No one will ever hold a candle to The Beatles, but not all albums are created equal. This 1966 masterpiece really transitioned the band out of pop stardom and into

respectable rock musicians, and marked the beginning of the psychedelic movement. 

When they weren't writing rock operas, The Who were playing power-rock so elegant you could call it orchestral. Who's Next hardly has a weak track, and offers many of the

band's most recognized singles.

David Bowie, alien genius chameleon, released this seminal concept album in the early 1970's. Its glam rock genius is riddled with social commentary on sexual identity, marking it just as important today

as it was at its release. There will most definitely never be another Bowie.

The fourth of Led Zeppelin's untitled albums is heavily influenced by J. R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings, and takes on a mystic quality unmatched by any other hard

rock band of its era. From delicate acoustics to the darkest of layers, Led Zeppelin IV soars and keeps its listeners finding new details decades on.

Maybe save this one for a breakup, but its poetry will haunt you until your next relationship takes flight. Now a (deserving) Nobel Prize winner, Bob Dylan describes heartbreak in

terms only a true troubadour could develop.

Self-titled albums seem to find a sweet spot on this list, and rightly so. These proto-punks were the Beats after the Beats stopped writing. Artsy, weird, strung out, and angry,

The Velvet Underground is nothing short of sincere in its madness.

This live album gave a mainstream voice to the art kids who knew they were cooler than their peers. Stop Making Sense has inspired dance parties year after year, with

their disco punk soul inspiring most modern-day electronic.

1969 was a pivotal year for rock culture, as The Rolling Stones' Altamont festival saw the end of hippie daydreams as we knew it. Let It Bleed offers the best

of old Stones blues with their more-developed electricity, and soundtracks the difficulties of the Vietnam war with its highlight Gimme Shelter.

The sad story told on Wish You Were Here touches on lost friendships, painful addictions, and the throes of mental illness. This beautiful album offers a heartfelt glimpse into the

personal story of the band, a rarity for Pink Floyd.

Let your freak flag fly, Zappa fans. This jazz-rock-symphony-lounge Frankenstein of an album is nothing short of a work of art. It may take a few listens to really understand

all that is going on, but that time investment is so worth the glimpse into Zappa's immaculate madness.

Janis Joplin: Queen of the outcasts, voice of pained womankind, goddess of feather boas. From failed relationships to the excitement of new love, Cheap Thrills rides its emotions brutally bare, and

haunts its listener through each minute in the most organic way.

The Doors' debut album does not offer a label-crafted image of the Southern California outfit. The standard Pop singles that are expected of a first album are not found here,

and if you are not versed in your Greek Mythology, you are in for a crash-course in Classics. Soft and sweet, dark and terrifying at times, The Doors refuses to

sacrifice the band's training in literature and film for a chance on the Top 10, and this dedication served them well.