

Island Picks
Top Ten Song Countdowns
​
For 2026 we're back to reviewing and grading classics from the 1970's. For these reviews, we’re doing things a little differently. In the past, we graded albums song by song and then averaged everything out into a final letter grade. This time, we’re judging the album as a whole and giving it one overall letter grade as a complete project. Another change is how we’re listening. Before, we each listened individually and wrote our reviews on our own. Now we’re listening together, going track by track and talking about each song once it ends. It’s been a really enjoyable experience for us. It takes us back to the old days, when life felt a little simpler and you’d sit around with your buddies, listening to an album together. We’re having a great time, and we hope you enjoy reading the reviews. Thanks again for checking out our website!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​

Album Reviews
(click on album art for full review)
Van Halen II 1979
A
​
Kiss / Kiss 1974
​
Montrose / Montrose
1973
Angel
On Earth as It is in Heaven
1977
Alice Cooper
From the Inside 1978
A-
A
B+
B-
​
Van Halen / Van Halen
1978
​
UFO / Lights Out
1977
A-
B+
​
Cheap Trick/ Cheap Trick
1977
B+
Boston/Boston
1976
B+
​
Kiss/Destroyer
1976
B+
​
​
Paul Stanley
1978
B+
​
Deep Purple/ Machine Head
1972
A-
​
Aerosmith/Rocks
1976
B+












