Toys in the AtticArtist: Aerosmith
Community Score: 7.91
After nearly getting off the ground with Get Your Wings, Aerosmith finally perfected their mix of Stonesy raunch and Zeppelin-esque riffing with their third album, Toys in the Attic. The success of the album derives from a combination of an increased sense of songwriting skills and purpose. Not only does Joe Perry turn out indelible riffs like...
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The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!Artist: The Dictators
In 1975, when punk rock and heavy metal were two opposing camps who barely who acknowledged each other's existence, The Dictators' first album, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!, found New York's finest trying to bring both sides together in a brave, prescient, and (at least at the time) futile gesture. The band's "smart guys who like dumb stuff"...
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Slow MotionArtist: Man
Rhinos, Winos and LunaticsArtist: Man
An excellent set of material energized by the return of the pleasingly abrasive vocals of Deke Leonard; it charted nearly as well as Back Into the Future, and its tighter composition means that in many ways it's held up better over the years. The second half may be the band's artistic high point -- bookended by the pomp-wah instrumentals,...
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Artist: Golden Earring
DegüelloArtist: ZZ Top
Community Score: 9.38
ZZ Top returned after an extended layoff in late 1979 with Degüello, their best album since 1973's Tres Hombres. During their time off, ZZ Top didn't change much -- hell, their sound never really changed during their entire career -- but it did harden, in a way. The grooves became harder, sleeker, and their off-kilter sensibility and humor began...
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Live and DangerousArtist: Thin Lizzy
Community Score: 6.40
Along with Kiss' Alive, the Who's Live at Leeds, and the Rolling Stones' Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out, Thin Lizzy's 1978 double album, Live and Dangerous, is one of the greatest live rock albums of all time. The band wisely hooked up with producer Tony Visconti, again, and although it's become known in later years that the tracks included extensive...
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Queens of NoiseArtist: The Runaways
Community Score: 9.50
The Runaways didn't compromise a bit on their outstanding sophomore effort, Queens of Noise. Melodic yet tough and aggressive, this is hard rock that pulls no punches either musically or lyrically. Classics like "Neon Angels (On the Road to Ruin)," "Take It or Leave It" and "I Love Playing With Fire" wouldn't have been shocking coming from...
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Lust for LifeArtist: Iggy Pop
Community Score: 9.50
On The Idiot, Iggy Pop looked deep inside himself, trying to figure out how his life and his art had gone wrong in the past. But on Lust for Life, released less than a year later, Iggy decided it was time to kick up his heels, as he traded in the mid-tempo introspection of his first album and began rocking hard again. Musically, Lust for Life is...
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Little QueenArtist: Heart
Community Score: 8.70
After acquiring a substantial following with Dreamboat Annie, Heart solidified its niche in the hard rock and arena rock worlds with the equally impressive Little Queen. Once again, loud-and-proud, Led Zeppelin-influenced hard rock was the thing that brought Heart the most attention. But while "Barracuda" and "Kick It Out" are the type of sweaty...
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Rock & Roll OutlawsArtist: Foghat
Community Score: 9.00
After establishing a new level of credibility on record with 1974's Energized, Foghat cranked out another album of boogie rock before the year ended. The result, Rock and Roll Outlaws, is not as consistently inspired as its predecessor but remains a worthwhile listen for the group's fans. This time out, the group settles for a more...
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Crazy Moon - BONUS TRACKSArtist: Crazy Horse
The 1997 Australian re-release of the Crazy Horse album Crazy Moon is quite a find for fans of the band, as well as for admirers of Neil Young. Although this isn't a Neil Young album per se, it's just as inspired and similar sounding as such '70s Neil Young & Crazy Horse classics as Zuma and Rust Never Sleeps. Although the songwriting and the...
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No ExitArtist: Angel City