The Rocky Horror Picture Show of music. Step 1. This is so ridiculous. Step 2. Wow this is hysterical. Step 3. Why is my head bobbin? Step 4. There's a Moon in the sky, and it's called the Moon. Step 5. R O C K L O B S T E R
INT. Abandoned Cathedral, 5:30 A.M. A thin ray of light shines on an organist wearing black robes with a Grey stole. He appears to have been awake all night. It is apparent he is playing what appear to be the final chords in a grand symphony. I love this very much.
FUCK AMERICA, WE RIDE WITH WESTERN PRIDE BABY BOY
I really liked this. Like a dumb amount. For what is functionally a Beatles parody group at its inception, this was really jammin', and I get why they became popular in their own right. Fucking Zilch.
Uninspired trash over basic blues backing. If I wanted to listen to this, I can go to a local dive bar on a Tuesday evening show with a bunch of aging rockers who believe in conservative fiscal policy.
^ Awesome album, if a bit erratic and superficially moody v Decent album, probably better as a live show
Love this album. Psychedelic, Nostalgic, and a hell of a time.
^ Background Rage, but it has its place v Cruisin' music with an attitude
The standard for rock, but nothing flashy until the end
Classic Album with some fun unexpected twists at the backend. Shiny pop exterior with a nice fullness underneath
Unable to listen on spotify, consider at a later time.
Dreamy and ambient. Some good stuff, but not my style.
Very cool precursor to things that I have liked for a while.
Some really subtle and lowkey work, but it scratches a certain itch
A bit tired in the beginning, and a little shaky on exit. Good party vibes though
Beautiful Storytelling. Also a sleeper album as opposed to GKMC, but it is a mainstay of excellent hip-hop.
Really cool and political, I can see its influences in a lot of things now
A couple of interesting tracks, but no duds or shiners. What I think of as stereotypical classic rock, not much substance.
Love this sound. Rock, folk, and punk elements. The vocalist is particularly my favorite part.
Even with this high a score, slightly underwhelming given my love of witchy or occult sounds. The real game changer is the epic title track.
Like a cheap charcuterie board. Cheesy, a little bland in some cases, some meat, but overall a pleasant enough experience.
Cool in context, and fun enough in general, one of my favorite "big band" albums so far.
Very chill and downbeat. Cool stuff, but unfortunately nothing truly attention grabbing for me.
Surprisingly good. Got strong summer vibes, and does not fit what I think of as Glam Rock, but that may need reassessment after this album.
Loved the experimental and eclectic sound. Also loved the way that this album felt like a story without the use of skits, very cohesive and has musical through lines.
Really samey, but I do like the vocals and the more upbeat tracks a lot
Somewhat situational, but the western vibes are very enticing. Good road trip music
Great Rock album. Live always a bit rough though.
Very special and relaxed. I would love to listen to this after midnight.
Nothing noteworthy. Way less grit than a group called Bad Company should have.
Mild. Cool genre, good background. Sounds like copyright-free music.
The Platonic Form of Hip Hop. Lauryn Hill is hands down what elevates this album to a firm 5.
Great album, Queen always has a very "storytelling" sound that I appreciate particularly in this album
Excellent hip hop, fun rhyme schemes and superb flow
Background listenable (due to not knowing the multiple languages involved), but relatively bloated. Cool sound though, and liked each song individually, but as a project I would say this could of been shrunk down.
This knows what it is. Short, simple, sweet. Great sound that has established itself in everything leading up to today.
Night Time Street Jazz. Very background, but would put on in the right mood, and the opener is killer thanks to the vocalist.
Great sounds and not a lot of weak points. Unfortunately made by a sexual predator, so only useful in looking at associated acts and adjacent sounds.
Much better and more raw than Daydream Nation, and a magnificent composition rocking through
Surprisingly bland for experimental music. Maybe in the background.
I really liked this, and it felt like a really familiar space to be in. A little too background to hit a true 5, but damn good nevertheless.
A lot of songs that are fundamental in the Lexicon of soul, rock, and pop. Very cool and jam-packed with hits.
As this Era of hip-hop is more of a blindspot for me, I quite enjoyed getting a taste of Westcoast classics, and seeing where my tastes originate from a bit.
I didn't anticipate this sound from the title. Very mellow and listened to this while in a very dark place. It helped with optimism a little.
I hate liking this, because I hate Simon and Garfunkel as people. But I get the hype, very different from other music of their time.
Blindspot filled for sure! I like this for more relaxed driving music.
This has a feeling of soul. Passes lingual barriers, and just damn good to jam to.
Pretty catchy and has a timeless element to it. Nothing stood out for me, but consistently good.
Dragon brought this up to a 3, but otherwise lackluster alt rock
Now this is some some Sonic Youth I can get behind. Grit and realness with less of an overtly politicized sound.
I don't know how I haven't heard this before. Amazing sound and songwriting.
Pretty interesting and catchy tracks throughout, I think this fits a Sunday cleaning sort of vibe.
Feels like the heart of Americana, thoroughly enjoyed this surprise of an album
Real Dreary work. Vocally a little off, but I enjoyed it.
Drive and the backhalf really saved this album. Otherwise mostly 2000s nostalgia.
Fantastically classic. Bob and Pete have incredible songwriting synergy. Very great.
Excellent mood and vibe. A little surprised at the lack of Dancy stuff.
Cool and fun different sounds than I expected, Great cruising music.
Just ok. Couple great shiners, couple of duds. Very aggressive 90s pop.
Maybe some percussion stuff was cool, but nothing about this album makes we want to listen to a single track ever again
Some really groovy stuff honestly. A bit of a slog, maybe cut out a few tracks. If you need this vibe, you got it fully here.
Not surprised that this ended up on the list. Jam-packed with hits, somehow polished and pop while maintaining the raw edge.
Dope Psychedelia. Would probably be a 9/10, but a lot of the early songs squarely place this in a 5.
Now that's what I call elevator music. TM. But honestly pretty soothing.
Founding sounds from Fatboy Slim. Skank brings this to a firm 3.
Very cool Fusion of rock, folk, and traditional UK music. Little bland on the back end.
A solid staple of a groove metal diet. Big fan, almost a 5.
Full of LA Rock Nostalgia, and the back half slaps
The far-reaching effects of this album on pop in the last 10 years is wild. Very cool modern psychedelia.
Like baseline ok. Dated, and had a few sexist and "forever alone" shots that rubbed me wrong.
Honestly shocked that some grime made it in the list. Excellent album with some subpar mixing
Now this is some soulful stuff. I really dig the structure and concept of this album a lot.
Sound is cohesive, and has a certain Southern California Rock sound to it that is nice, but throughout I kept thinking it was just noise. I would love stuff similar to this, but it just didn't click.
Now this is what I call Dad™️ Music. Good stuff, but there is some self-loathing required to like it.
This album is funky and fun stoner psychedelic rap from the streets. Amazing stuff and it has a through line that makes sense in hip hop history.
I think this is probably one of my favorite live albums ever. Metallica is so orchestral, and the feel of this record was incredible.
I really love this raw, Emotional exertion. High up there so far in the list.
There is just something silly/fun about listening to Roxy Music. I enjoy this album, if just for ambience.
Great punk with a definitive edge. Like the sound, but as an album a little exhausting
I definitely was feeling a 2, but two elements changed my mind. 1, I was blown away that this was live. 2, the back half is absolutely slappin.
I really liked this. Like a dumb amount. For what is functionally a Beatles parody group at its inception, this was really jammin', and I get why they became popular in their own right. Fucking Zilch.
Definitely epic music. I can't really say no to slapping a five on this bad boy.
One long, fantastic song. Like if Bill Wurtz was slightly more commercial.
Nothing caught my ear, but overall quality sound, with a few niche uses
I mean.. I get it? I liked each song, but as an entire project it was very exhausting to listen to. Was about to be a 2, but Meeting Across the River alone bumped it up a notch for me.
Fun, experimental, and revolutionary sound, suffers from the inability to understand due to a large portion of it being in Portuguese.
Not a ton of substance, but what it lacks there it makes up in fun and tightness.
This right here reeks of the 90s and makes me want to go to the beach, I love it
True Psychedelic Space Rock in a proper way. Also great for a live album.
Good Bluesy album. The Doors are overrated I think, and I believe that mostly has to do with the cult following of the personality of Jim.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show of music. Step 1. This is so ridiculous. Step 2. Wow this is hysterical. Step 3. Why is my head bobbin? Step 4. There's a Moon in the sky, and it's called the Moon. Step 5. R O C K L O B S T E R
Truly Visionary Work. This score would be deserved if only for Runaway, the rest is icing. And yeah, I know. Kanye is an ass. IDGAF.
Great Pipes, but nothing about this album stood out to me unfortunately.
Am I an asshole for actually liking this a lot? I feel kinda gross.
Wowed the back half. The first half was a tad boring, but I loved everything from Sense of Doubt on.
I mean, great sound. Girl from Ipanema is fantastic as well.
Classic style, unique production, unabashedly playful. You can try and throw this on in the background, but someone will start singing along.
I love some of the quieter and downtime tracks. I can't go below a 3 because Grohl, but I know that this music ain't my bag really.
Paint It, Black brings this up to the 3, but otherwise lackluster album.
Damn good early goth rock. I think this has way more bite than I anticipated.
Something about this just felt good. Really struck a lot of chords with me sonically.
I would say I liked this a bit more than You've Come a Long Way Baby, but only by a hair as the sound broadly was slightly more enticing.
Biggest sleeper genre for me - Swamp rock. I just love something about this sound and I literally cannot place it.
I really like the songwriting and variety on this album. It is a beast, but a solid 9/10, and leans more to a 5 for me.
Back end was pretty smooth and lovely, but experimental jazz, no vocals, and 20 minute long songs is rough.
Christmas style strings. Beautiful instruments all around. And a voice that strikes so deeply. Not super substantial, but beautiful and easy to listen to.
Now this is an ominous yet silly album. I am shocked by how much I like this. Vocals are a little odd but endearing, content is just a thinly veiled joke. Keep telling 'em Leonard.
Beautiful vocals that I could listen to forever. Everything was pretty samey throughout. This is Sunday music.
Quite delicious garage and blues sound. Relatively new to me. Curious for their earlier stuff.
Pros: Ella, Diverse Array, Great Instrumentalists Cons: Long, Mind-Numbing = Good tunes to listen to on individual or short burst basis
I think this solidified my love of the Cool Cymru movement. Phenomenal stuff, psychedelia that isn't all about the trip if that makes sense.
A very high school album for me. The sound can be grating in spaces, but when it works, it works well.
I like the overall sound, but honestly, nothing strikes me. Good to find other stuff from, because it was close to scratching an itch.
FUCK AMERICA, WE RIDE WITH WESTERN PRIDE BABY BOY
This is actually a very playful and lovely record. First disc is just ok 60s rock, but Big fan of Disc 2 and the Tale of Happiness Stan.
Great songwriting and performance by Missy, undercut by Top-Tier Timbaland Production
Best funk album is a deserved title. Would be a 4.5 just because I couldn't listen on spotify, and availability should matter.
Sexy, soulful, and human. It has a song for many moods, all performed excellently and honestly.
Biggest rebound. During the first song, I considered giving a preemptive 1, but I stuck it out and enjoyed myself for most of the record. Good rock.
I would say this was a strong album with some interesting stuff, distinct punch to its sound. Would love to see another album after the sound has matured!
There is a reason Cyndi is a prototypical 80s Queen. This sound is fun, powerful, and synthetic. I like it.
This feels like the definition of "proto". Sonically it's roots really resonate far and wide, and in its own right it is surprisingly strong. Plus it fits my flavors in some really strong ways.
INT. Abandoned Cathedral, 5:30 A.M. A thin ray of light shines on an organist wearing black robes with a Grey stole. He appears to have been awake all night. It is apparent he is playing what appear to be the final chords in a grand symphony. I love this very much.
Just ok. Nothing sticks out, but I liked it when I zoned out a little bit.
I love the Riot Grrrl sound so much. Not only is this important music, it is also impressively powerful, raging, and Righteous.
Raw young contemporaries to Nirvana, and it shows on this record. I love it.
Significantly more listenable than Live at the Witch Trials, with a few experimental songs that were quite enjoyable. Overall good album.
I do get it Kurt, I get the appeal. Raw, yet commercial. Interesting stuff for sure.
The sounds of running through a field, sometimes in the rain, sometimes in the sun, and sometimes in the snow. Great sound, definitely a mood album. Because it is a little situational, I don't think I can give it a 5, but a fantastic album nevertheless.
Really solid sound from these two assholes again. I hate myself more.
Ethereal Millenial Soundscape. Very cool all around, a little hard to listen to all the time. Very, Very good though.
God I hate this man more the more I like his music. Great songwriting, asshole.
Vocals are great, punchy songwriting. A pretty good record.
This was a cool record, solid follow up to my aim is true. I can see how a lot of rock derived from this in the 80s.
A gold standard for live records. Soulful, fun, and the energy between Sam, the band, and the crowd is out of this world.
Diverse album, with just a solid set of tracks. Very fun, and I could see it growing on me for sure.
Eerie and beautiful. I don't think I'll revisit it, but the haunting sound here will stick for a while.
Woof. The first track coupled with most of the record are trying really hard to drag down to a 1. Religion 1, 2, and Fodderstompf successfully pull this up at to a 2. There are better Post Punk projects.
Perfectly inoffensive, some good sounds, and great playing from the band. I probably won't revisit it, but I am sure it belongs on the list for being some earlier Bluesy classic rock.
Beautifully cinematic pop record with an orchestral flair that suits the songwriting. I am honestly surprised I have never even heard the name, because wow this sound suits me.
This was much more listenable than the previous two albums by Rolling Stones. Good Bluesy stuff.
Fun jaunt in self-satirization. First Who album, and what a weird and exciting entry point!
The sound of living in a city inside a French synthesizer. Surprisingly good stuff throughout.
Joni knocks it out of the park on this one. Summer feels with an excellent blend of nostalgia, melancholy, and ambience.
For a "finale" album, this piece started off with a bang and the began to fizzle near the end. Not horrible, some truly good electronica soundscape stuff going on, but suffers from bloat and too much downtempo at the close.
A little Arena Coldplay for my tastes. Kind of draining to listen to, but each song was good enough.
This is some delightful pub rock. One or two songs got a little obnoxious, but a truly and definitively cheeky record.
Sting is so hit or miss vocally. I wish that there was more consistency, because some stuff really rocks me.
Uninspired trash over basic blues backing. If I wanted to listen to this, I can go to a local dive bar on a Tuesday evening show with a bunch of aging rockers who believe in conservative fiscal policy.
Sweet and almost soothing tracks. Nothing really struck me, but strong across the board.
Bad 80s Glam. The sound of doing blow off of a Macy's credit card
This is it folks. One of the few moments where I can excitedly proclaim that the fans of a genre have made listening to something unpalatable. I have not touched prog rock, because prog rock has some of the douchiest shithead fan bases I have ever met. But this right here is an easy five, from the almost storytelling soundscapes to the beautiful use of old and new instrumentation. And the vocals have a great Glam/Folk Fusion sound that I love.
Perfectly fine cruising music. Precursor sound to some stuff later, and fine in its own right, but nothing striking.
Fantastic Proto Bardcore. Makes me want to go to Ren faire
Distinctly generic until Small Hours, which hits different from the rest of the album and drags this sucker out of the muck.
Quite samey throughout. That same is a great sound, but it is a little silly that I felt like the only difference song to song was the words.
An excellent sound, still not quite pushing 5 for a real sense of sameness which becomes all the more pervasive in the gloomy sound this album creates.
Really powerful noise with rock solid guitar work. I think I like this general sound all the way.
Beautiful home-grown sound. Not a lot of really surprising stuff, and didn't quite hook me very well.
Queen, you've done it again. Consistently good with a good scope of sound.
Great performance, and the surprise Iron Man cover really sealed this up for me
Stanky Soft Rock. Some really cool tracks, and a few bland ones
Energetic ProtoDream Pop, honestly Take On Me is overrated compared to the rest of the album.
This album revealed to me why Bowie is so widely beloved. Uniform, and Diverse. Epic, and Elegant.
Pretty gentle stuff, could probably use more diversity of sound
Beautiful soul and funk sounds, and as a Chance fan it was cool to hear the origin of Pusha Man.
Great big band and swing stuff, but I did feel a real pull for vocals on these tracks that dragged down the album a little for me.
Like KISS, but fun-filled, more raw, and with less schmutz. Everything is done right here.
Very very good grungy sounds, standout in Spoonman. A bit of a slog, but individually I think I would enjoy every song. Also not something I would put on all the time, but it is good stuff.
Like a friend said. A sonic snuff film, in the best possible way. All jokes aside, really good instrumentation, and the meandering spoken word really works.
A lot of early experimental magic here. But it is very samey throughout, which does knock it down a point for me
The sound of being at a late-night backyard party illuminated by string lights on a hot summer night with a glass bottle in your hand. Really fun, and has no bloat at all.
One of the first Jazz adjacent albums that didn't feel challenging to listen to in any way. Quite enjoyable honestly.
This is a great experimental indie album, reminds me of Discovery. A big fan of some of the strange cadences and the colorful sound.
Pretty good psychedelia. I like the witch rock elements especially.
Truly what separates Björk from the pack is her haunting vocal quality and endless soundscapes. It feels comfortably Claustrophobic in the way the most people talk about space.
I have a soft spot for Ethereal femme voices like this one, and the production felt post-apocalyptic in a great way.
More than anything, the fucking organ slaps. This is great new wave/punk/with a pub Horror vibe to it.
A surprisingly strong album, given that this was much earlier Bowie. And better all around than some of the other stuff I've heard. While I love the experimental stuff on later records, this was just consistently strong songwriting, cohesive sounds, and great performances.
Raw stuff, on the higher end of the Jazz spectrum, the only thing keeping it from a five was the sonic wall at the end that was absolutely exhausting to listen to for that long
Yeah, John is an asshole, but he is a talented asshole. I will say the diss track was surprising, and the amount of layered vocals that almost mimic the Beatles sound was interesting.
Sublimely lowkey. Great background, great foreground. Sounds unique and yet matches its contemporaries. I love the folk, psychedelic, and Bluesy vibes going on here.
American with a capital A garage rock, some good stuff, but overall a little underwhelming. Strong finishing songs though.
This was a beautiful morning album. I think the thing I liked about this is that it was so tightly packed, and while it lacked a little something to pump it to a five, it was a high four.
Consistent and sturdy aggro-fem pop. Rad as hell. The only thing holding this back is that it is too consistent, as it holds a little sameness throughout.
Surprisingly diverse sounds that pump in African, Jazz, Rap, and plenty others to make a strong record.
Truly a masterpiece of Hip-Hop in the political vein. I think I always avoided Flavor, but Chuck D and Flavor Flav's balance is very strong, and the narrative style production augments an already strong duo. Plus, Anthrax mixing with Public Enemy feels just so right.
Not as strong as Goo, but the second strongest from them so far, far surpassing Daydream Nation. It is good, if a little overrated.
Very grueling in the right ways. Gritty, Angry, frustrated. Missing the pump up to a 5, but a damn fine mood album.
Woof this is all over the place. Horrid title track, great songs that would probably sound better covered, very dated, and interesting album experience touches. Too confusing for anything but a 3.
I mean this is the start of something special. Definitely tight, punchy, and leaves you wanting more. Downsides are in shallow writing and a lack of fully developed sound
I like the vocals and more downtempo tracks a lot. A little bogged down by the noisy stuff.
I think I love the vocals and songwriting here more than anything, and the rest of the band accents and also stands out in their own potent way. Anarchy in the UK is my most obvious favorite for a number of reasons. Good job on converting another.
Wow, what a lullaby. Very sleepy, lazy even. Not much really drawing me back though.
This is dope. From vocals, to experimentation, to the impact it had on music, all solid. However, and I mean this shit, Andy Warhol drags this down a point
I can taste the folk origins here, and the thin Glam veneer is actually surprising potent in such a small dose. This is simultaneously the most confident and the most relaxed Glam rock record.
The album before my fave. I can hear the vocal transitions happening, and the soundscape elements that I love so much really begin to blossom here.
One of the most apt album titles and art. A very good night album.
Somber morning Americana with some excellent twang to it embellished by guest vocals.
Vocals are hit or miss, and empty lyrics for the most part, but excellent auditory profile, specifically as hype up/ party night music
It is so easy to listen to, but doesn't feel all that punchy. Not a lot to bite honestly.
Overall, the album sounds like a Swedish utopia, and it does get a little dull at points, but hot Damn do some of the singles and the title track yank this thing up to a place of power.
I find this surprisingly enjoyable, a solid sense of millennial doom throughout. Definitely reminiscent of some other sounds around the late 90s, but I think I just liked this particular flavor.
Kind of boring 80s blues. I did enjoy songs individually, but very samey throughout
There is a reason that Meat Loaf is kind of meme. Fun music, melodramatic as hell, with strong metal feels throughout.
Meets a bar set by contemporaries, and has some original cool baroque/folk stuff. Some other stuff falls pretty blandly, which leaves us pretty much dead smack in the middle of the road.
A sort of depressing loop, but purely cinematic and and wonderful. My only complaint is that songs tended to be incredibly samey.
Immaculate, Dark, Doomy. A Polished Obsidian Mirror with drifting wisps of smoke.
A rough beginning, but the rest of the album has some great stuff. And of course the album art.
This was surprisingly theatrical and tasty, I would say a weak 4 for too many classic tropes that grate against my other joys of this album.
Very soulful, but honestly? Too short.
Bland 80s pop, but it begins to shake that on the backend in favor of stuff with a little more variety and soul.
Excellent piece of americana in my opinion in spite of the title track. Very wistful and laidback.
A bombastic wall of sound that needs to be consumed from an auditory squint, this album requires the right amount of abstraction and pull back to dive in deeply, but it does Play with some really fun things and manages to come across with a coherent theme.
Each song is a carbon copy of the next. Enjoyable, but repetitive and a bit tiresome.
I don't know why, but this album actually struck me quite well. Beginning at a high acceleration, the songs sort of lose energy, but in a way that feels almost cathartic. The best way I can express it is the feeling at the tail end of a party, where there is almost too much going on, so then you leave with a van full of people and begin dropping them off, and by the end of the ride it is just you and one other person talking about life together. Really nice.
Surprisingly interesting, considering how much I have heard that Rush is all talent, no substance. I would say it was enjoyable, but I do get why people wouldn't want to listen on repeat. (read: Geddy's Voice)
As a fan of "Awaken, My Love" this was a very cool exploration of the Ancestral DNA of that album, and stood strong in its own right
A few standout songs with industrial sounds, but this is the first album I considered turning off several times. It falls into all the Traps early electronic can fall into, being too long, monotonous, and not having any vocals to break up the monotony.
I would call this an easy record to enjoy, but it doesn't give me anything that I am hurting to come back to either.
Aside from the title track, this album was fairly underwhelming, especially after establishing a relatively strong solo presence.
Now this is tasty, something you can really bop your head to for a while. It is a high four, as I have trouble imagining putting it on as often as a five would suggest.
I mean, starting off with the album's biggest contribution in the Exorcist theme, to the yelling section, this album is just damn interesting. Worth a revisit for sure.
Strange music based on cover, but I overall enjoyed the folksy and punky elements here.
I mean Johnny fucking nails this performance for a number of reasons, but to me one of the standout moments is with June on Jackson, as she surprises me with her power and what it adds to the record. Instant classic.
I just don't like Jay-Z's flow very much, but I do think this is a critical piece of rap history. And Em's infamous verses on Renegade also standout for me, as well as production by Kanye, Timbaland, and Just Blaze.
A very strong spiritual, positive, alternative vein in hip-hop. I liked this quite a bit, and think it definitely needs to be listened to for any fans of Rap, let alone music.
Really good and unique sonic profile. A little long, which knocks it down from a 5, but Albarn is at a high point here.
Spooky, which fits well for spooky season. I can hear Gothic and Industrial undertones that support and artsy direction from a punk background. I really liked this.
Oh this is a sneaky one. I listened to this and immediately thought it was gonna be boring so it faded into the background, and then as I listened it crept to the forefront. Incredible storytelling here.
This was a surprisingly incredible album with ballads, bops, and even a banger or two.
This album was so low energy. It almost teeters into 1, but is so mundane and safe that it doesn't have the guts to get into the 1 place.
Perfectly fine. It has a good background edge, but in the foreground honestly sounds like it would be used as a backing track from an indie movie in the early 2010's.
A little draining at times due to sheer pitch, but overall fun and enjoyable. I could probably return to this, but it doesn't have anything dragging me back, which puts squarely in the 4.
Coldplay always falls into an uncanny valley of "this is so boring that it slips back into enjoyable" like a dreamy drone of sorts. This album includes great tracks and overall is very listenable, but can get tired in one sitting.
Just outright boring beats. The flows were phenomenal though, if only they could've been over something else.
Thick with the sort of 90s-00s edgy grime that rests upon the windowsill holding a copy of Underworld and Vampire: The Masquerade. Love it.
The issue with this album is it is so samey throughout. While Cube is the fundamental piece that makes NWA work, the other members are so fundamental to the attractiveness of the group due to the diversity of sound. That is what is lacking on a solo Cube project. The only reprieve was found in the occasional features which spiced things up.
This was surprisingly strong, sexy, and fun. I would say that overall it lacked a "need" to come back for me, but I happily would.
I really liked this. I mean it was folk country, but God damn if you don't hear some punk underpinnings in this you aren't listening. This is the kind of music that makes me proud of being an American, without me having to have pride in my government, and be able to criticize the nation without losing my love for it.
This somber, longing album is quite choice for when you are in the crossover zone of romantic and depressed. Standout track is Last Orders.
Alright, I'll say it. I'm a sucker for this dark, pretentious, avant bullshit. I like the instruments, I like the vocals, I like the production. This is fanfuckingtastic.
Janis is so special in personality and as a vocal presence. The music actually dragged this album down a bit.
Phenom of rap, with that signature Dark east coast sound. I might have a complaint or two, but the beats and flow are tops here, and that brings it all the way up baby.
Absolute shocker, as I had listened to it before. But the ATMOSPHERE. This album has such an exquisite sound scape, and while I do not think any individual song would be in my rotation normally, somehow the album will.
A really punchy album with some fun mixing of post-punk and dub/reggae type stuff happening as well. I like this album a lot.
The best hip-hop music to come out of Atlanta. Beats, Boasts, and Bars.
Good punk/hard rock with a buzz from New York. This must have been bitchin live.
I don't know how to feel about liking this. But I do, so there.
Not as in my wheelhouse as Roots, just seemed a little more basic and thrash. Not bad, definitely enjoyable, but I've heard better.
Fantastically replayable, and of course pleasant sounds. Unfortunately not otherwise striking in my opinion.
This album is a monster of singles, and at the same time so cohesive. This is one of the things that separates Beyonce from other similar artists. I think the thing that pushes it up to 5 is Partition/Yonce.
Great flows and beats, but a little cheesy in some bits and the skits were kinda wack.
RATM is in my opinion the ultimate protest music. There is sonic strength, powerful lyrics, and aggressive performance that equal a steady groove filled with, well, RAGE.
The experience of listening to hot chocolate while remembering your mistakes in a positive light. Great presentation, cozy vibes, and gifted songwriting.
This album has only two issues that I think would bring it down to a 4: bloat and availability. With great political rhyming, immersive soundscapes, and a unique vocal performance, I think this album is of particular note when looking at the grand scheme of things.
Fantastic Millenial angst. I think it wasn't quite as good as Dry, but I did quite enjoy it.
I FUCKING LOVE THIS. Real dark and dreamy trip-hop. Vocals on point. Coherent and consistent. I think this has hopped up pretty high in my top albums.
Absolutely Classic Sunday Music. Very easy to groove and rock to this piece, and I would say the percussions were played very well.
Enjoyable enough, but sometimes I found it faded too far into the background and only came back after a song switch.
Most prominent things happening here are Byrne's interesting early vocal quality, and instruments that are fun and feel slightly B-52s. Up and down in places, just barely clears to a 4 for me.
Surprisingly strong album, considering the bursting out single of Tainted Love. Very diverse and enjoyable early electronic/synth sounds.
Bold samples, boasts for days, cerebral and street level at the same time. This is Tribe really nailing how to burst into the music scene, and especially the hiphop scene
WHAT A SLOG. I mean I enjoy these songs out of context and think the playing is great. Even in terms of being a live record, this is atrocious. The only thing saving it from a 1 is the excellent talent displayed.
Dreary and Moany. Interestingly enough, while that usually strikes me strongly, this one missed me to some extent.
This might be one of the easiest 5s to give. Narrative, unique sounds, and excellent performances, ALL ON A LIVE ALBUM. Concise Beast.
Ok OK. I kind of get it. But U2 still has such an emptiness to their sound that really puts them at a mediocre 3 here. Some songs I can definitely return to, and it has that millennial dread aesthetic that I like, so there you go Bono. Happy?
I think that this sat in an overall mediocre position, great singles, consistent sound, but samey, and not a ton of interesting stuff going on.
Cheesy and bombastic, with some really corny stuff at parts. Nevertheless, this album is a DEFINING moment for music, and so that pulls it from the monotonous muck into a strong 4.
The big standout here is RZA, whose production maintains such a rock solid ambience for Ghostface and Raekwon to play around in. Raekwon and Ghostface are definitely delivering bars, but unfortunately something about Ghostface's vocal delivery is just not my favorite. I respect the differentiation, but it still sticks out enough to drop down a star for me.
A perfectly polished PJ album with some interesting vocal and instrumentation changes. Her songwriting and delivery always pair well for me.
Now this is interesting. Somehow, even though it is far from a love letter, this album captures everything I love about cities, particularly Los Angeles. The raspy, vagabond delivery here tells me that this is an authentic cut, and digging into his story confirms that suspicion, excellent album.
So the thing about Common, is the he is an excellent lyricist with a special sound. I feel uplifted, and yet, grounded when listening to him. He absolutely captures a cup of coffee in the middle of the city on a Thursday morning for me. Sometimes it is cheesy, I'll just say that is a little cream cheese on a bagel with my coffee. I can't always put this on, but I can for sure put it on every morning.
Something I know about myself is that classic metal can often sound "tinny" for me. That being said, I like the raw feel of this debut and think that there are excellent performers at work.
Of course I liked it. Fucking assholes. And on my final class for my Master's? Irritatingly great, douchebags.
This album is possibly the worst album I have ever listened to, and that may be generous. I love experimentation, but this experiment should've stayed in the lab, John. From top to bottom, this was an assault on the senses. I had an ear infection listening to this, and I enjoyed the ear infection more. I cannot find a single redeemable thing about this album. I had to pause the album for about 15 minutes, and those 15 minutes were a sweet Oasis in a dessert of pointless cacophony without rhythm. How do you have two drummers and a bassist and use none of them effectively? All the great elements of any genre that could be compared were missing. None of the soul, punch, or craftsmanship of Jazz, none of the rhythm of thrash, no groove, no vocals, no variety. This sounds like vomit incarnate.
This feels like a purer country artist than Cash, which is what inspired him to make music. Unsurprisingly, this sound doesn't strike me very positively, but I would not say it was the worst either. Just middle of the road.
Good cruising album in my mind, definitely bouncier than the earlier sound and more filled with fun.
Great form from Janis. Excellent closer as well. I think that if I lived during this I would've loved a performance of this more than the album itself.
A very classic, lovely sound to bop to in a tight little record. Big points for an absolute lack of bloat.
Surprisingly good for what is essentially a joke album. Not gonna put it on always by any means, but I could bop to it while it is on.
Of course an incredible record. Christine and the Queens nails a balance between pop formula and experimentation within a synth framework that really blasts past her competitors in the pop scene. When listening to her, you feel very trendy but not douchey.
Very nice and nostalgic, with some fun standout songs. Nothing really dazzled me to the five, but this is a confident high 4.
Gritty, Dark, and Circus/Cabaret. I fucking love the vocal delivery, grooves, and backing noise.
My favorite things about this sound, is that it is exemplified by very physical verbs. Swing. Jump. Jive. Wail. Very true to how this makes you feel.
A softer Springsteen is more pleasant, but still does not really pump him up in any significant way.
A classic, pure and simple. It is tight, fun, and packed with exploration, groove, and FUNK.
Enjoyable psychedelia/experimental, and compared to Caetano Veloso, this is more my speed in regards to the Tropicalia movement.
This is a vein of indie rock from the 2000s that I find quite enjoyable. Now normally I enjoy a raw and rough sound, but this is one place where I think their mellower sounds later in their discography really shine, and the rawness seems detrimental to the overall feel of the album.
This is RHCP at a perfect blend of funky-punky aggro, and softened alternative pop rock sound. It is tight, but still feels full. The only thing I might change is the song order, as many placements of songs in the overall album experience stick out to me.
A soft sort of backyard Beatles. Easy to listen to, but nothing dragging me back
A fun enough album, with a unique sound. That sound gets kinda samey during the back half though.
As they go more glam, I lose interest. Still enjoyable, but lacking in the stuff I liked from the previous record.
It was good, but unfortunately lacks the special elements from Yoshimi to really pump it up.
Moody, early goth. Unfortunately it was so long that it detracted from my overall listening experience of what should have been a knock it out of the park sound.
I like the dusty desert sluggishness of the album, and think with a bit more refinement this could be an excellent album.
Some good noise that you can get a little lost in, but honestly nothing that really shines for me.
Now I do like this album, and I think comes down to a few things: 1. Female country vocalists are way more palatable to me. 2. Some really unique production things going on in a few songs that spice it up. 3. It really tiptoes the line of what I dislike about modern pop and what I dislike about modern country in a way that succeeds at avoiding both.
Just ok electronic. Nothing completely shocking or exciting, and frankly a little disappointing in the middle to back half.
Just meh, really off and on through each song. Honestly was expecting a slightly stronger overall sound.
What we are talking about here is in my opinion one of the most famous metal albums of all time, and for good reason. Diverse sounds, with all the stuff that is good about thrash at one point or another. Not even my favorite Metallica album, but their most prominent early one by far.
Incredible onslaught of diverse sounds, and an overall strong aesthetic. I can also see a lot of its influence in later music that I like. It's a low five, but a five nonetheless.
Some very fun retro futuristic stuff. This is an album that I think might be best enjoyed late at night while driving with some friends.
A much more aggro sound from the Beastie Boys. While it is not bad persay, it really loses the something special I enjoyed from Licensed To Ill.
The beginning of something great. Not only that, but haunting vocals that really accompany the melody quite well.
Surprisingly Dancy Psychedelia. For a name like Primal Scream, I expected a bit more raw sound but was pleasantly shocked by a relatively calm album.
If you don't like modern Ska, this album is kind of birthing that whole sound in a way, and personally, I think a lot of the best things about Ska are on display. Great playing, fun writing and performance, and a dash of rage & anti-establishmentarianism.
A punchy Christmas album with fantastic performances. I feel like that is kind of all I have to say about it.
A much more concise Cure project in comparison to Disintegration, and that helps this A LOT. I love this sound, and I think this could sit comfortably by the other goth projects that have really shined for me
This was an excellent listen as always from SOAD. They really bring something unique to metal that I don't think any other group does, including their intense sound, operatic performance, and potent message. Always going to be a 5.
Man Ghostface, you got bars. It sucks that your delivery is so grating to me. The production here is top notch as well, with some excellent features throughout.
This album is low key and groovy, and while it has lost a little luster for me, I still think it is a great album when I'm feeling extra moody.
Enjoyable indie dream pop. I think The xx does this sound a bit more up my alley, but nothing about this album was bad by any means.
It is the Beatles, and in a period of proper exploration that has one of my fave sleeper Beatles songs with Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.
Bluesy album with some good performances that get samey. Honestly a sad backstory with a somewhat lackluster album package.
Slipknot is definitely up my alley when they take a more laidback and groove approach, but I think when their death metal roots show up I start to flinch a bit. That being said, still very much so an enjoyable album, at a sturdy high 4.
Soulful and somber, while still remaining quite fun and explosive at times. The record is a 5, but Rehab is like a 2 at best though.
Hole is raw and potent. Courtney has an excellent delivery, and the sound has a solid blend of diversity and cohesiveness that helps elevate the album experience.
Sometimes, French music in this vein does strike very well for me, capturing a mood of feeling that no other music does. However, this album came across as cheesy and only had a few bright spots in the back end.
Arcade Fire perfectly encapsulates an aesthetic of the suburban dread that most modern Americans experience. Not only that, but sonically they found a sound that uniquely identifies them as major players in the 2010s indie rock scene two albums after their first.
I think there is definitely something about the street level storytelling and mumbling delivery that does it for me.. I'm easily a Tom Waits fan now.
Relaxed and homey. This is a mad nostalgic album that makes me feel like it is early Sunday morning.
Kanye makes his own debut on the scene in a bombastic way. This album is packed with fun features, excellent production, and singles that really demonstrate the next mover and shaker in hip hop.
Crucial addition to hip hop that generates a very specific set of samples, as well as using a specific set of strong samples. Surprisingly laid back and R&B heavy.
The thing I like most about Black Sabbath is the dark and slow sounds mixed with Ozzy's shrill delivery. That is on full display here!
The first half was a little lackluster and basic experimental rock, but the second half shined a little brighter and got into much weirder stuff.
Opens with a phenomenal track, and while there are a lot of emotional songs that I actually quite enjoy, I find the end of the album drags a bit.
Surprisingly silly and raw. I quite enjoyed this, although wish I could maybe chop it in half into two albums.
Very easy to listen to, and I understand the folksy potency of Yusuf very well now after listening to this. That being said, it did dip a few times for me.
On the one hand, it was very cool to fill in a blind spot on an Era and sound that I am very familiar with, on the other hand it was a little bland across the board for my tastes. The album did have a few shiners though.
On one side, easy to enjoy and listen to. On another, I just think I don't "get" Jazz.
Really cool sparsely populated psychedlia. I'd be interested to see where this band went.
This was surprisingly youthful and raw. Soft, aggressive, pensive, and driven. Good surprise.
God Bruce, it's rough. So bland across the board. A few songs I enjoyed, but mostly the sound of everything I dislike about classic rock.
Absolutely bizarre record with like 8 different vibes simultaneously. Absolutely baffled at the fact that this could be contemporary with other bands from the 70s and that it didn't drive past everyone else in the field.
Waffling album, sometimes an old man who is too tired and sometimes a rugged sound I don't quite expect. I'm more excited for earlier Dylan.
I now can safely say I enjoy Led Zeppelin and I think this album was solid. I think I still prefer 3 to this, but I respect this album quite a bit.
Well, what a boring but enjoyable ride. The sound was solid, but it never moved anywhere interesting. The songs were great by themselves, but consecutively each song is way too long.
Unrelenting grit and grunginess like this can only come from Ohio.
Massive Open, consistent diverse sounds somewhere between White Stripes and OK GO, and it does it for me. Hell yes.
I love how RAW this album was, but God it was rough to listen to for long. Overall good experience though.
Lou knocks it out of the park with the Storytelling and ambience of this one. Excellent job.
Soulful, playful, and adventurous. I quite enjoyed this album, and although it is not modern by any means, it did occasionally brush into timeless.
Big sounds on this one. I particularly enjoy sexy vamp baseball.
The core issue is that the band is doing an overall presentable job and I enjoy the instrumentals quite a lot, especially early in the album, but then HIS vacuous howling enters a song and just destroys the peace.
A soulful and playful album, the only issues I found with it were the occasional edge Crow puts on her vocals and sameness throughout the album.
Quite a pleasant sound throughout. I had heard the first song, but I enjoy the overall texture of her work a lot.
A real pleasant surprise, from some interesting bass lines, and composition as a "love album".
It was good, and the dub elements were something else. But I think the singer struck me as a little hard to listen to, especially near the end.
Tight, polished, and chock full of excellent songwriting.
Now I do like a space rock album, and this was no exception. I think it did drag a bit in a few places, but the atmosphere and songwriting were stellar.
This is some stuff I can vibe with strongly. There is a ton of soul and it has a loving and cozy feel to it.
On a second pass 3-4 years after I first listened to it, this pass illuminated this as a bit more of a standout for me. A lot of very cool tracks and particularly strong musical choices for a debut.
A bloated album of punchy songs, and I love the edge here, even if it misses (looking at you Hit)
Not a single standout song, just an entire standout album, nothing so far has sounded as groovy and gritty as this.
A surprisingly retro sounding album with a strange malaise lying over the whole thing. I like the sound but I don't know if and when I'll return.
Quite an empty sound. I do like the "beachiness" feel, but I think there are better versions of that sound.
A little boring in the back end, but this was some dated synth pop that had some strong moments for me.
Surprisingly strong back half on a live album. I think it still suffers from the live elements, but I bet it rocked as a show.
There is something so delightful about the simple and friendly presentation of this album while still demonstrating virtuosic and archetypal classic Indian music.
Great vibes again, but no standouts to push it to 5 on this one.
Surprisingly laidback and Contemplative for something in the modern grime Era, and I am certain Little Simz has a career for many years to come with this unique take on the sound.
Upon initial contact with Ice-T's music, I had envisioned him to be an ill-mannered and psychologically unstable man with an extremely uneducated and barbaric frame of mind, whose raps displayed nothing but ridiculous jargon, shocking sexual audacity and repulsive images of the ghetto. However, after further analysis of his music I can deduce that he is the epitome of antidisestablishmentarianism who embodies the entire spectrum of the urban experience and struggle. But to make things more plain and simple to the layman, I find Ice-T to be the dopest, flyist, O.G. pimp hustler gangster player hardcore motherfucker living today. To be honest I'm totally and irrevocably on his dick
This album took a little longer to come online for me than I'd like, but it does have a rocking back half and the softer stuff in the middle was really strong as well.
Silly and energetic throughout, but a little same and sometimes the dissonant parts of this album take me out.
Background music, with a couple of through lines to some music I do like, but not much else pulling me back.
Good blend of raw and polished with a superb vocal delivery. The thing that elevates this album for me is the sonic diversity though, staying well within the niche while exploring the space fully.
Nostalgic and loving. A little samey at times though.
Beautiful strings and pianos fill in the rainy soundscape of this album, while John floats modern classic lyrics and vocal delivery on the foam layer of this artisinal coffee.
Fiona feels like a rawer and rougher Norah Jones, and I absolutely adore that.
Fantastic lyrics and a huge opener. Jam packed with familiar songs, and maybe the only issue being slight bloat.
Packed with trailer rage and raps like never before seen. An early and incredible success of an album. A modern version could cut out like 3 or 4 tracks, but it still slaps.
Fun at times, sure. And Sweet Emotion is a bumping track. But overall just ok.
Some cool instrumental stuff happening, and she has that great millennial dread that many of her contemporaries demonstrate and that I quite enjoy. But overall samey.
Incredible experiment, David. Blackstar = TPAB (To Pimp A Bowie).
Absolutely soulful and swanky album, quite tightly packed as well. Huge Surpise here.
First intentional brush with the legend, and I think it was an incredible first brush.
The thing that is most striking about this album is the immaculate production, and Lorde's haunting and nostalgic vocals augment that production supremely.
Excellent music Chuck D and Terminator X put together constantly fighting against Flavor Flav. They win, but God damn is it a battle.
I love Doom, and it is so vital in a Doom fan's knowledge base to have this album.
One of the best narrative albums at point blank range. Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst might be in my top 10 songs.
Rock solid album with a punk sound that is unique and captures a specific sort of political rage. Maybe a little bloated, but not enough to bring it down a star.
This is catchy shit, and while I think I prefer mid to late Beatles much more, that early sound is still so fun.
Starts slow and picks up at the backend, but also suffers from bloat heavily.
The QUEEN. She absolutely nails her debut, but the album does suffer from a lot of the cheesy 80s tropes when it comes to rap.
A bit of a bore. I could enjoy some mustard on the sandwich, but I don't want all mustard.
The first time a space rock felt more space than rock, and I loved it.
I found this to be an altogether charming album experience, with a few boring moments.
Really great when in the soft spots. The big songs are of course good, but I actually enjoyed Going to California most.
Syd's influences are obviously most heavy here, but it is crazy to see how deep they affect all the future albums. Incredible psychedelic journey.
An excellent performance by Fela, and getting this early taste is very illuminating in how he reached stardom in the way he did.
Incredible beats and vibes, just slightly underwhelming flows.
When a white man touches the islands, he comes back a changed man. Sometimes the change is good, sometimes it's bad. In this case it's good, even if Clapton should leave Marley's work alone.
Absolutely Timeless. Not my fave from Bowie, but it is so damn consistent and strong.
Great enough stuff, but nothing really pushes it all the way up to 5
Hurt: Director's Cut is the most deserving of 5 stars.
Forgettable as a project, songs on their own are not too bad though.
Excellent vibes using found-sound spectacularly, with maybe just a hair of bloat.
I've had a beach visit that felt like this album. Apt name, incredible record.
Proto Tribe if I ever heard it. Tribe honed the blade, but the Jungle Brothers forged the weapon.
It's a live album, but it has some really great performances. Also really Hard Rock sounding, which isn't my flavor.
Now that is the foundational Bob Dylan that I was expecting. Great folksy sound, really does have a populi feel.
Punchy, fun songs tightly coiled in a record with no filler in my opinion. Great punky stuff.
I love this melodramatic record, a lot of soulfullness surprisingly, and even though it is a little cheesy, I was surprised that it did feel quite authentic.
Holy hell this is amazing, so soft and sensual, but somehow innocent as well.
Blur is on top of very interesting sounds here, and there are some fun memorable moments
I think that it was a fun example of 80s cheese. Not much else to say.
I thought that this album had a beautiful finish on it, and only had a few dull moments for me.
Actually listened to this in an airport. Honestly so fitting and so damn good.
Really clean, and surprised to find the sample for Ugly Boy in this piece. Really lacking something for the final star, but strong for a debut.
She is marvelous. Flawless production with bangers throughout, flows, features, and soul.
I was pleasantly surprised by this, a lot of iconic sounds at times, and some experimental here and there that impressed me. Otherwise, the album had a rough vocal performance and some tired blues moments that dragged it down a bit.
I'll be honest, Run Charlie Run shocked the shit out of me based on the time period. This album bumps, and has no fluff at all.
An explosion is great title for something that was spectacular at the beginning, and got smoky and draining towards the end.
I would say this album is very interesting, and I enjoyed listening to it. I feel like I would enjoy something from Skip that wasn't solo, so I will have to check out more work previous to this.
Phenomenally laidback and gloomy, I love the cohesiveness and expressiveness on display in this.
Trophy: Lana Unlocked Lana has always been difficult for me to listen to, but tonight changed everything. I had always heard from her fans that she was such a soulful and melancholy singer, but I always just heard a bored drone. Then it hit me: that is exactly correct. She is droning and she is not energized. But plenty of instruments make that sound. So as I listened to this, I let her fade into the mix like an instrument, and what emerged was a sorrowful and melancholy masterpiece.
Oh a lot of fun, to be sure. But it does get a little tired at points, which drags it down from a sex-God 5 to a sex-demigod 4
The guitar on this album is phenomenal, and songs in short snippets really sells it for me. I think an instrumental version of this elevate it even further, but it is still a fantastic folk work.
Keep it going Sabbath. An album with the most popular songs still hits all the features of the group that I love.
My God, this one is a slog. I loved every song, but as a project this is wretched.
Really potent compared to Hysteria, and has a lot of potential. Still too samey for a 5.
Full of epic and silly music. It's fun, it's funky, and I LIKE IT.