I know for me personally, it has been very difficult to keep myself occupied aside from my schoolwork and the several mental breakdowns from the stress of getting a degree and an adequate job. However, listening to music for hours and hours has always been my emotional outlet because if I’m lucky, I can discover a song that gives me goosebumps and uses words I’m unable to explain myself. Recently, social media platforms have started asking individuals to release their favorite albums to listen to all the way through, so I decided to create my own. These albums cover a wide variety of music, so if you are like me and enjoy practically anything, but are also really picky, you should give these records a listen, obviously in order.
- Harry Styles, Fine Line (2019)
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In his sophomore album, Styles strays from his boy-band days and even the style his hopeful, self-titled first album. An album that he now recognizes has flaws (although I see none) due to what he describes as going out of his comfort zone. I think it is safe to say that Fine Line has accomplished just that. From the background vocals in “Golden” that open the album to the symphonic arrangement of instruments in the closing track “Fine Line”, you can feel his emotion and embark on the story that he tells throughout the record. If I have not convinced you to check this one out, Styles’ role model, Stevie Nicks compared it to her own, Rumours (which is featured later).
An Underrated Track: “To Be So Lonely”
- The Strokes, Room on Fire (2003)
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While Is This It (2001) is an absolute masterpiece that includes hit tracks like “Last Nite” and “Someday,” I personally prefer its twin, Room on Fire. Every song on this record sounds very similar to the next, however, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because every song is immediately catchy. 10/10 recommend blasting this and head-banging in the car at night with your closest music fanatics.
An Underrated Track: “Under Control” and “The End Has No End”
- Lorde, Melodrama (2017)
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It seems like there is a common theme with artists and their sophomore albums. They’re a huge hit. The same goes for Lorde’s Melodrama that somehow manages to cover so many emotions in just a few songs and sparks my inner synesthesia with every colorful track. This album is an emotional and beautiful piece of work, which discusses what it is like growing up and being a woman.
An Underrated Track: “Writer in the Dark” and “Hard Feelings/Loveless”
- Lana Del Rey, Norman F*cking Rockwell (2019)
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I could probably start my day every morning with the title track “Norman F*cking Rockwell” and “Mariners Apartment Complex” and never get bored of the absolutely amazing musicality and honest lyrics. In the title track, she pokes fun at the men in her life with the lyrics “Why wait for the best, when I could have you?” but later completely opens herself up in that track along with several others such as the raw “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have—but I have it.”
An Underrated Track: “Cinnamon Girl” and “Love song”
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
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If you ask any devoted Chili Peppers fan, they should tell you that Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the pivotal album in the band’s history. Because it is. After band member Hillel Slovak’s death, we are introduced to the magic that is John Frusciante. Thanks to producer Rick Rubin, we are exposed to the energizing guitar riffs and continued psychedelic funk of the Chili Peppers.
An Underrated Track: “Funky Monks” and “Sir Psycho Sexy”
- Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977)
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The worst thing about band members dating one another? The breakups and heartbreak. But the best thing about band members dating one another? The amazing music made out of the mended and broken relationships, which is the entire beauty behind Rumours. The hatred and emotion between band members is felt through the electrifying music that has been created in songs like “The Chain,” resulting in topping out at number 8 on the best-selling albums chart.
An Underrated Track: “Silver Springs”