584
Albums Rated
3.5
Average Rating
54%
Complete
505 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Reggae
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Curator
Rater Style ?
91
5-Star Albums
13
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
|
5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
|
The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
|
5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
|
Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
|
5 | 2.74 | +2.26 |
|
LP1
FKA twigs
|
5 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
|
A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
|
5 | 2.86 | +2.14 |
|
This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
|
5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
|
The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
|
5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
|
Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
|
5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
|
Signing Off
UB40
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pearl
Janis Joplin
|
1 | 3.73 | -2.73 |
|
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
|
1 | 3.41 | -2.41 |
|
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
|
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
American Pie
Don McLean
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
Live Through This
Hole
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
|
1 | 3.04 | -2.04 |
|
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
|
2 | 3.9 | -1.9 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 6 | 4.83 |
| Blur | 3 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 6 | 4.33 |
| Talking Heads | 4 | 4.5 |
| Pixies | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Cure | 3 | 4.67 |
| Arcade Fire | 2 | 5 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 5 |
| The Fall | 2 | 5 |
| Pulp | 2 | 5 |
| The Smiths | 2 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 2 | 5 |
| Suede | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4 |
| Sonic Youth | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Kinks | 3 | 4.33 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 4.33 |
| PJ Harvey | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 2 | 1.5 |
| Hole | 2 | 1.5 |
| Frank Sinatra | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 4, 4, 1 |
5-Star Albums (91)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Hugh Masekela
2/5
One thing I’ve learnt from 1001’ is that I can’t really handle Jazz in most forms.
30 likes
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Sounded like sitting through an hour long Toyota Aygo advert.
24 likes
Joy Division
5/5
Frankensteins beautiful monster…. Part post punk, part industrial cityscapes, beautiful tortured lyrics all brought to life by the genius madness of Martin Hannett!
22 likes
Nirvana
5/5
Just an absolute monster of an album. Wall to wall melody, brilliant lyrics and heavy tunes!
22 likes
David Bowie
5/5
What a legacy from a genius artist... the atmosphere of this album is haunting but beautiful!
20 likes
1-Star Albums (13)
All Ratings
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
The Zombies
4/5
Prince
5/5
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Pixies
4/5
Morrissey
5/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Van Halen
2/5
The Gun Club
4/5
The Dictators
3/5
The Cure
5/5
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Muddy Waters
3/5
Cornershop
2/5
Marilyn Manson
2/5
Beatles
4/5
The Young Gods
2/5
Soundgarden
3/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Super Furry Animals
4/5
Finley Quaye
4/5
Japan
3/5
Stevie Wonder
2/5
Supertramp
2/5
Iggy Pop
5/5
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Nina Simone
3/5
The Youngbloods
3/5
Tom Waits
2/5
Sparks
3/5
The United States Of America
3/5
Tortoise
4/5
The xx
2/5
Miles Davis
4/5
Stephen Stills
3/5
Blues parts were great. Not so much the country!
New York Dolls
2/5
Fairly one dimensional. Singers awful. I guess you need to be invested in the whole sleazy New York punk vibe!
Blur
5/5
Just the classic britpop come-down album. Amazing!
Os Mutantes
2/5
Twee 60’s Brazilian Austin powers vibes. Just not my style!
a-ha
3/5
Decent pop album. Few bangers, and few not-so-bangers!
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Visceral and angry....Yet melancholic and melodic, the manics doing what they do best
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Don’t generally like Frank, but this was pretty enjoyable and relaxing.
The Lemonheads
2/5
A bit too goofy in places. Non offensive indie pop.
Lou Reed
3/5
Pretty good. Not his best work though.
Fatboy Slim
2/5
Sounded like sitting through an hour long Toyota Aygo advert.
KISS
2/5
Cheese on toast!
Mj Cole
3/5
Early garage beats..... good listen!
Everything But The Girl
4/5
Amazing record. Massively influential. It’s a proper night time-driving album.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Indie!
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
Just a bit boring.
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Feels like a greatest hits album! This is the manics as their absolute best.
Method Man
3/5
Not heard this before. Sounds great on initial listening.... explore further!
Johnny Cash
3/5
As far into country and western as I’m willing to wander!
Mariah Carey
1/5
I knew this day would come. Shame there’s decent pop songs under her insufferable voice.
The Waterboys
5/5
Just a fantastic piece of folk rock history.... it’s a classic!
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Never really listened to these. Not as goofy American as I thought. Good listen!
Roxy Music
4/5
Really like this album. Smooth as a tiger in a tuxedo!
Digital Underground
3/5
Seminal hip hop album. Like most of its ilk though... 15-20 mins too long!
Slint
4/5
Highly influential post rock. Filled with tension and proper moody. Just brilliant!
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The Hendrix album I’m least familiar with.... but it’s just excellent obviously. No guitarist comes close!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Classic slice of reggae from the man himself. Superb album!
Bob Dylan
4/5
Classic slice of Zimmerman. Went on to make better albums, but this early number is archetypal Dylan for the purists!
Joni Mitchell
2/5
A bit meandering and winding in places; middle of the road. Good album for dinner parties.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
I really liked this album. Poppy but nuanced enough to keep it interesting. Scoring into down on its ridiculous length.
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
Potentially a great album. Need to listen some more though.... fuzzy intro is very some might say!
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Stone wall classic! Hits the spot every time.... almost like a greatest hits.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Folk, harmonies and not a lot else. You know what you’re getting, but it’s still delivered very well!
George Michael
3/5
Ok
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
Incoherent, pretentious, noodling.... this really isn’t for me. Why play 1 note when you can play 27!
The The
4/5
Way ahead of its time. Poetry in paranoia!
Johnny Cash
2/5
Mawkish and just a bit..... well.. boring!
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Another amazing zep....
Motörhead
3/5
Some out and out rockin going on here. Really liked this album. A bit one paced!
Johnny Cash
4/5
The man in his pomp! Not entirely sure why we needed live in San Quentin and live in Folsom in the same list though!
Billy Bragg
4/5
This man can write a politically/romantically charged tune, no doubting. Top record!
AC/DC
2/5
Meat and potatoes stuff going down here; with a large side order of innuendo. Not for me
Carole King
3/5
Some nice moments... can see why it’s held in such high regard.
Arcade Fire
5/5
5*..... a bona fide classic album. They never bettered this unfortunately, but what a debut!!!
Beatles
4/5
The translation album between pop and psychedelia. Like every Beatles album it’s jammed with hits!
Ice Cube
5/5
One of all time great hip hop albums. Funky, politically charged, angry.... amazing!
Sonic Youth
4/5
Sonic jams.. sonic youth; the sounds of the disenfranchised youth.. with guitar pedals
Frank Sinatra
1/5
To crooney..... just too damn crooney. Shave half an hour off and I might have enjoyed it.
Billy Bragg
3/5
Not the best era Billy; but a good album nonetheless
Hole
2/5
No too bad..... unlikely to ever feel the inclination to listen again though.
John Cale
4/5
Never heard this before.... unusual but at the same time catchy!
David Bowie
5/5
What a legacy from a genius artist... the atmosphere of this album is haunting but beautiful!
Blur
5/5
Indie pop classssic. Glamourised the mundane like nobody before. Nothing more to say... I love it!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Controversial opinion... Neil young ain’t my thing. And his guitar solos are too long and boring!
Frank Ocean
3/5
Decent.... this appears to be the gateway album to a lot of dirge that followed in the genre!
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Various Artists
4/5
THE Christmas album!
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Folk probably think this is cheesy... well it is, but my nostalgia for this sound trumps that. It’s fun!
Nirvana
5/5
Just an absolute monster of an album. Wall to wall melody, brilliant lyrics and heavy tunes!
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good album... probably requires listening in a different time and space to the one I currently reside though.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Never heard of Fiona... this sounds really good though.
Erykah Badu
2/5
This is a good album, just too r’n’b for my tastes. It’s a 2.5!
Gene Clark
4/5
Progressive country... really good. One to explore further!
The Temptations
1/5
Not on spotify
Nas
5/5
Not really much to say about this classic slice of east coast hip hop except how ace it is. Top 5 hip hop off all time
Spiritualized
4/5
Fuzzy heartbreaker of an album.... I love it.
Otis Redding
3/5
Yeah, this was ok. Otis sings the hits.
The Who
3/5
A generous 3. Really fallen out of love with this album. It sounds very meat and potatoes at times.
Can
3/5
Can; make interesting, experimental jazz infused esoteric noodles. Can’t; make easy listening dinner party music!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Swap rock country blues.... exactly how you imagine; no surprises
Ray Charles
3/5
This is ok... I can see the appeal.
5/5
It’s up there with the Berlin years.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Banging. Takes me straight back to that early noughties NY scene.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
A band just about finding their sound. This record is superb for it!!
Led Zeppelin
3/5
A bit more overblown than I remember. There’s no such thing as a perfect double album.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Starting of great.... much better than his famous album... trailed off with a lot one paced stuff!
Cocteau Twins
5/5
Dreamy indie.... what’s not to love? Nothing!
The Pretty Things
2/5
Big too hippy dippy that one.. didn’t quite have the melodies to cut through.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Some date production going on. Great songs and even better lyrics!
Korn
2/5
Some moments.... mostly not. What’s the scatting all about??
4/5
Great melodies.... amazing band. Quintessentially British!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2/5
Close to a 3/5... just a few too many fillers
Jurassic 5
4/5
Top beats.... and charli 2na 👌. Great album!
Joy Division
5/5
For me; pretty close to perfect. A monster emotional person from all 4!
Elvis Costello
3/5
Always felt like I should like Costello more... maybe my pallet has matured enough. This is good!
Morrissey
2/5
Morrissey; the icing on Johnny marrs cake. Unfortunately if you take away the cake, you’ve got a lump of inedible icing. Just dull!
Boston
3/5
This album is fun! Can see where the darkness got their inspiration.
Blondie
4/5
This is up there in the pantheons of pop rock... ace record!
Green Day
2/5
Nope.... this type of grunge is just bad pop dressed up and sold to the disenfranchised.
The Specials
4/5
Seminal two tone pioneers.... I really like this album
Yes
3/5
A bit overblown... but fairly decent!
Metallica
4/5
Close to the big 5. Huge sounding record!!
Beatles
4/5
What’s left to say about this album. A bunch of classic songs.
Metallica
4/5
The best Metallica album! Thrash heaven!!
Van Morrison
4/5
There’s no denying this mans ability to write a tune!
Barry Adamson
3/5
Bit weird and disjointed... reckon there’s a good album in their; just needs more attention!
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
A bit hippy dippy.... it’s not my thing but I can appreciate that it is others.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Like most hip hop albums... it’s a tad long. But pretty pretty good 👌
Gene Clark
4/5
Another solid effort from ya man Gene Clark. I know who he is now... decent!
Thin Lizzy
5/5
Best live album ever?
Missy Elliott
3/5
Good.... but a little too much timberland on this one. His name was mentioned in practically every song.
Gang Starr
3/5
More song I knew than I realised! Good chilled out early hip hop!
Siouxsie And The Banshees
1/5
Avant Shite
The Clash
5/5
The best punk album
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Not sure where I stand on this. Good, bad... indifferent! 5/10 to be safe.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Possible the best MBV album. Amazing!
Deerhunter
4/5
Low Fi fuzzy loveliness!
Lou Reed
4/5
Considered a classic American rightly so.... just very cool!
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Nice
Grizzly Bear
3/5
It’s obviously a great album... not sure what is though that just doesn’t excite me!?
The Byrds
3/5
Fantastic melodies; just sounds really dated.
Bonnie Raitt
2/5
Country style with 80s production,.. to say it ain’t my thing would be an understatement!
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Superfly by name, superfly by nature... a very cool album!
Sade
4/5
Smooth as a tiger in a tuxedo
Air
3/5
Incidental at times... but then again it is a soundtrack. Not the air album I’d put in 1001ATHBYD! Still enjoyed it mind.
The Stranglers
4/5
Proggy in part, punk in others... sprinkled with some classics!!!
The Birthday Party
1/5
Self indulgent nonsense.. the sound of a band falling down the stairs!
Metallica
3/5
Good album.... but as the old myth goes; where the hell is the bass?? Tinny as!!
Kanye West
5/5
Excellent album.... yeezy at his best. It was all down hill from here!
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
Just oozes with cool!!!
The Stone Roses
5/5
Iconic!
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Not my thing; but can appreciate its massive influence.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Classic 2.5 star album... not offensive but lacking anything special!
Travis
4/5
A lot of nostalgia caught up in this record.... stand college 1999.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Redeemed with a load of bangers on the back end of the album. Not a patch on thriller... but still great!
The Flaming Lips
3/5
5* for the great cinematic music.... minus 2 for the guy screeching over the top!
Haircut 100
3/5
Good.... well slick 80s pop. Sounded a bit wham in places!
Talking Heads
5/5
The style, substance and musicality of this record... brilliant!
Sebadoh
2/5
Like the lemonheads without the tunes, like sonic youth without the nuance... rubbish guitar riffs played on practice amps. Not for me Jeff!
4/5
Classic psychedelia from the most famous band in the world!
Muddy Waters
3/5
Straight up classic delta blues!
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
A bit twee and weedy, but nice tunes.
4/5
Very close to a 5.... brilliant album!!!
Public Enemy
4/5
Classic slice of hip hop! Political stuff that resonates today.
David Gray
3/5
Better than I remember.
Buzzcocks
3/5
Good poppy punk... don’t rave about it like some though!
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Nearly a 4.... much better than I thought!
Solomon Burke
4/5
Never heard of this chap; but this sort of soul music is right back in trend!
Sex Pistols
5/5
It began with the Pistols!
System Of A Down
2/5
A generous two for having elements of unusualness.
Steely Dan
4/5
Yacht rock at its best... driving in the summer music!
Jamiroquai
1/5
Funk and soul played by white posh English dude.glad I never have to listen to that ever again!
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Bit odder than I thought... maybe requires a revisit!
R.E.M.
3/5
It was ok.... just standard REM!
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
Hugely underrated album from hugely underrated pioneers of big beat and electro. This is a belter!
Elastica
4/5
Underrated by the masses, under player by me!
M.I.A.
4/5
Enjoyed this. A modern classic!
Common
2/5
Not quite sure what this album is doing here. It’s generic and just cheesy!
Fever Ray
4/5
Strange and beautiful!
Fugees
4/5
Darker than the hits suggest... great all round album.
The Auteurs
4/5
This is good... no doubt requiring more intense scrutiny!
Brian Eno
3/5
Roxy music -lite
Tom Waits
4/5
Not as strange as I expected... good album!
AC/DC
2/5
Very samey all the way through... they ain’t trying to be anything else. Boring!
Solange
4/5
This is clearly a great album. Soulful and full of groove!
Nightmares On Wax
5/5
Perfect chilled beats
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
Fun, but a bit disjointed and chaotic!
The White Stripes
3/5
Some bad drumming... all round ok!
Nick Drake
4/5
Good chilled out summer vibes. Fit the mood.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
A band well and truly in their pomp!
Adam & The Ants
3/5
High concept pop art! Should probably like this. Still good though!
Beatles
5/5
The best Beatles album!
Van Morrison
5/5
I love this album. It’s so soulful and reflective. Perfect for a summers morning!
Kate Bush
4/5
Sensual music in a sensual world. Bush doing what she does best here!
David Bowie
4/5
Funk soul melody.... it’s what the thin white duke does best. Top record!!
Primal Scream
5/5
It’s just the ultimate ecstasy album. A classic!!
Cypress Hill
4/5
Like all great hip hop albums this was funky as hell. Short sharp and concise!!
Frank Sinatra
2/5
If you’re not buying what they’re selling in terms of fake whimsy then it’s incredibly hard to get invested in this crooner stuff. 2stars for genre defining!
Eminem
3/5
Not my kind of hip hop... a generous 3!
The Black Crowes
2/5
As beige as a peeled potato! This is generic American rock music to the n’th degree.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
To go along with the general consensus; this album transcends genres and tastes. Full of melody, musicianship and emotion. Quite rightly lauded as one of the best!
Bad Company
3/5
Mediocre company I’d say. Carried through by the good bits!
Tori Amos
3/5
Some good stuff on this. Very Kate Bush. May need further listens.
Prince
4/5
Funk, soul, rock’n’roll it’s got it all!
Bob Dylan
4/5
Bob Dylan doing archetypal Bob Dylan. It’s a great album.
Scott Walker
3/5
Easy listening right here. Can hear his heavy influence in a lot of modern music. Not quite my thing, but still good.
5/5
The undisputed queen of indie rock pulls out her masterpiece!
Red Snapper
5/5
My kind of thing.... this will be getting plenty of revisits. Electronica on acoustic instruments *chefs kiss*
Devendra Banhart
2/5
Too much of the same whimsical acoustic guitar noodling. And 45 minutes of that ridiculous vocal..... nah!!
The Streets
5/5
The mile skinner concept album. Absolutely superb; it was supposed to be so eeeeeaaassssyyyy!
The Byrds
3/5
It’s ok..... nice melodies, but just a bit twee for my taste!
Eagles
3/5
Not bad actually.... considering it just isn’t really my thing!
PJ Harvey
4/5
Raw PJ.... fantastic album. Visceral and immediate!
Incubus
2/5
Has some quirks but overall it’s just another dull nu-metal album!
Queen Latifah
4/5
Better than I thought.... some good tunes and worth a revisit!
808 State
4/5
Classic slice of Mancunian techno.... ticks all the boxes including nostalgia!
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Austin powers anyone. I don’t mind a sitar bit a whole album of playing lead vocal melody lines? Nope
The Pharcyde
3/5
Got better along the listen.... not bad!
Iggy Pop
4/5
The man the myth the legend in his golden era. Clear Bowie influence here!!
Paul Simon
4/5
Pretty close to a 5 here... love this album. An all time classic most will agree!
Steely Dan
4/5
More I hear of this band the more I love. Yacht rock on warm spring days by the beach... perfecto!
Orbital
4/5
Good techno.... they’ve got a serious cannon of work, these chaps!
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Yeah not bad... very chillaxing. Can see where four tet got some inspiration
Randy Newman
3/5
Good fun.... unfortunately his voice is intrinsically linked to kids films though!
The Allman Brothers Band
2/5
Too bloated, self indulgent and long. Sounded like a band rehearsing.
New Order
5/5
I love this band and love this album. This is New Order at the peak of their powers!
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
The good moments are great; there are just too few of them unfortunately.
The Police
4/5
Definitely more of a singles band, but this album is great. Swings about styles nicely!
Ride
3/5
A bit long winded and the lyrics are corny.... but the vibe and the feel are what make this album!!
T. Rex
4/5
Pop personified…. This is just rockin rollin melodies!
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
This was a fantastic mix mash of styles…..unusual but familiar at the same time. Enjoyed it!
Beck
4/5
Pretty close to a 5…. Proper record this; goes all over the place, in a good way!!
John Martyn
3/5
Good album…. Bit funkier and 70s sounding that I expected. Probably revisit!
The Who
2/5
Just can’t get onboard with the Who anymore…. Sounds like nursery rhymes with constant drum rolls underneath.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
This is rockin…. Much better than expected. Weird, yet familiar! Enjoyed!!
The Fall
5/5
Marmite band…. And I love them. This is a fantastic album! Full of dry wit and oddball lyrics.
Cream
3/5
Good, but not amazing. Love the famous woman tone on the SG and generally the musicianship is top notch. Minus one star for the final track.
5/5
In my top ten albums of all time. A super nostalgic group of songs which instantly take me back. Beautiful melodies and vivid story telling. Just amazing!!
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Yeah, not bad… pretty MOR but that’s the idea I think. Some nice bits along the way.
Tito Puente
2/5
First song was enjoyable then it descended into 45mins of the exact same song!
Kate Bush
5/5
Just a stone cold classic…. Sends you on an artistic journey. One the greatest songwriter and performers this country has ever produced!
Jimmy Smith
2/5
Not a jazz man, but this was just about listenable. Could have done with a couple of changes of gear… alas no!
The Blue Nile
5/5
This is just amazing… so much emotion and feel. It’s a lesson in less-is-more…. Just a wonderfully crafted album from start to finish!
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Smooth as!!! Forgot how cool this album was… extremely New York!
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2/5
Absolute slog of an album…. Felt like I was in Smokey and the bandit there for a cotton picket minute. Too much banjo for my taste!!
Pulp
5/5
Controversially I prefer this to its older more popular sibling Different Class. Dark and introverted…. The Britpop hangover started here!
James Brown
4/5
More soulful r’n’b than some of James’ more famous work. Short and sweet!
Charles Mingus
1/5
Absolute nonsense! Every single member of the band is playing a different song. I’m sure they’re all having fun, but unfortunately, I wasn’t!
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Got better toward the end. This is a very raw Tom petty. I liked it.
The Prodigy
4/5
Good album…. Prevented from being an amazing album by its length. Shave 40mins off and you’ve got yourself a big beat classic!!
Sam Cooke
4/5
King of soul… very good live album!
Eric Clapton
4/5
Very enjoyable. Smooth laid back bluesy rock… what’s not to like!
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Just Paul McCartney… not offensive but doesn’t blow me away. Couple of great tunes mind.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Probably caught me at the wrong time… found the whole thing kind winded and bloated. Also too many xylophones!
Aerosmith
4/5
A lot better than I was expecting. This is pretty raw rock’n’roll with loads going on!!
Femi Kuti
3/5
Good African swing!
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This album is pretty fun… I like it!
Black Flag
2/5
I’m not young and I’m not angry… this album wasn’t recorded for me!
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Never really got into LCD; probably because of that daft punk song…. But this is great. Definitely worth exploring further!!
Eagles
2/5
Balls…. Sounds the osmonds do country ballads. Just plain old dull!
The Doors
4/5
This is probably the best Doors album. Bluesy, bearded and definitely LA!
Ramones
2/5
Not a fan of this… enjoyed some of the singles but an entire long player is just not great! Sorry Ramones!
David Bowie
5/5
The Midas touch. This is Bowie in his absolute pomp… what an album!
The Roots
4/5
This is a great album. Ashamed to say I didn’t know much about it… I’ll be exploring further!
The La's
5/5
The definitive scouse album. Cosmic stuff!
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
Everything you want from a hip hop album… chilled beats and amazing rhymes!
Bad Brains
3/5
This needs another couple of listens… sounds like there’s a good album in there!
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Never heard this before…. One song was semi familiar. Really enjoyed it though. Soulful with good tunes!
The Triffids
3/5
Some potential here, but didn’t catch me on the first listen. Might be worth a revisit!
Slipknot
3/5
Just what you expect from slipknot… heavy riffs, but pretty melodic at times. Quite enjoyable!
Elvis Presley
3/5
Standard elvis…. Few too many ballads to mark any higher!
Baaba Maal
4/5
I like this kinda stuff… very relaxing!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
Just too weird for me… too many keys playing random notes. It’s shame because there were some tunes hiding in there!
k.d. lang
2/5
Don’t like crooning and don’t like country and western so this album was a bit of a non-starter! One extra mark for being at least listenable!
Faith No More
4/5
I really enjoyed this… more than I expected!
Al Green
3/5
I know this is classic, but it failed to grab me.
Madonna
2/5
Like most of her albums… they just bang on. Couple of good singles and that’s it. Defo greatest hits kinda artist!
The Who
2/5
The who?
David Bowie
5/5
Like two different superb albums. Krautrock meeting kraut electronica. The Berlin masterpiece!
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
5/5
Just the perfect pop album. Doesn’t sound in the slightest bit dated it was so ahead of its time! Classic!!
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I know this is considered a stone wall classic; but this smoochy smoochy soul just doesn’t do it for me!
The Style Council
3/5
Bit jazzier than I’d hoped for…. I like all the stuff I’d heard previously so I’m a bit disappointed by this long player. Not too bad though.
The Replacements
4/5
Not heard of this before… for some reason I always thought they were an Irish blues band. I enjoyed this album… definitely listen again!
Koffi Olomide
4/5
I like this style of music.. not a compete triumph but I’m feeling generous!
Gotan Project
3/5
Ok…. But fell somewhere between proper chill out and dancey
The Soft Boys
4/5
This is great. Extremely difficult to pigeon hole but quintessentially British in delivery. Would listen again!
Ryan Adams
4/5
Country-ish alt classic.
Fugazi
3/5
Gnarly… it had its moments but ultimately fell slightly flat for me. Just can’t buy the angst!
Björk
3/5
It’s good, but it’s not one of her best. Some strange moments.
Miles Davis
1/5
This is one of the worst albums I have ever had the misfortune to hear. As Tony Wilson said, ‘Jazz is the last refuge of the untalented. Jazz musicians enjoy themselves more than anyone listening to them does.’ He had a point!
Willie Nelson
2/5
Sorry Willie… way out of taste range. Crooner, no…. Country, no! Not offensive though!
Madonna
3/5
Some killer and some filler…. Doesn’t hit all way through unfortunately!
Fela Kuti
3/5
Decent…. But that’s it. Didn’t blow me away!
Elvis Presley
3/5
This is decent level Elvis… about as Elvis as I’ll go!
2Pac
4/5
This is a solid hip hop album…. Extremely prophetic and close to home for 2pac. Gone too soon!
Pink Floyd
4/5
Don’t think I’ve ever heard this all the way through strangely. Good album all told… minus one star for going a bit les miserables at the end!
John Martyn
3/5
Fairly middle of the road to my ear. Not a bad record though… listen-able! Good last track!
Talk Talk
4/5
I love this band… and this album does not disappoint!
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Always thought this was the ATCQ number one record…. Just not as good as peoples instinctive travels. Not bad though!
Massive Attack
5/5
Dark, moody and claustrophobic….. just a great great album
Marty Robbins
3/5
Standard cowboy country story tellin… good to start with, but got a tad boring!
Bob Dylan
4/5
Classic slice of Bobby D! Not his best… but still outstanding!
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Just boring…. Easy listening…. But boring!
David Bowie
5/5
This is up there with the greatest Bowie albums… which means is up there with the all time greatest albums!
The The
4/5
This is just what you’d expect; politically scathing but beautifully melodic!
Steely Dan
4/5
This yacht rock at its best…. GIVE ME MORe!
Bob Dylan
5/5
This has got the strange whiff of an instant classic for my ear!!! Hidden gem in the back catalogue!
Supergrass
4/5
Like a best of supergrass this album… wall to wall bangers! So much fun.
Coldplay
5/5
Not a cool album to love…. But once upon a time Coldplay could really make music. This very much reminds me of days gone by!
Super Furry Animals
4/5
What’s not to love about these guys? Proper welsh wizardry. It’s certainly not their best album, but it’s still a corker!
Serge Gainsbourg
4/5
Good stuff… probably didn’t give this enough attention, but always enjoy a bit of serge!
John Coltrane
2/5
Sorry John; I know you are highly acclaimed… but I’m just not a jazz man…. It’s too damn freestyle!
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
Dark, electronic, 80s new wave… what’s not to love here!!
CHIC
4/5
Absolute class… derided a bit in its day, but this has proved to be an absolute disco funk classic!
5/5
Get some stick but this is actually an unbelievable album!
TLC
3/5
A lot of cheesy R’n’B stuff that’s not really my thing… but there were a couple of redeeming tracks. This is ok!
The Smiths
5/5
Up there in the top two best smiths albums… which makes this an automatic 5*
Kate Bush
3/5
Not her best outing!
Ministry
3/5
Heavy heavy stuff. Obviously this ain’t my scene, but can definitely appreciate the artistry!
Talking Heads
5/5
This and they are genius! So ahead of the curve it’s unreal!
2/5
Pretty terrible chaotic American pap!
Ravi Shankar
3/5
Much better than his western covers in a bangra stylie! This is decent background music.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This is palatable…. Elvis Costello has never really been my thing though.
4/5
Chilled out Balearic vibes here… needs to be listened to on a Sunny beach!!
Fairport Convention
4/5
A very generous 4. I do like this airy fairy folky shit, but too much can be a bad thing😄
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
This is great… another smashing African album I wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to!
Suzanne Vega
5/5
Love this… ethereal folk with lyrics on real life feminism. Can’t beat Vega!
Dire Straits
5/5
This is a classic beyond classics. All killer mo filler! Love it.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
This funky as hell…. Ultra cool from the super fly!!!
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Not a boss album I’m overly familiar. Still great they. Perhaps not touching on the greatness of others though.
UB40
5/5
Unbelievable… had know idea these cats pumped out such great dub. I’ll be revisiting this album 100%
Missy Elliott
3/5
Missy has never been my thing… stray’s a little close to pop stuff for me. This is alright though!
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
Too jammy for my tastes… like the doors if they were drunk and couldn’t be arsed!
The Clash
4/5
Not quite in their stride…. This is solid 3 and a half, but I’m gonna give it a 4 coz it’s the clash!!
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Thought this might be pretty good. Sgt pepper it ain’t but still enjoyable!
The Band
4/5
This is good…. Classic alt American rock; done really well. The Band, the band!
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Another excellent hip hop album… nothing groundbreaking but solid as!
OutKast
4/5
Extremely long; but brilliant anyway. I say this about a lot of double albums, but condense this into a single LP and you’ve got yourself an all time great!
Aerosmith
3/5
Pretty much exactly what you’d except here. Enjoyable enough I suppose!
Grateful Dead
2/5
Not my vibe unfortunately… just beige country rock; by Americans for Americans!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
This is clearly a great album… so it’s getting a 4, but something just ain’t clicking with me and Elvs!
ABBA
4/5
The kings and queens of 70s euro part. They knew their way around a melody that’s for sure.
Funkadelic
4/5
This was not what I was expecting from an album called maggot brain. Fun, weird, funky and soulful! Good stuff.
2/5
No… this hasn’t got anger to be punk, nor does it have the tunes to be anything else. Sorry X
Oasis
5/5
Up there amongst the greatest debuts of all. Cigarettes and alcohol indeed!!!
Don McLean
1/5
I’ve listened to some dull albums in my time, but this one takes the biscuit… annoyingly dull!
Joy Division
5/5
Frankensteins beautiful monster…. Part post punk, part industrial cityscapes, beautiful tortured lyrics all brought to life by the genius madness of Martin Hannett!
Talking Heads
4/5
Such a melting pot of influences. Madness!
Iron Maiden
5/5
Love this….. the maiden in their heyday! Rocking it!!
Paul Simon
3/5
Found this mainly very bland. May have caught me on an off day, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt with a three.
Madness
3/5
Nothing spectacular here… sounded like you’d imagine a madness album to sound!
Public Enemy
5/5
Seminal album for an genre…. This is politically charged hip hop at its absolute best!
Pixies
5/5
Not regarded by most as such, but for me this is the best album from one of my favourite bands. So weird and otherworldly but at the same time melodic and familiar. Simply amazing!!
The Strokes
5/5
An album that never gets old. This was so refreshing when it dropped…. New, exciting and created its own zeitgeist. Love it!!!
The Saints
4/5
Decent… and a cut above your common-or-garden punk stuff… had an edge!
FKA twigs
5/5
Amazingly innovative…. FKA twig is a true artist!
Michael Jackson
3/5
I thought this was better than it was… the singles clearly slap… but the ballads are just a bit dull. Soz wacko!
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
This is ok… very of its time! Struggled slightly with the vibrato on the vocal… but overall average.
Little Richard
3/5
Good singles… but a full long player of essentially the same song was a bit much!
Kraftwerk
5/5
This album just takes you somewhere else. It’s so innovative and ahead of it’s time. Who said you can portray emotion with computers?
Meat Loaf
3/5
Quite! Soft rock musical music at its pinnacle. Just not what I’d choose to listen to!
Sigur Rós
5/5
This was such a gateway album for me… I still remember the room I was sat in when I first heard it 20 years ago. Just perfection!
T. Rex
4/5
I really like this… it’s perfect glam rock pop. Marc certainly knew his way around a good melody!
Buffalo Springfield
2/5
Music by Americans for Americans
Elton John
4/5
This is rightly considered a classic.. early Elton was pretty prolific on banging out the tunes!
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
More American music for American people… I just can’t connect with this stuff on any level!
Steely Dan
4/5
Get the yacht sailing… we’re heading to key west for some sunshine and cocktails!
The Beach Boys
4/5
A bit darker than the beach boys I’m used… enjoyed this though. No one can say they don’t know their way around a good tune!
Fiona Apple
3/5
Not my thing. Kooky yet generic… if that’s possible.
Paul Simon
3/5
A good three stars… finding his stuff a bit samey, but this is ok I suppose!
Cheap Trick
4/5
This was not bad at all… didn’t know what to expect, but there were some decent tunes. May explore further.
Beth Orton
4/5
This is a generous 4, because although I didn’t enjoy this an awful lot on first listen, it definitely has potential to be a grower!
Morrissey
4/5
This isn’t bad. Obviously it’s not a scratch on the smiths. The vinnie Riley stuff adds something interesting.
Guided By Voices
3/5
This album should be called ‘Ideas recorded on a cassette player’ because that’s what it sounds like. Saved by some good Beatles-esq melodies!
TV On The Radio
4/5
This is huge. A barn stormer of an album. Heard it get great reviewers but never properly explored until. I’ll definitely be revisiting this one!
Television
5/5
This is banging. Perfect post punk. Love the guitar work from start to finish!
Cat Stevens
4/5
This is very decent. I know this album pretty well and it certainly passes the test of time!
Beastie Boys
4/5
Very strong album… would’ve been 5* but fizzled out a little at the end!
Neil Young
4/5
Neil Young always surprises me. This starts to ramble toward the end, but enjoyable nether the less.
Black Sabbath
3/5
This is decent, but it doesn’t blow me away. 3 stars is harsh but 4 is too many. 3.5!!
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
This is enjoyable… could’ve done with a little more attention on my part! I’ll revisit!
The Beach Boys
4/5
Good… contained a few hits and more. I always enjoy listening to the BB!
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Not for me. It always felt a bit style of substance. The album was extremely one paced… which some people probably like!
SZA
3/5
This may be a tad harsh because I didn’t give it my full attention…. I’ll try and revisit!
Radiohead
5/5
A modern classic… and they gave it away free before that was a thing!! It’s the Midas touch!
The Slits
3/5
Weird vocal; a bit ploddy. Liked the dub element, but overall pretty average!
Sonic Youth
5/5
Another deserved 5* for the Youth. Probably there most accessible album and it just never sounds dated! I love it!!
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This is enjoyable despite not being the kind of thing I’d listen to. It’s a three star from me but it’s clearly a lot better album than that!
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Decent… just really long. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it!
Culture Club
3/5
Pretty much exactly what I was expecting…. Nice listen!
Hugh Masekela
2/5
One thing I’ve learnt from 1001’ is that I can’t really handle Jazz in most forms.
Pixies
5/5
Just amazing…. Weird and wonderful!!! Easy 5.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Somewhere between a 3 and 4… but I’m feeling generous. Not as heavy as I was expecting.. some pretty eclectic stuff on here. It’s good.
Tom Waits
4/5
This is mad…. In a good way. It leans and lurches all over the shop. The guys a genius!
The Incredible String Band
3/5
I should imagine if this is your thing then this album is good… it’s a bit too medieval for me, but can appreciate it may be liked!
Gary Numan
3/5
Thought I’d like this more. Dunno why but it just doesn’t ring. It’s not bad though.
Suede
5/5
Britpop personified. Love this… so evocative!
Aerosmith
4/5
Like the Aerosmith album… I really like this. My impression has been stained by those awful ballads. This is good straight up rock with tunes!
David Holmes
4/5
Very good album…. This is one for the revisit!
Brian Eno
4/5
Much like the other album.. it’s really good in places but wanders perilously close to self indulgent at times…. Yeah pretty decent!
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
They didn’t call him the boss for nothing. This is the masterpiece!!
Lambchop
4/5
This sounded amazing… heard a lot of chatter about this album in the early noughties; never explored. I will now.
Neu!
5/5
Fantastique!!!
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Not hugely into samba type stuff, but this had some magic moments… as ever with these things; I can’t particularly get on board with double albums. Self edit for gods sake!
Eurythmics
3/5
Decent… but didn’t blow me away!
Herbie Hancock
2/5
Nah… just too freestyle for me. Me and jazz is like me and olives. I feel like we should get on, but alas no!
Bon Jovi
3/5
Classic hair metal from the purveyors of hair spray! This isn’t all that bad and I’d be slightly disingenuous if I gave it a really low score.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Yet another Elvia Costello album. Find him incredibly beige!
Simple Minds
4/5
Gold by name….. this is the transition album between post punk and stadium rock. Fantastic blend!
Dennis Wilson
4/5
This was a great surprise…. The beach boys drummer pulls out the best beach boys solo effort I’ve heard!
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Very close to a 5… this soulful, funky and pristine pop…..All in one!!
Badly Drawn Boy
5/5
One of my favourite albums ever. Often derided as indie dirge, but it really does touch me!
The Jam
4/5
Always loved the Jam. Anger but with a softness of touch. Another album on their impressive cannon!
Minor Threat
3/5
Obviously this stuff isn’t my bag. Too youthful and angry for a man of my vintage. Could appreciate some of it though!
Brian Wilson
3/5
Like a lot of it’s ilk this is damn twee… I do like the beach boys, but this is too faux psychedelic.
Patti Smith
2/5
Yeah that’s really not for me… just don’t get that!
Duran Duran
4/5
Very nice shiny pop music. I really enjoyed listening to that!!
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
Soulful, tuneful…. Great album!
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I can’t get on board with this morose stuff!
Spiritualized
4/5
Mad psychedelic cosmic shit going down here. Inebriation recommended!!
Anita Baker
3/5
This is miles away from what I normally listen to. Certainly not offensive, but unlikely to revisit!
OutKast
4/5
Very good!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
This one’s just too moribund. As ever great craftsmanship, but just not enough dynamic!
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Good tunes…. Hate Janis Joplin’s voice though!
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Decent pop album. Not really sure I’m mad keen on revisiting, but fun nonetheless!
Neil Young
4/5
Always think I’m not going to enjoy NY, but then I do! I believe this is his Magnus opus!
Pentangle
2/5
Twee medieval weirdness. Might sound good round an open fire in the vale of Avalon in 1969.. less so on a monday morning in work in 2022 trying to decipher how to edit Microsoft spreadsheets.
Leftfield
4/5
Extremely influential and critically acclaimed album… easy to see why. I’m very familiar with this record and it’s aged brilliantly!
Jacques Brel
2/5
This is all a bit twee and silly for me. That’s probably my uncouth ear and not the music, but I can’t help that… sorry!
Mudhoney
3/5
This is alright. Hasn’t got the melodic feel of nirvana or the interesting textures of sonic youth… falls between the two!
The Smiths
5/5
Quite simply one of THE greatest albums of all time!!!
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Classic slice of the best guitar player of all time! Love this; psychedelic and bluesy.
PJ Harvey
4/5
The epitome of consistency… album after album. This is another instant classic from Polly!!
Miriam Makeba
2/5
This was boring to the point of being irritating. Sounds very much of it’s time. The track with the guy laughing all the way through was horrible. This is a generous 2*!
Bert Jansch
3/5
Great guitar player. In his field completely untouchable. The album was a bit one dimensional.. bit that ain’t Bert’s fault!
Taylor Swift
4/5
Good pop album. Great songs but slightly let down by the overly slick production elements. A generous 4 for the fun factor!
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2/5
Sorry samba people… I just don’t like it!
Wire
3/5
This foot to the floor metal ain’t my thing… it’s just too 1D!
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
This is cosmic scouse indie at its best… can hear their influence everywhere.
Taylor Swift
2/5
Boring balladry…. Not a scratch on her more poppier output!
Weather Report
2/5
6string bass heavy… extremely noodlie and lack any coherence that my musical brain requires!
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
4/5
Classic hip hop… always delivered with a healthy slice of funk and electronica!
Manu Chao
3/5
Not a fan of salsa but this was as good as it gets for me.
Thundercat
4/5
FUNky!!! This is weird and smooth at the same time. Good album.
Daft Punk
5/5
All time classic French house album. So many bangers.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Some decently crafted tunes, but on the whole pretty dull.
The Young Rascals
3/5
Ok I suppose… slightly benefits from the r’n’b aspect… but nothing to get overly excited by here!
Rod Stewart
4/5
Huge nostalgia wrapped up in this one. Decent album.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
This is alright!! I suppose 😀
Elvis Presley
3/5
Don’t understand the hysteria on this one.. just old r’n’r standards!
The Doors
5/5
I love the doors; soulful, bluesy, groovy! Much derided, but extremely unfairly!
Gang Of Four
4/5
I like this… very basic straight up post punk. Some catchy numbers!
Sugar
4/5
Sugar by name sugar by nature. This is very saccharine and is very enjoyable on first listen, it just feels as though it will become very sickly on multiple listens!
The Temptations
3/5
Straight out of the tin soul music.
Blue Cheer
1/5
Shambolic self-indulgent nonsense… couldn’t wait for this to finish!
Led Zeppelin
5/5
There’s nothing I can say that hasn’t already said about this album. Genre defining stuff!
The White Stripes
3/5
Yeah I used to love this… it’s lost a bit of its magic through the years. Couple of good numbers, but on the whole it doesn’t get me going!
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
Some nice ditties… lost me with all the cowboy and ranch shit. Not an unpleasant listen!
The Human League
3/5
Don’t really get the hype around this one… plenty in the genre better in my humblest of humble opinions.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This is great… it’s 1D, but I suppose that’s the idea. Just feel like it needs some E-street sometimes!
Bob Dylan
5/5
Just an all time classic… Dylan in his absolute pomp!
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Extremely soundtracky… nice to have on in the background, but nothing I’d ever buy!
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
This was a great listen… first time properly listing to ELO. Some amazing melodies and harmonies.
The Pogues
5/5
Just classic. I love every song!! Drinking music.
Wilco
3/5
Too long, a bit too country and western… this was alright though!
k.d. lang
2/5
Just more country MOR stuff… find it extremely difficult to get anything but bored with this type of music.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Yeah this kind of jazz I can get behind. Not too freeform, not too self indulgent. It’s upbeat, it’s jazzy, it’s Basie!
Public Enemy
4/5
Everything PE do is quality… this is no exception!
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Yeah, a bit hippy dippy for my taste. Not bad though.
Pantera
4/5
Really like this album. Top of the genre!
Stan Getz
3/5
This was pretty good. Jazz ain’t my thing but this was enjoyable!
Joni Mitchell
3/5
The voice always grates on me a bit! Tunes are pleasant but a bit boring! Three stars for the songwriting
Laura Nyro
4/5
This was really enjoyable. Never heard of this cat… so nice little discover!
The Offspring
2/5
That voice is almost unlistenable for me. Very poppy simple melodies… should this album be in this list? Nope!
Shuggie Otis
4/5
I like shuggie… this is a bit more soulful that some of his r’n’b output. Still good!
Jeru The Damaja
5/5
How have never heard this. Absolute amazing hip hop album…. I’ll revisiting this bad boy very soon!
Crowded House
4/5
Good album, but extremely pedestrian. This is a very generous 4 based in my knowledge of Neil Finn and he amazing song writing skills.
Anthrax
3/5
Started off slowly, but got better. Don’t mind a bit of thrash… this scratch’s that itch!
Suede
5/5
Solid 5. It’s up there amongst the best Britpop albums, and certainly Suedes very best. Takes me back to my youth!
Eels
4/5
This is good… I’ll defo listen to this again!
The B-52's
2/5
Found think surprising grating.. I’ve always liked the B52s I’ve heard. I didn’t enjoy this!
Arcade Fire
5/5
Much maligned due to its predecessors. I still love it. Really stands up. Less bangers and more a feeling!
Ash
4/5
Pop rock bangers from dusk till dawn!!!
Elliott Smith
3/5
Usually a big fan of the smith but found this particular album… one I’ve never heard… fairly dull. Hate to sound like a cliche but I prefer his earlier work!
Norah Jones
3/5
Very coffee shop esq. inoffensive but also not amazing. Classic 2.5 out of 5 fodder!
Kanye West
4/5
Early kayne.. what’s not to like. Have to try very hard to separate the artist from the art though!!
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
Goth… didn’t give this my full attention. Not very fair on SOM. Maybe I shall return one day.. but for now!
Black Sabbath
4/5
The origins of metal. Some dark rock’n’roll here… pretty damn good!
The Prodigy
4/5
Just banging. Very close to a big 5…. But not hitting perfection quite!
Elvis Costello
4/5
This is the best of the many Elvia Costello albums I’ve heard on here so far. No hits, just great songwriting!
Adele
3/5
Too many ballads… don’t really dig this. A generous 3 due to her universal appeal!
Chicago
2/5
Started off well, but the hour upon hour of terrible guitar noodling completely ruined the entire thing!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Seminal Reggae from the master. Proper summer album!!
The Cure
5/5
Gothic, soulful…. Just huge!! Clear joy division influences here, but it’s all the better for them!
Jeff Buckley
5/5
Go through phases on this between liking it and loving it… today was a loving it day!!
Pink Floyd
5/5
This isn’t called a seminal record for nothing! Amazing!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Very emotional. A bit of harsh criticism but extremely one paced and maudlin!
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Excellent album. Funky, hard and political.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
This is good… never listened to this before strangely! Defo revisiting!
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
This clearly ain’t my usual bag, but this ain’t all that bad… defo listenable!
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Should’ve given this more attention.. sounded good, but didn’t really invest. One to revisit!
JAY Z
3/5
Bit boring tbh!
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I can see the appeal of this kinda thing, but this isn’t my thing really.
Donovan
4/5
A bit hippy dippy but not all bad. Could possible like this after a couple more listens.
Coldplay
4/5
Deeply unfashionable; but I really like it… maybe some sort of nostalgia at play!
Louis Prima
4/5
Really enjoyed this… upbeat and fun!
The Crusaders
3/5
Found this a bit meandering… not a bad record, just not something I’d go for!
Ray Charles
3/5
Good… not much more to say on this one.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
American music, made by Americans for Americans!
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Jazzy/samba really my idea of bad music, this was ok and I’m loathed to mark as low as two. So this is getting a 3 stars.
Mekons
4/5
Not at all what I was expecting… I thought American garage rock. The is not that! Very enjoyable; needs a revisit though!
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Decent motownie stuff…. Not much to say! 3+3=3*
Soft Cell
4/5
Electro pop goodness… this is very of its time. Good tunes!
The Kinks
5/5
As English as the queen of englands proverbials! This is classic songwriting!
Little Simz
4/5
Top new discovery! Heard the singles but the album really holds up to them. Will defo revisit this!
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Strange record… sounds a bit weedy on first listen, but huge potential!
The Avalanches
5/5
A Magnus opus of the sampling genre. This album screams warm summer evenings. Intricate and intelligent and yet contains all the necessary elements of a feel good pop album! How can you not love this?
Robbie Williams
2/5
Too polished, shiny and manufactured. There are some tunes here, but unfortunately the slick production does the LP no favours. The vocals sound straight out of fame school. Not offensive, but not great!
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Good, but slightly silly. Very groundbreaking I suppose; but is one to listen in that mind frame?
Turbonegro
3/5
Meat and spuds music this. It had its place in the pantheons of music, but just doesn’t ring my particular bells. A review with innuendo for an album with plenty of innuendo!
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I love the stones but this is a bit jangly… also not a fan of the hillbilly faux American accent on jagger. The singles are fantastic though!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Never been a huge Neil Young man… this is passable… can’t say anymore than that!
Harry Nilsson
4/5
This guy has defo got a decent tune in him. Largely flying under the radar it seems like he’s got a serious cult following! Good album!
The Cardigans
3/5
Very nice and inoffensive… these are fairly popular, but not my thing. Can just about see the appeal though, and this isn’t a bad album!
Jeff Beck
4/5
This is great. The vestiges of Rod, Zep and later stones. It’s all there. Great tunes!
N.W.A.
5/5
Amazing album. Just the funk and soul combined with the raw power. Perfecto!
The Only Ones
3/5
Standard pop punk here. No doubt the brilliance of another girl another planet. The rest of the album doesn’t quite live up!
Beastie Boys
5/5
Barn storming lesson in sampling. This is some album.
The Beau Brummels
2/5
This really ain’t my thing… twee, folky, 60s nonsense. I think you had to be there!
The Sonics
4/5
Yeah I like this… it doesn’t blow me away though. Pretty trend setting in terms of style; very ahead of its time. So it’s a generous 4*
The Kinks
4/5
I think the kinks are great and this is another example of why. Quintessentially English… in a good way!
Pulp
5/5
Clue’s in the name!
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
This was a bit boring and twiddly… not my idea of good experimental!
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Just a classic druggy album… these tunes are dripping in narcotics; but they don’t suffer from it at all. Amazing!!
Foo Fighters
3/5
Not great… Beatles-esc with heavy guitars…. But not as good. Saved from a 2* by a couple of decent songs!
Janis Joplin
1/5
The voice grates on me so much that I found this unlistenable! Soz Janis!!
Deep Purple
2/5
Just too ott… too much noodling too much self indulgence.
ZZ Top
4/5
Definitely not as goofy as expected. Quite enjoyed this!
The Monks
4/5
This started off very standard psychedelic punk rock… but got a lot more interesting as the album. Defo one to revisit!
Roni Size
4/5
Didn’t think I liked D&B but this is great chilled and upbeat at the same time!
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Standard folk… with some famous songs!
Radiohead
5/5
Undisputed classic. The start of the journey to greatness!
The Who
3/5
Some awful bits redeemed by some alright bits. On the whole pretty self indulgent and ridiculous.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Not as disco as I was expecting, but this was alright!
B.B. King
4/5
Amazing blues. This guy can get that guitar singing!
Hole
1/5
Totally embarrassing from start to finish!
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Balls out straight up rock music. This is good!
James Taylor
3/5
Just a bit MOR and countrified. Not offensive though!
Willie Nelson
2/5
Too country and western for me. This is Yankee Doodle do music for yanks!
Beatles
3/5
A band not yet fully hitting their stride. This sounds of the era…. Yet to discover their mojo!
The Verve
4/5
Cosmic indie. Gets well derided this album… but that’s unfair. Very special LP!
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Good but about 2.5hrs too long!
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
There’s only so much organ a dude can take in one…. And this is too much!!
Talking Heads
4/5
Not there best album… but still great. The funk, the groove, the esoteric lyrics… enjoyed!
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
As I usually say; there’s a fantastic single album here! There has never and there will never be a perfect double album!
Dr. Octagon
4/5
Another unknown to me. Another diamond discovery. I defo wanna revisit this one. Top Hip Hopping!
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
Fairly indifferent about this… not great, not bad!
DJ Shadow
5/5
Genre defining album. Such a brilliant record from start to finish!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
As you’d expect really. Less anthemic than their later material and a little more introspective at times. This is the jewel in their crown imo!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This is really good… might even be a 5 if it was slightly shorter!
Megadeth
4/5
Pretty good. Not always been heavily into thrash but this stands out in the genre!
George Jones
3/5
Very old school country and western. Songs about heartbreak and plenty of pedal steel… not bad!
The Icarus Line
4/5
This isn’t bad at all… heard their name but never knowingly heard their music. Enjoyed it!
Morrissey
4/5
Like fish without chips, like torville without dean, like united without Ferguson… it’s decent but it’s just not the same. Viva la Smiths!
The Beach Boys
4/5
This is ok… not the masterpiece it’s toted as. Decent tunes, but a bit twee in places.
Britney Spears
2/5
What is this doing in this list? I don’t mind a decent pop album, but this cheesy nonsense!
Garbage
4/5
Sleazy, sexy and cool. This is better than I remember from the time!
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
I think they may have been listening to Scott Walker when they wrote this. Influenced by is almost an understatement….. but I suppose it is the age of! Ok, nowt more!
Sonic Youth
4/5
Dirgey in the best possible way… they’re albums really do take you on a journey. Melody and song smithery aren’t lacking either. Just what you’d expect from SY!
The Fall
5/5
Mark Eeeee Smith at his scathing best. Floats in and out like a drunken tide. These are brilliant songs full of repetitive rhythms and melody. Ace!
The Cure
4/5
Not quite as dark as later efforts… I really lack the lower production values though. Brings the songwriting to fore… for there aren’t many better exponents!
Fela Kuti
2/5
Too much ginger baker and not enough fela kuti for my liking. This felt like a 45min drum solo… and if there’s one thing I hate more than a drum solo, that’s an entire album of drum solo!
Green Day
4/5
This brings back all sorts of memories… and for that reason alone this is getting an artificially inflated star rating!
Parliament
4/5
This does exactly what it says on the tin! It funks the hell out of the space! Love it!
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
Really don’t get this. I know they were trailblazers but this doesn’t hold up a torch to the proceeding hip hop. The rhymes are like the raps you made up in the school yard!
Magazine
4/5
This is pretty interesting…. The quirky side to the buzzcocks melody. I like it!
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
This is a really odd mix… not very cohesive but full of some great eclectic bangers. Can see how this was considered extremely influential!
Bob Dylan
4/5
Beach House
4/5
This is a nice album. Melody and interest all the way!