Shoot Out the Lights

This 1982 release isn't just a breakup album—it's one of the most commanding distress signals ever sent, from a couple whose marriage was in the process of self-destructing. Richard Thompson's songs eloquently express the pain, dread, and sorrow of his impending split with wife Linda, and the couple's stoic vocal delivery lays it all out with clear-eyed precision. Amid the graceful folk-rock balladry, Richard throws in one of the most intense guitar solos of his career, on the heavy-hitting but slow-burning title track.