1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

447
Albums Rated
2.9
Average Rating
41%
Complete
642 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

2010
Favorite Decade
Hip-hop
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
40
5-Star Albums
41
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
5 2.94 +2.06
Paris 1919
John Cale
5 2.96 +2.04
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
5 3.03 +1.97
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
5 3.16 +1.84
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
5 3.21 +1.79
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
5 3.25 +1.75
Let It Be
The Replacements
5 3.26 +1.74
Let It Be
The Replacements
5 3.26 +1.74
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
5 3.34 +1.66
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
5 3.34 +1.66

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
The Wall
Pink Floyd
1 4.13 -3.13
A Night At The Opera
Queen
1 3.95 -2.95
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
1 3.92 -2.92
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
1 3.79 -2.79
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
1 3.61 -2.61
Rio
Duran Duran
1 3.5 -2.5
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
1 3.5 -2.5
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
1 3.5 -2.5
Blue
Joni Mitchell
1 3.49 -2.49
Aja
Steely Dan
1 3.48 -2.48

Artists

Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Radiohead 3 5
Beatles 5 4.4
Prince 4 4.5
Pixies 3 4.67
The Replacements 2 5
Bob Dylan 2 5
Pavement 2 5
David Bowie 6 4
Nick Drake 3 4.33

Least Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
k.d. lang 2 1
George Michael 2 1
Joni Mitchell 3 1.67
Queen 2 1.5
Ryan Adams 2 1.5
Simon & Garfunkel 2 1.5
Steely Dan 2 1.5
The Who 3 2

Controversial

ArtistRatings
The Clash 2, 5
Beatles 5, 5, 5, 5, 2

5-Star Albums (40)

View Album Wall

Popular Reviews

Tommy by The Who

It's shit isn't it? People need to stop pretending it's good. The most rock overrated album ever

Moss Side Story by Barry Adamson

This sounds like what it is, a soundtrack for a film that doesn't exist. Some nice bits but fairly pointless

Absolutely love this. Sounds like its from the future and ancient at the same time. It's incredible he was 14 making some of these tracks

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell

I do not understand the praise Joni Mitchell gets.

1-Star Albums (41)

All Ratings (447)

1977 by Ash
Jan 29 2021
Tidal by Fiona Apple
Feb 06 2021
Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Feb 13 2021
Elastica by Elastica
Feb 19 2021

Decent

Blue Lines by Massive Attack
Feb 20 2021

Not listened to this in ages. Great

90 by 808 State
Feb 21 2021

A couple of bangers but pretty dated

All Hope Is Gone by Slipknot
Feb 24 2021

I didn't know they did ballads. Some good bits but overall an ordeal

Arise by Sepultura
Feb 26 2021

Pretty good. Too much metal recently though

Teen Dream by Beach House
Feb 27 2021

Big fan of this. Their best album

Faust IV by Faust
Feb 28 2021

Like a bit of krautrock

Fear Of Music by Talking Heads
Mar 03 2021

Liked it. Not as good as Remain In Light

Manassas by Stephen Stills
Mar 05 2021

Nothing special

Sea Change by Beck
Mar 06 2021

Some nice bits but a bit flat over an album

The Stooges by The Stooges
Mar 08 2021

Actually pretty weak in hindsight. Some good tracks but it's so basic

Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
Mar 09 2021

Pretty much a perfect album

Garbage by Garbage
Mar 10 2021

Very 90s. Ok but not sure why it's on this list

Pump by Aerosmith
Mar 14 2021

Should have been left in the 80s. The cheesiest rock album i've ever heard

Raw Power by The Stooges
Mar 16 2021

Forgot how heavy this sounded

Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds
Mar 17 2021

Jangly. A whole one third are Dylan Covers though!

Ocean Rain by Echo And The Bunnymen
Mar 18 2021

Overrated. Still 1 classic song

The Clash by The Clash
Mar 19 2021

Ok, but they made better albums

The Only Ones by The Only Ones
Mar 22 2021

Track 2 great, the rest pretty good

Metallica by Metallica
Mar 23 2021

Soft rock metallica. I prefer the heavy stuff

Moby Grape by Moby Grape
Mar 24 2021

Hard to go higher when half the tracks are missing from spotify

Shaft by Isaac Hayes
Mar 25 2021

Smooth. Only heard the title track before

Doolittle by Pixies
Mar 27 2021

One of my all time favourites

1999 by Prince
Mar 29 2021

Probably to 3 of Prince albums

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
Mar 30 2021

Good pop songs. Never heard before

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C.
Mar 31 2021

Some great bits but lots of cheesy 80s rap filler

The Grand Tour by George Jones
Apr 01 2021

Didn't mind it. Authentic at least

Brothers by The Black Keys
Apr 03 2021

Scraped a 3. A bit too samey by the end

Faith by George Michael
Apr 04 2021

A few good songs but a lot more 80s cheese

Dry by PJ Harvey
Apr 06 2021

Not listened to it for 10 years but still sounds good and raw

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
Apr 07 2021

Classic overall album and sound but wouldn't say the songs are that strong individually

Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo
Apr 08 2021

Ok. Like a weaker Jeff Buckley

Heavy Weather by Weather Report
Apr 09 2021

Horrendous. Sax, cheesy bass, electric piano and congas

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Apr 10 2021

Very good. Loses a mark for the sax obviously

Ritual De Lo Habitual by Jane's Addiction
Apr 11 2021

Ok. You can tell it came out halfway between cock rock and alternative

Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu
Apr 12 2021

Really liked this, never listened to them before. Not heard much hardcore

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Apr 13 2021

Plenty of classic songs but other Bowie albums I like better

Stardust by Willie Nelson
Apr 14 2021

Nice enough for what it is

The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground
Apr 15 2021

Love the Velvet Underground but prefer the noisy albums. Still some nice songs

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Apr 17 2021

Better than I expected, only heard 1 of their albums before

Apr 18 2021

Great album. Only 2 years after Run DMC but has aged much better I think

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell
Apr 19 2021

I do not understand the praise Joni Mitchell gets.

Fishscale by Ghostface Killah
Apr 20 2021

Love this album. Could still do with trimming down a bit

Maverick A Strike by Finley Quaye
Apr 21 2021

Not as bad as I was expecting considering it's reggae. Only knew 1 song

Fifth Dimension by The Byrds
Apr 22 2021

I still like the jangle and there's some good songs on here. Still very uneven. Hey Joe is terrible

Jazz Samba by Stan Getz
Apr 24 2021

Ok as jazz goes. Pretty inoffensive but nothing bad about it

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Apr 25 2021

I try and like this album every few years. It's still a 1 even with the creeping familiarity.

Parklife by Blur
Apr 26 2021

I'm not sure it's a great album but lots of great songs. The circus one is still annoying

School's Out by Alice Cooper
Apr 27 2021

Alice should think himself lucky to get a 2. Could easily drop to a 1 with the West Side Story covers

Killing Joke by Killing Joke
Apr 28 2021

I enjoyed this, good heavy production

Live! by Fela Kuti
Apr 29 2021

Loved it. I knew Ginger Baker from Cream and his documentary but never listened to Fela Kuti before.

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes
Apr 30 2021

The best White Stripes album I think even without the guitar solos

Rio by Duran Duran
May 01 2021

What a load of shit

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
May 02 2021

A masterpiece

Screamadelica by Primal Scream
May 03 2021

Works really well as an album I think, everything flows together

Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney
May 04 2021

Better than expected. Thought I didn't like Sleater Kinney but some good riffs

Another Green World by Brian Eno
May 05 2021

Not many great tunes but the whole sound of this album is incredible

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
May 06 2021

Definitely an important and impressive album incorporating all the jazz but it still drags in places for me

Closer by Joy Division
May 08 2021

Hard to separate from the first Joy Division album

Behaviour by Pet Shop Boys
May 09 2021

Thought I'd like this better but every song sounds so basic. I'd go1.5, 1 felt harsh

A Northern Soul by The Verve
May 11 2021

I liked the psychedelic bits. History the only song I knew

Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
May 12 2021

Hard to separate from the previous PJ Harvey album Dry. Probably even more raw

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen
May 13 2021

Very good this, I only knew 1 song before. Darker than Born in the USA and he has wisely toned down the sax

Trafalgar by Bee Gees
May 14 2021

I had some slight interest in this being the Bee Gees pre falsetto and disco. That faded after 4 tracks, I couldn't stand any more

Natty Dread by Bob Marley & The Wailers
May 15 2021

Pretty good to hear something other than the greatest hits. Don't like this version on No Woman No Cry

Mask by Bauhaus
May 16 2021

Gothy. Kind of interesting but sounded like shit production wise

Definitely Maybe by Oasis
May 17 2021

I still really like it, got a good swagger about it and definitely their best album. B sides good too. Marked it down for the terrible lyrics in places and the numerous rip offs

Nothing makes me cringe more. Sung like it's the most important music ever made, with nothing to back it up. Having said that I actually like track 2

Remedy by Basement Jaxx
May 20 2021

It's just house music, but I do appreciate all the little details Basement Jaxx put in. 2.5 really, their 2nd album would get a full 3

May 21 2021

I expected worse. Far less of the annoying stuff on the Opera album. A big drop off in the 2nd half however

Timeless by Goldie
May 23 2021

Pretty decent DnB album but hasn't aged especially well for an album called Timeless, it doesn't stand out at all now.

May 24 2021

I can hear like a lot of effort went into making it sound good but none of the songs do anything for me.

The Beach Boys Today! by The Beach Boys
May 25 2021

\I think this is when the songwriting and arrangements got more Pet Soundsy, you can hear the roots of it

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
May 26 2021

Its interesting how un-metal this sounds compared to modern times. They were on to something with the heavier led zeppelin but nowhere near a classic album i think

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
May 27 2021

I fully agree with the hype! Lyrics and songwriting miles ahead of anyone in the genre and a well put together album beginning to end

Connected by Stereo MC's
May 28 2021

It sounds its age but still pretty good. Some definite bangers and good rhythms all the way through

Fever Ray by Fever Ray
May 29 2021

A pretty unique album, nothing really sounds like it. Also the loudest thing I have ever heard live

NEU! 75 by Neu!
May 30 2021

I'd never heard this before. Slower than I was expecting but still right up my street

The Predator by Ice Cube
May 31 2021

Not as good as the previous Ice Cube album but it still has a couple of my favourites on it

Histoire De Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
Jun 01 2021

This one passed me by a bit. Obviously it's in french so I don't understand the lyrics but every other word was the title of the album

Sex Packets by Digital Underground
Jun 02 2021

Humpty Dance is great. Pretty funny album but drags a bit by the end

Goo by Sonic Youth
Jun 03 2021

I'm not a big fan of Sonic Youth but I think this album is very good, great guitars. Kool Thing especially

Vauxhall And I by Morrissey
Jun 04 2021

Actually pretty decent if you don't mind his voice. Not as good as the smiths but better than his other solo stuff I'd heard

Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Jun 05 2021

Sounded exactly how I expected it to. By no means bad, just a decent blues rock album

Jun 06 2021

My 2nd favourite Fall album out of the 10 or so I've heard. It probably just sounds like an old man rambling which to be fair it is

Jun 08 2021

I thought Chicago sounded like Journey... It's much better than than that, I liked the rock and the horns and the weird stuff

Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
Jun 09 2021

Another good one, on a bit of a roll. I knew what they sounded like but never heard a whole album before, it was well put together

The Man Who by Travis
Jun 10 2021

I liked this when it came out but there's not much to it. Nice enough for a watered down Radiohead

John Prine by John Prine
Jun 11 2021

Not too bad for a country album, some pretty funny lines. Still not for me though

Slanted And Enchanted by Pavement
Jun 12 2021

A lot like The Fall this one. The recording is absolute shit but some classic songs underneath it. Summer Babe and Desert my favourites

Roxy Music by Roxy Music
Jun 13 2021

A bit of a mish mash. Definitely some good bits I liked but more prog than I'd like and the vocals got on my nerves

Dear Science by TV On The Radio
Jun 14 2021

Maybe the best band to come out this millennium. Like a more funky Arcade Fire

Infected by The The
Jun 15 2021

I thought this would be more post-punky. Actually very 80s pop for a lot of it

Repeater by Fugazi
Jun 16 2021

I don't know much hardcore but I like Fugazi, this is my favourite of theirs

Ten by Pearl Jam
Jun 17 2021

A pretty good rock album, I knew more songs than I realised. Still not sure about his voice

Purple Rain by Prince
Jun 18 2021

Perfect beginning to end. Amazing that the last song was from a live show

Jun 19 2021

I like Take on Me but didn't fancy a whole album of it, but it was pretty decent. The title track was good

Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Jun 20 2021

Better than the Crosby Stills and Nash album i'd heard before. Maybe because I like Neil Young. First half better than the second

The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Jun 21 2021

1st track is amazing and the rest pretty good standard Nick Cave. I think I like him better when there's guitars

Gold by Ryan Adams
Jun 22 2021

Really bad. The blandest thing I've ever heard, not an original note on the album

Different Class by Pulp
Jun 23 2021

The best Britpop album. I think it stands up better than anything by Blur or Oasis from that era

Revolver by Beatles
Jun 25 2021

Probably in my top 5 ever. Easily the best Beatles album, even with Yellow Submarine

Ragged Glory by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Jun 26 2021

I like Neil Young but never heard this one before. Guitars sound great as they always do but not his strongest songs

Jun 27 2021

Listened to this a few times ages ago but I could only remember the first track. It's sort of post rock but often too jazzy for me

Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix
Jun 28 2021

Not my favourite Hendrix album but even this one has some incredible playing. A bit uneven and disjointed though

Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
Jun 29 2021

Really didn't enjoy this much. Some rancid lyrics

My Generation by The Who
Jun 30 2021

A pretty decent rock album. As ever with The Who I like the music but dislike Roger Daltrey's singing

The Undertones by The Undertones
Jul 01 2021

An easy 3. No weak tracks but no massive standouts either. Teenage Kicks not on the album proper

Pictures At An Exhibition by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Jul 02 2021

Absolute rubbish, I couldn't get through it. I don't know why this is on the list

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5
Jul 03 2021

I hadn't listened to this for years. It hasn't really dated as it was already pretty retro when it came out

Smash by The Offspring
Jul 04 2021

I liked the 2 hits in the middle and the rest was ok for what it is. 2 Seems harsh but i'll never listen to it again

Moss Side Story by Barry Adamson
Jul 05 2021

This sounds like what it is, a soundtrack for a film that doesn't exist. Some nice bits but fairly pointless

Jul 07 2021

I hate U2. So dramatic with so little substance. 2 because i'm feeling generous

London Calling by The Clash
Jul 08 2021

There are very few excellent albums from the punk era but this is one. Lots of variety even if it has a few too many tracks

At Budokan by Cheap Trick
Jul 09 2021

I quite liked it, at least as live albums go it sounded fun to be there unlike Emerson Lake and Palmer

Apocalypse Dudes by Turbonegro
Jul 10 2021

I'm fairly sure this is a joke? Some funny catchy songs but tired of it by the end

Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine
Jul 11 2021

The album they made after is on of the best ever, you can hear the sound starting to come together here

Zombie by Fela Kuti
Jul 12 2021

I'd heard of Fela Kuti but never listened to his stuff. Sounds really cool I thought and not what I'd normally have on, might go back to it

Queens of the Stone Age by Queens Of The Stone Age
Jul 13 2021

It's decent but nothing special. The 2 albums they did after this were much better I thought

Too Rye Ay by Dexys Midnight Runners
Jul 14 2021

I thought they were one hit wonders but the rest of the album is very strong. Loved the strings and horns

Nick Of Time by Bonnie Raitt
Jul 15 2021

I went in with low expectations. Not terrible but too close to Shania Twain for me.

Like A Prayer by Madonna
Jul 16 2021

Rubbish. Other than the first song which is obviously amazing

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
Jul 17 2021

Some good songs and some bad ones. Not very memorable on first listen

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra
Jul 18 2021

Some of the jazzy bits were ok but then the horns and everything came back in. I hate all the big band stuff

Sister by Sonic Youth
Jul 19 2021

A pretty good Sonic Youth album, noisy as expected

Is This It by The Strokes
Jul 20 2021

Despite not being at all original it's flawless without a wasted note on the whole thing

Either Or by Elliott Smith
Jul 21 2021

I've heard this before but it's never stuck. The songwriting is obviously good but the lo-fi sound doesn't grab me

The White Album by Beatles
Jul 22 2021

It's pretty messy and doesn't fit together as an album that well but still so so much good stuff on there. Amazing they were knocking these out twice a year

Destroyer by KISS
Jul 23 2021

Absolute garbage. Just such stupid music

Crocodiles by Echo And The Bunnymen
Jul 24 2021

Pretty average. Weaker than Ocean Rain

Urban Hymns by The Verve
Jul 25 2021

Still sounds really good. The singles got a bit overplayed but it all works together as an album

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe
Jul 26 2021

I consider this a bit of a modern classic but had to downgrade it to a 4, i'd forgotten how much it loses steam near the end. Still a great variety of sounds and layers

Chirping Crickets by Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Jul 27 2021

Hard to score. Not at all bad but sounds very dated obviously. Clearly good at what he did

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Jul 28 2021

Some of it gets a bit wanky, especially the backwards parts but it doesn't really detract from the high points

Bongo Rock by Incredible Bongo Band
Jul 29 2021

So bongo cover versions then. I could have done without hearing it but not too terrible

Close To You by Carpenters
Jul 30 2021

Absolute shit. Hated every second

Disraeli Gears by Cream
Jul 31 2021

Only ever heard 2 songs before. Some great playing but not much else stood out on the album

The Sounds Of India by Ravi Shankar
Aug 01 2021

No idea why it's in the list. Not my thing but clearly an introductory album and not his best work

Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club
Aug 02 2021

I'm sure it's a decent example of the genre but it just sounds like the background music in every bar in Cuba

Nevermind by Nirvana
Aug 03 2021

A welcome great album after a run of shit ones. Teen Spirit is overplayed but still worth a 5 for the sound and the songs

Tellin’ Stories by The Charlatans
Aug 04 2021

Better than I remembered. I'd definitely heard 1 or 2 other albums by them that were piss weak

The Colour Of Spring by Talk Talk
Aug 05 2021

The 2 albums they made after this are incredible, never heard this one before. Amazing they gave up pop music and started doing this

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
Aug 06 2021

Went from a 4, then a 3, then a 2 after 78 minutes of the same solos

The Bends by Radiohead
Aug 07 2021

A perfect straight ahead rock album for me. 3 guitars going at it for most of the songs

En-Tact by The Shamen
Aug 08 2021

Thought it would be cheesy Ebenezer Goode stuff but it was ok for what it is. Probably better if you're full of class As

16 Lovers Lane by The Go-Betweens
Aug 09 2021

Really pretty dull, not much stood out. Expected it to be better

Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Aug 10 2021

I never had them down as much of an album act but this is very strong. Lots of recognisable songs and the album tracks are decent too

Beyond Skin by Nitin Sawhney
Aug 11 2021

Kind of interesting, almost a 3. It still sounded very 90s to me and too many rubbish tracks

Vespertine by Björk
Aug 12 2021

I like Bjork but hadn't listened to this one before. The production is excellent like always but it didn't sound like there were enough good songs underneath it

Hms Fable by Shack
Aug 13 2021

Decent enough, no bad tracks but also nothing especially memorable to push it up to the next level

Back In Black by AC/DC
Aug 14 2021

Not quite a 5 for me. Some amazing rock songs and even the lesser tracks have a great energy

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard
Aug 15 2021

Better than I thought. A good voice and standard country songs but all done pretty well

Aug 17 2021

'm a fan of Tom Waits but not heard this one before. He's hilarious. No idea if it's really a live album or not but the crowd interaction ties it all together

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop
Aug 19 2021

This might be the prime spot for Iggy Pop. You can hear Bowie being the producer but still a bit of rawness left over from The Stooges

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Aug 20 2021

A great album. Love how all the samples blend together and every line is a punchline

Murmur by R.E.M.
Aug 21 2021

It's not the cool opinion but I prefer the pop period REM to the indie period. Not my favourite of theirs

Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre
Aug 22 2021

I wasn't looking forward to this but it isn't as cheesy as I expected. Probably amazing in it's day but now heard loads of the tracks on tv and ads etc

Pretenders by Pretenders
Aug 23 2021

It was ok. But her voice always annoys me

Bossanova by Pixies
Aug 24 2021

Love the Pixies. It lost some of the rawness on this album but still some great tracks. Velouria one of my favourites of theirs

Hearts And Bones by Paul Simon
Aug 25 2021

Not Paul Simon's best. Some real shit on here in fact

Queen Of Denmark by John Grant
Aug 26 2021

Only heard bits by John Grant before. It was interesting but think i'd like it better a 2nd time to catch all the lyrics

Heroes by David Bowie
Aug 27 2021

A classic Bowie album in my opinion, a lot like Low which is my favourite. Guitars sound amazing

All Mod Cons by The Jam
Aug 28 2021

I was surprised it didn't have any of the big hits but it still holds together well as an album. Better than I expected.

The Wall by Pink Floyd
Aug 29 2021

I really hate this. Why is it so long? Cleary they're capable musicians but the songwriting is stretched seriously thin. I don't hear what everyone else hears

In Rainbows by Radiohead
Aug 30 2021

Not listened to this for years but still sounds great to me. Kind of the mid point of old Radiohead and new, it's got the classic song structures but no guitar solos (unfortunately)

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies
Aug 31 2021

A genuine lost classic, they should have been huge. 1 perfect song after another. I particularly like the bit when you realise the girl in the first song is in prison

New Forms by Roni Size
Sep 01 2021

Hard to rate. Probably the best drum and bass album ever but it isn't a genre that suits albums. Brown Paper Bag is still amazing

My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
Sep 02 2021

I've heard this before, pretty decent. A great opening line

The Dreaming by Kate Bush
Sep 03 2021

I think I like the idea of Kate Bush better than the actual music. It's all a bit over the top and got annoying in places

A Seat at the Table by Solange
Sep 04 2021

One of the best of the past few years, hard to believe it's Beyonce's sister. Cranes in the Sky probably my favourite

Devil Without A Cause by Kid Rock
Sep 05 2021

God this was bad. Some albums are boring, this one is just offensively shit. Couldn't make it past the first 3 tracks

New York Dolls by New York Dolls
Sep 06 2021

I didn't think i'd like this as it's not my favourite style but it grew on me

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
Sep 07 2021

I've only ever listened to Kind of Blue which is much more traditional. Loved how wild this one is, i'll go back to it

Lam Toro by Baaba Maal
Sep 08 2021

Didn't do much for me but was still interesting. Last track is like a bad 80s ballad but African

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Sep 09 2021

Not as good as My Aim is True so probably wouldn't listen again

Miriam Makeba by Miriam Makeba
Oct 01 2021

She's got a good voice. I preferred the first half not sung in English

Roger the Engineer by The Yardbirds
Oct 02 2021

Pretty disappointing. I'd heard of the Yardbirds and expected it to be a bit more gritty. Not memorable at all

Catch A Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Oct 03 2021

Decent, just not as good as Exodus. I was surprised I only knew 1 song

The Specials by The Specials
Oct 05 2021

Never heard the album but knew quite a few songs. I thought it was great, even the album tracks were good

Kid A by Radiohead
Oct 06 2021

It doesn't seem as radical now for a guitar band to make this but still 20 years later there's nothing that sounds like it. National Anthem and Idioteque my favourites

Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings
Oct 08 2021

I've never listened to this. A bit too 70s rock I think and McCartney clearly no longer cool by this point, but his songwriting shines through in places

Woodface by Crowded House
Oct 09 2021

I've already had this one near the beginning, not listening again. Well written but pretty dull standard songs on the whole

Oct 10 2021

Really interesting weird hip hop, sounds like Deltron 3030. Can't believe i'd not heard of him

Junkyard by The Birthday Party
Oct 11 2021

I knew this was Nick Cave's old band but didn't expect it sound like this. A lot like The Fall which is a good thing to me

Oct 12 2021

The Big Boi album is the better of the 2 as it's more consistent, the other one is as messy as i remember. Hey Ya and a few others are brilliant but so many meandering annoying songs as well

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy
Oct 13 2021

Tempted to go 5 but I was sensible. Loved it as a kid and still stands up fairly well I think. It sounded like nothing else at the time. It's not easy to make dance music into an engaging album either

Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
Oct 14 2021

A lot like Dylan, in that his voice isn't great and sometimes the covers are better, but he writes amazing lyrics.

Heartattack And Vine by Tom Waits
Oct 15 2021

Always a pleasure hearing a new Tom Waits album. I liked it as always, it doesn't stand out especially against his other bluesy ones though

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Oct 16 2021

A classic rock album in my opinion even if it doesn't sound classic. This is their rawest most punk album and the vocals are more deranged than the later albums

Machine Head by Deep Purple
Oct 17 2021

Better than expected. Pretty standard rock sound but loads of great riffs

Jack Takes the Floor by Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Oct 18 2021

This was a welcome change, didn't expect to like any folk that is pre-Dylan but I enjoyed it

Under Construction by Missy Elliott
Oct 19 2021

Pretty good hip hop album. Benefits from Timbaland producing everything so it sounds consistent. Quite a few bangers

Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors
Oct 20 2021

Didn't like as much as I remember. Vocals sound great and interesting music, it just doesn't add up to much really. Stillness Is The Move is a great song though

Drunk by Thundercat
Oct 21 2021

Heard this before. I like him in small doses and on other people's albums, but I find his bass playing and stupid lyrics boring after a while

american dream by LCD Soundsystem
Oct 22 2021

Feels too recent to have any perspective. A good comeback and has some great tracks, but too much filler to be up with their earlier albums

Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear
Oct 23 2021

It's pretty much perfect at what it is, the whole thing sounds exactly right all the way through. Maybe not enough individual highlights for a 5

At Newport 1960 by Muddy Waters
Oct 24 2021

Don't think i've ever sat and listened to Muddy Waters properly. I like this sort of blues. Live album and it sounded like a good night

Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto
Oct 25 2021

I usually like Brazilian music but this passed me by. I even put it on a 2nd time as only half the tracks are on Spotify, and I still didn't really notice it

Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
Oct 26 2021

An album of great bits, spread a bit too thinly. No doubt important in indie rock but just short of being great for me.

Treasure by Cocteau Twins
Oct 27 2021

Listened to this twice as I didn't get much from it first time. I think it takes a while to sink in as it's so floaty and vague. The drums are far too 80s to score higher

Crazysexycool by TLC
Oct 28 2021

Not bad, but it probably sounded better at the time before all the really shit r&b pop groups came after them

The College Dropout by Kanye West
Oct 30 2021

Not as good as I remember it. He's not a very good rapper at this point, but less of a cock than later on. It's got loads of great beats but far too many skits etc

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Nov 01 2021

Probably more influential than good these days. Clearly still working out how to make rap albums, quality varies a lot

Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti
Nov 02 2021

I liked the Fela Kuti album better by his dad I think. This one was ok but got a bit repetitive

Station To Station by David Bowie
Nov 03 2021

Not my favourite Bowie album, but the title track is amazing I think. I liked the albums after this that carried on with that style

Joan Armatrading by Joan Armatrading
Nov 04 2021

I really didn't like this. Basically the ways she sings annoys me.

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Nov 06 2021

I don't like a lot of folk music but this is probably my favourite outside of Dylan. A shame he topped himself

Here's Little Richard by Little Richard
Nov 07 2021

Really hard to rate. It's hard to find a fault with it but obviously it sounds different today to what it would have at the time

Bad by Michael Jackson
Nov 08 2021

This was my favourite album when I was 8. I still think it's better than Thriller, plus it's when he started saying "Chamone" all the time

I remember this won the Mercury music prize and I liked it at the time but it's actually fairly boring compared to her louder stuff. kamikaze is still really good

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys
Nov 26 2021

It's Brit pop but has a few other interesting influences. Not enough good songs ultimately

Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings
Nov 28 2021

This was ok, similar type of country to Jonny Cash. Nice pedal steel. Probably won't ever go back to it though.

Nov 29 2021

I think The Scientist is a great song, and I quite like Chris Martin's voice. Its a watered down Radiohead really though isn't it, with the same style but none of the substance

Grace by Jeff Buckley
Nov 30 2021

One of the best singers in rock music. Some really good songs as well but not the classic he might have been able to make if he'd stuck around

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Dec 01 2021

Very good, this was his only album I'd listened to before this challenge. A slower pace than most of his other stuff but at least there is no sax.

Sound Affects by The Jam
Dec 02 2021

I liked this one. The Jam have surprised me how consistent their albums have been

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
Dec 03 2021

I remember the first time I heard this. When his voice comes in on the first song I'd not heard anything like it. Excellent

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé
Dec 04 2021

This sounds like the most expensive album I've ever heard. Hundreds of cowriters and producers involved and it stops it from being cohesive. Obviously she has a great voice but does nothing for me

The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
Dec 05 2021

Not clear why this is on the list. Not the big hits of born in the USA or the restraint of Nebraska. Springsteen by numbers. And it has sax

Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
Dec 06 2021

Actually a bit of a disappointment. Not a fan of the instrumentals generally. Prefer their other albums

Technique by New Order
Dec 07 2021

Really good this. I always thought it was impressive how different they sound to Joy Division but never really gave them a chance as an album band

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
Dec 08 2021

I think I've had my fill of country recently. It wasn't bad if you like that Dolly Parton story story telling style

Quiet Life by Japan
Dec 09 2021

Late 70s but sounds 80s. Hated this. The Velvet Underground cover was excruciating

Darkdancer by Les Rythmes Digitales
Dec 11 2021

I knew this was Jacques Le Cont, I hadn't realised he was American! Sounds very mid 2000s when I was into all this stuff. A good few bangers

First Band On The Moon by The Cardigans
Dec 12 2021

Started pretty good, some nice tunes and basslines. Too similar by the end. Lovefool is a classic

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
Dec 13 2021

I like Paul SImon's songwriting and the harmonies on some of their other stuff, but this is mostly shit. Fucking Scarborough Fair, fucking Silent Night.

Pearl by Janis Joplin
Dec 14 2021

Very 60s sounding. I don't think I've ever heard it but liked it a lot better than I expected. An amazing voice and some pretty strong songs

Pieces Of The Sky by Emmylou Harris
Dec 15 2021

Not great, not too bad for a country album. The sad type of country. The Beatles cover was a welcome surprise

Eagles by Eagles
Dec 16 2021

Hated it. I expected it to sound like the Eagles, which it did, who I hate the sound of. I even listened to it on a train journey which is the highest compliment you can pay an album.

Let It Be by The Replacements
Dec 18 2021

One of my favourite albums from the 80s. It's got all the energy of punk but clearly some brilliant melodic songs underneath. They might have been huge in the 90s alternative scene

The Poet by Bobby Womack
Dec 19 2021

I thought I liked Bobby Womack but this didn't do much for me. Pretty standard soul

Dec 20 2021

Hard to rate this one and separate it from my childhood. Not as good as Definitely Maybe which I gave a 4, but should really have been a 5.

Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Dec 21 2021

Heard this before and really rate it, there's not many live albums I choose to listen to. Love his guitar sound

Protection by Massive Attack
Dec 22 2021

In not a 'Massive' fan of them on the whole and I think this album is really boring. The albums before and after it were miles better in my opinion

Good Old Boys by Randy Newman
Jan 14 2022

This was a nice surprise. I only knew Political Science of his songs and didn't expect this to be so good. I couldn't believe the lyrics in the first song. I listened to the whole thing twice in a row

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jan 15 2022

I don't really like CCR and this didn't change my mind much, most of the songs are pretty average. Also interesting they're not actually southern but from California

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins
Jan 16 2022

Every double album automatically loses a star straight away. It's a shame as they were obviously very productive at the time and there's loads of great riffs and some very good songs. Just too long and a lot more whiny than Siamese Dream the shorter better album before this.

Teenage Head by Flamin' Groovies
Jan 17 2022

I like the band name. It's pretty basic music unfortunately and nothing special by today's standards

Homework by Daft Punk
Jan 18 2022

There aren't many classic dance albums that deserve to be on this list but this one definitely does. Da Funk especially is one of my favourite tracks. Too long to listen to in one go though

Illmatic by Nas
Jan 20 2022

The best rap album ever. No skits, no filler tracks, only 1 excellent guest verse. Every best sounds classic, Nas is on fire beginning to end. NY state of mind and the 2nd verse on memory lane especially are my favourites

Phaedra by Tangerine Dream
Jan 21 2022

I like Can and Kraftwerk and thought this would be a cross between the 2. It's really ambient though and I barely noticed it being on. Disappointing.

Violator by Depeche Mode
Jan 22 2022

I don't like Depeche Mode. A generous 2 as some of the instrumental bits were interesting

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
Jan 23 2022

Standard 60s psychedelic. Nothing memorable after the first 5 tracks, and then they hit a classic riff on the last track and spoil it by stretching it out for half the album.

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Jan 24 2022

Rumours I find too overplayed to enjoy so I thought I might like a FM album I hadn't heard before. Really boring unimaginative songs unfortunately

Parachutes by Coldplay
Jan 25 2022

Decent, nothing more. I listened to it a fair bit when it came out though so probably bumps it up a star more than it deserves

Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs
Jan 26 2022

I really liked this. Admittedly right up my street as it sounds like the Replacements but the songs were very strong and well put together

Rage Against The Machine by Rage Against The Machine
Jan 27 2022

Probably a 4.5, a few tracks don't quite hit the mark but it's great nonetheless

Jan 28 2022

A lot of funk but clearly the songwriting had a way to go before they made the big hits a few years later. Pretty mediocre

That's The Way Of The World by Earth, Wind & Fire
Jan 29 2022

Ok for the most part, some bits dragged. No bangers like September to drag it up to a 3

Done By The Forces Of Nature by Jungle Brothers
Jan 30 2022

Big party hip hop album, I really liked it and hadn't heard them before. Similar to De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest but more dancey

Black Metal by Venom
Jan 31 2022

This was unintentionally hilarious, it's so Spinal Tap. I'm guessing this was the first in the genre? I actually like more modern black metal but this hasn't aged well. I especially found it funny that all the solos were standard rock and roll, clearly no one had taught them the evil sounding scales all metal bands use now

Feb 01 2022

Just short of a 5 for me. Nightswimming is one of their best and its's very consistent throughout

Opus Dei by Laibach
Feb 02 2022

Weird orchestral/industrial mix. Some interesting bits but obviously German singing on anything makes it too funny to take seriously

The Sensual World by Kate Bush
Feb 03 2022

I liked this. There seemed like a lot more substance to the songs compared to the other previous Kate Bush album we had. Probably need to hear it a few times to really click

Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash
Feb 04 2022

Some nice harmonies and decent songs. Annoying the album wasn't on Spotify so I had to put it on youtube where it didn't sound brilliant to me. Not especially memorable, I'm sure they've done better

Master Of Puppets by Metallica
Feb 07 2022

This is probably the sweet spot for Metallica to me. Not as heavy as the earlier thrash stuff but before they started doing lame ballads

The Who Sell Out by The Who
Feb 08 2022

Not a big fan of the Who and the adverts are kind of an annoying concept. But I Can See For Miles is brilliant and I do like the cover

Viva Hate by Morrissey
Feb 09 2022

Is this his best solo album? It's pretty good but obviously not Smiths class. Suedehead and Sunday are excellent. Interesting I thought that Bengali in Platforms doesn't come across racist at all to me compared to what he's like these days

Synchronicity by The Police
Feb 10 2022

Not as bad as I was expecting as I hate Sting. I always like the drumming on Police songs

Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams
Feb 11 2022

I thought it was so dull, not an original note on there. I looked up some reviews afterwards to work out why it's on the list and apparently everyone rates it but me! I warmed to it slightly by the end

This Is Fats Domino by Fats Domino
Feb 12 2022

Hard to rate as Spotify doesn't have the whole album but it sounded good. I like Blueberry Hill from 12 monkeys

Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Feb 15 2022

I like Nick Drake a lot but this is actually my least favourite of his 3 albums

Nixon by Lambchop
Feb 16 2022

I was looking forward to this as I knew it was alt-country but had never got round to listening to it. It's actually a bit closer to pop. Up with people is very good but a lot of the album is a bit easy listening. I'm not sure about his falsetto either

The Gilded Palace Of Sin by The Flying Burrito Brothers
Feb 17 2022

I've heard this before and really rate it. Of all the neverending country/folk/rock albums on this list I think this is a level above most of them

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Feb 18 2022

I listened to this a few times when it came out and it didn't grab me. Some nice harmonies but it still doesn't do much for me

The Slim Shady LP by Eminem
Feb 19 2022

Liked this at the time and brought back a lot of memories but the beats are actually fairly weak in a lot of places. I think the 2nd album was a big improvement from memory.

Feb 20 2022

Absolutely love this. Sounds like its from the future and ancient at the same time. It's incredible he was 14 making some of these tracks

The Cars by The Cars
Feb 21 2022

Very very good. Some absolute bangers and lead to Weezer so a good thing in my opinion.

Feb 22 2022

I really hated this. Everything on it is so over the top

Document by R.E.M.
Feb 23 2022

A very good REM album, right in the sweet spot between indie and pop. 3 seems a bit harsh but it's definitely 1 below Automatic for the people

Ctrl by SZA
Feb 24 2022

I listened to this when it came out but hadn't gone back to it, it's still pretty good. She's definitely one of the better RnB songwriters

Happy Trails by Quicksilver Messenger Service
Feb 25 2022

Really weak I thought. I like some jammy psychedelic rock but this didn't go anywhere

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Feb 26 2022

I'd maybe only heard this once before, it never grabbed me like their others. Some great tracks but too much filler. I don't know why you'd choose to listen to this over LZ 1 to 4

Scream, Dracula, Scream by Rocket From The Crypt
Mar 01 2022

I liked this. Proper balls out rock from the 90s alt years, surprised I hadn't heard it before

We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Mar 02 2022

It starts so so well but there's some absolute shit near the end. I also hate Spotify adding on remixes and bonus tracks

Paris 1919 by John Cale
Mar 03 2022

Honestly one of my favourite ever albums. I always think of it as underrated so I was pleasantly surprised it made the list. It's a shame he never went back to this style with his later more experimental stuff

Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock
Mar 04 2022

I enjoyed this a lot. The first half more than the second where it lost a bit pf momentum. Probably now my favourite jazz funk album

Mar 05 2022

I had this when it came out and never realised it was a compilation so have marked it down 1. They're a bit of a one trick pony

Supa Dupa Fly by Missy Elliott
Mar 11 2022

I'd never heard this and I was glad it's Timbaland on production, he was starting to hit his stride here. Loads of good tracks

Clandestino by Manu Chao
Mar 12 2022

Another one I thought I'd hate but actually very listenable. It kept me interested with all the changes in language etc

Disintegration by The Cure
Mar 13 2022

The best Cure album I think, certainly of the ones I've heard. Probably too miserable for some but its a perfect execution of what they were going for

Tago Mago by Can
Mar 14 2022

Love this, enough groove to hook you in, enough weird stuff to keep it interesting. One of the best drummers ever in my opinion. Only loses a mark as the last tracks are a bit too out there for me

The Slider by T. Rex
Mar 15 2022

Metal guru is pretty good but the glam metal doesn't do much for me. Electric Warrior we did first was better

Greetings From L.A. by Tim Buckley
Mar 16 2022

Not what I expected, I wouldn't know it was Jeff's dad. Some cool bluesy funk sounds but average songs

Tical by Method Man
Mar 17 2022

I'd always avoided this as he's not one of my favourite in Wu tang, don't know why. It's got the gritty sound and the classic dense lyrics. Probably needs a few listens to really sink in but I liked it

Mar 23 2022

I hadn't heard this for years. Vastly overrated at the time but it still sounds pretty good I think. The good bits are brilliant

Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Mar 24 2022

Another good Elvis Costello album. No big stand out hits but it's pretty consistently good

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Mar 25 2022

I found this so boring. Absolutely nothing interesting in any of the songs. American Girl just about saved it from a 1

Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden
Mar 26 2022

Thought i'd dislike it more but it was ok. Weird not hearing Bruce Dickinson's voice

Mar 27 2022

I tried to listen without prejudice but it really was shit. Clearly he was trying to be taken seriously as an artist but there's no substance just pretension added to basic ballads

Eternally Yours by The Saints
Mar 28 2022

Wow really great, never heard of these guys. Punk albums that still sound decent are few and far between but this is like London Calling in that it has other stuff going on. The horns and acoustic bits worked really well

Rust In Peace by Megadeth
Mar 29 2022

I struggle to separate it from the other Megadeth album we had earlier on, but the guitars still sounded really good

Public Image: First Issue by Public Image Ltd.
Apr 02 2022

It's not every day you invent a genre, especially only a year after taking punk to the mainstream. I had to drop it down to a 3 as some of the more extreme tracks get on my nerves. Their 2nd album is the classic

Arrival by ABBA
Apr 03 2022

Hard to rate. Never really clicked for me as a serious musical act. Dancing Queen is obviously amazing but there aren't enough good ones to make up for the horrible production

Os Mutantes by Os Mutantes
Apr 04 2022

The Brazilian Beatles. I'd heard a few tracks before but not the whole album. It's properly psychedelic in a way not much English language rock is

Apr 05 2022

It was ok. He always sounds decent, not many of his tracks really blow me away. I prefer BIG and the east coast style more

Tommy by The Who
Apr 06 2022

It's shit isn't it? People need to stop pretending it's good. The most rock overrated album ever

Nowhere by Ride
Apr 07 2022

It's definitely shoegaze. Very Verve-y, but without as much swagger. I thought the vocals let it down a bit

Fear and Whiskey by Mekons
Apr 09 2022

I had higher hopes for this. It passed me by a bit as punky irish music only slightly more modern than The Pogues.

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix
Apr 11 2022

I never really think of this as much of an album, just a load of songs with Jimi Hendrix playing guitar on, but there's so much good stuff. The drummer is amazing, and no one has ever made a guitar sound like Hendrix

Tres Hombres by ZZ Top
Apr 12 2022

Thought i'd hate this but it's decent. The constant rhythm track was pretty cool but by the end I found it a bit repetitive and predictable to go higher than a 3

High Violet by The National
Apr 13 2022

My favourite of theirs is Alligator but this has lots of their best songs on. The production especially stands out to me as being the best fit for his voice and lyrics they've had

The Rise & Fall by Madness
Apr 14 2022

I'd like to go higher than a 2 but it's novelty ska really isn't it? A whole album was a bit much

Superunknown by Soundgarden
Apr 15 2022

I didn't get all that much from this, Black Hole Sun by far my favourite that has a different sound from their heavier stuff. To be fair there's only a handful of grunge bands I like

The Visitors by ABBA
Apr 16 2022

I wanted to go 1.5. Not an outright 1 as there's clearly some craft to the songwriting, but large parts of it were like an Andrew Lloyd Webber album

Young Americans by David Bowie
Apr 17 2022

Not my favourite Bowie album at all. Probably only a 3 because it's Bowie, i preferred the periods before and after

Third by Portishead
Apr 18 2022

It's pretty amazing they went away for 10 yeats and came back with this. Much more adventurous than their 2 90s albums, there's nothing that really sounds like it

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
Apr 19 2022

4 for the album, minus 1 for the sax. Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to play that solo in the middle of the title track?

Shadowland by k.d. lang
Apr 24 2022

Horrible shit hurt my ears

The Yes Album by Yes
Apr 25 2022

Far too wsnky for me but clearly there's s lot going on to save it from a 1

Hard Again by Muddy Waters
Apr 26 2022

Really good, I didn't know he was still releasing music this late.

Kenza by Khaled
Apr 27 2022

It was so far removed to most stuff I listen to I was finding it fairly interesting. And then they did the Imagine cover. Fuck me

Moving Pictures by Rush
May 08 2022

I didn't think I liked rush but this was enjoyable. Some decent songs well played

Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits
May 09 2022

The best Tom Waits album. The point when he transitioned from smoky ballads which he was still very good at to weird stuff. The guitar line on the first song alone is incredible

Aqualung by Jethro Tull
May 10 2022

This didn't make much impression on me. Far too much flute is my main thought

Triangle by The Beau Brummels
May 11 2022

Never heard of these but I normally find this sort of stuff holds up well today. Decent but not a classic or snything

I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen
May 12 2022

I expect a lot of people don't like 80s synth Cohen but I actually think it gives his music a bit more identity beyond his voice. Some of his best lyrics on this album

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
May 29 2022

Better than I remember, it's a really strong album. At the time it just felt like a step down from their perfect debut. Little did I know have far they would slide after this point

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett
May 30 2022

Nice enough, hard to go higher than a 2. Is that the audience or him shouting out during the playing? If so he's really enjoying himself

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
May 31 2022

A very generous 3 based on the beginning and end of the album being excellent. The less said about the middle portion the better. A real shit sandwich

Ace of Spades by Motörhead
Jun 01 2022

I didn't really notice any songs other than the title track but they were all pretty good but a bit samey. Hard to dislike overall

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell
Jun 02 2022

As usual her voice is a massive barrier for me. Avoids a 1 as the 2nd track with the synth was unexpectedly good

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Jun 04 2022

I don;' really like Fleetwood Mac but you can't really fault this. An impressive amount of classic songs on one album

Rising Above Bedlam by Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
Jun 05 2022

I know he played bass in PiL and naturally the basslines are the best thing about it. I thought it started off ok but got a bit repetitive with the generic world music

Copper Blue by Sugar
Jun 10 2022

This was a very nice surprise, never heard of them but I listened to it twice in a row. Sounded a lot like DInosaur Jr. All the songs are the same structure but it doesn't matter when the tunes are this good

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
Jun 11 2022

I made the mistake of trying to listen to this on a sunny day. Had to try again in the evening. Being old definitely suits him but there weren't quite enough musical ideas or great lyrics to sustain the whole thing

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones
Jun 12 2022

Some good songs, some shit formulaic ones. A bit like all their albums for me? Definitely one of the better ones but not something I ever go back to

Celebrity Skin by Hole
Jun 13 2022

It's ok. A few songs that I already knew and liked but a bit middle of the road and hasn't got anything to push it up a place

Berlin by Lou Reed
Jun 14 2022

I've heard this a few times and never got into it, which is a shame as I like Lou Reed. Downbeat and doesn't really hold my attention

Endtroducing..... by DJ Shadow
Jun 15 2022

I can't say enough good things about it. Not a single piece of original music on it yet it's completely unique. Possibly the best hip-hop album ever despite not featuring any rapping

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
Jun 16 2022

Opening and closing songs are obviously amazing but the middle feels very standard fare Stones. I would always just choose to listen to Sticky Fingers instead

Beauty And The Beat by The Go-Go's
Jun 17 2022

Pretty good catchy songs with a nice sound. Nothing bad to drag it down but nothing exceptional to move it up to 4

Soul Mining by The The
Jun 18 2022

Never heard this before but thought it was great. Constantly interesting sound without getting distracting from the songs

The United States Of America by The United States Of America
Jun 19 2022

This was a weird one. 60s psychedelic but with early electronic bits! Some of it is gimmicky but also some really cool stuff

Melodrama by Lorde
Jun 20 2022

4 might be a bit much but I can't think of a better pop album for a long time. Good tunes, good production, decent lyrics

Back At The Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith
Jun 21 2022

It wasn't bad, just a bit too smooth sounding for me. Very backgroundy

GREY Area by Little Simz
Dec 16 2022

She's a good rapper and there's some decent beats on this. I never think she sounds convincing though when she's bragging about how great she is, it doesn't seem to suit her

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra
Dec 17 2022

I really hated a lot of this, it's saved from a 1 by Mr Blue Sky.

Kala by M.I.A.
Dec 18 2022

Love this. It's not perfect but has a lot of bangers and there was nothing that sounded like it at the time

Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
Dec 19 2022

A hard one to rate. I bet it sounded incredible at the time to most of the world who'd never heard this before, but obviously doesn't have the same effect now. Still a great voice

Fever To Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Dec 20 2022

I liked this at the time and it still has a fairly distinctive sound and some good songs, but hard to push higher than a 3 in the grand scheme of things

Jan 25 2023

This is my favourite Dylan album. Brilliant lyrics all over the place, a rock sound and it works together beginning to end

Jan 26 2023

This is a 2 all day long, same as Celebrity Skin. Like that album there's a few decent standouts but it's really nothing special

Deloused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta
Jan 27 2023

I'm more convinced than ever this is the emperor's new clothes. Unnecessarily proggy to the point it distracts from the songs, and the lyrics read like the ramblings of a drunk horse

The Stranger by Billy Joel
Jan 28 2023

I don't like Billy Joel as a rule but there's clearly some well written songs on here. There's also some awful cheesy shite that even in the 70s he should have known better

Rubber Soul by Beatles
Jan 29 2023

Nobody's favourite Beatles album, but their first 'proper' one where they started trying out new stuff no one else was doing. The Lennon songs especially are exceptional. Still a 5

Jan 30 2023

Ladies Love Cool James. Other than the title track there's a lot of rubbish and he's a lame rapper.

KIWANUKA by Michael Kiwanuka
Jan 31 2023

I've heard this before and still think it's really bland. Production is nice, his voice is nice, but there aren't enough memorable bits

Feb 01 2023

One of the only good double albums in my opinion. Short songs as well so they could have made 4 decent albums out of the ideas they had. Not their fault they inspired the red hot chilli peppers

Gris Gris by Dr. John
Feb 02 2023

Weirder than I expected, almost a 3 because I've never heard anything like it before, sort of voodoo blues. Still a bit of a mess

2112 by Rush
Feb 03 2023

A real pile of shit start to finish. All the bad bits of prog represented, nonsense lyrics and wanky music

Feb 04 2023

A 5 all day. Not my favourite Beatles album but an incredible achievement. A Day in the Life is one of the best songs ever recorded

All Hail the Queen by Queen Latifah
Feb 20 2023

I thought it was miles better than LL Cool J recently. Still sounds very 80s rap but some of the beats were good and she's a better rapper than I realised

At Mister Kelly's by Sarah Vaughan
Feb 21 2023

Whenever we get a jazz album I put it off for a few days. It doesn't feel like a classic album at all, I'll never listen to it again, but still a 3. She's got an amazing voice

Feb 22 2023

I knew the name but never listened to this band. I put it on twice, right up my street. Guitars are so messy I could have played on it

System Of A Down by System Of A Down
Feb 23 2023

I thought this might be good but fucking hell it's annoying. Like a nu-metal Queen. I didn't make it all the way through

Reign In Blood by Slayer
Feb 24 2023

Thank god we got this after System of a Down, maybe my favourite metal album. 28 mins, proper thrash, with classic riffs. Some of the best drums on anything

Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan
Feb 25 2023

It's largely horrible like I expected, but competent enough not to be a 1

Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees
Feb 26 2023

I liked this, I thought it would be more straight ahead punk and there's a lot more sounds to it

Aja by Steely Dan
Feb 27 2023

More jazzy than countdown to ecstasy, combined with the worst bits of the 80s. Sounds like something the guy from American Psycho would like

Feb 28 2023

Why is this on the list? Loses a mark straight away for being a double album. But wait! This one is a concept album about the wizard of Oz, and is written by Elton John! Who seriously doesn't know Elton and needs to hear this shit

Mar 01 2023

It's just a load of covers right? Obviously a great voice and some really good versions but still hard to go higher in the ratings

Chelsea Girl by Nico
Mar 02 2023

Really surprised I liked this, I put it on twice. I heard it a fair bit 15 years ago and hated her mooing voice, it's grown on me a fair bit, nice songs

Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins
Mar 03 2023

This one I've probably downgraded over time. Drums and guitars still sound awesome but the lyrics and vocals are very very teenage

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Mar 04 2023

I've never heard this past the first minute or so that's in the exorcist. I had no idea it got so annoying

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Mar 15 2023

Title track is amazing, the rest has the same sound but none of the songs have much more to them. It ends up repetitive

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk
Mar 16 2023

Hard to go above a 3, but I feel like I get it now. Just the sound of the synths alone must have been incredible back then, but as well as that they already had an understanding of how to put this sort of music together as a whole

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Mar 17 2023

I really didn't find it that engaging. Perhaps it sounded more exciting at the time, but most of the songs didn't carry much weight. I preferred My Aim Is True

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
Mar 18 2023

've never been able to get on with this album. Some definite classic Marvin in there, but Save the Children is so massively lame it drags the whole thing down

Wild Gift by X
Mar 19 2023

Never heard of these but it's really good and catchy. It sounds an awful lot like the Violent Femmes which is a big positive

A Walk Across The Rooftops by The Blue Nile
Apr 08 2023

When the Seinfeld bass started I feared the worst. The production throughout makes it sound a bit dated but there are some very strong songs in there.

A Hard Day's Night by Beatles
Apr 09 2023

A hard one to rate. It doesn't have the genius songwriting and production of their later albums, so the handful of great songs on it aren't enough to make me want to go back and listen to it today.

Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel
Apr 10 2023

A bit of a mess as an album. Still some nice guitar. Overall not as proggy as I expected

Imagine by John Lennon
Apr 11 2023

I find Imagine and Jealous Guy so overplayed they don't have much of an impact on me. Oh Yoko is one of my favourites though and drags it up from a 3 to a 4

Apr 12 2023

Starting with the first track some of this was honking. Some albums clearly just get on the list to tick a genre box

Apr 21 2023

I liked this one already. For all his great songs he doesn't really have a classic album so I suppose this is it. As live albums go its one of the best

Dance Mania by Tito Puente
Apr 22 2023

Nice to listen to something different I wouldn't have picked. I doubt I'd ever go back to it but all the salts jazz made a change

Signing Off by UB40
Apr 23 2023

Didn't hate it as much as I expected to. Very samey but at least it sounded like reggae and don't have red red wine on it

If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian
Apr 24 2023

Already a big fan of this. Very very strong just like their first album. It always annoyed me they didn't put singles on their albums

Apr 27 2024

This was decent even though it's a live album and all Motorhead songs are basically the same. It's got a good energy to it (the first disc on Spotify at least)

Apr 28 2024

I listened to their twice in a row. Somehow never heard it before but enjoyed their later albums, I think I always assumed it would be a patchy debut album with can I Kick It and a load of filler. Not the case at all and sounds just as good as the first De La Soul

There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & The Family Stone
Apr 29 2024

I'd listened to this again recently When Sly Stone died. Love how dirty everything sounds. A shame that inventing slap bass would lead to so much shit music by others in the future. They can't be blamed

So Much For The City by The Thrills
Apr 30 2024

Another on I'm not sure how it got on the list. I liked the singles when they were released but after they're out the way the album is very one note

May 01 2024

I liked the XTC I'd heard from the 80s and didn't realise they were still releasing music by this time. Lots of good tunes and glad to hear the terrible lyrics were still there

Critic

Average rating: 2.90 (0.37 below global average).

Other

Album origins are grouped into three buckets: US, UK, and everything else. “Other” means the artists you rate highest are from outside the US and UK.