Rock
Noah’s Barks pages related to the rock music genre. Combine with other tags for subgenres, e.g. “alternative+rock,” “noise+rock,” and “indie+rock.”
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Cheap Trick – “Cheap Trick”
The debut, self-album by Cheap Trick is a fantastic power pop album brimming with smooth melodies, catchy choruses, perfect-key harmonies and perverse fun. Whether it’s the stomping chant-a-long “ELO Kiddies,” the punk roar of “He’s a Whore,” or the dreamy ballad “Mandocello,” all these qualities consistently shine through this eclectic album. For all of the… (read more)
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David Bowie – “Hunky Dory”
Ho-hum! I love David Bowie. He’s a fantastic artist. Yet, no matter how many spins I give Hunky Dory, I just can’t get into it. I’m not quite sure what it is about it. I think I find the sound of it not as exciting or eclectic as some of his other albums. Hunky Dory… (read more)
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My Bloody Valentine – “Isn’t Anything”
After years of small EPs, My Bloody Valentine release their first album and come out incredibly strong—if cold as ice. (read more)
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The Smiths – “The Queen Is Dead” (1986)
Catchy jangling guitars, fantastic lyrics and delivery, and the very understated yet very fantastic additional string sections make The Queen Is Dead as pleasant to listen to as it is touching. People who defend “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” being the closing track are off their rockers. “There Is a Light That Never Goes… (read more)
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Sex Pistols – “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” (1977)
The Sex Pistols were a mostly manufactured band designed by their manager Malcolm McLaren to capitalize on the burgeoning punk movement. As such, he dictated their image, names, and attitude to create both the embodiment of punk yet, at the same time, the antithesis of punk. With so much of the Sex Pistols image being… (read more)
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Sonic Youth – “Daydream Nation” (1988)
The youthful energy pervading much of Sonic Youth’s music spoke a lot to me in my early adulthood. Detached, rebellious, and a yearning to express some kind of stronger emotion that you’re not yet quite sure of. The noise sections have a reckless abandonment to them, but also seem calculated, fitting in with the songs… (read more)
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Queen – “A Night at the Opera”
The Beatles were the first band to show me how fun and enjoyable music can be. Queen were the band that showed me what music could be, and that’s demonstrated in full force on A Night at the Opera. Queen were powerful. Not only because of the self-evidence of their own name, but because they… (read more)
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Wipers – “Youth of America” (1981)
The murky production on Youth of America is amazing—dark and hollow. Perhaps the perfect halfway point between punk and post-punk music. The music is still aggressive, it’s just that the textures contain it, allowing that energy to echo in its confinement and build up greater impact. Of course, it would be wrong of me to… (read more)
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Arctic Monkeys – “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”
Arctic Monkeys’ debut album is a second-coming of britpop featuring none other than comedy legend Adam Sandler. (read more)
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Nirvana – “Nevermind” (1991)
Nevermind‘s praise is definitely deserved, as it contains some of the greatest pop/rock songwriting ever put to record. Any song here could be a single (except for the possible exception of the mellower “Polly”). Even better, the songs are backed by the authentic and relatable emotions of the depressed and alienated frontman and songwriter, Kurt… (read more)