Gems
Artist: Aerosmith
Community Score: 7.55

With 1987's Permanent Vacation successfully restoring Aerosmith's reputation as one of hard rock's finest, Columbia Records (their first record company) decided the time was right to issue a follow-up of sorts to their 1980 compilation, Greatest Hits. The result, 1988's Gems, features almost all the tracks that were missing from the first... Read More

The Collection
Artist: Uriah Heep

Over an hour of most of the better tracks -- and certainly most of the best known tracks -- by Uriah Heep, with a strong emphasis on their early-70s repertory, when they could scarcely make a wrong move. The sound is excellent and the order of the material is ideal, starting with their most successful rockers ("Love Machine," "Easy Livin'" etc.)... Read More

The Best of the Rest
Artist: UFO

The title of this compilation may as well have been "No Schenker," as it collects the best (or least worst, as it were) moments of UFO's mostly lackluster career sans the mad axe-man. Sad but true, for try as he might, vocalist Phil Mogg never quite duplicated the volatile but thrilling chemistry he enjoyed with Schenker with any other guitarist... Read More

Presto
Artist: Rush
Community Score: 8.03

After being slagged off for the electronic ambience of its predecessor releases such as 1985's Power Windows and 1984's Grace Under Pressure, Rush bounces back with their 13th release, Presto. Yet again the prog-rock trio proves that their tight guitar work and lyrical originality is not long lost or overlooked in an attempt to secure the latest... Read More

Second Heat
Artist: Racer X
Community Score: 10.00

Racer X's debut album, Street Lethal, established the band as little more than a vehicle for guitarist Paul Gilbert's virtuosic neo-metal soloing style. For its sophomore release, Second Heat, Racer X ups the intensity of its already terrifying instrumental attack by adding second guitarist Bruce Bouillet to the fold, thereby enabling some of... Read More

Kingdom Come
Artist: Kingdom Come
Community Score: 5.00

It contains the hit single "Get It On." ~ Dan Heilman, All Music Guide Read More

Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Artist: King's X
Community Score: 8.00

It seemed inconceivable that Houston's King's X would ever top the brilliance and originality of their debut, but 1989's Gretchen Goes to Nebraska did just that, taking their unique sound to unprecedented heights of invention and inspiration. With its interweaving vocals, ominous bass riff, and sitar flourishes, the dark "Out of the Silent... Read More

Greg Howe
Artist: Greg Howe
Community Score: 10.00

During the mid- to late '80s, talent scout and Shrapnel Records owner Mike Varney was the ultimate source for new high-tech guitar virtuosos in the post-Yngwie Malmsteen era (Malmsteen was also one of his finds). Among the dozens of young guns who emerged from Varney's stable, Greg Howe was one of the best. His debut album, Greg Howe, was... Read More

Dangerous Toys
Artist: Dangerous Toys
Community Score: 9.00

With their self-titled debut album, Dangerous Toys found themselves in regular rotation on MTV. At the time their Southern rock-influenced metal was noticeably different from the hair metal dominating MTV's Headbangers Ball. The album contains such memorable, and somewhat laughable tracks as "Take Me Drunk," "Feels Like a Hammer," "Sportin' a... Read More

A Change of Seasons
Artist: Dream Theater
Community Score: 7.65

A Change of Seasons is a strange disc. There are only five tracks but with a total time that approaches an hour anyway. The first track, the 23-minute, seven-part epic "A Change of Seasons," is one of the most impressive pieces of music ever written in the progressive metal vein. With the same heavy sound that marked Awake, but with many other... Read More