1001 Albums Summary

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

What's not to love about X?

What can I say? It's Tom Waits.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Funky and smooth. And Loggins and McDonald.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.