One of my friends wrote an essay on what bands (and summarily albums) would be classics in the next twenty years. I've come to the conclusion that there are these that I'd like to remember (and hopefully pass on to posterity):
Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R (2000)
This is when I believe Josh Homme's songwriting finally began to click. It's a vast departure from his desert rock beginnings but it still has that hard-edged tinge to it.
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997)
A unilateral work of genius by another one of my favorite songwriters, Jason Pierce. This is certainly no Spacemen 3 album. It's thick, a masterpiece in sonic production, but it still has incredible aesthetic appeal as well in the poignant lyrical themes.
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
The Flaming Lips have evolved over the last score of years to become one of the quirkiest group of individuals, and this album is a summary work of everything they've accomplished, from psychedelia to space rock. Few records can live up to this work's genius.
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