My 1001 Albums Journey

Albums Rated

3.65

Average Rating

Complete

996 albums remaining

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1970s

Favorite Decade

Soul

Favorite Genre

other

Top Origin

Wordsmith

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5-Star Albums

1-Star Albums

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Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Copper Blue Sugar	5	2.97	+2.03
Slanted And Enchanted Pavement	5	3.03	+1.97
Nothing's Shocking Jane's Addiction	5	3.18	+1.82
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got Sinead O'Connor	5	3.25	+1.75
Mama's Gun Erykah Badu	5	3.25	+1.75
Shake Your Money Maker The Black Crowes	5	3.29	+1.71
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Public Enemy	5	3.37	+1.63
Murmur R.E.M.	5	3.42	+1.58
She's So Unusual Cyndi Lauper	5	3.48	+1.52
Surfer Rosa Pixies	5	3.51	+1.49

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Brothers In Arms Dire Straits	1	3.74	-2.74
Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers	1	3.7	-2.7
Graceland Paul Simon	2	3.74	-1.74
The Dark Side Of The Moon Pink Floyd	3	4.43	-1.43
Hysteria Def Leppard	2	3.21	-1.21
Chicago Transit Authority Chicago	2	3.2	-1.2
Make Yourself Incubus	2	3.08	-1.08
Something/Anything? Todd Rundgren	2	3.03	-1.03

Artists

Favorites

Artist	Albums	Average
David Bowie	4	4.5

5-Star Albums (16)

View Album Wall

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Popular Reviews

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

5/5

Cyndi should have been as big as Madonna. She's more talented, and she has such a powerful voice. I can't remember the last time I listened to the whole album and I had forgotten about the range of songs that are on it. Time After Times makes this a 5 all on its own.

24 likes

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

5/5

This album sit in my all time top 10, maybe top 5. The Pixies are such a huge part of my music fan development and really steered me in a specific direction. And this album is such a classic. I love every minute of it.

12 likes

Shake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes

5/5

This was a very important album for me. I bought it right when it released and listened to it constantly. I also saw them on this tour, at a small club in Oakland called The Omni. Sadly, not around any more. They are an amazing live band. I've always loved how loose and bluesy this album is. It definitely deserves to be on this list.

12 likes

Slanted And Enchanted

Pavement

5/5

So many memories around this album. Nirvana kicked off my alternative journey and this album kicked off my independent journey. Well, maybe this, and Exile in Guyville. This album makes me happy. It was a time in my life where I was figuring out who I was and music was such a huge part of that. It was also college, and I was working at Urban Outfitters, so all the memories there. My CD even has my name on it from taking it to Urban to play as store music. I wish I could remember how I discovered them. I probably read about them somehwere.

8 likes

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

5/5

I cannot over emphasize the importance of this album. I wish I could say that I found it when it was released, because it really was at the beginning of the next wave of rock. A time in music that changed me, and my relationship with music.

6 likes

1-Star Albums (2)

All Ratings

Shake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes

5/5

Goo

Sonic Youth

4/5

I didn't discover Sonic Youth until 1992, when Dirty was released. I quickly devoured their entire catalog, but Daydream Nation was the album I connected with the most. It's nice to have a reason to come back to this one. It still holds up. All of their music holds up. It could be released today and be totally relevant.

Home Is Where The Music Is

Hugh Masekela

3/5

I liked this, but when tracks from some of his other albums came up after this one I found that I liked them more. There was a little more funk to them.

At San Quentin

Johnny Cash

4/5

The Joshua Tree

4/5

This album. This was a really important one for me. I listened to it A LOT. I still have my original vinyl. I also remember searching for the 12" of Where the Streets Have No Name because Sweetest Thing was on the B Side. This was my first concert where no parents were involved. This was my first BIG concert. We left early in the morning and sight seed our way to the Oakland Coliseum, with lots of time to hang out in the parking lot. Rating this is hard. I want to give it a 4 because there are other albums that are probably better, but in revisiting it for the first time in a long time I can't believe how good it still is, how much I love it, and I want to give it a 5. But I'm going with 4.

Hysteria

Def Leppard

2/5

Oh boy. I listened to this album a lot in high school. Despite the memories and nostalgia associated with this album, and how much I enjoyed it at that time, it's super mediocre. Extra point for nostalgia.

Tical

Method Man

3/5

Enjoyed this, but nothing really jumped out at me. The integration of jazz made me want to listen to Jazzmatazz.

Vivid

Living Colour

3/5

It was nice to revisit this one. It was such a big deal when it came out. There were some songs I didn't really remember, and then some I was excited to revisit. It's not terribly inventive, but there are some solid songs.

The Renaissance

Q-Tip

3/5

Iron Maiden

3/5

Tellin’ Stories

The Charlatans

3/5

I'm so glad this forced me to revisit this. It's been a long time and I never really spend much time with them. After listening, it's probably because they have a similar sound to Oasis, who I was never a big fan of. That said, they both write catchy tunes. Decent album. YouTube gave me the Stone Roses right after, which reminded me why I'm giving this a 3.

Fred Neil

4/5

I don't think I ever would have listened to this on my own, and I'm glad I did. There's a little country in there, and also hear Chris Isaak, which makes complete sense. And a couple of tracks that we know because of more famous singers recording them.

Bossanova

Pixies

4/5

Pixies are in my all time top 10 so I think this album is an interesting to represent them. It is not the album I would have chosen. It is not the top of their game, and it is not the most representative of them. I mean, given how much I love them I still think it's better than most things out there, but I can't give it a 5. That goes to Surfer Rosa. I need half stars.

She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

5/5

Dog Man Star

Suede

3/5

Heroes

David Bowie

4/5

I really thought that my Bowie knowledge ran deep. And it does, but this is an album that I don't know well. No Bowie is bad, and all Bowie is better than most, but I don't connect with this one in the same way.

Tea for the Tillerman

Cat Stevens

3/5

Sister

Sonic Youth

3/5

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Sinead O'Connor

5/5

Oh my god. This album. I loved it the first time I heard it and I love it just as much now. I listened to it endlessly in 1990. I used it to test out the first real set of speakers I got. I needed some base. I still have those JBLs. I didn't listen to much of her stuff after this, but this and Lion and the Cobra were everything.

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

4/5

The artist no one knows they know, and love. I realized I had never sat down and just listened to him. He's just everywhere.

Slanted And Enchanted

Pavement

5/5

Mama's Gun

Erykah Badu

5/5

She's such a badass. And this album is so good. Funky and soulful.

Eternally Yours

The Saints

4/5

So glad this came up. They are such an influence on so many artists (Nick Cave, U2) and I really didn't know anything about them. And I always love adding another Aussie band to my arsenal.

Bluesbreakers

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

3/5

Elvis Presley

3/5

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

4/5

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin

4/5

Vanishing Point

Primal Scream

3/5

Graceland

Paul Simon

2/5

I am not a Paul Simon fan. And I am not a fan of this album. This one gets 2 stars because I know it's important.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

5/5

Bowie is going to get a few 5s along the way. And this is the first one. Is there really anything I can say that hasn't been said already? He's a genius and this is evidence.

A Love Supreme

John Coltrane

3/5

Remedy

Basement Jaxx

3/5

I forgot about Basement Jaxx. Rooty reminds me of a very specific time and place - working at Urban Outfitters in Austin, TX, and living in the same place as Josh. But I don't think I've listened to anything before or after. Not generally my thing, but they have some good stuff.

On The Beach

Neil Young

4/5

I've never really connected with Neil Young in a strong way, which has always felt odd to me, but it is what it is. I don't think I had listened to this album before, which is a shame, because I love it. I connected with this one.

Illmatic

Nas

4/5

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

4/5

The Score

Fugees

4/5

We actually put this on the other week, to share with the kids. It will always hold up.

Casanova

The Divine Comedy

4/5

Blood On The Tracks

Bob Dylan

3/5

I try to like Dylan, but I rarely connect. I find I'm never paying attention to it. I appreciate his genius, and cultural significance, and there are some songs that I love, but overall it just doesn't move me.

Protection

Massive Attack

3/5

It was nice to revisit Massive Attack. Also ended up revisiting Tricky. What does it say about me that I want to give everything a 3 4 or 5?

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Public Enemy

5/5

Another one I listened to recently, before it came up here. This is a classic. It reminds me of high school, and is just such an important album. I was listening to it in preparation for sharing it with the kids. It still holds up.

More Songs About Buildings And Food

Talking Heads

4/5

Sincere

Mj Cole

3/5

Wild Gift

4/5

What's not to love about X?

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits

4/5

What can I say? It's Tom Waits.

Either Or

Elliott Smith

3/5

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago

2/5

Wow, this really showed me how unfamiliar I am with early Chicago. A couple of familiar tracks made it fun here and there. Too many guitar solos for me.

Rip It Up

Orange Juice

3/5

Make Yourself

Incubus

2/5

It's A Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads

4/5

While I know this isn't an amazing album, it's like a big warm blanket for me. I listened to it A LOT in the 90s and listening to it for this put me instantly at ease. It speaks to a specific time in my life. My first instinct was to give a 5 because of how it made me feel, but after thinking about it more it needs to be a 4.

Ready To Die

The Notorious B.I.G.

3/5

I appreciate his significance and cultural relevance but I just didn't connect with this album in any way.

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

3/5

Brothers

The Black Keys

4/5

Purple Rain

Prince

5/5

No question this gets a 5. It's Prince. It's one of the more formative albums of my childhood. Purple Rain was the closing song of every dance in middle school and high school. It's a classic, he's a genius and it deserves all of the stars.

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

5/5

I'm apparently handing out 5s this week. But c'mon, this album has so many great songs, and that album cover.

Songs The Lord Taught Us

The Cramps

4/5

Buena Vista Social Club

4/5

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones

4/5

Something/Anything?

Todd Rundgren

2/5

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

4/5

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

5/5

american dream

LCD Soundsystem

3/5

Sound Affects

The Jam

4/5

The Holy Bible

Manic Street Preachers

3/5

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

3/5

The Seldom Seen Kid

Elbow

3/5

Drunk

Thundercat

4/5

Funky and smooth. And Loggins and McDonald.

Low

David Bowie

4/5

1977

Ash

3/5

Nighthawks At The Diner

Tom Waits

4/5

I just love the concept of this. And there's no one like Tom Waits. He does what he does so well.

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

Otis Redding

5/5

It's Otis Redding. Doing what he does, so well.

Off The Wall

Michael Jackson

5/5

This is one of my favorite albums of ALL TIME. I'd rank it higher than Thriller. But I had to give them both 5s.

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

5/5

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

1/5

Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers

1/5

I'm really disappointed that this is on the list. This is Chili Peppers album that made walk away from them. This album has no soul. Not that the band is particularly deep, it just feels like generic, SoCal rock and it makes me sad.

For Your Pleasure

Roxy Music

3/5

Dry

PJ Harvey

4/5

Technique

New Order

3/5

Talking Heads 77

Talking Heads

4/5

Five Leaves Left

Nick Drake

4/5

Supa Dupa Fly

Missy Elliott

4/5

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Ice Cube

4/5

Psychocandy

The Jesus And Mary Chain

4/5

Exit Planet Dust

The Chemical Brothers

3/5

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

5/5

All I have to say is Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things and Life on Mars. It doesn't get much better than this. Bowie is a genius, and this is one of his best.

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

3/5

I love the Kinks, but this is not my favorite.

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

4/5

I listened to the hell out of this at the time so I clearly loved it, but not my favorite. Just a little too poppy compared to some of their more complex stuff.

Copper Blue

Sugar

5/5

I didn't need to listen to rate, but I did because I love this album so much. I had it in constant rotation when it was released. These are my favorite kind of songs. Dark lyrics, happy music. And so much personal storytelling. These songs make me so happy. And I have always love his guitar playing.

The Bends

Radiohead

4/5

It's tempting to give all Radiohead albums a 5, but this one has to get a 4 since my connection to it isn't as strong as some others. But overall they make genius music.

The Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd

3/5

Penthouse And Pavement

Heaven 17

3/5

Sign 'O' The Times

Prince

4/5

Murmur

R.E.M.

5/5

A true classic. Not a bad song on here as far as I'm concerned. And what an influential album. An anchor to the college radio music wave.

Tusk

Fleetwood Mac

3/5

For whatever reason this one of my least listened to FM albums. I generally think that everything they do is genius, but this one is a little too chill for me. A few great tracks on it though.