Saturday, October 18 is designated National Album Day in the UK. This year, the theme is Rock. Classic, Punk, Yacht, Metal, Alternative…there’s a variety out there for nearly any listener. In honor of the occasion, we’ve gathered albums selected by staff to share. Here are some selections you can check out from the library. Maybe you’ll discover a new (old) favorite–comment and share your favorite rock album with us!
Beethoven’s Last Night • Trans-Siberian Orchestra • 2000 • Symphonic Rock
“Beethoven’s Last Night by Trans-Siberian Orchestra–a powerful fusion of classical music and rock and a dramatic tale of redemption, genius, and the eternal battle between good and evil, told through soaring melodies and theatrical storytelling.” -Wei
Creatures • Clan of Xymox • 1999 • Dark Wave
“My rock pick for National Album Day is Creatures by Clan of Xymox. It is an admittedly slow album but one that has grown on me over the years. The opening track, “Jasmine And Rose,” is a solid track, ripe for replays, and is probably their most well-known song. This is a great album to listen to while going on a leisurely stroll on an overcast morning – or – while drinking tea/coffee & staring out the window on a dark, rainy day. A lot of people say this album is just a Sisters of Mercy knock-off and while I get the comparisons – I still enjoy it. That said, 2nd runner up on Hoopla would actually be, First and Last and Always (1985) by The Sisters of Mercy, followed by my 3rd choice pick of Opus Dei (1987) by Laibach. Fun fact: “All I Have” and “Falling Down” are both frequent alarm clock tones I use to wake up in the morning.” -Adry
Dirty • Sonic Youth • 1992 • Noise Rock/Alternative • Recommended by Jason
“I was 13 years old in the summer of 1992. I was in my local Tower Records store browsing for my next CD purchase. In the new release section was the album Dirty by the band Sonic Youth. I was immediately drawn to the cover art, a photograph by the artist Mike Kelley of an orange crochet stuffed toy. I had recently seen the music video for “100%” on MTV, the lead track on the album, which featured montages of skateboarders. This also piqued my interest as I was starting my lifelong journey with skateboarding. My memory of my first listen to Dirty was my mind being blown on how raw but sophisticated it sounded. At the time, I wasn’t aware of musical concepts such as dissonance, alternate tunings, or cross-rhythms, but I found myself naturally attracted to these ideas and sounds. I still gravitate towards music that sounds like it might break my speakers if I turn it up too loud. In my opinion, Dirty is a no-skip album. I definitely revisit it at least once year, and it never fails to amaze and enthrall me. My favorite track is “Wish Fulfillment” for sentimental reasons, but I really love each song for different reasons. I have probably bought Dirty in every format over the years, some several times over. My latest purchase was the vinyl record version, which has been my favorite way to listen to it.”
Marquee Moon • Television • 1977 • Guitar Rock • Recommended by Roy
“Television’s Marquee Moon is one of my absolute favorite rock albums. Responsible for helping build NYC’s famed CBGB’s into a venue for punk, post-punk, new wave acts and everything in between, Television crafted a gorgeous guitar rock album that is just great music.”
My Aim Is True • Elvis Costello • 1977 • New Wave • Recommended by Shauna
“I encountered New Wave on a summer day when I was in late elementary school. I first heard “Just What I Needed” (by the Cars) on AM radio (in my front yard at home, probably on my old yellow Panasonic “Toot a Loop”) in the summer of 1978. The opening guitar + bass rhythm, and the spareness behind Benjamin Orr’s weird-to-my-ears vocal style stopped me in my tracks. I was immediately hooked on this song that sounded so different from everything else. “WHAT was THAT?!!” The Cars is a phenomenal (debut) album without a real stinker in the bunch. But–The Cars is not my pick. My love of New Wave carried me through high school and into college and beyond. I learned about this Buddy Holly-looking dude named Elvis Costello from his single “Everyday I Write the Book” (Punch the Clock, 1983) when I was in high school, since it was his first top 40 hit in the US, so it had a lot of airplay. It was my introduction to his clever, almost baroque lyrics, complex rhythms, and melodic songwriting. Being an avid reader and lover of language, I got hooked, and I started buying all of his albums. Blood and Chocolate (1986) is probably my most favorite album overall–melodic, jangly, and a can’t-miss song about obsessive love (“I Want You”) that beats its infamous cousin by the Police for its quiet, brooding dread. But–Blood and Chocolate is not my pick. My Aim is True is Elvis Costello’s debut album; it lays out his style and expressiveness: the bitterness of a broken heart (“Alison”); caustic anger at evil politicians (“Less Than Zero”) and the richness, wit, and cinematic quality of his lyrics. Luckily, the US version of My Aim Is True included the reggae-inflected “Watching the Detectives:” film noir in song form and one of my favorite Costello tracks. I think, like reading a book by your favorite author for the first time, it’s best to start at the very beginning. So my pick is My Aim Is True.”
Rust in Peace • Megadeth • 1990 • Thrash Metal • Recommended by Young
“Rust in Peace is one of my favorite albums from Megadeth, but anything they released in the ‘80s and ‘90s is just awesomely good. The music and songwriting are topnotch. “Holy Wars…the Punishment Due” is the first song of this album and has such an amazing intro riff and drumming that is super catchy. There really isn’t a song that I don’t like in this album. Another worthy mention is So Far, So Good…So What! (1988) So many good songs in that album as well. My go-to driving song for a road trip is “502,” which is a police code for a serious driving offense that I don’t condone, but it captures the spirit of driving and the freedom of the open road. The songwriting in “Mary Jane” is quite outstanding and is a song I like for its poetical form. It’s actually about a local legend concerning a girl who takes up witchcraft, is thus disowned by her father, and ultimately commits suicide and haunts the forest. And finally there is “In My Darkest Hour,” a song about when love goes sour. It’s sometimes corny when a metal band sings about relationships, but metal people have feelings too and experience heartbreak! Anyway, I listen to many different types of music these days, but every so often I’ll listen to some old Megadeth and tune out.”
That’s the Spirit • Bring Me the Horizon • 2015 • Recommended by Ashley
Bring Me the Horizon always finds their way onto my Spotify Wrapped each year, and though not all of my favorite songs are on their 2015 album That’s the Spirit, this album holds a special place in my heart because I loved hearing it live for the first time in 2022 (and again earlier this October during their latest North American tour!). It’s always so cool to hear a band live and realize they sound just as good in person as they do in the studio. Paper tickets are rare these days, but I still have my ticket from the first time I saw them play. I now use it as a bookmark! 
(Note: This album is not currently available in the PPL collection, but you can hear Bring Me the Horizon’s 2010 album There Is A Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It There Is A Heaven Let’s Keep It A Secret on Hoopla, along with many other musical contributions they’ve made to other artists’ work and on soundtracks.