BOSTON STUDIO ALBUMS RANKED

Boston's weakest album, not because it's bad, but because it's inessential. The four best tracks all appear again but better on Life, Love & Hope. The three modern rock songs are throwaways, With You is nice but totally out of place on a Boston album, the title track is decent but forgettable, and then there's a pointless live version of an earlier song. I like the crossfade from Didn't Mean to Fall in Love to You Gave Up On Love quite a lot, though.

Best song: Didn't Mean to Fall in Love

Runner-up: I Had a Good Time

Worst song: Stare Out Your Window

Significantly worse than the four albums above it here, but significantly better than Corporate America. Most of this album's problems lie in production and lyrics; the music itself is actually pretty good, despite lacking any harder-rocking songs.

Best song: Sail Away

Runner-up: Someone (2.0)

Worst song: Life, Love & Hope

The title track and A Man I'll Never Be rank as some of the best Boston songs, but other than them not too much stands out. The second track is the most boring of all Boston's many instrumentals.

Best song: A Man I'll Never Be

Runner-up: Don't Look Back

Worst song: Party

Boston's hardest rocking album has some filler, but the Walk On Medley is incredible, as are the first three tracks. The final three tracks are less impressive but still good.

Best song: Surrender to Me

Runner-up: Get Organ-Ized

Worst song: What's Your Name

One of the few albums where every song receives radio-play, Boston is an incredible rush of energy, and includes the band's best song, More Than a Feeling. Although the songs are noticeably weaker on Side B, every single one can stand on its own as a classic.

Best song: More Than a Feeling
Personal Favorite: xxx
Runner-up: Peace of Mind

Worst song: Let Me Take You Home Tonight

Third Stage lacks the hard-rocking sensibilities and commercial viability of the first two LPs, yet somehow it ends up even better than them. There's a plethora of ballads but they're all good. Of the heavier songs (relatively speaking), Cool the Engines and I Think I Like It are great as well.

Best song: I Think I Like It
Personal Favorite: Can'tcha Say (You Believe In Me)
Runner-up: Amanda

Worst song: A New World (Only because it's barely 30 seconds long, it's still pretty great)