Difficult to look at this impartially, being one of my favourite and frequently played albums, so I’ll just gush. I kind of understand some people’s “bland/Muzak” perception. I don’t often “get” much punk, early Country or a lot of hip-hop, but... ... This album has amazing musicianship - albeit very calculated and brilliantly produced. The antithesis of punk. Love the funky pop of Black Cow, I got the news, Peg, the mature jazz crossover of Aja, the sophistication of Deacon Blues and the rock of Home at last and Josie. A perfect timeless album.

No, it is not a “neglected masterpiece” or “lost treasure” or “towering achievement”. This was unsuccessful because it just isn’t good enough. Too much talking and not enough singing. The music and songs are there, but overlong and disjointed with the talky bits. Given the brilliance of the previous two Dexy’s Midnight Runners albums, I’m very disappointed with this even if I’m left with one or two ear-worm melodies (just adds to my overall disappointment).

Awesome - a stone cold singalong classic

Byrds style jangly guitars, infectious melodies and grooves, mumbled mysterious lyrics. It worked in 89 and still sounds great now. One of The great British albums.

The funkiest jazz, most 70s sounding jazz fusion album ever

Some gold plated hits, a few pleasant country rock foot tappers and some introspective songs which are more a vehicle for Lennon's lyrics. A little disappointing overall.

Noisy but very teenage indie

Loved the breezy 70s laid-back jazz funk and beautiful Brazilian melodies and female backing singers. 1st track is very cool, pity there wasn't anything else solar in a slightly more edgy rock style.

So lovely and warm. A gem

Catchy pop. Good fun. Great in concert too.

Funky disco and it has Le Freak!

Enthused about this in 1994 and still enjoy the songs today. Energy, humour, melodies and hooks. good songwriting.

Great pop, not just for students. Surprisingly time-less

I don't understand this at all. I don't like Beefheart's Trout face lp and I don't like this. To me it makes no musical sense. Why is it highly rated?

Punk energy, swamp blues, joy Division production in places, but not my taste

A classic, with interesting and well crafted songs

Lightning fast picking. Rollicking good fun, but overlong. Great musicianship.

Not my taste of music or genre. Found the vocal delivery and most of the music abrasive

Cool, groovy, bluesy and interesting

Dark, bluesy on places, great feel voice. Good.

It's the Beatles, albeit separately. Brilliant

Crooning, but no upbeat swing

Cool, thoughtful hip hop. Not aggressive or abrasive.

Brilliantly Beatlesque in places, electronically wacky in others. Eclectic!

Beautiful Joni vocals and grown up music. Not as catchy as earlier albums, but much more accessible than later ones.

Rock n roll country.

Unmistakably ABBA, but with added melancholy and more Chess-style orchestration.

Listenable catchy, clever

Exciting, rock and still very blur

Accessible hard rock with record scratching. Nothing too abrasive.

Not an easy listen at all. Too experimental and harsh and grating. Didn't enjoy. I'm clearly too middle of the road preferring their first two albums. Beth's voice is still poignant and emotional.

Very indie lo-fi - still slightly disappointing

Relaxing and groovy. Some good dance tracks and some more mellow. All well known.

Ok, fairly energetic, but not as good as AC/DC or Iron Maiden

Mostly enjoyed. Funky punk, a little bit Talking Heads - a little bit punky - better than early Red Hot Chili Peppers. Overlong album, but 35 mins at least is excellent.

Very 80s, excellent pop and rock. Tina Turner was on fire!

Educational, interesting, hypnotic. Probably wouldn't listen to much, but understand it's importance.

Not quite as exciting as their other albums, although Dig for Fire is great

Never really liked Suede apart from a few early singles, notably Stay together. Overblown and not enjoyable.

Great fun, US soul covers and My Generation!

Psychedelic and disjointed. Very disappointing

Has not aged! Good hit singles, indie rock, super moody vocals and electronic programming too.

Most start with good riff, but then it's lost in muddy production and thrashing. Not my taste.

Good, soulful pop. Eileen is quite different to others.

The voice of soul, the music of soul, brilliant!

Actually quite good fun, notwithstanding the subject matter. Fairly eclectic covering much of Cave/Bad Seeds styles.

Awesome - a stone cold singalong classic

Well this easy! My all time favourite album. The best Prince lp, probably the best lp by anyone ever. Eclectic and covers everything good about Prince: pop, disco, rap, rock, blues, ballads, sex, politics, social awareness, live concert, quirkiness. An absolute masterpiece.

This has indie disco rock moments as well as poignant emotional gentler songs. The start of a stratospheric and sustained rise to the top of global stadium and festival headlining glory.

Good fun, excellent poetry, poignant ballads. Very listenable.

Jolly, upbeat New Orleans jazz standards reminiscent of Louis Armstrong but not so gravelly

Reminds me of Burt Bacharach/John Barry/Neil Diamond/Jarvis Cocker. Glorious and heart-breaking pop, arrangements and lyrics. Great fun in concert too.

Byrds style jangly guitars, infectious melodies and grooves, mumbled mysterious lyrics. It worked in 89 and still sounds great now. One of The great British albums.

More accessible and perhaps conventionally rock than OK Computer.

Not a bad listen, actually! Educational, albeit angry, music is good. I now see the irony in the misogynistic lyrics, but still don't like that content.

Massive break beats, very accessible electronic music fused with soul and funk, mostly. Great running soundtracks.

More prog than I was expecting. Relatively accessible although Geddy Lee's singing at the start is higher and more affected than in later years.

Childish themes (guns and marijuana). Cool beats and samples (got some Dusty Springfield too)

A bit over blown. Disappointing, but not awful.

Not my taste, too noisy and aggressive. Good bass work all the same.

Liked the bluesy songs more than the baroque. Pleasant listening.

Great, catchy and polished radio pop.

Music and beats are good. Voice doesn't grate. Don't care much for content.

Accessible, Doors style organ.

Ethereal and boring. Occasional 60s style, but mostly weird background noises.

Not as noisy and unfocused as MBV. I can see the progression towards Leave Them All Behind and Twisterella. OK, probably prefer early Verve for this type of textured music.

Actually more coherent than Loveless, but not as infectious. Still noisy!

Enjoyed far more than "wee small hours" - I prefer more upbeat.

Interesting like Radiohead can be interesting. A few funky Talking Heads meets Beck, with some good akt rick textured music.

Didn't like abstract side 1, but side 2 with flamenco guitar and repeated melodies was good. Reminded me of 1950s cinema and the Taxi Driver soundtrack.

Great fun and a bit punky

Sounds like the link between Carole King and Joni Mitchell. Lovely voice, soul meets jazz and pop. His did I miss this all these years?

It has Two Weeks, but the rest is emotive, interesting, but just a little dull.

Smooth, soulful, enjoyable. beautiful voice

I always liked this Smiths album the best despite their relationship problems.

Mediocre 70s Garage rock and balladeering. Not special.

Listenable reggae with a message even if tampered with by Island Records for international ears.

Good reggae with soul/R&B vibes. Tackles similar political issues, but not seemingly as poignantly (albeit earlier) compared to the preceding listing of Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey.

Put off by "punk" links in many write-ups, but in fact far closer to Jim Morrison and the Doors. Not something I'd listen to frequently, but enjoyable all the same. Very accomplished debut.

Warm, elegant, jaunty and sophisticated pop. Beautiful.

The essence of rock n roll. Electrifying and fun.

Great voice - very Jacques Brel. Quite pretentious!

Some amazing songs (Sensual World, This Woman's Work) and other interesting Bush songs.

Undoubtedly energetic and angry in a yoof/punk style, probably fun to watch their gigs, but not pleasurable to listen at home. More in tune guitar soloing please!

Rock, soul, country rock and slow tunes. Pretty good!

Cool Blues and rock, but ramshackle and rough. I realise this is controversial, but I was disappointed after Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers.

Lived it in late 80s as a child, still do now although I haven't listened to this in about 25 years!

Half are Super funky, jazzy grooves and half are typically lush mid 70s ballads. Pretty cool. Tracks opening each side are straight up funk. Africano is a wah wah funk jazz tour de force.

Not my favourite kind of music or even style of hip hop. Ok, beats and delivery are ok. Cool James is cool.

Sombre, down tempo, quite beautiful.

Laid-back Summer-time trip-hop style instrumentals.

Good funk rock. Pity about the dross that is "Promental..."

Very accessible and groovy. Clean disco funk basslines. The chanty slogans are catchy enough, but the vocals are the weakest point (although they typify George Clinton P-Funk).

Not sure if this is a perfect album but it is quite superb with a mixture of light rock, pop, country rock, rock n roll, powerful slow tunes. Very listenable.

Accessible, but repetitive 80s style synth with bleak vocals. Punk both synth pop?

Eclectic! Very interesting and enjoyable. Haven't even had a chance to take in the lyrics and themes to see the project as a concept album. So many influences and I think I even heard some Smiths on Oh, Maker! Unfair to just say she is "like Prince". Her ambition is quite different. Impressive.

Very English in a Kinks/Beatles style. Listenable. Interesting to read about writing, production and release issues.

All 3 Dexy's LPs are justifiably highly rated and on the 1001 list. Great driving soul, youthful modern lyricism and attitude. Great bass and brass. Those unmoved by Geno and There there my Dear must have ice in their veins!

Must of these collaborations are good and more of a showcase for the relatively younger guitarists. Sacred cow or not, I don't enjoy most of John Lee Hooker's mumbling and guitar picking. 2.5/5

Brilliant funky pop. Possibly Prince's best and cohesive standard length LP (Sign 'O' the times being a double!). Not too long, superb "backing" band in The Revolution.

Started off like Arab Strap, but boring. Then some shouty bits, but still boring. Will give 2/5 because it isn't as appalling as the albums I've given 1.

Shoegazing, textured and trippy. I'm not in the same place as the critics who felt this was a masterpiece.

Short sharp punk attitude. Thank you Elastica for the 90s tribute.

Somehow missed this having picked up 77 and Fear of Music on cassettes years ago. Not sure it's as good as either, although Angel, Job, Girls, Love are excellent. I hear the progression towards funky dance. Cool. Still haven't got my ears around DB's lyrics, though.

Always enjoyed listening to and watching The Charlatans. Fairly consistent Stones-style rock n roll (appropriate for Beggars Banquet label!). Maybe not as good as The Charlatans eponymous album or New Order-sounding You Cross My Path.

Lovely guitar picking. Some good indie/folk tunes. Not keen on his voice.

Some great Beatlesque pop. Well known hit singles and THAT side 3 weather sequence concluding with the gilt edged Mr Blue Sky. Pretty good, but a little long.

Gorgeous, gentle, quite beautiful romantic music. Very impressed. Retro, but does that matter?

Great example of 60s British blues explosion meets late 60s psychedelia. Great musicians. Half the album is Must Hear. A few fillers!

I knew Revolution already so wasn't expecting such a spaced out quiet bore-fest! I did like So Hot, but it's a very short pretty song. Not a revolutionary listen, but not 1 star either.

Surprisingly conventional rock. Pleasant singing. Some good bits - Wurm sounds like 90s grunge riffing. Was expecting more exquisite Chris Squire Rickenbacker picking like Roundabout.

Phat beats, cool, rhythmic delivery. I liked most of it. Not too aggressive, clever wordplay. Better than most hip-hop. 3.75 out 5

Smooth, sophisticated, but not over crowded jazzy pop music with THAT voice. Very cool, good for sunny days and relaxed evenings.

Smooth, groovy, very sexy. Love the jazz undercurrents.

Ethereal, pretty, but a bit boring for me hence the middling score just reaching 3.

Starts off very angry and aggressive, but with cool beats. The music is fun (notably express yourself) but the subjects become irritating. I see why it is influencial and "classic", but not really my thing. 2.8 out of 5. Just not for me.

Very 80s synth similar to New Order of the same era. Great pop. Always liked Kings Cross, shopping and the singles.

I've always enjoyed this. Has some slower and darker album songs, but six of the 10 are outstanding.

I quite enjoyed this but lost interest during the profane sex and "gangster" sections. Not what I was expecting - musically diverse. 3.5 out of 4

Some great blues rock but definitely overlong jams. Their version of Good golly miss Molly is dynamite.

Really enjoyed this - groovy melodies with pleasant sounding solos. Not too difficult, something I will listen to again.

1978 sounds like 1984 in terms of "hair rock". A better album than I remembered with much of the first half being bonafide classics. 3.5 out of 5

Sombre, but reasonable folk/pop. Wouldn't listen to again as a whole album so 2.8 out 5 rounded up.

Fairly average heavier 60s rock - similar to Doors, but far inferior.

Pretty good prog. Listenable with some well known hits. 3.75 out 5 rounded up to 4*

Sweet voice, but not my cup of tea

Interesting concept, but a poor Who album in relation to their singles or later great rock albums.

The country style is not my taste, although I admire the classic soul covers.hot burrito #2 and dark end of the street are the only sings I liked.

Brilliant. Love the synths and the rock elements. This is The Who that I know best.

Mostly not my taste, although I do get the bluesy style.

Another hip hop album that I quite enjoyed. Good music, rhythmic vocals. Usual questionable lyrics - Da Bitchez!

Pretty tuneless, surprised at the weakness. Started ok, then became noise. Not as bad as pere ubu!

"one of 2004's most critically acclaimed releases" Oh dear! Noisy, scuzzy rock. Has its place somewhere, but not with me. Still not as bad as Pere Ubu, so 2 out of 5.

Classic 70s rock with good riffing particularly on Walk This Way, but throughout. Enjoyable.

Station to station and Stay are my faves. Pretty good.

Some qualities of Robyn and Taylor Swift, just not a comprehensive thumbs up, although kudos for being so young, yet so mature.

Well well well... I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the vocals. Pity Smith didn't do more accessible Fall albums. I will listen to this again. Not quite 4 out of 5.

Astonishingly good, apart from somewhat meandering limp ending to "Listen", the final track.

Far more mainstream than Pixies. Listenable, but not as edgy or dark as Pixies.

Energetic like only young new bands can record. Witty like the best writers and sung in Sheffield vernacular too. Great fun.

Ok, fairly traditional, clearer vocals than later albums, but not as good as the 1987 album. Second half better than first half.

Very 60s psychedelic space rock. Of its time. Bit boring.

Good ska, but a little varied in terms of quality. Best to cherry pick Specials and Terry's music.

Very 80s rock production, sadly not enough ZZ Top blues for a higher score, but a solid album.

I've always enjoyed this album. An early entry point to the eclectic world of Zappa. The blues of Captain Beefheart is excellent as is the electric violin (and guitar of course!).

Uplifting electro-indie. Good, closer to 4 than 3, but not quite essential.

The funkiest jazz, most 70s sounding jazz fusion album ever

There is a sophisticated beauty in songs like Surf's Up and Feel Flows. Disney Girls (1957) and 'Til I Die have gorgeous melodies. A grower of a 'listening' album. Not quite 4, but I think it will get there after a few more listens.

Like the sound of the guitar, but not the wailing cacophony. In this album there are only really 2 songs for me: 50ft Queenie and Dry.

An interesting album, very different to the excellent Different Class. More Bowie-esque. Worth listening to a few times. A bit long. Currently I'm giving it 3.5, but this might increase with familiarity.

Actually not as bad as I was expecting! Good 60s pop and garage rock. I can understand why it is so influential. Terrible noisiness in European Son, which is quite a good song for the first 2 minutes.

Exciting, rock, indie, fun. I still love this more than 30 years later.

Tremendous 60s/70s bluesy rock n roll. I understand why Black Crowes and Reef ripped this off.

Scuzzy, glam rock n roll. Not bad, I can hear Bowie and I can hear Joy Division, so quite influential.

Good pop album. More listening will help familiarity and I'm sure this would earn a higher rating from me at a later date.

Very 70s/80s Gainsbarre. Pretty cool and funky, albeit lecherous old man sleaze, but what do you expect from Gainsbourg? Enjoyable. I recognise the future Portishead/Massive Attack samples. 3.5

Good transition between his early folk and electro r&b/rock n roll. I prefer "Highway...", "Blonde..." and "Nashville..." 2.75 because although it can see it's good, I hardly ever listen to it.

Funk rhythms reminiscent of Remain in Light side 1, but not be as fun. Undeniably clever and technically forward thinking, but not that enjoyable.

Brilliant dance pop.

Good funk afrobeat, but ignore the additional long drum solo tracks from track 5 (original album is 4 tracks)

Punk, metal and prog all combined - awesome. It includes Phantom of the opera, running free, iron maiden and prowler. Great debut, but not perfect - 3.75

So so pop. A bit fey. Enjoyed hearing the song based on New Order's Procession and other influences. Like The Divine Comedy this will need more listens to appreciate the clever lyrics. Lovely album cover!

Good mixture of rock n roll, folk with a bit of soul. Not too country. Listenable. Not quite a 4

Her tone remains the same all the way through. Mellow enough, but so boring with no tonal shift. Disappointing after all the plaudits.

By contrast to yesterday's Kelela, Erykah Badu's voice is versatile and interesting. Perhaps I just prefer "organic" music like this. Excellent.

I read that this is a commemoration of the bass player's virtuosity, but I sadly didn't enjoy the bass solos. Piano is great, however.

Recognised one song and like it, but not won over by the rest of the prog-ness. Not awful, might try again. Difficult to get past Flight of the Conchords send-up (Lord of the rings song).

Spikey - some good indie rock guitar. Mega phone vocals irritate after a while. I liked Pin and Maps. Just scraping a 3 out of 5.

Usual good and distinctive vocals, but not such a super duper sound. Ok I suppose.

Like a companion piece to What's going on - perhaps a bit dated for 1978? Pleasant musically, painful lyrically. A small number of "essential" tracks. A low 3 out of 5

I do like The Cure and this early album isn't too gloomy, but it isn't a classic Cure LP. However, it has one of their finest songs in A Forest so 3 out of 5.

Good rock album. I liked the guitar sound. Songs are all a bit too long. One or two are dreadful (farmer song).3.5 out of 5

Well known soulful piano and melody driven album - sometimes difficult to recall originals from all the first class covers! Not greatest voice but such good musicianship and writing. Great, but not quite a 5 star lp, sorry!

Lovely voice, very controlled. Not won over by the country, calypso, old fashioned style although the bluesy jazzy songs are good. Not my thing hence the lowish score, but a worthy album to include as a variation on popular country music.

Really enjoyable. A classic which I had never listened to from start to finish. Even the strummy acoustic songs rock.

Fun, fun fun! Pretty kitsch. Super rhythms. Probably wouldn't listen to again, but enjoyed listening.

Haven't listened to this for years, slightly disappointed it wasn't better! Listenable, dark and smouldering, big 3 singles are still fun (Lucretia, corrosion and dominion). Undoubtedly influential.

About halfway through. Not my cup of tea. Beats are ok, but I'm not getting the subject matter. Worthy of 2 stars.

Reasonable 90s Seattle rock. Chris Cornell's voice is superb. RIP

Superbly created music. Great for any occasion

Jaunty, but a bit cloying after a while.samey.

Mature, mostly orchestral backed down beat folk/pop. Some 60s/70s dated styles. Good, but not my cup of tea.

Ella's voice soothes me in the same way as Karen Carpenter's, and with superb joyful jazz standards "who could ask for anything more"! There is also a shorter "very best of the Gershwin songbook" available too.

Ace, early doo-wop rock n roll.

Brilliant, not as refined or mature as the classic late 90s/2000s albums, but a good fun mix of early Chilis progressing to the Californication sound. I still love this, even if it a bit too long. 5 star album.

Avant Garde. Unusual mix of classical and modern instruments. Some pleasant gentle music and some discordant. Very interesting artwork.

Quite beautiful for the most part, but heart breaking in terms of pain and angst. Very harsh upbringing by the sounds of things. Musically tasteful, but probably won't rush back to it as it is anguished.

Pretty, but very similar to other classic Cohen LP's. Includes Story of Isaac

Good as a solo record, but why not include the great Mano Negra rather than Many Chao's solo efforts?

Classic prog, but not too Genesis or Yes! Good riffs, voice and flute. I'm going to give it 4 because it is easily listenable.

Pretty early rock n roll. Lovely harmonies. Bit dated now, though. Pleasant enough - 3 stars.

Love it. Late 60s pop with a bit of soul. Good voice, resembles Blood Sweat and Tears singer. Thoroughly enjoyable - 4 stars.

Some (let's say 4) very good and celebrated songs. A famed Soft Cell cover version. I think the somewhat effected vocal style grates in the second half. The downbeat gentleness needs a boost. Not as good as people made out at the time.3 out of 5

Enjoyed this when released, but realise now that I was just skipping through to the singles. Overall musically more accessible than her other material, but still only good for the singles.3 out of 5

Apart from "Blister", this is weak poor music. Not actually bad music, just completely mediocre and weak post-punk. Not sure why it's on the list. Disappointing.

Don't normally like this kind of music. Pleasantly surprised - good, clear delivery. Entertaining and musically diverse. Some of the commentary and skits could be dropped. I actually might choose to listen again!

Taken in by the razzamatazz back in 2001, and thoroughly enjoyed the music and the style. Still quite like it 20 years on, but Julian's vocal delivery can irritate.

Jangly and psychodelic. Some is very pretty, not as much country as I was expecting.

As expected, quite spare. Accessible, but it's no a Autobahn, sadly. 3.5 out of 5

Usual political balladry - voice and electric guitar - but with addition of full band in a few other songs. A good representation of Billy Bragg.

I already knew and quite liked Alone again or. Not sure why the full album is so highly recommended, pretty ordinary - nothing bad, just nothing special or memorable.

Undeniably influential for the single of The Message, and probably essential for break dancing and popping. However, overlong and samey. Nice to see them give tribute back to Tom Tom Club and Stylistics cover. Single 5*, album 2*

Quietly pretty. Bit boring, better for background. Cocoon is quite sexy and intimate, Heirloom and Unison are most fully realised song in the traditional sense.

Apart from Papa was a rolling stone, I found this run of the mill - even First time ever I saw your face. Disappointing.

Fun, guitar indie. Taking a lot of queued from late 70s/early 80s. Quite knowingly arty - like a punkier Pulp.

Big beats, funky fun. Quirky and scuzzy.

The synths surprised me although I was already familiar with First We Take Manhattan. Interesting and intimate - as with other Cohen LP's. Good.

Love it - short big band late 50s jazz. Afro rhythms. Cuban Latin jazz. Cannonball Adderley. Superb.

Been waiting a long time to listen to this legendary album. Beats are good. Taps "flow". It's kind of old school. I like. High 3.

It's superb Elvis in his later period. Not essential, but a great reason why he remains so popular. Some good soul pop crooning songs. Excellent band.

Pretty enough, like most CS&N (&Y).

Glam-era Bowie - succinct and "fun", albeit dark lyrically - very listenable, but a little short of 4 stars. Iconic cover photo. Amongst the songs I wasn't already so familiar with, Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor and Lady Grinning Soul are highlights. Mike Garson's famous dissonant avant garde piano solo in Aladdin Sane doesn't work for me. Jean Genie and Saturday Night Drive-in are rightly Bowie classics.

Straight forward pop. Ok, but not special.

It is catchy rock n roll, and maybe a few more listens might endear it to me, but for the moment so-so 3stars

Absolutely smashing pop. Heard about the LP, knew a few songs, but never listened to it as a whole. Brilliant, shiny, fun pop. Why wasn't Lennon's material as collectively good on a single album?

Ace, early 80s synth-pop and dance. Always enjoyed this LP. Jennifer is haunting and great. The singles are rightly smash hits. Awesome album.

Pleasant and gentle folk pop. A million miles from Oderlay and Midnite Vultures. What a talented and versatile musician!

So many well known songs it almost felt like a greatest hits album. I also really enjoyed the long jam on "side 2". A triumph of an album.

No. I get it's a fake soundtrack and it's moody, but really!?

Lyrically/narratively interesting, foot tapping, but not my favourite vocal sound or music style. Some good twangy guitar tones. Good old fashioned concise songs under 3 minutes.

Very sweet sentiments and harmonies. Feels like California, but by Scots! I do like the guitar sound, but it is a pity there is very little change across the album.

Early proof of genius pop songwriting. 60s pop rock'n'roll at its finest without studio experiments. Arguably the purest of the great Beatles albums.

Even with familiarity it sounds full of energy. Slightly tame nowdays, but still furious, clever, rebellious and electrifying take on youth rock'n'roll. Rightly one of the better punk records of all time. Not quite a 4 because it's not quite got enough hooks.

I liked this when it came out, but it sounds quite samey and a little boring now, even if the piano playing and Kate Bush vocals are clever. Disappointing.

Might be my favourite Dylan album and possibly emotionally the polar opposite of another favourite, Blonde on Blonde. Accessible and really good songs. Yes, it's about heartbreak, but good music just gets you.

Nine tracks and seven were hit singles. 80s pop distilled into one amazing album.

Some stand out tracks, but I still think talking heads 77, remain in light and speaking in tongues are more cohesive and listenable.

Beautiful voice, modern-ish country, amazing and emotional ballads (Boulder obviously, but also others), excellent Beatles cover. Very good album.

About half is excellent and the rest ok, so 3 out 5 overall. Great band in concert and a first class front man and all round top bloke.

The blueprint of 70s and 80s British heavy metal. Amazing how iron maiden wound so similar 10 years later! Great riffs!

Rap is growing on me. The gangster violence and threats, misogyny, drugs, potty-mouths and tales of impoverished "life is harsh" must be becoming normalised for me as I didn't mind this LP of drug lord iron man peddling "fishscale". It helped that the samples and bscking music was familiar, soulful in and funky and not too abrasive. The rapping was rhythmic and clear. I might even look forward to more Wu Tang related material...

Great laid-back indie pop. I think it might be worthy of the golden 5 out of 5! Hook laden singalongs. Continually came back to this album through the 90s. Pity that Evan Dando started taking himself so seriously...

Sweet voice, not my style of folk.

I'm not bothered that this artist or album are controversial. This is just rubbish. Awful screaming, I can occasionally pick up the lyrics which are deliberately trying to be controversial to the point of being worthless and boring. The music, when musical, is occasionally industrial hard rock, but nothing special. Up there with Venom and Pere Ubu for most unbelievable album on this list.

Good - side 1 acoustic Neil like his classic early 70s LP's, then ROCK 9n side 2. Not as immediately loveable like Gold Rush and Harvest, but pretty good. A high 3 out of 5.

Similar to "...In Rock", which I reviewed last week. Soloing good, but lengthy. Slightly proggy. Good live recording. All the hits!

Musically good heavy indie rock - heavier and more raw guitar sound than Everything Must Go, which I know well and rate highly. Sadly I can't make out the lyrics, so don't get the well documented angst that the critics go on and on about. Will listen to again, but for now it's just a 3, albeit a high 3.

Good singing, although Tracy Thorn always seems a little icy and emotionless even though she sings about emotions. The bleeps, break beats and electronics is good and of its time. For 90s/2000s dinner parties alongside Beth Orton's Trailer Park and Zero 7.

Fairly timeless boogie rock with a hard edge, but not heavy like Deep Purple, Sabbath, etc.

Refreshingly gangster-free, although still posturing about ability. Good use of "daisy-age" jazz-funk samples alongside big beats. Dig the Sly and Scot-Heron samples and what about the additional remix sampling The The!?! Pretty dated, but pleasant to hear.

A gold plated classic. Probably better songwriting than True Blue, but not as familiar to me despite the run of hit singles in the middle.

Pleasant enough, but not knock out for me

Stand out bass playing on Travelling man and Early morning breeze. Very pleasant country album, albeit mainstream.

Lovely - lush, warm Beach Boys style harmonies, charming folk. I'd heard good things, but never got around to listening. Quite wonderful!

No, these musings, mutterings and noodlings are not for me.

Straight ahead blues rock n roll piano. Might have been ground breaking once, but now it's just well executed and sung big band 50s rock n roll.

Mature dance music. Very listenable, albeit a little bit background/dinner party style. Coincidentally to the song "Frozen" the album feels quite glacial: sophisticated, but lacking in singing emotion which fits the music, but not the emotional lyrics. No True Blue, or Like a Prayer, but one of Madonna's best. A high 3 out of 5.

Speed, heavy rock n roll. Sorry to say it is a bit samey. Still legendary band.

Brilliant shiny pop and songwriting at its finest. Becomes heaven-sent with the inclusion of Fernando on later versions. No surprise it's their bestselling LP not called Gold. Instrumental title track that closes original LP is a bit boring, so a high 4 out of 5 for one of my favourite "pop" bands.

Grooves along well, then gets a bit repetitive and tuneless. A pick n mix band. Very cool man, that Josh.

Had to listen several times through. Not usual immediate "hits". Personal lyrics. A celebration of grown up womanhood. Very sexy. A good piece of art in the sense of personal expression. Probably won't listen to much in the future, but it is good quality.

Lo-fi, short pieces, but not very interesting. Not awful, just dull.

The extended album with the first two singles and b-sides is superior. What's so special about Jimi is that his guitar playing still sounds extraordinary even now after guitar music has absorbed, copied and taken inspiration from what he did in the 60s. Another exceptional aspect to Jimi is his singing phrasing and vocal timing. I think he has a natural ability much like Sinatra's phrasing. It's very difficult to do a good mimic. What a talent. Great album - and it's a debut! Even the less well known songs are pretty good, albeit not legendary and so familiar.

Classic era Steely Dan, polished jazzy rock before they became ultra ultra polished and jazzy. Very good indeed. A very high 4 because it's not Aja!

Poor singing and very light weight music. Sounds like what might play in a '70s porn film. Not impressed.

Don't like Armstrong's voice. A few quite good singles. A 90s take on 1977 punk. I suppose it's influential, but just not my cuppa.

Another great upbeat Latin album. Super fun.

Freaked me out bit as a 13 year old. Sorry Mr Waters, but I find the pieces around the big 6 or 7 songs just prog padding. I'm not won over by the story either. 5 out of 5 for Brick, Numb, Run. Positive mentions to Young Lust, Hey You, perhaps Mother. Low scores for much of the rest.

Yes, Billie's voice is croaky, but she has good use of it even if it is past its best. The music is lush, but slow. Too gentle and slow. So I didn't it enjoy it.

Pretty good swampy blues. Just as you'd expect from Fogerty and Creedance. Has the big hits. Probably not a classic classic album, so a high 3 out of 5

Quote good, intros are interesting at first but then distract from the real songs. It rocks well enough, just or all that special .

Gold plated classic. Charming, singalong, fantastic pop with great vocals and harmonies, superb musicianship and guitar work. It's one of the most popular albums of all time for a good reason.

Indie rock - slightly harder Cure or softer Pearl Jam. Strong voice from Lanegan.

Enjoyable.lots of singing as well rapping. Very accessible and good intentions from Missy. Obviously as sex obsessed as Prince!

Too prog and obtuse, frenetic keyboard noodling.

Excellent funky pop, great singing. An 80s pop gem, catchy songs. Mostly upbeat.

Driving, polished rock blues boogie. Includes Move me on down the line and La Grange. Thoroughly enjoyable. Four out of five.

Very smooth, very slow, very sexy, very Marvin. Not very outstanding. Great musicianship, particularly sinuous bass lines that get under the skin. I like, but not extraordinary.

Good, but some unneeded psychadelic noodling. Great ballsy blues voice. A few now classic songs (and covers).

Obviously English style singing which is good, just a little too punky with the out of tune singing. I only really liked the first song. Nice idea to do a punk/country crossover (early alt-country?).

Lovely voice and guitar picking. Nice mix of folk and rhythm & blues. Contains several JT hits, so a good album overall.

Two first class singles making up a third of the duration, then nicely sung folk pop. Vocal is mix of Paul Simon and Jacques Brel.

At the time friends were all over this. Me, not really. Quite good breakbeats. I can see it's technically clever cut and paste sampling, but not my thing.

Very good polished pop, occasionally a few of the songs seem a bit similar. Still one of the better 1980s pop albums.

Difficult to look at this impartially, being one of my favourite and frequently played albums, so I’ll just gush. I kind of understand some people’s “bland/Muzak” perception. I don’t often “get” much punk, early Country or a lot of hip-hop, but... ... This album has amazing musicianship - albeit very calculated and brilliantly produced. The antithesis of punk. Love the funky pop of Black Cow, I got the news, Peg, the mature jazz crossover of Aja, the sophistication of Deacon Blues and the rock of Home at last and Josie. A perfect timeless album.

This is good fun, but not necessarily essential. It is fun new wave catchy singalong pop. Good driving (no pun intended) rhythms with occasional proper long guitar solos! The vocal hooks are bubblegum! A very high 3, maybe a 4 with more familiarity.

Quite earnest singing. Some refreshing alt-rock. Mostly listenable and not too much is dull. Impressive drumming and some interesting bass lines.

Very familiar, but the energy is still palpable. Classics and very influential.

Classics. Awful man, great pop music. Original "Christmas" song is one of the next on the album.

All my loving, Postman, Beethoven and Money are great, but I'm not particularly impressed with the other songs - very so-so. I don't think the Beatles hit their stride until their third LP, the awesome Hard Days Night.

Bluesy and enjoyable apart from L'America. Preferred side 1. Changeling and LA Woman are excellent. Already knew and liked Riders and Love her Madly.

Good mix of modern r&B singing alongside hip hop with pretty good music. Obviously the seed 2.0 is the big famous song, but it's not on its own. Good music. A high 3 due to the quality of the singing, samples and original music. Pretty good .

Interesting mix of mid 60s Beatlesey pop and Dylanesque folk. Very evocative of the times, pleasant enough Sunshine Superman the song is an enduring classic.

Nice pop album.

Superb clear recording. Very listenable and accessible album. Powerful and charming vocal delivery and band leadership. BB never really seemed to vocally or musically change between 60s and 90s! Great guitar playing as always and a terrific sounding band notable piano and brass.

5 star album. Absolutely love the hits on side 1. The drowning nightmare Ninth Wave suite on side 2 is much more \"difficult\", thought-provoking and arguably impenetrable in a delightful Kate Bush manner. Glad of its inclusion in the legendary Before The Dawn concerts.

Sorry Henry, too noisy.

Such a soundtrack to my Uni days and the whole 1990s. Spikey, quirky, Brit pop, indie, truly English. Literally just two or three obvious fillers. A really good album alongside Different Class from that Brit pop 90s era.

Love the singles, but the rest of the LP is patchy. Disappointing. Made me want to listen to Yazoo and New Order instead.

Love the big band jazz upbeat songs. The slower crooners are pedestrian, but quite lovely (eg. Don't let the sun catch you cryin'). A high 3 because the slots are too slow.

Comical vocals like the singer has multiple personalities/voices. The fun is a little spoilt by the aggressive lyrics. Disjointed music. Occasionally good hard rock, but a bit too out there for me.

Refreshingly non aggressive with little of Rap's ugly braggadocio. Good pop music, samples and mix of singing and rapping. Enjoyable.

Quite good fun, much more enjoyable than Sex Pistols. Some recognisable singles. Elements of good musicianship. Quite good.

Dylan's voice is atrocious. Lyrics and poetry are to be applauded, but acoustic side is a bit boring. Electric Hawks/The Band stuff is much more fun.

Love it, great to hear real instruments playing real funk. Another album from my prime youth of the early 90s that stands up well today.

Very 1990s big beat sound, but very good fun albeit with some sweary NYC interviewees! Fun.

Not always an easy listen with the organic sampled rhythms (cocked guns etc), but the music is interesting and really well sung by the ladies. Obviously Tricky cannot sing and his mumbles mostly work quite well too. I listened to this a lot when it was released and it still stands up. Not necessarily a 4, but certainly a very high 3 (better than Bjork's Debut from the same period).

Bookended by good rocking pieces. Questionable mid section. Not the classic I was expecting. A low 3/5

Cleanly spliced together, but oh-so lightweight and boring. What was all the fuss about in 2001?

Slowly moving towards proper "psychadelic soul", but not there yet.

I just don’t get the hype. A couple of good songs here and there, occasionally charming vocals, but the off key guitars and singing irritates. Not enough quality.

Lovely harmonies. Some good pop/folk. Nice and familiar. However, it's not Bridge Over Troubled Water!

Pleasant r&B voice, usual sex content, but not very amusing or opaque. I liked the minimalist backing music. Nothing too complicated or over produced. Occasionally vocal would better left alone without any effects. Quite ordinary in general.

Pretty cool and accessible reggae. Great guitar and bass and smooth singing. I don’t agree with the sentiment, but do enjoy the music! Solid high 3.

Really enjoyed this stripped back blues and rock album. Often the weak drums are just left off altogether and are not missed. Great singing, better than later years when they appear a bit more affected/pretentious. Not so many recognisable hits, but all strong songs.

A strong cohesive album with a 70s feel. Accomplished and sounds good. I'm not sure if I'd award it 4, but certainly a high 3.

Could be a perfect album! Funk, soul, pop. Politics, love and humour. From Stevie’s golden period of colossal 70s LPs.

Short and very sweet stripped back bluegrass roots folk. Gillian and Dave are magnetic on stage. This is a fine example of their work. Title track is the best.

Cool jazzy rap with the standard and likeable 80s drum beats (even though it was 1991). Enjoyable and not nasty aggressive hip hop.

Much more guitar based than I remembered. Quite good actually!

Brilliant trippy LP cover for the transitional album bridging the early beat pop years and the later groundbreaking studio experimental albums. Love the funky chops, the pretty ballads and tight pop.

Beautiful voice: clear and open then with that sexy, bluesy rasp that could be described as smoky. Love it. The songs are either set up to showcase her voice as pop power ballads or blues rock n rollers (my preference). I knew Bonnie in the late 80s as a blues guitarist guesting with Clapton, BB King, John Lee Hooker and Buddy Guy. Surprised to hear her straight pop voice.

Thoroughly enjoyable - mix of rock n roll and country rock. Love those "high flyin' harmonies", sweeter than Beach Boys and Everly Brothers. Looking forward to reviewing Hotel California!

I'm one minute into this and it's immediately aggressive, mysogynistic, gun toting woes of the poor black man's so-called American life. Depressing, unoriginal, unattractive and boring. Absolutely nothing that I, as a black man, can relate to in any shape or form or even believe in or find entertaining. It is so crass and ugly, not eloquent, interesting and far from clever. I will listen to the whole album since it's on the list and I've only ever heard a few 2Pac songs. I look forward to my opinion changing. A few songs in the middle (dear mama) were actually ok where 2pac almost sang. However, it's clear that I really do not have the taste for hard hip hop, just the easy listening gentler styles that are not gangster shooting thug mysogynistic. 2 out of 5 because he rhymes well and the backing tracks are well sampled and put together.

Good deep voice as always. Interesting to hear the modern covers, but a bit weird like your grandad singing Radio 1 or 6 Music! Some work brilliantly (Man comes around, hung my head, hurt, Sam). Powerful, but not essential.

A bit too country folk although Silver Raven was good.

We Brits have a strange affection for the Mondays dispute out of tune singing! Subsequent albums are much stronger, although I've always really enjoyed the remix of WFL and Hallelujah from the Bummed era. However, I really don't like the messy, over-crowded, distant sounding production. Bring on Step On, Kinky Afro, Loose Fit, Judge Fudge etc.

Very pretty chamber pop with erudite lyrics. A good surprise given Cale's Velvet Underground and avant-garde reputation. I'd guess that Divine Comedy knows this album well. Child's Christmas, Paris 1919 and Graham Greene were my favourites.

Exquisite voice and accomplished confident performer. I usually choose to listen to Ella for this type of jazz, but Sarah Vaughan's voice is so smooth. Great piano playing (drums and bass are so good you don't notice them). Lovely recording.

Very exciting, energetic, fun performance. Good doo-wop. Amazing to think James Brown was a leading early 60s soul man as well as the godfather of funk in 70s.

A little disappointing, not the fun, pop version of Ever changing moods. Very low key jazz first half with lots of instrumentals. Second half is much more upbeat, although the songs are more diverse. Please don't rap Paul!

A great crossover album of funky Afro-beat dance, post punk pop and Joy Division-style alternative rock. Very accomplished and enjoyable.

It lives up to the praise - a fine selection of classic Otis Redding and Stax House band soul pop. A great listen. Fills you with sadness that we lost another star so early and not through self destruction this time.

Not as pleasant as a previous more jazzy Ray Charles album so slightly disappointing on that measure. A bit hum-drum, lacking pizazz. Had to wait until well into the album to hear any nice piano soloing. Low 3 because it is still pleasant.

Pretty awful and lacking melody. First time I stopped two thirds through. Not the worst so I’ll give them 2 stars because they don’t sound dissimilar to an old noisy band I used to mess around in, but I knew our limitations!!

Good raspy vocals and pleasant 70s style disco and soul. Nothing very special, but certainly not bad. Low 3.

Another essential funky soul/pop LP from Stevie's classic period. Probably my 3rd favourite after Songs in the key of life (5*) and Innervisions (5*).

A good coverage of Johnny Marr's different musical styles for the Smiths. Some of their greatest songs are on this LP.

Very pretty. Lush orchestral backing. However, some mumbled vocals and a few falsetto curiosities! Reminds me of Sufjan Stevens. Was expecting alt-country not sweet melodic chamber pop/blue eyed soul! A high 3 for its accessibility.

Superb smooth and funky disco. I think it is better than it’s predecessor, C’est Chic due to the comprehensive and mature quality of all tracks - no filler here although there is still the repetition of refrains that keep Chic songs in clubs. Excellent.

Fits in well with Alanis and Tori, definitely with the emphasis on the piano. Less quirky voice than either - quite jazzy and likeable. Good album. Would listen to more of her music. High 3.

Ok foot tapping country. Doesn’t seem essential.

Distinctive sound with the drumming and chanting, but only 3 good hit singles and a two new wave songs with sinuous groovy bass lines isn't quite enough for anything more than 3 stars, although the style was certainly influential.

A bit disappointing for such a well regarded album. I prefer the first half, I'm not so keen on the Celtic folk of the second half. It is well created even if I don't like it much. Low 3 out of 5

It has some noisy pop songs reminiscent of Pixies to and a few lighter jangly pop songs. Noisy, but quite good 90s indie rock.

Very pretty music. Beautiful voice without annoying affectations or histrionics. No country this time, which makes this all-round appealing. A lovely album.

Good blues, great voice full of mischief and fun! Quite busy production - prefer slightly fewer instruments or a cleaner mix between lead and rhythm, so I’m only giving 3* to the blues legend that is Muddy Waters.

Not my thing - I can admire the finger picking guitar playing and melodies emphasised by the sparse instrumentation, but I just don’t think I’m won over by Willie Nelson’s country voice.

Funny, good low key jazz and THAT voice! Feels more like a comedy record, but good all the same. I like the poetry and entertaining. wouldn’t choose to listen to much again, but I get the quality.

I like side 1 far more than 2. I enjoy the blues rock songs and particularly funky Peace Frog. Not as overall enjoyable as LA Woman, but not awful.

Apart from Waterloo Sunset and David Watts (thanks to the Jam's cover) I found this very mid 60s and a bit lame without the rock edge of earlier Links.

Adored this 25 years ago (when the album itself was already over 25 years old) so will be interesting to revisit it today after not listening to it much in recent decades. Yes, it's full of riffs, blues rock, blueprints of heavy rock and folk rock. Still inspirational bass grooves. Brilliant and essential.

Really enjoyed Grace Slick’s vocals. Was expecting more space psychedelic rock, so pleased to hear straight forward late 60s garage guitar rock. Superb Paul Simon/Bert Jansch-style guitar instrumental piece. Good album - perhaps not quite essential to be a 4.

Great fun! Not full of smash hits, but plenty to enjoy.

Too thrashy for my taste. I am familiar with One. Quite liked a few folky intros and melodic guitar solos, but prefer more melody, stronger riffs and less angry vocals. However, I do like James Hetfields deep gruff voice!

Enjoyed this in 94 and still liked it all very much today. Quite Krafwerkian with the layered sounds and (mostly) absence of big beats a la Fat Boy Slim and Chemical Brothers. Still absolutely love Kein Trink Wasser.

A good 80s Brit indie love album. Like Orange Juice meets Prefab Sprout with a hint of Smiths. Listenable without much filler, but only Perfect Skin seems essential.

Another enjoyable 80s "indie rock" album. I like the strong intro bass lines and bass chords. Good to hear Stipe's less affected and nasally singing on these early REM songs. Good and catchy too. Not quite a 4, but close.

Disappointingly unfocused blues rock. It has the power and riffage, but not enough melody or song structure. I can see how it influenced the heavy rock to come.

I really enjoyed this. Americana with a good voice, Sheryl Crowe meets Ryan Adams. High 3.

Bowie is great, but I don’t enjoy or get it all. I quite like side 1, but Blackout is a bit messy. I like Arabian (very Chic), but none of the instrumentals on side 2.

Very industrial post punk. Could have been 1990 rather than 1980. Impressive on that basis, but too harsh for me.

Surprisingly acceptable since I don’t really like rap/hip-hop. I did accidentally download the censored version which sucked a lot of joy out with the whole flow being destroyed by constant missing words - but that also means it’s full of swearing which is an odd lack of variety and articulation against the clever wordplay throughout including a joke about being a bad influence on 4&5 year olds! Eminem has a far less harsh and annoying voice than I recall. Mostly clever and listenable.

I actually knew this album from when it was released and had forgotten it. Yes, it does work better than the very experimental noisy earlier albums. A comfortable 3.

Great poetry storytelling. Very bare and stripped back guitar playing. It's all about the storytelling. Brilliant.

Nicely heartfelt singing. Melodic punky. Pretty rough and ready.

Disappointingly disjointed and wasn’t expecting the long drone psychedelic track after the knockout Wanna be your dog.

Electric blues, but Dylanesque. Some great songs here. Once heard, never forgotten - good and bad. An important album in Dylan's 60s transition.

I liked it. Wilco seem like a good pop band and I like their singing. Billy Bragg is a very likeable chap, but his singing sometimes gets a bit morbid.

Super guitar picking. I prefer the blues pieces to folk. Jansch's version of "Angie" has long been a favourite, so although the album really doesn't pull me in, I am inclined to give it another listen a medium mark for Angie and for the amazing guitar picking.

Not a particularly good recording. Wasn’t enthralled by the generic rock but it’s clear they are enjoying themselves with good positive vibes. Songs got a bit better towards the end.

This rocks hard, but not thrashy. Solid and sensible. Epic feel to the songs. Good. A high 3.

Good fun, but very samey. Nicely north London-centric. Madness always have one or two knockout pop gems amongst their Madness generic album tracks - here it's Our House with brilliant Suggs wordplay (\"the kids were playing up downstairs\").

Great fun. Good beats and sound collages. Inspired samples. Paper Planes is the standout, but 20 Dollar is good with the New Order/Pixies bits. I will check out Arular next.

Very smooth and sexy, but lacks bite and funk. It’s no What’s Going On. I’m only giving it 2* because Marvin can do way better.

Good in ‘91 and still grooves. Excellent cool as ice jazz and soul samples and covers. Rapping and wordplay are clever. Production and music is excellent. Mix of singing, reggae and rap is a good variety. Top notch, but do I prefer this to Protection? Are they both good enough for 5*? Probably!

Still sounds cool, laid-back and clubby sometimes all at the same time. Love the 3 proper Primal Scream songs. Damaged and Movin on up are particularly good.

4 well known classics in America, Old Friends, Mrs Robinson and Hazy shade. A few ok songs and some decidedly iffy filler. What were they thinking opening the album to such cacophony after the mutual gentle intro?! A low 3 - it’s clearly no Bridge or Sounds

Cool jazz and pop piano grooves and melodies. Pleasant to listen. I think I liked the first 25 minutes best and then some later bits of the album which reminded me of Rachmaninov's piano concertos. A high 3.

Opener Pearl sounds a lot like Boulder to Birmingham. Interesting to hear almost trip-hop elements to Emmylou's music. I like her voice, but very little in this collection is particularly noteworthy. Very low key. I probably prefer her more stripped back guitar picking albums/songs. A low 3.

Interesting stripped back bluesy afro rootsy style. Not unpleasant, but not strong enough to want to listen to again.

Over-ambitious scope. 2 hours and nearly 30 songs is huge. I'd prefer half the songs and more than half the running time please! Good variety of rock and pretty songs. The singles cover the variety. Would have been as good as Siamese Dream if paired down to 12 song.

As a whole album it captures every facet of the cure. A sweeping and lush often morose sound, but gorgeous with it. A gem.

This emphasises my view of The Jam being a superb singles band rather than a good album band. There are a few knockout tracks to compliment That's entertainment and Start (Pretty Green, house ablaze, scrape away), but I'm not won over with the full album collection. Perhaps I need to listen to it more? A low 3.

A few well-known and now classic tracks covered by many others. However, it doesn't have the excitement of the BB King live concert that was also showcased here a few weeks ago. Low 3.

Disappointing (apart from Bloody Well and Dreamer). I know the hit singles, so was expecting a kind of 10cc/Steely Dan hybrid, but this was more proggy. Not bad, but I'll probably prefer Breakfast in America with all the pop hits.

This grooves and has an edge, seemingly upbeat, but quite nihilist. Made in Germany it doesn't have the psychedelic noodling of Jefferson Airplane, Doors, Iron Butterfly etc. Just mid 60s tight rhythmic beat groove and lots of fun.

Very incongruous cover for the music style! Sex Beat is probably the easiest song to like. The electric US roots/blues/punk style is quite good, but needs more hooks and melodies.

Absolutely ace! A heavier, more fun version of Led Zep with a slightly less screechy vocal, but far more political lyrics. Rightly a classic with surprising laid back jazzy song as well. Great!

Political energetic punk, reminiscent of Sex Pistols, but not quite as tuneful. Not my taste.

Downbeat, raw, Solomon subject matter. Not the Springsteen I like, although songwriting, musicianship and delivery are still excellent.

Not for me - too noisy and scuzzy.

Brilliant 80s dance pop, every sing could have been a hit single - however, it’s not as good as Thriller.

Vaguely interesting, but not that special. Reasonable crossover.

Great deep voice. Smart poetry. Spare to invisible music. Not Cohen's best collection. However, it does include Famous Blue Raincoat, Avalanche and Joan of Arc.

Classic mid 90s album. Angelic voice. Good variety. Some 90s light grunge. Definitive version of Hallelujah. Very sad that he died so young like his Dad.

Sophisticated pop. The occasional talking vocals really show the contrasts when Tennant sings. I always really liked Jealousy and some of the others are also polished pop with good hooks. Not as catchy as Actually, but more sophisticated.

Aware of the singles and the grooving Grapevine, my first impression is utter amazement at the brilliance of the opening song until it lingers just a little too long on one musical phrase before returning to the rocking first part again. Just awesome. I think Cosmo's shows distills the essence of CCR better than any of their preceding bluesy albums with elements of all their styles (rock n roll, blues, soul, country, "swamp" and psychedelic). I'll have to listen to their earlier albums again now, but I think this is my favourite CCR. Essential.

Lively and fun, ascerbic lyrics don't match the tunes. Prefer the Attractions as a band, so the next LP, This Year's Model, gets a lot more listens than this. A good start to Elvis Costello's long recording career.

Epic, important and progressive rock music. They rejected Britpop and created a masterpiece of textured, sometimes hook-laden rock that definitely was not easy or formulaic. Great.

Phenomenally groovy. Just the kind of laid-back intelligent reggae designed for today's warm Easter Monday holiday afternoon. Easy to forget this is authentic Jamaican reggae and simply damn fine groove-orientated pop music. Excellent.

Slick and similar to C'est Chic, but with more hits (4 out of 8 album tracks).

The big, celebrated LP, but I can't decide if it is better than Led Zeppelin II. Certainly such familiarity with all eight songs pushes IV up in the ratings. It is accomplished in the styles it sets out to cover. Equally good, I think.

I first heard this over 15 years after it was released. Didn’t much enjoy the lauded second side. Still love Be My Wife. Every time I revisit it grows on me more. This time it’s clear that my problem is that all the new music since 1977 has probably been informed by this LP, so it doesn’t sound new or innovative to me. However, we do now know that it was thoroughly new music at the time of recording. The synths, the drum effect, mixing more conventionally crafted songs on one side and instrumental textures on the other. Yes, it’s really influential and boundary-pushing and side one keeps up with the better mid 70s Bowie material. Not quite good enough for 4*

The upbeat songs with the industrial feel and loud guitar stand out. Despite wanting to not sound like 80s U2 other songs definitely do sound like U2, which isn't so bad for songs like One or Acrobat (a particularly strong song towards the end). Zoo Station, Even Better..., The Fly, Mysterious Ways are fun, but they're fairly throwaway as intended by Bono and The Edge. It's a thoroughly important LP for U2's transition into the 90s supergroup, but fortunately also an enjoyable album even if it contrasts with the American influenced Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum.

Eager anticipation for my first listen of a full Roxy Music studio LP having only previously heard a compilation album and focused on later songs like Oh Yeah. I only knew Strand here and enjoyed Editions equally. The slightly proggy other songs from Heartache onwards are great! A good listen.

She sings with a pleasant voice and somehow doesn't trip up with her full speed lyrics. ultra feminist content, but sensible with it. Very polished modern r&b. Probably prefer this to Beyonce although it is missing Bey's hooks. Having spent the day listening to Roxy Music's 1973 \"For Your Pleasure\" I have to say this very recent 2021 entry (surely new inclusions have to be absolutely knockout?) was not a particularly welcome return to the modern world, but could have been worse with horrible hip hop!

Enjoyable modern blues with soul. Can’t help comparing to White Stripes because if similar set up and I think Black Keys are far superior - more melodic, less harsh with the vocals and more groove. Good music.

Very 60s sounding whimsical folk. Not a fan of Nico’s voice - I find it a little cold and soulless. Musically I hear elements of Ruby Tuesday, but without the charm. Humdrum.

I really enjoyed this. Mostly hyping the African links to Afro-Americans. Big beats. Funky and jazzy. Not aggressive or too braggadocio. Really good fun.

Cutting through the hype at the time of release (including my own comical hero worshipping) its not all good. Roll with it and some might say are not good singles (the b-sides are strong). Perhaps a third of the album is quite good. Overhyped and not as fun as Definitely Maybe, even if Wonderwall and Don't look back in anger are classics.

Ok, a bit reliant on noisy synths. There are better albums of this style (daftpunk obviously)

Only bluesy on a couple of tracks, otherwise quite punky and screechily sung. Not especially enjoyable, thankfully short songs, but certainly not the worst on this list.

A couple of good blues songs. Can't help but really feel the art of the English 60s band selling US blues back to the Americans - more so than even The Stones, Animals or Cream. Bit cynical, but for some reason this album made me very conscious of the copy and paste and re-sell that went on in the UK in 1960s. Not bad, but I prefer other bands doing this, however it is great to think of the three exceptional guitarists from The Yardbirds.

So pure and easy on the ear after some harsher recent albums on this selecter. Slowed down tempo, but not down-tempo, and better for it. Very enjoyable and reminded me how much I like good quality pop songs / Americana without too much country-fication. Not essential, but very pleasant.

A few good beats, but not my thing. I only really liked the Temptations/Diana Ross re-hash.

Lovely pop from Joni's early period. Beautiful voice, catchy tunes albeit very "wordy" in places (verbose?). 'Help me" is a treat.

A few catchy riffs, notably Barmy, and slightly more coherent vocals than other Fall efforts but a long way to go before the accessibility of The Infotainment. Not awful.

More melodic and interesting than most punk of its era, but the vocals are still gruff and rough unfortunately. Not quite packed with as many great songs as I recall. Good subject matter. Ironic that the superb Police and Thieves is not theirs.

Ok - a bit 60s psychedelic. Pleasant singing. I'm not won over.

The music is "indie" and experimental - fun alternative indie-rock. The vocals switch between youthful arthouse to irritating shouty and whiney punk/art-school pretentious. It is a knowingly art-school album. Definitely not born of "kids making music for fun", but students making music as a vehicle for their arthouse/activist pretext. Still, it's a good listen with the guitars and synths and drum machines mixed up together. I even began to find the vocals acceptable by the end

Coffee table classic. Nearly all the tracks are radio hits or well known from bars, restaurants, clothes shops, TV programs, dinner parties. Very good melodies and fairly stripped back, but clever music that could have been set in 70s, 80s or 90s and now pretty much timeless. Almost prog (Floyd, Kraftwerk). Excellent.

I always eagerly look forward to this album and finish it disappointed. Some songs are among my favourites (including Blackbird, Martha, Glass Onion, Dear Prudence, while my guitar), others are quite poor. George Martin was right: should have been an amazing 2-sided LP, but we know selecting songs would have broken up The Beatles way before Let it be and Abbey Road. Pick and choose your favourites into a playlist and avoid the mishmash of great, awful, good, weak.

Lovely mellow jazzy soul. Crisp beats, 70s style falsetto voice and Steely Dan/Doobies feel (and look, Ladies and Gentleman here’s Michael McDonald…). Bit of rap to show its 2017, although as a dark skinned Brit I still feel uncomfortable hearing the N word particularly in such pleasant context. Overall a breezy, well made, light-weight album.

Good musicianship from the stellar band. Bit overly sad and depressing towards the end. Better than expected, but not going to be playing in the future. 3 for music, but 2 for overall enjoyability.

Fun, classic jazzy early 90s music with light-weight content. Some swearing and fixation on sex, but at least not gangster aggression. Similar in style to Jungle Brothers, Tribe called Quest and De La Soul.

Folk, country, blues. I prefer the covers by Nillson and The The of Everybody's Talkin' and Dolphins.

Loved their stage presence and punk/pop singles when they exploded onto the rock scene in UK. Compared to similar contemporaries The Strokes, these Swedish guys were so much more fun and didn't take themselves as seriously, but probably didn't write quite as many great catchy pop rock songs, focussing more on energetic fast-riffing punk-pop.

Abattoir Blues has a raucous noisy start then good bluesy old fashioned rock n roll. Enjoyable. Lyre of Orpheus is more eclectic and perhaps richer for it. A second listen beckons. Overall a good impression.

Interesting poetry, music sounds like UNKLE/Mo-Wax. A rapper/poet who is also interested in the music, so lots of rap-free periods. A revelation and pleasant surprise. Good music. Will listen again, could be a high 3.

A few appealing songs: Germfree adolescents, identity. Some strong guitar riffing, ok girly vocals, but too often copycat Johnny Rotten snarls, which could be dropped.

Very neat rhyming, excellent beats for jogging. Obviously very violent, but the intelligence, wit and irony are clear. Great voice. Not as awful as I would have expected for gangsta rap.

Quiet loud quiet loud - awesome alternative rock. Weird as hell lyrics, but this was surely the future of rock, Americana, and new wave post punk back in the late 80s? Loved seeing them back together at Brixton Academy in the early 2000s before Kim left. No disappointment even if Kim and Charles weren't talking to each other! Doolittle is still a great listen.

Very much of its time. Quite tame fireside croonsome Americana. Not exactly Murder Ballads by Nick Cave!

Nice guitar textures. A couple of good melody singles (fear, pounding) and occasional other songs (words). Overall a bit hum-drum. Not exactly necessary for 1001 albums list.

Really good use of music/samples for a very accessible and pop feel. Pretty good listen for a non hip-hopper! A high 3.

Bit fey. Light pop. Reminds me of St Etienne mixed with Stereolab. Wasn’t keen to hear Black Sabbath weakened. Just like soundtracks for John Lewis Xmas tv adverts!

Very Billie Holiday in vocal style. Very laid back jazz. Not quite the poptastic songs of the next album, but gently groovy. Back when Amy had no obvious tattoos, looked healthy, attractive and probably wasn’t aware of her influential status. Refreshing.

Some nifty late 60s Beatlesqye/Who-et tracks, but not my favourite kind of psychedelia. Good to learn about another 60s Brit band that is not so well known.

Love the title track, diminishing returns on other power ballads, but generally good.

Gruffly sung blues, industrial rhythms, but the highlights to me are a handful of tender beautiful ballads. Almost worth the rest of the rough-edged noise.

Good riffs, albeit pretty dark (the devil's triad in title track!). Undeniably influential, but not as good as Paranoid album.

Enjoyable, excellent guitar playing, Dylanesque singing, some laid-back music. I'd have never guessed this was a debut album.

Reasonable mid 90s dubby electronic dance/trance music. I recognised a few of the singles and more famous tracks, but found it less interesting than Orbital or Chemical Brothers.

I liked the gentle breezy Miles Davis influenced early track, but the rest is boring. My first listen to any Tim Buckley and I’m very disappointed.

What a joy to listen to well known artists and their famous album, but for the first time without knowing much about the LP. A huge surprise to finally discover that the very famous Our House is a Graham Nash CSN+Y song. Great harmonies, good catchy pop songs (thank you again Mr Hollies), country rock and straight up rock (thank you Neil). Superb collection and justifies its reputation. I’m already looking forward to listening again.

Breezy with a couple of cool grooves (Trillium and Beautiful). Pleasant enough, but not special.

Beautiful voice - definitely the lead instrument. Beautiful and interesting vignettes of life, love and emotions. The folky side of Joni before the pop of Canyons and avant garde folk jazz of Hissing and beyond.

Still ridiculously exciting, energetic and fun. Nobody is condoning beating up women - it’s a song title. Great mid 90s electronic music and mixed with rock instruments for the indie/alternative rock crowd - real electro-punk. They were a truly awesome live act. A brilliant experience and memory of seeing them at Park Des Princes in Paris in 1997.

Whilst I like the guitar based music with a rap vocal (works the rhythm for me), I don't like the pimp persona and dumb party bragging content.

So so riotgrrl punky rock. Interestingly the vocals sometimes sounded like Patti Smith. Not enough to keep my interest, sadly, but not terrible. A low 3.

It's a pretty good album. Quirky, revelling in Englishness. If it wasn't for Ray's voice then The Kinks might have been up there with the Stones, Beatles and Who in Worldwide fame... A high 3.

Disappointing, but not awful. Sounds like typical The Smith's, but only a few memorable songs. Not as enjoyable or memorable as the first album or Queen is dead or Strangeways or Hatful or Louder or Risk... (Not very fair to give lower than three, but it just doesn't seem as good as their other LPs).

Important: seek out the album proper and ignore the additional mixes tacked on the end of the collection after about track 16 (free my mind). Inoffensive and very well produced UK Garage. Quite mellow. Excellent singing by Elisabeth Troy. I am surprised to say i like this. Sincere (the song) is well known and a club classic. Definitely a 3, but although early UK Garage and influential, probably not a 4. Enjoyable enough.

Much more accessible than Holy Bible. Incredible what they achieved during such horrendous heartbreak and turmoil. Great music and stands up well more than 25 years later.

Good jazzy r&b funk music. Very nimble wordplay and sometimes fast flow. More socially conscious than the ugly bragging gangster rap of so many. As a mixed race Englishman I still don’t get the chip-on-shoulder anti-White anti establishment downtrodden paranoia obsession of black US rappers. Isn’t there something else to write about?

Sounds like a superstar in the best tradition of soulful bluesy pop singers. Smooth, bluesy with a slight edge. Excellent songs and great interpretations (Cure and Dylan).

Mellow folk-tinged pop with added gentle electronica. Nicely done. Very similar to Trailer Park.

Iconic LP cover and great title. My jazz knowledge is not enough to understand the impact or influence of this album over others of its era. It’s pleasant enough, but not special enough. Late 1950s Miles onwards for me.

A thoroughly enjoyable and accessible classic jazz album from the incredible late 1950s era. Particularly notable for its technical experimentation whilst maintaining a melodious and “popular” feel. Brilliant!

No, I still don’t see the Kiss appeal. Just a couple or four songs made it big here in the UK. Not very well produced LP, noises and production games just don’t work early on side 1.

I was expecting folk but I got funky 60s/70s real r&b with a hint of prog. Excellent piano/keys from Stevie Winwood. Very good grooving rhythms. A great surprise.

Haunting, beguiling, soulful, intelligent and extraordinarily beautiful. Once Nina Simone has drawn your attention, be it from a tv documentary, video clip or radio program, that’s it - there really is no escape - ever. She was utterly magnetic in concert by the look of videos.

I thoroughly enjoyed Minutemen, so was looking forward to this post D Boon incarnation. Nice short songs, nimble bass playing and some funky guitar work in places. This is much more Americana than Minutemen's funky jazzy punk.

Disappointing, a boring listen except for the well known IV. It's like Jarre has no concept of time and left the same sounds playing for way too long. Kraftwerk didn't do such boring lazy recordings and neither did Oldfield or even Orbital. Even Side 2 of Low, which has vague similarities, is more interesting. Did I say I was disappointed?

Brilliant proto-punk adding even more electricity to classic 50s rock’n’roll, but less noisy than Stooges. A bit like The Monks with added joy.

Bit boring in places as the pieces are left for too long. Some sounds too much like the Born Slippy hit, others sound like bjork should bee singing them. I think there were better electronic dance albums during the 1990s.

Great funky samples. Still a bit too shouty and unrefined. A touch disjointed, but at least it’s not gangsta rap!

Starts with some excellent pacey electric blues, then later the extended guitar soloing is melodic and bluesy and less psychedelic than the era would suggest. Very good.

Not as celebrated as Bowie’s Low, given it was made more or less at the same time by the same artists. Acceptable, but not as good as Lust For Life or Station To Station.

Four huge, brilliant and emotive singles underpin this album. There are well written Beatlesque songs amongst the slow burning emotional album tracks, but overall I'm left feeling downbeat and slightly bored. This was genuinely everywhere in the UK at the end of the 90s and was an antidote to Oasis, with whom they toured, for sure, but I'm not going to voluntarily choose to listen to Travis.

Very enjoyable and not hugely removed from Steely Dan or Elton John. Several recognisable hit songs.

Pretty good arty glam rock. I think I prefer For Your Pleasure that I reviewed a few months ago. Listenable nonetheless.

Very smooth soul. Some jazzy scatting. Good voice, and very accomplished performance, but nothing apart from Sweet Love is really gripping me. Pity, because this was in all the shop windows for a year or so when it came out and won lots of awards. I'm giving a 3 because it is well sung and smoothly made, but not a soul record I'm going to reach for again.

Not really my thing - not enough melody, not even Orion.

Pleasant enough with the classic soul sound. One absolute solid gold hit, but others are good, just not stand out.

Much better when they ditch the 1977 punk styles, although I understand that that’s a lot of fun to play. The “proper” melodic songs are pretty good, which makes for a superior listen than Dookie for me.

Initially disappointed with Neon Bible after the enjoying Funeral and the first EP. This recent re-listen shows an accomplished slow burner with Springsteen Americana, New Order-style crescendo climaxes. And it has a slightly re-worked No Cars Go from the first EP. A good powerful brooding accessible Arcade Fire album, but not as many "hits" as Funeral.

Haven't listened to this for a long time. What an accomplished and accessible album! Classic peej wrapped up in blues pop indie crossover. One to listen to rather than have as background music. Deservedly won awards.

Groovy title riff. Good piano and drums. Movements 1 & 3 seem most accessible. Some of Coltrane’s sax playing feels unfocused. I really only want to hear the Will Downing pop/soul inspired single!

Pretty, but resolutely background. I appreciate that my ears are uneducated for this Indian classical music.

Very upbeat and bounces along with vibrancy - even when singing ballads. Reminds me how much inspiration Otis Redding must have taken from Sam Cooke’s stage-craft and singing techniques. A proper crowd-pleasing set incorporating crowd noise and extremely tight, virtually gap-free transitions between songs. Excellent sweet soul music.

Rockabilly with theatrical punk energy and vocal. Not as good as Ramones

Initially I didn't enjoy or pay attention to the Side 1, but did more or less immediately enjoy Side 2. Several repeat listens and I do quite like the majority of the album. Obviously prog organ and guitar noodling, but more accessible than I would have imagined.

Chose to listen to this as a tribute the weekend that Eddie died in Oct 2020 and enjoyed it. This time I'm being critical. The hits are very good (Jump, Panama, Hot for teacher) the others are not particularly memorable. So just a medium album. I think their first album is probably stronger.

Usual eclectic collection of Rolling Stones-ish rock n roll alongside dancey trancey electronica. Kowalski shows signs of the aggressive electro indie to come in the next two albums. Ok, but still living in the shadow of Andy Weatherall's Screamadelica.

Designed and sequenced for the dance floor. The "banging" block rocking beats too often fall into experimental blippyness, but generally it's a vibrant and energetic listen, if a little repetitive. I enjoyed the crossover work they did with The Charlatans and actually bought the Life is Sweet 12" single at the time.

A fun and pretty good little album. Lots of recognisable songs alongside a few lesser known, but listenable pieces. My first real Lou Reed exposure was a Nelson Mandela celebration concert and I did not "get" the gruff atonal man or know about his Velvet Underground past. Now I still find his voice languid and a bit annoying, but I quite enjoy it's unique sound and it fits well with the excellent songs. I agree with others that some rhyming is childish, but so it was with the Beatles and Beach Boys. Great album.

Completely unknown to me. Sounds a bit like Friendly Fires and MGMT with a soaring and uplifting pop rock feel of The Killers. I like the electro rhythm and driving uplifting rock. Being critical, perhaps a little too many passages of ambient atmospheric electro textures and not enough actual ear worm catchy hooks and choruses on initial listen. Definitely going to listen again. The ear worms might grab me! High three with potential for four stars.

Not my taste. Conscience of the early connection with Metallica. Easier to hear lyrics, but more irritating voice than Hetfield. Less “noise” so guitar soloing is a little clearer, but not that enjoyable.

A very knowing move away from fun enjoyable pop of Wham! and Faith to “mature” serious music. Always good vocals, but fewer enjoyable songs. 3 stars for serious effort and accomplished signing.

As expected from Bolan. Quite good 70s rock n roll. Nothing psychedelic or hippie. Some good riffs and guitar solos. Not bad, Marc.

Too long! I’ve lost patience and given up before Ben the first hour is up. The drum and bass is good enough, but too much airy-fairy ambience and electro blips. What’s wrong with distilling it down to under 60 minutes of proper songs - even Brown paper bag and Heroes out stay their (admittedly enjoyable) welcome. Another reason to see the Mercury Music Prize as pretentious, overblown and a bit snooty really. I do appreciate that they are trying to be cool, edgy and relevant by praising black music, but really?! I would have given 3 if it was under 60 minutes!

Early, quirky Talking Heads before the celebrated Afro disco and Eno albums. Interesting and unusual, but still good indie guitar pop without any shouty, punk.

Versatile voice, but I’m indifferent to the folky pop music. Not for me.

I’m the wrong audience. I think this is rubbish.

Hardcore underground punk from Drive Like Jeru yesterday and this Swiss industrial noise today. Oh dear. The only thing I can say is that it was vaguely a novelty to hear classical strings used up against industrial production and heavy drums and guitars. Another album that is not to my taste.

Much more pleasant than I was expecting from the reviews of ear splitting squalling feedback at Jesus & Mary Chain gigs in their early days. I remember the April Skies single quite fondly against the usual pop trash of Top of the Pops and the UK top 40 charts. Interesting to see where Bobbie Gillespie has been influenced with his more laid back guitar-led songs. I’m not a converted fan, but the album is ok indie jangly guitar music that’s not so heavyweight.

A slightly more guitar ‘rock’ side of country or Americana resembling Ryan Adams at times. Ok.

Although I new Reward, Treason and World Shut Your Mouth, I Was expecting something folky and somewhat downbeat and political, but this is late 80s/early 90s British indie guitar pop with a sense of fun and light experimentation and similar to his previous hits. A bit like early James but less folky and fewer lyrics. Enjoyable and upbeat, if overlong.

Great hard rocking, hard riffing, fun loving’, tongue in cheek misogyny. A classic.

Huey's languid rap-singing is quite seductive. The hip hop drums and rock, funk, soul guitar hits my eclectic taste buds. About 5 very enjoyable tracks and the rest are fine and listenable. Good grooves. I've a lot of time for Huey after his excellent Saturday BBC 6music program.

I liked this band when they first appeared, bought their initial singles and 2nd album. Great fun, energy and sense of joy with their recycled nostalgia. Good talents, enjoyable and accomplished debut.

I prefer his late 60s/70s folky stuff. Still refreshing to hear French music on this list.

Boring, sparse. Not at all like the Laurent Garnier French techno I listened to in Parisian clubs in ‘96/‘97. Disappointing.

It's all been said before. A stone cold classic. Even George's Indian song has grown on me. Difficult to analyse when you know it so well all your life!

So-so - vaguely reminiscent of a very poor man’s Stevie Nicks. Last track is biting and also appealed to me the most n terms of rock music (Talking Heads mixed with Sex Pistols vitriol). Very telling that the LP was not a hit record in the UK…

Very easy going pleasant Van Morrison soul. Good, warm stuff.

Absolutely mad crazy music. Some that I knew pretty well already. Definitely need to listen again and on headphones. It’s Kate Bush, so automatically gets 3* fir her voice and general individual auteurship. Might upgrade to 4, but I don’t think it’s better than Hounds of Love, which I think was her next LP.

I think I managed to listen to over two thirds and I've enjoyed it. Funny, clever, catchy, thoughtful, experimental, poetic literate. So much material and ground is covered all around a theme. Good chamber pop too.huge long album. Could be better as 15 songs.

I know around half the songs. More guitars than later crooning material, but I don’t like the change in register of Ellis’ voice in a few of these. Not as iconic as I was expecting. 1968-1973 might be a better period, so a low three.

Yes, a modern classic (nearly 20 years old!). The best styles of 1980s Duran Duran, Simple Minds, U2, New Order… Rousing and anthemic. Not sure they ever did better than this album.

This gentler, funky jazzy hip hop is always a pleasure to hear (as opposed to testing aggressive gangster rap). Well done Tribe, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul. This one has Can I Kick It and Left My Wallet In El Segundo. It samples Stevie and Curtis and other cool cuts. 3.5 out of 5

Enjoyable, albeit sad due to Bowie's calculated and poignant release date. Good mix of modern rock, dance and Bowie sax.

Exciting and in your face, but suffers from too many similar or identical sounds.

Surprisingly attention grabbing electronic sounds alongside the usual hip-hop. Samples "Strange Fruit".

Good American rock that doesn't outstay it's welcome. However a lot of songs seem to fade out just as they get going. Break out, Luna, American Girl are obvious highlights, but it's all good. Damn the Torpedoes is another terrific album. Then theirs Traveling Wilburys and Full Moon Fever be and and and. What a great artist. Gone too soon. 3.5 out of 5

Not as catchy or joyful as the first LP, but a strong second outing. Good indie pop.

Mellow, but with more instruments than solo guitar. Good.

Quite pretty. I like the lyrics, but not so keen on the Flaming Lips style vocals. Very mellow.

Love, love, love this album. More rocking than his first solo LP, Heartbreaker, but perhaps not as pretty. Great Americana.

Not as amazing as I remembered. Some good singing. Some 80s rock guitar and some 90s "grunge" guitar. Quite a serious album with grounded stories - no elves, devils or mysticism!

Not all that interesting. Yes, the Neil Young cover is good, but no better than Neil's version. Nothing can stop us now is still very cool, but everything else is mediocre. Given Bob Stanley's musical knowledge I'm disappointed. Very 80s sounding. Perhaps this was quite good for its time, but I just remember that they were the height of cool and Cracknell was a blonde bombshell.

Excellent! Good songs, variety. Rock, piano-led rock, boogie and bits of country-rock. Ballads and thoughtful songs are well done. A well deserved critically popular album. And it does not outstay it’s double length either. Very enjoyable. Could be a 5* album, but I’m not yet familiar with it apart from the hit singles. Oh ok, it does have Bennie & the Jets and Saturday Night’s Alright. Worth a 5😉

Enjoyed a previous album - the one with the magnificent Ping Pong - so was pleased to hear a similar sound, but more attention to more succinct conventional indie songs. An interesting mid 90s sound against the prevalent Brit pop, trip hop, grunge and angsty rock of the era. Not quite a 4, but good.

Very smooth and even in Super Rich Kids has a nod to Bennie and The Jets that I praised a few reviews ago. I'm 10 years behind, but this Ocean guy has a glowing future!!

Refreshingly ahead of it's time, but not really a great listen. I knew Roadrunner. Interesting to read the strong friendship with Gram Parsons and that Jerry Talking Heads is the keyboard player.

Another "refreshingly ahead of it's time" LP. Good to hear the influential mix of hip hop, sampling, afro beats, but I'm not going to listen again.

Downbeat as expected from Lana's music, but quite enjoyable. Surprised to find two very recent albums on consecutive days.

I like this and am going to list to it again. I like that Swift continues her pop style, but stripped back instrumentally making this feel more folky and subdued, but actually it's just as pop as everything else Swift does. Very warm and likeable, although I can't really buy into her heartbroken lyrics, which is fine since it's just pop and not "lived through soul". Particularly enjoyed the song with Haim about the murdered cheating ex-lover - very Nick Cave! 3.5 because this is quite good, but way too new to be deemed worthy of the 1001.

I’ve always liked the 3 big singles (Time, Electric, Kids), with their funky indie disco style, but am not attracted to the psychedelic rest. Prefer to listen to Flaming Lips or Super Furry Animals.

Ugh, I really don't like gangster rap - the aggression, the misogyny (although there is a "balanced" piece towards the end), the unimaginative swearing and being a mixed race man I squirm every single time I ever hear the N word. I like cuddly actor Cube, but to have this straight after yesterday's Taylor Swift very recent folk-pop Evermore album is such a contrast as to practically knock me down. The beats and funky background samples are ok (well done Public Enemy). That's it.

Enjoyable jazz. Good soloing, jolly melodies. Accessible big band jazz with hints of the experimental soloing of Miles and friends in the coming few years, but less “difficult”.

I know this album well and it is correctly highly regarded. Another listen does not disappoint. Lovely old style soul with a gorgeous “smoky” voice and lively flowing hip-hop rapping. Great tunes. No need to bother with a follow-up album after this superb effort.

Left this for a few weeks as I wasn’t really in the mood for Björk’s voice only experiment. Turns out it wasn’t so testing. Not great, but interesting effort. Only the last song with obvious beat boxing stood out to me. A little too much choral-styles. Worth going on this list for the interesting experiment nonetheless.

I was a fan since Blood Sugar Sex Magic and this was a string development of their funk and straight rock sound alongside excellent songwriting. They haven’t released another album that so satisfyingly hits all the right buttons as strongly throughout (By The Way possibly, but that seems a deliberate embrace of their new found commercial market). It’s always worth waiting for Frusciante to rejoin the band.

Repetitive, recalls John Lee Hooker a tiny bit. I like lots too of blues and I like lots of afrobeat, but did not enjoy this.

Albums from within the last 3 years should have to be stonkingly good to make this list - I think each book should close 5 years before that edition’s release date. Anyway…. Little Simz’s award winning Grey Area: nice and short at 35 minutes. Impressive flow and clear vocal with some good varied music, but not my taste. Too much with exactly the same vocal rhythm. It is quite good, but it must have been a bad album year for this to have won all the awards!

I knew NWA and Jesus hotrod, but the rest is a hard listen - not many songs in a conventional sense. A lot of industrial noise interspersed with some thrash guitar. I suppose it has its place in something to hear once before I die… Not my thing.

I like this dark 80s synth-pop. Black Celebration felt like a slight departure and this develops the sound. Violator fully embraced the goth-synth Depeche Mode that took them through 90s stardom. Just the correct side of “industrial” noise.

It has its legendary influential place in rock roll music and the hit singles are still singalongs and easy to cover in skiffle and rock bands, but sounds dated and a little boring to my relatively modern ears. Probably deserves 4 out 5 for influence, but I'm giving it 2 from my own taste. Sorry Dad!

Very smooth and melodic, easy listening, no particularly testing jazz. Very pleasant, but perhaps a little too tame.

Really enjoyable late ‘60s Brit Blues rock. Very Cream-y and some splendid vocals by Rod Stewart. Even Greensleeves is listenable, just!

Mostly industrial, noisy and abrasive, but there are several synth pop and more conventional songs that aren’t too bad (notably Closer and the original of Hurt that Johnny Cash later made his own). Far far better than Ministry or Marylyn Manson. Still not sure about all the praise - one of the important albums of the 1990s? No!

Hum drum indie guitar music. Nothing special at all. A bit low key.

Kind of interesting and amusing to hear such a varied mixture of styles and international music. I’d never listen again so I’m only giving 2 stars, but it’s really not bad, just quirky.

I'm a huge fan of New Order, so should love JD too. However, everything I listen to Unknown Pleasures I feel slightly disappointed. It's powerful and dark and heavy, but I'd rather listen to the JD singles collection, Substance 1977-1980. Awesome LP cover.

Very US late 60s sound. Some 3xcellent blues rock guitar work. Good mixture 9f styles that must have shown the seeds for what developed later by The Band, Eagles, CSN+Y.

Interesting bridge between 80s hair metal, punk funk and grunge. Needed a second listen to get into it.

Side One is brilliant! Rest is not so good. I can see Robert Smith's influence (or even what inspired him?). Great sound for half the LP! As such drops down from 4 stars.

Always seems like a “Best Of” album. Superb pop music.

Very Lynyrd Skynyd and unashamedly so - no bad thing. Good to hear their opinion on southern things and the obvious race-related perception that people like me can't help but feel. Politics aside, this rocks along in a good ol' boys southern country bluesy boogie.

Good blues, not enough "hits". Too long!

Pretty ambient music for side one then fairly unfocused “punky” rock music, although E-Music was quite good. I think I can hear influence on Stereolab.

It’s Prince, it’s disco funk excellence, but not as good as Purple Rain or Sign o the times…

Excellent bubblegum pop with fast tight drumming and locked-in bass in every song, but very little else to attract me back again. Very radio lite pop, but driving rhythms. No heaven here, Belinda and nothing stopping me in any rush hour, Jane!

Awesome funky afrobeat jazz. Loads of groove and very very tight rhythms. Brilliant title track. Slower second. Extended album featured the excellent live “Mistake”. Nonetheless, Zombie on its own is so good.

Who doesn’t love a punk album that’s finished in quarter of an hour so you can get back to listening to Fela, Prince, Creedence or Steely Dan?! Well, not me when it feels like 15 minutes too much shouty noise. Gains a star for brevity and I think I heard one actual guitar solo!

“…plus tew bew lah bells”. Wonderful. However, disassociating myself from something so familiar I can hear how it is disparate and and disjointed. Musically accomplished without doubt, but actually no linking musical themes. Would have been good to have the Exorcist intro brought back a few times (I think it is almost referenced in Pt2 with the acoustic/ electro guitar section?) or the Viv Stanshall master of ceremonies backing theme. My memory has those bits plus the proggy rock guitar section (“jazz”) as the highlights, but frankly it’s all fun, beautiful and exciting with pleasant melodies. And Mike Oldfield was only 19 - makes you sick!

Pleasant easy listening electro dance. Samples Betty Davis Eyes and Gloria Estefan, so bonus point!

I've thoroughly enjoyed this. It may have been somewhat influenced by punk, but is really an excellent power pop / rock n roll by, and about, teenage boys and their preoccupation with girls. The singing by Feargal Sharkey mostly sets it apart from shouty punk and the musical ability and sheer catchiness of the melodies and riffs is very much like 60s and early 70s power pop. I've been looking forward to The Undertones and am not disappointed! Excellent.

Excellent hip-hop and record scratching production in an Unkle/Mo-Wax style. The rapping is tongue-twistingly clever, but mind-twistingly bizarre about an alien gynecologist! Mad as a box of frogs.

Fun, Bjork before the extreme arty experimentation. Includes the wonderful Birthday and I really like the music and groove of Blue eyed pop even if it a complete ironic send-up.

love the rock drums, but far too much industrial blips and noise in place of solid hooks and melodic samples. Harsh score, but needs more melody.

I tecalkef this being an ace 80s album, but beside the platinum 4 gigantic singles there are 4 fairly straight forward covers and some other low level 80s mild funky pop. Even Krisco Kisses for lots weaker than I remember. A little disappointing, but certainly made up for by the colossal hit singles, Born To Run, which is always welcome and a good stab at War, Jose and Ferry across the Mersey. A high three then.

Musically fun and accomplished, very early 70s glam rock. I liked the first song.

Nice continuity with yesterday’s Mott The Hoople with the Mick Ralphs connection. A good 70s blues rock album very much Free part 2, but with a strong Led Zeppelin feel. High 3.

Mature serious Moody Blues style singing if then utter primary school music lesson nonsense. Not clever. Emperor’s New Clothes to the musos.

Like a fusion of Marvin Gaye and Sly Stone this guitar-based soul grooves along beautifully. Excellent.

I like the guitar sound, not over produced hair metal style, much more Sonic Youth/Pavement but still a lot of guitar. Fortunately far more melody and hooks than Sonic Youth. Not unpleasant, but not that special either.

Sometimes she sounds like Peej of old, sometimes like Kate Bush and other times like a gentle folk singer. Lyrically I’m sure it’s clever and poetic, but musically I found nothing arresting.

I think I've reviewed 4 Nick Cave albums and each has been better than the last (not hard to improve on The Birthday Party!). Abattoir Blues is very strong and rockier, but Ghosteen is beautiful, poetic and the subdued almost Bowie/Eno Low-style synths really emphasise the lyrics. So hard to comprehend the pain and sadness of losing a child, but also a strange coincidence that most was written before Nick Cave's son died. A true auteur.

Maria is the famous track. Interesting project, but each track overstays it's welcome - perhaps so that the full Tango dance can be completed? Pleasant enough, but a little boring for a full album.

Much more laid back and mellow than I was expecting having heard the singles. Pleasant enough.

I will listen again, but slightly humdrum and not as special as I was expecting

Very 60s cinematic sound. I like both artists, but in their usual realms. Doesn't quite pull me in enough. Not bad, but a little boring.

Good singers, but too country for me.

Begins like a Greatest Hits. Very spare vocal and drums. Little bit too shouty. Very old school. Not aggressive. "Hits" are good.

I can hear the disco influence alongside the usual Queen, classical and synth styles. A good listen. Unmistakably Muse.

Very pleasant, gently sung and played. Not exactly ground breaking and i'd always choose other more classic versions of these standards, but completely inoffensive.

Indian sounding, drum and bass, trip-hop. It won the 1999 Mercury Music Prize. Woke up from a post-Sunday-long-jog-snooze right at the end. So it clearly didn't do much for me.

Gentle hip hop, nostalgic fun, correctly famous, but not quite as amazing as I remembered.

90s punk rock n roll, but with the bonus of horns. Ok, probably as good if not better than over-rated Green Day.

Arguably the best New Order album with start to finish mix of guitars, drums, synths and that bass. Oh how I CAN bear the thought of you!

Ditching 2000 light years from home psychedelia for rootsy blues and groovy rock n roll makes Beggars Banquet one of the classic Rolling Stones albums alongside Sticky Fingers and Let It Bleed. Extra star for Sympathy and Street Fighting, but loses a star or two for too much acoustic light rock.

Spiky and very danceable with lots of synth and programming. Not quite as rock as previously. Good 3.5

The 1980s Duran Duran funk-synth sound we all recall so fondly. Excellent album with three of their best songs as well as some excellent bass and synth work. Absolutely iconic LP cover. I can now even hear elements of The Cure. Great!

Some machine gun riffs a la at the drive-in, but an awful lot of incomprehensible rock singing and unnecessary "atmospheric" noises. Starts well, especially the first ESP, but could be more succinct and tighter.

I actually enjoyed this (not being a great fan of hip-hop)! Harder and more varied than Gangstarr from the same era. Chuck D’s voice is deep and authoritative, the Bomb Squad are good on the production and turntables. The message is socially conscious and free from gun toting and too much unnecessary swearing.

Quiet, a bit muffled vocally, pretty in a very low key and laid back style, but bordering on boring. I prefer the fuller jazzier sound of the 2nd LP, Bryter Layter.

A-MAZ-ING! One of the LPs that my Dad would often play through my childhood. Warm nostalgia as well as sheer joy from hearing one of the great rock jazz fusion albums. Great vocals from Journey founder Gregg Rolie. A solid gold favourite album.

Pleasant enough musically and rapping. Not abrasive. Good samples. Good wordplay without the swearing and guns. Good.

Very Curtis : falsetto singing, pretty guitar chops with wah, socially conscious urban themes and “big picture” love songs about getting on with one another. Nice and sensible. (Apart from the first track) Just not as funky or pop as his better material. 2.5 because I know he’s done better.

Not art, not music, not clever. No stars.

Uh oh, favourite band alert, might be difficult to be impartial! A good 2nd album, perhaps not as great as the debut, but it does come with the magnificent My Old School. Skunk Baxter plays guitar on it and I’m sure he had more fun with Steely Dan than he does now working at NASA or US Defence - no, really.

I was prepared for Alice Cooper to be theatrical horror, but I wasn’t expecting full on Leonard Bernstein West Side Story and jazz on side one! Delightful, albeit kooky.

Refreshingly eclectic: straight rock, ska, funk, pop, acoustic ballads. Really good. Immediately listened to it all again to make sure. I vaguely remember this band at the first Reading Festival I went to in 1993 and they put on a good show.

Serious and well crafted like Radiohead and Elbow, but slightly more immediately palatable. Falsetto can grate after a while, but not at all like Justin The Darkness Hawkins! I can see why Wild Beasts were critically acclaimed but didn't gain wider public acceptance. Useful to be introduced to this now defunct band.

If the songs are good and the soul and feel are there it will work acoustically. It does and very well indeed. Sad, but as with Ian Curtis’s death, a phoenix rises from the flames.

Really enjoyable pop album. Feels erudite and clever and I’m sure it is, but overall it sounds well crafted, fun and pleasing to the ear. Saw Neil and the band in Cambridge about five years ago and they are very enjoyable.

Very enjoyable - starts with a punk 1-2 full of comedy vitriol then third song moves to classic Hynde vocals and some great pop/rock. Amusing to note how her “too many lyrics” vocal style reminds me of the great Joni (not the beauty of Joni’s voice, although Christ’s voice can be lovely). Good LP worthy of its high chart position in 1980.

Bops along sweetly, but is ultimately forgettable. Only a few days ago there was a Divine Comedy LP from the same era and similar stock, which I preferred.

Enjoyed the music, but not the gangster rapping - almost switched off after hearing the early lyric about looking for "a slut with a nice butt for me to do my nut". Why are these people not lambasted and ostracised by Society? Unacceptable. But good music and production by Dre. So a reluctant 3 stars for the music.

I love Shipbuilding, so was enthusiastic about listening to this album, but left bitterly disappointed. I only liked Seasong, the rest was cacophony.

Very emotional lyrics with a hard rock and grunge sound. Couldn’t hear the talked about influence of classic soul music, but agree that Gregg sings from the soul. Just a bit too noisy, although it did remind me of Bob Mould’s, Husker Du front man’s, Sugar.

Soulful and groovy with a kind of What’s Going On meets afrobeat vibe filtered through a London 2020 streetwise production. Thematically it’s all about George Floyd and Black Lives Matter movement, but not aggressively or unpleasantly like Gangster Rap, but poetically and obviously and often positively. Maestro producer Inflow uses Michael Kiwunaka in a few songs and it definitely sounds very much like a Kiwunaka record. I love Bow which reminds me of Fela Kuti. Soulful, political, afrobeat and groovy. Worth the critical acclaim.

Gazillion selling single, so it must be an amazing pop album full of gems, right? Wrong, horribly so. Nothing extraordinary or notable. Another huge disappointment, although I do know diamonds like Toxic are still to come from a host of brilliant songwriters using the pop star Britney vessel.

Low key musically, but dense and often personal lyrically. Not enough pizazz for me.

My kind of smooth, grooving jazz soul with the scorching extended title track with the wonderful Randy Crawford. Admittedly easy listening, but with technically accomplished Steely Dan style keyboard and guitar soloing. Great rhythm. Excellent smooth jazz/soul.

Indebted to John Lee Hooker, but paying dues to classic rock and punk with an African vibe. Pleasant, quite light. Good electric guitar picking.

Great pop, catchy and straight into the three mega hit singles. Drifts off into weak slushiness towards the end, but the majority is good upbeat pop. 3.5

Grunge punk with a kind of slightly lo-fi Dinosaur Jr feel. Not really enough hooks to grab me. A low three

Phenomenally eclectic, but rumbles along without any particularly weak moments. Good singing. Good composing (folk, orchestral, rock, blues, funk, pop, vaudeville)! Less prog than Genesis, but still wacky. I can see how Fish-era Marillion were influenced. 3.5 Good.

Good to hear it wasn’t typical punk, but a kind of minimal scratchy post punk vaguely ska sound. Clearly they are having fun especially on Shoplifting: “do a runner”! However, Viv’s autobiography is more enjoyable, recommended even.

All of side 1 and side 2 opener "You can call me Al" are superb. Bubbling along at a good tempo, catchy and fun. After "Al" things slow down and it's good, but not as immediate. Overall a very good listen and worthy of the critical standing. Breaking the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa now seems unimportant and distant, but I remember in the 1980s it really was massively controversial - even whilst working with non-white musicians. I have no belief that Gracelands or the gigs/tours made the slightest political difference, but it would have been annoying to set up a boycott only for a superstar of Paul Simon's stature to largely ignore it, even having consulted various worthy people.

Really enjoyed this 80s rock album. I imagined early REM being mumbling and airy fairy music, but it’s as good as Out of Time and more fun, but not as high-brow as Autimatic for the People. Very good!

Joy! Loved this when it came out and although very long, it had some excellent song writing.

Very mellow, seductive and sexy. Like a more playful bossa nova Sade. Bebel has a sweet, soulful voice. Bananeira (live) was most upbeat. Note: Amazon wouldn't let me play the album so I made a playlist from live versions and songs found on compilations.

Starts with rhythms not far from previous selection's bossanova (Bebel Gilberto). Overall too much ethereal ambience, but sounds modern and has genuine dancey rhythms (amongst the ambience).

Overdubbed or not, it still makes for an exhilarating and positive compilation. Excellent proper rock n roll to wipe away the joke of punk!!!!

Mixing up genres and experimental, this is clearly different for it's time, but I prefer their second album, For Your Pleasure. This starts well, but gets weaker. I didn’t warm to the last two songs at all.

Found the previous Elliot Smith album a week ago a bit humdrum, so not really looking forward to this, but if it’s meant to be his best work then I’ll go in open minded. Much better! Still low key quiet singing, but the songs are much more in the vein of Brendon Benson, but not as catchy.

Much more accessible than “…and Nico” LP. Having said that I found The Murder Mystery experimental track pretty interesting and arresting! Altogether an OK listenable 1960s LP, nothing special, but I’m no big fan. Gets a three because it’s not awful!

A classic 90s album, but it turns out I only really know the singles, which are rightly renowned. Angst and angry, but also tender. Good guitar pop.

Good UK 80s funk. Like Spandau Ballet crossed with Talking Heads and Aztec Camera.

Majestic pop. Clever, erudite, smooth and catchy. Like Steely Dan through a UK 80s wine bar with a disco floor.

Ok beats and noises. Excellent deep voiced authoritative rapping from Chuck D. Some iconic raps. Political, racial and angry, but none of the ugly sweary aggressive nonsense that proliferates gangster rap.

Eclectic, some very ambient pieces. Enjoyed the mellow BBC indent bit.

Quite interesting rock. Wouldn’t switch off if it came on the radio, but not going to go headlong looking out for the music.

Extremely laidback. Some pleasant Latin bits mixed in with the modern production, but quite muddy and messy electro-trance which becomes more and more aimless through the album. Not very good.

Fits well amongst Goldrush and Harvest. Good to hear Neil's sweet early 70s voice.

Quite good - some Grateful Dead style 60s/70s rock noodling and some beautiful CSNY folk rock melodies. Not bad.

More than half the album are considered standards, which in my regard makes this an outstanding classic. The soul and incredible blues rock vocals are better than most out and out rockers. Along side Lady Soul this is a standout LP from Aretha’s body of work.

Awesome southern blues rock. The eight songs fly by and even the honkytonk country rock n roll of Things Goin On and Mississippi Kid are good rollicking fun. Obviously the big hits are Platinum-plated.

Disappointing- I like her voice and the Prince interpretation is amazing, but I only really liked Emperor’s New Clothes of the rest (and the funky drummer sample).

I liked his bluesy growl - reminded me of Captain Beefheart, I also liked the New Orleans Cajun blues, but mostly found it all too psychedelic.

But boring. Little bit gothic with electronics, but thankfully not nine inch nails!

Epic symphonic funk soul that lays the template for the great funk of the 1970s. Slow burning, but Walk On By is magnificent.

Pretty (in Radiohead terms) and less rock than might have been assumed from hearing Bodysnatchers. A really good all round Radiohead album.

A bit samey. Thundering bass. Food for thought is very good.

Concise album and easy to listen. Good pop, blues and gentle rock. An enjoyable collection, but how did Eric get away with the Led Zep rip on Let It Grow? 3.5

Starts off sounding typically late 60s guitar rock, then becomes psychedelic and, to my ears, less precise and focused and more messy. Slightly lower than 3 (average)

One of my favourites from the early 90s. Thick layered guitar riffs, catchy melodies. My younger self perversely enjoyed the alternative-style awful nasal singing. Also has some tender sweet songs. “Mayonaise” still gives me goosebumps. Not sure what happened to the brighter clearer album cover - don’t much like the washed out monochrome version displayed now. Other than that, it’s a triumph.

Surprisingly R&B soulful with lots of brass. Also incredibly similar to Bat Out Of Hell album. In any case, it's very good and accessible.

Not as out and out funky as Sly and the Family Stone, but similar to Stevie Wonder's funk and soul of the same era (makes sense now that I read they recorded at the same time and studio as "Innervisions" and shared synth gurus). Enjoyable guitar soloing in the two enormous singles. 3.5

Less R&B than Born To Run and much more "typical" Bruce. Some proper rock songs and lots of piano-led ernest story songs. Ok, but I prefer the two "Born" albums.

Loved it then and it still sounds minimal, electronic, serious, but cheeky and very danceable. Plugged the gap between New Order albums. Awesome.

Very laid back, very groovy. Lovely pop songs. Exodus is one long groove and I haven't even looked at the lyrics! Another all time great album.

Pretty stripped back and minimal apart from the obvious rock tracks. Political, but not nasty. Worth another listen to really hear the lyrics.

Gentle, with some blues. Not loving all the singing as John Martyn "eats" the vocals sometimes. The big hit song (may you never) is really very beautiful.

Second John Martyn album in consecutive days. I think this is more accessible than Solid Air and has a more pop feel about it than the blues/jazz/folk of Solid Air. Not bad. John's gruff rock voice is growing on me, but I still prefer his more natural pretty vocals.

A film soundtrack with a pretty leitmotif, but needs to be heard with the film playing. Not sure why it's considered outstanding.

I was really into this at the time of its eventual release in 2004. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Slightly heavy-handed construction, but lovely melodies. Bit too long and "twee" in places, but Beach Boys melodies from the late 60s. High 3.

Some bits were close to straight forward rock n roll which I liked. The collaborator sounds a bit like Cash. Ok for country. High two.

Still full of good songs and only a few are rock. Heavy on the piano, harmonica and acoustic guitar. Unite good singing - for Neil.

Brings to mind Simple Minds and Joy Division. Ok, but nothing special - prominent baselines, but nothing particularly athletic. Low 3.

Big beat electronica with a dark, gothic rock feel (like Screamadelica with a dark heart).

Tight and repetitive. Jerky punk without the silly aggression and pointless noise. However, the musical repetition is not a huge step away. Very famous, but not that great - disappointing. The chapter in Simon Reynolds's "Rip It Up and Start Again" is illuminating and far more interesting than the music (see also Throbbing Gristle, which expresses loads of substance over actually anything resembling music!!!!!!)

I do like bits and pieces and some albums throughout Miles Davis' career, particularly Kind of Blue, In a Silent Way and big favourite Tribute to Jack Johnson. I really enjoyed the fusion of blues rock guitar and funky bass. I've wanted to like Bitches Brew, but it never works for me like Jack Johnson and is far too messy to be similar to A Silent Way. Genius and forward thinking with the editing, loops and cut and paste, but this one's not for me. Cover art is afro magnificent.

Better than Jefferson Airplane - not as noodly, but still over indulgent in places. Low 3

Very 80s, a little bit Janet Jackson/Paula Abdul, but not quite enough Salt n Pepa! Always liked Neneh’s voice. Hit singles are still great, but dated.

Some pleasant tunes and good covers. Maggie May is gorgeous. Title track rolls along well. Elvis cover rocks. Not as bluesy or rocking as with The Faces or Jeff Beck, but Rod’s vocals in the 60s and early 70s were great for the style.

Didn’t interest me. It’s not a patch on Stephane Grapelli and the Hot Club.

I particularly liked the groove of Taaw, but the second track was too sombre for my Afrobeat party!

Very old skool hip hop. Not much of an advance from Rappers Delight or Grandmaster Flash’s hits. Good to hear Kraftwerk, but generally disappointing given all plaudits for being so influential.

Lovely, rich voice full of soul and emotion. No real hits on this collection, so not special and really only a trillion seller based on her star power alone. I won't be listening to 25 again since 19 and 21 are so much better.

Punk hardcore “alternative rock”, neither metal nor grunge. Bass and drums work well together, but I don’t really like the noise.

Not really overrated because there are some gems of melodic catchy ‘pop’ songs amongst the hardcore punk screaming. Nirvana and Cobain were genuinely talented and stratospheric sales warrant this album in the list even if it’s not ultimately my taste.

Not my taste. Like Dylan and Don MacLean, albeit jollier, with a strong country vibe. Just not for me.

Pre-punk, garage rock obsessed with teenage dreams of cars, girls and wrestling. Not heavy, not glam, not punk, not Aerosmith, Kiss or Tom Petty. Definitely not as accomplished or enjoyable as Undertones with similar, albeit Northern Irish, subject matter. Interesting that people believe they influenced Ramones and other punk forerunners. I don’t feel this is essential.

Certainly an album worth listening to once before I die. Pleasant, but not my thing, thank you.

Obvious influence on punk. Sounds like punks emulating Rolling Stones with added aggression and poor vocals. Not awful, but not my taste.

Punk rock, but musical. Not very good vocals, but medium enjoyable rock. Nothing as good as New Rose or Eloise.

Very lovely and compelling poetry, guitar picking and deep morbid vocals. Good and the 10 songs don't overstay their welcome, even if a few begin to sound samey. High 3.

Pleasant enough, but nothing grips me at all. I'd have preferred to listen to another ex-Byrd: David Crosby who just died in the week.

Still my favourite Peej album even after all these years (must be a teenage galvanising thing). So much more accessible and fun than Rid Of Me. Muddle of album is particularly impressive (Victory, Hair, Sheela, Dress, etc).

I thought I’d already reviewed this such is it’s fame and fortune. Great rock and not as scary or hard to listen to as non-metallers might think. Terrific anthemic heavy metal songs and a catchy singalong "pop" song in Run To The Hills, albeit about marauders laying waste to a village settlement! And what an ending - The Guardian voted five of the eight songs on this LP into their list of Top 30 Greatest Maiden songs with Hallowed Be Thy Name at No.1. Possibly true, if it wasn't for the earlier Phantom Of The Opera🤟🏽

I don't really like much of Sonic Youth's music. I have liked about a third of Goo, but almost nothing on Sister or Daydream Nation (just teenage riot and candle really). Whilst it's good to hear a lot of guitar, I find the general lack of structure and cohesion difficult. Accomplished as they are, it just doesn't appeal. I'm tempted to call Emperor's New Clothes on all the muso critics, but I do think Thurston, Lee and Kim (and drummer... sorry...) are capable musicians and trying to be unconventional in a post punk hardcore manner.

Uplifting pop on the verge of disco. Slightly unhinged. I'm not getting the glam rock, but it does feel ahead of it's 1974 year. Slightly resembles Roxy Music or Supertramp. Ok-ish.

Good mix of programmed sounds and rock guitars etc. Fine as a Radiohead album, but still too often a bit inaccessible and difficult. However the good bits are really very good.

Back to his ‘70s best. Sharp, cynical lyrics and catchy music. Very good.

I'm not the audience for this. Better than Marilyn Manson. I skipped through in a few minutes to hear the variety of vocal forms and buzzsaw guitars. I’ll only give 1 star if I think it’s atrocious with no musical value, but I can understand the appeal here for the modern thrash metaller.

It rocks, it has soul, blues, tenderness, good guitar soling, vocals other than Don Henley’s. Every song is either immediately likeable or grows immeasurable on 2nd or 3rd listen. Gentle songs often have moments of melodic or bluesy guitar brilliance. Great singalong. A bona fide classic.

Apart from the two successful singles, Make It Mine and ProGen-Move Any Mountain, this is a boring album from the rave-era. Adamski, Orb, Orbital and Prodigy did this far better around the same period and would be worthy of listening to before you die. I could only listen to the US version, but I’m sure the first 10 or 11 tracks are similar enough to the original UK release. Disappointing.

Bringing to mind Waterboys Mike Scott's vocals and Springsteen's style with textured guitar and other sounds. I also keep hearing Sam Fender's "17 going under". Not sure about the extended outro of the first song. Second half is a bit better, but it's really very good.

Quite different to a previous Time Buckley LP on The List. This is psychedelic funk of the Van Morrison feel rather than the superior Sly Stone. Ok, nothing to write home about.

Hugely influential and featuring Chuck D’s baritone: “the voice of God in a storm” according to The Bomb Squad. Still not really my thing, but I’d take PE over most other narcissistic, violent and mysogynistic rap music. A million miles away from De La Soul’s light and funny 3 feet high.

Power rock with slight punk tendencies, but loads more melody and talent - clearly inspired Green Day especially with the vocal style. A bit disappointing having heard the catchy power pop of Sugar. Low 3 as there a no real stand out songs.

Much more soulful than the other U2 albums from the 1990s. Mature, less experimental. Strong, sensible songwriting. A very good U2 album.

First time listening to the Dead. Was expecting Jefferson Airplane psychedelia, but this was like The Band or a less accomplished Allman Brothers. Ok,nothing particularly pressure, singing was pleasant, ambience was convivial. Low 3.

Great bluesy growl. Reasonable blues rock that fits with the mid ‘60s era. Glad it wasn’t the extremely difficult Trout Mask today🙉!

One of the top Dylan albums showcasing his move into mainstream rock n roll blues. Catchy songs and lots of fun. An easy listen and definitely one of the important albums of the mid ‘60s.

Big Spector production as expected. Slow enough for easy singalong except the songs aren’t memorable or particularly strong. Pleasant enough voice and delivery, just nothing special.

One of my favourites. Love the introspective lyrics, love the synth. Soul Mining, This is the day, Uncertain Smile with Jools Holland’s piano solo, it goes on. Then there’s Giant where it all comes together with the cool synths, the lyrics, those drums and chanting. Unimpeachable and magnificent. ImThat one song on its own makes this legendary.

Good fun, upbeat mostly interesting dance (funky house?). Just a couple of slower, repetitive or irritating songs.

I'm a bit "square" for "Post rock". Too disjointed and unfocussed.

Good mix of jazz and proper 60s r&B. Heavy on the horn section.

Possibly the most enjoyable Waits album so far with groovy blues and trademark ballads. Still ridiculously quirky, but without the weird instrumentation and noises that appear later in the 1980s.

First two songs are ok with grooves and form, then it becomes scuzzy, messy and noisy. I've now listened to the first three Stooges LPs and I only like one or two songs from each album. Disappointing, given the excellent Bowie produced Iggy albums, but I can see how they and The MC5 are seen as influential proto-punk.

Good variety of intelligent pop and camp fire strumming. Disillusion and Once Around The Block are strong. "Have You Fed The Fish" album is slightly more concise and better still.

Guy Garvey doesn't initially sound like a singer, but his range is really good and he sings in tune with lovely melodies. Add in some quality poetry, wordplay, wit and emotive description to the hook laden music and elbow become the accessible and relatable version of Radiohead. Well deserved Mercury winner and an album that gets better with each listen.

Great 80s bass sound and synths. Catchy hit singles and atmospheric songs. Mature sounding, but with groove. Not yet the stadium rockers of the late 80s. Caught between Bunnymen, Duran, U2 - in a very good way.

Pleasant mature dance music, but a touch boring. I can hear what he did for Madonna. Low 3

A very catchy hook-laden jazz album. Very engaging and accessible. Every musician shines. Even after all these years I still don't really know what \"modal\" means in this context, but the album is a winner for any mood, time of day, or social function. Definitely a 5. I can only imagine how ultra cool it would be to drop the stylus on the vinyl version!

Lush and intricately orchestrated. However, nothing grabs me firmly like some of the catchy hookier songs on the Yoshimi album. It all just washed over me. Wayne Coyne’s voice is a bit irritating after a while.

Very Hendrix. Straight ahead funk rock. Unnecessary sound effect noodling son Armageddon and Back In Our Minds is the weakest song. High 3 - good.

Released between two absolute 5 star crackers (Innervisions and Songs in the key of life). First few songs seem light weight sentimental ditties, and it takes a few songs before the funky grooviness starts. Then you realise that they’ve all got under your skin and you’re humming away to some lovely love songs. Subsequent listens double down on all this and before you know it your listening to a classic Stevie album. Just a pity it falls between such giant corkers!

I’m a few songs in and I can tell this aggressive hip hop is not my thing. Always strange that rappers who trade is words should fall to the lowest denominator and fill their diatribe with unimaginative basic swearing. Sweating can convey emotion, but more often, as here, it shows no lyrical, descriptive or witty art and hardly any feel or emotion. 2 stars because there are some rhymes and the samples beats are reasonable.

Wonderfully powerful blues voice. Good blues record. Rightly her most celebrated album.

Starts off with a middle eastern vibe then the Latin hip-hop rock kicks in and it's party time. Surprisingly eclectic with traditional Latin as well as the modern fusion.

The extreme awfulness of Mother is so atrocious that even the 7 good songs pale under the putrid weight of its detritus. Even the song about the blow up doll in an earlier Police LP seems good in comparison. Only a few old style Police. The ballads and jazzy songs are brilliant, but it's hardly the fun and spikiness of Regatta or Zenyana. A good send off, but surely album filler like Mother is unnecessary? A mostly excellent lp, but the new wave spike is replaced with slick Sting craft including that song about a creepy stalker, you know the one! 3 stats because I can't get over Mother.

Very clever to make it sound like a CD skipping, but an absolute noisy racket. A few times I thought it was going to break into Van Halen-style guitar tapping, but it remained awful. Totally rubbish sounds.

I immediately recognised Peter Saville’s style on the cover, but the music is not as cold and industrial as the Joy Division art connection implies. It’s really very lovely. Lush orchestral flourishes and beautiful melodies. I’ve always quite liked Andy McCluskey’s strained voice over the synths. Yes, a good one.

Quietly beautiful. I love the stripped back spareness of sound. And I really like Romy’s voice - like Tracy Thorn but with more emotion and colour. There’s a bit of mumbling, but it’s a million miles from the silly mumble whisper style of Billie Eilish. Highly influential, something for everyone here if you have the patience to listen - and it’s only a little over 30 minutes.

The one with Tiny Dancer! Quite dark compared to his and Taupin’s other early records. Pleasant to listen to, but doesn't shine as much as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Beautiful harmonies, sweet melodies. Very accessible. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Guinevere, Wooden Ships, Long Time Gone - great. However, it is very of it’s time, particularly Marrakesh Express.

Will OIdham is the darling of the music critics. I like his Americana take on a quite English sounding folk style. Pleasant.

Good, accessible and radio friendly. Five hugely popular and quality songs - notably Night Swimming and Everybody Hurts. Crossover between indie, rock, Americana and chart pop. Very accomplished.

Pretty cool! Liked it much more than the dark gangstery Moss Side Story. This is funky, jazzy and has some good guest vocalists. Lots of vibraphone, but not too kitsch. Nothing links this to Adamson’s Magazine days!

Unmistakable sound of Liverpudlian jangly guitar Brit pop (La’s, Cast, Lightning Seeds, etc). A delight, but not necessarily essential!

6 or 7 hits and gold standards (including the imperious Anyone Who Had A Heart). Wonderful 1960s pop gem. Dusty improved, so only a high 3 stars.

Pleasant, light, but very samey (just as What's Going On is samey, but still excellent).

eclectic early ‘80s resembling elements of PiL/Joy Division/Cure/Talking Heads. At times really enjoyable funky dance bass locked in with tight drums. Generally too diverse covering lots of styles. Not bad, just too varied. A very low 3 stars

Wasn’t expecting to like this, but the riffing is excellent, catchy and pretty damn heavy. The singing isn’t my taste, but isn’t as awful as growling howling metallers are known for. Similar to Metallica from the same period without such clean melody lines and memorable tunes, nonetheless it’s actually ok to listen to.

Not as dark and heavy as earlier Sabbath. Better song development and singing, but lack of knockout riffs. Easy enough to listen to, but relatively forgettable.

Oh no, my bete noir, extremely challenging avant-garde “piece”. There is a valuable place for experimental music, but did this have to be so long? However, it’s easier to listen to and more amusing than Marylyn Manson and other awful 1 star garbage. They rehearsed for 8 months!

Excellent quality across the very long album. Potentially the best post Beatles album, if it wasn't for being far from bitesize. I love Band On The Run, but even that is not as consistent as this. Excellent.

It is good dance music with particularly excellent production. Very good songs with the female vocals, but I don't really like Jazzy B's talking. His commentary/poetry might work if sung or rapped with rhythm. Talking doesn't do it for me.

Fun and exactly as expected from The King. Great voice, good mix of rock n roll, pop and crooning. No enduring classics, but good short listen.

Dark, haunting, groovy and incredibly cool and classy. I don't feel it's aged, although many others disagree with me! Just enough time for Beth's vocal style to stay the good sign of irritating. Excellent guitar sound.

Short, lively stabs of garage rock without silly noisy feedback or ugly vocals. Sometimes very catchy. Good, but I was expecting even better from the reputation.

Such an awesome title track that I hardly ever listen to the rest of the album. Foolish, because it’s really good in that Talking Heads way, but with more love for traditional rock rather than anti-rock for the sake of it. Cool, not punky. A high 3 (would be a 4 for the title song on its own).

Begins like a John Carpenter soundtrack - very exciting. Then some catchy indie-dance reminding me of Hot Chip collaborating with Beta Band. Good music.

Some well known and good songs (albeit awfully misogynistic!): Mother's little helper, lady Jane, Under my thumb, out of time. A few blues influenced songs, but not quite dated. Some time to go before Let It Bleed etc.

Too Country for my liking, but it does end with the evergreen Memphis Tennessee.

Classic alert! Very protest, but listenable. Good mix of stripped back and full pop band. Excellent.

Yes, yes, yes! Funky guitar work, highly interesting lyrics and subjects. Has that punky vibe, but without the unpleasant screaming. Really enjoyable.

Pleasant enough, but a little boring.

Knowing the gentle nature of lead single Where Are We Now, I was surprised to find this very much a rock album sounding similar to the funk rock songs from the famed Berlin period. This will delight fans of Bowie’s late ‘70s period. Good.

One of my favourites up there with Sign O the Times and Hard Days Night. Perfect culmination of Stevie’s golden album era. Excellent pop, rock, funk, soul, ballads, jazz - and he often plays all the instruments! Magnificent. Only small criticism would be that a few songs are a bit too long, but not “As”, which is perfect!

A bit like Iron Maiden, so not awful, but not as good! A low three.

Ok, reasonably catchy and edgy. Quite 4AD. Low three

Memorable riffs and some genuine classic rock songs (all five excellent singles) - all well played and bellowed (I like Hetfield’s range). More accessible than earlier Metallica, but still a bit too thrashy overall for my taste across the entire album. A four because the singles are excellent.

Too thrashy for my liking.

Good, upbeat synth pop music with "novelty" guitar song! Gets under your skin and is pretty infectious.

Excellent blues rock and musicianship, but some cringey vocal antics. Quite disjointed in places. Led Zeppelin II is better all round.

Sounds like show tunes done by an admirer of Jacques Brel and Scott Walker. Not as interesting as Taupin’s work with Elton John. Not awful.

My older sister was obsessed with Morten and by association I also loved and played this album a lot in 1985/86. The perfect package of cool, handsome guys that girls fancied and boys wanted to be, coupled with cool synth pop that you can dance to or do your homework to. The epitome of cool. And I just discovered that Take On Me gas the perfect beat and drum pattern for my morning running! It’s been over 35 years since I last listened to the full album and I can’t fathom why. This is utterly brilliant synth pop easily as accomplished as Lexicon Of Love, Dare, Low Life, New Gold Dream, Sweet Dreams, Music For The Masses, The Innocents… you get the theme. Five stars without doubt.

At first I didn’t like the high pitched wailing and bleeps, but it got under my skin and could feel the sexiness. There are hints of The XX but far raunchier and more experimental. Not really my thing, but I can understand the critical acclaim.

Very UK mod-ish in that late 80s/90s style giving respect to Kinks and the Who and also The Jam. I always liked this Blur album and although it doesn't get heard as much as the following celebrated albums it certainly stands up well in their discography.

Youthful garage rock energy combined with very catchy pop melodies and choruses. Like the The Undertones for my generation. Great singles (checkout "Intergalactic 7s"), but I feel "Free All Angels" and the heavier "Meltdown" might be even better.

Superb! Musically catchy as hell, lyrically nasty as hell. My favourite Elvis Costello and Attractions LP. Fast paced anti-love songs - only slightly slows for Little Triggers. Love, love love.

Surprisingly bland, even boring. Never really seen the fuss about Get It On or Jeepster. Disappointing.

A bit too twangy country for me. I do like Emmylou, but have never been able to enjoy country Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers or solo Gram Parsons. Nothing wrong with this, I just don’t care for the style.

I’m open minded and willing to try something different and outside my comfort zone, but this certainly meets expectations. Mostly slow and boring and way (“wayayayayeahairohwohoh…”) too much wailing - literally no space without her singing, ever. Not enough faster hip hop beats. Maybe four ok songs: Honey, Bones Thugs collaboration, Butterfly remix dominated by other more powerful singers and the Prince cover thankfully not killing the original.

Like an amazing blend of Aztec Camera, House of Love and Prefab Sprout. It really is that lovely. Not about the riffs, but pretty pop songs. Streets Of Your Town is an immediately wonderful favourite. Can't wait to hear another of their albums.

Dream pop indeed. Vocally similar to Kate Bush (particularly The Dreaming album). Smooth indie, covering chorused guitars, synthpop and other smooth styles. Good unique sound, certainly worth hearing before I die, but I'm still not won over as a proper fan.

Good, sophisticated 198ps wine bar pop music. I like Tracy Thorns voice - sounds like she's bored but it works well. A high 3.

I can sense the relaxed enjoyment from the players, some wonderful jazz/classical piano, but overall just a sense of over-rated, over-hyped celebratory. Competent, but not the best Latin album on this list by a long shot.

Fun, sweet, a bit too ethereal , so pleasant background music. Would be good in a Sunday afternoon. I like the effects laden bass and guitar.

Voice sounds a little bit like Lou Reed, better maybe. Songs are sweet about relationships and animals. Pleasant, but I’ll not be returning. Low three.

It’s got the big rock, funk, blues and pretty songs PLUS Kashmir. Many pieces overstay their welcome - 4 minute ditties please! The arrangements are a bit busy too. For example I’d have preferred a slightly stripped back Trampled. Led Zeppelin II remains the benchmark. A low 4?

I listened to the original 5 track album. Very good fun jazz. Superb soloing. Beautiful smooth bass sax and trumpet soloing. Mostly fast danceable rhythm. Really very good.