A friend of mine introduced me to Rock. I've always looked at rock as a quality genre of music with so little beneath the surface. Simple song structures and minimal improvising.
The record he played me was Spacehog's "Resident Alien". This is actually a genre called "alternate rock", which just means it adds musical and production elements not included in the mainstream variety.

For the past couple weeks, I did some research online for the best rock albums. I started by downloading the two best selling rock albums of all-time:
AC/DC - Back in Black
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

I liked both albums. The first thing I noticed about Back in Black was the 4/4 time signature and melodies I recognized immediately.

This is what I have so far:

AC/DC
Back in Black
Stiff Upper Lip
For Those About To Rock We Salute You

Pink Floyd
Dark Side of the Moon
The Wall

Spacehog
Resident Alien

Jet
Get Born
Shine On
Shaka Rock

Can anyone reccomend me rock, alternative rock, or hard rock albums?

Thanks in advance.

Btw, this is the best music to listen to while at work or while surfing the net.

In 1976, at the height of disco music, a rock and roll band burst onto the scene that would take the rest of the 1970′s by storm. That band was Boston, a five man band that brought some fast and furious hard hitting riffs that echo still today. This album was designed to be played as loud as your stereo permitted and then some. And I had just the tools to do it.

The front cover is a depiction of city sized spaceships hurling away from an exploding planet. The largest ship is aptly named “Boston” and it is in search of a new home.

This album, or 8-Track tape, has 8 classic rock tunes each better than the previous tune. I fondly remember being in my car, my 1968 Camaro, equipped with my Motorola 300 watt power booster, with Clarion stereo with 8-Track player, and 14 heart stopping, blood pumping speakers positioned all around the car featuring my 6X9 triax 180 watt Arthur Fulmer speakers.

I would turn the volume up until all the red lights on the power booster were shining bright and then pop in the Boston 8-Track. The song, Foreplay/Long time was a great tune to begin with cruising up the avenue. The song would slowly build up to its peak and then a thumping bass and guitar riff would ring out. It wasn’t loud enough unless your ears bled. Everyone in the neighborhood knew I was coming and going, depending on one’s perspective.

Kicking myself for sleeping on Rick Derringer. "Rock and Roll Hoochie Coo" is fucking sublime.

Also, check out "Pearl Jam." They have a great new album out called "Backspacer" and a really kewl community of fans, called the Jamily. You can join here, it's worth the dues:
http://forums.pearljam.com/

The year 1973 was a mere two years from the explosion of disco music and the down fall of modern society. Led Zeppelin released their fifth album, Houses Of The Holy. This album actually had a title, unlike the previous offering, unofficially known as Led zeppelin IV. However, the rock band stayed with their bizarre artistic view by not having any words on the album cover. You had to buy the album and crack the plastic protective sheet to explore the lyrics and song titles.

What is the first thing you see when looking at this cover? Perhaps these are outcasts from the movie Splash, starring Darryl Hannah as the sexy nude mermaid coming ashore to mate with Tom Hanks. Perhaps a sequel to the Stepford Wives, Stepford Daughters. Perhaps albino zombies attacking. Yes, a total WTF album cover.

The back cover of Houses Of The Holy doesn’t offer up any clues as well. No name, no album title, no band members, no year recorded, not a single word or hint of who released the album.

i've heard a lot about the B-52s, any fans?

I heard the B-52s once. I liked it but I didn't find the power of Metallica therein. Maybe I'm complicating things, if so feel free to discard.

I think first, someone needs to set up proper categories for the various sub genres of Rock music and establish different threads for each genre. Each thread should include a brief overview of each kind of Rock, as well as a few examples to start the ball rolling.
then establish rules associated with each thread to help ensure quality posting suggestions follow.
it's gonna get pretty confusing otherwise, just sayin'

It was only a matter of time.

I only get confused when I get to paper scissors.