‘Back to the Egg,’ released on June 8, 1979, showed Paul McCartney could plug into the new wave zeitgeist. Well, when he wanted to, anyway.

The New Cars, who released their lone album on June 6, 2006, made a canny choice in replacing Ric Ocasek with the multi-talented Todd Rundgren.

“Where Did I Love Your Love,” released this month in 2008, is perhaps the closest Journey has come to completely renimating its platinum-era sound.

Released on May 26, 1992, ‘Kiko’ is still, by any measure, Los Lobos’ most unusual album. That’s what lures me back, again and again.

Released on May 25, 1978, ‘David Gilmour’ is a complete solo statement, refreshing in that it’s not trying too hard to sound like Pink Floyd.

‘Holy Diver, released on May 25, 1983, found Ronnie James Dio setting a new course after work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath.

When Def Leppard released a covers album on May 23, 2006, I didn’t expect to like it. This must clearly be a band on the verge of calling it quits, right?

Spirit, featuring Jay Ferguson, Randy California and Ed Cassidy, may have been risk takers – but there’s no denying the band had an ear for melody.

‘Close as You Get,’ released this week in May 2007, was your standard-issue Gary Moore blues record. Meaning, it was very, very good.

Released this week in May 1971, Paul McCartney’s ‘Ram’ was initially knocked for everything that makes it sound unexpectedly bold today.