My favorite review of the Beatles catalog is in the 1993 edition of the 'Rolling Stone Record Guide.' The author contends that, "not liking the Beatles is as perverse as not liking the sun." Certainly their influence on popular culture cannot be overstated. 'Revolver' captures the essence of the band's creative power, combining a variety of styles with brilliant melody and lyrics. While Sgt. Pepper is a close second on my list (I'm only including one album per band,) there's just something about Revolver that epitomizes everything that's great about this band. Each member puts in some of their best performances here: George's off-kilter 'I Want To Tell You,' Paul's Motown influenced "Got To Get You Into My Life," John's superb "And Your Bird Can Sing," and Ringo's lovable vocal on "Yellow Submarine." The album is ambitious, assured, exciting, melancholy and laid back all at once, making it the most perfect recording in rock history. My favorite Beatles albums after this one include "Sgt Pepper," "Abbey Road" and "Rubber Soul."

Many people never realize the true genius of Brian Wilson if they only view him as one of the surfin' Beach Boys. His masterpiece, 'Pet Sounds,' is the most ambitious and beautiful pop album ever recorded. Brian's arrangements alone put this work among rock's finest, featuring stellar performances by the Wrecking Crew at Gold Star Studios. In one of his smartest moves, Brian matched some of the best songs of his career with Tony Asher's touching lyrics. The result is a very personal album, during which the music says as much as the words. Anyone can relate to the emotional themes within: longing, insecurity, love and loss. "God Only Knows," "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Caroline, No" are perfectly constructed gems that still resonate strongly today.

This is a rock album that perfectly combines power, beauty and innovation. Pete Townshend, after creating  the groundbreaking rock opera Tommy, wrote the best compositions of his career for this album, songs that were intended for the aborted Lifehouse project. A science fiction theme inspired Pete to incorporate some of rock's finest synthesizer samples on songs like "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Reily." But what really pushes this one into the realm of rock's best albums are the performances and the production. Pete's guitar and synth work is immaculate, John's bass work is like an avalanche of sound, Keith's combination of jazz and rock drumming is truly unique and Roger puts forth the best vocal performances of a career. Glyn Johns gave the Who their best recorded sound to date and produced one of the cleanest and most powerful sounding records in rock history. Dave Marsh describes Daltry's final scream after the synth break of "Won't Get Fooled Again" one of rock's most transcendent moments. I can't help but agree. It gets me every time.

In the 90s, 'Girlfriend' filled a void in my life that 'Nevermind' filled for many others. This record had a profound effect on my musical taste and my creativity. In an era dominated by lifeless dance and idiotic hair metal, 'Girlfriend' sounded  like a breath of fresh air. Matthew created power pop for the 90s, reclaiming the melodic sensibilities of Revolver-era Beatles songs and combining them with spastic lead guitars and personal lyrics. The album ranges from the beautiful songs of loss (Winona, You Don't Love Me) to cathartic power (Girlfriend, Divine Intervention) While it is generally recognized as a classic album, 'Girlfriend' was overshadowed by the impact Nirvana had on pop music in the early 90s. Granted 'Nevermind' was highly influential, but I would rather listen to Matthew's disciples than hordes of second-rate grunge bands signed in Nirvana's wake. This is a true classic that is often overlooked.

'Get The Knack' is one of the most underrated and unfairly criticized albums in rock history. Without a doubt, the Knack were the tightest and most energetic band of the New Wave era. Disbelievers need only watch their live performance at Carnegie Hall in 1979 and read some of their reviews before the critical backlash hit later that year. This album was practically recorded live in studio, with great harmonies, jangling guitars and lightning fast drumming. Furthermore, Doug Feiger and Berton Averre were excellent tune smiths, capturing the pop sensibilities of Buddy Holly and the Beatles and redefining them for a new generation. A great deal of the negativity surrounding this album focused on the misogynistic lyrics, but the critics are just too uptight. 'Get The Knack' perfectly encapsulates the emotions and anxiety of every horny teenage male and turns it into blissful pop music. Anyone who can't relate probably never had a boner during math class in high school. This album only gets better with repeated listening and has earned a place in my heart as one of the best rock albums ever made.