10 Greatest Acoustic Rock Albums

Few artists have put their best foot forward quite like Tracy Chapman, who opens her debut album with two of her biggest songs. The second of these is “Fast Car”, her signature song and one that’s somehow still not played out, lyrically vivid, musically heartbreaking. The first is the rabble rousing "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", and between the two, they set out exactly what Chapman’s self titled debut is all about.

She flits from personal insights to a state of the nation address with ease. She’s not making searing political statements here, but it’s bright and heartfelt protest music, all with the benefit of her incredible, powerful voice. “Why?” is the most overt activism on the album, delivered directly and honestly; she knows she doesn’t have the answers, but demands a change all the same.

There are electronic flourishes across the album, but the more pared down it is, the better it tends to sound. This is taken to the extreme on Behind The Wall, an acapella track that few artists would dare even attempt, let alone pull off to this degree.