Feb 05 2021
Back In Black
AC/DC
Nice, but the songs are too similar to one another. Not my kind of thing.
2
Feb 08 2021
High Violet
The National
Not bad, mildly boring.
3
Feb 09 2021
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Not even a small album
2
Feb 10 2021
Bad Company
Bad Company
Classic with a favourite song
4
Feb 11 2021
Dance Mania
Tito Puente
Interesting salsa music, but an entire album is too juch
3
Feb 12 2021
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Still original, 20 years later
4
Feb 15 2021
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
A classic, but they have better albums
4
Feb 16 2021
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Great voice, some good songs, but not my kind of music...
3
Feb 17 2021
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
What is this album doing on this list?
2
Feb 18 2021
New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
One good song, but - outdated
2
Feb 19 2021
Transformer
Lou Reed
Never liked this album.
2
Feb 20 2021
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Way worse than I remembered it to be
2
Feb 21 2021
Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
Kinks have some great songs, but this album is boring.
2
Feb 22 2021
Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
A proper classic with some really good songs that still kick inside
4
Feb 23 2021
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Not a bad album, but everything Coldplay sounds the same.
3
Feb 24 2021
Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
Oh Brother music, without the laughs
2
Feb 25 2021
Is This It
The Strokes
I used to like this album, but now it sounds so mundane.
2
Feb 26 2021
Moby Grape
Moby Grape
I was surprised. This album wasnโt bad at all
3
Feb 27 2021
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Was never able to connect to the genre
2
Feb 28 2021
In It For The Money
Supergrass
Their follow up album is way better
3
Mar 01 2021
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
I never liked this album, but I acknowledge some songs are of landmark state.
3
Mar 02 2021
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
A proper classic!
First 3 songs are incredible, but the album is sort of let down by the subsequent songs.
4
Mar 03 2021
Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Country
2
Mar 04 2021
Wild Wood
Paul Weller
Nice sound, but it's actually boring.
3
Mar 05 2021
Tommy
The Who
Boring/meh
3
Mar 06 2021
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Not mesmerising, but nice
3
Mar 07 2021
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Surprisingly good
3
Mar 08 2021
Moving Pictures
Rush
Not bad, but not a Rush fan
3
Mar 09 2021
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Pretty good jazz!
3
Mar 10 2021
Pornography
The Cure
Too indistinguishable from noise.
Never liked that phase of Cure.
2
Mar 11 2021
Infected
The The
Bettered by several other The The albums, this is still a masterpiece. What lyrics!
4
Mar 12 2021
Central Reservation
Beth Orton
While I like Orton, I find the album too ordinary.
2
Mar 13 2021
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
One great song, the rest - meh.
2
Mar 14 2021
A Northern Soul
The Verve
Not bad, but eclipsed by the band's next release.
Since this phenomenon of picking a meh album instead of an artist's piece de resistance seems to be a trend here, I can only conclude this is a deliberate fart-like attempt to make the curator here appear cooler.
3
Mar 15 2021
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Really?!
1
Mar 16 2021
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Amazed that some of the songs weren't too bad (a couple were actually good). But still, not my kind of thing.
2
Mar 17 2021
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Guess it's OK for background music?
Otherwise, nothing special.
3
Mar 18 2021
Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
Mundane, but thatโs Alice Cooper
2
Mar 19 2021
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
With 1 exception: boringly boring
1
Mar 20 2021
First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
Problem with Cardigans is, while they have truly great songs, the majority are fluff.
Also: they have a better album than this.
2
Mar 21 2021
Low-Life
New Order
I really have a problem with New Order's sound.
1
Mar 22 2021
Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
I might have liked them if I knew about them at the time.
3
Mar 23 2021
Abbey Road
Beatles
A masterpiece, the best Beatles album, and - by my reckoning - the third best album ever recorded.
5
Mar 24 2021
Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
With the notable exception of a couple of songs, I don't really care for a double album of someone taking psychedelics.
2
Mar 25 2021
Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
Quite refreshing!
3
Mar 26 2021
The Renaissance
Q-Tip
Not the worst thing ever, but rap and hip-hop arenโt my thing. Sorry
1
Mar 27 2021
Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
Probably Hendrixโ best. Many very good songs, surrounded by too much fluff.
3
Mar 28 2021
Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Not worth listening to
1
Mar 29 2021
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
I acknowledge the quality, but this is not my thing.
2
Mar 30 2021
Actually
Pet Shop Boys
One excellent song (Rent) surrounded by a couple of good songs and much fluff. PSB's compilation album is the better choice.
3
Mar 31 2021
The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
Really?
1
Apr 01 2021
LP1
FKA twigs
I liked it when it came out, now all the tracks sound the same.
2
Apr 02 2021
Technique
New Order
I already told you I donโt like New Order
1
Apr 03 2021
Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Few good songs, much fluff
3
Apr 04 2021
A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
This is good stuff!
4
Apr 05 2021
Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Not bad but too short on tunes
3
Apr 06 2021
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
Nice, but far from extraordinary.
3
Apr 07 2021
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Surprisingly good, given my general dislike for the genre. Too much repetition, though: it could have been shorter/better.
3
Apr 08 2021
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Another album that didn't withstand the test of time. I awesome song, another good one, but the rest - meh.
3
Apr 09 2021
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Noise
1
Apr 10 2021
The Band
The Band
Meh
1
Apr 11 2021
Eagles
Eagles
Some nice songs interrupted by too many boring ones.
3
Apr 12 2021
Teen Dream
Beach House
Guess it's nice background music?
3
Apr 13 2021
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
What the
1
Apr 14 2021
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
That didnโt age well, did it?
2
Apr 15 2021
Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
Nice, if repetitive
3
Apr 16 2021
NEU! 75
Neu!
Quite good. Probably ahead of its time.
3
Apr 17 2021
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
1
Apr 18 2021
Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
Of all the Talking Heads albums they could have picked...
2
Apr 19 2021
Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
A good album, but far from what I consider the best of Miles Davis (which really is "best").
3
Apr 20 2021
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
Donโt get this genre, sorry
1
Apr 21 2021
The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
Good stuffs!
4
Apr 22 2021
Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
Very, very, close to 5 stars
4
Apr 23 2021
Cut
The Slits
One ok cover, the rest is indistinguishable from noise
1
Apr 24 2021
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Not my kind of music in general, but so many songs here have transcended time
5
Apr 25 2021
Highway to Hell
AC/DC
Other than the title song, the musicโs rather mundane
2
Apr 26 2021
Raw Power
The Stooges
Noise
1
Apr 27 2021
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Liked it at the time, now I canโt listen to it
1
Apr 28 2021
Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Old, but not too bad
3
Apr 29 2021
Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
Part really nice, part meh - quality varies as it goes
3
Apr 30 2021
Hunting High And Low
a-ha
A childhood landmark.
The Sun Always Shines on TV is grossly under appreciated.
4
May 01 2021
Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Ok music made by people taking lots of drugs?
3
May 02 2021
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
I never connected with this album's style, even though I do like some of Dylan's work. This album does feel outdated, though.
1
May 03 2021
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Dated; presentations like that don't cut it anymore.
Cohen's later albums are way better, IMO, even if they didn't achieve the same cult status.
2
May 04 2021
Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
Awful?
1
May 05 2021
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Mature excellence
4
May 06 2021
The Man Who
Travis
Apart from one catchy song, rather too mundane
2
May 07 2021
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
A masterpiece from the peak of one of the most talented bands ever. Also, probably the best double album ever.
5
May 08 2021
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
One of my favourite jazz albums!
5
May 09 2021
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
I like Bruce's music, some of it quite a lot, but this one is just boring.
1
May 10 2021
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Of all the Neil Young albums to pickโฆ
2
May 11 2021
Live!
Fela Kuti
Great pick!
We love Ginger Baker!
4
May 12 2021
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
Boring!
2
May 13 2021
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
One good song (because it was in Pulp Fiction), the rest - boring
2
May 14 2021
Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
Second boring Byrds recommendation in a week, clearly the algorithm hates us
1
May 15 2021
American Idiot
Green Day
I find this music quite uninspiring.
2
May 16 2021
Sex Packets
Digital Underground
Aged badly, and it wasnโt even that great to begin with
1
May 17 2021
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
Pink Floyd is my favorite band, yet I never really liked Barrett's music.
2
May 18 2021
Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Some great, original sounds + music.
Encumbered by it being a film soundtrack rather than an independent work of music.
4
May 19 2021
Close To The Edge
Yes
Far from Yes' best, but certainly reflective of its general output.
2
May 20 2021
Very
Pet Shop Boys
Nice music, but fails to soar. This is Pet Shop Boys past its prime.
3
May 21 2021
Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
Original, but turns into the tedious the longer it goes.
3
May 22 2021
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Too indistinguishable from noise, but Closer
2
May 23 2021
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Most of the songs are dull, but when she shines, she shines
3
May 24 2021
Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
My favourite Paul Simon album, which says something given the company it has.
5
May 25 2021
Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
Nice, but fails to rise to the inspirational level.
3
May 26 2021
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Meh, except for the last song.
Also, what's with the awful sound?
2
May 27 2021
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Neil Young has way better stuff than this.
2
May 28 2021
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
File under "what the"
1
May 29 2021
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
Just, but just, crosses that threshold into โnice musicโ
3
May 30 2021
Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
OK background music, but despite its length it fails to rise beyond that.
2
May 31 2021
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Too eccentric for my taste.
2
Jun 01 2021
Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
Never got into Waits' brand of music.
2
Jun 02 2021
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
I love the variety of music, I love how songs are interconnected, and I love the music. Especially the lesser known songs (eg Broken).
5
Jun 03 2021
Kenya
Machito
I like the genre, but this one failed to impress.
2
Jun 04 2021
Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Not my kind of music
2
Jun 05 2021
Black Monk Time
The Monks
Found the music quite irritating, actually
2
Jun 06 2021
The Sensual World
Kate Bush
I love Kate Bush, but this album is just boring!
2
Jun 07 2021
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Interesting, yet failed to inspire me
3
Jun 08 2021
Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
Ok, I guess? Nothing special
3
Jun 09 2021
Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
Awful
1
Jun 10 2021
Street Life
The Crusaders
Great singing on the title song, the rest errs way too much towards schmaltz
3
Jun 11 2021
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
One of the best debut albums, the best guitar solo ever (though I prefer the live Alchemy version), and a great album that's always been there for me
5
Jun 12 2021
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Good music, lyrics way beyond your average, but failed to truly captivate me.
3
Jun 13 2021
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
OK for background music. I'd pick other albums by John Grant over this one.
3
Jun 14 2021
Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Can't see anything special there
2
Jun 15 2021
69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
Gimmick idea (69 songs in 3 CDs of 23 songs each), but I found the results rather meh
2
Jun 16 2021
Country Life
Roxy Music
Generally nice, but at the same time a bit too indistinguishable from noise (probably due to its rather offensive sound).
3
Jun 17 2021
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
What a voice! And what a performance!
4
Jun 18 2021
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
I like his wits, but bar few exceptions I donโt like Randy Newmanโs music.
2
Jun 19 2021
Risque
CHIC
Not my kind of music
2
Jun 20 2021
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
Not my kind of music
1
Jun 21 2021
Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
Not bad, though not mesmerizing either.
3
Jun 22 2021
Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
Just, but just, an OK background music piece. But too close to boredom.
3
Jun 23 2021
Dookie
Green Day
Quite uninspiring.
2
Jun 24 2021
In Rainbows
Radiohead
Not the best of Radioheadโs, but nice.
3
Jun 25 2021
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Nice classic blues, but I gravitate towards electric guitar blues.
3
Jun 26 2021
The Stranger
Billy Joel
One of Joelโs best. A personal favourite.
Side A is pure excellence, but side B lets it down a bit.
4
Jun 27 2021
Treasure
Cocteau Twins
The wailing turned me off.
2
Jun 28 2021
The Real Thing
Faith No More
Angel Dust is way better
3
Jun 29 2021
Kala
M.I.A.
I really canโt stand this music
1
Jun 30 2021
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
With the exception of Psycho Killer, Talking Heads' albums fail to uplift me. Their "best of" is another story.
2
Jul 01 2021
There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
Nice, but I'd say there are better representatives of this genre.
3
Jul 02 2021
Remedy
Basement Jaxx
I used to love this album, mostly because of Red Alert, but I don't think it aged well.
3
Jul 03 2021
Melodrama
Lorde
This is one of those cases where I don't really like the music, but I can appreciate that it's good music.
3
Jul 04 2021
Pink Moon
Nick Drake
Guess itโs good enough to serve as quiet background music. But you canโt call me a fan of Drake.
3
Jul 05 2021
Clandestino
Manu Chao
Probably gave the album more than it deserves, on account of not listening to this genre enough. That said, it's hard for me to see how an album like this made this list.
3
Jul 06 2021
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Thumbs up! Good blusey rock!
4
Jul 07 2021
Wild Gift
X
Ordinary is an understatement
2
Jul 08 2021
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
The music isn't that bad, but there's too much of it to the point I got way past fed up.
2
Jul 09 2021
Eliminator
ZZ Top
Mostly dull, but 2 very catchy songs. Never really got in tune with ZZ.
3
Jul 10 2021
Picture Book
Simply Red
What a voice!
Simply Red's best album, by far. It aged, yes, but not too badly.
4
Jul 11 2021
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Sorry, I still canโt stand this genre
1
Jul 12 2021
Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
Nah
2
Jul 13 2021
Pump
Aerosmith
I find it amazing how uninspiring this music is.
2
Jul 14 2021
Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
Not my kind of thing, but one of those things I can accept as good despite that.
3
Jul 15 2021
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
An instant classic when it came out, and an album I still regularly listen to.
4
Jul 16 2021
Protection
Massive Attack
Not my vote for best Massive Attack album, but an excellent album nevertheless.
4
Jul 17 2021
The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Surprisingly nice
3
Jul 18 2021
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
Very nothing special
2
Jul 19 2021
The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
The Nightfly and I go a long way together!
I remember it from when it was first introduced in Ad Pop by Ehud Manor as a new album. Love it, and regularly listen to it.
5
Jul 20 2021
Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
Quite nice, yet just a tad below excellence.
3
Jul 21 2021
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
It's good, I can't deny that, but I never aligned with O'Connor. Other than that one truly excellent song, of course.
3
Jul 22 2021
B-52's
The B-52's
Nice to be educated in the fact there's more to the B-52's than Love Shack!
3
Jul 23 2021
Snivilisation
Orbital
Nice for the background, but not much more.
3
Jul 24 2021
I Against I
Bad Brains
Articulated noise?
2
Jul 25 2021
Red Dirt Girl
Emmylou Harris
While country music isn't my thing, this is obviously far from Harris' best
2
Jul 26 2021
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Ranges from sheer brilliance to the annoying, probably too much. I'm being rather harsh on this album with my rating, but then again my stars never aligned with Zappa.
3
Jul 27 2021
British Steel
Judas Priest
I have a bit of an allergy to metal, even if Breaking the Law was a Beavis & Butthead hit.
2
Jul 28 2021
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Seriously?
2
Jul 29 2021
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
While I generally think that, theatrics aside, Queen's music is overrated, I do acknowledge they have some pretty good material (though rarely pretty good albums).
This one, though, is all theatrics.
2
Jul 30 2021
Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Barely makes it to the "OK enough for background music". Generally speaking, I only appreciate Enola Gay, and it's not even from this album of theirs...
3
Jul 31 2021
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
Nice!
3
Aug 01 2021
Zombie
Fela Kuti
Alright, but not half as good as the collaboration with Ginger Baker.
3
Aug 02 2021
Beautiful Freak
Eels
Seems to me like Eels' trademark is on an album with one incredibly good song followed by other good but not good enough songs. This album is a bit of an exception: everything is better than average.
4
Aug 03 2021
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
A couple of nice songs mired by a collection of what might have once been nice. But most of all, mired by awful sound.
2
Aug 04 2021
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Best Springsteen album by far, and worth 5 stars for its place in personal history. I find it funny how, over the years, the songs I least liked from the album have become my album favourites. But that's just an aside...
4
Aug 05 2021
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
A class act, no more words needed
4
Aug 06 2021
Blue
Joni Mitchell
Never got on the Joni Mitchell wavelength, though I can see its appeal (to others)
2
Aug 07 2021
With The Beatles
Beatles
As much as I think the later Beatles albums are some of the best of humanity's creations, that will still be some of the best potentially in a millennia, I also think their earlier albums are too simple (stylistically speaking) and contain too much fluff amongst the truly good songs.
3
Aug 08 2021
Kings Of The Wild Frontier
Adam & The Ants
Proof that not all songs are Stand and Deliver.
Truly boring and shrill sounding.
1
Aug 09 2021
Dust
Screaming Trees
Nothing special. Not bad, but I wouldn't put it in any albums to die for list.
2
Aug 10 2021
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Look, it's nice, and I enjoyed listening to this album, but: is it special?
No.
3
Aug 11 2021
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Some nice music there, including some that were stuck in my head for years
3
Aug 12 2021
Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
Nice, but despite my sensitivity to the genre it failed to rock my foundations.
3
Aug 13 2021
American Beauty
Grateful Dead
Never got on the Grateful Dead wavelength. Suspect that requires green stuff.
2
Aug 14 2021
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
Noise by any other name. Funny that, though, because I can think of 2 nice System of a Down songs, it's just that they weren't here.
1
Aug 15 2021
Dare!
The Human League
No, I donโt want you. Never did
1
Aug 16 2021
Closer
Joy Division
It's the third time I have to endure Joy Division's drone here. On the positive side, I don't think they any had more albums
2
Aug 17 2021
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
My least favourite Dire Straits albums, certainly when compared to its 4 predecessors. Over the years I grew warm to its more mellow, jazzy (?), sound; yet I cannot forgive its original sin.
4
Aug 18 2021
Purple Rain
Prince
Funny story, I won this record in a draw but didn't really like it. As the years passed, I learned to appreciate its finer qualities, and - more importantly - learned to recognise Prince for the talent he [sadly] was.
4
Aug 19 2021
Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
Nice, but with the exception of one song - not that special (hope the band members won't read this)
3
Aug 20 2021
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Definitely not my kind of music, but on the other hand it's not bad at all! I enjoyed this venture into the unknown.
Also, the rumours are true: this really is Oh Brother, 20-30 years earlier.
3
Aug 21 2021
Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
Not the kind of music I'd probably ever ask for, but nice enough to listen to.
3
Aug 22 2021
Bone Machine
Tom Waits
We've been through that already: Tom Waits works at a different wavelength to mine.
2
Aug 23 2021
The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
I like me the occasional Beach Boys song, but frankly, this album is boring
2
Aug 24 2021
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
As Homer Simpson said, boring!
2
Aug 25 2021
Ray Of Light
Madonna
I never really liked Madonnaโs music, but this one does sound more mature. Still, the album never transcends the level Iโd refer to as decent background music.
3
Aug 26 2021
Marquee Moon
Television
Some nice stuff in there
3
Aug 27 2021
Close To You
Carpenters
Yes, there are a couple of nice songs in there, but overall I don't think this album withstood the test of time.
2
Aug 28 2021
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Nice music, but I got the point of the specific organ jazz sound long before the album was done.
3
Aug 29 2021
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
What great music! And what a nice surprise, to find a Miles Davis album I never heard before!
4
Aug 30 2021
Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
I would have accepted Guitars Cadillacs on account of Terminator 2, but this one?
1
Aug 31 2021
Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
Some ok music in there, but as is often the case theyโre all too similar; as the album went on and on, I was getting sick of it.
2
Sep 01 2021
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
I still remember first being introduced to this album by a friend, who left me a very badly produced cassette copy. I listened to it for years.
I also remember being reintroduced to the album over another friend's hi-fi. I haven't left Hunky Dory since.
As to the album itself, I often argue with myself as to whether it is Bowie's best. And my answer is that this deliberation is pointless; all I should be doing is enjoy the album. And enjoy it I do: while many of the albums featured here are full of fillers, or contain songs that all sound the same, Hunky Dory is an exercise in the exact opposite: a collection of unique songs that coalesce into an album. A great album that's been with me for years and years.
5
Sep 02 2021
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
Despite the claim of spiritualisation, I found myself rather bored. The album is good enough as background music while concentrating on other things, but it never gets anywhere.
2
Sep 03 2021
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
On one hand, it's the dictionary definition of "classic"; on the other, it fails to deliver as an album.
Not that this takes anything away from the awesomeness of the title track.
3
Sep 04 2021
The Bends
Radiohead
Some undeniably good music there, but I fail to see a grand vision for an album (as opposed to, say, Ok Computer). Either that or I simply outgrew this album.
3
Sep 05 2021
Graceland
Paul Simon
An top artist in top form demonstrates what innovation and exploration means. Yet, at the same time, I find Iโm unable to connect with the music as much as I can with other Paul Simon stuff.
4
Sep 06 2021
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
Are you having a laugh?!
1
Sep 07 2021
Station To Station
David Bowie
This is not the Bowie album I was looking for (as in: not bad, but Bowie did release some utterly brilliant albums - just not this one)
3
Sep 08 2021
The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
It's the Gary Numan sound that this album has in its favour (and Cars), but that can only go so far. Which is fine.
3
Sep 09 2021
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
There are definitely some excellent songs in this album, but at the same time there are too many fillers.
What is undeniable, though, are the qualities of Chapman's voice and singing.
3
Sep 10 2021
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Like a lot of American rock music, I find this a rather uninteresting take on bland noise
2
Sep 11 2021
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
Good, but not yellow brick good
3
Sep 12 2021
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Yes, there are some famous songs there, but now I know why you donโt get to hear the other songs
2
Sep 13 2021
Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
The songs aren't too bad, and I credit the punk, but as an album - too many of the songs sound the same.
2
Sep 14 2021
Grace
Jeff Buckley
Good voice - tick
Some good songs - tick
But overall, and perhaps (probably!) through my own deficiencies, the album fails to lift me up. Tragedies aside, it needs more noise
2
Sep 15 2021
This Nationโs Saving Grace
The Fall
While there were some tunes in there, I did find the sound and the vocals rather unpleasing. Sorry
2
Sep 16 2021
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
I fail to see why this album made it into this list
2
Sep 17 2021
The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
I really do like several of MSPโs albums, just not this one; too bland for my taste. Hope that doesnโt mean I lack taste
2
Sep 18 2021
Sea Change
Beck
Far from Beck's best, yet a nice and very melodic (and relaxing) album despite the obvious personal crisis that triggered it.
Bit too un-exciting for me, but definitely great for certain moods.
3
Sep 19 2021
Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
At first I sort of got along with the music, but eventually all the profanities and the demeaning language put me off
2
Sep 20 2021
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
I feel there's a lot of promise to this band, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this young lot.
More seriously, this is probably the best debut album ever; musicians do not come more accomplished than this to begin with. Hard to believe this is only Zep's 4th best album (by my reckoning, which is widely regarded as the absolute truth by no one).
5
Sep 21 2021
1989
Taylor Swift
I don't know what it is about the sound of contemporary pop, but I just can't stand it. I fully realise I'm at the extreme minority corner, but that does not change my perceptions.
1
Sep 22 2021
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
Thereโs only one Metallica album thatโs more than just a collection of songs, and it isnโt this one.
Also, I donโt get the shrill sound
2
Sep 23 2021
Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Nice surprise!
4
Sep 24 2021
On The Beach
Neil Young
Nice, yes, but extraordinary? No
3
Sep 25 2021
Elastica
Elastica
Nice, I guess, and not particularly special
3
Sep 26 2021
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Surprisingly good!
And quite unlike most of the Elvis music Iโm familiar with - less poppy, more serious.
4
Sep 27 2021
Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
By now itโs obvious this endeavour has listed pretty much anything Tom Waits had ever published. However, this one is a actually good!
4
Sep 28 2021
Different Class
Pulp
Some good songs in there, some good lyrics, but as an album the result is a bit too monotonous. Either that or I just don't dig the sound that much.
3
Sep 29 2021
Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Itโs obvious they like their distortions and feedbacks much more than I do. Couldnโt stand it by the fourth song
2
Sep 30 2021
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
A record breaking album when it comes to blandness and lack of inspiration
2
Oct 01 2021
Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Eccentric, but in a nice way
3
Oct 02 2021
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
Boring as hell
2
Oct 03 2021
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
Noise for noise's sake
2
Oct 04 2021
The Clash
The Clash
I've been very generous with my rating, simply because I love The Clash: while much of the music here is monotonous noise, I cannot deny the allure of some of the lyrics ("Career opportunity, the one that never knocks") and the scattered gems of songs here and there.
But yes, The Clash is one of them bands that sounds way better when listened to through a Best Of album rather than its run of the mill albums.
3
Oct 05 2021
Pretenders
Pretenders
Significantly aged, but despite better songs coming in later albums this is still something special.
Chrissie Hynde forever
3
Oct 06 2021
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Boredom incarnate
2
Oct 07 2021
The Yes Album
Yes
We like progressive music, but this one is both aged and surpassed. Also, it's not Yes' best.
3
Oct 08 2021
A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
I do often wonder what passed through the curator's mind when they picked the albums comprising this collection.
2
Oct 09 2021
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
Some very good rhythms in there, surrounded by a bit too much fluff to make this a truly great album.
3
Oct 10 2021
Copper Blue
Sugar
Indistinct generic โalternativeโ music
2
Oct 11 2021
Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Nice music of a genre I don't listen enough to
3
Oct 12 2021
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
A bit of a gem that went forgotten over the years. Aged, yes, but there is some good stuff in there - including 2 outright excellent songs.
3
Oct 13 2021
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
Instead of joking on this actually being most unwanted, I will say this genre isn't one I normally listen to and point out the excessively profane lyrics as a big turn off.
1
Oct 14 2021
Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
I like Nina Simone, I like her voice a lot. But at the same time, none of the songs in this particular album truly move me.
3
Oct 15 2021
Arise
Sepultura
Sadly there is no option for 0 stars
1
Oct 16 2021
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Oozes with class
3
Oct 17 2021
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Other than the gimmick of comprising an album full of songs about murder and death, this is a pretty boring album
2
Oct 18 2021
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Yes, there's tons of nostalgia in there, but then again re-listening reminded me why I haven't been listening this whole time
2
Oct 19 2021
Faith
George Michael
Not too badly aged; some of the tunes, especially the first tracks, are still very catchy. Still, George Michael (RIP way too early!) is better in a "best of" compilation than an individual album; it's not like there's a unifying thread across the tracks here.
3
Oct 20 2021
Groovin'
The Young Rascals
Might have been great at the time, but listening to this today I find absolutely nothing of interest in the album.
2
Oct 21 2021
Siembra
Willie Colรณn & Rubรฉn Blades
Guess it's OK background music?
Giving it a bit of a credit on account it's not my usual music diet.
3
Oct 22 2021
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
Probably REM's best album (and that's saying a lot, given the "competition"). Made even better through John Paul Jones' arrangements on some of the songs, which renders them pure magic.
5
Oct 23 2021
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
A bit of a mixed bag:
On one hand, excellent tracks that are the very definition of classic rock (see I'm a Man); on the other, what seem to be live recording of wanking with guitars sessions (see Free Form Guitar).
3
Oct 24 2021
Third
Portishead
Ok album, but a far cry from the pure excellence of Portisheadโs first 2 albums.
3
Oct 25 2021
The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
I was never a big fan of Talk Talk's, even though I didn't mind its music. This one's not bad at all, yet I can see why, generally speaking, Talk Talk has faded away from public awareness more than some of its eighties compatriots that seem to be back on the public's agenda (for some odd reason or another).
3
Oct 26 2021
Synchronicity
The Police
Where do I start?
I still remember hunching over the record at the shop, wondering if I should spend all my money on it or not. I chose not to. [Several years later, I bought all The Police on CD.]
I still think Synchronicity is the lesser of the better Police albums, with Reggatta de Blanc being significantly superior. But that doesn't mean Synchronicity is a bad album, not in any way; it is clearly the work of mature musicians delivering the goods while also experimenting, which is what stands it apart from the previous Police albums.
It's also a story of 2 sides: side 1 is the more experimental affair (Mother stands out in everything, but the two Synchronicity songs as well as Walking in Your Footsteps also stand out for their social statement). Side 2, on the other hand/side, is where magic happens, with songs that are deeply personal and creative.
Every Breath You Take was a moment in history, when the whole world listened to the same song for weeks on weeks; such phenomenon doesn't happen anymore, in a world where everyone carries their own personal radio station on them. And can you imagine a song such as Wrapped Around Your Finger charting as well as it did, with all the creativity (here's looking at you, Stewart Copeland) it's bursting with?
For side 2, for the history it made, and for the maturity it displays, Synchronicity deserves the perfect score.
5
Oct 27 2021
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
Some nice grooves here and there, but they're too camouflaged by noise
2
Oct 28 2021
Tellinโ Stories
The Charlatans
I was unable to detect anything particularly special about this album to merit its inclusion to this list
2
Oct 29 2021
Blackstar
David Bowie
Where do I start with this wonderful parting gift Bowie left us with?
What a wonderful fusion of modern electronic, rock, and jazz. How wonderful to hear wind instruments in contemporary pop. How great to listen to lyrics that arenโt afraid of non political correctness yet are also meaningful.
Truly original and creative, and probably the best album of its decade. Blackstar the song is easily the best of its decade.
Thank you, Bowie. I miss you
5
Oct 30 2021
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
I was surprised to find this album to be genuinely good, down to earth, rock music.
4
Oct 31 2021
...And Justice For All
Metallica
It really does sound like a bunch of teenagers masturbating to their guitars and drums. The shrill sound that penetrates the head doesnโt do this album any favours, either.
Metallica has released one good studio album, and this one ainโt it.
1
Nov 01 2021
Quiet Life
Japan
Other than the name David Sylvian, it doesnโt sound like this album has much to offer. Yes, itโs ok background music, but it never takes off and all the songs sound the same.
2
Nov 02 2021
Like A Prayer
Madonna
Thanks for reminding me why I started detesting what passed for pop music as of the eighties' end. On the other hand, I detest contemporary pop music even more.
2
Nov 03 2021
Berlin
Lou Reed
Awfully boring
2
Nov 04 2021
If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
While the music is acceptable for background duties, I found the affair a bit too eccentric for me to seek repeat listening.
2
Nov 05 2021
Moon Safari
Air
So I was thinking, I've been handing out too many 5 stars lately, therefore Moon Safari needs to get 4 stars. But then I started listening to the album again after, admittedly, way too long a break.
The bass lines on the first track (La femme d'argent) were all it took to make me shiver and recall taking the chance and buying the CD based on an old friend's recommendation.
And then Sexy Boy, and then Beth Hirsch's voice, and on and on - each and every song on this album is something special.
I'm sorry to say it, but this is "another" 5 stars album. How I loved Air! But I still need a lot of Air.
5
Nov 06 2021
Doolittle
Pixies
TBH, I was probably the last to recognise this albumโs greatness. At the time I used to think it paled in comparison with Guns N Roses.
But it grew on me, eventually. And while not all of Doolittle is sweet, there are multiple tracks whose place in history has been cemented.
4
Nov 07 2021
Calenture
The Triffids
Remarkably boring
2
Nov 08 2021
Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
Not the worst hip-hop album ever, but also not even close to converting me into the genre
2
Nov 09 2021
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Not the most original of albums, but thereโs nothing wrong with adding bongos to familiar tracks!
3
Nov 10 2021
Virgin Suicides
Air
Not the album that Air should be remembered for (I'd argue there are 3 far better ones). I guess the core difference lies with this one being a movie soundtrack rather than an independent piece of music, but regardless: this is a rather peculiar choice for this list.
3
Nov 11 2021
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
They keep sending me stuff I don't like
2
Nov 12 2021
Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Sometimes listenable, sometimes just to noisy. Regardless, 40+ years later, it's hard to find it special
2
Nov 13 2021
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
A member of the internal core of the very classic of jazz recordings, even if not every track is as good as Take 5
4
Nov 14 2021
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
Whiney, all the songs sound the same, redundant
2
Nov 15 2021
Palo Congo
Sabu
Interesting, because it's so different.
I'm old enough to remember when they used to play El Cumbanchero on the radio.
3
Nov 16 2021
Abraxas
Santana
One of those never aging classic albums I can always go back and listen to (which I often do).
4
Nov 17 2021
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
I could just give this the 5 stars it deserves and move on, but before I do so I will note there are 3 other Pink Floyd albums I consider superior to this one. Yet Wish You fully deserves 5 stars:
For the performances,
For successfully doing this themed album (even if I don't necessarily sympathize with the suffering created by the music industry),
But most of all for the great music. The title song is, easily, one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
Now it's time to sit back, have a cigar, and listen to this great album once more.
5
Nov 18 2021
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
I admit I didn't hear of this album before. When it started playing, I thought "great, here's an authentic take on Graceland's themes". However, as songs came and song went, I grew tired of the theme; by the end, I couldn't tell one song from the other.
2
Nov 19 2021
รgรฆtis Byrjun
Sigur Rรณs
The cynic is me says this album, that so many folks grovelled over, is more than a bit too eccentric for me
3
Nov 20 2021
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Too repetitive (how many times can a singer use โloveโ in sentences, line after line) to compensate for the limitations of its recording technology.
In other words, this album didnโt age well.
2
Nov 21 2021
Goo
Sonic Youth
Too close to noise to make this a truly wonderful album, but it has its moments.
3
Nov 22 2021
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age had better albums than this, and while I don't mind it I attribute its inclusion in this list to the "look at me, I knew Queens of the Stone Age would be great way before anybody else noticed its existence" hubris factor.
3
Nov 23 2021
Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
Try as I may, I couldn't find anything going for this album other than its cover
1
Nov 24 2021
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
I recognise the Beastie Boys' originality. I'm well aware of them breaking new grounds in so many areas.
But I just don't like their music
2
Nov 25 2021
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
For a while, and because of this album, and around the years following its release, the Peppers were probably the "biggest band in the world".
I recall recording the album to a cassette. Several months later, when I realised I'm listening to that cassette every day (and despite investing in quality TDK cassettes, these things don't last) I gave up and bought the CD.
5
Nov 26 2021
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Donโt know why, but I was never able to get in sync with Monkโs music, not to the same level I dig many of his compatriots.
3
Nov 27 2021
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
Some brilliant songs in there, and I love the orchestral elements of the performance (where did those disappear to over time)?
But... ELO is still a band best experienced through "best of" collection albums, on account of the overabundance of fluff between the really good stuff.
3
Nov 28 2021
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Look, I love this pairโs music, but this album errs to much towards folk music for my precious taste. I wonder when Iโll get the opportunity to rate the real thing, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
3
Nov 29 2021
Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
By now I'm resigned to each and every piece of music having anything to do with Elvis Costello receiving nomination here.
However, just like its Elvis Costello predecessors that I've encountered here thus far, Blood and Chocolate offers one good song (though I'd argue The Beatles' I Want You is vastly superior) that sinking in what is otherwise the mediocrity of every other song sounding the same that is the rest of the album.
In other words, I'm not sure the person who put so much Elvis Costello in this list would have done so were they to redo this list today.
2
Nov 30 2021
Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
I get Dylan is/was a genius, that in his time he was some sort of a prophet, and he does have the occasional hit, but generally speaking: I find his music quite boring.
2
Dec 01 2021
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
I used to love Deep Purple much more than I do now, a fact I attribute to their simple brand of rock music that got replaced by better stuff since. Still, Child in Time is a great song.
3
Dec 02 2021
All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
Seriously, out of all the U2 albums, this is what we get? A bland, unoriginal, and uninspiring attempt to recreate former glories that should have been left to rest?
Where did the baldness and experimentation of Achtung Baby and Zooropa disappear to, in this failed attempt to rewind time with an inferior Joshua Tree?
3
Dec 03 2021
One World
John Martyn
Nothing special / not bad
I'll probably forget all about this album in a day. Oops, I already did
3
Dec 04 2021
She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
Define "mixed feelings".
On one hand, this really isn't my music. Yes, Girls just want to have fun is catchy is all sorts of ways, but I think I can safely say generic pop music hasn't been my thing back then and certainly isn't my thing today.
However, there is a lot of versatility in this album, as well as some undeniable historical impact. So I will err to towards the positive with my rating, if only for the sake of She Bop.
3
Dec 05 2021
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Far from the worst of its kind, but still: Iโm not the most suitable person to push hiphop music on
2
Dec 06 2021
Rapture
Anita Baker
As has been the case before, I fail to see what's so special about this album. At least with this one, it's not from a genre I'm familiar with.
2
Dec 07 2021
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
There's a certain quality to Morrissey's voice that I could never stand; it would hit a particular nerve that was just painful. So while there are a couple of OK songs in this album, I cannot rate it favourably.
2
Dec 08 2021
3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
Dear Mr Wendel, I still don't understand why this list keeps serving me hip hop, I can't stand the genre
2
Dec 09 2021
Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Oy Vey, I got 2 hip hop albums in a row. What's next for me, Covid?
2
Dec 10 2021
Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
By now this is long forgotten music, and as sad as that may be, I can understand why.
2
Dec 11 2021
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Even though this isnโt the kind of music I normally listen to, I loved it!
Especially the interesting arrangements for songs that I knew from elsewhere (I guess these are the country and western music songs the title refers to?).
Iโll add that Itโs gems such as this, about which existence I formerly wasnโt aware of, that brought me here. Pity these are so rare.
4
Dec 12 2021
Thriller
Michael Jackson
I'll start with the usual proviso, "this is not my kind of music, but..."
The first but goes out to: I'm calling this purely on the music and the impact that music has had, and not on whether I'd like Jackson to come and babysit.
The second one is the main event. There can be no denying of the cultural impact Thriller has had on the world it was released in. First it was Billie Jean, then Beat It with its video, and then the whole world (even those that, at the time, despised Jackson's music) holding its breath and watching the half hour long music video (?) of thriller in a kind of a world premier. These things don't happen anymore, and while the world enjoyed many an improvement over the course of the years I don't know if we're not missing a lot by not having universally shared experiences anymore.
So: not my kind of music, but also the music of everyone who lived back then.
4
Dec 13 2021
Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
A breath of fresh air, as far as versatility is concerned. However, despite some brilliance throughout, a lot of the stuff is also way too much "out there" for me to conclude this is a truly excellent piece of art. No doubt manny would disagree with me in that.
3
Dec 14 2021
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
I donโt mine Stevie Wonder at all, but this album is just boring from start to finish
2
Dec 15 2021
Never Mind The Bollocks, Hereโs The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I understand where the anger came from, and I understand the historical importance of this album, but... It's just too close to noise for me. Sorry
2
Dec 16 2021
Play
Moby
For a long while, this won my coveted personal recommendation for "best background music". Not much more than that, but still - being the perfect background for almost everything means a lot.
It aged, since, and it has also been overused in too many soundtracks. But it's still good!
4
Dec 17 2021
Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Such a soothing voice!
Alas, this album doesn't reach half the heights I'm sort of expecting from Gilberto after listening to Girl from Ipanema so many times...
3
Dec 18 2021
Sheet Music
10cc
Not the greatest of albums (10cc is yet another band who, these days, is best experienced through a โbest ofโ collection). But I like 10cc and I like their humour enough.
3
Dec 19 2021
Timeless
Goldie
Repetitive, boring, and outright annoying.
This may have been clubbers' delight, especially during its decade, but it also helps us understand why said clubbers were always high on drugs - they had to deal with this music.
1
Dec 20 2021
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
A bit of a monoculture, and pretty quickly I couldnโt stand the artificial drums, but overall - not too bad, even if Aphex Twin has better stuff out there.
3
Dec 21 2021
Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
An archeological relic of a genre long gone, and frankly, I'm not in tears.
2
Dec 22 2021
GI
Germs
I'd rather listen to a drill having a go at a concrete wall
1
Dec 23 2021
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
First of all, I will mention this album cover is the recipient of my "Best Album Cover Ever" award. I always find it depicts exactly how I feel at any given moment.
As for the music... Well, this is as close to 5 stars (but not 5 stars) as an album could get. History wise, this album was with me, then gone from my life, then (through the unforgettable cover) back in my life, rinse and repeat.
Music wise, and atmosphere wise, there's a lot of sheer genius in this album. With just a tad of "what drugs were they on".
4
Dec 24 2021
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Itโs ok, but not half as special as Born in the USA.
3
Dec 25 2021
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
What a fusion of fresh jazz music this album is! I donโt think I need to point out Miles Davisโ genius in creating a new genre of music out of the blue, but I will.
One of my all time favourite jazz albums. Thanks for arranging this on Christmas Eve!
4
Dec 26 2021
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
As the worldโs most famous celebrant of Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us, Iโd like to say Iโve been tired of Christmas songs forcibly drilled into my head long before the cheap trick of being pushed on with this album on Christmas Day.
2
Dec 27 2021
OK Computer
Radiohead
Hooray to my second favourite Radiohead album!
I recall a time, during the later nineties, when this album was what youโd play in order to impress others by your sheer coolness.
4
Dec 28 2021
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
Not only groundbreaking sound, at the time, but also music that's still very good today.
4
Dec 29 2021
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Is it me or is it the case that anything ever farted by Elvis Costello has made it into this list?
So this is a protest vote. Yes, I can see how this music would feel the peak of musicness to many, but I find it boring and repetitive. Especially the fifth time around.
1
Dec 30 2021
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
I like BB (not to be confused with a certain ex Israeli prime minister!), but I think that over the years we have received better blues than this.
3
Dec 31 2021
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Nice music, feels like Hendrix took part. Pity they don't do this anymore.
3
Jan 01 2022
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Nice, yes, definitely, but not [half] as good as some of the albums that followed it.
3
Jan 02 2022
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
It occurred to me that, while I really like some of Hendrixโ songs, I donโt think they combine into particularly good albums.
3
Jan 03 2022
Violator
Depeche Mode
Rather boring, other than the 2 hit songs. It was only when Songs of Faith and Devotion came out that I started genuinely gravitating towards Depeche Mode.
3
Jan 04 2022
Queen II
Queen
Not bad! While there are no standout songs, it's quite a cohesive album.
Still, as far as Queen is concerned, call me when you get to News off the World. The stuff before that was just the warmup act.
3
Jan 05 2022
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
While I like some of their songs, I found this album failed to set me on fire. It was rather boringโฆ
2
Jan 06 2022
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Weโve been through that already: whether youโre pushing New Order or Joy Division (this is the 4th of those Iโm getting here), the music is still annoying.
P.S. The awful sound doesnโt improve the experience, either.
2
Jan 07 2022
Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
Too theatrical to my liking, but there's no denying the singer's presence.
3
Jan 08 2022
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Anything by Creedence is nice, but as far as their albums are concerned, this is one of those that move me less.
3
Jan 09 2022
Debut
Bjรถrk
I didn't really like the Sugarcubes' music, and therefore wasn't expecting much of this solo debut. Which simply meant the surprise was even more pleasant, with such a variety of music and styles (proving that we should even allow for songs recorded in toilets, while the next song uses harps, and the following song is heavy on the electronics).
What an excellent, cohesive, album!
And what a voice!
5
Jan 10 2022
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Nice album, no doubt about it, but Massive Attack has done way better since.
3
Jan 11 2022
Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
A relic of times long gone. Yet, as much as Iโm inclined towards much more complex tunes, I will admit it is refreshing to get the occasional dose of some classic Cohen.
3
Jan 12 2022
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Exploding with energy, nice songs (especially the covers...). Ultimately, though, it's hard for "piano driven music" to really get to me.
3
Jan 13 2022
Fuzzy
Grant Lee Buffalo
Nice music, no doubt about it, but ultimately, and especially over the years, this is a forgettable album.
3
Jan 14 2022
Whatever
Aimee Mann
I fail to see much thatโs unique about this album.
1
Jan 15 2022
Phrenology
The Roots
I wish this list would stop serving me hip hop, because itโs really not my thing. I guess this is a better sample of the genre, but see above.
2
Jan 16 2022
Headquarters
The Monkees
Way past its expiration date
1
Jan 17 2022
Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
They sure were angry back then. By todayโs standards, theyโre mostly noisy.
2
Jan 18 2022
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
When they say "they don't make them like they used to", this is what they have in mind.
In my humble opinion, Led Zeppelin IV is the second best album of all time. Apart of containing groundbreaking music (which, later, provided some "rejects" to Physical Graffiti) , with songs like Stairway to Heaven, there are plenty of spectacular individual performances here: John Paul Jones on mandolin in Going to California, John Bonham's solo at the start of Rock and Roll, and (of course) his so creatively recorded performance in When the Levee Breaks.
Created by four individuals at the top of their craft, this is a masterpiece from start to finish.
5
Jan 19 2022
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Whimsical spirit may improve it a tad, but I still fail to detect any worthy reason for me to listen to this.
2
Jan 20 2022
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
While folk music is not my usual cup of coffee, I find one cannot help but be touched by the poignant material in this album.
I think we can all agree this is a classic.
4
Jan 21 2022
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Sorry, but no.
2
Jan 22 2022
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
I now know what music I'll use for the soundtrack of my next Buck Naked porno. Till then, I know what soundtrack I should use if I want to quickly fall asleep of sheer boredom.
2
Jan 23 2022
Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
While I never heard of them before, I will admit their music is quite nice. Yet not exceptional enough for me to remember it come tomorrow.
3
Jan 24 2022
Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Getting past oneโs expiration date is one thing, but this stuff is bland all over. Whiny borefest with tons of feedback.
2
Jan 25 2022
At Budokan
Cheap Trick
OK, it's a piece of history, but is it good music with lasting effect?
2
Jan 26 2022
Drunk
Thundercat
On one hand, a cutely bizarre and endearing album. An album that's actually original!
On the other, I cannot avoid the fact I don't really like the music. Eventually, I found it overstayed its welcome.
2
Jan 27 2022
Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp has a way of bypassing my โdefencesโ and getting right through me. And I love it
P.S. Itโs a pity women are so underrepresented here.
4
Jan 28 2022
21
Adele
The voice is there, the emotions are there, butโฆ I require more than this from my music. This album might please the masses, but musically it is far too bland and basic for yours truly.
2
Jan 29 2022
Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
At first I thought โCome On Eileenโ is good, but come on...
But then I noticed Iโm humming the tunes.
3
Jan 30 2022
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
A very effective demonstration of why hiphop music doesnโt speak to me.
2
Jan 31 2022
Murmur
R.E.M.
REM is right up there as one of my favourite bands, but as far as I'm concerned everything they did prior to Green was just a dress rehearsal for the greatness that followed.
3
Feb 01 2022
White Ladder
David Gray
I wouldnโt call this anything special, but I will concede it makes for a pleasant afternoonโs soundtrack.
3
Feb 02 2022
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
Tons of respect, even if Franklinโs not my preferred flavour of the blues.
3
Feb 03 2022
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
One gets the feeling the curators of this list really, but really, love Nick Drake's music. This is the third album of his I'm getting, and as far as I know he had 3 albums released prior to his premature death.
Anyway, as far as I'm concerned it's more or less the same as before: music that's OK for a quiet afternoon's background, but nothing that actually "lifts". If anything, I found this album more boring than its siblings.
2
Feb 04 2022
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Listening to the album from the perspective of almost 50 years later, it's hard to find much in the way of special there. Thereโs not even a single redeeming song.
1
Feb 05 2022
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
Not even Been Caught Stealing redeems this album
1
Feb 06 2022
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Passรฉ
2
Feb 07 2022
Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Nice, classic, jazz
3
Feb 08 2022
Horses
Patti Smith
A classy classic. And I really like the album cover
3
Feb 09 2022
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
Nice & melancholy Radiohead recreation that I can listen to in the background for forever while, at the same time, complain it fails to take me places.
3
Feb 10 2022
Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
Not the most puzzling pick in this list, but surely one of the worst?
1
Feb 11 2022
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Obviously a classic, overflowing with energy, but 65 years later we have to admit it sounds rather basic.
3
Feb 12 2022
Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Can't say I'm in love with the album, but it passes - mostly because it doesn't sound like everything else.
3
Feb 13 2022
Arrival
ABBA
A mix of several stupidly famous songs (very deservingly so) mixed with numerous WTF tracks. There has never been a better case for a Best Of album than Abba.
2
Feb 14 2022
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk deserves its place in the history books, but this isnโt its best album. Not that it matters: fine music is made of these.
3
Feb 15 2022
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Always regarded Crosby, Stills & Nash's music rather boring and uninspiring, and guess what? Relistening to this album only made me more confident in my opinions.
2
Feb 16 2022
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Clearly not my kind of music (unless I seek to quickly fall asleep)
2
Feb 17 2022
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
This would have definitely not been my pick for a Doors album to include in this list, but I won't go over this list eccentricities again.
It's not like this one is a bad album in any shape or form, it's just that, you know, LA woman, you're my woman
3
Feb 18 2022
For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Frankly, every other Roxy Music album sounds to me like a rehearsal for Avalon.
That said, The Bogus Man is a really good track: I'm a sucker for those repetitive, extra unnecessarily long, tunes.
3
Feb 19 2022
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
I know this album comes with credentials as long as eternity, but to these ears this album is on the wrong side of the noise to music continuum. And you canโt accuse me of disliking the genre.
1
Feb 20 2022
Hms Fable
Shack
It's not that the music is bad as much as it is so unremarkable!
2
Feb 21 2022
Night Life
Ray Price
Growing up, a local radio station used to have an hour of music such as this, but a bit less country, every evening. They called that hour Twilight Time, and I used to hate it but my mother would always have it on.
Nostalgia may be dreadful, but one cannot deny the yearning for simpler days, days that now seem free of worries (but, in actuality, were anything but).
3
Feb 22 2022
Celebrity Skin
Hole
It's got that typical American hard rock sound to it, that:
I don't like, and
Makes too many of these albums sound the same to me.
2
Feb 23 2022
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
I quite like Count Basie's big band music, but I noticed that I like contemporary renditions much more than the "real thing".
I put that to recording quality: my favourite takes on Basie are audiophile recordings. A well made recording turns the visceral impact of the big band is something else.
The originals are, of course, still very good, even if their recording quality cannot compare.
3
Feb 24 2022
Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
The Rod Stewart cover is nice, the rest pretty ordinary. I know it wasnโt ordinary back then, but what can one do, time renders us all old & ordinary
2
Feb 25 2022
Leftism
Leftfield
Classic nineties' electronic music, so identifiable by its decade that it's also quite dated by now.
Which brings me to ask: In this day and age, would I choose to listen to this album? And the immediate answer is "probably no".
2
Feb 26 2022
Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Cheerful, refreshing background music that probably goes really well with a poolside or beach pub setting.
But, other than "that famous track", it's not something that shakes the very foundations of music. Indeed, the entire affair sounds like it's just one song that's about an hour long (and clearly, that had been a deliberate creative choice).
Not that there's anything wrong with cheery music for the background.
3
Feb 27 2022
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
The thing that stands Arctic Monkeys aside is their unique sound, which - generally speaking - I dislike as too noisy. That said, I prefer and even like the added sophistication of AM so much more, but AM is the exception rather than the rule.
2
Feb 28 2022
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
Music's that's not too good, not too bad, and generally feels like it's going nowhere
3
Mar 01 2022
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
In many ways, I used to regard this as the perfect album: a sophisticated wrapper around Nirvana's music that allowed me to access said music much more often and in a much more relaxed manner than The Real Thingยฎ. And in many ways, I still do.
...Yet I have to reserve a tiny bit of a star, because it just seems as if this music, which I would listen to over and over again and again during its first decade upon this earth, just doesn't "do it" to me anymore. At least not to the extent it used to. I do miss that feeling of being lifted by The Man Who Sold the World...
4
Mar 02 2022
Parachutes
Coldplay
Brings back memories of being fed up with all the music on the radio sounding like Coldplay. And it's not like that period lasted a day or two: it took years till we got rid of that Coldplay sound.
Anthropologists are even suggesting those times never ended, it's just that we don't listen to the radio anymore.
3
Mar 03 2022
Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Music that sounds way too simple to these ears. Maybe I could have grown to appreciate it if I grew up with it, but that is not the case (and, Iโd argue, for very audible reasons).
2
Mar 04 2022
The Wall
Pink Floyd
Is it enough to simply point out this is, by far, the reference when it comes to thematic, story conveying, music?
Or should I point out that, in the field of personal achievement, this is probably the album most responsible for the shaping of my political views? Lyrics don't come more packed than The Wall's.
"Probably" worth mentioning The Wall is filled with excellent music from a band at the peak of its maturity (as its implosion, while recording the album, suggests). From Another Brick in the Wall to Comfortably Numb, The Wall has its share of signature pieces; and tracks such as The Trial indicate there are no limits to the band's creativity.
I would argue that, in more ways than one, The Wall was THE album that defined the generation that grew during the eighties.
5
Mar 05 2022
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Most definitely the lesser of the better albums from Led Zeppelin (a distinguished list that includes 1 to 4 + Physical Graffiti). But lesser does not mean that itโs anything less than excellent, brimming as it is with classics (Immigrant Song) and signature blues tracks (Since Iโve Been Loving You).
4
Mar 06 2022
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Nice music that's often even better than its Coldplay template, but is never excellent.
3
Mar 07 2022
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
A bit into the opening tracks, I was thinking โmmmโฆ this could be interestingโ.
50 minutes later, Iโm thinking "this is boring".
2
Mar 08 2022
American Pie
Don McLean
An accountant would write this down for having 2 exquisite songs, with the rest ranging from nice down to boring.
Probably worth mentioning is the fact they don't do music this plain anymore. Things got way more complicated, and while I prefer this evolution I'm still wondering if we're not missing out on something big.
3
Mar 09 2022
Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
I think they're angry
2
Mar 10 2022
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
Really, but really, far from anything I can tolerate
1
Mar 11 2022
The Slider
T. Rex
Always found T. Rex' music uninspiring.
I suspect one needs to have lived through the period in order to absorb the alleged "glamour effect" the band's famous for.
2
Mar 12 2022
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
What an album! Right from the opening track, PJ Harvey hits off firing on all 12 cylinders.
Between this album and To Bring You My Love, I argue Harvey brings forth a damn excellent case for best female vocal performance ever in terms of the emotions it triggers in me (which, in my mind, implies best vocal performance ever, period). The fact this performance is closely tied to recording technique does not hinder, but rather further supports to prowess of this multi talented musician.
5
Mar 13 2022
Imagine
John Lennon
I have a problem with John Lennon's solo albums: on one hand, they include hugely potent material (say, Imagine - what a culture bomb!, Jealous Guy, or Watching the Wheels if we're allowed to increase the scope from this particular album). But on the other hand, these albums are also full of very forgettable material, too.
Given we're looking at the albums rather than the individual songs here, I will therefore go with the harsher interpretation.
3
Mar 14 2022
Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
Noisy, boring
1
Mar 15 2022
Fun House
The Stooges
Some of the music isn't too bad, but given that I'm judging the album as a whole:
There is a significant issue with the shouty-shouty factor ending up on the wrong side of what delicately yours accepts.
2
Mar 16 2022
The Healer
John Lee Hooker
A nice blues mix, with some songs definitely rising above the rest (e.g., the Santana collaboration).
3
Mar 17 2022
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I miss Tom Petty.
And, I will add, I tend to prefer the extra sophistication that came with later albums (most notably Into the Great Wide Open).
3
Mar 18 2022
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Pretty boring, with the exception of the [famous] final track
2
Mar 19 2022
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
The odd nice song is not enough to lift the rest of this album enough for me.
2
Mar 20 2022
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
I love Hancockโs music in general, and I was always intrigued by his genre breakthroughs. This one is one of those unique ones, and, more importantly, is still a pleasure to listen to today.
I just love it!
4
Mar 21 2022
Chris
Christine and the Queens
I struggled with eighties pop throughout, and this [albeit more sophisticated] reincarnation of the genre is no exception. Only that it lacks the romantic perspective we can now afford eighties pop.
Also, this album is way too long.
1
Mar 22 2022
Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
Suffering from an overdose of that sixties spirit
2
Mar 23 2022
Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
Turns out there's a good reason why I haven't listened to this album before.
Not that it's the worst I've listened to from this list (not by a wide margin), but it does reopen the question of "what are so many of the albums on this list doing on this list?"
In other words, I find it hard to see what so special about this album.
2
Mar 24 2022
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
The type of music that can pass right under my nose and I wouldn't notice.
2
Mar 25 2022
Ace of Spades
Motรถrhead
Uninspiring noise, all the songs sound the same, pathetic lyrics. A conclusive fail
1
Mar 26 2022
Vivid
Living Colour
Aged badly
2
Mar 27 2022
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Breath of fresh air. I should really listen to Brazilian music more.
3
Mar 28 2022
The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
Nice sort of a recreation, albeit in a thick British accent, of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack
3
Mar 29 2022
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
I find it doesn't achieve the same effect on me that this album used to have in its day, but it's still a great and innovative album nevertheless.
It literally took me years to be able to get the klezmer inspired Clint Eastwood tune out of my head, and it's not like there is a shortage of breakthroughs in this album otherwise: M1 A1 is an all time favourite I'd gladly point a finger at.
4
Mar 30 2022
Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
Yet another album in this list that I can only shrug at and move on with my life.
2
Mar 31 2022
Smash
The Offspring
Self Esteem offers much to identify with, yes, but the rest of the album?
A collection of bland noise tracks, all uncannily similar to one another.
2
Apr 01 2022
Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
A bit too sixties spirit infused for my taste, outlives its welcome, but some lovely guitar work (no wonder, given it's Jeff Beck).
Also, probably the winner of the ugliest album cover ever competition.
2
Apr 02 2022
This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Too archaic (sound quality included) for me to appreciate in any other manner than the historical one.
2
Apr 03 2022
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Sometimes melodic, usually boring, and generally not my kind of music.
2
Apr 04 2022
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
A singer that fails to move me performs music of a genre that fails to move me.
2
Apr 05 2022
The Undertones
The Undertones
Uninspiring (and eclipsed by better performers in the genre)
2
Apr 06 2022
The Kรถln Concert
Keith Jarrett
A bit of an atypical ECM album, yet very typical ECM album: none mainstream jazz packing a punch that makes one wonder why, exactly, it isn't mainstream.
Not my typical kind of music, yet made of stuff that could warm a soul on a dark cold night (with the help of capable hi-fi).
3
Apr 08 2022
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
While I generally consider T Rex way overhyped, I will admit this album contains some decent music.
3
Apr 09 2022
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
No matter how hard this list tries, hip-hop and rap are still not types of music I can tune in to. Sorry (I keep trying, every time)
1
Apr 10 2022
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Some interesting variations on the eighties pop sound, but let's be realistic: it's yet another obscure participant in this curated list.
2
Apr 11 2022
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
A generic representative of the kind of generic rock music that flows out of the USA, a kind that is so generic I fail to be able to latch myself to it.
2
Apr 12 2022
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
I used to dislike Eurythmicsโ cold metallic sound. These days Iโm much older and perhaps a tad wiser, and I appreciate the band for its innovative sound and for Lennoxโ voice.
Itโs a pity thereโs a bit too much fluff in this album, but overall: noice, if not very much so.
4
Apr 13 2022
I Should Coco
Supergrass
I love Supergrass and I believe the band's grossly underappreciated. However, I also believe the band has peaked and perfected its sound with its self titled album from 1999; I find this one a bit too rough around the edges, despite some great tunes (and I love Sofa of my lethargy!).
3
Apr 14 2022
Paul Simon
Paul Simon
A very relaxed and relaxing album to listen to, brimming with Simon's trademark brilliance in its lyrics and influences. That said, I argue it's a bit too relaxed in comparison with Simon's best albums.
3
Apr 15 2022
Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
I bought this album for that explosive title track, and frankly I hardly ever listen beyond that track: the rest of the album isn't on par. Not that it's bad, just not as good.
I will also add that:
1. I prefer 4-Track Demos album over this (they share many of the songs).
2. For an alternative treat, try listening to Juliette Lewis' version of Rid of Me (from the 1995 movie Strange Days). Or, for that matter, Lewis' version of Hardly Wait (another PJ Harvey song, which you can find in 4-Track Demos).
3
Apr 16 2022
The Specials
The Specials
In my opinion, Madness took the ska sound too much better places. Not that this album is bad, but other than Rudy the tracks are not that special (ha!) to contemporary ears.
2
Apr 17 2022
Your Arsenal
Morrissey
I could never stand Morrisseyโs whiny voice, and this album is no exception. If anything, it has that extra โoh itโs so boringโ factor to it.
1
Apr 18 2022
S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
While I have been known to like bands coming of similar backgrounds during that same era, I find this album rather uninspiring.
2
Apr 19 2022
The White Album
Beatles
So much richness in one [double] album!
There's literally every genre of contemporary western (and a bit of non western) music in the mix here, as well as stuff from each individual Beatle. And, for one reason or another, it is all packaged in what I consider a very cohesive album. So much so that even the much maligned Revolution 9 feels like a logical conclusion.
For these reasons, while I don't consider The White Album to be the Beatles' best (there's very tough competition there), it does happen to be the Beatles album I listen to the most.
5
Apr 20 2022
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I'll apologise again, but I can't connect with contemporary pop music, especially of the type that's so closely related to hip-hop.
1
Apr 21 2022
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
2 points for the ambitious endeavor, but I can't say the music lit my fire.
2
Apr 22 2022
Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
I don't like this album as much as the more gritty albums PJ Harvey delivered prior to this one (I miss her guitar sound); but that's called being picky, as those are some of my all time favourite albums.
Nevertheless, this is a huge album. The narrative driven songs with their ever so relevant anti war message add on top of the great (and very original) music to deliver an album that's much more than the sum of its parts.
4
Apr 23 2022
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Usually, Dylan's music passes right by me. I think this album is the main exception: it's musical enough for me, and it includes several tracks that really penetrate.
4
Apr 24 2022
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Every time this list offers a hip hop album, itโs wasting both our time. Sorry.
1
Apr 25 2022
Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
I like my punk more musical
2
Apr 26 2022
Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Punk served lite (and I like it like that).
Besides, I always liked the sealed lips song. Now I can add a wonderful album cover to the list.
3
Apr 27 2022
Scott 4
Scott Walker
Going retro is a legitimate move (especially if, as in this particular case, it means going back to the recent past). However, as an album, itโs a bit of an overdose (overkill?).
2
Apr 28 2022
Signing Off
UB40
A nice representation of UB40's music during their serious One in Ten era, before they went commercial. However, as far as reggae music from that era is concerned, I much prefer The Police's interpretation from Reggatta de Blanc.
3
Apr 29 2022
Soul Mining
The The
I could say I've been waiting for this album all of my life, but that would be lying. But only because I've had it for so long! (What a song, though!)
I love The The: for the lyrics that seem to have been written by me (the version of me that can write) and about me, as well as for the creative music (those solos in Uncertain Smile or Giant). Most of all, it's probably the insight gained from someone (Matt Johnson) whose view of the world seems so similar to mine. It's hard for me to convey, but it really does feel like songs written about my most intimate thoughts and experiences.
You could argue I grew up with this album. I'd argue it's a hell of an album to grow up with.
5
Apr 30 2022
Tidal
Fiona Apple
Objectively speaking, this is very musical music (you know what I mean).
Subjectively, it passes right past me. You know what I mean.
2
May 01 2022
Nevermind
Nirvana
I fell for this album long before it became the hip thing to do. I watched the Smells Like Teen Spirit video a couple of times, noted how I couldnโt get it out of my head, bought the album, and then realised that this most famous of songs is actually eclipsed by the likes of Drain You (my favourite, by far) and, say, Lithium. Personal preferences aside, there are no duds in this album.
And then the album broke out to become the phenomenon it still is and mark a bit of a crossroad in the evolution of rock music. There simply is no denying the historical importance of this album.
Does it stand the test of time? Iโm the first to admit it doesnโt trigger me the way it used to. I will also admit to have grown much mellower and refined. But some landmarks are still worth recognising as the landmarks they are.
5
May 02 2022
New Forms
Roni Size
Oh, that nineties sound!
Generally speaking, I like that type of music, but I do think there are better choices when it comes to the genre and the period (say, Fat Boy Slim?). Regardless, I could do with worse background music, I guess.
3
May 03 2022
Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
There really is no reason I can see for this album to be included in this list.
2
May 04 2022
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Oh, how I used to love this album! So many old favourites! So many classics!
But that's the catch, though. That past tense.
I still think it's an excellent album, but I cannot deny I don't turn to it like I used to. Or as frequently as I used to.
4
May 05 2022
Bossanova
Pixies
Some nice stuff in there, but - it's no Doolittle.
3
May 06 2022
Ragged Glory
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Not the hottest of Neil Young's albums, but it definitely has that particular Neil Young sound that I like so much.
3
May 07 2022
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
While the classic Springsteen themes are definitely there, I would argue that as far as his portfolio is concerned, this does not stand out as a particularly special album.
3
May 08 2022
The La's
The La's
One better song does not a good album make
2
May 09 2022
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
I find Fleetwood Mac to be a story of two bands (Fleetwood and Mac?). The hit song one, represented best with Rumours, may not align with my tastes, but I totally get its success. The other, which we see more of in this album, can be outright boring some of the time and ordinary at best.
2
May 10 2022
No Other
Gene Clark
Yet another in a long list of boring albums this list has pushed on me to rate lately.
2
May 11 2022
Yeezus
Kanye West
Some very nice and creative sounds in there, but then the singing starts and I just can't stand hip-hop (sorry).
2
May 12 2022
Chelsea Girl
Nico
I got the point of this album by its second track. From then on, it was smooth boring.
2
May 13 2022
Private Dancer
Tina Turner
Some great songs in there, and there's an undoubtedly great voice in there.
But: the entire album is so deeply anchored in that โclassicโ eighties sound I found it hard to tolerate in its entirety. Way too much of an eighties overdose!
3
May 14 2022
The Poet
Bobby Womack
Might have been lovely if I took to the genre, but I donโt.
2
May 15 2022
Melody A.M.
Rรถyksopp
I tend to find Rรถyksoppโa music a bit of a hit or miss affair (including their very latest 2022 release). However, this one is definitely a hit, and Eple is one of those hits that transcend time.
4
May 16 2022
Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
Once the image layer fades, and it fades rather quickly, the music left behind turns out to be blatantly uninspiring, predictable, and shabby.
2
May 17 2022
Parklife
Blur
It doesnโt pack as much of a punch as it did in the nineties, it is eclipsed but Blurโs self titled album, but Iโll still give credit to this album for representing that certain time and place it came from [probably] better than any other album.
4
May 18 2022
Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Neither then nor now am I able to connect to this music. I donโt know exactly why, but it always made my think of saws.
2
May 19 2022
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
A lot can be said about this album's artistic merits, but at the end of the day (hold on, I'm developing a pan here) this is an Eno albums of a style I will only listen to when going to bed.
2
May 20 2022
Odessa
Bee Gees
As I have done here before, I will question the wisdom of picking this album for this list.
It's pretty obvious this will not be the first album one thinks of when when one thinks Bee Gees. I might be wrong, but none of the hits that gave the band the reputation it rightly acquired can be found here (cough Saturday Night Fever cough).
Which leads me to conclude, yet again, that this album was picked as yet another "look at me, I'm so smart, I picked the album you'd least expect" captain's call.
Disappointing.
1
May 21 2022
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
Fun fun fun on the autobahn!
I know these are not the lyrics, I know exactly what they're saying, but that's not the point. The point is that this is a creative, relaxing, album of electronic music that I can always go back to (and I do).
Now, let us drive, drive, drive, on the Autobahn.
4
May 22 2022
The Rise & Fall
Madness
Around the time this album came out, Madness was my favourite band in the whole world. Some of it was to do with its brand of reggae, some to do with their brilliant (and ground breaking, for the time) music videos.
Looking back, I can now tell that The Rise & Fall, as good an album as it is, represented the point when Madness was clearly past its peak. Perhaps the best indicator is the fact that there is only one truly brilliant track in the entire album (Our House)...
Nowadays, I find Madness is best experience through compilations.
3
May 23 2022
Document
R.E.M.
Definitely rough around the edges (which are made of most of the album with the exception of the couple of excellent songs in the middle). But in hindsight, you can see where the greatness of later albums came from.
3
May 24 2022
Pink Flag
Wire
While I definitely heard worse, I fail to see the special in this album.
2
May 25 2022
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
Rather too off center for me, but not enough to annoy; instead, I took pleasure on stumbling upon this eccentric (Brazilians might disagree) and enchanting album. It's because of albums like this that I'm still here, despite all those daily doses of mediocrity that this list has imposed on me.
And I even recognised a couple of the songs! (As well as the heavy Sergeant Pepper aroma)
3
May 26 2022
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
As much as I like Bowie (he already got a couple of 5 starts from me over here), I was never able to gravitate towards Aladdin Sane.
I wouldn't say it's a bad album, but I will claim it's not a particularly good album, in the sense that it leaves me with nothing to cling to in the uplifting department that makes an album great. Hope I'm making sense...
Bring back Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, I say!
3
May 27 2022
Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
Incredibly unremarkable half an hour of music that's pretty much one long and fairly boring song.
Clearly, this list's curator likes their bunnies
1
May 28 2022
Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Never rises over mere pleasantness. Which, half way through the album, manifests with boredom.
2
May 29 2022
L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
The only good thing about this album is that it's not yet another English speaking artists. There's actually tons of music created outside of the Western music scene, despite what this list is trying to tell us; even this album doesn't go far enough in that department.
Other than that one good note, this particular album is just plain weird. It failed to click on any front.
2
May 30 2022
Future Days
Can
Frankly, I was expecting yet another shitshow given this list's track record with albums I've never heard of before, but...
Instead I got a very pleasant surprise of atmospheric, semi psychedelic, dose of music that can best be described as "right down my street". This is the type of music I like to have in the background when I concentrate, but also music I can concentrate on in its own rights.
Thank you, dear album generator list, for the nice surprise!
4
May 31 2022
Solid Air
John Martyn
On paper, given the genres, I should have liked this album. But I didn't.
Could it be the result of the mumbling for singing? Or is it the overall boring presentation? I don't know, but it's yet another album I'd rather pass.
2
Jun 01 2022
Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
The first track really captured my attention, being more or less a remake of a Miles Davis' Kind of Blue track.
The rest of the album lost me, though. Fine singing qualities aside, I was bored out.
2
Jun 02 2022
Disintegration
The Cure
Moody, inquisitive, gets right to me. Probably my favourite Cure album.
Also, between Lovesong and Lullaby, it packs some hit heat in addition to its epics (and I'm a sucker for good long pieces).
4
Jun 03 2022
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Muse is one of those bands that ticks the checkboxes but rarely, if ever, achieves true excellence.
As to this particular album, I find it OK, but... It offers such an intense presentation that it crosses over to the annoying side of things with almost every track.
3
Jun 04 2022
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
Putting the dominant message aside for a moment: I like this album's music, especially some of the bass riffs; on the other hand, I find it inconsistent, quality wise, with some great tracks (Wildfires, Monsters) mixed in with a lot of -alsos.
Then there is the matter of the artists' remaining anonymous. On one hand, it feels pretentious; on the other hand, given that message again, I can see why they'd want that extra layer of personal protection.
Overall, I like this album, not as much as for its music (I prefer Sault's later albums for a start) as for the artists standing up for a good cause.
3
Jun 06 2022
Savane
Ali Farka Tourรฉ
On one hand, this is blues that often sounds and feels like John Lee Hooker and at other times sound exotic in that "wow, who could have imagined they make music in non Western and non English speaking countries [hint-hint-nudge-nudge to the curators of this list, who seem to think such music is some sort of an exotic exception]".
On the other hand, over the course of an hour, I got the point and frankly got bored, too.
3
Jun 07 2022
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
There can be no denying Steve Winwood's talents, and this album's style is right up my street, but... that's all on paper.
While I didn't suffer listening to this album, it failed to produce that famous uplifting effect music is so famous for ๐
3
Jun 08 2022
Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
I always had a bit of a soft spot for Fun Lovin' Criminals, despite my inability to stand rap music. They're just musical enough to pass under my radar and allow me to enjoy their rhythms.
Not the world's best album by any measure, but OK to listen to from time to time.
3
Jun 09 2022
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Rikki Don't Lose That Number is a great song, and it's joined by some other original songs (my favourite being East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, with its original and very creative sound).
But the passage of time is hard to ignore, and generally speaking Steely Dan is best experienced these days through albums such as "The Very Best of Steely Dan".
3
Jun 10 2022
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Obviously quite a performance from a Brown oozing with passion. But the music is no match to the singer, and the songs themselves are not that special.
3
Jun 12 2022
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
One of my favourite Cohen albums (but not his best by any measure).
I find the more sophisticated production far superior to his earlier kumbaya albums, even if itโs overtly eighties sounding and the world has moved on since (and weโre better for that).
Several really good tracks here!
4
Jun 13 2022
Truth
Jeff Beck
A very good album by any measure, but: given the similarity with the Led Zeppelin that followed, I can't help but draw a comparison. Namely, I can't help but note that as good as this album is, it's no Led Zeppelin during its prime.
Why is that?
One obvious answer is that Rod Stewart is no Robert Plant.
But there's more to it. I think it comes down to Jeff Beck's ensemble being a collection of talented individuals, whereas Led Zeppelin was a group of talented individuals that functioned as a group.
4
Jun 14 2022
Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
I find it rather unjust for me to have to pass judgement on an album thatโs so far away from my playing field. But given thatโs what weโre here for today, Iโll just say the sound is exactly what, Iโm led to believe, provided for many an old porn soundtrack.
1
Jun 15 2022
2112
Rush
Wank fest
(Or, to put it in more conventional terms, I never understood Rush's charm, nor was I ever able to connect with it.)
2
Jun 16 2022
Metallica
Metallica
Pretty much the only Metallica album that's a genuinely good album (and I'm leaving the definition of "good" ambiguous on purpose, on account of this not exactly representing the bread and butter of my music consumption).
Enter Sandman is a truly awesome track, and Nothing Else Matters isn't a slouch either. A bit of a pity about the fillers, but at least they don't overcrowd the affair.
4
Jun 17 2022
Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
I like Leonard Cohen, but I like him because of the more sophisticated productions that came later on in his illustrious career. As for the rather minimalist folk music of this particular album, it might have been nice at the time and it might have represented the period it came from well, but it's not my kind of thing. To put it another way, I'm not surprised by the genre's disappearance.
P.S. Is it me, or does it sound like Cohen plagiarised his own So Long, Maryanne with A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes?
I will note this is the 5th Cohen album served to me by this list. I'll use the opportunity to point out the existence of other artists out there (but I will also point out my favourite Cohen album is missing from this list of 5).
2
Jun 18 2022
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
File under "a classic that brings back memories".
Everyone classifies this as a metal album, but I don't know. It certainly doesn't sound like contemporary metal albums do. As far as I am concerned, this is heavily rocked blues, and I'm quite fine with that.
Warning has to be the favourite track here.
4
Jun 19 2022
Iโve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
This is such a left field album for me that I didnโt know how to digest it. But it grew on me as I was listening: sure, country music isnโt my thing, but thereโs good music to be experienced through this album.
Call it an interesting surprise, but letโs agree to keep it a one off.
P.S. โFirst thing is matrimony next thing is alimonyโ (from Wham Bam) surely qualifies for a top cynicism award.
3
Jun 20 2022
The Grand Tour
George Jones
I canโt believe Iโve been handed country albums 2 days in a row, but for now:
- Country is definitely not my thing,
- This album started well, musically speaking, despite it not being my thing,
- But it quickly (3 tracks through) overstayed its welcome, turned boring and unoriginal, thus emphasising my animosity to the genre.
2
Jun 21 2022
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
This album can give you diabetes with a single track
2
Jun 22 2022
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
What an album this was! One of the hottest to come out that era, packing the energy of a few atom bombs.
I still remember the sheer joy of playing FIFA 99 just so I could listen to Rockafeller Skank again and again (the game was great, too; it was the era before loot boxes took over). Add Right Here Right Now and Praise You into the mix, and you have an armada of smash hits with great videos to match.
There are too many fillers in the album, and it has dated by now, but it's still good.
4
Jun 23 2022
Kilimanjaro
The Teardrop Explodes
Overstylized & boring
1
Jun 24 2022
Repeater
Fugazi
The grunge album I never knew existed. Turns out, for a good reason.
It's a bit of a shouty-shouty album and, more importantly, through that "all songs sound the same" factor, I found it rather boring.
2
Jun 25 2022
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
First, what a great album cover. Bold and beautiful.
Second, this album represents the Pixies getting towards their prime time (i.e., Doolittle). Alas, to Doolittle go the spoils: it's way better an album with many more a song that stayed etched in social memory. Surfer Rosa, in comparison, can only claim to achieve that with Where Is My Mind?
3
Jun 26 2022
Bad
Michael Jackson
This ain't no Thriller; the tracks aren't half as catchy. The whole album is outdated, from the "Bad" inscription on the cover to the music that didn't stand the test of time.
P.S. Whenever I hear the track Bad, I can't help but reminisce on the vastly superior Fat by Weird Al Yankovic.
2
Jun 27 2022
Maxinquaye
Tricky
Dark stained music that I actually quite like for running in the background. However, it doesn't manage to grab enough of a hold on me to light the foreground fire.
3
Jun 28 2022
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
I really liked Lana Del Rey's first album (2012), and I like her second album (2014) even more. However, since then her music regressed to focus more and more on that retro/nostalgic image Del Rey has, by then, established. The problem is that this regression comes at the expense of the music. It's like she fell for her own marketing; the brilliance and originality of Born to Die is gone, and all we have instead is a fake facade.
P.S. I totally approve of a 2021 album making it into this list (even if I don't particularly like this particular choice).
2
Jun 29 2022
Hypnotised
The Undertones
Pretty bland, innit?
2
Jun 30 2022
Viva Hate
Morrissey
It's because of days like this that my streaming service thinks I actually like Morrissey's whiny voice.
2
Jul 01 2022
Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
Nice, calming music. Nothing more, nothing less, but that's a hell of an achievement on its own.
P.S. Is it me, or are the only exceptions to English this list will allow (while pretending the rest of the world doesn't exist) come from Brazil?
3
Jul 02 2022
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
I'm not the first to comment on this album being a decade ahead of its time, sound wise.
As for my own 2c, I don't care it was ahead of its time; I'm judging by current standards. I'll settle with Blister in the Sun being rather brilliant, and the rest of the album being rather ordinary.
2
Jul 03 2022
Bummed
Happy Mondays
What is mediocrity?
2
Jul 04 2022
Bright Flight
Silver Jews
Another boring questionable choice for this list
2
Jul 05 2022
Hysteria
Def Leppard
I never understand what reason anyone might have to pick this over music such as, say, Led Zeppelinโs. To me, Def Leppard always sounded like a vastly inferior wannabe.
1
Jul 06 2022
Among The Living
Anthrax
Music that doesnโt speak to me at all
1
Jul 07 2022
Truth And Soul
Fishbone
A very convincing case for why the mishmash of genres demonstrated by this album doesn't work.
1
Jul 08 2022
The United States Of America
The United States Of America
On one hand, it's too experimental (or just -mental, in that good old fashioned drugs infused way). On the other, it is somewhat interesting to listen to, given it's rather extraordinary (not in the good sense of the word, but simply in not being your ordinary run of the mill).
Also, as befits the land of freedom and copyrights, I wasn't able to access many of the tracks.
2
Jul 09 2022
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
So much good music in this world, yet:
How many more times is this list going to force me through the mire of enduring Morrissey's annoyingly whiny voice? Not to mention its bland and boring wrapper.
I expect much better than this, 1001 Album Generator.
1
Jul 10 2022
One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
While I do not object to funk (not in the least), I will raise a complaint at this album's tracks overstaying their welcome, length wise.
At the same time, the album can pass for good background music. I'd say it's a force for good.
Favourite track: Maggot Brain, because I'm a sucker for lengthy guitar solos (and I know I'm self contradicting here).
3
Jul 11 2022
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
Nope, I still canโt stand hip hop. And while I donโt mind swearing, and practice the practice a lot, it does feel like a kitten dies each time this singer utters another salvo of unnecessary swears.
1
Jul 12 2022
The Idiot
Iggy Pop
In general, I find Iggy Pop's music OK. Nothing special, not the type of music I actively seek to listen to, but definitely OK.
This album has the potential to offer me more, given it was produced by David Bowie. But I don't think it delivers on this promise. China Girl more or less proves the point: while Iggy Pop's music can be nice to listen to, if it's excellence that I seek, I should turn to Bowie, his music, and his version.
3
Jul 13 2022
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Not only is this Soundgardenโs best album, I would say it would have the genreโs tour de force if it wasnโt for Nevermind that simply got there first.
Regardless, the album is loaded with original and creative tracks that have become the signature music of the era (and still do very well today, thank you very much). When I fall on black days, this album knows how to pick me up.
I will also note my favourite tracks are not your Black Hole Suns, but rather the songs at the album's end (4th of July, Half, Like Suicide). It is as if, by that stage of the album, Soundgarden stopped caring about the hit factor and was just producing groovy (if melancholy) music.
P.S. Chris Cornell: what a voice! Probably one of the best modern male singers of recent times.
5
Jul 14 2022
Roots
Sepultura
Indigenous factors do not render ugly music nice
1
Jul 15 2022
En-Tact
The Shamen
Most, but not all, dance music is shallow. Sadly, this one aligns with the majority.
Nothing terribly wrong here, just the definition of "nothing special".
2
Jul 16 2022
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Nice jazz music, no doubt about it, but in comparison to the true big albums of the genre this one feels like a group of very talented musicians sprayed their talent all over the place. The result is nice, yes, but lacking the cohesion of the true greats.
3
Jul 17 2022
Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
There's no doubt about the voice, but let's be honest: this was a diabetes inducing affair even when it came out, let alone now in old age (and it hasn't aged well).
2
Jul 18 2022
1977
Ash
Not the worst album this list forced me to endure (sadly, thereโs an ever growing list of such abominations), but:
Despite my undeniable affection to the sound of distorted guitars, I have to file this one under โnothing specialโ.
2
Jul 19 2022
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
It's not that I dislike hip-hop music, I find I detest it. This one, though, isn't hip-hop as much as it is music. And good music at that: very jazzy, sometimes rocky, and yes, occasionally annoying to one extent or another (mostly the so called singing). But always creative and original.
I just love it. I wish there were more like it.
Favourite track: Sabotage probably gets all the credit, but Futterman's Rule is pretty much my definition of an ultimate track.
4
Jul 20 2022
The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
This list's maker obviously loves The Fall much more than the general public does, given this is 3rd album from The Fall that I'm getting here.
My verdict is similar to the previous two occasions: The Fall's music is very far from being able to hold me interested for an album's entire duration. And as before, I fail to see what's so special about it.
2
Jul 21 2022
My Generation
The Who
Of the numerous British rock bands coming to age during the same era, I always found The Who rather bland and boring. This album is no exception.
2
Jul 22 2022
Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
By now I stopped trying to decipher the logic behind the criteria for including albums in this list; there's just too much noise, from the mediocre through to the nothing special, making it impossible to pick up the signal.
Which is my way of saying that this is yet another WTF pick for this list, as in - I fail to see what raises this album above the rest. If anything, I can see the opposite.
1
Jul 23 2022
Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
While this old style country jazz period piece of an album may suit romantic entertainment by the fireside on a cold winter night, I found its initial charm fading away rather quickly. Half way through, I was rather bored.
2
Jul 24 2022
Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
This could have an interesting deviation from the generally bland and uninspiring albums brought forth by this list. Alas, I couldnโt find much of interest in this particular album. Iโm sure worthier representatives of world music are out there in greater numbers.
2
Jul 25 2022
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
It was my sister that first introduced me to the charms of The Style Council. As with most of her recommendations, I tended to dismiss her. As with most of her recommendations, I tended to change my mind and appreciate where she came from as I matured (case in point: this band called The Beatles).
Anyway, I'm a bit torn about how I should rate this particular album. On one hand, I really like the more jazzy instrumental tracks. I also like the superb vocals on The Paris Match, and I always had a soft spot for My Ever Changing Moods' lyrics. The rest is, how shall I put it, mediocre? Tracks that haven't aged gracefully?
On the positive side, the bulk of this album is included in that first group. Thankfully.
4
Jul 26 2022
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
The technical achievement of this album's construction aside, I quite like the end result! There's good music to be had here.
However, at the same time I find there's a slight but definitive lack of traits to make me go back and re-listen to this album (or, for that matter, DJ Shadow's library in general). It's probably the result of building the entire album out of samples without a spine of its own, but it means the album is more of a curiosity than a pillar in the field of music.
3
Jul 27 2022
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I can clearly see why some [many] of the tracks here have become classics, even if this type of music isn't my regular cup of coffee. Nice detour from the usual!
3
Jul 28 2022
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
In my humble opinion, what we have over here are:
1. Elton John's best album, and
2. Elton John's best song (the title track).
Both of these say a lot, given Elton John is not exactly a slouch when it comes to producing classics.
That said, I do think a shorter version of this album would have packed a bigger punch (and easily deserve the full 5 stars accolade).
4
Jul 29 2022
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
First of all, what a voice!
But. While I do like Sinatra (and, in previous incarnations, bought a couple of his albums), I cannot claim the same about this particular album. It simply bores me to the point of not being able to distinguish between the different songs.
I think this album is as outdated as the cigarette Sinatra is holding in the cover.
2
Jul 30 2022
Harvest
Neil Young
A great album, no doubt about it, with a couple of big time classics.
Yet, personally, it's a bit too tame for my taste.
3
Jul 31 2022
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
Now I know exactly why this album didnโt ring any bells.
P.S. Iโm very curious as to the justification for including this album in this list. Maybe someone got confused with the Albums to Die From list.
1
Aug 01 2022
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Chicago blues is the best blues*
* Not that I have any problems with other forms of blues.
4
Aug 02 2022
The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Not my favourite flavour of jazz by quite a margin, but -
This is very good jazz, delivered sublimely by an excellent voice.
A bit of a heretical anecdote: I much prefer David Lee Roth's Just a Jigolo. Not that there's anything wrong with Prima's.
4
Aug 03 2022
Live At Leeds
The Who
Pretty much a case of "you can tell an album by its cover":
3rd Who album I'm getting here, and I still find their music uninspiring and bland.
P.S. Also, they talk too much.
2
Aug 04 2022
O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
This is why I have an aversion to hop hop and rap music
1
Aug 05 2022
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
First, I'll point out I listened to the USA version, which offers a significantly different selection of songs from the UK version, most notably Paint it Black (my pick for best Stones song ever).
With that advantage in mind, I will still say I tend to find Stones music rather uninspiring - with the notable exception of some of their classics (e.g., Satisfaction). This album is no exception.
2
Aug 06 2022
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
I like LCD Soundsystem, and I was happy to hear they're back, but:
I don't think this album merits inclusion in a list of "records to die for". At the time I listened to it, got the point, and moved on. Now, several years later, it sounds fairly unremarkable.
I prefer their older albums.
3
Aug 07 2022
Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
First, let the record show this is the 4th Waits album served to me by this list. Obviously, its authors hold Waits in very high regard.
As for me, this was my usual Waits experience: a left of centre album that works at a different wavelength to mine. Sometimes this is the recipe for a hit, but not this time.
2
Aug 08 2022
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
The opposite of music I get along with.
1
Aug 09 2022
The College Dropout
Kanye West
For some reason, I was served with 2 Kanye West albums in a row. Clearly, this list hates me!
1
Aug 10 2022
Nixon
Lambchop
Far from the worst albums this list made me endure, but still - I fail to see the alleged specialness this album holds over thousands of others that is supposed to be the trait that sent it into this list.
This is the definition of "nothing special".
2
Aug 11 2022
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hรผsker Dรผ
Really? We're down to the level of "stuff indistinguishable from noise" here?
1
Aug 12 2022
Blur
Blur
Simple, really: This is Blur's best album.
And, by extension, I'd argue this is the all time winner of the Britpop battle.
P.S. The joy that Song 2 used to bring me back when I played FIFA 98 - Road to World Cup!
4
Aug 13 2022
The Blueprint
JAY Z
This shit ain't my gig
1
Aug 14 2022
Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
Boy George, long hair and makeup included, was a huge cultural phenomenon. No doubt about it.
The music, however, was always mediocre.
2
Aug 15 2022
The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
Youโd be giving me a hard time if you were to ask me whatโs my vote for best book or best film ever. The torment would come from not being able to compare apples with oranges: there are lots of very good books, but can you really put one book on top of another, significantly different yet undeniably good, book? I canโt.
But I can definitely give you my answer for โwhat is the best album everโ. Not because the same conundrum does not apply when it comes to music, but rather because there is one album that is so exceptionally good that all other albums pale in comparison. An album for which 5 stars fail to suffice.
And, for me, that album is Pink Floydโs The Dark Side of the Moon.
Musically speaking, Dark Side holds some other personal records. I cite The Great Gig in the Sky as โprobably the most beautiful song everโ (a bit ironic, given its theme of dying). I consider Money to be one of the ultimate manifestations of musical creativity, starting with the trademark cash till sound, then the distinct 7/4 rhythm, which transitions to the more common 4/4, only to go back to 7/4. And I won't mention the lyrics, which are still too relevant to this day (with dodgy countries and oligarchs sport-washing their vile reputation by buying football teams, or billionaires destroying the climate with their private jets, to cite just a couple of examples). Indeed, side B probably qualifies as my favourite medley of songs ever, rivaled only by Abbey Road's side B.
As an audiophile, Dark Side always stood out for me as an album that I both enjoy as sheer entertainment as well as an audio experience. Few rock or pop albums can match it in the sound department: just consider the way it provides a "surround" experience even through a conventional stereo system (let alone the real thing). There's a reason I still go back to Dark Side first whenever I try to assess a stereo, hi fi system, or headphones: They don't mix them like that anymore!
Whichever way I look at it, Dark Side is the complete album. It takes me from birth through death and back. It's the album I had listened to the most ever, nothing else even comes close. It's my favourite album, it's my best album.
Guess we can shut up shop over here now. Nothing else will come close.
5
Aug 16 2022
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
A rather incohesive collection of overly eccentric songs.
Lucky for us, Peter Gabriel's solo music improved vastly as his career progressed. Let's just say I wouldn't have picked this particular album of his into this list.
2
Aug 17 2022
Rust In Peace
Megadeth
I'll pass
1
Aug 18 2022
Survivor
Destiny's Child
There's definitely music in there (not something to be taken for granted, given some of the atrocities sent my way by this list).
At the same time, it's clear I'm not this album's target audience.
2
Aug 19 2022
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
Too close to noise for my liking.
1
Aug 20 2022
Being There
Wilco
A vast collection of songs that manage the impressive feat of leaving me utterly indifferent throughout.
2
Aug 21 2022
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I think there's a severe case of under-delivering with this album.
On one hand, we have:
1. One of the greatest voices in Karen O (she's utterly sensational),
2. One of the songs of its decade in Heads Will Roll, and
3. A band that, generally speaking, does rock and does it well.
But the result just doesn't do it to me. Other than the aforementioned hit, the songs fail to rise above the level of "OK", and the album fails to inspire overall.
3
Aug 22 2022
Dirt
Alice In Chains
I consider this album too edgy for its own good. In my opinion, Alice in Chains peaked in the more toned down and far more melodic Jar of Flies a couple of years later.
3
Aug 23 2022
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
A sensational hit in Firestarter - check!
Influential legacy - check!
Excellent crab on the album cover - check!
Yet there is something about this album that fails to lift it, IMHO, to the level of similar albums from the same era (say, Chemical Brothers). It sounds too much as if they use the same synth program throughout the album.
3
Aug 24 2022
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
This website should be renamed to "1001 Elvis Costello albums (and also a few other albums)", given this is the 5th album of his I'm served with here. And frankly, I don't think Costello is so good as to merit such recognition.
As for the particular album at hand (aka, #5):
It's yet another uninspiring, rather mundane, and badly aged album. Just like the previous 4!
I'm sure there's a reason for Costello being so highly regarded, here and elsewhere, but I still fail to detect it even in this 5th attempt.
2
Aug 25 2022
World Clique
Deee-Lite
Nice album, yes, but not an album I'd call special in any way. The only thing that stands for it is Groove Is in the Heart being a hit back then, and therefore the entire album's inclusion here can be excused as a sort of "marking the moment in time that was".
But should peeing on the post to mark a territory make for a reason that's good enough?
I'd argue Deee-Lite is your classic one hit wonder of a band. And there's nothing wrong with that (it's certainly eclipses my personal achievements in the field of music!).
3
Aug 26 2022
Frank
Amy Winehouse
The first question that came to my mind was "would this album be here if it wasn't for Winehouse way too premature a departure?"
Curious thoughts aside, there is no denying the qualities of Winehouse's voice. What I will deny, though, is her music: I just don't get along with what passes for pop these past couple of decades (nor am I in the contemporary R&B market).
2
Aug 27 2022
The Last Broadcast
Doves
Quite an achievement, this album: I listened to it from start to finish, and found myself completely indifferent - for better and/or worse.
Problem is, this isn't what we seek to get out of our music.
[Also, too frequently it felt like this album is a Coldplay emulator.]
2
Aug 28 2022
Paris 1919
John Cale
Boring through and through
2
Aug 29 2022
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
On one hand, I kind of like that drone guitar sound/grind.
On the other, the effect is sort of ruined by the vocals.
Overall, not the worst album I got here by far, but not an album that can take me places either. Just another mundane album that, almost 30 years later, offers little reason to pay it a visit.
2
Aug 30 2022
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nรฉrd 'Skin-'Nรฉrd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Frankly, I find Lynyrd Skynyrd mildly boring and uninspiring even before we add the "that did not age particularly well" factor.
2
Aug 31 2022
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
This album is so forgettable, I truly fail to comprehend why itโs included here.
2
Sep 01 2022
Heavy Weather
Weather Report
I argue this album is a bit of a miss. Not because it's bad, but rather because it should have been so much better given the subject matter, performers, and genre.
Don't get me wrong, though: I like it!
3
Sep 02 2022
Black Metal
Venom
Oy Gevalt!
1
Sep 03 2022
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
TLDR: This is not the Pink Floyd album you were looking for.
If you woke me up in the middle of the night to ask me who my favourite band is, the answer you'd get is Pink Floyd. However, the Pink Floyd I'd be referring to is the one with David Gilmour (and, preferably, with Roger Waters too); I was never able to attach myself to Syd Barrett's Floyd.
Piper at the Gates of Dawn explains why: there's some good music there, yes (Interstellar Overdrive offers a fine example). But the whole thing is way too trippy, lacks cohesion, and frankly I don't understand what the band is trying to say. I donโt think they do, either.
Piper is probably as fine a start as one could expect given the circumstances, but it's the landmark albums that came out during the seventies in its post Barrett era that gave Pink Floyd the power of its might.
3
Sep 04 2022
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
Over the years I spent a lot of time with this album. I have mixed feelings about it: on one hand, it's got songs I consider proper favourites (Carpet Crawlers, to name one off the top of my head). But on the other hand -
1. It's a bit too prog when it comes to prog rock, at least in my book.
2. Sides 3 & 4 offer nuclear winter levels of desolation when it comes to quality tunes, at least in comparison to the wealth on offer by sides 1 & 2.
To sum up, there are some excellent tracks here, but the album itself is far too long for its own good.
3
Sep 05 2022
Achtung Baby
U2
By far my favourite U2 album of all time. I know folks argue the band's deviation from the sound that identified them to that point was some form of heresy, but I actually liked it a lot (and lamented them going back to their "normal" sound 3 albums later).
People tend to forget this album is a bit of a moment in history, at least as far as the European Union is concerned. These influences are all over the place, in the album's name, cover, or a song that was used for the soundtrack of a Wim Wenders film. I consider Achtung Baby a very accurate snapshot of what Europe felt like at the time.
The songs themselves are either a hit or a miss. I always liked The Fly a lot, and One received tons of accolades. But other songs (e.g., Even Better Than the Real Thing) sound and feel like fillers. Regardless, I spent many a fond hour with this album over the years, and I fully expect many more to come.
4
Sep 06 2022
Diamond Life
Sade
On one hand, I wonder if this is elevator music that I'm listening to. On the other, it sort of works on me [but what does that imply about me?]. I guess I've been conditioned to like Smooth Operator.
P.S. Not the most, how shall I put it, modern album in terms of lyrics, is it?
3
Sep 07 2022
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
I approve of the rock music influence, that defied my country music genre expectations and provided for an album I could actually listen to. But that still doesn't mean this is an album I'd like to listen to...
2
Sep 08 2022
Ramones
Ramones
Low quality (in sound, as well as musically and lyrically) noise throughout.
1
Sep 09 2022
The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
As with the majority of albums served to me here, I fail to detect any qualities that render this particular album special in any way. Unless, of course, it's all about being boring.
2
Sep 10 2022
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Itโs nice that they saved this album for this one particular day when it's accurate, but it still reeks of Morrissey.
2
Sep 11 2022
Sรฃo Paulo Confessions
Suba
Is it just me or is it that the only deviation allowed here from the western-English speaking hegemony is Brazil?
As for the music, it's of that "clean" non offending electronic genre that's probably best for background duties at one's favourite hang out place.
3
Sep 12 2022
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
I have this "problem" with Arcade Fire's music: I appreciate them ticking all the boxes, but their music just fails to uplift me. Can't say exactly why, we don't seem to be working on the same wavelength.
3
Sep 13 2022
Forever Changes
Love
Yet another album that, while not too bad, should have been consigned to the dustbin of history were it not for this website and its peculiar, fetish like, habit of attempting to put lipstick on pigs.
2
Sep 14 2022
Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
I fully expected this album to be an absolute killer of an album, with 2 such great performers joining hands (and voices). Alas, I find the result rather anaemic, with the performances tending towards the boring and uninvolved.
In other words, this album has nothing on Getz/Gilberto.
3
Sep 15 2022
Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
The gimmick behind this album is the mixing of rock music with Indian style music. The question is, does this gimmick create for a good album?
For me, the true test case were the covers for Doors' Light My Fire and Stones' Jumpin' Jack Flash. The answer to the question "would I have liked these [cover] songs if I was unaware of the original versions" was a definite no.
Hence why I relegate the album to the gimmick category.
2
Sep 16 2022
Rubber Soul
Beatles
Not my favourite Beatles album (by quite a margin, given their sublime output), but I do consider Rubber Soul a turning point: it marks the point in time when the band stopped offering pure pop music and started their truly creative phase. The one we can now recognise for its creative genius. Rubber Soul offers a bit of a whiff of that, whereas the likes of Sgt. Pepper provide for a blessed overdose.
It's the albums that followed Rubber Soul that made the Beatles the great band they are, which therefore make it into a critical turning point.
4
Sep 17 2022
Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
A reminder I didn't need for why I dislike most of the rock music that originates in the USA (and for why I don't like Muse that much, either).
2
Sep 18 2022
Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Kind of shows how much music (and, not less importantly, lyrics) have evolved over time.
2
Sep 19 2022
Crazysexycool
TLC
Not my kind of music by quite a stretch, and not because it's clearly aiming at horny folks.
2
Sep 20 2022
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Proof that being over the top can be a virtue when done in such a blatantly exaggerated way.
Alas, the record is marred by side B taking itself rather too seriously and, thus, being rather boring.
3
Sep 21 2022
Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
Itโs the 7th time Morrissey and/or The Smiths come up here for me. Come on, surely this world has other music makers than this annoying whiny voice?
1
Sep 22 2022
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motรถrhead
Live, dead, I still canโt stand the noise
1
Sep 23 2022
Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
Donโt think Iโd listen to this album today (I can state that with 100% confidence...). The band runs out of original tricks rather too quickly.
However, I can totally see me listening to it at the time it was released and thinking how new, original, and full of tricks this album is.
2
Sep 24 2022
Parallel Lines
Blondie
As albums go, this one is one of those typical โsome songs are awesome, some are fillersโ.
However.
This is one of those albums that make me mourn what had happened to pop music over the years. Why did it deteriorate from this incredibly musical, powerful, wonderful voice and personality powered incarnation, into the dreary repetitive boredom of contemporary pop?
3
Sep 25 2022
Rocks
Aerosmith
The standard Aerosmith affair: bland and boring.
P.S. Does this album really belong in this list? [Nope.]
2
Sep 26 2022
Tago Mago
Can
First impression: "Interesting".
Alas, the album is marred by a latter half that's best described as a bad acid trip.
2
Sep 27 2022
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
First thing first: this is the 6th Neil Young, solo or not, album I'm receiving here. I like Neil Young, but I think that's over the top.
As for the album itself:
It feels like an "another" Neil Young album, rather than an essential Neil Young album. The music has aged and not that well. It also feels like the music wasn't that much of a hit back when it was released, either.
That is to say, this one is yet another of way too many that should not have been included here.
2
Sep 28 2022
Entertainment
Gang Of Four
As with the majority of punk music (everything other than Clash?), this is a bland and rather annoying to listen to album. The best thing about punk music is the world moving on.
1
Sep 29 2022
Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
If I were to give this 4 stars, it would be because this is a powerful creation from a powerful woman, not because I like the music that much.
Musically speaking, I don't mind the album but it's clearly not my cup of coffee. Obviously, Natural Woman and Chain of Fools are standouts.
3
Sep 30 2022
Hejira
Joni Mitchell
As with her previous album pushed at me here, Blue, I cannot claim to be on the Joni Mitchell wavelength. I do get why some people love her to bits, but me, I'm much more of a Jaco Pastorius fan than a Joni Mitchell one.
All in all: a pretty boring album, even if not offensively so.
2
Oct 01 2022
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
I love Kate Bush and this album, despite Stranger Things.
Hounds of Love continues to demonstrate Bush's talents, but:
1. I don't think it let her show off her unique vocal talents as much as some of her other albums (The Kick Inside is the example that always pops into my head).
2. The album oozes with originality and innovation (take the first few seconds of Cloudbusting as an example), but at the same time it also carries that eighties dating stamp all over.
P.S. Can't wait for the album I consider Bush's best, by far, The Kick Inside. I don't know exactly why, but each of the songs there seems to speak directly to me, in a manner that Hounds of Love doesn't achieve.
4
Oct 02 2022
The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
My feelings towards this album and its "quieter" incarnation of Nick Cave are similar to the feelings I harbour towards the Led Zeppelin 3 album: I like it, but I prefer the real thing.
You got to hand it to Nick Cave, though. Each of his songs feel like he's truly spilling his guts, lyrics wise.
3
Oct 03 2022
Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
Thereโs a great voice there.
Alas, the music reminds me of the stuff that bored the hell out of me in so many Broadway style musicals (and without the magic of a flashy show to take it down with).
2
Oct 04 2022
School's Out
Alice Cooper
I don't like Alice Cooper, I think he's rather bland. But I'll give this album the credit: it's definitely trying!
3
Oct 05 2022
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
4th Byrds album pushed at me here. Someone must have a crush on this band.
As for me, I certainly don't share the sentiment. As with the previous 3 cases, this album is a bore-fest.
1
Oct 06 2022
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Oozing with originality, but a tad too eccentric for my taste.
3
Oct 07 2022
Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
There's so much better music to represent the genre and the period than this bland and uninspiring album.
2
Oct 08 2022
Made In Japan
Deep Purple
I used to really like this album (and Deep Purple's music in general).
Times have changed, though, and Deep Purple's appeal has faded a lot. Coming back to this album, the performances felt more like the prolonged orgasm of some wankfest festival.
So what does it say about me if I were to hint that, eventually, while re-listening to the album after all these years, I sort of fell back for it?
Regardless of our opinion about the music, I argue we can all agree on the following:
1. This album represents a pretty unique flavour of a live music act.
2. This is probably the best โbest of Deep Purpleโ album (for better or worse).
4
Oct 09 2022
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
Welcome to the 5th Tom Waits album served to me here, proving once and for all that there are only 12 musicians to ever produce music in this world (at least according to the procurers of these facilities).
The nice thing about Tom Waits, as opposed to his fellow 11, is that each of his albums are quite different than one another. And while I can't say I like the majority, there are exceptions, and this jazzy one definitely "errs" towards the positive side of things. That pretend jazz club atmosphere reminds me of some of the best live music experiences I've ever had, in both style and ambience.
3
Oct 10 2022
Cross
Justice
This noisier version of Daft Punk is ok for the background, but not something Iโd bother to take with me to a remote island.
P.S. Iโll note that, curiously, there is an inverse relationship between the quality of the songs on this album and their amount of lyrics.
3
Oct 11 2022
The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
If you happen to be in desperate need for some music for your retro style kidsโ show, you might get some ideas from this album.
Everyone else need not apply.
2
Oct 12 2022
Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
Although not offensively bad, I can't say I find this album the least bit inspiring.
2
Oct 13 2022
Reign In Blood
Slayer
Best to pretend this abomination never happened.
1
Oct 14 2022
More Specials
The Specials
Nothing special
2
Oct 15 2022
Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
I love Blur, but I don't see any particular reason to include this particular album here.
2
Oct 17 2022
Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Generic noise (that seems to pass for โrock musicโ in the USA)
1
Oct 18 2022
The Score
Fugees
I recognise this album was huge at the time.
I also acknowledge that between this album, and Wyclef Jean's subsequent albums, I used to consider myself a fan of the genre.
But things have changed: both the world of music as well as my views have evolved since, for better or worse. There are still a couple of songs I consider (Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly); however, I have little patience for the rest, especially the parts that are more like talking than anything else. I'll put it this way: my life upon this earth is way too short to waste on the meaningless bullshit that constitutes such a huge part of this album.
2
Oct 19 2022
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
Yet another punk record
2
Oct 20 2022
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Not the worst concept album ever, but still: it's fairly boring.
2
Oct 21 2022
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Allow me to start by pointing out this is the 6th album I'm getting from Neil Young's direction over here. One would think there are other musicians in this world, but obviously not our esteemed curators.
(And for the record, I generally like Neil Young's music.)
With that in mind, I'll refer to this particular album and point out that while I'd generally describe it "well, nice", I will also add I see little in the way of reason to listen to it again in this day and age.
2
Oct 22 2022
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
How shall I put it... "No other album comes even close to this when it comes to originality and innovation"?
Not my favourite of the Beatles albums, but - wow, this is such a special album. I can always re-listen and feel as if I'm listening to it for the very first time.
P.S. A Day in the Life has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever.
5
Oct 23 2022
Machine Head
Deep Purple
As time passes, it becomes clearer and clearer that Deep Purpleโs music tends towards the bland. A simple comparison with Led Zeppelinโs music (same genre, yet timeless music) is all it takes to arrive at that conclusion.
However, Machine Head represent DP at its peak, and although bland they do have something to offer. Smoke on the Water is the obvious example.
4
Oct 24 2022
Disraeli Gears
Cream
What you get when you mix three of the best musicians* with their respective instruments together, and throw in a whole lot of drugs.
That is to say, a rock/blues classic.
* Iโm trying to write this without passing judgement on Clapton as a person.
4
Oct 25 2022
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Call emergency, the curator of this list seems to have slipped on banana peel, which caused them to pick an album that really doesn't belong here!
[Then again, this is such a frequent occurrence, I wouldn't bother the emergency services]
2
Oct 26 2022
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
This album should not be on this list.
1
Oct 27 2022
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
I like the song from Vikings because I used to like watching the series, but other than that I'd say this is a pretty ordinary album that's functional for background duties. And that's it.
3
Oct 28 2022
Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
Yet another album that's so past way expiration it clearly can't qualify for "an album you just have to listen to". And frankly, I doubt it should have qualified even back when it was new.
2
Oct 29 2022
Vespertine
Bjรถrk
Bjork is a rather hard to crack case for me (file under "first world problems").
On one hand, I consider her voice one of the better things humanity has going for itself. I also like a lot of her music (please refer to my previous review of her album Debut, a very 5 stars affair).
However, Bjork is not the artist to produce the same album twice. She likes to explore. Thus far, I find her explorations, while somewhat interesting, not half as thrilling as Debut was. Vespertine is a clear example of this "problem".
Lucky for me, Bjork hasn't put a gun to my head to force me to listen to each and every album of hers. I pick and choose, while she's out there having fun exploring. I will not be going back to Vespertine any time soon, but at the same time I appreciate the artist that tries to be original and say something new with each and every album.
3
Oct 30 2022
All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
Confirmed: I still can't stand hip-hop.
But I'll still add I fail to see why this particular album merits inclusion here (regardless of my lack of appreciation for the genre).
1
Oct 31 2022
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
I find this wannabe Dylan music rather boring. Bring on Bryan Adams instead!
1
Nov 01 2022
Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
As is often the case with the albums listed here, what starts with the promise of freshness quickly deteriorates into the repetitive.
2
Nov 02 2022
Another Green World
Brian Eno
Treads the line between the genius and the eccentric, and not so carefully.
It also demonstrates where U2's best albums came from.
3
Nov 03 2022
We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
This album proves, rather conclusively, that a recording of a bunch of guys talking amongst themselves as they fool around does not make for great music.
1
Nov 04 2022
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
The songs err on the side of simplicity, as far as my current tastes are concerned. And while this may have been cutting edge 66 years ago, I judge the music today.
2
Nov 05 2022
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Nice music, I like Steely Dan, but I think that these days their music is best experienced through โbest ofโ collections.
3
Nov 06 2022
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
I recognise this album is a landmark, but: Iโve always found Dylanโs presentation rather annoying. And at least in this album, I donโt think this is to the albumโs advantage.
3
Nov 07 2022
A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
Humanity has moved on since this album, and we're better for that.
2
Nov 08 2022
Young Americans
David Bowie
It's nice that Bowie reinvented himself for each of his albums, but I can't claim to like this particular incarnation. I definitely don't get his Across the Universe, and other than the album's 2 hits I find affairs rather boring.
2
Nov 09 2022
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
This album really reminds me of William Shatner's Has Been. Both are [mostly] cover albums, and both feature "singing" that's more like narration. Sure, Cash has the better voice, but Shatner knows how to not take himself too seriously - and thus his is the better album.
3
Nov 10 2022
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
A collection of lots of things I can't stand about music
1
Nov 11 2022
Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
No, I don't get why this album is here.
Unless it's for "extreme over-production", which rendered the album unlistenable to these ears.
1
Nov 12 2022
461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Didn't realise Eric Clapton is still a thing.
Putting racism and general asshole-ness aside for a minute and looking at the music alone (assuming that's even possible), I'd say this album might have been nice, once upon a time, but is now past it.
But, yeah, this would be a better place without Clapton in it.
3
Nov 13 2022
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
What can I say, other than: they released their first amazing album, and then they released an even better album?
Or, if I'm being more analytic: this album is what you get when you take 4 musicians at the top of their game (certainly the top of their respective instruments) and boost the synergy effect to 11.
Or should I say that with a whole lot of love, they rumbled on and brought it on home? To which Iโll say, thank you!
5
Nov 14 2022
Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
Sounds like a standard issue seventies rock album to me.
3
Nov 15 2022
1999
Prince
Not my favourite of Prince's albums. He evolved as he went along, and I regard the albums that followed better.
2
Nov 16 2022
Pyromania
Def Leppard
Rock music for people who don't like rock?
Or just: fodder.
1
Nov 17 2022
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
I always like Saint Etienne's music: it never knocks me off my chair, but it's always pleasant and relaxing. And that goes a long way!
P.S. Their 2021 album, I've Been Trying to Tell You, is quite good, too.
3
Nov 18 2022
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
What have I done to deserve this
1
Nov 19 2022
Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
This album lacks depth. The only thing it has going for it is the voice; but the lyrics are shallow, and the accompanying music is all but non existent.
2
Nov 20 2022
Let It Be
The Replacements
To the band's credit, the mundane and uninspiring nature of this album is explained by the band's name.
Yet another album that doesn't belong here.
2
Nov 21 2022
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
Not a bad album, but I doubt it would have featured here if the cover didnโt read โBob Dylanโ.
3
Nov 22 2022
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
An OK bluesy album, that's probably a representative of the Stones at their peak. Yet, even at their peak, they could only produce an album that would have been nothing without its opening and closing tracks.
3
Nov 23 2022
Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Shallow pop produced with an obviously large budget is still shallow pop music.
2
Nov 24 2022
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Ooh... Just my favourite jazz album of all time. Thinking about the talent concentrating at that recording studio alone blows my mind.
For decades now, this has been an album I kept coming back to again and again, always discovering new facades I wasn't aware of before (it helps that the album has been released under different speeds and such, again, and again).
5
Nov 25 2022
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
An excellent adventure in core rock music. Something that this world clearly doesn't have enough of!
I like the minimalist presentation (though it's no minimalist when it comes to sound levels), creating good music out of rock's core constituents.
P.S. Elephant is even better.
4
Nov 26 2022
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
One of the more listenable albums of the genre. Alas, I still don't like this genre.
2
Nov 27 2022
The Doors
The Doors
Sheer brilliance, rock music of the type that never fades. File under โwhat a debutโ.
Who could have imagined a rock song with such a huge organ solo could light my fire so consistently? Or that The End could provide the such an effective soundtrack to one of the best films ever, Apocalypse Now?
My second favourite Doors album, by the tiniest of margins (LA Woman, youโre my woman).
4
Nov 28 2022
Revolver
Beatles
From Revolver and onwards (perhaps with the slight exception of Let It Be), everything coming from the Beatles was sheer excellence. Iโll leave it to others to explain why that was the case, but it seems the band simply matured and stopped trying to please the universe.
5
Nov 29 2022
Ten
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam's Ten never took hold of me the way Nirvana's Nevermind did, but I grew to appreciate its qualities over time. Tunes aside, the songs here are very deep + touching.
It's just a pity the album's second half isn't half as good as its first.
Don't tell me it's been 30 years, I can't be that old
4
Nov 30 2022
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
I like how The Flaming Lips reinvent themselves with every album, even if I don't always particularly like the inventions themselves. The peculiar case of Yoshimi is one of those: it's OK, musically, but doesn't exactly knock my headphones off.
Do You Realize, however, is one of those songs that do.
3
Dec 01 2022
Apocalypse 91โฆ The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
Not my kind of music (also, thanks but no thanks for destroying a nice streak of albums here)
2
Dec 02 2022
Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
Given the benefit of hindsight, this is a pretty ordinary album that doesn't belong on this list. [Hint hint nudge nudge to the curators here, things are not set in stone, you know!]
2
Dec 03 2022
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Oh look, there's that racist again!
Why are we allowing the openly racist here, anyway? Did Elon Musk buy this website, too? I thought this place was about creating an open community.
As to the music (insert painful segue):
It's of the very bluesy rock I used to like a lot, and actually still like a lot (especially in the longer songs, such as Key to the Highway or Have You Ever Loved a Woman). However, one could successfully argue, though, that this album is rather old in the tooth.
And then there's Layla, a timeless classic.
4
Dec 04 2022
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
This album tried to make the most of the time it was released in, but by now it doesn't really cut it. I can, however, see a future for the band's singer, she has a wonderful voice.
3
Dec 05 2022
Opus Dei
Laibach
Are you having a laugh?
Itโs nice to have a diversion from English, but why this???
1
Dec 06 2022
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
I like my rock music delivered:
1. Musically, and
2. With actual singing, as opposed to constant shouting.
Which is why I'm no fan of this album.
2
Dec 07 2022
Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
One does wonder what goes through the heads of this websiteโs curators when they pick their albums. I suspect itโs illegal (and if itโs not, then it clearly should be).
2
Dec 08 2022
Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
Amateur hour
1
Dec 09 2022
Kimono My House
Sparks
"This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us" is one of those sensational songs I can never get out of my head. It's crazy in the best sense of the word.
The rest of the album drags on, though, even if I do appreciate the artistic statement it sought to make.
3
Dec 10 2022
Suede
Suede
A clear case of an album that might have been something upon its release, but - by now - is an irrelevant has been.
3
Dec 11 2022
A Night At The Opera
Queen
A very rich and diverse album. I prefer News of the World when it comes to Queen albums, but this one is probably their second best.
4
Dec 12 2022
Playing With Fire
Spacemen 3
A contender for the 1001 Albums You Should Avoid Hearing Because Youโll Die of Boredom book.
2
Dec 13 2022
1984
Van Halen
On the positive side, it's short. Also, I did like Jump.
But, how shall I put it diplomatically? I despise the mundane, uninspiring, and bland waste of time that passed for American rock music at the time (and often still does).
2
Dec 14 2022
Heroes
David Bowie
As much as I like Bowie, I can't say I like this album. Most of it sounds too much like noise to me, and there's a definitive lack of hits (Heroes is the only familiar track).
I do admire the Brian Eno (?) inspired tracks, Moss Garden and Neukuln, for their interesting sound. But that's it.
Not everything made by Bowie is gold, and that's perfectly fine.
2
Dec 15 2022
Da Capo
Love
Why, why, why [Delilah]?
It's not the worst album ever handed to me here, but it definitely ranks at or near the top of "why the f*ck is this album here in the first place" department (an all too popular department, I have to add).
1
Dec 16 2022
Slipknot
Slipknot
Awful
1
Dec 17 2022
Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
Brimming with energy, and the title track stands out even more.
But... Each of the tracks, on their own, sounds a bit too simple to me; like they're made of a single riff that's on repeat.
3
Dec 18 2022
Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
I much prefer the higher octane Goldfrapp of yore over this incarnation.
P.S. I also very much fail to see in what way, exactly, is this album to die for. Of all the albums released in 2008, whatโs so special about this one?
Come on, lift your game
2
Dec 19 2022
John Prine
John Prine
Yet another record to die of. What dump was this album dug out of?
1
Dec 20 2022
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Traverses the thin line between boring and pleasant
3
Dec 21 2022
90
808 State
Generic electronic music representing the time it came out in, yes, but in what way is this to die for?
1
Dec 22 2022
Microshift
Hookworms
Given there are so few albums from 2018 here, one has to ask what the to die for factor of this album is. And the obvious answer is: no.
I suspect no one (but family & friends) would list this album in the yearโs top 10, or even top 50 or 100. Especially when looking at the music produced all over the world, as opposed to limiting oneself to the English speaking world.
If ever we needed proof this book turned into this website is rather bizarre/eccentric/myopic, or even nepotic, we have it now.
2
Dec 23 2022
S&M
Metallica
The shtick of layering metal music with a symphonic orchestra fades rather quickly, and then weโre left with an album of averages: Metallicaโs better songs are made worse by this โinnovativeโ interpretation, but their lesser songs have been made better.
Lucky for us, Metallicaโs portfolio tends towards the lesser side.
3
Dec 24 2022
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Very different from the standard this website got me used to, but, alas, somewhat boring and dated.
2
Dec 25 2022
The Only Ones
The Only Ones
Yet another indistinguishable album with absolutely nothing special about it. Please lift your game!
2
Dec 26 2022
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
Nice that weโre getting non western music here, but this shouldnโt be the only exception. George Harrison might have found illumination with this music, but I certainly donโt.
1
Dec 27 2022
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
An album that starts with John Bonhamโs legendary drumming from When the Levee Breaks canโt go wrong, right?
I donโt like rap music, and thatโs an understatement, but the Beastie Boys are the exception because they show how rap can be done right: by quoting tons of quality rock music! [Itโs a pity copyright laws prevent others from following down the Beastie Boys' path.]
That said, the latter parts of the album features tracks that overstay their welcome, featuring mostly screaming band members and less brilliance.
3
Dec 28 2022
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Way past its expiration date, and often bettered.
However, the title track? Itโs awesome!
3
Dec 29 2022
Roxy Music
Roxy Music
An original and interesting album, even after all these years. I do consider Avalon to be Roxy Music's best, though.
3
Dec 30 2022
Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
File under "where did they have to go to dig this one up from". At its time, the album brought a couple of minor hits that were played a bit on the radio, but there should be light years between that and being anything to die from...
2
Dec 31 2022
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
The music doesnโt live up to the album cover, featuring way too much shouty shoutiness to cover for the relative lack of musical creativity (though, by American rock standards, this is s as creative as it gets).
2
Jan 01 2023
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
This album starts with pure awesomeness (itโs great to learn where Portishead got their sample from), but side B is one big letdown.
Regardless, Iโm going to give credit to the creativity and originality in this album. Well worth listening to!
4
Jan 02 2023
Triangle
The Beau Brummels
Sounds like what one would expect out of a recording of a bunch of kindergarten kids randomly bumping into one another.
1
Jan 03 2023
Music From Big Pink
The Band
Sesame Street's musical rejects?
1
Jan 04 2023
Who's Next
The Who
I wonder how many other album covers here depict the aftermath of urination.
But given we're here for the music:
This one's probably the best Who album, yes, but like the rest of them the bursts of genius (i.e., the opening track and the 2 closing tracks) are surrounded by seas of mediocrity.
Eventually, I decided to be generous with my rating, on account of Won't Get Fooled Again. Guess I was fooled, again.
4
Jan 05 2023
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
Even back when it was fresh, hip, and popular, there was something about Jamiroquai's music that really got under my skin. I can't say exactly what it was, but it definitely had to do with the vocal qualities and the pretend funk rhythms.
Things are way worse now, when it's hard to listen to the music and figure out how it was ever popular.
2
Jan 06 2023
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Still boring after all these years.
Never got on the Mitchell wavelength.
2
Jan 07 2023
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
Pre its creative peak, The Beatles were a great band but not half as great as they'd turn out to be. They had good pop music for the time, some of it quite good (but clearly not an album-ful). Lucky for us, their music got more complex with time.
3
Jan 08 2023
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
A bit of a one trick pony of an album, with all the songs sounding pretty much the same. Yet another album that was probably selected to be here probably not due to musical merit.
2
Jan 09 2023
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
The music ranges from the mildly interesting to the definitely boring (the album's duration certainly doesn't help). Pulp is OK, but I can't see in what universe this album can count as an album to die for.
2
Jan 10 2023
The Visitors
ABBA
I can't say I'm in love with this music, but it was a bit of a breath of fresh air given I was expecting that "more of the same" from ABBA that I'm used to (not that there's much wrong with that). Feels like this album was ahead of its time yet way behind on our current times.
3
Jan 11 2023
Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Nice to get a break from Western music, but: this one's boring.
To the curators of this website I will say, don't give up! I'm sure that, eventually, you'll find plenty of good non Western music. Do consider asking the majority of this world's population, I'm sure they'd happily share favourites!
2
Jan 12 2023
Be
Common
Nope, I still don't like rap music. I also don't like the collaboration with a celeb antisemite, though one could hardly blame Common for that.
1
Jan 13 2023
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
There may be notable synergy between the singer and his audience here, but not with me. It's simple, I don't like this music (and I definitely think it's overrated).
2
Jan 14 2023
Either Or
Elliott Smith
File under โall the songs sound the sameโ and โnothing specialโ.
2
Jan 15 2023
Mott
Mott The Hoople
Poor peopleโs Bowie
2
Jan 16 2023
Trio
Dolly Parton
Surely โThe Painโ referred to in the 1st track refers to the pain of listening to this albumโs country music?
2
Jan 17 2023
Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Where do I start, where do I begin?
I always liked this album, but now - with the perspective of time - I can confidently say this is not only the best album to come out of The Chemical Brothers, this is also my vote for best ever of its genre. Powerful and relentless, exactly what the genre calls for.
What genre, exactly? Electronica? Dance? [How do you refer to music where no instrument is actually played by the musician?]
I prefer to look at it as electronic rock.
5
Jan 18 2023
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Yes, it's aged, but you got to hand it to the band, they did wonderful things harmonising their voices.
As usual, most of the songs on this albums are duds, but the famous tracks fully deserve to be. At least they made them short back then (albums, that is).
3
Jan 19 2023
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
I wonder how this album would rate if it didnโt have a famous band name attached. The music's OK, but nothing to die for.
3
Jan 20 2023
Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
Doesn't rise above the "background music for when one is actually concentrating on something completely different" level.
Nothing to die for here, move along.
2
Jan 21 2023
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
I like Depeche Mode, but in its later incarnations. Clearly, this one hasnโt aged that well; given the gift of hindsight, it feels as if the band wa yet to find its true way (and just synthed its way to an album).
1
Jan 22 2023
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Noise to die of
1
Jan 23 2023
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Here I was thinking that me getting the first Elliott Smith album over at this website was more than a bit of a stretch, when I got this one as well. Neither is anything to die for.
2
Jan 24 2023
Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
Here I was, thinking Hate to Say I Told You So is a good song, when I got to listen to this album. Only then did it occur to me what kind of a freak accident that song is, surrounded as it is by songs that sound more or less the same and are generally indistinguishable from noise.
2
Jan 25 2023
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
Iโd file this under โthis really aged badlyโ, only that I suspect it was bad right from the start.
1
Jan 26 2023
Fred Neil
Fred Neil
Que boring!
Iโd like to point a finger at The Theโs rendition of Dolphins, which (unlike this one) is magnificent.
1
Jan 27 2023
Face to Face
The Kinks
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person seeking to enjoy Kinks music, must be in want of a best-of album.
Otherwise, said person will endure many a duds of a style that has aged badly. Even on a Sunday afternoon.
2
Jan 28 2023
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Not the worst ever, but I still canโt stand the genre.
2
Jan 29 2023
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
I donโt mind funk, but this album falls under that โall the songs sound the sameโ umbrella. Nothing to die for here.
2
Jan 30 2023
The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
I think we can all agree that Springsteen is a respectable artist (and then some), but this album?
Nothing special.
2
Jan 31 2023
Elephant
The White Stripes
Probably my favourite album of its decade?
Songs like Seven Nation Army through Ball and Biscuit and Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine are songs I can listen to all day (and I do/did, a lot). But really, it's the entire album: Elephant provides a very vivid example for how to do rock right in the 21st century.
5
Feb 01 2023
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
This album sounded much better in my memory than it did today in real life. Which is another way of saying it aged badly.
Other than Tainted Love, there's nothing to this album, really.
2
Feb 02 2023
Tapestry
Carole King
Whenever I listen to this album, my mind always wanders to thinking about the cover's cat and what it's up to these days. But that's mostly because song after song, this album hits with one surprise after the other: on paper, the music here is made of dead simple raw ingredients, how come each of these songs packs so much depth?
Lyrics go a long way, as well as King's vocals, but the rest is just magic. This is an album of anthems.
5
Feb 03 2023
Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
Nice, strong music that clearly came from the nineties? Yes.
But a record to die for? Pull the other one.
3
Feb 04 2023
evermore
Taylor Swift
Letโs put things on the table: Iโm the last person Swift thinks of when she creates her music. A clear case of agreeing to disagree.
1
Feb 05 2023
The Joshua Tree
U2
The album that marks the coming of age of U2 (as well as its Americanisation).
Those first 4 opening tracks pack a mean punch!
4
Feb 06 2023
The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
Brings back memories of tunes I liked and music videos that made me laugh. However, I wouldnโt consider this anything more than a fine representation of early eighties pop music; nothing to die for.
3
Feb 07 2023
All Mod Cons
The Jam
I fail to hear anything of distinction here, but unlike most of the albums served here at least this one managed background music duties...
3
Feb 08 2023
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
More boredom from The Beach Boys.
Itโs the 3rd album of theirs that I get here, and unlike itโs predecessors there are no redeeming tracks to be found.
1
Feb 09 2023
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
The first song is good.
The last song is good.
Superstition is very good.
The rest of the album is dead boring.
2
Feb 10 2023
Damaged
Black Flag
Noise
1
Feb 11 2023
Sound Affects
The Jam
Too ordinary
2
Feb 12 2023
Ctrl
SZA
Music of a wavelength thatโs opposite to mine.
1
Feb 13 2023
Live Through This
Hole
Got the decibels, but doesnโt deliver on the brilliance department.
2
Feb 14 2023
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
So not my kind of thing
1
Feb 15 2023
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
During 2014, this was one of my favourite albums from the year. However, I don't think it aged that well: songs I previously found mesmerising now leave me rather indifferent.
Sure, the album has its moments. I admit to tilting towards the longer, ballad like tracks such as An Ocean in Between the Waves. However, in order to truly be able to get what Lost in the Dream tries to deliver, I find I need to leave everything else and truly concentrate on the music. Which, these days, is usually too much of an ask.
3
Feb 16 2023
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
This album might (?) have been something back in its day, but it definitely fails to rise to the occasion today, offering only mundane gibberish.
And Lazy Sunday is not enough of a track to save it.
2
Feb 17 2023
Stankonia
OutKast
For a brief while I liked Hey Ya*, but that exception aside, I am still completely unable to relate to this genre.
And all these interludes they have sprayed all over the album: other than being disrespectful of my time, I really don't get their point.
* Yes, I know it's not from this album.
1
Feb 18 2023
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
At the time, I found I could never truly relate to Amosโ music, despite it ticking most checkboxes. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed.
2
Feb 19 2023
Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
File under โwhere did they dig that one out ofโ (apparently, this website does a lot of digging!).
Also, what an annoying voice (sorry!).
2
Feb 20 2023
Me Against The World
2Pac
Sorry, but I can't stand this music.
1
Feb 21 2023
KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Not my kind of music, but I dare say, this is not bad at all!
Fresh and original, this one is definitely not a case of โall the tracks sound the sameโ.
4
Feb 22 2023
Pelican West
Haircut 100
A very badly aged nothing burger
1
Feb 23 2023
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
Might as well rename this website into "the Elvis Costello portfolio", given this is the 6th album of his I'm getting here. And it's just as boring as the other 5.
Believe it or not, there are other artists out there!
1
Feb 24 2023
Kollaps
Einstรผrzende Neubauten
This is not a passable album.
It might belong in a modern art museum, when one is open to the strangest of art. However, presented as a music album, this is a clear "return to sender".
1
Feb 25 2023
Rio
Duran Duran
A classic of sophisticated eighties pop music.
At the time, between the glamorous music videos and the band members' looks, the music was almost secondary. However, the perspective of time proves this is actually a good album!
4
Feb 26 2023
The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
Nope
1
Feb 27 2023
Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
A classic Stones album, in the sense that itโs dreary, boring, and uninspiring.
2
Feb 28 2023
L.A. Woman
The Doors
Ooh, finally I'm getting my favourite Doors album! And it's not like The Doors was a bad album, it's just that I like this one's more bluesy sound (as well as the inclusion of a bass guitar - viva la revoluciรณn!).
As far as favourite tracks are concerned, I love the title song so much, with its transitions. Riders on the Storm always gets me, too, with its haunting lyrics and atmosphere.
It does break my heart that I can order a coffee under the name Mojo Risin and no one blinks anymore, though.
5
Mar 01 2023
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
This website seems to specialise in albums with absolutely nothing to offer.
1
Mar 02 2023
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Past it (and Spinning Wheel isn't enough to save the day)
2
Mar 03 2023
White Light
Gene Clark
As if I didn't have enough boredom in my life, getting served as I was with 4 Byrds albums here already, I got this "bonus".
1
Mar 04 2023
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
How shall I put it best?
I can't stand Iron Maiden.
1
Mar 05 2023
La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
This album turns background music into an art of its own, pushing the envelope so to speak.
Favourite track: Santa Maria, on account of it being featured in Chuck.
4
Mar 06 2023
Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
A mighty achievement in the field of boredom.
1
Mar 07 2023
Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
Significantly past its expiration date, but, frankly, I don't think it ever belonged here. It's pretty boring, and far from being a cohesive album.
2
Mar 08 2023
Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
Yet another album that's way past its expiration date and with little to offer even before achieving said expiration.
2
Mar 09 2023
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
While I really don't like hiphop music, there's something a tad easier on the ear with Eminem's music that makes his generally tolerable.
However, what completely put me off this time around were the lyrics. I don't know if I grew soft or whether culture really changed so much in a couple of decades, but I just couldn't stand listening to this ongoing barrage of insults to humanity.
2
Mar 10 2023
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
I guess this is Stevie Wonder's magnum opus. Yes, there are several duds here, but also many songs that withstood the test of time very well and can best be described using the professional term "hits".
I do appreciate the effort and the achievement, even if this genre of music is not my typical cup of coffee.
4
Mar 11 2023
Dummy
Portishead
The innovative sound of Portishead still sounds innovative, fresh and original after all these years! As does the singerโs voice.
I wish more bands would break new grounds the way Portishead did.
4
Mar 12 2023
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Nice funky tunes, but they sort of repeat themselves too much.
That said, Iโll contradict myself and say I utterly fell for Sex Machine.
3
Mar 13 2023
Illmatic
Nas
Still can't stand this music (sorry), but the lyrics aren't helping either.
1
Mar 14 2023
Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
I'll put it this way: there was vast improvement in The Stranglers output after this album.
1
Mar 15 2023
Medรบlla
Bjรถrk
A very experimental album, that, almost by definition, should have never been counted as an album to die for; the fact that was a one off is all we need to know.
As for me, while I applaud Bjork for going where no human has gone before, music-wise, I cannot say I like this album.
2
Mar 16 2023
Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
So many excellent soundtracks out there, I don't get this Bizarro pick of a pretend soundtrack featuring music of inconsistent quality.
2
Mar 17 2023
Eternally Yours
The Saints
Of all the Aussie albums out there, this is the one you choose to force me to listen to?
2
Mar 18 2023
Dry
PJ Harvey
I absolutely love PJ Harvey, but I also hold her later albums in MUCH more regard. Like good wine, her music improved with age.
I'll put it this way, of all her albums, I wouldn't have picked this one for this list.
3
Mar 19 2023
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
One of those classic jazz albums that always sound fresh and that I can never tire of.
4
Mar 20 2023
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
Too repetitive and mundane to go anywhere, yet another peculiar choice of an album for this list.
2
Mar 21 2023
GREY Area
Little Simz
Musically much better than most of what passes under the hip-hop bridge, but still nothing I would willingly listen to.
2
Mar 22 2023
Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
Severe inconsistencies in quality between tracks.
The first and only time I've heard of the Meat Puppets was in Nirvana's Unplugged album. Listening to this album now, I can see why I managed to live my life without them thus far and will surely manage the rest of my life the same.
2
Mar 23 2023
Shadowland
k.d. lang
The voice is there, but the music is way too country for me to be able to get into.
If it was up to me, I would list Ingenue and perhaps Hymns of the 49th Parallel instead of Shadowland.
2
Mar 24 2023
Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
Sigh.
Yet another bizarrely uninspiring album to pop up over here. Can't say I appreciate the "in your face" low-fi sound, either.
2
Mar 25 2023
Guero
Beck
Nice and cheerful, if a bit too long for its own good.
I like how Beck is able to completely reinvent himself with every album. Not that many people can claim similar levels of talent.
3
Mar 26 2023
Spiderland
Slint
A special type of music that doesn't seem to be getting anywhere.
2
Mar 27 2023
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
Severely dated.
I fail to detect any distinguishing features in this album.
1
Mar 28 2023
Amnesiac
Radiohead
5th Radiohead album served to me here, none of them my favourite Radiohead album. And here I was, thinking I already got the point.
But it's not just Radiohead fatigue: this one feels completely redundant, and not only because of the annoying squeaky vocals.
1
Mar 29 2023
Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
It feels like an album ahead of its time, but at the same time it fails to take me to the places that the music I like does.
That said, Lucy Jordan is one of those unique songs that always mesmerise me. It depicts a very coherent picture and it hits me in the guts, probably because of identification and similar realisations to the Lucyโs.
3
Mar 30 2023
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
I'm not against psychedelic rock (some of my best friends etc), but this is too much.
2
Mar 31 2023
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Background music of no special qualities (and some distinct negative qualities, as per the case of the "experimental" second half of the opening track). By tomorrow I'll forget I ever listened to this album.
Turtle, you said?
2
Apr 01 2023
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Such a beautiful album, both lyrics wise and music wise. I love listening to this one properly, paying total attention to Harrison's singing, and let him take me to the places on his mind.
All Things Must Pass packs a lot of fond memories for me.
4
Apr 02 2023
Kenza
Khaled
First, I have to ask the editors here: of all the many millions of non English speaking albums out there, why is it, exactly, that you picked this one over everything else?
As to the album at hand, the music is not too bad but itโs at more or less the quality of a middle eastern wedding soundtrack. Entertaining, to one extent or another, but thatโs more or less it.
2
Apr 03 2023
Garbage
Garbage
Garbage do music good, but like so many before and after them there are too many fluff pieces in between the really good tracks.
P.S. I also don't consider this one their best album.
3
Apr 04 2023
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
Not a Thriller, not my kind of music, but I cannot deny this album offers notable qualities. And as a bonus, I'm assuming Jackson was more a victim than a perpetrator back when this album was made.
3
Apr 05 2023
Like Water For Chocolate
Common
Yeah, sorry, I'll pass.
(Didn't age that well, either.)
1
Apr 06 2023
Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
Yet another album that might (emphasis on might) been of some interest to someone back in the day, but sounds way outdated and irrelevant these days.
1
Apr 07 2023
Orbital 2
Orbital
An album clearly dedicated to people who seek to spend their entire night in a rave, probably with the aid of drugs.
As for the music, the repetitive drone is rather uninspiring (given that I'm not in a rave and I'm not under the influence).
2
Apr 08 2023
Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
At their best, I truly love the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. But this is not their peak, this is just their beginning. (And that peak was all too brief.)
Philosophical discussions aside, this album is way too rough around the edges (as well as the midsection) for me to be able to compare it with compatriots such as, say, White Stripes' Elephant. Maps is pretty much the only decent song here.
2
Apr 09 2023
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
This is why I donโt like hip-hop.
1
Apr 10 2023
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
Way too folky for me.
2
Apr 11 2023
Django Django
Django Django
Not a bad album, but I fail to see how this album could be counted in any โbest ofโ list. Itโs simply not good enough.
At the time, I actually quite liked the bandโs Born Under Saturn album, whereas this one never attracted my attention.
2
Apr 12 2023
Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
If boredom could kill
1
Apr 13 2023
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Passรฉ rock (and I think that was the case back in 1976, too)
2
Apr 14 2023
Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
Way too crazy (AKA "concept") for yours truly to be able to listen.
1
Apr 15 2023
Boston
Boston
How good is More Than a Feeling? Itโs almost one of those rare breed of songs that transcend time.
I also like how the album cover always reminded me of the cover art for the Atari 2600 version of Space Invaders.
Alas, the rest of the album is rather mundane and not worth listening to, especially these days.
2
Apr 16 2023
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
It's Tricky and Walk This Way offer catchy tunes. As for the rest of this album, I find it unlistenable (pretty much the way I find most hip-hop music - sorry).
2
Apr 18 2023
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
I appreciate the talent, but other than the title song none of the tracks move me in the least. Sorry, I tried.
2
Apr 19 2023
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
I guarantee I'll forget everything about this album by tomorrow, including its name.
That said: RIP, David Crosby.
2
Apr 20 2023
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Confirmed: I still cannot bear to listen to this type of music.
1
Apr 21 2023
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Nice big band jazz arrangements, but I have to admit: none of the songs here light my fire.
3
Apr 22 2023
Feast of Wire
Calexico
An interesting mix of genres, and the genres do vary to one extent or another as the album progresses. But as far as what this album has to offer, that is more or less it.
3
Apr 23 2023
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Between songs like the title track and Iron Man, one could easily think this is a milestone of a classic album. This is further supported by the absence of duds, as well as a fairly mild aging effect (plus, letโs face it, although the album is considered โmetalโ itโs nothing like what passes for metal these days).
I Therefore argue one is absolutely right.
4
Apr 24 2023
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
Iโm not sure how far an album can make it on the basis of the core credential โwe were there a couple of weeks before Nirvanaโ. I am, however, pretty sure I canโt stand the low-fi sound.
1
Apr 25 2023
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
Can't stand ya
1
Apr 26 2023
Konnichiwa
Skepta
Guess I donโt like this flavour of rap, either.
1
Apr 27 2023
Sail Away
Randy Newman
I cannot deny the wit/braininess on display here, it's just that I find the music boring.
2
Apr 28 2023
The Next Day
David Bowie
I've always found this album rather bland and uninspiring, and that hasn't changed after listening to it yet again. What a stark contrast between this album and the super innovative Bowie album, Blackstar!
2
Apr 29 2023
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
I mean Baez no disrespect, but this album is like when scientists find the reason why dinosaurs went extinct. In our case it wasnโt a rogue asteroid, but rather the world of music moving away from this yodeling based genre of folk music.
1
Apr 30 2023
Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Not my kind of music, sure, but I cannot deny this is very pleasant music - especially when Emmylou Harris joins.
3
May 01 2023
Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
They might have been uniquely peculiar some 40 years ago, but they definitely didn't withstand the test of time. I would not count this as an album to go back to.
1
May 02 2023
D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
This might serve as suitable background to some modern art exhibition, but as music to be listened to in its own rights?
Nah
1
May 03 2023
Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
Sorry, but I find this music unlistenable.
1
May 04 2023
Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
Pretty bad eighties music that aged pretty badly since.
1
May 05 2023
Make Yourself
Incubus
The band has that basic American rock sound that I find boring, uninspiring, and unoriginal.
Am I allowed to question this albumโs inclusion in this here portfolio?
1
May 06 2023
Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
I see little of virtue in this album. Nothing, actually.
Seems like the curators here are clutching at straws.
2
May 07 2023
Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
A blast from the past. I can see how it doesnโt look (or even sound) like much today, but it was certainly something back in its day, and it has more of a โmaking ofโ story than most other albums.
Personally, I prefer the second version, which Oldfield released in the early nineties. However, even that one (or the ones that followed since) arenโt enough to bridge the gap to where the music world is today.
Anyway, it's hard for me to rate this music which has been all over the background of my life's soundtrack. It has been many years since it stopped mesmerising me, but that doesn't mean I no longer appreciate Tubular Bells.
4
May 08 2023
Movies
Holger Czukay
Surprisingly nice and pleasant music!
Iโll put it this way, itโs way better than the bulk of the crap โmusicโ Iโve been served with here.
3
May 09 2023
The Cars
The Cars
Generally speaking, I like The Cars, but:
1. By now they're a band best experienced through a compilation album. On its own, and by today's standards, this particular album ranges between the mediocre and the nothing special.
2. Heartbeat City is easily The Cars' best album; I wouldn't have picked their debut as the highlight of their work.
3
May 10 2023
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
Another bizarre artsy pick that makes me reminisce about root canals.
1
May 11 2023
Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
Not my kind of music, but itโs ok; lyrics wise, it sounds like itโs still very much relevant.
3
May 12 2023
Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Stripped is a case in point for a book I might write in one incarnation or another. The subject would be โwhat happened to pop music over the yearsโ, and it will discuss how the mighty have fallen: how the likes of The Beatles music deteriorated into commodities such as this here album.
1
May 13 2023
London Calling
The Clash
The album where The Clash came of age (i.e., not just another punk band, but rather a punk band with depth).
That said, I still think The Clash is better experienced these days through compilation albums. There's too much fluff in the album.
3
May 14 2023
Gris Gris
Dr. John
Sounds like an artist that came up with a nice niche for themselves. But is it an album worth cherishing over the years above so many others?
Probably not.
2
May 15 2023
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
When it comes to King Crimson, I learned the hard way to stick with In the Court of the Crimson King.
1
May 16 2023
Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
Obviously, I was aware of All I wanna do is have some fun, but I never attributed much to it other than being a rather catchy song. I was thus taken by surprise by this album, which packs more quality than I expected.
Will I ever go back to this album again? Probably not.
3
May 17 2023
You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
It's as if they're trying to compensate for the lack of creativity with excessive noise.
1
May 18 2023
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
Spell "expired"
2
May 19 2023
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Bland American rock.
One of those albums that will only work for folks who grew up with it (for better or worse).
2
May 20 2023
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Probably my favourite LCD Soundsystem album, mostly due to the notoriety of North American Scum (and, other than being easy to identify with, it being a very catchy track). However, as an album, I always find I lose interest somewhere along the way due to the repetitive nature of affairs.
3
May 21 2023
OK
Talvin Singh
Pretty anaemic nineties electronic music thatโs spiced with Indian influences but isnโt going anywhere and definitely failed to age well.
2
May 22 2023
Green
R.E.M.
In my opinion, this is R.E.M.โs breakthrough album: they finally produced an album thatโs great to listen to from to finish and is filled with hits. Out of Time took affairs further, yes, but Iโm perfectly happy with Green.
Hereโs for an album I had so much good time with during the nineties (mostly)!
4
May 23 2023
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
I guess this album was picked for this list here on account of the first track, because all the rest of the album is pretty boring.
Should an album get listed here on account of a single track? I think that's wrong.
2
May 24 2023
Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
Boring folk music is fairly boring.
2
May 25 2023
Sulk
The Associates
Very badly dated music that wasn't exactly stellar back when it was new.
I fail to fathom what this album is doing over here.
1
May 26 2023
Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Firstly, I will note this is my 7th Dylan album here. I, for one, think that's too much.
That said, this particular album is probably on the better side of those 7.
3
May 27 2023
Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
Sounds like an inferior version of a lot of the music that was popular at the time of this album's release.
2
May 28 2023
Sincere
Mj Cole
This type of music became popular in the late nineties, and stayed popular till the early naughties.
As far as "this" type of music is concerned, Sincere is far from representing any substantial musical achievements or much in the field of originality.
Also: extremely overlong.
So: Meh, what's this album doing here?
2
May 29 2023
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
My favourite Police album by far. As far as I'm concerned, this reggae of the white album is one of those rare beasts where each track is a masterpiece in its own right.
Message in a Bottle is album's most famous track, yes, but the album is full of unique moments. Whether it's that unique sound of Walking on the Moon or The Bed's Too Big Without You, or that opera singer I can hear in the background in Does Everyone Stare, this album is the result of the hard work of three very competent musicians striving very hard to avoid their era's common "rock" sound.
They were highly successful in this endeavour of theirs.
P.S. I used to love the album's back cover, featuring the back of the trio's heads (basically, the opposite of the front cover's photo). We don't get to experience these things in this age of streaming.
5
May 30 2023
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
Really not my type of music.
2
May 31 2023
Traffic
Traffic
A rather peculiar choice for an album to include here.
That aside, this one did not age well.
2
Jun 01 2023
American Gothic
David Ackles
Pomp and circumstance are not my kind of thing
2
Jun 02 2023
It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
The music isn't bad, but there's nothing special about it either. Worse, there's very little originality in this album (a fact made even clearer by Mrs. Robinson cover being the album's best and most famous track).
2
Jun 03 2023
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
More outdated, drug infused music from the sixties.
2
Jun 04 2023
I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
I fail to detect much in the way of worthiness in this album. Itโs actually pretty boring.
2
Jun 05 2023
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
Windwood never managed to catch me with his music, even when it was new.
2
Jun 06 2023
Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
Far from the worst album ever served to me here, but really, nothing special. As in, I fail to see a reason to ever get back to this album.
2
Jun 07 2023
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
I guess it's OK background music material, but seriously: I fail to see the point of including this album in this list. What's so special about it?
2
Jun 08 2023
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
My first instinct was to wonder whether it is legal to look at this album cover. I was, obviously, familiar with the title track (and consider it incredibly catchy), but I never realised it was packaged this way.
Anyway, legal musings aside, the music itself is of the repetitive, artificial, boring, an uninspiring nature that modern pop music grew to become over the years (since the early to mid nineties, if you ask me). So, yes, one good song, the rest can remain hidden.
2
Jun 09 2023
Aja
Steely Dan
A good, solid, album that lacks the tracks that really set me on fire.
3
Jun 10 2023
Pearl
Janis Joplin
Between the voice and the music, they don't do stuff like this anymore. And that's very sad.
4
Jun 11 2023
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Good for falling asleep with
3
Jun 12 2023
Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
None of the chansons I truly like were in this album. And there are plenty to pick from!
2
Jun 13 2023
So
Peter Gabriel
By far the best Peter Gabriel album.
This album was so Big Time for me when it came out! The rich musical tapestries, the creative music videos, they all added to make quite a big impact on the person I turned out to be. Or as much as music can.
That cassette I bought back then is long gone, though. They'd never last, commercial cassette releases.
P.S.
As much as I love Kate Bush, I always found Don't Give Up this album's weakest link. And although it was Sledgehammer that first attracted me to this album, these day I gravitate towards tracks like We Do What We're Told much more.
4
Jun 14 2023
Before And After Science
Brian Eno
One can't blame Brian Eno for failing to explore different worlds of music. That said, this particular exploit is rather boring.
2
Jun 15 2023
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Way too country for me.
1
Jun 16 2023
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
This music was everywhere at the time, but today I find I'm so over it...
The senses of freshness and originality are gone, and we're just stuck with the repetitiveness.
2
Jun 17 2023
Dirty
Sonic Youth
Probably my favourite Sonic Youth album, mainly because it was the group's answer to the far superior Nirvana. The album's not bad, but it's a far cry from the real thing. As in, it's hard for me to imagine a scenario where I'd prefer to listen to this album here over listening to Nirvana.
Which is to say, I don't think this album's qualities merit its inclusion here.
3
Jun 18 2023
Smile
Brian Wilson
Iโll put it this way, the world would have been a better place if we just had the Beach Boys without this.
1
Jun 19 2023
Manassas
Stephen Stills
Funny, just last week I gave Stillsโ recently released Live at Berkeley 1971 album a try, and gave up 4-5 tracks in on account of irrelevance.
That conclusion still applies. Yes, credit should go to the mixing of genres, but still: Weโve moved on in the fifty plus years since this album.
2
Jun 20 2023
Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
4th Brian Eno album Iโm getting here.
To Enoโs credit, he doesnโt seem to make the same album twice. That said, although thereโs some nice music here, I cannot claim to have been knocked off my seat.
3
Jun 21 2023
Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
At the time, there was something unique and original about the Neneh Cherry sound (not so much today, but let's give Cherry the credit she deserves). Alas, this unique sound is only well expressed in 2 tracks, with the rest drowning in repetitive mediocrity.
2
Jun 22 2023
It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
This album seems like a Most Boring of Van Morrison collection.
1
Jun 23 2023
The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Given there so few country music albums here (donโt get me wrong, Iโm not complaining), I do wonder what qualifies this album over the rest of them when it came to inclusion in this list here.
1
Jun 24 2023
Aqualung
Jethro Tull
I will forever remember this album with contempt, for the sole reason my sibling traded MY copy of Prince's Purple Rain for this album without asking for my permission.
Not a bad prog rock album at all (my prog rock preferences lie elsewhere, though). But Purple Rain is the superior album.
3
Jun 25 2023
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
I can see what the band was aiming at with this album, itโs just that what they ended up with sounds too much like noise to me.
2
Jun 26 2023
In Utero
Nirvana
As good a follow up to Nevermind as one could have expected.
But Nevermind aside, this is a very good album by its own rights. I donโt think it held the the test of time as well, but itโs not short on quality nor hit tracks.
4
Jun 27 2023
Take Me Apart
Kelela
Found this particular flavour of R&B quite un-listenable.
1
Jun 28 2023
Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Can't help it, this really isn't my kind of music.
2
Jun 29 2023
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Cash knows how to energise the crowd, but I still can't say I like the music (or the awful recording quality).
2
Jun 30 2023
Tical
Method Man
Sounds like a very tedious production in a genre I best avoid.
1
Jul 01 2023
War
U2
I know it's fashionable to say War is a great album, but I consider U2 a band that came of age with Joshua Tree and produced its finest albums in the 5-6 years period that followed (most notably, Achtung Baby).
War? What is good for?
3
Jul 02 2023
All Directions
The Temptations
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone is the elephant in the album, with its 12 minutes of sheer groovy delight. The rest of the songs range from the boring to the mundane...
3
Jul 03 2023
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
This drug infused elongated jam session proved surprisingly effective background to my weekend afternoon book readingโฆ
But yeah, Grateful Dead isnโt my jam.
3
Jul 04 2023
Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Pretty awful stuff. I'm in need of severe ear cleansing now.
1
Jul 05 2023
Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Here's an album that completely failed the test of time. Not that it ever managed to achieve mediocrity.
2
Jul 06 2023
Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
And the inevitable question is, if Bollywood is a category of music that's officially recognised by this list here, then why this one out of all the millions out there, and even more importantly - why only* this one?
* Out of the 878 albums served to me here thus far, this is the first to come from Bollywood. There were 3-4 other Indian music albums thus far.
2
Jul 07 2023
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
One of those albums through which reviewers can boast to have a level of understanding and appreciation of art that rises above that of the masses.
I'm with the masses: this is boring stuff.
2
Jul 08 2023
Slayed?
Slade
Demonstrating the art of being noisy for the sake of being noisy
1
Jul 09 2023
Homework
Daft Punk
I think that, over the years, Daft Punk proved they're better than this. As for what "this" is, it's a leftover from the drug infused raves of the nineties.
2
Jul 10 2023
Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
I don't mind prog rock at all, I just don't see why this particular specimen deserves commendation. It's got meh written all over it.
2
Jul 11 2023
A Seat at the Table
Solange
Hope others like it, because this album certainly isn't for me.
1
Jul 12 2023
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Another album off my probably least favourite genre eschewing values I despise the most.
1
Jul 13 2023
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
OK, Wikipedia tells me this album was historically important. I accept that, even if I've never heard of it before.
Regardless of history, today I found this an album about nothing. But unlike Seinfeld, which is excellent through and through, this music is going nowhere.
2
Jul 14 2023
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
There are 2 things going for this album:
1. A Race for the Prize is a truly excellent song.
2. Unique + original sound that still sounds fresh.
However, this album also has a knack for losing me somewhere along the way.
3
Jul 15 2023
25
Adele
The voice is divine, no doubt about it.
The music? Less so. Very much so.
Would I ever listen to this album of my own free will? Nah. But I feel I should give this voice some credit.
3
Jul 16 2023
Fragile
Yes
Not the worst, but certainly music that leaves me indifferent.
I would argue the [only] Yes album that truly belongs here is 90125.
2
Jul 17 2023
McCartney
Paul McCartney
Clearly, this album is a mix and match collection of half cooked ideas. Maybe I'm Amazed is obviously the most famous one, but my favourite is Momma Miss America.
It's obvious this album carries a lot of weight with Beatles fans, and it's also obvious it reeks of sheer brilliance. Alas, there is no escaping its under cooked delivery.
3
Jul 18 2023
Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
One can live a full and complete life without ever hearing of this album, let alone actually listening to it. Yes, at the time there were a couple of hits from the album, but no, they left as much of an impression as a fart in the wind.
2
Jul 19 2023
Mask
Bauhaus
In what way is this supposed to be special and even [gulp] good?
1
Jul 20 2023
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Lennon's solo work offers a bit of a contrast dilemma to me.
On one hand, the songs are raw and direct, and are obviously full of personal meaning (and just: meaning). On the other hand, and generally speaking, the music side of things is nothing special.
3
Jul 21 2023
Want One
Rufus Wainwright
Sounds like the marketing department opted to keep me out of the target audience for this one.
1
Jul 22 2023
Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Never got on the Kings of Leon train, never could stand the singer's voice.
2
Jul 23 2023
Fromohio
fIREHOSE
Riddle of the Eighties is "what is this album doing on anybody's list 40 years later".
2
Jul 24 2023
Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Probably the most famous of the Stones' albums, it also best demonstrates the Stonesโ brand of uninspiring, mundane, rock music.
Also, the 5th Stones album Iโve been served with over here.
3
Jul 25 2023
The World is a Ghetto
War
A promising album that never takes off:
The music definitely has the right leanings when it comes to its take on R&B, but at the same time it tends to err on the boring side.
2
Jul 26 2023
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
Nice big band jazz music, no denying that.
Can't say it gripped me tightly, though.
3
Jul 27 2023
Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Nice to see the occasional, if still very rare, deviation from mainstream English speaking music. And the music here isn't bad, either. At the same time, it didn't knock me off my feet.
3
Jul 28 2023
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
First, Iโll credit the album cover (which is very different to the one this website displays).
That said, while I'm appreciative of Marley's brand of reggae music, I found the album repetitive and rather boring.
2
Jul 29 2023
Atomizer
Big Black
Another bout of noise
1
Jul 30 2023
Kid A
Radiohead
6th Radiohead album served to me over here, and since this is the place for me to state my opinion: that's way too much!
Also, still missing is my favourite Radiohead album ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ
Anyway, Kid A:
It's one of those albums that people who intellectualise music will definitely rate highly. As for dumbo me, I miss the raw guitars sound.
I'll put it this way: yes, I recognise this to be a quality release, but it will never be an album I ask my streaming service of choice to play for me.
3
Jul 31 2023
Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
Yet another dead on arrival album recommendation from this website:
Not only is this one badly out of date, I'd argue that even when it was new it didn't deserve listing in forums such as this one.
1
Aug 01 2023
Hot Fuss
The Killers
Classic American rock music, which is another way of saying it's rather over the top, and probably in order to cover up for the abundant superficiality.
2
Aug 02 2023
Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
I wouldn't list this album in anything worthy of dying for, but I find the music nice and varied. Definitely Primal Scream, but also different to other Primal Scream material.
3
Aug 03 2023
New Wave
The Auteurs
I would classify this as "just another mainstream album of its time". I fail to detect the special about it.
2
Aug 04 2023
Music
Madonna
Not my kind of music.
2
Aug 05 2023
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
More electronic music for nineties people on drugs. Some of the genre is good, this one falls straight into the classic "too repetitive, too boring" file.
2
Aug 06 2023
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Oasis was never my thing, and I never really got the arguments between its leaders, but: This album hasn't dated too badly, and Wonderwall is still a song that grips me throughout. Most of the other songs are good, too!
4
Aug 07 2023
New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
There was a period when I couldn't stop listening to Simple Minds, considering them sheer brilliance. That period's long gone, but I still love this music, even without Don't You Forget About Me.
As for this particular album, it does suffer from the typical overabundance of filler tracks. Simple Minds is one of those obvious calls for "best experienced through a compilation" bands.
3
Aug 08 2023
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Given this is album #911 for me, and given this is the first Suzanne Vega album I'm served with, I will start with: If it was up to me and I had to choose but one Vega album, I would go with Solitude Standing or, if forced, 99.9 F. But not this one, whose main credential is "I was here first". Point is, Vega is so much better than this particular album.
As for this album: Marlene on the Wall is a nice hit, but the rest of the album errs way too far into the underwhelming.
2
Aug 09 2023
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I know it has become extremely popular to adore Parton, and I'm thankful for her investments in mRNA vaccinations, but I just don't like this music.
1
Aug 10 2023
Destroyer
KISS
Always found Kiss' music gimmicky, uninspiring, and rather ordinary. A disrespectful waste of its listener's time, if you will. And I still do, I don't care about the band's image or how flashy their live shows with fireworks coming off their guitars are.
1
Aug 11 2023
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
A fine but not great rock album from a good rock band that's a tad past its peak. Some great tracks, some less so, but overall I enjoy listening to Californication from time to time.
Most importantly, Californication will forever lie in the shadows of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. And very rightly so.
4
Aug 12 2023
The Who Sell Out
The Who
5th Who album served to me here, which is too much.
Regardless of that annoying fact, I consider this specific concept album to completely miss the mark. It reminded me why I never count myself as a Who fan or even appreciator.
1
Aug 13 2023
Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris, I loved so much for so long, but this album is way too far gone into country music territory for me to tolerate.
1
Aug 14 2023
Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Why?
1
Aug 15 2023
Ys
Joanna Newsom
Art for art's sake (or for people to be able to boast superior sophistication)
1
Aug 16 2023
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
There were times when one could not avoid exposure to some of the songs in this album. They were played everywhere!
Those time have gone by now, making me wonder what it is about certain albums that leave a permanent mark whereas others, like MGMT's here, disappear into the ether.
Those couple of tracks that were huge hits back then are still nice to listen to, occasionally...
3
Aug 17 2023
The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
OK jazz music, yes, but I got the point after one track.
Yet again, I fail to see the special spice that merited this particular album's inclusion here above others (but then again, I should be used to that by now). Is it the token xylophone/accordion this list needed ever so badly?
2
Aug 18 2023
Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Another peculiar pick of an album, joining a very long line of other picks on this here website. As is often the case, it smells of "do admire my sophistication for having picked this here album that you would otherwise not willingly choose to listen to".
2
Aug 19 2023
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monรกe
Creative? Yes.
Music that speak to me? No.
2
Aug 20 2023
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
Iโd much rather listen to paint dry.
1
Aug 21 2023
...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Dandy Warhols
Nice rock music that just lacks that bit of a spark that will turn it into the truly brilliant
3
Aug 22 2023
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
I still can't stand the singer's voice from the last time you shoved a Kings of Leon at me. The band has had its time under the sun, the world has moved on.
2
Aug 23 2023
Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
If music that feels so ancient is allowed here, why can't we have actual good stuff like Beethoven?
I will also question the album cover.
2
Aug 24 2023
Haut de gamme / Koweรฏt, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
I'm repeating myself here, but: pretty much the only thing to celebrate about this entry is the rarity of non western entries. As for the music itself, I can't say it aged well nor can I say I find of interest for any other reason.
Which is rather sad, because there is so much good music in this world that's completely ignored by this list here.
And yes, the guy is no angel, either.
1
Aug 25 2023
A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Not my kind of music. Next!
2
Aug 26 2023
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Nice witty music, but it fails to carry me away into remote places
3
Aug 27 2023
Scum
Napalm Death
Unlistenable
1
Aug 28 2023
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
Look, I really canโt stand a whole album of this sh*t
1
Aug 29 2023
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
Too smooth a pop for me to be able to truly enjoy. Besides, most of the tracks feel like not much more than fluffy fillers.
2
Aug 30 2023
After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
First, I will note that this is the 8th album with Young's name on it that's served to me over here. We can probably all (?) agree this is a bit of an overkill.
As for this album's music: kind of boring, I guess?
2
Aug 31 2023
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
Back when this album came out, I was fascinated by it. True, it wasn't my kind of music, but the voice and the originality were forces to be reckoned with (especially at a time when so much music did its best to sound exactly like Coldplay).
It was therefore interesting to revisit this album I haven't listened to for a while. And I have to say, the voice is still a factor, but the music did not have as much effect on me as it once did. I guess I grew older with added layers of cynicism.
3
Sep 01 2023
E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
An incohesive album from an overrated band whose main achievement was being there at the right time.
2
Sep 02 2023
Connected
Stereo MC's
Connected and Step it Up were big hits at the time, especially Connected. And I still like the music, even though it aged and faded.
However, I fail to see why this particular album should be celebrated more than 30 years after the fact. No one cared about that album at the time, all people cared for were 1-2 hit singles that have more or less disappeared from our culture.
Yet another bizarre album choice.
3
Sep 03 2023
Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
Janis Joplin is something else, the raw energies are great, but itโs down to a couple of tracks (Summertime & Piece of My Heart) to hold this album and itโs just not enough to render it truly great.
3
Sep 04 2023
Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Thereโs a word that an old and dear aunt of mine uses to describe music thatโs not much more than a repetitive drone that feels like itโs drilling an extra hole in your head: Moormooya.
This album is Moormooya.
1
Sep 05 2023
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
The world would have been a better place if this band were atheists instead.
Seriously, where did this website's curators dig this album up from?
1
Sep 06 2023
Faust IV
Faust
Yes, German music should receive a presence here, but not at all costs. Surely there is German music that is not as repetitive and uninspiring?
2
Sep 07 2023
Liquid Swords
GZA
Not my kind of music (yet again). Next!
1
Sep 08 2023
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
In my book, this is the definition of rock music mediocrity. At the same time, I'll say with a straight face that Livinโ on a Prayer and You Give Love a Bad Name are rather catchy.
2
Sep 09 2023
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I get it, the curators here really dig Nick Cave. It comes built in with music appreciation pretensions.
As for me, I fail to see any significant qualities on display here with this album other than extreme seriousness.
2
Sep 10 2023
Permission to Land
The Darkness
Sounds like a bad eighties band
1
Sep 11 2023
Scott 2
Scott Walker
Album #945 is a second Scott Walker one. And here I was, thinking one was way more than enough.
Anyway, as for Scott 2: inconsistent retro, nothing the vast majority of folks today would voluntarily ask to listen to.
2
Sep 12 2023
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
Over the years, I really grew out of love with Arcade Fireโs music. What once spoke to me now seems mundane, uninteresting, and pretentious.
2
Sep 13 2023
Follow The Leader
Korn
No
1
Sep 14 2023
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Not for me, next
2
Sep 15 2023
Skylarking
XTC
Failed to trigger any meaningful emotions. Iโd classify this as just another one of many (most) albums.
2
Sep 16 2023
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
There was a time when I would classify Ziggy Stardust as one of the best 3 albums ever. My taste in music changed since, and I admit the album doesn't stir the same emotions in me as it used to; these days I'd probably rank Hunkey Dory as a superior album.
Regardless of my own deliberations with myself: what an excellent album! I miss the days of high quality thematic albums, where each of the songs could be appreciated as its own work of art, but the album in its entirety offers that kind of synergy that renders it far superior to just another collection of songs that happened to come from the same creator.
They don't make them like that anymore.
4
Sep 17 2023
Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
Nice music that's quite representative of this century first decade's music. However, I fail to see the incredible in it, that quality that should place it in some exclusive list like this one is meant to be.
3
Sep 18 2023
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Guess this album offers effective insomnia relief?
(Also, 5th Nick Cave album to be served to me here, guess the curators here have a severe crush case)
1
Sep 19 2023
Low
David Bowie
With the number of Bowie albums served to me here getting close to 2 digits, one thing that's dead obvious is that there's too much Bowie here (regardless of how good Bowie was).
As for this particular album: it's pretty good!
Not as good as Bowie's best, but given the variety of styles here it can't be boring, either. Clearly ahead of its time.
4
Sep 20 2023
BEYONCร
Beyoncรฉ
Ouch, I really can't stand this music, which is a pity given how nice Beyonce's voice is.
And yes, I'm fully aware of being firmly on the minority side here.
1
Sep 21 2023
The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
Nothing too offensive, just boring
2
Sep 22 2023
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
Credit goes to the curators here, for ruining an afternoon of mine
1
Sep 23 2023
Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Inoffensive, but not exactly exciting either
2
Sep 24 2023
Urban Hymns
The Verve
Hereโs an album with numerous classic tracks, yet an album that I remember mostly for being so inoffensive: thereโs just nothing to dislike here. Guess thatโs why it sold so many copies.
4
Sep 25 2023
Trafalgar
Bee Gees
Not the Bee Gees album Iโd pick.
2
Sep 26 2023
Nowhere
Ride
I'd call this a "standard British rock album of its era". Not bad, but not something that should be cherished for all eternity either.
2
Sep 27 2023
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Not my kind of music, but clearly a very well made political statement that's very well delivered (and also offers some fine music).
Here's an album that actually deserves to be in a list such as this.
3
Sep 28 2023
Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
Another album thatโs nothing special, and probably never really was. To the curators here, Iโd say: Fifty something years later, itโs time to move on.
2
Sep 29 2023
C'est Chic
CHIC
Pretty cool music!
4
Sep 30 2023
Iโm a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
I think this is exactly the type of music the soundtrack to Walk Hard was aiming its satire at.
2
Oct 01 2023
Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera
Intolerable.
Plus, I fail to see what this album is doing in this forum (but then again, thereโs so much of that here, I have to accept I just donโt get it).
1
Oct 02 2023
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
The music varies from "nothing special" to "rather annoying".
2
Oct 03 2023
Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Tourรฉ
Second album Iโm getting here from Ali Farka Tourรฉ. One might even think other African musicians are hard to find.
Anyway, Ry Cooder or not, this album is too repetitive.
2
Oct 04 2023
The White Room
The KLF
KLF were incredibly big at the time through their singles, then they disappeared - pulled their records away from public access - and then, decades later, decided to come back into the same consciousness that already forgot all about them.
Anyway, KLF were never an album's band, they were an MTV band. The singles' versions are so much better than the album versions, I don't understand why they even bothered with an album.
2
Oct 05 2023
Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
This might have been something sometime, but now it's just bantha fodder.
1
Oct 06 2023
Blunderbuss
Jack White
I like Jack White's music, but I don't think breaking apart from White Stripes did it (or him) good.
3
Oct 07 2023
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
I like jazz, I like Evans' contributions to the world of jazz, but this one errs a bit too much towards easy listening by my book.
3
Oct 08 2023
Vulnicura
Bjรถrk
Cue in the mixed feelings.
On one hand, I love how no Bjork album sounds like one of its predecessors. I love the innovation and sense of exploration, Bjork boldly going where no musician has gone before. Even the album cover is worth noting for its daring.
On the other hand, there's the actual music. I'm enjoying it, but not as much as I should (?): it's definitely not easy to digest, one of those albums that require too many listens before I can conclude that I would have been better off spending my time listening to other albums.
3
Oct 09 2023
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
My ability to withstand this type of music is measured in nanoseconds.
1
Oct 10 2023
Electric
The Cult
Trash
1
Oct 11 2023
Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
I guess what makes this album special is that it's an album?
Because I fail to detect anything else.
2
Oct 12 2023
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
I really like some of Supertramp's songs, but as for their albums? Good songs are too far apart.
50 years later on, Supertramp is best experience through compilations.
2
Oct 13 2023
Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Two things stand for this album by this relatively accidental artist:
1. Buffalo Girls
2. Double Dutch
Other than that, the music did sound fresh at the time. I do, however, hate all the talk show like tracks; I don't know who was the one that started with this habit, but it's annoying.
2
Oct 14 2023
Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
Skip (and: wow, that aged badly!)
1
Oct 15 2023
Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
Yet another Lou Reed album served to me here
2
Oct 16 2023
Dog Man Star
Suede
A rather desperate pick of an album, innit?
2
Oct 17 2023
My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
OK, so Eno & Byrne sampled like there's no tomorrow, and therefore one can argue they paved the way for others to follow. But it's not a good album, nor is this good music.
P.S. I wonder if the curators here have picked albums to also commemorate the end of mass sampling, courtesy of the record companies' waking up and using copyrights to stop it from happening.
2
Oct 18 2023
Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
I like Fatboy Slim, but I think that by this album we got the point.
3
Oct 19 2023
I See You
The xx
xx seems to be one of those cases of bands whose music I like when it's released, but within just a couple of years I look back and wonder what it was that I found interesting about it.
I'll also add that, if pressed to name an xx album I'd curate, this definitely wouldn't be the one.
2
Oct 20 2023
The Stooges
The Stooges
A clever way to sneak another Iggy Pop album in here?
Anyway, the album was definitely ahead of its time, yet that does not make an album great - the music does. And it doesn't.
2
Oct 21 2023
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
Yet another in the wide gamut of unremarkable albums served to me here.
1
Oct 22 2023
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
If the point of this pick of an album was to point out the curator here really, but really, likes Talking Heads, then they really went to extremes, because I got that point already many of their albums ago.
2
Oct 23 2023
Lost Souls
Doves
A rather inconsistent album: some of it offers nice atmospheric tracks, while the rest of it is best classified as "nothing special".
By tomorrow, I'll forget all about this one.
2
Oct 24 2023
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Visceral, timeless rock music, peaking with Creedence's version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine: an 11 minutes masterpiece.
I don't get why we can't get music like in this day and age. Our loss.
4
Oct 25 2023
Van Halen
Van Halen
Guess you have to be an American to like this trashy music.
2
Oct 26 2023
Moondance
Van Morrison
Moondance (the song) does not make an average album great. I will admit, I'm rather sick and tired of the Van Morrison flavour of music.
2
Oct 27 2023
Darkdancer
Les Rythmes Digitales
I think the curators here are having a laugh, making thousands of innocent folks listen to this shit
2
Oct 28 2023
So Much For The City
The Thrills
And this album is special because of ____?
2
Oct 29 2023
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
As close to perfection as an album could get, at least in this world.
Iโd argue that some of the songs here are perfect, period: the title track (what a voice, what lyrics), El Condor Pasa, Cecilia, The Boxer, The Only Living Boy in New Yorkโฆ and itโs not like the rest of them are inferior.
I often wonder what would have happened if Simon & Garfunkel persevered. Not that Iโm complaining at Paul Simonโs output as a solo performer.
5
Oct 30 2023
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
If it wasn't for the band's name, there's no way this album would get curated here.
And while I'm at it: there are way too many Stones curated here.
1
Oct 31 2023
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
Not as fresh sounding as it was in the day, but still one of the Chemicals' better albums (they're a classic case of "I like your old stuff better than the new"). The second half of the album is m-u-c-h better than the first, though.
In my opinion, with this album and its followups the band established the genre.
4
Nov 01 2023
Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Rather too progressive for my taste
2
Nov 02 2023
Hotel California
Eagles
First, can we all agree Hotel California was probably THE SONG of the seventies?
As for the album:
Long in the tooth, and obviously so, but at the same time a classic, and rightly so. Even if it doesn't maintain its own quality standards as it progresses.
Tracks wise, Hotel California's guitar solos will probably always melt me away, and many of the others here clearly come off a mature band at its peak.
4
Nov 03 2023
Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
I'll tell you what, this list here did not need yet another Clapton album
2
Nov 04 2023
Apple Venus Volume 1
XTC
Yet another of way too many of the albums here that apply to the pretentious more than they do to the music lover.
2
Nov 05 2023
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Album #1000 offers a good representation of the overall experience here: an album my life would definitely be better off were I to not waste my time on it. Sure, it might have had some importance 60 years ago, but weโre talking about music and music should be fun.
2
Nov 06 2023
Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Girls Against Boys
Pretty ordinary
2
Nov 07 2023
m b v
My Bloody Valentine
Okay, so there's unique sound here.
That said, "unique" does not necessarily imply "good". In this particular case, affairs are borderline unlistenable.
1
Nov 08 2023
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
Not the worst I've been given here, but still: humanity has moved on
2
Nov 09 2023
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Some nice songs wrapped up in between pretty ordinary tracks.
Ultimately, I can't say I got along with this particular album's sound.
2
Nov 10 2023
Justified
Justin Timberlake
This website is sinking into unprecedented lows
1
Nov 11 2023
Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
Third Dexys Midnight Runners album I'm getting here, one might think they're the next Led Zeppelin or something.
They're not, and this album is not, either.
2
Nov 12 2023
Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
I can see how a certain minority group of people might find this album intriguing. But, generally speaking, as far as the vast majority of humanity is concerned, this is no album to die for or anything remotely close.
2
Nov 13 2023
Gold
Ryan Adams
It all went downhill after Summer of 69
1
Nov 14 2023
Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
Nothing to see here, move along
2
Nov 15 2023
Odelay
Beck
Nice and original, and definitely one of Beck's best.
Yet it's rare for Beck's music to truly move me.
3
Nov 16 2023
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
There's nothing special about this album other than the name "Damon Albarn". Guess that's all it takes for certain folks.
3
Nov 17 2023
Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
I can confirm this album is as boring as Stills' other solo album I received here, as well as the other 2 albums where he's part of the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young gang.
2
Nov 18 2023
Third
Soft Machine
Sorry, too out there for my liking.
2
Nov 19 2023
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
So many better things came out of Australia, why this one?
Oh, I see, itโs a way for the curators here to sneak another Nick Cave album in.
1
Nov 20 2023
Butterfly
Mariah Carey
If this album can show up here, then clearly us humans are capable of the most horrendous acts
1
Nov 21 2023
Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
Pretentious, and much too annoying despite occasional sparks of good music.
2
Nov 22 2023
Immigrรฉs
Youssou N'Dour
Looks like this is, more or less, the only type of non Western music allowed here.
As far as I am concerned, I am happy to sample this genre from time to time, but I can't say I love it. I also fail to detect the special spice here, but then again, what do I know.
2
Nov 23 2023
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
Too gimmicky, but this list had me listen to much worse
3
Nov 24 2023
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Who is that woke up and said to themselves, "yes, this is the album that should represent 2020's music for this curated list"?
Because, to me, this album sounds like eccentricity for eccentricity's sake.
2
Nov 25 2023
Logical Progression
LTJ Bukem
Repetitive meaningless nothingness
2
Nov 26 2023
Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
I have mixed feelings towards Manic Street Preachers. I find some of their songs utterly brilliant, yet most of their albums are an effort at grinding water. This album is no exception.
2
Nov 27 2023
Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
One of those cases where the name on the album makes all the difference, because as albums go this one is rather eccentric.
3
Nov 28 2023
Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
A second Mudhoney album here? Are you having a laugh?
2
Nov 29 2023
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
Yet another forgettable album (that didnโt leave much of a mark even at its prime)
2
Nov 30 2023
Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
Junk "music" wasting my time
1
Dec 01 2023
Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
On par with the Creative Commons music some small shops play in order to avoid royalty fees
2
Dec 02 2023
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
And I thought the first Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band album I got here was bad
1
Dec 03 2023
Funeral
Arcade Fire
That's deep, man
2
Dec 04 2023
Legalize It
Peter Tosh
Noble cause, but the music isnโt the greatest.
2
Dec 05 2023
Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
I can't believe I was actually expected to listen to this awfulness
1
Dec 06 2023
Oxygรจne
Jean-Michel Jarre
Innovative synth music back in its day, still very much nice music to listen to today.
4
Dec 07 2023
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
My life would have been better without this. I'd argue I'm not alone
2
Dec 08 2023
Suicide
Suicide
A rather unfortunate choice of a name, followed by quite annoying music.
1
Dec 09 2023
#1 Record
Big Star
OK, it's definitely music, but am I supposed to find this special in any way?
2
Dec 10 2023
Highly Evolved
The Vines
Never managed to grip me
2
Dec 11 2023
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
I find this type of music unlistenable. Next
1
Dec 12 2023
The Libertines
The Libertines
Yet another album that seems to have been curated here because the author had a hard time coming up with the promised thousand albums.
2
Dec 13 2023
Qui sรจme le vent rรฉcolte le tempo
MC Solaar
Today I learned I don't like French rap music either. Mind you, it was better than most of the English speaking rap served to me over here.
2
Dec 14 2023
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
I admit reggae is not my forte, but I found this album particularly uninspiring and repetitive.
2
Dec 15 2023
Basket of Light
Pentangle
This album made me laugh. I donโt think this was the artist had in mind.
1
Dec 16 2023
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
Overindulgent, uninspiring, and repetitive.
2
Dec 17 2023
The Coral
The Coral
Several tiers below "nothing special"
1
Dec 18 2023
Ingenue
k.d. lang
What a voice!
I wish every song here was as good as Constant Craving, but I should learn to look at the bright side: I love this album, and can hardly think of a better soundtrack to a lazy summer afternoon.
4
Dec 19 2023
Real Life
Magazine
And I thought this list had already exhausted all British bands that ever existed
1
Dec 20 2023
Go Girl Crazy
The Dictators
Another album that's here not because it offers good music, but rather because years later someone had a brain fart re the album's dubious historical value.
1
Dec 21 2023
Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
Yet another album the curator's here dug up somewhere, but which should have clearly left alone.
1
Dec 22 2023
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
Not the worst album I got here, but seriously, a 3rd Kings of Leon album here is way too much, donโt you think?
I still can't stand the singer's voice, for a start.
2
Dec 23 2023
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
People don't seem to be aware these days just how much of "the talk of the town" this album was.
Controversy aside, I was always fascinated by the music: from the sublime Trevor Horn production through the variety of music on display here. Fury on one side, a classic of Liverpool, and Born to Run on the other, an American car culture classic. And in between, hits such Relax and Two Tribes.
Also worth noting is the album's sound quality, a rare reference in popular music where one could tune equipment to.
4
Dec 24 2023
What's That Noise?
Coldcut
Far too springy (and messy) for me.
2
Dec 25 2023
You Are The Quarry
Morrissey
This place is reeking with Morrissey. Sorry, I canโt stand him.
1
Dec 26 2023
D
White Denim
One of many albums here that arenโt too bad, but donโt belong in such a list either. I guess most readers of the original book had a hard time noticing this, but in the age of streaming the kingโs nakedness is repeatedly exposedโฆ
2
Dec 27 2023
Tank Battles
Dagmar Krause
An artistic statement does not necessarily good music make.
Need to cleanse my ears after this one.
1
Dec 28 2023
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
Delicately traverses the borderline between noise and awful music.
1
Dec 29 2023
Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
Sounds like they started curating random albums here
1
Dec 30 2023
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
Is this just a list of everything Byrds? Because โbonusesโ aside, this if the 5th album Iโm getting from them here. And letโs make it clear, they ainโt no Beatles, Led Zep, or Pink Floyd.
2
Dec 31 2023
The Dreaming
Kate Bush
Eccentric, yes, but also original and - occasionally - entertaining.
Is this the Kate Bush album Iโd curate here? No way. But, ultimately, itโs a Kate Bush album and I love Kate Bush.
3
Jan 01 2024
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
Seriously, a second bizarro album from this artist?
Art thou sane? Or you trying to drive us crazy?
1
Jan 02 2024
Out of Step
Minor Threat
Seriously, where did they dig this shit out of?
1
Jan 03 2024
xx
The xx
Unlike the previous xx album served to me here, this is the right xx album to recommend if one insists upon listening to The xx.
I qualified my recommendation on the grounds xx is a bit of a one trick pony, and with time this albumโs originality has faded into the background. Still nice to listen to, but not the phenomenon it once was.
3
Jan 04 2024
The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Dull, repetitive and boring - just like everything else Iron Maiden.
1
Jan 05 2024
Brothers
The Black Keys
A solid album by The Black Keys, who - in my opinion - have done even better elsewhere.
The hit songs, Tighten Up and Howlin' for You, are definitely a step above the rest, and an indication of what the band is truly capable of.
3
Jan 06 2024
Born To Be With You
Dion
So things have deteriorated to us being served albums here for reasons as minute as โPhil Spector, a notorious criminal, produced some of the songsโ?
2
Jan 07 2024
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
Wow, this album is so much worse than I remembered it. Mundane and uninspiring music coupled with foul language for the sake of foul language, thereโs little to redeem this turd.
This album should only be listened to by those seeking to worsen their condition.
2
Jan 08 2024
Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
With the notable exception of songs that featured in Pulp Fiction, as well as The Windmills of Your Mind, I find the music here errs on the too mild side of things.
2
Jan 09 2024
When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
One sort of an OK song does not merit an otherwise very bland albumโs inclusion here.
1
Jan 10 2024
Arular
M.I.A.
I can't stand M.I.A.'s music the second time around here either (and no, I did not consider M.I.A.'s music worthy of a second entry here to begin with).
1
Jan 11 2024
Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
It's definitely music. For brief moments it even sounds original.
Does said music merit inclusion in what's alleged to be a prestigious list of albums? Nahhhhhhhhh
2
Jan 12 2024
Woodface
Crowded House
While I think Australian music is greatly under represented here, I always found Crowded House's music rather mundane.
2
Jan 13 2024
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
Another filler album, just to get to 1001?
2
Jan 14 2024
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
Nice and pleasant, with very nice arrangements. Even if I couldnโt avoid noting my general inability to tell one song from the other, I enjoyed listening. And I will also admit to having a soft spot for Sinatraโs voice.
3
Jan 15 2024
California
American Music Club
Clearly, the curators here got desperate as they were trying to make it to 1001.
2
Jan 16 2024
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
Yet another filler album
2
Jan 17 2024
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
They took a food processor, forced as many sounds as they could inside it, and then forced us to listen to the result.
2
Jan 18 2024
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
I much preferred The White Stripes' guitar based sound over what Satan has to offer. On the other hand, this is still very high quality rock music, and the duo has to be commended for not staying in place.
Which side wins?
I'll put it this way, this album does not light my fire. I wonder if I would have paid it much attention if it wasn't for the band's name and its past glory.
3
Jan 19 2024
Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
I don't think this is particularly inspiring music that I just had to listen to before I croak. It's rather simple and it's definitely repetitive.
But given I'm a sucker for heavy guitar sound, I will give this album the benefit of doubt.
3
Jan 20 2024
Sister
Sonic Youth
5th Sonic Youth album? You canโt be serious.
As for the album itself: a bit annoying, rather benign, uninspiring. You know, a Sonic Youth album. When they grow up they'd like to be a Nirvana.
3
Jan 21 2024
The Predator
Ice Cube
Second Ice Cube album served to me here offers more of the things I couldnโt stand in the previous one.
1
Jan 22 2024
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Yet another filler album in this curated list.
I wonder, what was it the curators thought I should not miss out on by listening to this album, but I canโt come up with an answer.
2
Jan 23 2024
Hot Shots II
The Beta Band
I find this album rather ordinary. Not the worst thing ever, but nothing I'd want to go back to, either.
Which leaves me with yet another โseriously?โ thrown at the curators here for picking a second album from this band. Where I come from, this is called laziness.
2
Jan 24 2024
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
I can't say I'm a big fan of this Grammy winning genre, but I will not deny Norah Jones does it well.
3
Jan 25 2024
Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
Having their song Pretty in Pink featured in the movie Pretty in Pink does not render this album worth listening to. There's something about The Psychedelic Furs' sound that gives me a headache.
2
Jan 26 2024
Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
The answer to the question "where the hell did they dig this album out of" is in the question.
1
Jan 27 2024
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
One more of so many albums here that are just nothing special.
Adding insult to injury is what the band did to Comfortably Numb, one of the most beautiful songs ever. Severe punishments have been handed for much less.
2
Jan 28 2024
Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
Seriously, a 3rd album from a band of the calibre of Echo And The Bunnymen? Are we to believe this was a Led Zeppelin grade band???
Anyway: as the band says in the albumโs first song, โspare usโ. Spare us from outdated music that sounded pretty meh upon release.
2
Jan 29 2024
Space Ritual
Hawkwind
With songs that take hours to get anywhere (if they get there at all) and an awful sound, I do wonder what went on in the minds of the folks that picked this album for this list here. Probably the same drugs required to come up with a band name such as โHawkwindโ?
2
Jan 30 2024
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
I have no idea how an album like that could make it into a list such as this, when there is so much good music to be had out there.
2
Jan 31 2024
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
First, this classic is the definition of nice music.
Second, The Girl from Ipanema is absolutely divine, as is the singer's voice.
This album used to be one of the select albums that people tried out when they wanted a taste of what jazz has to offer (together with the likes of Kind of Blue). Things don't work like that anymore, and I wonder if this "progress" caused Getz/Gilberto to disappear off the radar. Which would be a great shame.
4
Feb 01 2024
The Bones Of What You Believe
CHVRCHES
Overrated band
2
Feb 02 2024
White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
An overrated album from an overrated band.
I thought I'd qualify the above with a statement along the lines of "With all due respect to the underground movement...", but I guess I only hold respect for the underground when it comes to public transport.
2