I’m a big music fan. Just something about listening to a good song that you can relate to is something that cannot be beaten. My favorite type of music has to be rock in its many forms: classic rock, punk rock, metal, hard rock, etc.

Today I’m going to be reviewing some of my favorite rock albums. Yes, albums are still alive and well, even though downloading has sadly torn that industry down by a lot.

1. "British Steel"--Judas Priest

After wandering in obscurity throughout much of the 1970’s, Judas Priest made a big impact at the turn of the 80’s with a simple blend of hard rock and stadium anthems on British Steel.

Songs like ‘Breaking the Law’ and ‘Living After Midnight’ are favorites of fans and casual rockers alike, but other songs like ‘You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise’ make the album more complete with hidden gems. The dual guitar sound and Rob Halford’s operatic vocals make the album a classic.

British Steel was the album that officially signaled the start of the British Metal Invasion, which would later include Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, and what a start it was.

2. "Boston"--Boston

Released in 1976, Boston’s first album was the best-selling debut album in history, being certified 17x platinum, until Guns N Roses’ "Appetite For Destruction." The album is a rock 'n roll classic with many of its songs still being heard on radio today.

Songs like ‘More Than A Feeling’ and ‘Peace of Mind’ are the ones that everyone knows and doesn’t hesitate to sing along to. Brad Delp’s vocals help convey the message of every single song while Tom Scholz’s guitar gives life to them.

After the big success with this album, Boston was never able to really replicate it with their next two albums, despite those two still selling well. In the end, their first album will always be the one everyone remembers.

3. "Rumours"--Fleetwood Mac

Sometimes great songs can come out of tension. That seemed to be the case in Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. The band was notorious for not getting along, mostly due to the fact most of its members were either together or had long since broken up.

Keyboardist Christine and bassist John McVie had divorced the previous year, and vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham had always had a tumultuous relationship together. The songs reflect that tension and people can relate to it.

Songs like ‘Go Your Own Way’ and ‘Dreams’ reflect the different sides of a relationship. ‘Dreams’ reflects a more hopeful message but ‘Go Your Own Way’ is more pessimistic in nature. The songs all have a familiar message to everyone; joy or pain, hope and pessimism: it doesn’t matter.

The album sold a whopping 40 million copies worldwide, half of those being sold in the United States, and was a touchstone in the era of album-oriented music.

4. "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band"--The Beatles

It has been named the greatest album of all time by many music polls, including Rolling Stone, but "Sgt. Pepper" is an album that changed the entire game for the rest of the 1960’s and into the 70’s.

Released on June 1, 1967, after a tumultuous previous year, which saw the Beatles stop touring for good, the album was a turning point for the band, and in hindsight may have been the beginning of the end.

The diversity of the songs is the most striking part. No two songs sounded exactly the same. The album includes influences of the growing psychedelic movement in music, traditional Indian music, rock, and music hall.

The titular track symbolizes a new direction with the purpose of saying that the old Beatles were gone and this new band is here to stay. Songs like "When I’m 64" and "Lovely Rita" are ones to relax to and reflect on life while "A Day In The Life" is pure genius that will never be replicated.

5. "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols"--The Sex Pistols

In England in the late 1970’s, the punk movement was fully in effect. Young people were growing tired of the stiffness of English society and looked for ways to express themselves. The Sex Pistols debut, and only, album reflects the anger and frustration of the British working class and them wanting to express themselves.

Lead singer Johnny Rotten’s sarcastic and stinging vocals give the album its voice while the crunching guitars give it life. Songs like "Anarchy In the UK" are anthems for disenchanted youth who are yearning to breathe freely while "God Save the Queen" sarcastically targets the queen and how the government has treated the working class. The lyrics "There is no future / and England’s dreaming" still apply to today and Brexit as well as the upcoming presidential election.

While controversial for the times because of its messages, the album is an instant classic and carried the punk movement to the stratosphere. While albums like "London Calling" by the Clash and "Ramones" by the Ramones may have been better albums, they did not have the same impact that "Never Mind the Bollocks" had.