Ten great albums recorded at Sound City Studios, the focus of Sound City

By Nathalia Vélez Tue., Jan. 29 2013 at 3:07 PM

5. Weezer's Pinkerton (1996)
Weezer's second album didn't get as much attention as its debut at first, but that's just part of the process of becoming a cult classic. A concept album loosely based on Madame Butterfly, Pinkerton was darker than the act's self-titled debut, but it maintains some of the humor of the era -- basically making fun of your own angst. The general sound is of a lightly-produced live band album, but the more you listen, the more you notice the craft in the writing and composition.

4. Tool's Undertow (1993)
Tool's first full-length album is angry, but not just for the sake of being angry. Everything this band does, from lyrics to disturbing videos, is thought-out. Undertow questions and mocks dogmatic religions; it reflects a belief in nothing, yet a search for something. This album also brought metal back to the public's attention, showing that the genre can be emotional and complex. People told guitarist Adam Jones he was crazy when he left a career in film -- as a set designer, sculptor and special effects artists on films like Jurassic Park and Predator 2 -- to be part of a band. But he put his twisted artistic skills to use on Tool's videos, including "Sober."