1991 - August: Metallica "Metallica (the Black Album)"

Metallica  was a big deal well before the release of this album.  Singer and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich had formed the band a decade prior to this fifth studio release, technically called Metallica but most commonly referenced as The Black Album due to its all-black cover.  Hetfield and Ulrich, together with lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Jason Newsted were successful commercially and critically on the strength of previous albums, particularly their third (Master of Puppets) and fourth (...And Justice for All) studio releases.  However The Black Album would be their most successful album release, and the second longest-charting traditional title release in history, behind only Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." Metallica is one of the founding bands of thrash metal, and had a reputation for musicianship that was both fast and complex.  The Black Album saw the band developing a slower, more refined sound with singles that were shorter and tighter, making them more accessible to a general audience.  Hetfield also sought to create songs with a less "scream-heavy" vocalization.  The result of their efforts was both their first number one album on the charts, and an album filled with some of their most well-known singles.  The album is more heavy metal than their previous releases, but still retains a thrash metal edge.Metallica would go on from success to success, never really seeing their international fame fade.  This album marks the point where the band had learned to master both their musical craft and their stage craft.  John Lynch brings us this landmark heavy metal album. Enter Sandman<br />This track was the first single, the first song written for the album, and the last to receive lyrics.  Hammett wrote the primary guitar riff after being inspired by Soundgarden's Louder than Love album.  The original lyrics were much darker, referencing sudden infant death syndrome, and Lars Ulrich and producer Bob Rock encouraged Hetfield to rework them .Sad But True<br />The fifth and final single from the album was originally written in the key of E.  When the producer pointed out that every song on the album was written in E, the band tuned down to D for this track.  The idea for the lyrics about blind faith were inspired by the 1978 film "Magic" in which a ventriloquist is controlled by his puppet. The Unforgiven<br />The second single is a heavy power ballad about the struggles of the individual against an all-powerful machine-like force holding him captive.  It has a softer style than most Metallica songs, and allows Hetfield's vocal musicianship to shine through.  Two sequel songs would be released on future albums.Nothing Else Matters<br />Hetfield did not intend to release this song, but wrote it for himself when feeling homesick on tour.  Ulrich encouraged him to include it in the album, and it is one of their biggest hits.  While originally written about a girlfriend, the song has become a reference to Metallica's fans on tour. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:Lets Work Together by The Kentucky Headhunters (from the motion picture “Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man”) <br />This movie was a biker film with Don Johnson and Mickey Rourke in a Western style. STAFF PICKS:She's So High by Blur<br />Wayne is well known for his affinity to the Manchester psychedelic sound.  However, this group with the Manchester sound is actually from London.  While the song would appear to be about drugs, it is actually a reference to a girl who is out of the singer's league.  Blur hit number 48 on the UK sing