427
Albums Rated
3.22
Average Rating
39%
Complete
662 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1970s
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
59
5-Star Albums
21
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot
Slipknot
|
5 | 2.67 | +2.33 |
|
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
|
5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
|
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
|
5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
|
Reign In Blood
Slayer
|
5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
|
Copper Blue
Sugar
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
British Steel
Judas Priest
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
Music From Big Pink
The Band
|
5 | 3.36 | +1.64 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
|
1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
|
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
|
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
Either Or
Elliott Smith
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
|
Berlin
Lou Reed
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
|
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
|
2 | 4.06 | -2.06 |
|
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
|
1 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
|
Heavy Weather
Weather Report
|
1 | 2.99 | -1.99 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Slipknot | 2 | 5 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| ZZ Top | 2 | 5 |
| Johnny Cash | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.25 |
| Aerosmith | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 2.25 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 2.25 |
5-Star Albums (59)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Prince
5/5
Once again, I accidentally deleted a long, well thought out review. 😕
Doesn’t matter. Giving Prince 5 stars.
22 likes
The Divine Comedy
1/5
This should have been cleaned out with the stable
17 likes
Ian Dury
1/5
This sounds like something an aging hipster with a combover wearing a dated polyester suit would enjoy at a dreary, suburban London pub in the late 1970s.
“I’m cool! I’m relevant!” - no, sorry, you’re a twat.
14 likes
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Spotify only had side two, and after listening - that was enough. Ok spacerock mood music. Good for a hospice or similar spot. ⭐️⭐️
9 likes
1-Star Albums (21)
All Ratings
Cream
4/5
Great album! Wish there was a .5 option, because I would rate it 4.5, but I'm rounding down here. Also -i rated Springsteens "Born to Run" album a three before I figured out "comments first, stars second". That album probably a 3.5+, but my college roomate played it about 2042 times, so...
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Boards of Canada
3/5
Good for a sensory depravation tank (is it sensory depravation if there’s music?), or also good to listen to while anesthesia kicks in prior to life altering surgery. They misspelled the name. It should be “Boreds of Canada”
Slipknot
5/5
Really a 4.5, but today I'm rounding up - the world needs to give some respect to heavy metal. Great hammer-drill rock with some melody. Midwestern comfort food for the quietly anxious. Felt like I'd finished a good core workout just by listening.
Suicide
2/5
Hmm. don't really know what to say, other than this is not for me. The screaming on track 6, "Frankie Teardrop", actually startled/frightened me. Musically was a bit of a mess in my opinion. It didn't make me consider suicide, but I wanted to kill the speakers. Cover art is pretty cool in a commie sort of way.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Didn’t know much about this band. Had heard the name, and that was probably the reason I had never bothered to check them out.
So good, so bad, so average. I liked parts of most songs and disliked parts on par. Yin of mesmerizing rhythms coupled with the yang of mediocre 90s pop. One song came close to good (Upon 9th and Fairchild), and one was fairly bad (Wish I was Skinny). Doesn’t get more solid 3 than this.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
I got excited about this album when I realized the first song (Candy Says) was original to the Velvet underground. I’d always thought this was a Blind Melon original. The next track (What Goes On) is pretty good, and I even added to one of my playlists. The rest of the album travels down the Lou Reed rabbit hole - music you might expect to hear in a service elevator on the other side of the Looking Glass.
I miss Shannon Hoon.
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
This one brings me back! The title got my attention and I bought this CD (remember those?!) right off the rack when it was first released - thought it was going to be kind of hardcore punk, but was closer to the pop/ska band Madness than the Sex Pistols. Standout track is “On a Rope”, but I like the rest of the album too. Good for an upbeat party, or easy feel good listening. Cool artwork.
Harry Nilsson
3/5
I’ve seen this album cover dozens of times over the years while flipping through the used bins. After a listen, I don’t really regret passing it up. It starts off nicely with the Beatlesque track “Gotta Get Up” then the swing-and-a-miss attempt at the blues with “Driving Along”. I was off put by the horns on “Down”, but I’ve never been much of a fan of brass (saxophone excepted of course!). Then the big hit “Without You” played, and I thought ‘oh, that’s who sings this...”. The rest of the album fairly inoffensive, and I liked the bass and drums on “Jump Into the Fire”. Covers of “Cocunut” and “Let the Good Times Roll” made me think the songwriting well for this album was pretty shallow. This is a 2.5, and I’m struggling to round up. Did it anyway.
Patti Smith
4/5
Good album! I can really see why this is considered a groundbreaking album. I hear nirvana, sublime, the eagles and more in these songs. Favorite was “Free Money”, and only song I really didn’t like was “Birdland” sounded a bit like Courtney Barnett, and that’s a bad thing. Wanted to eat this a 3.75, so that means a 4!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I’ve always liked Elvis Costello, but never REALLY liked his music. It’s pretty good, but don’t remember ever wanting to plop down a dollar for a used CD. Most of it sound the same to me, just different tempos. I did kind of like “Honey Are You Straight or Are You Blind”, but other than that. Meh. Feeling generous with 3*s
Joy Division
4/5
Never really knew much about Joy Division until this album popped up. As a Midwestern kid with access to one top-40 radio station AND Mtv (starting in 1981) we took what we could get, and Joy Div wasn’t there. I really liked the album although nothing really hit me as standout track either. Odd that these songs have me feeling nostalgic when I’m hearing them for maybe the first time. That said, JD spawned New Order and influenced bands like The Cure and The Cult which were in regular rotation for me in the mid-late 80s.
Arrested Development
4/5
This was probably the first rap album I ever purchased - primarily due to the pop tune “Tennessee”. Its a really solid album and the early 90’s lyrics disappointingly hold up well in 2021. Good stuff.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Good
3/5
I was really excited to listen to this. Don’t know much about Blur, but always hoped they were a slightly more roc version of the Stone Roses - a band I really like. There are moments here, but wasn’t the supercool nugget I was hoping for. That said, I’ll likely dive more deeply into the Blur catalog when I get a chance.
The Police
4/5
Gooder
The Band
5/5
I still remember my dorm neighbor bringing this album Bach from the electric fetus the first quarter of my freshmen year “John - check out this Floyd album I just found - do you know this one?” The album had been mistakenly put in the Pink Floyd bin.
We immediately figured out it wasn’t Pink Floyd, but liked it immediately. Great album, and “The Weight” is still a favorite v
Aerosmith
4/5
Many of these songs were staples of my HS years - especially “Back in the Saddle” which was mandatory pre-game fire-up music for our SW conference football games.
“Last Child” was another mixtape favorite. The rest of the album is pretty solid 70s rock n roll: “Nobody’s Fault” - great tune - although “Combination” and “Get the Lead Out”are pretty forgettable tracks.
Gotta love the guitars and the plaintive wail of Steven Tyler’s voice on Home Tonight (which was probably the inspiration for “Home Sweet Home” by MogleyvCrue.
Anyone else contemplate how “Rats in the Cellar” seems to reference Splinter from the TMNTs?
The Who
4/5
Love The Who.
The Divine Comedy
1/5
This should have been cleaned out with the stable
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
During the first track I was thinking “better than expected”, but shortly after that I sort of forgot it was even on - garden-party background music when you want to be at the bar.
These guys were popular with some good friends of mine in college - Artsy girls with angular haircuts - so that gives this album a nice nostalgic vibe.
Then The Boys slip into their orchestral effort “It Couldn’t happen Here”. It did. I wish it wouldn’t have. 2.5 stars. Rounding down.
David Bowie
3/5
The day before Yesterday I randomly said to a co-worker: “I’ve never really liked David Bowie - I just don’t get it”. He agreed, and then of course we get this today. Not awful, but not my favorite. It was cutting edge in the day, so I give credit for that, and Jean Genie is a good pop song. I did like the guitar intro to “cracked Actor”. The rest of the album forgettable, and a weak effort covering The Rolling Stones = 2.5 stars. Rounding up for reputation and funky makeup.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Discovered this album in college - dorm buddy had a copy. Pretty cool - I really like “Astronomy Domine” and the funkyish bass line on “Lucifer Sam”.
Rest of he album has its moments , not all good. “Bike” still gets stuck in my head frequently, and I walk around mumbling it to myself at the park - that would probably stop if I was on a bike.
Would have been interesting to see where Pink Floyd would have gone if Syd Barrett hadn’t melted his mind on LSD.
3.5 stars. Rounding up!
U2
4/5
I’ve never been much of a U2 fan, but was pleasantly surprised by Achtung Baby. A lot of pop hits on this one, and the fillers were also listenable. The kind of album I would not intentionally play, but wouldn’t complain about it either. Overall good, but of course included what I consider to be some typical U2 nonsensical lyrics. This album isn’t a #1, but I certainly see it as a solid #2.
I also liked the bonus material on the Spotify edition. 3.5 stars. Rounding up!
Aretha Franklin
5/5
“When she starts singing she blows people’s minds! Everybody wants to party with Aretha”.
Great album - and I keep wondering why it’s been decade since I intentionally played one of her albums. Great songs and great singing on the rest. 5 easy.
Beatles
5/5
One of the greatest albums ever recorded. Starts out with my all time favorite Beatles tune - “Come Together” and then followed by a bunch of really good tracks. Some rock, some mesmerize, some pop and all four of the boys contributed some of their best songwriting to this disc: (George- Here Comes the Sun, and Something; Ringo - Octopuses Garden; Paul - tracks 7-9; John - the aforementioned Come Together). 5 Stars!
The Roots
4/5
Good
Khaled
3/5
Ok, but not in my wheelhouse. I really liked “Mele H’bibte” and “Derwiche Tourneur”. A lot of the tracks had too much brass instrument volume for my tastes. Good drums throughout. 2.5 stars. Roundup!
Sonic Youth
3/5
I’m familiar with Sonic Youth - primarily the “Dirty” album which I listened to frequently back in the 90s. I like this album - it has a solid sense of urgency - that feeling of REALLY needing to catch that flight, but for some reason there are 300+ kids in band uniforms already in the security line at the airport.
Overall recording quality seems kind of muddy, and the album grated on my nerves at times. I like it / I hate it - might have been what they were going for. Favorite track = Rain King.
I will listen to Sonic Youth again, but Daydream Nation won’t be my first choice.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I like this out of the gate. Good old school rap. Good beats. Good vocal. And then it feels a bit like Groundhog Day - didn’t they already play this song? And then it feels a bit like Groundhog Day - didn’t they already play this song? I’m not a lyrics focused person, so even after two listening, I didn’t catch much of the content, so I’m guessing there is good substance there that I missed. More blood. More chocolate. The Elton Costello 90s rap album.
Meat Loaf
5/5
We have a winner! This is the first real rock re it’s I ever owned for myself. It was a gift from my older brother on my 13th birthday. He later told me many time he regretted the gift, as I played it over, and over, and over... superbadass! “Bat out of Hell”. That song rocks. This is a big album with big vocals guitars, and operatic aspirations.
Love Weird talking vocal intros, the broadcaster play-by-play near the dashlight and the overall vibe that at the time seemed like a new version of rock music. If you’ve never seen the Paradise video with Ellen Foley, it’s worth checking out. This is a solid 4 but I’m rounding up a whole star because of a very heavy nostalgia factor.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Some fantastic unparalleled tunes on this record. Also some stuff that I find mediocre. When the album popped up I just assumed it would be getting a 5, but after a couple of listens I can’t make that happen, no matter how good Thriller, Billie Jean, and Beat It are. I’m not really interested in hearing the rest of this album. So three songs that rate near 10 coupled with more meh equals a 4.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Good early rock/rap genre expanding album. “No Sleep til Brooklyn” Is a favorite.
Chicago
2/5
I do not like this very much.
Laura Nyro
1/5
This is one of three albums I get to listen to on an island in hell. Things that sound better: Open mouthed pork rind crunching on a public bus, mosquito stuck in your ear canal and the always reliable fingers on a blackboard. I tried to find something good about this cloying 70sesque drivel, but not much here. The opening seconds of “Poverty Train” we’re ok.
Shuggie Otis
2/5
Imagine you step into an empty elevator. Doors close. You notice the song “Aht Uh Mi He’d” playing through the tinny speaker, and you think ‘not bad for elevator music...’. and then the elevator gets stuck and your stuck with the rest of the album. Not much going up here. It’s floor 2.5 - going down.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I’m a fan of the Rolling Stones, so it surprised me that I wasn’t familiar with this album title. Always good to learn something new! I think that “Paint it Black” is maybe the quintessential early period Stones song - adding “Under my Thumb” and “Lady Jane” solidify this as more than a one song wonder LP. The rest is good. Jangly 60s era guitars can be a bit grating at times, but Brian Jones makes it all OK. I think this is a solid 3.5. So that makes it a 4.
Mercury Rev
2/5
I’ve heard of Mercury Rev, but had never actually heard them until today. Inoffensive gentle pop with orchestral flair. The music of first four songs had a slow melancholy vibe - the kind of background music to be played after the funeral but before the burial as friends and family mill around the cemetery. (That said, lyrics don’t really fit that vibe: “Holes, dug by little moles, angry jealous
Spies, got telephones for eyes”) // The album starts to wake up on “Opus 40” I enjoyed “The Goddess on the Highway” and “The Happy Bird”, but that may be because they were such an improvement over the previous material. There is also a hidden (?) track of art/noise/rock after the end of “Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp”. Unnecessary.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Not what I was expecting. Pretty cool, mellow tunes. This is what I would want on the rare occasion I’m looking for super chill music. Saxophone and quiet organs - I especially liked the title track. In the universe of music it’s a three, but it’s a 5 in its narrow lane - 4 Stars!
Pere Ubu
1/5
The first notes I wrote down about one minute into the first song were “grating and not enjoyable - frantic”. The rest of the album pretty much follows suit. The second album I get to listen to on my island in hell.
Gene Clark
3/5
Never heard of this artist prior to this. At first I thought it was Glen Clark of “Hee Haw” fame (bet you young ‘ us don’t even know what that is!). First track was good, and it got better from there. Good vocal tones, guitar work excellent and very solid tunes through the first three songs of this album. Sort of reminded me of Doc Watson, with a little bit more energy. But after track three, it starts to fall off on “Strength of Strings” and then further downhill after that - the songs just seem to tank. If this were an LP, I would give side one 4 stars and side two 2 stars = 3.
Deep Purple
3/5
I was pretty pleased to see this album, because I’m a fan of Deep Purple. Hadn't listened to the entire album in over 35 years - it wasn't all of what my nostalgia had hoped for. That said, it wasn’t bad either - there were some brilliant moments - Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar work in the nondescript songs “Bloodsuckers” and “Into the Fire”. there were also not so brilliant moments - e.g. vocal screeching from Ian Gillan. // The final track, “Black Night”, has been a longtime favorite (mainly due rob some great live versions). Overall solid 70 s rock.
The Clash
3/5
Early punk rock. Good, but not the best stuff from TheClash. My favorite is still and probably always will be their London Calling album - which I’m still listening to in its entirety on a regular basis. This ain’t that, but still solid stuff.
Manu Chao
3/5
I liked this album right away. Brought back memories of beach bars, umbrella drinks and sunburn. Pretty appealing after a long Minnesota winter. I think the first half was better than the second, but it could just have been genre fatigue as the album progressed. This is something that would be good to listen to on a sunny pontoon day at the lake, but other than that I would not intentionally listen to this again.
The Replacements
4/5
When it came to music, my dad always used to say say “you don’t know what you love, you love what you know”, and I’ve known this album for a long time. It has a familiar comfort that brings me me back to my college days. A lot of good songs, but for me the highlight is their cover of the KISS classic “Black Diamond”. 3.5 and of course you round up!
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Wow, never expected to enjoy this album so much. Didn’t know much about Janelle M - I had half listened / watched the “Dirty Computer” video, and thought it was pretty good. Excellent throughout I liked suite II a little more than III. Tightrope was the standout track, and I also really liked “Oh, Maker”. A lot of genre shifts were cool. Ilthought “Come Alive” could have been an X cover. 4.5 Stars, and rounding up.
Bee Gees
3/5
Early Bee Gees is still new to me, so I was pleased to see this album pop up. First couple of songs seemed to be the Gibb’s acknowledgement that the Beatles were pretty fucking good. Their efforts fell short of that standard, but still not bad. “Marley Purt Drive” was the one track I truly enjoyed - made for a playlist that surprises your friends: ‘RYFKm!? this is The Bee Gees?!” After that, however, it slips. A few great moments paired with a lot of mediocrity. Solid #3.
Television
3/5
This has been the most frustrating review. Not because of the music, but my tech incompetencies have had me start four solid reviews, but then lose them 😕. So here is my brief fifth effort. Good album! I think better musicianship and writing than a lot of their contemporaries, and I’m wondering why these guys don’t get more respect. There is great guitar work - especially on “Elevation” and “Prove It” and my favorite track was “Friction”. I get the feeling that for part of his life, this album was never that far away from Paul Westerberg’s turntable... 3.5, but I can’t justify a 4.
Beck
2/5
I really like Beck’s “ Mellow Gold” album. And compared to that, he really nailed the Title here, but that’s about it. “Sea Change” is a sea change from that album. While I loved the guitars, keyboards, melodies and crazy lyrics from Mellow Gold, this album counters with a lot a benign dull. Nothing here to see or hear, please just move along.
Green Day
5/5
Great album. Career defining. Good guitars, beats, melodies!, sensicle lyrics.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Sometimes math is a bit depressing. I realized the last time I heard this entire album was probably 43 years ago. After that first listen, I came back fir the title track on a regular basis - adding it to my saved Spotify list early last year. “Jet” is a decent pop tune that I hear a lot, but generally not on purpose. Rest of the album pretty average. “Mrs.Vandebilt” is a good two minute song that runs 4 1/2 minutes. I got excited about the guitar solo at the end of “Mumonia”, only to sadly realize it was the fade out. I also like most of “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”, but thought the slowish middle interlude detracted. I think it’s a 3.5, but rounding up on the stellar “Band on the Run”
Minutemen
4/5
43 songs? That’s a lot. A couple songs in I was thinking that this band must have influenced Sublime, and was satisfyingly wiki confirmed - “punk rock changed our lives”.
Liked “Cohesion” mellow guitar tune. “Don’t Look Back” live(?) track cool to hear them play in what sounds like a smallish club with a semi interested audience. Liked the guitars on “Political Song for Michael Jackson”. Overall eclectic cool. “Dr. Wu”!
The Smiths
2/5
Another blast from the past! Is it possible to feel nostalgic for music you really disliked when it was new? Yes, yes it is. Brought back happy memories of complaining about this soundalike pop pablum to my friends who loved it. Deep-thinking effort to center the venn diagram between brooding and upbeat-cool. Swing and a miss. Still not for me.
Don McLean
4/5
Can one song make an album five stars? American Pie may be the quintessential American song of the 20th century - (I listened at least five times today just to be sure). It rekindled memories of my fourth grade music class during our monthly “music appreciation” days when students got to bring their records to share. We all loved it, and American Pie was in regular rotation. A minor frustration was that our teacher had to stop and flip the record halfway through the song. Eight and one-half minutes was too long to fit on just side A of a 45!
Great memories and greater song. Its melodic, it’s historical, it’s melancholic, it’s emotional, and it’s spiritual and it rocks, and, and, then we get the rest of the album. Unfortunately, it never comes close. Pretty cool album art - a positive / defiant 70s attitude.
No. 4 stars.
Traffic
3/5
Good
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
Very bad music.
Roxy Music
3/5
My first introduction to Roxy Music was visual. I spent my early teens hanging out at the Northland Mall in Worthington, MN (side note -Joe Exotic once held an animal showing there!) Many mall hours were whiled away flipping g through every available album in the Musicland record store, and the Roxy Music covers got my attention. It wasn’t until college that I paid attention to the tunes.
This is a good album. I really like the guitars on the opening track and throughout. “Virginia Plain” was the hit, and the rest is pretty listenable, especially “If There Is Something” and “The Bob”. Album rates a strong 3.5 stars, but I have to round down due to “Sea Breezes” which stumbles into Pere Ubu territory.
M.I.A.
3/5
Started strong with “Bamboo Bangaa” I like the beats and world-music influence but the rest of the album didn’t build or improve from there. It’s not bad, but I didn’t really take notice again until the last track with Timbaland. I was surprised to read how well received this album was back in 2007 - often picked as one of that years best. Ok, but not great.
Jane's Addiction
5/5
I bought this CD the day it was released. Super excited, as their previous album, Nothing’s Shocking, was a huge favorite. Much to my dismay, my disc had the censored artwork - as you can see from the picture, this highly offensive material needed to be hidden from the youth frequenting BestBuy. This album did not disappoint. Love the opening track “Stop!” is a banger - great energy. The next three tracks are solid - especially “Ain’t No Right”, but the highlight for me was and is “Been Caught Stealing”. Our old dog Sydney loved this song too, and she always sang along to the opening. I am also a fan of “Classic Girl” which shows a soft edge for this abrasive group. Janes and this album strongly influenced the sound of rock/alternative that followed. A strong four, so I’m rounding up for the dogs.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Big horns, jazzy vibes, Frank’s silky smooth voice! What’s not to love? The answer comes easily for me: big horns, jazzy vibe and Frank. Never been a fan, and I was unable to listen to even one complete track on this album. Is this the third album given to me on Hell Island? (Other two artists from the list so far were PereUbu and Laura Nyro) Maybe, but I’m still giving it a very generous two stars out of respect/fear for the reputation of Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Inoffensive eighties soft-rock pop - reminds me of Phil Collins. It’s ok.
Elvis Costello
4/5
So much better than Blood and Chocolate! I really liked this album, it had good energy and pretty good riffs. I was also surprised by how many of the songs were familiar. “Miricle Man” sounded like Bruce Springsteen with a head cold and a hangover - still pretty good😀
Sonic Youth
3/5
The “Pump Up the Volume” movie soundtrack introduced me to Sonic Youth - great soundtrack! and pretty good film too - “Titanium Expose” was the cut from Goo that made the cut. Overalll, pretty good Goo. I like the hit, “Kool Thing”, and I really like the first half of “Mote”, but the second delves into experimental art/noise/rock that turned me off. A solid 3.5, but I’m rounding down; the good sections just can’t pull the messy parts up to a 4.
The Who
5/5
I really liked this album more than expected. I’ve always considered myself a fan of The Who (my HS freshman year go to band), but I had always focused on their later work and greatest hits. This album seems transitional for the era - bridging late 50s/early and early 60s pop-rock/ crooning / doo wop with the harder and more experimental sounds coming later in the decade. “My Generation” and “The Kids are Allright” were radio staples from my youth. I also really liked the James Brown cover “Please, Please, Please” and Bo Diddly’s “I’m a Man”. The closing track “The Ox” was a really pleasant surprise! Phenomenal drumming, and I’m thinking that John Bonham picked up some style cues from Kieth Moon here. Overall great, and a solid 4 1/2 stars. Rounding up because it’s The Who.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Until this album, “Son of a Preacher Man” was the only Dusty Springfield song I knew. This album is ok, but doesn’t have any “Preacher Man” level comparables. The one song that stuck out was “Can I Get a Witness” - good energy and gospel vibe. The rest is early 60s background music, that is best left there.
4/5
Love the hits, rest is good.
Nirvana
4/5
Like me some Nirvana! Solid album with some great songs and good songs. Feeling slow today, so no review. 3.5 stars. Rounding up.
Yes
3/5
Yes?
Maybe.
Supergrass
3/5
Thought is wac ok, but didn’t really jump out as special. A mix of 70s rock and 90s grunginess. I was surprised by Wikipedia reporting that this album was rated so highly when released.
T. Rex
4/5
Great rock n roll. Remembered the hits “Jeepster” and “Bang a Gong” from my college days where they were in regular rotation on the campus radio Classic Rock Show. I own the album from back then, but don’t recall ever playing it. Really like “Lean Woman Blues” very much in the Brit blues style of that era (eg John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers). Rest of it super solid.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Ok I guess. Didn’t do much for me - seemed average Brit pop.
I did like “Removables” and “Further Away”.
3/5
We had MTV in about day one back in 1981, and this band was in rotation back when the album was released in ‘82. “poison Arrow” and “Look of Love” were pretty popular. I thought it was ok pop, but not really my thing back then. Things haven’t changed much. “Theme From Mantrap” is cool. It’s good, but I’m rounding average.
The Who
3/5
This album clearly reminded me why I generally avoid early Who songs. “I can See for Miles” is a good track, but still ranks low on an average Who Greatest hits collection. I did find it entertaining that “Heinz Baked Beans” consisted primarily of tooting horns. 2.5 stars, and rounding up based on reputation and one joke.
Pantera
4/5
Love the heavy riffs, and grungy vocals. This music digs through your outer layer and vibrates the marrow. Either exhilarating or horrific - I love it. Some great songs - especially “Mouth for War” and “Walk”. Also props for the quintessential Metal song title “Fucking Hostile”. Solid 4
Bad Company
4/5
Big fan of the Bad Co. and this is a good album. “Movin’ On” is a lifetime favorite, and a lot of other good tunes here. I really like the soulful bluesyness on this solid Rock n Roll album. Upon listening, my mind wandered immediately to the other Paul Rogers (vocalist) albums I love - anything by Free, the Bad Company “Desolation Angels” LP and his solo blues album covering Muddy Waters - check it all out if you can. Easy 4.
Deee-Lite
3/5
These guys were fun to watch on MTV back in the day. They had a cool black-light vibe, that stood out from the rest of the new wave pop at that time. Solid beat music, with the one stand out track “Groove is in the Heart”. Good background music or club tunes. Solid 3.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Everyone loves Dolly! Title track is a winner, and the rest is classic Dolly Parton 70s country crooning. I was struck by the transition of Dolly’s mom character from the first to second song. She first is the caring mother sewing rags into love, and by the end of the next song, mom has run off with her new boyfriend. Country music😜.
Randy Newman
3/5
I’ve always liked Randy Newman's southern drawl of a voice and mellow stylings. I also knew he often pushed the edge on lyrical content, but I was not ready for “Rednecks”. I actually rewound the song the first time he dropped theN word, as I thought I must have misheard it. Even back in the early 70s this must have been pretty controversial - it ended up being a good history lesson for me, as I researched Lester Maddox and the eta a bit on Wikipedia. Rest of the album pretty good.
Alice In Chains
2/5
This album should be in my wheelhouse (heavy 20th century rock), but it is not. Maybe it’s the nasally, whiny vocals. Maybe it’s the ‘I’m more depressed than you’ lyrics, but whatever it is, it’s not for me.
The Black Keys
4/5
Not bad for a couple of guys who Seem to have a “let’s drink some beer in the garage” vibe. I like the bluesy rock with a bit of bluegrass in there somewhere. ‘Ten Cent Pistol’ was my favorite track and I also really liked the instrumental ‘Black Mud’. Brought back memories of watching them open for the Black Crows at a MN State fair show about a decade+ ago. Good stuff.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Just didn’t do much for me. Pleasant overall. I did like “Mayfly”. One of the songs reminded me of the Smiths but I couldn’t make the effort to go back and listen again. Ok.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Quoting Rob’s mix-tape rules from the movie Hi Fidelity: “You gotta kick it off with a killer to take attention, and then you gotta kick it up a notch. But you don’t wanna blow your wad, so then you gotta cool it down a notch. There are a lotta rules.” - even though ‘Paranoid’ is not a mix, it nails that form spot on - ‘War Pigs’ is the best song on the album, and then it gets better with ‘Paranoid’. ‘Planet Caravan’ is still a closet favorite which I love playing to the Metal uninformed - “This is Back Sabbath?”. It all works - galloping, locomotive bass and drums, ominous guitars and Ozzy. They convey the emotions of the disillusioned industrial youth that they are. Love the lyrics throughout. ‘War Pigs’ could have been written 3000 years ago. This album and their eponymous debut album were released within six months of each other, which still amazes me. These albums changed Rock music forever. Doesn’t get much better. 5+ stars
Janis Joplin
5/5
Janis is a favorite. Bluesy, jammy, rock-n-roll with one of America’s best voices. She conveys love and torture and hope all at the same time. Backing band is great but doesn’t overshadow the star of the show. Also have a soft spot for “Me and Bobby McGee” because it won us a round of drinks at Silky O’Sullivan’s bar on Beale Street on my 40th birthday. American classic, and sad member of the 27 club...
Turbonegro
4/5
Biggest disappointment was that this was the first time I’ve ever heard this album - I like it! Certainly hear the influences of Black Flag and the Ramones. Good hard rock with some interesting/ridiculous lyrics. I’ll listen again.
Frank Zappa
2/5
I’ve never really understood the appeal of frank zappa. Most of what I’ve heard in the past seemed to be frustrated, talented, informally trained orchestration and that’s most of what I heard on this album. “But he’s a great guitarist!” I remember college friends saying, and they are right about that - I really liked ‘Willie the Pimp’, but there just isn’t enough guitar to save this album for me. 2.5 stars and rounding down.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Nice easy listening Rock with country/blues overtones AND its Elvis. Most of the songs were pleasantly forgettable, but I enjoyed listening to the hits ‘In the Ghetto’ , ‘Gentle on my Mind’ and especially ‘Suspicious Minds’. I was impressed with the backing band throughout and a little surprised when I read it wasn’t the famous Tennessee Two’ who were his original band. Bass player Tommy Cogbill was really good, and the Wikipedia rabbit hole says he also played on a lot of other great 1960s music. 4 stars for the King!
Public Enemy
3/5
Good early rap. Lyrics still resonate.
Kate Bush
3/5
Breathy pop with orchestral aspirations. Kate Bush has a lovely voice, and I have friends who sing her praises, but just not my cup of tea.
Rush
5/5
One of the strongest LP Side 1’s of all time! (and S2 is pretty good too). This album was bonding-glue for my friend group when we were coming of musical age at Worthington Sr High. When Rush broadcast a concert from this tour LIVE on MTV, it was an event so big that even my buddy Craig Trapp’s 19 year-old brother fresh out of reform school joined us to catch the show. Love it all - vocals, guitars and drums work. Neal Peet’s drums on Tom Sawyer are phenomenal, Geddy Lee’s bass can set a mood and Alex Liefson is very underrated. Maybe the best Canadian album ever.
Syd Barrett
2/5
I listened to some of this, and it was below average early Pink Floyd. This may be an unfair rating as I didn’t hear the whole album, but I just couldn’t fight my way through it.
Tim Buckley
4/5
This is pretty cool stuff. Love the rambling rock, sexually charged lyrics, occasional bluesyness, saxophones, and I even think I heard some bongos - its a full serving. Very surprised to read that Tim Buckley was most popular in the Twin Cities - “getting substantial play on KQRS”. Wikipedia also has an excellent descriptive that sums up the careers of Tim Buckley and many aspiring, yet unnoticed, talents: “Like most of his other albums, ‘Greetings from L.A.’ did not sell well”. 3.5 stars, and rounding up for the local history.
Paul Simon
3/5
More nostalgia for the geezer. This album was HUGEly popular when released, and i remember most of these. Pretty good hummable adult pop. The African themed songs were viewed as pretty cutting edge, which seems surprising to me now. 3.5 stars, but rounding down because I’m feeling crabby.
Happy Mondays
2/5
WTF - they give us the Happy Monday’s on Tuesday morning? Let’s focus people! Mostly soundalike 80s art pop. I did like the riff and beat on ‘Wrote for Luck’. 2 stars.
Mariah Carey
3/5
World class voice (5) and sub par songs (2) IMO.
Neil Young
3/5
I wasn’t familiar with this Neil Young album, but it is familiar - Young’s breaking vocals, twangy guitar, harmonica and piano. Good folksy rock, and interesting album history on Wikipedia.
The Specials
2/5
Not horrible, but noy really that good. The music tries to be upbeat for the most part, but it’s a bit of a ska, reggae, pop- rock mess. 2.5 stars, and rounding down because there isn’t one song or riff that I want hear again.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Dave Grohl is a musical genius and all around good guy! I liked this album - very good rock n roll music. A few radio hits that are very familiar, and the rest get the job done, but not my go to music. 3.5 stars, but rounding up for the cool factor, and memories of the one Foo show I attended where they blew me away with one of the best live performances I’ve seen.
Beastie Boys
4/5
My roommate bought this right after “Fight for Your Right” video started playing on MTV - he was disappointed. I thought it was pretty interesting, liked the party song, and knew these guys were cool because “No Sleep til Brooklyn” title-checked a great Motörhead song. Fun to hear again, and these guys are good rappers who mix in the very good Rock, even if it was “borrowed” from Led Zeppelin et.al.
The Stone Roses
4/5
Really like this album, especially “I wanna be Adored” and “I am the resurrection” and the rest of the album is good too - it has a cool, melancholy vibe. Good harmonies, and it even rocks out occasionally. Easy 4
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Best guess
D'Angelo
3/5
Pretty smooth listening. D’Angelo even makes “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker” an easy listening track. Good background music, but I won’t intentionally listen again.
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
Good follow up listen to D’Angelo - I think there is a lot of EWF in his music. This is a good album - I especially liked “Africano”. 3.5 stars and rounding up for the true 70s coolness.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Interesting g story about this on Wikipedia, so I’ll give 5 stars for effort, but only a three stars for execution. It’s interesting, but I didn’t really love any of the songs. As someone recently told me “I love effort, but pay for results”.
3stars.
Coldplay
3/5
Track by track emoji review: 😐, 😐, 🥱, 😐, 🟨🙂🟨, 😐, 🥱, 😐, 😐, 😐.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Birthday Party
1/5
My ear stepped in something, and I can’t seem to scrape it off.
Billy Bragg
3/5
Ok I guess.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Ild always generally avoided Paul Revere and the Raiders due to their ridiculous revolutionary war garb. “Really? That’s pretty stupid” thought little Johnny when he was 10 or 12 years old. The band is better than the outfits, but nothing spectacular. I like “kicks” and also “I’m not your stepping stone”, but the rest average. 3.5 stars and rounding down for sartorial silliness.
James Brown
4/5
Haiku Tuesday: ###
James Brown ain’t no clown ####
Hardest worker in the biz ###
Energy through cool. ###
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Much worse than I was expecting, and it’s a highly rated LP ? There are moments, and the first track “Mr Soul” has a cool vibe that I’ve heard before - pretty sure that it has been sampled/copied with much success. Other than that, 😐
Red Hot Chili Peppers
5/5
This is a strong Chilli Peppers albums - really liked it. The hits are good, and it was fun to hear the lesser known cuts - especially “Get on Top”. Another Rick Rubin success, and having John Fruscienti back didn’t hurt either. 4.5 stars and rounding up.
Good+
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
Tuesday album haiku:###
Iron, concrete, wood, stone ###
Decorate your soul with thorn ###
Hammers in your hands ###
Spiritualized
2/5
One word Wednesday review: no
Steve Earle
3/5
Copperhead road is not on this album.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Leonard Cohen and his music are a national treasure. Unfortunately, you need to dig through some dirt muck to get to the gold, and this is it. I was bored, but was also listening through a lame car stereo which probably lost the finer dust of this album. 2.5 stars and rounding up based on the catalog to come. ### side note - I was introduced to Leonard Cohen from the Movie “Pump up the Volume” - when Christian Slater dropped the needle on LEonard’s “Everybody Know” I was hooked for life. Surprisingly, his version doesn’t make the soundtrack, but a solid Concrete Blonde cover does. The soundtrack also has another LC cut - “If it be Your Will” among many other nuggets - I encourage you to listen. This is the second time I’ve referenced it since we started the 1001…
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Monday album - One word Monday = Overrated.
2Pac
4/5
Tuesday Haiku:
The rhythm is there ###
Flowing prescient proven words ###
Many will follow ###
Solomon Burke
4/5
One word Wednesday = Enlightening.
But I can’t stop at one word - really, really great stuff even though it’s outside my normal listening universe. Great voice, and I’ve never heard of this singer prior. Nice
Pavement
2/5
Reminded me of several Minneapolis bands - Soul Asylum, Trip Shakespeare, Semisonic - but not as good. I was surprised that it was ranked so highly by a variety of sources. “One of the Nineties best albums!” - the nineties must have been a mediocre decade…
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Monday album. Emoji Monday:
🕺🏻9️⃣0️⃣💲🔙🕰⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Tuesday album haiku:
OK Rock n Roll ###
Here is a lame Ass haiku ###
Three stars for this disc ###
Os Mutantes
4/5
One word Wednesday: FuzzyCoolPortugeseChoirBoyPsychedelia.
(Is that one word?)
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Nice Bob Marley album. Very typical of his style with a couple of hits that I like - that said, the vocals on “No Woman No Cry” seemed off - a little high-pitched, but I was listening through some lame earbuds… Strong 3, but just not feeling a 4.
Massive Attack
3/5
OMg this is great! Why haven’t I listened before? Precursor to The Heavy - very cool. It’s really good. Good. Ok, I guess. Kind of repetitive. I’m bored with this.
Morrissey
2/5
Emoji Monday:
😒
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Tuesday album Haiku review:
Songs of heartland soul ###
Country outlaw troubadour ###
Melancholy wail ###
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
One word Wednesday:
Undistinguished
Sade
4/5
Silky vocals, smoothe saxophone, great songs -I love this. This is nice relaxing music. A couple of five star tracks and above average on the balance. Easy 4 stars.
Fugees
4/5
Good stuff. Hip hop/reggae/pop this band put a mew spin together and influenced a lot of others. Love the covers - esp “No Woman No Cry”. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Not expecting back to give back to back 2 star reviews for Leonard Cohen.
Too dark for me.
In the words of Tom Hanks “I want something peppy, something snappy”…
The Flaming Lips
2/5
Emoji Monday:🙂/😒
I’ve always had a like/dislike opinion on the Flaming lips. Some good music and often irritating vocals. The songs here don’t rise to the “like” level. Just pretty average. 2.5 stars and rounding down because it’s a cranky Monday morning.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Haiku Tuesday:
Music vs. Noise
“Sister Ray” may save the day
She can’t win the war
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
One word Wednesday: promedio.
Jurassic 5
3/5
Ok oldish school rap. Liked, but no big love.
The Undertones
2/5
Undertones = underwhelming. Probably ahead of the curve for 1980’s ska/pop bands, but seems simplistic and repetitive. Moments of fun do bring it up to a 2.5, but I can’t bring myself to give this three stars. Crabby old man strikes again!
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Emoji Monday. Track by track:
1. “…and the gods made love” 🤔
2. “Have you ever been to Electricladyland” 🙂
3. “Crosstown Traffic”🤘🚦🚦🚦🤘
4. “Voodoo Chile” 🤯🤘😃
5. “Little Miss Strang” 😐🙂
6. “Long Hot Summer Night” 🥵🙂
7. “Come On ( let the good times roll)” 🤘😃😀😄🤘
8. “Gypsy Eyes” 👁👁🙂
9. “Burning of the Midnight Lamp”🙂
10. “Rainy Day Dream Away” 😶
11. “1983 (A Merman I should Turn to be) 😵💫
12. “Moon, Turn the Tides Gently, Gently Away”. 🤔
13. “Still Raining, Still Dreaming”. 🤘🟦 🤘
14. “House Burning Down”. 🤯🤘🏠🔥🤘
15. “ All Along the Watchtower”. 🤯🤘🤠🤘🤘🤘
16. “voodoo child (slight return)”. 🤘🤘🤘🤯🤯🤯🤘🤘🤘
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Rounding up, cuz
Eels
3/5
“Novocaine for the Soul” was always my favorite song by The Flaming Lips until I just learned it was by the Eels. It’s probably my 20th favorite Eels tune. This album is pretty good, but below the quality of other Eels albums (Hombre Lobo and especially Wonderful Glorious). Disturbingly coolish artwork. A solid 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elvis Presley
4/5
Emoji Monday = 😀🕺🏽
“Blue Suede Shoes” was one of the first ‘adult’ songs I started listening to on my own as a preteen. This brought back pleasant memories of the families’ old portable record player and me rocking- out in the basement. Elvis’ voice is unparalleled even on this early, somewhat uneven material. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
John Grant
2/5
Tuesday haiku:
I liked “Chicken Bones”
The rest of the album is lame
Two point Five round down
The xx
3/5
Emoji Monday: 😑
Great album for those times you want to feel semi-comatose . Good simple melodic guitar riffing. I like the singer’s whisper vocals. 3.5 stars, but rounding down, because I don’t often want to feel semi-comatose.
Sugar
5/5
Haiku Tuesday:
###
Minneapolis
Sound alt punk rock tones of home
It ain’t Seattle
###
Another album I remember buying (CD) back at the Electric Fetus. Little Tommy Dyke probably heard this at least once while getting his diaper changed in 1994😃. Great album that dropped out of my rotation over 20 years ago - great to hear again, because I think this is the quintessential “Minneapolis sound”. Well orchestrated angst permeated hooks. You feel like you’re accomplishing something good for humanity just by listening…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deep Purple
4/5
Classic 70s Rock. Epic, heavy, album was too long.
Faust
3/5
No bad. Not great.
Kate Bush
2/5
I struggle to understand how this makes the list. Not good, but not bad enough to merit much discussion. 😶
Suede
3/5
😐
The Beach Boys
3/5
Tuesday haiku:
They Beach boys are great
fave of youth was “Help Me Rhonda”
Good, but dated tunes
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deerhunter
2/5
One word Wednesday: disappointing.
⭐️⭐️
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Average Brit pop. Good energy. No real standout tracks. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stephen Stills
3/5
Solid Americana folk rock. Ends strong with “The Treasure” and “Blues Man”. Guitar work is above average.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Really? Another Super Fury Animals album. WTF is up with this list? I got about a third of the way through this, and then stopped due to my disgust level at the entire 1001 albums catalog - Turd. Prob deserves three stars, but nah…
Album is probably deserving of three stars, but only getting two from me today. I like the cover art.
😖
Bon Jovi
3/5
Three incredibly overplayed early hair rock anthems, and some mediocre filler. We have neighbors who have been playing those songs on their patio fir the past 25 years😐. This album may not have started the hair-metal genre, but it fueled that fire to the white hot disappointment of multiple Poison albums and beyond.
Listworthy? = 👍
Fela Kuti
5/5
I’ve been a Fela fan for a long time, so was really happy to see this album. Love side one (that’s song one and two for you youngsters who didn’t grow up on vinyl). Side two was good, but didn’t have the catch of the other two songs. The interplay of the Sax, organ, drums and guitars are phenomenal. I even like the brass here; usually horns are not my favorite. Afrobeat jamming at its best. This is a 4.5, but I’m rounding up due to the artist and the album’s superiority to Kate Bush and Super Fury Animals. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Listworthy? = 👍
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
Emoji Monday = 🙂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Listworthy = 👍
Kraftwerk
3/5
No haiku today.
Good German techno beat music.
Listworthy = 👍
ZZ Top
5/5
One word Wednesday: Dusty
And I have to add that this album is better than most give it credit. Almost 40 years of several tracks being overplayed and several retrospectively-Uber-cheesy videos don’t help either. Also some great tunes that seldom hit the radio - “ I Got the Six” & “TV Dinners”
4.5 stars, but I’m rounding up in memory of recently departed Bass player Dusty Hill.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Listworthy = 👍
Buck Owens
3/5
One word Wednesday = dated
Country pop rock crooning like this was popular with my dad, so I heard some of this growing up. Not my favorite, and I don’t think that the covers measure up to the originals.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Listworthy = 👍
Eminem
3/5
I was expecting to like this a lot more than I actually did. At the time, this was groundbreaking, but seemed almost cliche today. Unfair? Maybe. But I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️ anyway.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Liked this. Good energy good tunes. Would listen to again. 3.5 and rounding up.
David Gray
2/5
Ok I guess. Pretty boring.
Listworthy = 👎
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Was listening to local radio last night, and I thought to myself “I’m not familiar with this Replacements song…” it was these Afghan Whigs.
That Replacements influence is pretty strong. Very Good album - the breakup theme was disconcerting; probably because it seemed so sincere.
Listworthy = 👍
Muddy Waters
5/5
Love these authentic blues guitar licks and harmonicas. Muddy may also have the best voice for the blues. Was interesting to learn that Johnny Winter produced.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
One of my favorite LPs of all time. This is getting five stars, and I don’t even need to hear a note.
Listened again and it’s as good as I remember. Rock, blues and fusiony goodness with world class instrumentation and one of Rocks all time best vocalists. What’s not to like? Well, maybe the final cut “ Hats off to Roy Harper” as that song is fairly grating.
Trivia nugget - Roy Harper is a real dude who was the (originally) uncredited singer on Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar”.
Eminem
4/5
Surprised that I liked this a lot more than expected. Disturbing, misogynistic, homophobic, underbelly themes coupled with dark lyrics and melodic accompaniments.
Two songs about murdering women after they are locked in a car trunk? and almost countless references to his and other people’s penises keeps this at a four instead of five stars.
Listworthy = 👍
Talking Heads
4/5
Never listened to this entire album before. Pretty good , and I think these guys are still influential today. 3.5 and rounding up due to “Life during Wartime”.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I groaned when I saw another Elvis Costello album pop up, but that was a mistake. In my opinion, this is much better than the others. Good Rock n Roll energy throughout all the tracks. Vocals seemed more immediate, and was musically just all around better/good. Standouts: “Pump it Up” and “Radio Radio” ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Rounding up.
Korn
3/5
Ok I guess. Not the kind of hard rock I enjoy. 2.5 stars, and rounding up for the genre.
Machito
2/5
Ok if you’re at a Carribean (preferably Cuban) beach bar on a hot day.
Otherwise, no.
Couldn’t get through the entire album, so maybe i missed something.
Listworthy? = ?
PJ Harvey
3/5
Good guitars and beats - harbingers of better music to come from PJ. Cool grungy 90s music, but no great hooks or riffs to bring me back for a second listen.
Boston
5/5
This was a junior high staple in my hometown (and everywhere in the USA). Every song is now in classic rock regular rotation, and deservedly so. Catchy, poppy, rock n roll with easy melodys, memorable choruses and good guitar riffs. Even though it’s not my go to music, I can’t justify less than five stars here. Doesn’t get much more classic 70s pop rock than this.
“That album cover is so fricken’ cool”
- friend Brad…
Queen Latifah
3/5
Good old-school rap. I recall when this album was released , and at the time QL seemed to be the only woman rapping in the “traditional” style of the day. The times they have changed, and she gets a lot of credit for opening doors for the many successful acts that have followed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Prodigy
4/5
Not surprising that this was controversial when it was released. I recall that MTV did some stories about the misogynistic lyrics for a few days before they world premiered the video for a “one time only” showing.
Overall I think this is above average electronica w some pop and rap tossed in. 3.5 stars and difficult for me to round up, but the cool cover art tipped the scales.
The Doors
5/5
What Tom said
The Kinks
2/5
Nah. ⭐️⭐️
Blondie
4/5
Cool
Aerosmith
4/5
This is not the late era Aerosmith I would have chosen for the list. Try “Permanent Vacation” album sometime.
Overall good Rock and I’m debating 3 vs 4 stars. Rounding up.
Elis Regina
2/5
No.
Listworthy = 👎
Missy Elliott
3/5
Pretty good, but not four stars.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Gods. Repetitive. Good. Repetitive…
Van Halen
5/5
Fun to break this out of the closet. Used to be in heavy rotation, but I stopped listening to most VH due to radio overplay. This album really changed rock music when it was released, and I liked hearing it again. Great songs, guitars (of course) and vocals. Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I originally thought this was a greatest hits album when I was young, as 10 of the original 12 tracks were regular airplay on the radio. Great album, and you can tell thousands of artists since have been influenced or downright copied Joni’s style. Compare this to only musi that had been released at the time, and it’s significance really sets in.
John Martyn
3/5
Ok. Above average 70s soft rock. At its best, it sounded a little like upbeat Grateful Dead. Uninspiring and inoffensive.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
I have a couple late 80’s albums by the Damned, and this is right in the middle of that Venn diagram circle. Good, serious, desperate rock-n-punk pop. Better than a three, but not a four.
Bee Gees
3/5
Ok. Meh.
The Cure
3/5
Solid Cure album, but not anything that really stood out for me. 3.5 and rounding down, as it seems only medioCure by comparison to their other work.
Peter Frampton
4/5
Good 70’s album rock - I like the guitars and several of the songs. Easy to listen to.
Yes
3/5
Ok progbrick. 3.5 and rounding down because I’m just feeling a 4 today.
Miles Davis
2/5
I don’t like Jazz
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Way above average 90s pop rock. I liked it even thought not in my listeningvwheelhouse. 3.6
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Spotify only had side two, and after listening - that was enough. Ok spacerock mood music. Good for a hospice or similar spot. ⭐️⭐️
Aphex Twin
3/5
Above average electronica = electronica = 2.5 = rounding up to be polite.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Love this stuff.
Simply Red
3/5
Better than I expected.
Slayer
5/5
Foundational.
Fucking Slayer!
Eagles
4/5
Good first effort from these guys. They really defined the soft rock, country folk vibe of the 70s.
The song “Take it Easy” was an early favorite back in early Jr HS years. 3.5 and rounding up for nostalgia.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Didn’t actually listen to this, but it’s Aretha, so she gets a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Interesting experimental punkish rock. Not familiar with this album - I liked their later music much more than this. 2.5 stars and rounding up for their audacity to call themselves The Butthole Surfers back in the 1980s.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Classic. 😃👍
Duran Duran
2/5
Huge pop album back in the day. The detritus of the disco era. Not my favorite, but ok. I liked the bass on “New Religion”. 2.5 and rounding down.
Little Simz
3/5
Average+ rap. I liked the tone of her voice and the cockneyesque accent. I didn’t like excessive use of questionable language. The song “Selfish” was a highlight. 3.5 and rounding down.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Era defining rock n blues album from some of the best musicians assembled in the late 20th century. Jimmy Page is the man for assembling the group and the tunes. This was the band we all overplayed in college. Still love it today. Five easy stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Missy Elliott
3/5
Like Missy, but this seemed average, and no standout tunes for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pink Floyd
5/5
Classic top tier Floyd album. Love the music and the themes. “Have a Cigar” is great commentary on music biz and life in general.
Another thing I like is the cover - that’s a real dude on fire with real fire. They didn’t have photoshop back then…
Johnny Cash
5/5
I love Johnny Cash and liked most of this album a lot. The songs about executions (the long black veil, 25 minutes to go) are pretty disturbing to me though, and I skip through them. Fun to hear the prison crowd and songs they liked. Struggling between a 4 and 5 on this one. Going 5, cuz it’s The Man in Black.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Another good Cash in Prison album. “A Boy Named Sue” was a childhood favorite.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Good early 90s rap. Probably better than a 3, but not enough here for me to round up to a 4.
The Zombies
3/5
Love the album art, and the music is good for 1960s pop - sort of a poor man’s Beach Boys. “Time of the Season” was the only song I was familiar with, none of the others were standouts. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Beach Boys
3/5
Dare I say it is a rich man’s version of The Zombies? Prob not, because I actually liked The Zombies a little more than this. Not what I consider a typical Beach Boys album as it less happy-harmony and more something else. I was only familiar with “Student Demonstration Time” - good tune, but lyrics didn’t always click with the tone (e.g. Kent State reference). It’s a 3+, but not enough here for me to round up.
Röyksopp
3/5
Electroniphy? Symphonica? Either way, just slightly above average for me. Good to hear, but not going back
Various Artists
4/5
Merry Christmas. God Bless us Everyone.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Phenomenal Americana - all the good parts - Blues, folk, rock, country and not an inkling of jazz. Strong start, sweet nougat center with a finish that fills you you up with musical goodness.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Voice is five plus stars, but the songs are a four minus.
The B-52's
3/5
Hmmm
Deep Purple
5/5
Love this album! Every song is a winner - (evidenced by the fact that each track gets its own Wikipedia page - thanks for pointing this factoid on previous albums Emily!)
Smoke on the water is overplayed for a reason and is still listenable even after about eleven thousand listens…
🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Stan Getz
2/5
😕jazz
Ravi Shankar
2/5
Kind of educational. Kind of boring. ⭐️⭐️
Lightning Bolt
2/5
Very much like a fistful of Reese’s peanut butter cups mixed into a bowl of pickled herring.
Blur
3/5
I really want to like this, and I do really like “Song2”, but even a cool lyric (“when I feel heavy metal”)isn’t enough to push this to a four. Average. 😐
The Pogues
4/5
Upbeat Irish tunes. Better than a three, but not really a four star album. Rounding up, as it is something I can see coming back to again - most likely some afternoon in mid-March.
Fairport Convention
4/5
Typical 60s folk soft rock vibes sung by girl with a beautiful voice and renaissance era stylings. Loved some of this; some was a little tedious, but overall a solid 3.6. The kicker is the guitar work - reminded me a bit of Stephen Stills.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beth Orton
3/5
Liked the first track. Rest was pretty boring.
Prince
5/5
Once again, I accidentally deleted a long, well thought out review. 😕
Doesn’t matter. Giving Prince 5 stars.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Love Fela.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
Never heard of this band until today. Pretty good - reminded me of some bands that I couldn’t quite place while listening. I’m thinking it’s a 3.5 and then went to the Wikipedia page that said Rolling Stone placed it in the top 500 best albums of all time.
Rolling Stone mag sucks and I have very little respect for any thing they printed after 1984, so rounding down.
Aerosmith
5/5
My first listen from this album was “Big Ten Inch Record” over at my friend Damon Marco’s house. Even at the tender age of 11, I got the joke. My friends and I all thought it was the coolest song ever recorded and always made the effort to play it out of earshot of our parents.
The rest of the album grew on us too. Two mega hits, a couple of closet classics and solid Rock n Roll throughout. The guitars on Round and Round have a Sweet Sabbath vibe.
Also great that Run DMC originally thought the name of this band was “Toys in the Attic”…
Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Weather Report
1/5
🤮
Miles Davis
2/5
I don’t understand why this is so popular and beloved. Better than The Weather 🤮 Report, so I’m rounding up to a 2. And the album cover art is cool, so that helps.
Van Halen
4/5
“Jump” has pretty much caused me to stayaway from this album for the past 35 years. That’s too bad, because there are some pretty good songs: Hot for Teacher, Drop Dead Legs, House of Pain (which I think borrowed very heavily from Sabbath’s “Symptom of the Universe” - check out the ‘cha cha cha cha cha chaaaa’ riffs from each of those songs).
In addition to “Jump” the song “I’ll Wait”is another stain on the legacy of VH. Wasn’t surprised at all to see that Michael MacDonald contributed to the writing on this drivel.
Despite the flaws, gotta love most of this disc, and excellent choice on the cover art.
Funkadelic
4/5
Cool, funky, of course groovy and a lot mellower than I anticipated. Probably my first run at listening to an entire Parliament album.
Good+.
The Temptations
4/5
Really liked the first three tracks - especially their version of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” - best version I’ve heard. Sorta shocked myself into thinking “this is a four?? Maybe even a five?? NFW!”
Then I heard the rest of the songs. Probably a coin flip at 3.5. Heads.
Thundercat
2/5
Not much here for me.
Santana
4/5
Not sure how much the cover art influenced my decision to pull this out the Electric Fetus record store’s used bin back in 1984, but I’m pretty sure it factored into the decision.
Cool riffs from Carlos throughout - love the pop songs, and the rest is good too.
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Good in small doses, but this is not an album I would ever want to listen to straight through. The first track, Apache, is actually on my current Spotify playlist (might need to let that one go now…)
Over an hour of this music is waaaaay too much of a not that great thing. Yet another example of the list author’s inability to get this list right.
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
Too bad the music isn’t as cool as the image, logo and member names (Ghostface Killah,; Ol’ Dirty Bastard; Inspectah Deck)
Was on my way to three stars, then heard the intro to “Method Man” - that third star got smacked on the dresser with a spiked baseball bat.
Germs
3/5
Good punk
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Did I get stuck in the dental office waiting room? Maybe the first three songs, and then it got slightly funkier. But not much. Nice music to snooze to.
Again, why is this on the list?
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Leonard Cohen has achieved legendary status. This album is dull.
Otis Redding
4/5
This guy has the pipes. Damn good, but some unnecessary horns mixed throughout.
Jethro Tull
4/5
One of my college roommates used to repeatedly tell the “story/history” of the song Locomotive Breath every time it came across our listening plane (which was often enough in 1985).
He would say… “This song was written by a young/autistic/mentally-challenged/ street-person/asylum resident… who carried around a rag soaked in whatever bodily fluids he ‘happened to have coughed up’ that date. Use your imagination there. Reallly, it’s true!”
Sorry Randy, not true, but you sure told a helluva a story.
Good album with strong tracks and two all time classics. I Was leaning towards a five here, but rounding down out of respect for my old friends bullshit.
Pavement
2/5
Nerve grating guitars, spotty rhythm, and sub-par vocals - what’s to like? Not much here.
Giving it a two, because there were a few bass riffs I enjoyed.
Beastie Boys
4/5
I’ve heard about this album for years and years, but hadn’t listened until today. Now I get the hype - one of the best rap albums out there (but I really haven’t heard that many).
Good rappin’, rhymin, beats and attitude. On the fence between four and five stars.
AC/DC
5/5
I had just recently finished giving my required “Tribute Speech” in sophomore speech class when I learned a new AC-DC album was being released. Most of my classmate’s subject matters had been either pontifications about dead grandparents, fallen leaders or pets - and a couple on Jesus Christ - my accolades were focused on Bon Scott. (Got an A - the instructor must have sensed my sincerity).
The thought of a new AC-DC album exited and terrified me, because at that point in my life there was nothing as musically relevant as that band. This could be good, but deep down I thought it was more likely to end in disappointment - a stain on the legacy of my touchstone band.
I was early to the Northland Mall that day to be first in line at Musicland to buy the LP. Mildly surprised that I was the only one there.
Wow. It’s all black. This seems badass, but also out of character. Where are the horns? the fire? the lightening? It didn’t matter. Raced home to drop the needle on my older brother’s stereo. 40+ minutes later I was thunderstruck as this was probably the best AC-DC album ever. Best album ever.
Angus, the boys and the new guy had the songs and the chemistry. I probably played the album eight or ten times through without listening to anything else over the next couple of days, and then back to Musicland to get the 8-track version for the car.
Every song is a winner. Pinnacle of AC- DCs sex, drink, power, rock-n-roll formula.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
More please.
Billy Joel
4/5
Lotta hits and some filler. I wasn’t aware that “adult contemporary rock” existed when this was released, but that’s what it was in back 1977. Even though this isn’t my favorite style of music, Billy Joel scores with catchable tunes that have been radio staples for decades. I was struggling between 3 or 4 stars. Rounding up for “Only the Good Die Young” and memories of this track getting cranked up at our Jr. High School dances - fake silk shirts, arrowhead necklaces, red stripe Nikes, a lotta sweat and no girlfriends.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
Umm, no.
3/5
If a speakeasy could be shoehorned into a Manhattan business tower elevator, this could be the soundtrack.
The Strokes
3/5
Pretty good turn of the century rock n roll. Somewhere between a three and a four, but they didn’t really kill it, so this gets a three.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
Probably a 2.5, but rounding way up for his rendition of Hslleluja.
The Black Crowes
5/5
I recall the first time hearing about the Black Crowes was from my mom. She said “I read an article about a band I think you would like. They supposedly play their instruments - not a lot of synthetic stuff…”
Later that week I saw the CD highlighted as a “guaranteed staff pick” at a record shop in Rosedale, MN. I bought the disc and have been a fan ever since.
Every song on this album is at minimum good, and a lot of the are great. Apart from the many hits, I’m also a fan of the guitars on “Sister Luck”. Songwriting is really good throughout - especially on “She Talks to Angels”. It was many years down the road before I realized “Hard to Handle” was a cover tune.
There have been a lot of good Crowes albums since this debut release, but overall, this is still their best effort.
The Crusaders
2/5
Not for me.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Understand why this album is titled “Murder Ballads” as I felt like murdering myself while listening.
Then realized it was Nick Cave who probably should be murdered, and I felt better.
John Coltrane
2/5
More jazz. At least this had a saxophone.
Nirvana
5/5
So many overplayed mega hits that I’ve stopped listening to this album. Certainly groundbreaking (Thank you Kurt Cobain) and drove the hair Metal freaks into the dark depths of MTV history. That said, this listen put it at a four point something but not a five star album.
Decided to roundup to a five just because .
Alanis Morissette
4/5
Classic 90s grungy pop. Some all time greats and solid filler. Love “You Oughts Know” and “Hand in my Pocket”
The The
2/5
I liked some segments of songs, I like the vocals, but none of the songs click. Best is probably the title track, but I would not intentionally listen to this again.
Mj Cole
2/5
Might deserve a three, but there is over two hours of this?I got through about 35 seconds total on four different songs. Had enough.
Once again, who the fuck put this on the list???
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Haven't listened to this entire LP since it was released back in 1979. Starts off OK with “Over and Over” from Christine McVie then Lindsey Buckingham follows up with the hoedown fail “The Ledge”. Next song “Think About Me” is OK, then some more Lindsey Buckingham drivel, “Save me a Place”.
Thankfully Stevie Nicks brings it back with “Sara”. Good song, and light years ahead of the previous tracks. Of course LB follows up with another turd. He did not recover well from his breakup with Stevie, as his songs here really suck ass.
“Storms” is a Stevie Nicks sleepy bedtime tune, and Lindsey ups his game slightly with the very mediocre “That’s All for Everyone”, but have no fear as he’s right back to type with “Not that Funny” - he was right. 🤮
Thank god for Stevie Nicks (and Christine McVie) as their voices push “Sisters of the Moon” a notch above the songwriting. Buckingham guitar here is really good. Ditto for the vocals on “Angel”.
“That’s Enough for Me” is a thankfully short wannabe stomper. “Brown Eyes” is another track destined for the background mix tape at the Sleep Study Center.
By the time we get to “Never Make Me Cry”, another mediocre song with a pleasant vocal, I’m thinking ‘Who thought this deserved to be a double LP?’ This is a stinking mess of shit compared to Rumours.
“I know I’m not Wrong” confirms my last sentence.
“Honey Hi” is nondescript background tune, and “Beautiful Child” is another snoozer showcasing great vocals. Disappointing. Ditto for “Walk a thin Line” minus the great vocals.
Then we get to the title track - “Tusk”. Finally some meat on the bone! This song slow-burns and absolutely rocks - phenomenal percussion. It’s the kind of song to crank after you’ve strapped on the armor, sharpened your sword and begun the long march towards the breach.
The album wraps up with “Never Forget”. Oops, I did.
This should have been a 45. “Sara” on side A, and “Tusk” on B.
2.5 and rounding up.
Also note that I was stuck on a three hour flight, so this is what you get…
Lou Reed
1/5
No
Kraftwerk
4/5
Das hat mir sehr gut gefallen. schöne Techno-Hintergrundmusik. frühen Industrial, bevor es richtig heavy wurde. dies ist eine 3,5 und wird aufgerundet.
Mekons
2/5
“Meh”kons
Good title
Metallica
5/5
Lotta great heavy tunes here. Masterful🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Massive Attack
2/5
This isn’t that good.
Again! - Why is this on the list? I want to punish the person who thought we needed another Massive Atrack album - at least the last album had one good song - this is mediocre throughout. 😕
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Sheryl Crow has lovely, soothing voice and casual style that is really attractive. I like the hits and most of the other songs on this album. 3.5 and rounding up.
Public Enemy
4/5
I always sort of dismissed Public Enemy because Flavor Flav came across as such a clown. This album is pretty good throughout, and I’m disappointed I’ve missed out. Good rap rockin beats - will listen to again. 4.5 stars and rounding down for the clock-pendants and matching Elton john glasses.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Exodus, Jamming, Wait in Vain and Three little Birds all on this album? Plus Quality “non- hits” make this one of the best Reggae albums of all time. Love this stuff as it is 1) really good; and 2) influenced RnR in such a positive way (e.g. The Clash, Sublime, Eric Clapton, The Police).
The Who
4/5
A lot of bands have tried to rock opera thing, but I think tThe Who probably did it best (twice). A couple of great songs and the rest is really good.
My favorite memory about this album was when my brother in law, Peter, gave me a copy to hold for our first-born child - Thomas. He said “make sure he knows this was a gift from his uncle Pete!” That’s when I asked him if he was sending a hidden warning for our little Tommy in the lyrics to “Fiddle About”?
He took the album back.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
One mega hit, three average covers and some so-so filler. I liked the bass intro to “War”.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I really like the opener Custard Pie - rocks, bluesy, rough and it’s my least favorite song on this double album. Great throughout, and hard to pick highlights. One of my favorites is how “Down by the Seaside” is such a tranquil tune that unexpectedly steps off the curb into an Alice in Wonderland rock jam and then finds its way back to the sidewalk. “Night Flight” is another favorite due to upbeat vibe.
Easy 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Pink Floyd
5/5
Duh
Hanoi Rocks
3/5
Never really listened to this band before, Slightly better than expected - more rock n roll, as I was expecting a Poison vibe. Seems like a band that could have been huge with some really good production - where’ Rick Rubin?
I liked “Sailing down the Tears”, rest is good, but not good enough to bump to a four.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Really like the song “Praise You”, but the rest is pretty meh.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Good stuff from Billy Corgan. Lots of great songs and good moments. Gets a bit long winded occasionally, but still worthy of a top rating.
Le Tigre
2/5
This album is like a lobster roll topped with sauerkraut, Brussels sprouts, and chicken livers. There’s some good stuff in there, but the associated crap doesn’t make it worth the effort.
Tears For Fears
1/5
Disliked this band for multiple reasons back in 1985. Notably their image, fan base, music videos and especially the music itself.
The image faded, the fans dispersed and the videos are relegated to YouTube obscurity. Yet the music endures. I can’t.
Def Leppard
4/5
The album where Def Leppard began to tip the scales from cool rocker baddasses to pop-star overplayed media darlings.
Some good stuff here. Some not so good. Probably a 3.5 and rounding up because their previous album, “High n Dry” got me reprimanded by a school board member for excessive noise at a HS baseball game.
Carole King
4/5
Nice.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Nice voice. Songs are not much except of course Sonof a Preacher Man. Bumps it to a 3.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Love the early keyboard driven RnR.
Would have been great to see Jerry Lee Lewis perform live in his prime.
Great songs and performance but dated enough that I can’t round up.
John Cale
2/5
A solid #2.
Well, maybe not that solid, but it certainly is a #2.
Aimee Mann
2/5
whatever…
Dire Straits
3/5
Dire Straits has some great tunes, but most of those aren’t on this album.
Liked “One World” and even though it’s overplayed, I’m still not sick of “Money for Nothing”.
Other minor hits: “Walk of Life” and “So far Away” are lame.
Rest is boring.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
R.E.M.
2/5
Did not listen
Metallica
4/5
TLDL
Too Long Didn’t Listen (to all of it)
Struggling between a 3 and a 4.
Rounding up for the classical angle. So sad for me…
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Much better than expected above average art rock.
Still - it’s art rock, and Lou Reed is overrated.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Great album - debating a four or a five. Would love to have seen them live during this era.
Rounding up.
Miles Davis
3/5
Not a fan of Jazz, but this was a lot less offensive than I expected it to be.
Wikipedia says it is a fusion record that ticked off some Jazz aficionados - good to hear.
Certainly not a go to record, but better than the one or two stars I anticipated prior to listening. 2.5 and rounding up!
The Kinks
2/5
If you need some stereotypical 60’s rock - it is here. 2.1
Beatles
5/5
A few songs here almost merit giving 5 stars on their own. Then some skip worthy filler. Classic gets 4.5 and rounding up.
Orbital
3/5
Ok I guess
JAY Z
2/5
No
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Ok.
“Let’s get it On” is good.
Sigur Rós
2/5
Sooooo boring.
Ministry
5/5
Pretty damn good album. I remember when this was released - I bought the CD after seeing Al Jourgenson interviewed by Rikki Rachtman on MTV’s Headbangers Ball. You could tell Al thought Rikki was not as cool as he wanted him to be.
Probably the best industrial metal album of all time. Love NWO and Just One Fix - that video featuring William S Burroughs is pretty cool too.
The blind pigs at the “1001 albums” keyboard seem to have found an acorn!
Michael Jackson
5/5
Bad.
Jacques Brel
1/5
No.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Been a while - still love this.
Ride
2/5
Above average for the genre, but that’s like saying you were served an above average plate of lutefisk.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
This brought me back to my childhood as this style of music was in heavy rotation on one of the two modern music radio stations we got in town. Not my favorite back then or now, but as my dad used to say “ You don’t know what you love, you love what you know”.
Some really good guitars - especially on the Seals and Crofts cover of “Summer Breeze”.
Better than a three , but not close enough to round up.
The Specials
3/5
More blasts from the past. Ska beats are ok. Kind of repetitive and simplistic - there were a few good guitar riffs. I will not intentionally listen to this again. 2.5 and rounding up for the retro memories.
Parliament
4/5
Cool vibes and some really good tunes. Like the opener and of course “Give up the Funk”.
3.5 and rounding up because the world is a better place with Parliament in the mix.
Heaven 17
2/5
List fail.
Rhythm section was OK.
Elastica
3/5
Above average grrrlrock, so I’m
Rounding up to a three.
MGMT
3/5
Started off as a bit typical whiny 2000’s art rock, but I really liked “Of Moons, Birds and Monsters” - almost enough to bump this to a four.
Nah…
John Lennon
3/5
Barely
Black Flag
3/5
Like the vibe and the gravelly Henry Rollins take on Punk Rock. That said, no winners here IMO.
ROUNDING UP
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Kinda like fentanyl. Easy to overdose.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Opener is a classic springtime ritual. Rest is average.
Grade inflation bumps this to a C+, but I just can’t get it to a B.
Hookworms
2/5
Hookworms?
Aren’t there pills for that?
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Elvis Costello again?!?!?
How much more of this do we have to take???
Only song I enjoyed was written by Nick Lowe.
Pulp
4/5
This album surprised me. I liked it a lot more than expected. Side 1 stronger than Side 2 but overall really good 90s Brit-pop rock. I even thought about checking Discogs for the vinyl - high praise for a band I had mostly ignored when this was released.
Tito Puente
2/5
“Y’know one day, Tito Puente will be dead and you’ll say ‘Oh yes, I’ve been listening to his work for years’“
(That’s a quote from the movie ‘Stripes’ for you youngsters).
Anyway, Tito Puente is dead, and I can’t say that I’ve been listening for years. Just a partial listen of this album is more than a lifetime’s worth for me.
Like the album art.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Mediocre Brit pop rock
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Probably pretty original / edgy when released. I liked it.
David Bowie
3/5
Ok
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Pretty meh.
Liked “Join the Boys” and the acoustic guitar segments on “Like Fire”
The Go-Go's
4/5
Great early 80’s girl pop. Love the hits and the rest is good.
3.5 and rounding up - Some good riffs in there!
Taylor Swift
2/5
This is popular.
Not with me.
Moby
4/5
Lotta five star riffs, jams, beats and soundscapes on this album. Unfortunately, no five star songs.
Solid 4
Beatles
3/5
One of the greatest bands in the history of music! But this early stuff isn’t really to my liking, and I would not intentionally listen to this album again.
Donovan
3/5
60s pop with a couple of above average songs. Title track, Season of the Witch and The Trip all above average. Below a three, but I’m rounding up for the classic cover art.
Sister Sledge
2/5
Ok for what it is, but not my cup-of-tea, and I’m not a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.
(You probably gotta be aged 55+ to get that reference…)
Also, I don’t think there is any compelling reason to put this album on the list.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Waaaayy too sleepy for my taste. But Willie is great and I like Georgia on My Mind.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
Wikipedia says this “is now regarded as a high point of American rock in the 1980s”.
Tough decade…
Pre-grunge noise. A poor cousin to Minneapolis band Soul Asylum.
Poor cousin? Actually destitute…
4/5
I generally don’t like U2 that much, but this is a pretty good album.
Dinosaur Jr.
2/5
“Bug” is a great title for this album
The Only Ones
3/5
Only Ok.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Probably one of the best albums from this genre - so rounding up from a two to a three.
Was surprised to see Ry Cooder’s involvement, as I had heard about the band but did not know he was instrumental in getting this out.
My guess is I would like this a lot more if I was on a beach with a cold Cuba Libre at hand.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
This was released my freshman year in college. Thought it was OK for modern girl pop rock back then, and I appreciate Cyndi Lauper a bit more today.
Four hits and the rest pretty good. 3.5 and rounding up because of Cosentyx.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Pretty good stuff - love The Message - pioneering rap.
Rest is good, but just can’t push it to a four.
Slipknot
5/5
Really good hard rock. This changed the game when it was released - I have grown to like it more since it’s original release. 4.5 and up!
Elliott Smith
1/5
Boring
Lame
Uninspired
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Good bluesy rocknroll blues. Couple of great hits.
Should probably give this a five, but the guitar twang bugged me enough to knock it down a peg.
The Byrds
3/5
Better than I expected and certainly better than most pop/rock available back when this was released. (Liked some of the alternate versions much better than originals - but not taking that into rating)
Spiritualized
3/5
Pretty good at times. Pretty dull at times too.
Rod Stewart
4/5
Pretty good early 70s rock. Maggie May a longtime favorite.
Supertramp
3/5
Piano heavy 70s spacey rock. Pretty good+ and I like “Bloody Well Right”, but still only average.
Steely Dan
2/5
😕
AC/DC
5/5
Great album! Every track a winner here.
Disturbing side note:
- the connection between serial killer Richard Ramirez the “Night Stalker” and the final track - it was pretty creepy at the time…
The Sonics
4/5
Started strong (for a band from ‘65) with opener “The Witch”. As I listened to this I was thinking that “if the only music in my collection was circa 1965 and prior, The Sonics would be in heavy rotation”.
Next track, a cover of The Contours’ “Do You Love Me”, was pretty lame; but the band rebounded with a pretty decent album! Solid throughout.
Harder and edgier than most pop/rock of the day.
“Strychnine” was an old favorite of mine - had it on a cassette mix-tape back in the day. I mistakenly always thought this was by “the13th floor elevators”.
Cool.
3.5 and rounding up.
Nick Drake
1/5
😴😴😴
Scott Walker
1/5
Awful. Just awful.
CHIC
2/5
Good Times is a good two mi Ute song that lasts almost eight minutes. Rest average.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Finally an album that is 100% list worthy - it’s been a while!
Classic blues rock that really defines the genre. The voice, the drums, the bass the guitar and songs are all top of class. Almost wore the grooves off of this album back in the 80’s and great to hear it through again.
Easy🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Portishead
2/5
Sleepy navel gaze.
“Sour Times” and “It could be sweet” were ok.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Leonard Cohen is a better songwriter than performer.
I’ve owned this album since the 1980s but really only listen to “Everybody Knows” on a regular basis (shout out to the movie “Pump up the Volume” that introduced me to the song. Note that that the Leonard C version is in the movie, but didn’t make the soundtrack!).
“First We Take Manhattan” seems like it could be so much better. I’ll have to see if there is a cover version out there.
Rest of this album is mostly depressing.
ZZ Top
5/5
Great breakthrough Album for ZZ Top. Lots of love and radio play for most of the tracks rockin blues grooves throughout.
Only soft spot for me was “Move me on Down the Line” -just doesn’t measure up to the rest of the album.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
“Oh Boy” and “That’ll be the Day” are standouts that stand the test of time. Rest of this is ok for the50’s but dated now.
Solid three, but not enough to bump it to a four imo.
Big Black
3/5
Liked this a lot for what it is. Sounded like highly caffeinated Black Flag with some youthful exuberance.
Ozomatli
3/5
Pretty good beats. 3.25
3/5
The Acoustic folk tunes are ok, but really only rate a 2. The electric stuff is much better - solid 3 and bump that to a 3.5 because it ticked off the folky goobers in the audience.
Big disappointment here is that this album edits out the heckling - that’s the point of really enjoying this concert to its fullest!
Ray Charles
2/5
Groundbreaking and talented. I don’t like this music.
Christine and the Queens
2/5
Bad 1980s pop stylings refreshed in French for the 21st century! 💩
The Pretty Things
3/5
Ok. Better than expected 60s pop rock. Like the rock opera angle. 3.49
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
3
King Crimson
3/5
Love the album art - one of the best covers of the era, and that’s saying something.
21st Century Schizoid Man is great, but the middle section drags a bit. The rest is mediocre Renaissance Festival fare.
The Smiths
3/5
🤔
The Queen is Dead.
Long live the King!
Charles III
3
Paul Simon
3/5
Paul Simon is great - opening track is nice, then a lot of boring. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” saves the album IMO, and I also really liked “Peace like a River”.
2.5 and rounding up for Julio.
The Young Gods
2/5
Not that great - feel sorry for the French.
Depeche Mode
4/5
3.5+
Madonna
3/5
Love the title track. Rest is solid pop, but not really anything I want to listen to.
Mostly a 2, “Like a Prayer” is a 4+
Jane Weaver
3/5
Nice background music.
Digital Underground
4/5
Like this a lot. Good old school rap.
Iggy Pop
4/5
Less punk than I expected.
Herbie Hancock
2/5
I bought this album out of a used bin almost 20 years ago because I liked the cover art and colors. Listened once. Now I’ve heard it twice. Not horrible. Not good.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I heard this so many times in the late 1980’s that I pretty much quit listening to Springsteen completely (except for “Rosalina” - that song rocks!).
Can’t bring myself to queue this up, so I’m basing my rating on 35 year old memories.
Probably deserves better…
Slint
3/5
Interesting. Liked it, but probably not going into my rotation. Kind of had some stoner rock vibes.
Tom Waits
3/5
Pretty good.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
Good
Judas Priest
5/5
What Tom Dyke said…
Merle Haggard
2/5
I really wanted to like this, but during most of the album I just kept thinking “please make it stop”.
The guitar on ‘If you want to be my woman’ is pretty good.
Anita Baker
2/5
Beautiful person with a beautiful voice. My wife really loves Anita Baker and used to play this frequently.
I dislike this music.
Elton John
4/5
This album starts extremely strong - first four all classics. It fades after that. Still great.
Crowded House
4/5
Like pulling an old sweatshirt out of the deep recesses of your closet. Really comfortable but the style doesn’t quite fit your life anymore. But you still love it.
I bought this the week it was released and another album little Tommy Dyke listened to while toddling around his home in South Minneapolis. Both mom and Dad were fans.
Great songs, solid lyrics and good vibes.
Al Green
4/5
Al Green - great voice, great vibes, but not my type of songs here. It’s a three for the music but Al’s vocals bump it to a four.
Pentangle
2/5
An unintentional cliche of 60’s English folk music. Mostly bad. A few pleasant moments (all without the cloying vocals) save this from the one star dumpster.
Tom Waits
1/5
This was really pretty bad.
The song “Warm Beer and Cold Women” didn’t live up to its title, but was the best track on the album.
Still not enough to pull it from the dumpster it lives in.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
1981 Rural midwestern kid with access to only one top 40 radio station - then our town got cable, MTV and also an introduction to Adam and the Ants. My friends and I loved the attitude, camp and revolutionary beats and fashion. Fun stuff for all the boys and girls.
Nostalgia aside, this album holds up pretty well. A lot of great 90 second songs that stretch to 3+ minutes. ‘Dog Eat Dog’ is the highlight for me and has been a song I’ve gone back to regularly over the years. ‘Ants Invasion’ is another standout I had not listened to for decades - great lyrics, and I’m glad to hear it again.
This is a strong 3.5, and rounding up for the Antpeople.
N.W.A.
4/5
As a teenager in the 70’s /80’s my parents and other adults feared Heavy Metal music - they thought it dangerous and corrupting. “Fools” was the general reaction from me and my peers.
I didn’t believe that music could be dangerous. Then N.W.A. released ‘Straight Outta Compton’ and I started to understand why they were afraid - music that directly and aggressively challenges societal institutions you respect is disconcerting (for my parents it was heavy metal challenging religion, and for me it was NWA challenging law and order - which at the time I truly believed was mostly just). It took me a while to take the time to listen
The album’s political / racial themes seem to be undercut by the blatant misogyny. That said, great beats/raps/jams throughout most of the album, but hard for an old white guy to sing along.
Better than a 3.5. Rounding up.
50 Cent
4/5
Good
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Living Colour
3/5
‘Cult of Petsonality’ is a great tune. I remember when the MTV video came out - supercool as it was great to see and hear a hard rock band with a fresher vibe than the aging glam-rock big-hairs popular at that time.
Rest of the album has some great guitars and mediocre songs.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Not that great. Not terrible. Pleasant enough. At time lame. 2.5 and rounding up because I’m in a good mood.
Beatles
4/5
I didn’t actually just listen to this, but 50+ years of Beatles and knowing many of these songs by heart made me feel like I could give it a pass.
Easy 4, probably a 5, but not today.
Mike Oldfield
2/5
LP Classifieds (1973):
“Wannabe Soundtrack in search of Melodramatic Film. Should enjoy occasional rambling incoherent dialogue. Please meet me in $1 bin at the nearest used record store.”
Beyoncé
1/5
No, thank you.
The Byrds
1/5
The title of the last song from the original release (“Why”) sums up this album for me.
It’s somewhere around a 1.5, but rounding down because if it’s already that bad, you don’t get any bonus chips.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Not on Spotify.
I’ll just assume there is a good reason for this and take a stab at a positive rating.
SAULT
2/5
Ok I guess. Nothing special.
David Crosby
2/5
Ok, but less than I was expecting.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Didn’t know what to expect and got exactly what I was expecting.
Justice
2/5
Ok beats.
Eagles
5/5
The popularity of this album, and especially the title track has kept me
From listening to the entire album for many years.
Even as overplayed as it is, “ Hotel California” still very listenable. One of America’s iconic songs.
Rest of the album is really strong as well, although a little mellow for my taste . “Life in the Fast Line” - classic rocker. “New Kid in Town” popular, but one of the weaker songs in my opinion.
Good stuff, and I always liked the album cover. 4.5 and rounding up.
MC Solaar
4/5
Pretty good.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Good
Hawkwind
4/5
Good album that I haven’t listened to for a few years. Certainly see the influence on stoner/slidge rock. I was thinking this deserved a five because Lemmy is I. The mix, but the awkward space talk brings it down to a more earthly four stars.
Lana Del Rey
2/5
Overly Breathy soft pop. Not for me
The White Stripes
4/5
Good!
Rush
5/5
Great stuff throughout. Nice drums Niel!
Kanye West
3/5
Was going to roundup to a four, but, well you know…
Brian Eno
3/5
Well above average art rock, so rounding way up!
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
Better than expected, so rounding way up.
Michael Kiwanuka
2/5
This album was nominated for a Rpck Grammy? WTF is that? I didn’t really hear any real rocknroll.
That said, disappointing compared
To other Kiwanuka tunes I enjoy.
The Gun Club
3/5
Pretty good basic punk. I can see myself digging this at a darkish, sweaty basement U.K. club after a few pints. Would be life- energizing good times!!
But I’m actually listening through a bluetooth speaker at a mediocre Des Moines, IA business hotel while drinking cheap whiskey out of a plastic cup. So not the vibe I was hoping for.
All in, this is marginally better than a three, but can’t swing it to a four today.
Go Hawkeyes!
TLC
4/5
Really nice.
The Auteurs
1/5
I do not like this.
Miles Davis
2/5
This may be the greatest Jazz album ever recorded.
Prince
3/5
Average Prince.
Ian Dury
1/5
This sounds like something an aging hipster with a combover wearing a dated polyester suit would enjoy at a dreary, suburban London pub in the late 1970s.
“I’m cool! I’m relevant!” - no, sorry, you’re a twat.
David Bowie
2/5
When someone does something really outstanding, I like to say “Gold Star for you!”
This album has an appropriate title.
De La Soul
2/5
Was OK back in the day, seems kinda lame now. Background blather is irritating.
Eric Clapton
4/5
Pretty chill work by Mr Clapton. Love his version of “I Shot the Sheriff” most of the rest of album really solid.
I actively dislike the song “ Let it Grow” as it’s been grating on my nerves every time I’ve heard it since 1974 (old guy here).
Overall it’s worthy of a 3.5 and rounding up because it’s Eric.
Sufjan Stevens
1/5
I’ve been to Illinois. It’s not this boring.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
And we have the winner!
Every song on this album is as good or better than any song on the 1001 list I’ve heard so far.
Epic songwriting, vocals, bass, drums and guitars all at their peak on this album during Rocks’ coming-of-age era.
Somewhere between a very strong 5 and and a 5+++
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Interesting.
Kate Bush
2/5
Hmmm - not really sure what the appeal is to this.
Not horrific, but really shouldn’t be on the list.
Dire Straits
4/5
One real standout track and the rest is pretty mellow-cool. I always have like Mark Knopfler’s guitars. 3.5 and rounding up.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Pretty good mid career Springsteen. No standouts. No turds.
Excellent guitar on “Worlds Apart”.
3.5 and rounding up because my wife “really like this”
The Cars
5/5
Probably haven’t listened to this entire LP since sometime in the late1980’s. Holds up well - almost all great cuts - with “Moving in Stereo” and “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” as standouts beyond the released singles.
This needs to be back in the mix!
Deserving of the list.
4.5 and rounding up for Paulina.
Neu!
3/5
Nice background music.
1001 albums you want to hear in an elevator or Dr’s waiting room.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
“Is this still Jesus and Mary Chain? I like this.” pops in from the next room. Always nice when you and your cohabitant like the same music. “…this is so enjoyable”.
I think the bass is really good throughout, grungy guitars, and lyrics and vocals really give an attitude. Life is hard but just keep kicking your way though it.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
Couple of standouts kick off this album, then it flows to solid, but less-inspired, blues numbers through the end.
Duet albums always seem a bit disjointed in my opinion. The closing solo tracks are stronger than the middle bits.
3.5 and rounding up! Boom Boom
David Bowie
3/5
Heroes is a good song.
Rest is average Bowie. I’m not much of a fan…
Rounding up!
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Pleasantly depressing melancholy from the 1960’s.
Not going back.
Astor Piazzolla
1/5
Just because you’re the best musician at playing an obscure instrument, it doesn’t equate to playing some of the best music
Not list worthy.
Astrud Gilberto
1/5
Pretty girl, pretty voice, pretty lame tunes.
William Orbit
2/5
Meh
Bob Dylan
5/5
Wow - really, really good.
Hüsker Dü
4/5
I’m old enough to have played the board game before this band even existed! (Yes - Hüsker Du was originally a family/kid-friendly “memory game”)
Anyway, not the best game and this is not the best album from the Minneapolis trio. That said, I really like “Could You Be the One” and rest of album is spotty/solid.
Bob Mould’s comment that it “ would have been better as a single album” is on point.
3.5 and rounding up!
Incubus
3/5