The Spacelords-Liquid Sun (2016)

The Spacelords are a German band that, in the 2000s, paved the way for krautrock, a genre that was the natural evolution of progressive and psychedelic rock in Germany during the late 1960s and much of the following decade. Founded in 2008 by Marcus Schnitzler (percussion), Matthias Wettstein (guitars), and Klaus Werz (bass), the band released their debut album two years later with the addition of flautist Reinhold Pape. In that first release, the group already displayed their predilection for spacey sounds in the purest Hawkwind style. With their subsequent albums, the band went a step further, introducing strange and experimental ethnic and Eastern sonic elements. "Liquid Sun", their fourth release, featured three extensive and musically complex pieces. By the time this new album was recorded, keyboardist Didi Holzner and bassist Akee Kazmaier had joined the band, the latter replacing original bassist Klaus Werz. "Liquid Sun" is a hypnotic adventure that navigates between the sounds of 1960s American psychedelic rock/pop and 1970s German rock. 

The Ventures-Greatest Hits (1992)

With an astounding one hundred million records sold worldwide, The Ventures are the most successful instrumental band in history, even surpassing the legendary The Shadows. Formed in the late 1950s in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson, Bob Bogle, Nokia Edwards, and Mel Taylor, their musical style was primarily composed of surf and instrumental light rock sounds. Songs like "Walk, Don't Run", "Hawaii Five-O", "Pipeline", "Perfidia", "Lullaby of the Leaves", "Blue Moon", and "Sleep Walk" thrilled millions of fans across the globe, especially in their native Australia, Japan (where they are the most revered Western band), and Europe. Their catalog, comprising over 1,000 songs and more than 3,000 recordings, is one of the most listened-to in the history of contemporary music. Their sound became addictive, and their incredible audacity influenced thousands of guitarists worldwide. The Ventures were among the first to employ and popularize fuzz and flanger guitar effects, concept albums, and twelve-string guitars in rock. Their impressive instrumental virtuosity, innovation, and unique sound had a profound impact on countless musicians and bands, earning them the nickname "The Band That Influenced a Thousand Bands." Artists and groups who have publicly acknowledged their enormous influence include Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin, Steve Miller, George Harrison, Joe Walsh, Stephen Stills, The Ramones, Dire Straits, Aerosmith, Dead Kennedys, Carl Wilson, and Elton John. Their recording of "Walk, Don't Run" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its lasting impact, and in 2008 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ben Poole-Let's Go Upstairs (2012)

Ben Poole is a cutting-edge British blues guitarist who began his career at the dawn of the 21st century. His passion for rock and blues started in childhood, learning to play guitar with songs by Jimi Hendrix and other electric guitar greats. He initially played in a heavy metal band and later founded his first blues-rock band. Long before launching his solo career or releasing any official recordings, he was already making waves in professional guitar circles, appearing in publications such as "Total Guitar" magazine and receiving nominations in several categories at the British Blues Awards. In 2012, he finally released his self-funded debut album. On this first album, Ben Poole showcases his appealing blues style with touches of melodic rock. Songs like the melodic, AOR-influenced "Hanging in the Balance", "Love Nobody No More", "Holding Onto Love", and "Over It Now" contrast with the bluesier, rock-tinged tracks like "I'm Gonna Not Have To Be That Way", the funk-rock "Let's Go Upstairs", and the blues numbers "Play On, Play On", "After All This Time", and "Let The Rain Come Down". This debut album by Ben Poole is an excellent showcase of his guitar talent, which, without excessive flashiness or pyrotechnic displays, seeks the perfect musical cohesion between blues and melodic rock.

Lana Lane-Lady Macbeth (2005)

Lana Lane is considered the "Queen of Progressive Rock", although this singer has also explored different genres such as heavy metal and melodic rock. It was in the late 1980s that this California native met progressive metal musician Erik Norlander, whom she would later marry. For a time, Lana worked as a backing vocalist in her husband's band, Rocket Scientist. In the mid-1990s, the singer focused on her solo career, releasing her first album, "Love Is an Illusion" (1995), followed the next year by "Curious Goods", both of which achieved great media and commercial success. From then on, her career took off, releasing a dozen albums that were very well received by both the heavy metal community and prog rock fans. "Lady Macbeth", released in 2005, was her eighth album, a concept album based on the play by William Shakespeare. Among the members of her band, which is led by her husband Erik Norlander on keyboards and guitars, are several musicians from the aforementioned Rocket Scientist, including Peer Verschuren, Mark McCrite, Neil Citron, Kristoffer Gildenlöw, Don Schiff, and Ernst Van Ee. Compared to her previous work, the musical elements here are darker, combining heavy rock with progressive rock, adorned with subtle folk passages. Songs like the progressive heavy tracks "Summon The Devil", "Keeper Of The Flame", and "The Dream That Never Ends" are complemented by folk-influenced tracks such as "Shine On Golden Sun" and the enchanting melodies of "Dunsinane Walls".

Eyes Of Blue-Crossroads Of Time (1969)

“Crossroads of Time” was the debut album by Eyes of Blue, an obscure British psychedelic and progressive rock band. This legendary Welsh band consisted of guitarist and vocalist Gary Pickford-Hopkins, drummer John Weathers, singer Wyndham Reese, keyboardist Phil Ryan, guitarist Ray Williams, and bassist Ritchie Francis. In their early days, the band played a style based on soul and psychedelia, gradually moving towards the sounds of the American West Coast. With a collaboration with Quincy Jones, they contributed to the soundtrack of the film 'Toy Grabbers' and later appeared in the film 'Connecting Rooms'. In 1966, they won the prestigious Beat Contest, organized by the British music magazine Melody Maker. This led to a contract with Decca Records' progressive rock sub-label, Deram. After several singles with little commercial impact, they secured the collaboration of producer Lou Reizner, with whom they recorded their debut album, "Crossroads of Time", in 1968 in London. It was released in early 1969 by Mercury Records. This first album is a collection of songs imbued with psychedelia and typical 60s sounds, featuring a strong organ and elements of early progressive rock, rhythm & blues, pop, jazz, and Eastern influences. Highlights include the bluesy "Crossroads of Time" and "Love is the Law" (both written by Graham Bond), the psychedelic "Inspiration for a New Day" and "Prodigal Son", and the brilliant "I Wonder Why" and "World of Emotion". The album also includes several well-executed covers, such as "7+7 Is" by the band Love and the iconic "Yesterday" by The Beatles, all infused with the characteristic beat sound of the sixties. The band subsequently released their second album, "In Fields of Ardath", in the spring of 1969. Wyndham Reese no longer appeared on this album, which leaned more towards progressive sounds but still retained their wide range of influences, including psychedelic rock, blues, jazz, exotic sounds, and classical music. Later, Gary Pickford-Hopkins became one of the two lead singers in Rick Wakeman's backing band on his albums "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1974) and "The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" (1975). He also spent some time with the hard blues-rock band Wild Turkey, while John Weathers went on to become the lead drummer for the legendary Gentle Giant for many years, and later for the psychedelic and progressive rock band Man.

Pixies-Doolittle (1989)

The Pixies were one of the most important bands of the so-called alternative rock movement, reaching their peak in the late 1980s and releasing a series of essential albums for understanding the distinctive style of that era. Led by vocalist and guitarist Black Francis, they showcased a tremendously powerful side of raw, gritty rock, fueled by visceral energy and contained rage. Their ruthless and energetic debut album, "Surfer Rosa", was released in 1988, earning them acclaim from the independent press and the alternative rock scene. However, it was with "Doolittle", released a year later, that they truly achieved worldwide recognition, thanks to a style that blended the energy of their previous work with more accessible melodies. Songs like the stark "Debaser", the sharp "Gouge Away" or the conventional "Monkey Gone To Heaven", surprisingly earned this album a gold record in the United States and marked the creative and commercial peak of this band from the city of Boston.

Fats Domino-Let´s Play Fats Domino (1959)

Fats Domino was a pivotal pianist and composer in the early days of rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Born in New Orleans in 1929, he began his career with Dave Bartholomew's orchestra, and shortly after, in 1949, released his first solo album, "The Fat Man", which propelled him to become one of the biggest stars of R&B. His piano rhythms, infused with boogie-woogie, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll, made him one of the greatest pianists of the era. Often accused of creating satanic music due to his rhythms and flamboyant dance moves, Fats Domino remains a key figure in African American roots music. In the 1960s, the decline of rock and roll in favor of newer styles like the British Invasion condemned him to obscurity, though he has risen from the ashes on several occasions thanks to the revival of rock and roll and R&B. Many of his songs are considered among the greatest contributions to rock music, including tracks like "The Fat Man", "How Long", "Love Me", "Thinking of You", "Ain't That a Shame", "I Can't Go On", and "Blueberry Hill". With an impressive run of over 30 singles in the US Top 40, Fats Domino was one of the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award a year later. On October 24, 2017, Fats Domino passed away in his hometown of New Orleans at the age of 89, leaving behind one of the greatest legacies in 20th-century contemporary music.

Pain Of Salvation-Remedy Lane (2002)

Pain of Salvation, along with bands like Dream Theater, spearheaded progressive metal in the 1990s, constantly evolving with highly personal and unique musical approaches. With their fourth release, "Remedy Lane", this Swedish group faced the difficult task of surpassing their previous album, "The Perfect Element Part I", considered one of the best progressive metal releases of the early 2000s. With this album, the band comprised of Daniel Gildenlöw (guitars, lead vocals), Johan Hallgren (guitars), Fredrik Hermansson (keyboards), Kristoffer Gildenlöw (bass, backing vocals), and Johan Langell (drums) crafted a magnificent musical flow filled with powerful and impactful compositions, flawlessly executed. From symphonic atmospheres and superb vocals to epic narratives, thrilling melodies, and impeccable progressive rock and metal instrumentation, their repertoire is absolutely brilliant. Songs like "Rope Ends", "Waking Every God", "A Trace of Blood", "Second Love", and "Beyond the Pale" are stunning masterpieces, featuring lush and intricate acoustic string arrangements, magnificent vocals and harmonies, all underpinned by driving rock guitars and a blistering rhythm section. Without a doubt, this album perfectly embodies modern progressive rock.