Classic Friday Music Meme

Top 5 On Friday - Week 202
From The Music Memoirs

Top 5 albums from classic rock artists.

» Moving Pictures by Rush

The definitive Rush album. Moving Pictures produced the band's only real radio hit, the ubiquitous "Tom Sawyer". And of the album's seven tracks, five of the remaining six are arguably better songs than that one. Intriguing lyrics, exquisite musicianship, and the group's complex and distinct sound make this one a must-have.

» Boston by Boston

1976 was a great year in music, featuring The Eagles' Hotel California, Kansas' Leftoverture, and Rush's 2112, among others. And Boston's debut album is as good as any of them. "More Than a Feeling", "Long Time", "Peace of Mind", "Rock & Roll Band"—everybody knows these songs. There's a good reason. The only thing more fun than listening to this album is trying to play it on Rock Band.

» Point of Know Return by Kansas

And speaking of Kansas, I had to include one of their albums in this list. While the aforementioned Leftoverture is the album that made the band famous, this one is probably my favorite. It represents the group at their best, with inspired songwriting by Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh and tight playing by everyone. This sound would start to slip away after this album, and they'd never really reclaim it until 2000's Somewhere to Elsewhere.

» Chicago II by Chicago

Forget the David Foster-driven adult contemporary stuff they put out in the 80's and 90's. In their original incarnation, Chicago was a rock band with serious jazz and progressive influences. The fact that their first two studio releases (this one and Chicago Transit Authority) were both double albums is remarkable. The fact that this one includes not one but two extended song suites will probably come as a surprise to those who only know the Peter Cetera/Jason Scheff-era Chicago. Give it a listen. You'll like it.

» Phoenix by Asia

While the group's self-titled debut album is one of the great albums in rock, their most recent one is too good not to mention here. Featuring the original foursome together for the first time since 1983, this album has the classic Asia sound with a fresh sense of urgency and perspective. It's powerful and accessible while retaining a progressive sound. Highlights include "Never Again", "Parallel Worlds", "Orchard of Mines", and "Wish I'd Known All Along". For my money, this is the best album of 2008.