89. Trans Europe Express - Kraftwerk
Tangerine Dream are great, and I can dig Can but I find them overrated. I'm generally not a big Krautrock fan, but naturally I have to dig the most poppy of the Krautrockers. I just love the sound of them moogs, and the musical arangements here are so good. This obviously makes a great companion piece for David Bowie's Low. Both of these albums remind me a lot of the soundtracks to the first two Sonic the Hedgehog games for some reason.
Favorite tracks: Europe Endless, Hall of Mirrors, Showroom Dummies, Trans Europe Express.
88. In a Bar, Under the Sea - dEUs
One of the most underrated bands around. This band is so remarkably talented and diverse. There's a bit of everything on this record, indie, prog, jazz, folk. If Big Star, Charles Mingus and Captain Beefheart had a baby, it would probably sound like this. The lead singer has a very odd voice, which I didn't quite like at first but now I do. This band makes such a smooth transition between one style to another, but the ballads are my favorites, love that guitar on Wake Me Up Before I Sleep.
Favorite tracks: Theme From Turnpike, Nine Threads, Disappointed in the Sun, Wake Me Up Before I Sleep.
87. Closer - Joy Division
Unknown Pleasures is great too, but I greatly prefer this one because the mood of it all just suits Ian Curtis's deep baritone a lot better. There's not anything I can say about this album that hasn't been said before. I love the darkness of this album. It's saddening to hear how Ian's friends didn't express much concern over this album because they didn't think he meant it, he obviously did.
Favorite tracks: Twenty Four Hours, Atrocity Exhibition, Colony, Isolation.
86. Funcrusher Plus - Company Flow
Eminem is not the best white rapper alive, you can only do so many raps about your mommy issues until it gets goddamn repetitive. EL-P is my kind of rapper, his lyrics invoke imagery of science fiction and surrealism. And the beats here are so miminalistic yet awesome, it has a very futuristic sound and feel to it. It seems a lot of the best rap nowadays is of the geeky variation, I'm sure Company Flow deserve some credit for that trend.
Favorite tracks: Definitive, Krazy Kings, Last Good Sleep, Legends.