33 Albums Every Kid Should Hear Before They Turn 13

"The songs haven't lost anything in 50 years and they have always been popular with children. You can't imagine Coldplay doing a kids' song, but the Beatles did quite a few, such as 'Yellow Submarine.' At the same time there's a real raw power to the rocking songs and a melodic beauty to the later stuff."

—Submitted by Patrick Smith (Facebook)

—Submitted by Giliana P. García Acevedo (Facebook)

"That'll help them get through their teenage years. Did me."

—Submitted by Matthew McVeagh (Facebook)

—Submitted by Jorge Gòmez Geho (Facebook)

"Everything you'll need to know about falling in love, breaking up, having fun, and following your dreams can be found in that album."

—Submitted by April Jones (Facebook)

—Submitted by Maureen Clark (Facebook)

"Real, adult love isn't the syrupy crush kind presented by One Direction, or even the hot-and-cold puppy love Taylor Swift sings about. It's the kind where everyone in your band is dating and breaking up and things are messy as hell and everyone hates each other while simultaneously wanting to bang each other. Get ready, kids!"

—Submitted by Jessica Misener (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by Catherine Patat (Facebook)

—Submitted by Cristine Salas (Facebook)

"I will never forget the first time I heard...'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' I didn’t know music like that existed."

—Submitted by destructogirl (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by Krystie Yandoli (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by Kris Truelove (Facebook)

—Submitted by Dian Idris (Facebook)

"She's a songwriter who never holds back and who beautifully captures the human experience. Her songs made me feel things I never knew existed and really helped me figure out who I was as a person. 'Way Over Yonder' and 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' really did that for me as an early teen. This album is ESSENTIAL."

—Submitted by Kayla Yandoli (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by moviescrouse (BuzzFeed)

"Kids need to be prepared for the gangster life."

—Submitted by Gladwin Sy (Facebook)

"So that they know all the words when they turn 13 and they become essential."

—Submitted by John Stanton (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by Kate Miller (Facebook)

—Submitted by Eddie Moore (Facebook)

"It’s a wonderful album, and draws from so many different musical styles and sensibilities. This is what pop music should be!"

—Submitted by GuavaGirl (BuzzFeed)

"Because the sooner a kid starts to expand his mind (musically), the better..."

—Submitted by Austin Hunt (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by Naomi Zeichner (BuzzFeed)

"Every 13-year-old should experience the pure boogie-woogie thrill of listening to Thriller all the way through."

—Submitted by Alexis Nedd (BuzzFeed)

"You can feel all the urgency and the spirit of a young soul no matter what the music style is. There is poetry, anguish, romanticism, rebellion."

—Submitted by Manuel Alejandro (Facebook)

"That album seriously blew my mind when I first heard it. It was like I'd never heard proper music before. It was also a gateway to lots of other amazing bands I'd never thought to listen to, as I'd never been exposed to that genre of music before."

—Submitted by Ashleigh Summerskill (Facebook)

—Submitted by devinj4ba1035c2 (BuzzFeed)

"Blondie by Blondie is a great starting point, and when it comes to strong female lead singers, Debbie Harry is one of the best!"

—Submitted by Susan Mayo (Facebook)

"A must for every teen/pre-teen who feels out of place."

—Submitted by Ian Carlos Crawford (BuzzFeed)

"I was never super into music as a kid, and I just couldn't really connect to music the same way other people I knew could, but then I listened to this album and I understood fully the power that music can have. Bookends is another one of their masterpieces."

—Submitted by Georgia Findlay (Facebook)

—Submitted by Tacooooooos (BuzzFeed)

"It’s the album of a generation :D"

—Submitted by megs475ef5f55 (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by GuavaGirl (BuzzFeed)

—Submitted by Charlemagne (BuzzFeed)