Music Map Blogs
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Read more: The Smiths Albums: Discover Their Legacy
The Smiths Albums: Discover Their Legacy
by Mike Bell
The Smiths' albums are a testament to their unique blend of guitars, poetic lyrics, and Morrissey’s distinctive vocals. Guitarist Johnny Marr's inn...Read more -
Read more: Every Queen Album in Order: A List and Highlights
Every Queen Album in Order: A List and Highlights
by Mike Bell
This guide, offered parallel to my discography map of Queen, lists all their albums chronologically and dives into the stories behind their most si...Read more -
Read more: What Is a Music Map? A Unique Way to Explore Bands, Albums and Musical History
What Is a Music Map? A Unique Way to Explore Bands, Albums and Musical History
by Mike Bell
What Is a Music Map? A music map is a visual way of exploring the journey of a band, artist, album, or musical genre. Unlike a traditional timeline...Read more -
Read more: The 10 Best New Order Songs – Ranked by Brilliance, Influence and Innovation
The 10 Best New Order Songs – Ranked by Brilliance, Influence and Innovation
by Mike Bell
As the creator of my New Order & Joy Division discography map, I’ve spent countless hours tracing the band’s studio journey, album by album, li...Read more -
Read more: Steely Dan Albums - Top 10 Must-Have Albums
Steely Dan Albums - Top 10 Must-Have Albums
by Mike Bell
Steely Dan defined the jazz-rock fusion sound of the 1970s with their sophisticated arrangements and perfectionist studio approach Donald Fagen an...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie Albums Ranked
David Bowie Albums Ranked
by Mike Bell
Ranking David Bowie’s albums is no easy task. His discography spans decades, genres, and entire personas — from the starman to the experimentalist....Read more -
Read more: David Bowie Albums – A Studio Discography Story
David Bowie Albums – A Studio Discography Story
by Mike Bell
In this post, I’ll walk through David Bowie’s albums in order, celebrating the transformations, collaborators, and cultural impact of each one. His...Read more -
Read more: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Lineup - Through the Decades
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Lineup - Through the Decades
by Mike Bell
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band lineup - the musical brotherhood - has provided the backbone for Springsteen's most iconic works, evolving ...Read more -
Read more: The Smiths – A Love Affair
The Smiths – A Love Affair
by Mike Bell
When The Smiths Found Me Some bands arrive like a thunderclap—unexpected, overwhelming, impossible to ignore. The Smiths Love Affair hit me hard. ...Read more -
Read more: Morrissey: The Controversial Journey of a Music Icon
Morrissey: The Controversial Journey of a Music Icon
by Mike Bell
Mike Bell. 5th April 2025. Morrissey, the iconic frontman of The Smiths, has left a lasting mark on alternative rock. Known for his unique voice an...Read more -
Read more: Blondie's Albums in Order
Blondie's Albums in Order
by Mike Bell
Blondie's Albums in Order: Few bands like Blondie defined the energy of New York’s late-70s music scene. They were at the heart of CBGB culture, an...Read more -
Read more: The Beach Boys Albums in Order (1962–1965)
The Beach Boys Albums in Order (1962–1965)
by Mike Bell
Why I Mapped The Beach Boys’ Studio Albums in Order Few bands shaped 1960s music like The Beach Boys. Their early surf harmonies and studio brillia...Read more -
Read more: Bruce Springsteen Albums in Order
Bruce Springsteen Albums in Order
by Mike Bell
Why I Mapped Bruce Springsteen's Studio Albums in Order "IT IS TRULY AMAZING” THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARCHIVE As the creator behind Mike Bell Maps, I...Read more -
Read more: Morrissey vs Sparks: Mutual Admiration to Musical Stand-off
Morrissey vs Sparks: Mutual Admiration to Musical Stand-off
by Mike Bell
In the world of music, friendships often form across continents, generations, and genres. But sometimes, those connections unravel. One compelling ...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie's 20 Most Critically Acclaimed Songs
David Bowie's 20 Most Critically Acclaimed Songs
by Mike Bell
David Bowie's extraordinary career spans decades of musical innovation, genre-defying creativity, and artistic reinvention. From glam rock to exper...Read more -
Read more: Fleetwood Mac Albums – A Complete Discography Guide
Fleetwood Mac Albums – A Complete Discography Guide
by Mike Bell
Fleetwood Mac is one of the most influential rock bands in music history. From their blues origins to their pop-rock dominance, their discography s...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie's 1967 Debut Album: A Curious Beginning
David Bowie's 1967 Debut Album: A Curious Beginning
by Mike Bell
When people think of David Bowie, they often think of Ziggy Stardust, Heroes, or his late-era masterpiece, Blackstar. But long before the lightning...Read more -
Read more: ABBA Albums Ranked
ABBA Albums Ranked
by Mike Bell
ABBA’s music has woven a timeless tapestry of joy, nostalgia, and heartbreak, resonating across generations with pulsating disco beats and poignant...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie's Albums - Collaborators: Artists Who Shaped His Sound
David Bowie's Albums - Collaborators: Artists Who Shaped His Sound
by Mike Bell
Throughout Bowie's expansive and eclectic career, the legendary artist collaborated with an extraordinary range of musicians who each contributed u...Read more -
Read more: The Beatles Session Musicians: More than Four
The Beatles Session Musicians: More than Four
by Mike Bell
The Beatles are universally celebrated as the "Fab Four," comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. However, their ...Read more -
Read more: New Order Albums vs Foo Fighters Albums: From Joy Division to Nirvana’s Legacy
New Order Albums vs Foo Fighters Albums: From Joy Division to Nirvana’s Legacy
by Mike Bell
New Order vs Foo Fighters - a brace of unique discographies; New Order has 10 albums, and Foo Fighters has 11. Lineup changes impacted their sound....Read more -
Read more: Morrissey vs Marr - What Difference Does It Make?
Morrissey vs Marr - What Difference Does It Make?
by Mike Bell
After The Smiths broke up, Morrissey vs Marr ensued - and both took very different paths. Morrissey’s solo career was commercially successful, wit...Read more -
Read more: The Cure vs Echo and the Bunnymen - A Comparison
The Cure vs Echo and the Bunnymen - A Comparison
by Mike Bell
The Cure vs Echo and the Bunnymen is a considered review of two very influential groups over a large chunk of the history of modern music. Echo &a...Read more -
Read more: Echo and the Bunnymen Albums In Order – A Brief Guide to Their Discography
Echo and the Bunnymen Albums In Order – A Brief Guide to Their Discography
by Mike Bell
Echo & the Bunnymen is a British post-punk band from Liverpool, formed in 1978. The original lineup featured the charismatic vocalist Ian McCu...Read more -
Read more: The Beach Boys Albums – A Complete Guide to Their Discography
The Beach Boys Albums – A Complete Guide to Their Discography
by Mike Bell
The Beach Boys’ albums plot a musical journey that spans multiple decades, marking distinct chapters in American music history with each album. Kno...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie Albums - Every Musician - Every Studio Album
David Bowie Albums - Every Musician - Every Studio Album
by Mike Bell
David Bowie Albums - Every Musician - Every Studio Album - Mapped here on my site. This list of David Bowie album contributors (session musicians,...Read more -
Read more: Johnny Marr Albums Ranked
Johnny Marr Albums Ranked
by Mike Bell
Johnny Marr is best known as the legendary guitarist of The Smiths, where he collaborated with Andy and Andy Rourke to create some of the most icon...Read more -
Read more: Crowded House Albums - Ranked
Crowded House Albums - Ranked
by Mike Bell
In this blog I’m offering my personal ranking of Crowded House albums, celebrating Crowded House's journey from 1986 to 2024. Since their debut, t...Read more -
Read more: Morrissey’s Albums: A Look at His Most Recent Release
Morrissey’s Albums: A Look at His Most Recent Release
by Mike Bell
Morrissey has remained one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in music since his rise to fame as the frontman of The Smiths in the 1980s...Read more -
Read more: Steely Dan Albums - Every Musician - Every Studio Album
Steely Dan Albums - Every Musician - Every Studio Album
by Mike Bell
Steely Dan Albums – Every Musician, Every Studio Album When we talk about Steely Dan albums, we’re not just talking about Donald Fagen and Walter B...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie's Session Musicians and Collaborators
David Bowie's Session Musicians and Collaborators
by Mike Bell
Throughout his five-decade career, David Bowie surrounded himself with exceptional musical talent that helped shape his sound across multiple reinv...Read more -
Read more: Read This If You Don't Know What to Buy For a Music Fan
Read This If You Don't Know What to Buy For a Music Fan
by Mike Bell
You are tring to buy for a music fan? Finding the perfect fan gift can be challenging. Albums? They likely own them all. Concert tickets? Schedulin...Read more -
Read more: Steely Dan Session Musicians - Deeper!
Steely Dan Session Musicians - Deeper!
by Mike Bell
Steely Dan’s musical legacy is a testament to studio perfectionism and sophisticated songwriting. Formed by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the ban...Read more -
Read more: The Art of the Music Map: Visualizing Music History
The Art of the Music Map: Visualizing Music History
by Mike Bell
Visual Journeys Through Music History Music is more than sound—it’s an unfolding story. Artists, bands, and genres have fascinating histories conne...Read more -
Read more: Nick Cave Albums Map - Obsessive Research: Why I Made This Thing
Nick Cave Albums Map - Obsessive Research: Why I Made This Thing
by Mike Bell
As the creator of these incredibly detailed tube maps that illustrate the intricate histories of bands, artists, films, and cultural phenomena, I w...Read more -
Read more: Manchester Bands: A Musical Legacy Mapped Out
Manchester Bands: A Musical Legacy Mapped Out
by Mike Bell
Manchester has long been a breeding ground for musical talent, producing some of the most iconic bands in history. From gritty punk roots to indie ...Read more -
Read more: Steely Dan Session Musicians - A (Shorter)Review
Steely Dan Session Musicians - A (Shorter)Review
by Mike Bell
Steely Dan Session: A Legacy of Studio Brilliance A longer-form version of this post is also available. Steely Dan’s studio recordings are legenda...Read more -
Read more: Ramones Albums: A Journey Through Punk Rock
Ramones Albums: A Journey Through Punk Rock
by Mike Bell
Few bands have left as indelible a mark on rock music as the Ramones. With Joey Ramone as the lead singer and Johnny Ramone as the guitarist, these...Read more -
Read more: Beyond the Music Genre Family Tree
Beyond the Music Genre Family Tree
by Mike Bell
When most people think about music history, they picture a music genre family tree—a diagram that shows how rock evolved from blues, how electronic...Read more -
Read more: David Bowie Albums - In Context
David Bowie Albums - In Context
by Mike Bell
David Bowie Albums have not only defined an era but have also consistently pushed the boundaries of musical innovation. From the glam rock explosio...Read more -
Read more: Taylor Swift Albums In Order - With 'Versions'
Taylor Swift Albums In Order - With 'Versions'
by Mike Bell
Crawling Taylor Swift albums in order across my tube map underlines the extent of her commitment to music and creativity as a collaboration. is a g...Read more -
Read more: Oasis Albums: Studio Discography
Oasis Albums: Studio Discography
by Mike Bell
Oasis was formed in 1991 by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. Rising to prominence in the mid-1990s as torchbearers of the Britpop movement, Oasis...Read more -
Read more: Steely Dan Albums: A Complete Guide
Steely Dan Albums: A Complete Guide
by Mike Bell
Steely Dan Albums Steely Dan, formed in 1971 by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, is represented by my Steely Dan Albums Music Map. The group were kn...Read more -
Read more: Studio Albums: A Deep Dive Into Music Maps by Mike Bell
Studio Albums: A Deep Dive Into Music Maps by Mike Bell
by Mike Bell
1. Key Takeaways Studio Albums: They form the backbone of music history and culture. Music Maps: My tube map designs visually track the reco...Read more -
Read more: Are Albums Still Relevant?
Are Albums Still Relevant?
by Mike Bell
As I continue updating and expanding my extensive music map collections, I am pondering the future role and lifespan of the album - are albums stil...Read more -
Read more: Johnny Marr Albums in Order: A Tribute to a Guitar Genius
Johnny Marr Albums in Order: A Tribute to a Guitar Genius
by Mike Bell
I’m thrilled to share my latest creation—a detailed Johnny Marr Albums Music Map that celebrates the genius of one of rock’s most influential guita...Read more -
Read more: Billy Bragg Albums - A Discography Music Map
Billy Bragg Albums - A Discography Music Map
by Mike Bell
The Political Voice Behind the Billy Bragg Albums When examining politically-charged folk music, few artists match Billy Bragg's consistent and pow...Read more -
Read more: Morrissey's Albums In Order - The Smiths and Beyond
Morrissey's Albums In Order - The Smiths and Beyond
by Mike Bell
Morrissey’s catalogue spans two distinct phases: his groundbreaking work with The Smiths and a prolific solo career marked by change and defianc...Read more -
Read more: John Lennon's Albums - A Music Map
John Lennon's Albums - A Music Map
by Mike Bell
John Lennon’s solo career is a captivating story of reinvention, activism, and artistic genius. After the Beatles’ breakup, Lennon carved his own p...Read more -
Read more: ABBA Albums Music Map
ABBA Albums Music Map
by Mike Bell
ABBA Albums Music Map - Key Takeaways Discover the complete ABBA discography visually represented as a unique music map Explore ABBA's musical evo...Read more
