766
Albums Rated
3.09
Average Rating
70%
Complete
323 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
51
5-Star Albums
11
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yeezus
Kanye West
|
5 | 2.77 | +2.23 |
|
Among The Living
Anthrax
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Destroyer
KISS
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Ctrl
SZA
|
5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
|
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
|
5 | 2.98 | +2.02 |
|
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
The Blueprint
JAY Z
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Liquid Swords
GZA
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
|
Fragile
Yes
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hotel California
Eagles
|
1 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
|
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
|
Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
|
1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
|
Permission to Land
The Darkness
|
1 | 3.14 | -2.14 |
|
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
|
2 | 4.02 | -2.02 |
|
Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
|
1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
|
Very
Pet Shop Boys
|
1 | 2.93 | -1.93 |
|
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
|
2 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
|
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
|
1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Kanye West | 3 | 5 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4.33 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| Iron Maiden | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| Megadeth | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 6 | 4 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 4.33 |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 4.33 |
| Yes | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Shop Boys | 2 | 1.5 |
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 2 |
| Sonic Youth | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Metallica | 4, 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (51)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Like your drunk neighbors are having open mic night
72 likes
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Really carried by the two huge songs, I’m not interested in British faux honkey tonk
47 likes
Jerry Lee Lewis
1/5
Dude played for 25 mins barely coherent, stole half his set from little Richard, and then went home and slept with his cousin? Wack
42 likes
1-Star Albums (11)
All Ratings
Steely Dan
4/5
Cool grooves and like the drum sound. Second favorite Steely Dan album next to Aja
Suede
3/5
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
Pretty mid but wasn’t a fan of the vocals which seemed as if they were punched in on an intercom. Plus the percussion mix was way lower for a good chunk of the album
Lucinda Williams
2/5
Really samey and boring if I’m honest. Something about southern twang singing irritates me but I love Southern accented rapping, not quite sure why
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Appreciated more than the Lucinda Williams country-adjacent album. I always find myself just trying to push through and not intently listening to country (however loose)
The Jam
3/5
Solid but nothing amazing
Butthole Surfers
1/5
Wish the music was as cool as the band name
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Pretty basic but interesting how old this album is
The B-52's
3/5
ROCK LOBSTAH
U2 does U2 things
The Verve
3/5
Knew the big song but pretty solid all around
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
FONK
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Iz jazz
Jacques Brel
2/5
I can hear the passion but that’s about it
Femi Kuti
3/5
Good energy and fun to listen to albeit a bit samey
Pavement
3/5
Good alb. Bigger fan of crooked rain
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Still fire. Sparrow is *chefs kiss*
Scott Walker
2/5
Feels like someone giving a condescending rant, I don’t think that’s the case but that’s the vibe
Brian Eno
3/5
Really diverse set of songs, good for mind wandering
Fever Ray
3/5
Cool and laid back
Elvis Presley
3/5
It is indeed an Elvis album
Maxwell
3/5
Chill af, still good
Donald Fagen
3/5
Real smooth, solid listen
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
First relisten and something about the looping or extended beats come across as monotonous. I always have this issue with LCD Soundsystem for some reason. Enjoyable songs that get dry quickly
Radiohead
4/5
Another reminder to listen to more Radiohead
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
That 80’s ass bass, fun, and the Pleasuredome track was my favorite. Also never knew the band behind Relax
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Typical Thin Lizzy, sounds like the regular album tracks
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Not bad but not really my cup of tea either
Hole
2/5
TV commercial punk
Pixies
3/5
Solid, I always associate with Modest Mouse for whatever reason but prefer the latter
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Billy Joel’s country cousin, better than I thought but still not a fan
Björk
4/5
Really diverse set of songs, and not off the wall weird just unique
R.E.M.
3/5
Fine, run of the mill R.E.M. It’s kinda crazy how mid or non important they feel as a whole while still having multiple generational hits that everyone knows
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Like your drunk neighbors are having open mic night
3/5
Right around the middle on this one. Preferred LA
Prefab Sprout
1/5
More dull than a spoon
Metallica
4/5
Start of the decline, maybe it would have gotten stale but more thrash Metallica would’ve been dope
5/5
Hey man, my favorite Bowie album
Beatles
3/5
Too ballady for me but the big singles still slap
Fatboy Slim
2/5
RIGHT ABOUT NOW. Continuing the trend of learning where random one/two hit wonders are. Overall music loops>vocal loops
Amy Winehouse
2/5
Pretty disappointed tbh. The album was just kinda boring
Richard Thompson
3/5
Ok. Liked songs that added horns the most
Nick Drake
2/5
My mind always connects Nick Drake and Bob Ross for some reason. Both are calming, pleasant, and highly regarded by some following. But both I’m just kinda indifferent to
Black Sabbath
3/5
Happy 50th bday to metal. Still real good
The Pharcyde
5/5
Classic. The west side branch of native tongues imo
Billy Bragg
2/5
Goofy but harmless
Talking Heads
3/5
Solid grooves, s/o to Pat for recommending this before
Spiritualized
3/5
Always enjoy how Spiritualized build their songs into this huge cacophony
Radiohead
5/5
Great Computer
Ramones
4/5
Still a fun listen. Crazy how this was outlandish punk music when released
The The
3/5
Solid and the album art reminds me of the ‘jazz’ paper cups
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Great alb but not my fav Jimi. Although Little Wing and If 6 was 9 are top 5 Jimi songs
Donovan
3/5
Liked it, already familiar with the title track and season of the witch (unknowingly). I feel like this is The Doors lite, or without the edge at least
Arcade Fire
3/5
Good re-listen, I like the more orchestral parts of Arcade Fire especially the last track
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Really hated the vocals on this and otherwise was only semi interested in the music
The Shamen
3/5
Kinda mindless techno-ish, not my bag
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Quality boom bap but a degree under the classics from that era
John Martyn
2/5
Not bad but I think I would have liked it more without vocals. He sounds like me mumble singing to myself walking to the car or something
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Feels like I should be driving through desert mountains, or I’m at a local Mexican restaurant set to a calming radio station
Tears For Fears
4/5
Absolutely slaps, closer to a 5 but not quite there for me. S/o Jake making this my 5th (?) Listen this year
Ice T
3/5
Best Ice-T project I’ve listened to, always thought of him as a lesser Eazy E (even tho he came first). I dig the body count stuff too
Laura Nyro
2/5
The Cure
3/5
A welcome relisten. Big sound like The Cult guitars, PS2-ass, 90’s tone.
AC/DC
5/5
Classic. Part of my first purchase at Toms too
Queen
3/5
Solid but still feels like they’re finding their footing. Killer Queen is a top 10 track tho
Patti Smith
3/5
Anthems for horse girls but actually good
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Not my steez but i liked it better than old man Cohen
Various Artists
3/5
Not sure why this is here it’s a run of the mill Christmas album. Also getting it on Christmas makes the random aspect sus, unless it’s just holidays?
Sigur Rós
2/5
Bjork is cooler
Frank Zappa
4/5
This was the first Zappa album I listened to in HS. Willie the Pimp is underrated and Peaches En Regalia still slaps
The Clash
4/5
Great alb, not the most technical stuff but the raw energy makes the band
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Nice relaxing listen to end the new year
Nirvana
4/5
Sounds great stripped down and the covers are dope
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Surprisingly didn’t hate it
Sinead O'Connor
2/5
Boring and tbh not sure why it’s here
Alanis Morissette
3/5
AKA Atlantis Morsefest. 90’s as hell
Slipknot
3/5
Surprised to see them on here but honestly held up nicely. The drumming is really tight
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Not really a Neil Young guy but this was some good classic rock
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Classic, but a wholly overrated band
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Really beautiful in parts, a little long
The Band
2/5
Ok but pretty mundane, like their name
Fats Domino
3/5
A 50’s artist I’ve always fucked with. Fats was that dude
The Offspring
2/5
“You know who’s good? Nirvana, y’all should try to sound like them”
It didn’t work
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Absolutely lives up
Arrested Development
3/5
Heavy one week by barenaked ladies vibes. Not bad tho
Sonic Youth
2/5
Slayer
4/5
Probably my favorite Slayer album and without the immensity of Raining Blood I’m not sure they would be remembered with as high regard
Jerry Lee Lewis
1/5
Dude played for 25 mins barely coherent, stole half his set from little Richard, and then went home and slept with his cousin? Wack
The Who
3/5
Decided to look up the story this time and cool no one knows what the hell its about either. The music and ideas are still fun tho
Orbital
2/5
I like the one that went bee boo boo bop
Teenage Fanclub
2/5
Eh. Not bad but eh
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Really chill and easy listening. Surprised at how early this was too, I’m a fan
Dusty Springfield
2/5
Dusty is the correct adjective
Bon Jovi
3/5
Cheesy 80’s pop-rock, that has 3 of the biggest genre defining hits
3/5
Not bad but the music portion always seems ancillary to the lyrics
Miles Davis
3/5
Silent and chill
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Now that’s what i call country Vol. 6
Led Zeppelin
5/5
You already know
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Alright but not really in a folk mood at the time of listening. The last track was eerie and probably my favorite despite the simplicity
Alice Cooper
4/5
Prolly my fav Alice Cooper album. The drums are just so good, especially on the eponymous track, that opening fill is too catchy. This time around I was impressed by the amount of piano too.
Roni Size
3/5
Interesting but real long
Manu Chao
3/5
Quiero bailar a la musica
The Young Rascals
2/5
A lot of the record sounds like the opening theme for 70s/80s sitcoms. Which isn’t bad but not the best
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Yaaaaawwwwn. NEXT
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Really great and sad it was his last album. Jimi and Mitch went off and you feel like you’re experiencing the experiments firsthand. Also the intro to voodoo child is still so fuckin cool
Fela Kuti
4/5
Did a quick Wiki on this and mad props to Fela Kuti. He showed integrity and the importance of making your voice heard through your art, and he suffered so much from it. The music itself lacking context is also really good
Public Enemy
3/5
Their best album, fight the power is still anthemic
Paul Weller
3/5
Cool album, favorite parts were where the keys and drums work in tandem as the guitar builds on a winding solo
Beatles
5/5
The best
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Meandering but really chill
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Ol Frank songs to chill and fall asleep to. Work environment didn’t help my engagement
Bob Dylan
3/5
My favorite Dylan album I’ve listened to, certainly the most “musical” one as well
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Really carried by the two huge songs, I’m not interested in British faux honkey tonk
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Charming, in his bag, sexy Frank absolutely > sleepy wee hours Frank
4/5
Peak U2 and prolly peak ‘stadium’ rock
Minutemen
3/5
An ok album with a lot of ideas that just keeps goin and goin, oh hey jackass, anyways not bad
The Clash
3/5
Finding their footing but still solid
George Michael
3/5
Being sex positive? Cool. Doing it like an after school PSA? Not so much
JAY Z
5/5
“God MC, me, J HOVA” with beats from Ye, Just Blaze, and that one Eminem. Issa classic
The Pretty Things
4/5
Some small twinges of late stage Beatles in here
Van Morrison
2/5
Voice still kinda grates against me but thank god it’s not Brown Eyed Girl level
Gary Numan
3/5
This is a review, I’m writing it right now. I love to write reviews online.
Take that to the melody of Cars and slap some basic synth melodies and you have this album
5/5
Still impressive for the time and a great listen every time
R.E.M.
3/5
Surprised R.E.M. has more than one on the list and this not being my second choice I may be very surprised they have 3 on here
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Not my thing and the singer sounds like Carl Weezer from Jimmy Neutron on some songs
The White Stripes
3/5
Really like the grittiness of white stripes despite their simplicity
Janis Joplin
4/5
Never really dug her stuff before but pleasantly surprised to like this album
The Cars
4/5
Some classic dad rock anthems on this jawn
The Temptations
3/5
Papa still a classic but even the Intro is a but droney for no reason. Solid alb
10cc
3/5
Pretty solid, 10cc always exist on my peripheral of interesting bands I remember existed
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Why is this here?
Pink Floyd
5/5
Classic. Beyond classic and over loved often but still tight. Also forever connected to Paul Blart now
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Nice soundtrack for a weekend of family fun
Scott Walker
2/5
His voice is just goofy and this album put me to sleep
The Beach Boys
3/5
Makes the granddads go crazy
Depeche Mode
4/5
What does Depeche Mode mean? Cool album tho, one of those bands where I should listen to more but I never do
Baaba Maal
3/5
I enjoyed it, especially while making breakfast, but the language barrier creates a sameness throughout
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Iconic... album art but what’s with the music tho? Not very special or interesting or good really
Green Day
5/5
Still great and fun to listen all the way through. S/o to my cousins and their Limewire plug
Turbonegro
3/5
Sus band name but solid tunes
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Not bad but not really my jam either. Happy dad-adjacent rock
Wilco
3/5
Aight, very general appeal but nothing mind blowing inside
Meat Loaf
3/5
Feels like a rock opera/musical and maybe it is but I haven’t paid much attention to the lyrics other than the weird furry dialogue. Dude can sing but not really my thing
Elvis Presley
3/5
So he is alive?
New York Dolls
3/5
Really good energy that works for the straight up rock/punk music
Radiohead
4/5
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Bizarre beats that never really work for me but it truly is unique
Missy Elliott
3/5
Just Supa Fly but go Missy
Metallica
5/5
RIP Cliff who knows what may have been post And Justice For All. This album still slaps
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Enjoyed it and couldn’t grasp what it reminded me of until I saw the suggested Spotify page for Blur
Iron Maiden
5/5
It’s hard to not prefer the Bruce fronted band but the first two albums kick so much ass too. Great songs that they still play live like Running Free and Ofc Iron Maiden is just a testament to how timeless this album is
The Replacements
2/5
Should have taken their own advice, there’s another album with that name already ya na?
The Style Council
3/5
The guitar on the self titled track was tight. The other tracks were cool too but that specifically stuck out
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Ok but not great. Never hear anything about this band either
Gang Starr
3/5
Kate Bush
2/5
Sleep and boring. Not my jam
New Order
3/5
Not my usual thang but p solid
George Michael
3/5
No prejudice activated. I liked it, guess he really carried Wham! huh
Marianne Faithfull
3/5
I understood most of it, not so broken after all
R.E.M.
3/5
Dang they snuck me with Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts. Still can’t believe they have 3 albums on this jawn
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Honky Tonk Beatles strikes again
Aerosmith
3/5
Solid rock album with a lot of notable tracks. S/o Guitar Hero Aerosmith
Finley Quaye
4/5
Super quality reggae, much needed
Tom Waits
2/5
Dude sounds like that blue CGI alien in Star Wars episode 6 after George tinkered with them. Just goofy
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Again and again. Solid
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
I enjoyed the jam stuff, just sounds like a fun show to be at
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Not my favorite NIN but really good. Hurt is a classic
Eminem
4/5
Probably my favorite Em project even though there are some stinkers. His attitude and image work a lot better before he worries about being heralded as the best rapper ever
Nightmares On Wax
4/5
Hooked me from that sample that Passin Me By uses. Chill beats to zone in with
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
This was a fun album, but not the greatest for sitting at a desk at work. Also wish I knew the name of that whooping instrument in the back of some tracks
Frank Black
4/5
The Undertones
3/5
Doesn’t take itself seriously which makes it a fun listen
Haircut 100
3/5
Not sure what they fall under (new wave?) but I dig it. The bass tone and up tempo beats get me
Sonic Youth
2/5
Not bad but way too long for the type of music they’re playing
Al Green
4/5
Oh this album fucks
John Coltrane
3/5
Enjoyed it and really appreciated the brevity of this album. I’m not grasping why it’s super revered tho
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
He do be ramblin’
Tricky
3/5
Cool beats and an off vibe that I liked
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Great album, I really love the strings, horns, and other accompanying additions
John Martyn
2/5
Ok but nothing special
The Zombies
2/5
Ok but I’d categorize it as music for boring hippies
Lambchop
2/5
This album has already faded from my memory and I listened to it yesterday
Morrissey
3/5
Not bad but not good enough to justify his personality
David Bowie
3/5
Solid Bowie but doesn’t hit as many peaks as his top work
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Honestly much better than I expected. I had always thought more energy went into his image than his music from songs here and there.
Ryan Adams
2/5
This made me sleepy. Too long and middle of the road
Yes
5/5
Hey it’s the Jojis. But absolute classic and very accessible Prog Rock. The album art is so iconic too. S/o Chris Squire
Lauryn Hill
5/5
Still probably the best female MC of all time. This album is fantastic in about every way. Lauryn is also the most equal in talent between rapping and singing
Leonard Cohen
1/5
Spoken word or something this close to it shouldn’t belong here imo. I’m here for music not poetry
David Bowie
3/5
More disjointed than I typically enjoy Bowie albums but he still fits the album sound to his personal style well
Kanye West
5/5
Masterpiece
The Isley Brothers
5/5
Some absolute bangers on this one. The organs, synth, electric Guitar, and bongos are all perfectly utilized. Loved it
Jeff Beck
3/5
Guitar tone is super clean and solid all around
Black Flag
3/5
Solid punk but a little samey, which i could say for most Punk I’ve heard
3/5
A truer sentence has never been uttered since
Charles Mingus
4/5
First Mingus album i listened to and still really good on the relisten. This shit drips
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Radiohead vibes but more opera-tinged(?) music
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Solid blues jams. The first track blew me away and I was like “holy shit he sounds like Santana”.... the track just featured Santana tho lol
Peter Frampton
3/5
The talk box is fun and this dude really loves Da whey. Wasn’t this like the most sold album of the decade or some shit?
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
Real solid and shows the potential this band has, but not my favorite QotSA. The Josh Homme guitar tone is sick
Stereolab
4/5
Really liked the layering of this project. There’s a lot going on and it all meshes really nicely, sick alb
Prince
5/5
That super bowl performance tho
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Interesting but never wowed me
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I don’t recall a Wizard. Interesting take on borderline genre bending but nothing blew me away
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Enjoyable and easy listen
Love
3/5
Solid and enjoyed the drumming on this project
Abdullah Ibrahim
3/5
I lack the knowledge and intelligence to articulate how I feel about different jazz albums. But I liked this
Ice Cube
4/5
Epitome of aggressive early hip hop, it’s crazy to see his rebrand (top 3 with snoop and ice t). No matter how shitty my day is “It Was a Good Day” will always hit
Death In Vegas
3/5
Nick Drake
3/5
I’m going to stick with the Bob Ross comparison but I enjoyed this album more than Pink Moon
Stan Getz
3/5
Pleasant but my girlfriend asked if we were listening to elevator music
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Beautiful and possibly the best album ever made. The interstitial poem is ingrained in my head. RIP Pac
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Not bad, does everything a punk album is supposed to do, probably won’t come back tho
Elvis Costello
3/5
Comes across as a dork but the music is solid
2/5
Really underwhelmed the first time I listened and had the same dull play through this time as well
OutKast
4/5
Love OutKast but in the minority of not absolutely loving this album. It’s got joints for sure but a smaller chunk feels like filler. Still great
Missy Elliott
4/5
Missy is dope and whew that feature list
Robbie Williams
3/5
Upbeat and pleasant but nothing wowed me (2.5/5)
Red Snapper
3/5
Really cool beats. I dig it
Soundgarden
4/5
Really good still but I think I prefer badmotorfinger. The hits are all time on this one
T. Rex
3/5
Fun dad rock, nothing groundbreaking
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Another miss for me from the Stones, it’s lacking something. Coincidentally listened to this the day Charlie Watts passed. RIP
Queen Latifah
3/5
Pretty dated but she does well as any emcee from the era. She reminds me of the female Ice Cube just not as aggressive
The Slits
3/5
Beatles
4/5
Really appreciate this album for starting the experimental Beatles arc. The songs are all good but nothing way out there AND on the level of The Beatles hit popularity. Shockingly the most well known song from this album is probably Yellow Submarine, which kinda makes my point.
Funkadelic
4/5
Groovy, still wanna get funked up
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Cecelia is a song I know but never known the name of, which is always fun to come across
Jamiroquai
3/5
Bass lines were the highlights, I guess this counts as Disco?
2/5
It’s a lot of racket. I’m sure the reviews absolutely dumpster this one and I gotta say I didn’t hate it. However I did feel lost at what I was supposed to gather from such raucous violent sax, it’s how I image what non Jazz listeners think what regular Jazz sounds like
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Absolutely slaps, way cooler than I thought it would be
Prince
3/5
Not sure if it’s in his best but still really good
Machito
3/5
Entertaining and I like the diversity in instruments
Kanye West
5/5
Amazing album. The first time I ever listened I was very mixed, especially jarred after the intro On Sight, and gave it like a 5/10. But now everything has clicked and I love this like his earlier work. Bound 2 is top 3 Ye songs
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
Real simple and just ok
Nas
5/5
Insane he pulled this off his debut, I mean the production alone Is stacked. The cover is literally one of the first images in my head when I hear “hip hop”
Garbage
3/5
Never liked their song on RockBand which was my introduction so happy to say this was a solid album
Shack
3/5
Pretty good!
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Not a fan of the white noise guitar effects on this one
ZZ Top
3/5
Straight up rock. Aight
The Monks
2/5
Confusing entry but not the worst
The Auteurs
3/5
Not much noted but aight
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Wheeeewww that SOUL man
Ian Dury
3/5
Don’t know how to pin point it other than the obvious accent but big Brit vibes
Solomon Burke
3/5
This sounds like an album you’d put in the background of 50s movies when you don’t wanna use the music everyone knows
Les Rythmes Digitales
4/5
Really liked it despite limited experience with electronic stuff. Also cool to hear the missy/Ciara sample
Pulp
3/5
Liked it a lot more than I thought I would as I imagined it as a Punk-ier album. Really nice atmosphere/vibe on the longer tracks, even the extended outro
Talking Heads
3/5
Love their reggae/dub influence
The Pogues
2/5
Celtic colonialism vibes
Little Richard
3/5
OG rock legend. Simple and good
Megadeth
5/5
Really great thrash project and cementing Dave stepping out from Metallica. Devils Island is a jam
Ray Charles
2/5
Too samey and I prefer Charles with some energy not commercial tunes from A Christmas Story
Portishead
3/5
Some of the sound effects were grating but otherwise I enjoyed this album. Prolly under Dummy
Sebadoh
3/5
Never heard of them before
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
Super 80s and the beats feel real repetitive and not all that interesting
Eric Clapton
3/5
Ah this is where the subpar Sheriff cover is, ok overall
2/5
That bass tone tho
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Is Layla the rock version of “and I fucked your bitch you fat motherfucker”, obviously George and Eric weren’t feuding like that though. Have you ever loved a woman is also pretty cold too. Anyways it’s alright, and was deservedly called so before people figured out it was Clapton’s newest outing.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Shining star is the easy bop to single out but it’s all good shit
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
2/5
Not bad but buddy holly has always felt pretty lame
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Sometimes it’s really cheesy but you gotta respect the boldness of this album
The Smiths
4/5
Has that beautiful melancholic tint that I love from The Smiths and is hard to find other bands that compare
The Gun Club
3/5
What guns and how many, they never said
Chicago
4/5
Surprisingly my first Chicago album and it slapped. Great stuff and fun playing
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Soundtracks love this chick
The Black Keys
4/5
Probably my favorite Black Keys project, just a lot of feeling bottled into these tracks
Gang Of Four
3/5
I was entertained!
Talk Talk
3/5
Really clean sound but can lead to tedium
The Byrds
3/5
Very much of their time. I had forgotten that Hey Joe was a cover, Jimi was out here claiming people’s tracks and wiping them out of history
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Can I get uhhhhhhh eh
The Cure
4/5
Another overlooked band by me, the Cure is great
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Wheres Jah!? Someone get Jah on the phone
The Smiths
3/5
But does Murder is Meat?
Willie Nelson
3/5
Avoided Willie albums cause I was afraid I’d hate the cool weed guy’s music. Happy to report it’s more folk vibes than country and I liked this album
Beastie Boys
3/5
Production is crazy and I have no idea how they paid for some of these samples (The Beatles!?). Rap wise you know what you’re going to get
Arcade Fire
3/5
The suburbs doesn’t need to sound this adventurous
David Bowie
3/5
Only heard the eponymous track before, liked the instrumentals but the vocals were a bit out there (as Bowie usually does). Solid
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Like if tiny Tim went through puberty
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Should’ve taken the girl as well
Beatles
5/5
Such a sick variety of songs that you’re never bored or feel the length of this project. This time around Happiness is a Warm Gun has become a favorite
Jethro Tull
4/5
Oh hey, Aqualung. Maybe my favorite Jethro Tull album, good albeit corny (3.5/5)
Wild Beasts
3/5
I liked the vocals, most of everything else was fine, nothing really going on here
Megadeth
5/5
That onion article might be the realest review out there
Billie Holiday
3/5
Haunting voice that walks the line with being straight up goofy. A little sleepy
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Thanks Todd, maybe shorten it up TODD
Goldfrapp
3/5
A good chunk sounds like the intro songs to James Bond movies. Or that’s just sway of what’s been around me lately, cause apparently everyone just kinda ignored the first song using Strawberry Fields’ melody. The most unexpected cool thing was finding a sample of an unreleased Tyler, the Creator song called “WTF right now”
Jack White
3/5
Solid, kinda interested why this was chosen. I have to assume there’s a White Stripes album somewhere in here then. And there damn sure better be some Jack Black up in here
George Harrison
3/5
Caught me at the perfect time, I’ve been on a big Beatles kick after finally finishing the Get Back Series. I had realized I’m largely unfamiliar with the solo outings of each member. This album is really good and allows George to shine in his own light. Only complaint is the versions on Spotify have tons of bonus songs and I’m unsure where the actual album ends
U2
3/5
Huh, yeah, what is it good for?
A pretty decent U2 album it turns out
Beatles
4/5
Very good and possibly the best of the boy band Beatles. In My Life is one of the most heartfelt songs in their catalogue. You Won’t See Me and Wait are personal favorites I return to the most from this album
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Music made by space ghosts ooooo spoooky. I enjoyed it, s/o Moog
Daft Punk
3/5
I think it’s been said already but a good album that gets a little repetitive. I just wanna know how they make the distinction between:
Around the World at 4 mins? ❌
Around the World at 10 mins? ❌
Around the World at 7 mins? Oui oui 👌🏼
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Thanks Ms. Rat, I like your voice but was overall bored (2.5/5)
Paul Simon
3/5
First time I’ve heard him without the Funk, and I need the Funk (2.5/5)
Pixies
3/5
“Stop Dr. Doolittle’s wave of mutilation before he gets YOUR pet”- PETA ad I thought of while listening
Cool album tho
Baaba Maal
3/5
I liked this but I gotta wonder who selected this project. If the list maker was an English speaking native I assume they also had no grasp on the language like me, so like what if the whole thing is just praising genocide or something else despicable? Beats kinda go tho
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Ok but like why? Really feels like guy who made this list had a fun uncle in this quirky band The Electric Prunes
Traffic
4/5
So they have proclaimed so shall it be. RIP my guy
(3.5/5)
Miles Davis
3/5
Thanks for inventing cool Mr. Miles
The Last Shadow Puppets
4/5
Oh hey it’s the frozen Monkey man that’s cool (3.5/5)
The Yardbirds
3/5
Sounds great for it’s age. who tf is Roger
(3.5/5)
Belle & Sebastian
2/5
If You’re Feeling Mid as Hell, why is this here?
The Icarus Line
3/5
I liked it, a post-hardcore sounding Jack White/White Stripesy mix
The White Stripes
3/5
Glad to get this since it’s a White Stripes I haven’t heard before. Personally I would choose Icky Thump, Elephant, and White Blood Cells before this one. So maybe there’s multiple white stripes on the list? Which is egregious imo. Wish this project was more Blue Orchid than Little Ghost
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
Captures angst perfectly and it still makes me pissed today while bobbing my head along. Noticed the drum playing more on this listen through and kudos. Also fuck 12
Gram Parsons
2/5
Not my thang. Is this the OG Love Hurts? (2.5/5)
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
I’ve always meant to check this band out. Neat
Q-Tip
4/5
Smooth as hell and one of the best flows in hip hop. Not to mention his production. I could use a whole Q-Tip & D’Angelo project
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I really can’t get over his voice which is wild cause it’s never this big an issue for me. Dude sounds like he’s taking the hardest shit of his life like 80% of the time. Otherwise the band and lyrics are solid (2.5/5)
Ray Charles
3/5
Soulful class
Suede
2/5
A bit boring to be honest but the album is fine (2.5/5)
Bee Gees
2/5
Interesting to hear some non disco work and it was fine (2.5/5). Super interesting that the other face of disco (ABBA) also has a Waterloo song hmmmmm
Small Faces
2/5
Sounds like a BBC teleplay interstitched with psych rock. The music is neat and I like the idea but fuck me is it hard to understand the narrated portions haha. (2.5/5)
Rush
5/5
Don’t know if there will be many albums I love as much as this one in the list. RIP Neil the best drummer and lyricist of all time
Neil Young
4/5
If there’s one thing this list has done, it’s made me a bigger fan of Neil (3.5/5)
The Fall
3/5
Maaan List Papa (TM) really likes Brit pop/rock. This was cool, but my favorite moment was a couple songs in when the singer’s delivery clicked in my head as the guy who talks on Glitter Freeze by Gorillaz. And hey I was right, that feeling of music inter connectivity is the greatest
50 Cent
4/5
GGGGGG-G-Unit. Crazy debut that he unfortunately never topped. It’s crazy that 21 questions isn’t produced by Dre even though his fingerprints are all over this.
The La's
3/5
I hope this group is paid out the ass from royalties of There She Goes. More middy Britty rock (2.5/5)
David Bowie
3/5
Judging by the list so far I’m about it be bombarded by Bowie… which isn’t a bad thing. Solid pick but there are a handful Bowie albums I’ll take above it
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Huh didn’t know off with your head was these guys. Pretty good all around yet nothing amazing
The War On Drugs
2/5
We lost the war. Kinda drags on for every track, could be tightened up a bit (2.5/5)
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
Seemed like a gloomy fellow
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Oh hell yeah. I’ve been playing this a lot this summer, specifically Walk On By, my favorite being on my way to the beach. Sunny windows down driving with those fantastic orchestral stings sheeeeesh. And damn Isaac’s voice is amazing
Led Zeppelin
4/5
First time actually listening to this one but I know all the bigger songs. Zeppelin is fucking great regardless and there’s a couple stretches on this album where they’re just knocking it Out of the park. There are some lulls and the album could be trimmed a bit but it’s a great listen.
The Police
3/5
Nice to come back to this one. Both synchronicity’s and king of pain are great, the rest is good to ok. Synchronicity II definitely my favorite, sounds like a cut from Signals by Rush. S/o Stewie Copeland. More miffed at the fact they can’t put aside grievances and make more music together (3.5/5)
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
This just made me kinda sleepy tbh
Giant Sand
2/5
Kind of interesting sound that never really takes off. Chore was a good word for this one
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
I see why they called him Skip
Dr. Dre
5/5
All time classic. The synth and funk samples are amazing and iconic of the West coast scene. Nuthin But a G Thing is probably a top 10 rap song for me. Sure there are immature parts but Deez Nuts still makes me Smile and are more emblematic of the era.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Beautiful tribute to Syd and a nice segue into the new era of Pink Floyd. The mood does drag a bit but all of the songs are great. (4.5/5)
The Blue Nile
2/5
Made me real sleepy at work (2.5/5)
The Byrds
2/5
The B sides of the boring Beatles albums
The Mars Volta
4/5
Really interesting and I loved the guitar work on this album. Another reminder to listen to more of their stuff
Van Halen
5/5
Been a long time since I’ve listened to rock like this. Straight up classic that has basically 0 misses. The first half of this album dominated radio stations since the day it came out as well, it’s kind of undeniable
Dire Straits
3/5
Does this count as an easy listening album? The songs are so nonchalant and lazy-sounding I can imagine plodding down a country road early in the morning with no one around for miles and nothing to do. Props to them for getting the MTV bag during their heyday (2.5/5)
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Cool to hear a one hit wonder’s full project. Not blown away I gotta say
Syd Barrett
3/5
It seems every album is more Bri*ish than the last. This was fine but I can see why I didn’t know about his solo work post-Floyd. Sidneote a post rock band called Post Floyd would be dope (2.5/5)
The Birthday Party
3/5
Going back for this and it was fine. Didn’t do a ton, but it did teach me about another Nick Cave project so that’s neat (2.5/5)
N.W.A.
5/5
All time classic, love Dre’s beats even if the verses haven’t aged the best. That being said “do I look like a motherfuckin role model? To a kid lookin up to me, life ain’t nothing but bitches and money” is all time hard (4.5/5)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Finally tackled this one because fuck is it long for no reason. Not bad but not interesting, better than the Nick Cave’s other group album that I got on this list (2.5/5)
fIREHOSE
3/5
Ewwgross. The music was fine tho (2.5/5)
Bill Callahan
3/5
Really pretty and calming voice, dude should be reading audiobooks. Why name album after Eagle but put horse on cover? Overall p good (3.5/5)
Tim Buckley
3/5
More sleepy sad but that might be on me
De La Soul
4/5
Love the hip hop classic Fridays, and I love this album. Amazing to finally have it on streaming, especially considering the laundry list of samples on here. I’m only docking half a point for De La Orgy which even by 90’s hip hop standards is super rough. RIP Trugoy the Dove (4.5/5)
Massive Attack
3/5
Not their best, but still solid. Vibes are kinda like a British version of the Sopranos theme. +1 for the pronunciation of vit-a-mins
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Not as loopy as the other projects I’ve heard. Love his voice and the energy on this one, good album (3.5/5)
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Title track is iconic, and tbh it kinda seems like they knew it’d be a hit and threw a project out around it. There are so many covers, which are all fine, but nothing really amazing or unique. I’m not trying to hate just a quick vibe check (3.5/5)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
The hits still be hittin, I’m more lukewarm on the rest of the album though
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Classic and still relevant. I think Here My Dear is my favorite but this album is a close second
Funkadelic
4/5
Great playing on this, good amount of weirdness too without overplaying it. George Clinton for President
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Knew cherub rock and today which were bangers, more bangers ensued. Nice
Anthrax
5/5
Another classic. Love the first half of this album and enjoy the second half to a lesser extent. “Talking to you is like clapping with one hand” is burned into my brain from my dad. Also s/o for talking about the mistreatment and evil done to Native Americans, this and Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden were the first concepts in my young mind that the US is historically fucked
Björk
3/5
Wasn’t as impressed with this as earlier Björk (2.5/5)
David Bowie
3/5
And the Next Day. And the Next Day. What’s the story of the cover art, were people confused when it released? Anyways it’s some middle of the road Bowie which is fine with me
Talking Heads
3/5
Very Talking Heads sounding but didn’t impress me as much as Remain in Light (2.5/5)
David Ackles
2/5
A quirky little musical, I can see the line kick dances for Oh California! already, decent overall (2.5/5)
Genesis
3/5
Look I love prog rock. And I love some Genesis. For whatever reason this album has never done it for me in the ways I see it placed amongst the best of the best in the genre. There are great bits but a lot of this feels off to me and wholly uninteresting. Again I lack the why behind my observation but this album feels like a over the top campy and foppish British lad caricature
Michael Jackson
5/5
Appropriate for the time of year. Thriller->Beat It ->Billie Jean is a crazy 3 song stretch and probably the most well known one.
Sex Pistols
3/5
Bit dated innit. Anarchy is timeless tho (2.5/5)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
PLAY FREE BIRD. Memes included Free Bird is dope, it’s not even long and the guitar solo is sick. The rest of Skynyrd does nothing for me and I always thought the real snoozer was Tuesday’s Gone. (2.5/5)
Milton Nascimento
2/5
Ehhh it’s fine. Not my thing (2.5/5)
Rush
5/5
The epitome of musical integrity. Last album didn’t sell well? Fuck you here’s a 20 minute epic. The other tracks are good too, Lessons and Something For Nothing being my favorites
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Really interesting mix of genres and sound profiles. Surprised track to track, and enjoyed my listen through (3.5/5)
B.B. King
3/5
Love to hear his younger self, but I think I prefer Live at Cook County Jail
James Brown
3/5
Interesting album of some early James and the magic is still there. The bit where he’s away from the mic singing “I’m weak” before coming back is awesome (3.5/5)
Raekwon
4/5
Maybe I’m too young to call it this, but the Purple Tape is legendary. A great step in the Wu Tang portfolio that showcased how great Rae and Ghost are as a duo. Tons of classic tracks and they hold up extremely well live (4.5/5)
Sister Sledge
2/5
With 0 context and 0 research this is as soulless as disco was supposed to be according to those telling me about it
Serge Gainsbourg
2/5
I don’t speak French so i had mixed opinions. The instrumentals were nice but the vocals felt like a cologne commercial, less singing and more spoken word sounding, and it turns out it’s because it’s a narrative. Double twist is the narrative could alternately be titled “Ode to Pedophilia”… wack
David Bowie
4/5
Really enjoyed this project even if it’s a bit more mainstream Bowie. The Across the Universe cover is great and Fame is a banger still. (3.5/5)
Public Enemy
3/5
BASS! Some good stuff here albeit pretty dated rhyming and beats. Chuck D has a great voice and some really good perspective in his lyricism, plus Flava Flav isn’t too annoying on here. Night of the Living Baseheads is probably my favorite but shout out Bring The Noise Remix with Anthrax (way cooler than Run DMC and Aerosmith) (3.5/5)
Violent Femmes
3/5
Wasn’t impressed the first time I listened but I liked it on this relisten. The acoustic guitar and bass tones are great and it’s a fun quick play through
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Really not a fan of his vocal styles but this is the album I’ve liked the most. The funky instrumentals help (2.5/5)
OutKast
4/5
Loooooong, but fuckin great. Both Big Boi and André got to do their own thing, made their own mega hits, and delivered 2 really good albums stitched together. Best rap duo of all time
Talking Heads
3/5
More Songs I Enjoy by Talking Heads
Happy Mondays
3/5
Happier Fridays, the album was ok (2.5/5)
Michael Jackson
4/5
Full of bangers. I don’t know this as well but I could easily see me liking this more than Thriller eventually
The Stooges
3/5
Always down for Stoogin’ around. Not the best but still solid
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Very relaxing. Wooden ships still my favorite
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Woo woo, woo woo, woo woo, woo woo, woo woo, This is the only song that resonated, woo woo, woo woo, woo woo, woo woo
3/5
Good album but totally overblown tbh. The only song that feels special for me is Champagne Supernova, but the rest is fine. (3.5/5)
M.I.A.
2/5
The shock on my face when paper planes wasn’t on this one. Didn’t do much for me and seemed like a lot of loose ideas for songs
Britney Spears
2/5
Interesting to hear the first record of an immense global pop star. Like what the hell were Soda Pop and The Beat Goes On? I guess she was finding her footing/personality but the singles carry hard (2.5/5)
Oasis
3/5
Definitely maybe not needed on this list (2.5/5)
Little Simz
3/5
Very surprised to see this new of an album on the list, but glad Simz is getting the attention. That being said if you waited a little longer I think her albums in 2021 and 2022 are even better
Dead Kennedys
3/5
S/o Guitar Hero and s/o Someone recognizing how fun it is to say Pol Pot
The Police
3/5
Maybe not as strong as the other 2 in their first 3 albums, but still good. S/o Copeland (3.5/5)
Cheap Trick
3/5
Interesting choice for a live album. I figured there would be a couple like Frampton or maybe Kiss but not sure why this made it. The album itself is fine, I like Cheap Trick
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Classic. Almost front to back bangers and an amazing debut from the band. Jimi gets all the praise and credit, as he should, but Mitch Mitchell fucking rules on this record too
Wilco
3/5
Middle of the road indie rock strikes again, it’s fine
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
Probably very hypocritical of my latest Genesis review but I just have a soft spot for Damon (3.5/5)
R.E.M.
2/5
Ya know R.E.M. feel heavily carried by their one massive hit per album. Orange Crush might be their worst massive hit and the rest of the album does nothing for me either
Throbbing Gristle
1/5
“What the hell”- Tim Robinson.
Yeah I don’t get avant garde for the sake of avant garde. You can’t tell me these guys sat down to make this and went “holy shit we’ve done it. What great music we’ve made”. It feels phoned in, like a prank, wow no one’s done this before. Wack
Deep Purple
4/5
I appreciate when bands just jam on their live albums. Straight up good rock n roll (3.5/5)
Air
3/5
Cool textures on this, I guess French band? I liked it
Tim Buckley
3/5
I did listen but I retained very little, sorry Mr. Buckley (2.5/5)
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
The Message, the track, is good and very important to hip hop. The Message, the album, is largely forgettable and stuck in a weird Parliament wannabe phase (2.5/5)
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Iconic, amazing rapping and production, synonymous with hip hop. Crazy how already good and established Big was when considering how young he was, RIP to a great artist with so much potential left on the table. So I docked De La for their obligatory 90’s sex skit and ima do the same for Big even though it’s a smaller offense. (4.5/5)
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Great energy, something that I think their newer music could use. I recently figured out a lyric in The View From The Afternoon, i always heard “tonight they’ll be a ruckus, yeah” as “tonight they’ll be a rooking chair” like that’s how British people say rocking chair. Music is great
Radiohead
4/5
Enjoyed as advertised, now to relisten with some lyric sheets
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Classic Stevie
Fiona Apple
4/5
Glad to return to this one. Maybe not as out there as her other stuff but she has a great voice both literally and as a writer. How can you describe Never is a Promise as anything but beautiful?
Pixies
4/5
Perfect length for this kind of project. Fires on all cylinders and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Add the 2 big songs and we’re cooking. (3.5/5)
The The
3/5
Is it pronounced “the the”, “the the”, or “the the”?
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Pretty good and it’s interesting to hear pre-Bjork Bjorkin out there
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Decent, liked the vocals the most. Kinda reminded me of Kate Bush
ABBA
3/5
Like maybe 99% of my generation, I’ve heard Dancing Queen and maybe one or two other singles so it was cool to check out a full album. Fun pop music singles and fun pop music album
Doves
3/5
Not bad but pretty average. Sounded like Foo Fighters a bit (2.5/5)
Barry Adamson
2/5
Well it does sound like a soundtrack so props for capturing that spirit. Although it does sound like a direct to tv kind of production
The Hives
3/5
A lot of this sounded very familiar but confirmed not my new favorite band
Django Django
3/5
Y’all ain’t slick the drums in Skies Over Cairo are from Donkey Kong Country. I wish the rest of the music was as good as DKC but this was fine (2.5/5)
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Already familiar with that bad mother… song and Isaac Hayes but this was my first time listening to the album. The music is just so fucking cool man. An obvious comparison is Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly and this album hit me in a very similar way. Last little thing, the small organ sting on Bumpy’s Lament is the same as the guitar on Xplosive by Dr. Dre, I’ve heard that little melody on so many songs and it just hits every time I hear it
The Stranglers
3/5
Brown rat gang gang. I liked this one a good bit, the bass lines were great
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Solid album, and Take Me Out is an all time banger
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Cool mix of genres, the sitar version of Light My Fire was awesome. (3.5/5)
4/5
Peak Yes (+ Fragile). Great prog rock that inspired a lot of my favorites and an amazing template for how epics should be structured.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Not bad, reminded me of some Elton John
Sade
3/5
Always thought Sade would be neo soul Erykah Badu-esque but this had an older soul sound to it. Good voice and made me want to listen to more
The Divine Comedy
2/5
A Short Review About An Ok Album (2.5/5)
T. Rex
2/5
Kinda boring to be honest (2.5/5)
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
Love Tribe and this is the early songs showing how much potential the group had. Can I Kick It? Is an all time hip hop classic, people may recognize that bass line more from this than the Lou Reed song it’s sampled from. I hope this means Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders are on this list too. (3.5/5)
Portishead
3/5
Solid work and a good entry into trip hop type production
Blue Cheer
3/5
Listened to this awhile ago and still dig it. Like a rougher Cream record
Mudhoney
3/5
Quick and energetic. Not sure why the deluxe adds a movie’s length of tracks
Burning Spear
3/5
Very solid reggae record. Appreciate the social commentary but don’t know if I’d throw any of these in a playlist
3/5
1. Awful name for an album
2. Tough being forever associated with Rob Dyrdek’s Ridiculousness
Otherwise pretty good record. It’s fun, weird, and has great energy. The Stones cover is dope too. Reminded me of Dead Milkmen or the B-52’s (3.5/5)
FKA twigs
3/5
Interesting but nothing grabbed me tbh. I just plodded through my listen (2.5/5)
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Didn’t really hit for me but it was produced very well (2.5/5)
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Really started my love of newer hip hop rather than being stuck in the 90s. Incredible lyricism, storytelling, and just straight up rapping. I’ll play it once every year probably until I die
3/5
Nothing amazing but solid. I enjoyed this more than Dry
Brian Eno
2/5
Them boys cookin. I don’t know wtf they were supposed to be cooking but this is aight (2.5/5)
Liz Phair
2/5
This was very bland. The vocal delivery was monotonous, the band was basic, and even the lyricism wasn’t biting enough to make up for the plainness
Kelela
3/5
Solid but I expected more after so much acclaim I saw this get when it came out (2.5/5)
Paul McCartney
3/5
First I’ve listened to this one and the lack of Beatles magic is apparent. Even Maybe I’m Amazed has always felt lacking to me but the record is still solid
Goldfrapp
3/5
Not as good as the other Goldfrapp on the list, this was just ok (2.5/5)
Talvin Singh
2/5
Just as it says on the label, OK. Also my first exposure to the quick tempo percussion and sitar(?) was whenever riding Yoshi in Mario Sunshine. Now every time I hear that similar rhythm that’s all I can think about (2.5/5)
Hole
2/5
I’m a Hole hater but it wasn’t that bad
2/5
Does this qualify as a noise album? I didn’t mind it but the atmospheric bits like the sounds of writing or birds didn’t do much for me. Not bad (2.5/5)
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Yeah it’s fine (2.5/5)
Fleet Foxes
3/5
Very pleasant and felt like I should listen outside on a walk or a drive through the mountains. I really only loved Blue Ridge Mountains so i don’t wanna rate this a 4 but it’s definitely better than a 3. Damn I need half star ratings (3.5/5)
Harry Nilsson
3/5
I can’t believe this dude is responsible for lime in the coconut. Interesting blend of songs and well done vocally
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
Fun but a little long and gimmicky with so much of the layered melody effects. No real complaints
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Heard of them but hadn’t listened so TIL they’re an off shoot of Talking Heads and the origin of the mega sample in Genius of Love. So that was neat
Paul Simon
3/5
Missing the soul it seems (2.5/5)
Steve Winwood
3/5
Alright, just wish it were heavier or more interesting I guess. Really liked the tone of the keys
Black Sabbath
4/5
Surprising first listen for me. I love their first 3 but never found this one growing up, although I’ve heard changes and snowbound previously. It’s a good record and probably falls right at the tail end of the golden era (also below the first 2 Dio records). (3.5/5)
Bob Dylan
4/5
Listened during a sunny midday walk through a small town, would recommend (3.5/5)
Justice
3/5
Some really unique sounding beats that I swear I’ve heard sampled elsewhere although I came up empty handed on WhoSampled. Maybe a bit long but it’s good throughout (3.5/5)
ZZ Top
3/5
Straight forward rock, a haw haw haw haw haw
Laibach
2/5
Huh. Well at best it was like an opening march to a knock off Terminator movie, at worst it sounded like Nazi step music. I’m uncultured so maybe that’s just how Germanic chanting will always sound to me but the Churchill speech at the end of one song does not help my mind’s association.
Björk
3/5
Oblongata
Elton John
3/5
Starts strong but then never really picks up the pace. Gets a little boring for a whole listen (2.5/5)
Can
3/5
Whimsical, fun jams
Holger Czukay
3/5
Cool usage of samples, could’ve been cut up a bit more but it’s fine for an EP
Emmylou Harris
2/5
Slow, sleepy, and mostly boring instrumentals supplemented by a grating singer who breathily adds an extra syllable to every other word. Not my cup of tea
Tim Buckley
3/5
This list loves Mr. Buckley. I don’t know what makes this less or more distinct than the other 2 albums I’ve heard from him on here, but it was fine
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
Not really my thing but it was cool to hear In the Pines as a fan of Nirvana’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Le Tigre
3/5
They sure like listing things. Fun energy and I appreciate the SpongeBob aesthetic of the cover
Adele
4/5
I remember when this came out, and I hadn’t really paid attention to pop music yet, but I was on a 9 seater bicycle at the beach when Rolling in the Deep came on our speaker. It was instantly catchy and the singer was insane! We played that like 4 times while riding around the boardwalk. Anyways that was my intro to Adele and hearing more tracks garnered more and more respect at her range and song writing ability.
I was trying to think of something clever with the album title but I’m not feeling it today. I am the blind horse and these solid albums all hit the same
Scritti Politti
3/5
Interesting sound to this one and the name is just fun to say.
Blur
3/5
Solid but I’m into Blur’s other work a degree more. Other than a Beatle or a Bowie, Damon Albarn might be the sneaky pick for most albums on this list which I wholeheartedly agree with.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Probably my favorite Beastie album. The energy and fun they bring is always good but their production is great, even the instrumental tracks shine outright
Bob Dylan
5/5
The first and maybe my favorite Dylan album I’ve listened to. Blowin in the Wind, Masters of War, and A Hard Rain are all peak singer/songwriter (4.5/5)
The Avalanches
4/5
Been on my “to listen to” list since a friend played me Frontier Psychiatrist like 10 years ago lol. Banger album
Air
4/5
Great album, crazy this was made for a soundtrack. I guess I have another movie to watch
Duke Ellington
3/5
Sounds great live and some really good players in the band. I listened to the complete version so it did run a bit long and started to blend together. The announcements were a bit obnoxious too (3.5/5)
Pavement
4/5
I was excited to listen through this again. Really good all around and I’ll come back sooner rather than later this time (3.5/5)
PJ Harvey
3/5
It was fine, you can tell it’s a debut despite not knowing anything about this artist prior to listening. Dislike the herpes cover art (2.5/5)
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Love the energy, ojos was my favorite (3.5/5)
Hüsker Dü
3/5
This was fine, nothing much to note to be honest (2.5/5)
G. Love & Special Sauce
3/5
Reminds me of a more meandering Sublime that mixes in more blues than rap. I also understand why you can always find an album of theirs in a thrift store or $1 dollar bin at your local record shop (2.5/5)
The Prodigy
2/5
Too long, and not jilted enough (2.5/5)
The United States Of America
3/5
I really liked the trippy psych rock aspects of this one which I wasn’t expecting at all from the name. Also shout out the Chad move of taking that band name, dropping one album, and then dipping (3.5/5)
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Dad rock that predated my dad, well he was 3, but the dad vibe is eternal. Had no idea that song was called Proud Mary
Willie Nelson
3/5
I think this is the first “cover” album I’ve gotten (standards count as covers right?). This was nice, and I think I’m officially a fan of Willie Nelson now (3.5/5)
Pet Shop Boys
1/5
Very odd. Sounded like a second hand Wii party game with a British twink punching in vocals. Actually if you take those dance scenes from Balan Wonderworld and overlaid these songs it would fit perfectly (1.5/5)
Eagles
1/5
HATER POST: Maaaan fuck the Eagles, I’m sorry, fuck Eagles because the band is as grammatically stupid as the music is boring. Hotel California mystifies me of how people could tolerate that slog for so many years. How do you make a guitar solo sound so fucking tedious!? I looked up some lyrics out of curiosity and the explanation given on Genius through an interview with Don Henley only reinforced my hatred. Dude sounds like a grade A asshat. Rest of the album sucks too, life in the fast lane blows, new kid in town blows, the other tracks aren’t even memorable enough to list. I imagine the record label made them double up on Wasted Time as a warning to consumers much like a parental advisory sticker.
Kings of Leon
2/5
The most baseline, standard, almost lifeless rock album there could be. FINE spelled exactly like that (2.5/5)
Tortoise
3/5
Dope band name and dope album. Didn’t know what this was going to be but happily surprised to hear some post rock, also good choice on the variety of instruments used (3.5/5)
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Great vibes for warmer weather (3.5/5)
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
I made the scream face with the Beatles cover out of nowhere. In general I was entertained but didn’t love anything (2.5/5)
The KLF
2/5
In a white room, there’s some music, you forgot it (2.5/5)
The Doors
4/5
Back when I listened to classic rock pretty exclusively this wouldn’t be the Doors album I’d reach for but I really enjoyed it this time around. The blues influences really shine through and Morrison sounds great with the little grit in his voice (3.5/5)
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
I didn’t have much to say other than the percussion was nice and it all blended together. So much so that the album restarted and it took me a couple songs to realize (2.5/5)
Television
3/5
Hey I’ve heard this one before. The dial goes unmoved for Television
Venom
3/5
It’s funny being called black metal before black metal became what black metal is today. I’m just going to try to say black metal as much as possible. Not my favorite of this wave, that’d be Iron Maiden, but I appreciate it being a precursor to the thrash scene in America (2.5/5)
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
It’s fine Woodstock core rock n roll, the album definitely gets boosted from the acid song
The Dictators
2/5
One of those on here for influence rather than how the music holds up. Cause it’s pretty mid (2.5/5)
3/5
A bit different than the George Lopez song. More rambling jam stuff that never really kicked into the next gear
John Grant
3/5
Solid but something about the lyricism bugged me. He’s trying to be cheeky, I guess, but it comes out very clunky to me (Sigourney Weaver probably the biggest example) (2.5/5)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2/5
Not my thing and waaaay too long, but y’know not bad. Also neat to hear the Devil Went Down to Georgie pre Charlie Daniels (2.5/5)
John Cale
2/5
Ayup. That’s it, no thoughts or feelings, just a Goofy-esque “Ayup” (2.5/5)
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Good album cuts on this one which i feel that they can be pretty hit or miss on. If you like Bob Marley or reggae you’ll like this album (3.5/5)
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
Ayo this slapped. The first track had me like the pointing Leo meme, that’s straight up the Ocarina of time title, finding these connections is what I love about music. Another example is the bit of Cream thrown into Blues Pt. 2. The music was a really fun mix of jazz and rock and kept me entertained the entire listen
Marty Robbins
3/5
Elvis style voice with Johnny Cash style lyrics, this went hard. I recently got back to playing Fallout 3 and these tracks were grade A wasteland music (3.5/5)
Elbow
2/5
Feels in a similar vein to the Coldplay albums I’ve gotten on the list. Alright but nothing special (2.5/5)
Gotan Project
3/5
Cool mix of electronic and tango, and love the dark synths. Reminds me of some early Gorillaz production (ie Latin Simone)
(3.5/5)
Van Morrison
3/5
Better than brown eyed girl but still in the middle for me (2.5/5)
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Great voice. Would much rather he spent the time recording audiobooks than this slog (1.5/5)
Deerhunter
3/5
Alright but let’s get some The Dear Hunter on here (2.5/5)
Travis
3/5
Bad band name, solid album
Led Zeppelin
4/5
A classic. The sum is greater than the individual parts and I don’t think I would rank it as high if it didn’t flow together so nicely. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy every song on the album, but there hasn’t been a standout track that I’ve fallen in love with. For example the original Led Zeppelin had the initial tracks that grabbed me but it took time before I completely fell for Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, and I don’t have a comparison of that on II. Also as someone who loves drum solos on albums I have to say Moby Dick never did it for me, it’s fine but Bonham showcases his brilliance better in regular tracks and fills. (4.5/5)
Gillian Welch
3/5
Almost swore this was the roller skates girl but I was wrong, time did not revelate this time (2.5/5)
Brian Eno
3/5
Liked it better than the Jets album. Eno is a weird one for me, I feel like I should enjoy his stuff more but a good portion never lands
King Crimson
4/5
A classic. Nothing is as fun or as bonkers as the opening track, I was losing my mind the first time that I heard it. I love the punchiness of the drums, especially the snare, even if the technicality doesn’t match the Bruford years. (4.5/5)
U2
3/5
Just as mid as I remember it (2.5/5)
Metallica
2/5
My first time listening through all of this as a Metallica fan. Disappointing to be honest. The orchestra just does not fit Metallica songs very well, or they were just arranged poorly. The heavy chugging guitar riffs split the mix with odd string and horn flourishes that just came across as goofy. James doesn’t sound great and Lars is a mess on noticeable fills (tf was For Whom the Bell Tolls?). Add in the chunk of setlist I would pass on and it just equals a poor listening experience. You can give props for the orchestration idea but I’ve heard it executed better by other artists (Rush and Dream Theater come to mind). Honest to god the lime wire bootleg of the Metallica show I saw live might be better than this.
Jurassic 5
3/5
I always semi forget about them but I always enjoy their albums. Solid boom bap with some good storytelling songs (3.5/5)
American Music Club
3/5
It’s fine but kind of a snoozer (2.5/5)
Koffi Olomide
2/5
Needed some coffee to get through Koffi, just a bit too light for me (2.5/5)
Sheryl Crow
3/5
Ya know not bad tbh. I hope a Sheryl Crow fan group is called a murder
Beck
4/5
I really like the soundscape he went for on this one. It sounds really urban/digital but the early 2000s way, it’s the same vibe and nostalgia I get from Futurama. The little bits of funk tone sprinkled throughout really do it for me as well (3.5/5)
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
I’m a child at heart and Wu-Tang is for the children
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Simple and to the point, not bad from a not big Tom Petty guy. Although my biggest pet peeve is when bands use & one place and then “and” another, it’s aesthetically the same as nails on a chalkboard
Love
3/5
Respect on the quick jammer before hitting the road
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Really didn’t do it for me despite nothing I can specifically point to not liking. Just not my cup of tea (2.5/5)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
An old favorite, the cover art and title track kick so much ass
The Jam
2/5
“Solid but nothing amazing”- me about the other jam album on the list. I’m docking points for the exact same feeling this time (2.5/5)
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Pretty calming even if it’s a little monotonous (2.5/5)
Big Star
3/5
Out of all records this is definitely one of them. HELLO WISCONSIN (2.5/5)
Ute Lemper
2/5
I’m starting to learn that I’m pretty disinterested in most things by the gang of people on this album that keep popping up
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
The second album of theirs I’ve gotten, and it turns out I’m not a fan. Although I rated this one better, it’s just so over the top and flamboyant almost to the point of parody. The songs themselves are boring and repetitive and then someone whispers “beats…. Heart beats”, it’s goofy
David Bowie
3/5
Bowie is one of the only artists with enough variety and quality between albums to justify multiple entries on this list. Hunky Dory seems more lighthearted but he really turns in really great vocals and performances (3.5/5)
Common
4/5
My favorite Common album, just unreal laid back vibes with fantastic rapping. I promise I won’t go full Kanye rant but he really did his thing on here
Aerosmith
3/5
Better than I remember but this almost guarantees 3+ Aerosmith albums on this list and that doesn’t feel right
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Very good summer vibes. Sometimes I wish the tracks developed a bit more instead of riding out the same groove, but other times it’s nice to just ride along (3.5/5)
Faith No More
3/5
Happily surprised they made the list, although I wish it were a later album like Angel Dust. You can hear the potential on this one but they aren’t quite there yet (3.5/5)
Lightning Bolt
3/5
I bet this isn’t rated too well but I really liked this. Just locking in with the rhythm section had my head nodding and bumping with the wall of noise (3.5/5)
Joe Ely
2/5
Not my cup of tea. Sounds like something that would playing out of a tinny radio at a backroad truck stop
Elastica
3/5
The other rubberband band
The Cult
3/5
Good albeit a little samey. I always pictured the cult (technically speaking) as a step between AC/DC and The Doors, if that makes any sense
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
I saved this for a spooky occasion and it wasn’t very spooky. Oh well the music was solid
Nina Simone
3/5
Beautiful voice and great for sampling (3.5/5)
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Quirky but not too interesting for me (2.5/5)
Sam Cooke
4/5
Wish I could’ve seen him live. Great voice and energy
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Right before Stevie went on a crazy run and you can hear the gears start turning in that direction on here (3.5/5)
3/5
I need more Latin music on this list
The Beach Boys
2/5
Sounds a bit like they’re trying to ride The Beatles wave a bit. I did like the slower ballady half of the album (2.5/5)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
Bangers, need more funk in the newer Peppers
Peter Gabriel
4/5
You did it Peter! You can be the frontman, and although I miss you behind the kit it was all worth it for the all timer of Solsberry Hill (3.5/5)
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
This should’ve been the only album to make the list from them. You get the hit everyone knows and then some other pretty solid almost prototype ska stuff
Aerosmith
3/5
I’m having a blast, I swear, but ANOTHER Aerosmith album? You gotta be shitting me. They’ll end up with 5 on this list if I’m counting right
The Who
4/5
Some classics obviously but the B-sides are pretty middle of the road. Keith Moon does great on this whole thing (3.5/5)
The Residents
2/5
“It sounds like diarrhea”- my girlfriend
I imagine most reviews will look like this one, but honestly the weirdness reminded me a lot of Primus just without the kickass instrumentation. I’d say 2.5/5 for the vibes but I wouldn’t really choose to listen to this again so 2 it is
The Cure
3/5
Not what I expected, very chill and loved the returning motif. I need to dig into the rest of their discography (3.5/5)
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are all time. This album introduced me to more funky fusion type projects back in the day. My only critique is that the second pair of songs aren’t as memorable as the first pair, they’re still good, but the hit rate should be a little better for a 4 song album. (4.5/5)
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Great sound and the drumming is fantastic, I’ll have to look into the concept more (3.5/5)
Songhoy Blues
3/5
Interesting from a cultural perspective but not crazy about the music itself (2.5/5)
Eels
3/5
I never really took into account how deeply the Shrek soundtrack has warped my mind, almost snapped my neck when I heard that guitar breakdown. The rest of the album was solid too
Erykah Badu
4/5
This album was my introduction to Erykah years ago and I fell in love with her voice and energy. Didn’t Cha Know is perfect for summer time drives
Steely Dan
4/5
The guitar and key jams are off the chart (3.5/5)
The Triffids
2/5
As boring as the album art implies
The Human League
2/5
Really buried the lede here with the big hit being the last song. Anyways the album sounds super dated and cheesy with these synths and really simple melodies. Not my thing
Leftfield
2/5
Needs to go even more left (2.5/5)
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
A little out there and droney but I liked it. Good music to work around
Incubus
4/5
Wildly ignorant to Incubus aside from Drive, but this album slapped. The drum sound was so clean and fun to tap along with and added the right amount of heaviness to the riffs
Sepultura
4/5
A heaviness this list has been lacking for me. Really dug the indigenous people influences and the rhythms the percussion incorporates (3.5/5)
Suzanne Vega
2/5
Made me think of the opening sequence to Twin Peaks if it weren’t by David Lynch and served a direct to tv movie purpose. Idk how to convey this, it was ok (2.5/5)
TLC
4/5
An of the time classic, that has a several classic tracks, and a fun listen. Maybe not the one skit (iykyk)
The Streets
1/5
Look mate, I like British rappers. Stormzy, Little Simz, Dave, even love some Damon Albarn raps. This is the clumsiest, sauceless, arhythmic rapping I’ve heard since dudes in the 80s. It sounds so childish and awkward, I mean Dr. Seuss levels of rhyme schemes here
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Never knew her whole vibe was this soul influenced, the more you know 🌈
New Order
3/5
Very British, which is par for the course on this list, but this is the good kind of very British (3.5/5)
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Not what I thought they’d sound like. Pretty boring
MC Solaar
4/5
French hip hop, I don’t fully understand but it’s sick (3.5/5)
Wire
3/5
A fun punk album packed with jammers, my kinda shit (3.5/5)
Elliott Smith
4/5
Great relisten, always get enamored by his story every couple years
The Darkness
1/5
The falsetto is fun but idk how you can hear anything but the one-hit wonder quality to this record. It’s alright like a 2 or 2.5 maybe on a good day if you’re feeling the hit, but it’s a 1 on a list like this
Sonic Youth
3/5
I heard a song of theirs on rockband and really didn’t like it, so I dreaded this listen, but honestly not bad. I’ll land on solid though
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
The first Neil Young album I got I said I wasn’t a Neil Young guy but liked it, last album I got I said I was becoming a bigger fan, and after this one I guess I am a Neil Young guy now (3.5/5)
James Taylor
3/5
The less popular bbq sauce, and for good reason (2.5/5)
Suicide
2/5
DO NOT play Girl in public! I guess that’s what I get for listening to a band called Suicide at work. More melodramatic than dark as I expected from the name, and the music loops are kinda grating
Radiohead
4/5
More affirmation that snooty Radiohead fans are right, maybe they are the best band ever (3.5/5)
CHIC
2/5
Fun and bouncy melodies but holy shit is it repetitive. I was curious to see what more there was to Le Freak after hearing it in movies all my life… but it’s mostly that 10 second loop for 5 minutes lol. I guess the royalty checks are fat at least (2.5/5)
Madonna
3/5
Madonna is an oddity to me. A monolith in music that has no shape or form in my mind. Nothing in this album is bad, nothing in this album is barely above alright to good, and nothing in this album will last with me. I still do not understand Madonna and I don’t know if more albums will solve this riddle (2.5/5)
Guided By Voices
2/5
The quick songs and rawness to the recordings are an interesting choice but it’s hard not to think I’m listening to the demos of a project in the works. I’m torn between liking the stylistic choice and feeling like this could’ve been more with a little polish (2.5/5)
Taylor Swift
2/5
I’ve heard a good chunk of these before but this is my first Taylor album. Sorry to say but I’ll remain firmly in the hate train. I get the appeal but she is just not for me, and I really struggle with pinpointing my lack of enjoyment. Maybe because she’s so overexposed, but it just feels like the most lifeless and corporate pop music you could create. As an outsider it just feels like her entire identity is her brand, and there’s no real person being expressed in these songs. Maybe I’m just a hater but lord knows she doesn’t need my listens to continue her success
Joan Armatrading
3/5
I liked the mix of instruments, it made for a very laid back enjoyable listen
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
& Eric Clapton. Very straightforward and not the most interesting, but the album is solid
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Spells, trick or treat, voodoo dolls, and halloween??? I listened to this at the perfect time of year and it kicked ass
The Zutons
2/5
Sadly they couldn’t save themselves from middling rock (2.5/5)
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
Not bad but the deliveries and even some of the beats are just so lethargic and dead. It sounds like the opposite of what I think “fun lovin criminals” would sound like (2.5/5)
The Thrills
2/5
A lukewarm pop rock record. Not much going on for me (2.5/5)
Dirty Projectors
3/5
Pretty murder whale. This album was pretty not sure where the orca tidbit comes in but solid overall
The Beta Band
3/5
Wish I had gotten Hot Shots by The Alpha Band
Robert Wyatt
2/5
Put me to shleep tell ya hwatt (2.5/5)
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Very melancholy and I enjoy the spacey feeling of the synths. Just too one note to be more memorable (2.5/5)
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
A great voice and I love the personality that comes along with a live recording. Sounds like something that would be playing during a candlelit dinner in a romance movie (3.5/5)
Heaven 17
2/5
One of the 80s synth pop albums of all time (2.5/5)
Bobby Womack
4/5
Oh yeah, this album fucks. S/o to Gorillaz for introducing me to Bobby which made me pick this album up on a whim. Enjoyed this listen through as well and reminded me to go through his other works
Justin Timberlake
4/5
Timberlake and Timbaland just could not miss during this era (3.5/5)
Bauhaus
3/5
FISH CAKES (2.5/5)
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Yep that’s CCR. Prom music for Mississippi in the 70s (2.5/5)
Blur
3/5
Solid, been a minute since I’ve heard (3.5/5)
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
It’s been a little while since I’ve listened to this and the nostalgia from Kick Push alone is a little nauseating. It’s tough to rate because I do love this album despite the rough spots and places I see that Lupe develops over time on his later work (like a Tetsuo & Youth), but that’s unfair to hold that against this album. Last thing though, even if it bogs down the replay-ability, rap should bring back the 10 minute shout out outro songs. They always make me smile and it’s nice to hear an artist give thanks to the people that matter to them
Janet Jackson
3/5
A good dose of late 80s pop, in terms of her discography I like it less than Control (3.5/5)
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I’ve found you really have to be in the mood for Frank’s humor and zaniness to not go over like a lead balloon. I wasn’t really in the mood but this album isn’t very out there either. I guess I’m just hoping a more Zappa album will come along on a day I’m in the mood to listen
KISS
5/5
A classic that I have some bits of nostalgia for, and at the time it was the heaviest rock n roll you could get. It’s a bit dated and cheesy, and there are some clunkers but I think it’s still enjoyable and deservedly belongs here (4.5/5)
Jane's Addiction
2/5
The singer and their usage in advertisements for jeans or cars or whatever give me the ick. I hear this obnoxious nasal pitch and think of a corporation that wanted a “rockin” song to push some products, that’s just my brain being busted. The drum and bass sections are pretty interesting on here though (2.5/5)
Iggy Pop
3/5
A bit too down tempo for my taste in Iggy, but there are some solid songs on here. My favorite was Tiny Girls
Buck Owens
3/5
The twangy whiney blues country can be grating but this didn’t overstay its welcome. Plus I love recognizing songs that I had zero knowledge of, in this case Act Naturally playing in one of the Jackass movies (2.5/5)
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
Lovely voice, but I’ll repeat what I’m assuming every review has said, way too long. Completely unnecessary as you’ll get the full experience after disk 1
Mylo
4/5
Really liked this one, the loops weren’t grating and there were a couple precursor lofi tracks I really liked (3.5/5)
The Killers
3/5
More lukewarm this time around but this is still my favorite album of theirs. Maybe too many Mr. Brightsides have worn me down (3.5/5)
Neil Young
3/5
Never knew that love song was his. Neil continues to surprise me (3.5/5)
Hookworms
3/5
Another run of the mill, assumedly British, indie rock project that will leave you scratching your head “why did I HAVE to hear this one?” (2.5/5)
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Gives similar vibes to Lauryn Hill, just not as grandiose. Good album though (3.5/5)
Alice In Chains
5/5
Maybe dated in its sound but this album kicks ass, and I’ll always be up for another listen. Jerry Cantrell is a genius
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
Amplify those bongos 10 fold
CHVRCHES
2/5
Take the u out of “1001 u need to hear” (2.5/5)
Supergrass
3/5
Not what I was expecting at all, it was solid
LTJ Bukem
2/5
Some decent mixes and solid background music but not great for an active listen. The feature length film at the end didn’t do much for me either (2.5/5)
Ash
3/5
Ash Ketchum’s debut, not bad
Coldplay
3/5
You gotta be in the right mood for sure but you have to admit Coldplay can write some ballads. Clocks is an all timer
Underworld
3/5
It was fine but nothing to write here about (2.5/5)
Deee-Lite
3/5
Was enjoying and got activated like a sleeper agent when I heard Groove is in the Heart. Could’ve sworn it’s in a FIFA game but couldn’t find it
Hot Chip
3/5
Not Chip (2.5/5)
The Monkees
3/5
It’s alright and props to them for taking this album into their own hands rather than cash in on the people writing for them. However the obvious contemporary was already on to Sgt. Peppers. It’s not fair to be compared to the Beatles as such but I can’t imagine that this act wasn’t already played out at this point (2.5/5)
Digital Underground
2/5
Some good sampling on here, a Parliament track is always welcome, but that’s about it. This era of rap is fine just a bit too goofy sounding which is exemplified by the Humpty Dance being the big song on here. Shout out to these guys for giving Pac a start though (2.5/5)
The Fall
3/5
“Basic British beats belong here” -List Father to the tune of TMNT
Tom Waits
4/5
Destiny's Child
3/5
The hits still hit but I was never into their deeper cuts (2.5/5)
Bad Company
2/5
A classic rock radio tier band that I would never go out of my way to listen to unironically (2.5/5)
The Strokes
3/5
Enjoyable and quick relisten for me. Maybe not their best album but the two punch of Someday and Last Nite is the perfect snapshot of The Strokes in my mind. (3.5/5)
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Bebel tiempo bb (2.5/5)
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Core Memory: Senior year of college I wrote an 18 page paper on the arapaima on one Sunday because it was due the following Monday. I was on weed and Adderall but I sat in one spot and banged that shit out listening to Fishscale and More Fish by Ghostface.
Lots of favorites on this one: Back Like That (Remix), Kilo, RAGU, Big Girl, and Three Bricks. Top 3 Ghostface solo records
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Better in French (2.5/5)
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Not the worst 20 min songs I’ve heard, far from the best though
Silver Jews
3/5
A little twangy for my tastes but I liked the energy, more of a six-I-see
Paul Simon
3/5
Recognized a couple tracks but a bit too hokey for me (2.5/5)
M.I.A.
3/5
Pretty good, felt more varied than Arular. Whenever there’s a mega hit on an album it jars me, there was no flow or pomp just BAM, Paper planes like a brick through a window
Madonna
3/5
This was my favorite so far of the Madonna albums, and it seems to be her quintessential work, deserved for the list
Method Man
3/5
Hot take: I was always underwhelmed by Meth’s solo work, especially when comparing the debuts of Liquid Swords, OB4CL, Return to 36, and Iron Man, and on this revisit I feel the same. It’s solid but Meth feels detached from the beats (which is crazy with how good his flow can be) and he doesn’t leave a lasting impression on a lot of tracks. I think it’s the weakest first step forward outside of the Clan
k.d. lang
2/5
Not my thing and a bit tedious (2.5/5)
Sonic Youth
2/5
Future 1
Sonic Youth 0
(2.5/5)
Def Leppard
4/5
Cheesy but very nostalgic for me. They were my first concert and a lot of these tracks are just simply fun to still jam along to. Maybe trim a couple songs off
SAULT
3/5
Cool mix of sounds on here. I’ll have to check out more of their stuff (3.5/5)
AC/DC
5/5
The kings of simplicity. I loved this album as a kid and it’s still great after some time away. The title track might be the best rock and roll song of all time. RIP Bon
Carole King
3/5
This sounds dated but in the best way possible. The warmth of her voice accompanied with the piano reminds me of a relaxing Sunday (3.5/5)
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Great soul album and amazing vocals as one would expect. Respect has to be one of the greatest songs of all time, show me someone who dislikes that song
The Prodigy
3/5
Just revved up the list again and got a mid British album, we’re so back (2.5/5)
Stan Getz
3/5
Elevator/lounge music but for a real classy joint
Gene Clark
3/5
Not much to say about this one, it was alright (2.5/5)
Ministry
2/5
Ngl I expected something heavier. Every now and then you’d get a chugging riff reminiscent of early Metallica before it would immediately cut back to some bs (2.5/5)
Minor Threat
3/5
Maybe the first EP I’ve seen on the list? Good energy and snappy production, it was a good entry (3.5/5)
Iron Maiden
5/5
I would not be doing this list if not for Iron Maiden, it was at their concert that music clicked for me and became my biggest hobby.
This album is amazing. Bruce has a great debut and the storytelling is some of the best Steve has to offer. Iconic screams (title track, Run to the Hills, Hallowed), iconic drums (The Prisoner, Run to the Hills) shout out to Clive for his grand finale, and iconic bass Gallup (basically all). This album really bolstered the idea of each individual track telling its own story and getting lost within those worlds. It made a younger me imagine a satanic possession, question and criticize the treatment of Native Americans before school ever did, and contemplate the final moments before certain death (how would I feel and how would I evaluate my life). Just a seminal album for me and it still fucking rocks
Up the Irons
Ice Cube
3/5
Good relisten but not the most compelling Cube album, still some noticeable rough edges (3.5/5)
The xx
2/5
How bout the Intro, I’m sure no one’s mentioned that one yet. It’s very of its time already which doesn’t bode well for the aging of this album (2.5/5)
Pulp
3/5
Seems pretty Bowie inspired even if it didn’t take me there
Randy Newman
3/5
Sorry Randy you’ll always be the goofy Toy Story guy to me (2.5/5)
Faust
3/5
Guess I have another 3 to sift through (3.5/5)
PJ Harvey
3/5
Another “it’s fine but why are there multiple albums by this artist on the list?” (2.5/5)
The Cramps
2/5
Kind of a snoozer. Also fits in the category I see a lot in the list of “hey I know this one song at the end from [insert TV show/movie/etc here] (2.5/5)
Dr. John
3/5
Interesting but I wasn’t really into it (2.5/5)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
Very lovely, this group got me into the folkier singer/songwriter genre. Trying to analyze why this time, the vocal melodies reminded me of Yes a little bit and maybe that was the through line that grabbed me (3.5/5)
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
The noisey-ness might not be some people’s cup of tea but it totally works for me. The rough and fuzzy Guitar with the driving rhythm section let me lock and coast through each jam. Happy to hear this one again (3.5/5)
Deep Purple
5/5
“Classic rock” distilled. Highway Star and Space Truckin are bangers and the the album still rocks out. Even if Smoke is overplayed by every 12 year old to pick up a guitar
PJ Harvey
2/5
Let Non English Bands On The List (2.5/5)
Animal Collective
3/5
My fondness for the venue has sadly never been matched by the album (2.5/5)
The Byrds
3/5
A relaxing listen for a relaxing day
Aimee Mann
3/5
Like a less inspired Fiona Apple, which sounds meaner than I intend, but I liked this (3.5/5)
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Pleasant listening even if the vibrato is a little silly, so much so he even had to restart one of the songs
Buzzcocks
3/5
Fine, didn’t grab me as much as Tension (2.5/5)
The Pogues
2/5
I appreciate the variety but hard not to feel goofy listening to this at my work desk (2.5/5)
Crowded House
2/5
Heard the weather song before and wasn’t a fan. This was the full experience of that initial reaction
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
The hardest spot the difference test: power tools or German shouting? (Entschuldigung)
Basement Jaxx
3/5
Kinda wish it was Basement Jazz. The beats were fun and kept me entertained but every now and then they had an element I hated. Like a track near the end with constant moaning, it took me out of enjoying the music more (2.5/5)
Cypress Hill
3/5
I’m a big hip hop fan but for some reason Cypress Hill never did it for me. DJ Muggs does a great job and I genuinely love the sample flips and bass selections. However the MCs always bounce between goofy to just slightly annoying and it holds the project back for me. Shout out to opening with Pigs though (3.5/5)
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Interesting to see which soundtracks make the list but this was solid
The Beach Boys
4/5
Joining the probable many who are rating this with an RIP, thanks for the tunes. This album was a nice switch up from The Beach Boys normal and I liked the introspectiveness. Ironically Til I Die was my favorite (3.5/5)
MGMT
4/5
An album I loved when I was younger but aside from the big hits I found I wasn’t as high on it this listen through. Although it must be said how pervasive this sound became in the late 2000s/early 2010s due partially to this album. So good job lads (3.5/5)
The Who
3/5
Nothing special tbh but I still like The Who every now and then
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
A great soundtrack and a great standalone piece of work
Nirvana
4/5
Maybe my favorite Nirvana album? I’d have to listen to more but the songs just have that extra something on them
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
A solid listen to let you experience that 60’s festival feel. Janis does really well and doesn’t blow out her voice like later in her career
Sepultura
4/5
2 for 2, the list has officially made me a Sepultura fan (3.5/5)
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Not at all what I expected but nothing that really grabbed me, overall it’s fine (2.5/5)
Kanye West
5/5
I miss the old Kanye
Bob Dylan
3/5
Liked what I heard but I’ll admit it wasn’t my most attentive listen. I’ll have to circle back at some point
Rod Stewart
3/5
I expected to dislike this, and I’m not sure what his big draw is (voice maybe?), but it wasn’t bad. Not bad Rod (2.5/5)
Nanci Griffith
2/5
About the other side of the spectrum of my taste in music. Objectively it’s fine but personally it’s like listening to paint dry (2.5/5)
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Way more blues based than I thought and had no idea Ry Cooder was part of this band. This is why we listen (3.5/5)
Tina Turner
4/5
Shockingly the first time I’ve listened to a Tina Turner album. And much less shockingly it was great, loved her voice and the songs all hold up really well. Loved the Al Green cover too, it’s hard work to put your own spin on classics like that
Kraftwerk
4/5
Way ahead of their time, you can imagine the Daft Punk’s of the world hearing The Robots and having their entire lives change (3.5/5)
Cream
4/5
Classic but needs some retooling in the mix. Ginger sounds like he’s 2 studios away and Clapton is boosted front and center. It kind of adds to the bluesier rock they’re playing but I wanna hear it remixed. Also the last song is an awful choice for a closer (3.5/5)
Pere Ubu
3/5
A little weird but I like weird. Although I don’t think much of my listen will stick with me
Taylor Swift
2/5
Swiftie ASMR. This was soooo boring, I had to break it up because I was falling asleep at work. It feels so sterile and emotionless, I felt more from 30 seconds of Bon Iver on the last track than I did from Taylor in the rest of the runtime. Music wise it’s fine and lyrically nothing was egregious positively or negatively. I’m just confused on who likes this one enough to put it here, even my closeted Swiftie girlfriend said “oh that’s the worst one” when I generated it.
It makes sense she has multiple albums on here due to pop culture significance alone, but I really hope this doesn’t mean ALL of her albums are on the list
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Joseph could’ve made this more interesting (2.5/5)
Mj Cole
2/5
Sincerely this was very boring
Tom Waits
3/5
His voice will never not be goofy and it is a detriment to the music. Although it wasn’t too grating and I didn’t mind this album (2.5/5)
Dolly Parton
2/5
Not a country fan but I didn’t mind this for about 3/4ths of the project, but it really started to drag. Which is nuts to say about a sub 30 minute album. (2.5/5)
“School House Rock-ass music”- Al
Mott The Hoople
3/5
What’s with all the Hoople. I like the variety of strings instruments to jazz up an otherwise middle of the road rock album
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
It’s a little silly and I don’t know if I’d go out of my way to listen again but there is some charm here. He really does evoke someone reading spooky short stories at a campfire in the woods
The Specials
3/5
Some special variety mixed into this, not what I was expecting
Happy Mondays
3/5
Got this on a Wednesday what the hell (2.5/5)
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
A really good snapshot entry for modern R&B and im surprised the list goes this current (3.5/5)
Eurythmics
2/5
Sleepy synths and sweet serenades. The hit kinda seems like lightning in a bottle (2.5/5)
k.d. lang
2/5
The blandest album, for fans of “yeah I like music” you know the type
Black Sabbath
5/5
I had just relistened after the Back to the Beginning concert and I happily relistened again. Maybe a top 30 album of all time for me. Bill Ward goes crazy on this album, Iommi makes multiple iconic riffs that almost every guitar player ends up learning, and Geezer keeps the arrangements tight with an incredible tone.
Perfect album and rest in peace to the Prince of Darkness, your legacy will live on forever
Of course then there’s Ozzy delivering some of the best performances of his career along with some of the most well written Sabbath songs in their catalogue.
War Pigs, Iron Man, and Paranoid are eternal. It has my favorite Sabbath song, Electric Funeral, a massive precursor to doom metal.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Out of the several generated this has been my favorite Nick Cave album. It’s no easy feat to turn grief into any artistic expression but it feels very heartfelt and easy to connect with (3.5/5)
Fred Neil
3/5
Fred going crazy on that yayo. This was great from an artist I’d never heard about and it’s aged very well (3.5/5)
Stephen Stills
3/5
Ohhh that Stills. Cool to hear an “individual” effort and I stills enjoyed it (3.5/5)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Let me preface by saying this was fine (2.5/5) but good fucking lord enough with the Nick Cave! This is the 5th album from him, 3 within a week, and I’m so sick of the broody plodding tone. There is nothing significantly different in 4 of these to justify their inclusion and he should be top of the chopping block next revision. For example, with Ozzy’s recent passing, it’s actually criminal Blizzard of Oz isn’t on here while this goober is hoarding entries
The Go-Go's
2/5
Sugar pop from not my favorite era or my favorite vocalist. We got the beat’s vocals always bothered me and it didn’t help essentially copy and pasting it 11 times
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I’ve been cursed with a streak of “very middle of the road” albums (2.5/5)
Ray Price
2/5
Slander these hussies gramps 🔥🔥🔥
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Not bad but nothing a step above your local rock band, this feeling was only reinforced by the slew of covers near the end (2.5/5)
Neil Young
2/5
This list has made me a much bigger Neil Young fan than I could’ve ever imagined. However I am so sick of repeat artists. It’s been more than 2 months since I’ve had a week without Neil Young or Nick Cave. I just don’t see how this album deserves an extra slot or what it’s doing any better than the other Neil Young albums on here. So personally (3/5) but I’m docking a point for repetition
Yes
4/5
Not THE Yes Album but The Yes Album still makes me say Yes (3.5/5)
LL Cool J
3/5
Maybe rap’s first superstar and deservedly so but he’s right on the precipice of the golden age of rap. It’s a little dated but the title track is an all timer (2.5/5)
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
A band that I often forever about when thinking about this era. Sure it’s not the most talented players or memorable songwriting but it’s solid
Meat Puppets
3/5
Gross name, solid tunes
Tori Amos
3/5
Pleasantly surprised as I’ve seen the name but never listened before. Feels like a later gen Kate Bush
Barry Adamson
2/5
I remembered this guy from another album on the list, same schtick of making a soundtrack for a nonexistent movie, and I liked this one a tad more. Maybe it was more cohesive or I was in a better headspace to list…… NICK CAVE AGAIN??? YOU RAT FUCKS (2.5/5)
Dion
2/5
I hate the sneaky combining albums thing on streaming, almost made me listen to triple the length of this snoozefest
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
Country Joe had a bigger affinity for keys than I would’ve imagined (2.5/5)
Os Mutantes
3/5
Weird sixties with that fuzzy ass guitar, not bad despite me not understanding any of the songs (2.5/5)
The Waterboys
3/5
Felt like a community band you’d see at a small fair. Aided by slipping in blackbird and this land is your land. Cute (2.5/5)
Orange Juice
3/5
Solid, never heard of this band before
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Like The Cure but not gay enough
SZA
5/5
Ecstatic to see this on the list. There’s too much I want to say about an album that may be in my top 10 of all time. Ctrl is a modern r&b classic. SZA is so sincere with her insecurities and is front to back baring her soul to the world while singing these crazy catchy melodies. There are so many moments that are pure “wow I’m obsessed with this part” like the drums on Drew Barrymore, how SZA glides into Go Gina, Travis’ YAHs in Love Galore, and even when setting the record for the number of pussies said in a song the “ya know Jen-nay almost gave it all up for em” in Doves in the Wind is fucking electric. Coming out of college I connected with this album so much and there are so many lyrics I related to that these moments are crystallized in this album, it makes every listen like a little time capsule. I could go on and on but I’ll end here, good lord what an album
Elvis Costello
3/5
I liked this one the best as a known Costello hater (2.5/5)
Supertramp
3/5
Solid but it’s no Breakfast in America
Louis Prima
3/5
Iconic voice but a bit out of my time, I’ll never dissociate him from the Jungle Book (2.5/5)
Moby
3/5
I have a much deeper appreciation for music this sample heavy than I did when I first listened. My bad Moby
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
One of my earliest forays into jazz and I still enjoy this album a lot. It sounds so fresh and clear for an album from the 50s and it’s hinting towards the fusion genre way way before it really became so prevalent
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Started as a surprise, maybe a Diamond in the rough that no one talks about, but quickly rolled into so dated in sound and entertainment value (2.5/5)
Weather Report
4/5
An early jazz album for me which was super accessible since it leans more into fusion. Really good to come back to (3.5/5)
Culture Club
3/5
Way more involved instrumentally than I had imagined and I ended up liking it way more. I see you boy George
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
More like Melo Drammatik amirite? Lots of good stuff on here but it does feel bloated to me. I think I’ll take Siamese Dream in a battle
Fela Kuti
4/5
An old joke: “what does Ginger Baker and coffee have in common? They both suck without Cream”
Me as a kid thought it was hilarious and objective truth, but guess what? I’m mature now. That’s right bitch I like jazz. Fela Kuti is awesome and Ginger is awesome on this album, and I even love the extended drum soloing. I’d still like cream with my coffee though, thanks
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
Some solid stuff on here but it definitely feels like the name came first and then the songs were churned out to get to 69. A lot of filler and stupid diddies
Frank Ocean
5/5
Yeah Frank cooked. It was so exciting to see all the Odd Future guys to piece it together in a relatively short period of time. Some all time songs on here and Pyramids is probably a top 5 Frank song for me, the transition and theming are peak. Obscure shout out to this one video of geese walking across the road in a rainstorm while Fertilizer plays, probably watched that for 15 minutes straight (4.5/5)
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Made me think about being a medieval serf and the traveling merry men came to town playing some ballads after a long day of toiling in the hot fields. And ending that thought with “I’d probably kill myself”
Traffic
3/5
Huh I’ve never really listened to Traffic -> start album -> oh yeah this is Traffic they’re cool -> album ends -> not my favorite but pretty good -> X amount of time passes -> Huh I’ve never really listened to Traffic
This cycle will continue until I die (3.5/5)
Pantera
4/5
Never think of them as a full album band because the stand outs really STAND OUT. I mean Walk has one of the most iconic metal riffs of all time. I always forget about This Love which really got me this listen. Anyways shout out the Abbott brothers they really shine on all of Pantera’s work and truly made the band unique (RIP)
Iggy Pop
4/5
Great weirdo energy and my favorite Iggy Pop record
Magazine
3/5
An even more British version of The Cure, is it possible? Nothing reached me quite like The Cure though (2.5/5)
Screaming Trees
3/5
Good album and good band name
The Beau Brummels
3/5
More renn faire adjacent folky stuff within a short period, but it hit me way better than the incredible string band
Kings of Leon
3/5
Really warm voice and enjoyable singing but that’s about as deep as this project goes
The Bees
3/5
Not the bees!
This was smooth, and aged incredibly well for when it came out (3.5/5)
Elvis Presley
3/5
A nice voice but not beating the hack allegations, it’s hard to listen back to this with rose tinted glasses (2.5/5)
Fishbone
2/5
Kinds fun and a little funky but the vocals push it over into corny territory (2.5/5)
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
I haven’t explored more since I first listened to this years ago but I really like this bran of Big Band. Atomic is a great adjective for how dynamic and explosive the pieces can be, and it has aged super well
Ozomatli
4/5
Unexpected and welcomed. An interesting mix of stuff that I had never heard of before, which is all I really want from this project (3.5/5)
TV On The Radio
3/5
This was solid, nothing crazy for me. Although I really enjoyed the demo tracks at the end
Steely Dan
4/5
Smooth as hell and wants me to leave my nonexistent wife and kids at home to go cruisin with the boys
Gene Clark
2/5
The album art got me excited and then was proceeded by some milquetoast half baked country album. The stand by me cover should have a Honky tag on it like the explicit content warnings
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Second reggae album I ever listened to (before this list I mean), and it’s still great. Some all time songs on here even if you hate reggae, show me the hateful loser who dislikes Three Little Birds
Dire Straits
2/5
Sultans of Swing is the notable one and kinda fun but the rest is like unseasoned chicken. Bland add B movie tier music (2.5/5)
2/5
Didn’t move the needle very much in either direction, just ok
The Temptations
3/5
AH, THE TEMPTATIONS- Dewey Cox
The title track always clung around in my head with the dynamic harmonies. Love the extra deep voiced guy. The rest of the album is alright but nothing as clingy (3.5/5)
Blondie
3/5
I’ve heard the big songs but everything else was new. Not my favorite but on some tracks (like 11:59 for example) they’re almost doing a proto-Smiths thing which was neat (2.5/5)
The Byrds
3/5
Never was a Byrds guy but i liked the psych elements that start to bubble up on here (2.5/5)
GZA
5/5
Stone cold classic. GZA never sounded sharper and RZA’s production is insane. The first wave of Wu solo albums felt so special, especially with each member popping up here and there on the others projects, basically the hip hop version of the MCU (4.5/5)
The Boo Radleys
2/5
Not the kind of Boo I was hoping to get on Halloweek (2.5/5)
Ryan Adams
3/5
A very simple and unfair thought, but I don’t feel like writing much, sounds like he wants to be Dylan (2.5/5)
Madonna
3/5
Review by Me (2.5/5)
Boards of Canada
3/5
My memory of this album was much higher than this latest listen. A bit too ambient for my tastes
Brian Eno
3/5
This is going to sound very pretentious. I feel like Brian Eno doesn’t make very good songs, however the amalgamation of sounds is always interesting to listen to. Know what I mean?
Solange
4/5
A really good independent find for me when it came out, and then I found out who her sister was. Solange stands all on her own
Radiohead
3/5
There are a good number of tracks I enjoy on here but let’s call a spade a spade. We could’ve left Kid A B-sides off this list (3.5/5)
Queen
3/5
Obviously Bohemian Rhapsody took on another life and You’re My Best Friend has been used in every mid 2000s movie soundtrack but the album cuts rarely work for me. Queen always have weird interstitial songs threaded between monster hits, and the project suffers from that
Fairport Convention
3/5
More bricked than I thought I’d be (2.5/5)
Aphex Twin
4/5
Solid background music but not very engaging despite how much I hear about Aphex Twin (2.5/5)
The White Stripes
3/5
Very appropriate as they were just inducted into the Rock HoF, however this ranks a little low for me in their discography. It sounds like they’re still piecing it together while having flashes of what they become
Muddy Waters
4/5
Simple but sometimes it really just hits the spot (3.5/5)