Top 200 Albums of All Time: Public Enemy

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back: Public Enemy (1988)
It Takes a Nation of Millions is one of the most influential hip hop/rap albums ever recorded. The album not only included social and political critiques, but was complimented for its production, which is crucial for this genre. It is the highest ranked hip hop album on Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Key Tracks:
Bring the Noise
Don’t Believe the Hype

Top 200 Albums of All Time: "N" artists

Nevermind: Nirvana (1991)
Few albums had the type of impact that Nevermind experienced. Nirvana shocked the music world when the album unseated Michael Jackson atop the music charts. Nevermind brought alternative music to the mainstream and wiped out the music scene of the time. Grunge took over for a few years before burning out. Rolling Stone summed it up best, "No album in recent history had such an overpowering impact on a generation—a nation of teens suddenly turned punk—and such a catastrophic effect on its main creator."

Key Tracks:

Smells Like Teen Spirit
Come As You Are
Lithium
In Bloom

In Utero: Nirvana (1993)

Nirvana tried to move away from their sound in Nevermind. As a result, they created a grittier, dirtier, rawer record. Perhaps nothing demonstrates the difference between the two albums than their covers. Nevermind featured a baby. In Utero featured an angel with its musculature exposed.

Key Tracks:

Heart-Shaped Box
Rape Me
Pennyroyal Tea

MTV Unplugged in New York: Nirvana (1994)

Nirvana released Unplugged in New York nearly seven months following Kurt Cobain’s suicide. The album demonstrated the band’s range as they moved away from so-called Grunge music. Additionally, it appeared as though Cobain was acting as though the record and accompanying video were a farewell.

Key Tracks:

About a Girl
The Man Who Sold the World
Lake of Fire
All Apologies
Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Ready to Die: Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

Biggie’s semi-autobiographical album focuses on his days as a criminal.

Key Tracks:

Juicy
Big Poppa
One More Chance

Straight Outta Compton: NWA (1988)

NWA changed the direction of rap and hip-hop. The lyrics spoke of the gangsta lifestyle and influenced the genre for a number of years afterward. It was a dramatic departure for the musical style, which boasted MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

Key Tracks:
Straight Outta Compton
Gangsta Gangsta
Express Yourself
Fuck tha Police

Top 200 Albums of All Time: "E"

Here are the artists starting with "E"

Eagles: The Eagles (1972)


The Eagles debuted put the country back into rock music. Despite the laid back nature, the band was driven. They eventually became one of the most influential acts in history. On a side note, the album was supposed to be Quadraphonic, but was never released as such.

Key Tracks:

Take It Easy
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Witchy Woman

Hotel California: The Eagles (1976)

Pete Townsend compared the seventies to Sodom and Gomorrah. Hotel California investigates the excesses within American life. It appeared America had descended into materialism and decadence in the years following the Vietnam War. It is a window into the “Fall of Rome.”

Key Tracks:

Hotel California
Life In The Fast Lane
New Kid In Town
Victim of Love

The Marshall Mathers LP: Eminem (2000)

Hip Hop appeared to be on the decline until Eminem. It had devolved into plastic pop music much in the same way rock music did a decade earlier. Eminem gave the genre back its edge. The Slim Shady LP put Detroit’s Eminem on the map, but The Marshall Mathers LP made him a superstar. On this album, Eminem is more introspective. Marshall is viewed without Slim Shady.

Key Tracks:
Stan
The Way I Am
The Real Slim Shady

Top 200 Albums of All Time: Artists starting with "D"

Machine Head: Deep Purple (1972)

Machine Head heavily influenced metal. Although not a metal record, it is best defined as proto-metal. “Highway Star” is considered an early speed metal tune. “Smoke on the Water” contains one of the greatest riffs in music history and recounts a fire at a casino in which Frank Zappa was performing. Music fans that worship early Zeppelin and Sabbath should include Machine Head in their canon.

Key Tracks:

Smoke on the Water
Space Truckin’
Highway Star

Pyromania: Def Leppard (1983)

Def Leppard made the leap to the big leagues with Pyromania. The album successfully bridged the gap between popular music, metal, and rock. Def Leppard partially recorded the album with Pete Willis. The band fired the guitarist for overindulging in alcohol. His replacement, Phil Collen, fit perfectly with the band and passed his audition with a blazing solo on “Photograph.” After reaching the pinnacle, Def Leppard underwent a series of trials before returning to dominate the charts.

Key Tracks:

Photograph
Foolin’
Rock of Ages
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
Die Hard the Hunter

Hysteria: Def Leppard (1987)

Pyromania transformed Def Leppard into superstars. On December 31, 1984, drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in an auto accident. He retrained himself on the drums and returned to the band. After production delays, bloated expenses, and a change in producers, the group finally released Hysteria. At the time, it was the longest rock album ever recorded. The work reached #1 everywhere and went diamond with over 12 million copies sold. The success did not occur until the band released “Pour Some Sugar On Me” as a single. Once that hit the street and appeared on radio, the album exploded.

Key Tracks:

Animal
Love Bites
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Armageddon It
Hysteria
Gods of War

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs: Derek and the Dominoes (1970)

Some consider Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs Eric Clapton’s greatest achievement. Clapton experienced the super group dynamic with Cream and Blind Faith and wanted out. In order to avoid hype, Clapton toured small clubs under an assumed name. After the tour, Derek and the Dominoes recorded the legendary album in a Miami studio. Derek and the Dominoes was an ensemble act consisting of Eric Clapton, keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, drummer Jim Gordon, bassist Carl Radle, and the great Duane Allman. The album’s best known work, “Layla” recounts Clapton’s anguish over George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd. On a side note, Boyd also influenced The Beatles’ “Something” meaning she influenced two of rock’s greatest songs.

Key Tracks:

Bell Bottom Blues
Tell The Truth
Layla

Brothers in Arms: Dire Straits (1985)

Brothers in Arms was one of the first albums directed toward the CD market. Digitally recorded, the album became the first CD to outsell its LP format and to sell over a million copies. Dire Straits really created two albums. The first portion was classic Dire Straits arena based classic rock. The second half was subdued and folksy. The video for “Money For Nothing” is one of the most played in MTV history and aided in the albums success.

Key Tracks:

So Far Away
Money For Nothing
Walk of Life
Brothers in Arms

The Doors: The Doors (1967)

The Doors debut album not only introduced the band, but came to define it. “Break on Through” is the band’s call to expand the boundaries of existence. “Back Door Man” and “Alabama Song” are both covers, but seem to be biographical depictions of Jim Morrison. “The End” explores Morrison’s Oedipal complex. “Light My Fire” broke the band and became its signature song. With so much variety and vitality on the album, The Doors became a greatest hits album.

Key Tracks:

Break On Thru (To The Other Side)
Light My Fire
The End
Alabama Song

The Chronic: Dr. Dre (1992)

Dr. Dre broke away from NWA and went solo. His solo debut’s title references street slang for marijuana. The G-funk sound revolutionized gangsta rap for the next few years. He included Funkadelic beats, live instruments, and soul making slower, mellower music. Instead of calling for revolution or a party, Dre provided a middle ground.

Key Tracks:

Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang
Fuck wit Dre Day
Let Me Ride

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan (1963)

Bob Dylan’s first album only included two original songs. His second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, contained eleven. The album is catalogue of early sixties folk classics. The album is an account of the period with reports on civil rights, nuclear warfare, and modern anxiety. The album made Dylan “Spokesman of a Generation” which he resented.

Key Tracks:

Blowin’ In The Wind
Masters of War
A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

Bringing It All Back Home: Bob Dylan (1965)

Dylan tired of being the pied piper and revolted. He expanded beyond folk music alienating fans. The album is split in two with electric and acoustic sides. The folk scene despised the electric. Dylan responded with “Maggie’s Farm” which basically told them where to go. He even avoided protest songs.

Key Tracks:

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Maggie’s Farm
Mr. Tambourine Man

Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan (1965)

Unlike Bringing It All Back Home which was half electric and half acoustic, Dylan stayed plugged in for Highway 61 Revisited. The one exception was “Desolation Row” which is about some carnies accused of rape. The album features many Dylan concert standards including his signature song “Like a Rolling Stone.” The album’s name derives from Highway 61 which tied Minnesota to America’s great music cities of St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans.

Key Tracks:

Like A Rolling Stone
Tombstone Blues
Desolation Row

Blonde on Blonde: Bob Dylan (1966)

Most double albums should not be double albums. Blonde on Blonde is an exception to the rule. Dylan expands his examination of rock and blues music. The album marked an end of an era. After its release, Dylan crashed his motorcycle and changed his musical approach.

Key Tracks:

Rainy Day Women #12 and 35
Just Like A Woman
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

Blood on the Tracks: Bob Dylan (1975)

Blood on the Tracks rejuvenated both fans and critics who questioned Dylan's recent work. Although he denies it, the album appears autobiographical. Dylan was going through a troubled period in his personal life. He claims that most of the songs were inspired by Anton Chekhov. On the other hand, Dylan admitted “Tangled Up In Blue” was based in part on his experiences. Either way, the artist has a hard time understanding why fans love an album so filled with someone’s pain.

Key Tracks:

Tangled Up In Blue
Shelter From The Storm
If You See Her, Say Hello

Greatest 200 Albums of All Time: Artists Beginning with B

This is the first of three posts with Artists starting with B. The Beatles will get their own post.

Music from the Big Pink: The Band (1968)

The Band backed Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour. In 1968, they released their own work. They combined country, folk, rock, soul, and R&B and created their own distinctive style. The album’s title comes from a pink home they shared in upstate New York. “The Weight” received widespread play and acclaim after its appearance in the movie Easy Rider. The Band’s laid back style influenced Eric Clapton to change his own style and leave Cream. Other major acts were comparably influenced.

Key Tracks:

The Weight
Tears of Rage
Long Black Veil
I Shall Be Released
Chest Fever

The Band: The Band (1969)

The eponymous album, often referred to as “The Brown Album” contains most of The Band’s best known works. The Band hoped to capture an Americana feel with the album which countered the modernity and chaos of 1969. It brilliantly captured an older era. Interestingly, one of the best southern rock songs of all time was written by Canadian Robbie Robertson.

Key Tracks:
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Up On Cripple Creek
King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
Jawbone

Pet Sounds: The Beach Boys (1966)

Band leader Brian Wilson stopped touring and concentrated on writing and recording. This freed Wilson to experiment with various sounds, unconventional instruments, and various musical forms. Wilson was especially determined to one up the Beatles Rubber Soul. Competition bred success and Wilson’s work is often cited as the greatest album in history.

Key Tracks:

Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Caroline, No

Licensed To Ill: The Beastie Boys (1986)

The Beastie Boys proved white boys could rap. Licensed To Ill was the first rap album to chart in the Top 200 and was the fastest selling debut album up to that point. The album was powered by the rock parody “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)” with Kerry King of Slayer on guitar. The album contained other classic tracks which demonstrated the Beasties talent and proved they were not a Vanilla Ice or Snow.

Key Tracks:

(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)
No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Paul Revere
Brass Monkey

Ill Communication: Beastie Boys (1994)

The Beastie Boys scored their second #1 album with Ill Communication. The album was supported with a classic video for “Sabotage” placing the band in a 70s style cop show. “Sabotage later appeared in 2009’s Star Trek. The album became a soundtrack for summer 1994.

Key Tracks:
Sabotage
Sure Shot
Get It Together

Truth: Jeff Beck (1968)

Jeff Beck began as a session guitarist in the early sixties. In 1965, he replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds. After being tossed out of the group, Beck formed his own band. The Jeff Beck Group released Truth in 1968. He had recorded before, but this was his first full length album. Truth is regarded as one of the first heavy metal albums and included guest appearances by Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Keith Moon.

Key Tracks:

Beck’s Bolero
I Ain’t Superstitious
You Shook Me
Shapes of Things

Beck-Ola (Cosa Nostra): Jeff Beck (1969)

The Jeff Beck Group broke up four months after releasing Beck-Ola. The album included several blues-rocks works and some covers of Elvis Presley hits. Rod Stewart provided vocals with Ron Wood on bass. The album ends with the listener wanting more as “Rice Pudding” ends in the middle of the song.

Key Tracks:

Rice Pudding
Jailhouse Rock
All Shook Up

Saturday Night Fever: The Bee Gees (1977)

The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack sold 15 millions copies making it the best-selling soundtrack of all time. It was later surpassed by The Bodyguard. The album became a lifestyle and helped breath new life into the waning disco scene. After the movie and album, disco peaked and became a phenomenon. Even Ethel Merman was doing disco! To learn about late 1970s culture, there is no better place to start than this film and its soundtrack.

Key Tracks:

Stayin’ Alive
How Deep Is Your Love
Night Fever
More Than a Woman
Jive Talkin’
You Should Be Dancing

Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath (1970)

Ozzie Osbourne figured that since people spent money to see horror movies, they might spend money to listen to horror music. Black Sabbath went into the studio and recorded the seven songs making up their debut album in a single day. It was perhaps the first true heavy metal record. Black Sabbath included nightmare themes, the supernatural, and even Satan. The critics hated it in 1970, but now consider it a classic.

Key Tracks:

Black Sabbath
N.I.B.
Evil Woman

Paranoid: Black Sabbath (1970)

Sabbath returned to the studio four months after releasing their self titled debut album. The band lacked enough material for a new album and Tony Iommi’s fiddling in the studio led to the title track. The work contains some of Sabbath’s best known songs and is considered their greatest work.

Key Tracks:

War Pigs
Iron Man
Paranoid

The 10 Greatest Albums of the 80s

Not in any particular order...

Thriller- Michael Jackson (1982): It's now fashionable to claim Off the Wall was better, but those folks are on crack. This was a monster that opened doors for black artists and changed pop music. Today's hip hop, pop, and rap are all influenced by Thriller. No Thriller, no Hip Hop and today's pop is different.

Purple Rain- Prince (1984): For a time, people asked "Michael Jackson or Prince?"

The Joshua Tree- U2 (1987): U2 went in a totally different direction than everyone else in the mainstream with Joshua Tree. It was a rejection of plastic modern society and is probably more relevant today than in 1987.

Raising Hell- Run DMC (1986): Rap comes to the suburbs. Blondie introduced it to white America, Grandmaster Flash brought the streets to MTV, but Run DMC brought Hip Hop to the forefront and legitimized it. Although MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice made it mainstream, Run DMC became the first to explode onto the scene.

Appetite for Destruction- GnR (1987): Like U2, Guns n Roses took popular music in a radical direction in 1987. Unlike U2's examination of America and modern materialism, GnR took a darker approach and examined the underworld in a way no had since Exile on Mainstreet.

Back in Black- AC/DC (1980): AC/DC somehow survived the death of Bon Scott and turned that loss into one of the greatest tribute albums ever.

Born in the USA- Bruce (1984): Just about every song on this album became a hit. Bruce became a phenomenon and the embodiment of America. No one bothered to listen to the lyrics of the title track...

Murmur- REM (1983): While pop music was heading in multiple directions during the eighties including hair metal, new wave, hip hop, and some groups which defied categorization (Huey Lewis was played on rock stations that would follow Heart of Rock n Roll with Led Zeppelin), R.E.M. ushered in the alternative movement. Murmur represented an attempt to get back to basics and bring fresh rock n roll back to an audience.

London Calling- The Clash (1980): The west appeared on the verge of utter collapse in the late seventies. High unemployment, stagnant economies, and disheartened populations wanted to go to the disco. London Calling reflects the postwar apocalypse that hit during the seventies. Despite the coming ice age and sun zooming in, the album ends on an uplifting note with "Train in Vain."

Synchronicity- The Police (1983): Synchronicity made the Police the biggest band in the world. The album and its songs was omnipresent from summer of 1983 and into 1984. "Every Breath You Take" is one of the songs that defined the eighties.

Albums of the 90s

Here are the top 10 albums of the 1990s. Basically based on impact. Interestingly, six of the ten came out in 1991 or 1992. They are not listed in any particular order. These are not necessarily my favorite albums. Too lazy to do write-ups...if questions, ask or look it up...

Nevermind- Nirvana (1991)

Ten-Pearl Jam (1991)

Ok Computer- Radiohead (1997)

Automatic for the People- REM (1992)

Actung Baby- U2 (1991)

The Chronic- Dr. Dre (1992)

Metallica- Metallica (1991)

Jagged Little Pill- Alanis Morrisette (1995)

Unplugged- Nirvana (1994)

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)- And then she went crazy...

Most Liberal Songs of All Time

American Idiot- Green Day: The song is about the brain dead public going along with the Iraq War.

Beds Are Burning- Midnight Oil: Beds Are Burning is more Euro-focused. Essentially, the West raped and pillaged the third world and now it is time to make amends.

Fight the Power- Public Enemy: The title could lend itself to any ideology. However, this is geared toward militant revolution. The power is society itself and that needs a fundamental transformation.

Fortunate Son- Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son is the best of the Vietnam Era anti-war songs. The song tells the story of a man that is not fortunate enough to be born into wealth and privilege and thus can not escape the draft. The song was resurrected during the Iraq War as many tried to paint Bush as the fortunate son.

Fuck the Police- NWA: The title says it all.

Imagine - John Lennon: Lennon’s masterpiece is generally considered a left wing anthem. Although, Lennon was a leftist agitator at times, the song itself ponders a world where everyone can get along. What strikes many as uber-liberal is Lennon’s imagining no religion and no countries. To some, this smacked of Marxist Revolution.

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday- Carole King: The Monkeys made this famous. The song is about conformity and modern life. It’s about how the American dream can become the American nightmare. Instead of enjoying life, people have to keep up with the Joneses and maintain status.

Sleep Now In The Fire- Rage Against The Machine: Rage takes on capitalism, religion, history, genocide, and imperialism. Michael Moore directed the video filmed at Wall Street. The band’s ideology is simple and the song’s understanding of history is clearly lacking. On the other hand, the riff is as good as it gets.

This Land is Your Land- Woody Guthrie: This is the 1930s version of “spread the wealth around.”

War Pigs- Black Sabbath: The song originally was going to be about the witches’ sabbath. However, the band changed the term “Walpurgis” to War Pigs and an anti-war song was born. The song re-emerged during the last decade as some radio stations decided to protest the Iraq

Rock Countdown Recap 51-100

51. The Yardbirds
52. George Harrison
53. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
54. Billy Joel
55. Paul McCartney
56. Paul Simon
57. CSNY
58. REM
59. Radiohead
60. Prince

61. The Sex Pistols
62. Aerosmith
63. Pearl Jam
64. Guns n Roses
65. Sly and the Family Stone
66. Bob Marley
67. Sam Cooke
68. The Grateful Dead
69. Wilson Pickett
70. Jeff Beck

71. Steely Dan
72. CCR
73. Blondie
74. Ozzy Osbourne
75. Rush
76. Bill Haley and The Comets
77. The Animals
78. Fats Domino
79. Dion
80. Genesis

81. Bon Jovi
82. Carlos Santana
83. ZZ Top
84. The Mamas and the Papas
85. Lynyrd Skynrd
86. Allman Brothers Band
87. Dire Straits
88. Judas Priest
89. Coldplay
90. Green Day

91. KISS
92. Smashing Pumpkins
93. Rage Against The Machine
94. Soundgarden
95. Motley Crue
96. Def Leppard
97. Weezer
98. Tool
99. Foo Fighters
100. Ringo

#73 Blondie

Blondie has sold over 50 million albums. Originally, Debbie Harry was in a folk group. She met Chris Stein and they formed Blondie. The band’s repertoire was so eclectic, they were compared to The Who. Blondie incorporated Punk, New Wave, Disco, Reggae, Rap, and other musical forms into their work. They eventually hit the big time and Debbie Harry became bigger than the band itself. In the early 80s, Chris Stein suffered a rare fatal disease and Blondie disbanded. Stein somehow recovered. They were highly influential (Madonna, Shirley Manson) and reconstituted in the late 90s and hit #1 in the UK with “Maria.” In 2006, they scored a top 10 hit in the US with “Rapture Riders” (with the Doors). They were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and still tour.

Rock n Roll Moment: There were some issues during their induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Two former members wished to play during the induction, but Debbie refused as she had the current lineup ready to go. (awkward!)

Essential Blondie:
Blondie (1976)
Parallel Lines (1978)

Blondie’s Top 10:
Call Me
One Way or Another
Rapture
Dreaming
Heart of Glass
Maria
Atomic
Rip Her To Shreds
The Tide Is High
Island of Lost Souls

2009 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

Here are the 2009 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Inductees...

Interestingly, it's the fifth year in a row where the Hall inducts five acts. This weird fact combined with all the rumors about ballot fixing makes one wonder if some acts have actually been elected, but passed over for whatever reason...


Jeff Beck - One of Rock’s greatest guitarists. He ranked #14 in Rolling Stone’s list of Greatest Guitarists. He played in the Yardbirds and later formed the Jeff Beck Group. His style incorporated blues, rock, metal, and even jazz. He played on Jon Bon Jovi’s solo hit “Blaze of Glory” in 1990. Beck should have been inducted years ago.

Little Anthony & the Imperials - This group goes back to the 1950s and is just now being inducted. Their biggest hit was “Tears on my Pillow” in 1958. They were a doo-wop group, but incorporated R&B and Soul as the times changed. Recently, they appeared on Letterman pushing their latest album.

Metallica - This one is a no-brainer. Metallica was a reaction to the LA Hair Metal scene. They pioneered thrash and speed metal and began to experience mainstream success by the late 80s. In 1991, they became superstars with their “Black” album. They continued to experience success throughout the 90s as a mainstream rock act. In the early 2000s, they released “St. Anger.” It sucked. On top of this, their movie, ‘Some Kind of Monster” made them look like a group of teenage school girls. They also waged a war on Napster which further eroded their popularity. In 2008, they returned to their roots with Death Magnetic and appear to be back on top.

Run-D.M.C. - Having a rap act in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is like having a football star in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but here we are. Run DMC is the most important rap act of all time. Rolling Stone placed them at #48 on the list of most important acts of all time. They built on the work of acts like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa and were stars by the mid-80s. They began the rap-rock thing with their cover of “Walk This Way” in 1986. This propelled them to superstardom.

Bobby Womack - Womack began as Sam Cooke’s guitarist. He wrote The Rolling Stones’ hit “It’s All Over Now.” Womack’s an R&B artist, but he has also done funk, soul, and blues. His music has appeared in Jackie Brown, Meet The Parents, American Gangster, and has been covered recently by Kelly Rowland.

Rock n Roll Recap: #81-100

The Rock Countdown will continue shortly...however, here's a quick reminder of where we were...


81. Bon Jovi
82. Carlos Santana
83. ZZ Top
84. The Mamas and the Papas
85. Lynyrd Skynrd
86. Allman Brothers Band
87. Dire Straits
88. Judas Priest
89. Coldplay
90. Green Day

91. KISS
92. Smashing Pumpkins
93. Rage Against The Machine
94. Soundgarden
95. Motley Crue
96. Def Leppard
97. Weezer
98. Tool
99. Foo Fighters
100. Ringo

Greatest 1990s Music Artists

Top 10 Musical Acts of the 1990s (Arranged Alphabetically):
Criteria: Success and Acclaim
Dr. Dre: From NWA to the Chronic, Dre was a pioneer of gangster rap. His 1992 album, The Chronic, is a rap classic.
Metallica: Most early 90s music was a reaction to the crap-a-rama that was hair metal. Metallica led the charge by staying true to metal. They hit it big in the late 80s with "One" and then hit the mega-league with the "Black" album featuring "Enter Sandman." Despite the haircuts, they remained popular throughout the decade experimenting with different styles including symphonic.
Nirvana: They were the meteor that destroyed the dinosaurs. In a firestorm, they reworked the entire music scene. Kurt Cobain could not handle success and Nirvana died with him. The music scene he ushered in died shortly thereafter as music execs wanted more pliable artists and younger audiences wanted bubble gum music.
Pearl Jam: This is a band that would have been successful at any time during the rock era. Despite being labeled alternative, they really are nothing more than a classic rock band.
Radiohead: The most non-commercial monster band ever. Their fans are fanatical and their music is unique. They are also one of the most fan friendly bands around as they recently allowed fans to pick their price for the download of their latest album.
R.E.M.: They created alternative music. The 90s alt revolution began with "Losing My Religion." Their follow up, "Automatic for the People" was decidedly dark and non-commercial. The next album was a guitar driven "Monster." After three huge albums and a mega recording contract, they decided to experiment and their record sales tanked.
Smashing Pumpkins: Like Pearl Jam, the Pumpkins are a band inspired by classic rock. Instead of The Who, they wanted to be like Pink Floyd. Their albums got exceedingly bigger before the decline of the record industry hit them. They broke up and have since gotten back together.
Soundgarden: They began as a metal band and morphed into a classic rock band. Chris Cornell is probably the best vocalist of the period. When they dissolved in 1997, it seemed like the end of an era. Rock was on the way out and Britney Spears was on the way in.
2Pac: The son of a Black Panther and street poet. 2Pac has a Elvis like following amongst some people. His untimely death created a symbol.. He was another casualty of the street.
U2: Like I'd have a list without U2...they redefined themselves in the 90s. They went from pretentious rock stars to pretentious rock stars embracing rock stardom. Everything got bigger for a band that was already the biggest in the world. They redefined their image and their music and then went about redefining the world.
Honorable mentions:
Alice in Chains: Very talented band that kids probably don't remember.Arrested Development: A great example of early 90s creativity.Beck: I always thought he was strange.Garbage: Shirley Manson defined what a 90s woman should be like.Green Day: Not really a punk band, but had a lot of catchy hooks. They'd hit their peak in the 00s.Guns n Roses: What could have been...Nine Inch Nails: After Cobain, Trent Reznor was proclaimed spokesman of the 90s generation.Rage Against the Machine: They amuse me.Red Hot Chili Peppers: They fell into the Aerosmith slow song ballad trap.Tool: The Prog Rock kings of the decade.

Greatest 1980s Artists

Here are the Greatest Artists of the 80s. This is based on critical claim, sales, and importance. Artists are alphabetical.
The Top 10
Phil Collins: Phil was EVERYWHERE during the 80's. From the groundbreaking use of "black music" on Face Value through his campaign for the homeless in the late 80's, Phill was the man.
Def Leppard: They had two albums that sold over 10 million copies.
Guns n Roses: While everyone else was looking like Dark Maine of the X Games and putting out really bad hair metal, GnR reinvigorated rock with Appetite for Destruction and actually put the first nail in the coffin for the 1980s.
Michael Jackson: If Jacko does not get on MTV and moonwalk,then hip hop and rap never break into the mainstream. He opened the door for black artists during that period.
Madonna: Her music was/is very thin, but she was/is a marketing genius.
The Police: Had they stayed together, they would have been the biggest band of the decade.
Prince: Clapton said everyone else should just give up because Prince was so talented.
Run DMC: They were the prototype for Public Enemy. They bridged the gap between Grandmaster Flash and Enemy. Their collaboration with Aerosmith blew open the door for rap and hip hop and was an early example of rap/rock.
Bruce Springsteen: The River, Nebraska, Born in the USA, Tunnel of Love, and Live 1975-1985
U2: U2 developed from a New Wave curiousity to a popular rock band to the biggest band in the universe over the course of 8 or 9 years. Their progress was steady and unrelenting. At decade's end, they were burnt. In early 90s Berlin, they re-emerged to once again become the biggest band in the universe.
Honorable Mention
AC/DC: They became bigger after they lost their lead singer to rock n roll excess.
Duran Duran: Great music videos, good looks, and catchy hooks
Genesis: Phil's other project (he was everywhere)
Billy Joel: We may never be free of Billy Joel.
Judas Priest: The Godfather's of metal. They created the look based on gay fashion.
Tom Petty: Steady hit producer and great songwriter.
Public Enemy: They set the stage for the Rap Revolution that was coming. While Run DMC, Vanilla Ice and Hammer opened the door to rap to mainstream audiences, Public Enemy opened the door to the next generation of rappers that included Tupac, Biggie, and the like.
R.E.M.: Created Alternative Rock and broke it into the mainstream.
Talking Heads: Same as it ever was....
Van Halen: They became more popular after dumping their popular lead singer and face of the group!