Lou Reed: Transformer (1972) (Rock)

With typical Lou Reed swagger, Transformer is a poppy glam rock record that still holds onto much of the dirt, hedonism, and instrumental fulfilment of his Velvet Underground days. The songs are simple and sufficient, never too arduous or taxing, yet incredibly catchy and diverse, with a large range of energetic performances, from punk-like to slower more art rock-inspired, with consistent quirk and wit to throw serious listeners off guard. One of the benchmarks in glam-rock, Transformer is a must-listen for pop and rock fans alike. 


Best Tracks: Vicious*, Perfect Day*, Hangin' Round*, Walk On the Wild Side*, Make Up, Satellite of Love*, Wagon Wheel, New York Telephone Conversation, I'm So Free*


S

Art rock/Glam rock/Pop rock

Steely Dan: Can't Buy a Thrill (1972) (Pop, Rock)

With lush, warm instrumentation, Steely Dan make an easy-going but very satisfying album that reeks of summer fun. The tunes are poppy in composition, very soul-inspired and consistently an easy listen yet instrumentally coloured with bright horns, catchy piano and organ melodies and sharply tuned guitars all recorded very pristinely. The lyrics are quite pristine as well, catchy and seem to paint a refined metropolitan feeling throughout the album. Now it sounds very boomer but excellent at that.

Best Tracks: Do It Again, Dirty Work*, King*, Only A Fool Would Say That*, Reelin' In The Years*, Fire In The Hole, Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me), Change Of The Guard

A


Jazz-Rock/Pop-Rock/Yacht-Rock