The All-TIME 100 Albums: Master of Puppets by Metallica

E-Mail This Article

The All-TIME 100 Albums

39 of 101

By Josh Tyrangiel Published: November 13, 2006

VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST

ALBUM: Master of Puppets

YEAR RELEASED: 1986 LABEL: Elektra/Wea ARTIST: Metallica

TIME 100 ALBUMS PODCASTS

PODCAST: Welcome to the All-TIME 100 Albums - the musical compilations of the last half-century that need no introduction. That said, listen in below as music critics Josh Tyrangiel and Alan Light introduce the list and talk about the top albums of the 1950s and '60s.

PODCAST: We know. Twenty-nine of the 100 greatest albums of all time come in the 1970s, and Pink Floyd isn't there. Play this podcast to learn why we picked the titles we did, and if you have something to say, tell us about it using the talkback link below.

PODCAST: Maybe it's a Sign O' The Times that you're listening to critics' audio recordings about great music, but this podcast about how we chose the best albums of the 1980s really is a Thriller. Give it a listen below.

PODCAST: Here's music even the younger set will know by heart. Listen to selected clips from the 1990s through present day as music critic Josh Tyrangiel discusses his picks.

Download this to your iPod at iTunes
Or, copy and paste this URL into your favorite podcasting tool:

Their next album would be the glossy, gazillion-selling breakthrough, but on Master of Puppets Metallica didn't bother with hooks or pop discipline. Instead, on their final recording with bassist Cliff Burton (who would die in a tour bus accident) they reinforced everything good about heavy metal (the velocity of the playing, the emotional release of the vocals) while undermining at least a few of the cliches. The title track was unmistakably anti-drug�"Chop your breakfast on a mirror/ Taste me you will see/ More is all you need/ You're dedicated to how I'm killing you" — while they also got in digs at the military industrial complex and head banging conformists.