Top 10 Most Important Albums in Rock History

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[Music] [Applause]

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[Applause] [Music]

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[Music] timeless music and innovative concepts

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top

be counting down our picks for the top

be counting down our picks for the top 10 most important albums in rock history

[Music]

[Music] for this list we’re looking at rock

for this list we’re looking at rock

for this list we’re looking at rock albums that changed the face of music

albums that changed the face of music

albums that changed the face of music and influenced the world from beginning

and influenced the world from beginning

and influenced the world from beginning to end since we’re focusing specifically

to end since we’re focusing specifically

to end since we’re focusing specifically on innovative albums we have excluded

on innovative albums we have excluded

on innovative albums we have excluded Elvis Chuck Berry Buddy Holly and Robert

Elvis Chuck Berry Buddy Holly and Robert

Elvis Chuck Berry Buddy Holly and Robert Johnson as they were more known for

Johnson as they were more known for

Johnson as they were more known for their singles rather than their albums

[Music]

[Music] number 10 Ok Computer Radiohead

[Music]

[Music] just as Britpop slowly drifted away and

just as Britpop slowly drifted away and

just as Britpop slowly drifted away and the digital age opened the door to a

the digital age opened the door to a

the digital age opened the door to a brave new world Radiohead released an

brave new world Radiohead released an

brave new world Radiohead released an album that explored the themes of fear

album that explored the themes of fear

album that explored the themes of fear melancholy and insanity

melancholy and insanity

melancholy and insanity [Music]

while critics have praised the technical

while critics have praised the technical aspects of okay computer the visceral

aspects of okay computer the visceral

aspects of okay computer the visceral experience affected those anticipating a

experience affected those anticipating a

experience affected those anticipating a new way of life and others who simply

new way of life and others who simply

new way of life and others who simply needed something to identify with

call it what you want Radiohead’s iconic

call it what you want Radiohead’s iconic album along with their 2000 follow up

album along with their 2000 follow up

album along with their 2000 follow up kid a waved goodbye to the 20th century

kid a waved goodbye to the 20th century

kid a waved goodbye to the 20th century and ushered in a new style that would

and ushered in a new style that would

and ushered in a new style that would transform alternative rock

number nine

number nine London Calling The Clash

London Calling The Clash

London Calling The Clash [Music]

down in the mid to late 70s punk rock

down in the mid to late 70s punk rock was on fire

was on fire

was on fire partially due to the release of The

partially due to the release of The

partially due to the release of The Ramones self-titled album in 1976

although that album was seen as a staple

although that album was seen as a staple of punk rock it was The Clash’s London

of punk rock it was The Clash’s London

of punk rock it was The Clash’s London Calling that would have a greater

Calling that would have a greater

Calling that would have a greater influence on the genre

incorporating countless reggae rock and

incorporating countless reggae rock and jazz influences along with socially

jazz influences along with socially

jazz influences along with socially conscious lyrics

conscious lyrics

conscious lyrics London Calling acknowledged the shift

London Calling acknowledged the shift

London Calling acknowledged the shift from rebellion to a post-punk awakening

to top it all off the immensely popular

to top it all off the immensely popular album cover put a stamp on the package

album cover put a stamp on the package

album cover put a stamp on the package as the clash launched to the US to

as the clash launched to the US to

as the clash launched to the US to spread their message an eclectic sound

if glam rock was still cool in the 90s

if glam rock was still cool in the 90s it was only because this early grunge

it was only because this early grunge

it was only because this early grunge album hadn’t dropped yet

[Music]

[Music] there’s no way Kurt Cobain and is

there’s no way Kurt Cobain and is

there’s no way Kurt Cobain and is Nirvana bandmates could have predicted

Nirvana bandmates could have predicted

Nirvana bandmates could have predicted the social impact of never mind

the social impact of never mind

the social impact of never mind but they’re sobering and thrashing style

but they’re sobering and thrashing style

but they’re sobering and thrashing style was a musical magnet that wished a new

was a musical magnet that wished a new

was a musical magnet that wished a new generation of rockers fed up with the

generation of rockers fed up with the

generation of rockers fed up with the state of music

despite the initial lukewarm reception

despite the initial lukewarm reception never mind exploded across America

never mind exploded across America

never mind exploded across America faster than hair bands could say leather

faster than hair bands could say leather

faster than hair bands could say leather pants or hairspray

pants or hairspray

pants or hairspray [Music]

[Music]

[Music] as a result alternative rock reached the

as a result alternative rock reached the

as a result alternative rock reached the masses and Kurt Cobain became the

masses and Kurt Cobain became the

masses and Kurt Cobain became the unwilling king of the Seattle grunge

unwilling king of the Seattle grunge

unwilling king of the Seattle grunge scene

number seven highway 61 revisited Bob

number seven highway 61 revisited Bob Dylan once upon a time it bent so fast

Dylan once upon a time it bent so fast

Dylan once upon a time it bent so fast do the bumps of time in your prayer then

do the bumps of time in your prayer then

do the bumps of time in your prayer then you never trust someone who doesn’t like

you never trust someone who doesn’t like

you never trust someone who doesn’t like Bob Dylan this revolutionary album

Bob Dylan this revolutionary album

Bob Dylan this revolutionary album marked a shift from acoustic to electric

marked a shift from acoustic to electric

marked a shift from acoustic to electric and followed up the equally iconic album

and followed up the equally iconic album

and followed up the equally iconic album bringing it all back home even before

bringing it all back home even before

bringing it all back home even before the release of highway 61 revisited fans

the release of highway 61 revisited fans

the release of highway 61 revisited fans voraciously expressed their disdain with

voraciously expressed their disdain with

voraciously expressed their disdain with the change in sound which was documented

the change in sound which was documented

the change in sound which was documented at Dylan’s infamous Newport Folk

at Dylan’s infamous Newport Folk

at Dylan’s infamous Newport Folk Festival appearance but like all

Festival appearance but like all

Festival appearance but like all innovative minds Bobbie Dee had

innovative minds Bobbie Dee had

innovative minds Bobbie Dee had introduced something new with even his

introduced something new with even his

introduced something new with even his album title referencing Dylan’s musical

album title referencing Dylan’s musical

album title referencing Dylan’s musical journey from his folk roots to the new

journey from his folk roots to the new

journey from his folk roots to the new blues inspired sound

[Music]

[Music] highway 61 revisited combined

highway 61 revisited combined

highway 61 revisited combined sensational lyrics with some of the best

sensational lyrics with some of the best

sensational lyrics with some of the best musicians that Dylan could find which

musicians that Dylan could find which

musicians that Dylan could find which made her a musical trip for the ages was

made her a musical trip for the ages was

made her a musical trip for the ages was in a fact that she got no shoes

number six Pet Sounds the Beach Boys

number six Pet Sounds the Beach Boys [Music]

[Music]

[Music] before there was psychedelic rock there

before there was psychedelic rock there

before there was psychedelic rock there was Pet Sounds this melodic production

was Pet Sounds this melodic production

was Pet Sounds this melodic production written entirely by Brian Wilson has

written entirely by Brian Wilson has

written entirely by Brian Wilson has often been recognized one of rock’s

often been recognized one of rock’s

often been recognized one of rock’s first concept albums and changed how

first concept albums and changed how

first concept albums and changed how people listen to music the title came

people listen to music the title came

people listen to music the title came from the strange yet brilliant sound

from the strange yet brilliant sound

from the strange yet brilliant sound design while the lyrical content

design while the lyrical content

design while the lyrical content documented a man’s journey through all

documented a man’s journey through all

documented a man’s journey through all the trials and tribulations of a

the trials and tribulations of a

the trials and tribulations of a relationship

relationship

relationship [Applause]

Pet Sounds changed pop music forever and

Pet Sounds changed pop music forever and many of today’s artists such as

many of today’s artists such as

many of today’s artists such as Radiohead and Animal Collective cite the

Radiohead and Animal Collective cite the

Radiohead and Animal Collective cite the album as a major influence god only

album as a major influence god only

album as a major influence god only knows what music would be like if this

knows what music would be like if this

knows what music would be like if this album had never been released

album had never been released

album had never been released [Music]

number five

number five Black Sabbath originally garnering

Black Sabbath originally garnering

Black Sabbath originally garnering extremely negative reviews from

extremely negative reviews from

extremely negative reviews from publications like The Village Voice this

publications like The Village Voice this

publications like The Village Voice this pivotal record has now become identified

pivotal record has now become identified

pivotal record has now become identified with the birth of heavy metal

with the birth of heavy metal

with the birth of heavy metal [Music]

[Music]

[Music] while Led Zeppelin and Jeff Beck were

while Led Zeppelin and Jeff Beck were

while Led Zeppelin and Jeff Beck were already melting faces off in the early

already melting faces off in the early

already melting faces off in the early 70s a misfit group of Birmingham

70s a misfit group of Birmingham

70s a misfit group of Birmingham musicians rolled into a studio and

musicians rolled into a studio and

musicians rolled into a studio and knocked out a classic in one day

featuring influences from blues rock the

featuring influences from blues rock the album has also been credited with giving

album has also been credited with giving

album has also been credited with giving birth to the stoner and goth rock genres

birth to the stoner and goth rock genres

birth to the stoner and goth rock genres it wasn’t cute or contrived it was pure

it wasn’t cute or contrived it was pure

it wasn’t cute or contrived it was pure rock with a visit from some kind of

rock with a visit from some kind of

rock with a visit from some kind of musical devil number four are you

musical devil number four are you

musical devil number four are you experienced the Jimi Hendrix Experience

experienced the Jimi Hendrix Experience

experienced the Jimi Hendrix Experience [Music]

[Music]

[Music] this album knocked hippies on their ass

this album knocked hippies on their ass

this album knocked hippies on their ass and made conservative America pay

and made conservative America pay

and made conservative America pay attention to a new brand of music

while the style of Jimi Hendrix had

while the style of Jimi Hendrix had evolved during the mid 60s

evolved during the mid 60s

evolved during the mid 60s it was his collaboration with a band of

it was his collaboration with a band of

it was his collaboration with a band of British musicians that spawned one of

British musicians that spawned one of

British musicians that spawned one of rock’s trickiest experiences

Hendrix wrote surrealistic lyrics of

Hendrix wrote surrealistic lyrics of love and alien takeovers while audiences

love and alien takeovers while audiences

love and alien takeovers while audiences gently wept as his extravagant guitar

gently wept as his extravagant guitar

gently wept as his extravagant guitar playing made everything disappear the

playing made everything disappear the

playing made everything disappear the impressive thing about all of this is

impressive thing about all of this is

impressive thing about all of this is that are you experienced was Jimmy’s

that are you experienced was Jimmy’s

that are you experienced was Jimmy’s debut album

debut album

debut album [Music]

that’s where my babysitting

that’s where my babysitting [Music]

number three Led Zeppelin for Led

number three Led Zeppelin for Led Zeppelin after a folky third album and

Zeppelin after a folky third album and

Zeppelin after a folky third album and heavy criticism from rock journalists

heavy criticism from rock journalists

heavy criticism from rock journalists Led Zeppelin did the unthinkable and

Led Zeppelin did the unthinkable and

Led Zeppelin did the unthinkable and dropped an album with no lettering on

dropped an album with no lettering on

dropped an album with no lettering on the cover album

musically the 8-track composition

musically the 8-track composition produced classics like Black Dog

produced classics like Black Dog

produced classics like Black Dog rock-and-roll and of course the timeless

rock-and-roll and of course the timeless

rock-and-roll and of course the timeless stairway to heaven

stairway to heaven

stairway to heaven [Music]

by combining folk with heavy-metal Led

by combining folk with heavy-metal Led Zeppelin created a unique sound that

Zeppelin created a unique sound that

Zeppelin created a unique sound that stood on its own and promoted the idea

stood on its own and promoted the idea

stood on its own and promoted the idea of musicians taking major risks Led

of musicians taking major risks Led

of musicians taking major risks Led Zeppelin 4 was the realization of

Zeppelin 4 was the realization of

Zeppelin 4 was the realization of medieval magic and musical magnets

medieval magic and musical magnets

medieval magic and musical magnets [Music]

number two the Dark Side of the Moon

number two the Dark Side of the Moon pink floyd–

while bands like Black Sabbath and Led

while bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin inspired head banging in the

Zeppelin inspired head banging in the

Zeppelin inspired head banging in the early 70s the introspective lyrics and

early 70s the introspective lyrics and

early 70s the introspective lyrics and exquisite sound design of the Dark Side

exquisite sound design of the Dark Side

exquisite sound design of the Dark Side of the Moon led stoners to spark one up

of the Moon led stoners to spark one up

of the Moon led stoners to spark one up turn off the lights and lose themselves

turn off the lights and lose themselves

turn off the lights and lose themselves for 45 minutes

despite the departure of Syd Barrett

despite the departure of Syd Barrett Pink Floyd managed to put together a

Pink Floyd managed to put together a

Pink Floyd managed to put together a progressive masterpiece with ingenious

progressive masterpiece with ingenious

progressive masterpiece with ingenious sound mixing and a little bit of

sound mixing and a little bit of

sound mixing and a little bit of patience

patience

patience [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

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[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

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[Music] [Applause]

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[Applause] most importantly the themes of human

most importantly the themes of human

most importantly the themes of human detachment instantly connected with

detachment instantly connected with

detachment instantly connected with listeners that wouldn’t be it for

listeners that wouldn’t be it for

listeners that wouldn’t be it for influential Pink Floyd albums however as

influential Pink Floyd albums however as

influential Pink Floyd albums however as the band released another progressive

the band released another progressive

the band released another progressive rock classic with the 1979 release of

rock classic with the 1979 release of

rock classic with the 1979 release of the wall before we unveil our top pick

the wall before we unveil our top pick

the wall before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

here are a few honorable mentions

here are a few honorable mentions [Music]

number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely

number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles once Paul

Hearts Club Band The Beatles once Paul

Hearts Club Band The Beatles once Paul McCartney heard Pet Sounds by the Beach

McCartney heard Pet Sounds by the Beach

McCartney heard Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys he knew the next Beatles album had

Boys he knew the next Beatles album had

Boys he knew the next Beatles album had to be something special

as a result sergeant pepper’s Lonely

as a result sergeant pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band became one of the first

Hearts Club Band became one of the first

Hearts Club Band became one of the first art rock albums by taking on alter egos

art rock albums by taking on alter egos

art rock albums by taking on alter egos for the production The Beatles could

for the production The Beatles could

for the production The Beatles could explore unknown territories experiment

explore unknown territories experiment

explore unknown territories experiment with sound design and simply have fun

with sound design and simply have fun

with sound design and simply have fun [Music]

the final product stunned critics and

the final product stunned critics and the lyrical double entendres were

the lyrical double entendres were

the lyrical double entendres were perfect for the blossoming

perfect for the blossoming

perfect for the blossoming counterculture that was taking over

counterculture that was taking over

counterculture that was taking over America the White Album and Abbey Road

America the White Album and Abbey Road

America the White Album and Abbey Road would come later but this creative

would come later but this creative

would come later but this creative dynamo changed music more than any other

dynamo changed music more than any other

dynamo changed music more than any other piece of music

so do you agree with our selections what

so do you agree with our selections what is your favorite album in rock history

is your favorite album in rock history

is your favorite album in rock history for more mind-blowing top tens published

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