Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
1978, EMI
While I had a weency bit of a shoplifting problem as a teenager, I never stole from other people. Except once. Only once. And I had to. Well, I felt compelled to. I was at a party that my adult-age band mates had brought me to and there it was on the stereo—the debut album by X-Ray Spex. I worked at a record store; I could have surely gotten it another way. I had heard of them but I thought they sounded like something else. Not like this, not like pure teen-girl fireball energy. I needed the CD and I needed to go home and listen to it right now. WHY? Well, to start, the singer, Poly Styrene, had braces. BRACES. I felt enthralled and connected by my years of orthodonture, in love with her fury and her voice and her confidence, leading this taut punk band WITH HER BRACES ON. She sounded like her aim was to terrorize, screaming, “Oh bondage, up yours!” WHAT DID THAT EVEN MEAN?! I wondered. Did she literally have a problem with people tying each other up? Was she a real prude? When I got home I just listened to this one song over and over, neglecting the rest of the album. I lived for that scream of hers, right where her scream meets the sax solo. I want to do that, be that, be her, ignite the world with braces and a saxophone. —Jessica
Zen Arcade
Hüsker Dü
1984, SST
Concept albums are cursed with the corny stamp because of terms like “rock opera” and bands like the Who (DAD!) and Green Day (guyliner!). But Hüsker Dü did it totally right on their record-long tale of a troubled runaway. Thankfully the story isn’t too obvious, so you can either spend listen after listen trying to decode the lyrics, or just tune out and bask in the blissful messiness of the music. Sometimes it sounds like you’re standing outside listening to the garage band next door right when they hit their groove, and sometimes it’s like they’re singing directly to you—alternate air guitar and misty-eyed introspection accordingly. —Joe
The Smiths
The Smiths
1984, Rough Trade/Sire
I know a lot of people disagree, but I think the best Smiths album is their self-titled 1984 debut. From the simple heartbeat percussion that opens “Reel Around the Fountain” to the gorgeous final track, “Suffer Little Children,” the band is at its most sincere, simple, and lovely on this record. Their later stuff might have more technical production or whatever, but I don’t think people really listen to the Smiths for that kind of thing. What’s more important is Morrissey’s signature soar-then-falter croon and the amazing, amazing musicianship of the other band members, and those things shine here. —Amy Rose
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
1984, Geffen
Isn’t it weird that both of my favorite albums were released in 1984? Lloyd Cole and the Commotions is without a doubt the most underrated band of the decade. Just listen to the title track of this album if you don’t believe me. It’s my favorite song of all time, and here are some lyrics from the chorus that explain why: “She looks like Eva Marie Saint / In On the Waterfront / She reads Simone de Beauvoir / In her American circumstance.” Add that to some other stuff about a girl needing a gun and the jangliest guitar line ever, and you have a perfect song. This album also has the mega-jams “Are You Ready to be Heartbroken?” and “Perfect Skin,” which are nearly as good. —Amy Rose
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
1991, Creation
The constant fuzz on Loveless wraps around you like a blanket made of best friend hugs, setting your brain static to maximum levels of warmth and dreaminess. Underneath, Kevin Shields is cooing sweet nothings, and the whole thing lulls you to a place of peace, despite being occasionally ear-splitting. Somehow the louder it goes, the more soothing it gets. —Joe
Pretty on the Inside
Hole
1991, Caroline
Ever since eighth grade, Pretty on the Inside has been my go-to album when someone or something is trying to make me feel stupid or ugly or weak. Hole’s first and most raw-sounding record opens with Courtney Love scream-singing, “When I was a teenage whore…” over a cacophony of guitars and drums. You can just picture her sneering, and as you listen, your lip will curl a little bit, too. The lyrics are angry and brash and they make no apologies. Even when Courtney is howling that she wishes she could die, you know she has no intention of doing so. She and her band will claw their way through this bloody landscape filled with garbage men and knives that stab baby angels. If you choose to accompany them, you will emerge knowing that you are million times more powerful than, say, that stupid kid in your gym class who calls you names. Next time you’re taunted by them or anyone else, you’ll hear Courtney’s voice in your head, chanting, “There is no power like my pretty power, like my pretty power, like my UGLY!” Bonus info: this gorgeous thrashfest was produced by Kim Gordon. —Stephanie
Playing With a Different Sex
Au Pairs
1981, Human
Before there was Riot Grrrl, there were Au Pairs, who sang about sex and gender equality on songs like “It’s Obvious,” where Lesley Woods sarcastically sings, “You’re equal / But different”; and “Love Song,” where she thinks about marriage: “Take out the ring / Two fates sealed / Negotiated a business deal / Is this true romance?” The Au Pairs were political, but they were also about damn good music. This is British post-punk at its angriest, most rebellious, and best. —Hazel
A New Morning, Changing Weather
The (International) Noise Conspiracy
2001, Epitaph
I am never into music WITH A MESSAGE, but the (International) Noise Conspiracy managed to completely win me over with this record. The thing about them is that even though their lyrics are all about activism and taking action and other super punk-rock shit, their songs are really dance-y and they go on weird horn or percussive tangents that are beyond any other punk band. My favorite song here, “Bigger Cages, Longer Chains,” has a sick breakdown with keyboard and horns and the best weirdo Middle Eastern-tinged jam EVER at the end. On “Breakout 2001,” front man Dennis Lyxzen sings stuff like “Hey sister, we know you wanna dance too / Without gender hanging over you / Said just wanna be free / Not some billboard advertising dream,” and you’ll be all like, YEAH! It’s an excellent record to sing at the top of your lungs. All the songs have a million quotable parts, and they all adorned my drawing portfolio freshman year of college, when this record took up 50% of my life (the other 50% went to the Strokes’ Is This It?). If there was any piece of music that was ever gonna get me off my ass and to do something, it would be this record. —Laia
Power, Corruption & Lies
New Order
1983, Factory Recordings
There’s never a time when I DON’T feel like listening to New Order, especially Power, Corruption & Lies. The guitar that opens “Age of Consent” will make you stop what you’re doing and dance; “Your Silent Face” is good for those days when you want everyone to leave you alone (but you’ll still be swaying your head to the beat). It’s pure synth-pop poetry and one of the best albums of all time. Your life will be changed, I promise! —Marie
Crocodiles
Echo & the Bunnymen
1980, Korova
Echo & the Bunnymen specialize in a specific kind of musical brooding filled with hypnotizing guitars, wailing vocals, and angsty lyrics—you’ve probably heard their music in movies like Pretty in Pink and Donnie Darko. The star song on this, their debut album, is “Do It Clean,” a total dance song complete with a dramatic opening and tambourine! If you like Crocodiles, you’ll love everything Echo & the Bunnymen does, because they only got better after this. —Hazel
Very Necessary
Salt-N-Pepa
1993, Next Plateau Records
You could go the rest of your life without hearing this album, but it wouldn’t be much of a life. Salt-N-Pepa make fun, danceable music with the greatest lyrics. For example, “None of Your Business,” a diatribe against slut-shaming, goes: “If I wanna take a guy home with me tonight…and if she wanna be a freak and sell it on the weekend…you shouldn’t even get into who I’m givin’ skins to…so don’t try to change my mind, I’ll tell you one more time: it’s none of your business!” Hear the whole song, and watch the video, here. —Anna
Strawberry Switchblade
Strawberry Switchblade
1985, Korova/WEA
With a name like Strawberry Switchblade, you’d expect this duo to be sassy and sweet. Well, they totally are! And not nearly well enough known. These Scottish ladies only really had one album release in the U.S., though they became slightly famous in Japan. Their self-titled LP is one of my favorites, filled with sugary synth-pop songs about being moodily in love. The best song is “Secrets,” a cheeky tune about getting boys to spill theirs. Also, have you seen these girls? Probably the most stylish humans of the whole 1980s. —Hazel
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
The Cure
1987, Elektra
The first poster I ever got was this one of Cure singer/songwriter Robert Smith. I bought it shortly after I bought Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which was my very first Cure album, because I just wanted to stare at Robert’s slightly parted lips and imagine myself sliding through them into his brain while the opening riff of “The Kiss” played in the background. I know that’s weird, but somehow it explains this album. Listening to it, I imagine that visiting Robert Smith’s mind is a lot like falling down a rabbit hole to Wonderland. There are moments of pure delight and pleasure, like the album’s best known song, “Just Like Heaven,” and “Why Can’t I Be You?” which has that totally bizarre video where Robert dances around in…what’s that? A fuzzy bear outfit and white high-tops? Next thing you know he’s telling a girl that he hates her in “How Beautiful You Are” because of the way she reacted when a poor family in Paris was staring at her. I almost broke up with a guy (and should have!) because he didn’t understand the sheer power and beauty of that song. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me spins you dizzy through love and hate, but cushions the ride in a perfect web of guitars and synthesizers. Trust me, it’s epic. —Stephanie
True Blue
Madonna
1986, Sire
Don’t let anyone tell you that Madonna’s not awesome, because those people are WRONG. A great way to prove this is by pointing to one of her records—they’re so chockfull of hits that even Rihanna is all, “Wait, what?” This, Madonna’s third album, is a great example, because I think it’s a little underrated even though all the important songs are on it! It starts with “Papa Don’t Preach,” which is kind of like a song version of Juno with a slightly different outcome, and then goes into “Open Your Heart”—I love this song a bunch but also the video, where she’s dancing in the peepshow and then at the end she runs away with the young boy and she steals his hat or something and it’s adorable because you realize that Madonna is HUMAN! Anyways, back to the record: “Live to Tell” is also a killer song, even though it bums me out times infinity, and I remember slow-dancing to it in elementary and middle-school dances. Nobody did a heart-wrenching ballad like Madonna! She was also SO good at really cute songs—“True Blue” is totally in that camp. When I was little I thought “La Isla Bonita” was about Puerto Rico, then I found out that it wasn’t and I was like eh whatever, but I still dig the Spanish guitar. The rest of the songs on here are incredibly ’80s, but you forgive her for it because #1 it WAS the ’80s, and #2 she’s Madonna and she can do no wrong. —Laia
She’s So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
1983, Portrait
Cyndi Lauper is a legend. She has perfect pitch and a four-octave range, and always looks amazing. She is the queen and the godmother of all the “unusual” girls, ever (that includes you, Lady Gaga). This album had so many hits on it: “Time After Time,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (which should just be the anthem of the universe), “All Through the Night,” And “She Bop,” an ode to female masturbation. For a brief moment there in the early ’80s, I swear to you, it was like, “Madonna who?” Cyndi is a miracle. She had a baby when she was 44. She is like a rainbow. —Sonja
I Could Be Happy: The Best of Altered Images
Altered Images
1997, Sony
I love love love the early-’80s Scottish New Wave band Altered Images. Such cute music! The lead singer, Clare Grogan, has a voice so high it sounds like she’s on helium, and an adorable stage presence (this Top of the Pops video makes me really happy). Their super-twee pop songs, like “Happy Birthday” and “Funny Funny Me,” are perfect for when you’re walking on sunshine. My ultimate feel-good album. —Hazel