The Cars (The Cars)

The Cars
The Cars (1978)

Top Tracks: “Good Times Roll”, “Just What I Needed”, “Bye Bye Love”

It could be the best debut album of all time. Nearly every song is incredibly strong; there’s not an ounce of filler. The Cars weren’t the first new wave or power pop band by a long shot; they just did both better than just about anyone else ever had, or will. It’s funny; for a band that people associated so much with synthesizers, they sure had a ton of incredibly great guitar lines thanks to the brilliance of Elliot Easton. (May 2020).

Damn the Torpedoes (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

Damn the Torpedoes
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1979)

Top Tracks: “Here Comes My Girl”, “Refugee”, “ Don’t Do Me Like That”

A totally solid rock album. I thought “Here Comes My Girl” had a terrific progression from the first time I heard it in middle school, and associated the tune at the time with the myriad young ladies who I was suddenly interested in romantically. Definitely an influential album on me as a rock songwriter (June 2020).