Definitely a really strong showing. I had considered proposing the Decemberists to the user list, though i put both Picaresque and The Crane Wife ahead of this. This is still very cool as it continues the theaterical story telling of their style. Well written, and i enjoy Colin Meloy's delivery. The tracks are a little bit more uneven, feeling more like the musical that has a handful of filler or connecting songs to get you from one point of the story to the next, but the effort to make a banger was not there. Still, The Wanting Comes in Waves, The Rake's Song, and Hazards of Love 4 are all fantastic, and the album is engaging. Enjoyed!

Huge fan of this. Similar in time and style to Elvis Costello... its got an intellectual vibe, and delivers an amazing blend of rock, punk and pop hooks. Both slow and sneery attitude driven rock songs work here. Enjoyed!

This is my kryptonite. It’s a jazzy electronic rap R&B vibe that’s all over the place and isn’t particularly fun to wade through. It sounds somewhat tolerable, but other than wave therapy, they all pretty quickly become irritating.

This is an awesome kind of madness. It certainly challenges you from the outset, but it feels that the abundance of screams and panic in the early tracks is actually used in moderation with lots of other more open and orchestral pieces. Mix this with the occasional metal skrillex electronic vibe and this is something that is entirely unique. It is engaging and something that I came back to multiple times over a few days… I expect to explore this more.

What's most suprising about this album is that it isn't actually bad. Late 60's prog rock? It is almost universally dated and is generally pretty uninteresting. All of this is completely fine, rock and blues, without fuzztones, prog rock noodling or anything that really hobbles it. There's nothing award winning here, but the tracks are pretty even and generally enjoyable.

This seems definitely the most approachable of the albums we’ve heard from the list… and sonically it is pretty interesting, definitely doing a lot more to demonstrate craftsmanship while not being entirely experimental. What keeps holding me back is the lyrical writing isn’t particularly clever, it just comes off as juvenile. Most of it is a miss for me, though Uncle Remus is the closest where it comes to working as there is a fun/joy in the vibe that I can more easily engage with. Overall, it was good to hear a different aspect of his catalog, but Frank is just not my cup of team.

I enjoyed the journey. The strings and woodwinds layered with a warm contemporary slower jazz has a great vibe to it that was able to keep me engaged. Though Crush and Don’t Drink the Water stand out the most for me, the rest of the album has does a pretty decent job of staying interesting. The arrangements are really the king here. Definitely fun!

This is an awesome kind of madness. It certainly challenges you from the outset, but it feels that the abundance of screams and panic in the early tracks is actually used in moderation with lots of other more open and orchestral pieces. Mix this with the occasional metal skrillex electronic vibe and this is something that is entirely unique. It is engaging and something that I came back to multiple times over a few days… I expect to explore this more.

This is really easy to approach and enjoy. What stands out the most is the slow blues guitar feel in many of the tracks that seems to perfectly capture the emotion of the song and carry it forward. It doesn’t need to be flashy or fast, but just hits the vibe and elevates the song. Beliefs, Gravity, Slow Dancing and Bold as Love as all standouts though the album is really strong from start to finish.

This is my kryptonite. It’s a jazzy electronic rap R&B vibe that’s all over the place and isn’t particularly fun to wade through. It sounds somewhat tolerable, but other than wave therapy, they all pretty quickly become irritating.

I frickin' love this album. Pop punk at its finest. Maybe the Party Song is a bit weak, but otherwise the album is start to finish catchy mostly fun (thanks Adam's Song) bangers that double down on goofball youth and their priorities.

A solid singer-songwriter vibe in the vein of Iron & Wine and lo-fi Father John Misty. The songs are a bit hit and miss through most of it. They're fine, but they don't do a lot to differentiate themselves. Enjoyed Girl in the War and Monster Ballads at the start. It wasn't until Thin Blue Flame that this really comes into its own. It has a great developing passion and energy that carry it like any of the prior tracks. Really solid.

What's most suprising about this album is that it isn't actually bad. Late 60's prog rock? It is almost universally dated and is generally pretty uninteresting. All of this is completely fine, rock and blues, without fuzztones, prog rock noodling or anything that really hobbles it. There's nothing award winning here, but the tracks are pretty even and generally enjoyable.

I’m already a Weezer fan and like many others, pretty shocked that this wasn’t in any editions of the book. It is a seminal album in the nerdy college alt rock domain, and though I’ve found Pinkerton to have more enduring interest, there isn’t a bad track on this album and Say It Ain’t So is one of my 5 favorite songs of all time.

Definitely a really strong showing. I had considered proposing the Decemberists to the user list, though i put both Picaresque and The Crane Wife ahead of this. This is still very cool as it continues the theaterical story telling of their style. Well written, and i enjoy Colin Meloy's delivery. The tracks are a little bit more uneven, feeling more like the musical that has a handful of filler or connecting songs to get you from one point of the story to the next, but the effort to make a banger was not there. Still, The Wanting Comes in Waves, The Rake's Song, and Hazards of Love 4 are all fantastic, and the album is engaging. Enjoyed!

Saw Death Cab in a tiny club touring with this album back in 2003. The thing that surprised me the most was that the album initially comes off to me as a pretty mellow alt rock delivery, Title and Registration is awesome, Sound of Settlings, We Looked Like Giants… all just great songs. But in there, and especially noticeable live, they can crank the noise with the best of them. They aren’t afraid to occasionally create the wall of noise that really steps on Ben’s vocals, but I think I like this approach as they also give the vocals lots of room at the front. Its a variety that definitely works for me and this great set of tracks.

Pretty formulaic synth pop. I feel like i'm listening to an album of rejects from the Shrek soundtrack.

He is definitely an artist missing from the list, though I definitely in the For Emma, Forever Ago camp... one of my absolute favorite albums. This is definitely way more experimental, though his approach still shows a lot passion. The slightly more traditional tracks like 8 Circle really work for me, but there's not enough like that which makes most of the album more of a curiosity.

This is just crazy. If this is introduced as a spanish-language collection of poems done to music, you would never guess what you were about to experience. This is wild and fun. Though I'm not sure i'm likely to listen to this again, the music was really solid and so much fun. Enjoyed!

Easy to approach, and has a very “Killers” vibe to the sound. Nothing stands out as too memorable or catchy, and tracks like Stranger’s Kiss seem a bit forced to me. What I caught of the lyrics doesn’t particularly work for me which seem to hold it back a bit. Overall OK.

A more approachable and reasonable prog roc delivery. The instrumental sections seem to be the strongest… as most of the singing doesn’t actually seem to make it much better. Nothing too memorable but an interesting listen.

I had never heard of this before and was pretty impressed at how easily approachable it is and that tracks like I and Love and You are exceptional, with a sincere passion that elevates it. Songs like Kick Drum Heart do a lot for the album, giving new tempo and energy that also carries a good pop hook. Really enjoyable.

Cool to see someone added They Might Be Giants to the list... i've enjoyed a bunch of their hits that i've heard but haven't delved too deep. This album is quirky and fun, with certainly some songs that make you pause (e.g. When Will You Die?), but ultimately there is not much that is really catchy that elevates it. A fine listen.

Definitely enjoy the ska punk reggae vibe from Sublime. There is enough really strong tracks in here (Santeria, Wrong Way, What I Got, Sam in the End, Caress Me Down, Doin’ Time) that make the long journey worthwhile. There a bit of uneven content, nothing bad, but not particularly interesting.

Not sure why this needed to be added. The self-titled B-52's album has several stronger songs, though is a bit more uneven. Wild Planet brings us Private Idaho and Strobe Light, which are both great, but everything else is pretty forgettable. It is more of the quirky party B-52's sound, which is enjoyable in limited doses.

Huge fan of this. Similar in time and style to Elvis Costello... its got an intellectual vibe, and delivers an amazing blend of rock, punk and pop hooks. Both slow and sneery attitude driven rock songs work here. Enjoyed!

It sounds like late 60's musical theater with modern references. Though unusual, it certainly doesn't seem very compelling. Happy when it was over.

Fascinating. I have no idea how i've never heard of this band... popular in England and an active band for over 50 years (60 years if you allow the precursor bands). The surprise of that is more interesting than the album... which is some fine bluesy boogie rock. I like the slower tempo A Year and All the Reasons best. Their cover of Roadhouse Blues is a bit of a travesty, but the rest of the album is fine, though ordinary genre music.

Her vocal style really works for me and the bluesy and soulful arrangements are enjoyable. Wanna Be On Your Mind and Pushin' Against a Stone work best for me. Though there are a few tracks that are kinda 'meh', there is enough passion and power in the style that made it an enjoyable surprise.

There's nothing really like Boogie Wonderland... an absolute banger. After the Love is Gone certainly also stands out, though it's not enough to carry an entire album of otherwise just serviceable 70's disco/r&b/funk.

There was a moment in time where i was into Robyn Hitchcock's voice and i found Globe of Frogs to be decent. Unfortunately this is a bit too artsy and experimental to get into. Didn't find anything that really stuck for me, and the extended spoken bits made it feel like a bit of a slog.

Surprised and really enjoyed this. It soulful and southern... like a cross between Chris Stapleton and The Commitments (soundtrack). Goodbye Carolina and Autumn Rains are great and there's enough else that is easily approachable and hits that vibe to stay engaged.

How could this have not already been on the list. Definitely justified. Maybe Brave Strangers is a bit boring, but otherwise this is one of the strongest top to bottom albums around. Nobody does it like Bob. Awesome fun!

A fine alt rock vibe, but nothing particularly special. Citrus seems the most interesting, but I'm not that big of a fan of the lead singers vocal style. Its fine but nothing i would seek out.

Really compelling singer-songwriter album that starts out huge... Lion's Roar and Emmylou are strong and engaging. There's a few other gems along the way, like To a Poet, but it suffers a bit from being very samey by the time you get to the end. Promising and approachable.

Lady Marmalade is OG, and there's a couple more strong tracks, Somebody Somewhere and You Turn Me On stand out, but most of the rest seems like standard issue disco-R&B genre music. It's fine, but doesn't stand out for me.

Not sure I get this one. It is entirely the style of an Elliott Smith or Sufjan Stevens but seems to be an octave higher and more waifish without the warmth or those other artists. This is fine singer songwriter material, but nothing really immediately engaging on first listen.

Damn, this is a pretty fun album. Lots of strong tracks with a fun beat, melody and energy. En La Playa, Te Quiero, and Marta Tiene are my favorites, but it has a fun pop bubbly vibe with some decent hooks that make it a nice surprise.

I love the dark angsty vibe of Tool. Tracks like Stinkfist are exceptional and convey a powerful mood. Unfortunately after Stinkfist, there isn't anything that really delivers at the same level of the first track. I compare this to Fear Inoculum and 10,000 Days, which i think are much more engaging, with greater consistency track by track, that really have some exceptional standouts. This shows promise, but there's not enough to be excited about.

It's fine. Old timey trumpet music doesn't do much for me... certainly tends to sound all the same, but i can acknowledge its importance.

The sound is actually pretty clean and seems well produced. Unfortunately what they produced seems overly serious but just comes off as dumb, laughably dumb.

It seems well crafted, lyrics, beats, however the content itself isn't in my wheelhouse. It ends up being a bit more regrettable. Pass on this.

I really LOVE the korn numetal sound. Jonathan Davis' voice (especially the range and different styles he uses). The bass is so dark and dirty and the whole vibe can get so angsty, aggressive and heavy... there is SO much potential here. It works best for me on Blind, Daddy (the first few minutes at least) and Faget. The other tracks have that vibe, but it seems like it fails to deliver the big punch. A bit too uneven to recommend further.

I really like the journey that this takes you on. I have definitely been a fan of Pink Floyd, and appreciated the heavy Roger Waters story influence that applied to the Wall, and even more so to The Final Cut. This still feels like an extension of that (i do think his output becomes less interesting with Radio KAOS and forward). But this is still visceral, emotional and engaging. The title track is the closest to something catchy and traditional, but the whole album does a great job in playing like a story. Excited to see this as a user submitted album.

Kind of a beat poet/rap delivery over generally interesting/mini-wall of noise alt rock instrumentation. The lyrical delivery is uninteresting, and there’s nothing particularly engaging or catchy with the music either. It is different but not particularly great. Kind of aimless. There’s nothing that is a major turnoff, it just gets old after 20 minutes.

Fun and hip, but there's little here that really stays with me... blends together to easily. Un Gran Circo was the standout for me and the only track that really engaged. Still an interesting listen.

Enjoyed a modern take on classical that felt like it was a bit of a mood journey and travel experience. Nice discovery and definitely under-represented in the original list.

I really like the tone and the lead singer's voice. This genre is kind of a perfect fit for me, however the album underwhelms a bit. Options and Rapture are promising, but most of the rest meanders around until Second Best, which is the standout track for me. I actually like the subsequent album, Achilles Heel, better.

Reasonably interesting. The opening track is a bit of a shot, with a higher energy electronica vibe than most of the rest of the album. It definitely settles into a more folky atmospheric haunting energy that conveys feeling but doesn’t do a whole lot to engage the listener. The singer has a Dolores O’riordan delivery that I like, but the tracks aren’t particularly catchy.

An interesting hybrid. A little introspective/heartfelt singer-songwriter, that goes into several experiments in the rock/classic rock/prog rock genre. Perfect Life was the first track that stood out, though it wasn't until Ancestral that i felt the rock side of things took off a bit better. Not a bad listen, just not too much to return to.

I absolutely love the style and vibe here. Pain was one of my favorite songs in 2017 and the rest of the album has lots of introspective quiet passion tracks that really work for me. Great atmosphere and feeling. Could listen to this over and over.

Fun and unexpected. Quirky, melodic and really enjoyable. Reminds me of something in the vein of Ben Folds, Jellyfish, Fountains of Wayne and Barenaked Ladies. Though some of the songs become a bit goofy, Banana Man, Two Wuv, they all have pretty good hooks which make the album a great surprise.

The first three tracks are an absolute home run. Quirky clever low-fi storytelling. Though it sounds like it was recording on a cassette tape, it has charm. Unfortunately the success of this is based on whether the remaining songs can continue to capture your interest... and they start to fizzle a bit. The music doesn't seem to be the star... it is just there as background to carry along the storytelling, and though there are some interesting bits here and there, it is definitely starts to blend together. Interesting find.

Definitely like the Primus sound and vibe. When it works it works, but it is a bit too experimental and strange at times. Really enjoyed Jerry and Blue-Collar Tweekers, though tracks like Sgt. Baker and Fish On were interesting enough.

Disappointing. I was looking forward to this, but it is just buzzy, high energy rock with a jazzy randomness and a vocalist that doesn't do much for me. It all starts to sound the same unless the repeat the title over and over and over again (I'm looking at you Mr. Beat). There's nothing that particularly catchy or engaging... maybe the last track, Road Train, has a glimmer, but by that time i have long ago checked out.

A cool raw energy... very reminiscient of Siouxsie & the Banshees. There's definitely points where the music really hits its groove and drives forward, but it doesn't seem consistent enough to really elevate the whole album.

This is not my jam. Annoying from start to finish. The jazzy bass line, big bandy percussion, staccato rap, and weird vocal harmony choices. One of the most challenging in a while to simply have to listen to it all the way through.

Pleasant but ultimately ordinary. If you're going to go with the pop angle, you need to have something catchy, a hook, a groove. This is samey, and though easily approachable, doesn't make me very interested in anything else they might do.

I definitely get the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway/Peter Gabriel/Genesis vibe from this, but it feels overly dramatic and self-serious. Like the bombast of Meatloaf without the humor. Nothing was really offputting, but it also didn't really click for me.

Ugh. Its not horrible sounding, but also its not really enjoyable. Proficiency in playing and busy-ness in music isn't enough to maintain my interest. I equate it to listening to a guitar solo without any of the music/context around it. There are a handful of guitar solos that can really stand on their own, but there far more in the "hey cool" or "this guy rips" category, but it isn't enjoyable to just listen to guitar solo after guitar solo. Was happy when it was over.

A unremarkable soul and funk experience. It is fine, with Redbone really being the only track that really stands out and is instantly catchy. The rest is well executed, but isn't very engaging for me.

Reminds me a bit of The National or War on Drugs with the occasional orchestral flair. Though there were some decent tempo shifts, the music did end up getting very samey over the long length of the album. Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane was the standout track for me. Overall it was fine but not enough strong tracks that connected for me.

Not my favorite Blink album (not as poppy as Enema or Jacket), but there's definitely enough here that keeps me interested in what they do next. I Miss You is the runaway hit, though Feeling This, Violence, Down and Always are really strong. Really enjoyed my time here.

Doesn't do much for me. If Billy Bragg was a bit more rock-punk and wasn't very melodic (more spoken lyrics), this is what I think you'd get. There wasn't much that engaged me, and grew a bit boring by the end.

Not bad. Surprisingly minimalist. It really seems like a very basic electronic loop with a few layers and a little atmosphere. Stripped down and each track doesn't wander too far from that. Interesting to listen to, but it doesn't do a lot to capture your attention. I did have a moment where i was getting a Heroin/VU vibe from James.

Wish this did a bit more for me. It has a Damon Albarn/Blur vibe and Like Eating Glass and Helicopter are great kick off tracks. Unfortunately the rest of the album starts to fall off pretty quickly, and there's only occassional tracks that are still interesting/engaging for me... The Pioneers is decent. Nothing bad here, but also not much to really want to come back for.

A stellar album. Though I wasn't the biggest INXS fan at the time, there's no denying that this tracklist and the variety of hits on this one album is exceptional. Though there is an INXS sound, I do feel that their variety/breadth is greater than most. The non-hit tracks are all pretty solid, so there isn't too much of a dip anywhere on this release. Never Tear Us Apart and Mystify are my favorites. Really enjoyed.

Definitely an album that lives or dies by your perception of how clever the lyrics are. The music is fun, but the star is the writing. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't feel too forced most of the time and there were some definite home runs with Amateur Rappers, Barbarians and Industrialists. Really enjoyed.

I'm a big Death Cab fan, so Ben Gibbard's delivery is something that really works for me. I really like it in this setting, an electronic vibe that has a really simplistic approach but delivers surprising warmth in its style. Though it gets a little uneven by the end, the album as a whole is a great background sound that sets a cool mood.

After to listening to the first half, i thought i was going to be okay with Phish. Unfortunately then you hit Tweezer and eventually Harry Hood, and it is exactly the jam band noodling that is a pretty strong turnoff. Still, there's enough here that is just a cool rock album that was interesting, but there are also some dark corners that i don't want to visit again.

Definitely seems underrepresented genre in the list. Nice to listen to something different than what i'm used to.

Really approachable. Alt rock with strong pop sensibilities. The music really shines here, with engaging rhythms and fun harmonies. Loner Boogie is a great example that just gets the driving beat going. Enjoyed.

I love this album, and Jeff Mangum's tortured poet vocal style. He really has a great passion and voice that can carry an entire song. Having listened to the Decemberists recently, there is something aligned there. King of Carrot Flowers and Holland, 1945 stand out from the album, but I can even find long tracks like Oh Comely pretty engaging. This stands out as deserving to be in the book.