The three hundred and sixty-fourth album: #364 Ramones - Ramones
Although punk rock has been lurking around the edges for a while, the Ramones' self-titled album is one that defined the sound of the genre and one of the earlier ones properly styled as such. That's not to say the sound is wholly original, but there's a consistency to it that may not always be to its favour, but works well to define itself. Lyrically, it's not as political as the genre would later become, but here it fits with the poppier music it references in a couple of tracks. Just as often, it's still raw and angry, but it feels more directed this time than what other hard rock albums have reached.
The three hundred and sixty-third album: #363 Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene
Although listed assix tracks, Oxygene feels more like a single instrumental electronic work. There is a break between the two sides and I'm sure repeat listens would throw up differences between the tracks, the fact that they are numbered sequentially shows how they all fit in as one, some weird soundscapes breaking in between them. Even in that sphere, the moods that an instrumental would normally invoke aren't present, the music feeling too alien to connect to. It is a lovely sound, but almost as much of a demonstration of how far it can be removed from our experiences.
The three hundred and sixty-second album: #362 The Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music from the Penguin Cafe
Some albums really don't feel complicated - just a quartet or small ensemble making music. There's no lyrics, no big themes, just a pleasant instrumental sound. Although I understand the band does more eclectic work, here it's a straightforward folk track with classical influences. It's an accessible album, good as a sound to work to while appreciating it as it's happening.
The three hundred and sixty-first album: #361 Parliament - Mothership Connection
Mothership Connection is a bizarre funk album - by bringing in some prog elements, there's a Bowie-style influence in the lyrics while being driven still with the funk repetition. It just has a handful of long tracks, which always loses my attention partway through, but for where it comes from, the album has some good parts in it when it doesn't descend too far into that funk sound.