Iggy Pop/Lust for Life (1977)

The second solo album (#28 on the UK album charts) in collaboration with David Bowie, following the previous "The Idiot". More aggressive and rock-oriented than "The Idiot". "Sixteen", "Some Weird Sin", "The Passenger" and "Neighborhood Threat" are cool. "Tongiht" is a beautiful love song composed by David Bowie. The title track "Lust for Life" is a song used in the opening of the movie "Trainspotting".

Plastikman/Musik (1994)

An English-born, Canadian-raised electronic musician/DJ, Richie Hawtin's second full-length album under the alias Plastikman. Ambient/minimal-oriented introspective acid techno influenced by early Detroit techno and acid house. Simple and stoic sound with few tones, using Roland TB-303 (bass) and TR-909 (drum) synths. Almost nothing but rhythms and sound effects, and melodies are thin. Beautility like buildings with exposed skeletons.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers/Damn the Torpedoes (1979)

An American singer/songwriter, Tom Petty's third album released under the name of the Heartbreakers (#2 on the US album charts). Roots-oriented American rock influenced by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and the Beatles. Includes "Refugee", "Here Comes My Girl", "Even the Losers" and "Don't Do Me Like That". Recommended to those who like Bruce Springsteen or Dire Straits.

Astor Piazzolla/Tango: Zero Hour (1986)

Astor Piazzolla is an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. Based the traditional tango, he created a unique style called "nuevo tango" with elements from jazz and classical music. This is a recording with his quintet (violin, piano, guitar and bass) in 1986, in New York. Piazzolla said "This is absolutely the greatest record I've made in my entire life". "Tanguedia III" is a piece for the movie "Tangos, l'exil de Gardel/Tangos, the Exile of Gardel" directed by Fernando E. Solanas. "Milonga del Angel" is one of his famous pieces. "Michelangelo '70" is a re-recording of his 1970 masterpiece. Produced by Kip Hanrahan (American Clave label).

Lee "Scratch" Perry & the Upsetters/Super Ape (1976) *

One of the most important figures in Jamaican dub/roots reggae, Lee "Scratch" Perry's masterpiece. An established dub classic filled with pleasure of sound processing.

The Posies/Frosting on the Beater (1993)

An American alternative rock group, the Posies' third album. Beautiful melodies and vocal harmonies influenced by the 1960s British pop and power pop. Hard sound featuring grungy distorted guitars. Includes 'Dream All Day'. Produced by Don Fleming.

Pavement/Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)

The US indie rock band, Pavement's second album. One of the leading bands of the 'lo-fi' movement in the early 1990s. Melodic and song-oriented sound with noisy distorted guitar, like anorak/grunge guitar pop such as Teenage Fanclub and Dinosaur Jr. Wobbly performance. Includes a hit song 'Cut Your Hair'.

Augustus Pablo/King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown (1976)

A collaboration between Augustus Pablo, a producer and melodica player, and King Tubby, an engineer and the originator of dub. An instrumental reggae/dub classic that features Augustus Pablo's 'Far East' sound with the melodica melodies in minor keys, and King Tubby's exquisite mixing/sound treatment. The title track is a dub version of Jacob Miller's 'Baby I Love You So'.

The Pretty Things/The Pretty Things (1965)

The UK rock band led by guitarist Dick Taylor, who was an original member of the Rolling Stones in the early days. The debut album plus six bonus tracks (five single tracks and one demo recording). The sound is more aggressive, punkier and rawer than the early Stones. Features smash hits, "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Honey, I Need". A freakbeat/garage punk classic.

The Pale Fountains/Pacific Street (1983) **

An acoustic-oriented guitar pop band. This 1st album is great. The sound is like works of A&M Records (Burt Bacharach, for example).

Van Dyke Parks/Discover America (1972)

2nd album. Tropical-flavored works featuring some covers of Trinidadian music/Calypso, played on steel drums.

Parliament/Mothership Connection (1976)

Featuring George Clinton. A masterpiece of P-Funk.

The Pastels/Suck on the Pastels (1983-1985)

The indie rock band formed with Stephan Pastel (guitar, vocals) in Glasgow, Scotland in 1982. The band was influential in the Glasgow-based guitar pop movement called "anorak". A compilation that includes their early tracks released from 1983 to 1985 (singles on the Rough Trade and Creation labels, BBC sessions). Guitar pop influenced by The Velvet Underground. The performance and singing are naivete and have a distinctive flavor. Features "Baby Honey", "Something Going On" and "Million Tears".

Patti Smith Group/Radio Ethiopia (1976)

One of the New York punks. 2nd album. I'm fond of sounds like this, for it resembles the Doors.

Pearl Jam/Ten (1991)

The American rock band formed around the ex-members of Green River and Mother Love Bone: Stone Gossard (guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass). The debut album. Following Nirvana's 'Nevermind', the hit of this album put grunge/alternative rock into the mainstream. Orthodox and melodic sound based on the 1970's hard rock and heavy metal.

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra/Music From the Penguin Cafe (1976)

England's ambient music group led by Simon Jeffes. The debut album released on Brian Eno's 'Obscure' label. Unique sounds based on the style of classical chamber music using string instruments, with the elements of contemporary/experimental music and minimalism. The executive producer is Brian Eno.

Pet Shop Boys/Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (1985-1991)

Electro-pop like Eurodance/Eurobeat. Elegant and cynical. Includes No. 1 hit on the UK and US charts "West End Girls".

Pink Floyd/The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) **

1st album featuring Syd Barrett (vocals and guitar). Psychedelic pop.

Pink Floyd/The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

A long seller album. A product of studio works by use of sound effects.

Pixies/Surfer Rosa (1988)

A noisy guitar pop band from Boston. 1st album. Produced by Steve Albini.

The Pogues/If I Should Fall from Grace With God (1988)

The band formed by an Irish punk and drunken vocalist, Shane MacGowan in 1982 in London. The third album produced by Steve Lillywhite. Pop-oriented sound fusing punk with traditional Irish folk music. Features the good Christmas song 'Fairytale of New York' (#2 on the UK charts. A duet with Kristy MacColl). Recommended to those who like The Clash.

The Police/Outlandos D'amour (1978) *

Punky reggae beats. 1st album. Includes "Roxanne".

The Police/Synchronicity (1983)

Includes a smash hit "Every Breath You Take". The last album.

The Pop Group/Y (1979)

Avant-garde sounds mixing punk, free jazz, funk, dub and so on. 1st album. Co-produced by Dennis Bovell. Includes "She Is Beyond Good and Evil" (not included in the original LP) and "We Are Time".

The Pop Group/For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? (1980)

This 2nd album is recommended too. More political and funky than the 1st.

Pop Will Eat Itself/Box Frenzy (1987)

An early instance of the rock bands that introduced samplings and hip-hop into the sounds.

Portishead/Portishead (1997)

One of the Trip Hop groups from Bristol. 2nd album. Melancholy sounds with dub/hip-hop beats. Not danceable, but cool.

Prefab Sprout/Steve McQueen (1985) *

The melody lines by Paddy McAloon (guitar and vocals) are excellent. 2nd album. Produced by Thomas Dolby.

Premiata Forneria Marconi/Photos of Ghosts (1973)

The third album (English version) by the Italian progressive-rock band Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM). Released from the Manticore label managed by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Pete Sinfield from King Crimson wrote the English lyrics and produced the two tracks. Subtle and exquisite prog-rock based on baroque/pre-classical music with idyllic, cheerful tones. Effectively using acoustic guitar and flute.

Elvis Presley/Elvis' Golden Records (1956, 1957)

A collection of his early singles, such as "Love Me Tender" and "Jailhouse Rock".

Pretenders/Pretenders (1980)

Featuring Chrissie Hynde (vocals and guitar). 1st album. No. 1 on the UK album charts. Includes "Kid" and cover of the Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing".

Primal Scream/Screamadelica (1991)

A mixture of old-fashioned '60s-ish rock and acid-house style dance beats.

Prince and the Revolution/Parade (1986)

A masterpiece of contemporary funk. Popular and avant-garde. Includes "Kiss".

Prince/Sign O' the Times (1987) **

I think this album is the greatest work of the US rock in the late 1980s. Highly recommended.

The Prodigy/Experience (1992)

High-speed breakbeats-style techno sound. High-pitched vocal samples. 1st album. Includes hits "Charly" and "Everybody in the Place".

The Prodigy/The Fat of the Land (1997)

The 3rd album. Rock-oriented techno/electronica/dance music. Heavy, brutal and aggressive, but cool sounds. Includes 'Breathe' and 'Firestarter'.

Propaganda/A Secret Wish (1985)

A synth-pop band from Germany. Featuring the vocalist Claudia Brücken. The first album released on ZTT Records, England. Art-oriented synth pop in an industrial-techno style. The first single "Dr. Mabuse" is a song inspired by the film directed by Fritz Lang. "Sorry for Laughing" is a cover of Josef K. Produced by S. J. Lipson. Mixed by S. J. Lipson and Trevor Horn. Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Heaven 17's vocalist Glenn Gregory, Japan's David Sylvian (writing lyrics), Yes' guitarist Steve Howe guest.

Public Enemy/It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

A radical rap group from the US. Noisy and hardcore.

Public Image Limited/Metal Box/Second Edition (1979)

John Lydon's post-Sex Pistols group. Dubby bass lines by Jah Wobble. Music after the "death of rock". 2nd album.

Public Image Limited/The Flowers of Romance (1981) *

Radical beats. Metallic sounds of guitar. John Lydon's vocals are like chant. 3rd album.