The best SIXTH albums

6 June 2024, 08:00

Sixth time lucky! You'll be surprised how many artists have played a blinder this far into their career... take a look at these classic albums.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. R.E.M. - Green

   

   R.E.M. - Orange Crush (Official Music Video)

   1988's Green spelt a new era for Athens, Georgia's finest. They left indie label IRS and signed with major Warner Brothers, which led the way to the multi-platinum selling Out Of Time and Automatic For The People. Green was charged with political and environmental concerns, with Orange Crush having a dig at US foreign policy.

2. New Order - Republic

   

   New Order - Regret (Official Music Video)

   1993's Republic was the legendary Manchester band's first album not to be released on the Factory label… and would be their last LP until the band came back off hiatus in 2001 with Get Ready.

3. Blur - 13

   

   Blur - Tender

   13 saw the band work with producer William Orbit and the somewhat low-key album is lyrically concerned with the breakup of Damon Albarn and Justine Frischmann. Not the most lively of Blur albums, but one of the deepest with songs like Tender and No Distance Left To Run.

4. Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth

   

   Oasis - Lyla - Official Video

   Featuring the singles Lyla and The Importance Of Being Idle, the sixth outing from the Gallagher brothers saw all the members of the band have a say in the writing of the material. It had the biggest first week sales of an Oasis album since Be Here Now.

5. The White Stripes - Icky Thump

   

   The White Stripes - You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) (Official Music Video)

   The duo's 2007 curtain call was their only album for major label Warner Brothers and included the track You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told) and Rag And Bone.

6. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino

   

   Arctic Monkeys - Four Out Of Five (Official Video)

   In 2018, Alex Turner headed for the moon via the films of director Stanly Kubrick for this ambitious, piano-led album. It was a far cry from the simple days of I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

7. Biffy Clyro - Opposites

   

   Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier (Official Music Video)

   Following the huge success of Only Revolutions, The Biff released an ambitious double album at the beginning of 2013, divided into two halves: The Sand at the Core of Our Bones and The Land at the End of Our Toes.

8. The Doors - L.A. Woman

   

   The Doors - Riders On The Storm (Official Music Video)

   This blues-rock extravaganza was the last to be recorded with singer Jim Morrison, who died three months after its release in April 1971. Recorded in the band's LA offices, it's a far cry from the group's original psychedelic rock manifesto, but mellow all the same.

9. David Bowie - Aladdin Sane

   

   David Bowie – The Jean Genie (Official Video)

   Having killed off Ziggy Stardust, Bowie created a new persona for this epic 1973 album, which included The Jean Genie and Drive-In Saturday.

10. Foo Fighters - Echoes Silence Patience And Grace

    

    Foo Fighters - The Pretender

    Dave Grohl's 2007 effort was produced by Gil Norton of Pixies and There Is Nothing Left To Lose fame and included The Pretender and The Long Road To Ruin.

11. The Cure - The Head On The Door

    

    The Cure - In Between Days (Official Video)

    Robert Smith completed the transformation from gloom merchant to pop pixie with this 1985 album that included the hits In Between Days and Close To Me.

12. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti

    

    Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (Live from Celebration Day) (Official Video)

    This mammoth 1975 double album saw the quartet declare themselves the Kings Of Rock 'N' Roll, with tracks like Kashmir, Trampled Underfoot and In My Time Of Dying.

13. Depeche Mode - Music For The Masses

    

    Depeche Mode - Strangelove (Official Video)

    This 1987 included the hits Strangelove and Never Let Me Down Again and saw the band achieve stadium status in the US.

14. The Beatles - Rubber Soul

    

    Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

    Christmas 1965. This is where it starts getting interesting. Sitars. Acoustic ballads. Lyrical obscurity. Hanging out with Dylan. Norwegian Wood. Drive My Car. Nowhere Man. "The Word is love". And so on…