Jaw-dropping rock songcraft so far ahead of its time. (MS) Every rock song ever echoes sounds that Holly and the Crickets made first. (PK)

None of their early albums have any bad songs. (GM) The sound is better than their prior works and the songs, too, continuing the back-to-basics enema rock badly needed. (MS)

When I first saw them I especially loved “Judy is a Punk” and “Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World.” (GM) The first time I heard the Ramones I walked around for days after, spewing Blitzkrieg Bob at breakneck speed to people at work, in a bar, walking down the street, everywhere. Perfect. (PK)

Shows a casual mastery of so many musical styles: rock, country, fusion, riff/pop. (MS) Belongs higher but then so does everything else and more. (GM)

The angelic voices in Brian Wilson’s head prior to turning into madness. (MS) Brian Wilson’s three part harmony at its lovely best. (LM)

Dino Danelli is their secret weapon but they all got the feeling and they knew how to put it in songs. (GM) Blue eyed greatness. Groovin’ is the purer release, but they have too many fine songs to stop there. (PK)

Best. Singer. Ever. The first three songs blow your socks off and then it loses some steam. But so what. (MS) As a showcase of her greatest singing this rules, though so does pretty much anything she ever recorded (including those church services when she was 13 or so). (PK)

Perhaps the most creatively exuberant music ever made, along with all the music they made in the two years before and after. (GM) A classic crafted somehow amidst the mania. (MS)

Box sets are cheating. Too bad. His voice is beyond adjectives. (GM) This is the beginning of the feeling and the voice. (PK)

The Beatles prove they don’t need each other. Pyrrhic victory for us. (MS) Diverse, showing all their talents, and more important, not afraid to try things. (LM)