Journey Complete!
Finisher #19 to complete the list
1088
Albums Rated
3.43
Average Rating
100%
Complete
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Favorite Album
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Grunge
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
153
5-Star Albums
8
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phaedra | 5 | 2.73 | +2.27 |
| Reign In Blood | 5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
| Another Green World | 5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
| Queen Of Denmark | 5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
| Dear Science | 5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
| Close To The Edge | 5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
| Frampton Comes Alive | 5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
| Deloused in the Comatorium | 5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
| Clandestino | 5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
| The Blueprint | 5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Queen Is Dead | 2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
| Follow The Leader | 1 | 2.65 | -1.65 |
| The Clash | 2 | 3.54 | -1.54 |
| The Gershwin Songbook | 2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
| New Forms | 1 | 2.53 | -1.53 |
| Logical Progression | 1 | 2.52 | -1.52 |
| The Modern Dance | 1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
| More Songs About Buildings And Food | 2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
| Diamond Life | 2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
| Green Onions | 2 | 3.41 | -1.41 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 6 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 4.56 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4.57 |
| Beatles | 7 | 4.57 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 5 | 4.6 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 5 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 5 |
| Yes | 3 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 6 | 4.33 |
| The Who | 5 | 4.4 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.5 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.67 |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 4.67 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nick Drake | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Doors | 3 | 4.67 |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 4.67 |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 2 | 5 |
| The Band | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Brian Eno | 5 | 4.2 |
| The Kinks | 4 | 4.25 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4.25 |
| Deep Purple | 3 | 4.33 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 4.33 |
| Queen | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Beach Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beastie Boys | 3 | 4.33 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 4.33 |
| Public Enemy | 3 | 4.33 |
| Kate Bush | 3 | 4.33 |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 5 | 4 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pere Ubu | 2 | 1 |
| The Fall | 3 | 2 |
| Morrissey | 4 | 2.25 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Kanye West | 4, 5, 2 |
5-Star Albums (153)
View Album Wall
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
It's a testament to The Boss that this isn't one of my top 5 fave albums of his
Led Zeppelin
5/5
All-time classic
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Never really got into Nick Cave before but yeah, this is good. A lot of music to get through, but I like the stylistic split between the two discs - two distinct records in one package really
Black Sabbath
5/5
What else can you say about the first metal album?
Bob Dylan
4/5
Hard to rank this one in his discography because everything he put out in the 60s was so stellar, but in my opinion easily his best post-60's album
Animal Collective
4/5
Yay Baltimore! This album is lightning in a bottle, and very Baltimore weird. My Girls was my soundtrack to 2009.
Charles Mingus
5/5
Love Mingus but haven't given this one much time. Dude was seriously one of the best jazz composers of all time. Definitely a masterpiece.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Never heard of her before -- very much in the Joni Mitchell/Tracy Chapman vein.
Fugees
5/5
I mean, this is probably a top 10 hip hop album of all time. what else needs to be said?
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Definitely more of a fan of What's Going On but this is obviously an R&B baby-making classic
The Strokes
5/5
Short sweet and simple - probably the best album from the garage rock revival period
Ryan Adams
2/5
Not really a fan, seems very "try-hard" to me. Why would I listen to this when I could just listen to the musicians he is clearly copying?
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Landmark album in electronic music. May require some drugs to fully experience
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Didn't really dislike but it didn't quite click for me either.
Miles Davis
5/5
I mean, this is my favorite jazz fusion album, although Weather Report/Mahavishnu Orchestra come close, and the second best album from Davis next to Kind of Blue
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Stones at their best. Every album from Beggars Banquet to Exile on Main St is basically 5/5 from me
Slint
3/5
I can see how this could be influential to the development of post-rock, post-hardcore and math rock, but probably won’t be revisiting much
Eels
3/5
Pretty good. Is it an album one must hear before they die? Not sure about that
Frank Sinatra
4/5
This is some good stuff - Sinatra at his best.
Deep Purple
4/5
Probably will stick to the album versions as I’m not a big live album guy but this is still excellent with some great jams and extended noodling
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Yeah I mean, this is just one of the most beautiful folk albums of all time. Certainly deserves a spot on this list
The Divine Comedy
3/5
So far, most of the artists that I've never even heard of have been British. Looks like this guy has worked on the soundtracks of Father Ted, the IT Crowd and Amelie, so I have indeed heard his work before without realizing it. As far as this goes, I can recognize that it's good, but seems like an acquired taste to me and something I wouldn't listen to for fun.
Ice Cube
4/5
Somehow have never listened to this, which seems like a huge oversight on my part... this is great and seems like one of the defining records of the era
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Probably one of the best albums of all time. Jimi’s magnum opus, this is a near perfect mix of blues, funk, hard rock, Brit pop, and psychedelic rock
The Avalanches
3/5
This was a nice Friday surprise... mellow electronic music fully built from samples. Nice background music for studying/chilling
Elliott Smith
4/5
Damn, way to start off a Monday. Certainly have to be in the right frame of mind for Elliott Smith but there's no doubt this a classic of mellow, super depressive indie folk.
Prince
4/5
"1999" seems to take on a different meaning listening to it today. Obviously Prince is a genius and this was an extremely influential album with a ton of his hits on it.
Boards of Canada
3/5
Never heard of them but definitely heard artists influenced by them. Definitely music to listen to while you relax/study/chill. Good stuff but probably not an all time great.
Napalm Death
2/5
Finally get a metal album and its Napalm Death? ugh. Not a grindcore fan. The most pointless subgenre out there. Fast, short songs only for the sake of being fast and short. Not enough time to develop riffs into songs.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Really interesting listen and interesting to read about the cultural impact as well. Blues legend that I haven't really listened to before
Steely Dan
3/5
Another band I haven't given too much of a chance thanks to that soft/yacht rock tag. Definitely better than I've given them credit for... vocal harmonies + whenever they go off on guitar solos are really the highlight for me.
Sabu
3/5
Well that was something new and different - glad to see some more global artists are on here too since it's mostly American/British rock/pop. Probably wouldn't listen to this for fun but its a nice change of pace
David Bowie
5/5
Starts off an epic string of albums that is probably his best period. Nothing else much to say - don't even know what you'd call this mix of genres. It's just legendary Bowie
System Of A Down
3/5
I would personally rank Toxicity as their best album over this one. This one is still bonkers though. Out of all the nu-metal movement, this is one of the few bands that actually stands the test of time
Kanye West
4/5
A huge album for hip hop. In retrospect, it’s eclipsed by the few albums that came next (before he lost it)
Metallica
4/5
Still a fantastic album despite the complete 180 from Thrash Metal to Hard Rock. Probably their last great album as well.
Steely Dan
3/5
I know these guys are objectively good, the music just doesn't pack a punch that gets me excited to listen. Good background music though, and they are obviously very talented.
The White Stripes
5/5
This and Elephant are definitely their two perfect albums. Stripped down lo-fi blues rock / rock n roll at its best.
Paul Simon
4/5
Lots of fantastic songs on here and a nice midpoint between the soft folk rock of Simon & Garfunkel and the world pop-rock of his later albums
Various Artists
4/5
Nice touch having this one on Christmas! This is the best Christmas album ever made, hands down. Phil Spector was a genius record producer (despite probably being completely mad). I have yet to listen to this on vinyl as intended but it still sounds great
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Can’t find any flaws in this relatively short bust of soul - has several of her biggest classics
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Two days of Aretha in a row - I ain't mad. Another short burst of soul that came out a few years after the last one I listened to. Put these two in a double album together and you've got an all time great
The Specials
3/5
Already heard most of the songs on this album but reading up on the historical significance was interesting... for some reason I don’t like it quite as much as the original Jamaican reggae or the ska punk revival stuff
3/5
Liked this better than the last few times I listened to it, maybe it’s growing on me. Just hasn’t quite connected with me like other Britpop like Oasis or Damon Albarn’s later work on the Gorillaz.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Has “in the ghetto” and “suspicious minds” (my personal favorite Elvis song) and the Memphis blues sound on the record gives it a unique and soulful sound. Would probably replace some of the ballads with more upbeat fare though
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Quite possibly my favorite jazz album. Memorable tunes, fun time signature changes, a perfect mix between accessible pop jazz and experimentation
Sheryl Crow
3/5
First time giving her a real listen besides the few radio singles — would probably need to listen a few more times for a fairer rating, but I like the Tom Petty-ish rock/folk rock sound
Dr. John
3/5
Weird groovy psychedelic Nawlins r&b - I've heard some of his other stuff but it was cleaner/more straightforward. Like New Orleans standards and such. This is definitely grungier stuff, would probably take a few listens to fully appreciate. And maybe some psychedelics.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I've heard a lot of this already - great stuff. Bare, stripped down folk, these are some of his best songs.
Paul Simon
5/5
One of my faves - just a crazy mix of world styles that is still undeniably Paul Simon, with of course his usual songwriting chops
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Didn't expect this one - besides the theme song, I've never listened to the soundtrack before or seen the movie. Kind of interesting that it's on here, seeing as it's mostly instrumental and was written to be the background film score, so hearing it just by itself isn't quite as compelling as hearing it in context of the film, or hearing a standalone record like Hot Buttered Soul. Still put a funky step in my monday morning though
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I mean, is he clearly talented and is everything nicely arranged? Yes. Will I remember any of these songs? Probably not. Essential listening before you die? Also probably not.
John Cale
3/5
Definitely one that that would require multiple listens and much more lyrical/contextual breakdown in order to fully appreciate. Maybe I should buy the book huh
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Classic trend-setting alternative rock album of the 90's. No-holds-barred lyrics against super catchy alt-rock melodies. This definitely falls in the 5/5 category.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
In the middle of his hot streak of classic albums. Every song seems distinct despite the repetitive nature of the music.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Intelligent, piano-driven, very personal ... I really like Fiona Apple but never find myself listening to her for fun. There is no denying her talent in crafting lyrics, her musicianship and her compositional prowess though.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Quick jolt of folk punk - probably will still only keep the singles on rotation but it was nice to hear the full album, don't think I've listened to all these songs before. Probably not a perfect record but I think it qualifies because of its uniqueness and influence.
Parliament
4/5
Essential funk classic - this and Maggot Brain are probably the two essential records in the P-Funk universe
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Definitely an album you should hear before you die, even if only the singles stick out in the long run. They had a unique sound that was a little different from the other "heroin alt rock" groups of the 90's - honestly surprising this whole band is still alive.
The xx
2/5
Don't quite get this one... I remember it being popular when it came out and not quite getting it then either. I do like minimalistic music but this is just boring to me, and they sound bored playing it.
David Bowie
4/5
One last art-rock masterwork before his death, between this and The Next Day, he really put together some killer stuff at the end. RIP
David Holmes
3/5
Seeing this guy's history of soundtrack work is not surprising - this definitely feels like it should accompany some on-screen action more than as a standalone piece. "Don't Die Just Yet" at the end definitely elevates the album as well and is clearly the standout track IMO
Tangerine Dream
5/5
I feel like I've been waiting for something like this to pop up - an artist I've never properly listened to before that completely blows me away. I've seen movies they've done the soundtrack for before, but probably never realized and never heard any non-soundtrack stuff. This is fantastic stuff and I'll definitely need to listen to more.
Buena Vista Social Club
5/5
Was happy to see this pop up, this is a classic to me and basically a perfect album. My go-to Cuban fare
Tim Buckley
3/5
Straight up did not know Jeff Buckley's father was also a famous musician who died too young. This is pretty interesting and quite different than his son's work. It's a weird fusion of folk and jazz but it works, although I probably won't find myself listening to it in my free time
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Honestly, every time the Britpop label comes up on here I groan a little bit - not that it’s bad, it just all sorta bleeds together and is a bit “samesy.” Don’t think I could name a song or hum a tune from the last few Britpop offerings. It’s all decent alt rock, just not memorable IMO
Machito
4/5
I found myself caught up in this record and can see myself returning to this again. The Afro-Cuban/Jazz genres mix exceedingly well and give this a unique sound
The Prodigy
2/5
Nice early morning techno rave to get you going. Not my scene, I can see its historical relevance but just doesn't click with me, sounds outdated, and also I'm not doing drugs in a club.
The Youngbloods
3/5
Lots of groovy electric piano mixed with country folk rock - could definitely revisit this a few times
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Classic folk album, reminds me of dad - easily one of the top supergroups ever
The Clash
2/5
I know this record is super influential, and its simpleness is a direct response to the "overblown-ness" of mainstream rock of the time, but at the same time this is just way too far in the opposite direction to where these songs just roll together with no distinguishing characteristics. By London Calling they are writing more unique songs and that record deserves the praise it gets but I just can't get into this much.
Aerosmith
3/5
Aerosmith is a weird one. Never thought they belonged in the pantheon of great classic rockers, always thought they were more of a “greatest hits” band, and everything 80’s and later is a bit ridiculous and “sellout-y.” That being said, their first four records are still pretty dope and have some great songs
Morrissey
2/5
Just never quite got The Smiths/Morrissey. I think the songwriting themes probably strike a unique chord that you either connect with or you don't. I don't. Also he seems like a bit of an ass-hat.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This was a fantastic surprise - gloomy gothic folk songs telling tales of murder. It’s unusual and captivating. Need to check out more nick cave clearly
Van Morrison
4/5
His most famous album, with several of his strongest songs (and it stoned me, caravan). He put out so much material l (And still is) that he is probably a better “greatest hits” artist but this isn’t a bad place to start either
Fats Domino
4/5
Confused him with Fats Waller at first and was surprised when this wasn’t ragtime. Instead I got a New Orleans legend and felt ashamed I mixed them up. This is fantastic stuff, songs that are just standards now and make me want to book a trip down to Louisiana again
Frank Ocean
4/5
This is really good stuff. I've listened to his album's before and they never quite clicked. This time, I think I got a lot more out of it. It still probably won't make my regular rotation, just because it recalls a very specific mood to want to listen to it, but I can definitely recognize his genius this time around.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
This has been on my list of bands to check out for a while, I’m glad they popped up! Interesting to hear some of the original goth rockers, and it had much more of a synth/darkwave vibe then expected. Love the vocals. Songs probably don’t need to be as long as they are but that’s my only gripe
The Who
5/5
I mean, this is one of the greatest classic rock albums of all time, bar none. Every song is a classic. Nothing much else to say.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Another classic Bob Marley album- it’s easy to think of him as “bro stoner” music until you actually sit down and listen and remember how many hits he had
DJ Shadow
3/5
I was introduced to this a while back by a friend who is a hip hop head. The music is impressive: 100% sample-based from an eclectic vinyls spanning multiple genres stitched together into downbeat instrumental hip hop. Hit harder back then than it does now and serves better as background music than music that demands your full attention, but still super impressive.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I’m sure this is quite good- it just didn’t really “stick” much. I’d probably have to do a deeper dive into Elvis Costello to fully appreciate this, so it’s just a 3 more so in terms of first impressions
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Basically everything I wrote about the last Cohen album applies here - something about his music just speaks to me
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Familiar with PCO but none of the songs on this album. I assumed most of their most would have the Phillip Glass-like repetition of "Music from a Found Harmonium" or "Perpetuum Mobile" but its not as prevalent on this album. I probably wouldn't put this on the level of those songs but its still unique and pleasant.
The Byrds
3/5
I feel like I SHOULD like this album - it has a psychedelic folk sound, many talented artists, and I like a lot of similar-sounding stuff. Might not have been in the right mood/frame of mind. Worth a relisten.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Another example of something I should give a few re-listens before adequately ranking. Everything I've heard from them I've liked, just need to be in the right frame of mind and give more time to it.
Prince
5/5
Perfect album. Prince’s signature blend of styles put into nine songs of pop perfection
Otis Redding
4/5
A short burst of classic Otis soul, dude was probably the greatest male soul singer of all time
Leonard Cohen
5/5
There’s just something about Leonard Cohen that speaks to me. Don’t know if it’s the soothing voice, the sadboi lyrics or the classical folk guitar instrumentation. Most definitely all three. I think this is my favorite album I’ve listened to so far.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Reminded me a bit of “how the west was won:” a long live album with all the hits, taken from several shows, and also filled with studio overdubs. Made me realize I need to delve into Thin Lizzy a bit more though as I’m only familiar with a few hits
Metallica
3/5
Definitely belongs on the list. Not one of the greatest live albums of all time in my opinion, but the concept of Metallica songs reimagined with a backing orchestra led by an award-winning composer is definitely worthy of inclusion. The album, like many Metallica songs, is overlong. Not all of the orchestrations work, since some songs lend themselves to additional orchestration and some definitely do not. But regardless, this album is a wonder to behold.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
Honestly not sure what to make of this one. Similar to some of the other psychedelic folk/rock on the list, with Bob Dylan-ish vocals. Nothing really stuck on first listen
Erykah Badu
3/5
I SHOULD like this album more. I've listened to Badiuzm a few times and now this, and it is certainly up my alley, but hasn't really clicked in a way that artists in a similar vein have (Lauryn Hill & The Fugees, to a lesser extent The Roots, Janelle Monáe). Probably need to give her more time.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Yeah I might stick to his 60’s/70’s output. Just don’t “get” this one. I’m sure his stripped down acoustic style went out of vogue in the 80’s and this was an interesting surprise at the time but listening to this now it just seems weird and doesn’t fit
The Smiths
2/5
I just don't like The Smiths or Morrissey. Don't know what it is, I just don't "get" it. Maybe it's because it's a similar style to gothic rock like The Cure but without any of the gothic conventions that make that genre interesting. Or maybe I get turned off by the in-your-face politics/vegetarianism. Or maybe it's just boring.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
I love all the artists I've been discovering or just giving a closer listen to through this website. At the same time, it's nice to get some comfort food sometimes, and this album is a comfort food - an old favorite and great for a Monday morning. Undoubtedly the great folk rock duo of all time, and this is up there as one of their best albums.
The La's
4/5
I’ve been groaning a little when I see the Britpop tag but this was really good and I might need to add this to my collection. Maybe it’s the acoustic guitar which makes it feel closer to The Beatles than the normal 90s Britpop fare. Also “there she goes” is just a great song
Jeff Buckley
3/5
Amazing pipes, tragic story, following in his fathers footprints and dying young. I’ve tried listening to this album many times and I get why it is so acclaimed but for me something doesn’t hit quite the same way as others, not sure why.
Black Flag
2/5
If I was ranking albums based on their influence, or based on how novel or how pioneering it was at the time, I'm sure this would be highly regarded. But my ranking system, which is largely just based on my personal preference and probability of each album getting repeated listens, this falls on the lower end of the spectrum.
The Cure
3/5
An album by The Cure where I haven’t heard any of the songs before? This one was a little different than their later work: darker, gloomier, more goth and less new wave. But still really enjoyable
Paul Simon
3/5
I am undeniable a huge Paul Simon fan. This album is quite good but I don't know if I would count it as "essential" or "must listen before you die." Probably would have included "Rhythm of the Saints" or "Still Crazy after all these Years" instead. But... Paul Simon is Paul Simon and is always a great way to ease into the morning.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
Damn this was actually pretty good. Seemed like he could have fit right into succession in between Hendrix and Prince, but never really got his career off the ground. Would listen to again for sure
The Who
5/5
I mean, it’s Tommy. I’m probably slightly more of a Quadrophenia fan, but they are fantastic. Birth of the rock opera.
Morrissey
2/5
How much more Smiths/Morrissey is on here? This music just bores me to death, Morrissey's mopey, droning voice annoys me, and I could not care less about the lyrics. I like sadboi music, but this stuff has just never interested me. I couldn't hum a single tune from any of his songs.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
"It's a Sin" is a fantastic song that I immediately added to my collection. The rest of the album didn't speak to me quite as much but I could see why it was popular.
Nick Drake
5/5
Yeah this is a fantastic album. These songs are lonely, detached, depressed, melancholic... but beautiful classics. All three Nick Drake albums are amazing but this one embodies the feelings of depression perhaps better than any album ever.
Oasis
3/5
Oasis is definitely overrated. This is a solid album, along with morning glory afterwards. The Gallagher brothers Are not the second coming of the Beatles. Some decent tunes though, and well arranged. Better than most Britpop
Deep Purple
5/5
Deep Purples best album and one of my favorite classic heavy metal albums of all time. Smoke on the Water is also probably the least interesting song on the album which should tell you something
Love
4/5
A surprise hit for me - some of the psychedelic folk I’ve heard on here dragged a bit but this album is energetic and jumps all around the place. 4/5 on first listen, have no idea how I’ll feel after several
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Best songs are Paint it black, which is only on The US version, and mother’s little helper, which is only on the UK version. Probably the best of the earlier albums but not one of the classics
The White Stripes
5/5
This is the best album from The White Stripes and a defining record of the 2000's. It's a near-perfect fusion of the blues rock of the 70's with the garage rock revival movement of the 00's. I like most everything Jack White has done but this is definitely the cream of the crop.
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Not immediately enthused, although repeated listens might give me a few playlist-worthy songs. I just find that a lot of alternative rock from this period, especially from across the pond, just tends to drag a bit to my ears and I haven't been able to fully embrace it other than a handful of artists or songs. Strong ending though - loved the last two songs.
The Specials
4/5
I was initially worried by the description - a change in sound influenced by lounge music? But I think I liked this more than the first sound. There’s a ton of new influences, making this album more varied and interesting. Plus the Go-Go’s on backing vocals? I’m a fan.
MGMT
3/5
This was a big album of my college years. It's 100% the definition of a mixed album, though. It's as if Time to Pretend, Electric Feel and Kids were recorded by a catchy synth-pop group with an ear for bangers and everything else was recorded by a rather average neo-psychedelic group with no memorable hooks.
The Cure
4/5
Another earlier Cure album - I definitely like both sides of The Cure, the earlier, gloomier Goth rock and the later, poppier New Wave efforts. Wikipedia used the term "gloomscapes" which I immediately loved. "A Forest" is particularly great.
Buck Owens
2/5
I’m sure this has important historical relevance, country has just never been my bag. Way better than modern country for sure but still probably wouldn’t listen a second time.
Ella Fitzgerald
2/5
I thought this was a retrospective-type box set at first but no, this was originally released as a box set of brand new material in 1959, 3 hours 15 minutes worth. I do love Ella's voice, and I'm sure these interpretations were groundbreaking and also historically important. But holy hell, that's too much music for a single release. Separated into different releases or just shortened to a "greatest gershwin hits" would have gotten a higher score. But I do believe a good album needs to be edited into a consumable format/length.
Bert Jansch
4/5
This is really good stuff. Been meaning to listen to this after a song or two popped up on Spotify playlists. Great folksinger who clearly influenced later folk acts like Neil Halstead and Nick Drake, but unlike a lot of of other folksingers of the time where the guitar was only a backdrop, it's in the forefront here and for good reason - he's quite a virtuoso.
The Incredible String Band
2/5
Out of all the psychedelic folk bands from this list, this is probably one of the weirder ones. Honestly just a little to out there for me
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Definitely belongs here. Socially conscious folk that helped bring the singer- songwriter back in style, I think damn near everyone had a copy
Megadeth
3/5
Was never a huge fan. Megadeth was always in Metallica's shadow and Dave Mustaine is a huge asshole. But the early albums still undeniably kick some ass.
Milton Nascimento
3/5
Nice to seem some more non-anglo/american music on here. Probably won't return to this one much, but the arrangements were nice, the singing was on point and it was interesting to hear the mix of popular Brazilian music with the prog/pop/rock of pop culture at the time
The Pretty Things
3/5
Apparently the first "real" rock opera that Tommy stole from. Maybe the plot was lifted but the music is a far cry different. It could be psychedelic rock overload on this list but I wasn't too taken by this one
Jamiroquai
4/5
Didn't go into this one with high expectations, came out really liking it! "White dude who wears funny hats playing the music of black people" was my initial exposure but the music itself is just fun, energetic and makes you wanna dance
Frank Black
2/5
Probably would have gotten more out of this if I would have listened to some Pixies first but by itself I was pretty indifferent
Deep Purple
4/5
Their first heavy metal album. This one is a surefire classic. Child in Time is an obvious standout but the whole album is great
3/5
Pure 80s synth-pop that escaped my radar. Could see some songs worth repeating or putting on party mixes. I thought "4 ever 2 gether" was a banger and was surprised it wasn't a single
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I should like Elvis Costello more than I do - I can listen to the music and hear why it's good but I just don't feel anything when I listen to it. Perhaps after a few more tries...
Fela Kuti
4/5
The history behind the album is almost more interesting and absolutely nuts than the music itself - which is also not too shabby at all. Funky afro-worldbeat that is also politically charged. Would def listen again.
Jurassic 5
5/5
Pumped to see this one. Jurassic 5 is probably one of the best hip hop groups of all time. Lyrics, production, jams, this album has it all.
Dennis Wilson
4/5
I've listened to some of Brian Wilson's solo stuff but never heard of this - its quite fantastic! Way more mature than early Beach Boys. Also read up on his history with the Manson family and drug abuse. Crazy story
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Interesting listen, probably not for repeated listens but fascinating to compare with the other older albums. Ruminating on life and death on the cusp of passing into the next life
Steve Winwood
3/5
Love me some Steve Winwood. Not sure if it's "1001 albums"-worthy, but it's catchy, the jams are fun, and it is certainly an impressive feat that he basically did everything on the album himself
R.E.M.
5/5
Yeah this one is a classic. No weak moments, just great melancholic rock that's engaging from start to finish
Underworld
2/5
This one was a struggle to get through. Overlong techno/ house that takes some illicit substances to fully understand
Queen
4/5
It looks like Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, and A Night at the Opera are all on here. I was surprised Queen II made the cut over A Day at the Races or News of the World, but I guess you can't really go wrong, especially with their 70's output. The only "hit" off this one is Seven Seas Of Rhye but on the whole its a heavier, proggier album than their later stuff, which is right up my alley. But you could put anything Queen on and I'll be happy.
Basement Jaxx
4/5
After the last EDM album on here I was not expecting much, but this was great! Electronica album with a range of styles but staying funky, fresh And danceable. Without having the same constant pounding club beat in every song. Will definitely be Adding to my collection
The Saints
3/5
The horn section adds a little something to separate it from the other "first wave of punk" albums, but it probably won't get repeated listens from me, partially because the novelty of punk music has long worn off for me, so trying to listen to it for the first time now doesn't really hit much. Makes me wonder if I were to hear the Ramones for the first time in my 30's, if I would hear it the same way as I did hearing it for the first time in my teens.
Beth Orton
4/5
This was good! Moody honest folk with just a smidgen of Electronica. Will have to listen again
The Cars
3/5
A classic of the New Wave genre. Would probably still only listen to a few standout tracks though
Julian Cope
3/5
It's... fine? Another album I can listen to and understand why it's good objectively but feel nothing
Minutemen
2/5
Don't really get it. 40-some short songs, 1h20 of music? They somehow managed to created an album that is too long but too short to develop any ideas. And the album title is just making fun of Sammy Hagar? Seems like more thought than he deserves. I just don't get the appeal of this style. Fun to hear the Jackass theme in the middle though
Bobby Womack
3/5
Solid selection of R&B tracks. This is pretty much my first exposure besides "Across 110th Street" - I'll probably forget most of the songs but a few standouts like "If You Think You're Lonely Now" could make their way onto some playlists
Van Halen
5/5
Close call but probably the best Van Halen record. Perfect mix of guitar virtuosity and just super fun, poppy music. This is definitely peak VH and it sucks DLR left after this record and ushered in the abysmal Hagar Era
Lou Reed
3/5
Probably one I have to give more time to. I liked what I heard though, just not enough time to fully process
The Replacements
3/5
More music that is objectively good but subjectively I have no strong feelings for. Although fatigue/ only listening once could be playing a role
Maxwell
4/5
Apparently this album ushered in the rise of neo-soul. Definitely deserves the accolades it receives. Everything about the production just works and blends so smoothly with the concept and vocals
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Gotten a string of "post-punk" recently. It's all been good but isn't really grabbing my attention. Not that it's bad, but maybe just not to my taste or maybe list fatigue
The Cardigans
3/5
Fun change of pace. Just an enjoyable slice of Swedish pop rock. Don't know if I'd consider it essential but lovefool is for sure a classic and the Iron man cover was fun and unexpected
Boston
5/5
Impossible for me not to give this 5 stars after the number of times I listened to this album in college. Probably doesn't earn those 5 - the album kind of fizzles at the end but the front half is just great - slick power pop influenced hard rock with great production, anthemic choruses and killer guitar hooks.
Nirvana
4/5
If Nevermind is 5 stars, I'd put this as 4. Rawer and grungier, this album still kicks despite not being almost perfect like their previous Album
Anita Baker
3/5
This is some solid R&B - not usually a fan of this "adult contemporary" genre (and after reading Wikipedia I've learned the genre tag "quiet storm") but her amazing voice makes this a highlight of the format. Also sticks closer to traditional R&B and shies away from the other aspects of the genre (i.e. smooth jazz) that end up being turn offs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Happy this made the cut, definitely deserves it. Karen O is basically an icon of 2000's indie rock and I love their brand of post-punk/indie rock fusion
Elton John
5/5
Yeah this is probably a 5 star. Just too many classic songs. What else do you say about Sir Elton?
Iron Maiden
5/5
Hell yes. One of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time, with one of the greatest metal songs of all time - Hallowed be thy Name.
The Fall
2/5
The spoken word stuff is a huge distraction here. It would have worked in an on-and-off way, or just used sparingly to make the music interesting. But for 50 minutes straight, it's definitely too much.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
No need for notes on this one
Carpenters
3/5
If I grew up during the 70's, I probably would have hated this - squeaky clean, "mom music." As it stands today, I can see why this album is on the list as the Carpenters were culturally significant, and I can see the appeal, the arrangements are nice and Karen has a beautiful singing voice. But still rather just "whelmed" overall.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Think I'm starting to appreciate Elvis Costello the more I listen. Either that, or this is the best of the three I've heard so far.
The Pharcyde
3/5
This was a fun album that I'm surprised none of my hip hop head friends introduced me to. Very Tribe-esque. Up my alley in terms of the types of hip hop I like
James Brown
4/5
This was a good live album to include - you can feel the energy throughout. I 100% need to get the concert film because it's clear you are missing out on his stage presence, audience interaction, etc.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Not quite what I expected - all pop standards, all slower ballads. Really liked his renditions of Blue Skies and Georgia on my mind. I do feel like I need a primer on Willie's other music because this seems like a departure and I only am familiar with one or two of his originals, so I was a little disappointed that this was my first taste
The Beach Boys
4/5
This was pretty great! Definitely a transitional album between their early albums that are purely straightforward surf rock, and their later, Pet Sounds-style layered progressive/psychedelic pop. I really liked how they split the album between these two different styles.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Surprised to see this one pop up. Got into Badly Drawn Boy after About a Boy, and then went back through his albums. This one is could probably use a little trimming but otherwise great record.
Green Day
4/5
Everyone should definitely listen to dookie before they die! Simple tunes but fun and catchy
Can
4/5
Fascinating album. First half is top tier experimental jamming, but tight and focused and quite engaging. Second half gets a little too avant garde for my tastes and I probably wouldn't return much to Aumgn or Peking O
John Martyn
4/5
Been on my list to check out for awhile. I dig the acoustic stuff more than the jazzy/rocky stuff but it's all pretty great. "Over the Hill" is definitely entering the regular rotation.
Ryan Adams
2/5
Besides the sexual misconduct stuff, I never really got into Ryan Adam's, just sounds like he's trying too hard to emulate the sounds of others. Just comes off as way too derivative to me
Pink Floyd
5/5
Not much detail here needed. One of the all time great progressive rock albums
Aerosmith
3/5
Aerosmith are just super inconsistent - more of a "singles" band than an "album" band. 100% could get away with just a greatest hits for these guys. That being said, Walk this Way and Sweet Emotion are top tier classic rock songs
XTC
4/5
Surprisingly good! Really 80s feel, but felt very cohesive from track to track and had some killer tunes I'll have to add into my rotation
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Still doesn't really click for me, essential maybe only if you're British. Sounds like a schmaltzy lounge singer
Dirty Projectors
4/5
I love this record and come back to it a lot - the counter melodies, with interesting vocal harmonies, odd arrangements and time signatures. I love this shit in music and they manage to keep a tune doing it all
Donovan
3/5
Heard a lot about Donovan over the years, connections with other artists at the time, etc. But never actually listened to him. Honestly, it's okay - early psychedelic stuff. Nothing stand out though, although Season of the Witch is a jam
The Temptations
4/5
This was a surprise - didn't realize The Temptations went into funk later on - loved it!
The Damned
4/5
Damn! This was good- I liked this more than I thought I would. Way more complex in songwriting and especially musicianship than other punk bands of the Era. Added Gothic twist gives this my seal of approval
Madonna
3/5
"Like a Prayer" is an all-time classic pop song. I thought the album would be full of bangers but nothing else really grabbed me, it all sounded pretty same-y. Although I probably would have had a different opinion if I would have heard it when originally released.
The Charlatans
2/5
Here we go again - another indistinguishable Britpop band, this one sounds so much like Oasis I'm not sure I'd be able to tell the difference.
FKA twigs
4/5
This was trippy and weird and I loved it - always nice to get a modern album in here occasionally to switch things up, even if not enough time has past to determine if it's a "classic" yet. I'll definitely be returning to this one though. She does a masterful job of combining genres into an ethereal art piece
The Jam
4/5
I liked this a lot! Definitely feels like if The Kinks did New Wave (and not just because of the David Watts cover). Will definitely check them out again in the future
Fleet Foxes
5/5
Hell yeah - probably listened to this record a hundred times or more over the years. The late aughts/2010's folk revival was really a great time, and Fleet Foxes was such a unique addition with their lush choral-style vocals and almost renaissance-y instrumentation. Love it.
Steely Dan
3/5
I am starting to like Steely Dan for sure. It's nothing groundbreaking, doesn't really grab my attention, but it's just well written soft rock with a jazz component added in
Kanye West
5/5
This is Kanye's best album and a chaotic masterpiece in my opinion. Best production of all his albums hands down, the blend of samples and styles is outrageous but it all works somehow. And some of his best lyricism. Also sadly the last great thing he's done before he started losing it.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
I liked it! New wave that strikes the right balance between accessible and experimental. Probably a 3.5
3/5
Always liked The Kinks without ever really loving them. On first listen, I probably wouldn't put this on the same level as some of their earlier albums but it was fun to hear a new one
Talking Heads
2/5
Honestly, was super bored listening to this. The critical reviews seem to be talking about how "tight" the rhythm section was, how it was more "danceable" and funky. I'm just not seeing it. It seemed passionless, flat and un-energetic to me. But I've never really "got" the Talking Heads either.
Japan
3/5
Was better than I anticipated, I really liked the moody synth instrumentals despite my brain currently being a little on overload of New Wave stuff. The nasally indistinct vocals kinda threw me off, would have been much better with a more distinct singing voice. Also looking through the public reviews, it seems like a lot of people digged "Despair" which made me happy - that was definitely the standout for me
David Gray
4/5
Love this one, so many good chill folk songs. Not sure where I first heard it, probably from Scrubs - a lot of good music discoveries came from that show
Kraftwerk
4/5
Interesting stuff - really draws you in with the sequenced synths and vocoded vocals. Repetition draws you in a trance-like way. Really enjoyed and glad I listened after hearing about how they were pioneers in electronic music for a while now.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
That was a fun, funky set of songs! Interesting history behind the band, crazy how a set of musicians bought together by a producer for a B movie soundtrack made instrumental funk that ended up being pivotal (and frequently sampled)
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Objectively this should be a 3 or higher I guess. But subjectively, I can't stand country music and physically cringe at the twang. This is better than the modern "country-pop" out there today, but I still would never listen to this.
Elastica
3/5
Recognized a few songs. Songs are much tighter than most Britpop, which I find on the whole to be super plodding/meandering. Post-punk touch separates this for sure.
The Gun Club
3/5
Interesting one, a mix of punk and blues. Definitely inspired some later bands like The Living End which I consider a personal fave. Probably won't relisten much but glad I heard it
The Byrds
2/5
Honestly not really a fan. Huge Dylan fan so it's weird to hear an album that's mostly just covers of his songs, plus a few other covers, and then just a small handful of originals.
Prince
5/5
Pretty much perfect record. Don't know if I'd put this or Purple Rain on top, both are just incredible blends of styles with memorable songwriting and riffs. Prince was just an endless well of creativity during this period.
Justice
4/5
This album was my jam back in College. Infectious grooves with a very distinctive fuzzy distorted slap-bass sound. Nothing else really sounded like it, and even they moved away from this sound afterwards and I really didn't get into anything they did later. But this is probably one of my favorite electro albums.
Buzzcocks
2/5
Another band in the British punk wave... granted these guys were definitely one of the most influential but it was honestly a little grating. May have liked a lot more if I would have listened at a younger age
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Monk is a damn beast - took a class in Jazz in college and his playing style blew my mind. Looks like he's just running his hands up and down the piano playing every note along the way but its all a carefully controlled chaos, outwardly "sloppy" but not - almost like Hendrix or "drunken boxing." I'd heard Pannonica before but nothing else. Brilliant.
Beatles
5/5
For sure biased, as my Dad had this on vinyl and I spun it constantly as a kid (half because it was awesome, and half just to play around with the record player). But this is easily one of the greatest albums of all time.
Beck
4/5
Guero is my favorite Beck album for sure. Second place switches between this one and Morning Phase depending on my mood.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
This is pretty great stuff - reminded me immediately of Tribe and De La Soul, and then saw that these guys came first! I'd probably need to listen a bunch more before fully judging, since right now I'd put it a smidge lower than those acts, but hip hop takes a while to process.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Didn't actually recognize any hits off of this other than "Jane Says" which is obviously a top tier song. The rest was great too though and kept me interested in the album. I will say I always liked Jane's Addiction in spite off Perry Farrell - he definitely has an instantly recognizable voice but I don't know if that's a good thing in this case.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
I love this shit, been too long since I listened to it. 50 minute long instrumental progressive rock track? Yes please.
Mudhoney
3/5
I've heard of these guys and knew they were part of the grunge scene but never listened. Definitely wouldn't put them alongside the greats but they get points for being so influential.
Primal Scream
3/5
Wasn't surprised to read they wrote this as if writing an alternate movie soundtrack. Very much sounded like a 90's indie film with its eclectic mix of electronic and alt rock. Didn't particularly like or hate it. Vocals didn't help anything. Not sure if it's list worthy though
Beastie Boys
5/5
Obviously a stone cold classic and landmark hip hop album.
Scott Walker
2/5
Well that was something. This one feels super dated, not in a good way. Can now clearly see the inspiration for The Divine Comedy, which I was also so-so on. Well they can't all be winners.
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
Was wondering where I had heard his name before and it didn't click until Spotify autoplayed the song he did for the Kill Bill soundtrack afterwards. This album is a fun listen - mix of hip hop and world music sounds. Doesn't seem super groundbreaking and would probably have made more sense to focus on highlighting actual world music musicians with this list, but whatevs.
Nirvana
5/5
Well this is just one of the all time great albums. Doesn't slow down for what, the first eight songs? Landmark album in grunge and music overall.
R.E.M.
5/5
A year or two ago I started listening to REM and realized how much I was missing only listening to the singles. These guys were the real deal and this is a classic album.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
This was definitely super weird. Seemed like a picture of mental illness performed through music. Don't know if I'll revisit but it was fascinating to read about and listen to.
The Byrds
3/5
Much stronger album than the last Byrds album on here I got. Definite musical maturity since their first album and songwriting chops are way improved (seeing how their first album was mainly cover songs, they are way better as songwriters). David Crosby was still way better in C,S,N&Y.
Joy Division
4/5
Listened to their other album and Love Will Tear Us Apart but never this one. It's still great, but feels a bit darker and more Gothic feeling. I'll probably come back to this a few more times but I like the mood quite a bit
Pearl Jam
5/5
I have a soft spot for grunge for sure. Pearl Jam was always on the lighter side and not quite as heavy as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, but that kinda differentiated them as well. But this record is near perfect and one of the top grunge albums ever.
Gang Of Four
3/5
There are a few genres that are a little over-saturated on this list, which causes some fatigue when you get another album with the same exact sound as the last few. I'd put post-punk and this release into that category. Hard to view an album as game-changing and important when there's a glut of other albums that sound exactly like it.
Beach House
4/5
Yay Baltimore! Glad to see my city's indie rock scene from the last few decades has made an impression on this author. This is good stuff - dream-pop/shoegaze but in a way that sounds fresh. Really need to explore their full discography
Van Morrison
4/5
This and Moondance definitely belong on the list. This one is definitely more folksy/psychedelic but still great. Too bad he's kinda lost his marbles at this point
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Heck yeah! Rocked out to this album a lot in college. They took their core sound and added some synths and the result was awesome
Tom Waits
4/5
This album was super weird and I loved it.
Meat Loaf
4/5
RIP Jim Steinman, king of the gloriously cheesy ballads. Every song on here is fantastic and over the top, but "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is the pinnacle for sure. Nothing like drunkenly screaming these songs, that's for sure.
Beatles
3/5
Every Beatles album could obviously be on here. This obviously is an example of the earlier work and isn't one of their more famous classics, but it's clear from the beginning that they were something else.
Frank Zappa
3/5
Glad to see Zappa on here, and not just because he was born in walking distance of my house. Dude was super weird and so was his music, but that's very Baltimore. Not always my cup of tea, but when the groove hits, it hits good.
Ray Charles
3/5
Interesting concept for this one, reinterpreting country western songs into a variety of "black" music genres. Probably won't return too often but I really loved the first track, just as a huge fan of the original
Common
5/5
One of my favorite hip hop albums and a stone cold classic
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Glad to some more music from places other than America and England on here. Unfortunately since this one relies on the spoken word lyrics so much I couldn't get too much out of it. But I loved the mix of genres and instrumentation.
Tortoise
4/5
Actually liked this a lot and had never heard of it before. Instrumental chill vibes with some experimentation going on
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Glad I listened to this - always heard about Buddy Holly but never actually listened before. Some bopping 50's tunes, although definitely have that dated sound. Wonder how his music would have changed if he had lived into the 60s.
Green Day
4/5
Probably a little too long but for the most part Billie Joe really knows how to write a tune and this album provides earworm after earworm
Screaming Trees
4/5
This was great! A grunge band I had never heard of, but after one listen I'd put this album up against some of the greats. Will Def be adding to my library
Traffic
3/5
Traffic is definitely lower totem pole prog for me. I still enjoy this album but it doesn't quite have the memorable riffs of other prog outfits, while still sticking it super safe. Just a lot of meandering solos really. So a lot of skill involved but no big payoff like other prog bands.
Massive Attack
3/5
Mezzanine is obviously their best. I can't quite get into this one the same way, but it's still a chill album to work/read/relax to
The Icarus Line
2/5
Feel like a band that's trying just a little too hard. Hits every note you're supposed to hit to be a mid-aughts garage rock revival band. But it feels like they spent too much time getting the right look and feel but it's just missing that spark of creativity and originality to make me want to come back.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Another big name that I hadn't actually ever listened to before. I probably still didn't give this the attention it deserved but it seems like a pretty good sample of 80's art rock, with a punk/noise rock edge. Not really my jam but I can still appreciate it.
Deerhunter
3/5
Not The Dear Hunter level of awesome, but still not bad. Probably preferred Beach House's brand of dreamy indie pop, but it's still neat to listen to newer bands that made the list.
Supergrass
4/5
Britpop label threw me off on first glance but was pleasantly surprised - the last few Britpop albums have seriously dragged but this one has a totally different energy. It's fun, the music takes twists, and the guitars and singer don't have that droning nasal Oasis wannabe sound going on. Will listen again!
Radiohead
5/5
5/5 Album for sure. Radiohead at the top of their game.
Sigur Rós
4/5
Landmark album for post-rock (and Iceland). Opened up a new type of music to me filled with beautiful soundscapes
Jimmy Smith
3/5
This was pretty neat - don't think I've heard a jazz album where the main instrument is a Hammond B-3. Glad I listened to it and I have the awareness of this musician now.
Spacemen 3
2/5
Not a huge fan. Doesn't seem like much of a departure from earlier psychedelic works. Might have still been influential in certain music circles but I don't see how it belongs on this list
Little Richard
4/5
Wow, Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally and Rip It Up on the same album - this is a real "birth of rock and roll" album right here.
KISS
3/5
Probably the best KISS album. Love Kiss, but they are definitely a "greatest hits" type of band, and I probably wouldn't add any one album to a list of albums you must hear before you die.
Ice Cube
4/5
Might have liked more than AmeriKKKa's most wanted, ice cube at the top of his game here. Social commentary on point and fire production
Ian Dury
2/5
Not really a fan. A deep delve into the lyrics might change my opinion but the surface-level casual listening didn't seem very inspired, and the few lyrics I picked up on were kinda cringey.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
2/5
A few fun songs on here, I seem to remember hearing Scooby snacks on the radio back in the day, but this seems like an error in judgment to be included here. These guys are a footnote in music history and nothing here seems unique or important enough to warrant a spot.
The Stooges
4/5
Loved the fast paced proto punk songs - the slower, psychedelic ones, not as much. But definitely an important album and was happy to see it come up
Beastie Boys
4/5
Man is this album great - really went in a different direction into experimentation with styles and live instruments. Few songs that could be used as singles. Sabotage is also just an all time great song
Neu!
3/5
Krautrock is such a wide genre it seems like you never know quite what you are getting when an album is listed as such. I liked this a whole bunch, although I definitely enjoyed the more relaxing side A over the punk-flavored side B.
The Who
4/5
Not one of my absolute fave Who albums, but it is still fantastic and is kind of their midway album in between the earlier power pop sound and their classic era of Hard Rock and rock operas.
John Grant
5/5
Wow - this was fantastic. Normally a 5-star album has to be one I listen to repeatedly and has become a classic after a long period of time. This one just drew me in at first listen. Also I love Midlake and them being the backing band on here is like a surprise new Midlake album outta nowhere.
Arrested Development
3/5
I swear I had listened to this before but didn't recognize any of it. Really good though - afro-centric alternative hip hop. Several choice cuts worth adding to my collection
The Birthday Party
2/5
Wow! Super early Nick Cave. Can definitely see the beginnings of his later, refined sound behind the "dirty" sound of this release. Don't know if I particularly enjoyed it or will return to it, but I'm glad I heard it.
3/5
An artist I had heard of many times but never listened to. It was enjoyable! Very 90's alternative. Thom Yorke was a pleasant surprise on one track as well.
Sepultura
3/5
Despite being a huge metal fan, I've never really listened to Sepultura. This was pretty good - wiki lists them as thrash/death but to me this was 100% thrash. Not my fave metal genre due to the repetitive nature but this was definitely better than most.
Roni Size
1/5
I think this is my first one star album. Drum and bass is VERY repetitive, so the runtime for this album is WAAAAAY too long. Why make a 2 hour long album in a genre where the drum beat literally never changes? Ugh
Bob Dylan
4/5
Definitely the best late career Dylan album in my mind.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
This was really good. Had only heard the one hit beforehand and was not expecting the diversity of songs on display here. Folk, pop and rock songs, all sung beautifully. My preconceived notions about Sinead certainly feel shattered.
Michael Jackson
3/5
First album of the "classic Michael Jackson" era. Obviously it's no "Thriller" or "Bad" but still has some classic tunes.
Living Colour
4/5
Only having heard "Cult of Personality" beforehand, I was pretty pleasantly surprised with how complete the album was. Socially conscious funk-metal/hard-rock from black musicians, this was quite a jam.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Love this album. Chameleon and Watermelon Man are just standards at this point. Probably a top 5 jazz fusion album for me.
James Taylor
4/5
This was honestly the perfect music for a tired Monday morning - soothing folk music to rouse me into existence. Surprised at how many songs I recognized as I thought Fire and Rain was the only song I was going to know. Also surprised at the couple of blues jams on here.
Kelela
4/5
This was super interesting. Probably not out long enough to determine if its essential listening or not, but the mix of R&B and chill electronic vibes was super cool.
John Lennon
3/5
Honestly, it feels weird giving John Lennon 3 stars. But it's not that tight an album. Imagine and I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier are obvious classics, but the rest of the album I wouldn't consider classic work.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Probably the best Bob Marley album - all the hits come on the back half of the album too, which is interesting. Could probably be considered the best reggae album ever made.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
Fun slice of late 80's hip hop/pop. Seems like a lot of people thought she should have been up there with MJ, Madonna and Prince, not so sure about that myself, but it definitely has some fun hits.
R.E.M.
4/5
Damn never listened to earlier R.E.M. before - honestly didn't realize how many albums they had. Now I'm going to have to add a few to my collection.
TV On The Radio
5/5
One of my favorites. You could put any of their records on this list and I would agree and give it 5 stars
Gene Clark
3/5
Apparently every album and solo project from The Byrds needs a spot here. This was still good for sure, solid folks songs from an obvious master. But I wouldn't call it essential
The Monks
2/5
Wasn't big on this one - leads were repetitive, vocals were grating, just not my cup of tea
Brian Eno
4/5
I haven't explored anything Eno pre-ambient (or Roxy Music for that matter). This was really good though! Still artistic but more art rock
Goldie
2/5
Why do these drum n bass albums have to be 90+ minutes long? I can handle this style for like... one song before it gets super repetitive.
Funkadelic
4/5
Classic George Clinton funk, but with an added rock edge. This is great! Surprised I'd never made it to this far in their discography before
The Young Gods
2/5
This was a weird one, for sure. Early industrial was pretty rough, tbh, not sure if it was quite for my ears.
Johnny Cash
4/5
One of the best live albums to be sure. Loved all the crosstalk in between songs, involving Cash, the warders, and inmates. And awesome he played a song written by an inmate as well
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Loved this! May have found a niche of music I'm big on. Any of this early atmospheric synth music that sounds like it should be the soundtrack to a Carpenter flick really pulls me in. Will listen again for sure!
Harry Nilsson
3/5
This one took me by surprise - a) by how much I liked it, and b) by how many songs I already knew despite not recognized the singer's name. Gotta Get Up and Jump into the Fire are jams, and of course Coconut and Without You are classics. This should really be a 3.5 in my book.
Faith No More
4/5
Been meaning to listen to this full album for a while now. Grew up on Epic but never looked further. Really is good stuff and ahead of its time. Need to check out Mr Bungle as well for more Mike Patton
Björk
4/5
Forgot how much I liked Björk - beautiful odd voice, atmospheric electronic sound. Good stuff.
Fela Kuti
4/5
This was a fun album. Could really see the connection between Afrobeat and funk - drum solo at the end was killer too
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Top Rolling Stones for sure - definite possibility that this might be their best album. My version also had Jumpin' Jack Flash at the end, which makes a great album even better.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I feel like I used to have some Belle & Sebastian in my collection back in high school or college, but I didn't recognize anything from this album, or any of the top songs I scrolled through afterwards on Spotify. Definitely means it's not exactly memorable music, but I don't dislike it either - does sound a bit like a 90's/00's indie pop version of Nick Drake.
The Streets
2/5
A little mixed here but I think I need to end up with a negative review. Maybe there's wit in here, maybe it's a good story, and the concept of a rap opera is neat... but man is he is terrible rapper. No groove, no flow, his delivery is at odds with his storytelling. Much better rap concept albums out there.
Def Leppard
3/5
Maybe the most famous glam rock/hair metal album ever? Can't say I've listened to them much past "Pour some sugar on me" although if I would have been a teenager in the 80's that might have been a different story. Probably won't remember all these songs but they did a good job at making "each song a single"
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Never done a deep dive with Petty... obviously has put out a lot of memorable songs but also have been put off by friends who are mega-fans and are incredulous when you don't know anything other than the big hits. This album was quite good but definitely some filler... I would still believe this is more of a "greatest hits" artist.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
This is one of those albums that seems like it might have been a big deal at the time (indie rock genre just being born?) but listening to it now it doesn't seem as relevant or interesting to listen to.
MC Solaar
4/5
Nice! I remember French class in high school they always mentioned MC Solaar as a great French rapper. Not that I know enough french to understand this at all, but the beats and flow are great. Could be a 5-star but obviously I'm missing that aspect of understanding.
Stan Getz
4/5
This was great! From the classes in Jazz I took, I knew Stan as a shining example of cool jazz, had no idea he also helped popularize bossanova. It works super well on this album. Solid music to listen to while washing dishes.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Classic CCR with a ton of their best songs. If this isn't a 5 star I don't know what is
Dr. Dre
4/5
Classic album in rap history. Dre was always a better producer than rapper, and I'm sure he's quite a real life douche, but it's still a Landmark record
T. Rex
3/5
I've tried this one a few times. It's decent but never grabbed me, just expect glam rock to be a little flashier. Get it On is great for sure though.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Two glam rock albums in a row. I liked this one better, even though they are both getting 3's. T.Rex probably would have been something like a 2.75 while this is probably a 3.5 in reality. No More Mr Nice Guy and Billion Dollar Babies are worth the price alone. Don't know if the full album is a winner, but still has a lot of highlights.
Lauryn Hill
5/5
This is a 5/5 and definitely an album that everyone should listen to. One of the best hip hop albums of all time
Tina Turner
4/5
Some classic Tina Turner songs on here in her segue into pop music. "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "Private Dancer" are obviously classics. Probably a defining 80's record
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
Man, this is one of my favorites and brings me back to high school. Just super inventive, catchy, lyrics are great... this is Sufjan at his best. Saw a lot of comments about this being pretentious hipster art rock - Not sure if they are aware what actual art rock is. This is, for the most part, relatively straightforward indie-folk music arranged to include a lot more orchestral elements. Maybe they listened to Age of Adz by mistake?
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Pretty good funk album! I may have to listen a few more times in the right mood though to see what elevates it over other albums in the genre
Louis Prima
4/5
This was real fun and funny. New Orleans jazz with an Italian American twist. Will definitely save for later
Soul II Soul
3/5
Some relaxing R&B ... perfect Monday morning music. Surprising to go through the whole album only to recognize the one big single as a remade bonus track (didn't recognize the album version). Back to Life is a serious throwback though, will have to add that to some playlists.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
I was pretty hyped for this album after Two Weeks came out. It kinda faded out for me when none of the other songs caught my attention in the same way. I can listen to the album and understand that the music is good, but there is nothing distinctive/memorable besides that one song.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I love prog. It's popular to snub your nose at, and easy to write off as just wankery, pretentious bullshit. But I listen to this and just find a bunch of guys having fun arranging and playing music, sometimes just jamming out, sometimes intricately playing difficult pieces together as a group. This is great - its a fun take on a classical piece. I would have had a blast watching them live if I were alive at the time.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I'll be honest, this album sorta came and went before I even realized it was over. Nothing stood out particularly but I'd have to give it a closer listen. Also what's the deal with all the folk artists on this list covering Dylan songs? Several albums have had like 50% Dylan covers.
Ray Price
2/5
Sorry Ray - this is probably the most subjective and biased score I've given. Granted, it's all subjective, but this just did not connect, and very little from this genre/era does for me.
Motörhead
3/5
As big of a metal fan as I am, I've never really listened to Motorhead past the song "Ace of Spades" - I did enjoy this, I was never a big thrash guy but this is a not super thrashy and seems more like a mix of heavy metal and hard rock, maybe this is speed metal? Either way, it was interesting and not quite what I expected.
Janis Joplin
5/5
This is one of the greats - no filler (even Mercedes Benz breaks up the album and I wouldn't consider it filler), just one great song after another of blues rock with Janis' blue-eyed soul vocals
Q-Tip
4/5
This is a fantastic hip hop album. I remember listening to it a bunch when it came out but it has somehow disappeared from my collection. Will have to add it back in - anything Tribe/Q-Tip-related is just gold.
The Doors
5/5
Iconic album, easily up there with one of the greatest of all time.
Billy Joel
4/5
Might be the best Billy Joel album? I do have quite a soft spot for the piano man. Movin' Out, Just the Way You Are, and Only the Good Die Young are some of his best, with the latter maybe being his best song.
Tom Waits
3/5
Tom Waits is weird but a national treasure. Listening to a whole album in one go is not always easy but isolated, each track gives off such a seedy, grimy, atmosphere that is so unique to his strange voice.
UB40
3/5
Lot of fantastic reggae albums on this list. In comparing UB40 to those, it falls short by a lot I think. Not super distinct or memorable, but perfectly decent.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Great electronic album, and pretty revolutionary at the time too. I would listen to Rockafeller Skank all the time as a kid. Classic.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
Not a huge fan - feel like I got all I needed from one song, a whole album is too much. Dinks song is great, but there are much better versions
Ute Lemper
2/5
Was hoping I was done with The Divine Comedy, here was a sneaky one with them as the backing band. With a talented non-goofy-sounding female vocalist, their baroque pop sound works a lot better. Still probably won't return to this though.
Lou Reed
3/5
Figured this one would show up eventually - Walk on the Wild Side would make any list of greatest songs ever for sure. Hadn't listened to the rest of the album before but it's all very good. Recognized "Perfect Day" as well. More listens would probably raise the score on this one for sure.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Interesting addition to the list. "Angels" was obviously a defining song of the 90's. The rest of the album is fun but isn't quite on that level.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Country has always been a difficult genre for me to get into but there are always a select number of artists with a sound that connects with me a bit more. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson would be two that fit that category. Probably won't go into my regular rotation but I can respect and enjoy it.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Definitely have heard the title track, but I have no idea if it was in TV, a movie, or just on the radio when I younger. I was expecting Britpop, this was definitely a step up, way more unique with an eclectic range of sounds throughout. Will need to listen a few more times to fully digest.
Supertramp
4/5
I think "Breakfast in America" is probably the better album but this is a close second. Of course, I'm also just a sucker for progressive rock. But this is still great - a fun proggy AOR album with tons of choice tracks.
Soft Cell
3/5
First time listening to anything other than tainted love... this was still pretty solid otherwise, a good chunk of oddball 80's synthwave. Sex Dwarf and Say Hello Wave Goodbye were solid jams
Gene Clark
2/5
Seemed like fairly average country rock to me. Not a huge fan of the genre and none of the songs seemed to elevate the sound particularly. I see this was a commercial and critical failure when it came out and was only re-appraised later on. Maybe I'll listen again later in life and re-appraise it myself, but for now it's not high on my list.
Röyksopp
3/5
This is definitely a good album, and surely a landmark for the genre. Recognize a lot of the songs from adverts and such. It's hard to recognize as one of the greatest of all time due almost to the genre - they write some chill electronic beats that can be quite catchy but there is only so much you can do with the style. Probably a 5/5 for innovation, importance within the genre, etc. but on a list of the greatest albums ever made, I've gotta go with a 3/5.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Meh. Sex Pistols but boring attempt to be artsy
David Bowie
5/5
Pretty much a perfect album here. Has a perfect blend of rock bangers and more experimental/artistic tracks. Has Brian Eno and Robert Fripp. And the song "Heroes" of course, which is maybe one of the best songs ever written. 5/5
Arcade Fire
5/5
This album blew my mind when it was released. Every song is incredible, it really takes you on a journey from start to end. The whole run from Funeral - Neon Bible - The Suburbs is really just an insanely good run of albums
Megadeth
4/5
Megadeth's best album for sure. Hangar 18 and holy wars are classics. 4 stars is about my top score for thrash other than a handful of 80's Metallica. Probably should deduct more for Mustaine and Ellefson being pieces of shit but what are you gonna do
Doves
3/5
Good album - Caught by the River is fantastic and on a whole different level than the rest of the album. That song is probably a 5/5. would have to listen more to give the other songs a fair listen
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Man, almost immediately started getting "At the Drive In" vibes from the band, looked it up, and sure enough ATDI lists Drive Like Jehu as one of their biggest influences. I would have probably had this on a constant rotation if I would have discovered it in middle/high school. It definitely was a little too long of an album but I dug the experimentation and style. Cut this down to like 40-45 minutes and it would have been a beast.
Queen
5/5
I mean. It's A Night at the Opera. Even if not every track is perfect (i.e. I'm in Love with my car), the other songs make up for and more. Bohemian Rhapsody alone is obviously one of the greatest songs of all time.
Lucinda Williams
3/5
Not a country person, but you gotta respect outstanding work regardless of genre. This I could definitely listen to more than once. It also seems to fuse in many different influences like blues, americana, rock, etc. which makes it way more palatable and interesting. I may need to check out some of her other work.
The Shamen
2/5
I don't mind electronic music generally, but I much prefer genres that switch up the beats/tempos. Any subgenre that just sticks with the same exact drum beat and same exact tempo for an entire hour-plus album just loses me pretty quickly. Rave is one of those. This was just too repetitive and "samey" for me to like.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
I feel like I had a bunch of songs labelled Butthole Surfers that I download from Limewire back in the good ol days but I'm guessing most of those were not actually by this band. This album was just about as weird as I expected. I like weird, but this may cross the line into "shock value that is solely for shock value's sake" and "weirdness that interrupts the flow of the song." Overall, however, I was still entertained and would probably check them out further.
Eagles
4/5
One of the Eagles two most classic albums, this and Hotel California are obviously their finest moments, although they definitely epitomize the "greatest hits" band.
Elliott Smith
4/5
My favorite Elliott Smith album changes back and forth, normally between s/t and from a basement. I haven't listened to this one as much comparatively. It's good though, maybe slightly more upbeat and less depressive? Maybe this is just my mood reflected on it.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Interesting early sample (apparently maybe the earliest?) of psychedelic rock. It does feel a bit like it is on here just for being "the first" (i.e. I'm not going to rush to download/add to any playlists) but it does succeed on its on merits and I enjoyed it a fair bit.
The Stooges
3/5
Not quite Raw Power, but glad I've been "forced" to listen to some of Iggy Pop's other work that I wasn't aware of. Nothing really I'd call a "hit" or anything I'd add to a playlist, but the sound is great, raw, and obvious to the establishment of the punk genre.
Germs
2/5
This definitely seems like it's on here because it was the "first" hardcore punk album. I maybe would have liked this earlier in life but now, it just grated on my ears for 40 minutes. Vocals were not good, songs were not distinct.
Peter Tosh
3/5
Really good reggae album, crazy how many good artists came out of the various incarnations of The Wailers. Legalize It sadly still relevant
Sade
2/5
Up until this point, my only knowledge of Sade was from the great Shaun of the Dead record-throwing scene. After listening to it finally, I can say I probably would have thrown that one too. She has a beautiful voice, but this is closer to smooth jazz than soul - I don't see the appeal past listening music for elevators.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Waffled a little here. Obviously Thriller is his masterpiece. Bad has a ton of great songs - Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man in the Mirror and Smooth Criminal are obviously time-tested classics. Some other songs are great as well - Speed Demon is super fun. But there are a few songs that are downright bad and several others that are "meh" and really feel like filler. The good far outweighs though so this is still a 4/5
Isaac Hayes
4/5
As Wikipedia states, this is a landmark soul album. I've only listened to "Walk On By" beforehand, but granted - that's a third of the album's runtime. Only four tracks with three being 9+ minutes long, there is a lot of vocal and instrumental riffing/jamming/vamping. Just taking a musical theme and running with it for an extended period of time. "By the time I get to Phoenix" was probably slightly overkill on the buildup and voice-over, this album still gets high marks from me.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I really enjoyed listening to this album. Nothing particularly revolutionary here, just a solid Soul/Funk album. Would it go in my list of great albums of all time? Probably not. Not a bad record by any means though.
U2
3/5
U2 is a band that I always liked but never loved. I give them props for really having a unique sound that was really their own, and for always trying to write music with a purpose (even if they did come off as super douchey). That being said, it does sound a bit "samey" after a while. There are some obvious hits on this record and the rest sorta blend together. Joshua Tree seems to be the one record I completely gel with, this one I haven't quite cracked.
The Offspring
3/5
Love that this is on here. I'm more of a fan of Americana myself - I think they had a few good songs on here and the singles helped make pop punk a thing and brought success to the band, but a lot of standard not-so-interesting punk songs on the rest of the tracks, while Americana is the band just firing on all cylinders.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Interesting to hear the birth of shoegaze -- honestly not really what I was expecting. I'm used to listening to post-metal and a few artists categorized as "dream pop," so I didn't expect so much of an alt-rock, almost punk feel to a lot of the songs. Much more a distorted crunch to the guitars than expected. Vocals definitely had that wispy, ethereal feel and the layered effects were definitely there. It was interesting but now I have to listen to their follow-up which appears to be a landmark of the genre.
Big Star
3/5
Having heard ravings about Big Star for a while, I checked them out a while back. One of those bands that just hasn't clicked for me. Still hasn't. Just sounds like pretty average rock to me
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Well, didn't have to wait long to hear more from this band. This is more what I expected. Still probably won't enter my rotation but I'm glad I listened. If the last one was a solid 3, this would be a 3.5
Pink Floyd
5/5
Pretty much perfect album. Some of the greatest songs of all time. No filler.
New Order
4/5
I had heard Joy Division and "Blue Monday" and often struggled to figure out how they were from (almost) the same people. Well, this record certainly answers that. We have the dark moodiness of Joy Division but with the synths of the upbeat dance classic that was my only previous exposure. I gotta say, I like this a whole lot. Their brand of "gloomy synth-pop" could be cousins with dark-wave and I may need to check out some more.
JAY Z
5/5
Jay-Z at his peak - lyricism/flow on point, catchy radio friendly sound, soul-based samples with amazing production all around. One of the quintessential hip hop albums of all time.
Grateful Dead
4/5
Damn... Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolias, Ripple and Truckin' were all on the same album? This has all my faves other than Casey Jones and Franklin's Tower. Really good collection of songs, obviously they were a band you were supposed to see live, so I feel like it is still missing something. But a good place for anyone to start with the Dead.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
I rather enjoyed it for what it was - T-Swift is the closest to pop country I can get, but even then I really only like her stuff after she stopped making country. Which is probably why this was palatable - it was only sorta country, with most of the songs delving into other genres. That being said, I don't see what it is about this that stands out. It's a good album, but we're already adding it to the list of albums you must hear before you die? I would say this absolutely does not belong here, which probably affects my score more than it should.
The Sugarcubes
2/5
Started listening to this album before reading up on it and was sorta confused at what I was hearing but thought the female singer sounded familiar. Makes sense now - didn't know Bjork got her start as part of a rock band. It's an interesting piece of history and nice to hear something completely different - not sure how highly I'd rate the actual music, but glad I heard it.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Wasn't a beastie boys album I listened to a great deal but listening to it now it probably should have been. Obviously a bit more experimental with fewer hits but the sampling is great and the album flows super well
Elis Regina
3/5
Always glad to hear some non US/UK music on here. Beautiful voice, I can see why she was loved in her native Brazil.
Tori Amos
4/5
Yay Baltimore! Besides my obvious bias, Tori Amos is a fantastic artist, and this album has tons of amazing songs. Personally, I dig her songwriting a bit more than her indie-piano-pop contemporaries like Fiona Apple, I find it a little more accessible while still retaining the same feel/sound/complexity. Good stuff.
Pixies
3/5
Feels pretty dated to the early 90's. Probably would have listened to this a whole bunch in middle school. Don't necessarily want to give this a bad review, just feels like something that I would have enjoyed once, but that time/place has moved past since.
Cream
4/5
It's a whole lot easier to dismiss artists who are shitty people when you aren't a fan of their work either. Unfortunately not the case with Clapton - most of what he put out in the 60's and 70's is pretty great stuff, whether it was Cream, the Bluesbreakers, Derek & the Dominoes or his solo stuff. I will say he is a much better guitar player than songwriter, but with blues rock you have a little more leeway there anyways. And Sunshine of your Love is obviously just one of the "classic" rock songs of that era.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
The more I listen to Elvis Costello, the more I like him, and I think this is my favorite album yet. This Year's Girl, Pump It Up and Radio Radio are highlights for me. Might have to add some of his best albums to my collection.
2/5
So I listened to this yesterday and have already seemed to have forgotten the entire thing. It was 80's punk, it went by quickly - nothing particularly seemed to draw me into the music. Probably deserves more than a 2, but if we're talking about essential listening, I don't really know that this qualifies.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Damn this is a super solid album. Obviously Higher Ground and Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing are classics. Visions and Living for the City definitely had a slight prog rock edge - I think progressive soul might be my type of Soul music.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Fun album, was interesting to see the drive like jehu connection, as the sounds are quite different. Is it an all time classic? Wouldn't say so, but I could definitely add a few songs here into my rotation
The Triffids
3/5
This album was an odd mix of 70's/80's genres - felt a bit new wave, a bit folk, a bit power pop. Some of the songs sounded quite familiar and I wonder if I heard them when I spent some time in Australia/New Zealand. Overall a 3/5 for me - not bad but not essential.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Love Exist Planet Dust and Dig Your Own Hole - just great samples and grooves on both albums, feels both timeless and very 90's at the same time somehow, like watching a great 90's action flick that still holds up.
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
This style is just so crazy dated and I don't connect with it at all. Also, the religious songs are kinda creepy to me.
Beatles
4/5
Depending on how you define the periods, this could be the best early album from the Beatles. I might pick Help! over this one if you count that as early. Title song and can't buy me love are the obvious standouts
Moby Grape
4/5
Liked this one a bunch, May need to add to my collection. Infectious summer of love sound (in fact reminded me of Love), but the playing is actually rather technical, and played with intensity. Good stuff
The Waterboys
4/5
This album was really fun - loved the mix of Irish/Scottish rock and folk songs, including traditional ones. Need to add this one to the collection
Leftfield
2/5
Felt like I was at a dance club in the 90s. Seriously, this type of music is why I hate that of scene. Just repetitive and grating
The Notorious B.I.G.
5/5
Maybe my favorite hip hop album ever. Biggie is definitely one of, if not THE greatest rapper of all time. Doesn't get better than this.
ABBA
4/5
So many hits on a single album - Dancing Queen, Knowing me knowing you, money money money, and Fernando (on some versions). Really great stuff!
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
One of the greatest albums of all time for sure. Top tier songwriting start to finish
Jeru The Damaja
4/5
Never heard of this but this type of hip hop is right up my alley, with that 90s flow and sound, DJ Premiere production, this shit rips.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Unfortunately came up right after listening to Ready to Die, so it kinda had unfair competition. It's interesting, obviously British hip hop has a different feel/vibe, and different influences. The production got old after a few songs though, so definitely an album that is interesting in small doses but drags after a while
The Sonics
2/5
It was fine? Basically seemed like 50s rock and roll with a crunchier sound, almost an early punk sound. Don't know if I'd rate it highly though, it's just little richard with distortion
The Black Crowes
3/5
Saw the Black Crowes, thought I remembered them and got excited for some blues rock. Turns out it was kinda bland. Just generic blues-ish style rock from the 90s. Probably a 2.5 but I'll round up.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
First thought: an album from 2019 shouldn't be on this list. Not enough time has passed. After listening: damn this is a gorgeous heartbreaking piece of art. Seriously keep having my opinion of Nick Cave go higher and higher. Will have to return to this again later.
Supergrass
3/5
I believe I liked this better than the previous Supergrass album. "Alright" I recognized immediately. Much happier and more fun than your typical Britpop fare. Not required listening, but it was fun enough.
Metallica
4/5
Can't really go wrong with 80's Metallica. I was torn between 4 and 5 stars here. Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning are both 5-star records for sure. This one is pretty much up there with the songwriting craft - And Justice For all & One are some of their best songs, but it also started their run of albums that sound like shit. I could never quite get into this album as much because the mix is SO BAD. No lower end, no menace to the music at all. Didn't make another album with a decent production/mix until 2016.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
Definitely didn't need to hear this one before dying. British white dude associated with Johnny Rotten does a full album of "world music" with spoken word style vocals on top? Take this one off the list and replace with some more authentic music please
David Bowie
4/5
Not a personal favorite of mine, but he wrote so much damn good music that this is still pretty great even though it's my like tenth favorite Bowie album. Young americans and fame are great, and the songs are all still top notch, its just that I prefer some of the other styles he experimented with over the years
Paul Weller
3/5
Unexpected. British album from the 90s, solo project from The Jam, only popular in Britain. Was expecting more oasis britpop, but it really felt almost like American rock - like a Springsteen or Petty. I rather enjoyed it, despite not immediately connecting with any of the tunes
Talvin Singh
2/5
More non-western music makes the list with India making an appearance. Although this is distinctly a blend with western dance music of the 1990s and other east Asian musical references. It's the Electronica aspects that ultimately turn me off to this - immediately makes it feel dated and irrelevant, and also has my typical gripes with the genre: bloated, repetitive, grating, etc.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I assume I'll have listened to most of his albums by the time I'm through with this list. Not that I'm complaining, I like most everything of his that I've heard. This one is stripped down with basic instrumentation, slow, somber and gloomy. Top tier as usual.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
One of my personal fave hip hop albums. Just a great vibe, chill flow, awesome samples, and top notch lyricism.
David Crosby
3/5
Definitely a different album from Crosby, which got poor reviews initially and critical acclaim later. Not really sure it belongs in either of those camps. Lots of folk rock riffing/jamming makes for a decidedly fun, eclectic listening experience. Not groundbreaking or classic, but certainly not terrible either. I swear I've heard "Song with no name" before but I have no idea where.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
You Are the Sunshine of My Life and Superstition are classics. The whole album is a funk masterpiece
The Mars Volta
5/5
Yesssss big smile across my face when this came up. Loved At the Drive In, was super sad when they broke up, but then The Mars Volta started releasing music and quickly became one of my favorites. It's hard to look at this objectively - the songs just rip. Probably helped start my foray into prog rock. Definitely biased 5/5 here.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Tull was always further down on my list of prog favorites. This album is one of their best though and definitely slaps. Quite a few of the riffs are good (especially the main one on Aqualung) and the flute solos are of course top notch
New York Dolls
3/5
This was fine? Decently fun glam rock but a bit more formulaic than some of their peers. Nothing that memorable on first listen
AC/DC
3/5
It's no "Back in Black" - I love AC/DC but they are definitely more of a greatest hits band imo. Their music can be way to similar sounding to dive too deep into the albums (except for back in black of course). This one has some hits and some filler
5/5
Good timing on this one, the wife just got me this on vinyl. And yes, classic Bowie, perhaps his best album. Don't really need to comment much on something as iconic as this one
The Human League
3/5
Solid (if not outstanding) synth-pop from the 80's. "Don't You Want Me" was the song I recognized right away. Probably wouldn't listen to the full album again, but it was a fun enough ride
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
I remember hearing "Someone Great" and getting super excited for this album - then getting immediately getting disappointed when the only other similarly-sounding song was "All My Friends" - those two songs are still great, and have this distinct indie-electronica vibe that I dug. Almost a less weird Dan Deacon. But the rest of the album I never connected with (and still don't). Just sorta generic dance-punk. Album gets a 3 purely on how great those two songs are.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Better than your average Britpop. Some of the songs sounded vaguely familiar, just like the other album of theirs on the list so far. Nothing that stood out enough to add to playlists
Elbow
4/5
Grounds for Divorce got me into this band, and this is certainly still my favorite album they've put out. Got a good mix of bangers and more introspective tracks. I come back to it often!
Aphex Twin
3/5
Groaned at first at another 75 minute long Electronica album from the 80s/90s but I didn't mind this one. Wouldn't quite call this ambient - made for some nice chill background music
The Stooges
4/5
Raw Power is indeed the correct name for this album. It has a loud, energetic, crunchy sound (partially as a result of being poorly recorded and mixed) but it definitely fits the music. Search and Destroy is obviously a classic song. I'd have to listen a few more times to pick out other winners but this is probably a 3.5 for me. I'll round up
John Prine
4/5
Glad this popped up... I'd been meaning to check him out after hearing praise for his career following his death. This is one where I need to sit down and actually listen through the lyrics and shouldn't have just listened in the background - I liked the folk/americana/country feel but the man is clearly a lyricist first and this music is not about the compositions. Giving this is a 4 off the strength of the few songs I did read through the lyrics for
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Some of the lyrics are definitely a bit dated here, but good to remember the context/era. Interesting to hear the original Love Hurts, not as a power ballad. Might not return to these songs much, although Bye Bye Love from earlier in their career is still a fave of mine.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
One of the best soundtrack albums ever? It's up there, along with one of the top soul/funk albums. Never seen the movie but heard a few of these songs before (Freddys Dead, Superfly). Curtis at the top of his game
Pink Floyd
4/5
Slightly surprised this was on there as it is definitely not from their classic progressive rock run in the 70's. I do love this one though, it's their best from their psychedelic rock period - and of course the only one with Syd Barrett at the helm before he lost it, so it definitely has its own unique sound that is different from the rest of the band's output. Great collection of songs
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Definitely belongs here. One of the most unique voices of this Era, of course taken too soon. A modern classic
The Police
4/5
Really great record. Always forget just how good The Police were, all five records are great, and they went out on top with this one.
Portishead
3/5
Smooth early trip-hop jams. I've listed to a ton of Massive Attack, but not so much this group. It's a nice relaxing genre, good for background noise. Not super memorable but I like it well enough.
Nick Drake
4/5
Man do I love Nick Drake - just a fantastic songwriter who writes folk music that feels timeless. I often overlook this album when compared to his other two, but it is still great stuff
Dolly Parton
3/5
Hey... country music I can stand! Even though I hadn't heard any of these songs before, I do like Dolly Parton (the musician, and the wholesome human being behind the music). The title song was particularly pleasant. Need to listen to a few more of her famous tracks
Alice Cooper
3/5
Interesting addition to the list. Alice Cooper is definitely one of those artists who everyone should hear, but doesn't really have a single album that would/should be included on any list of "greatest albums." I guess this is as good a pick as any for the list, since Schools Out is probably his most well known song and the theme of the album is interesting. Overall, a quick album that gets that job done, but not too many standouts.
The Band
5/5
Absolute classic. "The Weight" is the obvious standout, as it is widely considered one of the best songs ever written. But the whole album is great. Just top tier musicians jamming out to expertly crafted music.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Such a good album made by such a twat. Just one classic blues rock tune after another. And of course, Layla.
David Bowie
5/5
One of Bowie's best. My review for this album could literally just be listing all the song titles: changes, life on mars, queen bitch, oh you pretty thing. Need I say more?
Neil Young
4/5
As soon as Neil Young said he was removing his music from Spotify, I KNEW this would be the next one to pop up. Well, it took two weeks but here it is. A great album at that, might just need to buy it in support. Out of all the CSNY solo albums I've listened to, this one is easily the best.
Tricky
2/5
Glad I listened to it, probably won't ever listen again. Just too dull, plodding and long. I like Massive Attack fairly well but just didn't connect to this one. Of course Mezzanine (the album they made after Tricky left the band) is my favorite so maybe that's telling.
Public Enemy
4/5
Surprised with how fresh the production sounded... usually hip hop from this early sounds pretty lackluster and dated, but production was on point here and kept my head bobbing. Still relevant commentary as well. I remember listening to Bring the Noise with Anthrax as a kid. Still love it
Foo Fighters
3/5
Earliest Foo that I don't revisit too frequently... this is a solo Dave Grohl album that is way closer to his grunge roots than the alternative rock they would become known for. Honestly, The Colour and the Shape is the real start of the band, and is the sound they are most known for.
Deee-Lite
2/5
This one was a little tough to get through. Everything about the samples, the beats, the lyrics, the outfits, the whole thing just screams early 90's. In that sense, I don't think it aged well and just gives me that "cringe" feeling. Whereas other artists you could listen to at any time, this feels like you would only ever play the music if you were having a "90's dance party."
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Not as iconic as the self titled album or Rumours but still a classic. Definitely too long, but I don't dislike the experimental vibe and there are still tons of bangers. Tusk in particular always gets me pumped up
1/5
So this guy listened to Ornette Coleman and decided it wasn't avant-garde enough, so he played it at double speed with thrash inspired drums? Honestly better than drum n bass still, but I'm going to have to join the 1 star crowd on this one. Just migraine inducing
The Kinks
5/5
Classic album by The Kinks - it's my personal favorite of theirs. Very British, so not as much crossover appeal as, say, The Beatles. But each song feels instantly memorable, with a quirky, laidback happy pop/rock sound that has a nostalgic feel, and the album flows very nicely from track to track as well.
Gang Starr
4/5
Was introduced to Gang Starr by a hip hop head friend years ago as "the best hip hop group you've never heard of." I agree that this album slaps hard. The production by DJ Premiere is top notch, and Guru is a skilled lyricist. I'll have to go back and listen again to really delve into the rhymes to gain a better appreciation. For now, its a 4/5, maybe a 5/5 after multiple listens.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Solid late era album from Muddy Waters, one of his last studio albums. At this point in the late 70's, there wasn't anything particularly new with this style of Blues, just an aging legend cranking out a few classic Blues tunes while he still could.
Dire Straits
4/5
Looove this album. Is it a perfect album? Nah, it probably goes on a little long and drags in bits. But it was such a neat blend of Knopfler's blues/pub rock style while adding in the keyboards/synth sound that was popular at the time. Maybe one of the few acts that was able to make that transition sound seamless without sacrificing quality.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Liked it overall - Dan the Automator absolutely kills the production, so obviously you notice the stylistic similarities to Deltron 3030 and early Gorillaz. Can't say the rapping from Kool Keith is on the same level though -- the lyrics are just too absurd, and often seem like they are going for violence, absurdity, profanity, etc. just for the sake of it, rather than it actually contributing to a narrative theme. So, fun listen, but I'll take Deltron over this any day.
Blur
4/5
Blur's most accessible album (for American audiences, at least). Their earlier albums, like a lot of Britpop from that era, are really hard for me to get into. Something about that generic Oasis-y alt rock sound just puts me to sleep. This album mixed the formula up a lot though, bringing in that American indie rock feel, and really venturing into broadening the sound into new directions. Obviously Song 2 was also just a major rock hit. I forgot about On Your Own until it started playing... that song is awesome too.
Beatles
5/5
It's Abbey Road.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Figured this wasn't going to be on Spotify. I actually dug this a lot, probably moreso than any of the other CSNY solo projects I've heard so far other than Neil Young's Harvest. Probably a little too long and some songs are a bit too country for me, but overall a really enjoyable listen.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5/5
I was actually surprised how much I liked this. Hip hop THIS old school can sometimes sound a little cringey, dated and have a lack of flow. This shit though? Fire. They brought the hip hop, the soul, the funk, the r&b... a little bit of everything and some turnstile Magic at the end. Love it!
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
Not going lie, I was a bit disappointed -- the title track is obviously a classic instrumental R&B track (back when that really meant rhythm & BLUES), and the album deserves credit for that alone, but then the rest of the album really doesn't do much at all. Just instrumental covers with noodling on the Hammond. Grows old pretty quick. Almost gave it three stars for Green Onions alone but decided to round down.
Spiritualized
4/5
This was quite enjoyable. Reminded me immediately of Beach House, who they clearly must have inspired. I think I'm a fan of dream pop as a genre, it takes elements of shoegaze and makes them even more soothing and, well, dreamy. Good music for a rainy day.
Randy Newman
3/5
Probably should give this one another listen - was only passively listening so I don't have much to add other than "yes, I am a millennial so Randy Newman = Toy Story for me."
The Doors
5/5
The last album before Jim Morrison died is a doozy. Probably deserves 5 stars for Riders on the Storm alone, but the whole album is a solid collection of songs. They really were on a hot streak for their entire run
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
Trying to figure out where I recognized the name and then saw he was behind "the revolution will not be televised," which is of course a seminal work. I enjoyed this for sure. Not much spoken word until the end, mainly soul jazz with smooth electric piano backing. Not something I would regularly listen to for fun but it's obviously an important artistic statement
Can
3/5
Some more proggy experimental noodling from Can - I definitely enjoy this, although it doesn't stick in my brain much - I forget what I heard almost immediately. Nice background music though.
Blondie
4/5
Great New Wave album. Always wanted to listen to more Blondie so I'm glad this came up. Lots of catchy tunes played with an infectious energy. Debbie Harry is an iconic front woman.
Guided By Voices
2/5
Rather obvious criticism here, but the songs aren't given enough time to develop. It's one thing if the music has a super fast tempo (punk comes to mind) where you can fit fully realized ideas into 1-2 minutes, but these are mid-tempo indie rock tunes that just fizzle out immediately as they start to get interesting. Also leads to a whole lot of ideas that just don't work, or repeat themselves, since you need twice as many songs to fill out an album's runtime.
Laibach
3/5
I liked this a lot more than anticipated. And yes, they clearly inspired Rammstein, as that was pretty much my first thought when I started listening. But they clearly have their own unique sound too - it is much more on the electronic/synth side of industrial music, vs Rammstein who lean into hard rock a whole lot more. In giving this a positive review, I'm also just assuming the fascist bent to the band is indeed parody.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
I must have listened to this album yesterday, but I don't seem to remember much of it. This may be a situation where having the actual "1001 albums" book might help to provide context as to why this is important or noteworthy. Didn't dislike it at all, just didn't stick.
Coldplay
4/5
Back before Coldplay was a joke. I still like them, they are still writing some great songs on each album, but the first four albums were terrific. Never legendary or iconic but a solid 4 stars.
Yes
5/5
Can't be objective about this one (not that reviewing music can be objective in the first place). Reminds me too much of my dad - this was a band we connected on. Even so, this album is just top notch. Almost every song on here (and the following two albums) is a prog classic in my book.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Came in with low expectations so I actually enjoyed this more than anticipated. Borders on trip hop with its chill groves but with just a bit more energy. Good for background music on a rainy morning.
Keith Jarrett
4/5
Really nice to get some jazz thrown in there - neat albums like this are what I'm doing this whole thing for. The story behind the live performance is great and its crazy to even believe this was improvisation. Glad I listened to it.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Admittedly didn't get as in-depth a listen as I would have liked - actually surprised this was even on Spotify with Neil Young & gang boycotting. Went by quickly and didn't notice any stand out songs but can recognize the artistry. Would probably appreciate more on multiple listens.
Wilco
3/5
Was a fan of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot back in the day. Glad to get some more exposure here. This album was solid, if not a bit too long. Lots of genre hopping. Hear much more alt country influence that waned later on. Probably a 3.5 but I'm rounding down.
10cc
4/5
Rather enjoyed this one. Real quirky vibe, jumping around from genre to genre. Hints of proggy goodness. Lots of Of Montreal vibes, which used to be one of my faves, they were clearly influenced by this band.
Coldplay
4/5
Wow, two Coldplay albums pretty close to each other. Figured this one would be on here too, I really do like Parachutes. People who mock Coldplay now may not remember how good they used to be.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Interesting - I do love getting albums outside the UK/US mold. Was expecting this to be a little more upbeat and danceable but it was more like musicians using the instruments and structures of tango to play longer, more classically inspired pieces, perhaps with some improvisation? I'll be honest I was slightly disappointed but still admired the musicianship
Method Man
4/5
Don't know why I never checked out Method Man's solo stuff - I am a fan of Wu-Tang and plenty of other member's solo projects (Raekwon first and foremost). And of course can't forget him as Cheese on The Wire. The album was definitely dope, brought me back to the mid-90's hip hop scene. And with RZA still producing, it still has that legendary Wu Tang feel. Good stuff, will have to add a few songs to some playlists.
OutKast
4/5
This is probably one of the best examples of a double album that actually works, and damn not only is a perfect time capsule of the early aughts but it really makes me miss Outkast. I honestly don't know whose side I like more - probably André 3000's, but they are both fire. Only giving it four starts instead of five because like most double albums, it is definitely still too long to fully digest, and there is still some filler.
Love
2/5
I was a fan of Forever Changes so I was interested in this, but honestly, not really feeling this one at all. Side A is a bunch of short songs that don't seem to have enough time to develop and Side B is one long song that still doesn't develop at all. It's just an extended jam session that doesn't go anywhere. If you are going to have a 20 minute song on your album, you have to go somewhere with it. But this one just plods along. Not a fan.
George Michael
4/5
Been meaning to check out this album and happy to say it doesn't disappoint. Besides Faith, the rest of the album is filled with 80's pop perfection, with tons of bangers to go around.
Ozomatli
3/5
Fun latin funk album - definitely remember a few songs from these guys from Tony Hawk. Nothing groundbreaking but it provides some nice variety to the list and is a worthy genre to add to the list.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Not a bad album but I do feel a little tinge of MOR listening to it, very middle of the road rock that is certainly great but not superb.
The Cramps
3/5
As a huge Living End fan, it was nice to hear a band that pioneered the psychobilly style. Might have to add a song or two to my Halloween playlists. Love the hollow body guitar and upright bass.
Pulp
4/5
Would rate this on the higher end of Britpop albums I think. Escapes the "same-ness" sounding of most of the genre with added synths and style changes. Pointed satire against the British class system is a nice bonus.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
Great album from Count Basie, probably my favorite of his - pushes the envelope of the big band/swing style and feels like a bridge to newer styles of jazz.
Khaled
2/5
Bit of a struggle on this one - not on Spotify so had to listen to a YouTube stream which kept skipping every 3 seconds and driving me nuts. So bad taste in my mouth from that. Regardless, music using Arabic scales is fun to listen to for a song or two but I've found it increasingly becomes repetitive the more you listen. There are at least a few tracks on here that break it up, but overall I definitely lost the plot almost halfway through.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Love me some Joni Mitchell - this was a nice relaxing break after the last album and also after a highly stressful week. Taking the folk-pop of her earlier albums and giving it jazz underpinnings really created a new unique sound that I was a fan of. Hopefully a few more of her albums on here as she is quite the unique artist.
Pentangle
4/5
Big Bert Jansch fan. Been meaning to check out Pentangle ever since getting into his solo records. I really enjoyed this! Separated from other folk music of the 60's by having strong medieval influences - looks like they were sometimes referred to as "folk baroque" which sounds just about right. Will probably return to this occasionally/check out their other work.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Honestly didn't pay that much attention and just listened in the background but nothing seemed to grab me on this one. Feels like I've heard 20 bands on this list that sound very similar. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt with a 3
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
How have I never listened to this Springsteen album before? Just a great post 9/11 statement from the Boss. His later career might have had ups and downs but this is definitely a hit.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Solid blues album. Is it a must-listen? Probably not. Feels like its on here more because of the blues legend himself, rather than this being a particularly influential, important or excellent record. The song with Santana is fire.
The Who
4/5
Could be one of the best live albums ever. I didn't listen to the whole show (just the original LP and the other non-Tommy songs) but what I heard was fire. I'm sure they were a blast to see, wish I could have been alive to see them together.
The Verve
2/5
So these guys weren't just a one-hit wonder? Unfortunately I'll probably still only keep "Bittersweet Symphony" and "The Drugs Don't Work" in my collection - not that the rest is bad, just not particularly memorable enough to keep around. One too many Britpop albums on this list and this one doesn't make a big enough mark besides those two songs.
The Pogues
4/5
Got in some Celtic punk just before the end of March - would have been more fun to get this right on St Paddys Day but it is what it is haha. Love the Pogues and this is a great album with a lot of their best songs. Granted I only really listen to them in March or December (for their Xmas song) but still a classic.
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Classic jazz album and one of the best live jazz recordings. Just piano bass and drums but still feels full. These three are also just amazingly in tune with each other.
Cheap Trick
3/5
Surprised that this was their highest selling album ever and what brought them into the limelight. It is a very good live album but I would not place it in a list of greatest albums ever, or even greatest live albums ever. Cheap Trick is great though, a way better band than they got credit for, no doubt about it, and this is a solid collection of songs.
The Who
4/5
Anything by The Who is pretty much already 4 stars for me. Their debut is not perfect, it seems they were only dabbling halfway into what would become "hard rock." Obviously future albums would solidify their sound and move away from blues rock. This could be a 5 star album for "My Generation" itself, which is obviously one of the best rock songs ever. Some of the other songs drag it down just a little.
Miles Davis
5/5
Indeed the birth of the cool - monumental record in jazz history. I generally prefer some of his later styles but still a 5/5. Perhaps the greatest jazz musician of all time.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Top tier Bruce album - probably on par with Born to Run. Hard to name highlights when the whole album is great.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Not my favorite out of the Elvis Costello albums I've gotten on the lists, but it is still quite solid. No standout tracks though, more background music than anything, which I guess isn't the best endorsement.
Beyoncé
3/5
Mixed feelings here. I never really got/understood the Beyoncé phenomenon, but also not really the target audience here. She is incredibly talented of course, but even more than a singer its her talent for cultivating this Queen/God-like public image so that half of her appeal comes from persona rather than the music. Not to say there aren't bangers on here, but that's not hard when you have dozens and dozens of the most prominent songwriters, producers, etc. lining up to write for you. Still, with all that, there are plenty of tracks I forgot almost immediately and never hooked me.
Fred Neil
2/5
Another one that kinda passed by quickly without me really picking up on any standout tracks. Solid folk rock but I don't know if I'd call it essential
Talking Heads
4/5
This album was quite fun - I liked this a lot more than the other Talking Heads on here I've heard so far.
The Style Council
2/5
Two different sides make up two separate mini albums here side A is jazz-pop, very French inspired, side B brings the new wave elements back in. I was much more interested at the beginning and the tonal shift kinda ruined it for me.
Anthrax
3/5
A very solid album from one of the masters of thrash in the genre's heyday. Despite being a huge metalhead, thrash was never my favorite - just a bit repetitive and not as much room for creativity. So solid but not something I need to listen to more than a few times. Maybe a greatest hits compilation
Richard Hawley
2/5
Not really for me. Might like it a little more than The Divine Comedy but not by much. Don't get what makes this essential. Was relaxing though.
Suicide
2/5
Well that was something. Might have been a unique experience in 1977 but this one was kinda painful to listen to in 2022. Minimalist synth punk that sounded like it was written by a middle schooler
Suede
3/5
Definitely Britpop overload on this list. This does sound a bit better and more original than some other entries but not fully ready to give more than 3. Maybe I'll return to this eventually and rate it higher but not for now
Metallica
5/5
A true thrash classic and one of the all time great metal albums
Bob Dylan
5/5
One of his first and best. Just Bobby D and his guitar and an album full of some of the most classic folk songs he's written
The Velvet Underground
4/5
The essential Velvet Underground album - goes over the edge a little with weirdness in spots, but it's a nice mix of stellar lyricism, experimentation and solid tunes with Nico's voice adding a nice change of pace from the rest of the band
Emmylou Harris
4/5
This was super good- easily the best country album I've heard in a long time.
Wilco
3/5
The only Wilco album I was previously familiar with. I always wanted to like it more than I actually did - it has elements from other bands that I am a huge fan of, but for some reason this never really clicked. Heavy Metal Drummer was the only song I could actually remember after listening to the album - the rest just passed me by. Seems like the perfect embodiment of a 3.0 star album.
John Coltrane
5/5
One of the best jazz albums of all time - probably tied for my personal fave along with "Kind of Blue" - this was Coltrane at the top of his game, and a pinnacle for modular jazz
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
I did enjoy this a bit - I may have to listen to it a few times before the songs stick though, there wasn't that factor of instant memorability for me.
Taylor Swift
5/5
Can't hate this at all - this album is full of bangers from start to finish, with some great producers helping out along the way. She may not have been the sole songwriter here but you can tell she is definitely the lyricist - some may dismiss her lyrics but you can't deny how "real" and personal they are, so props there. This album definitely turned me into a fan when it came out.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
Easily one of the greatest live albums of all time by perhaps the greatest jam band ever to grace this earth. Literally no complaints on this one, the band plays together so seamlessly and so in tune, the improvisations feel so natural, and great tunes to boot. Flawless.
Lightning Bolt
3/5
Man this is the type of stuff I love about this list - every so often a random album gives you something completely different out of the blue. I wouldn't say I loved it but it was a fun experience to listen. Just bass and drums cranked up to 11, distorted and so loud you aren't sure if your speaker or eardrum is broken, just blasting riffs. Good times.
Fugazi
3/5
Since I was big into the 2000's post-hardcore scene, Fugazi were a band I had heard mentioned a lot but never listened to. Glad I was finally able to give them a listen. Definitely can see the influence they had over later bands and I would have probably been into them back in middle/high school. Probably won't be getting much rotation these days, but worth a listen for sure.
Eminem
3/5
Honestly went into this expecting to give it a 5/5 - Em's run of Slim Shady LP-Marshall Mathers LP-The Eminem Show was just fantastic. The man changed the rap game and was unrelentingly clever, witty & shocking. Obviously it hasn't aged well. I can still listen to it and appreciate it despite the misogyny, violence, and homophobia - I see Slim as just a character Em has invented. But probably won't play any of this in public anymore. And also the biggest problem here (as with much of his later stuff) is just bloat. There's like 45 minutes of good tracks in here and extra 30 of filler. Would have been a much better album if he would have trimmed it down.
Duran Duran
3/5
Rio & Hungry Like the Wolf are both 80's pop classics - peak New Wave fare here. The rest of the album follows along in the same vein but on first listen nothing else grabbed me quite the same as those two tracks. Solid 3.5 though - wavered between rounding up and rounding down here.
ABBA
4/5
Very solid ABBA album. They are easy to make fun of, but honestly they just write really good tunes and the singers are great. What's not to like?
Baaba Maal
3/5
Interesting album from West Africa. I was expecting it to drag after a while, but there was a range of different instruments, sounds and rythyms that kept it intriguing.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Surprisingly had never listened to this one. Didn't even realize she had another album. Although not on the same level as Back to Black, this still is a good showcase of her talents and the songs are quite fun.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I never understood critics and fans putting this album above Californication. This is one of their finest, sure, but the only really classic timeless song on here is Under the Bridge. That being said, this is still a fantastic record and the first "true" Chili Peppers album with Frusciante IMHO
ZZ Top
4/5
ZZ Top deserves to be on here, for sure - definitely musical icons with plenty of classic tunes. Are they are a "greatest hits" band? Maybe. The songs do start to blend together after a while and they rarely branch out from the typical Texas southern blues riffs. La Grange of course is a classic. Probably what pushes this from a 3 to a 4 star album.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Fantastic Stones record, although I probably don't revere it as much as many do - for many this is their best record and the pinnacle of everything they've done. For me that's probably Sticky Fingers or Let It Bleed. This is an awesome album, but its clearly their "American blues rock" foray so its not the pinnacle of their sound. Also it could definitely use a little editing. However, still a fantastic record and one I return to.
Kate Bush
4/5
Hah I feel bad for anyone who got this before Hounds of Love - just diving right into the super experimental and weird album. I still love it but can see how divisive it would be, even just Kate's high-pitched voice and odd intonations would be enough to turn some off. Adding in the unconventional, avant-garde arrangements just makes it more inaccessible. But once you listen to it a few times and have settled in, you really how interesting it is.
The Verve
2/5
Another middle of the road britpop album. It's fine, just an overabundance of these bands that all sound identical clogging up this list.
Gorillaz
4/5
Love the Gorillaz. Can't imagine how often I listened to this back in the day. Clint Eastwood is still a classic party jam. Way better than Blur in my opinion.
Nas
5/5
Greatest rap album of all time.
Korn
1/5
Yikes. I thought we left nu-metal back in the 90's/00's where it belonged. This isn't just bad, it's painful. I was thinking of giving this 2 stars just for Freak on a Leash, but everything else is so bad (including the worst rap battle I've ever heard with Fred Durst) that it's a 1 star for sure.
The War On Drugs
3/5
This was a fun listen and I'm glad to have been introduced to it. It does seem like a lot of newer entries on this list were just "albums that were critically acclaimed or the author just likes a lot" though. There was anything iconic about this, and nothing new. This was just a slightly more atmospheric take on heartland rock that's already been done 1000 times, and certainly wouldn't fall into my list of essential albums from the 2010's.
Eagles
5/5
While I do still feel that the Eagles are more of a "Greatest Hits" band generally (I mean, they are kind of the definition of one with their first greatest hits album being one of the best selling albums of all time), this is their one essential record. Besides the title song, which is obviously considered one of the greatest ever, most of the rest of the album is super solid too.
The Magnetic Fields
3/5
I honestly don't know what to rate this. It was definitely a marathon to get through, but less of a marathon than I expected. There is enough variety in styles to keep it just interesting enough, but certainly at the expense of cohesion of the final product. Too much to digest fully, but I don't think I have the willingness to try it again other than a few choice tracks.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
This rating will probably be unfair. Listening to it in a bubble, it kinda sucks. If I had been alive in the 70's and following the scene, maybe this rating would be different. It is impressive though, to have recorded this after becoming a paraplegic in a terrible accident. I probably would not have had the willpower to go from being a drummer to only being able to use the top half of my body, and still create music after that.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
I think a 3 is a pretty fitting score for this album. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida the song is one of the greats. Just an iconic main riff and some great jamming/solos. The rest of the album is... meh. If there ever was a one-hit wonder from the psychedelic rock era, this is it. So.. 4 or 5 stars for the title tracks, and probably 2 stars for the rest.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Cash's swan song. Wild to have such an artistic revitalization so late in life. The covers have become their own reinterpreted masterpieces, and the title track is one of his greatest.
The Smiths
3/5
Been a while since I got a Smiths/Morrissey album. Tried to listen with more of an open mind, and I think I liked this one the best out of any I've heard so far. Still can't stand the vocals, but the instrumentation on here is more varied, with different New Wave and Pop influences. It brought a different life to the album compared to the droning post-punk sound of their earlier albums, and added a brightness that the music seriously needed with that drab voice.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Hah I just said in a recent review that this was probably my favorite Stones album. Listening again and I don't disagree - perhaps the best opener/closer combo of all time. True, the rest of the album doesn't live up to those two tracks, but still filled with killer songs even if they aren't quite as memorable. Probably overrating slightly here but this is the Stones at their best.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Haven't listened to this in a while. After getting used to NiN's and Trent Reznor's later output, I was taken aback for a second when remembering just how angry this early stuff was. They really were at the forefront of that industrial rock/alternative metal movement and were the kings of it. Great record all around.
Elton John
4/5
For an album recorded during Elton's prime, in the most critically acclaimed period of songwriting, I was surprised that Tiny Dancer was the only song I recognized. The rest of the album was super good though, felt very signature Elton but with a few twists. Especially like Levon and Goodbye as well.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Wow a surprise bonus David Bowie album! I'm surprised at myself for never having listened to this one before. It definitely sounds 100% like a Bowie album with Iggy on vocals, rather than an Iggy Pop album with production support from Bowie. Bowie even re-used two of these songs for himself later. None of this makes me dislike this album - I'm a fan of both artists. But the Bowie influence makes me rate this higher than most of what I hear from Iggy or the Stooges.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Honestly didn't realize The Isley Brothers were more than early Motown - I thought it was just Twist and Shout, and now I'm ashamed seeing the number of hit songs they had, especially moving into funk. This album was all funk no filler. Time to dive into more of their hits.
The Beach Boys
5/5
One of the greatest ever for sure. Definitely the best Beach Boys album. Doesn't need much more explanation
Venom
2/5
I heard this was the "first" black metal but is clearly just where the genre got its name, because besides satanic imagery, there's nothing black metal about this. Just thrash/speed metal, and not particularly great at it either
The United States Of America
2/5
That was an odd one. Definitely on the weirder end of the 60s psychedelic rock spectrum. Can't say I particularly enjoyed this one
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Hmm not sure I'd rate this up there with his classics but maybe that's something that would change with multiple listens
Queen
4/5
While I am a fan of Queen I and II, this was the first album to really feel like classic Queen. Brighton Rock + Killer Queen is just a crazy combo to start the album and the rest is a mix of solid tunes (Flick of the Wrist and Now I'm Here are two of the best) and then a bunch of quickfire 2minutesorless tracks to round the album out. These are generally a little more forgettable, but "Bring Back That Leroy Brown" is a standout. Overall their first "great" album
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
How did these Skynyrd knock offs make this list of essentials? I mean, it's not terrible music, it's just pretty standard southern rock. The only thing that differentiates it is the "rock opera" part, but musically it doesn't even feel like a rock opera, just a double LP. This is probably too harsh, just rounding down
Rush
5/5
I need to get this one on vinyl. Might be Rush's best, although they have quite a few good ones. The album is stacked in the first half with Tom Sawyer, YYZ and Limelight. The rest of the album is still great despite not being "classics." Should probably get a 5 just for those three tracks alone, but it really is stellar from start to finish.
The Kinks
5/5
I feel like the Kinks are one of those bands you don't understand At first, but then you keep listening and eventually all the songs become familiar classics and you realize you're a fan. This and Village Green are definitely my favorites, the peak of their creativity and wit
Radiohead
5/5
Everything from The Bends to In Rainbows is a 5/5, but this is probably their magnum opus. Just a perfect record from start to finish.
Pavement
2/5
Early lo fi indie rock, could almost feel it being a precursor to post hard-core in a way. Not really digging it, to be honest. Feels generic and nothing interesting catches my ear. Maybe a product of its time type thing
4/5
Creme de la creme of Britpop. Half the other albums from this genre just sound like watered down versions of this album to me. If you've spent any amount of time in any pubs in England/any British territories you've almost certainly heard this entire album over the jukebox/sung by acoustic guitar performers. Obviously just some iconic songs at this point. I think four stars is as far as I'm willing to go for this, but that's top honors for Britpop
Elvis Presley
3/5
Elvis is a hard one to rate... definitely need to listen to some Elvis before dying, he is a huge icon and important figure in the history of American music. BUT... he is more known for his persona, his sex appeal, his dance moves, etc. So this collection is more about putting that Elvis interpretation on pre-existing songs. It was enjoyable in a vacuum, but not a remarkable piece of work without the cultural zeitgeist behind it.
Bon Jovi
3/5
Hah, laughed out loud a little when this popped up. I mean, its definitely an enjoyable album. Who hasn't belted out Livin On A Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name or Wanted Dead or Alive drunk at a bar? Once you give in to the cheese, you can most certainly appreciate this type of music. Obviously doesn't deserve 4 or 5 stars, but I'll give a star for each of those three mega-hits.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
This was pretty interesting - I was aware of Ravi Shankar because of his connection to The Beatles and popular music but hadn't actually listened to his material. The explanatory dialogue was interesting, somewhat like Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." One 15-minute song was probably enough, not enough variation to sustain a full hour in my opinion, but also that seems to be the opinion of my dumb western ears for a lot of "world music" so its hard to see through that bias.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
Yeah this was a seminal release. Just excellent songwriting, catchy tunes, unique combination of sounds. Right place right time for these guys.
Slayer
5/5
Reign in blood is a stone cold thrash classic. I believe I've now hit all of the big four of thrash on this list - and Slayer, with this album in particular, is definitely #2 behind Metallica. Of course Slayer did not have the same staying power and influence/popularity. But this is thrash perfection: a 29 minute burst of fast, aggressive metal.
Roxy Music
4/5
Had Roxy Music on my list to check out for a while now - didn't know what to expect but I liked it. Art rock that reminded me of Bowie a bit, which makes sense given the Brian Eno connection. Mix of accessible rock and more artsy experimental sections in a pretty reasonable balance. Will need to check out the rest of their albums.
Eminem
4/5
I think this is his best album. Lots of people saying "this didn't age well." Uuhhh this was super controversial and everyone knew how misogynistic and violent it was when it was released. Moms everywhere were up in arms, and that's what attracted teens to the music - being edgy and listening to something their parents hated. It is definitely still hard to overlook but his rhyme game and lyricism was just soooo on point. I remember being blown away by the way he twisted sentences around, using so many different rhyme schemes and clever puns that nobody else was doing. It just came with the baggage of being super offensive. I probably would have given this 5 stars back in the day but it does lose points for relying a little too heavily on the violent schtick.
Orbital
2/5
Why are all these EDM (IDM/techno/whatever) albums always 75+ minutes long? I really don't understand - maybe that's the length of a set and that's all they know how to do? Either way, I didn't despise this as much as some of the other EDM on this list, but that's still only good for 2 stars.
Incubus
4/5
Kinda surprised reading the other reviews on here the amount of hate this is getting. Not liking the singer's voice is understandable I guess, although I don't see what makes it offensive. I know Wikipedia lists nu-metal as a genre and they end up kinda being lumped in with the other shitty nu-metal bands from the time, but I find that strange. When you actually listen to it, this album is like 90% just alternative rock. The nu-metal sound of their first two albums is pretty much gone at this point. Just fun nostalgic music with lots of "stellar' hits. Probably 3.5 so I'll round up.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Thought I would dislike but I didn't actually hate it - I figured these guys were just for pretentious snobs but they write some good tunes. I wouldn't call it groundbreaking and it certainly didn't blow me away, but it was some solid indie/art rock. Some of the talk-singing stuff was unnecessary and didn't really add much.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
There are too many albums from this group and the associated solo projects, but this one... this is one that should stay. Just great folk songs with great harmonies, this is their finest hour I think
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Not much description necessary. One of the greatest albums ever.
The Only Ones
2/5
Meh, to me what was most interesting about this album was that it was released in 1978 - so it feels way ahead of its time and would fit more into the Britpop craze of the 90's. But take that out of the picture and nothing really stands out here. The vocals are especially droning in my opinion. Will likely forget completely in a few days.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I don't have the newest edition of this book - I'd be real curious as to the explanation why this is on here over folklore. Weird that I have strong opinions on this, but folklore was where she really came out with a new "indie-folk" style that was surprising, fresh and just a breath of fresh air. evermore is more of a "companion album" in my mind. It's still really good, but didn't quite capture me in the same way folklore did. Maybe if you considered folklore/evermore a double LP with them both on the list, I could see that. Still probably a 3.5, rounded to 4 here.
Miles Davis
5/5
How have I never listened to this one before? Well, probably because he has 57 studio albums, so I shouldn't feel too bad. Definitely the precursor to Bitches Brew - same team of musicians with John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter & Herbie Hancock, just a shorter work of two extended experimental jazz fusion pieces. Definitely feels like a prelude of sorts to the epic BB. Its hard to find any faults though, will need to add this to my collection ASAP
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Pretty sure this is a perfect album. "Why Don't You Write Me" might be the only weaker song on the whole thing, but that's because almost every other song has hit iconic status at this point. I need to add this to my vinyl list.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Was a little let down - guess I read the descriptions and expected more. Been blown away by other artists in the similar genre, whether that was more synth-poppy or more atmospheric or experimental synths, but this didn't really hit any of those heights for me. Just seemed kinda middle of the road tbh. Maybe I'll return to it later and see if I change my mind.
Talking Heads
4/5
Big fan of this one. Global reviews are at about a 3.5 which seems about right but I'll round up. Just great new wave tunes, a little bit experimental, this is talking heads at their best
Moby
4/5
Electronic music with some variety in samples, tempo and styles - there's a reason this was so popular. I like like this a lot more than other electronic music from this Era.
D'Angelo
3/5
Some nice "quiet storm" R&B for a hungover Sunday morning... it definitely worked for that moment! Overall, I'll probably forget this record, but I didn't dislike it
Def Leppard
4/5
I'm glad I was pushed to listen to these guys more fully - they are definitely more than just "pour some sugar on me." One of the better bands to come out of the hair/ glam Era of heavy metal
Willie Nelson
4/5
Enjoyed this more than the last Willie on here, which didn't really sound like his normal style. Super simple, brief country songs that tell a story. Very good
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
Interesting listen. Sometimes it got annoyingly repetitive but much less so than a usual EDM club album. This mixed up the beats enough to make more variety.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
I actually enjoyed this. However, this seemed the very definition of MOR - middle of the road. Certain parts made me really believe I was in an elevator for a minute. That said, it was nice music to wash dishes to.
New Order
3/5
Interesting mix of more Joy Division style rock and then the popular new wave/synth pop styling of the time. I enjoyed it more often than not. Iconic? Not sure, need many more listens
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Son of a preacher man was definitely the best song on here and nothing else really stood out - everything else felt very 60's crooning besides the one classic song that felt like it was from the next decade.
Syd Barrett
3/5
This is always such an interesting album. Although Pink Floyd went in bigger and better directions after he left, it is interesting to get a glimpse into his tortured, broken mind. Much more of a 60s psychedelic sound than Pink Floyd's progressive rock
Wire
2/5
Don't see what makes this post-punk personally, just sounds like regular old punk to me. Short loud fast songs with incomprehensible mumbling over it. It's fine, maybe it was ahead of its time or something, but probably not adding to my collection
Roxy Music
3/5
I feel like I should like Roxy Music more than I actually do - maybe it's just that the artwork doesn't match the music in my head, or that its just art rock that isn't quite weird enough or catchy enough so it just ends up being somewhere bland in the middle.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Pretty much anything CCR is going to get high marks from me, although thus is definitely under Willie and the poor boys/green river/cosmos factory. Just not quite as many classic or memorable songs. Still an awesome record
Crowded House
4/5
Really enjoyed this one. I've liked Crowded House since I lived in New Zealand and looked up all the famous NZ artists, so I was familiar with a few songs already. Sorta new wave, sorta just Alternative rock, it's just a fun album and brings me some nostalgia
Iron Maiden
4/5
Yes, this was pre Bruce Dickinson, but Paul DiAnno does a hell of a job still in my opinion. The songs are also killer with a lot of staples. Everything Maiden up until the 90s was top notch.
SZA
3/5
Definitely something I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. Mixed feelings on this one - vocal style was fun and interesting, almost ad libbed r&b poetry with clearly talented vocal runs. But kinda ruined by autotune turning her voice more obviously controlled and losing some emotion. The atmosphere and background was really well done, but the electronic drum kit was rather one-note and distracting. Also did she really just take RZA's moniker and change a letter? Probably won't revisit but it was worth a listen.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Interesting listen, not really what I expected from the cover. Almost similar to The Divine Comedy but american and not as loungey- I don't think chamber pop is for me but didn't dislike this like TDC
Gary Numan
3/5
This album sounds great and I love the new wave / synth-pop sound. It does suffer from repetitiveness though - I swore Cars was starting like six times because of repeating motifs, but they didn't really come across as motifs, it just felt more like similar riffs played over and over. A little more variety in keyboard riffs would have elevated this.
Genesis
4/5
Definitely some peak Peter Gabriel-era Genesis here. It's wild how many different directions these two different songwriters went in but I love it all - early Genesis, later Genesis, solo Peter Gabriel, solo Phil Collins, I think it's all great. This is full medieval folk-sounding prog, similar to Gentle Giant or early King Crimson. Great stuff
The Slits
2/5
I think I don't want to hear the term "post-punk" again. Definitely an oversaturation going on here. This one is all female and has more of a Ska feel on the guitars. Wasn't hugely in love but I might just be burnt out at this point
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Interesting one, although I would have liked a little more bossa nova sound in the forefront. Felt more like a Sinatra album with a slight change in the background rather than a true collab to me. But I could be talking out of my ass there. Still enjoyed it plenty
Dire Straits
5/5
Yeah, either a 4 or a 5, I think I'll round up. Just a great album, I really love knopflers guitar tone and riffing. Huge fan of the vocals too. Also, sultans of swing is an all time favorite song
808 State
2/5
Well I guess I should give this props for being an EDM album that isn't 90 minutes long. Regardless, it has a really dated sound that I honestly can't stand. Do I want to listen to the music of a late 80s / early 90s gay nightclub? Not really.
The National
4/5
Damn this was really good. I have several friends who rave about The National, and I've heard Bloodbuzz Ohio a whole lot, but I never looked further. Guess I need to. Sounds like the type of indie rock I'd like, almost like if TV on the Radio and Bon Iver had a baby. Way less weird and experimental than either of those groups though. Will have to listen to more of their stuff
Sam Cooke
4/5
This was a lot of fun to listen to -- Sam Cooke is a legend and hearing a live performance puts him on a whole new level. He really put his all into the performance, interacting with the crowd, really using his voice as an instrument to riff and pull energy into the room. Live albums can be really hit or miss - this one is def a hit.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
I liked this - enjoyed it a lot more than most post-punk on here, although I guess that is really just a huge genre that could mean several different things. Siouxsie and the Banshees always had a slight tinge of gothic rock in their music, which is maybe why I like this a bit more, despite this album not going as deep into that territory as some of their later stuff (Juju). Overall, pretty solid but probably not enough for me to add it into my regular rotation.
Gillian Welch
4/5
I really enjoyed this. I'd heard her on many soundtracks and guest vocals on other albums. If all country was like this, I would listen to a whole lot more country. Just great songwriting and a great voice.
The Beach Boys
4/5
A beach Boys album I've never heard of without any songs I recognize either? Surprised on this one for sure. It's got a darker, more mature tone and gets quite political. I really enjoyed it.
Femi Kuti
4/5
Didn't know Fela Kuti had a musician son. I might honestly like this more than the Zombie album. Yeah, its more clean cut and produced but it's also just more fun and danceable. A little long but wasn't a big issue.
Bee Gees
3/5
Went in expecting disco... very surprised at the soft rock I got. Probably a little heavy on the ballad side but overall pretty enjoyable
The Undertones
3/5
I liked this quite a bit. Was huge into the third wave punk/ska scene and this was definitely a precursor to that. Will have to return to this later. Not one the greatest albums of all time, but a fun addition
Tito Puente
5/5
King of mambo right here. Honestly have zero complaints. Each song felt distinct and had its own feel. Danceable fun the whole way through. This guy is an American and puerto rican treasure
Marty Robbins
4/5
Actually really dug this one. "Country western" definitely feels like a totally distinct genre from Country. The album was probably a bit too long - with these types of songs, I feel like you maybe max out at about a half an hour. But with a little fat trimmed, this would just be a fun album of western cowboy songs, with some sweet acoustic guitar riffage, storytelling, and some fun 50's harmonies.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4/5
Started listening and thought "Oh this must be Paul Simon's inspiration for Graceland." Sure enough its the actual artists on the tracks. Honestly really good! Obviously just doing a capella means it could get repetitive, so 36 minutes is just about the right amount of time to enjoy it.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Second PJ Harvey album on here - don't dislike it but I don't think it'll ever end up on my playlists. It's... fine? I'm sure its much better than I'm giving it credit for, I'm probably just the wrong person at the wrong point in their life for this to have the proper effect.
Beck
4/5
One of my favorite Beck albums. This and Morning Phase just feel so calming. Are the lyrics depressing and sad? Probably yes, but to me it's still just a relaxing experience I can put on to de-stress.
The Prodigy
3/5
Didn't really want to listen to this one after hearing the first Prodigy album on here. This one was a big improvement though! I had already heard several of the songs, and the rest were at least varied enough to not get crazy boring like a lot of EDM.
fIREHOSE
2/5
Not bad. Not particularly memorable or great either, I think I've already forgotten most of it. Definitely think I would have got along just fine without ever having listened to it.
Adele
4/5
21 is still her best work I think but 25 is still very solid. Took me longer to warm up to but really some great emotional songs. Great music to drink wine and cry to. No shame.
Orbital
2/5
Slightly shorter and less annoying than the previous Orbital album on here. One was enough though, if not more than enough. I'm going to stick with 2 stars here. I guess I can understand the appeal of this music, but I still hate it.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
I did rather like this! Probably too quick to award it a 4 or a 5, but I may definitely revisit. It's not like its a particularly distinct sound, I don't know how to describe it other than just "alternative rock" but something gave it a unique sound - maybe just because it is teetering on that more aggressive, grunge-y sound. Maybe I'm underrating.
Pavement
3/5
Second Pavement album on here - again not one I'd add to my collection or listen to on my own, but I didn't dislike it. The songs do kinda all run together but it was better than the first one I think.
The Kinks
4/5
The more I listen to The Kinks, the more I like them. I used to find them middle of the road, as just some even more British Beatles. But the more I listen the more I realize these are essential, iconic albums.
T. Rex
4/5
T. Rex seems to be growing on me the more I listen. Probably still second tier glam rock to me, they aren't on the same level as Bowie or Queen, but these are some fun absurd rock jams. Probably 3.5 so rounding up
Mylo
3/5
Wasn't looking forward to this one but was pleasantly surprised. Reminded me a lot of Basement Jaxx which I also enjoyed. The title track was irritating. I get the point, but it doesn't make it less irritating. The rest of the album was super great though.
Air
3/5
I thought I would like this more than I actually did. Maybe I was expecting something more like Tangerine Dream, or maybe I just wasn't listening quite close enough, just had it on in the background. It was still good music to work to though and a solid 3/5
Hole
4/5
Obviously a fairly complicated figure, I definitely never gave Courtney Love or Hole a fair shot. Shame because this album is pretty damn good. Obviously a grunge influence but this album is a mix of that with punk, alt rock, and hardcore. Way more aggressive and raw tone. Will have to make amends for ignoring this
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Despite being a Gnarls Barkley fan, i never listened to this. It's definitely not on the same level. Also this is not really soul at all to me, this is hip hop. It's a decent hip hop album but I wouldn't consider it a classic. The first Gnarls Barkley album is all that belongs on this list.
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Modern classic IMO. I like all her albums but this is her masterpiece. Jumping between multiple genres from soul, r&b, hip hop, alternative snf more to create a Sci Fi concept album of epic proportions? Sign me the fuck up
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Love me some ELO. This album is definitely fully pop rock - not really many prog influences left on this one. But its still delightful, just having a lot of fun with string arrangements, vocoders, harmonies and poppy anthems. It could probably be trimmed a little but still overall a great album.
Mekons
2/5
Not really a fan of this one. Might be considered the first "alternative country" album, and the blending of punk and country seems like an interesting take, but that doesn't make me want to listen to it again. So many other artists to highlight in that genre that are way more listenable. Plus the vocals are droning and rambling in a bad way.
Solange
4/5
Was fairly drunk when I listened to this so I'll have to listen again later but I was pleasantly surprised here. I might like this more than I like Beyonce's work, but that's probably because I prefer the soul/funk side to R&B than the pop side. Top notch production, vocals are great, themes are engaging... good stuff all around.
Wu-Tang Clan
5/5
I mean, this is a one of the great hip hop albums of all time. So many insanely good rappers in Wu-Tang, with RZA delivering some of the best production ever. Really nothing left to add here.
Silver Jews
2/5
Another country-inspired alt rock album. It honestly passed me by pretty quickly without anything particularly catching my ear. And yet another album from the "Pavement" group? Yeesh.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
More CCR goodness. Just insane the output they had in such a short period of time and how much of it was soooo good. This, Willie and the Poor Boys, and Cosmo's Factory in particular are just 5 star records hands down.
Happy Mondays
3/5
I do love how specific of a genre tag this has, what a fun name too - madchester. Really just indie rock with a dash of dance-punk coming from Manchester. I was quite whelmed. Nothing particularly memorable nor awful.
Sister Sledge
3/5
The good: the rhythm section. That bass is killer, and is probably the funky highlight of this whole thing. The ladies are obviously very talented singers as well. And "We Are Family" is obviously a classic song.
The bad: This is just on the wrong side of disco. Don't know exactly where that line is, but if this would have just been heavier on the R&B side, and lighter on the disco side, it would have been perfect.
GZA
4/5
Another great album from the Wu-niverse. Wondering if each member will have their classic solo album included. Rhymes are on the money here, RZA production is king as usual. No complaints here
The Monkees
3/5
Not too bad for what is essentially a fake band made up for a TV show. Although when you realize that this came out at the same time as "Sgt Peppers" you realize how far past the competition the Beatles really were. While most certainly not The Beatles, these guys still put out a fun and pleasant collection of songs here.
Santana
4/5
What a classic album. So many influences melding together into a classic sound that just works. The king of Latin Rock at his finest.
The Temptations
4/5
Interesting. Hadn't heard any of these songs before. Far cry from their older material, much more soul oriented. Run away Child was a nice progressive change up, while the second side was short and sweet songs.
Radiohead
5/5
If star ratings are any indication, Radiohead would be my favorite band. They aren't, but I do highly enjoy most of their output and I think everything from The Bends to In Rainbows is pretty much perfect. Kid A, Amnesiac and this one form a trilogy of just wild experimental albums, each one taking you on a different journey. 5/5
George Michael
3/5
Good - can't say I liked it quite as much as "Faith" - went a little ballad crazy with this one so doesn't have the same momentum and energy the previous album did. Guess it's a more "mature" and "serious" work, but that doesn't make me want to listen to it more than once.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Could be Paul's best post-Beatles fare. Overall, his solo work is, for lack of a better word, fine. Stand-out tracks exist, like the title track on this one, Live and Let Die, Maybe I'm Amazed, etc. but overall it just ain't the same, it just doesn't have the same magic without the other members of the squad. Solid album, but not amazing.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
I remember listening to this when I was much younger and not really appreciating it much. Surprisingly good listening to it now. A diverse blend of psychedelic rock, indie rock, and electronica, it is super weird but in a good way. Super fun.
Jacques Brel
4/5
This was a fun album! Solid 30 minute set that doesn't overstay its welcome - dude is definitely a performer and really belts his heart out on some of these songs. Can't comment on the lyrics, which is apparently a huge part of this style, but even just the music itself stands alone.
Björk
4/5
Bjork is quite an interesting artist. Every time I listen I find the music super compelling in a strange weird way. And then I have no desire to listen Again later. Seriously a good album though. Nobody quite like her out there.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Fantastic album - tight 38 minute blast of R&B. Shining Star is one of their best songs and the rest ain't too shabby either. They were really one of the greatest in their heyday.
Bad Brains
3/5
These guys obviously influenced a ton of bands I grew up loving but were a bit before my time so I've never listened until now. Probably not as enjoyable listening to it now as it would have been discovering this new sound for the first time. I can appreciate it, but probably won't add to my rotation. Big points for helping mold a brand new sound and style though
George Jones
2/5
There is a certain level of Country music I can tolerate - the line does shift around quite a bit but this guy I think is juuust across it on the wrong side. Some of the more upbeat songs I liked, and then most of the reaally twangy slow songs I had a lot of trouble bearing through. I can't really put my finger on why this style has always rubbed me the wrong way, but I definitely won't be replaying this one.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Two country albums in a row. Well this one was much more palatable. These three singers are just fantastic and are hard to dislike regardless of genre. The harmonies are great, and the compositions I'm about 50/50 on but overall pretty solid.
Tim Buckley
3/5
Quite different from the other Tim Buckley album on here - this was funky and upbeat compared to the jazz folk of Happy Sad. I liked this a lot more but they round out to about the same at a 3. Not going on any greatest albums of all time lists
Arcade Fire
5/5
Right from the middle of Arcade Fire's absolute hot streak, this album still gives me chills listening today. Not a bad song on here, just absolute fire from start to finish.
Chicago
3/5
Fun stuff, early Chicago right before the biggest hits came out. Definitely ambitious, coming strong out of the gate with a double LP (and continuing to release several more double LPs in short order). Definitely has a garage band with brass feel, guys are just jamming out and having a good time. Reminds of my dad, who was a big fan (and played in a Chicago cover band in high school). They are not an iconic band by any means but this is still a STRONG 3.
The Young Rascals
2/5
Overwhelming feeling of "meh" listening to this. Sounds like music custom-made for 60's television programming. Knock-off Monkees. Nothing particularly bad about it, but nothing that stands out either. Probably a 2.5
The Modern Lovers
2/5
I'll be honest, this one passed me by without a second thought. Didn't really make me feel much of anything - kinda bored but didn't elicit any emotions of joy, of interest, even of hatred. Just kinda there.
Gotan Project
3/5
This was neat! Tango beats fused with electronica. Nice to find artists on here who really do something a little different and unique. I am a big fan of Caravan Palace who are a bit more upfront on the electronic side and mix French swing rather than tango. This is waaay more relaxed and ambient than that, so it might not get repeated listens as dance music as you think tango music might, but it was still quite enjoyable. Would be a 3.5.
Garbage
3/5
Garbage were definitely a lot better than they got credit for. Definitely a very 90s alternative rock sound on here but it gets the job done. Their Bond theme is underrated too
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Solid stuff- I'm fairly sure I've listened to this before or at least a few songs. Fantastic African blues. Never gets boring either, with different vocal styles, instruments and varied song structure/type
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Two Africa-inspired albums in a row. Obviously this one is from Brazil but clearly is inspired by the sounds of Africa melded into the artist's samba style. I found it quite interesting and could definitely put this on again.
Arcade Fire
5/5
The third of Arcade Fire's perfect streak of albums. This one changed their sound a bit, it feels a little slicker and more produced, and is quite a bit longer, but it still retains the magic of their earlier two albums, even today. Reflektor still had a lot of great songs but they went just too far over the line into excess on that one. Definitely needed some editing/trimming. This one however is juuuust under that line and I wouldn't trim anything.
3/5
I've heard scattered songs from this album and others by Devo, and I knew this was one of their most famous. Also I really enjoy a bunch of Mark Mothersbaugh's work scoring films and tv shows (most distinctly the Life Aquatic soundtrack, and several other Wes Anderson films). This album probably fell a little short of expectations for me, honestly - it has a few fun songs but otherwise just sounds like fairly average New Wave fare. Maybe repeated listening will increase its reputation.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Certainly not the greatest album since Sgt Peppers, but it is definitely a solid addition to the funk/soul canon. I was already familiar with Wishing Well, which is a great song, but it was nice to hear the rest of the album. Definitely not on an MJ level but solid nonetheless.
Beatles
5/5
This is another album with which I have such a personal connection it's hard to be unbiased. Listened to my dad's original vinyl of the North American release and then the other songs from the British release. Have no clue how Nowhere Man and Drive my Car ended up on the chopping block for the US. The other two tracks that were cut are slightly forgettable IMO. Also, Run for Your Life is creepy, not sure if its a bit but no thanks. Even with that, I think this puts this at 4.5 or so
The Smiths
2/5
I appreciate the joke of putting this right after Elizabeth's death more than the album itself, which softens the blow of getting yet another Morissey album on here. Thankfully I must be through most of them by now
Small Faces
3/5
Better than I expected, given the glut of psychedelic rock on this list, a lot of which I didn't particularly like. Side 1 just had a solid blend of songs. Side 2 was fun, the narration I thought detracted a bit but I guess I could see what they were going for.
3/5
Really interesting album. Serbian electronic music producer moves to Brazil, gets enamored with the country and make a fusion album mixing the samba and other sounds of Brazil with downtempo beats and his Electronica expertise. Glad I listened if only the once
Joy Division
3/5
Been meaning to give this another go for a while. Weirdly, I still really didn't connect with the album at all. Maybe I need to try again when I have time to spend on it without other distractions. Maybe some noise cancelling headphones. But otherwise nothing really grabbed me or stood out as particular novel or exciting.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Was not super in love with this one, although reading up about the band's history and influence definitely gave me a different perspective. Seems they were quite influential in pulling the glam rock style and sound into the 80's and jump starting the glam metal/hair metal movement, influencing Poison/GnR/etc. and might have had more than just a cult following if the drummer wouldn't have been killed in a drunk driving accident with Vince Neil, breaking up the band. Wild. Probably still won't get many replays on my end, but interesting story nonetheless.
4/5
Such a fun album to put on here. A) A bootlegged concert that was only made publicly available in 1998 B) Not even at the Royal Albert Hall, but the Manchester Free Trade Hall C) An awesome two sets - half just Dylan and his acoustic guitar doing his folk songs and half with his new electric sound and none other than "The Band" playing with him. and D) the fact that he was jeered and heckled for "selling out" with this new sound. An important piece of history and also just a really great concert.
Miles Davis
5/5
Flawless. My personal favorite jazz album. Would maybe make a list of Top 10 albums you have to hear before you die
Frank Sinatra
3/5
630 albums in and I get the first one chronologically. I've listened before when I started to do this on my own with the book. It's certainly a good album, and Sinatra definitely deserves a few spots on this list. That being said, it's rather one-note. Just morose and melancholy the whole way through. Which of course is the point. But I think the drive to stick to one emotion ultimately hurts the album with its lack of diversity of songs.
The Dictators
3/5
Didn't hate it - it's obviously on here for being "the first" in the punk rock genre, but whereas a lot of firsts on here are only notable for that alone, this isn't half bad! Wouldn't put it up there with The Ramones or The Clash, but it was still some dumb fun
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
I really enjoyed this! Much more on the synth pop end of New Wave, there are some bangers on here with earworm melodies. Her voice is definitely unique - although for sure a bit destroyed by substance abuse. Feels catchy and melodic while still raw at the same time.
Thundercat
3/5
Certainly an odd duck - an interesting mix of funk, soul and occasional hip-hop. He's obviously a super talented bassist. Will this endure as a classic years from now? I would say doubtful. The critical praise seems maybe a little bit overblown while it feels more like a 3-star album to me.
Eurythmics
4/5
Really great album - glad I finally listened to more than just the title track. Annie Lenox is awesome and this is some peak new wave/synth-pop. I think I may have to add the full album to my library.
Neil Young
3/5
Neil Young is an artist that is obviously very talented, he writes very good folk songs with great lyrics. But for some reason, none of it really hits me in a meaningful way. I play it, it's very pleasant, and then it's over. Maybe eventually I'll have "a-ha" moment but not yet I guess. Much respect, but nothing to add to my library yet.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Very solid live album - she sounds pitch perfect live. Feels like she should be right up there with Billie, Nina and Ella. I also like the crowd banter in the middle of singing.
PJ Harvey
3/5
More PJ Harvey... I feel like one album on here was enough to get her - seems a bit overblown to have 3? 4? albums on here. Again, don't hate it but it's also not anything spectacular
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
I've liked discovering some new country artists on here and broadening my musical scope a little bit, despite my dislike of the genre. This ain't it though. I'm sure this is on here for a reason but it's beyond me
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
This album is fucking amazing and I don't listen to it as much as I should. Spans the history of black excellence in music while the lyrical content is a nuanced and unique look at the history of discrimination and other racial issues. I feel like I'd have to take a lot of time with a lyrics sheet to fully digest everything. Kendrick is perhaps the greatest and most influential rapper of the 2010's.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This is about as classic as it gets when it comes to the early days of hip-hop. Listening to these remastered versions of old school hip hop I love it waaay more than when I was trying to listen to poor quality cds and mp3s back in the day. Sounds sooo much better with the original crisp production. And obviously, these guys were just legends.
Mott The Hoople
3/5
Decent, solid glam rock. Probably not what you're going for on a "best of the best" list, but I enjoyed it. I prefer "All the Young Dudes" which is probably because of the Bowie influence/writing.
Kate Bush
5/5
Kate Bush's prog-pop masterpiece, easily her best album in my opinion. Finds that perfect sweet spot between her avant-garde and prog weirdness and accessible pop sensibilities. Side A has the pop jams and Side B is a mini concept album that is still pretty accessible. Honestly there isn't much to complain about here, I'd say this is a top album of all time.
Yes
5/5
Is this really a 5-star album? Probably not, but it'll always remain a personal favorite of me. Pulled out dad's old vinyl for this one. Roundabout (first bass line Dad taught me), Long Distance Runaround and Heart of the Sunrise are just classics. Several other cool songs and then the rest of the album is filled out with some "individual ideas" that are a little more like quick sketches or the musicians just playing around. It ain't perfect, but I'll completely give in to subjectively on this one.
The Crusaders
2/5
Wanted to like this - jazz mixed with funk/soul? Sign me up! Unfortunately this is Kenny G jazz, and this came out sounding like the dreaded "elevator music"
Air
4/5
Much better addition to the list than the Virgin Suicides soundtrack I think. I enjoyed this a lot - just real chill electronic music. Sets its vibe real well and as long as you are in the mood it's perfect
The Byrds
2/5
Enjoyed the songwriting here but in the end, they went waaaay too overboard with the twang on the pedal steel guitar. It's just too over-present at all times and distracts from the music. Killed an otherwise pretty decent album for me.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Is every Simon & Garfunkel record an automatic 5/5 from me? Well I gave Bookends a 4 for some reason... in retrospect that should have gotten a 5. But that was early days of doing this list. This one is for sure another 5. Their last three albums were just pretty much flawless.
Alice In Chains
5/5
Maybe AiC's best record? This is definitely one of the definitive albums of the grunge era. Doesn't get much better than this
The Mamas & The Papas
4/5
I fully went into this expecting a 3. "California Dreaming and other songs." However, I was enjoying the music the whole album through. Cutting some of the covers in lieu of more original songs would have been nice but that's just the way music was in the 60's and overall it was a really solid experience.
Slipknot
3/5
Holds up better than a lot more nu-metal to be honest. Rather listen to this than Korn, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and countless others. Wait and Bleed is still a good song. Won't listen to frequently at all but definitely worth revisiting every once and again.
Pixies
4/5
Problem with randomizing this list is that sometimes you don't get albums in the proper order that they should be experienced. This feels like it should have been the first foray into the Pixies and then break out to other albums/Frank Black solo albums after that. "Here Comes Your Man" is the obvious single but a couple other good standout tracks too. Will add a few to my playlists.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Peak 80s new wave right here. There's a reason these songs are still around and in the public eye. Just a slice of pop perfection
The Fall
2/5
There are things about post-punk I love, there are things I don't really like, and a fair amount of it just bores me. This music seems to fit mostly into the latter two categories. And after hearing 800 of these bands on this list, it all just seems to mush together into one rambling, derivative mess.
Given that "Ooh La La" was the only Faces song I'd heard before, this album was a bit of a surprise in style. Overall, I wouldn't say it was "great" - it kinda jumped all over the place and didn't really feel too sure about what kind of sound it was going for. Ends up just being generic "rock" at the end of the day. Very middle of the road.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
I'm doing 4 stars here pretty much just for Somebody to Love and White Rabbit - two of the greatest, most classic rock songs in history. The rest of the album is solid but despite having listened to it a bunch, those are really the two major standouts.
Le Tigre
3/5
Unsure of how to rate this - it is obviously a rather important work, from musicians that started their own movement and genre. A lot of it is quite catchy and they can definitely craft a simple but effective groove/tune. On the other hand, it is as if they build each song around a single groove but don't have a complete "song" in place. The vocals are somewhere in between singing and speaking, which works sometimes and sometimes doesn't. And the feminist lyricism is sometimes great and sometimes pretentious. So, all in all a bit of a mixed bag for me.
Barry Adamson
3/5
I enjoyed this a lot - it definitely did feel like soundtrack music, but since it wasn't actually written for a movie, the music didn't feel dictated by the on-screen scene and could do whatever it wanted. Surprise Nick Cave cameo was great as well.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Basically just a long jam session with Neil and the boys. Really quite fun but we're starting to strain with the number of his albums on here
The Byrds
3/5
More Byrds... one of their better ones on here I think. Solid psychedelic rock, although I've already forgotten the tunes
Jane Weaver
4/5
This was a really cool album. Is it a classic and one you must listen to? Dunno about that, too early to tell, however I am happy the list gave me the opportunity to discover it. I don't know if this is the correct genre but it definitely feels like "folktronica" - almost feels like older British folk music but seamlessly blended with synths. I am most certainly adding this to my collection and checking out her other work.
AC/DC
5/5
Yeah yeah... AC/DC has a template that they follow and they stick to it on every album. Well... this is the album that perfected that template. Every song is a killer rock anthem. Great solos, great riffs, great all around. I was going to give this a 4 as that seems like an appropriate cap for this, but honestly I have no complaints.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Welp, Kendrick's two masterpieces just a few weeks apart. I personally prefer To Pimp A Butterfly but this is also an incredible album in rap history.
The Clash
4/5
One of (if not THE) most classic punk album ever. Always preferred The Clash over the Sex Pistols. This album is punk but a bit more experimental and varied, much more interesting than your other run-of-the-mill efforts by similar groups.
Mudhoney
3/5
Mudhoney was one of the grunge bands I never really encountered before. Much like the previous entry to this list, I felt like they deserved plenty of points for being pioneers and really helping to build that Seattle scene, but didn't feel like it was stuff I'd really return to much.
Little Simz
3/5
This feels like one of those cases of "too early to tell" - I'm happy the list gave me exposure to this artist but definitely needs more simmering time before being considered an "album you must hear before you die" and displacing others albums from the list. In terms of quality, its hard to speak to the lyricism without doing a deeper dive into it, so its hard to rate at face value. Interesting stuff nonetheless
Brian Wilson
4/5
This album is great! Just a beautiful layered soundscape of harmonies - the Beach Boys but a bit more psychedelic almost. Cristina noted the lack of the low end though and she made a good point. With just Brian Wilson and without the input of the other Beach Boys, all the harmonies are in the higher registers and it makes the album feel a little less full, like its missing something. I'll need to listen to The Smile Sessions now to see if it sounds better.
David Bowie
5/5
Fantastic record. 70s Bowie was untouchable. This one is a mix of art-rock that is still pretty accessible on side A and then much more experimental/ambient stuff on Side B. Heroes is probably the best of the Berlin trilogy but this is a close second.
Depeche Mode
4/5
So this is the album with all my favorites on it - just a great album filled with bangers. Personal Jesus probably should be on a list of greatest songs ever recorded.
Norah Jones
4/5
How this album got to be massively popular is really surprising in retrospect - its super mellow with jazz underpinnings. I think maybe it hit just at the right time to find an audience. Released today, I feel like it wouldn't have made any splash at all. That being said, I love it and agree with its inclusion here. Perfect chill music for relaxing or just for a rainy day, and I find her jazz-pop style unique and refreshing even if its not necessarily groundbreaking.
M.I.A.
3/5
I did try to get into MIA back in the day. Seemed like it would be up my alley and Paper Planes is obviously a banger. However, I never got past that one song, and nothing else has ever clicked. I think this is deserving of being on the list, but ... its just not for me. I'll give it a three for its importance in music history and Paper Planes, but ... I'm likely never going to listen to any other song again.
Simply Red
2/5
Was not a fan of this one. Let's take some soul music, run it through an 80's soft rock meat grinder, and have a white guy sing it. Nope.
4/5
The best album from U2, to be sure. The first half is just straight bangers. It does fizzle a little for the second half but still worthy of 4 stars
Bob Dylan
5/5
One of Dylan's best. And that's saying a lot. Of course he has a crazy number of great albums. But really, he was king of the 60's and this is another classic among many in a row.
Public Enemy
5/5
This is definitely one of the best of the golden age of hip hop - could probably cut a few songs but overall just a masterpiece of politically charged lyrics set to unquestionable great production from The Bomb Squad.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I believe I liked this a bit more than the usual post-punk fare. To me I felt like there was just a tinge of gothic rock added in that made it feel slightly more like The Cure, whom I love. Nocturnal Me and The Killing Moon were highlights. Probably should be around a 3.5, so I'll round up.
Portishead
4/5
I enjoyed this a bunch - electronic music that isn't EDM can be great background music, very good music to code to. This one jumped in between styles and moods as well - which is critical to me for electronic music. I'll probably revisit this one again.
Blur
4/5
I've tried to get into Blur's acclaimed Britpop albums and have had a lot of trouble. However, this time I did seem to have a much better time with this album. Not sure if its the best of the bunch or just that its slowly seeping in after repeated listens, but I'd probably give this 3.5 or 4.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Yeah, this is the best from the Boss. Born to Run and Thunder Road would be enough to merit a positive review, but the whole album is a grandiose rock anthem/statement.
Suede
3/5
More Britpop. This had a little more variety in sounds and riffs than the usual. Still too much of this on the list.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
Oof. Yeah I can certainly understand all the low ratings. I guess NiN is the only real Industrial I listen to. This is obviously much different - a few songs are actually "songs" but mostly a lot of mechanical noises and spoken word stitched together. Def weird and not very likable.
Patti Smith
4/5
This was pretty great! All my years listening to punk music and I never checked out Patti Smith - her music definitely finds the balance between the simplistic punk sensibilities while still remaining super interesting. Few bands can pull off the simple formula while still keeping it fresh and exciting, and this is definitely one of the great examples of that.
Don McLean
3/5
Like most, I hadn't heard more than the title track. Starting there, it is obviously one of the greatest songs of all time. Can the rest of the album keep up? Well, not quite, but I was really surprised just how much I dug the whole thing. Yeah, a few just feel like rehashes of the same song, but overall its a solid album of folk rock jams.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2/5
Woof, two hours of country/bluegrass was quite a way to spend part of my day. I didn't hate it - this is not the twangy pop-country that drives me insane, but rather old school country with just great finger pickers. Much can also be said for the legendary cast of musicians they got for this album. That being said, it was still 2 hours of pretty similar-sounding music. It could have used some editing for sure. I would have enjoyed a tight 35 minutes of the best of the best from these recording sessions. Without editing though, it ends up just being too too much and you really can't separate the wheat from the chaff.
Blue Cheer
3/5
That was fun! Might have to add to the collection. Sounded a bit like early Deep Purple - has that "hard rock leaning into the birth of heavy metal" feel to it. But definitely firmly still rooted in Blues. A 3/5 seems appropriate in that it was a lot of fun but nothing extraordinary.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Continues the trend of electronic albums being way too long for no reason, this one clocking in at 75 minutes. At least this was trip hop - just some relaxing chill vibes that are good background music. Its a lot worse when its 75 minutes of just straight club beats. Still too long though. 45 minutes would have sufficed for a type of music where the different tracks aren't super distinguishable.
Linkin Park
4/5
I'm for sure overrating this but whatever. But still one of the better nu-metal acts and aged waaaay better than Limp Bizkit, Korn and many others.
The Hives
3/5
This is the definition of a 3/5 in my book. Hate to say I told you so is a great party jam. Then there are 11 more songs that are very similar. And this is supposed to be a greatest hits compilation? Oof.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Very good album. I'll be honest though, the title track and "The Passenger" are easily the best songs on here and nothing else quite catches the ear on the same level. I'll round up to a 4 - I don't think its quite a 4/5 but it is way better than a 3.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Wavered between a 4 and a 5 for this one. Honestly everything Black Sabbath up to Sabotage is just killer. This was the birth of heavy metal and doom in action, even though ironically, potentially the best (and most definitely the most famous) song from the album is Changes, which is not heavy at all. Not perfect, and probably not on par with Paranoid, but you know what? Fuck it, 5 it is.
Mike Ladd
3/5
Interesting... a hip/hop artist from the late 90's/00's who I'd never even heard of. Was going to mention that it reminded me a slight bit of El-P and then I noticed he was featured on track 5 with Company Flow! As with a lot of rap on this list, it's hard to fully delve into the tracks since it requires your full attention to dissect the flow and lyrics. Production is decent though. Will have to check this out again at another point but I'm down with it.
Randy Newman
3/5
Still hard to hear the voice and not immediately make mental Toy Story connections. Especially when he uses the "n" word in the first song. Adept social commentary, although I didn't fully process and analyze the whole album... I did enjoy the songwriting though and the lyrics I did process.
Tom Waits
4/5
Oh Tom Waits. I always enjoy when I listen to Tom Waits but I never really seek out his music. Perhaps the most unique combination of vocals and instrumentation in the history of music. This one might be the most definitive of his style that is out there. Delightfully absurd.
Daft Punk
3/5
In terms of electronic music, I never really got the huge hype around these guys. They make some pretty decent dance music, I just don't feel like it's quite at the level of other artists pushing the boundaries.
Lorde
5/5
Honestly, just a fantastic album. It's been 5 years, which is probably the bare minimum when discussing staying power, but it really feels just as good as when it came out. Her other two albums are good but not great, this one just perfectly mixes pop grandiosity with her melancholic angst.
The Auteurs
4/5
Listened to this album and then immediately checked the public reviews to see if anyone else mentioned the Arctic Monkeys. Sure enough, I'm not the only one to notice that. I really liked this! Definitely feels like Arctic Monkeys during their more laidback phases. Was obviously expecting a Britpop sound when I saw alt rock - Britain - 1993, but this didn't have that feel at all, which I loved. I may have to check out this band's full album history.
Rod Stewart
2/5
If this is Rod's masterpiece, then I think I can safely live my life without delving too deeply into his discography. It's not exactly what I imagined - I was picturing soft rock/MOR for middle-aged women. Maybe his music morphs into that later on or maybe its just a stereotype my brain accepted. Still, however, I didn't really feel anything listening to this. The elements are all there, and there's no doubt that he has a great voice, and is backed up by fantastic musicians, but there's just something missing - no spark, no magic. Feels like they are just hitting points they know they are supposed to hit to make a good record.
Björk
4/5
This was super interesting and I'm glad I was pointed in its direction. It is essentially the same Bjork as her previous few albums except completely a capella, which fits her style extremely well and makes for a strange, haunting affair. Loved it
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
So yeah... pretty much just an extended jam session here. Nice background music, and the boys can surely play. A must listen? Probably not.
Travis
4/5
This was a great surprise! Never heard of this band but some of the songs definitely sounded familiar, probably from use in TV shows or movies. Definitely right up my alley of early-Coldplay/sadboi British music for Scrubs. Will be checking out more for sure
Manu Chao
5/5
Fuck yeah Manu Chao! Honestly if you can do wordplay in 3+ languages, you deserve some recognition... and to make interesting music to boot. Definitely under appreciated
Donald Fagen
3/5
Some days I get Steely Dan and some days it is just way too yacht rock for even me, which is hard to do. Today was not a steely dan day, and besides the first track I didn't really connect with this. I want to give this a 2 but I'll be generous and assume I'd like this another day
Funkadelic
4/5
Love this album - the title track is just one great guitar solo, super melodic and emotional. And a bunch of other songs that really bring out the rock side of their funk rock. The random sounds/noises in the last track kinda bring it down a little, so the epic closer is nowhere near as good as the epic opener - that song falls on the wrong side of psychedelic rock for me. But still a fantastic listen.
Soundgarden
5/5
Probably my favorite grunge album - as much as I love Nirvana, this one takes the cake for me. I think its just because it feels a whole lot heavier than say, Nirvana or Pearl Jam. You can really hear the heavy metal/hard rock influences on their sound, while Nirvana was taking more influences from punk. Also, of course... Chris Cornell. Just absolute grunge perfection.
Scott Walker
2/5
Had about the same opinion of this one as the last one - just not a fan of the "schmaltzy" vocals and instrumentation. Just rubs me the completely wrong way and makes me wince in a similar way as to when listening to country twang. I'm sure he is very talented and lyrics are a totally different arena that I didn't even really look at. But... just not for me.
Steve Earle
3/5
Had long been meaning to check out Steve Earle after his acting in The Wire and Treme. Interesting to go from the genre-blending of his later career straight to his very first album which is pure country. It's definitely way better than what is considered country nowadays, but it still didn't quite click for me. I think I need to check out more of his later works, as he branches out in style more.
Heaven 17
3/5
Never heard of this new wave/synth-pop group - guess none of their hits ended up standing the test of time, at least over here in the US. It seemed perfectly serviceable synth-pop, but I'd be lying if I said anything really stuck out as particularly catchy or memorable.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
Not quite on the level of Yoshimi but it was still a unique listen - his voice did actually grate on me a little this time though and the repeat songs didn't really add anything. Might be adding to my collection though
Guns N' Roses
3/5
Debated for a while on the score for this one. The three big hits are some of the biggest and best rock songs of all time. The rest of the album is honestly not great. Super generic hard rock. Doesn't even seem like the same band who could write Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child of Mine, and Paradise City. But I think those three are enough for 3 stars by themselves.
Killing Joke
3/5
Upper tier post-punk I think - I dunno, would have to listen a few more times since this genre tends to just go in one ear and out the other with me, probably because of the huge glut of it in this book. I'll give it a three, but its probably a bit higher, maybe a 3.5
George Harrison
5/5
Music here is top notch, just really fantastic songwriting and talent - easily one of the best post-Beatles solo project releases out of the whole gang. The question here is of course just about the length. Is it too much? Obviously. And I'd probably detract some points due to that, but really its a double-LP with a bonus disc of just jams, which I think really presents itself differently. Listening to the album on streaming/digital just doesn't really make that clear. I was also feeling WAAAY less fatigue listening the whole way through this thing than with any other album on this list even close to this length - I'm going with a 5/5.
Judas Priest
4/5
Priest! One of the top-tier Priest albums IMO - I never liked them quite as much as the other heavy metal gods like Maiden or Sabbath, but they still kick serious ass. This is one of their more commercial albums but Breaking the Law and Living after Midnight are obviously top tier, and the rest of the album is made of super solid songs too. Definitely deserves a spot.
Lambchop
2/5
Well, it's interesting and unique at least - a strange mix of alt-country and soul/R&B. Did I like it? Not really. The falsetto was just a little off-putting, not 100% sure why, it just sounded off. And I just didn't click with the music at all. Dude seems quite talented and I'm sure a lot of people love it, just not my cup of tea.
Nanci Griffith
2/5
Sounds like a pretty typical pop country album - nothing for me to see here
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Huge album when it came out, not sure if I've ever heard anything from them since. This one is full of bangers though. One of the best from that era of early 00s garage rock revival
The B-52's
2/5
Rock lobster is a great one, of course pretty silly. But they were just silly start to finish. I think the "wackiness" starts to get grating after a few songs though. So definitely not worth a full album of songs to listen beginning to end.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I mean, it's Thriller.
Aerosmith
3/5
Aerosmith is 100% a greatest hits band. Love in an Elevator and Janie's Got A Gun are verified 80's classics - the latter honestly is probably their best 80's song and deserves its place in the annals of rock history. However, the rest of the album is... meh. I'd have to listen to it a few times to see if any other songs stick out in my head.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I think Zappa obviously belongs on this list - I can't say I ever really listen to him for fun though, but you always need that avant-garde side pushing the limits of what music is. Some good grooves on here, some obvious avant-garde weirdness, glad I heard this.
Public Enemy
4/5
Third Public Enemy on here. I probably listened to these in the wrong order and should have started with this one, but all three are just an almost-perfect trilogy from the golden age of hip-hop.
Barry Adamson
2/5
OK. One of these faux-soundtrack albums was fun - two and I think we are pushing out limits here as to what really is essential listening. I would say not this - this was less interesting and less captivating than the last one, with just a lot of ambient mood building. Pass from me.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
It's tricky, my Adidas, and walk this way is an unstoppable trio and the highlight of the album. On the other hand, i wanted to skip halfway through Dumb Girl. Overall another classic hip hop album if not every song is great
Suzanne Vega
3/5
Man, this rings some bells from a long time ago. Overall this is the definition of a 3/5 for me - not fantastic but a solid example of the female folk singer/songwriter trend from the 90s - ie the "Lilith Fair" group. Very enjoyable though!
Kraftwerk
4/5
This Album is great! One of the most influential electronic albums of all time, can't believe it's from 1978. Should be required listening for all Daft Punk fans.
Elvis Costello
3/5
After numerous Costello albums on here I finally get to his debut. I definitely like it but you can also see the growth from this to his later albums - definitely fun and probably list-worthy, but not a classic in my book.
Surprised to find this on here. Their earlier work? Sure. This one? Well... Beautiful Day was a great pop single. And then there are other songs that don't quite make the cohesive whole of a classic album. Doesn't belong here in my opinion.
Neil Young
3/5
Hard to rate this one. On the one hand, Neil is pretty consistent, and there are clearly some more tragic themes in this one. On the other hand, this is Neil Young album #345 on here and its starting to all sound the same and stale to me. I might just stick with Harvest tbh.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Not bad for country. Didn't like as much as Red Dirt Girl but I could listen to this.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
Not quite on par with Arctic Monkeys but I still quite liked it. More of a baroque pop sound but still with rock guitar underpinnings, which keeps it interesting. Probably not a classic but this is a 3 starrer that I will add to my collection.
Wild Beasts
3/5
Sorta like Foals but weirder, more experimental, and not nearly as good. Didn't hate it but it seems like an odd pick for this list and will probably get removed in a newer edition.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Was expecting something else, maybe a different take on jazz with a south African twist. But really just felt like a normal jazz record. Maybe better than average but not one of the classics.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
This live album definitely has a wild manic energy, he seems like one of those artists who was better live than in studio. One of rock and rolls pioneers at work here (despite not writing almost any originals). Still quite a fun ride.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
Psychedelic classic with Janice Joplin at the helm. Their rendition of Piece of my Heart is one of the great rock songs. Guitars are gritty and JJ is sing-screaming with an intense energy. Great record.
Bee Gees
3/5
Some more pre-disco Bee Gees. This one is very 60's - from the soft vocals to the string instrumentation to the folk melodies. Interesting to hear once, probably won't return to this one though
Fiona Apple
4/5
Fiona Apple's pandemic album. Definitely a few moments of just trying to be weird and quirky but other than that, this album is just awesome. So much uniqueness from track to track with only minimal instruments. Every time I come back to this album I like it a little more.
Radiohead
5/5
Every bit as good as Kid A. Radiohead could seriously do no wrong from The Bends to In Rainbows, in my book. Just beautiful, experimental, electronic fused rock. Another classic through and through
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Although the genre tags are neo-psychedelia and post-punk, this felt closer to new wave sensibilities to me. Honestly enjoyed this a lot and might return to it. Giving a 3 but it's a very enjoyable 3, probably a 3.5
King Crimson
5/5
Honestly, this is a top favorite of mine. From the iconic album artwork to the first ripping riff of 21st century schizoid man to the closing epic of the title track, this album just rocks. Obvious low point is the weird free form section of moonchild but I've even warmed to that over the years and I don't think it lowers my rating.
The Pogues
4/5
Listened to a lot from The Pogues but never an album the whole way through - this one seems a great one to start with though. The OG Celtic punk band, these songs hit on every level. Love it.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Don't get it. Definitely can see the noise pop label but otherwise it just seems like just super straightforward songs with the innovation just being a ton of guitar feedback and waaaay overdistorted guitars. You take that out and I don't see anything memorable or interesting about this.
The Zombies
4/5
Definitely streets ahead of a lot of the other psychedelic pop from this era. Probably a 3.5 but I'll round up. I also was not expecting Time of the Season at all - I've heard that song a million times but for some reason never knew who it was by, or just confused it with another song or thought it was by someone else, so it kinda came outta nowhere. Great song though, and the rest of the album is similarly pretty fun.
Kid Rock
1/5
Why is this here?
The Roots
5/5
God I wish The Roots were more active now outside the Late Show. Every album they put out is a thought-provoking musical odyssey. This is one of the best too.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I know Sonic Youth is highly regarded by a lot of folks - I can definitely understand what kind of influence they would have had and how revolutionary this would have sounded when it released. But not experiencing it during its heyday or as a youth, I think a lot of it is lost on me. I'll give it a 3, although I'm sure it deserves higher. Just doesn't do much for me now.
Richard Thompson
4/5
I really enjoyed this. This is my favorite scenario of doing this whole experiment - discovering someone I'd never heard of before and really connecting with it. They make an amazing folk duo, the songs and harmonies are infectious and well-written, really just a solid album that I will be adding to my collection.
Sex Pistols
3/5
In general, the Sex Pistols were my least favorite of the old school punk bands, and I kinda viewed the band members, especially Sid and Johnny, as wankers. Nothing much has changed - I still don't really like the band or the music. I'll still give this a 3 because I can easily recognize the importance and influence of this band. Half of the music I listened to growing up wouldn't exist without them. But it just never clicked for me.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
This was probably raise my average for the post-punk genre - this album does start to drag near the end but overall its great. I think its the fusion of gothic rock into the post-punk sound that makes me like it so much. Spellbound and Halloween are standouts.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Definitely more in the vein of pop punk than I was expecting. Songs were not that varied and it was too long. 30 minutes of this would be good
Kate Bush
4/5
Went down the Kate Bush rabbit-hole a few years back so this wasn't entirely new to me, although I haven't given it the time as I've given Hounds of Love and The Dreaming. It's still very good and caps off her 80's streak - everything afterwards different feels like a different sound/different era. So still excellent, maybe not quite the masterpiece Hounds of Love is, but still fantastic.
5/5
Not much to criticize here, and nothing much to explain. One of the all time great albums by one of the all time great bands. Just listened to this on my dad's vinyl from the 70's and still sounds great!
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Astounding album. Amazed at how little I was bored with the runtime - normally I dread albums this long but Stevie kept it interesting the whole time, mixing up styles constantly while still creating a cohesive whole. Really a classic.
The Go-Betweens
3/5
Lots of different 3.0 albums on here, we have the "I don't really like this but I respect it," we have the "this has a few great songs but isn't a great album overall," the "this band deserves to be included in the list but they didn't have any standout albums" and then the one that applies here: "this is a good, solid album that just isn't exceptional." This is probably the definition of what a 3 is supposed to be. I did rather enjoy it, but it's good, not great.
Spiritualized
4/5
This was great! I loved Lazer Guided Melodies but this is even better. I'm tempted to give it 5 stars but it is quite long, and the dissonance in Cop Shoots Cop probably doesn't need to go on for as long as it does, so I think its probably a 4/4.5 - super happy to have discovered it though, easily my favorite band in this "shoegaze" genre that I've heard so far.
Burning Spear
4/5
I feel like this is one I'm not doing justice to... obviously this is a pretty political album that would require a much deeper dive into the lyrical themes and more research into the history of the topics than just perusing the Wikipedia page of Marcus Garvey. I may have to revisit this one, which I definitely will, because the music is some top-tier reggae.
Nick Drake
5/5
And with this album, we've hit Nick Drake's full studio album discography. Sadly only three albums, but three incredible albums. This and Pink Moon are pretty much flawless records I listen to over and over again.
The The
3/5
Decent record, although I'm curious how many albums on this list are considered "post-punk"? I mean, its a wide genre for sure, but jesus - did we really need every single post-punk band in here? When half of them sound almost exactly the same, are these really all essential? Most of these are just 3's across the board, including this one.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Much more political than I expected, but all I heard from them before was their earlier dance hits, so not much to go off of. Really good though, funk with a darker edge - angry, Black Panther, drug-fueled funk.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I was excited to hear this - I had heard a lot about Todd Rundgren but never gave it a chance. At the end, I was slightly underwhelmed. It wasn't bad, and was interesting enough but didn't quite rock my socks off as I hoped it would. Just felt like zappa but a little less crazed.
The Blue Nile
4/5
I searched through the user reviews of this album to see if anybody else thought it sounded a bit like Peter Gabriel and indeed a few other people saw that connection - I rather enjoyed this one after going in with low expectations seeing the "sophisti-pop" genre tag, which seems like a ridiculous name for a genre, but really did feel like some of Peter Gabriel's post-Genesis work, which I really like. Probably not a 4, closer to a 3.5 but rounding up.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
I've tried Lana Del Rey a few times and wasn't really in love, but those were much earlier albums, to be fair. I wanna say I tried Born to Die/Ultraviolence and I just didn't get it - it was like listening to someone who was more bored singing the music than I was listening to it. I thought this was a lot better! Although I wonder how much of that to attribute to Jack Antonoff - he is a skilled producer for sure, and I'd bet a lot of pop albums that I actually like are more due to his influence than the actual pop singer. Probably higher than a 3 here but not enough for a 4.
The The
3/5
Never heard of The The before and now I've gotten two albums in just a few days. I don't think I liked this one as much as the other one. I'm not really sure why, this album felt darker and more muddied, with almost Tom Waits-ish vocals thrown in the mix here and there. But I didn't really enjoy it, just felt it pass me by. Weird. Maybe I'll try it again later.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I think I might have liked this more than the last MOI album on here - maybe just because it was more varied actually. Rather than just being ALL experimental and weird, this had a mixture of some more straightforward songs (at least as straightforward as Zappa can get) and some crazy stuff. Production seemed a little cleaner too, but maybe that's just a remastering job or something. Overall, still a 3 but ... a higher 3.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
OK ok. It's not quite completely as terrible as I was anticipating, given its the worst-reviewed album on here. But yes, it is... unpleasant. There is at least a semblance of melody and some cool industrial sounds, but yeah overall its just machine noises and shouting.
The Cure
5/5
Is this the best album by The Cure? Why yes, yes it is. This is the perfect fusion of their gothic rock and pop periods. Each song is great, the albums flows great, feels cohesive, and it all lends towards this being Robert Smith's moody masterpiece.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Not the biggest PJ Harvey fan but this is probably my favorite album of hers so far. Takes a much more folksy turn which I felt suited her a bit more than the punk/ indie / alternative sound from her earlier works that felt a bit stale to me. Rounding up I'll give it a 4.
Slipknot
2/5
And now... Slipknot's fourth album? From 2008? After the nu-metal phase died? I understand their first two albums being on here, but this seems like quite an odd choice. It was interesting to hear the evolution though - way more clean vocals on here. Its labelled as "groove metal" although it also bares similarities with metalcore as well IMO. So, interesting to hear the changes, but ... nope.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
I love this one - Bruce goes low-key with a folk album and absolutely nails it. Stark, solemn and slightly dark - pretty much the opposite of his normal routine. And it works very well.
SAULT
3/5
Honestly don't fully know how to rate this - I am glad I was introduced to it... never would have heard it otherwise. Obviously, as with all recent additions to the list, only time will tell if this is "essential" - this has the addition that it is tied to a point in history - the 2020 protests after George Floyd's (and countless other's) murder, and as such is certainly a historical document. Whether or not this particular document has cultural significance is yet to be seen. I enjoyed the music - it jumps around to an impressive variety of genres and feels - but the lyrics felt less like cutting social commentary and more generic platitudes. I might change my mind about that, but just thinking that an album like RTJ4 (or honestly anything from RTJ, Killer Mike has been speaking out against police brutality for years) is more deserving of the spot and recognition.
Tears For Fears
4/5
What a great New Wave album - perhaps one of the best out there. Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and Head Over Heels alone are enough to make this a classic. The rest of the album I hadn't heard before but was also excellent. Probably not enough for a perfect ranking, but deserves at least a 4.
LL Cool J
3/5
Some more solid 90's hip hop - LL Cool J is probably not near the top of my list for the golden era of hip hop, but it is still head and shoulders of most of what comes out today. Also, the title track is legendary. And I had no idea RTJ got their name from a song off this album. Had to look it up as soon as I heard it getting chanted. Good stuff. Probably somewhere in the 3.5 range.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Super solid New Wave album. Always had a soft spot for the Go-Go's - just super infectious pop sensibilities but with a slight punk edge, wrapped up in a new wave package. This particular album has several of their big hits and is the perfect length for the style. Solid 4 stars.
2/5
2 stars? Not 1? Well those are for the rest of the band. Realizing if you cut out a few tracks and changed Fred Durst (as vocalist and lyricist) to literally anyone else - this actually probably would have been a decent album.
k.d. lang
2/5
I had heard of k.d. lang, nothing further than just name recognition, but for some reason had no clue she was a country singer, so this came as a total surprise. She is obviously a great singer, and this album definitely evokes a very particular mood very well. But two problems - 1) its a full album of covers, which I think always just loses points in my book. And 2) I just hate the sound. Some reviewers called it "lounge country" which makes sense - just one-toned sickeningly sweet love songs. Still better than the average country that pops up on the radio these days, but not for me. Hopefully another one of her other albums is on here so I can see if this is a one-off or if everything she does sounds like this.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Enjoyed this, as I've enjoyed most "dream pop" I've heard. Probably a little lower in my esteem than some of the other acts, didn't quite hit that dreamy, ethereal sound that say Spiritualized or Beach House's hit. Still good though
Simple Minds
3/5
Another solid New Wave album. Maybe a little on the more forgettable side (doesn't have a hit like Don't You Forget About Me) but I enjoyed listening to it.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Guessing this is on here as the first Rolling Stones album. Even though the best song (Not Fade Away) was not even on the album but the American re-release under a different name. Their pre-Aftermath stuff is admittedly still pretty good but mostly covers with only a few original tracks here and there. This is only on here because it was their debut for sure. A good 3 stars, but should not have been included.
Rush
5/5
Love Rush, and this is a great one. 2112 is just a massive nerdy track. Yes its all over the place, and sometimes just feels like a couple songs strung together, but its just a lot of fun, Ayn Rand references aside. And then the tracks on side 2 are great too. I really need to add some Rush to my vinyl collection.
Queens of the Stone Age
4/5
This QOTSA album doesn't get as many spins from me as their later stuff, namely Songs for the Deaf and Lullabies to Paralyze, but it's honestly still pretty great. Probably not 4 stars but higher than 3
Fishbone
3/5
Man what an eclectic mix - funk, rock, ska, punk, metal, the list goes on. These guys definitely influenced a lot of the third wave ska I grew up listening to. This is a high 3
Missy Elliott
4/5
Honestly, a pretty solid album. Missy is perhaps the greatest female rapper of all time. This album definitely falls into "throwback" category now as part of that wave of "party hip hop" from the 00's. But the whole thing is solid beyond the singles, guest collabs are fantastic, just great from start to finish.
Beatles
5/5
Just a monumental record. My only complaint is that I far prefer the electric single version of Revolution, the acoustic version just has no energy behind it and of course the experimental version is ... a choice. I don't think its filler or think it's terrible, but I do tend to skip it if not listening on vinyl. Other than that, its just an incredible selection of tunes, and the fact that this a 90-minute album with so little filler speaks volumes about the Beatles' songwriting abilities. Oh... and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is perhaps my favorite Beatles song.
Merle Haggard
2/5
Never heard Merle Haggard before despite hearing the name. Sounded exactly as anticipated. Not terrible but literally just exactly what you'd expect from 50's/60's country.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Probably a 2.5 but .... yeah this feels like music written to be played in the background of movies or commercials. i.e. its chock full of rip-roaring riffs and energy, with absolutely no songwriting around it. None whatsoever. There's a killer rock and roll lick, and then they jam on it for a while, and then that's it. None of these are songs.
The Killers
5/5
One could easily make the claim that this is the definitive rock album of the 2000's. And the fact that Mr Brightside is crazy ubiquitous almost 20 years later shows it still has staying power. Probably wouldn't think of giving this a 5 initially, but honestly, I think it has earned it. Album is probably a bit front-loaded, with all the bangers and singles back to back for the first five tracks, but still great overall and less filler than their next few albums would have.
Al Green
4/5
Love me some Al Green, soul legend right here. This album is tight and makes the most of its 33 minute runtime. One of the greatest albums of all time? Probably not, but definitely one of the greatest soul artists ever.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
Man, I gave their previous album 4 stars. Some of it was a little pretentious but overall it was pretty great art rock. This album was different. I thought the whole thing was pretentious. Just muttering, feedback, weird guitar noises.... not a fan.
The Stranglers
2/5
Meh. Sound was alright but nothing unconventional or groundbreaking. And the lyrics didn't seem like they aged well at all from what I heard, was openly cringing at some of the lyrics. Probably won't listen again.
CHIC
3/5
This one was hard to rate - on the one hand you have Nile Rodgers, one of the GOAT bassists, on the other hand, disco. I think I'll slap a 3 on this guy, the basslines are funky and awesome, and there are some nice solos scattered throughouts, but overall would be a bit better if it was a little more funk/R&B and a little less disco.
David Bowie
4/5
Will this one go down as one of Bowie's great records? Probably not, but his 70's output is a hell of an act to follow up on. This is a personal fave of mine though, I love how he came back after a string of disappointing albums in the 90's and early 00's to release two superb albums in the 2010's to cap his career and go out strong, before we lost him. Lots of replay value on this one.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Interesting mix of tropicalia and psychedelic rock. Not something I'd ever listen to of my own accord, and probably won't listen again, but glad it was on here.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Still don't quite get Sonic Youth. Maybe ya had to be there.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This feels like its just on here because its Dusty's debut. Yes, she has a great voice, and is definitely a worthwhile addition to anyone's musical education. But these aren't her classic songs. She's not a songwriter and pretty much solely did covers. Which is fine, with Dusty its more about her voice and performance. But with the stuff on "Dusty in Memphis," she took classic songs and made them her own. The songs on this album, however, are barely changed from the originals. Why listen to this version of "Mama Said" or "Will You Love me Tomorrow?" when I could just listen to The Shirelles?
Slade
4/5
All I had heard from Slade up until this point was their Christmas song so I was quite interested when this popped up. I did enjoy it a lot - this is the type of Glam Rock I enjoy a bunch, very similar to Sweet in tone, not taking themselves too seriously, but also not so insanely over-the-top that the look and the outfits become more important than the music. Good stuff, probably a 3.5
Youssou N'Dour
4/5
I really enjoyed this! And it was cool to learn about a new style of music - mbalax, a type of dance music from Senegal mixing indigenous African music and popular music. Album was the perfect length and I never felt bored.
Television
4/5
Have a friend who is in love with this album. I've listened to it a bunch and never fully got into it, but each time I listen I like it a bit more. I guess technically you could call this punk or post-punk, but it really is hard to categorize - just somewhere in the general "rock" area. I don't know if its a 4, but I'll round up because I'll probably get there eventually, once I listen a few more times.
Christine and the Queens
3/5
This was pretty good! As with all albums from the past few years, we'll see if they have any staying power, but this modern synth-pop style was a bit similar to few other artists of which I'm a fan, like MUNA. And yes, its a bit of a throwback to the 80's synth-pop craze but I feel like it synthesizes with a more modern sound as well to make some pretty fun bangers. Will probably listen again.
Aimee Mann
3/5
I was aware of Aimee Mann, and I'm pretty sure I've heard several of her songs before, but I have no idea what songs or where I heard them. Maybe various Scrubs or Scrubs-like television shows? Not really sure, but I did enjoy this a fair amount. Definitely was part of that "female indie singer-songerwriter" phase of the 90's, although to me this sounds a bit distinct from the rest of that group. Can't quite put my finger on what it is, maybe just slightly more of a pop-rock sound? Probably somewhere between a 3 and 3.5
De La Soul
4/5
Another classic from the "alternative hip hop" era of the early 90's - in good company right up there with Gang Starr, The Roots, Tribe, etc. Glad I have this in my personal collection as it seems like none of their stuff is available on streaming. Probably close to a 5 star record, but its length and many interludes drag it down just a little.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Alright, I've hit 2 of 3 Hendrix albums and I'm assuming Are You Experienced is on here too. All three are 5 star records easily. One of the GOATs.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Funny, seems I'm hitting all the Velvet Underground albums in chronological order. This was super refreshing after White Light/White Heat. While "Thr Murder Mystery" recalls the experimental nature of the previous album, most of this one is stripped back and focused on songwriting instead of experimental noises. I really enjoyed this one!
John Martyn
4/5
Discovered John Martyn because of this list, so I had gone back and listened to a bunch of his other albums already, including this one. I really enjoy it - he has a great voice, and this album is a nice balance between acoustic and experimental. In general, I like his stripped-back songs a whole lot more, but the more "experimental" stuff on here still managed to hit that "soothing groove" and it worked really well. And closing with that jam on "Small Hours" - chef's kiss.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Aaand here's the last Hendrix album, unless Band of Gypsies made the cut. Got these in reverse-chronological order, although I've listened to all three too many times to count at this point, so that doesn't really matter. All are 5 stars. US version, UK version, whatever. These are just some of the greatest rock albums of all time from one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Say what you will about Billy Corgan (and there's plenty to say) but this album and Mellon Collie are essential 90's records. I'd probably give a slight edge to the latter but this is still a fantastic record with some of their best songs.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
I love Prog. And I love ELP, and this record. But I can also fully admit that they are not a top-tier prog band. I love them, but they are certainly not songwriters. My favorite tracks of theirs are easily their adaptations of classic music tracks - Mussorgsky, Copeland, etc. Their original compositions just don't reach the same heights as their contemporaries. They are a 3 star band through and through. But I still love and enjoy it!
Sonic Youth
3/5
Hmm more Sonic Youth... 70 more minutes, yikes. I've tried several times with this band, and maybe its just a "you had to be there" type thing. Maybe its because so many bands after used the same style that it's hard to see how landmark of a release it was in retrospect. I dunno, but I still just don't really get it. My overall opinion on SY is still... "It's fine."
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I'd probably put this in my upper tier Neil Young, maybe second favorite to Harvest so far - it's a bit simpler, just a collection of a few good tunes and nothing more
Ramones
4/5
Sorry to the Clash and the Sex Pistols, but the Ramones are my favorite of the early punk bands. Songs are simpler and more accessible, with a concise focus on catchy but subversive. And it doesn't overstay its welcome. Don't listen to punk as much anymore, but these are the dudes to listen to.
Goldfrapp
4/5
Really enjoyed this one - just very calming, soothing electronic music. I guess its trip-hop but I'd rate this higher than your average trip-hop, maybe because the vocals just work much better with the ambience of the tracks than with other artists. I don't know exactly but I was a big fan!
5/5
OK. I gave ELP 3 stars the other day to prove I wasn't just a prog stan. With Yes, on the other hand, I cannot follow suit. The trilogy of The Yes Album/Fragile/Close to the Edge is unbeatable. These guys were the masters of long form songwriting. 5 stars to all three.
Magazine
3/5
I will probably have to give this record another shot. It was honestly over before I even realized it, with nothing catching my ear. There's honestly just too much post-punk on this list that it all blends together eventually. Really should have distilled the number of albums/artists from that genre down to the top-most bands and it would have stuck out a whole lot more.
Pretenders
3/5
Had only heard their Christmas classic "2000 Miles" before this. This is really quite different - much more of a punk influence on this record. I enjoyed it but probably not enough for 4 stars, it doesn't strike me as superb or an instance classic or anything. But very solid.
Black Sabbath
5/5
I love the first Black Sabbath record but this is really the defining record - not just for them, but for heavy metal in general. I mean, jesus, War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man all on side A. Literally one of the most important records of one of my favorite music genres, how could I not give this 5 stars?
Nirvana
5/5
I do believe this is one of the few live albums that absolutely deserves a spot on this list. The setlist feels like Kurt was trolling MTV but it ends up absolutely killing. And their version of "The Man Who Sold The World" is just great. Of course its not even unplugged either, which is hilarious, but that doesn't mean its not good.
Faust
3/5
This was super eclectic - the first appropriately named song definitely felt like krautrock, and was probably my favorite track. Some songs felt like prog, others were art-rock. Not Sure it all fit together but it was a solid outing
Meat Puppets
2/5
Funny I just got this one after Nirvana's MTV unplugged, which featured these guys on several songs (playing their own songs). I do love that Kurt Cobain was basically trolling MTV by bringing on a completely unknown band and playing their covers instead of playing his hits. However, I honestly wasn't a huge fan - I think I liked the Nirvana versions better. The vocals are pretty bad and a lot of the songs aren't really memorable. Not sure where the "cowpunk" tag comes from either - not sure I feel like that was reflected in the music.
Hole
4/5
This album is pretty great - I think I like it more than their previous. Yes, it further mellows out the hardcore and grunge aspects from the previous albums and is much more highly processed alternative rock, but I think it finds a sweet spot that works well. And a lot of the tunes are just infectious as hell.
Fever Ray
3/5
I remember listening to this a few times when it came out. Was doing a college radio show at the time, so I was checked into all the indie artists releasing new music. I would also just randomly play a song from the various new music cd's they had laying around the studio too - So I'm not sure how exactly I discovered The Knife/Fever Ray but it was related to all that. I then promptly forgot about it once I was past that time in my life - some of the music stuck but not this. It's not bad still, but yeah, I think it lacks staying power. An interesting listen but not something that sticks around later after the first few listens.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Interesting album - I feel like when I see the genre tag "baroque pop" I never know what I'm going to get. Sometimes you get The Divine Comedy, who almost sound like a lounge act (and I really can't stand at all), and sometimes you get a much more beautiful synthesis of classical music and pop. I think this leans towards the second option and I really did enjoy it. This is a STRONG 3. I think my 4 and 5's are kinda reserved for what I consider some of the greatest albums ever, so I wouldn't place this anywhere near that, but it is still quite solid. Voice reminds me a little of Hozier but with waaay more vibrato. And has a beautiful melancholy sound.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Slowly going through the "Greatest Hits of the Wu-Tang members" by doing this list. Already got the classic albums from Method Man, GZA and now Ghostface. I have to assume Raekwon's Cuban Linx is on here too, as I think that's the best of the bunch. This one is great too though! Production is top notch, with a list of some of the best in game (despite not much from RZA on this one). Rhymes are great although I need more intensive listening as usual to follow along.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
I could already hear the Celtic influence in Come on Eileen (the one song from this album that we all know already) but was surprised just how prominent it was throughout the album. It was certainly a fun album but I will probably continue to just have Come on Eileen on my playlists.
Minor Threat
3/5
I think I enjoyed this the most out of the three big "hardcore punk" pioneers. Had some actually interesting riffs and chord progressions. Vocals were obviously not good but it wasn't terribly distracting. Maybe I also liked how short it was?
Tim Buckley
3/5
Third album I've got from this guy... and still haven't quite connected. I like the folk aspects, but the "psychedelic folk" aspects just don't connect with me at all. I feel like if it was just him and his guitar, I would really like it - but the eclectic orchestration, sometimes psychedelic, sometimes medieval-ish, just ruins it for me. Or maybe its his voice, or something else, I don't know. I don't hate it, but it just really doesn't mark me as particularly memorable or great.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
OK, this one is up there - out of all the albums I've heard from her so far this is the second-best next to Blue. Will be downloading and adding to my collection shortly.
Billy Bragg
4/5
Is it bad that I enjoyed this a whole lot more than anything else I've heard from Wilco? Maybe its the magic of the Woody Guthrie lyrics, or maybe its the addition of Billy Bragg that rounds out the sound of the band in a new one. Not really sure, but I really enjoyed it and will for sure add to my collection.
Madness
3/5
I would put this under the "solid" category - Our House is obviously a New Wave classic, and I enjoyed the rest as well. Not one of the GOAT albums but perfectly serviceable 80s fare.
Turbonegro
2/5
I don't know why this is on here. It's OK punk jams, but as someone who listened to a LOT of punk as a teenager, I don't know what makes this stand out. I'd have about 20 artists who should've made the list before this. Seems like they have quite a Scandinavian following though - maybe much more important culturally in that part of the world
Solomon Burke
4/5
Damn that was quite good! Can't believe I'd never heard of the king of rock n soul before. That was a great short burst of energetic soul music.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
I almost don't want to rate this - I got excited at the prospect of dark, depressed indie folk, and the album didn't quite live up to those expectations. I'll give it a 3 for the benefit of the doubt, but I really didn't enjoy it. This type of music can be cathartic but I just felt bored by the arrangements and cringe at the vocals.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Third 3 for MBV on here. I've tried and it just doesn't really do much for me - whereas I love the atmospheric beauty of Spiritualized and Beach House, MBV just doesn't give me that same feeling - they do create an atmosphere, but its an atmosphere that is just kind of there, overdistorted and just taking up space. I'll still give it a 3 but I really don't get this band.
Duke Ellington
5/5
I listened to the original LP, not the full 2 hour concert. I think the 45-minute selection of tunes from the concert is absolutely outstanding and I will probably go back and listen to the whole thing at some point. This is live jazz at its peak, from the energy of the band, Duke's incredible compositions, the soloists... even the energy of the crowd can be heard. Grade A stuff.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Honestly, loved it. I had to laugh at some of the critical reviews at the time and some of the user reviews here - I get why people wouldn't like it, that's for sure. But I enjoyed it a lot. The title song is just 22 minutes of synth experimentation and atmosphere, but its also very "organized" experimentation I guess? Like it manages to push the bounds without losing any momentum or alienating the listener. I really enjoyed it!
Brian Eno
4/5
The undisputed founder and king of ambient music. I like his ambient stuff way more than Roxy Music, although his time collaborating/producing David Bowie is easily the best thing he's ever done. I don't know how to rate it though. It does what it sets out to do extremely well. Is it one of the GOAT albums? Probably not. But I throw this or one of his others on whenever I need to relax or calm myself. It's simply beautiful atmospheric wonder.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Damn, I might have to give Unhalfbricking another go after being wowed by this one. But just taste wise, this does lean waaaay more into the "traditional British folk" department. There was a taste of that on the previous album, but half the album was more influenced by American folk still. This goes all in on on british folk rock and is way better off for it.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I should probably try to look at this more critically, but nah... it's Zeppelin, perhaps the greatest rock band of all time. It's a colossal record with one of my favorite songs (Ten Years Gone). Is there probably a little filler? Is it slightly too long? Maybe. But that ain't enough to stop this getting 5 stars.
CHIC
3/5
This is pretty solidly on par with the other album from CHIC on here - Niles Rodgers = funky bass master. This is probably the best disco ever made, which probably puts it around a solid 3. Probably best to just download their greatest hits IMO.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
I think I liked this marginally more than the previous one? Again, it seems just "fine." The recording quality obviously is terrible, but they were a big indie band so you take that with a grain of salt. Vocals are real bad. I'm fine with different vocal affectations (I mean, I listen to metal) but if you can't hit the notes or hold the tune, then you change singers or change your singing style to match your strengths. Bob Dylan is a great example of someone who can't sing but affects his voice to match his strengths. Or get a vocal coach, I dunno. I absolutely can't stand the warbling/quavering/offkey singer who isn't even trying. It doesn't sound anti-mainstream, it doesn't sound DIY it just sounds DIWhy?
The Police
4/5
Love The Police. 5 great albums, honestly - nothing they've put out would I consider weak or inferior. While nothing on here is better than the first track, the huge hit Message in a Bottle, the whole thing is solid, just a great collection of new wave rock with hints of ska/reggae. Not sure how many of the 5 records are on this list, but they are all probably solid 4 stars.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I loved "It's A Sin" from their other album but that was the only track that really spoke to me. This album, none of the tracks spoke to me. I'm inclined to still give it a 3 - I can appreciate the importance and the talent behind it even though it really isn't for me.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Generally, Indian music is really really hard for me to get into. I don't know how much of it is just cultural clash and how much is just that for the most part it actually is super repetitive. This though was probably the closest I've gotten to getting into it. It still didn't really strike my fancy but it was pleasant background music while working. Maybe because it was a little slower and calmer. Probably won't listen again but was decent.
Traffic
3/5
I gave "John Barleycorn" a 3 and I feel like this record wasn't as strong as that one. Don't feel like this is as bad as a 2 though. So I'll just keep it at 3. This one is quite different - virtually nothing prog about this album, just a bunch of Clapton-ish blues-rock. I didn't even know Feelin Alright was originally their song, the Joe Cocker version is just so much better and more unique. So maybe John Barleycorn is like, a 3.3, 3.4, and this is probably like a 2.8 or 2.9.
Ray Charles
4/5
Don't really think of Ray Charles in terms of albums - but this is certainly worthy of inclusion. Although it doesn't contain any of his most well-known songs (well, at least well-known to me), each song has his infectious energy that makes you want to listen again. This is a great sampling of what made him a legendary artist.
Radiohead
5/5
Depending on the day of the week, this is my favorite Radiohead album. It's their last before going super experimental, but that doesn't make it any less great. It's a crazy leap forward from Pablo Honey. Every song is great, just a landmark in Alternative Rock.
a-ha
3/5
Another review said this would be better suited for "1001 Singles you must hear before you die" and I would have to agree - I do like "The Sun Always Shine on TV" but really this album is on the list for one reason only - Take On Me. Which is for sure one of the most monumental songs of the 80's and is enough for this album to get three stars by itself. But I will probably not listen to the rest of the album again. It was fine but nothing in the same league as the first track.
Pixies
3/5
I think I liked Doolittle a bit more. This one was still good, although "Where is my Mind" is definitely in a different league. Although I don't know if that's just because of how it was used so iconic-ly in Fight Club (and then subsequently numerous other things). Overall its probably a 3 from me, although probably in actuality a 3.5 or so.
Django Django
4/5
This was a neat listen - felt very familiar, so I'm not sure if I've actually heard some of these songs (or at least heard the singers voice) or if they just sound very similar to some other bands. Some songs gave me Beck vibes, others had elements of surf rock or were more experimental in the vein of Animal Collective. It's somewhere in between a 3 and a 4 for me. I might be overrating but I really liked several of the tunes so I'll give it a bump.
4/5
Love Muse! Did not expect them to be on here - or at least thought it would be "Absolution." Yeah their lyrics aren't deep and might be a little cringe occasionally, but I never got the feeling they took themselves too seriously. They just write great, over-the-top alternative rock. It is spectacle and fun over "substance" and they do spectacle and fun really well. And they are excellent musicians and write songs with a lot of hidden musical depth. One I return to a lot.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
Yeah that was a great Friday pick me up. Heard a bunch of this before (especially Pedro Navaja) from the wife and her family. This is top tier latin music, and even though I thought i would disengage with it eventually it kept me interested the whole runtime. Great!
Johnny Cash
4/5
Playing San Quentin (at least one of the times it's on here) + I walk the line and A Boy named Sue, are the definitely highlights here. Otherwise it's a little bit of a step down from At Folsom Prison, but still somewhere above a 3. But Cash is always good and I have no complaints about seeing both records on here.
Paul McCartney
3/5
Enjoyed this a fair amount but I will say that this is basically Maybe I'm Amazed (which is a great fucking song) plus a bunch of other half formed ideas. The half formed ideas are all really good half formed ideas but it's still definitely missing something and I wouldn't call it great. But still... it's Paul. This is a solid 3/5.
OutKast
4/5
Struggling between a 4 and a 5 here... this could definitely be considered OutKast's masterpiece. Like most of their albums, it is still a little bloated and a little longer than it needs to be. 1hr17m is obviously much more manageable than Speakerboxx/The Love Below, but it is still too much. I'd cut 15-20 minutes and this would probably be a solid 5-star record.
U2
3/5
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is in the pantheon of greatest songs ever written, which I can freely admit although being a little "meh" on U2's overall output. "New Year's Day" is also pretty great. I didn't really connect with many of the other songs, which felt like standard U2 fare - U2 has several amazing songs and then a lot of songs that sound kinda the same. 3 Stars for the two awesome hits though!
Prefab Sprout
2/5
I know the term "Sophisti-pop" came later but its still such a ridiculous genre label. To be honest, I found this album to be a little "try-hard" - just trying to look cool and clever/smart, from the band name to the album name/cover to the lyrics and the musical styles woven in. Maybe I'm just being particularly negative at the moment and need to listen at a more unbiased time. But not jiving with this at all.
Michael Kiwanuka
4/5
This album I think deserves a lot more time - I was kinda distracted while listening and I think I missed a lot. I did like what I heard though so I'm going to give this a 4 since at the very least this is a 3.5+. very talented dude.
Cornershop
2/5
A bit repetitive, feels like "Brimful of Asha and then a bunch of other songs that sound somewhat similar to Brimful of Asha." Which... let's be honest, we all know that Fatboy Slim upgraded that song in the first place, otherwise they probably would not have been remembered. Cool to see Britpop with a very slight Indian twist at the least, but its probably not going to stick at all.
The Doors
4/5
I was flip-flopping between a 4 and a 5 here and I think I'm going to land on a 4 - still a fantastic album although Side A is easily way better than Side B, which still has a bunch of great tracks but nothing iconic. So its not quite a perfect record, but it comes damn close. You really can't go wrong with anything they recorded during Jim's lifetime.
R.E.M.
4/5
Haven't run into an R.E.M. album I haven't liked yet. This one didn't have any of the hits but the songs were great and there are a few I already want to add to my collection. This band is way better than I've given them credit for.
Tom Waits
4/5
I quite enjoyed this one. Definitely among the "less weird" of his albums - much more accessible songwriting with some beautiful ballads and some jazzy blues tunes. One of my faves of his so far.
Hawkwind
3/5
This type of space/psychedelic rock is good for two scenarios: background music you don't have to pay attention to, i.e. while working or driving, etc. Or getting stoned. I did the former this morning and had it on in the background while working. It was pleasant enough, but every time I switched to active listening you really start to hear the droning repetition. You could definitely hear the influence on modern doom/stoner rock. But it was just a bit much. And waaay too long. I'm sure it was a great concert to be at, especially under the influence, but for a recording, you could definitely trim it down to the highlights.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Might have to add this to my collection - really enjoyed this and I didn't feel it's length. He's an excellent jazz trumpeter and I loved the Afrobeat influence - this really felt like African jazz, much more so than "Water from an Ancient Well" which is also on this list.
X-Ray Spex
2/5
Well reading the Wiki page it seems this album was pretty influential on the punk/new wave genre... this is my first time ever even hearing the name so I don't know if I just missed it or if they are pretty relegated to "niche" status at this point. Honestly didn't really enjoy it other than a few good riffs here and there. Sounds pretty similar to other scene bands, or even a Blondie knockoff. Just too high a proliferation of bands that sound like this. And I didn't warm up to the vocals throughout the whole runtime.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Meh, to me this doesn't really stand up against the other golden age of hip hop albums. Plus the dude is apparently a terrible person.
B.B. King
4/5
Great live album from the king of blues - short and sweet, energetic, good crowd - definitely feels like a good candidate for one of the great live albums
CHVRCHES
4/5
Not sure if this belong on the "1001 Albums You Must Listen to Before You Die" but I do love it - it is super infectious synth-pop, back when I first heard "The Mother We Share" on the radio I immediately went to download the whole album. Its a 4-star album for me, I return to it a lot, and they haven't let up writing bangers since.
Billy Bragg
4/5
After really liking "Mermaid Avenue," I was curious if it was the addition of Billy Bragg that made me finally dig a Wilco album. After listening to this, I can say I believe that to be the case. The songs are simply structured political folks songs which he sings with gusto and gravitas. Glad the list has given me this discovery
Kings of Leon
2/5
When "Sex on Fire" came out and was on constant replay, I had a few people tell me to go back and listen to their earlier records, which were much better. I did, and I guess I didn't really see what all the fuss was about. I still don't, listening to it now - its serviceable alternative/indie rock but nothing strikes me as special or unique. I'm probably underrating this at 2 stars, but this is supposed to be a list of the greatest albums of all time so I might be giving it a more critical lens than I would have otherwise.
Destiny's Child
3/5
Yeah this was a HUGE huge record - I recognized way more songs than I thought I would. Definitely a bit bloated, not sure a diva pop record should be this long. And sometimes a little too reliant on others hits - way too many obvious samples here. Have nothing against sampling but when you take a riff or melody from a CLASSIC song that is instantly recognizable, then it just feels contrived. Probably somewhere in the 3.5 range but not enough for a 4.
The Band
5/5
Absolute classic - might be better than Big Pink. Just one of the absolute top folk-rock bands firing on all cylinders.
The Libertines
2/5
Honestly, I got the feeling that they were trying too hard the whole time on this one. Just didn't feel natural, like they were just hitting all the beats that a band like this is SUPPOSED to hit, without really writing anything memorable or catching. And after reading the wiki page about one of the bandleaders that seems to fit - just feels like they were more interested in being rock stars and the rock star life than writing good tunes.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Man, Talking Book through Songs in the Key of Life really was his classic period - I have pretty much nothing bad to say about any of these records, they are just on point. I don't recognize as many of the songs on this one as the other three but that doesn't really matter. Another great one!
Mariah Carey
2/5
Slightly disappointed in that I remember this being a huge album and remember my older sister listening to it all the time but I didn't actually recognize that many songs. Honey is just a great 90s banger but then the rest of the album sticks to slower R&B ballads. A few are great but I would have liked to see more diversity. The ballads just dragged on after a while.
3/5
This was a very solid funk/soul album. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing that says to me "this is one of the greatest albums ever," but I will say it was super well constructed with a lot of varying song styles, nice jazzy experimentation, and obviously a very talented crew of musicians. It's 3 stars for me, but its a very solid 3.
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
Hmm... hard one to rate. Adding an EP to the list is interesting, although at 32 minutes its a fairly long EP that could be technically considered an LP. The length kinda works for it though - musically it doesn't really push any bounds or have much variation, it just kinda sticks to that R&B formula with probably way too much of the "vocal riffing" that r&b divas tend to do. Lyrically and conceptually is where the album stands out with its "Canterbury Tales"-esque vignettes of female empowerment. I'm somewhere between a 3 and 4 for this one.
King Crimson
4/5
Man do I love me some weird-ass prog. And I never quite understood the total hatred it seems to inspire in some people. I understand not liking the genre, that's fair enough - but it really seems to set some people off when its really a bunch of dudes just having fun with music: playing in non-standard time signatures, with unusual song structures and experimental jams. And they get labelled as pretentious even though most of them don't really take themselves that seriously. Oh well. This one is a lot of fun - probably in my top 5 KC albums.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
This was tight - I listened to Amadou & Mariam back in the day so its a little crazy to see another blues group from Mali on here, since that seems pretty niche, but these guys were also excellent, and in a different way - much more guitar-driven and felt like Blues with a Mali influence rather than "Mali traditional music with a hint of blues."
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
Hah I do like this album but I had to laugh at the user review that said "its probably the whitest version of the blues i've ever had to listen to." Funny for sure, and maybe true - but this is "blues rock" not the blues, it was that link in the chain that led to hard rock/classic rock - and it is quite good. These are some talented lads and with the profusion of members who came and went and later went on to be members of much higher profile groups, it's obvious that this was a transformative group with much influence. Great stuff.
Motörhead
3/5
Motörhead never really grabbed me as much as the other metal forefathers - they have their own unique style and sound that isn't quite trash, speed or heavy metal, but on the same token - they stick to that sound and formula repeatedly on every single song. That being said, still a fun album. They play blisteringly fast live, with an intense energy that you don't capture on the studio album.
Bill Callahan
2/5
Similarly to Bonnie "Prince" Billy, I was a bit letdown by seeing tags like "apocalyptic" or "dark" folk and then not really getting the itch that these titles conjure scratched. Wasn't surprised when I saw they were connected. It was nice to hear the lower baritone voice but it didn't have as much gravitas as felt necessary and just ended up sounding out of place a bit.
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
This was fun, the vocalist has a very pleasant voice - this bossa nove with an electronic/downtempo twist worked a lot better I thought than its producer's solo album on the list (Suba's "Sao Paolo Confessions"). I don't know much about bossa nova but this seems like a great album in the genre.
Hot Chip
2/5
I remember listening to this band's previous album (One Life Stand) when I was doing a radio show in college and was tasked with finding new indie/alternative bands to showcase. At the time, I thought it was decent enough for some background radio music but thought nothing more of it and completely forgot that they existed. Now, 13 years later, I listen to the follow-up to that album ... and my opinion is unchanged. They were part of that very specific wave of "indie synth-pop" artists that were releasing new music in the late 2000's/early 2010's and they don't stand out at all compared to other bands like La Roux and MGMT.
Marilyn Manson
2/5
This is a hard one to rate. Manson's "philosophical outlook" so to speak I think was a net benefit - he always pushed the bounds to be shocking, but it was always very pointed, whether drawing attention to hypocrisy or decrying censorship. That being said, the music itself is ... not super great. Typical nu-metal that has not aged well. And its way too long. The musical ideas are stretched too thin. Also so much media attention has been drawn to his poor behavior its hard to view this without thinking about what a piece of shit he is.
Weather Report
4/5
Wayne Shorter is absolutely one of the greats - this album is super solid but you can definitely tell the 80's are coming with the tone of some of the synths. I'll have to revisit their earlier albums to compare (hopefully their self-titled or I Sing The Body Electric is on here too) but this still gets high marks for being a landmark jazz fusion record.
Cypress Hill
2/5
Another one I'm not really sure how to rate. Kinda throws off the album when one of the first lines is to call someone a "fucking fag." Granted it was 1991 but still. Cypress Hill had some great party songs (none of which are on this album) but also always gave me vibes of guys trying too hard to seem bad-ass. i.e. being to rap what Korn is to metal.
Os Mutantes
3/5
What on earth did I just listen to? This is definitely the type of weird shit I love finding on this list. I will probably never listen to it again. I don't think I even liked it. But I loved the experience of listening to this weird mix of styles and reading about it - a dissident Brazilian musical style that arose out of opposition of the military dictatorship at the time? Definitely list material.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Very solid debut, especially for a 19 year old female breaking into the hip hop genre back in the 80s. The flows and production definitely feel a little more dated than some other golden age of hip hop stuff, probably because it's right on the cusp of New Jack. I may not revisit much but definitely glad I listened.
Gram Parsons
2/5
Another tricky one to rate. There are a few uptempo songs in here that are pretty fun but then the rest of the album is filled with slow, waaay too twangy slide guitar ballads that just cause my interest to drop quickly.
Nina Simone
4/5
Damn... what an excellent record. Four Women is just so powerfully written and performed. And while that song is the standout, the rest of the album still shines - she's such a powerhouse of vocal delivery and emotion. Even though I'm a fan, I'd never listened to any songs from this album before and it really felt like I'd been missing out. Great stuff.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Man did I listen to this album a lot back in the day. And many of the songs are still on constant repeat. I know one can certainly make plenty of arguments about why RHCP suck and some are valid - they have repeated themselves a whole lot over the years, the lyrics are definitely super dumb, and Anthony Kiedis is for sure a douche. But they still have a handful of records that are still just a heck of a lot of fun and this is near the top. And of course talent-wise, I don't think anyone has anything bad to say about Flea, Frusciante or Chad Smith's chops.
Scritti Politti
3/5
I wonder if this band just never got popular outside of the UK, or if I've just never come across it personally. Couple songs would do perfectly well in any nostalgia media like Stranger Things. But nothing particularly grabbed me about the album either - seems like just a standard example of what many many synth-pop/new wave groups were doing during that period. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt with a 3, but otherwise somewhat forgettable.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Damn, all these songs came from the same album? Not much skippable on here - just a collection of mostly singles and some of his best songs. I mean, anything with in your eyes and don't give up on it already puts this near the top. Some of the best art pop out there.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Went in dreading this initially, since similar albums have sounded monotonous and repetitive, but was pleasantly surprised! Not sure I could listen for super long, but for 45 minutes it was actually really nice, calming, and not too repetitive. And some songs were catchy!
Finley Quaye
2/5
Was a little surprised to get full-on reggae when this started - just because the wiki page was not very detailed and other genres were in the forefront. But nope, this was definitely a reggae with some soul/trip-hop influences. Some of the songs were catchy but not sure why this would be included on a "must-listen" list. There are so many different movements and waves within reggae - don't know why this rather bland poppy album got highlighted.
David Bowie
4/5
Still David Bowie, still worth at least 4 stars - although I wouldn't put this at the top of my Bowie list. Still great music from start to finish but this one is Ziggy Part 2 without really any classic songs.
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Yeah that sure was odd - some of the songs were nice background music but otherwise it does feel like its trying way too hard to be artistic and deep. Nah, not my thing.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
I have heard of these guys, and I believe my dad listened to them a bit, but I haven't given them a try myself until now. Was not expecting what I got! Was expecting something maybe a little proggy or maybe funky like Chicago, based on my dad's tastes, but this is straight jazz rock, and heavy on the jazz. It's definitely a bit of a mess jumping back and forth between 60's rock and straight jazz, but it was a fun listen!
Klaxons
3/5
Surprised I missed these guys... I definitely listened to several very similar bands during this time period - Does It Offend you Yeah? and The Faint come to mind as being dance-punk that was on the "dancier" side. It's all very fun music, although I wouldn't put any of it in the upper echelon of "must listen" music. However, I definitely understand wanting to have samples from this musical movement/period.
Haircut 100
2/5
Another comment called this "budget Duran Duran" and I had to giggle. To be honest, it did seem like that. There is waaaay too much new wave on this list, and a couple of these could have been cut for sure.
Ice T
3/5
Never actually listened to Ice T before surprisingly - I'd call this album "solid." Doesn't quite match up with the other hip hop artists from the era, but it still had good production, solid flow and lyricism, and even was ahead of it's time with some lyrics (anti-homophobia).
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Similar to the last album by this duo, this is nice, pleasing, safe electronic music. I enjoyed it but yeah, very much a 3/5 album. Nothing earth shattering to see here.
Sugar
3/5
Another commenter mentioned this is what it would sound like if you just plugged a bunch of 90s alt rock into an AI generator. That made me laugh and seemed fairly accurate. Didn't dislike this album, but yeah absolutely nothing original or compelling.
Carole King
5/5
For some reason, I listened to Joni Mitchell and many other female folk artists in the same vein, but never actually sat down and gave Carole King the time. Which was a mistake because this is great. Also I recognized almost all the songs already, so extremely ubiquitous. Great stuff.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Much different from the other albums of his on here - here is his earliest incarnation, straight up rock n roll that made the girls swoon. It's fast, quick and energetic. Real good stuff.
Ride
3/5
More shoegaze, which still sounds pretty indistinguishable to me. It seems to me there's one shoegaze sound that all the bands share. Or maybe they are all secretly the same band and pulling a fast one on me. But either way, its perfectly fine but nothing that truly captures my attention.
Calexico
4/5
This was great! I haven't listened to nearly enough Calexico, only having heard their Iron & Wine collabs. This is such a fine mix of different folk styles - the songs are varied and interesting while still feeling like a cogent, cohesive work from a single band. I will need to listen to several more of their albums, and I will for sure add this into my collection!
Big Black
3/5
Interesting listen. Industrial punk is probably how I'd best describe it... Programmed drums, bass heavy. Heard plenty about Steve Albini the producer so was interesting to hear his music. Probably not a keeper but glad I listened
The Stone Roses
4/5
I do quite like this album, I've heard it several times and can't deny it's very solid. I think the production ruins it a little for me - it is almost a shoegazey/spacey sound that kinda turns me off, I think it would be better with traditional rock production (which is probably an unpopular opinion). But not enough of a quibble to rate it lower than a 4
Devendra Banhart
3/5
A friend got me into Devendra Banhart back in high school with "Cripple Crow." I'm not sure if I listened to this one or not - to be honest, his style is fairly distinct but also has that feeling of "If you've listened to one album, you've listened to them all." I know I had a few of his in my rotation for a while but I can't specifically remember ANY songs, as they all tend to blend together. Overall, its still quite enjoyable background music though, and he was a notable figure in the 2000's indie folk movement.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I think I was listening to the last live album on here when I got curious what other live albums would make the cut and assumed something from the Dead HAD to be on here. Well here we are. Definitely have mixed reactions -the middle of the album is easily the strongest bit: St. Stephen/The Eleven/Turn On Your Love Light is an awesome run where I can see where the Grateful Dead worship comes from. The rest? Meh. Dark Star just took way too long and still didn't go anywhere - just noodled its way nowhere. And Feedback was ... well just some guitar feedback. For seven minutes. In the end I think it lands in the 3 star category for being such a mixed bag.
Pantera
2/5
Fuck Phil Anselmo. Also... I understand the thought behind most of the metal albums on here... thrash was metal's biggest and most popular era and highly influential on everything after. But if 90% of the metal on your list is from the same thrash era (which can rightfully be considered repetitive and headache-inducing) then the metal genre will have pretty low ratings overall. Plus all the 90's crap-metal on here. But yeah... never really got into Pantera, there's so much better stuff out there.
Nico
3/5
Two heroin-addicted white supremacists in a row, what a week! This album almost feels like Velvet Underground had some extra studio time after "The Velvet Underground & Nico" so they just helped her record a solo album. They also wrote most of the songs, and also got additional help from Jackson Browne and Bob Dylan. Given all that talent - it does feel a bit underwhelming. The first few songs are interesting and I might end up adding a few into rotation, but the second half feels like it peters out a little bit. I may add this one to my collection anyways but I expected a bit more.
Björk
3/5
How many Björk albums does one need on a list of essential 1001 albums? This one seems especially ripe to just be removed in later editions. It's got the classic Björk sound but well past her period of highest fame and cultural impact. Actually, looking through the list, her album of peak fame/popularity and possibly most critically acclaimed album (Homogenic) is not and was not ever on here? What? Who chose to include her debut, her Sugarcubes album, this and Medulla all over her defining album? Some of the choices on this list are baffling to say the least.
The Soft Boys
3/5
More new wave/post-punk, this time with psychedelic overtones. Didn't mind it at all, but nothing really stuck out or spoke to me.
Brian Eno
4/5
Damn, this was surprisingly good -- and I say that because I'm pretty ambivalent on Eno's earlier rock output and Roxy Music. I looooove his ambient work though, and I think that creeping influence on this final rock album is what separates it from the rest of what I've heard. Also there are a TON of fantastic guest musicians on here. May have to add this album into my rotation.
John Lennon
4/5
To be honest, I think John Lennon's solo output is the weakest of the three main songwriters (obviously not including Ringo in this discussion lol). This album and Imagine are the highlights of course - everything else is mixed to downright bad IMO. Even this doesn't quite connect with me like most of the Beatles' oeuvre. A few real standout tracks like "Working Class Hero" - I might have to give more time to some of the other tracks to try and understand the critical appreciation. I'll round this up to a 4 though.
The Darkness
3/5
Figured these guys for one hit wonders (although their Christmas song is also great!) but this album was actually much more fun start to finish than I expected. I might have to listen a few more times to see if the other tunes are truly as catchy as they felt the first time. This still maxes out at a 3 I think, but its a fun 3.
Genesis
4/5
Damn, never listened to this whole thing, but at 93 minutes it did a damn impressive job of keeping my interest. This is pretty close to peak Genesis with Gabriel and Collins and the whole gang firing on all cylinders. I feel a little reserved giving this a 4 but not sure its a perfect 5/5
ZZ Top
4/5
Like Tres Hombres, this is somewhere in between a 3 and 4 - ZZ Top are iconic in their sound and look and write some badass songs. But they are all the same song. I don't think they are really are capable of a 5-star album, and even four is probably pushing it - they have a very a songwriting pattern and they stick to it exactly. That being said, this is one of their best for sure so I'll round up.
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
I legit thought this was a parody band at first - seemed like each song was just aping a different classic rock and roll song but with a little more "punk" sound. Didn't hate it, and maybe in '71 it was fresh as shit, but its pretty easily forgotten to me.
Big Star
3/5
My local radio station loves this band. I think they are... fine. Hearing the "That 70's Show" theme song right in the middle is always fun because I forget about it each time I listen to this album. Regardless, my view hasn't changed with this fresh listen. It's still perfectly fine, but nothing special.
Roxy Music
3/5
Still having trouble getting into Roxy Music. Brian Eno solo > Roxy Music 100% in my mind. This sometimes just feels like art rock for art rocks sake. Perfectly enjoyable but a bit empty and repetitive
Hookworms
2/5
Yeah this is a weird one. Decent album in a vacuum, but it's clearly a straight copy of bands that came a decade earlier - lcd Soundsystem, hot chip, dan deacon, etc. When I saw this was a 2018 album I was very confused. Add in all the sexual assault stuff and this is just a confusing and unnecessary addition to this list.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Struggling on a score here. Definitely a very dated album - very early 90s and very British. Some of the samples and production are decent but overall I'm just not a fan. I'm sure there's some good British hip hop out there but this ain't it.
Madonna
3/5
I remember my older sister listening to this one a fair bit so I recognized quite a few songs. While critically acclaimed, this album feels pretty dated to me at this point. The reviews talk about how changing up her style was such a bold and rewarding move, but to me it seems like she was just leaning in to what was popular at the time - the late 90's/early 2000's euro-trance/electronica movement. That said, many of the songs are still catchy despite overall being too long and too droning/repetitive with the electronica/club beats.
Radiohead
5/5
This album blew my mind when it came out, and I think besides "Creep" this was my first real introduction to Radiohead. Optimistic playing on the radio led to my picking up the CD, probably from the library, and I've been in love with Radiohead ever since. I believe I've now gotten every single album on their pretty much perfect run from The Bends to In Rainbows.
2Pac
4/5
In the Pac vs Biggie debate, I go team Biggie all the way. I never thought Pac was quite on the same level. However, this is still one of the most legendary hip hop albums of the 90s. Don't return to it often but still good stuff.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Man there was a lot more disposable/interchangeable rock from the 60's than I thought there was. I just listened to this and couldn't tell you one thing I heard. This definitely feels super non-essential.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
This was like a weird experimental mix of like Joe Cocker-ish vocals, Zappa weirdness, and Clapton-ish blues rock. I didn't hate it (I've heard some of his later albums get much, much weirder) but also wasn't really in love with it either. I don't think I'd re-listen. It felt like it was missing the emotion/passion/soul of blues rock in lieu of just making it more experimental and slightly "wacky."
Bauhaus
2/5
Yeah another one I'm not a fan of. Either I'm a bit burned out on the list at the moment, or just hitting a bad run. Eventually your luck runs out and you get to the dregs of the list. This seems like a precursor to shoegaze kinda. Lots of reverb, a wall of sound, and fairly depressing. Generally like gothic rock but this just didn't do anything for me.
Tom Tom Club
4/5
This was good! A welcome album after a few that I personally didn't connect with much. I've found appreciation for Talking Heads after not quite getting them for a while, but this album is quite different and fresh, much funkier than typical TH. Also I was surprised by "Genius of Love" - I shouldn't be surprised to hear songs that have been liberally sampled, but I am still surprised when SO MUCH from the original is taken that it feels like a copy/paste job. But there's a reason it was copy/pasted by Mariah Carey - because the original was great! Overall, the album is probably somewhere between a 3 and a 4 but I'll round up.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
I've wanted to give Sleater-Kinney a try since I found out Carrie Brownstein was actually a musician before an actress. I'm glad this list has actually given me a reason to finally listen. They are great! Just calling it punk is a little misleading - they seem more like a mix of feminist indie-rock with punk sensibilities. Songs are well-written, vocals are unique (I can see how some may not like them but I thought they were awesome!), and was still super catchy! Good addition to the list.
Culture Club
3/5
Gotta give Boy George credit for being himself and open and paving the way as an LGBTQ icon. The album itself is decent - there are several hits that are super catchy and then a fair amount of typical 80's pop fluff.
Holger Czukay
2/5
Waffling a little bit here on this one - I definitely like getting these super weird albums on the list, whether or not I actually end up liking them. I have rather enjoyed the Can albums I've gotten on here so far, but I didn't really connect with this one. I guess going solo was trying to push the experimental bounds further - didn't really work for me but I respect it!
Skepta
3/5
Was not a fan at the beginning but the back half to me felt a bit stronger. Still not quite my thing, but maybe it's just because hip hop feels distinctly American to me, so hearing British artists attempt it and somewhat "club"-ify it just feels wrong. But probably a lot of bias there that I need to recognize and try to look past.
N.W.A.
4/5
A landmark album in hip hop - the production is fire, the rhyming talent is unmistakable, and the anger towards cops and racist societal structures was extremely defining of its era (and unfortunately is still super relevant). However it often veers as well into misogynistic/sexist lyrical content which is just uncomfortable and hasn't aged well at all. Rating it with a modern lens as if released today would probably push this down to like a 2, but as a product of its time its probably a 5 star record. I'll split the difference and rank this as a 4.
Common
4/5
"Be" is Common's masterpiece in my opinion but this is still an incredible record. It also feels shorter than it actually is - most 80 minute albums I would say straight off the bat are just too long but it doesn't feel that way here. Definitely picked up and Carried the torch for conscious hip hop for a while
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
Wow, this feels like a completely different band than I heard on "Everything Must Go." Which, to a certain extent, it is, since the rhythm guitarist/lyricist disappeared mysteriously after recording this album. But whereas EMG just felt kinda like bland Britpop to me, this album has edge - its definitely still British alternative rock but the guitars have a punk bite, and it just has more character and groove. It is definitely still a bit long so the back half of the album started to lose me. I'll still give it four stars, but you cut this down by like 15-20 minutes and this would be a much stronger album.
Talk Talk
2/5
I fell asleep like six times trying to listen to this. Granted I'm going on very little sleep but still... Very slow, and didn't catch my interest much.
Baaba Maal
3/5
Decent background music - not really for active listening with the repeating guitars and droning vocals, but it made for good music to have on while doing other things. Not something I'd go out of my way to listen to again though
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Enjoyed this more than his other album on here. Sounds more in line with the English prog I enjoy with its casual weirdness and instrumentation. Would not say he is a frontman though - I understand why some would say his mumbling oft-off-key voice is a perfect match for the music but it just distracted me. And some songs definitely fell real flat for me, although that's always the case with progressive songwriting.
Jack White
5/5
My favorite of his solo albums for sure. Full of memorable licks, some experimentation but also just solid blues songs. Great!
Brian Eno
4/5
Damn, I really liked this one! What a duo of Eno and Byrne - amazing that it's pretty much instrumental besides samples yet it held my attention super well. The music is vibrant and interesting. Will add to my collection for sure.
Adele
5/5
Definitely her best album to date... Just filled to the brim with pop bangers and memorable ballads. Nothing particularly groundbreaking here but doesn't need to be. Will stay timeless and I think will be remembered.
Massive Attack
3/5
I think I prefer Mezzanine since since of the hip hop feels a little more dated on this one, but it's still great. I have to be in the mood for it but when I am, Massive Attack hits. Probably a 3.5 ish
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Kind of a weird one. Not sure I really liked it - psychedelic rock but half the songs feel like jokey singles. Just too silly to be taken seriously but just not fun enough to be enjoyed for for a what it is.
Jeff Beck
3/5
Listening to a Jeff Beck album is mainly just for the guitar virtuosity. He's great a great tone and is very talented and this group of songs complements his style. Greensleeves was a nice but random touch. Somewhere between a 3 and 4, mainly for the tasty guitar licks.
Sebadoh
2/5
Wasn't a big fan of either Dinosaur Jr album on here, and no surprise I'm not really taken with this one either. A little louder and angrier but ... Meh.
Raekwon
4/5
One of the best solo Wu efforts. As with a lot of gangster rap from this era, there is a lot of misogynistic and homophobic lyrics which date it a lot and make it a hard listen now. It does decrease the score a little in my books in retrospect. Otherwise just an outstanding record.
Neil Young
4/5
I believe this should have been one of the first Neil Young albums to hit. Easily up there with Harvest as some of the best I've heard from him yet.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Had to save this one for a vinyl listen. Outstanding album, probably one of the greatest of all time. Marvin Gaye's crowning achievement
N.E.R.D
3/5
What an odd mix here - almost like Incubus meets Gym Class Heroes but Pharrell is involved? Some of these songs are jams, some are kinda cringey now. Mixed response!
Dion
2/5
It was ... Fine? I guess? Just some watered down James Taylor-ish easy listening folk pop. If Phil Spector is supposed to be the draw here, it's a weak one.
Pink Floyd
5/5
What a great album. There's plenty to nitpick here for sure but why? Just enjoy how grandiose and over the top it is. One of the greats.
Bob Dylan
5/5
One of Dylan's best albums - and the incorporation of electric instruments just sounds so great and seamless to me even if it was a bit controversial at the time. The opener and closer are the highlights but its really just a superb album from start to finish.
Doves
3/5
It was alright - I think I liked The Last Broadcast a bit more, this was decent British indie rock but didn't feel quite as memorable. Still around a 3
Joe Ely
2/5
So, I loved "Boxcars." That song rips and if the whole album was like that, I would have been 100% in. But the rest? Meh. Too many ballads, too much twang. 2 stars for Boxcars alone
Britney Spears
2/5
Does this belong on here? Yeah probably... she was leader of the pack of the female pop explosion of this era, and as much as we cringe in retrospect this was a MAJOR point in pop music history. That being said, this album does suck a bit. It feels rushed out to capitalize on the singles - the first three tracks are super solid and then the rest of the album is basically filler. "Soda Pop" is actually awful and "E-Mail My Heart" is laughably dated. I'm curious if any of these deep cuts ever make her setlists these days. I doubt it. She has talent for sure, and the singles are good, but overall this is a bad album.
3/5
Lots of good stuff on here - a lot of progressive elements I liked, mixed with some really neat riffs and vocal harmonies. That being said, it does feel like its missing something to pull it all together and make it sound cohesive. It just feels like it wanders around, going nowhere. I'd rate this a 3/5 for being impressive but just lacking that factor that pushes this to the next level.
Circle Jerks
2/5
Well, it certainly didn't overstay its welcome. I always thought the sub-1-minute songs from punk albums were always a fun addition to the albums - often comically abrupt, or played at super-speed to fit in an entire song structure into the runtime. However... when every song is that length, it kinda loses its appeal right away, without any variation. Also just ends up feeling like a bunch of half baked ideas thrown at a wall without being fully realized. Also why I don't listen to grindcore.
The Lemonheads
3/5
Decent 90's alternative rock, but every song kinda feels like one of those songs on a movie soundtrack from the 90's that is just there because it felt like the right atmosphere but you did not buy the soundtrack because of this song, that's for sure. You don't skip it when listening to the soundtrack but you never really remember it's on there either. Well, here's a whole album of those songs. Probably around a 3/5 - totally competent and listenable but forgettable.
Stereolab
4/5
Interesting stuff, sounds like a fair amount of electronic indie rock I listened to in the late 2000's, so really damn ahead of its time in 1996. Very similar vocal stylings to Brazilian Girls, who are great. Kept me in it for the somewhat long runtime. A solid 4/5.
Ministry
2/5
Early industrial metal - I have heard of these guys but never listened. Definitely the predecessors of Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie/etc. It's fine - nothing earth shattering here. Just feel like this style is super dated and maybe should have been left in the 90s.
Beck
4/5
One of my favorite Beck albums. Super catchy, riffs are great and memorable, but still full of Beck weirdness and a little experimentation. Don't think he is a 5 star artist but a strong 4 for one of his best.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
4/5
Damn, a side project of Damon Albarn I didn't know about? This is great stuff... I possibly like it more than Blur, although it's hard to match the Gorillaz. Adding to my collection for sure
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Ah, finally the first part of the two part album I got months or years ago. I have trouble with this guy - he's clearly quite talented and the music sounds like it's well written and performed. But I feel nothing. Just feels like the motions of a good album without the timelessness or memorability.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
A hip hop classic and the quintessential G-Funk album - this and The Chronic brought West Coast hip hop to the forefront and to a new level. Snoop's output since his debut has been decidedly ... mixed. But this is just great with groovy and chill hip hop anthems. Great stuff.
The Undertones
3/5
Fun, catchy, early energetic pop punk. Nothing groundbreaking but quite enjoyable and could see myself listening again.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Not my favorite of the Joni Mitchell albums spun up by this project but it's still a fun listen. Closest to Hejira - a little more experimental and jazzy and less folk centric
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
An outstanding debut. The Cool is also great but nothing else he's done since has even come close. The production is fire and catchy without being too poppy, the rhymes are great, the topics are well thought out. Skip the outro and you've got a super solid hip hop record.
Mj Cole
2/5
Definitely an album that feels very dated to that period. I listened to a few songs at a time instead of the whole way through, which I think works better for these long-ass EDM albums that would make we want to kill myself otherwise. Being a more chill album, this was definitely not the worst offender on the list but it was still overlong (even when skipping all the bonus tracks) and repetitive. Not for me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Hot damn do I like Nick Cave. Each album is just a little different in tone while still maintaining his same classic style and recognizability. This one is probably closest to Murder Ballads but a bit more uptempo, a bit punk-ier. Great great stuff.
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Baby's Got Sauce has been on various party playlists of mine forever. After listening to a full album though, he seems kinda like a one-trick pony. And at a full hour, it was way too long when you kinda play the same song over and over again. A few good tracks but not nearly enough - slightly less than average for me.
Liz Phair
4/5
Discovering Liz Phair's early albums has been a pleasant surprise to the list. Like probably many others, I was just familiar with her pop-driven self-titled album, which is still good but definitely a very different sound than her earlier indie albums. This is probably the best of the early bunch. The raw, lo-fi sound really works with the subject matter and really comes together in a great product.
Country Joe & The Fish
2/5
I get that the psychedelic rock movement was a big deal and a huge transformation for music. But there are just waaay too many rather run-of-the-mill psych rock groups on this list. Same for New Wave/Post-punk. It looks like these guys are on here just for being one of the first to release an album from that "San Francisco Sound" movement. A lot of the albums that are on here just for being the "first" of something, most certainly aren't the "best."
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Skynyrd's classic album. Honestly wish I could scoff at this and write it off, having become the anthem of the wannabe rebel redneck assholes. Of course they rocked the Confederate flag as part of their imagery, but given this was in the 70's and then all the members at the time died, I guess I'll give that a pass. And the songs themselves are just pure southern rock, nothing like what you'd expect from a modern day equivalent. And the songs are great. Just classics through and through. Nothing after was quite at this level.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
This is definitely not "The Wall for Generation X" as Billy Corgan hoped, but it is a pretty great record. It is still definitely too long. Even just making this 90 minutes would have been a big improvement. I was into it waaay longer than I normally am for long albums, which is impressive, but at 2 hours, even for a pretty moderate Pumpkins fan as myself, it still loses steam. That being said, it is some of the best stuff he's put out, and even the unending length and Corgan's douchebag personality don't push it lower than a 4.
Brian Eno
5/5
Yeah this was fantastic. While never truly connecting with Roxy Music, almost anything Brian Eno is involved with on this list has been TOP TIER. This in particular is probably the best combination of his art rock phase and ambient phase. I'm adding it to my collection ASAP. 5 Stars is probably an over-rating, but fuck it.
Happy Mondays
2/5
I honestly didn't remember I had already reviewed an album by this band until I saw it mentioned in another review. Welp, my other review says I felt "whelmed" by this album, and I guess maybe I was less than whelmed because I didn't even slightly remember listening to it. This one I have also already forgotten. So much mid British rock on this list.
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits - such a legend. Every album has a different feel but his super distinct vocals tie them all together. This one faithfully recreates a smokey jazz club, replete with a live audience (despite still being a studio recording) and many spoken word passages full of story-telling and audience interaction. It matches his style so so well and manages to keep you entertained and listening rather than rolling your eyes. Another winner.
The Bees
3/5
This album was pleasant enough, and its always a welcome surprise when a British rock band doesn't sound like Britpop clone #234. However, it didn't really feel like this album/group had its own identity - like they were just grab-bagging a bunch of styles they liked to make some background tunes for commercials. Which, apparently, is how they are most known - for having some of their songs in UK adverts. Otherwise, I fail to see how this made the list - its pleasant listening and that's about where it stops.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Definitely the more talented singer of the two late-90's pop divas. Definitely some good songs on this album, but also a lot of duds and a lot of extra length for no reason. Probably could cut at least half of this album.
Peter Frampton
5/5
Yup, one of the greatest live albums of all time. Frampton's unmistakable sound, his unique use of the talk box, the extended jams... Really just great stuff and the 78 minutes fly by. One of the GOAT
The xx
3/5
This was definitely an improvement over the previous album on here. I still think they sound kind of lifeless and bored, but at least they varied up their sound a bit so it's not completely one note.
Todd Rundgren
4/5
I liked this a lot, in fact much more so than his next album, the Wizard/True Star one. This was still weird in spots but overall much more accessible and had a lot of bangers. It was too long, yes, and would have been stronger with editing, but I still think it's 4 stars.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
A certified hip hop classic, and one of the GOATs, in my opinion. The jazz rap is slick, the lyrics are fire, and the production is 90s fresh. Scenario is on many many playlists
Laura Nyro
2/5
Not sure what it was but I just didn't connect with this very well. Her voice didn't quite hit - just annoyed me slightly although I have no reason why. And everything just felt sorta fake to me - but maybe I just really don't like "folk jazz" albums. The whole genre just feels like stale NYC hipster 60's elitism. Joni Mitchell might be the only artist to pull it off.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
3/5
Enjoyed this! It is brash, proudly kind of stupid, and energetic. Not going to win any songwriting or lyrical awards any time soon, but I've spent half hours in worse ways.
2/5
Even this old timey country, which is heaps better than modern country, still wrecks my ears a bit. So repetitive and boring with the same slide guitar twang, crooned vocals and mopey lyrics, even at under 30 minutes its hard to get through. I'm sure she is one of the greats but not for me.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
Interesting but more as an oddity than being actually essential. The rock-Indian hybrid doesn't really work for me, personally. Sitar just starts to drone on as well after a few songs
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Most UK Rap just does not seem to mix well with my ears. This was pretty solid though - I think its because of the mixed influences of Jamaican ragga, R&B, soul, and American Hip-Hop. It made the record much more varied and interesting. Probably somewhat higher than 3 stars but not quite enough for a 4 star rating.
Joan Baez
3/5
Honestly not a huge fan. Surprisingly I've never really listened to her before. The folk style was pretty good, and I actually liked most of the songs, however her voice for some reason just really turned me off. So high and shrill and at some points felt like the wrong voice for the type of music. So the rating goes right in the middle.
The Beta Band
3/5
Not entirely sure why this is on here. I enjoyed it but it's definitely more along the lines of "some cool electronic rock jams" than "essential listening."
The Dandy Warhols
4/5
Wondered why the name sounded familiar, until I realized they did the Veronica Mars theme song (not on this album). I think I might round this up to 4 stars, although it's somewhere in the 3.5 range. Fun blend of alternative rock with some more atmospheric spacey shoegaze at the end. Just the right mixture for me!
Van Halen
4/5
Not as good as 1984, mainly because the first six tracks are loads better than the last five, which are rather forgettable. But can you score an album with Ain't Talkin Bout Love, Eruption, and Running with the Devil any less than a 4? I think not.
4/5
Man, I've really liked both XTC albums on here. Before this list I was only familiar with "Making Plans for Nigel" which I never would have guessed was even the same band as the two albums I've gotten on here. This one is much more orchestral with almost zero rock - but still super engaging. Not sure it necessarily belongs on this list, but still a super well crafted album.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Pretty solid record but unsure why its on here... their first two albums were super influential for the 2000's and definitely deserve a spot. But a later-stage album from 2017? Feels like it was just added to new editions of the book as a critically acclaimed album from a known entity rather than something important from that time period. 3 stars from me on this one.
Shack
3/5
Oh joy yet another Britpop album. This one is maybe slightly better than the average - there's a little more variation in sound and doesn't have that droning British nasal sound that seems to define a lot of these bands. Still, its a 3/5 from me - competent but nothing I'd add to my collection here.
The KLF
2/5
Before listening, I had a feeling this would be fairly generic dated-feeling British electronica with a Eurotrash-y feel. I was spot on. Not the worst of the worst on here but just not my jam.
Stan Getz
4/5
This was great! I know this is more of a crossover album that helped popularize Bossa Nova for the non-Portuguese, but Gilberto was still one of the pioneers of the genre, so it still retains that authenticity. Really great rainy day music IMO.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Pet Shop Boys are a super "solid" artist to me. When a PSB album comes up on this list, I know I'm going to enjoy it. I don't think any of it as "classic" or "GOAT" material, other than a few songs, but they still never do me wrong
Primal Scream
3/5
Mixed feelings on this one. It's definitely too long. Any album where repetition plays a big role in the overall sound (i.e. dance albums with four-on-the-floor in many many songs) definitely suffer from the album being too long. That being said, there is SOME variety here and there that breaks up the monotony - songs that are way more alternative rock. But I also just always hated certain 90's "club beats." I don't know what to call them - maybe this is acid rave, or just certain Eurobeats. But it just drives my ears crazy a little bit and sounds dated. I'll give this a 3 since I was rather mixed but its probably slightly under for me.
Peter Gabriel
5/5
Man, Peter Gabriel is really one of the GOATs and has maybe turned into a personal fave of mine slowly over the years. I wasn't as familiar with all the songs on this one as I was with "So" which is essentially all just hits, but this one was still utterly superb. I did know "Games without Frontiers" (what an awesome song) and "Biko" but not the rest. Didn't matter - it was all great. Dude can't seem to do wrong IMO.
Rod Stewart
2/5
My opinion is pretty much the same and reinforced by this second early Rod Stewart album. It sounds like its better than it actually is? Like he's got the look of a rock-n-roller, the voice of a rock-n-roller, the band sounds authentic enough... but it just feels like someone doing an act, like you fed a bunch of 60's/70's rock into AI and it spat this out. Perfectly fine as background music but nothing that will get the heart racing.
Billie Holiday
4/5
Feel bad for folks hearing this as their first exposure to Billie Holiday and just not understanding at all. This is not a good introduction - this is the album you listen to with a little ache in your heart after growing to learn and love her classic songs and voice, and reading about her life. While she recorded one last album's worth of material before her death, this is her real swan song - with a voice now raspy and wracked after years of drug and alcohol abuse, filled with pain and melancholy. It is 100% a great album but definitely requires a bit of context.
Stephen Stills
4/5
Damn, I think I liked this more than any of the other CSNY solo stuff I've heard on here. Was Stills the heart of the bands sound? This is great folk rock. First song was familiar and a jam, and the rest of the album continued to deliver.
Coldcut
2/5
Ooh boy, more British electronica. Honestly if you played me a song from this or The KLF or any of the other bands/DJs/whatever from the late 80's/early 90's, I probably couldn't tell you the difference between any of them.
Giant Sand
2/5
Damn, I saw this band was associated with Calexico and got excited and then was super let down. Holy lord the vocals killed this. Just zapped it of all energy in lieu of mumbled low whispering. You ain't Lou Reed man.
The Adverts
3/5
Would I have really gotten into this when I was deep into punk in my teen years? Maybe. Definitely had some earworms that caught on pretty quickly (Gary Gilmore's Eyes was stuck in my head pretty fast) but I also didn't feel like it was really doing anything I hadn't heard before. Takes a really outstanding punk band to stick out from the herd and these guys... didn't.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
One of the OG hardcore punk bands. I never got super into them back in the day but Holiday in Cambodia is a punk classic. On my older ears it falls a little flat but that seems to be the case with a lot of the punk stuff I wasn't introduced to when I was younger and more impressionable. I'll give it a 3, but I probably would have given it a 4 or 5 as a teenager.
3/5
For some reason I expected this to be another Britpop album. Was surprised at the punk sound. Was even more surprised to see it was released in 1969 (and recorded in 68!). I mean.. it's not like, good or anything, but still was surprised and moderately entertained. 3/5
Kings of Leon
2/5
I started writing up this review and then thought I'd go check my older reviews to see if I had already gotten one of their albums and what I wrote about. Literally laughed when I realized I was writing the same exact review as what I what I wrote for Aha Shake Heartbreak, so why don't I just copy and paste that instead: "When "Sex on Fire" came out and was on constant replay, I had a few people tell me to go back and listen to their earlier records, which were much better. I did, and I guess I didn't really see what all the fuss was about. I still don't, listening to it now - its serviceable alternative/indie rock but nothing strikes me as special or unique. I'm probably underrating this at 2 stars, but this is supposed to be a list of the greatest albums of all time so I might be giving it a more critical lens than I would have otherwise."
Cocteau Twins
3/5
I think I liked this just slightly more than their other album on here. A little more atmospheric and you could really lose yourself in the music here. But still not quite on par with my favorite shoegaze-y stuff. And the vocals bothered me after a while.
Orange Juice
2/5
Cool cool cool. Yet another new wave/post-punk act from the UK. Maybe 500 would be a better target for these authors, since they are clearly struggling with 1001 "essential" acts. I'd rate this somewhere between a 2 and a 3. Nothing new to see here.
The Black Keys
4/5
Really solid - one of the best by the Black Keys. Don't really understand the hate these guys sometimes get - they write solid blues-inspired garage rock. Its catchy and fun. Not reinventing the wheel here but they've carved out a niche sound that is still unmistakably their own.
The Psychedelic Furs
2/5
Oh hey another UK post-punk/new wave band from the early 80's - its been since yesterday since I've listened to one of these on the list. Lord almighty. This is different from all the other ones because... ?
TV On The Radio
4/5
A welcome surprise. Truly one of the few bands I can say I liked "before they were cool." A friend lent me this record back in high school assuming it would be right up my alley. They were correct - the album was groovy and had a super unique sound. I listened to it on repeat and have been a massive fan ever since. While their later records are probably better, this one always holds a special place in my heart.
The Jam
3/5
I was a big fan of All Mod Cons and I'm not sure I liked this one quite as much. However, it might just be overload/being burnt out on new wave/post-punk. I'll have to listen to this album again in the future when I'm not listening to a new post-punk album what feels like every other day.
Kanye West
2/5
I really wasn't a fan when this came out. I absolutely loved My Beautiful dark twisted fantasy, and this came out and was the exact opposite in every way. Minimalist and abrasive but somehow even more egotistical and a bit obnoxious. I liked it a little more listening now but overall it's still near the bottom of Ye albums. And seemed to be when he REALLY started going off the deep end.
Van Morrison
3/5
While 90 minutes of Van Morrison is probably too much, I can see that he and his band put together a tight, excellent show with lots of energy. Makes me "get" him as an artist a little more, whereas I've always been a little mixed and don't get the hype. Don't think I want to go as far as adding him to the 4 star club but it's still pretty solid.
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Very mixed on this - skewing slightly negative. One song in this style is kinda neat and different. An entire album is just too much. I can't imagine being in a band that played in this style. I would just fall asleep each gig. So quiet you have to turn your speakers up the whole way to hear it. No energy, no passion, the vocals feel like it was an effort to just whisper out the lines. Not a huge fan.
Kings of Leon
4/5
Hey I don't have to copy and paste my Kings of Leon review from the previous two albums! I honestly enjoy this one a whole lot more. Not sure if it's actually much better and just sorta a lone standout of their discography to me, or it it's just because I listened to it first, but either way, the songs stand out to me - very catchy tunes and a unique sound. Probably like a 3.5 or so, but I'll round up.
M.I.A.
2/5
After Paper Planes came out I definitely wanted to check out her other stuff since that song was a banger. I... Did not like any of her other stuff. None of it had the same feel, it was just repetitive and kinda dull. And listening with fresh ears now... It's still not for me.
Koffi Olomide
4/5
Damn, this one was popping off. Lots of unique sounds and beats, plenty of diversity between the tracks, and just a great energy. Sounds like the guy is a bit of a dick but the music is quite solid. Solid 4 stars from me
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Meh. Did we really need more than one album by this band on here? Or did we just need to do a little padding to hit 1001. Don't lie...
50 Cent
3/5
This was better than I thought it would be, but I think that's mainly the production and Em/Dre. In Da Club is the obvious standout here.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Out of all the loads and loads of post punk on here, Echo & the bunnymen are near the top of the heap IMO. Maybe it's that slight tinge of Gothic Rock that I hear in there. Don't know but definitely more a fan of this than a lot of others.
Bob Dylan
5/5
An absolute classic and one of Dylan's best and most iconic albums. His first foray into electric and in the middle of just an insane run of albums. Truly a 5/5
TLC
3/5
Solid 90's R&B album. These girls were massive, although I only remembered Waterfalls (which is a top-tier song) and Creep. Probably not an all-time great album but its very solid!
The Residents
2/5
This was some weird shit. Definitely one of the reasons I did this list. A) To find classics I'd never been exposed to before, and B) to hear some whacked out avant garde shit. This is definitely B. I loved it but also its getting 2 stars.
The Vines
3/5
A very solid album. Nothing spectacular but certainly very solid. Get Free was a solid single but once the garage rock revival died out I never heard from them again. Probably not something I'd listen to frequently but certainly a decent album.
Soft Machine
3/5
Thought this was Soft Cell at first and was quite confused. Nope this is some jazzy prog rock - not sure how I never came across them before as I'm a fan of the genre. Four 20-minute tracks? Right up my alley. Wellll... almost. I'll probably listen to this a few more times and may add some of their stuff to my collection. But most 20-minute prog songs that I love are normally more of a long intricately composed story. Listening to this it felt like it was more of just a long jam session with barely any vocals. More along the lines of Phish than Genesis. I still enjoyed it and would give it a solid 3 but it won't make my top prog albums list.
Morrissey
3/5
This is potentially my least-disliked Morrissey project on here so far. I mean, his singing is still exactly the same as always but the rockabilly the band is playing at least makes the music a bit more interesting, even though he didn't bother to adjust his vocals even slightly to suit the style.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
A stone cold classic. Tom Morello reinvented the guitar and Zack de la Rocha embodied the frustration of a generation with his passion, political lyrics and ... Rage. 5/5
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Love me some Fatboy Slim - this debut is a little rough around the edges but still a good time. Doesn't have any real "hits" - those would start coming in with his next album. Also there are a few songs where a repeated noise or musical phrase is just waaay too in your face and ruins the song with the way it grates on you. Like a repeated whistle for example, or one guitar note that just keeps going and going and going without deviating. He clearly fixed some of these beginner mistakes on his next album. Despite that, this is still a solid 3.
Justin Timberlake
2/5
Bad timing on this one with Britney's memoir coming out which puts Justin in not so great a light. And also makes the best jam on here (Cry Me a River) feel a little icky. Besides that song, Rock your Body is literally the only other song I really like. The rest feels like watered down white boy R&B. And its over an hour long. Not enough meat here for more than 2 stars.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Another banger of an album by Ali Farka Touré, this time adding in the skills of legendary guitarist Ry Cooder. Really great desert blues with a distinct Malian twist. Awesome stuff.
Miriam Makeba
4/5
This was an interesting album! A blend of a few different styles - most notably, South African "world music" (what a terrible genre name) and Jazz somewhat along the lines of Nina Simone. It was quite a pleasant musical experience. Love running into this type of stuff on the list.
Sparks
3/5
The album cover gave me somewhat ... dubious vibes. But this is not white people cosplaying Asian, its just a rather groan-inducing pun for a rather silly album. It is fun and gloriously silly - sorta like a whole lot of glam rock. Just big dumb fun silly music.
Throwing Muses
3/5
Not bad! Liked this a bit more than most post-punk on here. Solid frontwoman with a good energy, a lot rockier than your average post-punk album. Probably like a 3.3 or 3.4
Digital Underground
2/5
Is the horniest album from the golden age of hip hop? Probably up there. It's unique though and I love the beats. At the same time, it's way too long, both the album itself and the individual songs. Most of the songs are 3-4 minute ideas stretched into 6+ minutes. Very mixed on this one. Probably 2.5
LTJ Bukem
1/5
Sooo... we have a compilation album (already feel like we're breaking some rules of the list here) of drum and bass (uh-oh I don't like where this is going) that is nearly 2 1/2 hours long (my brother in Christ WHAT...). I feel like a 30 minute drum and bass album would be a nice break of something different - a bit of relaxing atmospheric electronic music. But there are no 30 minute drum and bass albums. Because every single one has to be so long that you want to shoot yourself when you are only a third of the way through. Every single song has the same exact dnb beat too (seeing as its the only definable thing about this type of music). So 2 1/2 hours of the same repetitive beat. Literal torture.
The Yardbirds
3/5
I've known about the Yardbirds for a long time but never bothered to actually listen to them, despite knowing that Clapton, Beck and Page all got their start here. So I'm glad this popped up! This is one of the Jeff Beck albums and you can really hear his style of guitar play here - it's obviously still being defined but especially on "Jeff's Boogie" can you really hear him let loose. I'll have to spin their other records as well now that I've gotten started. Nothing particularly iconic here but a fun album nonetheless.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
These guys definitely deserved to be more than one hit wonders. I'll give this a 3/5 but I should probably listen to it a few more times and it would probably raise up to a 4 with enough listens.
Cat Stevens
5/5
CLASSIC folk album. This and "Teaser and the Firecat" are just phenomenal folk works. Honestly haven't listened to much else Cat Stevens, although I can say I'm not really interested much in his later Islam-centric works. But this is perhaps one of the best folk albums ever recorded.
David Ackles
2/5
"American Gothic" is a great album title. Unfortunately I didn't feel that the music added up. Like Scott Walker or The Divine Comedy, the schmaltzy-ish vocals turn me completely off to the music, and the orchestration just adds to the feeling - making it feel like "show tune" music at times. Not for me.
Pere Ubu
1/5
I oftentimes very much like the bizarre avant-garde stuff on here. Or I can listen once and be like "well that was an experience, not sure I'll listen to it again but it sure was something." This was something different, mainly due to the godawful vocals. Would have gotten a much higher rating with a different vocals or as just a weird instrumental. But sadly, this is just unlistenable to me. And not because of the bizarre-ness of it. Just because the off-key screeching vocals make me wince. And I listen to death metal!
k.d. lang
3/5
I liked this a bit more than her solo debut, which was just covers, all country, and kinda schmaltzy. This is all original music which is much better than the covers. Also not quite AS country as the last album. There are a blend of styles here as well, a few tunes I liked, even if overall it was not really for me.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
I enjoyed this! Its Americana/country/blues but filtered through sheeny 80's production. Sorta like Juice Newton but a little more Americana/less Country. I may have to listen to some more of her stuff. I probably won't return to it often but nice addition to the list.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Curious addition to the list in my opinion. It's a pretty decent album with a few synth-pop bangers but has some definite problems. A) It's too long - there is literally no reason for this album to be a double album over an hour long. Partially because B) There are too many cover songs on here. Especially when the covers don't really add or change anything from the original and just sound like a bar cover band. And C) Relax is way too much of a meme song for me to take seriously at this point. I mean... I love it but its just a bit jokey.
Skunk Anansie
2/5
Well, it's better than the nu-metal on here. But seem like real middle of the road "alternative metal." Definitely did not make it's way across the pond back then. Maybe you had to be there to get it. Otherwise it seems like completely generic hard rock.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Yeah Zeppelin is one of those bands that I'm too close to be able to step back and listen to with unbiased ears. So I'll just go ahead and leave 5 stars for this hard rock classic.
Red Snapper
2/5
After reading through their Wikipedia page, I can safely say I have no idea why this is on here. Either this is just a personal fave of one of the list editors, or maybe they just felt like they needed some artists in this genre (acid jazz I guess?) needed representation. I don't know, but just not seeing what the cultural impact of this was. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. Probably give it slightly under a 3.
Scissor Sisters
4/5
This is one Cristina likes. She plays "Take Your Mama" a lot. It's good! Lots of great energy and spunk. Good jams and good vibes.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I remember listening to this one back in the day but I eventually lost interest as I grew older. Still pretty good indie rock even though it's not my jam anymore
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Seems like most Bossa Nova on this list tends to run through the one family, huh? I mean, this was still pretty good. Bossa Nova/Samba seems like a pretty easy listening music. It's laid back without being super boring, relaxing while not sounding completely like elevator music. That said, I'd still probably give this effort probably a middle-of-the-road score for being pleasant enough music but nothing really stunning.
Sepultura
4/5
Two VERY DIFFERENT Brazilian albums back to back here lol. I am not the biggest Sepultura fan but especially less so of their nu-metal years. There is definitely nothing thrash left at this point in their career. This one however is a bit more interesting with the blend of traditional Brazilian music - it really gives the album a unique feel that separates it from the nu-metal horde. I started the album thinking it would be a two-star review but by the end, I'm inclined to rank this as a solid 4.
The Cult
4/5
Big fan of The Cult. Love Removal Machine is one of my fave hits of theirs too. The album on the whole is great! Hard rock but with a tinge of gothic rock (which their earlier stuff leans more to). They also are sorta in the same category as other 80s hard rockers going a little glam, but they never went too over-the-top with them so I've always put them on a higher pedestal than say, Motley Crue. All in all, this is great addition to the list.
2/5
Another weird one that I love the list for serving up but also will never listen to it again. Very heavy on the "noise" side of "noise rock." Very light on the rock. And on the "music."
Talking Heads
4/5
The more I listen to the Talking Heads, the more I like and respect them! We've pretty much covered their formation through 1980, might as well listen to the rest of their albums at this point and consider myself a solid fan of their work.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Ok now. One Dexys Midnight Runners album on here makes sense. Too-Rye-Aye was their big hit with Come On Eileen, and it was interesting to hear some of their other songs. Then we got a second b around? Now aTHIRD? Did I need to hear their entire original discography? This one reeks of trying to be "artistic" after a big commercial hit and is probably my last favorite of the three after first listen.
The Coral
3/5
I've had Dreaming of You on many many playlists over the years and never listened to any of their other songs. Honestly this was a fun album - dabbling in different genres from around the world but still feeling cohesive, if a bit off the wall. Will probably listen again!
The Thrills
3/5
Interesting ode to California from an Irish indie rock band - I've definitely heard the first few songs numerous times, although I have no idea where. Used a bunch in The O.C. which makes sense although I never watched that show. I will say that the catchy "singles" to me are much better than the rest of the songs, which seem to drag on. I'd give it a mixed review but since several of the songs will be added to my collection, I'll say its a solid 3.
The Associates
2/5
How is there still more 80's post-punk/synth-pop on this list? Have we hit every single band that made a song in this style yet? Jesus Christ the distribution/weighting on this list is piss-poor. This one is especially bad - all the indulgences of the time period with none of the positives. Pass.
William Orbit
2/5
Didn't hate this but I can't see myself putting it with the other threes on here. Just another electronic album with "world" influences. Maybe influential in it's genre but meh.
Grant Lee Buffalo
4/5
This was a nice surprise! Alternative rock meets Americana. I imagine this would be Oasis if they were from Texas instead of the UK. Will probably listen again
Janet Jackson
3/5
Was actually a little excited - never actually really listened to Janet so thought it would be a cool experience. I also figured I probably knew some songs already but I don't think I recognized a single one. Was a pretty solid 80s pop album although nothing was super catchy. Did feel a little fake lyrically, coming from someone in the Jackson family, but wasn't too distracting.
Morrissey
2/5
Goddammit list... Had to throw one last Morrissey album at me, on my birthday (fingers crossed this is the last one). Way too fucking much of this pretentious wanker on here. Sometimes the backing music is decent, depending on who is in the band at the time. But Morrissey always has the same drone in his voice no matter what.
Christina Aguilera
2/5
Two Christina Aguilera albums on here, back to back albums of the 2000's and both double LPs. Why, Christina? I mean, to the fans I guess longer and more music is getting more bang for the buck, but there's something to be said for editing. Admittedly this one is a bit better than Stripped, being much more cohesive and having less filter, but its still too much. Also, with these two albums it really seemed like she was trying to diversify with different genres and styles, but she sings the exact same way no matter what the track sounds like, so its not really as diverse as it seems.
Bad Company
4/5
Great debut album - Can't Get Enough, Ready for Love and Bad Company all on the same album is a great start and the rest of the songs are killer too. Proof that not all supergroups are underwhelming.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
All the post-hardcore on this list I guess is the stuff that inspired the stuff I actually listened to (the mid 2000's resurgence) so I guess I should like it more than I do. But it seems like a different genre, much more inspired by early indie rock than what I really loved in high school.
American Music Club
2/5
I've been disappointed by too many bands on here when I see tags like dark folk, americana, alternative country - there's so much I love in those genres but a large number of picks on here having been waaay more indie rock inspired plodding, out-of-key, "mumble folk." Nothing inspiring here, move along...
The Zutons
3/5
Interesting little album. The genre tags don't seem to really be able to define it. Broadly just "indie rock" but jumping in and out of genres. Its definitely a bit all over the place and certainly not cohesive, but its at least fun and doesn't take itself seriously. Worth at least 3 stars.
Ash
3/5
My favorite kind of Britpop! Britpop that really doesn't sound like Britpop at all lol. This is definitely more pop-rock with punk influences. There are definitely better albums in the "Britpop" genre and way better albums in the punk genre, this is middle ground that is enjoyable but not super memorable.
Death In Vegas
2/5
Don't really know what to say about this one - no clue why it was included. Just felt super average and bland. Nothing to see here.
Dagmar Krause
3/5
Well that was certainly a different listen for this list. Seems a little odd as it really doesn't feel like an "album" as much as a collection of songs from a certain composer. I don't feel qualified to rate this so I'm just leaving a 3 here.
Madonna
2/5
I like a fair number of Madonna's 80's hits. I like her 90's and 00's music much less. I gave Ray of Light a 3, and this feels like an extension of that but less creative. Some of the songs were downright irritating. Not a fan.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Disliked this about as equally as their other album on here. Please God no more.
Missy Elliott
4/5
Missy is really underrated. Can't rightly rate this any less than Under Construction despite not having any of her hit songs I recognized. Just a solid record from one of the greats.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Another reviewer called this "Wish.com Bjork" and I may have audibly laughed at that. This is definitely way more folksy than Bjork ever gets, but the vocal mannerisms do closely align. It honestly hurts the album a little bit, which otherwise is fantastic. Feels a bit like "Look at me, look how quirky of a singer I am!" Otherwise its well composed and I enjoyed it. Would be a 4/5 album with some tweaks.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Was wondering when this one was going to pop up for me. I think I've hit all the lowest rated albums now! This definitely earns its low rating - by that I mean that this record was specifically made to alienate and confuse. It is dissonant, weird as heck, truly deserving of its "avant-garde" tag. And super long just because. It's David Lynch's favorite album, which should speak volumes. I actually didn't actively dislike it as much as I expected, but still rating this bad boy a 2. I'm still not going to listen to this a second time.
Eric Clapton
3/5
Clapton's an asshole, yeah yeah yeah. It's hard to deny he was a beast at guitar though and rightfully earned his place in the pantheon of the greats of classic rock and roll. Don't really willingly put him much anymore, but you can't pretend he's not talented and had a major impact on the history of music.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
I'll be honest, I wasn't looking forward to this one. Indian music can get quite a bit grating at times. This had certainly some of that sound but it was meshed so well with the 70's soundtrack feel that I liked it a bunch. I do think soundtracks shouldn't be included on this list, seems like a weird inclusion, but a welcome one.
The Fall
2/5
After the name "Mark E. Smith" sounded familiar, I did a search of my history of this project and was surprised to find I had already listened and rated two albums by The Fall. I was not surprised that I had given them both 2 stars. This one is no different. I also may never listen to a British post-punk album ever again after listening to every god damn album in that genre on this list. Jesus Christ Robert Dimery.
Steely Dan
3/5
I've given every Steely Dan album on here a 3 - likely due to the fact that I sometimes get Steely Dan and something I think they are the most overrated yacht rack band of all time. So I tend to rate right in the middle to make up for my own changing opinion. I'll probably do the same here. Great background music and probably lots to dissect lyrically and musically if you are paying close attention. Also has about as much bite as grandma with her dentures out.
Pulp
3/5
Had to get at least one last Britpop album in here before the list wraps up. This one was better than most although definitely feels like "latter day Britpop" in that it is bloated and over produced, given in to all the excess of these bands after they got popular. That being said, it was still quite enjoyable.
The White Stripes
4/5
Elephant and White Blood Cells are my absolute favorites of The White Stripes and are undoubtedly 5-star albums for me. This, Icky Thump and De Stijl are probably all 4 stars. This one still has a ton of great songs, its just a bit slower and more piano-driven, so whenever I listen to it, I feel like its missing that "edge" that my favorites have. Might be a production issue too - the guitars just don't feel like they have the same "bite." Also, just has more songs that aren't quite as memorable. That being said, this is still a 4-star album, just don't reach the same heights as their absolute best.
White Denim
3/5
Decent but definitely feels like a jam band pastiche of related genres (prog/psychedelic rock/indie/garage rock) without really feeling like a new or unique take on it. Just felt like stuff I'd heard before. Might listen again or check out their other albums though.
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
Not really sure if Lenny Kravitz belongs on a list of essential albums... not that I particular dislike his music - he has a bunch of songs that are jams! But it is 100% not essential or required for any sort of musical education - he's just a rich kid who grew up listening to good music and aped it in his style and fashion. Definitely more about the looks and the style over the actual substance. That being said, its still a decent 3 star album.
Saint Etienne
3/5
Couldn't finish the list without at least one more British electronic group from the 90's of course. Still not for me but this was not terrible - had a more indie down tempo chill feel. A few songs I might return to. Weird to start off with a Neil Young cover though.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
Did not know Michael Franti was in a hip hop group prior to Spearhead. This is pretty good for 1992 socially conscious hip-hop. I wouldn't say this is iconic or a must-listen. Some songs are awkward/unnecessary/filler. More of a curiosity than anything. Weird that they chose this over anything from Spearhead (unless that is one of my like, 3 albums left in this list).
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Maybe not my favorite Peter Gabriel album - it feels like he's still getting his footing as a solo artist, so a lot of experimenting and playing around with different sounds. Much more along the lines of weirder progressive rock stuff coming from Genesis than the pop-prog perfection he finally hits with "So." Still has Solsbury Hill though, which is a 10/10 song.