Finest Worksongs

49. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life

If Stevie Wonder had never released "Songs in the Key of Life," we'd still be talking about him as one of the greatest -- if not THE greatest -- musician the United States ever produced. But, thankfully, he did. Look at any "best albums of all time list," and this double-album masterpiece is guaranteed to be close to the top. And for good reason. Yes, it contains hits and standards that we all know ("Isn't She Lovely?" and "Sir Duke" come to mind), but even those are layered with intricate mixes; instrumentation; percussion; new, innovative (for the time) instruments; and engaging and introspective lyrics. More than 100 people contributed to the album, but this album is all Stevie Wonder. (He even plays all the instruments on some songs.) It's his magnum opus. And it's glorious.

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48. Ben Folds Five - self-titled album

One of the most unique and also most successful fans to come out of the Research Triangle area of North Carolina in the early- to-mid-1990s was Ben Folds Five. Led by Ben Folds, this three-piece (yes, just three of them) crafted clever, cynical jabs at mainstream society — as well as at themselves. But the songs were beautiful, catchy, and well-crafted, and were pulled from pop, punk, jazz and even classical music. They would find major success on their next album (and Folds would go on to a stellar critical and commercial solo career) but their debut offers us a glimpse at their wild and free beginning. 

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47. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Like others in the cursed "27 Club," Amy Winehouse burned bright and hot ... only to snuff out too soon. But what an impression she left, particularly with her "Back to Black" album. The Grammy-winning album is as autobiographical as they come -- and no less haunting. From her signature "Rehab" (where she gives an emphatic "no, no no!" when the idea is suggested to her), to "You Know I'm No Good" and "Tears Dry on Their Own," the album is Winehouse completely bearing all and putting all her warts out for the world to see and hear in her beautiful mix of old-style soul and R&B -- with some English crass along the way.

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46. Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down

In the mid-80s. Lionel Richie didn’t just operate in the same orbit as Michael Jackson and Prince — Richie was his a superstar of his own right. And nothing solidified his place on the charts like “Can’t Slow Down.” At a tidy 8 songs, the album still manages to fuse genres: pop, R&B, rock, Calypso, dance and even country. And it was a pop music juggernaut, solidifying Richie (and his sweet ‘stache) among the biggest of the bigs ... at least for a while.

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45. We Are The World

It was arguably the greatest gathering of musical talent in one place at one time -- and still is. And it was INSANE. "We Are The World" brought the biggest American music stars of the 1980s* -- and Dan Akroyd! -- to one room to record a song shining a light on the plight of starving people in Africa. The song and the video was beamed incessently to the living rooms and kitchens of America. In the end, the song was inescapable at the time (if somewhat forgettable now); it raised some $68 million to help those impacted by drought and food shortages. But it also gave us a treasure trove of quirky, ridiculous stories that can only happen when you pack creative geniuses into one room -- and ask them to follow orders.

 

*But not Prince or Madonna.

44. Nirvana - Nevermind

Very few musical “events” transform the pop music landscape – and pop culture – overnight. But Nirvana’s “Nevermind” absolutely did just that. Coming seemingly out of the blue (but really from the Pacific Northwest), Nirvana gave power to the disillusioned children of the ‘80s, the latchkey kids and wannabe punks who were just searching for authenticity. In the blink of an eye, the hair metal, glam and slick production of the late-1980s and early-‘90s became silly and passe’. Cardigans, corduroys and dirty hair was where it was at. But it wasn’t just a look. Oh no. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” remains an anthem of the disenfranchised. “Come As You Are,” “In Bloom” and “Lithium” became alt-rock and mainstream radio standards. And they still are. And that was just essentially side 1 of “Nevermind,” an album of noise and beauty, anger and sadness, and irony and truth. All of those things made up Nirvana.

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43. Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball

It's only natural that Matt & Matt kick off Season 4 of Finest Worksongs with a non-charting song of covers by a country artist, right? But Emmylou Harris' 1995 album "Wrecking Ball" deserves any and all recognition. It was a vast departure for the seasoned country songstress; that's gonna happen when you partner with Daniel Lanois. "Wrecking Ball" -- which includes collaborations with Neil Young,  Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and others, did for Emmylou what Johnny Cash's "American" recordings did for the Man In Black: it rejuvenated a career and opened a whole new audience to the splendor of one of music's all-time greats.

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42. The Killers - Hot Fuss

Matt & Matt close out Season 3 with another "Listener's Choice" epipod. Finest Workfans voted for The Killers' debut album "Hot Fuss" to be the album du jour. Though they may have been caught up in the mix of other similar-sounding bands like the Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and Interpol, The Killers have managed to put together a long and inspired career. And this is the one that started it all. And what a strong (if front-loaded) debut it is! Brandon Flowers & Co. deliver pure pop goodness on hits like "Mr. Brightside," "Somebody Told Me," "Smile Like You Mean It" and the anthemic "All These Things That I've Done." Not a bad way to start a career.

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41. Christmas 2020

For our second annual Christmas epipod, Matt & Matt discuss two albums that — each in their own way — set the standard for holiday collections. Phil Spector’s “A Gift for You” changed altogether how Christmas albums were created. Initially a flop, it is now essentially against how all Christmas albums are compared. Conversely, “A Very Special Christmas” introduced the idea of the philanthropic holiday album. It is a hodgepodge of hits and misses, masterpieces and head-scratchers alike. If nothing else, both albums capture their respective eras perfectly.

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40. Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger

It's the classic "full creative control" story. Artist earns the respect (and the right) to do things as he wants. He goes against the grain to bring his vision to light. But upon hearing the final product, the record executives can't believe it's actually final. Sorry, bub. Creative control means creative control. And in this case, Willie Nelson's 1975 album, "Red-Headed Stranger," not only proved to be one of the most successful country albums of all time, but also one of the most successful -- and celebrated -- ALBUMS of all time. It's a sparsely-produced, under-budget, concept album about a preacher that essentially goes on a killing spree. And it changed country music forever.

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