AllMusic

Spirit

Potatoland

1981

Art Rock

Spirit is largely remembered as a hard-driving rock band based on their biggest hit "I Got a Line on You," so it is difficult to wrap one's head around this bizarro concept record. Originating in the early '70s and reworked for a 1981 release, the science fiction backstory is illustrated by a comic strip (included in the LP) and the disjointed nature of the album makes for a puzzling listen, but man, there are some good songs on there. Proto-disco, Beach Boys harmonies, Yacht Rock bounce, electronic synth noodling, bluesy chooglin' and a chiming Byrds-influenced closer, Potatoland is a grab bag of trippy California oddities.

- Zac Johnson

The S.O.S. Band

Sands of Time

April 9, 1986

Contemporary R&B

Overshadowed by Janet Jackson's blockbuster Control -- another Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis project, released only two months earlier -- the Atlanta-based group's sixth LP leads with two of their best ballads, "Even When You Sleep" and the deep-gem title track, and also contains the number two R&B hit "The Finest."

- Andy Kellman