Talk Talk had already found fame with their first three albums, so they decided to make the next one on their own terms.  The result was a meandering avant-gardy, jazzish pop album that was near-impossible to tour live. EMI wasn't thrilled, of course, but critics were and so am I, because Spirit of Eden is glorious. It's been called atmospheric and lush, which it is, but with ecstatic rock-on moments, too. It's also been called timeless, and that's sure proven true--20 years on, and every time I play the album here someone gets a dreamy look in their eyes and leaves with it.

It's everything I look for in music. Experimental, but drivingly melodic. Thoroughly exciting.