Classic Albums. Hosted by Stevie Nix

Stevie Nix
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Not all albums stand the test of time, but plenty do and Australian music critic Stevie Nix will bring one to you each week. He'll cover all eras and most genres and tell you why each record is so revered and, equally, why it deserves to be. And he only uses six songs to do it.

  1. Introducing The Hardline by Terence Trent D'Arby

    6D AGO

    Introducing The Hardline by Terence Trent D'Arby

    In the landscape of 1987 pop music, few debuts arrived with the impact and audacity of Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby. The album represented a remarkable fusion of styles and influences, delivered by an artist whose supreme confidence was matched by his extraordinary talent. The album's sound has aged remarkably well, avoiding many of the production clichés that make other records from the period sound dated. Featured songs: If You All Get to Heaven Wishing Well Seven More Days Rain As Yet Untitled Sign Your Name

    34 min
  2. Lemonade by Beyonce

    SEP 18

    Lemonade by Beyonce

    At its core, Lemonade is a narrative through the stages of heartbreak, anger, forgiveness and triumph. Structured around traditional elements of a relationship drama, the album creates a cohesive experience where each track builds upon the last, culminating in a sense of closure and catharsis. It exists simultaneously as a deeply personal exploration of Beyoncé's own experiences and a collective reflection of shared human emotions.  Featured songs: Pray You Catch Me Hold Up Daddy Lessons Sandcastles All Night Formation

    38 min
  3. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin

    SEP 11

    Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin

    In the pantheon of rock music, few albums stand as tall as Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album. Released in November 1971, it represents not just the peak of Led Zeppelin's creative powers, but a perfect convergence of hard rock, folk, blues, and mysticism. Through innovative recording techniques, peerless songwriting and unparalleled musicianship, Led Zeppelin created what many consider to be the definitive rock album of all time. Featured songs: Black Dog Misty Mountain Hop Rock And Roll Going To California Stairway To Heaven When The Levee Breaks

    35 min
  4. Crime Of The Century by Supertramp

    SEP 8

    Crime Of The Century by Supertramp

    Released in 1974, this was the album that transformed Supertramp from struggling British rockers into international stars. It was their third record, but in many ways, it felt like a debut – a complete reinvention that showcased the band's newfound confidence and artistic vision. What makes this album special isn't just its commercial success, but how it merged progressive rock complexity with irresistible pop melodies. The partnership between Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies reached its creative peak here, combining sophisticated arrangements with themes of alienation, social pressure, and mental health – topics that feel just as relevant today as they did in 1974. Featured songs: School Bloody Well Right Hide In Your Shell Asylum If Everyone Was Listening Dreamer

    40 min
  5. Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

    SEP 4

    Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

    Little Earthquakes was a seismic shift in the landscape of alternative rock and feminist expression. Tori Amos, with her virtuosic piano playing and raw, confessional lyrics, crafted a collection of songs that were both deeply personal and universally resonant. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt silenced, marginalised, or misunderstood. It’s a call to arms for self-empowerment, a cathartic release for those grappling with their own inner demons, and a beacon of hope for anyone searching for their place in a world that often feels indifferent. Featured songs: Crucify Winter China Leather Me And A Gun Silent All These Years

    36 min
  6. Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens

    AUG 28

    Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens

    Carrie & Lowell masterfully examines the multifaceted nature of grief. Grief, as portrayed in the album, is neither linear nor predictable; instead, it manifests in myriad forms — anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — all coexisting and intertwining in complex ways. In crafting this album, Stevens not only bares his soul but also offers a cathartic experience for the rest of us, inviting us to reflect on our own journeys of healing and self-discovery.  Featured songs: Death With Dignity Should Have Known Better Drawn To The Blood Fourth Of July The Only Thing Blue Bucket Of Gold

    38 min
  7. The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground, Nico

    AUG 21

    The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground, Nico

    The Velvet Underground & Nico's 1967 debut fundamentally reshaped rock music's DNA. The album created blueprints for glam rock's sexual ambiguity, punk's raw energy, and the distorted landscapes of grunge and noise rock. Though initially unsuccessful commercially, the album demonstrated rock music's potential as a serious art form, effectively bridging high art and popular culture while creating a blueprint for underground music. Featured songs: Sunday Morning I'm Waiting For The Man Femme Fatale Venus in Furs Heroin There She Goes Again

    40 min
  8. Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

    AUG 14

    Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

    Released in 1984, Rattlesnakes is a literary journey wrapped in melody; a collection of songs that transformed pop music's intellectual landscape. Lloyd Cole’s lyrics are laced with cultural references, wry humor, and a deep sense of longing, offering vignettes of characters and moments that feel cinematic in their detail. The result is an album that becomes a meditation on intellectual and emotional experience, challenging our expectations of pop music. Featured songs: Perfect Skin Rattlesnakes Forest Fire Charlotte Street Patience Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?

    34 min
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Not all albums stand the test of time, but plenty do and Australian music critic Stevie Nix will bring one to you each week. He'll cover all eras and most genres and tell you why each record is so revered and, equally, why it deserves to be. And he only uses six songs to do it.

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