volumes (1974), Creative Orchestra Music 1976, and Alto Saxophone Improvisations 1979. The '80s and '90s saw acclaimed releases including Six Compositions (Quartet) 1984, and Eight (+3) Tristano Compositions, 1989: For Warne Marsh, and Octet (New York) 1995. In the 21st century, release highlights included Six Compositions (GTM) 2001, Trio (New Haven) 2013, the five-act opera Trillium J in 2016, and the archival Four Compositions (Wesleyan) 2013 in 2023.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. The Montreux/Berlin Concerts, 2. New York, Fall 1974, 3. Dortmund (Quarter) 1976 (Live), 4. Conference of the Birds, 5. One in Two – Tw in One (Live), 6. 3 Compositions of New Jaz, 7. For Alto, 8. Five Pieces 1975, 8. Creative Orchestra Music 1976, 9. Six Monk´s Compositions (1987), 10. Birth and Rebirth.
Anthony Braxton’s Milestones:
141 albums
854 songs
8.2 days of continuous listening
24 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of Anthony Braxton SoA assembling by The Shark
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Avant-Garde Jazz God: Sun Ra (1914-1993); Bandleader, composer, arranger, keyboard player, poet, philosopher, and cosmonaut Sun Ra advanced jazz into the space age. Through his elaborate concerts, films, and countless recordings, he fused imagery and mythology related to ancient Egypt as well as science fiction, planting the seeds for what would eventually be referred to as Afrofuturism. Ra's music encompassed nearly every style of jazz, with roots in ragtime and swing, bebop and avant-garde jazz. Initially active as a blues pianist, he worked with swing musicians such as Coleman Hawkins during the 1940s, then established his own trajectory during the '50s, when he founded the ever-changing ensemble known as the Arkestra. Establishing their interstellar mystique, the group sported futuristic costumes during their outlandish performances, and recorded constantly, issuing records through Ra's independent label El Saturn Records, often with misleading or nonexistent liner notes. During the 1960s, the Arkestra released landmark albums such as The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 (1965) and Atlantis (1969), groundbreaking in their shifting away from conventional melody and harmony, as well as their usage of synthesizers and electronic keyboards. Ra's surrealist sci-fi epic Space Is the Place, preceded by an unrelated album of the same title, was released in 1974, subsequently becoming a major cult classic film. Later concerts and recordings by Ra incorporated swing standards and even tunes from Disney movies, but maintained a heavy degree of improvisation, and remained highly unpredictable. The Arkestra has continued to perform since Ra's passing in 1993, and he remains a crucial influence on all forms of creative, forward-thinking music.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. Lanquidity, 2. Sleeping Beauty, 3. Strange Celestial Road, 4. Space is the Place, 5. The Magic City, 6. Jazz in Silhouette, 7. Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy, 8. Sound of Joy, 9. Atlantis, 10. The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra Vol. 1.
Sun Ra’s Milestones:
177 albums
854 songs
6.7 days of continuous listening
21 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of Sun Ra SoA assembling by The Shark
🇬🇧🦈🎷🎻🎹Multi-Instrumental God: John Surman (1944-present); English saxophonist John Surman is a world-class composer, his large, diverse body of work -- classical, theatrical, and soundtrack -- has extended the boundaries of jazz. He studied clarinet as a child, then tenor, baritone, and soprano saxophones. He began playing jazz at the London College of Music and later studied at the London University Institute of Education. Following an eponymous leader debut in 1969, he recorded Where Fortune Smiles with guitarist John McLaughlin in 1971, and Morning Glory on Island with Terje Rypdal, John Marshall, and John Taylor in 1973. He signed with ECM (on which he has recorded almost exclusively since) for 1979's solo Upon Reflection, overdubbing saxes, clarinet, and synthesizer. Following The Adventures of Simon Simon with drummer Jack DeJohnette and Such Winters of Memory with singer Karin Krog, he kicked off the '90s with the solo Road to Saint Ives. Two wide-ranging quartet dates -- Adventure Playground (1992) and Stranger Than Fiction (1994) -- set the stage for 1997's live Proverbs and Songs, with Surman playing over a church organ and the Salisbury Festival Chorus. 2000's Coruscating and 2007's The Spaces in Between showcased the saxophonist with string groups. 2012's landmark, award-winning Saltash Bells marked a return to solo recording. 2015's Songs About This and That reunited him with Krog. 2018's trio offering Invisible Threads featured Brazilian pianist Nelson Ayers and vibraphonist Rob Waring. Surman and Waring enlisted guitarist Rob Luft and drummer Thomas Strønen for 2024's Words Unspoken in celebration of his 80th birthday. In January 2025, Cuneiform Records released Flashpoints and Undercurrents, a previously unissued full stereo recording by a tentet from 1969.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, 2. Upon Reflection, 3. Coruscating, 4. Road to Saint Ives, 5. Cloud Line Blue, 6. Adventure Playground, 7. Proverbs and Songs, 8. Adventure Playground, 9. Westering Home, 10. Private City.
John Surman’s Milestones:
51 albums
487 songs
1.8 days of continuous listening
6 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of John Surman SoA assembling by The Shark
🇺🇸🦈🎷Piano God: McCoy Tyner (1938-2020); Jazz pianist whose inventive two-handed forays, extensive modal solos, and dashing phrases made him arguably the best pianist to debut in the '60s. One of the most celebrated and influential jazz pianists of his generation, McCoy Tyner was known for his harmonically expansive modal voicings, commanding two-handed block-chord style, and fearless improvisational lines that touched upon African and Eastern musical traditions. Along with contemporaries Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, and Chick Corea, Tyner redefined the sound of the modern jazz piano from the '60s onward, and his playing continues to guide up-and-coming musicians. Although primarily recognized for his work as a member of saxophonist John Coltrane's famed quartet with bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones, Tyner distinguished himself as a leader in his own right, releasing forward-looking dates like 1967's The Real McCoy, 1972's Sahara, and 1980's Horizon. Those albums found him building upon his time with Coltrane, having already contributed to innovative albums like 1961's Africa/Brass, 1961's My Favorite Things, and 1965's A Love Supreme. Throughout his career, Tyner continued to push himself, arranging for his big band and releasing Grammy-winning albums with 1987's Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane and 1992's The Turning Point. Active well into his seventies, Tyner remained a vital performer, becoming an NEA Jazz Master in 2002 and winning another Grammy for 2004's Illuminations with Christian McBride and Terence Blanchard. More engaging collaborations followed, including 2007's McCoy Tyner Quartet with Joe Lovano and 2008's Guitars with Bill Frisell, Béla Fleck, Derek Trucks, and others. He further showcased his virtuosity on 2009's Solo: Live from San Francisco and 2013's A Pair of Pianos with Larry Vuckovich.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. The Real McCoy, 2. Sama Layuca, 3. Sahara, 4. Extensions, 5. Expansions, 6. Trident, 7. Time for Tyner, 8. Song of the New World, 9. Asante, 10. Echoes of a Friend.
McCoy Tyner’s Milestones:
93 albums
674 songs
3.2 days of continuous listening
10.4 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of McCoy Tyner SoA assembling by The Shark
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Sax God: John Coltrane (1926-1967); A towering musical figure of the 20th century, saxophonist John Coltrane reset the parameters of jazz during his decade as a leader. At the outset, he was a vigorous practitioner of hard bop, gaining prominence as a sideman for Miles Davis before setting out as a leader in 1957, when he released Coltrane on Prestige and Blue Train on Blue Note. Coltrane quickly expanded his horizons, pioneering a technique critic Ira Gitler dubbed "sheets of sound," consisting of the saxophonist playing a flurry of notes on his tenor within the confines of a few chords. During his last days with Davis, along with his earliest records for Atlantic, Coltrane leaned into this technique, but as he developed his career as a leader in the early '60s, he also turned lyrical. His sweet, fluid soprano sax distinguished My Favorite Things, which helped turn the album into a standard upon its release in 1961, but Coltrane soon backed away from mainstream acceptance. Working with pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and bassist Jimmy Garrison -- a band that would be labeled the "Classic Quartet" -- Coltrane entered a fearless exploratory phase, explicitly incorporating his spiritual quest into his experimental music. A Love Supreme, an album released on Impulse! in 1965, marked the popular height of this period, but Coltrane continued to voyage to the outer edges of jazz in his final years, collaborating with Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders. Liver cancer ended his life prematurely: he died at the age of 40 in 1967, just ten years after his first LP as a leader -- but Coltrane's legacy was so varied and rich, he remained the touchstone for creativity in jazz for decades after his passing.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. Blue Train, 2. Giant Steps, 3. My Favorite Things, 4. Africa/Brass, 5. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, 6. A Love Supreme, 7. Ascension, 8. John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman 9. Bags & Trane, 10. Olé Coltrane.
John Coltrane’s Milestones:
153 albums
1,452 songs
8.5 days of continuous listening
27 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of John Coltrane SoA assembling by The Shark
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what a journey! by The Shark (Original Review)
🇬🇧🦈🎸Prog-Rock Gods: King Crimson (1968-present); If there is one group that embodies progressive rock, it is King Crimson. Led by guitar/Mellotron virtuoso Robert Fripp, during its first five years of existence the band stretched both the language and structure of rock into realms of jazz and classical music, all the while avoiding pop and psychedelic sensibilities. The absence of mainstream compromises and the lack of an overt sense of humor ultimately doomed the group to nothing more than a large cult following, but it made their albums some of the most enduring and respectable of the prog rock era.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. Discipline, 2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic 3. In the Court of the Crimson King, 4. In the Wake of Poseidon, 5. Islands, 6. Lizard, 7. Starless and Bible Black, 8. Red, 9. Beat, 10. Three of a Perfect Pair.
King Crimson’s Milestones:
83 albums
721 songs
2.8 days of continuous listening
9 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of King Crimson SoA assembling by The Shark
Discipline by King Crimson: reinventing progressive rock music; a smart blend of cerebral art rock and post-punk, yet catchy and with almost pop sensibilities by The Shark (Original Review)
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎻Guitar God: Buckethead (1969-present); Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in American underground and experimental music since Parliament-Funkadelic birthed their bevy of cosmic characters in the mid-'70s. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist best known for his virtuosic command of the electric guitar, Buckethead is one of the instrument's most recognizable contemporary innovators, his rapid-fire riffing, near-robotic fretwork, and idiosyncratic lead lines combining elements of Yngwie Malmsteen, Adrian Belew, Slayer's Kerry King, P-Funk's Eddie Hazel, and avant-improv artist John Zorn's Scud-attack sax abuse. Buckethead's extensive solo discography currently includes 31 studio albums, one live album, two extended plays, five special releases, six demo tapes, & four DVD releases. Since 2011, Buckethead started releasing albums in the "Pikes" series, mini albums usually around 30 minutes in length, each with a sequential number similar to a comic book. Buckethead has released 655 Pike albums, 175 of which are live albums. He has released collaborative albums with Brain, Travis Dickerson, Melissa Reese, Viggo Mortensen, Shin Terai, DJ Disk, Bootsy Collins, That 1 Guy and albums with the bands Praxis, Cornbugs, Science Faxtion, Guns N' Roses, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, and Deli Creeps, in addition to many other collaborations with bands and artists, and composed for films, all while maintaining his iconic KFC bucket and white mask stage attire. His first group, the San Francisco-based metal-funk combine the Deli Creeps, were a regional success, but disbanded before they could release anything. Buckethead's solo career has been more productive, thanks mostly to the motivation of Zorn and Bill Laswell, the latter of whom Buckethead has also recorded and toured with in Praxis. Laswell has also produced a number of Buckethead's solo albums (including Dreamatorium and Day of the Robot) and included him on more than a dozen one-off recordings with the likes of Hakim Bey, Bootsy Collins, Anton Fier, Jonas Hellborg, and Bernie Worrell. In addition to releases including 1998's Colma, Buckethead has also contributed soundtrack material to such films as Last Action Hero and Street Fighter. Buckethead returned in 1999 with Monsters and Robots, after which he joined the short-lived re-formation of Guns N' Roses. A steady stream of releases followed into the 21st century ranging from the contemplative Electric Tears to a more electronica/rock hybrid, and collaborations with San Francisco's underground hip-hop scene. In the following decade, he averaged a few releases a year, teaming up with dozens of artists, including Les Claypool, Iggy Pop, and Mike Patton, and in 2008, he collaborated with actor/musician Viggo Mortensen for Pandemonium from American. A dizzying string of releases would follow before the actor and the enigmatic guitarist worked together again in 2011 on Reunion. The following year, Buckethead released Electric Sea, a follow-up to his 2002 album, Electric Tears.
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. Colma, 2. Giant Robot, 3. Electric Tears 4. Crime Slunk Scene, 5. Monsters and Robots 6. Population Override 7. Chicken Noodles 8. Enter the Kitchen 9. Kaleidoscalp 10. Acoustic Shards.
Buckethead’s Milestones:
355 albums
1,821 songs
7.2 days of continuous listening
22 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Playlist of the Official Discography of Buckethead SoA assembling by The Shark
🇬🇧🦈🎸📟🎻Experimental Gods: The Legendary Pink Dots & Edward Ka-Spel (1980-present); The Legendary Pink Dots are an influential, staggeringly prolific group led by enigmatic frontman Edward Ka-Spel. Emerging from the early-'80s post-punk underground and sometimes categorized as industrial due to associations with bands like Skinny Puppy, the group's music is nearly impossible to pin down, drawing from Krautrock, ambient, folk, synth pop, and numerous other styles. The Dots' music is by turns melodic pop and exotic psychedelia, with classical influences, sampling, and relentlessly dark, violent, apocalyptic lyrics. Ka-Spel's rhotacistic vocals are instantly recognizable, and somewhat resemble a cross between Syd Barrett and Coil's John Balance. Aside from the group's only two constant members, Ka-Spel and keyboard player Phil Knight (also known as the Silverman), the Dots have consisted of a shifting supporting cast over the years, including Canadian dub reggae producer Ryan Moore (Twilight Circus), engineer Raymond Steeg, and guitarist Erik Drost. The group has toured relentlessly since its inception, and has released well over a hundred albums, EPs, and compilations on dozens of labels, including numerous limited cassettes and CD-Rs. Early releases such as 1982's Brighter Now consisted of quirky, minimal synth pop, and their work grew more ambitious and mystical, with expanded instrumentation and more adventurous, free-form song structures. The group released some of their best-known releases, including 1988's The Golden Age and 1991's The Maria Dimension, on Play It Again Sam before switching to Soleilmoon with 1995's From Here You'll Watch the World Go By, additionally releasing material on ROIR, Beta-lactam Ring, and other labels throughout the coming decades. An increasing number of digital releases appeared during the 2010s, including live recordings and archival collections, while studio albums appeared on Rustblade (10 to the Power of 9, 2014) and Metropolis (Pages of Aquarius, 2016).
Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. The Maria Dimension, 2. Poppy Variations, 3. Crushed Velvet Apocalypse, 4. The Golden Age, 5. Asylum, 6. Your Children Placate You from Premature Graves, 7. Stained Glass Soma Fountain, 8. Island of Jewels, 9. The Whispering Wall 10. Any Day Now.
The Legendary Pink Dots’ Milestones:
178 albums
1,512 songs
7.3 days of continuous listening
22 GB of music stored
Updated: 30.10.2025
Guide to of The Legendary Pink Dots & Edward Ka-Spel Discography by The Shark (Exclusive Content)
Playlist of the Official Discography of The Legendary Pink Dots & Edward Ka-Spel SoA assembling by The Shark
The Maria Dimension by The Legendary Pink Dots: a fascinating dark, violent and apocalyptic space-rock jour by The Shark (Original Review)
Ranking Shark's Musical Taste by Music Style
Experimental/Art Rock Ranking
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🎸🎻🎹Shark’s Experimental/Art Rock Playlist
All the artists and albums listed in the Experimental/Art Rock Ranking are included in the playlist.
Shark’s Experimental/Art Rock Playlist Milestones:
15,000+ songs
1,400+ albums
200+ artists ranked
180+ GB music stored
55+ days of continuous music
Music Styles & Offshoots Included: Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Experimental Rock, Avant-Garde, Canterbury Scene, Crossover Prog, Eclectic Prog, Experimental/Post Metal, Heavy Prog, Indo-Prog/Raga Rock, Jazz Rock/Fusion, Krautrock, Neo-Prog, Post Rock/Math Rock, Prog Folk, Progressive Electronic, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic/Space Rock, RIO/Avant-Prog, Rock Progressivo Italiano, Symphonic Prog, Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, Zeuhl, Prog Related, Proto-Prog, Noise Rock
Gods' best Experimental/Art Rock Albums
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🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎹 🎺🎻Frank Zappa: 1. The Yellow Shark, 2. Lumpy Gravy Primoradial, 3. Civilization Phase III, 4. Sleep Dirt, 5. Uncle Meat, 6. Burnt Weeny Sandwich, 7. Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, 8. Everything Is Healing Nicely, 9. Dance Me This, 10. Absolutely Free
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎹 🎷🎻🎬🪇John Zorn: 1. Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2, 2. John Zorn's Olympiad, Vol. 1, 3. Godard/Spillane, 4. The Big Gundown, 5. Naked City, 6. The Gift, 7. The Goddess - Music For The Ancient Of Days, 8. The Best of Filmworks - 20 Years of Soundtrack Music, 9. Chaos Magick, 10. Hockey
🇬🇧🦈🎸📟🎻The Legendary Pink Dots: 1. The Maria Dimension, 2. Poppy Variations, 3. Crushed Velvet Apocalypse, 4. The Golden Age, 5. Asylum, 6. Your Children Placate You from Premature Graves, 7. Stained Glass Soma Fountain, 8. Island of Jewels, 9. The Whispering Wall 10. Any Day Now.
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎻Buckethead: 1. Giant Robot, 2. Kaleidoscalp, 3. Enter the Chicken, 4. Cuckoo Clocks of Hell, 5. Albino Slug, 6. The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock, 7. Pike 2: Empty Space, 8. Pike 13: Look Up There, 9. Pike 39: Twisterlend, 10. Pike 57: Night Gallery & Pike 165: Orange Tree
🇬🇧🦈🎷🎻John Surman: 1. How Many Clouds Can You See? 2. A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, 3. Withholding Pattern, 4. Local Colour, 5. Westering Home, 6. Upn Reflectioon, 7. Brass Project, 8. Coruscating, 9. Tales Of The Algonquin, 10. Adventure Playground
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Miles Davis: 1. Bitches Brew, 2. On the Corner, 3. In a Silent Way, 4. Pangaea, 5. Big Fun, 6. Agharta, 7. A Tribute To Jack Johnson, 8. Live-Evil, 9. Nefertiti, 10. Get Up With It
🇬🇧🦈🎸King Crimson: 1. Discipline, 2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic 3. In the Court of the Crimson King, 4. In the Wake of Poseidon, 5. Islands, 6. Lizard, 7. Starless and Bible Black, 8. Red, 9. Beat, 10. Three of a Perfect Pair.
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Sun Ra: 1. The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1, 2. Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy, 3. Lanquidity, 4. Strange Strings, 5. Space is the Place, 6. My Brother the Wind, 7. Cosmos, 8. Secrets of the Sun, 9. The Magic City, 10. Other Planes of There
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻John Coltrane: 1. The Avant-Garde, 2. Giant Steps, 3. My Favorite Things, 4. Africa/Brass Sessions, 5. Live at the Village Vanguard, 6. Crescent, 7. A Love Supreme, 8. Ascension, 9. The John Coltrane Quartet Plays, 10. Meditations
🇺🇸🦈🎷McCoy Tyner: 1. Sahara, 2. Enlightenment, 3. Extensions, 4. Atlantis, 5. Sama Layuca, 6. Fly with the Wind, 7. Trident, 8. Echoes of a Friend, 9. Expansions, 10. Focal Point
🇺🇸🦈🎻🎹 🎷Anthony Braxton: 1. For Alto, 2. New York, Fall 1974, 3. Five Pieces 1975, 4. Creative Orchestra Music 1976, 5. The Montreux/Berlin Concerts, 6. For Trio (1978), 7. For Two Pianos, 8. Dortmund, 9. Silence, 10. Three Compositions of New Jazz
Experimental/Art Rock Ranking by Artist
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1. 🇺🇸🦈🎸🎻Captain Beefheart Influential figure who fused disparate forms like free jazz, the avant-garde, blues, and rock into a highly original and nearly unclassifiable style. 1. Trout Mask Replica, 2. Sun Zoom Spark: 1970 to 1972, 3. Grow Fins: Rarities 1965-1982, 4. Doc at the Radar Station, 5. Strictly Personal, 6. The Mirror Man Sessions, 7. Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller), 8. Ice Cream for Crow, 9. Bluejeans and Moonbeams, 10. Safe As Milk. CB’s fans, did you see what I did here? 😂😉 Shark’s entry point: Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: fast and bulbous; a massively misunderstood masterpiece
2. 🇬🇧🦈🎸🎻Henry Cow During their brief and tumultuous lifespan, fiercely political British art rockers Henry Cow spawned a musical subgenre that became known as Rock In Opposition. 1. Western Culture, 2. Unrest, 3. Leg End, 4. In Praise Of Learning, 5. Desperate Straights, 6. Concerts, 7. A Cow Cabinet Of Curiosities, 8. Vol. 1: Beginnings, 9. Vol. 2: 1974-5, 10. Glastonbury and Elsewhere. Special Mention (1. Vol. 3: Hamburg, 2. Vol. 4 & 5: Trondheim, 3. Henry Cow: Stockholm & Göteborg, 4. Later and Post-Virgin, 5. Vol. 8: Bremen, Vol. 9: Late) Offshoots: 🇬🇧🎸🎻Art Bears was an English avant-rock group formed in 1978 by three members of Henry Cow: Chris Cutler (percussion), Fred Frith (guitar, etc.), and Dagmar Krause (vocals). Their music was experimental, blending the avant-garde with more accessible song structures, often featuring political and surreal lyrics by Cutler. 🇬🇧🎸🎻News From Babel was an English avant-garde rock group active from 1983 to 1986, formed by Chris Cutler, Lindsay Cooper, Zeena Parkins, and Dagmar Krause. They were a studio-based project inspired by the literary critic George Steiner's book, After Babel. The band, a successor to Art Bears and Henry Cow, released two albums, Work Resumed on the Tower (1984) and Letters Home (1986), before disbanding. 1. News Sirens and Silences / Work Resumed On the Tower, 2. Letters Home. Shark’s entry point: Western Culture by Henry Cow: a beautifully crafted and sophisticated Rock-in-Opposition masterpiece
3. 🇬🇧🦈🎸🎷Soft Machine A pioneering Canterbury psychedelic group that initially featured Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers, later developing into an experimental jazz-rock unit. 1. Third, 2. Bundles, 3. Volume 2, 4. The Soft Machine, 5. Softs, 6. Seven, 7. Fourth, 8. Six, 9. Fifth, 10. Other Doors Offshoot: 🇬🇧🎸Matching Mole Short-lived prog group formed by Robert Wyatt following his departure from Soft Machine. 1. Little Red Record, 2. Matching Mole. Shark’s entry point: Third by Soft Machine: an ambitious album, which push back the frontiers of space modal jazz-rock far beyond while defining the Canterbury Scene moving forward
4. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Genesis Seminal British prog band whose ambitious, classical-tinged art rock gradually became more accessible by the '80s. 1. Selling England by the Pound, 2. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, 3. Archive #1 (1967-1975), 4. Nursery Cryme, 5. Foxtrot, 6. Trespass, 7. A Trick of the Tail, 8. Wind & Wuthering, 9. From Genesis to Revelation 10. And Then There Were Three. Shark’s entry point: Selling England by the Pound by Genesis: everything is firing on all cylinders on this genre-defining & hallowed record
5. 🇩🇪🦈🎸🎻Can Influential German group who produced a spontaneous yet highly disciplined form of groove-heavy experimental rock. 1. Unlimited Edition, 2. Tago Mago, 3. Ege Bamyasi, 4. Monster Movie, 5. Soundtracks, 6. Delay 1968, 7. Landed, 8. Future Days, 9. Soon Over Babluma, 10. Flow Motion. Shark’s entry point: Tago Mago by Can: a Stockhausen-esque, which fuses an avant-garde rock symphony with shamanic avant-funk trance
6. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Gentle Giant Acclaimed British progressive rock band noted for their meld of hard rock with classical music and medieval approach to singing. 1. Acquiring the Taste, 2. Octopus, 3. Free Hand, 4. Three Friends, 5. The Power and the Glory, 6. In a Glass House, 7. In'terview, 8. Gentle Giant, 9. Playing the Fool: The Official Live, 10. The Missing Piece. Shark’s entry point: Acquiring the Taste by Gentle Giant: techniques borrowed directly from the Renaissance and Baroque proved us all that there's so much more to do in rock music
7. 🇩🇪🦈🎸Jane Krautrock at its finest mixing heavy guitar, dark grooves and organ soaked passages with passionate broken English vocals, while infusing a heavy dose of psychedelia. 1. Together, 2. Fire, Water, Earth & Air, 3. Between Heaven and Hell, 4. Here We Are, 5. Jane III, 6. Lady, 7. Age of Madness, 8. Sign No. 9, Live at Home, 10 Germania. Shark’s entry point: Together by Jane: astonishing blend of jazz fusion, blues rock, psychedelia, space rock, and even heavy metal at times, make this overlooked album a must
8. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Camel Durable English prog rockers who released a spate of majestic, canonical records in the 1970s and '80s. 1. Rajaz, 2. The Snow Goose, 3. A Nod and a Wink, 4. Moonmadness, 5. Nude, 6. Camel, 7. Mirage, 8. Harbour Of Tears, 9. Stationary Traveller, 10. Rain Dances. Shark’s entry point: The Snow Goose by Camel: a beautiful fantasy that translates this moving tale of friendship, love, war and separation into a well structured sonic piece of music
9. 🇩🇪🦈🎸🎻Amon Düül Influential German collective rooted in psychedelic, folk, and jazz but using a heavily experimental and improvisational framework. 1. Disaster, 2. Tanz der Lemminge (Dance of the Lemmings), 3. Yeti, 4. Phallus Dei, 5. Paradieswärts Düül, 6. Psychedelic Underground, 7. Airs On a Shoestring 8. Collapsing: Singvögel Rückwärts & Co., 9. Wolf City 10. Carnival in Babylon. Shark’s entry point: Tanz der Lemminge by Amon Düül II: pull out your tickets, and take the most mind-expanding excursion in music history
10. 🇩🇪🦈🎸🎬📟🪈Popol Vuh Experimental German band whose cosmic, trance-like music was a huge influence on modern ambience and worldbeat. 1. Einsjäger & Siebenjäger, 2. In Den Gärten Pharaos, 3. Hosianna Mantra/Tantric Songs, 4. Aguirre, 5. Brüder des Schattens, Söhne des Lichts, 6. Agape-Agape (Love-Love), 7. Nosferatu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 8. Sei Still, Wisse Ich Bin, 9. Letzte Tage, Letzte Nächte 10. Sing, For Song Drives Away The Wolves. Shark’s entry point: Letzte Tage - Letzte Nächte by Popol Vuh: an ability to create music that's simultaneously delicate and powerful, detailed and expansive, earthbound in its origins and cosmic in its reach
🆕11. 🇫🇮🪇🎸🎷Piirpauke Truly pioneers in the world-music scene, Piirpauke fuse traditional Finnish folk forms with motifs and rhythms from Latin, Caribbean, Arabic, Balkan, and Asian musical styles. Their music ranges and blends Progressive Folk, Jazz-Rock, Jazz Fusion, Progressive Rock, Chamber Folk and Chamber Jazz. 1. Piirpauke, 2. Piirpauke 2, 3. Birgi Bühtüi, 4. Kajastus, 5. Kirkastus, 6. The Wild East (Villi Itä), 7. Algazara, 8. Zerenade, 9. Lumo, 10. Sillat. (Special Mention: Global Servisi, Tuku tuku, Muuttolinnut (Terra Nova), Ave Maria, Laula sinäkin, Kalevala Spirit, Laulu laineilla, Ikiliikkuja, Kalabalik, Historia of Piirpauke, Vol. 1, Onneliset, Ilo, Juju, Hali)
11. 🇺🇸🦈🎸🎻Tom Waits A neo-beatnik songwriter who grew weirder and wilder in the '80s, earning a cult following that only grew larger as the years passed. 1. Rain Dogs, 2. Swordfishtrombones, 3. Frank’s Wild Years, 4. Bone Machine, 5. The Black Rider, 6. Heartattack and Vine, 7. Alice, 8. Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, 9. Mule Variations, 10. Blue Valentine. (Special Mention: The Heart of Saturday Night, Small Change, Real Gone). Shark’s entry point: Rain Dogs by Tom Waits: breathtaking dark cabaret and beat poetry, wrapped with seductive jarring rhythms and singular instrumentation
12. 🇩🇪🦈🎸📟🪈Ash Ra Tempel One of the most formidable of the German Krautrock groups, Ash Ra Tempel were a powerful force led by virtuoso guitarist Manuel Göttsching, and also included former Tangerine Dream drummer Klaus Schulze at various points. 1. The Private Tapes Vol. 1-6, 2. Schwingungen, 3. Inventions for Electric Guitar, 4. Starring Rosi, 5. Ash Ra Temple, 6. Seven Up, 7. Join Inn, 8. Le Berceau De Crista,m, 9. Blackouts 10. New Age of Earth. Shark’s entry point: Starring Rosi by Ash Ra Tempel: the definitive trip into cerebral space land
13. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Van Der Graaf Generator & Peter Hammill Art rock unit led by Peter Hammill, distinguished for a dynamic range rivaled only by King Crimson and for their surprising influence on British punk.1. Pawn Hearts, 2. H To He, Who Am The Only One, 3. The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other, 4. Godbluff, 5. Still Life, 6. World Record, 7. The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome, 8. Present 9. The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage 10. In Camera. Shark’s entry point: Pawn Hearts by Van Der Graaf Generator: an album so sublime that it is one of the rare sonic portals into a truly alternative universe
14. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Yes The definitive English progressive rock band, purveyors of virtuoso playing and vast musical tapestries, topped off with gorgeous melodies. 1. Tales from Topographic Oceans, 2. Relayer, 3. The Yes Album, 4. Fragile, 5. Close to the Age, 6. Drama, 7. Keystudio, 8. Yes, 9. Going for the One, 10. Time and a Word. Shark’s entry point: Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes: a four-suite, progressive, poetic tapestry depicting the human perception of time and memory
15. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Jethro Tull Long-tenured English band known for their mixture of progressive and folk-rock, led by Ian Anderson. 1. Minstrel in the Gallery, 2. A Passion Play, 3. Thick as a Brick, 4. Aqualung, 5. Crest of a Knave, 6. Stand Up, 7. Heavy Horses, 8. This Was, 9. Benefit, 10. Songs from the Wood. Shark’s entry point: Minstrel in the Gallery by Jethro Tull: evoking the world of Shakespeare in its literate lyrics, Elizabethan imagery, and the mixture of rustic folk music and refined classical airs into their rock
16. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Caravan Musically inventive progressive rock band that came out of the Canterbury scene with a gift for melody as well as imaginative improvisation. 1. For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 2. In the Land of Grey and Pink, 3. Caravan, 4. If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You, 5. Waterloo Lily, 6. Caravan & The New Symphonia, 7. Cunning Stunts, 8. Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974, 9. Blind Dog At St. Dunstans, 10. BBC Sessions and Concerts (70-75). Shark’s entry point: If I Could Do It All Over Again... by Caravan: a healthy dose of the psychedelic scene of the era, smooths things over with pop sensibilities and dresses it all up with progressive rock workouts
17. 🇩🇪🎸🎻Faust Pioneering and influential German rock outfit who blended avant-garde electronics and trippy psychedelia to create a radical musical collage. 1. Faust IV, 2. 71 Minutes of Faust, 3. Faust, 4. The Faust Tapes, 5. So Far, 6. Ravvivando, 7. Outside the Dream Syndicate, 8. Something Dirty, 9. Punkt, 10. Daumenbruch
18. 🇺🇸🎸🎻The Residents Anonymous Fab Four of the avant-garde whose absurd musical deconstructions have alternated between experimentalism and accessibility. 1. The Third Reich 'N' Roll 2. Duck Stab / Buster & Glen, 3. Not Available 4. Meet The Residents 5. Eskimo 6. Fingerprince 7. Demons Dance Alone 8. The 12 Days of Brumalia 9. Wormwood: Curious Stories From the Bible 10. Commercial Album
19. 🇸🇪🎸🎻Samla Mammas Manna was a Swedish experimental/avant-prog band formed in 1969 by keyboardist Lars Hollmer, known for a unique blend of virtuoso musicianship, humor, and circus-like themes. A founding member of the Rock in Opposition (RIO) movement, the group released several albums and went through various name changes and lineup shifts, eventually disbanding in 2008. 1. Måltid, 2. Klossa Knapitatet, 3. Samla Mammas Manna, 4. Gregory Allan Fitzpatrick's Snorungarnas Symfoni, 5. Familjesprickor, 6. För äldre nybegynnare / Schlagerns mystik, 7. Kaka
🆕20. 🇲🇽🎸🎷🎻 🪇Cabezas de Cera is an eclectic trio from Mexico, known for combining homemade and ethnic instruments with electronics and technology. The group's music blends elements of avant-jazz, progressive rock, world music, and RIO (Rock in Opposition). Their sound is characterized by a complex, layered approach that incorporates a wide array of sounds, from acoustic work to searing electric guitar and wind controller parts. The band is noted for their innovative instrumentation and intricate compositions, creating a unique sonic landscape that defies easy categorization. 1. Cabezas de Cera, 2. Metal Música – Aleaciones Aleatoreas, 3. …Un Segundo, 4, Cabezas de Cera – Live USA, 5. Hermandad, 6. Música en Escala de Grises, 7. Hecho en México (En Vivo), 8. Contigo y en Directo: En Vivo en el Alicia. Offshoots: 🇲🇽🎸🎷🎻 🪇Luz de Riada is a Mexican progressive rock/fusion band formed in 2010, known for its eclectic sound that blends jazz, experimental, and avant-garde elements. 1. Cuentos y Fábulas, 2. Cuentos y Fábulas (Recapitulación e Inventario), 3. Cuentos y Fábulas, Vol. 3, 4. Rizoma.
20. 🇬🇧🎸Hatfield & The North Canterbury prog-rock supergroup featuring members of Caravan, Matching Mole, Egg, and Gong. 1. Hatfield & The North, 2. The Rotters' Club. Offshoot: 🇬🇧🎸National Health was an English progressive rock band from the Canterbury scene, active from 1975 to 1980. The band was founded by keyboardists Dave Stewart and Alan Gowen and featured members from Robert Wyatt's Hatfield & the North and Gilgamesh. Known for their complex compositions and unique blend of rock, jazz, and classical music. 1. National Health, 2. Of Queues and Cures
21. 🇮🇹🦈🎸🪇Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso One of the "big three" in Italian prog rock history (with Le Orme and PFM) who have performed in one form or another since 1969. 1. Darwin!, 2. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, 3. Io Sono Nato Libero, 4. Transiberiana, 5. Banco, 6. Come In Un'ultima Cena, 7. ...Di terra, 8. Canto di Primavera, 9. Orlando: Le Forme dell'Amore, 10. Garofano rosso (Colonna sonora originale del film). Shark’s entry point: Darwin! by Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: passionate vocals, complex song structure, fantastic keyboards, tranquil moments and powerful passages
22. 🇳🇱🎸Focus Dutch prog rockers, led by Thijs van Leer, who surprisingly hit it big in 1972 with their instrumental single "Hocus Pocus." 1. Focus III, 2. Focus con Proby, 3. Moving Waves, 4. Focus 8, 5. In and Out of Focus, 6. Hamburger Concerto, 7. Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer: Focus, 8. Focus 9 / New Skin, 9. Focus 11, 10. Focus 12
23. 🇬🇧🦈🎸🎷Gong Anarchic, experimental, and whimsical ensemble originally led by guitarist Daevid Allen, a founding member of the Soft Machine. 1. You (Radio Gnome Invisible, Vol. 3), 2. Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible, Vol. 2), 3. Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Vol. 1), 4. Gazeuse! 5. Camembert Électrique, 6. Expresso II, 7. Shamal, 8. I See You, 9. Acid Motherhood, 10. Rejoice! I'm Dead! Shark’s entry point: You by Gong: incarnates the perfect marriage of Canterbury jazz-rock whimsy, cosmic psychedelic guitar workouts and complex percussive accouterments
24. 🇬🇧🎸🪈Mike Oldfield Talented and successful multi-instrumentalist who will forever be associated with Tubular Bells, a progressive rock masterpiece that sold millions. 1. Amarok, 2. Tubular Bells, 3. Ommadawn, 4. Hergest Ridge, 5. Incantations, 6. Return to Ommadawn, 7. Five Miles Out, 8. Tubular Bells II, 8. The Songs Of Distant Earth, 9. QE2, 10. Crises
25. 🇦🇷🎸 Luis Alberto Spinetta was a highly influential Argentine musician, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and poet, considered a pioneer of Argentine rock. Nicknamed "El Flaco," he founded seminal bands like Almendra, Pescado Rabioso, and Invisible, and had a prolific solo career, merging rock with jazz, tango, and folk music. His poetic and experimental lyrics, often drawing from philosophy and art, made him a legendary figure in Spanish-language music. 1. A 18´del Sol, 2. Kamikaze, 3. Tester de Violencia, 4. Un Mañana, 5. Pelusón of Milk, 6. La La La, 7. Don Lucero, 8. Spinettalandia y su Amigos. Offshots: 🇦🇷🎸🪘Pescado Rabioso was a rock band from Argentina, founded in 1971, after the break-up of Almendra, Spinetta's first band. Despite its short life, it is considered a fundamental band in the history of the rock of Argentina. 1. Ataúd, 2. Pescado Rabioso 2, 3. Desatormentándonos. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Invisible was an influential Argentine progressive rock band formed in 1973 by Luis Alberto Spinetta after the dissolution of Pescado Rabioso. 1. El Jardin de los Presentes, 2. Durazno Sangrando, 3. Invisible, 4. En vivo Teatro Coliseo 1975. 🇦🇷🎸🎷 Spinetta Jade was an Argentine rock-jazz band led by Luis Alberto Spinetta that was active from 1980 to 1985. The band was known for its blend of jazz and rock, which was innovative for the time in Argentina. 1. Alma de Diamante, 2. Los Niños que Escriben en el Cielo, 3. Bajo Belgrano. 🇦🇷🎸Almendra was an influential Argentine rock band formed in 1967, known for pioneering Spanish-language rock songwriting and experimental music. 1. Almendra 2. Almendra II
26. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Charly García Argentinian singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist regarded as the founding father of his country's rock scene. 1. Clics modernos, 2. Parte de la Religión, 3. Piano Bar, 4. Yendo de la cama al living, 5. Filosofía barata y zapatos de goma, 6. Say No More, 7. Cómo conseguir chicas. Offshoots: 🇦🇷🎸🪇La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros Charly Garcia left behind the minimalism to form a real band with real musicians that could play anything he asked them to. The band was the post-Sui Generis musical vehicle for the renowned musician Charly García, who aimed to move away from the folk-rock style of his previous band and venture into more complex symphonic and jazz-rock territories, influenced by acts like Genesis, Yes, PFM, and Steely Dan. 1. La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, 2. Películas. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Serú Girán Progressive rock band from Argentina, was formed in the late '70s by Charly García, guitarist David Lebón, bassist Pedro Aznar, and drummer Oscar Moro 1. Serú Girán, 2. Grasa de las Capitales, 3. Bicicleta, 4. Peperina. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Sui Generis Argentinean folk-rock band Sui Generis was formed in the early '70s by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Charly García and singer/instrumentalist Nito Mestre. 1. Pequenas Anécdotas Sobre las Instituciones, 2. Confesiones de Invierno, 3. Vida
🆕27. 🇺🇸🎸 Sonic Youth Pioneers in noise rock who continued creating sophisticated, visceral music long after they became an alt-rock institution. 1. Daydream Nation, 2. Sister, 3. Evol, 4. Goo, 5. Washing Machine, 6. Dirty, 7. Murrey Street, 8. Sonic Nurse, 9. Bad Moon Rising, 10. A Thousand Leaves, (Special Mention: Invito Al Cielo (Syr 3)) (Special mention: Sonic Youth, The Whitey Album, Confusion Is Sex/ Kill Yr. Idols, Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star)
27. 🇬🇧🎸Pink Floyd One of the most predominant and celebrated rock bands of all time, prog- and space-rock legends, known for superlative musicianship. 1. The Dark Side of the Moon, 2. Obscured by Clouds, 3. Atom Heart Mother, 4. Animals, 5. Meddle, 6. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 7. A Saucerful of Secrets, 8. Wish You Were Here, 9. The Wall, 10. The Final Cut. (Special Mention: The Division Bell, Ummagumma, More, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, The Endless River) Offshoot: 🇬🇧🎸Syd Barret The greatest cult figure in rock history, he created a whimsical, haunting brand of psychedelia both on his own and as the early leader of Pink Floyd. 1. The Madcap Laughs, 2. Barret, 3. Opel
28. 🇨🇦🦈🎸Rush Beloved by millions and scorned by critics, one of the great prog-rock bands, possessing an instrumental acumen rivaled by few other groups. 1. 2112, 2. Moving Pictures, 3. Permanent Waves, 4. Hemispheres, 5. A Farewell to Kings, 6. Signals, 7. Counterparts, 8. Clockwork Angels, 9. Caress of Steel, 10. Grace Under Pressure. Shark’s entry point: 2112 by Rush: conjuring up the kind of sci-fi images and otherworldly magic that would later become the hallmark of the band
🆕29. 🇩🇪🎸🎷Missus Beastly was a pioneering German Krautrock/jazz-rock fusion band formed in 1968, known for their evolving psychedelic jams, significant personnel changes, and role in the German music scene, releasing several albums in the 70s with a blend of improvisation, funk, and rock. 1. Missus Beastly, 2. Dr. Aftershave and the Mixed Pickles, 3. Space Guerilla, 4. First
29. 🇺🇸🎸Swans Part of the original No Wave scene in the early 1980's, the New York City rock band SWANS has since become one of the most respected experimental rock outfits to the present. 1. Children of God, 2. Soundtracks For the Blind, 3. To Be Kind, 4. White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity, 5. The Great Annihilator, 6. My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky, 7. The Seer, 8. The Glowing Man, 9. Leaving Meaning, 10. The Beggar
30. 🇺🇸🎸Tool American quartet that elevated their early-'90s metal sonics with a sophisticated, progressive flourish. 1. Lateralus, 2. Ænima, 3. 10,000 Days, 4. Fear Inoculum, 5. Undertow
31. 🇸🇪🎸Opeth Influential and acclaimed Swedish prog-metal outfit that deftly mixes death metal crunch with ambitious instrumental flash. 1. Blackwater Park, 2. Still Life, 3. Ghost Reveries, 4. Damnation, 5. My Arms, Your Hearse, 6. Watershed, 7. Deliverance, 8. Morningrise, 9. The Last Will and Testament, 10. Heritage, 11. Pale Communion
32. 🇩🇪🦈🎸Eloy A venerable progressive rock outfit and one of the most popular German bands of the 1970s. 1, Ocean, 2. Dawn, 3. Power and the Passion, 4. Floating, 5. Silent Cries & Mighty Echoes, 6. Inside, 7. Eloy. Shark’s entry point: Ocean by Eloy: worlds atomize and oceans evaporate in eternity on this epic record
33. 🇮🇹🦈🎸🪇PFM Premiata Forneria Marconi Italy's leading progressive rock outfit of the early '70s, PFM would have remained a purely Italian phenomenon had they not been signed to Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Manticore label. 1. Per un Amico, 2. Storia di un Minuto, 3. Photos of Ghosts, 4. L’ Isola di Niente, 5. Chocolate Kings, 6. Stati Di Immaginazione, 7. A.D. 2010 - La Buona Novella. Shark’s entry point: Per Un Amico by Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM): jaw dropping musical acrobatics with ease which never lose the pace of a sophisticated graceful poetic dance of sounds
34. 🇬🇧🎸The Moody Blues Pop mystics of the rock era whose impeccably produced albums exuded pseudo-classical glory, driven by lush Mellotron orchestrations. 1. Days of Future Passed, 2. A Question of Balance, 3. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, 4. To Our Children's Children's Children, 5. On the Threshold of a Dream, 6. In Search of the Lost Chord, 7. Seventh Sojourn 7. Long Distance Voyager, 8. Octave
🆕35. 🇬🇧🎸🎻 Robert Wyatt Former Soft Machine drummer and vocalist who merged the avant-garde with English eccentricity. 1. Rock Bottom 2. Shleep, 3. Comicopera, 4. Dondestan, 5. Old Rottenhat, 6. Cuckooland, 7. Rush is Stranger than Richard, 8. The End of an Ear
35. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Emerson Lake and Palmer The original prog rock supergroup of the 1970s, they combined heavy riffs with classical influences. 1. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 2. Tarkus, 3. Pictures at an Exhibition, 4. Trilogy, 5. Brain Salad Surgery, 6. Works Vol. 1&2. Shark’s entry point: Trilogy by Emerson, Lake & Palmer: everything has been carefully thought, arranged, and performed to perfection, a process that also included some form of sterilization
36. 🇺🇸🦈🎸The Velvet Underground The quintessential bohemian New York band of the '60s that fused art, rock, and poetry in a fashion that proved incalculably influential. 1. Loaded, 2. The Velvet Underground & Nico, 3. The Velvet Underground, 4. White Light/White Heat, 5. VU. Shark’s entry point: The Velvet Underground & Nico: its experimental fingertips and legacy permeated the whole pop/rock realm
37. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Roxy Music Cult favorites, and perhaps the quintessential art rock band, who transitioned from hard-edged glam to sophisticated rock. 1. For Your Pleasure, 2. Roxy Music, 3. Standed, 4. Country Life, 5. Siren, 6. Avalon, 7. Manifesto, 8. Flesh + Blood. Shark’s entry point: Roxy Music by Roxy Music: from an art school project to the most adventurous rock band of the early '70s
38. 🇬🇧🎸The Alan Parson’s Project A high-concept art rock band with several pop hits, formed around talented producer Parsons and songwriter Eric Woolfson. 1. Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poem, 2. I Robot, 3. The Turn of a Friendly Card, 4. Pyramid, 5. Eye in the Sky, 6. Ammonia Avenue, 7. Gaudi, 8. Eve 9. Stereotomy 10. Vulture Culture
39. 🇮🇹🎸🪇Le Orme Excellent early-70's Italian progressive trio (still around today) with classical stylings, featuring keyboards to the fore and a unique dreamy/powerful style. 1. Felona E Sorona, 2. Uomo Di Pezza, 3. Contrappunti, 4. Collage, 5. Florian, 6. Storia o leggenda, 7. Verita' nascoste, 8. Il Leone e la Bandiera, 9. La Via Della Seta
40. 🇬🇧🎸Barclay James Harvest Purveyors of pastoral chamber-prog, rife with surging rock energy and boasting a unique, Mellotron-driven sound. 1. Everyone is Everybody Else, 2. Once Again, 3. Time Honoured Ghosts, 4. Octoberon, 5. Xii, 6. Gone to Earth, 7. Barclay James Harvest
41. 🇬🇧🎸Porcupine Tree Contemporary prog act with a wide-ranging set of influences, from classic rock to psychedelic to metal. 1.Fear of a Blank Planet, 2. In Absentia, 3. Stupid Dream, 4. The Sky Moves Sideways, 5. Lightbulb Sun, 6. Deadwing, 7. Up the Downstair, 8. Signify, 9. Metanoia, 10. On the Sunday of Life… (Special Mention: The Incident, Closure/Continuation)
42. 🇬🇧🦈🎸Steven Wilson Prolific progressive rock icon who founded the band Porcupine Tree before going on to a celebrated solo career. 1. The Raven That Refused to Sing and Other Stories, 2. Hand. Cannot. Erase., 3. Insurgentes, 4. Grace for Drowning, 5. To the Bone, 6. The Harmony Codex, 7. NSRGNTS RMXS, 8. The Future Bites, 9. 41/2, 10. The Overview. Offshoots: 🇬🇧🎸Bass Communion Starting in 1994, Wilson began solo recordings described as "experiments in texture," resulting in his work under the name Bass Communion. 1. Bass Communion 1, 2. Bass Communion II. Shark’s entry point: The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories) by Steven Wilson: new prog-rock music in the vain of the 70's with top notch production can't go wrong
🆕43. 🇲🇽🎸Cast is a pioneering Mexican symphonic/progressive rock band formed in Mexicali in 1978 by keyboardist Alfonso Vidales, known for their keyboard-driven, Genesis-esque sound, prolific album output, and organizing the annual Baja Prog Festival, maintaining a long career despite challenges with consistent lineup changes and evolving from English to Spanish lyrics to find their unique voice in the prog scene. 1. Imaginary Windows, 2. Originallis, 3. Arsis, 4. Vida, 5. Power and Outcme, 6. Vigesimus, 7. Com.union, 8. Nimbus, 9. Al Bandaluz
43. 🇬🇧🎸🎻This Heat Experimental U.K. band, whose music ranges from quietly beautiful to an all-out assault. 1. Deceit, 2. This Heat, 3. Made Available - John Peel Sessions
44. 🇫🇷🎸Moving Gelatin Plates was a French progressive rock band formed in 1968 by Gérard Bertram and Didier Thibault. Their music, heavily influenced by jazz, was compared to the Canterbury scene, particularly Soft Machine. 1. The World of Genius Hans, 2. Moving Gelatin Plates, 3. Removing
45. 🇬🇧🎸U.K. Featuring members of Yes, King Crimson, Roxy Music, and Soft Machine, U.K. was one of the most prominent progressive rock supergroups of the late '70s. 1. UK, 2. Night After Night, 3. Danger Money, 4. The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo
46. 🇩🇪🎸Krautwerk is the solo electronic, krautrock project of Nico Seel, approaching music in a minimalistic and DIY way. It is a tribute to German first wave krautrock legends like Can, Kraftwerk, Neu! etc. 1. 1971, 2. 1975, 3. Computerrock, 4. 1973, 5. Nueling, 6. 1972, 7. Fenster, 8. 1974
47. 🇮🇪🎸🪇🎤Horslips Irish rock band whose style was a unique mix of folk, hard rock, and progressive influences. 1. The Táin, 2. Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony, 3. Dancehall Sweethearts, 4. Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part, 5. Aliens
48. 🇩🇪🎸🎷Embryo Long-running German jazz-rock group who have incorporated numerous global styles and instruments. 1. Embryo's Rache, 2. Rocksession, 3. Steig Aus [also released as: This Is Embryo], 4. Opal, 5. Father, Son And Holy Ghosts
49. 🇬🇧🎸🎻📟🎹🪈Brian Eno A trailblazer in ambient, experimental music, and electronica as well as a producer of numerous major rock acts. 1. Another Green World, 2. Ambient 4 - On Land, 3. Brian Eno & David Byrne: My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts, 4. Before And After Science, 5. Eno, Moebius & Roedelius: After The Heat, 6. Small Craft On A Milk Sea, 7. Apollo - Atmospheres & Soundtracks, 8. Here Come the Warm Jets, 9. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy), 10. Ambient 1 - Music for Airports
50. 🇫🇷🎸🎷Magma Relentless martial fusion, chanted vocals, an invented language, and an interstellar mythology mark Magma as the essence of zeuhl. 1. Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, 2. 1,001 Degrees Centigrade, 3. K.A (Köhntarkösz Anteria), 4. Magma [Aka: Kobaïa], 5. Christian Vander: Tristan et Iseult [Aka: Ẁurdah Ïtah], 6. Live/Hhaï (Köhntark),7. Retrospektïẁ I-II, 8. Üdü Ẁüdü, 9. Attahk, 10. Rïah Sahïltaahk
51. 🇫🇷🎸🎷 ZAO was a French progressive rock band founded in 1971 by two ex-members of the band Magma, Yochk'o Seffer and François Cahen. Active primarily in the 1970s, they played a style of progressive rock and zeuhl that was a spin-off from Magma's sound, and also incorporated jazz fusion and other influences. 1. Shekina, 2. Osiris, 3. Typhareth
52. 🇬🇧🎸🪇Peter Gabriel Theatrical leader of '70s-era Genesis and a bona fide pop star by the '80s despite his experimental, often exotic, material. 1. Peter Gabriel 3 [Aka: Melt], 2. Up, 3. Peter Gabriel 4 [Aka: Mask, Aka: Security], 4. Passion - Music from The Last Temptation of Christ, 5. So, 6. Us, 7. Peter Gabriel 1 [Aka: Car], 9. New Blood, 10- i/o 8. Peter Gabriel 2 [Aka: Scratch]
53. 🇫🇷🎸Kevin Ayers A gifted songwriter, guitarist, bassist and singer, Kevin Ayers has been flitting in and out of prog throughout his long, languid career. 1. Shooting At the Moon, 2. Joy of a Toy, 3. Whatevershebringswesing
🆕54. 🇬🇧🎸Fripp & Eno is the iconic ambient music collaboration between guitarist Robert Fripp (King Crimson) and producer/musician Brian Eno (Roxy Music), famous for pioneering Frippertronics, a tape-delay looping technique that creates evolving, instrumental soundscapes. 1. The Equatorial Stars. 2. Evening Star. No Pussyfooting.
54. 🇬🇧🎸Egg Canterbury-based progressive rock trio released a pair of ambitiously conceived, stylistically diverse albums in the early ‘70s 1. The Polite Force, 2. The Civil Surface, 3. Egg
55. 🇩🇪🎸Out of Focus was one of the many creative groups that arose from Germany in the early '70s. Its inventive take on fusion laid the groundwork for their three LPs released a year apart from each other. 1. Out of Focus, 2. Four Letter Monday Afternoon, 3. Rat Roads, 4. Not Too Late
56. 🇩🇪🎸The Cosmic Jockers were the greatest Krautrock supergroup that never was, a cosmic joke even on most of the musicians who played on the sessions, unbeknownst they were members of this new "group.” 1. Galactic Supermarket, 2. Galactic Joke
57. 🇬🇧🎸🪈🎬🪇📟 Anthony Philips One of the founders of Genesis, a guitarist of supreme skill and confidence steeped in classical, pre-Baroque, and folk influences. 1. The Geese & The Ghost, 2. Wise After the Event, 3. Private Parts & Pieces I-VIII, 4. 1984
58. 🇬🇧🎸Renaissance Classical rock ensemble formed as an outlet for a pair of ex-Yardbirds, but later driven by Annie Haslam's three-octave voice and John Tout's piano. 1. Scheherazade and Other Stories, 2. Ashes Are Burning, 3. Turn of the Cards, 4. Prologue, 5. Renaissance, 6. Novella, 7. Live at Carnegie Hall, 8. A Song for All Seasons, 9. Illusion
59. 🇬🇧🎸Kate Bush Haunting second-wave art rocker who was critically deified in the 1980s thanks to her tasteful, intelligent, and stimulating songwriting. 1. The Kick Inside, 2. Hounds of Love, 3. Never for Ever, 4. The Dreaming, 5. 50 Words for Snow, 6. Aerial, 7. The Sensual World, 8. Lionheart, 9. Director's Cut, 10. The Red Shoes
60. 🇬🇧🎸Marillion Frontrunners of the U.K.'s progressive rock revival, led by Fish and later Steve Hogarth without missing a beat. 1. Misplaced Childhood, 2. Script for a Jester's Tear, 3. Clutching at Straws, 4. Fugazi, 5. Brave, 6. Marbles, 7. Afraid of Sunlight, 8. F*** Everyone and Run, 9. Seasons End. 10. An Hour Before It's Dark
61. 🇸🇪🎸Bo Hansson Swedish keyboard player/composer Bo Hansson first emerged in the 1960s as part of a duo that made a name for itself, first in Sweden and then on tour in Europe, and issued a series of three albums. 1. Attic Thoughts, 2. Magician's Hat, 3. Lord of the Rings, 4. Music Inspired By Watership Down
62. 🇮🇹🎸Homunculus Res Sicilian band draws influence from the '60s-'70s Canterbury scene and early Italian prog, melding breeziness with complexity. 1. Limiti All'eguaglianza della Parte con il Tutto 2. Come Si Diventa Cio' Che Si Era, 3. Andiamo In Giro di Notte E Ci Consumiamo Nel Fuoco, 4. Della Stessa Sostanza Dei Sogni, 5. Ecco l'Impero Dei Doppi Sensi
63. 🇦🇷🎸Bubu Along with the traditional rock set-up (guitar, bass, and drums), the band featured a violinist, flutist, saxophonist, and pianist. Their music is complex, energetic, and diabolical in a King Crimson-ish sort of way. Influences are varied (classic, jazz, rock, folk) but make up quite an interesting blend. 1. Anabelas, 2 El Eco del Sol
🆕64. 🇬🇧🎹🪈🎷🎤🪇📟🎸Pinguin Cafe Orchestra was a brainchild of a classically trained British multi-instrumentalist and composer Simon Jeffes. Musically omnivorous, he was influenced by classical, folk, jazz, world, ethnic, experimental and pop music and those influences were synthesized in the music of PCO. 1. Music from the Pinguin Cafe, 2. Pinguin Café Orchestra, 3. Broadcasting From Home, 4. Union Café, 5. Signs of Life, 5. Concert Program
64. 🇩🇪🎸📟Neu! Minimalist rhythmic electronic band whose motorik style became a major influence on artists ranging from David Bowie to Sonic Youth to Stereolab. 1. Neu!, 2. Neu! 75
65. 🇩🇪🎸Agitation Free 1970s Krautrock group who specialized in ambient, droning electronics with touches of bluesy Grateful Dead-style jamming. 1. 2Nd, 2. Malesch
66. 🇧🇪🎸🎻Univers Zéro Longstanding dark-hued Belgian chamber rockers and avant-prog pioneers led by drummer/composer Daniel Denis. 1. Uzed, 2. Hérésie, 3. Univers Zéro, 4. Ceux du dehors, 5. Phosphorescent Dreams, 6. Lueur. Offshoot: 🇧🇪🎸🎻Present Dark and often relentless avant-prog band formed by guitarist Roger Trigaux upon his departure from Univers Zero in 1979. 1. Triskaidekaphobie, 2. Le Poison Qui Rend Fou
67. 🇫🇷🎸🎻🎬🎹🪇📟Art Zoyd French avant Rock in Opposition collective founded in 1969 with a virtually unclassifiable sound applied to film scores and experimental works. 1. Häxan, 2. Berlin, 3. Marathonerre, 4. Symphonie pour le jour où brûleront les Cités, 5. Phase IV, 6. Le Mariage Du Ciel Et De L'Enfer, 7. Faust, 8. Metropolis, 9. Eyecatcher
🆕68. 🇲🇽🎸🎻DECiBEL is a legendary Mexican avant-garde/Rock in Opposition (RIO) band formed in Mexico City in 1973, known for their experimental, complex sound blending prog rock, modern classical, jazz, and improvisation, heavily influenced by European bands like Henry Cow. 1. El Poeta del Ruido, 2. Fortuna Virilis, 3. Méliès, 4. Insecto Mecánico, 5. Secuencias Genéticas, 6. Tmand el Té con Alicia y el Sombrero Loco
68. 🇬🇧🎸🎷Colosseum Influential British band that pioneered a progressive form of jazz-rock, with unusual chord progressions and variant song structures. 1. Valentyne Suite, 2. The Grass Is Greener, 3. Daughter of Time, 4. Those Who Are About to Die Salute You
69. 🇬🇧🎸🎤Strawbs Sprawling, eclectic folk-rock act whose spacy mix of rock and neo-classical presaged prog-rock. 1. Grave New World, 2. Hero and Heroine, 3. From the Witchwood, 4. Ghosts 5. Bursting at the Seams, 6. Nomadness, 7. Strawbs
70. 🇺🇸🎸Happy the Man Progressive rock band known for their high-caliber musicianship and complex, sometimes whimsical compositions. 1. Crafty Hands, 2. Happy the Man (Starborne)
71. 🇩🇪🎸🎻🎷🪈Annexus Quam This early-'70s Krautrock band from Kamp-Lintfort, a suburb of Düsseldorf, mixed jazz, rock, avant-garde, and psychedelic music into a unique blend on their two albums. 1. Osmose, 2. Beziehungen
72. 🇺🇸🎸🎻Secret Chiefs 3 is an Avant-Garde band led by Trey Spruance. Their style is influenced by oriental folklore and electronic music, fused with metal. 1. Book M, 2. Second Grand Constitution and Bylaws, 3. Book of Horizons, 4. Xaphan - Book Of Angels, Vol. 9, 5. Traditionalists: Le Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomini, 6. Book of Souls - Folio A, 7. Ishraqiyun: Perichoresis, 8. Malkhut, 9. First Grand Constitution and Bylaws?
73. 🇳🇴🎸Motorpsycho Norwegian power trio influenced by psychedelia and heavy acid rock. 1. The Death Defying Unicorn (feat. Staale Storloekken, Ola Kvernberg, Trondheimsolistene & Trondheim Jazz Orchestra), 2. Timothy's Monster, 3. Let Them Eat Cake, 4. Phanerothyme, 5. Little Lucid Moments, 6. Behind the Sun, 7. The Tower, 8. The All is One, 9. Here Be Monsters, 10. The Crucible
74. 🇮🇹🎸Alphataurus A dramatic Italian rock band readily bearing comparison to an unholy collision of Uriah Heep and Van der Graaf Generator. 1. Alphataurus, 2. AttosecondO, 3. Dietro l'Uragano
75. 🇬🇧🎸Gilgamesh British prog rock/jazz fusion ensemble led by keyboard player Alan Gowen. 1. Gilgamesh 2. Another Fine Tune You’ve Got Me Into
76. 🇮🇹🎸🪇Quella Vecchia Locanda plays a complex music with a lot of instrumental combinations, beautiful melodies and a very high sophistication. 1. Il tempo della gioia, 2. Quella Vecchia Locanda
77. 🇮🇹🎸🪇Area Uncompromising blend of jazz-rock, ethnic folk, experimentation, and political philosophies made them a unique presence in Italy during the 1970s. 1. Arbeit Macht Frei, 2. Crac!, 3. Caution Radiation Area, 4. Maledetti, 5. 1978 - Gli Dei Se Ne Vanno, Gli Arrabbiati Restano!
78. 🇵🇱🎸🪇 CzesŁaw Niemen He recorded "Dziwny jest ten świat" (Strange Is This World) as a major Polish protest song in 1967, and was an early pioneer of psychedelic music in communist Poland in the late 60's. 1. Niemen, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 by, 2. Enigmatic, 3. Niemen, 4. Aerolit, 5. Katharsis
79. 🇬🇧🎸🎷East of Eden A perfect illustration of the futility that England's Decca Records faced in cultivating progressive rock (apart from the Moody Blues). A critically acclaimed jazz-fusion band with a strong Eastern music influence. 1. Snafu, 2. Mercator Projected
80. 🇦🇷🎸El Reloj The band was formed in 1971 by guitarist Willy Gardi and bassist Eduardo Frezza. The style of El Reloj was characterized by a fusion of hard rock, progressive rock and jazz-rock, with complex song structures, symphonic trends and a prominent use of two Hammond guitars and organ. Their music was mainly instrumental, with brief but effective vocal passages, and showed a powerful and energetic sound, with a focus on twin guitars and forceful percussion. 1. El Reloj II, 2. El Reloj
81. 🇧🇪🎸🪇CoS Often referred to as the Belgian answer to ZAO, they offer a mixture of prog rock, jazz and Canterbury styles 1. Viva Boma, 2. Postaeolian Train Robbery, 3. Babel
82. 🇮🇹🎸🪇Picchio Dal Pozzo is an Italian progressive rock band formed in Genoa in 1976, known for its "Canterbury scene" sound. Their music is characterized by a mix of jazzy improvisation, complex arrangements, surreal lyrics, and a unique, sometimes challenging, instrumental style. 1. Picchio Dal Pozzo, 2. Abbiamo tuttii suoi problomi
83. 🇮🇹🎸Goblin Influential Italian progressive rock outfit known for its horror film scores. 1. Roller, 2. Profondo Rosso [Aka: Deep Red] (OST), 3. Suspiria (OST), 4. Il Fantastico Viaggio Del "Bagarozzo" Mark, 5. Zombi [aka: Dawn Of The Dead] (OST), 6. Il Reale Impero Britannico: Perché Si Uccidono (OST)
84. 🇸🇪🎸Änglagård Swedish band Änglagård is part of a whole breed of young progressive rockers who have cut their teeth on King Crimson's Red. 1. Viljans Oga, 2. Hybris, 3. Epilog
85. 🇨🇳🎷🪇Omnipotent Youth Society (万能青年旅店) is a prestigious Chinese alternative rock band that formed in Shijiazhuang in 1996 and officially named in 2002. Known for their unique style blending rock with traditional and orchestral elements, they gained immense popularity in China with their self-titled debut album in 2010. 1. Omnipotent Youth Society (万能青年旅店), 2 Inside the Cable Temple (冀西南林路行)
86. 🇲🇽🎷🎻🪘🪇 Klezmerson One of the Mexican bands that combines melodies and rhythms of traditional Jewish music from Eastern Europe with influences from the Mexican tradition of sones, sounds from Latin America and the Middle East. 1. Klezmerson, 2. Amon: Book of Angels, Vol. 24, 3. The Book Beri'ah, Vol. 6: Tiferet, 4. Siete
87. 🇳🇱🎸Brainbox Part of a vibrant Amsterdam pop music scene in the late sixties with their harder edged blend of psychedelic rock and Chicago blues, Dutch band Brainbox paid hommage to both American and British Contemporaries while at the same time developing their own more progressive brand of pop music. 1. To You, 2. Brainbox
88. 🇬🇧🎸Wishbone Ash One of the definitive British bands balancing hard rock edge and prog-rock ambition during the '70s, complete with trademarked twin lead guitars. 1. Argus, 2. Pilgrimage, 3. Wishbone Ash, 4. Live Dates, 5. There's the Rub, 6. No Smoke Without Fire, 7. Illuminations, 8. Bona Fide, 9. Elegant Stealth, 10. Blue Horizon
89. 🇬🇧🎸Procol Harum British band best known for "A Whiter Shade of Pale," whose style encompassed psychedelia, prog, and art rock. 1. Shine on Brightly, 2. Procol Harum, 3. Grand Hotel, 4. Salty Dog, 5. Home, 6. Exotic Birds and Fruit, 7. Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, 8. Broken Barricades
90. 🇬🇧🎸Traffic West Midlands rockers whose adventurous blend of folk, rock, jazz, and soul were driven by Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood. 1. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, 2. John Barleycorn Must Die, 3. Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory, 4. Mr. Fantasy
91. 🇩🇪🎸Novalis was a German progressive rock band from Hamburg, active from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, who took their name from the 18th-century Romantic poet. Starting with English lyrics and a sound influenced by bands like King Crimson, they shifted to German lyrics and developed a unique, romantic symphonic rock style that became highly influential. 1. Novalis, 2. Sommerabend, 3. Banished Bridge
92. 🇩🇪🎸 Satin Whale was a German progressive rock band from the 1970s known for blending jazz fusion, symphonic rock, and Krautrock elements with a focus on instrumental skill. 1. Desert Places, 2. Lost Mankind, 3. A Whale of a Time, 4. Don’t Stop the Show
93. 🇬🇧🎸Hawkwind Soaring, sci-fi-influenced British space rockers, respected in both metal and progressive circles during the 1970s and '80s. 1. Warrior on the Edge of Time, 2. Hall of the Mountain Grill, 3. Levitation, 4. Doremi Fasol Latido, 5. Space Ritual, 6. X In Search Of Space, 7. Quark, Strangeness And Charm,m 8. Electric Tepee, 9. Blood Of The Earth, 10. Onward
94. 🇺🇸🎸Kansas Classic rock radio staples who found fame in the 1970s with a mixture of prog-rock complexity, hard rock riffs, and pop hooks. 1. Leftoverture, 2. Point of Know Return, 3. Song for America, 4. Kansas, 5. The Absence of Presence, 6. The Prelude Implicit
95. 🇩🇪🎸Nektar Prog-rockers of the '60s and '70s formed in Germany by a quartet of Englishmen. 1. A Tab in the Ocean, 2. Recycled, 3. Journey To The Centre Of The Eye, 4. Remember the Future
96. 🇩🇪🎸Grobschnitt Progressive German group, best known for their signature epic "Solar Music," mixing psychedelic Krautrock with hard rock. 1. Solar Music - Live, 2. Jumbo, 3. Grobschnitt, 4. Rockpommel's Land, 5. Ballermann
97. 🇯🇵🎸Far East Family Band Regarded by many as the first Japanese progressive rock group, the Far East Family Band featured the keyboardist and future new age composer, Kitaro. A keyboard-dominated space rock band, the Far East Family Band played extended compositions that brought comparisons to Tangerine Dream and early Pink Floyd. 1. Parallel World, 2. The Cave Down To The Earth, 3. Nipponjin
98. 🇳🇴🎸Wobbler is a Norwegian symphonic progressive rock band formed in 1999, renowned for its authentic recreation of early 1970s vintage sound using period-accurate instruments like Mellotron and Moog synthesizers. 1. From Silence to Somewhere, 2. Rites of Dawn, 3. Dwellers of the Deep, 4. Hinterland, 5. Afterglow
99. 🇩🇪 🎷🎸Aera was a German jazz-rock/progressive fusion band that was active during the 1970s and 1980s. They are known for their improvisational style, often compared to other South German jazz-rock bands like Embryo and Dyzan. 1. Human est, 2. Hand und FuB
🆕100. 🇬🇧🎸If was a significant British jazz-rock band formed in 1969, known as pioneers in blending rock with jazz, featuring powerful horn arrangements (saxophones) and extensive touring in the US and Europe, releasing several albums between 1970-1975 before a later comeback, distinct from other progressive acts of the era like King Crimson or Yes. 1. If, 2. If 3, 3. If 2, 4. If 4, 5. Waterfall.
100. 🇭🇺🎸Omega Hungary's most successful rock band, who began covering British hits before embracing hard rock and prog rock. 1. Time Robber, 2. The Hall of Floaters in the Sky, 3. Nem Tudom a Neved, 4. 200 Years After The Las War, 5. Csillagok, 6. Skyrover, 7. Gammapolis, 8. Idörabló
🆕101. 🇩🇪🎸🎷Between Formed in Munich in 1970, this international band, led by Peter Michael Hamel, blended classical, ethnic, jazz, and Krautrock, pioneering world music with albums like Dharana before disbanding around 1980. 1. And the Waters Opened, 2. Contemplation, 3. Einstieg/Re-Entry, 4. Dharana
101. 🇦🇹🎸Blank Manuskript Art Rock project from Salzburg, Austria. Typical long songs ornamented with a high level of symphonic density and elaborate polyphonic structures as well as extended improvised sections lead their audience through an entire musical adventure. 1. The Waiting Soldier, 2. Krásná Hora
102. 🇩🇪🎸Triumvirat is one of the most maligned but at the same beloved bands, they were accused of being ELP clones, but at the same time most people love the pristine music they created and the unique arrangements by that virtuoso keyboardist named Jürgen Fritz. 1. Mediterranean Tales (Across the Waters), 2. Illusions on a Double Dimple, 3. Spartacus, 4. Old Loves Die Hard, 5. Pompeii
103. 🇩🇪🎸Birth Control 1970s Krautrock band known for earthy rhythms and extended solos, with numerous reunions in later decades. 1. Hoodoo Man, 2. Plastic People, 3. Operation, 4. Rebirth, 5. Plastic People, 6. Backdoor Possibilities
104. 🇬🇧🎸Supertramp A variant of progressive rock that some have called sophisto-rock. One of the biggest prog rock bands of the '70s, thanks in large part to their pop smash Breakfast in America. 1. Crime of the Century, 2. Even In The Quietest Moments …, 3. Crisis? What Crisis?, 4. Breakfast in America), 5. Brother Where You Bound
105. 🇮🇹🎸🎷Arti & Mestieri The sextet Arti & Mestieri was formed in 1974 in Torino, Italy, by drummer Furio Chirico, following his departure from the Trip. Drawing membership from the cream of the local jazz-rock scene. 1. Tilt, 2. Giro di Valzer per Domani
106. 🇫🇷🎸Alco Frisbass is a French duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Fabrice Chouette (keyboards, guitars, voice, recorder, whistling, percussion) and Patrick Dufour (Fender Rhodes, keyboards, drum programming, chimes). They fuse jazz, Canterbury, and symphonic elements. 1. Alco Frisbass, 2. Le Bateleur
107. 🇫🇷🎸🪇Ange Considered the French equivalent of Genesis due to their heavy theatrical version of progressive rock, Ange released 14 albums from the '70s to the mid-'80s. 1. Au-Delà du Délire, 2. Emile Jacotey, 3. Par Les Fils De Mandrin, 4. Le Cimetiere des Arlequins
108. 🇨🇿🎸Blue Effect was a prominent Czech progressive rock band founded by guitarist Radim Hladík in 1968 initially named The Blue Effect, and also operating under aliases like M. Efekt and Modrý efekt. The band was active until Hladík's death in 2016 and is noted for its unique combination of free jazz, blues-rock, and progressive rock. 1. Svitanie, 2. Svět Hledačů, 3. 33, 4. The Blue Effect & The Jazz Q Prague: Coniunctio
109. 🇬🇧🎸Family Influential British psychedelic band who evolved into prog-rockers in the 1970s. 1. Music in a Doll's House, 2. Family Entertainment, 3. Fearless, 4. Bandstand, 5. A Song for Me, 6. Anyway
110. 🇬🇧🎸Man Eclectic Welsh rockers put a new spin on psychedelia in the 1970s, then remained a U.K. attraction for decades. 1. Do You Like It Here, Are You Settling In?, 2. Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day, 3. Back Into the Future, 4. Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics
111. 🇳🇱🎸Alquin Dutch band Alquin released four studio albums in the early to mid-'70s, initially playing prog rock influenced by Pink Floyd and Roxy Music. 1. Marks 2. The Mountain Queen
112. 🇬🇧🎸Gnidrolog Twin brothers Stewart and Colin Goldring formed the eclectic prog group Gnidrolog in the late '60s after having worked together in various musical projects throughout the years. 1. Lady Lake, 2. In Spite of Harry’s Toenail
113. 🇬🇧🎸Audience British art-rock unit Audience was formed in London in 1969 by singer/guitarist Howard Werth, saxophonist Keith Gemmell, bassist Trevor Williams, and percussionist Tony Connor. Set apart from their contemporaries thanks to their use of acoustic guitar and saxophone. 1. The House on the Hill, 2. Friends, Friends, Friend, 3. Audience
114. 🇳🇴🎸Arabs in Aspic Their wide range of influences make a very rewarding listen, including stoner-rock music, 60s psychedelic rock, and the 70s heavy weights, with prime influences being Black Sabbath and Wetton-era King Crimson (hence their name). 1. Far Out in Aradabia 2. Syndenes Magi, 3. Victim of Your Father’s Agony, 4. Pictures in a Dream, 5. Madness and Magic, 6. The Magic of Sin, 7. Strange Frame of Mind
🆕115. 🇯🇵🎸Ruins was a Japanese progressive/zeuhl/noise rock duo, formed in 1985 by drummer and vocalist Tatsuya Yoshida and bassist Hideki Kawamoto. 1. Hyderomastgroningem, 2. Symphonica, 3. Pallaschtom, 4. Vrresto
🆕115. 🇺🇸🎸🎷Terry Bozzio American drummer and composer renowned for his work with Frank Zappa, the New Wave band Missing Persons, and his innovative melodic drumming style. He is widely considered one of the most technical and influential drummers in rock history. 1. Chamber Works, 2. Bozzio / Mastelotto – BoMo, 3. Polytown, 4. Situation Dangerous, 5. Nine Short Films, 6. Composer Series
115. 🇩🇪🎸Frumpy were a German heavy psych band in the vein of early Deep Purple and the like. This is classic rock with subtle progressive touches for friendly & catchy compositions. 1. Frumpy 2, 2. All Will Be Changed
116. 🇺🇸🎸🪕Harvey Mandel Legendary blues, jazz, rock, and funk guitarist and musical innovator also known as "Snake." His tapping technique has proved influential. 1. Baby Batter, 2. Cristo Redentor, 3. Get Off Chicago, 4. The Snake, 5. Blues From Chicago, 6. Shangrenade
117. 🇺🇸🎸Atheist Arguably the ultimate progressive metal band of their day, Atheist's impossibly Byzantine death-jazz proved too advanced even for committed metalheads to stomach. 1. Unquestionable Presence, 2. Piece of Time, 3. Elements
118. 🇬🇧🎸🎤Fairport Convention Folk-rock ensemble who became British legends by successfully melding authentic folk stylings with competent (and even virtuosic) rock playing. 1. Liege and Lief, 2. Unhalfbricking, 3. What We Did in Our Holidays, 4. Full house, 5. “Babbacombe” Lee
119. 🇺🇸🎸Blue Öyster Cult Seminal hard rockers whose best work is ambitious and intelligent, making them the thinking man's heavy metal group through much of the '70s and beyond. 1. Secret Treaties, 2. Fire of Unknown Orign, 3. Imaginos
🆕120. 🇮🇹🎸Il Volo Il Volo's music blended symphonic progressive rock with jazz-rock fusion elements, characterized by a sophisticated use of keyboards (Moog, Fender Rhodes, organ, piano), strong guitar work, and a relaxed, melodic feel. 1. Il Volo, 2. Essere O Non Essere
120. 🇺🇸🎸Ambrosia The musicians were inspired by the progressive rock era, and developed a large regional following for their inventive musicianship and skillful arranging. 1. Ambrosia, 2. Somewhere I've Never Travelled
121. 🇬🇧🎸10cc Quirky '70s British hitmakers with a refined sense of songcraft and a balance between rock and smooth pop. 1. The Original Soundtrack, 2. How Dare You! 3. Sheet Music
122. 🇺🇸🎸Spirit Ambitious and acclaimed West Coast psychedelic band that fused hard rock to jazz, blues, country, and folk. 1. Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, 2. Clear, 3. The Family That Plays Together, 4. Spirit
123. 🇬🇧🎸The Move Adventurous British combo that began with merry psychedelic odes but later pumped up their guitar amperage and attack to planet-cracking levels. 1. Looking On, 2. Shazam, 3. Message From The Country
124. 🇺🇸🎸The Mars Volta El Paso-based creators of dense, swirling, melodic-at-heart compositions beloved by prog and indie rockers alike. 1. Deloused in the Comatorium, 2. Frances the Mute, 3. Amputechture, 4. Noctourniquet, 5. Lucro Sucio: Los Ojos del Vacío, 6. Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón
125. 🇬🇧🎸Beggars Opera The group’s grandiose ambition was to fuse classical and progressive rock elements, an accommodation they achieved but only to moderate critical and commercial interest. 1. Act One, 2. Waters of Change, 3. Pathfinder
126. 🇬🇧🎻Renaldo & The Loaf Coupled with an eccentric viewpoint, the group's inventive use of tape loops and acoustic instruments such as mandolin, bouzouki, and clarinet made Renaldo & the Loaf distinctive even within the realm of experimental music. 1. Arabic Yodeling/Grain by Grain (for Accuracy), 2. Songs for Swinging Larve/Songs from the Surgery, 3. The Elbow is Taboo, 4. Title in Limbo
127. 🇬🇧🇺🇸🎸Carmen In the early seventies, the British-American group Carmen broke new ground in rock music, combining the British flair for progressive rock with traditional Spanish folk themes into a very fresh, energetic and powerful new mix. 1. Fandangos in Space, 2. Dancing on a Cold Wind
128. 🇩🇪📟🎸Kraftwerk Düsseldorf group whose advancements in electronic music have resonated in virtually every development of contemporary pop since the late 20th century. 1. Trans-Europe Express, 2. The Man-Machine, 3. Computer World, 4. Autobahn
129. 🇳🇱🎸Kayak Dutch band whose music mixed pop and prog influences. The band began as a symphonic progressive rock act with an emphasis in songwriting, but from 1977 on Kayak changed direction moving into crossover territories. 1. Kayak, 2. See See the Sun, 3. Royal Bed Bouncer
130. 🇨🇦🇫🇷🎸Jelly Fiche This band literally swims into a sea of artistic creativity. Its unique concept surpasses all the limits of the actual French-Canadian scene. Jelly Fiche will transport you into a whirlwind of surrealism, mystery, fantasy, psychic balance and unbalance. 1. Tout ce que j'ai rêvé, 2. Symbiose, 3. Comme au dernier jour
131. 🇬🇧🎸Electric Light Orchestra Creators of high-tech Beatlesque prog-rock in the 1970s, heavy on the synths and strings, influential on later atmospheric pop. 1. El Dorado, 2. On the Third Day, 3. Electric Light Orchestra [Aka: No Answer], 4. Out Of The Blue, 5. ELO 2 [Aka: Electric Light Orchestra II]
132. 🇲🇽🎸Iconoclasta A mostly instrumental band and one of the first Mexican progressive groups, Iconoclasta has been revered for years for epic-length songs that are influenced by classical, folk, and jazz music. 1. Suite Mexicana, 2. Reminiscencias, 3. Soliloquio, 4. Adolescencia Crónica, 5. Iconoclasta, 6. Movilidad, 7. Granja Humana, 8. Resurrección, 9. En Busca de Sentido, 10. En Concierto:Teatro de la Ciudad. (Special Mention: Iconoclasta 2015)
133. 🇩🇪🎸Wallenstein were a band that transcended a number of musical styles during their decade-plus of existence, from early krautrock to symphonic to space rock toward the end of their existence. 1. Blitzkrieg, 2. Cosmic Century, 3. Mother Universe, 4. Stories, Songs and Symphonies.
134. 🇬🇧🎸🎙️Gordon Giltrap Innovative British guitarist who emerged during the 1960s folk scene and found success in the '70s with a trio of instrumental prog rock albums. 1. Perilous Journey, 2. Fear of the Dark, 3. Visionary
135. 🇺🇸🎸🎷Liquid Tension Experiment is an American instrumental prog rock "supergroup." Founded in 1997 by drummer Mike Portnoy, then a member of Dream Theater, their sound offers complex compositions -- sometimes of protracted length -- wedding riff-laden hard rock and heavy metal to knotty jazz fusion, and meaty funk with constantly shifting dynamics, rhythms, time signatures, and textures. 1. Liquid Tension Experiment 2, 2. Liquid Tension Experiment
🆕136. 🇬🇷📟🪈🎻🎹🎬🎸Vangelis Greek composer, arranger, and musician whose influence on electronic music and the world of film scores is immeasurable. 1. Blade Runner, 2. 1492 – Conquest of Paradise, 3. Heaven and Hell, 4. Voices, 5. China, 6. L' Apocalypse Des Animaux, 7. Albedo 0.39, 8. Spiral, 9. Direct, 10. Mask (Special Mention: 1. Odes, 2. Chariots of Fire, 3. Opera Sauvage)
136. 🇬🇧🎸 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band The fourth incarnation of Manfred Mann, an art-rock band who scored big with "Blinded By the Light." 1. Solar Fire, 2. Nightingales and Bombers, 3. The Roaring Silence, 4. Watch
137. 🇬🇧🎸Gryphon They shared a vision of blending traditional English folk, Baroque instrumentation and Renaissance music in a modern format. 1. Red Queen to Gryphon Three, 2. Midnight Mushrumps, 3. Gryphon, 4. Raindance
138. 🇬🇧🎸Atomic Rooster Hard-rocking English band formed in 1969 at the height of the U.K. progressive rock boom. 1. Death Walks Behind You, 2. Atomic Rooster, 3. Made in England, 4. In Hearing of Atomic Rooster
139. 🇬🇧🎸Greenslade Mid-'70s British progressive rock band anchored by two keyboardists. Their sound melded pop melodies to classical, jazz, psychedelia, and blues. 1. Greenslade, 2. Bedside Manners Are Extra. Offshoots: 🇬🇧🎸Dave Grrenslade Greenslade first came to attention as the keyboards player for the jazz-blues-rock fusion outfit Colosseum, for whom he composed the epic "Valentyne Suite," a 17-minute, multi-section production that became the centerpiece of the album of the same name. 1. Cactus Choir
🆕140. 🇺🇸🎸A Perfect Circle American alt-metal supergroup that features a revolving cast of notable members. 1. Thirteenth Step, 2. Mer de noms
140. 🇷🇺🎸🪇Vespero From Russia playing psychedelic music in the beginnings and later Natalya Tjurina (vocals) joined, and the band moved into more progressive rock-related areas. 1. The Four Zoas, 2. Hollow Moon, 3. Shun-Shir, 4. Songo, 5. Rito, 6. Surpassing All Kings, 7. By The Waters Of Tomorrow, 8. Subkraut - U-Boats Willkommen Hier, 9. Droga, 10. Lique Mekwas
141. 🇵🇱🎸🎷SBB is one of the most important Polish bands of the seventies. SBB, rightfully listed in the eclectic progressive genre, mainly plays a hybrid of symphonic prog, space/atmospheric prog and fusion. 1. Memento z banalnym tryptykiem, 2. Pamięć, 3. SBB, 4. Ze Słowem Biegnę Do Ciebie, 5. Nowy Horyzont, 6. Follow My Dream, 7. Welcome, 8. The Rock
142. 🇳🇴🎸🪈Popol Ace Having roots as far back as 1959 with The Scavers and later releasing a single Arman Stumpe Dur Express, this Norwegian quintet that released two albums under the Popol Vuh moniker (a Maya mythology-related name), until they became aware of a German band using the same name, they changed their names to Popol Ace 1. Popol Vuh, 2. Quiche Maya, 3. Stolen from Timex
🆕143. 🇺🇸🎸Jack O’ the Clock Acclaimed American avant-prog/folk band from Oakland, California, formed in 2007 by multi-instrumentalist Damon Waitkus and Nicci Reisnour, blending intricate folk songwriting with complex composition, exploring themes of modern life, nostalgia, and identity with a unique palette of instruments like bassoon, hammer dulcimer, and violin, creating a sound compared to Sufjan Stevensmeets Henry Cow. 1. How Are We Doing and Who Will Tell Us? 2. Night Loops, 3. All My Friends, 4. Repetitions of the old City I, 5. Repetitions of the old City II, 6. The Warm, Dark Circus, 7. Portraits
143. 🇳🇱🎸Supersister was a Dutch progressive rock band formed in 1968, known for its unique sound that blended jazz, psychedelia, and the Canterbury scene. 1. To the Highest Bidder 2. Present from Nancy, 3. Pudding en Gisteren [Aka: Pudding & Yesterday]
144. 🇳🇱🎸Ekseption In their eight-year existence, Ekseption came as close as any group from the European continent ever did to stealing the thunder of early classical rock outfits such as the Nice and rivaling the early work of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. 1. Trinity, 2. 3, 3. 00.004, 4. Bingo
145. 🇬🇷🎸Aphrodite's Child Greek psych/prog band that gave birth to the career of keyboard wizard Vangelis. 1. 666, 2. End Of The World
146. 🇬🇧🎸Uriah Heep British hard rockers with a revolving-door lineup and an eclectic sound that grandly draws on prog, metal, acid rock, and pastoral folk. 1. Demons and Wizards, 2. Look at Yourself, 3. Salisbury
147. 🇨🇦🎸Harmonium was a highly successful French-Canadian folk-progressive rock band from Quebec, active in the 1970s. Formed in 1973 by Serge Fiori, Michel Normandeau, and Louis Valois, the band achieved both commercial and artistic success in French and English Canada by blending folk, rock, and jazz into innovative albums like their self-titled debut, Si on avait besoin d'une cinquième saison, and the concept album L'Heptade. 1. Les Cinq Saisons, 2.L'heptade XL, 3. Harmonium
148. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Ave Rock The progressive sound of this group —full of rhythm changes and rich melodic treatments— was based on the virtuosity of Caló, Borda and Sainz. 1. Ave Rock, 2. Espacios
149. 🇦🇺🎸Frozen Planet 1969 Australian instrumental psychedelic rock trio formed in 2012. The band is known for its improvisational, long-form "jamming" sessions, which have resulted in numerous albums released through their own Pepper Shaker Records and Headspin Records. 1. Not From 1969, 2. Lost Traveller Chronicles Vol. 2., 3. The Heavy Grand Explotion, 4. Cold Hand of a Gambling Man
🆕149. 🎸🪇🪘Gal Costa An artist of extraordinary range who became a Brazilian icon and the most illustrious female singer of the Tropicália movement. 1. Cantar, 2. Legal, 3. Gel Costa, 4. Índia
150. 🇩🇪🎸🎷Kraan Among those German groups who include psychedelic, sometimes ethnic elements to their distinctive, innovative jazz rock. They were influenced by Pharaoh Sanders and Frank Zappa. 1. Kraan, 2. Let it Out, 3. Andy Nogger, 4. Wintrup, 5. Live
151. 🇲🇽🎸🪇Chac Mool was a prominent Mexican progressive rock band formed in Mexico City in 1979, active until 1985. Led by Jorge Reyes and Carlos Alvarado, the band was known for its atmospheric sound that blended complex progressive rock with elements of pre-Hispanic music, jazz, and folk. 1. Nadie en Especial, 2. Sueños de Metal, 3. El Mensajero de los Dioses, 4. Chac Mool, 5. Cintas En Directo
152. 🇬🇧🎸Argent Zombies keyboard maestro Rod Argent found a place to explore all of his musical notions and incorporated more classical, jazz, and art rock influences. 1. Nexus, 2. All Together Now, 3. Circus
153. 🇨🇭🎸Brainticket The obscure late-'60s/early-'70s experimental/Krautrock outfit Brainticket originally formed in 1968, consisting of members from Swiss, German, and Italian descent. 1. Celestial Ocean, 2. Cottonwoodhill, 3. Psychonaut, 4. Adventure, 5. Voyage
154. 🇬🇧🪇🎸🎷Osibisa is an Afro-rock band formed in London in 1969 by Ghanaian musicians Teddy Osei, Sol Amarfio, and Mac Tontoh. Their music is a fusion of African highlife, with rock, jazz, and funk, and they became one of the first African-heritage bands to achieve widespread international recognition. 1. Osibisa, 2. Boyaya
155. 🇨🇱🎸🪇Los Jaivas This Chilean band offers one of the most interesting blends of folk and symphonic rock. 1. Los Jaivas 2. Alturas de Macchu Picchu
156. 🇸🇪🎸🎷Janne Schaffer As one of the most prominent guitarists and session musicians in Sweden, Janne Schaffer has played with almost everyone at home, and quite a few important bands abroad. 1. Katharsis, 2. Janne Schaffer, 3. Earmeal
157. 🇨🇦🎸🪇Maneige Their music is probably one of the best example of what Fusion music can be by blending in classical and folk elements together with jazz tones the whole thing having a very progressive rock ideal and could also fit the chamber rock style. 1. Les porches, 2. Maneige, 3. Ni Vent... Ni Nouvelle, 4. Libre Service - Self Service
158. 🇩🇪🎸🎻📟Cluster has recorded many albums of ambitious, pre-ambient electronic music with gorgeous synth arrangements, a groovy tone and a constant sense of melody. 1. Cluster, 2. Cluster II, 3. Zuckerzeit, 4. Sowiesoso
159. 🇺🇸🎷🎻🎹🎸Thank You Scientist A 21st century progressive rock septet that formed at Montclair State University in New Jersey. 1. Stranger Heads Prevail, 2. Maps of Non — Existent Places, 3. Terraformer
160. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Aquelarre Argentinean progressive rock band Aquelarre got involved in the local music scene in March of 1972 while performing at a local venue, releasing a self-titled album that same year. 1. Aquelarre, 2. Brumas
161. 🇦🇷🎸🪇 Crucis Their music is half instrumental/half with strong Spanish vocals and the emphasis is on the keyboards (organ, string-ensemble, synthesizers, Steinway - and Fender Rhodes piano), the rhythm-section sounds powerful and adventurous. 1. Los Delirios del Mariscal, 2. Crucis
162. 🇬🇧🎸The Pop Group Politically motivated post-punk collective from Bristol, characterized by slicing guitars, primitive funk rhythms, and agit-prop lyrics. 1. Y, 2. For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?
163. 🇬🇧🎸Spirogyra Formed in Canterbury, England in 1970, Spirogyra was one of a group of young progressive folk bands signed to B&C Records at the same time as Steeleye Span. 1. St. Radigunds, 2. Old Boot Wine
164. 🇫🇷🎸Clearlight is a project by French song-writer and composer Cyrille "Clearlight" Verdeaux, with a blend of classical romanticism and prog-rock experimentation. 1. Clearlight Symphony, 2. Forever Blowing Bubbles, 3. Impressionist Symphony, 4. Infinite Symphony, 5. Symphony II, 6. Les Contes Du Singe Fou
165. 🇧🇪🎸🪇 Aksak Maboul is a Belgian avant-rock band founded in 1977 by Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. Known for their eclectic and experimental music, the band has explored diverse styles, including post-punk, free jazz, electronic music, and traditional folk. 1. Un peu de l'âme des bandits, 2. Onze Danses Pour Combattre La Migraine
🆕166. 🇺🇸🎸This Will Destroy You Texas quartet makes sprawling, experimental instrumental rock influenced by shoegaze, ambient, and doom metal. 1. Young Mountain, 2. Another Language, 3. This Will Destroy You, 4. Tunnel Blanket, 5. S/T
166. 🇬🇧🎸Fruupp One of the hardest-working progressive bands to end up languishing in relative obscurity, Fruupp was begun in 1971 by guitarist Vince McCusker. 1. Future Legends, 2. Seven Secrets, 3. Modern Masquerades
167. 🇺🇸🎸Styx The rare art rock band with commercial success, capable of producing monster hits with stadium rock, sweeping power ballads, and concept albums. 1. The Grand Illusion, 2. Pieces of Eight
168. 🇨🇿🎷🎸 🎬Jan Hammer Pioneering Czech jazz fusion keyboardist best known for his television scores. 1. Timeless, 2. Oh, Yeah?, 3. The First Seven Days, 4. Malma Mainly
169. 🇮🇸🎸Sigur Rós Pioneering Icelandic post-rockers whose uniquely dreamlike, slow-motion sound is popular with shoegazers and filmmakers. 1. Ágætis Byrjun, 2. (), 3. Takk…
170. 🇮🇸🎸📟Björk Iconic Icelander whose unique sonic adventurousness has extended to pop, jazz, electronica, and beyond. 1. Vespertine, 2. Homogenic, 3. Post, 4. Debut, 5. Vulnicura, 6. Medúlla
171. 🇦🇺🎸🪈Dead Can Dance Project that combines elements of European folk music, particularly the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with ambient pop and worldbeat. 1. Within the realm of a Dying Sun, 2. The Serpent’s Egg, 3. Into the Labyrinth, 4. Spleen and Ideal, 5. Anastasis, 6. Dionysus
172. 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇸🇪🎸Transatlantic Prog rock supergroup featuring members of Dream Theater, Spock's Beard, Marillion, and the Flower Kings 1. Bridge Across Forever, 2. SMPT E, 3. The Whirlwind, 4. The Absolute Universe: Forevermore, 5. Kaleidoscope, 6. The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version)
173. 🇬🇧🎸Haken English band whose original prog-metal sound has evolved into a kaleidoscopic swirl of prog-rock, electronic pop, and anthemic rock. 1. The Mountain, 2. Visions, 3. Aquarius 4. Affinity, 5. Fauna, 6. Vector, 7. Virus
174. 🇺🇸🎸Deluge Grander is a progressive rock band formed in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2005 by Dan Britton, who also leads projects like Birds and Buildings. The band, a successor to Britton's previous project, Cerebus Effect, was founded with drummer Patrick Gaffney to perform Britton's complex compositions. Early lineups included guitarists Dave Berggren and bassists Brett d'Anon, and their music is characterized by intricate, symphonic progressive . 1. August in the Urals, 2. The Form of the Good, 3. Oceanarium, 4. Heliotians
175. 🇩🇪🎸📟🎻🎬🪈Tangerine Dream Innovative Berlin group whose pioneering synthesizer and sequencer work helped found the new age of popular ambient and electronica. 1. Rubycon, 2. Phaedra, 3. Stratosfear, 4. Force Majeure, 5. Tangram, 6. Exit, 7. Encore, 8. Logos, 9. White Eagle, 10. Hyperborea
176. 🇬🇧🎸Ozric Tentacles British neo-psychedelic jam band who bridged the gap between techno and space rock in the 1980s and '90s 1. Erpland, 2. Strangeitude, 3. Jurassic Shift, 4. Arborescence, 5. Pungent Effulgent, 6. Curious Corn, 7. The Hidden Step, 8. Lotus Unfolding, 9. Spirals in Hyperspace, 8. Technicians of the Sacred, 10. Space for the Earth
177. 🇺🇸🎸Dream Theater Standard-bearing American progressive metal standard bearers who have influenced the entire genre with their impeccable musicianship and recordings. 1. Awake 2. Images and Words, 3. A Dramatic Turn of Events, 4. Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, 5. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 6. Train of Thought, 7. Octavarium, 8. Distance Over Time, 9. A View from the Top of the World, 10. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
178. 🇺🇸🎸Queensrÿche Seattle quintet who constructed a progressive form of heavy metal drawing equally from guitar pyrotechnics and art rock. 1. Operation: Mindcrime, 2. Empire, 3. Rage For Order, 4. The Warning, 5. Promised Land
179. 🇺🇸🎸🎬Explosions in the Sky Austin-based instrumental post-rock quartet known for moody, cinematic compositions as well as film and television scores. 1. The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, 2. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, 3. All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, 4. The Wilderness
180. 🇺🇸🎸Pain of Salvation has evolved from a Dream Theater-inspired, technical metal band into a stylized, syncopated fusion powerhouse. 1. Remedy Lane, 2. The Perfect Element, Pt. I, 3. Entropia, 4. One Hour By The Concrete Lake, 5. “BE”
181. 🇬🇧🎸Big Big Train Veteran British ensemble blends progressive rock and thoughtful pop melodicism. 1. English Electric, Pt. One, 2. English Electric, Pt. Two, 3. The Underfall Yard, 4. Folklore, 5. Grimspound, 6. Grand Tour, 7. Common Ground, 8. Welcome to the Planet, 9. Ingenious Device, 10. The Likes of Us
182. 🇬🇧🎸I.Q. Prolific British progressive rock band active since the early '80s. 1. The Road of Bones, 2. Ever, 3. Subterranea, 4. The Wake, 5. The Seventh House, 6. Tales from the Lush Attic, 7. Dark Matter, 8. Frequency, 9. Resistance
183. 🇸🇪🎸The Flower Kings Longstanding, innovative prog rock band from Sweden led by guitarist and composer Roine Stolt. 1. Banks of Eden, 2. Back in the World of Adventures, 3. Flower Power, 4. Desolation Rose, 5. Stardust We Are, 6. Retropolis, 7. Space Revolver, 8. Unfold the Future, 9. Paradox Hotel, 10. Islands
184. 🇺🇸🎸Spock’s Beard Los Angeles neo-progressive rock band known for its catchy songwriting and technical playing style. 1. Snow, 2. The Light, 3. V, 4. Beware of Darkness, 5. Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep, 6. The Oblivion Particle, 7. X, 8. Noise Floor
185. 🇸🇪🎸Beardfish Swedish progressive rock band celebrated for their technical prowess and muscular interpretation of the genre. 1. Sleeping In Traffic, Pt. 2, 2. Sleeping In Traffic, Pt. 1, 3. +4626-Comfortzone, 4. Destined Solitaire, 5, Mammoth, 6. Songs for Beating Hearts, 7. The Void
186. 🇺🇸🎸Flying Colors Progressive rock supergroup featuring former members of Dream Theater, the Dixie Dregs, and Spock's Beard. 1. Second Nature, 2. Third Degree, 3. Five Colors
187. 🇬🇧🎸Be Bop Deluxe British band of the mid-'70s, led by talented guitarist Bill Nelson, that balanced art rock and glam, proving a heavy influence on new wave. 1. Modern Music, 2. Sunburst Finish, 3. Futurama
188. 🇭🇺🎸Solaris Hungarian progressive rock band Solaris got its start in 1980. They took their name, and the content of all their songs, from classic science fiction. 1. Martian Chronicles, 2. Martian Chronicles II, 3. 1990
189. 🇬🇧🎸Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come This UK band was formed in 1971 by the eccentric Arthur Brown a vocalist who had achieved momentary commercial fame three years earlier with his memorable single, "Fire." Considered one of the prime movers behind the British progressive underground, Brown's flamboyant stage act - flaming helmet, outlandish costumes, bizarre facial make-up and crazy, incendiary vocals - appropriately suited the band's manic, psychedelic sound. 1. Galactic Zoo Dossier, 2. Journey
190. 🇮🇪🎤🪇🪈Clannad Irish family band who debuted with traditional instruments and Gaelic vocals, then enjoyed global success by bridging folk, rock, and new age. 1. Dúlamán, 2. Clannad 2
191. 🇺🇸🎸Yezda Urfa was an American progressive rock band formed in 1973 that gained a cult following for its technically complex, quirky, and humor-filled music, influenced by bands like Yes and Gentle Giant. 1. Boris, 2. Sacred Baboon
192. 🇺🇸🎻📟🎷🎹Terry Riley Widely influential Californian composer who pioneered the use of tape loops and delay/feedback systems. 1. A Rainbow In Curved Air, 2. Church of Anthrax, 3. In C, 4. Persian Surgery Dervishes, 5. Atlantis Nath, 6. In C/Djembé
193. 🇺🇸🎸Mastodon One of the most acclaimed metal bands of the new millennium, with an innovative, lyrically astute blend of progressive metal, grindcore, and hardcore. 1. Crack the Sky, 2. Leviathan, 3. Blood Mountain, 4. The Hunter, 5. Once More ‘Round the Sun, 6. Emperor of Sand
194. 🇺🇸🎸Ancestors L.A.'s suitably named Ancestors are conversant with all manner of "classic" hard rock and heavy metal influences, ranging from the primordial doom of Black Sabbath, to the futuristic space rock of Hawkwind, 1. Of Sound Mind, 2. In Dreams and Time
195. 🇸🇪🎸Edge of Sanity Swedish extreme metal band which was among the first to fuse death and black metal with progressive rock. 1. Purgatory Afterglow 2. The Spectral Sorrows 3. Crimson
196. 🇺🇸🎸Deftones Alternative metal quintet who evolved beyond the nu-metal era with a dynamic blend of beauty and brutality. 1. White Pony, 2. Koi no yokan, 3. Around the Fur, 4. Diamond Eyes, 5. Saturday Night Wrist
197. 🇺🇸🎸Ultimate Spinach Short-lived psychedelic/acid rock band who were one of the most successful acts associated with the Bosstown Sound of the late '60s. 1. Ultimate Spinach, 2. Behold and See
Great Experimental/Art Rock Albums, Compilations & Songs
Back to Ranking by Music Style
By artists who are not necessary at my top of my book but round pretty well my Experimental/Art Rock musical taste. Sorted in no particular order.
🇬🇧🎸Still by Pete Sinfield. Probably the best lyricist ever. Nobody has been able to transmit such intense emotions with words. Only his first work, "In The Court Of The Crimson King" deserves this title.
🇬🇧🎸The Immediate Years CD 1-3 by The Nice. U.K. band who started as an R&B outfit but went on to pioneer progressive rock and art rock while adding classical influences.
🇩🇪🎸Bullfrog by Bullfrog. The German band Bullfrog was a Munich-based krautrock/heavy prog group formed in 1973, known for their melodious, guitar-heavy sound with strong keyboard work, releasing Bullfrog (1976) and High in Spirit (1977).
🇮🇹🎸🪇YS by Il Balletto Di Bronzo. Il Balletto di Bronzo is a seminal Italian progressive rock band, formed in Naples in 1969, renowned for their experimental and complex sound, especially their influential 1972 album Ys.
🇮🇹🎸🪇Palepoli by Osanna. Osanna is a pioneering Italian progressive rock band, formed in Naples in 1971, known for their theatrical stage presence with elaborate costumes and makeup, and their unique fusion of heavy rock, psychedelic elements, and traditional Neapolitan sounds, highlighted by classic albums like L'Uomo and the influential Palepoli.
🇬🇧🎸Stained Glass Stories by Cathedral. British doom metal band formed in 1989 by ex-Napalm Death vocalist Lee Dorrian, known for their influential debut Forest of Equilibrium and a gradual shift from slow doom to 70s-inspired hard rock and progressive metal.
🇬🇧🎸The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Rick Wakeman. Classically trained keyboardist extraordinaire who plied his trade with Yes and developed his own brand of live spectacular in a solo act.
🇬🇧🎸Voyage of the Acolyte by Steve Hackett. Progressive rock guitarist best known for his 1970s stint in Genesis, although he wandered in and out of many top bands
🇺🇸🎸🎷🪘Azteca by Azteca. Azteca was a short-lived but highly influential American Latin rock and jazz fusion supergroup from the early 1970s. Formed by percussionist brothers Pete and Coke Escovedo after their time with Santana, the band was a musical orchestra that featured up to 25 members onstage and blended a wide array of musical styles.
🇺🇸🎸Bantam to Behemoth by Birds and Buildings. Birds and Buildings is a progressive rock project founded in 2008 by multi-instrumentalist Dan Britton (formerly of Cerebus Effect and Deluge Grander), featuring a core lineup of Britton (keys, guitar), Brett d'Anon (bass, guitar), Brian Falkowski (reeds), and Malcolm McDuffie (drums). Known for their complex, energetic, and eclectic sound, the band blends influences like Magma, Gentle Giant, and Mahavishnu Orchestra with zeuhl, fusion, and symphonic elements, creating intricate compositions and high-level musicianship.
🇺🇸🎸Office of Strategic Influence by O.S.I. O.S.I. (stands for: Office Of Strategic Influence) was an American progressive rock/metal band formed in 2002 by Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos and Chroma Key vocalist/keyboardist Kevin Moore, active from 2002–2012, known for its long-distance, collaborative studio-project approach that involved rotating guest musicians.
🇺🇸🎸Todd Rundgren's Utopia by Utopia. Utopia was an American rock band, founded by Todd Rundgren in 1973, that evolved from an early progressive rock ensemble (Todd Rundgren's Utopia) into a more accessible new wave and power pop group featuring a stable core lineup of Rundgren, Kasim Sulton, Roger Powell, and John "Willie" Wilcox.
🇬🇧🎸White by White. Alan White was an influential English rock drummer best known for his nearly 50-year tenure with the progressive rock band Yes, joining in 1972 and becoming its longest-serving member
🇬🇧🎸Space Shanty by Khan. Khan was a short-lived but influential British progressive rock band formed in 1971 by guitarist Steve Hillage, known for fusing psychedelic rock, jazz, and complex arrangements.
🇬🇧🇩🇪🎸Casablanca Moon / Desperate Straights by Slap Happy. Slap Happy was a British/German avant-pop trio formed in Hamburg in 1972 by Anthony Moore (keyboards), Peter Blegvad (guitar), and Dagmar Krause (vocals), known for their intellectual, experimental, and unique sound characterized by Krause's distinctive German-accented vocals.
🇬🇧🎷🎸Mainstream by Quiet Sun. Quiet Sun was a British jazz-rock/progressive band formed around 1970 by Phil Manzanera and Bill MacCormick, known for their complex, jazz-infused sound with prominent guitar and keyboards
🇮🇹🎸🪇Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più by Locanda Delle Fate. Locanda delle Fate was an Italian symphonic progressive rock band, most famous for their 1977 debut album Forse le lucciole non si amano più, which is now considered a classic despite the band disbanding shortly after its release.
🇺🇸🎸Toy Matinee by Toy Matinee. Toy Matinee was a short-lived American rock band formed by producer Patrick Leonard and singer Kevin Gilbert, releasing one self-titled album in 1990 that mixed progressive rock, AOR, and Beatlesque pop.
🇮🇹🎸🪇Madrugada by Madrugada. Madrugada was an Italian jazz-rock/symphonic prog trio from Bergamo, active from approximately 1970 to 1978, featuring Gianfranco Pinto (keyboards), Alessandro "Billy" Zanelli (bass), and Pietro Rapelli (drums), known for their keyboard-driven sound with rich vocal arrangements and later evolving into a more spacey, jazz-rock fusion style on their two albums, Madrugada (1974) and Incastro (1977).
🇧🇷🎸Depois do Fim by Bacamarte. Bacamarte was a Brazilian progressive rock band formed in 1974, renowned for their 1983 album "Depois Do Fim,” considered a progressive rock classic blending symphonic keyboards, skilled guitar work by Mario Neto, and Portuguese vocals.
🇬🇧🎸On Land and In the Sea by Cardiacs. Eccentric U.K. indie rockers whose cassette-only releases and oddball performances built them a 1980s cult following.
🇯🇵🎸🎻Plays Standards by Ground Zero. Ground Zero was a Japanese avant-garde band led by turntablist and guitarist Otomo Yoshihide, active from 1990 to 1998, known for its polystylistic fusion of noise, free improvisation, and sampled collages within a rock framework.
🇮🇹🎸🪇Zarathustra - EP by Museo Rosenbach. Museo Rosenbach is an Italian progressive rock band formed in Sanremo around 1971, known almost exclusively for their 1973 album "Zarathustra," now a revered cult classic and considered one of the best Italian progressive rock albums ever, despite its initial lack of commercial success.
🇨🇦🎸Obscura by Gorguts. An influential Canadian technical death metal outfit fronted by Luc Lemay. Known for evolving death metal's sonic language, they are recognized for albums like Obscura(1998) and Colored Sands (2013), which pushed boundaries with dissonant harmonies and complex structures.
🇬🇧🎸Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt. Former Soft Machine drummer and vocalist who merged the avant-garde with English eccentricity.
🇸🇪🎸A Drop of Light by All Traps On Earth. All Traps On Earth is a Swedish progressive rock quarter. The band, created from a composition by Johan Brand, released their debut album, A Drop of Light, in 2018, blending symphonic rock, Canterbury prog, jazz, and avant-garde elements with heavy use of Mellotrons and wind instruments.
🇵🇱🎸Second Life Syndrome by Riverside. Riverside is a Polish progressive rock band formed in Warsaw in 2001, known for their blend of atmospheric rock and metal with melancholic melodies and introspective lyrics, often compared to bands like Pink Floyd, Tool, and Porcupine Tree.
🇮🇹🎸Maxophone by Maxophone. Maxophone was an Italian progressive rock band formed in Milan in 1973, known for their critically acclaimed, self-titled 1975 album that blended symphonic rock with jazz and classical elements, featuring instruments like French horn, clarinet, and vibraphone.
🇮🇩🪇Mahandini by Dewa Budjana. Dewa Budjana is an acclaimed Indonesian guitarist, composer, and songwriter, known as the lead guitarist for the iconic pop/rock band Gigi and for his extensive solo career exploring jazz, fusion, and world music.
🇨🇺🎸🪘Síntesis (feat. Jorge Migoya, Juan Carlos Ricci & Julio Alberto Cusmai) by Síntesis. Síntesis is a seminal Cuban band, founded in 1976 by Carlos Alfonso, renowned for pioneering ethno-fusion by blending Afro-Cuban roots and Yoruba rituals with jazz and rock elements.
🇧🇷🎷🪘Zabumbe-bum-á by Hermeto Pascoal. Hermeto Pascoal (1936–2025) was a groundbreaking Brazilian composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer known for his innovative integration of Brazilian folk music with jazz and progressive rock, earning him the nickname "the Sorcerer".
🇨🇦🎸F♯ A♯ ∞ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor. An experimental nine-piece that specializes in semi-avant-garde instrumental music of haunting beauty.
🇬🇧🎸Hex by Bark Psychosis. Bark Psychosis was an influential English experimental rock band, formed in 1986 by school friends Graham Sutton and John Ling, who are credited with coining the term "post-rock" to describe their genre-blending sound. Known for their textured, ambient soundscapes that mixed rock instrumentation with electronic sampling, jazz, and dub, they released seminal EPs and the classic 1994 album Hex, which, despite critical acclaim, led to the original band's dissolution due to internal tensions.
🇬🇧🎸Fish Rising by Steve Hillage. Veteran British guitarist who has greatly influenced space rock, prog, ambient, and techno throughout his lengthy career.
🇩🇪🇭🇺🎸🪈Edge of Time by DOM. DOM is a quartet formed by a multi-national musical collective (with members from Germany and Hungary). The music reaches the listener into a space, acoustic "trip" dominated by guitars and percussions.
🇩🇪🎸Känguru - EP by Guru Guru. Guru Guru is a pioneering German Krautrock band formed in 1968 by drummer Mani Neumeier, blending psychedelic rock, jazz, humor, and improvisation into a surreal, often chaotic sound, exemplified by early albums like UFO and live performances that were integral to their hippie ethos and communist-leaning politics.
🇩🇪🎸🎷🪇Electric Silence by DZYAN. Dzyan was a German Krautrock jazz-rock band formed in Mannheim in 1971, known for blending rock, jazz, electronics, and Asian ethnic music.
🇺🇸🎸🎹🎻Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds by Jeff Wayne. Jeff Wayne is an American-born composer, musician, and lyricist best known for his 1978 concept album, "Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds," an internationally successful adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel that blends rock, classical, and electronic music.
🇫🇷🎸📟🎻🪈Stand By by Heldon. Heldon was a pioneering French electronic rock band, active primarily from 1974–1978 and led by guitarist Richard Pinhas, known for its fusion of progressive rock, experimental electronics, and often aggressive, heavy metal-influenced guitar work, with the band's name originating from Norman Spinrad's novel The Iron Dream.
🇫🇷🎸Weidorje by Weidorje. Weidorje was a short-lived French progressive rock/Zeuhl band formed in 1976 by former Magma members Bernard Paganotti (bass) and Patrick Gauthier (keyboards). The band released one self-titled album in 1978, known for its bass-heavy, rhythmically intense, and fusion-influenced Zeuhl sound, which often included brass instrumentation.
🇦🇹🎷🪇Szobel by Hermann Szobel. Hermann Szobel (born 1958) is an Austrian former pianist and composer. He produced and recorded a single jazz fusion album, titled "Szobel," (1976) at the age of 18, demonstrating, in the words of a "Down Beat" reviewer (9 September 1976), "a conception and technique far in advance of most musicians twice his age."
🇪🇸🎸🪇Si Todo Hiciera Crack by Crack. Crack was a short-lived but influential Spanish symphonic-progressive rock band formed in Gijón in 1977-78, known for their 1979 album Si Todo Hiciera Crack, which blended classic British and Italian prog influences with Spanish lyrical themes and a rich sound featuring keyboards, flutes, and both acoustic and electric guitars.
🇩🇪🎸Deluxe by Harmonia. Harmonia was a West German krautrock "supergroup" formed in 1973 by Michael Rother (of Neu!) and Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Dieter Moebius (of Cluster), pioneering a sound blending ambient soundscapes with repetitive, motorik beats in their isolated rural setting.
🇦🇺🎸Four Moments by Sebastian Hardie. Sebastian Hardie was an Australian symphonic rock band, formed in 1967 as the Sebastian Hardie Blues Band, that transitioned to a progressive rock sound in the 1970s, releasing the acclaimed albums Four Moments (1975) and Windchase (1976) before disbanding in 1977, later reforming for later releases.
🇮🇹🎸🪇Principe Di Un Giorno by Celeste. Celeste is an Italian progressive rock band from Sanremo, formed in 1972 by drummer Ciro Perrino, best known for their classic 1976 album Il Principe del Giorno (Celeste), which is praised for its dreamy, pastoral sound featuring Mellotron and acoustic instruments.
🇫🇮🎸🪇Visitation by Pekka Pohjola. Pekka Pohjola (1952-2008) was a renowned Finnish multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bass virtuoso who rose to fame with the progressive rock band Wigwam before embarking on a distinguished solo career blending jazz fusion with progressive rock, heavily influenced by Frank Zappa and eventually developing a unique sound.
🇬🇧🎸Garden Shed by England. England were a progressive rock group active in the late 1970s and briefly reformed in 2006. The band is notable for their album Garden Shedreleased on Arista Records, and for keyboardist Robert Webb playing a Mellotron sawn in half.
🇧🇷🎷🎹🪈🪇Academia De Danças by Egberto Gismonti. A world-renowned multi-instrumentalist and composer whose work reflects the musical diversity of Brazil.
🇦🇷🎸🪇Cornostipicum by M.IA. M.I.A. (Músicos Independientes Asociados) was an influential Argentine progressive rock cooperative, active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, co-founded by the Vitale family, including Lito and Liliana Vitale, and known for their independent ethos, complex symphonic rock with Latin folk influences, and as a launchpad for numerous careers in Argentine music.
🇬🇧🎸🎷🎻Kew. Rhone. by John Greaves, Peter Blegvad & Lisa Herman. John Greaves is a Welsh bassist, pianist, singer, and composer born in 1950, known for his work in experimental rock, particularly with Henry Cow, progressive rock with National Health, jazz-rock with Soft Heap, and numerous solo albums and collaborations, most notably with Peter Blegvad.
🇬🇧🎸🎻Hellfire by Black Midi. Black Midi was a London-based experimental rock band known for its complex blend of math rock, post-punk, noise rock, and avant-jazz, active from 2017 to 2024. Formed at the BRIT School by Geordie Greep, Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, Cameron Picton, and Morgan Simpson, the band gained notoriety for its virtuosic musicianship, chaotic live performances, and debut album Schlagenheim (2019), which earned a Mercury Prize nomination.
🇬🇧🎸🎻The Ghost Trade by Camberwell Now. Camberwell Now was an experimental English art-rock band formed in 1982 by Charles Hayward, the drummer from the influential band This Heat, alongside bassist Trefor Goronwy and tape manipulator Stephen Rickard.
🇺🇸🎸🎻🎹🪈The Ascension by Glenn Branca. Glenn Branca (1948–2018) was an influential American avant-garde composer, guitarist, and instrument inventor known for pioneering no wave, totalism, and noise rock through his symphonies for multiple electric guitars, characterized by extreme volume, alternative tunings, repetition, and exploration of the harmonic series.
🇪🇸🎸🪇El Patio by Triana. Triana was a pioneering Spanish band, formed in Seville in 1974, famous for creating "rock andaluz" by fusing progressive and psychedelic rock with flamenco.
🇦🇺🎸🪇Polygondwanaland by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Australian psychedelic collective with an intense work ethic and a wildly experimental outlook that reaches from synth prog to folk-rock.
🇯🇵🎸Tamago (卵) by betcover!! Formed in 2015, betcover!! are a J-rock band with jazz rock influences, recently moving to a more progressive sound.
🇫🇮🎸🪇Huono Parturi by Höyry-kone. Höyry-kone (Finnish for "Steam Engine") was an influential Finnish avant-prog band active from 1991 to 2001, known for its complex, eclectic sound mixing progressive rock, jazz, classical, and even techno, with unique vocal treatments and instrumentation including strings and flutes.
🇬🇧🎸🎷Mogul Thrash by Mogul Thrash. Mogul Thrash was a short-lived British jazz-rock band, formed in 1969 by ex-Colosseum guitarist James Litherland, known for their single self-titled album released in 1971 and for being a crucial early step for John Wetton (later of King Crimson and Asia) and future Average White Band saxophonists Roger Ball and Malcolm Duncan.
🇺🇸🎸🎷Sir Nebula by Tauk. New York-based jazz, funk, and electric fusion-oriented jam band.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Segundo Pasado by Agora. Agora is a Mexican progressive/heavy metal band formed in 1996 in Mexico City, known for its intricate musicianship, evolving sound, and impactful albums like "Segundo Pasado" and the recent English-language "Empire".
🇬🇧🎸Mark Kelly’s Marathon by Marathon. Marathon is a solo progressive rock project by Mark Kelly, the longtime keyboardist for the band Marillion, which launched in 2020 with a self-titled debut album featuring progressive rock themes and collaborations with other musicians.
🇬🇧🎸Olias of Sunhillow by Jon Anderson. Distinctive vocalist and songwriter best known for his work with Yes, as well as collaborating with Vangelis and Rick Wakeman.
🇫🇮🎸Haikara by Haikara. Haikara was a Finnish progressive rock band formed in Lahti in 1971, known for their complex symphonic and jazz-rock sound, which drew comparisons to King Crimson and Tasavallan Presidentti.
🇺🇸🎸Dead Roots Stirring & Lore by Elder. Explorative metal group that takes inspiration from progressive rock almost as much as from stoner metal.
🇬🇧🎸Babe Ruth by Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth was a British hard/progressive rock band formed in 1970, led by guitarist Alan Shacklock and featuring powerhouse vocalist Jenny Haan, known for their sophisticated mix of hard rock, blues, and jazz with ethnic elements, achieving early success in North America with their gold-selling 1972 debut album First Base.
🇬🇧🎸First Utterance by Comus. Comus was a pioneering English psychedelic folk band active in the early 1970s and later reformed in the late 2000s, known for their dark, acoustic, and experimental sound, particularly on their cult classic debut album, First Utterance (1971).
🇫🇷🎸🪇4 Visions by Eskaton. Eskaton was a French Zeuhl/chamber-rock band formed in 1970, known for their powerful, Magma-influenced sound that eventually incorporated synthesizers and a more accessible style, releasing seminal albums like 4 Visions before disbanding in the mid-80s after their final release, Fiction.
🇬🇧🎸Fields by Fields. Fields was a short-lived, keyboard-driven English progressive rock trio formed in 1971 by ex-King Crimson drummer Andy McCulloch and ex-Rare Bird organist Graham Field, with Alan Barry on vocals, bass, and guitar.
🇬🇧🎸Fuzzy Duck by Fuzzy Duck. Fuzzy Duck was an English hard rock/progressive rock band formed in London in 1970, known for their heavy, organ-driven sound with influences of jazz and psych-rock, best exemplified by their rare 1971 self-titled album.
🇬🇧🎸A Curious Feeling by Tony Banks. Influential English keyboardist and film composer and founding member of progressive rock giants Genesis.
🇩🇪🎸 Carol of Harvest by Carol of Harvest. Carol of Harvest played a dreamy blend of Progressive Rock and Folk with female vocals that might be compared with Mellow Candle and Renaissance.
🇬🇧🎸🎻Soup by Stick Men. King Crimson-adjacent prog rock supergroup built on a foundation of drums and Chapman Sticks
🇬🇧🎸McDonald & Giles by Ian McDonald & Miachael Giles. Having departed King Crimson, multi-instrumentalist McDonald and drummer Giles released a comparatively breezy but still ambitious duo album in 1971.
🇬🇧🎸Arzachel by Arzachel. Collectors of rare psychedelia recognize Arzachel's sole LP as being one of the most desired (and pricey) relics from the late '60s.
🇬🇧🎸🎷Unrecorded Beam by Billy Bottle & The Multiple. Billy Bottle & The Multiple is a progressive jazz-folk fusion project led by pianist/multi-instrumentalist Billy Bottle (Billy Harbottle) and vocalist Martine Waltier, blending Canterbury scene influences with experimental and folk elements to create whimsical, mythic concept albums inspired by poetry, politics, and life experiences.
🇩🇪🎸Gila by Gila. Gila was a German Krautrock band formed in 1969, known for their experimental sound on albums like Gila – Free Electric Sound (1972) and the more psychedelic folk Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1973), before disbanding in 1974. They blended instrumental space rock with folk influences, often featuring lengthy guitar solos, organ, and mellotron.
🇺🇸🎸Night on Bald Mountain by Fireballet. Fireballet was an American symphonic/art-rock band formed in North Jersey in 1971, active until 1976, known for their two influential albums, Night on Bald Mountain(1975) and Two, Too (1976). The band, which included multi-instrumentalist Jim Cuomo and guitarist Ryche Chlanda, showcased a complex progressive rock sound blending elements of Genesis, Gentle Giant, and Yes, notably featuring a celebrated symphonic take on Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain".
🇬🇧🎸🎺Afreaka! by Demon Fuzz. Demon Fuzz was an influential English Afro-rock band active from 1968 to 1972, composed of musicians from Caribbean Commonwealth countries, whose sound fused funk, soul, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, jazz, and African music.
🇬🇧🎸🎷Peter And The Wolf by Jack Lancaster & Robin Lumley. Brand X meets Eno, Keith Tippett, Chris Spedding, Stephan Grappelli and Bill Bruford. This is a progressive rock/hard rock/fusion music adapted for the "Peter & the Wolf" fairy tale.
🇺🇸🎸Captain Beyond by Captain Beyond. Captain Beyond was an American rock supergroup formed in 1971 by ex-Deep Purple vocalist Rod Evans, ex-Iron Butterfly guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt and bassist Lee Dorman, and ex-Johnny Winter drummer Bobby Caldwell, pioneering a complex blend of hard rock, progressive rock, and jazz fusion with space rock elements.
🇺🇸🎸It’s a Beautiful Day by It’s a Beautiful Day. San Francisco psychedelic folk-rock band formed in 1967 by violinist David LaFlamme and his wife Linda, known for their unique blend of rock, jazz, folk, and classical styles, and famous for their 1969 hit "White Bird" and their debut album, which achieved gold status.
🇺🇸🎸Sweetwater by Sweetwater. Sweetwater was a pioneering American psychedelic rock band, known for their distinctive instrumentation—including flute, cello, and congas instead of a guitar—and their unique fusion of folk, jazz, and classical music.
🇬🇧🎸Patto by Patto. Patto was an influential English progressive jazz-rock band formed in 1970 by vocalist Mike Patto, emerging from the band Timebox with members Ollie Halsall, Clive Griffiths, and John Halsey. Known for their energetic live shows and unique fusion of rock, jazz, blues, and humor, Patto released three albums on Vertigo and Island before disbanding, with members going on to join Boxer and the Rutles.
🇮🇹🎸Aria by Alan Sorrenti. Alan Sorrenti is an Italian singer and composer known for his versatile career, moving from experimental progressive rock in the early 1970s to major European pop hits like "Figli delle stelle" and "Tu sei l'unica donna per me".
🇩🇪🎸 Down in the Bunke by German Oak. German Oak was a Düsseldorf-based German psychedelic/space rock band in the early 1970s, known for their sole self-titled LP in 1972, recorded in an abandoned air-raid bunker to create a dark, claustrophobic, and industrial sound reflecting a young generation confronting the horrors of their parents' Nazi past. Their music featured extended, distorted guitar jams, heavy riffs, and electronic textures, with controversial song titles and cover art by a non-member, Manfred Uhr, that unfortunately drew misinterpretations of Nazi sympathies, though the band members themselves were apolitical.
🇺🇸🎸Relatively Clean Rivers by Relatively Clean Rivers. Relatively Clean Rivers was a short-lived, early 1970s band led by Orange County musician Phil Pearlman, known for their singular, highly regarded 1975 rural rock album that blended Grateful Dead-esque cosmic Americana, psychedelic folk, and acoustic melodies, becoming a prized underground rarity due to its excellent songwriting and atmospheric sound.
🇫🇷🎸Odyssée by Artcane. Artcane was a French symphonic progressive rock band formed in 1973, known for their single 1977 album, Odyssée, a rare LP that disappeared after its release on the French Philips label, featuring experimental, instrumental tracks with Frippian-influenced guitar and Crimson-like keyboards, and disbanded in 1979.
🇮🇹🎸1998: La Storia Di Sabazio1 by Triade. Triade was a short-lived, influential Italian progressive rock trio from Florence, active in the early 1970s, known for their 1973 debut album, 1998: La Storia di Sabazio, a pivotal work in Italian progressive rock that blended classical, symphonic, and folk-influenced styles.
🇨🇦🎸Hope by Klaatu. Klaatu was a Canadian progressive rock trio —John Woloschuk, Dee Long, and Terry Draper— active from 1973–1982, known for their spacey pop-rock and an enduring rumor that they were secretly The Beatles, fueled by their anonymous album art and Capitol Records' distribution.
🇫🇷🎸Eros by Dün. Dün was a French progressive rock band from Nantes, active from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, known for their complex, instrumental sound blending Zeuhl, avant-rock, and chamber music, culminating in their sole album, Eros (1981). Heavily influenced by Magma, Frank Zappa, and Henry Cow, their music featured intricate instrumental passages and haunting piano lines.
🇦🇷🎸 La Biblia by Vox Dei. Vox Dei is a legendary Argentine rock band formed in 1967, renowned for pioneering the concept album with La Biblia (1971) and influencing the Latin American rock movement with their spiritual themes and prolific output in the 1970s. A band with elements of blues, psychedelia, and progressive rock.
🇳🇴🎸 Between the Leaves by Déjà-Vu. This is a mid-seventies Hard Prog band from Norway. The music crosses crunchy guitar vamps with melodic sequences overlaid with lots of keyboards and plenty of monophonic synth leads.
🇲🇽🎸Hecho en Casa by Nuevo México. Considered one of Mexico's first progressive groups; Its emphasis on earlier psych and heavy instrumental workouts might have made it seem dated to some audiences, but in Mexico it was rather unique, and the playing pushed the boundaries of improvisation without clearly broaching them.
🇬🇧🎸Storm Corrosion by Storm Corrosion. Storm Corrosion was a one-off musical collaboration between Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), formed in 2010 and releasing a single, self-titled album in 2012, exploring experimental psychedelic folk and ambient music rather than their typical progressive metal or rock, with no plans for future output.
🇺🇸🎸 Yesterday’s Children by Yesterday’s Children. Yesterday's Children was an
American psychedelic proto-heavy metal band formed in Connecticut in 1966 that released one cult-classic self-titled album in 1970 before disbanding, known for their transition from garage rock into a heavy, dynamic style that has been rediscovered by fans of early hard rock and metal.
🇨🇭🎸 Mainhorse by Mainhorse. Mainhorse was a short-lived Swiss-British progressive rock band, formed in 1969 by Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz and bassist Jean Ristori, known for their single 1971 eponymous album on Polydor Records before disbanding due to lack of commercial success. Moraz, later famous for joining Yes and The Moody Blues, pioneered the band's unique blend of classical, jazz, and psychedelic sounds with bandmates Peter Lockett and drummer Bryson Graham.
🇮🇪🎸Swaddling Songs by Mellow Candle. Mellow Candle was an Irish progressive folk-rock band (active 1968–1973) best known for their acclaimed 1972 debut album, Swaddling Songs, a complex and harmonically rich work that has become a classic of the genre despite its initial commercial failure.
🇺🇸🎸Anomaly by McLuhan. McLuhan was a Chicago-based, mixed-media progressive rock band formed in 1970 by University of Illinois students, led by trumpeter Dave Wright, known for their experimental sound, offbeat instrumentation, and integration of film, culminating in the cult classic 1972 album Anomaly on Brunswick Records before disbanding, only to experience a revival and partial reunion decades later.
🇺🇸🎸 The Music Improvisation Company by Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Hugh Davies, Jamie Muir & Christine Jeffrey. Exquisite and unexpected sound textures. Decades ahead of its time when released. Avant Garde at its best.
🇬🇧🎸Mighty Baby by Mighty Baby. Mighty Baby was an English post-psychedelic band formed in 1969 from the remnants of The Action, releasing two influential albums, Mighty Baby (1969) and A Jug of Love (1971), known for their blend of psychedelic rock, West Coast influences, and intricate guitar work.
🇬🇧🎸Think Pink by Twink. Twink (born John Charles Alder) is an influential English psychedelic and proto-punk drummer, singer, and songwriter known for his central role in bands like The Fairies, Tomorrow, The Pretty Things, and The Pink Fairies, as well as his classic 1970 solo album Think Pink. His stage name originated from receiving bottles of Twink home perm lotion from fans for his long curly hair in the mid-1960s.
🇺🇸🎸The Shroud of by Minimal Man. Minimal Man was a San Francisco-based experimental industrial band formed in 1979 by Patrick Miller, a visual artist and musician known for his aggressive, anti-musical "antimusic" sound
🇩🇪🎸Zwei-Osterei by Kluster. Kluster was a pioneering German experimental electronic music trio, formed in Berlin in 1969 by Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Dieter Moebius, and Conrad Schnitzler, who created dissonant, proto-industrial soundscapes on short-lived but highly influential early albums before Schnitzler left, leading Roedelius and Moebius to evolve into the more structured duo Cluster.
🇩🇪🎸🎷Nevergreen! by Missing Link. An early 70s jazz-rock band from Munich. Played a typical 70s German progressive jazz-rock, similar to Thirsty Moon or Embryo, featuring jazzy sax riffs, quiet piano solos, and heavy rock outbursts.
🇺🇸🎸 Stark Naked by Stark Naked. Crate-crawling rock fans who have only encountered the band Stark Naked on record declare them a dark prog rock band that flirted with hard rock
🇸🇪🎸 Little Dreaming Boy by Thirteen Moons. Thirteen Moons was a Swedish experimental music trio (Mats Gunnarsson, Anders Holm, Göran Klintberg) active from 1986-1993, known for their genre-defying sound blending folk, jazz, and dark 80s pop with pastoral and pastoral elegance.
🇺🇸🎸 Distance Between Us by Don Bradshaw-Leather. He is an incredibly talented and inspiring multifaceted musician who cultivated his training dexterity, instrumentalist aptitude from his classical music background.
🇪🇸🎸 Why? by Màquina! Màquina! was a pioneering Spanish psychedelic and progressive rock band from Barcelona, active from 1969 to 1972, known for their high-energy, Hammond-driven sound and their landmark 1970 debut album, "Why?". Emerging during Franco's dictatorship, their work was rebellious and highly influential, blending complex improvisations with acid fuzz-wah guitars and organ, establishing them as a crucial part of Spain's underground scene.
🇺🇸🎸 Orcutt Shelley Miller by Orcutt Shelley Miller. This is an avant-rock trio of experimental musicians: Bill Orcutt on guitar, Steve Shelley (drummer for Sonic Youth) on drums, and Ethan Miller on bass. Their music is known for blending experimental rock with elements of free jazz and noise rock.
🇫🇷🎸Les morts vont vite by Shub-Niggurath. Shub-Niggurath was a French progressive and experimental rock band, active from 1982 to 1995, known for its Zeuhl-influenced, avant-garde sound inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft.
🇺🇸🎸 Just a Poke by Sweet Smoke. Sweet Smoke was an American psychedelic jazz-rock band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1968, known for their extensive live improvisations and complex musical structures.
🇬🇧🎸Kaddish by Towering Inferno. Towering Inferno was an English experimental multimedia duo of Richard Wolfson and Andy Saunders, active from 1985 to the late 1990s, best known for their Holocaust-themed opera album Kaddish (1993). This intense, multimedia performance combined ambient, techno, industrial, and metal with film and spoken word from Hungarian poet Endre Szkárosi to explore Jewish identity and cultural erasure.
🇫🇷🦈🎹🎻Experimental Essentials, Varèse: The Complete Works by Edgard Varése. Edgard Varèse (1883–1965) was a pioneering French-born composer who spent most of his career in the United States, known for his groundbreaking use of rhythm and timbre and for coining the term "organized sound". He was a futurist who explored new instruments, especially electronic ones, and advanced techniques like musique concrète, laying a foundation for electronic music with works like Ionisationand Poème électronique. Shark’s entry point: Ionisation by Edgard Varèse: dissecting my hero's hero's seminal masterpiece which influenced all kind of avant-garde music and beyond
🇷🇺🦈🎹🎻🪈Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring by Los Angeles Philharmonic & Esa-Pekka Salonen and composed by Igor Stravinsky. Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) was a revolutionary Russian-born composer who became a towering figure in 20th-century music, known for his stylistic diversity, from the radical dissonance of The Rite of Spring to later Neoclassical and serial works. He achieved international fame with ballets for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and later became a citizen of France and the United States, ultimately dying in New York. Shark’s entry point: Le Sacre du printemps by Igor Stravinsky: sophisticated handling of primitive rhythms anyone ever thought up —dissonances, asymmetries, polytonalities and polyrhythms
🇦🇹🦈🎹The Complete Music of Anton by Robert Craft and composed by Anton Webern. Anton Webern (1883–1945) was an Austrian composer, conductor, and musicologist, and a leading figure of the Second Viennese School, alongside Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg. A devoted pupil of Schoenberg, Webern developed and strictly applied the twelve-tone technique, creating music characterized by extreme brevity, structural clarity, and "total serialism" that profoundly influenced post-war avant-garde composers. His radical, abstract style, often referred to as "pointillistic" and "aphoristic," was considered degenerate by the Nazis. Shark’s entry point: The Complete Music of Anton Webern —Recorded Under the Direction of Robert Craft: hugely influential recordings of jewel-like works
🇭🇺🦈🎹🎻Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra - Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta by Brussels Philharmonic & Alexander Rahbari and composed & Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion by Alfons Kontarsky, Christoph Castle & Heinz Konig by Béla Bartók. Béla Bartók (1881–1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist, considered one of the most important 20th-century composers, famous for integrating Hungarian and other Eastern European folk music into his innovative classical compositions. His pioneering work in collecting, analyzing, and incorporating folk melodies, using the phonograph, laid the foundation for the field of ethnomusicology and profoundly influenced his unique style. Shark’s entry point: Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion by Béla Bartók; Part 1: seemingly contrasting properties of science and art are inextricably bound together to form the essence of genius' music
🇬🇧🎸🎻📟20 Jazz Funk Greats by Throbbing Gristle. Equal parts performance art and pure noise, they helped invent industrial music in the 1970s and spawned several important acts of the '80s.
🇵🇹🎸10.000 Anos Depis Entre Bénus e Marte by José Cid. José Cid is a Portuguese singer, composer, and cultural icon known as the "Father of Portugal's Rock and Pop scene," famous for his pioneering symphonic rock album 10.000 Anos Depois entre Vénus e Marte and for representing Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980.
🇬🇧🎸 Fish Out of Water by Chris Squire. Chris Squire was an English musician, best known as the founding bassist and only constant member of the progressive rock band Yes. Squire's innovative, melodic, and prominent bass lines were central to the band's sound, and he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Yes in 2017.
🇬🇧🎸Live by Beat. Supergroup featuring ex-King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin, along with guitarist Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey, formed to celebrate the intricate music of the 1980s King Crimson albums (Discipline, Beat, Three of a Perfect Pair) with Robert Fripp's blessing.
🇸🇪🎸 Blomljud by Moon Safari. Swedish progressive rock band formed in 2003 in Skellefteå, known for their symphonic sound and multi-part vocal harmonies. Their music blends rock, pop, and orchestral elements.
🇺🇸🎸 Without Introduction by Polyphony. Polyphony was a short-lived American progressive rock outfit from Virginia, active in the early 1970s. The band fused vintage symphonic prog with psychedelic rock influences, featuring ambitious symphonic structures and dynamic instrumental passages.
🇬🇧🎸Somewhere but Yesterday by Citizen Cain. UK progressive rock group formed in 1982 known for Genesis-influenced sound.
🇩🇪🎸 The Art of Navigating by the Stars by Sieges Even. German group from Munich active primarily between the mid-1980s and 2008. They are known for their highly technical and innovative approach to progressive metal/rock.
🇩🇪🎸 Beautiful & Monstrous by Subsignal. German progressive rock band founded in 2007 by former Sieges Even members Arno Menses (vocals) and Markus Steffen (guitars). Their music is a modern progressive rock style with a melodic and often melancholic sound, blending influences from progressive metal roots with a greater variety of musical expressions.
🇺🇸🎸 Touch by Touch. Early American progressive rock band from Portland, Oregon, that formed in 1968 and disbanded in 1969 after releasing one self-titled album. Their 1969 album is considered a notable example of early American psychedelic and progressive rock, sometimes cited as predating King Crimson's landmark "In the Court of the Crimson King"
🇺🇸🎸Fountains of Light by Starcastle. Starcastle (along with Styx, Fireballet, and Kansas) were part of a belated stateside response to British progressive rock.
🇺🇸🎸Pampered Menial by Pavlov's Dog. The artsy hard rock group Pavlov's Dog spanned progressive music and heavy metal in much the same way that Rush did in its early days.
🇮🇹🎸Buon Vecchio Charlie by Buon Vecchio Charlie. Italian progressive rock band formed in Rome in 1970. The album is noted for its symphonic progressive style, incorporating classical influences (like an adaptation of Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King"), jazz elements, and prominent use of flute, saxophone, and Hammond organ.
🇩🇪🦈🎹🎻Karlheinz Stockhausen (Kontakte). The most influential, unique voice in the musical avant-garde, with a keen sensitivity to the acoustical realities and possibilities of sound. Shark’s entry point: Kontakte by Karlheinz Stockhausen: where experiments with untraditional uses of sounds, form, and spatial positioning create an all-time masterpiece
🇬🇧🎸David Gilmour (Raise my Rent). Best-known for his distinctively atmospheric lead guitar work for seminal prog-rockers Pink Floyd, but also a frequent solo artist.
🇸🇪🎸ABBA (Eagle). Swedish sensations who had stratospheric success in the '70s and influenced the sound of pop for decades to come.
🇮🇪🎙️🎸🎬Richard Harris (MacArthur Park). Irish actor of films spanning Mutiny on the Bounty, Camelot, and the Harry Potter series who became an AM pop star with 1968's "MacArthur Park."
🇮🇪🎸🎺Van Morrison (Snow in San Anselmo). Soulful Irish singer/songwriter who combines folk, gospel, R&B, rock, and jazz, often with a mystical bent.
🇺🇸🎸Built to Spill (Untrustable / Part 2 (About Someone Else). One of the most popular and influential indie rock bands, progressing from sparse lo-fi to sophisticated emo.
🇺🇸🎸Alice Cooper (Halo of Flies). Pioneers of heavy rock and masters of shock rock in the early '70s, whose titular lead singer became a successful solo artist.
🇺🇸🎸David Gates (Suite: Clouds, Rain). Producer, songwriter, and vocalist who became a pop star in the '70s with the soft rock group Bread.
🇺🇸🎸Foreigner (Starrider). Platinum hard rockers who were equally talented with biting anthems as well as mammoth power ballads, creating an impressive string of hits.
🇬🇧🎸Sweet (Love is Like Oxygen). Melodic glam rockers with infectious hooks and brutal riffs, who scored a series of smash hits in the '70s culminating with "Ballroom Blitz."
🇬🇧🎸Coldplay (Coloratura). Earnest alternative pop group whose sweet melodies and swooning lyrics made them one of the biggest bands of the new millennium
🇺🇸🎸Carpenters (Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Day)). Sibling duo whose mellow, melodic pop/rock kept them on the charts for most of the '70s before tragedy struck.
🇮🇹🎹🎙️ Andrea Bocelli (Turandot: "Nessun dorma"). Beloved Italian tenor who is one of the most successful classical-to-mainstream crossovers ever.
Back to Ranking by Music Style
🎷🎻Shark’s Jazz/Fusion Playlist
All the artists and albums listed in the Jaz/Fusion Ranking are included in the playlist.
Shark’s Jaz/Fusion Playlist Milestones:
6,000+ songs
600+ albums
70+ artists ranked
80+ GB music stored
25+ days of continuous music
Music Styles & Offshoots Included: Cool, Jazz Instrument, Global Jazz, Free Jazz, Bop, Hard Bop, Fusion, Jazz-Rock, Modern Big Band, Contemporary Jazz, Orchestral Jazz, Progressive Jazz, Progressive Big Band
Gods' best Jazzy/Fusion Albums
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🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎹 🎺🎻Frank Zappa: 1. The Hot Rats Sessions, 2. Waka /Wazoo, 3. Little Dots, 4. Finer Moments, 5. Imaginary Diseases, 6. Funky Nothingness, 7. You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 2: The Helsinki Concert (Live), 8. Road Tapes, Venue #2 (Live Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland/1973), 9. The Roxy Performances (Live), 10. WAZOO (Live At the Boston Music Hall/1972)
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎹 🎷🎻🎬🪇John Zorn: 1. Bar Kokhba, 2. The Circle Maker, 3. At the Mountain of Madness - Live In Europe, 4. Lucifer: Book of Angels, Vol. 10, 5. Masada Guitars 6. Sanhedrin, 7. Haborym: Book of Angels, Vol. 16, 8. Azazel: Book of Angels, Vol. 2, 9. New Masada Quartet, 10. Masada Live In Sevilla 2000 (En Vivo)
🇬🇧🦈🎸📟🎻The Legendary Pink Dots: 1. The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse, 2. The Maria Dimension, 3. A Perfect Mystery, 4. Island of Jewels, 5. 9 Lives to Wonder, 6. Curse, 7. Hallway of the Gods, 8. Malachai, 9. The Lovers, 10. Angel in the Detail
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎻Buckethead: 1. Electric Tears, 2. Colma, 3. Monsters & Robots, 4. Giant Robot, 5. Population Override, 6. Chicken Noodles, 7. Crime Slunk Scene, 8. Shadows Between the Sky, 9. Pepper's Ghost, 10. Acoustic Shards
John Surman: 1. Upon Reflection, 2. The Amazing Adventures of Simon Simon, 3. Saltash Bells, 4. Invisible Threads, 5. Words Unspoken, 6. Westering Home, 7. Thimar, 8. Private City, 9. Road to Saint Ives, 10. Coruscating
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Miles Davis: 1. Kind f Blue, 2. Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, 3. 'Round About Midnight, 4. Sketches of Spain, 5. Miles Smile, 6. Bags' Groove, 7. Big Fun, 8. Birth of the Cool, 9. Miles Ahead, 10. Relaxin’/Workin’/Cokin
🇬🇧🦈🎸King Crimson: 1. Red, 2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, 3. Starless and Bible Black, 4. Islands, 5. Lizard, 6. In the Court of the Crimson King, 7. In the Wake of Poseidon, 8. Discipline, 9. Beat, 10. The Power to Believe
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Sun Ra: 1. Space Is the Place, 2. Lanquidity, 3. The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1, 4. The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra, 5. Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy, 6. Atlantis, 7. Strange Strings, 8. Interstellar Low Ways, 9. Super Sonic Jazz, 10. Jazz in Silhouette
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻John Coltrane: 1. A Love Supreme, 2. Giant Steps, 3. Blue Train, 4. My Favorite Things, 5. Live at the Village Vanguard, 6. Africa/Brass, 7. Ascension, 8. Olé Coltrane, 9. Sun Ship, 10. Crescent
🇺🇸🦈🎷McCoy Tyner: 1. The Real McCoy, 2. Enlightenment, 3. Expansions, 4. Extensions, 5. Nights of Ballads and Blues, 6. Inception, 7. Tender Moments, 8. Sama Layuca, 9. Fly with the Wind, 10. Sahara
🇺🇸🦈🎻🎹 🎷Anthony Braxton: 1. For Alto, 2. Three Compositions of New Jazz, 3. New York, Fall 1974, 4. Creative Orchestra Music 1976, 5. Dortmund (Quartet) 1976, 6. Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978, 7. Six Compositions (Quartet) 1984, 8. Willisau (Quartet) 1991, 9. Quartet (Santa Cruz) 1993, 10. Five Pieces 1975
Jazz/Fusion Ranking by Artist
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1. 🇺🇸🎷🎹Ornette Coleman Father of the free jazz movement, and a saxophonist and composer who became one of the prime innovators in jazz and modern music. 1. The Shape of Jazz to Come, 2. Change of the Century, 3. Free Jazz, 4. Science Fiction, 5. Something Else!!!!, 6. This is Our Music, 7. The Art of Improvisers, 8. Tomorrow is the Question! 9. Ornette! 10. Dancing in Your Head
2. 🇺🇸🎷🎻Charles Mingus A legendary composer, innovator, and bass virtuoso who articulated contemporary emotional currents as well as anyone in jazz. 1. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, 2, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, 3. Blues and Roots, 4. Mingus Ah Um, 5. Let My Children Hear Music, 6. Pithecanthropus Erectus, 7. Tijuana Moods, 8. The Clown, 9. Oh Yeah, 10 Changes Two (Special Mention: Cumbia & Jazz Fusion, Charles Mingus presents Charles Mingus, Changes One)
3. 🇺🇸🎷🎻Rahsaan Roland Kirk Prodigiously talented jazz multi-instrumentalist, renowned for his ability to play several horns simultaneously. 1. The Inflated Tear, 2. Rip, Dig, and Panic, 3. Prepare Thyself to Deal With A Miracle, 4. I Talk To The Spirits, 5. Volunteered Slavery, 6. Domino, 7. We Free Kings, 8. Reeds and Deeds, 9. The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color, 10. Blacknuss (Special Mention: Triple Threat, Here Comes the Whistleman, Now Please Don’t You Cry, Beautiful Edith)
4. 🇺🇸🦈🎷Thelonious Monk A brilliant composer and criminally underrated pianist whose sense of rhythm, space, and harmony made him one of the founders of modern jazz. 1. Monk's Dream, 2. Monk's Music, 3. Brilliant Corners, 4. Misterioso, 5. Underground, 6. Genius of Modern Music, 7. Solo Monk, 8. Big Band and Quartet in Concert, 9. Thelonious Monk & Sonny Rollins, 10. Straight, No Chaser. (Special Mention: Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane) Shark’s entry point: Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk: innovative and idiosyncratic approach to composition and performance; angular melodies, unexpected chord progressions, and intricate rhythmic patterns
5. 🇺🇸🎷 Sonny Rollins Voted by Miles Davis as the greatest tenor ever, an inventive saxophonist and an astonishing soloist. 1. Saxophone Colossus, 2. Way Out West, 3. Sonny Rollins Vol. 2, 4. Sonny Side Up, 5. Sonny Rollins’ Next Album, 6. The Bridge, 7. East Broadway Run Down, 8. Newk’s Time, 9. Plus 4, 10. Sound of Sonny
6. 🇺🇸🎷Pharoah Sanders Respected tenor saxophonist whose many acclaimed recordings developed his freedom of expression in a spiritual and often introspective setting. 1. Karma, 2. Love In Us All, 3. Black Unity, 4. Deaf Dumb Blind, 5. Pharoah, 6. Promises, 7. Izipho Zam (My Gifts), 8. Thembi, 9. Jewels of Thought, 10. Tauhid
7. 🇳🇴🎷🎻🪇🪈Terje Rypdal Eclectic, inventive Norwegian electric jazz guitarist and classical composer who has been recording since the late 1960s. 1. Terje Rypdal, 2. Bleak House, 3. Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away, 4. Odyssey, 5. After the Rain, 6. Descendere, 7. Terje Rypdal/Miroslav Vitous/Jack DeJohnette, 8. To Be Continued, 9. Chaser, 10. Blue
8. 🇩🇪🎷🪈Eberhard Weber A prodigiously talented and highly innovative German bassist. Weber's influences are primarily European, notably contemporary classical and new music. 1. The Colours of Chloë, 2. Yellow Fields, 3. The Following Morning, 4. Colours –Silent Feet, 5. Fluid Rustle, 6. Little Movements, 7. Later That Evening, 8. Chorus, 9. Pendulum, 10. Endless Days (Special Mention: Orchestra)
9. 🇺🇸🎷 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers The guru of hard bop, whose famous technique —frequent, high-volume snare with bass-drum accents— made him one of jazz's all-time best messengers. 1. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers ( Moanin’), 2. Free For All, 3. Mosaic, 4. Indestructible, 5. The Big Beat, 6. Caravan, 7. The Jazz Messengers, 8. Horace Silver And The Jazz Messengers, 9. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk, 10. A Night in Tunisia
10. 🇯🇵🦈🎷Hiromi Uehara Her style brings a wholly new approach to jazz fusion, as her prog influence is derived primarily from such artists as King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and Frank Zappa rather than earlier jazz fusion artists. 1. Hiromi's Sonicbloom: Time Control, 2. Another Mind, 3. Brain, 4. Voice (feat. Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips), 5. Move (feat. Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips), 6. Spark (feat. Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips), 7. Spectrum, 8. Sonicwonderland (feat. Sonicwonder), 9. Beyond Standard, 10. Silver Lining Suite. Shark’s entry point: Time Control by Hiromi: refreshing the jazz-rock fusion airs by an extremely talented virtuoso piano player
11. 🇺🇸🎷Duke Ellington One of the greatest composers of the 20th century, and the leader for 50 years of a band that became the greatest of all jazz orchestras. 1. Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins, 2. Ellington Uptown, 3. And His Mother Called Him Bill, 4. Masterpieces by Ellington, 5. Such Sweet Thunder, 6. Black, Brown and Beige 7. Duke Ellington: Three Suites, 8. Money Jungle, 9. First Time! The Count Meets the Duke, 10. Duke Ellington's Far East Suite
12. 🇺🇸🎷Charlie Parker Jazz giant who changed the face of the entire form, practically inventing modern jazz and shaping the course of 20th century music. 1. Jazz at Massey Hall, 2 Bird and Diz, 3. Charlie Parker, 4. The Genius of Charlie Parker #8: Swedish Schnapps, 5. Jam Session, 6. The Genius of Charlie Parker #5: Plays Cole Porter, 7. Charlie Parker With Strings, 8. April In Paris: The Genius Of Charlie Parker #2, 9. Bird (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 10. The Magnificent Charlie Parker (Special Mention: The Complete Savoy & Dial aster Takes, The Complete Live Performances n Savoy)
13. 🇺🇸🎷Louis Armstrong The most important and influential musician in jazz history, and one of the leading singers and entertainers from the 1920s through the '50s. 1. The Complete Louis Armstrong - Duke Ellington Sessions, 2. Porgy and Bess, 3. Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy, 4. Ella and Louis Again, 5. Satch Plays Fat, 6. Satchmo Plays King Oliver, 7. Ella and Louis, 8. Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson, 9. Hello, Dolly!, 10. Louis and The Good Book
14. 🇺🇸🦈🎷Cannonball Adderley Alto saxophonist whose blues-soaked tone and swinging delivery made him one of the most successful proponents of soul-jazz. 1. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy!: Live at "The Club”, 2. Somethin' Else, 3. Cannonball Adderley and The Poll-Winners, 4. Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley, 5. The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco, 6. Know What I Mean?, 7. Them Dirty Blues, 8. Portrait of Cannonball, 9. The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago, 10. African Waltz/Plus. Shark’s entry point: this music is exceptionally captivating and smooth, effortlessly permeating the mind, body, and soul of the listener
15. 🇺🇸🦈🎷Herbie Hancock Inventive and intelligent jazz pianist/keyboardist whose distinguished career has covered hard bop, fusion, hip-hop, and dance. 1. Maiden Voyage, 2. Crossings, 3. Mwandishi, 4. Head Hunters, 5. Takin’ Off, 6. Mn-Child, 7. Sextant, 8. Thrust, 9. Inventions & Dimensions, 10. Empyrean Isles. Shark’s entry point: Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock: considered to be one of (if not THE) vanguard recordings that gave birth to funk/rock jazz fusion
16. 🇺🇸🎷Eddie Harris Innovative jazz multi-instrumentalist primarily known for his work on the saxophone, particularly his use of plugged-in electronic effects. 1. Exodus to Jazz, 2. The In Sound, 3. The Electrifying Eddie Harris, 4. Swiss Movement , 5. Silver Cycles, 6. Instant Death, 7. Excursions, 8. Dancing by a Rainbow, 9. E.H. in the U.K., 10. For Bird and Bags
17. 🇺🇸🦈🎷Mahavishnu Orchestra Led by guitarist John McLaughlin, a band whose sophisticated improvisations and high-powered music helped pioneer the jazz-rock fusion of the '70s. 1. The Inner Mounting Flame, 2. Birds of Fire & Lost Trident, 3. Between Nothingness & Eternity, 4. Apocalypse, 5. Visions of the Emerald Beyond, 6. Inner Worlds 7. The Lost Trident Sessions 8. Unreleased Tracks From Between Nothingness & Eternity 9. Love Devotion Surrender. Shark’s entry point: Inner Mounting Flame by Mahavishnu Orchestra: a monstrous masterpiece performed at 300 MPH, where virtuosos let us see that they're not normal earthlings
18. 🇺🇸🦈🎷Weather Report Jazz fusion innovators who explored exotic textures and rhythms, revealing a decidedly global aesthetic. 1. Black Market, 2. Mysterious Traveller, 3. Sweetnighter, 4. Weather Report, 5. Heavy Weather, 6. I Sing The Body Electric, 7. Procession 8. Tale Spinnin’, 9. Night Passage, 10. 8:30. Shark’s entry point: Mysterious Traveller by Weather Report: a drop-dead gorgeous jazz-rock fusion record. Complex, yet emotional
19. 🇺🇸🦈🎷Return To Forever & Chick Corea One of the key fusion groups of the '70s, helmed by Chick Corea and featuring an impressive list of leading jazz musicians. 1. Return to Forever, 2. Light as a Feather, 3. Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy, 4. Circle( Paris Concert), 5. Romantic Warrior, 6. Where Have I Known You Before, 7. No Mystery, 8. The Mothership Returns (Live), 9. Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, 10. Three Quartets. (Special Mention: Tone’s for Joan’s Bones, My Spanish Heart, Eye of the Beholder, Remembering Bud Powell, Chinese Butterfly, CoreaHancock: An Evening With Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock (Live), Crystal Silence, Live In Montreux, corea.concerto) Shark’s entry point: Return to Forever by Chick Corea: bossa nova & jazz fusion wielded beautifully together; it's all very warm, light, and airy, like a soft breeze on a tropical beach
20. 🇺🇸🎷🎸🪇Al Di Meola Spellbinding jazz guitarist who is revered for his blazing, complex fretwork in the vein of jazz fusion, Latin fusion, and acoustic styles. 1. Land of Midnight Sun, 2. Elegant Gypsy, 3. World Sinfonia, 4. Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, Vol. 1: Music of Astor Piazzolla, 5. Consequence of Chaos, 6. The Grande Passion, 7. Casino, 8. Electric Rendezvous, 9. Flesh On Flesh, 10. Splendido Hotel
21. 🇺🇸🎷🪈Oregon Purveyors of acoustically based fusion incorporating modern jazz, classical chamber music and global folk sounds and traditions. 1. Music of Another Present Era, 2. Winter Light, 3. Rots in the Sky, 4. Beyond Words, 5. Together, 6. Out of the Woods, 7. Mon and Mind, 8. Distant Hills, 9. Our First Record, 10. Friends
22. 🇺🇸🎷John Abercrombie Versatile and inventive guitarist who skirted the edge of fusion and rock while remaining true to jazz. 1. Timeless, 2. Structures, 3. Night, 4. John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine, 5. Gateway, 6. Sargasso Sea, 7. Characters, 8. Brewster's Rooster, 9. Five Years Later, 10. Arcade
23. 🇺🇸🎷Gateway An occasional jazz trio featuring the immense talents of John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. 1. Gateway 2, Gateway, 3. Homecoming, 4. In the Moment
24. 🇺🇸🎷Ralph Towner Founder of Oregon and vivid soloist, one of the few top-flight contemporary guitarists who's focused on acoustic. 1. Solstice, 2. Matchbook, 3. Oracle, 4. Anthem, 5. Batik, 6. Ana, 7. Old Friends, New Friends, 8. Diary
25. 🇺🇸🎷🎸🎹Larry Coryell Pioneering fusion guitarist who explored everything from psychedelic rock to unaccompanied acoustic music to straight-ahead bebop. 1. Barefoot Boy, 2. Introducing the Eleventh House, 3. Three Guitars, 4. Tricycles (with Paul Wertico & Marc Egan), 5. Monk, Trane, Miles and Me, 6. Coryell, 7. Spaces, 8. Together, 9. Cause and Effect, 10. Level One
26. 🇺🇸🎷🎺Stanley Clarke Gifted jazz bassist who established many contemporary techniques with his dazzling, rapid patterns and a highly influential slapping technique. 1. School Days, 2. Journey to Love, 3. Children of Forever, 4. Stanley Clarke, 5. Live At the Greek, 6. Jazz in the Garden
27. 🇬🇧🦈🎷Brand X English fusion band that included Phil Collins and guitarist John Goodsall. They have a very original, though laidback, approach to their music with a special focus on Percy Jones's brilliant fretless bass playing, something that made the band legendary. 1. Unorthodox Behaviour, 2. Moroccan Roll, 3. Masques, 4. Do They Hurt?, 5. Livestock 6. Is There Anything About? 7. Xcommunication, 8. Product, 9. Manifest Destiny: Trilogy I 10. Trilogy III: Live At the Bottom Line. Shark’s entry point: Unorthodox Behaviour by Brand X: frenetic drum rolls, layers of silence, funky bass, atmospheric synthesizers, and rhythmic developments accompanied by proggy jazzed up time signature outbursts
28. 🇺🇸🎷George Duke Fusion pianist with outstanding work alongside Frank Zappa and later a successful crossover career blending rock, jazz, and R&B. 1. The Aura Will Prevail, 2. Soft Shoe (feat. Harry Edison, Jake Hanna & George Duke), 3. Follow the Rainbow, 4. Brazilian Love Affair, 5. Faces in Reflection, 6. The Inner Source, 7. “Live” On the Tour In Europe (The Billy Cobham Band), 8. Feel, 9. I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry, 10. Dream On
29. 🇬🇧🦈🎸🎷🪕Jeff Beck British guitar god, both with the Yardbirds in the 1960s and while leading his own band into jazz-rock fusion in the '70s. 1. Blow by Blow, 2. Truth, 3. Wired, 4. Beck-Ola, 5. You Had It Coming, 6. Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop, 7. Rough and Ready, 8. Who Else!, 9. Jeff Beck Group. Shark’s entry point: Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck: a powerhouse of jazzy funk rock fusion with nine strong tracks by a Guitar God
30. 🇫🇷🦈🎷Jean-Luc Ponty A wide-ranging violinist who helped popularize the use of electronics among string players, and developed a varied style mixing many jazz genres. 1. Enigmatic Ocean, 2. King Kong - Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa, 3. Upon The Wings Of Music, 4. Electric Connection, 5. Aurora, 6. Cosmic Messenger, 7. Mystical Adventures 8. Open Strings, 9. Ponty - Grappelli, 10. Imaginary Voyage. Shark’s entry point: Enigmatic Ocean by Jean-Luc Ponty: flawless playing and utterly fluid transitions and interplay
31. 🇺🇸🎷Jim Hall Richly talented jazz guitarist known for his fluid, bop-based style and pioneering work in a solo and duo context. 1. Telephone, 2. Concierto, 3. Undercurrent, 4. Commitment, 5. Intermodulation, 6. Folk Jazz, 7. Alone Together, 8. Dialogues, 9. Something Special, 10. Magic Meeting. (Special Mention: Jazz Guitar)
32. 🇺🇸🎺Steve Khan Session guitarist for the likes of Lou Rawls, Steely Dan, and Michael Franks, among others; also recorded as a leader, starting with 1977's Tightrope. 1. Evidence, 2. Tightrope, 3. The Blue Man, 4. Eyewitness, 5. Let’s Call This, 6. The Green Field, 7. Public Access, 8. Casa Loco, 9. Borrowed Time, 10. Modern Times
33. 🇩🇪🎷Monika Roscher Bigband is a German collective of 18 musicians which tries to stretch the stylistic conventions of the brass-centered big band format to their limit. 1. Failure in Wonderland, 2. Of Monsters and Birds, 3. Witchy Activities and the Maple Death
34. 🇬🇧🎸🎷🪇🎹John Mclaughlin Influential jazz guitarist who also explored blues, flamenco, and Indian music, and helped found the jazz/rock fusion movement. 1. Devotion, 2. Extrapolation, 3. Love Devotion Surrender, 4. The Guitar Trio 5. My Goal's Beyond, 6. Passion, Grace & Fire, 7. Floating Point, 8. The Promise, 9. Friday Night in San Francisco, 10. Electric Guitarist
35. 🇬🇧🎺🎸Bill Bruford his career is like his drumming sound —inimitable. Known for his ringing metal snare drum, crisp cymbal work, and knack for complex time signatures, a young Bruford came to prominence in the late '60s with Yes. 1. One of a Kind, 2. Feels Good to Me, 3. Gradually Going Tornado3, 4. If Summer Had Its Ghosts, 5. The Bruford Tapes 6. Master Strokes, 7. Rock Goes to College, 8. In Two Minds
36. 🇺🇸🎷Larry Young an acclaimed innovator of the '60s jazz organ approach, who utilized swirling chords, surging lines, and rock-influenced improvisations. 1. Lawrence of Newmark, 2. Unity, 3. Young Blues, 4. Into Somethin’, 5. Of Love and Peace, 6. Contrasts
37. 🇯🇵🎷Soil & "Pimp" Sessions Japanese jazz combo who play music inspired by the sound and style of classic bebop, Latin jazz, and cool jazz, but with a funky undertow and the passion, aggression, and force of rock & roll. 1. 6, 2. Brothers & Sisters, 3. Pimpin’, 4. Pimp Master, 5. Pimp of the Year, 6. Planet Pimp, 7. Pimpoint, 8. Man Steals the Stars, 9. Magnetic Soil, 10. 真夜中のハリネズミ: Music From and Inspired by Hello Harinezumi
38. 🇵🇦🦈🎷🎸Billy Cobham A technically accomplished soloist whose combination of bombastic power and rhythmic clarity made him the quintessential fusion drummer. 1. Spectrum, 2. Stratus, 3. Shabazz, 4. Crosswinds, 5. Total Eclipse, 6. A Funky Thide Of Sings, 7. Life & Times 8. Inner Conflicts, 9. Focused, 10. Drum 'N' Voice - All That Groove. Shark’s entry point: Spectrum by Billy Cobham: the accessible, though effective and addictive, entry to the jazz-rock world
39. 🇬🇧🦈🎷🎸Allan Holdsworth Fleet-fingered British guitarist with a liquid sound, respected by aficionados as one of the greatest axemen in the electric jazz-rock fusion genre. 1. Metal Fatigue, 2. I.O.U., 3. Truth in Shredding, 4. The Sixteen Men of Tain, 5. Secrets, 6. Hard Hat Area, 7. None Too Soon, 8. Anders Johansson, Jens Johansson & Allan Holdsworth - Heavy Machinery, 9. Allan Holdsworth & Gordon Beck: The Things You See, 10. Wardenclyffe Tower. Shark’s entry point: Metal Fatigue by Allan Holdsworth: prepare to be dazzled by the most futuristic guitar playing this side of the universe!
40. 🇺🇸🎷Alphonse Mouzon Premiere fusion/funk drummer with Weather Report and Larry Coryell, plus a leader of dates for Blue Note, MPS, Pausa, and his own Tenacious label. 1. Mind Transplant, 2. Funky Snakefoot, 3. Virtue, 4. In Search of a Dream, 5. The Essence of Mystery, 6. Back Together Again
41. 🇺🇸🎷🎺Lenny White Influential jazz fusion drummer and Return to Forever member who has played with Miles Davis, Chaka Khan, Al Di Meola, and countless others. 1. The Adventures Of Astral Pirates, 2. Venusian Summer, 3. The Griffith Park Collection
🆕42. 🇺🇸🎷Buddy Rich The most gifted drummer of the swing era, who backed many major artists before leading his own long-running band. 1. Mercy, Mercy (Live), 2. Krupa and Rich, 3. This one’s for Basie, 4. The Roar ’74, 5. Blues Caravan, 6. The New One! 7. Big Band Machine, 8. Stick it! 9. Buddy and Sweets, 10. The Drum Battle.
42. 🇧🇷🎷🪇Airto Moreira Famed Brazilian-born percussionist who rose to prominence with his innovative blend of jazz, fusion, and Latin traditions. 1. Free, 2. Seeds on the Ground —The Natural Sound of Airto, 3. Fingers, 4. The Other Side of This, 5. Samba De Flora, 6. Natural Feeling, 7. Virgin Land
43. 🇦🇹🎷🎸🎹Joe Zawinul An outstanding jazz pianist/keyboardist who worked with artists such as Cannonball Adderley and Miles Davis. 1. Zawinul, 2. Dialects, 3. The Rise & Fall of the Third Stream, 4. Soulmates
44. 🇬🇧🎷🎸The Keith Tippett Group British jazz and improvisational pianist with close ties to the progressive rock community who frequently worked with Robert Fripp. 1. Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening, 2. You Are Here... I Am There, 3. How Long This Time? Live 1970
45. 🇫🇷🎸🎷Camembert French Progressive Jazz Fusion band articulated around very original instruments such as Harp, Xylophone and Vibraphone. 1. Schnörgl Attahk 2. Negative Toe
46. 🇬🇧🎷Nucleus began its long jazz-rock journey in 1969, when it was originally formed by trumpeter Ian Carr. 1. We'll Talk About It Later, 2. Elastic Rock, 3. Chris Spedding: Songs Without Words, 3. Ian Carr with Nucleus: Solar Plexus, 4. Ian Carr: Belladonna, 5. Under The Sun, 6. Ian Carr with Nucleus: Labyrinth, 7. Ian Carr's Nucleus: Roots
47. 🇩🇪🎷Passport Long-running, ever-shifting German jazz fusion ensemble founded by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger in 1970. 1. Doldinger, 2. Second Passport, 3. Cross-Collateral, 4. Infinity Machine, 5. Looking Thru, 6. Hand Made
48. 🇺🇸🎷Collin Walcott Engaging sitar player and percussionist, original member of the jazz and world-fusion ensemble Oregon. 1. Works, 2. Cloud Dance, 3. Grazing Dreams
49. 🇺🇸🎷🎹Pat Metheny Guitar virtuoso whose accessible, original style and extraordinary sense of technique bridged the gap between jazz and rock. 1. Bright Size Life, 2. Watercolors, 3. Pat Metheny Group, 4. American Garage, 5. New Chautauqua, 6. Beyond the Missouri Sky, 7. As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, 8. Offramp, 9. First Circle, 10. Still Life. Special Mention: Steve Reich: Different Trains & Electric Counterpoint, The Way Up
50. 🇺🇸🎷🎸Dixie Dregs Eclectic band led by guitar virtuoso Steve Morse, added a new wrinkle to jazz-rock fusion in the mid-1970s. 1. Free Fall 2. Night of the Living Dregs, 3. Dregs of the Earth
51. 🇬🇧🎷Isotope The more-jazz-than-rock fusion band Isotope may have not had the longest career, but they played an integral part in the Canterbury Scene with some of its key players spending time in the band. 1. Illusion, 2. Isotope, 3. Deep End
52. 🇺🇸🎸🎷The Lounge Lizards Band of eclectic merry jazzmen, led by John Lurie, whose lighthearted take on the avant-garde made them an NYC institution. 1. The Lounge Lizards, 2. Live in Berlin Vol. 1 & 2
🆕53. 🇮🇹🎷🎸Perigeo was an influential Italian jazz-rock and progressive rock band of the 70s, led by bassist Giovanni Tommaso and formed by experienced jazz musicians, standing out for fusing jazz improvisation with elements of rock, funk and oriental music. 1. La Valle dei Templi, 2. Azimut, 3. Abbiamo tutti un blues da piangere, 4. Genealogia
🆕53. 🇮🇹🎷 Napoli Centrale was a pioneering Italian jazz-rock band formed in Naples in 1974 by saxophonist James Senese and drummer Franco Del Prete, known for fusing jazz, rock, and folk with lyrics in the Neapolitan dialect addressing social issues. 1. Napoli Centrale, 2. Mattanza
🆕53. 🇩🇪🎷🎸Thirsty Moon was a German Krautrock band formed in Bremen in the early 1970s. Their music blended progressive rock with significant jazz influences, and the band is known for its complex compositions, extensive use of percussion, and psychedelic elements. 1. Thirsty Moon, 2. You’ll Never Come Back
53. 🇯🇵🎷Casiopea is a renowned Japanese jazz fusion band, active from 1976–2006 and 2012–present. The band is known for its energetic, virtuosic, and fast-paced sound that blends complex jazz harmonies with funk and smooth jazz elements. 1. Casiopea, 2. Super Flight, 3. Asian Dreamer, 4. Make up City, 5. Cross Point
54. 🇬🇧🎸🎷📟Portishead Bristol outfit that popularized trip-hop with liberal doses of cool jazz and spy soundtracks, featuring the angelic vocals of Beth Gibbons. 1. Dummy, 2. Portishead, 3. Third, 4. Roseland NYC Live, 4. Third
55. 🇸🇪🎸🎷Solar Plexus was a high profile jazz rock band from Stockholm formed in 1969. Solar Plexus tried to embrace many elements which resulted in albums containing groovy psychedelic jazz tracks on one hand, and ambitious orchestral compositions sometimes crossing over to the genre of symphonic rock. 1. Solar Plexus: Concerto Grosso, 2. Solar Plexus 2, 3. Det Är Inte Båten Som Gungar - Det Är Havet Som Rör Sig, 4. Hellre Gycklare Än Hycklare
56. 🇺🇸🎷🪇Stan Getz Tenor saxophonist with a luxuriant tone who helped the spread of cool jazz in the '50s and furthered the bossa nova explosion of the '60s. 1. Getz/Gilberto, 2. Sweet Rain, 3. Jazz Samba, 4. Jazz Samba Encore!, 5. Change of Scene, 6. Stan Getz And J.J. Johnson at the Opera House (Special Mention: Captain Marvel, For Musicians Only)
57. 🇺🇸🎷The Tony Williams Lifetime Celebrated jazz drummer whose body of work as a bandleader and sideman included hard bop, fusion, free jazz, and rock. 1. Emergency, 2. Turn it Over
58. 🇺🇸🎷Jaco Pastorius Tragic genius who reinvented the electric bass guitar, playing complex, long lines and amazing solos at remarkable speeds. 1. Jaco Pastorius, 2. Word of Mouth, 3. Jaco, 4. Invitation
59. 🇺🇸🎷The Crusaders This remarkably versatile group's career encompassed R&B, jazz, soul, and funk styles. 1. Free As the Wind, 2. The 2nd Crusade, 3. Southern Comfort, 4. Those Sothern Knights, 5. Chain Reaction, 6. Crusaders 1
60. 🇯🇵🎷Miku Yonezawa is a prominent Japanese jazz and fusion saxophonist known for her energetic playing style and numerous chart-topping albums. 1. Exotic Gravity, 2. Another World, 3. Delight. 4. Landscape, 5. Works 1&2
61. 🇯🇵🎷Senri Kawaguchi is a highly acclaimed Japanese jazz fusion drummer. Widely recognized as one of the world's top drummers, she is known for her exceptional technical ability, particularly her speed ("Princess of Many Strokes") and limb independence. 1. Buena Vista, 2. CIDER ~Hard & Sweet~, 3. Dynamogenic
62. 🇺🇸🎷🎸Lee Ritenour A prolific session player and musical chameleon, a guitarist whose speed, facility, phrasing, and technique are always flawless. 1. Captain Fingers, 2. The Captain's Journey, 3. Larry & Lee, Alive in L.A., 4. This is Love
63. 🇺🇸🎷Snarky Puppy Texas-based, multiple-Grammy-winning jam collective centered around bassist Michael League that fuses jazz, funk, and rock. 1. Empire Central, 2. Culcha Vulcha, 3. Immigrance, 4. Bring Us the Bright, 5. The World is Getting Smaller
64. 🇺🇸🎷Chuck Mangione A talented and respected jazz trumpeter who achieved popular success with his melodic, uncluttered music. 1. Land of Make Believe, 2. Feels So Good, 3. Children of Sanchez
65. 🇺🇸🎷Steps Ahead Its music combines advanced jazz, R&B, rock, and fusion and is frequently exciting. 1. Moder Times, 2. Steps Ahead, 3. Smokin’ in the Pit
66. 🇬🇧🎸🎷Level 42 English band whose blend of smooth jazz, sophisticated pop, and funk topped the British charts during the 1980s and '90s. 1. The Early Tapes, 2. Level 42, 3. The Pursuit Of Accidents, 4. Standing In The Light
67. 🇺🇸🎸🎷Norah Jones Pianist who sold millions with her beguiling vocals and a musical blend featuring jazz, traditional vocal pop, bluesy country, and contemporary folk. 1. Come Away with Me, 2. The Fall, 3. Feels like Home, 4. Day Breaks, 5. Foreverly, 6. Little Broken Hearts, 7. Visions, 8. Pick Me Up Off the Floor
68. 🇺🇸🎙️🎷🪇🎤Melody Gardot Acclaimed vocalist, known for her dusky mix of jazz, Brazilian traditions, folk, and artful pop. 1. Worrisome Heart, 2. Sunset in the Blue, 3. Currency of Man, 4. My One and Only Thrill
Great Jazz/Fusion Albums, Compilations & Songs
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By artists who are not necessary at my top of my book but round pretty well my Jazz/Fusion musical taste. Sorted in no particular order.
🇬🇧🎷🎸Live by Short Wave. Short Wave was a short-lived Canterbury jazz-rock band, formed in 1991 by Hugh Hopper, featuring Phil Miller, Pip Pyle, and Didier Malherbe, and known for their improvisational style and one live album, Short Wave Live, released in 1993 before disbanding in 1996 due to members' commitments to other projects.
🇨🇭🎷A Drum Is a Woman: The Best of Peter Giger by Peter Giger's Family of Percussion. A percussion-only jazz and world music ensemble founded by the Swiss drummer and bandleader in 1977. The project was a pioneering group in the genre and an important part of Giger's career, in which he developed from a traditional jazz drummer to a master of world music.
🇺🇸🎸🎷🪈Vinnie Colaiuta by Vinnie Colaiuta. American drummer widely recognized for his exceptional technical mastery, versatility, and extensive work as a session musician across numerous genres, including jazz, rock, pop, and fusion. He is often referred to as a "drummer's drummer"
🇳🇴🎷🪈🎹It's OK to Listen to the Gray Voice by Jan Garbarek. Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist renowned for his distinctive, haunting sound, which blends jazz, classical, and world music, particularly through his long association with ECM Records and collaborations like the best-selling Officium with the Hilliard Ensemble.
🇺🇸🎸🎷Out of Sight and Sound by The Free Spirits. A New York group featuring the guitar, songwriting, and singing of Larry Coryell, may have been the first jazz-rock fusion band to emerge in the 60’s.
🇺🇸🎷Surfacing by John Beasley (Robert Hurst & Vinnie Colaiuta). Versatile jazz pianist known for his Grammy-winning work with his MONK'estra Big Band.
🇺🇸🎷Trio by John Patitucci, Vinnie Colaiuta & Bill Cunliffe. This impromptu session was void of any rehearsal or sheet music. They played all standards, all from memory. Interplay and improvisation were on overdrive as they were watching each other and playing off each other.
🇺🇸🎷Kingdom of Ants by Krzysztof Herdzin, Vinnie Colaiuta & Robert Kubiszyn. The album will give a lot of joy both to those who want to focus on original sounds and well-written melodies, as well as to those who will spend hours analyzing every beat of the master Colaiuta and deciphering the parts of other instruments recorded by Herdzin.
🇺🇸🎷 Five Peace Band (Live) by John McLaughlin & Chick Corea. Five Peace Band Live is a 2009 Grammy-winning double album documenting a performance by the jazz fusion supergroup of Chick Corea (keyboards) and John McLaughlin (guitar) with Kenny Garrett (saxophone), Christian McBride (bass), and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums).
🇺🇸 🎷Dreams by Dreams. Dreams was a prominent late 60s/early 70s brass-rock/jazz-rock band, similar in style to Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears, known for its improvisation and featuring future fusion stars like Billy Cobham and the Brecker Brothers, releasing two albums before disbanding but leaving a legacy in jazz fusion.
🇺🇸🎷Milford Graves Percussion Ensemble by Milford Graves Percussion Ensemble. Free jazz recordings that consist of nothing but percussion instruments are a rarity. For that matter, percussion-only recordings are a rarity in any type of jazz, be it fusion, swing, classic jazz, hard bop, cool jazz, post-bop, third stream, soul-jazz, or Dixieland.
🇺🇸🎷 Jing Chi by Vinnie Colaiuta, Robeert Ford & Jimmy Haslip. Praised for virtuosic jazz-rock fusion, blending blues, funk, and intricate compositions with phenomenal solos, creating exciting musical journeys with strong chemistry, even on instrumental tracks like Supremo and Live!, though some early reviews found the debut a bit loose, it was polished into a strong fusion trio with modern and classic vibes.
🇺🇸🎷 Gamalon by Gamalon. A jazz/rock band from Buffalo, New York, Gamalon consists of two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer. Their all-instrumental albums bridge the gap between rock and jazz fusion.
Metal/Hard Rock Ranking
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🎸🪕🎤🪗 Shark’s Metal/Hard Rock Playlist
All the artists and albums listed in the Metal/Hard Rock Ranking are included in the playlist.
Shark’s Metal/Hard Rock Milestones
8,000+ songs
600+ albums
80+ artists ranked
80+ GB music stored
20+ days of continuous music
Music Styles & Offshoots Included: Hard Rock, Southern Rock, Instrumental Rock, Guitar Virtuoso, Arena Rock, Heavy Metal, British Metal, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Glam Rock, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Pop-Metal, Hair Metal, Stoner Metal, British Blues, Blues-Rock, Folk-Rock, British Invasion, Psychedelic, Singer/Songwriter, Rock & Roll, Country-Rock, Soft Rock
Gods' best Metal/Hard Rock Albums
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🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎹 🎺🎻Frank Zappa: 1. Zoot Allures, 2. Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, 3. Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, 4. Them or Us, 5. Guitar, 6. Chunga’s Revenge, 7. Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute, 8. Bongo Fury, 9. Sleep Dirt, 10. Apostrophe (')
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎹 🎷🎻🎬🪇John Zorn: 1. Collected Works (Pain Killer), Chaos Magick, 3. Naked City, 4. Simulacrum, 5. Nostradamus: The Death of Satan, 6. 49 Acts of Unspeakable Depravity in the Abominable Life and Times of Gilles de Rais, 7. Multiplicities: A Repository Of Non-Existent Objects, 8. 50th Birthday Celebration, Vol. 12 (feat. Mike Patton), 9. The Book Beri'ah, Vol. 2: Chokhma, 10. Inferno
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎻Buckethead: 1. A Real Diamond in the Rough, 2. Monsters and Robots, 3. Colma, 4. Giant Robot, 5. The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell, 6. Enter the Chicken, 7. The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock, 8. Inbred Mountain, 9. Crime Slunk Scene, 10. Decoding the Tomb of Bansheebot
Metal/Hard Rock Ranking by Artist
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1. 🇬🇧🎸🪕Led Zeppelin Acknowledged as the most successful and influential band of the heavy rock era, with a catalog that continues to inspire. 1. Led Zeppelin I-IV, 5. Houses of the Holy, 6. Physical Graffiti, 7. Presence 8. In Through the Out Door, 9. Celebration Day, 10. Coda
2. 🇬🇧🎸Black Sabbath The embodiment of heavy metal, with the overpowering volume, sludgy attack, and fantasy lyrics that would define the genre. 1. Paranoid 2. Black Sabbath, 3. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 4. Master of Reality, 5. Vol. 4, 6. Sabotage, 7. Heaven And Hell, 8. 13, 9. Mob Rules
3. 🇬🇧🎸Budgie Hard rockers from Cardiff, Wales who were one of the earliest British heavy metal bands. 1. Never Turn Your Back on a Friend, 2. Budgie, 3. In for the Kill!, 4. Squawk, 5. Bandolier, 6. If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules
4. 🇺🇸🎸Death Aptly named Florida metal band whose aggressive style helped spawn both the death metal and grindcore genres. 1. Human, 2. Scream Bloody Gore, 3. Individual Thought Patterns, 4. The Sound of Perseverance, 5. Spiritual Healing, 6. Leprosy, 7. Symbolic
5. 🇺🇸🎸Primus One of the original and most distinctive alt-metal groups, a whimsical party band with the chops to absorb punk rock, thrash, and funk. 1. Frizzle Fry, 2. Sailing the Seas of Cheese, 3. Tales from the Punchbowl, 4. Pork Soda 5. Brown Album, 6. Antipop, 7. Green Naugahyde, 8. Suck on This, 9. Primus & The Chocolate Factory with The Fungi Ensemble, 10. The Desaturating Seven
6. 🇺🇸🎸Grateful Dead Legendary Haight-Ashbury sextet who took a long, strange trip from acid-testing jugband to worldwide countercultural institution. 1. Blues for Allah, 2. Workingman's Dead, 3. American Beauty, 4. Wake of the Flood, 5. Anthem of the Sun, 6. Live/Dead, 7. Europe '72, 8. Grateful Dead, 9. From the Mars Hotel, 10. Terrapin Station
7. 🇬🇧🎸The Who An explosive combo that pioneered progressive and arena rock, each new sound increasing their influence and legacy. 1. Who's Next, 2. Quadrophenia, 3. The Who Sell Out, 4. The Who Sings My Generation, 5. Tommy, 6. A Quick One, 7. The Who by Numbers, 8. It’s Hard
8. 🇺🇸🪕🎺Howlin' Wolf A primal, ferocious blues belter with a roster of classics rivaling anyone else, and a sandpaper growl of a voice that has been widely imitated. 1. Moanin' in the Moonlight, 2. Howlin' Wolf [The Rockin' Chair Album], 3. The Back Door Wolf, 4. Message To The Young, 5. The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (Reissue) [feat. Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman & Charlie Watts, 6. Message To The Young]
9. 🇺🇸🪕Muddy Waters The giant of postwar blues, who eloquently defined Chicago's swaggering, Delta-rooted sound with his declamatory vocals and piercing slide guitar. 1. Hard Again, 2. Folk Singer, 3. Fathers and Sons, 4 After the Rain, 5. I’m Ready, 6. Electric Mud 7. King Bee, 8. Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill”, 9."Unk" in Funk, 10. The London Muddy Waters Sessions
10. 🇨🇦🎸🪕Neil Young Eternally restless figure who pursued an idiosyncratic solo career touching on everything from noise-rock and synth pop to blues and rockabilly. 1. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, 2. After the Gold Rush, 3. On the Beach, 4. Tonight's the Night, 5. Harvest, 6. Zuma, 7. Comes a Time, 8. Rust Never Sleeps, 9. Raged Glory, 10. Neil Young
11. 🇺🇸🎸🎤Bob Dylan Iconic singer/songwriter and musical wanderer who rose to prominence during the '60s folk revival and changed the world of music. 1. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 2. Highway 61 Revisited, 3. Blood on the Tracks, 4. Blonde on Blonde, 5. Bringing It All Back Home, 6. John Wesley Harding, 7. The Times They Are A-Changin’, 8. Another Side of Bob Dylan, 9. The Basement Tapes, 10. Desire
12. 🇬🇧🪕🎸John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Finishing school for leading British blues-rock musicians including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, John McVie, Jack Bruce, and many others. 1. Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, 2. A Hard Road, 3. Blues from Laurel Canyon 4. Crusade 5. Jazz Blues Fusion ((Performed and Recorded Live in Boston and New York)), 6. The Turning Point, 7.Back to the Roots, 8. USA Union, 9. Ten Years Are Gone
13. 🇺🇸🪕🎺B.B. King One of the most important electric guitarists in history, whose bent notes and staccato picking style influenced legions to come. 1. Live at the Regal, 2. King of Blues, 3. Live in Cook Country Jail, 4. The Blues, 5. Indianola Mississippi Seeds, 6. Completely Well, 7. Live & Well, 8. Blues on the Bayou, 9. Lucille, 10. Singin’ the Blues
🆕14. 🇮🇪🎸🎺 Van Morrison Soulful Irish singer/songwriter who combines folk, gospel, R&B, rock, and jazz, often with a mystical bent. 1.Astral Weeks, 2. Moondance, 3. Saint Dominic’s Preview, 4. Veedon Fleece, 5. Into the Music, 6. No Guru, No Method, No Teacher, 7. Coommon One, 8. Poetic Champion Compose, 9. His Band and the Street Choir, 10. Irish Heartbeat
🆕15. 🇮🇪🎸🪕Rory Gallagher Influential Irish guitarist who played an earthy, stripped-down brand of blues-rock that touched everyone who heard it. 1. Deuce, 2. Tattoo, Rory Gallagher, 3. Top Priority, 4. Calling Card, 5. Photo-Finish, 6. Against the Grain, 7. Blueprint. Offshoot: 🇮🇪🎸🪕Taste Irish blues-rock group led by influential guitarist Rory Gallagher in the late '60s and early '70s which re-formed after his death in 1996. 1. On the Boards 2. Taste
16. 🇺🇸🎸🪕🎷Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble formed the most impressive blues act of the 1980s, which made Vaughan's death in a helicopter crash at the start of the '90s all the more tragic 1. Texas Flood, 2. In Step, 3. The Sky is Crying, 4. Couldn't Stand the Weather, 5. Soul to Soul
17. 🇬🇧🎸Motörhead Ferocious rock act that brought the concept of the power trio to new heights, attracting a huge following with breakneck speed and deafening volume. 1. Ace of Spades, 2. Overkill, 3. Bomber, 4. Iron Fist, 5. Another Perfect Day, 6. Bastards, 7. Inferno, 8. Orgasmatron, 9. 1916, 10. Motörhead
18. 🇬🇧🎸Iron Maiden At the forefront of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and a major metal contender from the late '70s into the 21st century. 1. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 2. The Number of the Beast, 3. Powerslave, 4. Piece of Mind, 5. Somewhere in Time, 6. Iron Maiden, 7. Killers, 8. Fear of the Dark, 9. A Matter of Life and Death, 10. Brave New World (Empire of the Clouds, Paschendale)
19. 🇺🇸🎸🎷🪘Santana Latin rocker who successfully married elements of blues, rock, and Latin music, and enjoyed international acclaim for decades. 1. Caravanserai, 2. Abraxas, 3. Santana, 4. Santana III, 5. Welcome, 6. Lotus, 7. Borboletta, 8. Amigos
20. 🇬🇧🎸Deep Purple Progressive rock giants who made hard rock a fine art, and unleashed some of the greatest guitar riffs known to the world. 1. Machine World, 2. Deep Purple in Rock, 3. Burn, 4. Fireball, 5. Perfect Strangers, 6. Deep Purple, 7. Stormbringer, 8. Shades of Deep Purple
21. 🇺🇸🎸The Doors Mystical blues-based rockers who revolved around the dark poetry and shamanic presence of Jim Morrison. 1. The Doors, 2. L.A. Woman, 3. Strange Days, 4. Waiting for the Sun, 5. Morrison Hotel, 6. The Soft Parade
22. 🇬🇧🎸The Rolling Stones The premier British rock band for over half a century, creators of the sound and style imitated by countless groups. 1. Sticky Fingers, 2. Exile on Main St., 3. Let It Bleed, 4. Beggars Banquet, 5. Some Girls, 6. Aftermath, 7. Between the Buttons, 8. 12 X 5 , 9. Out of Our Heads, 10. Their Satanic Majesties Request, 11. Goats Head Soup
23. 🇬🇧🎸Dire Straits English rockers who created some treasured moments of 1980s rock with Mark Knopfler's tightly executed songs and distinctive finger-plucked guitar. 1. Love Over Gold, 2. Brothers in Arms, 3. Making Movies, 4. Dire Straits, 5. Communiqué, 6. On Every Street
24. 🇬🇧🎸The Beatles The most popular and influential rock act of all time, a band that blazed several new trails for popular music. 1. Abbey Road, 2. Revolver, 3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 4. Magical Mystery Tour, 5. The Beatles [Aka: The White Album], 6. Rubber Soul, 7. Let It Be
25. 🇬🇧🎸Elton John Soulful English singer who moved from simple, sensitive piano rock to become a glamorous music superstar. 1. Blue Moves, 2. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 3. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, 4. Honky Château, 5. Tumbleweed Connection, 6. Madman Across the Water, 7. Elton John, 8. Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player, 9. Caribou
26. 🇺🇸🎸🎺Prince One of the most singular talents in music, a multi-talented pop/funk/rock performer who showed remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity. 1. Purple Rain, 2. Dirty Mind, 3. Sign 'O' the Times, 4. 1999, 5. Around the World in a Day, 6. The Gold Experience, 7. Controversy, 8. Prince, 9. Parade, 10. The Love Symbol Album
27. 🇬🇧 🎸Elvis Costello The most evocative, innovative, and gifted songwriter since Bob Dylan, with songs that offered highly personal takes on love and politics. 1. My Aim Is True, 2. This Year's Model, 3. Armed Forces , 4. Get Happy!! , 5. Trust, 6. Imperial Bedroom, 7. Almost Blue, 8. King of America, 9. Blood and Chocolate, 10. Punch the Clock
28. 🇺🇸🎸Steely Dan Sophisticated, distinctive rock group built around accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the studio. 1. Aja, 2. Countdown to Ecstasy, 3. The Royal Scam, 4. Pretzel Logic, 5. Katy Lied, 6. Can't Buy a Thrill, 7. Gaucho
29. 🇺🇸🎸Tom Petty A seminal figure in rock & roll who distinctively fused American rock & roll and British Invasion pop with his band the Heartbreakers. 1. Damn the Torpedoes, 2. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 3. Hard Promises, 4. Full Moon Fever, 5. Wildflowers, 6. An American Treasure, 7. Echo, 8. Hypnotic Eye
30. 🇺🇸🎸🎤Bruce Springsteen A rock & roll true believer with a poet's heart, the Boss defined mainstream American rock in the late 20th century. 1. Nebraska, 2. Born to Run, 3. Darkness on the Edge of Town, 4. The River, 5. The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, 6. Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., 7. Born in the U.S.A., 8. Tunnel of Love, 9. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, 10. Tracks
31. 🇺🇸🎸Grand Funk Railroad Michigan-based power trio who became hard rock heroes before scaling the pop charts with "We're an American Band." 1. Grand Funk , 2. We're An American Band, 3. Closer to Home, 4. On Time, 5. E Pluribus Funk, 6. Good Singin' Good Playin’
32. 🇺🇸🎸Journey Anthemic arena rock outfit who achieved huge success in the 1970s and '80s thanks to musical prodigy Neal Schon and smooth tenor Steve Perry. 1. Journey, 2. Look into the Future, 3. Next, 4. Escape, 5. Infinity
33. 🇬🇧🎸Faces Boozy and bluesy rock & roll band of the '70s, fronted by Rod Stewart and guitarist Ron Wood with a joyous spirit that proved very influential. 1. A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse, 2. Ooh La La, 3. Long Player, 4. First Step (1970-1975 You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything)
34. 🇬🇧🎸Judas Priest One of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, and the one that spearheaded the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the late '70s. 1. Painkiller, 2. Screaming for Vengeance, 3. Defenders of the Faith, 4. Stained Class, 5. Sad Wings of Destiny, 6. Sin After Sin, 7. British Steel, 8. Killing Machine, 9. Firepower 10. Unleashed in the East
35. 🇧🇷🎸Sepultura Legendary Brazilian metal act that forged a rich, powerful sound full of speed, aggression, anger, and a surprising dose of melody. 1. Arise, 2. Beneath the Remains, 3. Chaos A.D., 4. Schizophrenia, 5. Roots, 6. Quadra, 7. Morbid Visions / Bestial Devastation
36. 🇺🇸🎸Morbid Angel Florida death metal mavens whose faster, more sonically brutal version of the West Coast style revolutionized the genre. 1. Altars of Madness, 2. Covenant, 3. Blessed Are The Sick, 4. Formulas Fatal to the Flesh, 5. Gateways to Annihilation, 6. Domination
37. 🇺🇸🎸Testament One of the first thrash acts to emerge from the Bay Area in Metallica's wake during the '80s. 1. The Legacy, 2. The New Order, 3. Practice What You Preach, 4. The Gathering
38. 🇺🇸🎸Jimi Hendrix Considered by plenty the greatest rock guitarist of all time, with a raw, blues-influenced style that brought fire and emotion to rock music unseen before or since. 1. Electric Ladyland, 2. Are You Experienced?, 3. Axis: Bold as Love, 4. Band of Gypsys, 5. The Cry of Love, 6. Blues
39. 🇬🇧🎸Rare Bird Rare Bird came together in October 1969 when organist Graham Field, keyboardist Dave Kaffinetti, drummer Mark Ashton, and vocalist Steve Gould envisioned a two-keyboard rock sound without guitars. 1. As Your Mimd Flies By, 2. Rare Bird
40. 🇺🇸🎸Jefferson Airplane The quintessential San Francisco psychedelic band and a defining force in pop before turning toward political statements in the late '60s. 1. Surrealistic Pillow, 2. Volunteers, 3. After Bathing At Baxters, 4. Crown of Creation
41. 🇺🇸🎸🎺Rare Earth Detroit-based group that fused bar band rock and R&B to become the most successful white group in the Motown organization. 1. Get Ready, 2. Ecology, 3. One World, 4. Ma, 5. In Concert.
42. 🇺🇸🎸Cactus Blues and boogie supergroup featuring members of Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels, and Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes. 1. Cactus, 2. One Way… or Another, 3. Restrictions
43. 🇺🇸🎸Mountain New York hard rockers who formed during the first generation of heavy metal and featured a dense, blues-based sound. 1. Nantucket Sleighride, 2. Mountain
44. 🇬🇧🎸Ten Years After Hard-rocking British blues band led by virtuosic guitarist Alvin Lee and best known for their legendary Woodstock performance. 1. Cricklewood Green, 2. A Space in Time
45. 🇬🇧🎸🪕The Pretty Things Seminal British R&B band that never broke big, despite talent to spare and a notable psychedelic masterpiece in 1968's S.F. Sorrow. 1. S.F. Sorrow, 2. Parachute
46. 🇺🇸🎸Slayer The early thrash metal band with the most continued vitality and the least risk of compromise, with graphic lyrics wedded to powerful musical chops. 1. Reign of Blood, 2. South of Heaven, 3. Seasons In the Abyss, 4.Hell Awaits, 5. Show no Mercy
47. 🇺🇸🎸Pantera One of the preeminent bands of the '90s, whose brutal groove metal influenced a generation. 1. Vulgar Display of Power, 2. Cowboys from Hell, 3. The Great Southern Trendkill, 4. Far Beyond Driven
48. 🇺🇸🎸Eagles Among the best-selling artists of the 1970s, first at the forefront of the country-rock movement, later by producing soft rock and album rock. 1. Hotel California, 2. One of These Nights, 3. Desperado, 4. The Long Run, 5. Eagles, 6. Hell Freezes Over, 7. On the Border
49. 🇬🇧🎸Carcass Liverpool band that assisted in a death metal revival and subsequently pioneered grindcore. 1. Necroticism, 2. Heartwork, 3. Symphonies of Sickness, 4. Swansong, 5. Surgical Steel
50. 🇵🇱🎸Behemoth Acclaimed Polish group that deliver a caustic cocktail of black and death metal seasoned with a heavy dose of religious provocation. 1. The Satanist, 2. Zos Kia Cultus, 3. Evangelion, 4. Demigod, 5. Grom
51. 🇬🇧🎸Ozzy Osbourne An instinctive metal showman who gained fame in Black Sabbath and as a solo act with his dramatic flair and a knack for creating controversy. 1. Tribute, 2. Diary of a Madman, 3. Blizzard of Ozz, 4. No More Tears, 5. No Rest for the Wicked, 6. Bark at the Moon
52. 🇬🇧🪕🎸Eric Clapton A rock guitar legend who, in addition to a distinguished solo career, collaborated with countless artists and played in many classic bands. 1. Eric Clapton, 2. 461 Ocean Boulevard, 3. Slowhand, 4. Journeyman, 5. Riding with the King, 6. MTV Unplugged, 7. From the Cradle, 8. Pilgrim, 9. Just One Night, 10. Clapton
53. 🇬🇧🎸🎤Donovan An icon of flower power who emerged as a folksinger but later gained hits like "Sunshine Superman" with bright psychedelic pop. 1. Sunshine Superman, 2. A Gift From a Flower to a Garden, 3. The Hurdy Gurdy Man
54. 🇬🇧🎸Joe Cocker Gravel-voiced vocalist whose animated live shows, especially at Woodstock, made him a legend in soul circles. 1. Mad Dogs & Englishmen, 2. With a Little Help from My Friends, 3. Joe Cocker!
55. 🇨🇦🎸Voivod Canadian metal outfit that helped spread the word on speed and thrash metal in the early '80s. 1. Nothing Face, 2. Dimension Hatröss, 3. The Outer Limits, 4. Killing Technology, 5. Angel Rat
56. 🇺🇸🎸Warren Zevon A hard-edged singer/songwriter with a sensitive side, one of the great chroniclers of Los Angeles in the '70s. 1. Excitable Boy, 2. Warren Zevon, 3. Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School, 4. Life´ll Kill Ya, 5. Sentimental Hygiene, 6. Preludes: The Rare Unreleased Recordings, 7. The Wind
57. 🇬🇧🎸Phil Collins The frontman for Genesis 2.0, with a soulful voice and pop smarts that made him one of the top superstars of the 1980s. 1. No Jacket Required, 2. Face Value, 3. Hello, I Must Be Going
58. 🇺🇸🎸Metallica California metal band whose aggressive yet melodic style made them one of the most popular bands of all time. 1. …And Justice for All, 2. Master of Puppets, 3. Kill 'Em All, 4. Metallica 5. Ride the Lightning
59. 🇺🇸🎸Megadeth One of the most popular and important thrash metal bands, led by Dave Mustaine, with strong social and political messages throughout their music. 1. Rust In Peace, 2. Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?, 3. Countdown to Extinction, 4. Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, 5. So Far, So Good... So What!
60. 🇺🇸🎸Guns N’ Roses Best and most influential hard rockers of the 1980s and '90s, a straight-ahead guitar boogie band that often displayed a surprising musical diversity. 1. Appetite for Destruction, 2. Use Your Illusion II, 3. G N' R Lies, 4. Use Your Illusion I
61. 🇺🇸🎸Mötley Crüe Joyously sleazy and stupid, they became one of the top heavy metal bands of the '80s, but garnered more headlines for their infamous antics. 1. Dr. Feelgood, 2. Shout at the Devil, 3. Girls, Girls, Girls, 4. Theatre of Pain, 5. Too Fast for Love
62. 🇦🇺🎸AC/DC One of the defining acts of '70s hard rock, driven by the bazooka roar of the Young brothers' twin guitars and Bon Scott's snarling vocals. 1. Back in Black, 2. Highway to Hell, 3. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 4. Let There Be Rock, 5. High Voltage, 6. Powerage, 7. If You Want Blood You've Got It
63. 🇩🇪🎸Scorpions German band who blew in with the first wave of '70s heavy metal, then stuck around for decades while unleashing many a classic anthem. 1. Taken by Force, 2. Lovedrive, 3. Love at First Sting, 4. In Trance, 5. Blackout, 6. Crazy World, 7. Virgin Killer, 8. Lonesome Crow, 9. Fly to the Rainbow
🆕64. 🇺🇸🎸Overkill An integral part of the early-'80s thrash metal movement that spawned acts like Metallica and Anthrax. 1. Horrorscope, 2. The Years of Decay, 3. Taking Over, 4. Feel the Fire, 5. Under the Influence
64. 🇺🇸🎸Meat Loaf A one-man rock opera responsible for such epics as "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "I Would Do Anything for Love." 1. Bat Out of Hell I, 2. Bat Out of Hell II
65. 🇺🇸🎸Anthrax Combining the speed and fury of hardcore punk with the prominent guitars and vocals of heavy metal, they helped create a new subgenre of heavy metal on their early albums. 1. Among the Living, 2. Speeding the Disease, 3. Persistence of Time
66. 🇬🇧🎸Rainbow Early metal heroes led by Deep Purple's guitar virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore and charismatic singer Ronnie James Dio. 1. Rising, 2. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, 3. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
67. 🇺🇸🎸DIO Classic heavy metal band formed by Ronnie James Dio, headbanging icon and perennial frontman (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath). 1. The Last in Line, 2. Dream Evil, 3. Magica, 4. Holy Diver, 5. Strange Highways
68. 🇺🇸🎸Sleep Northern California pioneers of stoner rock and doom metal who chose to disband rather than compromise their aesthetic with their label. 1. Dopesmoker, 2. Sleep's Holy Mountain, 3. The Sciences
🆕69. 🇩🇪🎸Sodom One of German thrash's Big Three, and a pioneer of early death metal. 1. Persecution Mania, 2. Agent Orange, 3. Tapping the Vein, 4. M-16
69. 🇺🇸🎸W.A.S.P. L.A. metal outfit who rose to infamy in the 1980s thanks to their shock rock image, lyrics, and outrageous live concerts. 1. The Headless Children, 2. W.A.S.P., 3. The Crimson Idol, 4. The Last Command, 5. Inside the Electric Circus
70. 🇺🇸🎸Dokken Los Angeles-based heavy metal band with an intimate fusion of hard rock, melody and atmospherics. 1. Under Lock and Key, 2. Tooth and Nail, 3. Back for the Attack
71. 🇺🇸🎸🎷Joe Satriani One of the great guitarists of the '80s, a rare shredder whose popularity crossed over from six-string obsessives and into the mainstream. 1. Surfing with the Alien, 2. Time Machine, Vol. 1, 3. Flying In a Blue Dream, 4. The Extremist, 5. Strange Beautiful Music, 6. Crystal Planet
72. 🇺🇸🎸🎷Steve Vai Fleet-fingered guitar hero who worked with Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake as well as recording solo. 1. Passion and Warfare, 2. Flex-Able, 3. The Ultra Zone, 4. Fire Garden
73. 🇺🇸🎸Mr. Bungle Free-form rock radicals (sounds of funk, death metal, ska, video games, carnivals) who provided the first experience (and later, a side project) for Faith No More's Mike Patton. 1. Mr Bungle. 2. Disco Volante, 3. California, 4. The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo
74. 🇺🇸🎸Van Halen One of the best and most popular American hard rock/heavy metal bands, primarily distinguished by the fleet fingers of guitarist Eddie 1. Van Halen, 2. 1984, 3. Woman and Children First, 4. Van Halen II, 5. Fair Warning, 6. Diver Down, 7. 5150
🆕75. 🇬🇧🎸Napalm Death Groundbreaking British grindcore band who pushed heavy metal into new levels of extremity and intensity. 1. Scum, 2. Enemy of the Music Business, 3. From Enslavement to Obliteration, 4. Harmony Corruption, 5. Utopia Banished, 6. Fear, Emptiness, Despair, 7. Apex Predator - Easy Meat
75. 🇸🇪🎸Candlemass Swedish quintet whose dirge-like, sustain-laden guitar riffing made them pioneers of the doom metal genre. 1. Nightfall, 2. Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, 3. Ancient Dreams, 4. Tales of Creation, 5. Candlemass, 6. Death Magic Doom, 7. King of the Grey Islands
76. 🇩🇪🎸Helloween Innovative German group whose vision of high-speed power metal made them one of the prime European rock bands to emerge in the '80s. 1. Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II, 2. Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I, 3. Walls of Jericho, 4. The Time of the Oath, 5. The Dark Ride
77. 🇬🇧🎸Heads, Hands and Feet Their self-titled debut album, populated with guests from the folk and singer/songwriter scenes, was released as a double record in the U.S., but only as a single album in Europe. The record was very well regarded, with Lee's guitar work garnering attention. 1. Heads, Hands and Feet, 2. Tracks
78. 🇬🇧🎸Queen Larger-than-life British arena-glam rockers who mastered the art of the pop single, led by the incomparable Freddie Mercury. 1. A Night At The Opera, 2. Queen II, 3. Sheer Heart Attack, 4. A Day At The Races, 5.Queen, 6. Jazz, 7. News of the World, 8. The Game
79. 🇳🇱🎸Golden Earring Boogie rock legends in their Dutch homeland, and worldwide hitmakers with 1973's "Radar Love" and 1982's "Twilight Zone." 1. Moontan, 2. Golden Earring [Aka: Wall of Dolls], 3. Eight Miles High, 4. Seven Tears
80. 🇺🇸🎸Aerosmith Boston quintet that epitomized '70s sleaze, but then had a remarkably sober comeback in the '80s that eclipsed their down-and-dirty heyday. 1. Toys in the Attic, 2. Rocks, 3. Pump, 4. Get Your Wings, 5. Permanent Vacation, 6. Aerosmith, 7. Draw the Line, 8. Get a Grip
81. 🇺🇸🎸Bon Jovi One of rock's biggest acts, they bridged the gap between heavy metal and pop with style and ease, remaining consistently popular for decades.1. New Jersey, 2. Slippery When Wet, 3. Keep the Faith, 4. Bon Jovi, 5. 7800° Fahrenheit
82. 🇺🇸🎸Skid Row One of the very last pop-metal bands to hit the mainstream before grunge took over in the early '90s. 1. Skid Row, 2. Slave to the Grind
83. 🇬🇧🎸Def Leppard Stadium rock perennials whose catchy, guitar-driven, power pop/rock was one of the most imitated styles of the '80s. 1. Pyromania, 2. Hysteria, 3. High 'N' Dry
84. 🇩🇪🎸Accept One of Germany's earliest and best speed metal bands, their brutal riffs and aggressive tempos exemplified on the 1983 smash "Balls to the Wall." 1. Balls to the Wall, 2. Restless and 3. Wild, Metal Heart, 4. Breaker, 5. Russian Roulette
85. 🇺🇸🎸Whitesnake Hard rock hitmakers, led by David Coverdale, who combined brutal, powerful hard rock and chart-topping power ballads. 1. Whitesnake, 2. Ready an' Willing, 3. Slide It In, 4. Saints & Sinners
86. 🇺🇸🎸White Lion Brooklyn rockers who scored hits at the peak of the 1980s glam metal craze with their shimmering hooks. 1. Mane Attraction, 2. Pride, 3. Fight to Survive, 4. Anthology 83’-89´
87. 🇺🇸🎸Kiss Garish glam rockers with anthems galore, who became rock legends with a reputation for incredible live shows. 1. Alive!, 2. Destroyer, 3. Dressed to Kill, 4. Kiss, 5. Love Gun, 6. Hotter than Hell, 7. Creatures of the Night, 8. Ace Frehley, 9. Rock and Roll Over (Odyssey)
🆕89. 🇺🇸🎸Icon was a Phoenix, Arizona-based heavy/glam metal band formed in 1981, known for their blend of melodic hard rock and AOR. 1. Night of the Crime, 2. Icon, 3. Right Between the Eyes.
🆕90. 🇺🇸🎸KIX Their roots in blue-collar Baltimore produced one of the hardest rocking, hardest working bands in rock history. 1. Kix, 2. Blow my Fuse, 3. Hot Wire, 4. Cool Kids
Great Metal/Hard Rock Albums, Compilations & Songs
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By artists who are not necessary at my top of my book but round pretty well my Metal/Hard Rock musical taste. Sorted in no particular order.
🇬🇧🎸Bakerloo by Bakerloo. Bakerloo was an English heavy blues-rock trio, established by Staffordshire guitarist David "Clem" Clempson, Terry Poole and others in the late 1960s, at the high point of the influence of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream.
🇬🇧🎸Molten Gold: The Anthology by Free. Survivors of the late-'60s British blues boom who carved a niche with rootsy rock, metal, and melodic pop styles, hitting it big with "All Right Now."
🇬🇧🎸Blind Faith by Blind Faith. One of rock's earliest and short-lived supergroups, led by Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood.
🇺🇸🎸Poison's Greatest Hits 1986-1996 by Poison. The definitive hair band of the '80s, with a long string of pop-metal hits to go along with their highly visual approach to rock & roll.
🇺🇸🎸Goin’ 50 by ZZ Top. Texas trio that specialized in down-and-dirty blues-rock during the '70s, then scored colorful MTV hits during the 1980s.
🇺🇸🎸Box of Pearls: The Janis Joplin Collection by Janis Joplin. Legendary blues-rock belter with a brash, uncompromising vocal style and tremendous lasting influence, despite dying young.
🇺🇸🎸At Fillmore East (Deluxe Edition) by The Allman Brothers Band. Blending rock, blues, country, and jazz, the godfathers of Southern rock in all its wild, woolly glory.
🇮🇪🎸Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy by Thin Lizzy. One of Ireland's greatest rock bands, distinguished by a signature twin-guitar roar and Phil Lynott's workingman's poetry.
🇺🇸🎸Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield by Buffalo Springfield. Short-lived but star-studded band of the '60s who made a massive impact on the entire California sound, from country-rock to folk-rock.
🇺🇸🎸Gold by Cinderella. One of the major hair metal bands of the '80s.
🇬🇧🎸🪕Gold: Cream by Cream. The first and best power trio, whose brand of highly amplified, free-form playing took blues and rock in new directions.
🇺🇸🎸Greatest Hits by Boston. Classic rockers who sold millions during the 1970s and '80s with their vision of prog-rock, immaculately produced and featuring killer hooks.
🇺🇸🎸The Essential Toto by Toto. Soft rock stars, formed by session musicians David Paich and Steve Porcaro, who neatly defined 1982 with the smash hits "Rosanna" and "Africa."
🇺🇸🎸Lynyrd Skynyrd by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious Southern image and a hard rock swagger.
🇺🇸🎸Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Behind the vision of leader John Fogerty, the band created a unique synthesis of punchy rock & roll, swamp pop, blues, and country.
🇺🇸🎸Mascara and Monsters: The Best of Alice Cooper by Alice Cooper. Pioneers of heavy rock and masters of shock rock in the early '70s, whose titular lead singer became a successful solo artist.
🇺🇸🎸Tell the World: The Very Best of Ratt by Ratt. Aqua-netted glam metal band from the 1980s, who infused their brand of hard rock with serious pop hooks.
🇺🇸🪕🎺I Got Eyes & Oh Baby by Johnny Guitar Watson. Texas-born guitarist who was a celebrated blues artist before scoring hits in a funky R&B style, and an influence on Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa.
🇺🇸🪕🎺Sufferin' Mind by Guitar Slim. First truly outrageous blues performer of the modern era, had lasting hit with "The Things That I Used To Do."
🇺🇸🎸Time's Makin Changes: The Best of Tesla by Tesla. Blues-based hard rock band marked by smart songwriting who rose to fame during the Hair Metal boom of the 1980s and '90s.
🇳🇱🎸Song of the Marching Children by Earth & Fire. Earth & Fire was a Dutch rock and pop band, formed by twin brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts in 1969, achieving major success in the 1970s with symphonic rock hits like "Seasons" and the disco #1 "Weekend," fronted by singer Jerney Kaagman, though they remained largely unknown in the UK and US.
🇺🇸🎸20 h Century Masters: The Best of L.A. Guns by L.A. Guns. Veterans of the '80s glam metal scene with a sound and style rooted in the sleaze of Hollywood's Sunset Strip.
🇺🇸🎸Metal Church by Metal Church. Washington State rockers whose gut-wrenching heavy metal verged on thrash.
🇩🇰🎸Don’t Break the Oat by Mercyful Fate. Seminal Danish black metal band, formed by vocalist King Diamond and known for its occult lyricism and theatrical approach.
🇺🇸🎸Sunset Rise by Zephyr. This late-'60s Denver group is most notable as the starting point for guitarist Tommy Bolin, who was still in his teens when they recorded their first album in 1969.
🇺🇸🎸The Runaways, Queens of Noise by The Runaways. Hard rocking all-girl band and springboard for the careers of Joan Jett, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie.
🇺🇸🎸Lita by Lita Ford. One of two solo stars to spring from the ashes of the '70s all-girl hard rock band the Runaways
🇺🇸🎸Greatest Hits by Quiet Riot. The first heavy metal band to top the American pop charts, with the raucous Slade cover "Cum on Feel the Noize."
🇺🇸🎸Mass Slaughter: The Best of Slaughter by Slaughter. Hair metal outfit best known for their popular 1990 album STICK IT TO YA.
🇺🇸🎸🎤The Essential Birds by The Byrds. Influential L.A. rockers whose jangling guitars, angelic harmonies, and restless eclecticism helped pioneer folk-, psych-, and country-rock.
🇬🇧🎸🪕The Yardbirds Story: 1963-66 by The Yardbirds. Adventurous blues-rockers of the '60s, best known for having guitar heroes Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page pass through their ranks.
🇺🇸🎸The Traveling Wilburys Vol 1. & 3 by The Traveling Wilburys. Perhaps the biggest supergroup of all time, a roots combo formed by George Harrison with hired guns Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison.
🇺🇸🎸Big Hits and Nasty Cuts by Twisted Sister. Anthemic glam-pop-metallers who found mainstream success in 1984 with the multi-platinum-selling Stay Hungry.
🇬🇧🎸The Best of UFO (1974-1983) by UFO. Underrated British hard rockers who helped spawn British metal and for several years featured former Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker.
🇺🇸🎸Witch by Witch. Stoner rock band featuring Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis on drums.
🇺🇸🎸 Rumble-69 by Link Wray & The Wraymen. Iconic guitarist whose work straddled country and rockabilly, best known for instrumental hits like "Rumble."
🇺🇸🎸Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. One of the most influential acts of the rock era, purveyors of both infectious surf music and sophisticated baroque/psychedelic pop.
🇺🇸🪈🎤Best of Michael Hedges by Michael Hedges. Accomplished American guitarist and composer, with a highly individual folk/new age-based style, died tragically young.
🇺🇸🎸🪗Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley. A music and film icon whose natural blend of country, pop, and R&B sold millions and became the cornerstone of rock & roll.
🇺🇸🎸The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning by Chicago. One of the most popular rock groups of the 1970s and '80s, initially built on the foundation of a prominent horn section.
🇨🇦🎸🎤The Essential Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen. Cerebral yet sensual Canadian poet, novelist, and singer/songwriter who is recognized as one of the greatest lyricists of all time.
🇺🇸🎸Greatest Hits, Volume I & Volume II by Billy Joel. New York City piano man whose driving rock, often with a cabaret twist, gained near-universal appeal in the 1970s and '80s.
🇨🇦🎸White Buffalo by Crown Lands. Canadian two-man band who generate a big, bold sound informed by classic rock.
🇬🇧🎸The Very Best Of Cat Stevens by Cat Stevens. Acoustic-based hitmaker who became one of the most popular singer/songwriters of the '70s thanks to his invariably catchy material.
🇬🇧🎸🎬Rocketman (Music from the Motion Picture) by Taron Egerton. The music from Elton John’s life sinks into the uncanny valley with a studio band, a substitute singer, and a silver-screen production.
🇺🇸🎸🎺 The Definitive Collection by Chuck Berry. Rock & roll's prime innovator, thanks to his detailed songwriting, dazzling lyrics, and clear, economical guitar licks.
🇺🇸🎸🪗The Very Best of the Million Dollar Quartet (Original and Complete Recording Sessions) by The Million Dollar Quartet. One-off 1956 jam session featuring Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, noted as a seminal moment in rock history.
🇺🇸🎸 Winger by Winger. One of the leading hair metal bands of the 1980s, they perfected the art of following fiery rock anthems with monster power ballads.
🇺🇸🎸 Race Against Time by Banshee. Formed in the mid-80s by Tommy Lee Flood (vocals), Terry Dunn (guitar), Bill Westfall (bass) and Ken Burnham (drums), Banshee operated in musical territory somewhere between the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands and American power-metal groups - replete with shrieking vocals and unnecessary musical elaboration.
🇺🇸🎸No Respect by Vain. American glam/hard rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, formed in 1986 by Davy Vain, known for their raw, riff-heavy sound contrasting the typical 80s glam scene.
🇺🇸🎸U.T.I by Wildside. American glam/hair metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1988 (originally as Young Gunns), remembered as a talented band that had the potential to be huge but lacked luck and proper management, becoming a cult favorite among hair metal enthusiasts.
🇺🇸🎸Keel by Keel. American hard rock/glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1984 by vocalist Ron Keel, , known for their hit "The Right to Rock," gaining fame in the '80s hair metal scene with support from Gene Simmons before disbanding in 1990
🇺🇸🎸Rough Cutt by Rough Cutt. Los Angeles-based heavy metal band active in the 1980s, known for its strong ties to Ronnie James Dio and its lineup featuring future stars like Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne) and Amir Derakh (Orgy).
🇺🇸🎸Head by The Monkees. Iconic manufactured teen television stars of the 1960s, with a parade of memorable pop hits and some genuinely inspired albums.
🇺🇸🎸The Ides of March (Vehicle). Chicago-based rock band who are best known for the tough horn-accented rock of their 1970 hit "Vehicle."
🇺🇸🎸🎬Steel Dragon (We All Die Young). Steel Dragon is the name of a fictional hard rock and glam metal group starring real musicians, created to appear in the Warner Bros film Rock Star (2001)
🇺🇸🎸🪕Canned Heat (Going Up the Country). One of the premier blues bands of the 1960s, influential on groove-laden rockers ranging from ZZ Top to Phish.
🇬🇧🎸The Zoombies (Time of the Season). Popular British Invasion group who also redefined the concept of the rock album with their chamber-pop masterpiece Odessey and Oracle.
🇺🇸🪘Pitbull (Somebody To Be). Miami MC who built a multi-platinum career by melding Latin rap and pop for his hitmaking formula.
🇺🇸🎸Bruce Hornsby & The Range (The Way It Is). Singer-songwriter-pianist whose breezy, nonchalant style made his numerous hits of the 1980s instantly recognizable.
🇺🇸🎸🎺Joe "Bean" Esposito (You're the Best). American singer-songwriter who had a moderately successful career during the 70's and 80's.
🇺🇸🎸🎬Michael Penn (The Big Top (Theme From "Boogie Nights”). Critically lauded California smart pop singer/songwriter who later segued into film and television scoring.
🇺🇸🎸Night Ranger (Sister Christian). Bay Area hard rockers best known for the iconic power ballad "Sister Christian."
🇬🇧🎸Rod Stewart (Lost in You). A flamboyant, gravelly-voiced rock/pop singer who fronted the Faces before becoming one of the biggest stars of the 1970s and '80s.
🇺🇸🎸Bread (Everything I Own, If). A frequent presence on the early-'70s American charts due to their well-crafted, melodic soft rock.
🇺🇸🎸REO Speedwagon (Keep on Loving You, Take it on the Run). Hard-working and hard-rocking band from the Illinois heartland who morphed into million-selling power balladeers by the '80s.
🇬🇧🎸Nazareth (Love Hurts). Scottish hard rock band initially known for relentless touring but later famous for their proto-power ballad "Love Hurts."
🇺🇸🎸The Turtles (Happy Together). Indebted to the harmony-heavy sound of the British Invasion, the Turtles were the quirkiest mainstream guitar pop group Los Angeles produced in the '60s.
🇺🇸🎸Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (I love Rock N’ Roll, I Hate Myself for Loving You). Former Runaway and her band have been producing punk-edged hard rock since the early 1980s.
🇺🇸🎸Don Henley (The Boys of Summer). Singing drummer who soared farther than any other Eagle with his solo career, which has made him a regular presence on the pop charts for decades.
🇬🇧🎸🎺Dusty Springfield (Son of a Preacher). The greatest female soul singer to come out of England's beat boom, capable of belting out pop, folk, or R&B numbers with seismic intensity.
🇦🇺🎸Rick Springfield (Jessie's Girl). After a solid decade's worth of work in the '70s, Rick Springfield turned into a star in the '80s thanks to the power pop classic "Jessie's Girl."
🇬🇧🎸The Who (Eminence Front, Eminence Front(live)). An explosive combo that pioneered progressive and arena rock, each new sound increasing their influence and legacy.
🇬🇧🎸The Animals (The House of the Raising Home). One of the best groups of the British Invasion era, with a tough, blues-based sound and a powerful vocalist in Eric Burdon.
🇺🇸🎸🎺Eric Burton & WAR (Spill the Wine). L.A. band who backed Animals frontman Eric Burdon before popularizing their fusion of funk, R&B, rock, and Latin music in the 1970s.
🇬🇧🎸America (A Horse With No Name). A group whose breezy, soft melodies and sweet harmonies epitomized the sound of soft rock in the '70s.
🇺🇸🎸The Mamas & The Papas (California Dreamin’). A four-piece folk act whose high harmonies and blend of easygoing, trippy originals with nicely stylized covers virtually soundtracked the late '60s.
🇨🇦🎸Bryan Adams (Summer of ’69, Heaven [live]). Canadian rock musician, guitarist, singer, composer, photographer and philanthropist. In more than forty years of career he has sold more than one hundred million copies, including albums and singles worldwide, since 1975.
🇦🇺🎸Steve Marriott (Lend Us A Quid). Powerful vocalist, songwriter, guitarist, and mod icon best-known as co-founder of the Small Faces and Humble Pie.
🇬🇧🎸Cutting Crew ((I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight). English rockers who shot to number one with their 1986 single "(I Just) Died in Your Arms."
Alternative/Indie Rock Ranking
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🎸Shark’s Alternative/Indie Rock Playlist
All the artists and albums listed in the Experimental/Art Rock Ranking are included in the playlist.
Shark’s Alternative/Indie Rock Playlist Milestones:
4,000+ songs
400+ albums
40+ artists ranked
35+ GB music stored
10+ days of continuous music
Music Styles & Offshoots Included: Alternative Pop/Rock, Grunge, Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Garage Punk, Goth Rock, Ska-Punk, New Wave, Punk, No Wave, British Punk, Post-Punk, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Britpop, Garage Rock Revival, Rock en Español, Latin Rock
Gods' best Alternative/Indie Rock Albums
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🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎹 🎺🎻Frank Zappa: 1. Over-Nite Sensation, 2. Joe’s Garage, 3. Sheik Yerbouti, 4. One Size Fits All, 5. We're Only in It for the Money, 6. Apostrophe ('), 7. Burnt Weeny Sandwich, 8. Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, 9. Tinseltown Rebellion (Live), 10. The Man from Utopia
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎻Buckethead: 1. Colma, 2. Monsters and Robots, 3. Crime Slunk Scene, 4. Population Override, 5. Enter the Chicken, 6. A Real Diamond in the Rough, 7. Shadows Between the Sky, 8. Electric Tears, 9. Decoding the Tomb of Bansheebot, 10. Giant Robot
🇬🇧🦈🎸📟🎻The Legendary Pink Dots: 1. Crushed Velvet Apocalypse, 2. Any Day Now, 3. The Maria Dimension, 4. Island of Jewels, 5. Asylum, 6. 9 Lives to Wonder, 7. From Here You'll Watch the World Go By, 8. The Golden Age, 9. Shadow Weaver, 10. Angel in the Detail
Alternative/Indie Rock Ranking by Artist
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1. 🇬🇧🎸The Cure The flagship for Great Britain's post-punk gloom-rock trend of the late '70s, with a ghoulish image that masked the diversity of their music. 1. Disintegration, 2. Pornography, 3. The Head on the Door 4. Faith, 5. Three Imaginary Boys, 6. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, 7. Seventeen Seconds, 8. Wish, 9. Boys Don’t Cry, 10. Bloodflowers. (Special Mention: Songs of a Lost Word, Japanese Whispers, Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities)
2. 🇬🇧🎸David Bowie The mercurial music icon widely considered the original pop chameleon and figurehead for countless musical movements. 1. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 2. Hunky Dory, 3. The Man Who Sold the World, 4. Aladdin Sane, 5. Station to Station, 6. Low, 7. Heroes, 8. Scary Monsters, 9. Lodger, 10. Blackstar
3. 🇺🇸🎸Talking Heads One of the most acclaimed bands of the post-punk era, a vision of innovative art-pop featuring David Byrne's manic yelp over tight R&B grooves. 1. Remain in Light, 2. More Songs About Buildings and Food, 3. Fear of Music, 4. Speaking in Tongues, 5. Talking Heads 77, 6. The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, 7. Little Creatures, 8. True Stories
4. 🇬🇧🎸Joy Division The definitive post-punk band, whose vocalist Ian Curtis sang of despair and isolation until his tragic suicide in 1980. 1. Unknown Pleasures, 2. Closer
🆕5. 🇺🇸🎸The God Machine was a critically acclaimed San Diego-formed, UK-based alternative rock trio (Robin Proper-Sheppard, Jimmy Fernandez, Ronald Austin) active in the early 90s, known for their dark, industrial-tinged sound. 1. Scenes from the Second Storey, 2. One Last Laugh In A Place Of Dying
5. 🇬🇧🎸The Sound The Sound's inability to break through to the type of '80s post-punk prominence reserved for the likes of Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen, the two bands the Sound fell in between sound-wise, isn't all that easy to explain away. 1. From the Lion’s Mouth, 2. Jeopardy, 3. Propaganda, 4. Heads and Hearts, 5. All Fall Down
6. 🇬🇧🎸Echo & The Bunnymen Liverpool-based rock band whose dark, guitar-centered music was infused with a psychedelic undercurrent. 1. Ocean Rain, 2. Heaven Up Here, 3. Porcupine, 4. Crocodiles
7. 🇺🇸🎸The White Stripes Detroit duo that walked the line between blues-rock primitivism and arty minimalism, unexpectedly becoming kings of garage rock in the 2000s. 1. Elephant, 2. White Blood Cells, 3. De Stijl, 4. The White Stripes, 5. Get Behind Me Satan, 6. Icky Thump, 7. Under Great White Northern Lights
8. 🇬🇧🎸The Smiths One of the great bands of the '80s, driven equally by Johnny Marr's dexterous guitar riffs and Morrissey's fiercely witty wordplay. 1. The Queen Is Dead, 2. The Smiths, 3. Meat is Murder, 4. Strangeways, Here We Come, 5. Hatful of Hollow, 6. Louder Than Bombs)
9. 🇮🇪🎸U2 Trafficking in big ideas and big sounds, a band that operated on a grander scale than any other from the '80s and attracted legions of devoted fans. 1. Achtung Baby, 2. The Joshua Tree, 3. War, 4. The Unforgettable Fire, 5. Boy, 6. Zooropa, 7. October
10. 🇬🇧🎸Radiohead One of the great groups of the alternative era, a restless, experimental unit that has incorporated adventurous electronics into their intellectual rock. 1. OK Computer, 2. Kid A, 3. A Moon Shaped Pool, 4. The Bends, 5. Amnesiac, 6. Hail to the Thief, 7. In Rainbows, 8. The King of Limbs, 9. Pablo Honey
11. 🇬🇧🎸Morrissey With the Smiths and solo, a spokesman for millions of the disaffected with his poetic, biting lyrics and theatrical vocals. 1. Your Arsenal, 2. Viva Hate, 3. Vauxhall and I, 4. Bona Drag
12. 🇺🇸🎸Ramones Seminal punk rockers who lit up the mid-'70s New York City scene by stripping rock & roll to the basics. 1. Rocket to Russia, 2. Leave Home, 3. Ramones, 4. Road to Ruin, 5. Too Tough to Die, 6. End of the Century, 7. Pleasant Dreams
13. 🇺🇸🎸Pearl Jam The prototypical Seattle grunge band, with a driving sound and a long run as one of the most principled and hard-working groups in rock. 1. Ten 2. Vs, 3. Vitalogy, 4. Lost Dogs, 5. MTV Unplugged
14. 🇺🇸🎸Nirvana Second-generation punk's most unlikely success story, a rampaging hard rock trio that influenced countless artists but ended in tragedy 1. Nevermind, 2. In Utero, 3. Bleach, 4. MTV Unplugged In New York (Live Acoustic)
15. 🇬🇧🎸The Clash The best and most accomplished punk band, critically important provocateurs influenced by reggae, rockabilly, and blues. 1. London Calling, 2. The Clash, 3. Give 'Em Enough Rope, 4. Sandinista!
16. 🇺🇸🎸Iggy Pop Punk godfather who began shocking in the late '60s, influencing and outlasting practically every punk movement to come. 1. Lust For Life, 2. The Idiot, 3. Raw Power, 4. Kill City, 5. New Values, 6. Fun House, 7. Brick by Brick, 8. American Caesar
17. 🇺🇸🎸Jane’s Addiction Alternative rock band fronted by Perry Farrell, who became era icons at the turn of the 1990s with their distinctive sound and style. 1. Nothing's Shocking, 2. Jane's Addiction, 3. Ritual de lo Habitual
18. 🇬🇧🎸Pulp Pioneering Brit-pop band known for its stylish sound and vocalist Jarvis Cocker's lyrical obsessions (sexual foibles, working-class misfits). 1. Different Class, 2. His 'n' Hers, 3. This Is Hardcore, 4. We Love Life, 5. Separations
19. 🇲🇽🎸🪘Caifanes Pioneering Mexican rock band of the 1980s known for their dark fusion of post-punk, goth, new wave, Latin and Mexican traditions. 1. Caifanes, Vol. 1, 2. El Diablito, 3. El Nervio del Volcán, 4. El Silencio. Jaguares In 1995, Jaguares was formed out of the skeleton of Califanes, a Mexico City rock group. 1. Bajo el Azul de Tu Misterio, 2. El Equilibrio de Los Jaguares, 3. Cuando la Sangre Galopa, 4. El Primer Instinto, 5. Cronicas de un Laberinto
20. 🇪🇸🎸Héroes del Silencio Spanish band whose musicianship and innovation kick-started the rock en español movement. 1. Senderos de traición, 2. El Mar No Cesa, 3. El Espíritu del Vino, 4. Avalancha, 5. Senda 91’
21. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Soda Stereo One of the seminal bands in the rock en español movement. 1. Dynamo 2. Canción Animal, 3. Signos, 4. Sueño Stereo, 5. Nada Personal, 6. Soda Stereo, 7. Doble Vida, 8. El Ultimo Concierto
22. 🇲🇽🎸🪘El Tri Legendary Mexican Rock & Roll band lead by Alex Lora. The group has sold more than 30 million records in its career and has had five nominations for the Grammy Award. 1. 40 años Vol. 1 &2, 2. En Vivo en la Cárcel de Santa Martha, 3. Sinfónico 1,2,3
23. 🇦🇷🎸🪘Los Fabulosos Cadillacs Argentinean band who mixed punk, ska, and South American sounds. 1. Los Fabulosos Calaveras, 2. Rey Azúcar, 3. El Satánico Dr. Cadillac, 4. El León, 5. Yo Te Avisé!!, Bares y Fondas, El Ritmo Mundial, La Marcha del Golazo Solitario, Chau, Hola, Obras Cumbres, La Salvación de Solo y Juan
24. 🇲🇽🎸🪘Maldita Vecindad y Los Hijos del Quinto Patio Mexican musical group, formed in Mexico City in 1985 that fuses rhythms such as rock, ska, reggae, punk and traditional influences of Mexican music such as danzón and bolero. Comprising vocalist Roco, guitarists El Pato and Sax, bassist Aldo, and drummer Pacho. 1. El Circo, 2. Maldita Vecindad y Los Hijos del Quinto Patio
25. 🇬🇧🎸New Order Seminal British alternative act, formed from the ashes of Joy Division, that transitioned from moody rock to extroverted dance. 1. Movement, 2. Power Corruption and Lies 3. Low-Life
26. 🇬🇧🎸Oasis Enduringly popular Manchester rockers who stood at the vanguard of the Brit-pop movement. 1. Definitely Maybe, 2. (What's the Story) Morning Glory, 3. Be Here Now, 4. Dig Out Your Soul
🆕26. 🇺🇸🎸Cows Minneapolis punk agitators take rawness of their influences to extremes. 1. Daddy Has a Tail, 2. Cunning Stunts, 3. Sorry in Pig Minor
27. 🇬🇧🎸Coldplay Earnest alternative pop group whose sweet melodies and swooning lyrics made them one of the biggest bands of the new millennium. 1. X&Y, 2. A Rush of Blood to the Head, 3. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, 4. Parachutes (Coloratura)
28. 🇲🇽🎸🪘Fobia Mexican alternative pop/rock pioneer Fobia made their debut with the release of a self-titled album in 1990, featuring "Microbito," the band's first hit. 1. Fobia, 2. Mundo Feliz, 3. Leche, 4. Amor Chiquito, 5. Rosa Venus
29. 🇺🇸🎸Interpol Enduring post-punk revivalists updating the moody sounds of Joy Division, the Chameleons, and the Smiths for the 21st century. 1. Turn on the Bright Lights, 2. Antics, 3. Marauder, 4. Our Love to Admire, 5. Interpol, 6. El Pintor, 7. The Other Side of Make-Believe
30. 🇺🇸🎸The Black Keys Intense Akron, Ohio blues-soaked duo that began by overwhelming indie rock critics and quickly moved to arena audiences. 1. Rubber Factory, 2. Thickfreakness, 3. Brothers, 4. Attack & Release, 5. El Camino, 6. The Big Come Up, 7. Magic Potion, 8. Turn Blue, 9. Delta Kream, 10. Dropout Boogie
31. 🇬🇧🎸The Sisters of Mercy Goth rock's prime mover of the 1980s, with a vision sustained by singer Andrew Eldritch and his love of psychedelia, metal, and dance. 1. Floodland Collection, 2. First and Last and Always Collection
32. 🇦🇺🎸Tame Impala Australian indie rockers who channel crunchy '60s psych, trippy pop and modern electronics to deliver a much in-demand sound. 1, Lonerism, 2. Innerspeaker, 3. Currents, 4. The Slow Rush
33. 🇺🇸🎸The Strokes New York City band that ushered in a new era of indie rock in the 2000s, with spiky guitars, chugging backbeats, and self-assured songwriting. 1. Is This It, 2. Room on Fire
34. 🇨🇦🎸Arcade Fire Montreal indie rockers who topped charts and won awards with their intense, anthemic, multi-layered vision of alternative rock. 1. Funeral, 2. The Suburbs, 3. Neon Bible, 4. Reflektor
35. 🇲🇽🎸🪘Café Tacvba At the forefront of the Rock en Español movement, the band mixes rock, punk, electronics, and the occasional traditional Mexican flavoring. 1. Café Tacvba, 2. Re, 3. Cuatro Caminos, 4. Jen Beibi, 5. El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco
36. 🇲🇽🎸🪘Maná Latin rock stars from Mexico who are one of the best-selling recording and touring acts in Latin music history. 1. Falta Amor, 2. ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños?, 3. Sueños Líquidos
Great Alternative/Indie Rock Albums, Compilations & Songs
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By artists who are not necessary at my top of my book but round pretty well my Alternative/Indie Rock musical taste. Sorted in no particular order.
🇺🇸🎸Toxicity by System Of A Down. Armenian-American alt-metal band that topped charts without diluting their politically charged messages.
🇬🇧🎸Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols by Sex Pistols. Outspoken, outrageous, and groundbreaking band who put British punk on the map and made it a global phenomenon.
🇬🇧🎸The Best of James by James. Long-running Manchester alternative pop band with reflective, intellectual lyrics and winning melodies.
🇺🇸🎸Grave Dancers Union by Soul Asylum. Long-running Minneapolis-based pop/punk/rock band and longtime cult favorites who found mainstream success in the '90s.
🇺🇸🎸Blind Melon by Blind Melon. Neo-hippie alternative rockers from Mississippi best known for the 1992 hit "No Rain" and lead singer Shannon Hoon's fatal overdose.
🇺🇸🎸Thank You by Stone Temple Pilots. Multi-platinum hard rockers who brought grunge to the stadium crowd, thanks to Dean DeLeo's guitar talents and the melodic flair of Scott Weiland.
🇬🇧🎸Should God Forget: A Retrospective by The Psychedelic Furs. New Wave icons whose regal sound grew out of Bowie-style art rock and gloomy post-punk to become unmistakably their own.
🇨🇱🎸🪘iCollection by La Ley. This all-male Chilean pop group has alternated between experimental and highly commercial.
🇺🇸🎸7even Year Itch: Collective Soul's Greatest Hits 1994-2001 by Collective Soul. Georgia-based post-grunge band that rode strong hooks to the charts in the '90s and beyond.
🇲🇽🎸🪘La Invasión de los Blatidos by Cuca. Mexican rock en español pioneers la Cuca enjoy cult status and a grassroots fan base that would make any major-label pop star green with envy.
🇲🇽🎸🪘¿Dónde Jugarán las Niñas? by Molotov. Mexican group creates witty rap-infused hard rock (en espanol), at times playful, at times politically charged.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Mucho Barato by Control Machete. Mexican Latin rap group Control Machete burst into the local rock and rap scene in the mid-'80s, making its debut with the release of Mucho Barato in July of 1997.
🇺🇸🎸The Collection by Alanis Morissette. Award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter who weaves alt-rock angst and pop sensibility on deeply poetic confessionals.
🇺🇸🎸🎚Bestie Boys Music & Anthology: The Sound of Science by Beastie Boys. A trio of punks turned sophomoric rappers, who then traded superstar status for increasingly adventurous and acclaimed hip-hop.
🇺🇸🎺Maggot Brain by Funkadelic. The alter ego of Parliament played hard rock and psychedelic funk, also tackling social issues from racial conflict to government corruption.
🇬🇧🎸The Very Best of Sting & The Police by Sting & The Police. British rock trio with an innovative rock/reggae fusion, superb songwriting, and crossover appeal that shot them straight to international stardom.
🇬🇧🎸Rule the World: The Greatest Hits by Tears for Fears. The most thoughtful and tuneful of any British synth pop group, with several international hits during the '80s.
🇬🇧🎸Greatest by Duran Duran. Fashion-forward synth pop group with lush arrangements and visual appeal that made them MTV favorites during the '80s.
🇬🇧🎸The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1 by Depeche Mode. English electronic pioneers who evolved from '80s pop roots into enduring international synth-rock icons.
🇪🇸Colección, 1985-1998 by Duncan Dhu. Pop-meets-rockabilly group Duncan Dhu were formed in San Sebastian in 1984 by musicians Mikel Erentxun, Diego Vasallo, and Juan Ramon Viles.
🇪🇸🎸1. La Cagaste... Burt Lancaster, 2. Hombres G by Hombres G. Quintessential Spanish pop band of the 1980s, famous for their catchy melodies and hilarious, deliberately juvenile lyrics.
🇪🇸🎸🪇Grandes Éxitos by Mecano. The top-selling Spanish pop act of the 1980s thanks to their pioneering, melodic brand of tecno-pop and Ana Torroja's delicate voice.
🇺🇸🎸Facelift by Alice In Chains. Giants of the '90s grunge scene who epitomized the heavy Seattle sound and distinguished themselves via their roots in uncompromising heavy metal.
🇲🇽🇦🇷🇪🇸🎸🪘Diez Años de Rock en tu Idioma by Various Artists. Homage to the “Rock en Español” movement from the 80s and 90s in Latin America.
🇺🇸🎸In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 by R.E.M. Trail-blazing college rock band from Athens, Georgia who were instrumental in bringing alternative rock into the mainstream in the '80s and '90s.
🇺🇸🎸Summers Kiss by Dashboard Confessional. Acoustic emo outfit fronted by singer/songwriter Chris Carrabba that broke into the mainstream in the 2000s.
🇺🇸🎸Rotten Apples: Greatest Hits by The Smashing Pumpkins. One of the biggest bands of the alternative era, who deftly mixed roaring rock with dark, insular alternative pop.
🇺🇸🎸Greatest Hits by Lenny Kravitz. Popular Hendrix-inspired guitarist and singer who kept the torch for classic rock burning bright into the new millennium.
🇺🇸🎸The Warriors Code by Dropkick Murphys. Rowdy, Boston-based punk band that combines traditional Irish music, British Oi!, and American hardcore.
🇦🇺🎸The Very Best by INXS. Australian rockers who reached the stratosphere by accentuating dance and funk, as well as the Jaggeresque sexuality of vocalist Michael Hutchence.
🇺🇸🎸The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1 by Dave Matthews Band. A vibrant multiracial band with a wide instrumental range, they shot to pop and alternative fame in the 1990s.
🇬🇧🎸Greatest Hits (The One & Only) by Billy Idol. British punk and pop icon of the '80s who first made his name with Generation X and later became one of MTV's leading hitmakers.
🇺🇸🎸 Greatest Hits, Greatest Misses by Devo. Ohio collective at the forefront of new wave with a style rooted in brainy, robotic synth pop.
🇺🇸🎸Spring Sessions M by Missing Persons. Californian new wave outfit formed by former Frank Zappa sessioneers and fronted by charismatic and influential vocalist Dale Bozzio.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Neón (Juegos de Amor, No hay Nada Eterno). Neon was a Mexican rock musical group formed in the mid-1980s, which were an important part of the underground movement of the Mexican capital and of that litter of groups that emerged after the 1985 earthquake.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Los Amantes de Lola (Mamá, Beber de Tu Sangre, María Rosario). Los Amantes de Lola is a Mexican rock and pop group from Mexico City. Considered one of the pillars of the resurgence of Mexican rock in the 1980s, of a unique style, they managed to capture the attention of thousands of followers throughout Mexico.
🇦🇷🎸🪘Miguel Mateos & Zas (Atado a un Sentimiento). Argentinean singer/songwriter Miguel Mateos became involved in the local music scene as leader of the band Cristal.
🇦🇷🎸🪘Los Encargados (Trátame Suavemente). Los Encargados was an Argentine techno-pop band, the first of its kind in the country. They combined the rigidity of techno with the melodies of Synth pop and originated as a trio of keyboards in early 1982, led by Daniel Melero.
🇪🇸🎸🪇Nacha Pop (Chica de Ayer, Vístete, Lucha de Gigantes). Nacha Pop was a Spanish Pop rock musical group of the 80s, formed in the middle of the then newborn Madrid movida. Antonio Vega and Nacho García Vega (guitars and vocals), Carlos Brooking (bass) and Ñete (drums) participated in his initial formation.
🇦🇷🎸🪘G.I.T (Es por Amor). G.I.T. (originally GIT, by the initials of its members: Guyot, Iturri and Toth) is a pop rock and new wave group originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, emerged in the early 1980s. The group was composed of Pablo Guyot (guitar and chorus), Willy Iturri (drums and vocals) and Alfredo Toth (bass and vocals).
🇲🇽🎸🪘La Vieja Inés (Cuando Lleguen las Lluvias). They were born in Mexico City in the mid-80's, first with the name of Romances de Mamá with which they would remain until 1992 when they took the definitive name "La Vieja Inés"
🇺🇸🎸Ugly Kid Joe (Cats in the Cradle, Everything About You). A fun-loving hard rock/funk/alt-metal group from Southern California.
🇲🇽🎸🪘La Lupita (Paquita Disco). Mexican experimental band La Lupita got involved in the local scene in the early-'90s, combining rock and traditional Latin music, performing ironic and sarcastic lyrics.
🇬🇧🎸The Verve (Bitter Sweet Symphony). Visionaries of atmospheric neo-psych who developed into anthemic alternative rockers with the massive success of 1997's "Bittersweet Symphony."
🇺🇸🎸Red Hot Chili Peppers (Under the Bridge). California alternative rockers who mixed biting guitars with funk rhythms to become superstars in the 1990s and beyond.
🇺🇸🎸4 Non Blonds (What’s up). 4 Non Blondes howled their way onto the charts in 1993 with "What's Up?" and then vanished without a whisper.
🇮🇪🎸The Cranberries (Dreams, Odd to my Family, Zombie). Irish alternative rockers who earned considerable chart success with the melancholy yet brassy vocals of Dolores O'Riordan.
🇺🇸🎸Counting Crows (Mr. Jones). Bay Area folk-rockers whose quirky nature made them alternative figureheads during the mid-'90s.
🇨🇦🎸Crash Test Dummies (Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm). Canadian alternative rockers with folk and blues influences, led by the deep, distinctive baritone vocals of Brad Roberts.
🇨🇦🎸Alanis Morissette (Uninvited). Award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter who weaves alt-rock angst and pop sensibility on deeply poetic confessionals.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Malvado (Fantasma). Solo project by Pablo Ulibarri, vocalist and founding member of Interpretors
🇲🇽🎸🪘Azul Violeta (Tu Luz). Azul Violeta was a Mexican rock music group formed in Guadalajara, Jalisco, towards the end of the 1980s.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Coda (Aún). Mexican Rock band led by the amazing voice of Salvador "Chava" Aguilar
🇦🇷🎸🪘Los Enanitos Verdes (Por el Resto, Guitarras Blancas, La Muralla Verde). Argentinian pop/rock band los Enanitos Verdes was formed in the late '70s by singer/bassist Marciano Cantero, guitarist Felipe Staiti, and drummer Daniel Piccolo.
🇪🇸🎸🪘Mikel Erentxun (A un Minuto de Ti). Spanish singer and writer. For two periods, the first from 1984 to 2001, and the second from 2013 to 2016, he served as the vocalist of the Spanish rock band, Duncan Dhu.
🇵🇦🎸🪘Océano (El Derramo Su Amor por Ti). Pop/Rock band from Panamá from early 80’s
🇺🇸🎸🪘Radio Kaos (Botas Negras). Radio Kaos is a rock band formed in Los Angeles, USA in 1992 by the brothers Claudio and David Pérez Quezada, who came from Chile, along with Julián Salas from Los Angeles (Bass), Ronnie Buder from Argentina (Drummer) and Tito Sánchez (Iván Sanx) from Mexico (Guitar).
🇦🇷🇪🇸🎸🪘Los Rodriguez (Sin Documentos). Los Rodríguez was a Spanish-Argentine rock music band founded in Madrid, formed by two Argentine musicians (Andrés Calamaro and Ariel Rot) and two Spaniards (Germán Vilella and Julián Infante), who developed their career in the 1990s.
🇪🇸🎸🪇Los Toreros Muertos (Yo no me Llamo Javier, Mi Agüita Amarilla). Spanish alternative rock band founded in 1984, is part of the counterculture movement known as the Madrid move in the aesthetics of punk, pop and rock.
🇦🇷🎸🪘Vilma Palma e Vampiros (Bye-Bye, La Pachanga). Argentine rock band founded on September 20, 1990 in the city of Rosario, Santa Fe by Mario "Pájaro" Gómez, Gerardo "Largo" Pugliani and Jorge Risso.
🇪🇸🎸🪇Veni Vidi Vici (Viviendo de Noche). Spanish rock/pop duet. His time at the top occurred in Spain, during the Movida Madrileña and in Mexico during the Rock en tu idioma movement.
🇦🇷🎸🪘Rata Blanca (La Leyenda del Hada y el Mago). Considered one of the most important and influential of hard rock and heavy metal in Spanish, although during their career they have also incorporated heavy riffs with melodic and harmonic structures of classical music.
🇲🇽🎸🪘El Gran Silencio (Déjenme Si Estoy Llorando (Chuntaro Style)). Mexican rock band in Spanish, originally from the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico founded in 1992, which fuses a variety of ska, rock, reggae, dancehall, rap and hip-hop with traditional Latin American music such as cumbia, vallenato and norteña.
🇦🇷🎸🪘Gustavo Cerati (Te Llevo Para Que Me Lleves). Singer/songwriter and pop experimentalist who rose to the top of Argentina's music scene, both in Soda Stereo and as a solo act.
🇺🇸🪘Delinquentes Habits (Tres Delinquentes). American Chicano rap and hip hop musical group, formed in 1991 in the city of Los Angeles.
🇦🇷🎸🪘Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas (Abarajame). Latin hardcore/rap Illya Kuryaki & the Valderramas was formed by ex-Pechugo Emmanuel Horvilleur and Argentine rock icon Luis Alberto Spinetta's son Dante Spinetta
🇨🇭🎸Double (The Captain of Her Heart). One of the few Swiss acts to achieve chart success in the United States, Double earned their place as a one-hit wonder when "The Captain of Her Heart" climbed into the Top 20 in late 1986.
🇺🇸🎬Adam Sandler (You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), Grow Old With You). American comedian, actor, and musician who starred on SNL before his late-'90s blockbuster breakthrough.
🇬🇧🎸The Outfield (All the Love in the World, Your Love). Melodic pop band from London, scored major 1986 hit with "Your Love."
🇬🇧🎸The Lightning Seeds (Pure). Breezy Liverpool indie-pop band who scored many hits while helping pave the way for twee.
🇮🇪🎸The Boomtown Rats (I Don't Like Mondays). Early Irish new wave group led by the visionary Bob Geldof, mixed punky energy with musical sophistication.
🇬🇧🎸Gary Numan (Cars). Founding father of synth pop whose constantly evolving form of dystopian electronic rock music has influenced countless alternative and dance acts.
🇺🇸🎸Nu Shooz (I Can't Wait). Genre-blurring married duo whose effervescent "I Can't Wait" became a number three pop hit in 1986.
🇺🇸🎸The Cars (Drive, Magic, Hello Again). Boston group that matched new wave energy to tight rhythms, with disembodied vocals and a surprising affection for '60s bubblegum.
🇬🇧🎸Bananarama (Cruel Summer). All-female, ska-influenced pop trio who frequently stormed the charts in the 1980s.
🇺🇸🎸Anything Box (Living In Oblivion). Formed in 1986 by Claude S. with two friends, Dania Morales and Paul Rijnders, the New Jersey trio Anything Box took their name from the title of a book of short stories.
🇬🇧🎸A Flock of Seagulls (Space Age Love Song, I Ran (So Far Away), The More You Live The More You Love). Best known for their early-'80s hits "I Ran" and "Wishing," this infectious new wave act endured on the nostalgia tour circuit for decades since.
🇩🇪🎸Nena (99 Red Balloons). Long-running German dance-rock performer best known for her international '80s hit "99 Luftballons."
🇬🇧🎸Pretenders (Stop Your Sobbing). Alternative rockers, led by Chrissie Hynde, whose melodic, intelligent sound straddled punk's rawness and the ear candy of new wave.
🇬🇧🎸Spandau Ballet (True). Leading figures of the 80s New Romantic movement, producing hits including their classic, ‘True.'
🇺🇸🎸Q Lazzarus (Goodbye Horses). Enigmatic powerhouse singer behind the cult classic "Goodbye Horses" whose full story was only told after her 2022 death.
🇬🇧🎸Pet Shop Boys (West End Girls, Domino Dancing). Inventive British duo who conquered commercial and critical terrain with an unerring flair for lush, dance-oriented pop.
🇩🇪🎸Alphaville (Big in Japan, Forever Young). German purveyors of brooding yet catchy synth pop, including a trio of international hits during 1984 led by "Big in Japan."
🇬🇧🎸Ultravox (Vienna). Latter-day art rockers under John Foxx, then a major pop success and new romantic influence as synth popsters under Midge Ure.
🇬🇧🎸When in Rome (The Promise). Manchester dance/New Wave trio best known for enduring 1989 hit "The Promise."
🇬🇧🎸Thompson Twins (Hold Me Now). British synthesizer act whose pop focus on songs like "Hold Me Now" helped achieve steady success on both sides of the Atlantic during the 1980s.
🇬🇧🎸Fatboy Slim (Praise You). Pioneer of the big beat movement who remains an in-demand DJ and producer of funky, melodic house tracks.
🇺🇸📟Moby (Extreme Ways, Porcelain). American producer, DJ, and singer/songwriter who ranks among the most important, successful, and outspoken figures in electronic music.
🇺🇸🎸Sublime (Santeria). Tuneful SoCal ska-punk trio whose self-titled 1996 album made them belated stars after the death of frontman Bradley Nowell.
🇺🇸🎸Green Day (When I Come Around, Basket Case). Snotty punk revivalists with multi-platinum sales during the mid-'90s, then critical respect (and more sales) for their rock opera American Idiot.
🇬🇧🎸Gorillaz (Clint Eastwood, 19-2000). Cartoon supergroup, led by Damon Albarn, who blend Brit-pop and hip-hop while featuring a revolving all-star cast.
🇺🇸🎸Papa Roach (Last Resort, Broken Home). Multi-platinum act with early punk and rap influences that grew into hook-driven hard rockers with heavy metal leanings.
🇺🇸🎸Soundgarden (Black Hole Sun). Grunge pioneers who took the heavy sludge of '70s metal and infused it with the raw aesthetic of '80s punk to become an important band of the '90s.
🇲🇽🎸🪘Kenny y Los Electricos (No Huyas de Mi). Mexican rock group formed in 1980 by singer Kenny Avilés, leader and vocalist, who is known as "the mother of Mexican rock."
🇦🇺🎸Empire of the Sun (Walking on a Dream, We Are the People). Award-winning electro-pop duo from Australia, featuring members of the Sleepy Jackson and Pnau.
🇺🇸🎸Remy Zero (Save Me). Birmingham, AL-based Remy Zero dared to be moody and poetic when most American alternative rock had become overly aggressive and juvenile.
🇺🇸🎸The Wallflowers (One Headline). Thoughtful, straightfoward rock band, fronted by Bob Dylan's son Jakob
🇺🇸🎸Train (Drops of Jupiter). Platinum rockers from the Bay Area who straddle the line between alternative rock and adult contemporary.
🇮🇪🎸Sinéad O’ Connor (Nothing Compares 2 U). Influential Irish singer/songwriter who tackled controversial subjects with a striking soprano and music spanning alt-pop, jazz, and reggae.
🇺🇸🎸Hootie & The Blowfish (Only Wanna be With You). South Carolina alternative band whose sunny, straightforward sound connected with '90s audiences weary of grunge's bleakness.
🇦🇺🎸Gotye (Somebody That I Used to Know). Australian electronic pop producer behind "Somebody That I Used to Know," a surprise global hit during 2012.
🇩🇪🎸Fool’s Garden (Lemon Tree). German pop group Fool's Garden formed in 1991, comprising singer Peter Freudenthaler, guitarist Volker Hinkel, bassist Thomas Mangold, keyboardist Roland Röhl and drummer Ralf Wochele.
🇬🇧🎸Franz Ferdinand (Take me Out). An inventive, dexterous Scottish band whose post-post-punk creations have made them indie stalwarts.
🇦🇹🎸🪇Falco (Rock me Amadeus). Wholly unique Austrian dance-pop star who gained international fame with "Der Kommissar" and "Rock Me Amadeus."
🇺🇸🎸Fun. (We Are Young). Sweet, joyful indie pop trio from New York who won Grammy Awards and number one hits during the early 2010s.
🇬🇧🎸Jesus Jones (Right Here, Right Now). London, UK based group that began in the late 1980s and quickly hit the mainstream with “Right Here, Right Now.”
🇺🇸🎸Live (Lightning Crashes). Pennsylvania-bred outfit who specialize in cathartic, often spiritual anthems that helped them become 1990s alternative rock staples.
🇺🇸🎸Michael Andrews & Gary Jules (Mad World). Guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his U.K. chart-topping version of Tears for Fears’ "Mad World."
🇦🇺🎸Midnight Oil (Beds are Burning). Politically astute Australian rockers who were inspirational and successful in their homeland since forming in the late '70s.
🇺🇸🎸Mr. Mister (Kyrie). L.A. session-man rockers who produced a pair of '80s number one hits, "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie."
🇬🇧🎸Peter Murphy (Cuts You Up). Former Bauhaus singer has had an eclectic and productive solo career.
🇺🇸🎸Pixies (Where Is My Mind). Influential indie icons who welded classic pop influences to jagged, roaring guitars and Black Francis' fragmented songwriting.
🇬🇧🎸Placebo (Pure Morning, Special K, Every You, Every Me, Nancy Boy). English alt-rock band who gained a cult following with their hook-filled glam-goth stylings and progressive aesthetic.
🇺🇸🎸Porno for Pyros (Pets). Perry Farrell's post-Jane's Addiction band, Porno for Pyros, followed the same path as his previous band, combining art rock, punk, heavy metal, and funk into one shrieking whole.
🇬🇧📟The Prodigy (Breathe). Fierce rave-into-hardcore collective that became one of the best-selling dance acts ever thanks to the incendiary "Firestarter."
🇩🇪🎸Propaganda (P: Machinery, Dr. Mabuse). German synth pop group heavily inspired by filmmaker Fritz Lang and writer J.G. Ballard.
🇩🇪🎸Sandra ((I'll Never Be) Maria Magdelena). German-born pop star who simultaneously built a fruitful solo career and acted as the voice for hits from new agey dance phenom Enigma.
🇺🇸🎸Wheatus (Teenage Dirtbag). Alt-rock group formed in the mid-'90s who scored big with their 2000 hit "Teenage Dirtbag."
🇪🇸🎸🪘La Unión (Lobo-Hombre en París). Spanish pop/rock band La Unión got involved in the local scene in the early '80s.
🇺🇸🎸Rage Against the Machine (Killing in the Name). Outspoken Los Angeles firebrands who blend rap, punk, funk, and metal with politically charged urgency.
🇺🇸🎸Iggy Pop (Gold). Punk godfather who began shocking in the late '60s, influencing and outlasting practically every punk movement to come.
Great Popular Music
Back to Ranking by Music Style
By artists who are not necessary at my top of my book but round well my musical taste. Sorted in no particular order.
🎸🎺🎤🪗 🪇🎙️🎬 📟Shark’s Great Popular Music Playlist
All the artists and albums listed in the Great Popular Music are included in the playlist.
Shark’s Great Popular Music Playlist Milestones:
2,000+ songs
50+ albums
30+ artists
6+ GB music stored
2+ days of continuous music
Music Styles & Offshoots Included: Country, Electronic, Folk, International, Reggae, Vocal, Stage & Screen, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Pop/Rock, R&B, Pop, Soul
Great Popular Artists, Albums, Compilations & Songs
Back to Ranking by Music Style
🇺🇸🎙️🎷🎬Frank Sinatra One of the towering figures of the 20th century, the first teen idol and the definitive saloon singer, the latter exemplified on a series of '50s concept albums. 1. Watertown, 2. Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely, 3. No One Cares, 4. September of My Years, 5. In the Wee Small Hours, 6. Songs for Swingin' Lovers! 7. A Swingin' Affair!, 8. Where Are You? 9. Come Fly With Me 10. Duets
🇺🇸🎸All-time Greatest Hits by Neil Diamond. A suave showman and versatile singer/songwriter who sold millions in every decade since the 1960s, penning American anthems along the way.
🇺🇸🎤🪕Living’ With the Blues and Sings Ballads and Blues by Odetta. A towering figure of folk revival and Civil Rights Movement, the African-American singer-songwriter provided voice for the voiceless.
🇺🇸🪗20 of Hank Williams' Greatest Hits by Hank Williams. In his short life, he became one of the musical giants of the 20th century, creating the sound and sensibility of modern country.
🇺🇸🪗Men in Black: The Best of Johnny Cash by Johnny Cash. Part rockabilly rebel, part campfire storyteller, part outlaw in black, his hearty baritone has remained the essence of country music.
🇬🇧🎺🎷Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. Acclaimed English neo-soul singer who gained fame with her distinctively jazzy vocals, rugged charm, and deeply personal songwriting.
🇬🇧🎺The Ultimate Collection by Sade. Stylish jazz, R&B, and pop synthesists whose six studio albums, from Diamond Life through Soldier of Love, have gone platinum in the U.K. and U.S.
🇺🇸🎸Tapestry by Carole King. Wove the multi-million-selling Tapestry, which marked the peak of the 1970s singer/songwriter movement, as well as her remarkably diverse career
🇺🇸🎺🪕🎸True Genius by Ray Charles. A brilliant, towering musical figure who through his singing and piano playing helped invent soul and R&B music.
🇺🇸🎺🎸Thriller by Michael Jackson. The biggest pop star of the '80s, and one of the most popular artists of all time, with a brilliant, soulful voice and breathtaking dance moves.
🇺🇸🎺Gold by Barry White. Long-time session producer who made himself a featured attraction in the '70s with salacious soul ballads and romantic disco hits.
🇩🇪📟Tell Me Why (The Riddle) [feat. Saint Etienne] by Paul van Dyk. Influential German trance producer who became one of the most popular DJs in the world.
🇪🇸🪈40 Annyversary & Chill Out Mix Vol I-VI by Café Del Mar. Café del Mar is a leading music lifestyle brand founded in Ibiza in 1980, which has been pioneering the chillout movement offering the most authentic sunset experience on the island.
🇺🇸🎺The Ultimate Collection & The Essential Gladys Knight and The Pipes: The Buddah & Columbia Years by Gladys Knight & The Pipes. Atlanta group with one of the most natural decades-long evolutions in R&B, thanks to their powerful, passionate leader.
🇫🇷🪇Karigan Time by Karigan. Karigan is a French drummer and producer with a passion for vintage instruments and music.
🇺🇸🎚Legend Of The Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits by Wu-Tang Clan. Sprawling group of hip-hop revolutionaries who brought to the rap mainstream their sparse, dark funk and bracingly violent martial-arts imagery.
🇺🇸🎚The Best of 2Pac, Pt. 1: Thug, The Best of 2Pac, Pt. 2: Life by 2 Pac. Singular, complex firebrand who quickly developed into one of rap's most versatile, fascinating, and successful artists before his 1996 death.
🇺🇸🎚N.W.A. Greatest Hits by N.W.A. Incendiary Compton rappers who introduced the world to gangsta rap and boasted a legendary lineup including Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.
🇺🇸🎚Ready to Die, Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G. A contender for best rapper of all time and a gifted East Coast storyteller whose gritty, objective realism won him enormous respect and credibility.
🇺🇸🎚Chronicles, The Chronic, 2001 by Dr. Dre. The chief architect of West Coast gangsta rap, a seminal record producer, and a legendary rapper.
🇺🇸🎚The Best of Snoop Dog by Snoop Dog. Hip-hop icon who boasts a distinctive, melodic drawl and a career that has spanned gangsta rap to R&B.
🇺🇸🎚Greatest Hits by Ice Cube. Crucial rapper whose career kicked into gear with gangsta legends N.W.A and continued through numerous platinum solo LPs including AmeriKKKA's Most Wanted.
🇺🇸🎚The Hits Collectioon by Jay Z. A multifaceted figure in rap, business, and pop culture, the New York icon is also the co-founder and chairman of Roc Nation.
🇺🇸🎺TP-2.com by R. Kelly. Grammy-winning, multi-platinum R&B singer, songwriter, and producer who scored his first major pop hit with "Bump N' Grind" (1994).
🇺🇸🎚The Score by Fugee. Hip-hop trio whose blend of pop, reggae, and soul with cerebral, spiritual rhymes stormed the nation in the late '90s.
🇺🇸🎸The Essential Cyndi Lauper by Cyndi Lauper. Musical and MTV sensation during the '80s with a colorful image and a bevy of hits, including the pop-feminist "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
🇬🇧🎸Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael by George Michael. A talented songwriter and performer with a distinctive, soft voice whose post-disco dance-pop made him a superstar in the 1980s and '90s.
🇺🇸🎸The Immaculate Collection by Madonna. The definitive singles artist of the video age and a pop icon, one of the most commercially successful artists in music history.
🇯🇲🪇Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers by Bob Marley & the Wailers. The reggae artist with the greatest impact in history, who introduced Jamaican music to the world and changed the face of global pop music.
🇺🇸🎸Paula Abdul (Straight Up). Choreographer turned dance-pop singer who achieved strong commercial success in the late '80s and early '90s.
🇺🇸🪗Kenny Rogers (Coward of the County). Suave Texan with a mellow, raspy voice who supplied his audience with well-crafted pop songs possessing country flavor.
🇺🇸🪗Willie Nelson (On the Road Again). Pioneer of the anti-establishment outlaw image, a country icon who wrote hundreds of songs and became a spectacular showman.
🇺🇸🎤Woody Guthrie (This is Land is Your Land). A colossal figure of America's folk heritage whose simple, lyrically powerful songs inspired generations, both musically and socially.
🇺🇸🎸Christopher Cross (Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)). Radio staple of the early '80s for his smooth pop hits "Ride Like the Wind," "Sailing," and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do).
🇸🇳🪇Youssou N'Dour (7 Seconds (feat. Neneh Cherry)). Senegalese-born exponent of the mbalax sound, which combines traditional Wolof music with Islamic and Cuban influences.
🇺🇸🎸Eric Carmen (All by Myself). Frontman for power pop heroes the Raspberries, and a solo star with a variety of classic pop styles.
🇬🇧🪇UB40 (Red Red Wine). British reggae band from the West Midlands who had several crossover hits in the 1980s and '90s with cover versions of '60s pop songs.
🇺🇸🎸Bird York (Have no Fear). Bird York (real name: Kathleen York), an actress, musician, and songwriter, is best known for her 2006 single "In the Deep," which was written for the 2004 film Crash.
🇺🇸🎸U.S.A. for Africa (We are the World). The biggest supergroup of the '80s, a constellation of stars who came together to record the charity single "We Are the World."
🇺🇸🎸Kim Carnes (Bette Davis Eyes). Gravel-voiced American singer and songwriter best-known for her classic 1981 hit "Bette Davis Eyes."
🇫🇷🎙️🎸🪇Jacques Brel (Ne me quitte pas). Legendary French songwriter whose theatrical, emotionally powerful songs gained an international audience.
🇺🇸🎸🎤Tracy Chapman (Fast Car). The most successful folk-based performer to emerge in the '80s, a multi-platinum singer/songwriter with an outstanding voice.
🇬🇧🎸📟Everything but the Girl (Missing). U.K. duo who released jazzy sophisti-pop throughout the 1980s before embracing dance music and achieving worldwide success during the '90s.
🇬🇧🎸Seal (Kiss from a Rose). Soulful British singer with a gospel tinge whose grand, orchestral aesthetic and magisterial voice made him a pop superstar.
🇺🇸🎬Crazy Heart (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Brand New Angel, The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)). The film features fictional country singer Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) and his musical journey.
🇺🇸🎬Kerris Dorsey (MoneyBall—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (The Show). It is an adaptation of the novel Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (2003), based on the true story of Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics team, who used advanced statistics to sign players.
Great Latin Music
Back to Ranking by Music Style
By artists who are not necessary at my top of my book but round well my musical taste. Sorted in no particular order.
🪘Shark’s Great Latin Music Playlist
All the artists and albums listed in the Great Latin Music are included in the playlist.
Shark’s Great Latin Music Playlist Milestones:
1,000+ songs
80+ albums
40+ artists
7+ GB music stored
2+ days of continuous music
Music Styles & Offshoots Included: International, Latin, Cuban Traditions, Mexican Traditions, Ranchera, Corridos, Norteña, Salsa, Latin Pop, New York Salsa, Trova
Great Latin Artists, Albums, Compilations & Songs
Back to Ranking by Music Style
🇲🇽🪘🪇Luis Miguel The Mexican Frank Sinatra and most successful pop singer in Latin America, who also sang ranchers and boleros surprisingly well. 1. Romance, 2. 20 años, 3. Segundo romance, 4. Aries, 5. Romances, 6. Busca una Mujer, 7. Soy como Quiero Ser, 8. Decídete, 9. El Concierto, 10. Palabra de Honor
🇲🇽🪘Musique du monde: Mexique - Sones Jarochos de Veracruz & La Negra Graciana Sones Jarochos con el Trío Silva by Graciana Silva Garcia. Coming from a family of musicians, from a very young age Graciana had contact with “Veracruzian” music. His father was a jaranero, his mother sang and improvised verses, his brother Pino Silva plays the jarana, the violin and sings (he was part of his group of musicians) and some of his uncles are also harpists.
🇲🇽🪘La Historia de un Ídolo, Vol. 1 & 2 by Vicente Fernández. Iconic figure in Mexican musical history, known as El Rey de la Música Ranchera.
🇲🇽🪘Grandes Éxitos by Martín Urieta. Iconic Mexican Composer of “Música Ranchera,” whose music fits very well at Cantinas.
🇲🇽🪘Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón by Alejandro Fernandez. Son of ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez known for his own successful recordings of traditional Mexican music and contemporary Latin pop.
🇲🇽🪘Intimamente; Songs: Pobre Diablo, La Chica de Humo by Emmanuel. Popular Mexican ballad singer who draws from R&B and gospel as well as Latin forms
🇲🇽🪘Las 100 Clásicas, Vol. 1&2 by José Alfredo Jiménez. The undisputed king of ranchera, and a national hero in Mexico.
🇲🇽🪘1. José José 25 Años, Vol. 1&2, 2. 20 Triunfadoras. Songs: Vamos a Darnos Tiempo, 40 y 20, Gotas de Fuego by José José. Popular and enduring Mexican vocalist whose repertoire encompassed rancheras, mariachis, boleros, bossas, pop, and rock.
🇲🇽🪘Grandes Éxitos con Tuba Acordeón y Guitarra Vol. 1&2 by Valentin Elizalde. Popular Mexican banda singer, son of Lalo "El Gallo" Elizalde
🇲🇽🪘En Concierto Vol 1 &2, Tú Última Canción, Mi vida eres Tú by Los Temerarios. Founded by the brothers Adolfo and Gustavo Ángel Alba in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, is an iconic romantic ballad group and Mexican regional music.
🇲🇽🪘Juan Gabriel:15 Años Baladas Éxitos & 15 Años de Éxitos Rancheros by Juan Gabriel. An immensely popular Mexican songwriter and performer who sold over 100 million albums.
🇲🇽🪘20 Éxitos Originales & Armando Manzanero: 20 Principales by Armando Manzanero. Former Mexico City music publisher whose greatest successes came from writing songs for other artists.
🇲🇽🪘Colección de Oro Vol 1,2,3 by Chalino Sánchez. He specialized in the genres of corrido, ranchera and Mexican regional. His recognition in the musical field gave him the honor of being nicknamed as the King of the Corrido.
🇪🇸🪇24 Páginas Inolvidables by Joan Manuel Serrat. Spanish singer, composer, actor, writer, poet and guitarist, awarded the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise "for his brilliant career and his contribution to Spanish culture.”
🇲🇽🪘Febrero 13, Vol. 1&2 (En Vivo) by Fernando Delgadillo. Mexican singer-songwriter of the trova genre or new song. Call his style "informal song."
🇵🇷🪘The Complete Studio Albums Vol. 1&2 by Héctor Lavoe. Puerto Rican vocalist who was among the first and most influential artists in salsa.
🇺🇸🪘Cuba L.A. Vol 1 &2 by Cuba L.A. Cuban jazz band based in Los Angeles, CA.
🇨🇺🪘The Last Mambo by Cachao López. In tandem with his multi-instrumentalist brother Orestes, bassist Israel "Cachao" López introduced to Cuban music the African rhythms that transformed the island's traditional danzón into what is now known as the mambo.
🇲🇽🪘Lo Esencial de Agustín Lara by Agustín Lara. Mexico's greatest songwriter, whose influence lasted long after his death in 1970.
🇲🇽🪘Corridos Felones: Serie 35, Corridos Rudos: Serie 35, Corridos Bravíos: Serie 35, Las Más Perdidas: Serie 35, (Caballeros del Camino) by Los Tucanes de Tijuana. Energizing norteño group from Sinaloa, formed by four cousins and wildly popular from Central America to the U.S.
🇲🇽🪘Antología Músical: Luis y Julian y El Viejo Paulino y Su Gente, Antología Musical, Antología Músical Vol. 1 by Luis y Julian. A prolific, legendary Mexican Regional music duo from Nuevo Leon who have sold millions of records and influenced three succeeding generations of artists.
🇲🇽🪘35 Aniversario Vol 1&2 by Los Bukis. Michoacán band, formed by Marco Antonio Solís, that began with traditional Mexican forms but later moved to Latin pop and rock songs.
🇲🇽🪘 Antología: El Poeta del Pueblo (5CDs) by Joan Sebastian. Prolific Mexican singer and songwriter who was an iconic figure in ranchera, grupera, and Latin Pop.
🇵🇦🪘Miguel Bosé (Aire No Soy, Salamandra). Panamanian singer and actor who became immensely popular despite his diverse styles, political stances, and unorthodox film roles.
🇪🇸🪘Enrique Iglesias (Por Amarte, Si tú te Vas). Son of the global superstar Julio Iglesias who's enjoyed virtually the same amount of success with his Latin-influenced pop.
🇨🇴🪘Shakira (Si Te Vas, Inevitable). Colombian singer and songwriter who achieved international crossover stardom with her bilingual pop anthems.
🇲🇽🪘Bobby Pulido (Desvelado). The son of longtime Tejano legend Roberto Pulido, Bobby Pulido combines the sound of Tejano with the country music he grew up listening to in Texas.
🇨🇴🎸🪘Carlos Vives (La Gota Fría). This hearty and alluring vocalist puts a sparkling sheen on the countryside musical traditions of his native Colombia.
🇮🇹🪇Gianluca Grignani (Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos). Italian pop star Gianluca Grignani was born in Milan in 1972. Raised by his mother and with the help of his uncle in learning to play the guitar, Grignani began writing songs in his room.
🇲🇽🪘Latins (Sigue Bailando). Mexican Pop Group famous for their One-Wonder “Sigue Bailando.”
🇲🇽🪘Cristian Castro (No Podrás, Azúl). Son of music royalty Verónica Castro, and the Latin pop star behind the '90s hits "Nunca Voy a Olvidarte" and "Mañana."
🇲🇽🪘Los Tigres Del Norte (La Camioneta Gris, Jefe de Jefes, Los Dos Plebes, La Banda del Carro Rojo, Pacas de a Kilo, Contrabando y Traición). Group of Mexican-American brothers who gained acclaim and sales to become the premier outfit in norteño.
🇲🇽🪘Bronco (Amigo Bronco, Dos Mujeres Un Camino). Nuevo León grupo whose modern take on norteño earned them international success.
🇲🇽🪘La Tropa Vallenata (Los Caminos de La Vida). Emerging in 1986 from Mexico's Monterrey, Nuevo Leon region, Tropa Vallenata were long at the forefront of the cumbia style.
🇲🇽🪘Climax (La Mesa Que Más Aplauda). Veracruz, Mexico Group who originally performed in a table dance singing “La Mesa Que Más Aplauda” which surprisingly went viral.
🇵🇷🪘Ricky Martin (Vuelve, Livin’ La Vida Loca). The former Menudo teen star who returned in the 1990s with a mature Latin dance-rock sound that helped him soar to superstardom.
🇲🇽🪘Flans (20 Millas). Popular '80s Mexican female dance-pop trio known for its exuberant, synth-based sound.
🇲🇽🪘Timbiriche (No Seas Tan Cruel Conmigo, Mírame, Con Todos Menos Conmigo, Besos De Ceniza, No Sé Si Es Amor, Quinceañera, Princesa Tibetana, Ámame Hasta Con Los Dientes, Tú Y Yo Somos Uno Mismo, Soy un Desastre, Hoy Tengo Miedo De Decirte Papá, Somos Amigos, Mamá, México). Prototypical Mexican teen pop band of the 1980s that was the launching pad for future stars such as Paulina Rubio, Thalía, Sasha, and Edith Márquez.
🇪🇸🎸Alejandro Sanz (Mi Soledad y Yo). A charismatic guitarist and songwriter whose hits of the 1990s and 2000s made him the most popular Spanish performer ever.
Playlists
Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist
Unfortunately, while there's no limit to the number of songs you can include in playlists on Apple Music, public playlists over 15,000 songs can't be published and visualized by other users other than the author (due technical issues). As you might noticed at the Milestones section, my Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist is over 47,000 songs at this point (11/2025) and will likely keep growing. In order to recreate it do the following:
I assembled playlists of each God and each ranking by music style, which are below 15,000 songs, so... 1. Add those playlists to your library. 2. Create a new playlist and name it "Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist." 3. Add the playlists into the "Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist" you created. 4. Voilà! You have recreated my Shark's Ultimate Music Research Playlist. You'll find the links of each playlist below.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you face troubles doing this.
Gods' Playlists
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎹 🎺🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of Frank Zappa
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎹 🎷🎻🎬🪇Playlist of the Official Discography of John Zorn
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of Miles Davis
🇺🇸🦈🎻🎹 🎷Playlist of the Official Discography of Anthony Braxton
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of Sun Ra
🇬🇧🦈🎷🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of John Surman
🇺🇸🦈🎷Playlist of the Official Discography of McCoy Tyner
🇺🇸🦈🎷🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of John Coltrane
🇬🇧🦈🎸Playlist of the Official Discography of King Crimson
🇺🇸🦈🎸🎷🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of Buckethead
🇬🇧🦈🎸📟🎻Playlist of the Official Discography of The Legendary Pink Dots & Edward Ka-Spel
Playlists by Ranking
🎸🎻🎹Shark’s Experimental/Art Rock Playlist
🎷🎻Shark’s Jazz/Fusion Playlist
🎸🪕🎤🪗 Shark’s Metal/ Hard Rock Playlist
🎸Shark's Alternative/Indie Rock Playlist
🎸🎺🎤🪗 🪇🎙️🎬 📟Shark’s Great Popular Music Playlist
🪘Shark’s Great Latin Music Playlist
... way more about to come. Stay tuned!