Blur's second LP is their secret classic. Coming between the pop-psych shimmer of 1991's Leisure and the cool Britannia of 1994's Parklife, the brittle jangle and bitter observations on Modern Life Is Rubbish were near-career-killers. But this two-CD reissue (part of a grand dress-up of Blur's catalog, including a 21-disc box) arms the LP's real bravado. "Advert" and "Pressure on Julian" anticipate the full-throttle indie-rock swerve on the '97 hit Blur, with more Kinks and David Bowie in the clamor. Of note among the many B sides: the lethal Byrds sizzle of "I'm Fine" and Damon Albarn's soured-David Bowie vocal flair over the garage-band snap of "Mace."

Listen to 'Modern Life Is Rubbish':

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”