Last Updated on December 18, 2025 by Black Sunshine Media
I got turned on to rock listicles (and lists in general) by The Book of Rock Lists by Dave Marsh (1982). Ever since, I’ve been creating (and sometimes publishing) my original annotated lists of things I like, don’t like, and/or find interesting. The outcome of the “throwaway” medium is negligible. They’re fun. I enjoy the process.
The Difference Between Lists and Listicles
While both formats organize information into points, the difference lies in intent and depth.
List
A list is a utilitarian collection of items, often without significant elaboration. Its primary goal is categorization or inventory—like a grocery list or a basic discography. It is a reference, not necessarily read as a narrative.
Two great examples of a list:
Listicle
A listicle (a portmanteau of list and article) is a piece of long-form content disguised as a list. Each point is usually accompanied by a paragraph of context, analysis, or storytelling. Listicles are designed for high engagement and “scan-ability”. Numbered structures provide a narrative arc or a series of arguments.
Over the years, I’ve accumulated a modest backlog of listicles, and I’m always creating new ones. Check here or the homepage for the latest Black Sunshine Media listicle!
Current Rock Listicles
- Top Rock Music Producers of the 1990s and 2000sby Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 27, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media [Grandpa enters the room and slumps into an easy chair. He slowly pivots his head toward the camera, lowering his gaze.] You see, I have a love/hate relationship with rock music from the 1990s to present, and likewise, a vague sense of ambivalence for the…
- Top 60 Rock Keyboardists (According to Me)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 27, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media I’ve been reluctant to publish this post about rock keyboard players—or keyboardists—because technically and theoretically, I’m not a pianist or keyboardist. If somebody asks, yes, I can play keyboards, but I’m no Edgar Winter. However, piano was the first instrument I learned to play, before…
- 150+ Yacht Rock and/or Pool Party Songs to Set the Toneby Christian AdamsLast Updated on March 16, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media Do you have a boat with a sound system that needs a rock-oriented playlist for your next soireé at sea? Are you planning an adult pool party but don’t have time to curate a soundtrack? Having some friends over tonight to guzzle some cocktails and…
- Top 50 Progressive Rock Guitarists (According to Me)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on February 26, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media I don’t consider myself a progressive rock guitarist, but prog is an important part of my skill set. The verse section of “The Spirit of Radio” by Rush was the first lick I learned to play by ear. Yessongs (1973) was the first live album…
- Top 30 Alternative Rock Guitarists (According to Me)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on February 20, 2026 by Christian Adams Alternative rock is mostly guitar-centric, so it’s no surprise that the genre is loaded with talent. I’ve got my favorites because I basically grew up during the hey-days of alternative (1983–1999), and the closely related genres of new wave and post-punk. There’s a lot of crossover…
- Top Progressive Rock Albums of All Time (According to Me)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 27, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media Progressive rock emerged in the late 1960s when rock musicians were empowered to move away from the singles format and into the album era, and likewise, allowed to explore conceptual and instrumental boundaries. This artistic and commercial freedom resulted in a tsunami of progressive rock…
- Top 50+ Alternative Rock Albums (According to Me)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 27, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media Like many comparable types of rock music, alternative rock music went through phases or waves of emergence, peak saturation, and ultimate decline. Our task is to parse and evaluate the best albums from the period, which isn’t easy. It begs a bigger question: What is…
- Rejected! Songs That Didn’t Make the Original Motion Picture Soundtrackby Christian AdamsLast Updated on January 1, 2026 by Christian Adams Original motion picture soundtracks (OSTs) can be wildly inconsistent in terms of listening value and experience. Sometimes, they include (many of) the songs played in the movie, such as Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Purple Rain (1984). Others, like the Star Wars OSTs by John Williams—one…
- Get Their Greatest Hits: 50+ Rock Bands Best Experienced Through Compilation Albumsby Christian AdamsLast Updated on March 26, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media Some rock bands are built for albums. They reward patience, headphones, liner notes, and the kind of long-distance devotion that only comes from growing up with their music. Other bands? They require a specialized type of curation. This post is about the second group—the artists…
- Top 50 Rock Drummers of All Time (According to Me)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 27, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media We’ve covered three of the Big Four positions in rock music—vocals, guitar, and bass—so it’s time to list the top rock drummers of all time (according to me). But before we get to the list, you deserve some backstory, and, of course, I’m increasingly fond…
- Top Rock Music Producers of the 1980sby Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 21, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media Rock music in the 1980s was a fascinating era marked by excess, experimentation, and the gradual but inevitable shift from analog tape machines to the digital frontier. It was the last gasp of the “classic” recording studio setup: massive consoles, reel-to-reel tape, and producers who…
- Brothers & Sisters: 75 Siblings in Rock Musicby Christian AdamsLast Updated on December 12, 2025 by Black Sunshine Media The combustible chemistry between siblings has powered some of the most iconic moments in rock history. There’s something flammable about the connection between siblings who share both a stage and a last name—whether it’s the tight harmonies, the creative tension, or the lifelong bond that…
- Top Rock Music Producers of the 1970sby Christian AdamsLast Updated on March 16, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media The first compact disc wasn’t burned until 1983, so 1970 to 1982 was the Golden Age of Albums. The period also welcomed album-oriented rock (AOR) radio formatting, which allowed disc jockeys some leeway to play longer songs and deeper cuts. We got double, triple, even…
- Great Rock Bands from the 2000s (You Might Have Missed)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on April 27, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media Not that anybody is keeping track, but I’ve probably said “rock music died in 1991” at least a dozen times in print and hundreds of times in conversation. I believe that once digital audio software (ProTools), samplers, sequencers, and synthesizers, i.e., computers, became a driving…
- Top Rock Music Producers of the 1960sby Christian AdamsLast Updated on August 21, 2025 by Christian Adams In the mid-1960s, rock musicians and producers began shifting focus from singles to albums as the primary medium for creative expression and listener engagement. The Beatles and Bob Dylan were at the forefront; their work helped elevate rock music’s cultural status and sparked a decades-long “album…
- 30 Rock Bands from the 1990s (You Might Have Missed)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on March 12, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media For many of us, the 1990s were dominated by the rise (and fall) of grunge and alternative rock, and the emergence of rap and hip hop as the beacon of popular music and culture. There are dozens of rock bands from the 1990s you might…
- Let the Drummer Have Some! Solo Albums By Rock Drummersby Christian AdamsLast Updated on December 18, 2025 by Black Sunshine Media Drummers are the foundation of modern rock music, and the nature of the instrument is rhythmic support. Televised network “talent” shows never feature standalone rock drummers because (almost) nobody wants to hear two minutes of drums and nothing but drums. Neil Peart wouldn’t make it…
- 17 Great 80s Rock Bands (You Might Have Missed)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on September 5, 2025 by Christian Adams It’s hard to find great 1980s rock bands that were overlooked because the market was saturated by MTV and radio. It’s easier to find great bands from the 1970s and the 1990s, too, when the rise of digital recording rocked the infrastructure and landscape of music.…
- 18 Great 70s Rock Artists (You Might Have Missed)by Christian AdamsLast Updated on January 1, 2026 by Christian Adams Great 1970s rock bands have a habit of falling through the cracks. For every Kiss and Led Zeppelin, thousands of overlooked artists were as good, if not better, than the superstars. The bands and artists on this list aren’t one-hit wonders or obscure local favorites. With…
- Weird and Quirky Cover Versions of Great Rock Songsby Christian AdamsLast Updated on March 12, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media I’m a sucker for a good cover song, whether sincere or satirical. I’ve spent entire weeks listening to nothing but Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine, the Mike Flowers Pops, and Pat Boone’s In a Metal Mood (2007). I’d be a bigger fan of…
- 10 Great Rock Songs (Surprisingly) Inspired by Books and Literatureby Christian AdamsLast Updated on December 18, 2025 by Black Sunshine Media Rock music is littered with songs and albums inspired by great literature. Some bands, like Iron Maiden, don’t have much to say if they’re not retelling “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. The Cure have consistently dropped tracks inspired by Robert Smith‘s reading habits. Radiohead…
- Van Halen’s Top 10 Under-Appreciated Songsby Christian AdamsLast Updated on December 18, 2025 by Black Sunshine Media At this point in life, I don’t begrudge anybody’s appreciation of the Sammy Hagar-era albums. I don’t even care if you happen to love Van Halen III featuring Gary Cherone. Just don’t confuse that music with the true genius of Van Halen and The First…
- 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time, More or Lessby Christian AdamsLast Updated on March 18, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media From an informational perspective, opinion-based “Best Of” lists, especially related to music, are generally worthless. For instance, Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs [Of All Time], contains neither surprise nor revelation, yet abounds in cringe and grimace. Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums is another story altogether,…