1001 Albums Summary

definitely a bit dated at this point. Very glad they didn’t call the record “Don’t Be a Faggot”. They keep making high school references despite being in their mid-20s

Still love this one. So many bangers. The whole B side is simply masterful

I remember Burt sharing this record in early 2000s and I listened to Peaches En Regalia a ton but neglected the rest of it. Solid jams, lots of extended instrumental bits and even a whacked out saxophone solo!

80s hip hop is funny. Half the time they were just rapping about a story where they did things. I feel like this is not as good as Licensed to Ill, and seems a little like it’s a response to that record just not as good. Shock value lyrics but not a lot else. Express Yourself remains a classic and Fuck Tha Police still bangs

Maybe it’s just blues fatigue, but this record wasn’t one I would put on the “1001 albums you NEED to listen to”... it’s, well, fine? Surely sound like the blues, and that music is so influential on all modern music, but just sounds like a bunch of white dudes cosplaying as Delta musicians

Love this album, this is exactly what I was hoping for in this project— I really only knew the hits. I know this is one my dad probably wore the vinyl out of when he was in high school

This was my self-appointed "favorite Beatles album" when I was a kid (despite not hearing all of the Beatles albums). I'm not sure it holds up to it's reputation. Some great songs on here-- Blackbird, Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da, Helter Skelter-- but there's also a lot of just plain weirdness, and very ego-centric "we can do no wrong" energy, with a lot of songs seeming like they could probably use a little more studio precision. This was the beginning of the end for this band, so the schizophrenic nature of the record makes sense. Still a solid outing, the Beatles are one of the greatest of all time for a reason.

This one brings me back to 2011, and to my first real heartbreak in particular. I played the hell out of "Absolutely Cuckoo" because Stacy introduced it to me, and the Book of Love has shown up on quite a few playlists. The whole project is 3 hours long, though... way too long, and not every song was great.

I’m so uneducated on Springsteen so this was a welcome “pull”; some good stuff in here, his writing is so mature. He was a couple years younger than me when he made this one, and it was his 4th!

Conflicted with this one. One one hand, I love the sound of this era of hip hop. Always have, even the weird rap/rock Anthrax mashup at the end. Politically charged, lots of lyrics about race relations. On the other hand, some of the lyrics are terribly homophobic and anti-Semitic. Flavor Flav also sounds like a total asshole (convicted of beating his partner, and then complains about the New York Post writing about the story).

Sounds like the Smiths (no kidding) but not as good? I mean, it’s fine enough...

Missy Elliott is a goddamn national treasure and you can’t tell me otherwise. This album slaps, it was recorded in 1997 but sounds like it’s from 2007. Had no idea Timbaland produced.

Early 90’s rock just hits different. Very grunge-y, love the songs where Kim Gordon sings. I will say a lot of these songs sound very similar

Finally, a jazz (adjacent) album! This one’s a classic for sure, brings me back to my Afro Latin & Carribbean Music course I took at Columbia.

Punk bible. Anarchy in UK, God Save the Queen, etc. good stuff, but you def have to be in the mood for it.

I've heard this a bit before. This one is interesting, because I'm fairly certain I LimeWired just the song Pedestal by Portishead; don't know what led me to do that, but that song in particular is very stirring to me. I'll give 4 stars, this one's a fun listen.

Ironically had recently added this to my private list of albums to “check out later”— an ongoing never-finished project- so I was glad to give this one a listen. The beginning of the “Berlin trilogy”, so I added all three incl. Heroes and Lodger. Bowie was newly sober for this record, which makes me think of my own ongoing relationship with substances. It’s forward-sounding, extremely unique stuff clearly influenced by loads of other music. I like this one a lot, 4 stars on its own but 5 in the grander context of these three records

This album is very nice. I reminds me of my great uncle Ken just vibing to this one that on the dance floor at my wedding. T Rex is ultimate glam-pop-pre-punk-pre-grunge radness

This is one of those records that’s just burned into American subconscious for anyone in my generation, these are lullabies. Legends from an,,ancient time”. Two Little Birds >>> just about everything

Pretty good record. Panama, Jump... hot for teacher.

Inspired a whole mess of punk rock listening, in addition to some jazz. I like the rawness. It's very forward-thinking, reminds me of music that would become the staple of the 80s.

Country music, and kinda bland country music at that.

More country-adjacent, but this one is a little better at least. I only know Ryan Adams as the subject of Phoebe Bridgers’ song ,,Motion Sickness”. The first track on this album is worth the three stars alone.

YES! Unfiltered, authentic, unquestionably brilliant JAZZ from the one and only Count Basie. These arrangements own, Basie’s playing is perfect, it’s all great.

Forgettable indie/experimental sounding rock. It’s fine

Prob the newest record on the list. Doesn’t really stand out to me as all that special. It’s okay

African pop music from the early 90s.

Nina Simone was a gift to the Earth and we didn't deserve her. MY NAME IS PEACHES. RIP Queen. Hopefully this isn't the only Nina album on this list.

Nine Inch Nails is admittedly a blind spot personally; always seemed a little weird to me, but this record is better than I expected (although I like the first one he did much better for my own tastes).

Very Joni Mitchell-esque chilled-out folk vibes. I liked it, probably not going to revisit anytime soon.

Brilliant

Dad rock of the finest order. Pairs nicely with Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen.

Super bizarre record. I actually like the Depeche Mode, but this one had like— a piano sonata? A cover of Route 66? Weird background cinematic jams? I give it 3 stars just for weirdness

Old school rap/hip hop music that is still pretty decent. 3 stars.

Heavy metal music, real life heavy metal music. It's okay.

This is that classic rock dad rock straight to the veins with the nostalgia type of vibe. I feel like I've heard this record lifetimes before my own.

Rave rock what?

Irish rock... man the early 90s/late 80s were a weird time. Hard to imagine people getting amped about this music the present day. This record gave us Fairytale of New York, one of my Xmas classics

You know what? After listening to this record, I actually kind of get why people like the King so much. Outside of the classics and the songs that our neighbor Leon plays across the street, I actually haven't listened to much Elvis and this one was a pleasant surprise. Country/soul at it's best. Such a weird genre.

Digging this one actually. Been kinda into early 2000s/late 90s house music and this fits the bill.

More house music (this is two days in a row), but this one is interesting because it's organic real instruments. Honestly not that different from a Bonzo Terks philosophy when we're playing at our best; ironic because a saxophone player ended up joining this "acid jazz trio" with electronic influences hahah.

80s music. Tainted Love is on this record, nothing else super memorable.

So many classic tunes. Ella Fitzgerald was a cultural icon. I love it so. 4 stars

For the first time, I am abstaining from listening to this album and giving it 1 star

Great for my ongoing “new wave” education- a selection of music my dad didn’t really expose me to, thus creating a blind spot. Echo & the Bunnymen are pivotal to this scene, and this is their first record. Pretty solid. 3 stars

Sends me back to college. Retro blues-rock.

For being a genre I listen to quite a bit, this “indie rock” release is... not my jam. 2 stars

This rules. I kinda knew going into it that I’d love but ya, it’s great

Classic soundtrack. Curtis is an OG. I’ve never listening to the whole thing before.

late 80s hip hop. Kinda sounds like Tribe Called Quest, but not as good.

I’ve always thought Radiohead was pretty good, but overrrated. This is like their pivotal album- Karma Police, Subterrarean Whatchamacallit Blues. It’s pretty good

Trip hop; listened to this in the background at the cabin. I was not offended

This record is fine, but not really for me. It all kinda sounds the same. I don’t think I’ll listen to it again

90s Dylan... I actually liked it! “Make You Feel My Love” is on this one (made famous by Adele, had no idea it was a cover). Some solid grooves on this one.

More Dylan. He plays the hits, it’s a live album. It’s not for me

Listened to this in the background while I played Fortnite. Nothing too memorable for me

Classic; heard this one a bajillion times. They’re very good at molding folk music with experimental sounds

oh, the Doors... Jim Morrison seems like a lot of girl's crushes because they can just romanticize the party boy lifestyle, when it reality this guy would be no one's friend. The music is pretty good; sloppy bluesy keyboard-heavy grooves with Morrison warbling over the top.

Finally some jazz again! I'm clearly biased, if I had my way I'd probably rate every jazz album 5 stars. That said, I can still hear Lal's voice in my head telling me to keep it at 4. Love this picture of him on the cover with the dog. Stanley Turrentine is an OG

80s new wave/electronic before electronic music was a thing. "Sweet Dreams are Made of These". I do like Annie Lennox a lot. this record is fine enough I guess.

Less than 5 years old, this record was a surprise for sure. Never heard of Jane Weaver before. This music is solid, I listened to the record she just released this year and enjoyed it too

80s disco vibes. Decent enough

Some of this sounds like modern “bro-psychedelic”, which makes me see this as well the blueprint. It’s a sound I very much enjoy.

Makes me think of my uncle putting this record on when I was a teenager. Since I “came of age” in the 2000s, Nirvana had already been taught to me as rock legend, a myth of the past (though the 1990s were not that long ago). This still slaps

Never heard of this before. Not sure if it’s a valid “album you must hear before you die”, but it was fine

Early 90s metal-punk-grunge vibe. Never really listened to Fugazi outside of that one song.

I did listen to this.. mostly on my walk with Penny. It’s the record with California Dreaming. This sort of soft rock 70s stuff is typically my jam. Idk

Sounds like the Beatles. Love me some McCartney

First McCartney and now Dylan? The dad jams are strong this week. I love how this record has an out-of-focus picture of him. The songs are fine, albeit a touch misogynistic at times, though it all starts to sound the same after a while...

Lorde is fine enough I guess. I don’t know if she’ll still be well-known in 5-10 years. This record is mostly forgettable

Sounds like the Doors. 60s precursor to grunge

Patti Smith... gotta do some research. This record was good, G-L-O-R-I-A gloooooriaaa— definite banger.

Didn’t like this one as much as the other Kinks album. Idk

Lots of old timey rock songs on this one... already forgot most

80s style music. Karma Chameleon definitely the most famous song. Boy George sure seems like a character

Techno-style house music, very 90s but i dig it

Classic African soul music. Lovely stuff, a very pleasant surprise this morning

This record is great. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Time After Time, both classics, but all the songs on this record are good in their own right. She Bop is one of my new faves

Soft spot in my heart for this one

Early QOTSA. Before the record I know, but still legit. They’ve always sounded very earthy and organic to me.

Good old punk rock. And some of the songs have horn arrangements. Pretty neat.

Two Tom Waits album in one week. Oh, the nostalgia. Sends me back to being a kid in the 90s just chilling with my dad while he works when I wasn’t at school. Some of these songs are melodies to me as sacred as the Beatles or Rolling Stones are to the general public.

Lol. Trip hop/ambient nonsense.. idk I’m in a crappy mood because I’ve been sitting at the dealership all morning. Also straight up skipped the Motörhead live album from yesterday.

Y’know, it’s funny. This is gangster rap, and he definitely uses some language that’s terrible, but overall it sounds so goofy and old because of the early 90s sound. I liked it

A classic. Dance pop mega-jammer.

Old school country western. Not my cup of tea, to be honest.

Good old Tom Waits... this is the third album of his in the last couple weeks I think. This one in particular is funny because it's a studio album with a small crowd to simulate the sound of a jazz club. Kinda like Tom Waits faking his signature stylistic voice until it became real. Fascinating figure

Good stuff. Lots of good songs on here. No surprise I guess, Carole King is an excellent songwriter. Bonus points for having a cat on the cover

Pretty forgettable honestly. Don’t know why this is on the list, guess they were really stretching for 1001

Pretty good 80s sounds.. The Police are fine, I don’t think they’re necessary listening but certainly not offensive

Like the Doors but more dad-rock (if that were even possible). Not my favorite.

Couple good singles on here. Very organic sounding. Decent enough

I think at this point I can say I fully stan Kate Bush. This record is good, lot of really whacky stuff

Lol major techno vibes. It’s decent, just kind of sounds like everything else like this

More edm/house type of music. Not bad, it’s pretty good, I guess

Again, kind corny sounding because of the early 90s style. Lots of misogyny of course, but overall a decent enough record

80’s human music. Pretty okay

Listened on shuffle. Don’t think it really mattered though, pretty much all of it sounds the same

Pale Blue Eyes is a solid song, the rest is pretty okay. Sounds like the Velvet Underground, which is a pleasant sound

Maybe I’m just in a bad mood but this record is boring, forgettable, and I feel like this list has generated a bunch of these. Hopefully tomorrow is better, this week has been pretty meh

Kinda corny of course, but love the horn section.

Some good old classic 90s hip hop to start off the week. Jeru the Damaja sounds nice and indie too… loved this record

Pretty solid record. I think I like Radiohead; generally considered one of the best bands of the last couple decades, for a reason

More house-adjacent. Not terrible, not groundbreaking

Old timey-sounding folk music. Kinda nice, also boring

Heavy metal, like the kind of jams that would play at Kuma’s. I respect the genre, but I could never listen to it every day

One of those records I heard as a kid that still sends me back. Pretty solid grouping of songs

Smashing Pumpkins are “cool guy” music in my brain, even if they haven’t really been relevant in a while. The big singles off this album were on the compilation record I had as a kid, and I’ve played them over and over again ever since.

Good old reliable ABBA. Disco/dance from yesteryear.

Pretty solid record. I like TV on the Radio, they’re a solid good modern band

60s-era psychedelic rock, sounds like the Doors again a little.

This record is from 1990? Wild. Rock/country but with Neil Young’s goofy voice crooning over it all. I liked it

Eh..

Grunge-y, mostly okay

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I always have a soft spot for the records my dad played a bunch when I was a kid. This is one of them.

Hell yea 90s r&b. Two great singles off this one “Creep” and “Waterfalls” and all the cameos were awesome- Andre 3000, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought maybe?

Good old Donald Fagen. Some good stuff here, sounds a lot like Steely Dan of course

Love this one, Pharcyde was one of the groups I’d say responsible for my love of hip hop

Kinda put this one on in the background. Definitely REM but before they were a super big deal so some of the songs sound a little different, not so monotonous as their later output

Not really sure what to say about this one. I had it on the background more than actively listening, Lou Reed is certainly a mood but I couldn’t listen to him all the time

I listened to this one back when I had “Low” generated for me. Wonderful record

Neat stuff, 2000s-sounding rock/electronic hybrid.

Eh, this one was fine I guess. More late-60s era pop rock.

More REM, mostly good songs but this seems older and more established. Used to be a bigger fan of their sound, but as I’ve gotten older the less I’m into it

Good old Beastie Boys

Sophisti-pop from the late 80s. Sounds kinda like Sade and Spandau Ballet had some kind of musical lovechild. Decent enough I guess

Kinda neat old school 90s “deep thought” hip hop. Lots of social commentary, sort of like Gil Scott-Heron

Classic record. I’ve heard this one a bunch in my life, it’s kind of jazz/pop.

Tubular Bells aka The Exorcist theme (plus a whole lot more). Some neato 70s-era prog rock. Swanky

Classic. Pet Sounds. Phil Spector was a murderer *shrug emoji*

Great record, though it kind of sounds like the soundtrack to Saturday Night Live sometimes; Fame is one of the greatest Bowie songs of all time

2000s-era sad boi music. Elliott Smith was the best, this record is no exception. Great songwriting

I think I still hold the opinion that 70s John Lennon is a little bit overrated, but this record is pretty good.