10 Rock Albums That Were Ahead Of Their Time

So...here's the situation. You've just come off of some of the greatest rock albums ever made, and now your career in the biggest band in the world is about to come to an end. With everyone fixated on your next move, you better make sure you hunker down and create an album that launches your solo career into overdrive. Then again, if you're John Lennon, you just do what comes naturally.

After working tirelessly on Beatles records, Lennon wanted everything stripped down to its bare essentials, with Plastic Ono Band being his first offering. Once Lennon underwent grieving sessions in primal therapy, he wanted to make a record with songs that reflected the rawness of the lyrics. The songwriting may not have changed, but the ethos behind the entire record was miles ahead of the traditional pop music at the time.

Complete with DIY equipment and rough production, Plastic Ono Band was as punk as a pop artist could get away with, even down to the lyrics against corporate pigs on "Working Class Hero." The homemade feel of the record also went on to influence the more indie side of rock and roll going forward. People were probably expecting John Lennon to come through with a great record, but no one could have imagined it would end up being this raw.