1001 Albums Summary

Melodic genius. Never afraid to take chances with rhythm and cadence. A true joy.

Always on the vanguard, the unique vocals are matched by unusual rhythms and backing vocals.

This is one way to close out a decade -- with an all out revolution! This album changed rock forever, and the band never looked back.

The Jam were in love with the Who, and influenced the Police and the Clash. This 3rd album was the first of three brilliant 5 star albums, culminating with Sound Effects, with Setting Sons sandwiched in between.

I have always found Bill Evans to sound like "falling down" -- the sun falling down, the rain falling down, the snow falling down. What makes the Trio so transcendent is the dialogue between piano and bass with the percussion actually guiding the journey.

First, double albums are notoriously hard to produce with high levels of quality. There are a handful of 5 star examples ("The Beatles" "London Calling" "1999"). This is a solid 4, and some may say 5, because it changed direction and did something new and important -- the fusion of African and American spiritual/soul into jazz.

Well, can you name one song by the Undertones? Maybe "Teenage Kicks?" This album has 2 songs that some people listen to. This is pedestrian power-chord rock with an unusual vocalist. Generally forgetful.

When an musician continues to make music that is generally irrelevant (or redundant), there are only 2 reasons -- they are a narcissist and desire to prove they are special, or they are a true artist and their very life demands they make music. Which is Morrissey? On this record, I choose the former. The last album that had any relevance for me was "Southpaw Grammar," but that was "the end of the family line."

This is a great band, but this is not a great album. Honestly, this was a time when albums launched "hit records." That song was "Take It Easy" on this album. There are 2 other notable songs -- "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Witchy Woman." Why is the best Eagles Album their "Best" or "Greatest Hits?" Well, because their albums are just ok.

This album stands as a turning point for MJ. There are some songs that smashed through to drive popular culture, there are others that were overlooked in part because of the growing concern for his personal behavior, but most troubling, there are songs -- "Speed Demon" "Liberian Girl" and "Just Good Friends" (in a row!) that are just terrible. Add "I just cannot stop loving you" from the 2nd side to that list. But whatever you think about MJ as a person, "Man in the Mirror," "Leave Me Alone," "Smooth Criminal," "Dirty Diana," "Just Another Part of Me" and "The Way you Make Me Feel" are stellar. "Bad" was huge but ridiculed as well, even on "60 Minutes" by Andy Rooney. This is NOT a classic.

They had a hit song, and made an album. This is mediocre and generally forgettable.

Her breakthrough of folk, jazz and pop. Her voice is so lilting, but the lyrics are anything but. "Free man in Paris" goes right at the music industry machine. This was "Laurel Canyon" par excellence.

The greatest double album since "The Beatles" with as much diversity of topics and musical themes therein. This was as good as they got. Mandatory for any collection.

Having just reviewed London Callling, it is extremely appropriate NOT to just say the same thing about an album that most critics think is the best issued by the Rolling Stones. What makes this special is the constant presence of Richards and Taylors guitars -- riffs and solos. But I'm going to step back and NOT give a 5.

Has not held up as well as I would have expected. Was pioneering but now seems somewhat dated. Is it a required album to own? Meh.

When this album dropped it changed everything. While female artists had created new frontiers of courage and vulnerability (Liz Phair), this was both poetic and musically powerful. Every song matters and the diversity of rhythm, melody and harmonics is standard setting.

This is inferior to the Czars albums. He is a great vocalist, but this pales to Before...But Longer

A poor attempt to be Brian Eno.

It is impossible to rate this album below perfection. This is arguably the best album of all time in rock and roll history. It as yet to be bettered today, decades later. It achieved more with less given limited yet innovative technologies at the time. Must be listened to start to finish.

The Doors have not weathered as well as one might have expected. It will be interesting to see if Nirvana suffers the same "fall from grace." With that said, this is their 2nd best, after their eponymous debut. "Peace Frog," alone makes this a solid 4.

Honestly, not his best.

This had a hit song and then a bunch of forgettable filler.

John Lennon slowly devolved into a very predictable song-writer from "Strawberry Fields Forever," on. He is super witty and politically powerful in lyrics. He continues some themes from "Plastic One Band," but this is much weaker. One or two hit songs.

This may be a 5 star because the band moves to a more complex level as songwriters and performers. Much better structure on this "themed" album. A high point for band.