OutKast/Stankonia (2000)

An American hip hop duo ("André 3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton) formed in Atlanta, GA, OutKast's fourth album (#2 on the US charts). A good Southern rap/hip hop (dirty south) album with a mixture of funk, soul, pop, electronica and rock, especially southern soul and G-funk. Includes singles, "B.O.B.", "Ms. Jackson" (#1 on the US charts) and "So Fresh, So Clean".

The Ohio Players/Funk on Fire: The Mercury Anthology (1974-1978) *

The American funk/R&B band, the Ohio Players' best compilation album (2 CDs, 28 tracks) including their songs on Mercury Records (1974-1978). Hard-driving funk/dance tracks direct descendant of James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone, such as "Skin Tight", "Fire" (#1 on the US charts), "Fopp", "Love Rollercoaster" (#1 on the US charts. Famous as a sample source of hip-hop. Covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and "Who'd She Coo?" are cool. Other sweet vocal/chorus songs, such as a jazzy soul ballad classic "Sweet Sticky Thing", are also good.

Sinéad O'Connor/I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990)

A female singer and songwriter from Dublin, Ireland, Sinead O'Connor's second album. A worldwide hit (#1 on the UK and US album charts). Features many different styles, such as ballad, folk, guiter rock and celtic/traditional. Includes the smash hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U" (composed by Prince. #1 on the UK and US charts).

Offspring/Smash (1994)

An alternative rock/punk band formed in Garden Grove, CA, the Offspring's 1994 breakthrough album that sold over eight million copies. Melodic and metal-inflected hardcore punk. Includes "Come Out and Play" and "Gotta Get Away".

Oasis/Definitely Maybe (1994)

A guitar band from Manchester. Well-crafted British rock. Liam Gallagher's vocal style is like John Lydon's. 1st album.

Mike Oldfield/Tubular Bells (1973)

A masterpiece of progressive instrumental rock. His solo debut and the world-wide hit album. A conceptual piece by the 28 instruments (he plays almost all of them for himself) and 2300 overdubs. Also noted as the music of the film 'The Exorcist'.

Orange Juice/You Can't Hide Your Love Forever (1982) **

An acoustic-oriented guitar pop band influenced by punk, '60s pop and '70s melodic soul (Al Green, for example).

Orb/The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (1991)

Ambient techno with reggae/dub groove.

Orbital/Orbital 2 (1993) *

The UK techno duo of the brothers, Phil Hartnoll and Paul Hartnoll. The second album which is untitled and nicknamed the 'brown' album. Straight-ahead and mainstream techno sound as if Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" were made more danceable and trancy. One of the most brilliant techno albums in the 1990s.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark/Organisation (1980)

Electro-pop. 2nd album. Includes a hit "Enola Gay".

Oval/Systemisch (1994) *

The German experimental techno unit featuring Markus Popp. The 2nd album. Ambient techno sounds by use of sampling of CD skip noises.