Best hard rock album of all time?

[Greg]

So what do you think? Which is the best hard rock album of all time? And not just an album that has a couple of hits, but one that is truly great from start to finish. For me, it easy: Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction!

Rock on Axl!

Thoughts?

 

[JimG.]

AC/DC, Back in Black.

 

[2knees]

I was trying to decide between back in black or highway to hell. i cant.

 

[Greg]

How about Def Leppard, Pyromania or Metallica's black album? Also, it may sound cheesy, but the Skid Row debut was a great album.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Led Zep II

 

[JimG.]

Led Zep II

Oh yeah, but the first 4 Lep Zep albums are so good it's hard for me to choose.

Ever listen the the BBC sessions?

 

[Greg]

Oh yeah, but the first 4 Lep Zep albums are so good it's hard for me to choose.

Ever listen the the BBC sessions?

Not sure I would classify Zeppelin as "hard rock" though. Depends on you perspective, I guess.

 

[JimG.]

Not sure I would classify Zeppelin as "hard rock" though. Depends on you perspective, I guess.

Def Leppard =hard rock, Led Zeppelin=not hard rock?

I don't think I agree with that.

Here's another candidate: The Who, Quadrophenia.

 

[Greg]

Def Leppard =hard rock, Led Zeppelin=not hard rock?

I don't think I agree with that.

Yeah, I guess you're right. I suppose I just classify anything pre-1980 as classic rock, but then I guess one would argue a band like Black Sabbath is definitely hard rock.

 

[Marc]

Oh yeah, but the first 4 Lep Zep albums are so good it's hard for me to choose.

Ever listen the the BBC sessions?

Ditto on the first four Zep albums. I'd have a hard time choosing... I'd lean towards I or III I think... but man. I don't know.

If Zep isn't considered hard rock, then I'd have to put up my vote for either Soundgarden's Superunknown or Audioslave's self titled. Neither are at the forefront of many people's mind for this classification probably, but for me they are.

Audioslave is probably hard for some to give this title to since it hasn't been out long and so has not had a chance to test its staying power.

That and I think Audislave would have been better off with Kim Thayil rather than Tom Morello. Not to stir the pot or anything...

 

[JimG.]

but then I guess one would argue a band like Black Sabbath is definitely hard rock.

Funny...I was going to use Black Sabbath as an example of another band you might think isn't hard rock.

Here's something to ponder...how would you classify an artist like Jimi Hendrix? To me, he's almost a stand alone artist, one of a kind. Hard rock, R&B, soul?

 

[hrstrat57]

Bridge of Sighs, R Trower

...despite the crys of "foul" from Hendrix fans....:uzi:

Course I'm a strat guy....

 

[skibum1321]

Soundgarden's Superunknown was great. I would also throw Alice in Chains self-titled in there.

 

[Greg]

I would also throw Alice in Chains self-titled in there.

Oooh. A good one. You mean "Facelift", right?

 

[andyzee]

Deep Purple Fireball or Who Do We Think We Are

 

[skibum1321]

I actually meant "Alice in Chains" - the green one with the 3 legged dog on the cover. But Facelift is another great one. Dirt was awesome too. Man, I miss AIC.

 

[skibum1321]

Another one that I forgot is "Above" by Mad Season. It was a super group with Layne Staley from Alice in Chains, Mike McCready from Pearl Jam and Barrett Martin from the Screaming Trees. Great album.

 

[Greg]

I actually meant "Alice in Chains" - the green one with the 3 legged dog on the cover. But Facelift is another great one. Dirt was awesome too. Man, I miss AIC.

Yeah great band. I was one of the only guys I knew that had Sap before it was widely known. Wasn't big on the dog cover album though. They started to get a little weird by then. Dirt was good, but I think Facelift was the best - in your face modern rock and roll. Jar of Flies was a work of art, but way mellow.

 

[Greg]

Another one that I forgot is "Above" by Mad Season. It was a super group with Layne Staley from Alice in Chains, Mike McCready from Pearl Jam and Barrett Martin from the Screaming Trees. Great album.

Indeed! That was good. Came across like an experiment that actually resulted in some great tunes. Definitely not a polished production, but there was some good stuff there.

 

[Marc]

Another one that I forgot is "Above" by Mad Season. It was a super group with Layne Staley from Alice in Chains, Mike McCready from Pearl Jam and Barrett Martin from the Screaming Trees. Great album.

As was Temple of the Dog...