Journey Complete!
Finisher #113 to complete the list
1089
Albums Rated
3.21
Average Rating
100%
Complete
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Favorite Album
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Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Rock-and-roll
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
127
5-Star Albums
53
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Take Me Apart
Kelela
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
|
5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
|
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
Nowhere
Ride
|
5 | 3.01 | +1.99 |
|
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
|
5 | 3.01 | +1.99 |
|
Sister
Sonic Youth
|
5 | 3.02 | +1.98 |
|
Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Eternally Yours
The Saints
|
5 | 3.06 | +1.94 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
|
1 | 3.84 | -2.84 |
|
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
|
1 | 3.61 | -2.61 |
|
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.56 | -2.56 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
|
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
|
1 | 3.49 | -2.49 |
|
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
Different Class
Pulp
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.42 | -2.42 |
|
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
The Slider
T. Rex
|
1 | 3.28 | -2.28 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 7 | 5 |
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 5 |
| Miles Davis | 4 | 5 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 5 |
| Leonard Cohen | 5 | 4.6 |
| Joni Mitchell | 4 | 4.75 |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4.75 |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4.75 |
| Marvin Gaye | 3 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 4.29 |
| Björk | 4 | 4.5 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.67 |
| Nirvana | 3 | 4.67 |
| Rush | 2 | 5 |
| Van Halen | 2 | 5 |
| Funkadelic | 2 | 5 |
| Muddy Waters | 2 | 5 |
| Aretha Franklin | 2 | 5 |
| King Crimson | 2 | 5 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 5 |
| PJ Harvey | 4 | 4.25 |
| David Bowie | 9 | 3.89 |
| Elvis Presley | 3 | 4.33 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 3 | 4.33 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Morrissey | 4 | 1.5 |
| Kanye West | 3 | 1.33 |
| Love | 2 | 1 |
| Def Leppard | 2 | 1 |
| The Byrds | 5 | 1.8 |
| Dexys Midnight Runners | 3 | 1.67 |
| Eminem | 2 | 1.5 |
| ABBA | 2 | 1.5 |
| Genesis | 2 | 1.5 |
| Scott Walker | 2 | 1.5 |
| Suede | 2 | 1.5 |
| T. Rex | 2 | 1.5 |
| Oasis | 2 | 1.5 |
| Gene Clark | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 2 |
| The Kinks | 4 | 2.25 |
5-Star Albums (127)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead is one of the bands I've always wanted to love but still haven't quite embraced to their fullest. Their originality, musicality, expressiveness, talent, the undeniable influence on so many others; it's all there. I don't really understand why I haven't connected more strongly with this band. Kind of a "perfect match on paper but for some reason, no chemistry" story for me. Giving 5 stars to show the respect they deserve.
35 likes
5/5
PJ Harvey is yet another in a too-long list of outstanding musical artists who I somehow just simply missed altogether when they were definitely available to me as a listener and concert-goer. I remember hearing her name a lot, and she was spoken very very highly of by a number of people whose musical tastes were similar to mine. Anyway, even though I can't quite explain how I didn't listen to her 21 years ago when this album was released, I can say after having listened to it that I think it's fantastic work. Compelling, intriguing, very interesting chord progressions and rhythms, and I just dig the overall vibe. Dark without being too self-referential or too harsh. Really solid album.
28 likes
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Stevie Wonder is one of those widely and passionately loved musicians whose talent and work I can appreciate, and whose importance in, and influence on, music is absolutely huge, yet I just never really felt all that interested in what I was hearing. I don't dislike it, it just never clicked with me.
24 likes
Goldfrapp
4/5
This is great! This album is yet another reminder of why I love this 1000 albums project. I doubt I'd ever hear of them or hear their music, and I love this. I don't even usually listen to electronic music, but this is different. The mix in real instruments, too, and incredible vocals. Some tracks are dreamy and haunting, which I love. Some are also downright beautiful. Some are a bit too jarring for me, but overall, very good. Thank you, 1001 albums generator!
18 likes
Rush
5/5
Love Rush -- such amazing musicians, each member. This album preceded 'Signals,' and it was during the Signals tour that I saw them in concert, December 1982. Incredible, high energy, fun show. They opened with Spirit of Radio, played Limelight, Tom Sawyer, and other biggies, and did a YYZ encore. I was 15. Saw the show with my good friend, Drew. It was epic!
17 likes
1-Star Albums (53)
All Ratings
Deep Purple
4/5
Similar to Black Sabbath not so much in sound or style, but in how I can hear how much they influenced a lot of 70s rock. I get the influence, makes sense this is on the list. Blackmore’s solo and rhythm riff on ‘Highway Star’ are totally high octane, and ‘Smoke On The Water’ is forever etched on the walls whether we like it or not, but this isn’t on my personal favorites list.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Really interesting album from a great band. Can absolutely hear their 70's punk roots and influences (which means I also hear 60's surf rock), but they are much tighter rhythmically and more daring than most punk bands.
Rush
5/5
Love Rush -- such amazing musicians, each member. This album preceded 'Signals,' and it was during the Signals tour that I saw them in concert, December 1982. Incredible, high energy, fun show. They opened with Spirit of Radio, played Limelight, Tom Sawyer, and other biggies, and did a YYZ encore. I was 15. Saw the show with my good friend, Drew. It was epic!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
It's Bob. Always welcome!
Supergrass
5/5
Wow, had not heard of Supergrass and I really like their alt-rock vibe. This band has some incredible musicians. Very sophisticated and well-thought-out stuff!
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2/5
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Oh, such a fun album. Absolutely remember this spinning at many a party when it came out. One of the first rap groups I heard. Love the way they weave R&B, rock, and rap elements together.
PJ Harvey
5/5
Somehow, I don't think I'd ever listened (or at least known I was listening) to PJ Harvey before. What an interesting album and interesting musician. Absolutely unafraid.
Laibach
1/5
I had never heard of this group or album, so I gave it a listen. I tried to find things in it that I liked, but didn't hear much of anything I would ever want to listen to again. I suppose maybe as absurdist theater it might be interesting, but not to me.
U2
4/5
I've had an odd interested-not interested connection with U2 since I first heard them in the early 80s. I'm back to appreciating them again, especially the Edge's innovative guitar work that does not get the respect he deserves. He's an incredible musician who knows how to pull in one's ears. This is a solid album.
Gang Starr
5/5
The Saints
5/5
I had not heard of them before this album came up here for me. Wow! Very impressive. Super-tight and musical for a "punk" band. Much as I love a lot about the punk movement, some (maybe many?) punk bands seemed too hellbent on proving they are anti-establishment and could veer into dissonance for dissonance's sake. What I absolutely LOVE about this album is the balance between how strongly steeped in early punk it is yet how superbly skilled the musicianship is. A punk band with tight rhythms and even some freakin' brass arrangements? Hecks, YES! I'll now listen to this band regularly.
Sonic Youth
5/5
I had heard of Sonic Youth in the 90's, but remained unfamiliar with their work. I just listened to this whole album and even though it's more "thrashy" than my usual listening tastes, I so love it. Innovative, original, and they show some real advanced musicianship. I read up on them, and Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore's focus on alternate tunings, many they pioneered, really draws me in. Such an artistic approach to their craft, and so much expression in their music.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
I can hear the demonstrable talent and skill in their music, and some of the tracks are musically interesting, but the vocals in both presentation and content feel too gimmicky for my personal taste.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I liked Elvis Costello in high school and college, and saw him in concert a couple times. Real fun pop with a twist, and he's a solid entertainer. It was nice to revisit and listen to this album again. I don't plan to start listening to his music again--the songs are a little too similar to each other for my taste--but I understand the appeal.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I respect very much Bruce's place in the Pantheon of American rock music, and he deserves it. There are a handful of songs of his I really love, but simply as a matter of personal preference, his music just never "clicked" with me. I have no criticisms of him music; it genuinely is as simple as chemistry either being there or not, and for me and Bruce, it's just not.
Big Star
2/5
Based on when this album came out, I can hear how it is part of the continued evolution of many sub-genres of rock. It's got a late 60's rock sound to it but also sounds a bit precursive to some "alt-rock" styles. Very talented band, but I'm not a fan of the vocals and this is not the kind of music I would like to listen to regularly.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Really fun album. Hadn't heard of the artist before. I doubt I'll listen to this again -- just too frenetic most of the time for my own personal preference -- but I appreciate how good it is.
Joan Baez
2/5
I'm a recovering wanna-be hippie (Gen X, so not a real hippie) so I know that in that culture Joan Baez was enormous. I think she's a super-cool and interesting person, I can appreciate her powerful voice, but...just never really enjoyed her music. (Sorry, my dear fellow aging tie-dyed folk!)
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
I don't know how I missed this band in the 80's - they are from my home state and were popular in my college years; I heard their name a lot but didn't listen to them - so I'm glad I heard this. Hard-driving and thrashy, so not my usual listening fare, and really solid.
Miriam Makeba
5/5
This is absolutely beautiful.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Saint Etienne
3/5
I don't listen to dance music, but this is fun, and I enjoy the mix of spoken word and sung lyrics. Sarah Cracknell's voice is GREAT. Not the kind of music I turn to normally, so nice to have a chance to give it a listen.
Metallica
4/5
Metallica is a great band, and this is a fantastic album. I love hearing genres come together, and although blending rock and symphony is not at all new, this is a great example of how good it can sound.
Elvis Presley
5/5
I know it's cliche, but I really do love Elvis. What a voice. Great songwriting. One of my favorites is 'Suspicious Minds.' Underrated musician and guitarist. And I'm a sucker for the Hagstrom guitar he's holding in the album cover photo. So freaking cool!
Cocteau Twins
3/5
I had heard of this band but wasn't familiar with their music until I just listened to this album. While I'm not really into synth-pop, their sound has a little more edge to it, and Elizabeth Fraser's voice is incredible. Just on a purely subjective, personal preference basis, not too into this, but can understand their appeal.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
1/5
Listened to at least a portion of each song. Tried to like it, but really didn't. No particular reason, just a matter of personal preference.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
I seldom listen to electronica (is that what this is?) or dance music, but some of these were fun. A bit too tinny and frenetic for my listening tastes, though I can appreciate the interesting beats and artistry of it.
Slint
3/5
Very cool! Had not heard of them before (kind of the point of the whole 1001 albums project, I know, which is why I love this). Intriguing sound, can hear the punk and post-rock style, and I like their mix of styles (e.g., some spoken-word stuff that sounds kind of Beatnik and art-rock-y). Not something I'd listen to often, but I definitely appreciate the work.
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Okay, so this album not only introduced me to a band I'd never heard of, but a whole new (to me) genre: "chamber pop." (As the name suggests: very generally speaking, rock/pop music orchestrated with 'classical' instruments.) Enjoyed quite a few tracks. Neil Hannon's voice is great, and I like his sense of melody. Some amazing vocal harmonies on some of the tracks, too. Not something I'll listen to regularly, but glad I got to learn about it.
5/5
For whatever reason, it always feels weird to write anything about Bob Dylan. What can I say about him as a poet, musician, pioneer, bear-poker, and overall just fascinating human and artist. Now, this album. Fantastic. The date of this show is one night after the infamous "Judas!" heckle to which Mr. Dylan responded beautifully (just looked it up: I knew the heckle and Bob's response; what I didn't know is after he responded to the heckler, he turned to his band and growled, "Play it fucking loud!", and, by gum, they sure as hell did.
The Jam
5/5
I think I'm going to cry as I listen to this most-excellent album again. Been a while, and I just absolutely heart The Jam. I saw a documentary on them a few years ago, and it served only to deepen my heart-ing them. Paul Weller is very much the opposite of the full-of-himself rock star. This album should receive more attention, as should the band. Just this week, I (a relative noob guitarist) just started learning and practicing 'That's Entertainment,' one of my all-time favorite songs of all-time favorite songs. In honor of this album and band showing up in my 1001 rotation, I shall do my best to play it well, record it, and share it with friends. Make music, share music.
Echo And The Bunnymen
5/5
I remember listening to some of this band's later work when I was in college, and I'll never forget their video for 'Bring On The Dancing Horses' (a song from a later album) that always reminded me of Equus, a great play (no idea if the band intended that). This album, their debut (I think), is great. Nice mash-up of rock, post-punk, new wave -- this is all my best guess; I often mess up all these subgenres -- and I like the strong bass lines.
Mudhoney
3/5
I hadn't heard of this band before, so when I started playing it I could hear how grounded in the early day of Seattle grunge this album and band are. It has that mix of punk, early garage band metal, and the usual grunge elements. On the surface, they might sound rough and dissonant, but they are tighter than that. They are really good musicians. Much as I applaud what the grunge bands were doing -- a good turning point or shake-up in any art form is how things evolve -- it's not really my favorite sound. Just personal preference.
Goldfrapp
4/5
This is great! This album is yet another reminder of why I love this 1000 albums project. I doubt I'd ever hear of them or hear their music, and I love this. I don't even usually listen to electronic music, but this is different. The mix in real instruments, too, and incredible vocals. Some tracks are dreamy and haunting, which I love. Some are also downright beautiful. Some are a bit too jarring for me, but overall, very good. Thank you, 1001 albums generator!
Milton Nascimento
2/5
I didn't enjoy this album very much, but I read about it and I understand its importance in the history of Brazilian music, so nice to see it get some attention. For my own musical preferences, not my thing.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
For a brief period during my college years, I really liked CCR and listened to them a lot. I do love John Fogerty's guitar playing, and I absolutely get the importance of this band. That being said, I haven't listened to them in years. Nothing bad about it, just not interested anymore.
Radiohead
5/5
Radiohead is one of the bands I've always wanted to love but still haven't quite embraced to their fullest. Their originality, musicality, expressiveness, talent, the undeniable influence on so many others; it's all there. I don't really understand why I haven't connected more strongly with this band. Kind of a "perfect match on paper but for some reason, no chemistry" story for me. Giving 5 stars to show the respect they deserve.
LL Cool J
5/5
My first real exposure to LL Cool J's music was when I saw his performance of "Mama Said Knock You Out" on MTV Unplugged in 1990 and it blew me away. Listening to this album all the way through serves only to make me more of an admirer. Such great music, lyrics, performing, fun, depth, all of it. Loving the groove, loving the energy in his voice; just really loving this album.
Ride
5/5
And once again, thanks to this project, I not only discover a new band but also a new subgenre: "shoegaze" (according to the Wikipedia entry, "is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume"). This album is really good, this band is great, and I'm glad I've been introduced to them. Remind me a bit of the Meat Puppets, who I like, as well as a bunch of 90s bands that came after, and were probably influenced by, the Meat Puppets, this group, and similar bands at the time. Really great music here.
Eminem
1/5
I have heard a few Eminem songs over the years, and with the exception of "Lose Yourself," a song I like (great beat, cool guitar riff, and good lyrics), I was never interested in listening to his music. I just listened to this album and came to the same conclusion. There's a whole lot of "I don't give a ***" being vocalized, and no matter the source, I find that self-proclamation of individualism to be amongst the more boring messages, artistic or otherwise, one can utter. That, and musically and content-wise, this album does very little for me.
Carole King
5/5
This one of a handful of albums I do not need to hear again to know how important it is, how much I love it, why it's one of the best-selling albums ever, and why it's absolutely essential on a list like this. Her songwriting, her recording and performance of the material, the album's cultural significance and impact on music that followed, and so on. That, and by all accounts, she seems to be an absolutely wonderful person (I even walked right by her when I lived in L.A. and she gave me a big smile! Yep, I'm totally star-struck ;). Five stars in every way!
Merle Haggard
3/5
One of the many things I love about this 1001 Albums project is the inclusion of the Wikipedia article about each album. Through this album's entry, I learned about Merle Haggard's prison time and its effect on him and his music. I happen to LOVE knowing the stories behind the art. Always adds such richness and depth to the experience for me. Regarding this album, although I only very rarely listen to country, I enjoyed this album. Great songwriting, singing, and playing. Nice one.
a-ha
2/5
Impossible to be a teen in the 80s, as I was, and not know 'Take On Me' (and have a grand ol' time attempting the high notes in the chorus!). Admittedly, I honestly don't remember ever hearing any other song by them. I just listened to this album now and I can say with all certainty I didn't miss anything. Just too 80s-synth-pop for me without enough in it to keep me interested. Was right for the time, I know, and it's not bad, it's just utterly dull to me as a listener.
TLC
4/5
Although I was familiar with TLC - difficult to miss them in the 90s, they were everywhere - but had not really listened to their music. Listened to this album and it's great. Really nice mix of R&B groove, hip-hop, and some fantastic vocals (those voices, wow!). Enjoyed this one.
Fairport Convention
2/5
Given the release year (1969), I can hear how this album influenced others that followed. It's good music, sung and played well, and a good representation of the style. Not one I'll listen to again. Nothing against it; it's a style I've heard done so many times in so many ways that due to the passage of time it's too hard for this album to stand out for me.
Sex Pistols
3/5
I had this album in college and listened to it quite a bit. I never got fully into punk (super-broad music category and cultural term, I know), but did have a time in my life when I listened to what were then called "punk/alternative" radio stations, had my haircut asymmetrically, wore a dangling sword earrning, and generally had no idea what I was doing. What I did, and still do, find interesting is any form of counter-culture, especially when it's expressed artistically. I know this band is considered one of the, if not the, pioneering band in the London punk scene, which spread everywhere, and I still find this album a good listen, though far less so than I once did. Such is the nature of evolving tastes and interests.
Doves
4/5
I had not heard of this band or album, and I don't recognize any of the songs, but it's really solid. I like their style. It's a nice blend of rock and pop, but has its own sound -- maybe "indie rock"? -- and I like how that edgy sound is balanced with vocals and vocal harmonies, plus catchy rhythms, that all make for a rather infectious mix. Very glad I've been introduced to them.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I wish I had words to convey how much I love and admire this artist and her extraordinary creations. Everything: songwriting, her poetry of lyrics, musicality, composition, performance (studio and live), originality, expression, timelessness,...I could go on and on. I hope anyone who loves music gets the chance to explore her catalog. Just incredible. (5 stars seems waaaay to low for this one.)
Koffi Olomide
3/5
New one to me (both the album and the artist). I enjoyed this one. Hard not to bob the head or tap the foot along to the whole album. I happen to really enjoy listening to the French language, spoken or sung, even though I can't speak it, so that added a sweet layer to the music for me. Great music.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
What an interesting album! I had not heard of "Jah Wobble" (stage name of John Wardle that came about as a drunken Sid Vicious mumbled his hame), but now I know he grew up with John Lydon and other Sex Pistols members. I've also now learned that Wobble was the bassist for PiL. This album is great. Influenced by reggae, world music, and the rock/punk world in which Wobble grew up, it all comes together quite nicely here. I hear some of the tracks as "Velvet Underground moves to the Caribbean." Really cool.
Orbital
3/5
Electronic music like this is not something I listen to very often, or really at all, at least not on purpose, but I like this one. I don't know anything about how this kind of music is made, which is maybe why it feels less accessible to me; however, this album has some interesting elements, like sampling of movie quotes that fit well with the feel of the music. Even though I doubt I'll listen to this or any electronic music all that regularly, at least not now, I am glad I got to hear it.
The Smiths
2/5
This album came out in my second year of uni and it certainly was a huge hit in the American (and I would imagine at least European if not elsewhere) university set (yes, I'm generalizing, but that was my experience). Heard it at nearly every gathering for about a year. I liked it, I think I bought it (can't remember), but I lost interest after a while from a combination of hearing it too much and just moving on to other music. I haven't heard it in decades. I must admit that as I listened just now, I was bored. Really bored. I recall hearing Morrisey's voice back then and liking that it was different from most pop/rock bands. I'm surprised to say this now, but to me when I hear him now he sounds like someone imitating Morrissey, and not in a flattering way. And while I can definitely appreciate the skill of the musicians, both in writing and performing, I just wasn't engaged with any of it.
Maxwell
2/5
Really nice grooves at times. Not the kind of music I like to listen to, though.
Can
2/5
Quite intrigued by this one. Through no fault of its own, it suffers a bit from cultural overload, meaning that in the ~50 years since the album's release, this style of music has been so heavily co-opted by spas and yoga studios that it's really hard for me to separate it all out. Fortunately, this album has a depth of layers and textures and other interesting elements that the typical spa/yoga album or playlist tends to lack. The album gets intense at times, and rhythmic, in good ways.
Common
3/5
Wow, this is really smooth, interesting, catchy stuff. I had not heard the album in full before, and I like it. To state the obvious, Common has certainly gained so much visibility since this album, and deservedly so. Solid, well-thought-out, jazzy, captivating stuff here.
R.E.M.
5/5
R.E.M. is an incredible band and this might be my favorite album of theirs. I'm usually quite reluctant to apply labels like "favorite" or "best," or to rank an artist's or group's output, so I use "favorite" here in lower-case letters or parenthetically, mostly to indicate how I gravitate towards it. I don't want to diminish my affection for their other work. All that being said, there's a depth and texture to this album that makes it stand out for me in R.E.M.'s impressive catalog. It's odd to say this, but I actually believe this band is underrated, as are the four individual members as musicians and songwriters. I am particularly fond of Peter Buck (my view: because he didn't rip massive solos, even though he was more than capable of it, he is not talked about as much as other rock/pop/alt guitarists, but he's fantastic) and Mike Mills (quiet and cerebral, so not a limelight guy, he's an amazing bassist, pianist, singer, and writer). What I learned from the Wiki entry that's linked to this album is the John Paul Jones (yes, as in Led Zeppelin's JPJ) contributed string arrangements to four tracks on this album. That is super-cool (JPJ is another way, way underrated musician).
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
I was a teen in the 80s and this album, especially the song 'Relax,' are about as much an integral part of the 80s soundtrack as I can remember. At the time, I was mostly a hard-rock devotee but I do remember enjoying this music, synth-heavy as it can be. It's catchy, fun, and even interesting at times. I had forgotten it was also political at points, which adds something to it, as did some of the controversy they stirred up; e.g., unabashedly gay, which was still somewhat rare in the 80s, and doing covers of songs that ticked off some people, which I think is healthy in many ways. Good stuff.
Chicago
3/5
I had only heard the songs Chicago did in the 80s, song I just didn't like (too saccharine for me), and much later I heard a few of their earlier songs, which to me are notably better. I had not listened to this album before now, though. Definitely more rockin', soulful, political, and interesting as a listening experience than the song I heard on the radio in the 80s. Very much a reflection of late 60s rock/soul/pop and the cultural and political climate at that time, this helped me to view the band Chicago in a better light. A bit too dated for me now, and I don't have any personal memories associated with this music, so I doubt I'll listen to it again, but I can see why people would like it.
Nina Simone
5/5
A powerful, profound, and gripping album by an indisputable icon. While I was already familiar with Ms. Simone's enormous and versatile talent, I was not familiar with her story, which I read in the linked Wikipedia article. Wow. What a strong, brave, and visionary person. I hope more people get the chance to learn her story. And of course, listen to her wide-ranging, massive, and incredible body of work.
Slayer
2/5
Another band I really never heard when they were getting airplay and were talked about by some friends. I don't really connect with hard-driving thrashy metal like this, but I can absolutely appreciate how difficult this music is to play. Certainly doesn't lack energy.
5/5
PJ Harvey is yet another in a too-long list of outstanding musical artists who I somehow just simply missed altogether when they were definitely available to me as a listener and concert-goer. I remember hearing her name a lot, and she was spoken very very highly of by a number of people whose musical tastes were similar to mine. Anyway, even though I can't quite explain how I didn't listen to her 21 years ago when this album was released, I can say after having listened to it that I think it's fantastic work. Compelling, intriguing, very interesting chord progressions and rhythms, and I just dig the overall vibe. Dark without being too self-referential or too harsh. Really solid album.
Brian Eno
2/5
And here I am again, confessing my ignorance of yet another larger-than-life name in latter-half 20th-century popular music. Brian Eno's name has been present in my mind for probably 35 years, and yet I don't recall ever consciously listening to his work. I've heard some collaborations of his, vaguely, and know he's widely admired by all sorts of music folk like critics, fans, and fellow musicians. I do know his reputation for constantly reinventing himself, and even though this is the only album of his I've ever listened to, I can hear that even within the ten tracks on this work. I can also imagine that for its time (1974), it pushed some boundaries, which is always healthy for any artform, or society in general. I might give this another listen some time because there definitely are layers I'm sure I missed the first time through, but I don't much like it. It's not something I am psyched to listen to regularly, at least that's not how it feels to me right now. Might be suffering a bit from how I've heard a lot of other music from around that time (as well as before it and after it) that was fairly similar, and it's never quite grabbed me. Sometimes feels like it's being, I don't know, "avante garde" or odd for its own sake, or trying to be funny but it doesn't make me laugh, but that's a bit silly of me because I have no idea what Brian Eno or his fellow performers on this album were thinking or feeling.
The Pretty Things
1/5
As a long-time fan of what some categorize as "hippie music," I find it interesting that quite consistently I dislike this kind of music, which I understand is often labelled "psychedelic rock." Nothing wrong with it, and the musicians on this album are great, but I just never seem to enjoy this style of rock. It grates on me.
Arrested Development
4/5
Love this album! Great music (Brother Larry on guitar really draws me into some of these songs), compelling words, cool production, all with such a sweet feel and positive energy.
ABBA
1/5
Totally get how fun they are as nostalgia -- such great representatives of their time and genre -- and it's a hoot at times to enjoy the slightly (or more than slightly at times) Eurovision cheesiness, but overall I find their music rather dull, and all those synths and soaring voices grate on me. No, thank you.
Blur
3/5
Another in the long list of bands whose name I know but know very little of their work (yes, I know, a major benefit of this whole 1001 Albums project is I am finally getting 'round to hearing all these bands!). 'Song 2' is familiar to me now that I hear it again, and I really like it. Great energy and fun. I like most of these tracks. Some really cool guitar work going on here. Nice.
The Afghan Whigs
2/5
I remember hearing their name, probably heard some of their music on "alternative radio" (I listened to WFNX in Boston and college stations in the mid-and-late-80s), but I don't know for sure. I can see why they are grouped with the early-90s grunge movement. It's a bit screamy for my tastes, which I know is often a trademark of the grunge era (scream at least part of the song, usually the chorus after a quieter verse or two), and the guitars get real thrashy (nothing wrong with it, and I admire the skill it takes to play that in time, just doesn't appeal to me except in small doses).
Neil Young
5/5
I love Neil Young and this album really stands the test of time for me. Something about his haunting voice combined with his lyrics (such good writing; often haunting, too, and nicely melancholic without being self-pitying) and his unique guitar playing. All comes together just so perfectly. Great album.
Morrissey
2/5
The Smiths and Morrissey were part of the soundtrack of my college years. I didn't actively dislike their music; I just found them a bit dull for my ear. I'm also not a big fan of Steve Morrissey's voice. Like his music overall, it's not grating or terrible or anything like that. It's just not a voice I enjoy hearing. The guitar work on "Margaret on the Guillotine" is really nice (Vini Reilly played it), and on this one song Morrissey's voice sounds a little like Frank Orrall of Poi Dog Pondering (the song has an overall Poi Dog feel, too), and I love Frank Orrall's voice and Poi Dog Pondering's music, so I do like that song. Anyway, I know the music of The Smiths and Morrissey is an important part of the 80s -- not sure what the correct rock subgenre is, maybe "alternative," whatever that might mean -- scene, so I get why this on the list.
Flamin' Groovies
2/5
A few of the tracks are pretty darn fun; like the dark bluesy stuff and their rockabilly track is pretty cool (almost a spoof on Elvis? can't tell...the music is great). A couple songs get a little surf-rock sounding, which adds some nice texture. I like the 'Louie Louie' cover; has a nice little breakdown section, good jam. Hadn't heard of this band or album before. It's fine, but not likely one I'll return to; not really their fault, I suppose, but in the 50 years since this album was released there are just far too many more interesting offerings out there in this style.
Talking Heads
3/5
I used to listen to a lot of Talking Heads and David Byrne, and still do from time to time, although much more focused on their later stuff. So inventive, so intriguing in so many ways, and often times quite catchy and fun. This is their debut album and I hadn't really listened to it in full before. It was good to read the Wikipedia article on it, too. It mentions how friendly they were with Lou Reed and how he gave them some advice. I definitely hear some Velvet Underground/Lou Reed-esque vibes in here (I have a feeling we'd say that about a lot of the 70s CBGB's bands). I can also hear how at this point in their career they could've pushed their sound into the punk scene or more into the pop/rock space, which is where they pretty much went (both genres are great; no judgment intended). This is good stuff; really quite good when I remember this is their very first album (hey, it's got 'Psycho Killer,' a rather iconic song).
ZZ Top
4/5
I love Billy Gibbons (I was just listening to 'La Grange' the other day). He's an incredible guitarist, great vocalist, great songwriter, and a wonderful showman (in the most positive sense of the word). I do like this album and a lot of ZZ Top's work. When an artist (or anyone, really) is genuinely having fun at what they do, it's infectious. I lean more towards their more raw, "dirty blues" stuff because I do that generally when it comes to blues-based rock, but this is a fun album.
Pavement
3/5
My first introduction to this band and album. Given the years this was recorded and released (start of the 90s), this sounds to me like a link in the musical chain stretching from 70s punk and 80s indie rock and thrashy stuff (even a little of the pre-punk 60s; not sure what the term is for bands like Velvet Underground) and 90s grunge and so on. Some of the tracks are too thrashy for my own personal taste (nothing against it; just not my thing) but I definitely appreciate how good this band is. Some of the tracks are very much too my liking and I can imagine myself coming back to hear them again. I get why this is on the list: for its time, it was very inventive and counter-trendy.
The Undertones
3/5
Quite the energetic set of tracks! Had not heard this band or album before (although I seem to recall the name Feargul Sharkey from something in the 80s, but can't recall what), and it's fun. Very much in that punk-leading-into-new-wave sound, and it's got some catchy tunes here. I enjoyed this one more than I expected to; really feels like pop (in a good way) but it's more raw.
k.d. lang
3/5
I remember listening to some k.d. lang songs back in the 90s; liked her then, like her now, although it's been a long time since I've listened to her music. What a voice, and a really good writer, but it can get a little too -- not sure what the phrase is, maybe "Big Band ballad style" -- for me. 'Constant Craving' is great.
The Waterboys
2/5
I enjoy folk and folk-influenced music -- "folk" in the sense of the term meaning music particular to or reflective of a culture or geographic region -- and this album has some good tracks on it. I've listened to a fair amount of Irish and Scottish folk music, so it's hard for this album to stand out very much for me (not the album's fault; just happens to be a style of music I've heard a lot).
Goldie
3/5
Well, that was certainly unexpected. This group and album, and pretty much the whole genre they're in (not sure what to call it; "electronica," I think? but it has vocals, so not really sure), are all so new to me, and not what I usually listen to. There are some very interesting things going on here. Don't like all of it, but I really like 'Inner City Life.' The vocals are so soulful and soaring, with a really great bassline and beat under it. I don't usually like a lot of synthesizers but some of these tracks are really good. I think it's the rhythms they use, and, as mentioned, the vocals.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Neil Young. Unique voice, fantastic guitarist (good grief, am I ever so sick of decades of "he's not a great technical guitarist, blah blah blah" -- heaven forbid an artist play the instrument differently), and incredible writer who never stops creating and experimenting. One of a kind. Love him.
Eagles
2/5
I have such a strange relationship with this band. Absolutely recognize and appreciate the talent they have and work they put in. Vocal harmonies are incredible. But most of their songs...sorry, I just don't get pulled in by them. Totally get why they are revered; just not by me.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I liked some of the songs when they first came out. Some really clever music and rhythms that were a lot of fun in some songs. Not as into them anymore, but still enjoyable to listen to again.
Prince
5/5
I happen to really like Prince; liked him when I heard him all the time in the 80s, and now as I re-listen to him, I'm blown away by the musicianship. Because there is so much to Prince that his guitar playing (he played more instruments than I can list, and he was a phenomenal guitarist) gets overlooked, but he belongs in the Pantheon of all-time great guitarists. Quite a bit of his music can be too dance-pop for me, but that's just a matter of taste. Prince rocked.
Genesis
1/5
I know this band and this album are important in the timeline of "progressive rock," and there are a few bands in that subgenre I really like (e.g., ELP, Rush, Jethro Tull, Yes...and I know, I know, this is all loosely defined and highly subjective), but I just never clicked with Genesis. I gave this album a listen and, nah, just don't really like it.
The Birthday Party
1/5
Well, this is certainly interesting. What a mix of styles and sounds. Has some fun moments in there. Overall, a bit too cacophonic and jarring for my own personal listening choice, but it sure does seem original.
Public Enemy
5/5
Great album -- great music that really pulls me in, and the lyrics are always worth a listen. Right album by the right group at the right time.
Tears For Fears
5/5
There's no way to remove our own biases, experiences, and subjectivity from, well, anything, really, and rendering an opinion on music is no exception. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It surprised me when it was released and fell in love with it (its release year, 1985, was the year I graduated high school and entered college) because this was so popular and I fancied myself quite a bit of a hard rocker and wannabe punk rocker who was just way too cool for silly ol' popular music (I was then, as I am now, completely full of poop). Didn't matter though: this band, this album, these songs...they all gripped me. I know it's all associated with what was, for the most part, an extraordinarily memorable year for me, in many outstanding ways (had some really crappy moments, too, but that's how life does its life thing).
I have a particular fondness for Roland Orzabal's voice and I believe he is an underrated guitarist. (Speaking of guitar, Neil Taylor's outro solo on "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is excellent.) Curt Smith's voice is great, too, and his bass playing is also overlooked. They are actually fantastic musicians, composers, and writers. A good look into their abilities can be found YouTuber Rick Beato's 'What Makes This Song Great' episode on "Head Over Heels," one of my favorite of many favorite TFF songs. Check it out if you're interested.
So glad this project gave me an excuse to listen to this masterpiece all the way through again. 5+ Stars from me.
Van Halen
5/5
VH. Dang, I love these guys. One of the most fun, energetic, innovative pop/rock/metal-esque (kind of sort of, at times) bands I've heard. It's hard to pen any praise of EVH because anything I have to say feels too, I don't know, pedestrian and trite. I'm a bumbling beginner guitarist who high-fives himself when I remember how to play a major scale properly or plays through a medium-tempo 4-chord song with only a few slips, then I put on any song with EVH on guitar and I feel like I've been transported to another semi-comprehensible dimension inhabited by some form of demigods and demigoddesses whose very beings are entangled completely with the Music of the Spheres. And, honestly, sure, there are countless amazing guitarists in all eras, but it's Eddie's genuine joy he shares when playing that is the most infectious aspect of his musicianship to me. Play on, Eddie -- I know you always will!
This album has some of Van Halen's most memorable songs, among many memorable songs across quite a nice catalog of albums. Great one to have on this list.
The Roots
5/5
This music pulled me in. Some of the tracks are great. A few are not to my own liking, but that's just a matter of taste. Really talented group.
Daft Punk
3/5
Well, this is certainly interesting and different. I had heard their name for quite some time, just never listened to any of their music as far as I can recall. I rarely encounter this style of music ("House"? I think?), and I don't expect I'll make a habit of it, but this album has some really catchy tracks. After a while, though, it felt like I was in a fast-moving video game with lots of lights and colors flashing. Also, I don't really like dancing, so I am a terrible judge of what makes good dance music, but I can see the appeal of this album for people who like to dance.
Raekwon
3/5
I hadn't heard of the artist or album, but so glad I've been introduced to it. Great beats and super-catchy rhythms, and I plan to listen to it a few times again to really dive more deeply into the lyrics.
Travis
3/5
Glad to be introduced to this band and this album. Some really great stuff on this one. Musically interesting, good lyrics, nice mix of styles. I like that the influences seem to be eclectic (at least they are to my ear). And I LOVED reading this from the Wiki entry on the band: "The band's name comes from the character Travis Henderson (played by Harry Dean Stanton) from the film Paris, Texas (1984)." Great actor creating a great character in a great film. That is wicked cool.
Scott Walker
1/5
Not my cup of tea.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Very much a reflection of their time, and a fun pop band with great vocal harmonies. To state the obvious, California Dreaming is an American icon. Listening to the whole album, I was quite bored. The overall sound is not to my liking but I get that it's produced in line with the popular music of the time.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Stevie Wonder is one of those widely and passionately loved musicians whose talent and work I can appreciate, and whose importance in, and influence on, music is absolutely huge, yet I just never really felt all that interested in what I was hearing. I don't dislike it, it just never clicked with me.
Mike Oldfield
3/5
Very interesting music. Had not heard the musician or album before.
The Who
3/5
I like a lot of The Who’s music, and really love a handful of their tunes. I think Pete Townshend is one of the best guitarists and songwriters in rock history. Love his voice, too. Roger, John, and their drummers and keyboardists, are all excellent. That being said, this is not an album I've listened to a lot. I do get its importance in rock history, and it has some fun mid-60’s “mod rock” songs, but overall I like their later stuff a lot better.
Ice Cube
5/5
Wow: the lyrics are incredibly poignant as I listen to them now as the U.S. has pressing issues of racial injustice and inequality that are in desperate need of real action, real remedy. The opening track "When Will They Shoot?" on its own is enough to add so much depth and thought-provocation to the conversation. I don't remember hearing this album back in the early 90s, but I do know that back then I would've missed the message entirely out of my own naivete and ignorance. This is one I want to come back to and spend more time with.
Arcade Fire
3/5
I liked some of the tracks. Others were just not clicking in so much for me. I can appreciate the quality of the musicians, but I find the main lead vocalist a little too screamy for me on some tracks. I really liked "Rebellion" though.
The Young Gods
3/5
Very different from most of the music I've heard in my life, which is why I love this '1001 Albums' project so darn much. This is a wild album with wild energy and some really interesting stuff going on. Not sure if these musicians love horror movies, but it definitely won't surprise me if they do. All sorts of clashing noise, dissonance, frenetic rhythms and changes, hard-driving' industrial sound. Not at all what I normally listen to musically, and I honestly went in expecting to hate it (I know, I know: I do try to push away expectations but I don't always succeed) but it actually kind of drew me in at times (yet another excellent feature of this project).
Miles Davis
5/5
So difficult to write anything about Miles Davis, at least for me, given who he was and what he did for music (jazz and beyond) in countless ways. I had heard tracks from this album before but had not listened to it all the way through. So interesting to listen to how he reinvented his music over the years, and, wow, there is a LOT going on in these tracks. Some of it a bit too much so for me, but I also have little exposure to this style of music so that could be due to conditioning. I'll need to spend more time with this one. All those layers and textures. What a lineup, too. Miles, man...just Miles.
2/5
I remember these songs. To me, they were kind of cheesy pop and I didn't pay much mind to them. Some of these songs still feel genuinely pop-cheesy to me and annoy me (I can take only so much synth dominating a song, and the vocalist can kind of "over-sing" to my ear), but a couple of them are kind of fun and catchy. As an amateur noob of a musician, I know that writing and performing songs people like and remember is a rare skill, and a few of these songs on this album achieve that. And this came out in '82, a bit ahead of the massive amount of synth-pop that permeated the 80s airwaves. Not one I'll come back to, but one or two of the tracks were a fun memory trip.
Jimmy Smith
5/5
Loved it! Kenny Burrell is one of my favorite guitarists of all time, very much an inspiration to me, and this whole album is fantastic.
Sheryl Crow
1/5
Just not much of a fan of her music.
The Style Council
2/5
I remember some of these tracks from when they came out. I kind of liked a couple of them, and now listening to the whole album for the first time (and re-listening to the couple of songs I had heard before for the first time in a long, long time), I can very much appreciate the musicianship in them much better than I did back then. Much as I admire how expertly this music is written and played, on a personal level, it's not really my thing. It's odd to say that because I still love listening to The Jam, and I think Paul Weller is amazing.
Funkadelic
5/5
Wonderful and fun, with such interesting layers and texture. No surprise to learn how influential this group and its related group, Parliament, are in the world of funk music and music generally. All the musicians are incredible, and I always gravitate guitar because that's the instrument I play, and wow, Mike Hampton and Gary Shider are superb.
Air
3/5
Glad this project introduced me to this band and this soundtrack (I read up on the film for which it was scored, which I had not heard of before, too). I like some of the work on this album, which is outside the norm of what I typically enjoy.
The Zombies
1/5
I had heard "Time Of The Season" quite a few times before, but none of the other songs. "Time Of The Season" is okay; not on my list of favorite songs from that era, though I've always liked the melody. I don't particularly care for any of them.
Van Halen
5/5
Here's what I wrote for the previous VH album that came up on this list:
Dang, I love these guys. One of the most fun, energetic, innovative pop/rock/metal-esque (kind of sort of, at times) bands I've heard. It's hard to pen any praise of EVH because anything I have to say feels too, I don't know, pedestrian and trite. I'm a bumbling beginner guitarist who high-fives himself when I remember how to play a major scale properly or plays through a medium-tempo 4-chord song with only a few slips, then I put on any song with EVH on guitar and I feel like I've been transported to another semi-comprehensible dimension inhabited by some form of demigods and demigoddesses whose very beings are entangled completely with the Music of the Spheres. And, honestly, sure, there are countless amazing guitarists in all eras, but it's Eddie's genuine joy he shares when playing that is the most infectious aspect of his musicianship to me. Play on, Eddie -- I know you always will!
This album was the second Van Halen record I owned. I was introduced to them via VH II. Such an unforgettable band.
Turbonegro
3/5
Some good tracks on this one. Very tight playing -- impressive! More harsh on my ears than music I typically enjoy, but still good work.
Carpenters
4/5
This is actually truly fantastic pop. And I'll admit I have a huge soft spot for Karen Carpenter. (By the way, check out videos of her playing drums...amazing!)
Missy Elliott
3/5
I've heard her name many times but don't recall having listened to her music, so I had no idea what to expect. I like a lot of the tracks. Really infectious rhythms and love her use of voice. It was only my first listen so I didn't get to into the lyrics, so I'll need to come back for that. Totally enjoyable.
Röyksopp
2/5
I sometimes like this style of music -- ambient, video-game background music (no, they didn't make this album for video games; just my description) -- and this has some nice tracks on it. I have a feeling when it came out 20 years ago, it was a bit more of a standout. These days, this kind of music is, I think, fairly widespread? Probably. Anyway, overall, I liked this album.
The Specials
3/5
A friend introduced me to this band in my college years. I enjoyed it, but I haven't really listened to them since then. Still nice to listen to, and I notice the skill of the musicians more now than I did then. Looking back with the benefit of over 30 years' hindsight, I can hear how they (or at least them and similar bands of that time) influenced later bands.
Finley Quaye
2/5
Had not heard of this artist or heard his music before. It's nicely done - kind of pop-reggae (I think that's how to describe it?), with some nice grooves. After most of the tracks, things kind of blending together, maybe a little to same-sounding, but it's not bad. Don't think I'll come back to it or seek out his other work, but glad I got to hear it.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Never been much of a fan of his, just doesn't do it for me.
Suede
2/5
Had not heard of the band or heard any of their music before this. Not an album I think I'll come back to but there are some interesting tracks, and reminds me of some of music I liked in college.
R.E.M.
5/5
I was rather devoted to this band in the 80s and into the early 90s. Always loved their style. Stipe is a heck of a lyricist and I like his voice. I'm still a huge Mike Mills fan. Bill Berry is so solid. I don't recall seeing or hearing Peter Buck's name in any discussions about great rock guitarists, and I think that's a shame. To me, one of the clearest hallmarks of a rare and special guitarist is I can tell who it is as soon as they start playing, and Peter Buck is in that small group of guitarists with a true signature sound. I am not interested in someone's shredding ability, hyperspeed, or whatever...I want to hear your unique voice, regardless of instrument. Love these guys and this is a strong album.
Nick Drake
5/5
I had heard of him only recently thanks to a guitar teacher I follow on YouTube. So glad I've been introduced to his music. I remember really liking Alexi Murdoch when I first heard his music maybe 15 or so years ago, and now I hear the similarities. I'm sure there are many artists I like who were influenced by Nick Drake. In this album (curious: is 'Five Leaves Left' a reference to O. Henry's short story, 'The Last Leaf'?), I'm hearing a really interesting sense of melody (and harmony, too) that is a slight departure from most of the music I know from this era and style. He's a heck of a writer, composer, guitarist, and singer. Some beautiful string arrangements on some of these tracks, too. It all really draws me in quite nicely. Fantastic work.
Billy Bragg
2/5
Wow, brings back memories. I hadn't thought of Billy Bragg in a mighty long time. I remember hearing his music during college at parties, on college radio stations, etc. It was okay, but I remember back then it didn't take long for his songs to feel kind of the same to me and even bordering on parody (as in, is he mocking singer-songwriters with some of his songs? I honestly can't tell...and I am sure his fans would tell me I don't "get" Billy Bragg, and they wouldn't be wrong). Listening to this album now gives me a similar experience. It's not bad at all, just not very interesting to me.
Pentangle
1/5
For someone like me who used to groove heavy on the hippie side of things, this kind of music just doesn't groove for me. I'm sure at the time it stood out quite well, but listening to it today it almost sounds like it's from a music mockumentary, kind of like Spinal Tap when they were The Thamesmen singing "listen to what the flower people say." Just how I'm hearing it, folks.
Soundgarden
4/5
I somehow missed Soundgarden when they were huge in the 90s -- honestly have no idea how I missed them, but there it is -- and listened to some of their songs much later. Chris Cornell is legend, to state the obvious, and I do like him as a musician, writer, guitarist, performer, etc. Listening to this album today straight through for the first time, it's some really good rock music and even though the "Seattle sound" or "grunge" or whatever it might be called has been done heavily (these guys were on the early end of it, I think, but, man, that sound was everywhere for a while), this is good stuff.
Iggy Pop
3/5
I'm vaguely familiar with Iggy Pop, so this is my first full album listen. Some really catchy tunes in here, nice rock with with edge, and great energy. I enjoyed it.
John Cale
1/5
Nah. No thanks. I was bored.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
There are some iconic songs on this album, and personally, much as I admire him as a guitarist, I'm generally not a big fan of Lindsey Buckingham's songwriting ('Never Going Back Again,' one of his tracks on this album, is good, though). I do like Christine McVie's and Stevie Nicks' songs; some I like quite a bit. Love both their voices and they are excellent lyricists, especially Nicks. I like the sadness mixed with hope I can hear in the songs on this album. They all have great senses of melody; super-hard for me not to hum or sing along with nearly all tracks on this album, even the songs I don't fully like.
Suzanne Vega
5/5
I listened to her music during my college days in the late 80s and enjoyed it. I didn't keep up with her after that, and haven't listened to her in a very long time. Re-hearing this album now, I'm admittedly a little surprised to find myself still quite drawn in. Her voice is ethereal and her songwriting is exquisite. Some beautiful work here.
Richard Thompson
1/5
Had not heard of them or their music. Some of the tracks are interesting to me. Overall, I'm not wild about the sound, can't quite explain what it is about it -- I have a vague sense of my not liking both aspects of the music and aspects of the production, if that makes sense -- so much as I can hear their talent and ability, just doesn't quite do it for me.
Donald Fagen
4/5
I happen to love Steely Dan -- such incredible musicianship, craft, humor, and mind-blowing playing (man, the people they brought in...wow) -- so I also had a couple Donald Fagen albums in my collection at one time, including this one. I think it's great. I think he's a hell of a songwriter, love his dry humor, and even though I don't usually like too much organ playing in songs, it's fine here. Always loved the cover art on this one, too.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I'd heard his name before but I don't recall hearing his music before (maybe a song or two from his punk bank, Birthday Party? not sure). Anyway, I am very glad to be introduced to this album. Some real nice songwriting. I enjoy his style, musically, lyrically, and vocally.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Well, now, that was certainly interesting! At times, it gets a bit chaotic for my listening, but I have a feeling upon multiple listens it starts to make more "sense" (yeah, yeah, I know: music -- especially jazz -- never needs to make sense...I'm talking about making sense to me in my experience of it and relation to it). Regardless, it's a wild ride and there's a LOT going on. I'll need to hear more of his work.
The Black Crowes
5/5
I enjoyed the Black Crowes when I first heard them in the early '90s. Some of their songs are superb in my opinion, and I think most of my favorite Black Crowes songs are on this album (e.g., Hard To Handle, She Talks To Angels, Jealous Again, Sister Luck, and more). I love the guitar work on this album but I never know if it's Rich Robinson or Jeff Cease I'm hearing when I'm admiring what I hear (like that real sweet bluesy lead in 'Sister Luck'). I know Jeff Cease is named lead guitarist for this album, so I'll give this another couple listens to see what I pick up (no, that's not meant as a guitar pun). I hadn't listened to this album in a very long time - probably decades - and, dang, it really holds up well. Love the rootsy-bluesy-gritty-rock-meets-gospel sounds. Chris Robinson is a really great singer. I would've loved to have seen them in concert when they toured to support this album.
Tom Waits
4/5
I remember seeing the album cover back in the 90's (definitely a memorable cover) but I never listened to this. Some wild stuff in here, lots of weird noises and fun (sometimes funny, though I can't tell if that's on purpose) singing and playing, and a lot of interesting things going on. Each track seems to stand on its own stylistically. I have heard other Tom Waits music (I love the album "Closing Time") and whenever I've seen him in a movie, if a scene includes him I always know it's going to be good. I don't know much about him, and I have a feeling I should. Glad I heard this.
Miles Davis
5/5
Miles Davis' work is always intriguing to me, and I'm so glad I was introduced to this album. He was always evolving and experimenting, maintaining his artistry at each step. What a treasure.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Some real high-energy stuff. I was unfamiliar with the band and their music. Reminds me a little bit of Mighty Mighty Bosstones and similar bands -- hard-charging fast-paced rock with a horn section. Some of the tracks were fun.
Television
3/5
I'd heard of this band but never listened to them. Musically, I find them very impressive -- not the power-chord-based, heavily distorted, oft-dissonant (sometimes seemingly for dissonance's sake) punk sound, even though from what I'm reading they were part of the NYC-CBGBs 70s scene. I must confess that even though the lead singer is a bit David Byrne-like (just a hunch: I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a bunch of CBGBs bands had a lot of similarities; not a knock, that stuff just happens via osmosis), and I love David Byrne, I'm not a fan of his vocals. That being said, a lot of the music on this album is very interesting to me. I sometimes want a bit more sustain underneath the songs, but that's a personal taste thing for me (and I don't need it in every song - I'm just hearing a few of the songs as a little "thin," at least to my ear, and that's probably exactly how the band wanted it). The guitar work is fantastic. The whole band plays great - bass & drums are superb. I bet they were a lot of fun to see play at CBGBs. (Side note: it's also fun to say "CBGBs".)
Green Day
2/5
I've always had such mixed feelings about this band. I am drawn in by a lot of their hooks, they play super-tight, and some of the lyrics are solid...and yet, I can't quite put my finger on it, they don't fully click with me. I wish I could explain it -- I like when I can articulate what I do and don't like in art, not for any other reason than I'm interested in that process (and I really love hearing thoughtful analysis and criticism from others) -- so here's a stab: I think it's because to me it sounds like what a band would sound like if someone constructed a band in response to the grunge movement. Does that make sense? I don't know...when I find myself enjoying one of their songs, I feel exactly the same way I feel when I enjoy a Monkees song (and some of the Monkees songs are catchy and fun, too).
Megadeth
4/5
A band I somehow missed completely when they were around. Definitely heard the band's name a lot, and I knew Dave Mustaine's name as well, but had not listened to this album or any Megadeth before. I almost never listen to any thrash metal (very little metal of any kind, really -- nothing against it, just not super into it), but I am really enjoying this album. They play amazingly well, so wild and airtight at the same time. How can they stay in time so perfectly well at that speed? Wow. The guitar playing is fantastic. I'm indifferent about the vocals, although the style makes sense for what they are doing. Definitely have respect for what they created and recorded here.
The Cure
4/5
I like The Cure. Saw them in concert back in 1985 (Head On The Door tour) and they were great. I had not heard this album before, though, and I can hear the band really developing their own sound. I think Robert Smith is a fantastic guitarist.
Buzzcocks
3/5
Fun stuff. Good energy, not as sloppy as some punk can sound. I like it.
The Byrds
2/5
Had heard some of these songs before, and overall the album is fine, but honestly, most of it is just not my thing. A little weird for me to say this given how much I like so many bands who launched in the 60s, but I really don't like a lot of the late 60s studio music. I think it's the production techniques they were using to make so many things sound "psychedelic" because trippy effects were popular at the time. I have a feeling I'd like some of these songs more if I heard them played without too many effects and production items. Other than that, though, overall I was pretty much bored.
I listened to this album just now. Didn't really do it for me. I've had an on-again/off-again relationship with U2 since the early-to-mid-80s. I listened to them a lot in high school, a bit into college, then drifted away from them. In the 90s, the same thing; had a few moments of listening to them, then faded out. Never really came back to them in earnest, so I guess it's been mostly "off-again." I don't dislike them, but I must admit I get bored quickly. And I know U2 fans will tar and feather me for this, but Bono's singing can sometimes annoy me. I saw them live (might have been '85) and remember loving The Edge as a guitar player. Still do. I honestly think he's a vastly underrated guitarist, probably because he doesn't really do long solos and doesn't shred, or whatever. I find him quite innovative and interesting.
Thundercat
4/5
Well now, THAT was interesting! What a bass player. I mean, wow. Some beautiful homages to Motown and similar R&B greatness yet very much in his own voice and style. Some super-cool grooves, and some fascinating bass and melody lines. Really nice.
Air
4/5
Second album by this group to show up on my list. I like this one a little better. Nice to listen to today while I worked. I found myself chuckling a bit because the opening bars of the first cut, "La femme d'argent," sound somewhat similar to the Grateful Dead's "Scarlet Begonias." [[Eventually, one way or another, everything connects :-) ]]
John Lee Hooker
4/5
Sweet! John Lee Hooker on his own is always a great listen; throw in guest stars like Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, etc....soooo good. Really nice album.
Leftfield
2/5
Fun Lovin' Criminals
4/5
Love the eclectic mash-up of styles on this album. I'm hearing hip hop, rock, rap, jazz, R&B, blues, funk, and even a bit of punk. Had not heard of these guys or their music before. Glad I have now!
Billy Joel
2/5
For me, Billy Joel is in that category of musicians for whom I have great respect but rarely listen to. There's nothing wrong with his songs to my ear, and they are well-written, performed nicely, and often memorable. It's really just a matter of personal taste and preference, I suppose. I get why so many people love him.
Tom Waits
2/5
Found this little gem in the Wikipedia article linked to by this site:
Though critical of the album in many respects, including Waits' vocal delivery and the "morbid pathos" of the ballads, Stephen Holden of Rolling Stone wrote that "Tom Waits finds more beauty in the gutter than most people would find in the Garden of Eden," and referred to him as a "unique and lovable minor talent."
I'm not loving his vocals on this one, and I'm not clever enough to know if he's doing it as parody or something like that. I do like some of the tracks, and he is one heck of a writer. Man, the guitar work in "In Shades" is great.
John Martyn
2/5
I hadn't heard of this artist or any of his songs, and I didn't know what to expect when I clicked on the album to play it. Some interesting stuff here. Quite a variety of styles. Not interested enough to come back to for me, but it wasn't bad.
Ian Dury
2/5
I could not help feeling the whole time like I was listening to the soundtrack to 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' (Frankly -- no pun intended re the character, Frank -- I prefer 'Rocky Horror' to this; it's more fun.)
The Youngbloods
2/5
I sometimes like this genre -- which I guess I'd call American folk-rock, or something like that, maybe almost "jam band" but not quite to my ear -- and this album isn't bad; it just didn't really bring me fully in. It has some moments I liked, such as the jams in "Beautiful" and "Trillium."
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Somewhat interesting. Loved the video for 'Ready, Able.' Might give this one another listen sometime. I like the decisions they make - they take some cool turns along the way.
The Streets
3/5
Artist/band and his/their music were heretofore unknown to me, and I'm glad this project introduced me to all this. Some cool stuff in here; a real interesting hodgepodge of styles.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Amazing. He improvised the entire thing...that's just...wow. I get why he's so revered, and this album is so celebrated. I realized as I listened to it again that it takes some effort and concentration to stay with it; then I remember they only thing my lazy-arsed-self is doing is listening. Playing this? Making it up as I go along? Whoa.
T. Rex
2/5
Had heard one or two songs before. Some are catchy, and the album is very much a reflection of its time. Not a group I really enjoyed before -- didn't actively dislike, just never felt that interested or engaged with their music.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Once again, I find myself struggling to find words worthy of Joni Mitchell. For me, she is and will always be one of the greatest treasures, one of the greatest gifts, to and from the world of art and creativity. When I focus on her music, as I did for this album for this listen, there is so much to discover and hear, even when I've heard the song countless times before. What a rare and incredible musician on every level. This is a beautiful and fascinating album.
Portishead
3/5
Unexpectedly interesting. A lot of texture and color to these tracks. A cool mix of ambient and dark. I like Beth Gibbons' voice. Not a style of music I've ever spent any time with -- kind of hard to fit into a "genre," anyway, and I like that about this album; I'm glad this project introduced me to it.
Sam Cooke
5/5
Wow. Familiar with many of Sam Cooke's songs, but not with this album. Love the grittiness and power, plus it's easy to hear how incredible he was as a performer. I read the Wikipedia entry on the album and then the one on Sam Cooke. Fascinating and tragic personal story. Back to this album: can absolutely hear why this album is consistently high up on so many lists. Can absolutely hear how his sound influenced countless artists who followed.
Patti Smith
5/5
I grew up on the music of many musicians who cite Patti Smith as one of their most important influences, but I never really listened to her music. This is great stuff, both in its cultural context (totally get how and why this was so groundbreaking when it was released in '75) and as music that stands the test of time. I have no idea if she's listened to by today's teens and twentysomethings, but I have a feeling if they were to hear this album, they'd like it (not in the fuddy-duddy "music was better back them" way -- I sincerely don't believe that -- but in terms of the music and lyrics connecting with them).
Aerosmith
3/5
There are a handful of Aerosmith songs from their early days that I really do love. I'm not sure why, and not exactly sure when (maybe early 80s?), but for me, the albums they released later on never did it for me. I don't dislike this album, but I am just not that interested.
ZZ Top
5/5
Love this album, and ZZ Top is always a fun listen. Billy Gibbons is fantastic as always, Dusty Hill is so solid, and Frank Beard lays it down nicely. Just three guys playing some groovin' bluesy rock. Still sounds great fifty-ish years later.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Listened to this album quite a bit in college, hadn't really listened since, and honestly prepared my middle-aged self to be annoyed by it after all this time, as can happen. Didn't happen. Still a fun (and sometimes funny) album. I think what saves it for me is they are really good musicians and still come across as original-sounding to me. Oftentimes, I lose interest fast in bands that go for irony or some other form of humor, even when I like it first time I hear it. Maybe it's like improv humor for me in that when it works in the moment, it's great for a laugh, but I don't want to go back to that moment. Anyway, whatever the thought-and-feeling-process might be, this is an album this fiftysomething square dude can still enjoy.
Nico
2/5
I had heard of the Velvet Underground but did not know Nico and her interconnectedness with them and their whole scene (thank you, Wikipedia article about the album!). I didn't really like her voice at first, but it kind of grew on my as the album played on. The music is not bad, but because I've heard a lot of music in that 60's folk-baroque-pop sound, it doesn't really stand out for me. I'm sure it was more noticeably distinct when it was first released.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Had heard a few tracks off this album in the past, but this was my first concentrated listen-through. This thing soars high in so many spots. The passion and intensity comes through, and the music is so strong. Although I do get they wanted a real orchestral sound to the album, just as personal preference I don't always want so much from the strings and horns. Isaac Hayes' talent comes through no matter what.
The Gun Club
3/5
The band and their music are both new to me. Add this to the list of music I'm glad this project has introduced me to. I like this band's sound and style. Much as I appreciate punk as a musical and cultural movement, I don't listen to much punk, but these guys weave in some nice elements of rockabilly, surf rock (which is kind of punk ancestor, I think, right?), blues, etc. I can also hear in The Gun Club's music a lot of things that definitely show up in a whole lot of acts that followed. Overall, I found this album to be more interesting musically than most punk music. Great energy, too. I like it.
The Cardigans
3/5
When "Lovefool" came on, I recognized it. Had not heard the other songs from this album. The sound and style reminds me of some fairly recent pop songs I've heard; no idea if this band in particular was the direct influence or if it's part of a broader movement, but it's fun. I like that it's pop with a bit more color and texture.
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Very much reflective of the time -- early 80s rock/pop -- and I can see why it would popular. Didn't really do it for me, though. Not sure exactly why, but part of has to with the feeling I get when listening to most of their songs that there's just too much going on and not often in a way that brings it all together.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
It's hard to separate the music from the image (and admittedly hard to get Joe Piscopo's and Phil Hartman's Frank Sinatra characitures out of my head whenever I hear Frank sing, as well as the Johnny Fontane character in the Godfather movies), so I really tried to clear my mind of all the cultural stuff and just listen. I still like the music -- that era's swing-jazz-pop music is a lot of fun -- although I found from listening to it again, really focusing on the music, without all the Sinatra image stuff in it, it's just okay. There are artists from that era I like better. It doesn't really matter because there's no satisfying answer to the artist v. art question, but I'm glad I pushed myself to listen to it that way. Given this album and artist's massive appeal and popularity, makes sense it's on this list.
Alice Cooper
3/5
I've been familiar with Alice Cooper as a music icon since my early teens, and knew a few of his bigger radio hits, but I'd never owned or listened to any of his (their? is "Alice Cooper" both the frontman's stage name and the band's name?) albums before. Some good rock/pop songs on this one, definitely some humor sprinkled in, and I can see why it was such a big hit in the early 70s, and I can hear in it elements that definitely show up in a lot of later bands in the decades that followed. Not one that I expect to come back to, but fun sound overall.
Michael Jackson
3/5
I was in high school and college during Michael Jackson's massive spotlight years in the 80s, and back then it was so hard to separate the image projected endlessly by all form of media at the time from the actual artist and his work. Because of that, I didn't listen to his music on purpose (it was everywhere anyway, but I didn't make an effort). I missed this album mostly at the time, except for the controversial original 'Bad' video that was unavoidable because it was so relentlessly covered. All that being said, over the decades since then I've come to enjoy some of his music. I saw the documentary 'This Is It' after his death, and it helped me see him in a different light (as an artist; not commenting on him as a person). Listening to this album all the way through now for what is the first time for me, I hear some good music. Some of the tracks aren't to my liking, a little too synth-poppy for me, but 'Bad,' 'Smooth Criminal,' 'The Way You Make Me Feel,' and 'Man In the Mirror' are really well done.
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
Such a great representation of so much about 70s pop-rock. I remember their hits playing on the radio in the 70s, then later as "classic rock" stations emerged. A lot of the songs are catchy, but the album grew quickly repetitive-sounding for me with my present-day ears. Mind-time-travelling back to when this album was released, I imagine it stood out. Really cool cover art on this album. (Dang, I really miss album cover art.)
Santana
4/5
In my late teens and twenties, I listened to Santana with some frequency, and saw them in concert a couple times. I can't quite explain why, but in the decades since I just kind of lost interest in them, while other bands I listened to from both that era and genre in music and time in my life are still interesting to me. I suppose that's a reflection of how personal tastes and interests wax and wane and evolve over time. Long windup for me to say that this is the first time in a long, long time I've listened to Santana. I enjoyed quite a few tracks on this one. Some truly great musicianship and performances. Glad I had the opportunity to listen to this all the way through.
Can
3/5
Quite different, especially considering this album is 50 years old. Much as it's not something I will come back to again, it definitely captured my attention at times, and I would imagine when it was first released how unusual and intriguing it must have been.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Had not heard of this band or heard their music. I like it. I enjoy quite a bit of what is usually categorized as "Southern rock," but I don't spend a ton of time in that subgenre because, like country music can to my ears, it can sound too similar to itself. This has nice doses of edge and darkness at times, and, dang, some real fine musicians plying their craft (those guitarists, and that drummer, for example - wow!). I imagine I'll come back to this one for another listen.
Coldplay
4/5
Another in the long list of bands who were very well-known during certain parts of my adult life yet I somehow missed entirely. I do remember the album cover -- it would've been a CD back then -- and how much I loved the artwork. Still do. I started listening to the album with a bit of concern that I'd have too many biases against them to really hear the music (I might be wrong, but this seems to be a band a lot people love to hate). It didn't seem to matter. I enjoyed the album and some of the tracks are particularly good. I was familiar with a few songs, probably from hearing them in public places, but I really hadn't heard most of these. I like the seeming simplicity of their songs that have more going on musically than meets the ear. I expected this album to be more straight-up pop music (there are those biases again!), yet I heard a little more darkness and layers in it. Good album.
Funkadelic
5/5
Holy Schneikies, that is some truly mind-melting guitar work!! I had been introduced to the guitar solo on the title track by a brilliant guitar teacher, and it still sends me on a journey every time I hear it. The whole album is a beautiful, jarring, dark journey into the abyss and somehow lets us escape. Barely.
What a masterpiece.
The Dictators
3/5
Sometimes campy (teetering between funny at moments and at others sounding like countless rock/punk bands trying to be irreverently funny), but, dang, some incredible musicians in this band. Can hear how it bridges the gap nicely between hard rock and early punk, with some real strong surf rock/60s garage rock vibes. The lead guitarist is phenomenal, and they all play together so tightly and powerfully. Overall, not one I'd come back to, but given its release year I get why it's included on this list. Seems to be a harbinger of subgenres to come.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
I have heard the band's name for a long, long time yet never heard any of their music. This is a rough album at times, but I don't say that as a criticism; I know that's the intention and it's highly effective. The vocals and music drew me in and they work. From reading about this album, I think most of the instrumental parts are samples? Somehow, it all works. Totally get how influential they were on a lot of acts that followed.
The La's
4/5
This is a solid album. It's wild that it's their only album. As a stand-alone album, separate from any story about why it's their only, it's just really solid edgy organic rock with a nice pop feel, and I don't mean "pop" in a negative way. They have a feel for songwriting and song performing, even though I've read they don't like how the album came out. "There She Goes," the one song of their with which I was familiar already, is still one of my favorite songs. Something about that song makes it stand the test of time for me; sounds like it could've been written in the 60s or today.
Suicide
3/5
Stylistically interesting for 1977; not what I would expect from an American rock band around that time. Can hear punk-esque aspects to this album, but the synths and electronic stuff adds texture to it all. Sometimes a little on harsh and screaming side of things, which I don't usually like, but overall this is interesting stuff.
The Beau Brummels
1/5
In general, I'm just not all that fond of "psychedelic rock." This album is no exception for me, but it did serve an important purpose: it helped me figure out why I've never really liked that subgenre. It didn't make sense to me for the longest time; after all, as an aging wanna-be hippie, I fit the bill. Listening to this album and really not liking it as it played, it finally occurred to me that one of the things I don't like about psychedlic rock is it's designed to be trippy and weird, but it comes across as too self-conscious and self-referential for me. I like discovering on my own the weirdness and the unusual in art, music, and life; I don't like things that self-proclaim their own weirdness. Anyway, even removing this album from all that, I'm still not interested. Moving on.
Fleet Foxes
3/5
Well, this is a nice surprise. I had not heard of the band and I don't recall ever hearing any of their music, and now I'm glad to be introduced to them. What an interesting blend of styles, and it all comes together so well. I plan to listen to their other work, too. Good stuff.
Beth Orton
4/5
Wow, she's fantastic! This is a solid album. Had not heard of her or heard any of her music before. I like her style, her writing, and her voice. Great songwriting, too. She shows some real range of expression on this album. Very cool.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Dylan is one of those rare artists who I don't like to write or say too much about because whatever I have to say feels so, I don't know, unoriginal. It's not even based upon how much I like his music; it's more about how and what he wrote, recorded, performed, etc., and the immeasurable impact he had upon such a massive amount of music that followed. Regarding this particular album, although I did own it at one point, I didn't know it was his seventh studio album, and it was still only 1966. Makes me realize there is so much to his catalog (preceding and following this record) that I really don't know at all, so it will be great to explore it all deeper. This album has a lot of great stuff in it. Man, what a freaking writer.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
I had heard some of Leonard Cohen's music before, but always as stand-alone songs, and even though I was always so drawn in and intrigued by his music, I don't know why but I never really listened to whole albums or watched concert videos or anything like that. Now, after having listened to this album all the way through, I most certainly will. What a fascinating artist. A wonderful dark yet somehow quite light meandering, layers and textures, lyrically poetic, so many things evoked. LOVE his voice; reminds me of espresso. Wish I had seen him perform live. I need to learn more.
PS -- not sure if the nod to The Police's 'Every Breath You Take' in 'Ain't No Cure For Love' via the arpeggiating guitar underneath the verses (my ear isn't good enough to tell you if the chord progression is the same, but it sounds similar) is intentional, but it's cool (not being snarky...so many songs sound like each other that I don't too hung up on requiring artists to be "original" -- heck, no doubt if we really want to we could probably find a bunch of older songs that sound like 'Every Breath You Take'
and then a bunch of even older songs that sound like those, etc.
Jane Weaver
3/5
What an interesting album. I had not heard of her or heard any of her music, and this style is a departure from music I typically enjoy. Although at times some of the tracks get too frenetic for me, overall I liked listening to this and will come back to it. I also want to explore her other work. (Re-listening to the track "Valley." It's beautiful.)
Circle Jerks
3/5
I remember listening to them back in the mid/late 80's during a relatively brief period of time during which I was interested in punk and similar styles. The genre was so different from what I had been listening to, and to a sheltered suburbanite in his late teens, it sounded dangerous and exciting. Totally get the "rebelliousness" cliche I was part of. (I don't feel bad about it at all; just part of the growing up process. Still doing it in my mid-50s. Life. It goes on.) Listening to punk music for me these days usually leaves me mostly uninterested, so I was curious to see my reaction to this one. I expected to shrug my shoulders at it as part of a fading broader memory, and I was suprised to find myself appreciating what they were doing. Really great playing by the musicians, the singing and lyrics are catchy and fun, and it isn't to my ears as cacophonous as a lot of the genre is to me (it's okay, kids, go ahead and make fun of my middle-aged sensibilities ;-). Overall, really solid album.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
1/5
I'd not heard of the artist or heard any of the music before, and when it started and as I read the Wikipedia on it, I thought I'd probably like it because it has a lot of elements of music I tend to enjoy; however, I did not like this album. Some moments are interesting musically, but most of the time I could not shake the feeling I was listening to parody, and it felt like parody I didn't get. I tried to be open-minded and listen to as parody, I liked it even less. Cool album cover art, though.
Billy Bragg
3/5
I listened to Billy Bragg a little in college, but not very much. And for some reason, I completely missed Wilco, even though I heart about them quite often and several friends like them whose taste in music tends to overlap with mine. (Side note: this reminds me to listen to their own albums...seems like a band I might enjoy.)
Anyway, this album specifically: I like it. The musicianship is fantastic; really great playing. Billy Bragg's voice when he goes full Billy Bragg can grate on me quickly; comes across as too shouty for me. On this album, however, he dials it down and that really helps. I still prefer the tracks on this album when he's not singing lead. And the couple tracks with Natalie Merchant stand out. Her voice is always rich, memorable, and mesmerizing. (I'm now imagining this whole album with her as lead vocalist, and that would've been amazing.)
Overall, good stuff. Enjoyed it.
Love
1/5
Nah, the whole 60s psychedelic rock thing just doesn't do it for me, and most of these groups remind me of Spinal Tap's '(Listen to the) Flower People,' as this album does. I get the irony of an aging wanna-be hippie like me not liking 60s psychedelic rock at all, but I really don't. On we go.
Marty Robbins
3/5
This is a lot more fun to listen to than I expected. I don't listen very often to country and Western music (I don't know what the difference is between those two categories, but I always see them listed as two discrete names, so I'll do the same), but I was somewhat familiar with one or two of these songs because I've heard covers. I like the sound of these tracks. Reminds of music we'll hear playing in the background of a film in which bad things eventually happen; e.g., music like this plays quietly over speakers in a roadside diner as two characters meet late at night to talk about some nefarious thing or we can tell one of them is going to kill the other later, stuff like that, or maybe it's playing on the soundtrack as an aural juxtaposition to someone getting their teeth kicked in. I also enjoy how wonderfully anachronistic yet deeply familiar this all sounded to me. Almost kind of steampunk-ish, you know? There's really nothing out there like this these days, or at least not that I've heard or encountered. I can hear, too, the roots of all sorts of music that followed in a wide variety of styles; that, of course, means this music reflects other earlier influences, and that's cool. I honestly thought this album would either bore or annoy me to know end, but it didn't. Nice.
Oh, and is it okay to admit I kind of get a little misty-eyed at the end of "El Paso"? Of course it is.
Serge Gainsbourg
5/5
I saw a documentary about Serge Gainsbourg maybe a dozen years ago, and that made me a fan. Fascinating person and artist. This album is great. It's very, well, Serge Gainsboug. Weirdly accessible, even in the 2020's, and even though I don't understand any of the lyrics because I know maybe a dozen words in French (nearly all food, my fellow fromage-heads). The musical arrangements are fantastic, and, wow, that guitarist can play! Somehow, with the music playing underneath the spoke French dialogue, it just works. This is one I'll listen to again.
Beyoncé
3/5
I did not know about the "visual album" concept, with some short films accompanying some (all?) songs. Cool idea. The songs are a bit darker and more intimate than I expected, and it mostly kept my attention. I had to put in a little work to push out my biases as best I could -- not easy, given she's, well, she's Beyoncé, for crying out loud -- to focus on the music. It stood up. Some of the tracks are a bit too "dance club" sounding to me, but that's quite possibly a product of my own conditioning. Overally, though, this album has a lot of good stuff going on.
David Bowie
4/5
David Bowie is fascinating and wonderful in so many ways, which of course includes his music. I love it when a musician or band continues to evolve and experiment throughout their life, and in very rare cases that musician still somehow sounds very much like, well, that musician. Bowie is one of those rare treasures.
Regarding this album in particular, I had heard some but not all tracks before, and I enjoyed listening to them. Some of the songs made my brain go, "hey, I know that tune," then realize I don't recognize a song but rather as style or sound. For example, 'The Secret Life Of Arabia' reminds me of Talking Heads, a little bit of Blondie, and I'm sure countless other bands with which I am not familiar. This is not a knock on anyone; I don't get hung up on who did it first. I just think it's cool. Transports me to late 70s music and art and culture, or at least my fantasy of it. I don't care how far off I am in my imagining what it was like, I just enjoy it -- and I really have no idea as I was a suburban kid in elementary school when this music was made.
Some of the tracks also sound like they could've been made this year. Almost futuristic, maybe? Like it could be a score for a Kubrick film. A few are a little too dissonant for me, but I can sometimes feel like that upon first listen of music that is a bit outside the "norm" or expectation I had.
fIREHOSE
4/5
Really good stuff here.
Erykah Badu
4/5
Some real nice tracks here. Love the groove. Nice soul without as much "thump." Nothing against some big and heavy thump in music; I sometimes love that, just not always in the mood for it. A few elements and styles woven together nicely here. That kind of approach doesn't always work for my ear -- the risk with such mixing together can be it sounds like parts don't gel -- but it does here. That's impressive.
I really like her voice. She's got a great ear for matching music to her voice and vice versa.
Glad this project introduced me to her.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Both the band and their music are new to me. I don't recall even hearing their name before this album came up on the Generator. When the first track started, I was a little worried it would be too dance-floor-y for my liking, but not so. Some of the tracks kept me engaged nicely, like 'Skeletons.' Others didn't really click for me, sometimes gets a little screechy for me, but I like the band's overall sound and style so I can appreciate the work here. (Side Note: the playlist of the album that came up for me included some acoustic versions of the songs on this album -- I don't think they were included in the original album when it was released -- and some of those versions are interesting.)
Peter Frampton
5/5
This album is such a wonderful trip for me on two levels. First, on the nostalgia front, it brings me back to summers of my youth when these songs played on the radio and the energy was fantastic. Next, for me as a present-day listener, I hear and appreciate the music in a whole new way. The songs are a lot fun, they hold up well in the harsh light of time's passing, and I am blown away by the musicians, all of them. Bob Mayo's keys are on another level. I could listen to his keyboard solo on 'Do You Feel Like We Do' go on for hours. And Frampton's guitar playing...wow. Growing up, I somehow missed his being on the level of the other rock guitar gods I adored. I know now.
Related Note: I recently discovered an album he recorded just a couple years ago, 'All Blues,' which is outstanding. He's still a true artist on the guitar.
Back to this album: Yes, definitely one of the all-time greats. If the only song on it were 'Do You Feel Like We Do,' I'd still believe it's worthy of this list.
Final Note: fans of Peter Frampton should see Rick Beato's "What Makes This Song Great?" episode on 'Do You Feel Like We Do' as well as the few other Peter Frampton-focused videos on Rick Beato's YouTube channel. Absolute worth watching.
Steely Dan
5/5
There is no way for me to hold back when talking about Steely Dan. To me, each album they released seems to inch higher into rarefied air ('Aja' is the apex for me).
This is their third album and, for the most part, their final one revolving around their original quintet, but we can hear their evolving style and approach with the extra musicians they brought in. This album stands superbly on its own and points to the refined excellence that would follow from Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
I have friends whose musical aesthetic and knowledge I admire greatly who do not like this band. I understand that to some listeners the music is too much like "smooth jazz" and "elevator music," and that they lyrics can range from inside-jokey to enigmatic to obtuse and impenetrable. That's not how I hear or experience this band, their work, or this album. I think their dark humor and irony, not just in the lyrics but also very much in their music, too, doesn't come through for everyone.
I've loved their music for a long time, but now as a music student I hear them in a new light and I am absolutely gobsmacked by their writing, their arranging, their playing -- not just the all-star musicians they brought into the studio, but Becker (a wildly underrated guitarist) and Fagen (amazing on the keys and I genuinley love his voice; just perfect for their music) -- and the mind-blowing level of engineering prowess. Their notorious perfectionism and absurd attention to every detail pays off. Their writing is outstanding. I like the detached irony of their lyrics and as a lover of jazz I really dig their ability to weave jazz elements into pop and rock songs without letting it get to cluttered or disjointed. I honestly don't know how they do it. I love jazz, I love rock, but generally I do not like fusion. These guys avoided whatever it is about fusion that doesn't click with me, and that's mighty impressive.
I do not mean to suggest that their approach should be a universal standard; not at all. Some of my all-time favorite music was recorded hastily with lots of "mistakes" and imperfections that are essential to the whole experience.
This album has some incredible tracks on it, and incredible moments within the tracks. One example of many: I am crazy about Walter Becker's guitar solo in 'Pretzel Logic.' And I love his wah-infused lead guitar on their cover of Duke Ellington's 'East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.'
Love the album cover, by the way.
Final note for fellow Steely Dan fans: I am nearly finished reading "Major Dudes: A Steely Dan Companion," a collection of decades of interviews, reviews, and other writings on them and their music. The appear chronologically in the book and it's a fascinating journey. I highly recommend it.
David Bowie
3/5
The piano on the title track is wild! Really cool. Overall very solid album, some interesting rock that definitely has the David Bowie vibe and flair. Very theatric at times; some moments so much so that I could've been told I'm listening to the soundtrack from an edgy Broadway musical and I would believe it. Some tracks get a little frenetic and busy for me, but I think that's quite intentional. Bowie is still very cool.
The Black Keys
3/5
Enjoyed this one.
Minor Threat
2/5
I listened to a little hardcore punk back in the 80s when it was more prevalent, so I wouldn't be surprised if I've heard these guys or this album before, I just have no memory of it. They are a good example of the sound of that time and genre. They play real tight.
It's a bit same-sounding and too thrashy at times for me, but it's performed and recorded really well.
Not the kind of music I listen to anymore, so I doubt I'll revisit this one.
Radiohead
3/5
Still not really there for me. This is a band I've long wanted to really get into. On paper, as it were, they seem like the kind of artists I'd love. Hasn't happened yet. This album clicked with me a little better than the other one that came up on my rotation in this album generator, but I honestly can't remember much, if anything, about that other one.
There are some really interesting moments on this album. I actually might come back to it -- might come back to their other works, too -- and give some more concentrated listening time to them.
Brian Eno
3/5
He's a very interesting guy who has been involved in a lot of music I like, so I looked forward to listening to this when it popped up in my rotation today. I listened to it, and it's a mixed bag for me, but overall I liked it. Some tracks just didn't do anything for me (the more frenetic ones, some of which sounded like mockery at times, which might be the point but I didn't like them), and others drew me in (e.g., 'Energy Fools The Magician' caught my interest, as did 'Through Hollow Lands').
Totally get the connection to his future work with the Talking Heads, though, and that's very cool.
For the most part, I think I might have liked this album more if there were little or no vocals. I did like 'By This River,' though, and that has clear vocals. The keys on that track are great. And 'Spider And I' is really cool.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Whoa, these guys come right at us, don't they. I like it. It totally works for what they're doing. Powerful lyrics and the music is fantastic they create to support them. Very cool rhythms and instrumentals; quite a departure from most hip hop/rap I've heard (which, admittedly, is not a significant sample size). My only real criticism is the lyrics sometimes seem to me to be a bit heavy-handed, but that's forgivable in this context. "Music And Politics" is so cool; reminds me of Beatnik stuff but sounds much more contemporary. I really want to check out their other album (looks like they made only two...too bad; I would LOVE to hear their artistic take on current times).
Hole
2/5
I remember clearly how fashionable it was to hate on Courtney Love when she was in the spotlight in the 90s. I hate it when that happens; always seems to bring out the nastiness in society. That being said, I didn't listen to Hole back then because my interest in "grunge" was somewhat fleeting. There was some music in that broad category that I enjoyed, but after a few years I lost interest.
I did my best, as I generally try to do with this interesting album-generator experiment, to clear my mind of the heavy biases and prejudices I knew I'd bring to my listening. It's pretty much impossible to fully erase expectations, at least for this flawed listener, so I admit I still expected on some level to dislike it.
It's better than I thought it would be. I found the songs to be more melodic and layered than I expected (reading the Wikipedia article on it, that seems to have been quite intentional), the composition and performances are good, and my only main criticisms are
(1) I don't always like Courtney Love's voice as the main vocalist. I'm not sure why because she can sing quite well. Just how I hear it, I guess, but I always have to allow for the possibility that my brain cannot separate the voice from the image of the person.
(2) Many of the tracks sound too similar to each other.
The album is not so compelling that I intend listening to it regularly, but for the most part it was enjoyable.
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Another in the long list of well-known bands I managed to miss entirely when they were popular. I heard their name a lot in the 90s, but somehow just never heard their music. Anyway, I've listened to them a little bit in the past year or so because I stumbled upon a recent video of Tom Morello playing guitar and it was really interesting.
Listening to this album fully for the first time (I've heard two or three of the tracks before, but not the whole album), I can hear why it appeals to so many, especially when I drop it in the early 90s and play it back in my mind that way. Musically, I think these guys play incredibly well. I know as an amateur musician that why I'm hearing is not easy to do.
Much as I appreciate this band in a few ways -- e.g., music (as mentioned), hard-hitting political messages (most of which resonate with my views), no sampling or heavy production, etc. -- I still haven't turned into a major fan. I don't dislike the album or the band, not at all, and there are moments and tracks on this album I like. It's fun and compelling in some spots. I think I might find it a bit "much" at times, mostly due to the music getting pretty frenetic and the lead vocalist screaming (I know that's intentional for effect, but it's usually not something I like to hear) so I don't think I'd listen to them for a great length of time, but there's some real good stuff going on here.
Johnny Cash
4/5
This was a great listen. I've been aware of this album for a long time and it's place in legend and lore. What little I know about Johnny Cash (nope, haven't seen the well-known documentaries or the super-famous biopic, but I would like to one day), I really like him as a person.
As a musician, his appeal is easy to see. He makes it seem all so familiar and casual, but with his own signature sound, style, and of course, voice. I have heard his music in various settings over the years and I like it. It's not something I gravitate strongly towards on a regular basis. I have a feeling if I had ever seen him play live, I'd have been a lifelong huge fan. Seems like that kind of performer and person.
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Really nice music, quite enjoyable to listen to, and often puts a smile of my face from the energy coming through.
Kacey Musgraves
2/5
Overall, I liked this album more than I thought I would. That being said, I don't love it. It's a bit too saccharine for me. It didn't keep my attention all the way through, and quite a few of the tracks sound like the kind of songs one hears on 'American Idol'-type contest shows. On the plus side, some of the songs are very nicely written and performed. She's definitely a talented songwriter, musician, and singer. I have a feeling if she add a little more realness/rawness to her songs (I heard hints of it in some of these tracks), I'd be drawn in more.
PS -- I'm also glad to see an album made just a few years ago make this list.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
On the plus side, it's always good for me to listen to music and genres I rarely hear. This one is pretty far away from the kind of music I usually play. I listened to it all the way through, hoped it would grab me, but it just didn't. Mostly felt indifferent to it, and at times a little annoyed by it.
The Triffids
2/5
Had not heard of this band or heard their music (not that I recall, but as they had a hit or two in the late 80s, I probably heard those on the radio and just don't recall). The lead vocalist's voice is strong and clear, and they play well. The sound is very familiar to me as a lot of pop bands in the mid to late 80s sounded like this. It's a good representation of that sound. Nothing wrong with the album, just didn't engage me. Everything kind of blurred together as one long song with different sections rather than distinct tracks.
The United States Of America
1/5
Given the year this was released, this band seem in some ways very much steeped in the times (lots of psychedlia; cacophony of sounds, instruments, effects; melodies and vocals that sound like the times, etc.) and also a little out there on their own. It mostly doesn't work for me, and frankly I found a lot it annoying, but I appreciate what they were trying to do.
4/5
As I've mentioned with the other U2 albums, I run hot-and-cold with this band. I do remember this album pretty well because it got a lot air play and coverage at the time. I enjoyed listenting to it today quite a bit more than I expected. This album has a great sound to it (I don't know enough about music production, sound engineering, etc., to comment intelligently on it, so I'm not sure how much that work has to do with the "sound" I'm talking about) and the songwriting is overall excellent.
Hard to separate Bono from the "Bono-ness" of his gargantuan image, so I really tried to just listen to the music and let that be it. It did help. His voice can be quite compelling and he's got killer range, and it fits this music perfectly.
I still love The Edge as a guitar player and repeat what I've said before about he deserves to be mentioned in the same list of whoever gets put on the "great rock guitarists" list. He's a lot more innovative and interesting than people give him credit for. I can barely understand what the few pedals I have do, and he plays effects and alternate tunings like they are instruments of their own.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
This sure brings me back. Wow. Listening to it all the way through makes me realize how much air play this album got for years and years. I didn't know I knew these songs so well -- hadn't heard them in a mighty long time -- and as the album played through it all came back.
It was fun to hear these songs again. All so very catchy. It's not likely I'd come back to listen to it, but it's good stuff.
Supertramp
3/5
Been a while since I've listened to Supertramp, and it's really nice to hear them again. I was familiar with a couple tracks on this album -- "Bloody Well Right" has such great keys (and it all comes together great) and "Dreamer" is fun -- and it's nice to hear the whole thing. Somtimes feels like Moody Blues and other bands to me that get a little too into the synth/organ extended groovy 70s play, and it has a lot of moments of feeling every bit the 70s prog rock/pop effort it is, can be dreamy/drippy at times, but it's overall really well done and this band has a lot of talent.
Tracy Chapman
5/5
I've been waiting for this one. I remember vividly when this album was released during my college years, and I listened to it constantly, saw her in concert, and still love it to this day. She brought such a great new voice and sound during a time when a lot of airplay was given over to 80s hair metal and synth-pop. This album was released in the early years of Bush I's presidency and we needed a voice like this.
Setting aside the important political and cultural context in which this album emerged, musically it is fantastic on its own. She's an incredible writer, lyrically and musically, and her voice can do so much. She's a heck of a guitar player, too. I remember experiencing that in concert when I saw her.
So wonderful to hear this again. Thank you.
Beastie Boys
3/5
When the Beastie Boys first were popular and hit the scene, the only song I knew was their hit about fighting for the right to party, and I found it a little funny but mostly obnoxious so I avoided their music. I have never heard this album, hadn't even heard of it, and it's actually pretty good. Catchy and clever, some great hooks, and it's interesting that it's all cobbled together with samples. I remember listening to some of the albums that followed, the ones in which they play instruments, and I like a handful of those tracks.
Overall, this album is likeable.
Sonic Youth
4/5
It was as interesting to read about this album's background as it was to listen to it. I had heard of the group before, probably heard a song or two in passing, but never spent any time listening to them. I expected more chaos and screaming, and there is some of that, but not as random-sounding as I thought it would be. Yet another reminder that I have a lot of work to do on removing biases, prejudices, and expectations. Let the music play, as it were.
I found the tracks full of well-crafted melody and harmony, they all play fantastically well, and in most songs, I was drawn in quite nicely. Definitely has some punk elements and influences, but there are layers and textures beyond those normally heard in that area.
The Wikipedia article says they were known for their improvisations in live performances, and Henry Rollins encouraged them to reflect that in their studio work. Good suggestion. They've got the chops to pull it off really well. Love some of the extended jams they include in some of the tracks.
I need to spend more time on this one. I want to get into the lyrics more. Lots of sci-fi and other references, and they even have a song that pays homage both to the tune "Hey Joe" and Joni Mitchell. Hecks, YES.
Great album, and I love that it's outside what I normally listen to. It's more...maybe "intense" is the right word? Something like that. Good healthy process here in this project. Love it.
Pere Ubu
2/5
Very interesting. Had zero knowledge of this band before now. At times, this album veers towards what sounds to me like parody, but I'm not always great at being able to spot that, so forgive me if I missed the point. Musically odd and disjointed, so it had my attention at various points. The vocal melodies and performances are quite unusual, especially for the time. All in all, a little "out there" for me, but I can see how they were influenced by 60s avante garde and experimental art of all kinds, and how ahead of the musical curve they were in some ways -- a lot of the elements I hear in these tracks are familiar to me from later music.
Wire
3/5
I like it when music that falls generally somewhere in the very broad "punk" category has some groove to it, and this band brings it nicely. I appreciate punk mostly for its cultural significance and influence on other genres of music, but I don't listen to a lot of it because it's often just too harsh for me. (Related to the same part of my DNA that likes spicy food on the medium, not hot, scale? I have no idea.) Some songs are little screechy for me, but overall, I like this album.
I had not heard of the band or heard any of their music, but, wow, I can absolutely hear how their sound influenced a lot bands to follow. For example, I read in the Wikipedia entry (the one on the band itself, not this album) that The Feelies, one of my favorite bands (man, I just love 'The Good Earth' and still listen to it), regularly cover one of their songs in live shows. I hear the similarities. So cool.
So, Yes, I like this album and some of the tracks really stuck out for me, like "Reuters," "Ex Lion Tamer," and "Mannequin." "Fragile" might be my favorite. And the brief track, "The Commercial," is really fun.
Paul Simon
4/5
Listened to this a TON when it first arrived. Still holds up well.
Stereolab
3/5
Some of the tracks were interesting to me and kept my attention. This album is at times hypnotic, e.g., 'Tomorrow Is Already Here,' 'Monster Sacre,' and 'Anonymous Collective.' And although I can speak only a dozen words or so, if that, I do love the sound of the French language, so as pure aural pleasure I loved it when she sang or spoke in French.
If someone described this album to me, I don't think I would listen to it. Kudos again to this project.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I don't listen to CCR these days like I did when I was young, but hearing this album again reminds me why I liked them in the first place. Super-catchy riffs and melodies, good steady rhythms, and evokes long stretches of highway in that road-tripping American imagery (might be just me, but that's how I've always heard their music).
Other than listening to their music and knowing John Fogerty's name from his later work, I knew very little about the band, so I'm glad I clicked on the Wikipedia entry. This tidbit it particularly interesting to me:
***The band's single-mindedness and work ethic drew the ire of some other San Francisco-based bands, with drummer Doug Clifford recalling to Jeb Wright of Goldmine in 2013, "We went to see the local bands and they were so stoned they weren’t even in tune and they were really terrible...We made a pact on the floor of the Fillmore, right then, where we would do no drugs or alcohol. We decided to get high on the music, or get out of the business." Going against the grain at the times, Creedence eschewed the acid-inspired free-form jams favored by many rock bands, for tightly-structured roots music with an unmistakable rockabilly edge. "I didn't like the idea of those acid-rock, 45-minute guitar solos," Fogerty explained to Uncut's David Cavanagh in 2012. "I thought music should get to the point a little more quickly than that." ***
Much as I personally make no judgment on bands who decided to go deep into the very route these guys veered away from, I like the band's contrarian ethos. I imagine it was particularly bold for a Bay Area band in the late 60s/early 70s to make that choice -- even amongst peace-loving hippies, there is still peer pressure (speaking from experience here).
Really solid album here. Very tight, well-written, well-performed, catchy, and enjoyable.
The Offspring
3/5
I've heard a couple of their songs in the past, but never really paid attention, so this is my first real listen to their music. Energetic, fun, and super-tight. Somewhat similarity to the Meat Puppets, a band I really like, but with more edge and thrashiness. I like their sense of melody in some of the tracks.
Overall, I like this album. Almost a danceable, or at least foot-tapping, version of punk-influenced rock. Some real catchy guitar licks, too. To me, they sound kind of like the garage bands I heard in the mid and late 80s, but at a much higher level of ability, craft, and discipline (in a great way). Fun stuff.
The Stranglers
3/5
New to me, the band, this album, and their music, so I had no idea what to expect (always a great way to experience any art). The overall sound is very familiar to me, so they could be a mix of a real reflection of late 70s punk/new wave/pop and their influence on other bands at the time and later.
I find these songs quite catchy and they keep my attention most of the time. They play very well ('Choosey Susie,' for example, has some excellent guitar work), sticking together solidly through some staccato and fast-moving harmonies, and I like that I can usually hear what the singer is singing because the lyrics are often intelligent and witty.
I bet this band was fun to see live in a small club at the time. Good music to move around to (I'm not much of dancer, but I could totally see myself bopping around to 'London Lady,' for example) and even though it has some real layers and textures, it's not inaccessible and it's not a downer. Real good stuff here, and I will listen to more of their music.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
Iconic and classic. Thank you, Count Basie!
The Byrds
2/5
Absolutely get how much of an influence they had on their contemporaries and many bands to follow, and many of the tunes are quite catchy, but overall I think I must have heard these songs too often growing up. I also find them a bit tinny, kind of thin in their sound, and honestly just wasn't very interested as it played.
The Clash
4/5
Pretty sure this was my first Clash album. I really enjoyed them as a teen and saw them in concert (maybe '84?). I haven't listened to them in quite a while but it still holds up nicely for me. I like their blend of styles on this album and others. They didn't stay in one lane, and while that can sometimes backfire for other bands it works well for The Clash.
Steve Earle
3/5
I've heard of Steve Earle thanks to Lyle Lovett's excellent cover of Earle's song 'Lungs,' but didn't really know Steve Earle's music beyond that. This album is a lot more country-style than the music I usually listen to or tend be drawn to, but I like it. I find the songs to be well-written and performed nicely, too. Kind of music that reminds me of road trips, or playing pool at a bar. Romanticizing this all in my mind, I know, but that's what music often does. I'll take it.
2/5
I tried. I like a small number of Kinks' songs, but listening to this album all the way through, in all honesty I didn't hear any tracks I liked. Some bored me, others annoyed me.
Alanis Morissette
2/5
I had heard a few of the songs from this album back when it was popular, but I'd never listened to the whole album. Overall, it's...okay. I don't actively dislike it but don't love it, either. I surprised myself by liking "Hand In My Pocket" after all these years. Maybe it's a bit of nostalgia for those years and the general sentiment of that song -- I remember liking it when it was released because irony and cyncism had permeated, well, pretty much everything by the mid-90s, and it was refreshing to hear something with some semblance of hope in it. I get that to some (many? I really have no idea; can hardly fathom my own loose grasp on existence, what the hell do I know of others' experience) listeners that song might be hokey or corny or whatever, but I dig it.
She has a great voice, which can come through at times but it can be a bit much, too.
And, hey, she played God in Kevin Smith's 1999 comedy "Dogma," so there's that, too.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Pink Floyd is one of my most favorite bands of all time. That being said, I am less of a fan of the music they recorded in the Syd Barrett years. On the positive side, I can hear even in this debut album the vision and talents of the band, which became more and more apparent as they progressed away from the heavy psychedelic sound with which they began their performing and recording careers.
Although most music in the psychedelic genre generally annoys me, Pink Floyd's take on it contains more art, melody, fun, and originality. Compared with most psychedelic rock, this album is a lot better. This album suffers a little through my listening ears for two main reasons: (1) my overall dislike of the psychedelic sound [so much of it sounds like people tripping playing music they think sounds cool while tripping but doesn't translate to sober ears, or worse, sober people making music they think tripping people would like] and (2) Pink Floyd's later music is just so darn amazing to me that these earlier efforts don't measure up by comparison (this is 100% forgivable, of course).
The Syd Barrett story is fascinating, beautiful, and of course as we all know, ultimately heartbreaking and tragic. I cannot hear one of my most beloved Pink Floyd songs, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," from Wish You Were Here, and not get a little choked up from the sheer beauty of the music, the poetic artistry of the lyrics, and the story behind the song.
Back to this album, which has more good tracks on it than I've given it credit for -- picking up a lot more as I re-listen to it all the way through. For example, Pow R. Toc. H has some great keyboard work (descends a bit too much into trippy sound effects later on, though). Interstellar Overdrive is pretty wild. I can imagine how weird and disorientating it all would be live.
Nas
4/5
Definitely caught and kept my attention. There's a darkness to many of the track's rhythm and harmony that I like. It's not so dark as to be overly dissonant or grating to my ear, and it's not a downer; it's really a texture or layering that I'm feeling.
Melodically, it's a bit more interesting to my ear than other rap and hip-hop I've heard. I could almost see the notes climbing up and down the staff as a song progressed, and I don't normally get that kind of visual imagery. Very cool.
I'll need to go back to listen again and read the lyrics, too. As someone who loves poetry, I'm hearing some intriguing uses of meter and lyricism. 'Memory Lane' and 'Represent,' among others...I need to dig in.
Great album.
(Follow-Up: I just scrolled the Wikipedia article; dang, that's a long one! I'll definitely have to read it.)
The The
2/5
I had heard 'This Is The Day' before because it got a fair amount of airplay in my college years, but I was mostly unfamiliar with the other songs on this album. I listened to it all the way through whilst I worked (which, frankly, is how I've been able to continue this project) and it's nice to have on. Most of the songs have catchy rhythms, there are some solid bass lines, a few moments of really sweet keys (like 'Uncertain Smile'), and some decent tracks on this album. The lead vocalist's voice can be a bit much for me at times, just a personal preference thing - no doubt he can sing well. The general sound and feel of the album brings me back to the mid-80s pop/rock/alt sound, and I have some happy memories from those years, so the album might be getting a little heart-boost from me because of that. Hard to separate out one's individual subjective experience from listening to music (or, really, anything else for that matter) and that's something I just have to roll with.
Mj Cole
3/5
Had never heard of them. I like it. Some great grooves here.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Chicago Blues at its rockin' and stompin' finest. I know the blues is a vast and deep ocean from which nearly all Western tonal music comes, and I totally get how easily music in the boundless "blues" genre can disappear into that unfathomably huge ocean, but when it's done like this, it's all good. I often caught myself tapping my foot and bobbing my head as the tracks grooved on. The whole album moves, and all the players are superb -- and whoa, man, Pinetop Perkins on the piano, holy smokes! Reminds us that the blues didn't emerge as a musical style so very long ago as a means to bring others down, but as a process to sing and play it out to feel better.
AC/DC
5/5
This is one on which I happily clicked "Play" to listen all the way through even though I already know the whole thing. I could write far too much here because I'm a fan of the band and this album, so I'll try to rein it in here. In a genre (hard rock/heavy metal) in which bands can too easily devolve into unintended self-parody, AC/DC always managed to avoid that and play what I always hear as just really fun rock. And this album is absolutely super-fun! They somehow play hard-driving rock that's danceable and upbeat without being syrupy or saccharine. Not sure many bands can pull that off.
Plus, from the interviews I've seen and the stories I've heard, this band is full of truly nice people. Angus Young's genuine humility and decency always seem apparent to me whenever I hear him chatting. It's great.
It's really cool to see my son in his early teens, and a few of his peers, discover and love this band and this album too.
Dolly Parton
5/5
Dolly. Love her in so many ways. I hadn't heard most of these songs, and they are very much Dolly, which is a high compliment. At a time when women songwriters and performers had it so tough, she pushed hard. This was genuinely enjoyable to listen to this morning.
Bob Dylan
5/5
I've always loved Bruce Springsteen's take on 'Like A Rolling Stone,' of which he said "the snare drum that opens this song feels like someone kicked open the door to your mind."
Yep.
I can't really think of or write anything all that interesting about Bob Dylan or this album. I'll go with simple terms and state plainly that I view him as a literary treasure and this album is firmly established as one of the key works of art in my humble inner Pantheon.
Now, back to the headphones to listen to this again with my eyes closed. I want to get the door to my mind kicked open.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
One of my all-time favorite albums.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Marvin. Yes. Beautiful.
Deep Purple
2/5
Meh. I really expected to like this a lot more -- oddly, despite growing up listening constantly to what we now call "classic rock" (back then, it was just the stuff all the rock radio stations played), I hadn't heard very much Deep Purple -- and I don't like much here. I can hear some very talented musicians, no doubt about it, but I don't like the vocalist, and the songs themselves just don't really grab me. I love the sound of guitars in any genre, especially rock, but incredible as these guitarists are in terms of their ability, I was surprised to find myself bored during solos. I think, too, that this album suffers a bit because of so many bands that came after this era sounding a lot like this.
Neil Young
2/5
I do like Neil Young and I love that he is constantly experimenting and trying new sounds. Definitely one of those artists who has stayed true to himself throughout his career. This album is not one my favorites of his, though. Just a personal preference on my part. Can't quite reduce it to words, but something about the sound of the album and style in the playing -- just not my thing.
Miles Davis
5/5
I know I am biased here because I really do love Miles Davis and a lot of his "cool jazz" contemporaries and artists that followed their lead, and I am also influenced by the music reviews of the time that likened this album and similar works to impressionist-style visual arts, but, what the heck, I'll embrace it all. This album is gorgeous. The layers, textures, colors...man. I love to imagine what it would be like to find a little time-space portal to loop back to NYC in the late 40s through early 60s when so much amazing jazz was happening.
I love this album. Such art.
Korn
3/5
Although not my usual go-to stylistically, I hear some really great playing and creativity. I think I'd heard of this band before, not really sure, but definitely had not listened to anything by them in the past. Hard-driving gritty stuff but not too messy and not so overdriven and distorted that it crumbles into static, as can happen (at least to my ear) in metal. The screamed vocals are at times too much for me, but it makes sense for what I think they're going for here.
As always, kudos to this project for making sure I open up my listening ears to music I don't usually hear.
Tangerine Dream
4/5
The band's name was familiar to me already but for the life of me, I can't remember why. Maybe a friend liked them, not sure. Anyway, I don't recall having heard their music or even knowing what kind of music they make, so this is all very new to me. And I'm really glad I am now introduced to this band. Fascinating stuff, especially when I consider when they recorded this album. What sounds to our ears in the 2020s like music anyone with a MIDI instrument and a DAW could make in a matter of minutes, they produced with early 70s tech. This is, to state the obvious, no small feat. I will definitely listen to more of their work and read up on how they did it. So cool!
Tim Buckley
2/5
I had no idea what to expect given this artist and his music are all new to me, and it has some pretty fun moments. Some great grooves here and there, very bluesy-folksy-funky, and very much early-70s rootsy rock. I don't love it, but it's not bad. I got curious so down the Wikipedia rabbit hole I went, and I learned Tim Buckley is Jeff Buckley's father, and Tim and Jeff both died super-young, Tim at 28 (OD) and Jeff at 30 (swimming accident, no drugs or alcohol in his system). That made me sad.
I see that Chuck Rainey plays bass on this album so I read up on him, too. He's still around at age 81 and the list of amazing artists and bands with whom he's played is staggering. Chuck Rainey is incredible.
Back to this album: the sound overall is a little too early 70s late-stage hippie for me (sorry, folks, I just don't like the sound of congas in rock all that much...if they had been sparingly used back then, I'm sure I would barely have noticed, but, dang, they invaded so many genres of music and, at least for me, it's a "No, thank you").
Paul McCartney and Wings
2/5
I remember this album from when I was a kid, but only a couple tracks, like the title track and Jet. Despite our family having this LP in our home in the 70s, I'm not sure I ever listened to it all the way through, at least not attentively. It's okay. It's not horrible, and I still like the title track and Jet, although truth be told that might be due to nostalgia. Overall, I just wasn't very interested as I listened to it. Too saccharine for me.
I did read the Wikipedia entry on this album and the story of the album's making is definitely worth a read.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha Franklin is in that small number of iconic artists about whom whatever I might say or write feels redundant. In her case, it's for very good reason. What else can I say about the Queen of Soul?
This is brilliant, beautiful, and I love it.
That's plenty.
Iron Maiden
2/5
Another major band from my youth that somehow I missed at the time. Honestly have no idea how I missed them given that I was into similar-sounding bands in my teens, and I remember seeing Iron Maiden t-shirts (especially the variety very much in favor back then, the 3/4-length baseball style) everywhere for years. So, long windup to say this is my first listen, or at least the first listen of which I am consciously aware.
I was surprised to find relatively approachable. By that I mean I always associated them with the speedy hard-driving version of heavy metal, but because I've heard decades of that music in the years that followed this album, this album sounded less angry and dissonant than I expected.
I have a feeling that had I listened to this when it debuted, I would definitely have had a different reaction.
Although I don't listen to very much metal, I know there are some really great bands in that genre, and these guys write and play very well. It's not something I imagine I'll come back to, but that's just personal taste.
The album art is hilarious.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I could gush for pages (no pun intended) about this band and this album. So much love for both Led Zeppelin and this amazing work. For example, it doesn't matter that I've heard 'Ten Years Gone' hundreds of times; as soon as the very opening chords are strummed, I'm moved. It should get old, right? But it never does.
My son, currently in his early teens, is a drummer, loves this band, and thinks John Henry Bonham is one of the greatest of all time. I do not disagree. I'm not even a drummer and I know I could listen to the isolated drum tracks from this album (and all his work) and be blown away.
Jimmy Page is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. What a writer, player, and performer (and producer, too, while we're at it).
John Paul Jones is to me one of the most underrated and overlooked artists in rock history. He's worth getting to know.
I get that Robert Plant's voice isn't for everyone, but I like it. Goes well with their style. To be honest, though, other than letting the melody soak in when he's singing, he's the member of the band I pay the least attention to when I listen to Zeppelin. Just persona preference. I've even imagined an instrumental trio comprised of Bonham, Jones, and Page -- okay, whilst we are in fantasy mode, let's have two John Paul Jones so we can have one on bass and the other on keys -- and I love traveling to the play where they play together and let their talents just soar.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Nice representation of early soul-influenced rock and roll. It's not something I'll listen to regularly, but when the mood is right, it's nice. It's from an era before my time but probably due to movies and TV shows I grew up watching, I get feelings of nostalgia from it.
The Stooges
4/5
First time listening to this album that I can recall, and, wow, is it ever good. Truly. As I cycled through the tracks, I was glad I was aware of the fact that this album was recorded in '72 and released in '73, because as my listening mind kept recognizing the countless bands who sound like various elements of this album, I realize they are all bands who recorded much later, sometimes decades later. When I read about how influential this album is considered to be, I darn well believe it.
Musically, there's so much to love here. Holy Schneikies, the guitarist, James Williamson, who also co-wrote a bunch of these songs, is AMAZING. Plus, what an interesting career in tech that followed. Read the Wikipedia entry on him if you're interested.
Great album. So innovative, energetic, and engaging.
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
As I've experienced it, this band (really, Billy Corgan) certainly generates strong opinions in all directions amongst those familiar with them. I happen to like a lot of their music. Sometimes the songs aren't at all to my liking, but a lot are. This album has quite a few tracks I genuinely love, like the title track, 'Tonight, Tonight,' '1979,' 'Stumbleine,' and a handful of others.
I don't like it when I hear people criticize Corgan as a person because I admire how open he has been about his mental health challenges, and he's done a lot to support that community and causes. I do understand how he can sometimes stoke negative opinions, and I've wondered whether he might enjoy courting that because he's comfortable airing a lot publicly, but overall, I have compassion for him and what he's lived through and with.
As a musician and writer, I think Billy Corgan is incredible. He is prolific, plays a number of instruments superbly well (one of the best guitar players of my generation -- he and I are only a few weeks apart in age), produces well, and although I understand his singing voice is not to everyone's liking, I happen to like his vocals and think they fit his songwriting spot on.
The artwork on this double LP is great.
This is a truly great album. Glad it came up on my rotation.
Björk
5/5
The handful of Björk songs I've heard over the past few decades have always stood out because of her signature voice and always interesting and unusual melody writing. I really cannot explain why I never owned an album of hers or made the effort to listen to more of her music; my best guess is that for most of my listening life, I never leaned into much "electronica" (using the term very broadly here) so I probably had lumped her work into that category.
This is my first-ever listen-through of a Björk album, and in keeping with my intention to listen openly to each album as it comes up in my rotation, I've done that with this album.
It's fantastic.
I am still a novice music theorist and amateur early-stage musician, but I think my studies have truly influenced (in a very positive way) how I hear music at this point in my life. It makes what she's done on this album all the more intriguing to me. Such gutsy use of melody, personal delivery of the vocals, and a powerful voice. The underlying harmonies, beats, and rhythms from the electronic music in each song work superbly with what she's doing.
My only criticism is that listening to the album straight through, the music started to sound too similar to itself and kind of melded together. I will listen to her music more often now that I know I like it, but I know I'll prefer her songs to come up in a shuffle or playlist mixed with songs from other artists. Her songs really stand out a lot more noticeably in that context.
An insanely talented writer, performer, producer, and artist.
The Cure
4/5
Always love this band.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Definitely knew the band's name before, but that's about it. Don't recall hearing their music. Some cool stuff here. Interesting rhythms, punk-ish melodies and vocals, and tight playing. When I'm in the mood for something with more drive and grit, I could see myself listening to this one again.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
I like some of Allman Brothers' work -- 'Blue Sky' is a great song - but overall, I don't ever listen to them. I get how strange it is for someone like me who listens to a ton of live recordings from Dead shows not to be into the Allmans, but I'm just not. I get bored.
Public Enemy
3/5
Quite a bit of funky and strong energy here, especially in the first handful of tracks. A bit frenetic and noisy for my personal taste, but some solid rhythms in the delivery of the lyrics kept my attention on some of the songs. Got a little repetitive sound-wise for me, though.
Steely Dan
5/5
I've written before about how much I admire and love Steely Dan. This album, only their second studio album, contains some outstanding songs with the typical elite-level musicianship, obtuse and ironic (and often funny) lyrics, and great energy. Portends the string of albums to follow that I listen to frequently.
[Yes, I know: Becker & Fagen, the songs they write, the musicians they bring in, and Fagen's voice aren't for everybody; I'm simply reporting my experience of their music, which I find in a league of its own.]
Steve Winwood
2/5
Okay, first of all: what a cool cover! Damn, how I miss album art.
I remember most of these songs from when they were popular in the 80s. They are harmless but don't do much for me. I can hear how talented Steve Winwood is, no doubt, but stylistically and aesthetically these songs are just not my thing.
The Pogues
3/5
Overall, a fun sound and enjoyable album, but less enjoyable listening to the whole album straight through. Some of the songs began to feel quite alike-sounding for me as I listened through this, so to my ear these songs would sound best showing up in a longer playlist mixed in with a variety of artists and songs. It's good stuff, just kind of pounds on my ears when it's all at once.
Sufjan Stevens
1/5
I might need to come back to this one because as I listened to it just now it pretty much did nothing for me, and it might be mood-based. Talented artist, I can hear that, and I'll give it another chance some time because in the right frame of mind there are probably some things I'd like in there. For now, though, not really.
Norah Jones
4/5
I was in my early 30s when this album was released, and it was everywhere. I did like it when I first heard it, and, sure, it was played so often on the airwaves and elsewhere that I grew tired of it, but giving it another listen all the way through for the first time in probably 15 or more years, and well past the context now of that time when it got played too often so it was all-too-easily mocked, I think it's great. She's a solid songwriter, assembled some fantastic musicians, and it all coalesces nicely around her gorgeous voice. I would love to hear her take on some real bluesy, dark jazz (she very well might have; I haven't looked into it).
Primal Scream
3/5
Okay, first of all: great album art!
Next, I enjoyed this one. Wasn't sure what to expect and I liked hearing the different tracks. Some of the songs are fantastic. There's some really good stuff here.
The Temptations
3/5
Good solid stuff all around. Papa Was A Rolling Stone is iconic; always glad to hear that one again.
Tom Waits
4/5
This might be the third or fourth Tom Waits album that's appeared in my rotation in this project. He is such an intriguing artist and always creates music that interests me. As with any art, my subjective experience varies regarding which of his songs and albums I like, but I always find myself paying attention. That's quite an accomplishment. This album has some great stuff. Not sure who plays lead guitar in some of the tracks like 'Clap Hands,' but it's really cool stuff.
I read the Wikipedia entry on this album and that's got some cool stuff, too.
Richard Hawley
3/5
Had not heard of Richard Hawley before and I don't recall ever hearing any of these songs in the past. I'm not always great at picking up when a musician is performing something ironically, but to me, he is not, and I like that. There is so much familiarity in what he's doing, but it also doesn't sound just like someone imitating or covering music from the past. That's really hard to do. Impressive.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Had heard only 'Come On Eileen' from this group in my life until now, so it was good to give this a listen. Interesting mix of styles in their tunes, and they play really well. The lead singer's voice kind of grates on me a bit. I hear he's got some true pipes but I often want him to dial it down a notch, Sure, I get that it goes with the almost -- not sure what to call it: "ska-like"? -- style of upbeat, fast-moving music they play, but it's just not nice to my ears personally. I don't imagine I'd ever just listen to this on my own for my listening pleasure, but I can definitely imagine this album being played at a lot of dance parties and such.
Various Artists
4/5
Wonderful! Oh, Darlene Love. What a treasure. PLEASE, people, please go watch the 2013 documentary '20 Feet From Stardom'.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I feel weird writing about this one. One of the most important albums to my awkward tween and early teen self, and still one of my favorites. I don't care how often I hear it, Stairway still moves me.
Pixies
4/5
This band is great, and Kim Deal is just so super cool.
David Bowie
4/5
Bowie coolness is its own coolness.
The Strokes
3/5
Another in the very long list of bands I'd heard of repeatedly throughout the years yet have no recollection of having heard their music. I like this album. A lot of tips o' the style pen to some cool garage rock/pre-punk indie stuff, yet they seem to have their own voice, which is good.
Catchy but not in an annoying way. The lead singer's voice can sometimes get whiny and the screaming can be a bit much, but overall it suits what they're doing.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I remember them from the 80s when they were on the airwaves and MTV quite a bit. I didn't pay them much attention then as most synth-pop bored me, so I gave this a new listen. Still bored. I don't blame them -- I think they are good at it -- but I just don't find synth-pop overall to be very interesting.
Janet Jackson
3/5
I like her. Super fun and catchy stuff.
New Order
2/5
I remember this band from the 80s. I wasn't interested in them too much -- I think they had one or two songs I can remember -- and listening to this album now, well, it's still not my thing. Some decent sounds here and there, mostly when I can hear a non-digital instrument someone is playing, but just too dance-club sounding for me.
Cream
2/5
I remember this album -- I might have owned it, or maybe friends did -- and for a time I liked some of it because when I was an early teen I was really into guitar-centric "classic rock" (as it's called these days). Cream, though, did not hold my interest for too long back then, and I never returned to it. Super-talented musicians, definitely, but the style is too psychedelic for me. I just don't really like that kind of rock.
Hawkwind
2/5
First of all, the typeface (or font, which is a subset of typeface) they used for the album cover teleported me right back to childhood when most space-related stuff used it. Love it.
Musically, this is certainly some interesting stuff to my ears. It quickly gets spacey and trippy at most points, and I do understand that's what they are going for. They can play and orchestrate superbly; mostly, however, the songs are not all that enjoyable for me. It can get really jarring to my ear.
Beastie Boys
1/5
Some of their later stuff is a bit more interesting to me, but this album, not so much. I get the schtick: party boys gone wild and all that, kind of mocking themselves, or whatnot. I found it either innocuous or boring most of the way through. Maybe if I had listened to them when this debuted, which was during my early college years (heaviest partying time of my life), I'd enjoy the nostalgia, but I missed them when they first emerged -- only song I ever heard back then was Fight For Your Right To Party, and that annoyed me back then -- so there's not the same connection I might have with other music of the mid-80s.
Napalm Death
3/5
Zoinks! Well, this one certainly has a lot of energy. I'm not always tuned into when an artist is taking the piss out of something or going for something else, but it mostly doesn't matter. All that matters is one's own experience with the art.
The playing is super-tight, and it surprisingly drew me in at times. There are elements of heavy metal I've heard, thrashy driving punk, and they have their own sort of screaming shrieking hyper-speed style.
Even though it's stressful to listen to, and a lot of the songs sound pretty much identical to my untrained ear, I liked this more than I thought I would. Bully for this project for opening me up to such an incredible variety of music!
ABBA
2/5
Sure, fun memories from when they were so prevalent, and this music brings me back to my youth with a smile. I also get the big nostalgia kick boosted by 'Mamma Mia,' although I've never seen it.
Musically, other than the enjoyable time warp, it's just not really my thing. Great for what it is, but too fluffy for my liking.
The Stooges
3/5
Thank you, 1001 Albums project, for continuing to introduce me either to so much music, most of which I just plain missed for my entire listening life. I also almost always read the linked Wikipedia entry for each album because I find it interesting to get the story behind the album.
This is yet another album I just somehow never heard and knew nothing about. It's almost as old as I am, yet if someone told me it was from any one of several stops along the way, mostly in the punk, garage rock, indie rock, etc., world, I'd easily believe it.
It's straightforward and fun, and although I don't have the knowledge to map out how many bands after sound a little or a lot like this, I'm sure it's a big number.
Good raw and sometimes trippy rock. Gets a bit chaotic and noisy for me at times, but what they're doing in those moments fits with the album.
David Gray
4/5
I really liked this album when it came out and I saw David Gray perform in Boston when he toured in the U.S. right after the album was released here. It was a good concert. Likable fellow and performs well.
I haven't really listened to it straight through in a long time. I never got sick of it per se, but I think the long break is good because today listening to the whole album again shows me the songs still click nicely for me. It's a really strong group of songs. I have to admit I don't think I've heard much of his catalog since then and looking at the Wikipedia entry about him, he's done a ton of stuff over the years. I'll have to check it out.
Public Enemy
4/5
I have to admit I wasn't in the mood to listen to this during an already stressful and hectic Monday work morning, but surprisingly it fits very well with the chaos of the morning. Separate from my listening circumstances, I found myself drawn in by these tracks. Really cool layering of rhythms and harmonies from the drum loops on up through the vocal mix. Heard some nice influences, samples, etc., from R&B and funk, including some great guitar and bass lines.
I definitely want to give a few re-listens along with the lyrics in front of me. I heard some good strong commentary in there and want to dive deeper.
Strong, strong album.
Sister Sledge
4/5
When disco was huge, I missed most of it because I was really into rock as a kid. I do recall a couple of these hits, but this was definitely my first full listen to this album. It's great! I'm not a dancer at all, but even this awkward listener was bopping his head to this album.
The four sisters' vocals are fantastic -- wow, the harmonies. And when one of them takes a lead, it's just gorgeous.
Nile Rodgers' guitar work is stunning. Bernard Edwards on bass and Tony Thompson on drums...Holy Schneikies, some serious chops there.
Too easy to dismiss music when it's in a genre I don't listen to, and I admit that. This has some real fun and interesting songs on it.
The National
3/5
Had not heard of this band and had not heard any songs by them, so this is all brand-new to me. I like their sound. Kind of droning but not in a boring monotonous way. They play with precision, which creates a cool contrast for me with the semi-morose feel of the melody and vocals. Reminds me of several bands I liked in the 80s. Good album overall. Would listen to it again and would like to hear some of their other work.
David Crosby
2/5
I hadn't heard his solo work before. Like a lot of people my age, I'd heard plenty of CSN/CSNY stuff over my life, and though I liked it a lot in my college years, my interest in them faded fairly quickly. I can hear how talented he is on guitar and vocally, but similarly to how I feel these days about CSN, it doesn't really do much for me. Hard to say why; might be that general 70s folksy-vocal harmonies-rock that was so crowded it was hard to stand out after a while. (I tend to like their stuff a little better when Neil Young was involved because he added a touch of grit and edge.)
This is one of those albums about which I don't feel there is anything "wrong" with it, it's just not my thing.
N.W.A.
4/5
I remember when this album was in the spotlight in the late 80s. I was aware of it but had not actively listened to it. It's fantastic. My ears are drawn in by so much, and the layers here are really cool. A lot of R&B and funk sampling here, more textural blending with the vocals than one might expect, and the lyrics are compelling. When I think about the years during which this was recorded and released...wow, that was nearly 35 years ago. Wild how relevant the lyrics still are.
Little Simz
4/5
This is great stuff! I was drawn in from the beginning and stayed there. Strength and impact, and superb dynamics, syncopation, and performance on the vocals. Underlying rhythms and beats and harmonies work well with what she's creating. I need to hear more of her work.
Jeff Beck
2/5
I can't explain why this doesn't click with me, but it doesn't. On paper, I would've thought this would be squarely in my wheelhouse. I love rock guitar, blues guitar, and I know Jeff Beck played with, influenced, and was influenced by some of my favorite musicians from that era. But...I don't know, maybe it suffered from decades of rock guitarists that followed and sound an awful lot like that. And, frankly, as I'm listening to more of the earlier blues and jazz guitarists -- mostly the black Americans who influenced the white Brits and then white Americans in the whole 60s & 70s rock explosion -- the more I'd rather hear those artists.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Springsteen is yet another in the long list of artists I mostly missed when they were huge in the 70s and 80s. I didn't miss him entirely, though, so I'm somewhat familiar with some of these tracks. I had never listened to this album all the way through before, not by a long shot, and I really like it.
It's a bit more raw and gritty rock sounding than I expected. I like the lyrics a lot. I have noted before in my mind that I've liked the lyrics on the handful of Springsteen songs with which I'm familiar. He's an excellent writer. I had worried his voice might annoy me, and sometimes when he's screaming it comes close, but it fits so well with what's going on in the song that it's not too much.
And, dang, this whole band plays fantastically well.
I never saw them perform live in concert and I have a feeling I would've really enjoyed the shows they did in support of this album.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Some real catchy stuff at times in there. Other parts were less engaging -- kind of sounded to me like too many other things -- but overall, this album took me in with some really nice beats, and I do like her voice and the way she uses it.
Gorillaz
2/5
Has some okay moments, but overall it didn't really do much for me. I felt like the singer was just mocking the whole thing, then after listening for a while I read the Wikipedia entry on this album and this group, and I guess that was the point (maybe?). I don't know. Didn't change my experience of the music, though. Some decent hooks and interesting moments, but not enough to make me want to come back to this.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
I remember the band's name because I always thought it was unusual and interesting (reading the Wikipedia entry on the band, turns out it's a mondegreen, which for some reason makes it more fun for me).
I had not listened to any of their songs before, at least none that I remember, so I gave this album a full listen. Although I don't love their music, I do hear it as decent pop music, and I'm not saying that facetiously or ironically. The songs are somewhat catchy, they play well, and their vocal harmonies are strong. I found the songs to be a bit too similar to each other and musically predictable, so it doesn't compel me to want to listen to them again, but I can see why they were big in the 80s. Very much an 80s pop sound.
Common
4/5
Some real good tracks here. Love the nods to a whole lot of legendary sounds and artists, yet he's strong enough to make it his own -- very hard balance to strike, and it's impressive. Love his sense of melody and storytelling, too. I'll give this one more listens. Solid, solid album.
The Boo Radleys
1/5
Some of the tracks were okay, but overall it just didn't grab me in any meaningful way. It was too disjointed and jarring at times for me.
Dire Straits
5/5
Ridiculously easy one for me to review as it's one of my favorites. Still listen to it quite frequently. In the midst of an era of music history, they recorded and released this beauty which should've been a total flop based upon what was popular at the time -- and even based on what was considered unconventional or rebellious at the time -- yet it endures as one of the finest works in the broad rock genre.
All that aside, I just love listening to it. Mark Knopfler's melodic and intricate guitar playing never fails to fill me up, and it's important to acknowledge just how darn excellent the rest of the band is, too.
Genius stuff. Love it.
The Prodigy
3/5
I like that this album doesn't sound like what I've normally heard as dance electronica or whatever the correct category might be called. Has some interesting elements from other genres like rock, metal, rap, and so on. The music is entirely sampled, so it's interesting for me to think about how to relate to the creative aspects of this kind of music. Instead of my usual approach of listening for each instrument and the vocals at times all as one musical expression and at other times layer-by-layer for each element. It's good for me to do this exercise.
Back to the album: well-produced and mixed, and has some catchy moments.
Burning Spear
4/5
I like some reggae but don't really love it. It's nice mood music for that summer laid-back vibe, but I think it might have gotten ruined for me in my early 20s when I heard just way too much of it because so many of my peers would listen to it all the time (mostly college classmates).
I have to remove the negative association I have with it because of that and really listen to the music. And I don't want to lump all reggae together, of course. I'm re-listening to this as its own work.
It's nice. It's good. I really do like the vibe. I have to admit I do feel good when I hear it. Nice groove, catchy melody lines.
Faust
2/5
Although I don't really find this music all that enjoyable -- just a bit too noisy and crashy for me -- it is impressive when I think how long ago they made this album. Not something I want to listen to again, but that's just a matter of personal taste.
Fats Domino
5/5
Absolute bona fide genuine legend, and oft-misused and hyperbolic as "legend" can be, it is an entirely accurate and appropriate word in this case.
Trace nearly any music one enjoys today, or in the past several decades, and the road likely leads to Fats Domino. Take his story and how he explains how music came to and through him, and the fuller picture of so much music starts to come together.
Love this album, love this music, love this artist.
Dang, was he just soooooo damn good.
Screaming Trees
3/5
I didn't hear this band back then. Was vaguely familiar with the name, but that's all I have in the memory banks.
Grunge was so ubiquitous for so many years that the genre itself doesn't do much for me anymore, but this band has melodic style and some rhythmic aspects that make them sound more "poppy" (not a negative term here) and than the grunge bands I remember.
The musicianship is excellent. Quite a few nice guitar riffs and hooks in there, not so easy to include well in this kind of music. Overall, it's nothing I'll come back to but I can see why they were popular.
Roxy Music
3/5
Interesting. I knew the name but not the music. Hearing that they were doing this in '74 is what makes it interesting for me: I hear a whole lot of later acts in this, so this band must have influenced a LOT of late-70's and 80's "glam rock" and punk/art-rock influenced bands. It's very well done, some incredible musicians playing on this record; it just sounds a little dated to my ears mostly due to how many bands that followed their time sounded like or tried to sound like them. Impressive.
Bee Gees
3/5
Well, this sure shows I didn't know squat about the Bee Gees. Like most kids who grew up in the 70s and 80s, I knew these guys entirely based upon their success in the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack. They were one of those bands that when I was a teen who thought himself a cool hard-rockin' dude I would make fun of, but secretly bob my head up and down and tap my foot whenever I heard songs like 'Staying Alive' and I'd without a trace of irony in my voice I'd sing along to 'How Deep Is Your Love' when no one was around.
This review is supposed to be about this album, so back to it I go. It's very new to me as far as Bee Gees music goes, and although it's not to my taste -- it's just too late-60s folksy for me -- I can hear in it how darn good these guys are.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
There are quite a few Simon & Garfunkel songs I truly love, so I'm a fan. I had not listened to this album before so was unfamiliar with most tracks. It's a mix for me. Some grab me, some don't. It occasionally gets a little similar-sounding to itself, you know? I do like that they wrote and produced this is as a concept album. They were talented enough to just keep churning out pop hits forever, so I'm glad they did some exploring.
Queen
4/5
Queen is a whole lot of fun musically, and this album is right there, too. Yes, of course, Freddie Mercury's incredible pipes, histrionics, theatrics, yep, they're there as always, but the rest of the band is so good and worth attention. Brian May is such a dynamic and expressive guitarist, and Roger Taylor on drums and John Deacon on bass are so locked in. Even though I don't love all their songs and can listen to this band only in bursts -- just a bit too much for me when it's more than a few songs -- they belong on this list.
Gang Of Four
4/5
This is new to me and I like it. This project is showing me what a variety of genres and sub-genres were developed or furthered in the '70s. A lot of the sounds in this album preview all sorts of things that showed up in the decades to follow, and I'm sure if I were to study the roots and influences of this band, I'd find earlier incarnations of this danceable semi-punk-rock-pop stuff that's a lot of fun to hear. Dang, they play superbly well and wicked tight. (I know, I write that a lot -- forgive me: as a beginner musician myself, I know how much it takes to get to that skill level; I've got years and years to go, so I admire it when I hear it.)
Good stuff.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Perfection.
Utter, complete, absolute perfection as music, as art, as an experience.
I strongly encourage you to spend time watching Polyphonic's series of brief videos going through this album song by song. The videos are available on Nebula (worth subscribing to) and YouTube. Noah (creator and producer of Polyphonic's videos) has a wonderful gift for adding cultural and societal perspective to music and is definitely worth following.
(No, I have no connection to him or his work; just love his stuff.)
PJ Harvey
3/5
Very cool stuff going on here. Unexpectedly, it brought to mind some of the Beat and Beat-influenced spoken-word (or semi-spoken/semi-sung) works in the 50s and early 60s. And there's also the obvious grit and raw distorted sound they use, kind of indie and punk elements. I think 'Plants And Rags' sounds particularly interesting to me. I'm not skilled enough in music to tell anyone what's going on there, other than broad observations like dissonance, but maybe there's some diminished and tritone stuff in there? Jarring, and no doubt quite intentionally.
Even though the general sound and approach started to feel a little repetitive to me by the end of it, I like this album.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Wow, what talent as a songwriter, singer, recording artist, and performer. I happen to enjoy this style of music, and she absolutely commands it. Fantastic.
The Stone Roses
4/5
I had heard "I Wanna Be Adored" many times and always liked it, yet for some reason, I don't think I listened to much more of their music. I'm glad this album came up in my rotation. This band is really good. Love their sense of groove, which they interweave wonderfully with nice pop hooks. To me, they seem to include a fun sense of pop and rock composition without getting snarky or cynical about it. Snarky and cynical can work in some music, but at times I must confess I kind of roll my eyes a bit (or a lot) when I hear the same themes on that front.
There are some outstanding vocal harmonies here, and the musicians play so well. Everything comes together nicely, production is solid, and it's overall rather enjoyable. "Fool's Gold" is super-fun; such a great track with which to end the album. Nicely done!
The Verve
4/5
I like the sound and style of this album. Some cool textures, good melodies, and they perform very well. There are some real nice breaks in songs, too, during which they go into some interesting directions (e.g., that dreamy-feeling bit in 'The Rolling People'). I hear some genuinely excellent musicianship in this album, too. A few wild guitar moments in there. Nice.
Eels
4/5
Well, this is a nice find. All completely new to me, and this album is very well done. I really like the overall sound and style. The performances and recordings are excellent. Giving it another listen now. Thanks, 1001 Albums project!
Beastie Boys
3/5
Through this project, I've listened to more Beastie Boys in the past few months than in the decades before. This album is better than the others for the most part. I'm hearing more live instruments, which I generally prefer to sampling (although sampling can be great and a lot of fun, too). There's more variety, too, in this one. I like the different styles. Overall, I'm finding there's a limit to the amount of this band's music I can listen to, but this is a good album on its own.
Paul Simon
2/5
I like a lot of Paul Simon's music in all his phases, and I was already familiar with a few tracks from this album. I gave it a listen and found it...okay. I can hear his ridiculous talent for songwriting, singing, and guitar throughout, but stylistically, these songs overall just don't grab me like some of his other work. My hunch is I've heard so much early-70s-folksy music that this kind of blurs into that background. Not at all a bad album; just not one I plan to come back to.
The Who
3/5
Quite a heck of a lot of songs on this one. Great live hard and bluesy rock, very much reflective of what The Who was at the time. I like a good amount of their music, and this is a bit more raw and gritty than the usual Who fare I listen to, but I can imagine what a fun rockin' show they put on back then. Not something I'll come back to as an album, but that's just because of where my listening preferences are these days.
Metallica
3/5
Although I'm not overly familiar with their entire catalog, I do like this band whenever I hear their music. It's more thrashy and frenetic than the music to which I typically listen, but I love the energy and I think James Hetfield's sense of melody is fantastic. I also always admire the bands' musicianship, especially Hetfield's guitar playing (Kirk Hammett is a superbly talented guitarist in his own right; I think the reason my ear bends towards Hetfield is aesthetically I'm not that into shredding). After a while, the constant driving and often staccato style of this album start to blur together for me, and even grates on me a bit, but it's overall quite good.
Stan Getz
3/5
I listen to a lot of jazz (probably more than any other genre these days), so I'm familiar with Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, and love a lot of their work. Their considerable talents are on full display in this album. I just don't happen to enjoy samba and bossa nova all that much. Can't explain why, but that particular corner of jazz is one of the spots in which I spend very little time. But, dang, these folks are incredible musicians. Even in this subgenre that I don't like very much, I can hear beautiful melody lines and superb comping.
The White Stripes
4/5
I seriously must have been living deep underground or waltzing in a parallel universe at the time, because for some reason I completely missed The White Stripes and then Jack White until maybe about 3 years ago. I had heard the riff from Seven Nation Army before, but just thought it was some random hook or something.
This is my first listen to this album. I've also heard some of their other stuff and his other work, too. I think this album is great and, as a beginner guitarist who still sounds like I'm playing with mittens on, I am blown away by what a guitar virtuoso Jack White is. I've watched portions of the documentary 'It Might Get Loud' in which Jack White is one of the three rock guitarists featured in it (the other two are Jimmy Page and The Edge), and I find him to be an interesting thinker, too.
On this album, I enjoy the simple garage-rock sound, the catchy rhythms, and their sense of melody. There's a little bit of an edge to it all but not overdone. Definitely hear some punk influences in there in addition to blues, blues-rock, etc.
(I have a soft spot for "We're Going To Be Friends" for a lot of reasons, including the opening title sequence in 'Napoleon Dynamite'.)
I need to explore more of their work and Jack White's stuff.
Syd Barrett
4/5
Syd Barrett is quite a story, and heartbreaking every time I learn more about it. Reminds me very much of someone I know who died at age 18 from an OD, and it haunts me. I can't hear 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond,' which from the music and lyrics alone already brought me to tears, without thinking of the story behind the song and, more recently, of the crazy diamond I knew personally, too.
I tend to listen to post-Syd Pink Floyd a lot more than Syd-Era Floyd, but no matter what, Syd's influence on Floyd is forever. Syd's solo stuff is usually not to my liking, but I can deeply appreciate the artistry, poetry (although I'm not good at knowing what's absurdist humor in it...quite possibly all of it?), unusual melodies, and creative spark. This album might be my favorite of his solo work. There are some tracks I like here, like 'Terrapin,' and there are quite a few that sound sloppy and I'm not skilled enough to know how much is on purpose for effect and how much is due to his condition. It's all very textured and complicated and often jarring. I have a feeling it's a strong mix of intentional composition and just a straight-up reflection of him.
The The
3/5
I had heard a few of The The's songs during my college years in the late 80s, including a few tracks off this album, and I remember liking them. I hadn't really heard their music since then, and listening to this album all the way through, I can say I still enjoy the music. The production feels a little too stuck in time in some ways -- very mid-to-late 80s styling going on here -- but that's quite typical of most albums; it's truly rare to find one that doesn't seem particularly bound to a time.
The songs are really well put together. They run super-tight, and in this context that's a compliment. I like Matt Johnson's voice, and he's a strong lyricist. It doesn't always work for every songwriter because it can quickly become a bit heavy-handed, but in this instance I like the way he includes his political and societal commentary in his writing. Real nice sense of melody - definitely catches my ear and draws me in.
By the end, Matt Johnson's voice and the overall sound of the album had started grow a little tiresome to my ears, but it's a good album.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Some good stuff on this one. Interesting, unexpected. Felt kind of like a movie soundtrack, and I mean that in a good way. His voice kind of wore on me a bit after a handful of tracks -- not sure why; maybe because it kind of felt at times like a Leonard Cohen impression? the style of some of the songs added to that feel -- but it's well-written and very well performed.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
New to me. Because I missed this band when they debuted and beyond (had heard the name, but don't recall hearing any songs), I have a feeling their sound would come across to me as more original back then than it does now, but no doubt there is some really good driving rock here. They play very well and lock into a groove that many similarly-styled bands often miss. Put another way, their composition and musicianship are slightly more disciplined in the right way. Still edgy, still driving, but not sloppy. I don't know if I'll seek out more of their music or come back to this album for more listens, but overall I liked it.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Certainly has that mid-to-late-80s indie rock sound I heard all through high school and especially college. My hunch is that's why I was not very interested. Nothing wrong with it, just sounded too similar to what was playing constantly for a few years too loudly on big speakers in people's dorm rooms and apartments.
Ray Price
4/5
This is a lot of fun. Would make a great movie soundtrack, too, which is my bias reflecting how this style of music is sometimes used in movies I've liked. I so rarely listen consciously to country & western like this, and it's nice to hear that swing beat. Could waltz to a lot of this. He croons perfectly for this style. Nice album.
Alice In Chains
2/5
I've heard this band's name for a long time but honestly have no idea if I'd ever heard anything by them. It's a familiar sound, of course, due to the few years leading up to this album's release and the several years that followed with all sorts of bands being lumped in -- fairly or unfairly -- that mushy category of "grunge." So, I put in some effort to remove all those connotations and just let myself listen to the album as its own work.
Overall it's not really my style, but I can appreciate how tightly they play. A little too much yelling for my liking, and I'm sure it's just my own biases getting in the way, but they sound to me like some guys trying just a wee bit too hard to be dark and brooding. I know that's not open-minded of me -- I don't know anyone in this band, so for all I know this is a super-accurate reflection of who they are as people and artists -- but I can't shake that feeling, sorry, folks.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Some real nice stuff here. I often like folk music, and I also happen to like fingerstyle guitar, so this album has some solid tracks on it because Bert Jansch can really play well. So expressive and flowing. This genre was massive in the 60s, so it's a little hard at times not to hear it as part of that large catalog produced in the 60s folk revival, and this album has a lot of elements common to that movement, but to my ear, he's good enough to stand out a bit from that crowded field.
Randy Newman
3/5
He's a great songwriter and funny. I enjoyed this.
Elton John
4/5
Outstanding.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
The Who
2/5
I mean, I get the joke and all, and I do like The Who, but, nah, for the most part this album doesn't do much for me.
Van Morrison
3/5
I know this album quite well from my college years. I still like a lot of the tracks, but overall I've drifted away from Van Morrison in my personal listening preferences. I do appreciate his work, though. Heck of a songwriter.
Queen
4/5
I do like Queen. They are a lot of fun, Freddie is an unmistakable voice and character, and the vocal harmonies are great, the musicianship (Brian May is amazing!) is fantastic. All that being said, sometimes they are a bit too much for me -- when I'm in the right mood for them, it rocks and it's a great time. When I'm not, it can be a bit in my face, but I totally get that's part of the charm, so I don't knock them for that. Also, this album has songs I grew up hearing so many times, like 'You're My Best Friend' and of course the timelessly iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody', so, heck yes, it belongs on this list.
Kate Bush
3/5
Definitely not your average 80's pop star. I always liked her voice, and now that I listen to music differently than I did decades ago (something we all go through, I'm sure), I hear her music with more appreciation than I did when I was an 80s teen. What a wonderful sense of melody. Musically, it's the mid-80s so there is no shortage of programmed drums and synths, which is fine, but after listening all the way through I was ready not to hear programmed drums for a while. Overall, though, good stuff here. (Fun to see Donald Sutherland in her video for 'Cloudbusting', too!)
The Temptations
3/5
Some really superb vocals and vocal harmonies here. Yes, that's what they are known for, but it's justified. Reading the Wiki entry I learned this is the album when they departed from their original sound and started embracing psychedelic music. Good for them for their creative exploration. Not sure I'll come back to this one, but I appreciate what they were doing.
2/5
This is surprisingly "punk-y" for '69. Definitely heavy-duty psychedelic hard-driving chaotic rock going on here. It's a little too much for me but I bet if I were a teen when this came out I would've enjoyed it and wanted to see them perform live. I can imagine this record was played in quite a few suburban homes in the late 60s and early 70s by teens who wanted to annoy their parents.
(Side Note: at times, I swear I hear what sounds like a much messier version of Neil Young's '(Keep On) Rockin' In The Free World', which is a coincidental kind of fun.)
The Doors
3/5
For a brief moment in my life, I was pretty into these guys and listened to them quite a bit, including this album. Can't explain why, but fairly quickly I just didn't like it. It's one of those "on paper, it should be a perfect match" situations. I admire each of the musicians very much -- truly excellent at their craft -- and Jim Morrison's voice is understandably admired. I listened to this album today really trying to find in it what once interested me, but it's just kind of 'meh' for me. I did find that I still enjoy "Peace Frog" a lot.
The Cars
5/5
Wore out my vinyl copy of this when I was young. What an album!
Guns N' Roses
2/5
Add this to the list of massive bands I somehow missed when they were huge. I was in college when this album came out, yet I don't remember listening to any of their music until maybe 5 years later, and even that didn't happen often. So, weirdly, this is my first full listen-through of this album. It's...fine, I guess. Definitely has that big 80s stadium-rock sound, which even back in the 80s I mostly avoided, or at least selectively avoided. A few of the songs on this album got a lot of airplay back then on radio and MTV, so I recognized a handful of big hits. It's not bad, it just doesn't interest me much at all.
2Pac
4/5
First full listen-through of this album for me. Really interesting stuff here. Some very cool instrumentation -- I'm not skilled enough to know what was created digitally and what parts were played by people on musical instruments (I see a ton of "composer" credits under the Personnel section of the Wikipedia entry, with only one non-vocal instrument, a guitar, so it's reasonable to assume most everything on the album is digital). I like the sound a lot, and there are some great grooves. I also am struck by 2Pac's sense of melody. Works so well here. My next task is to re-listen whilst reading along with the lyrics. I'd like to get to know that element as well.
Impressive album.
Q-Tip
4/5
Very cool! Quite a mix of styles, including a real mix of artists, blended superbly. Found myself bobbing my head up and down and moving in my seat as I listened. Done right, I love when jazz and R&B or jazz and hip-hop get together, and this album does it right. And I had already become a fan of jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel (I recommend checking out his work), so it was wicked cool to see he contributed to this album. I'll definitely listen to this album again and I'll have to explore more of Q-Tip's work. This is an outstanding and interesting album.
Pulp
1/5
I gave it a try, listened to the album, but overall never felt that connected with it or engaged. It's not at all bad in any way, and they are excellent musicians, but as a matter of personal taste, I don't like the overall sound or style of this album.
Cat Stevens
5/5
Behold, the power of association! I won't share the story here as no one would care except me, but this album has one of the most acutely direct associations with a time in my life and a person (sweet and melancholy memories wrapped in nostalgia) that it is more challenging for me to just hear the album on its own. That's perfectly fine, of course, as art is that which we experience as art, music is that which we experience as music, and we can never separate our subjectivity from the experience.
This is hardly the only album or song for which this kind of memory flood rushes in -- everyone has a long list, I know. And there are times when a song, artist, or album has a strong association but the music doesn't hit us the same way.
This album stands up well for me. I love the songwriting, and it's all performed superbly well. I feel like I'm listening to some real poetry and storytelling, and the music accompanying the lyrics is compelling to me.
I'm a bit overdone with 'Wild World,' but that's just because it's been everywhere for so long.
I particularly love 'Where Do The Children Play?', 'Miles From Nowhere', and 'On The Road To Find Out'.
Wilco
3/5
I like this album. Had not heard anything from it before -- at least that I can recall -- and I have a feeling had I heard it when it came out, I would've been pretty into it. I don't know how this band was in concert back then, but my hunch is I would have very much enjoyed watching and listening to them play live. In an unexpected way, I kind of like it more because no particular song blows me away, but instead it's just a good, solid, steady album of interesting rock (not sure what to call it -- is this "indie rock" or something like that?). Good stuff.
Rod Stewart
2/5
I do appreciate how talented Rod Stewart is but I don't really love his music.
Ramones
3/5
Fun album. Definitely groundbreaking when one puts it in the time and context of its release. Love the raw simplicity that also has interesting layers and genuine musicianship. I can easily imagine how energetic this all must have been in concert, especially given that there really wasn't too much like it out there at the time. They are sneakily poppy, too. Real hooks, catchy melodies. Clever songwriting and performances. Not at all hard to hear how much of their sound appears in so many bands to follow.
The Doors
2/5
Some good tracks -- I like 'Riders On The Storm' -- but mostly this is only so-so for me because on a personal aesthetic level I just don't like The Doors very much.
Red Snapper
3/5
All completely new to me: the band, this album, their music. I really like this album. Truly solid composition and performance. I dig that I can hear the drum kit. It would've been fine with a drum machine, but there's that extra depth and warmth to a human-played acoustic drum kit. And, wow, that bass.
Aerosmith
4/5
It's been a long time since I really listened to this band, and I'm very glad I gave this album a complete and thorough listen. I was already familiar with most of these songs, but hearing each track without distraction I am reminded what a great rock band Aerosmith is, and this album is fantastic. Such rockin' energy and creativity and each musician is superb. 70s rock, classic rock, blues rock, and all that, sure, it's a super-crowded space and it was almost all I heard for years growing up in the 70s and 80s -- plus, these days I listen to a much wider variety of music -- but this album still stands out. Very impressive.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Familiar as I might have been with The Beach Boys, their legacy and influence, and their hits, I hadn't a clue that they went in this direction during their history. Interesting to hear them get into important issues like environmental protection that still resonate today, and musically this is a bit of a departure from the hits I knew from growing up. I admire The Beach Boys for their music and vocal harmonies even though I don't really listen to them in any form and haven't for a long time. That's just a personal preference. This is good stuff.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
I'm glad this project introduced me to this album. I'm pretty sure the only Jeff Buckley song I'd ever heard before is his cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. This album is really, really strong. He's an excellent songwriter, his vocal control, expression, and range are all spectacular, and he's a superb guitarist. I love the variety of styles and influences he weaves together.
I will definitely listen to this album again.
I read the Wikipedia entry on this album, and then the one on Jeff Buckley. I had remembered he died tragically at quite a young age. Reading the story of his death was heartbreaking.
Tricky
4/5
Tricky takes a different approach to rap (at least in my listening experience with that genre), and I really like his style. There's a really cool layering of dissonance, which adds texture and an edge to the music, and smoothness in how it all comes together. Not at all easy to pull off, and it's impressive.
I'm glad this project introduced me to this album. It's genuinely interesting work and I'll come back to it for more listens.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
I can see why this is on the list, thinking of how towering a figure he is in American culture. While the arrangements and recordings are exquisite, as a matter of personal taste I can only take so much of Frank Sinatra at once. I don't seek out his music; that being said, I understand why his voice is considered so good and I can appreciate the work.
Otis Redding
4/5
Wow. I mean, really, one of those special albums from which one just feels so much as it's played. I knew a lot more of the tracks than I would've guessed and was glad to discover the ones new to me. Fantastic.
Spiritualized
3/5
Some very interesting sounds and tracks on this album. At times my mind kind of settled into this being lumped in with things like ambient and lofi music that's fairly pervasive these days given the relative ease of producing such music in the present day, but when I remember that this was recorded and released in the early 90s, it does seem a bit more remarkable.
A few of the tracks really induced feelings of floating and dreaminess -- no, I'm not high; it's early in the morning and I'm sober as can be at my work desk -- and other tracks get almost cacophonic and chaotic in moments.
Overall, I enjoyed this one.
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
I'm glad I gave this one a chance and listened to it all the way through. I try to listen to each of these openly as I attempt to scrub away preconceptions and past experiences with music, but it's often difficult to do so. In this case, as soon as I heard the vocals, I recoiled a little because I generally don't like listening to screamed and shrieked lyrics. I appreciate much about punk and post-punk and the countless offshoots and subgenres, but most of the time I don't very much enjoy a lot of that music on a consistent basis.
While the screaming did get to me at times, the musicianship on this album is outstanding. They compose, perform, and record superbly well.
This project is helping me in so many ways. Play on!
Adele
4/5
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
I generally like CSN better with Neil Young in it. There are some really good songs on this album. I re-listened to "Carry On" just to hear the lead guitar (Stills, I think). Sometimes their pitch-perfect harmonies are almost too clean and sweet, which is a funny thing to say, but it's how I hear them. Very talented songwriters and strong performers. I don't listen to them anymore; listened to them a lot during my college years. I enjoyed the trip back in time while I listened to this again. It feels a little dated to me now and I don't expect I'll seek their music out again any time soon, but it's a good album.
The Young Rascals
2/5
Very much a product of and reflection of the times. It's good to hear these kinds of albums as samples of their generation and culture. Not music I'll personally return to, but I understand its place as an artifact.
The Crusaders
3/5
Nice stuff! Man, there is some fantastic music going on here. Don't let anyone dismiss this as "elevator music" or "smooth jazz" - it's intricate, interesting, and each musician is worthy of following through each song. Very impressive, and that groove. Sweet.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Wow, was this all the way back in 1982? The way it was still so prevalent in the late 80s, I would've guessed later. Yes, of course, this album was and is absolutely massive -- best selling album of all time, the accompanying videos impact on MTV (again, only 1982; still early days of music videos) -- and it was everywhere. I was still mostly into rock, hard rock, etc., all through the 80s, so I didn't actively pay attention to this album at the time, but, as noted, nearly impossible to avoid.
Listening to the full album today, I hear quite a few tracks I genuinely enjoy even after all this time. The "big three" -- Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean (dang, that bassline in Billie Jean, so infectious!) -- are to me really catchy and fun, with some real musicianship underneath. I saw the documentary 'This Is It' -- was supposed to be a documentary of Michael Jackson's Summer 2009 concerts, then was recut to deal with his demise -- and seeing in that film how musically talented Michael really was. I don't consider myself a devoted fan or anything, but when his songs worked, they really worked.
AC/DC
4/5
I'm a big fan of this band and this album. Such fun rock music, to put it succinctly and ineloquently. Crank it up and rock it out! Dang, I love the Young brothers.
Speaking of the Young brothers, interesting trivia that this album's appearance in my rotation made me remember to share here: in Dire Straits' 'Sultans Of Swing', the “Guitar George” and “Harry” who are mentioned in the lyrics are George Young and Harry Vanda, who were guitarists in the band The Easybeats. George Young is Malcolm and Angus Young's older brother, and Harry and George helped get AC/DC recorded.
Simply Red
2/5
I remember a few of their songs. While back then, as I do know, I find their sound overall to be just too syrupy for me, I can appreciate Mick Hucknall's voice. I listened to this album and I was bored for the most part. Although it was played a ton back in the 80s, I was surprised to find I did enjoy "Holding Back The Years". I like the groove and it showcases Mick's voice nicely. When I hear this song, my ear wants a grittier, darker version, and I think that applies to this whole album for me. I'll bet there are some great covers out there.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Both the band and this album are completely new to me. I like their sound. Strong writing and real nice performances. I like that they cover a bit of ground across these tracks -- doesn't overdo one single style. I'm glad I got to hear this one.
The Kinks
2/5
I get their importance, I appreciate how creative and prolific they were, and I like a few of their songs, but The Kinks don't do a whole lot for me, especially this album. Just not my cup of tea.
Dr. Octagon
4/5
Holy Schneikies, this is a FANTASTIC album. I was drawn in and mesmerized the whole way through. Again, love this whole 1001 Albums thing -- must remember to hug my dear friend who introduced it to me (good excuse to finally see him after far too long!) -- because here it goes again, sharing with me an artist and an album I otherwise would almost certainly never had heard.
I'm coming back to this album. I lost myself so much in the music I didn't always pay attention to the lyrics, and I'd like to focus on those.
Orbital
4/5
I seldom listen to electronic music so I am woefully unfamiliar with this genre and the artists who practice in it. Nice to get more intros into the form through this project. This is a really good album.
I've moved beyond old prejudices I held before; the ones that had me declare "I prefer music made with REAL instruments" in some misguided torch-bearing for 'authentic' music or some such made-up nonsense standard. I am very grateful to be far more open to music made by, well, anything. I'll experience it how I experience it, or at least I do my best to program my mind to receive and perceive all art through that process.
This album has some excellent music in it and I enjoyed the experience of listening to it. At times, it was a little too frenetic for me, but I understand this band was into the rave thing and that kind of music is probably right for that scene. (I'll bet that sentence comes across as unhip and square as I am in real life ;-)
I am very early in learning music, mostly as a guitarist but also a little voice and piano as well as music theory through my various studies. Honestly, this album has piqued my interest in this genre, so I won't be surprised if I add it my course of studies.
Eminem
2/5
Well,...I tried. I really did. I had heard maybe two songs of his before, but I don't recall hearing any from this album. I listened to this and although at times I did like some of the dark humor, I was mostly bored. Even if he intends it ironically or for some other purpose, I tend to have a negative response to anyone who has to put effort into declaring that they don't care what other people think. I kind of figure if one truly doesn't care they don't shout it out because they aren't even thinking about it. But that's just one teeny aspect of all this. Maybe sometime I'll appreciate this album, but it just didn't interest me all that much.
Tim Buckley
2/5
I can appreciate his voice, no doubt, but it's actually a little too operatic for my tastes. Musically and lyrically, this album is very much a reflection of the time in which it was created. A lot of music is like that, I know; on a personal preference level, this style of music just doesn't reach me so much.
Marianne Faithfull
4/5
This is surprisingly good. I knew next to nothing about her. My only memory, and it vividly came to mind as soon as I read her name here, was when I was maybe 13 or so and she was the musical guest on SNL. I had never seen or heard of her before. The reason why the memory is so vivid is that I remember so clearly how striking her appearance was, and, sadly, not in a good way. I had never seen a human so thin and frail. She looked severely ill.
The performance is referenced in the Wikipedia entry about this album, and the entry speaks to her years of substance addiction and it makes sense now why my 13-year-old self was so struck by how she seemed. She is still alive, though, and hopefully, she's okay. I never like to see anyone suffer.
In this album, I hear a talent that can cut across an interesting variety of music. Synth-dance-y at times, dark edgy bluesy and rock-sounding, and a bit of punk and new wave sound. Really cool stuff.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I had heard of them, but don't remember hearing their music. This album was released when I was in college, so I probably did hear some tracks given the band's college-radio-friendly sound (that's not meant as an insult; just reminds me of the music I'd hear back then on college radio stations). Not only am I glad I got to hear them, but it's also cool to learn things like this band is primarily a pair of brothers from Scotland.
I like Jim Reid's guitar playing, especially when he plays clean - sounds like a Tele to me, and I love clean Tele sounds (not so much chicken-picking, but arpeggios and melody lines), but honestly, I'm way too much a beginner to really know; I'm just going with what's familiar to me. I mostly love that he doesn't overdo it on his guitar. The restraint is admirable and totally enhances the atmosphere of the music. Truly nails it.
They write very well. Nice sense of melody, good balance of light and dark, and smart use of harmony. Not so broody and moody that they sound like tons of other broody and moody 80s and 90s bands, but enough dark texture to draw my ear's interest. Some of the songs get downright experimental, and if the whole album were like those tracks I doubt I'd like it so much, but I hear it as part of the overall feel and it's fine with me.
I really like this album. So glad I was introduced to it!
The Modern Lovers
3/5
What an interesting band and album. They kind of time travel in that they can sound like a surf-rock proto-punk 60s band or a more 90s grunge-y type, and it's all quite fun. The lead vocalist's voice was at times engaging and at times annoying, but I kind of have a feeling that was what he was going for. Snappy musicianship and steady performances here.
All in all, good fun.
Dwight Yoakam
4/5
I don't listen to a lot of country as a matter of personal preference, but this is good stuff. I like Dwight Yoakam's voice and guitar playing, and there's a bit more texture in the songs on this album than I usually hear in country.
Not likely something I'll return to because the style is just not what I enjoy very much, but I did like giving this one a listen.
Gillian Welch
5/5
I bought this album when it was first released and I still find it amazing. Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings as a songwriting, singing, and guitar-playing duo are far, far too overlooked. Each one on their own is phenomenal; together, I really just love what they do on so many levels.
My first real exposure to them as a duo was when I saw the concert film, 'Down From The Mountain', which was strung together from performances at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, USA, by musicians who contributed to the amazing soundtrack from 'O, Brother, Where Art Thou?'
Ms. Welch and Mr. Rawlings did a live performance of 'I Want To Sing That Rock And Roll' that went straight and deep into my heart and has never left me. It's stunning.
And now I get to re-listen to the whole darn album thanks to this project. Even one listen to the opening track, 'Revelator', sets me on the journey on another plane.
Thank you.
The Yardbirds
2/5
There's no doubt that Jeff Beck is a monster on guitar, and this album is squarely in the mix when we think about how the blues were kickstarted and rebooted by British rockers in the 60s. Solid blues-infused rock with some classic mid-60s stylings all around.
Overall, I'm not wild about the album just because some of those 60s pop and rock music elements, including the psychedelia, aren't my favorite aesthetically. But I can appreciate its place.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
The title track is on one of my favorite playlists I made and to which I listen with some frequency. What incredible texture and flow.
And the rest of the album is a work of poetic beauty and intrigue. I love it.
Tina Turner
4/5
Tina. Amazing.
I remember when this album was released, and hearing the stories of the abuse she suffered for so many years. Whenever I hear 'What's Love Got To Do With It', I get a little misty-eyed even after all these years. Separating the personal story from it, it's a darn beautiful song lyrically and musically. And, of course, her voice. That voice.
Even in the tracks that aren't normally to my taste -- the kind of mid-80s dance types that I don't actively dislike; I'm just not that into -- her voice carries it all.
I'm so glad to know she achieved so much success with this album and for decades after. I'm gushing, I know. I'm a fan, and I'm inspired. Shine on, Beautiful Star!
Talking Heads
3/5
I like some of these songs, and 'Once In A Lifetime' is iconic, but overall I found the album a bit too frenetic and disjointed for my personal tastes. I would probably like it better in the right mood at the right moment; perhaps my response to this album today is affected by the even-more-crazed-than-usual workday.
Metallica
4/5
I own this album and really enjoy it. I think James Hetfield's musicianship is fantastic. I especially like the slower tempo songs. They highlight his melodic and harmonic sensibilities superbly. There's a lot more to their music than might meet most ears.
Excellent album.
Oasis
2/5
Meh
Dire Straits
4/5
Amazing.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Such a push-pull for me and this band. I listened to this album a lot when it was first released, but quite a bit of their work kind of annoys me and I can never figure out why. After a short while, I just stopped listening to them.
Yes
4/5
Another one I had in my LP collection in my early teens as I grew up and into what I reluctantly call "progressive rock" (I cannot bring myself to call it by the abbreviated name). I say 'reluctantly' because although I can get my head around the label, it messes up my perception of how to describe a vast ocean of rock. If a band we don't normally associate with the genre cuts some more complicated tracks, or whatever characteristic one might ascribe to the genre, are they now in the genre? Anyway, I digress. Back to this album.
I listened to it quite frequently in my teens but hadn't listened to it in a long, long time. Still holds up well. Steve Howe on guitar, Chris Squire on bass, Tony Kaye on keys (later to be replaced by Rick Wakeman, which worked out very well), and Bill Bruford on drums...that's one insanely amazing line-up. One can hear their varied backgrounds -- quite a bit of classical training and quite serious jazz chops -- and I'm glad they came together for this band.
Jon Anderson's voice is incredible and he can do things very few rock singers could do. Personally, it gets a little high-pitched for me, but that's just a matter of my own taste. No slight meant to him.
Impressive album. Glad I got to hear it again.
Kate Bush
3/5
I am definitely familiar with Kate Bush but really have not listened to very many of her songs or albums. Although it sounds to me very "80s" in a lot of ways, it's quite distinct from most of the music that was popular at the time. I like the way she's taking these songs in so many directions. I'm not a huge fan of too much reliance on synths, so I guess that's why it sounds so 80s to me, but musically and melodically, it is interesting stuff.
It's probably just from hearing the music on the video games my kids play and anime stuff they like, but at times a couple of the songs sound a lot like that music.
She has a heck of voice, too, and I love the way she uses it. Overall, I like this album. It isn't something I'm likely to seek out again, but I can appreciate it.
Björk
5/5
My goodness, Bjork is an absolutely fascinating artist in every way. I really hadn't actively listened to much of her work before this project, and I'm glad it's introduced me to a few of her albums. This album might be my favorite of hers thus far. Her sense of melody and harmony, her writing and composition, and her personal style of vocal delivery all add up to such an intriguing layering and texturing of music. I don't even like hearing such synth-heavy music on a regular basis, but she makes it work so well. By the end of the album, things felt a little jarred to me but I think that's due to her use of unusual rhythms, especially in her melodic delivery.
Machito
3/5
Dang, this album is tight! All so locked in, and there are some real complicated polyrhythms happening. It's all a bit too frenetic for my ears at the moment -- maybe after another mug of coffee? -- but I can see why this album made the list. The Wikipedia entry on Machito lists quite a few innovations this band created, and that's super cool. Jazz in the 50s. What a time!
Don McLean
4/5
When the album cover popped up here, I wondered whether I'd still dig the title track after all these decades of hearing the song. Indeed, I do. I still find it catchy, wistful, relevant, fun, and it is associated with such a long arc of my life.
I was about 4 years old when the song was first released and even as far back as then I remember it being on the radio, and one day I was playing with my siblings and cousins in our garage. I got into a barrel that had some discarded wood and sawdust. I breathed some in and started coughing, and someone asked me if I was okay. I remember saying, "This'll be the day that I die."
(Funny how memory works: I don't remember much about yesterday, but I remember the smell and feeling of the sawdust, my saying that line, and everyone finding it hilarious.)
Back to the album. Yes, love the title track to this day.
Vincent is still sweet and sad as a listen, but, really, I could take or leave the rest of the album. They're all okay, but they don't do all that much for me.
Like the album cover image, though, this is a thumbs-up for me due to the main song.
Beatles
5/5
Quite a time warp. This album was recorded in mid-1963 and released in November of the same year. The band had not yet visited the U.S., the album hit the stores and radio in the same month JFK was assassinated, and the band members were still so very young. It's very difficult for me to extract the history, culture, and context of the band and the bigger picture from the album, and I don't really want to. It's still all before I was born, but it was all such a part of my early youth that it feels quite familiar.
Listening to the album, which I haven't heard in so many years but for a few songs here and there, I still find their songwriting talent to be remarkable. Love the performances on the album, too. I hear such great influences on their music -- 50s pop, rockabilly, early rock 'n roll, a teensy bit of jazz swing, hints of very early surf rock, doo-wop, blues, and so on -- yet even as far back as this very early album they still sound very much like The Beatles.
Overall, I really enjoy the album. It's fun, it's not overcomplicated, catchy, and I'm glad to have listened to it again.
Joy Division
3/5
First of all, that album cover. It was on quite a few of my classmates' dorm room walls during college, even though the album was several years old by then, and despite its ubiquity (at least for a few years), I still love it visually. You can read about how it came about in the Wikipedia article.
Musically, I hadn't remembered any of the songs or, quite frankly, even a vague sense of how the album might sound, so I honestly have no idea if I'd listened to it before. I used to think it had been released in the late 80s when I was in college, but now I know it was nearly a decade old, so maybe that's why I didn't hear it much. Not sure.
I gave the album a listen and it has some good tracks. I like the post-punk styling, melodies, and rhythms. Feels quite familiar to me in that respect. Talented composers and performers -- some juicy bass lines, real nice guitar and drum work in there -- so it's overall enjoyable. I am not likely to run back to this one for a re-listen anytime soon, but it's a fine album.
Barry Adamson
3/5
That was interesting. All new to me -- artist, album, songs, etc. -- so I had no idea what the style or genre might be. Some superb beats and rhythms going on here, engaging harmonies and melodies, quite a mix of instruments, styles, and samplings...all added up to an album I enjoyed hearing for the first time.
Some of the tracks at times get a bit chaotic and over-stimulating for my ear, but that's my own personal sensitivity and also I have a feeling it's on purpose. Same with the ones that are meant to invoke anxiety. Overall, though, some great grooves and catchy lines. Nicely done.
Brian Eno
5/5
I know that these days, so-called 'ambient music' is a huge genre, so even though I do like it sometimes, I thought this album might suffer from being one of the countless albums in this area. I listened to it twice this morning as I worked. It's beautiful, and when I read about how it was pretty much the first album in the genre, it's all the more impressive.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
If the only track on this album had been 'Scarborough Fair/Canticle', it would still be worthy of this list. One of those rare songs that no matter how often I hear it, it never gets old. Still haunting and beautiful. 'Homeward Bound' still moves me too.
The rest of the tracks showcase how ridiculously talented these two are as songwriters, singers, (and a guitar player in Paul's case), and performers.
Great stuff.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Stevie is amazing in so many ways, and there are some great tracks -- iconic classics -- on this album. Much as I recognize his ridiculous musical talents, overall his music never quite clicked with me. I don't mind when it's on, but I've never sought it out. Just a matter of personal taste, nothing more.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Very nice to hear something quite different from the music to which I normally listen. It's super cool to pay attention to how this style creates melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. From my very limited understanding of traditional and classical Indian music, it is comprised of a system of tuning and scales that is very different from the 12-tone equal temperament system to which my "Western" ear is accustomed. I'd love to learn more about that. Really draws me in because it's so unlike the music I listen to and study.
This album is lovely.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Isaac Hayes
3/5
I'd heard of but still have not seen the film, and the only song from this album with which I was vaguely familiar is the theme song. There are some really solid tracks on this album; I'm drawn particularly to the funk/R&B grooves. Some of the tracks sound a bit like, well, what they needed to be for what this is: a soundtrack for an early 70s movie.
Overall, good stuff. I love that it was super-popular in its time. Very cool.
PJ Harvey
4/5
I really like her sense of melody and she's a terrific songwriter. Some really nice guitar playing by her on this album, too. Overall, I dig the sound and style of this album, even though it's a little jarring in spots but I have a feeling that's how she intended me to receive it. Very interesting album.
Mylo
3/5
Again, hats off to this project for introducing me to music I'd otherwise never hear. This one is quite a departure from most of the music I've listened to, and I really enjoyed it. I don't know much about this genre and how the production process works to make it, but the end result is engaging and catchy. Some really great beats throughout. Fun stuff.
Lou Reed
3/5
Oooo, I like this one. Dark and intriguing to me. I'll come back to it to listen better to the lyrics, but musically I found it rather engaging.
Judas Priest
2/5
I heard a couple of their hits in my youth, but never really paid much attention to them. This album is...okay, I guess. I was mostly bored listening to it. It's quite reminiscent of other bands I do like, such as AC/DC, and, frankly, it sounded a little Spinal Tap-ish, too, but, I don't know, it just doesn't grab me nearly as much as AC/DC did and still does. It's not bad, per se, I'm just not interested.
Yes
4/5
I owned and listened to this album obsessively in my early teens. I didn't realize it until much, much later -- decades later -- but I see now the early sprouts of my passion for and interest in music with varied textures and complexities. No matter; I enjoyed it thoroughly and was blown away then as I am now with the musicianship and creativity evident in this lineup. Ridiculous.
I don't always love each track on their albums, including this one, but I can still appreciate what they are doing, even when they go places that just don't click with me or catch my interest the same way their other pieces do. Not sure how to put it, but maybe best I can put into words is they can be "a bit much" for me at times. Much as I usually shrink away from generalizations, I do find that's my consistent experience with so-called "progressive rock" -- some of the most amazing music I've ever heard is often categorized as such, and also sometimes the bands who specialize in that style can go over the top for me, although like all experiences with art, that is merely my own subjective experience with it. So on we go.
This album holds up well. Some incredible work here.
And, dang, I always loved Roger Dean's album covers he designed for them.
Johnny Cash
5/5
I think this is one of those rare moments. I must be honest, sacrilegious as I know this is, but much as I admire and respect Johnny Cash for so many reasons, I never really cared to listen to him. It didn't bother me; I just wasn't interested.
Well, with this album, forget all that. I feel like this is one of those 'a-ha!' moments when something inside me switched on and now, silly as this might sound, I "get it". I know. Could I be any later to the party?
Nothing I can do about that, my friends. Here I am.
Brilliant.
So fun! I had not known of this band; always thought 'Stay With Me', the only song I had heard before from this album, was a song Rod Stewart did on his own. I didn't even know who was in the band when I clicked 'play' to start it up.
Side Note: as the first track opened, I immediately thought of The Black Crowes' 'Jealous Again'. I like The Black Crowes and I like that song, and I'm not at all suggesting they copied that track. Nearly every rock song can be connected to so many that came before it, and those all can be connected to old blues songs that came before them, so I don't get too hung up on "originality" in that context. (For what it's worth, I find originality in music for me flows more from sound, style, melody, how they interpret and apply all those things, etc.)
I'm not a huge Rod Stewart fan -- don't dislike him, just never been all that interested -- but this is a good album. Ronnie Lane's voice reminds me a little of Velvet Underground's sound. Ronnie Wood is a fantastic blues-rock guitarist and I can really hear it here. Hearing Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones in this band is great. Ah, the things I learn from this project!
Deep Purple
3/5
I know a few of their songs from hearing them at different times in my life. I liked them when I was a teen but didn't really listen to them beyond that. This live album was a good one for me to hear because I could listen to how incredible they are at improvising over their hard rock tunes. They play incredibly well. I don't necessarily love all the songs, and stylistically they probably aren't a band I'd come back to very often, but I definitely appreciate and admire what they can do as musicians.
John Prine
3/5
If the only song on this album were 'Angel From Montgomery' it would still be worthy of inclusion in this project. The rest of the tracks showcase his incredible songwriting talent. Due to his performance style and the era in which it was recorded, it sounds a little bland to my ears but I'm sure that's mostly due to the countless performers and acts who sound a lot like this. It also suffers through my ears because of my slightly negative perception of twangy country-western style music (although, as with any genre, there is plenty of music in that realm that I do like). Despite that challenge, I still enjoyed listening to it and definitely appreciate it.
Laura Nyro
3/5
All new to me: the artist, the album, and all songs. What a voice! Solid songwriting, too, and great performances. Stylistically, not something I think I'll come back to -- just preference -- but I can appreciate the depth and range of her talent. Impressive.
Crowded House
2/5
I tried. It's...okay, I guess. Just didn't interest me.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
The Human League
3/5
The release year is important here, at least it is to me. The sound and style of this album sound dated to my ear now, and as someone who was a teen in the 80s, this kind of music is very familiar because it was quite common back then. But in 1981, it wasn't. That's what I mean by this album's release year's importance. Makes me understand how groundbreaking and influential this album really was.
I don't particularly love the album overall, but that's because the higher frequencies that my ear hears in synth-based music kind of grates on me. No fault of the music or anything else; just how I experience it. Because of that, I don't listen to synth music.
'Don't You Want Me' is still a lot fun, though. I remember liking it back then and I still do.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
I like a lot of The Smashing Pumpkins' music and I'm always impressed by Billy Corgan's songwriting, composition, and performance skills. Incredible musicianship and a severely underrated guitarist in my view (I think that's for two main reasons: (1) he's a singer, the frontman, and he's a multi-instrumentalist; and (2) his personality, or at least how it's shown to us via media). This was only their second studio album as a band, yet it shows complexity and a signature style. I don't love all the tracks on this album but it does contain some real gems. Really good stuff overall.
Blondie
4/5
I enjoyed this album more than I expected I would. I'd been familiar with the hits from this album and liked them, but I was never interested enough to give this or any of their albums a full listen all the way through. It's a really solid album. Made me realize (or re-realize?) just how darn good Debbie Harry's voice is. Wow.
Oh, and Robert Fripp's guitar work is excellent on "Fade Away And Radiate". Glad this showed up. Great listen.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
All new to me. I liked it for the most part. Nice little edge to what they do yet it's still nice pop (not in the negative sense of the word).
Eagles
2/5
The Eagles are one of those bands that by all rights I really should love -- truly talented musicians, songwriters, performers, and incredible vocal harmonies, rock/country-rock stuff, oftentime fun and upbeat tempos and also ballad-style stuff -- yet...I just don't. Not sure what's missing from them for me. Sure, I like grit and edge in rock quite a bit, but there are plenty of bands without a whole lot of grit and edge that I adore. I think it might have something to do with why I also admire but don't always love CSN. It's almost like the vocal harmonies are too perfect, I don't know. That's kind of a ridiculous thing for me to say because the Eagles and CSN recorded way, way before autotune and other tech things could perfect anyone's singing. But that's the paradox: I can absolutely admire their talents and abilities, but just don't really care much for the music. C'est la vie.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
Ella Fitzgerald infusing her magic into dozens of songs from the Great American Songbook? Yes, please. I don't want to write anything more about her lest I diminish her greatness even in the slightest way. Love you, Lady Ella.
Sarah Vaughan
5/5
Wow...yesterday Ella Fitzgerald appears in my rotation and today I get Sarah Vaughan? I don't know what I did to deserve such royal treatment, but I'll take it. Ms. Vaughan's voice makes me cry in the best possible way.
PS - I'm cracking up as she sings 'How High The Moon' and she has to improv because she doesn't know the words, and she's singing about how she doesn't know the words. Awesome.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Always a fascinating artist, at least to my ear, in his various incarnations. I like this album a lot and I really love that he went with more electric instruments and a more rock sound for this one. This was recorded before I was born, so needless to say I have no experience with the folk scene in the early 60s into which Dylan exploded, the tension with that scene when he went electric, and so on. But as cultural history, I happen to be interested in it.
Some real great songs here. What a freaking incredible writer, lyrically and musically. His lyrics on this album are wonderful on their own as poetry. I like the way he performs his songs, too.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I enjoy a lot of Neil Young's music and always appreciate his range of musical styles and genres. I am not sure I listened to this album when it was released. As I listened through it, I was not familiar with these songs so I think I had not heard these tracks. I really, really like this album. To state the obvious, the style of this album -- kind of hard rock/garage rock -- has been countless times before and after this album but there is still the unmistakable signature voice to it that is uniquely Neil Young's, and I don't just mean the vocals. This album enjoys the imprimatur of Neil, and I am pleased.
I like that it's just Neil and the three members of Crazy Horse. I don't hear overdubs, multi-tracks, etc., and the Wikipedia entry on the album explains why it sounds exactly like it is, which is a four-member rock band recording "live in studio". From the Wikipedia entry:
The Ragged Glory sessions took place in April 1990 at Young's Broken Arrow Ranch. The band played a set of songs twice a day for a couple of weeks (never repeating the same songs in a set), then went back, listened and chose the best takes. According to Young, this approach "took 'analysis' out of the game during the sessions, allowing the Horse to not think".
I love that.
Beach House
3/5
I always love it when I refresh this website to see what today's album is and it's something completely new to me -- the artist(s), the songs, the album, and sometimes even the genre -- and I especially love it when it's contemporary like this one is.
And it's quite good. These songs are compositionally and harmonically interesting to my ear, and they are performed and recorded superbly well. Such great style and texture here, and I love that no one voice or instrument is pushing its way to the front. Everything blends and bends together so beautifully.
I will listen to this one again and also explore their other albums.
Robert Wyatt
2/5
The Last Shadow Puppets
2/5
Has some interesting tracks and moments, but overall didn't grab me too much.
The Smiths
2/5
I remember how big this group was in my teens and college years, and how Morrissey got a lot of airplay too. The music is fine -- I like when the rockabilly influences show up especially -- and the musicians play superbly well, but I'm afraid I don't think I like Morrissey's singing voice. But I'm not sure, honestly. I didn't dislike it back then -- I think I had a higher tolerance for it because it was quite different from most rock/pop singers of the decade -- but now I kind of find it a bit grating. At the same time, it's still intriguing and his lyrics are interesting.
Totally makes sense to have this album listed here. I am not sure I'll listen to it again any time soon, though.
Ananda Shankar
4/5
Well...whoa! Had nary a clue what to expect, who this is, what they would do, and...well, it is definitely interesting. As a Westerner who grew up on, and still mostly listens to, music made by Western musicians, I am always glad to be introduced to music outside my normal listening bubble. This album does, of course, have quite a lot of familiarly Western elements -- covers of Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Fire (And that one is so fun! Like a hyper-psychedelic video game soundtrack) are on it -- but the elements and instruments they weave in from Indian traditions really work here.
The percussion work in Metamorphosis is fantastic.
Sometimes, in other settings, when I've heard Western musicians add Indian instruments to their music, it just stands out too differently for my ear in contrast to the musical context of the particular song, and at least for me I experience it as an afterthought or add on.
Here, Ananda Shankar and the other musicians do a masterful job of not letting one style overpower the other. I'll admit it's opened my ear to this music in a very welcome way. I like the album. Very cool.
Well done, 1001 Albums project!
Prince
5/5
I already love Prince even though I'm only partially familiar with his large catalog of work. Most times when I hear another Prince track, even if I don't necessarily love that particular song in that particular moment, I'm consistently blown away by his ridiculous array of multi-faceted talents. If all he did was to have a music career based solely on his guitar work, it would've still been memorable. Add the rest of everything he could do, and then I realize how super-rare he was.
This is a great album. Cuts across and weaves in quite a few styles and genres. It's so well written, superbly mixed and produced, incredibly performed, and, wow, just a whole lot of fun and interest throughout.
I had not sat through a whole listen of the album before. Glad I did. And I'll do it again.
Shuggie Otis
4/5
All (artist, album, all tracks) new to me, as is often the case with this wonderful project, and, dang, there's some good stuff here. Love the groove on most of the tracks, real smooth funky feel, some excellent guitar performances, and sweet harmonies, but not saccharine. Thankfully, there are plenty of interesting things going on melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically, so it kept my ears engaged nicely.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
Another one that's all new to me, and it's great. Richly layered, interesting compositions, and superbly performed and recorded. I read the Wikipedia entry and learned there were quite a few guest stars in here -- artists I've long loved and admired -- and that's super-cool, too, but the work here really does stand strong on its own. Nicely done.
Madonna
3/5
I remember a bunch of these tracks from when this album was released and the accompanying videos on MTV, and even though I considered myself far too cool in the late 80s for popular music, I thought back then the songs were catchy and enjoyable. I haven't listened to these songs in a mighty long time, so giving this album a full listen-through -- something I really hadn't done yet as my exposure to this material came from public airplay -- I hear how strong a songwriter and dynamite a performer she is.
This is a very good album. I don't know if I'll ever really seek it to listen to intentionally, but I do appreciate the good work here.
The Fall
3/5
All new to me -- band, members, album, tracks -- so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. There are some interesting tracks on this, usually catching my ear because of rough textures and the like. Can't really understand what the lead vocalist is saying, so one day maybe I'll read the lyrics. I have a feeling there might be some gems in there.
Coldplay
3/5
This is a band with which I am definitely familiar but who I missed entirely when they first broke into the airplay scene. I had heard a couple of these tracks, I think, but never really gave them a listen, and most songs on this album are entirely new to me. I didn't really know what to expect as the album started playing but looking back, I think I had a bias against them for some reason (don't know why -- maybe someone mentioned to me at some point that they didn't like them or something like that, who knows).
I just let it play through, and I like it more than I thought I would (based on that bias of unknown origin I just mentioned). I don't hear it as all that bold or original, yet there is enough there in the music to keep my interest. If it weren't, I probably would dismiss this album entirely as just too bland and saccharine. It does get a little repetitious, but it's not too bad.
I hear some good songwriting and solid performances. Nothing earth-shattering, but good music doesn't have to be. I don't think I'll seek this out all that actively, but it's decent.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I had heard some of these tracks before -- I remember liking "100%" when it was released -- but had not heard the whole album. It's as noisy, chaotic, and at times incredibly grating as I thought it would be, and none of those terms are meant in their negative senses. This interested me even though I don't usually listen to this style of music. Good stuff.
5/5
In the Pantheon.
LCD Soundsystem
2/5
I don't know for certain, but this might be the most recent release I've listened to via this project. It's good to see more current music here, too, much as I adore music from all throughout the last century and before.
This album is okay, but doesn't do much for me. It's a bit repetitious and I just wasn't all that pulled in by it. Some tracks engaged me a bit, and I can hear some interesting things throughout. I don't know much at all about this genre and what influence this band or album had on others so I'm sure I'm missing the point, which is not surprising given my ignorance about a whole lot of musical things.
Sebadoh
2/5
Sepultura
2/5
I don't listen to a lot of thrash or metal (and related styles), but I definitely can appreciate how this kind of music is full of some amazing musicians. To make it work well at a high level, the precision is serious, serious work, and this band shows it in spades. It's as harsh in some ways as I know they mean it to be, yet I surprised myself by enjoying quite a few of the tracks.
At times, the vocals make me kind of giggle a bit only because they sing like someone mocking the genre; of course, that's how parody works, I know.
To my untrained ear -- as mentioned, I really don't know much about or listen to this type of music -- the tracks all started sounding the same to me, but I'm sure a more experienced listener would be able to point out for me what I'm missing.
Excellent musicans, no doubt.
4/5
Oh, my, this is great! Soooooo silky smooth without being schmaltzy. Really cool beats. Love the vocals.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Now that I finally "get" Johnny Cash, I really enjoyed this. I'm a fan. Love the way he connects with the audience there, too. I can tell he saw them for who they were and are: people. That is all, and that is all.
4/5
This is a band that I've long meant to get to know better, so I'm glad this album showed up today. This band scares the sh*t out of me. I mean that in a great way. Not scared as in I'm frightened of any danger; it's more akin to intimidation. And it's why I'm drawn to them. Their music, at least the few songs I've heard over the past few years when I first stumbled across them, can be complicated, layered, and tense. I love that.
This is the first full album of theirs to which I've ever listened in its entirety. They can be a bit more straightforward at times than I had experienced previously, and I like the range it shows and the accessibility it provides.
Masterful musicians, writers, and arrangers. Performances are incredible. I shall spend more time with them, I know.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
I do remember this album from way back when. I might have had it, not sure.
I like some of the tracks still. I don't love this album overall -- kind of grates on me at times -- but, dang, they can play. Perry Farrell can be fun and his voice is definitely his own, but I don't always love it. Dave Navarro is a KILLER guitarist, but, again, just on a pure personal subjective aesthetic level, his playing doesn't always click with me. Anyway, you get the idea. I do remember this album standing out in the late 80s as a bit original, but that could also be due to my not listening to enough "alternative" rock at the time.
TV On The Radio
4/5
I had to read the album title and band name twice because they are both completely new to me, so my mind reversed them (sounds cool either way, for whatever that's worth). Glad this project introduced me to them because I enjoy their music. Their compositional style really sits nicely with my listening ears, and they are outstanding performers, vocally and instrumentally. I like their sound. I'll have to hear more of their stuff.
Gotan Project
1/5
It's harmless stuff, but not very interesting to me. I'm not a big accordion fan, too, so that didn't help the cause.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
I know I say this a lot, but I say it a lot because it's accurate: Nine Inch Nails is another in the long list of bands who were big at a time when it seems logical I would have had some exposure to, if not a ton of exposure to, yet somehow I missed completely at the time. Yes, I can be extraordinarily oblivious to the world around me at times.
I had definitely heard of them and I had quite a few peers whose musical tastes I often share, at least somewhat, who loved this band. So, all that in mind, I'm very glad I finally listened to an album of theirs.
Many of the tracks are superb musically. So incredibly tight! I'm usually not a big fan of screamed lyrics, much as that can be sonically interesting at times, and -- now comes the part where I sound like the Grumpy Old Man I am absolutely becoming in some ways -- I cannot understand a gosh-darn word these folks are saying/singing. I have heard that they are lyrically strong, so maybe I'll go read what the heck it was they were shrieking into their microphones. 'Hurt' is, of course, an iconic and beautiful song and, yes, those words I can hear.
That being said, compositionally and performance-wise, I'm very impressed. Some serious skills there and it's superb music.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
I liked this more than I would've guessed, as can so often happen with music that's new to me from genres or locations or eras to which I haven't had much exposure. Some intriguing melodies, great harmonies, etc. And, forgive me, at times it reminded me of some of the music I heard during one of the greatest television series of all time, 'Battlestar Galactica (Reimagined/2004 Series)'. And for me, that's a wicked cool association.
OutKast
3/5
Wow, that is a heck of a lot of music. Two hours, 39 tracks...okay, took a while. What a variety of sounds and styles. Impressive. I tend to like the tracks from the The Love Below a little better. Overall, though, there is a tremendous amount of range in this double album and a lot of it is quite good.
Deerhunter
3/5
All new to me, and I like what I heard. Interesting compositions, kept my ear engaged, and solid performances. I'll give this one more listening time and check out their other work.
Blur
3/5
This band reminds me a tiny bit of The Jam and other British bands of that ilk. It's an interesting take on pop and I like it.
John Coltrane
5/5
Epic.
Iconic.
Brilliant.
Crucial.
Ray Charles
3/5
Well, now, this is certainly an unexpected offering from the great Ray Charles. He's such a talented performer. Really nice to listen to this one.
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
I've always loved her voice, and she's an incredible performer. I remember when this album was around, but I don't think I ever owned it. Very good tracks on this one. And, Yes, I watched the infamous photo incident on SNL the night it happened, and I remember being so moved by it. Even then, having been raised Catholic, I knew she was right, and of course not so many years after that, the truth was exposed around the world. I remember, too, knowing that night she would be on the receiving end of some awful responses, and unsurprisingly the backlash was fierce. Even though it was inevitable, it broke my heart. It still does. I could write for days on all this, but back to the album: I love it. She's so talented and her vocal abilities are versatile, strong, and very much her own.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
This album deserves significant recognition and accolades for the title track alone. It also has some other good tracks on it. I don't love all the songs, but they all fit the album's feel and what they seem to be going for.
They are ridiculously talented as writers, composers, and performers. Just incredible.
Radiohead
4/5
I still haven't listened to enough of Radiohead's work, but I'm so glad this project keeps introducing me to their music. Fascinating band and I really like this album. Very interesting blend of electronica and rock. To me, at least, this music activates my brain in ways that I enjoy. Engaging, complex, and superbly performed.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
3/5
I remember this album from when some of its tracks (most notably, Perfect Skin) were getting a fair amount of airplay on the radio stations to which I was listening at the time. I liked their music when I heard it, and I really don't think I've listened to them since the 80s, so it's great to hear it come up in the rotation here. I hadn't listened to the full album before, and it's better to my ears than I would've guessed. I had thought of them as being in the "alternative" rock genre, which it probably was back then, I don't really know, but it's more of a blend of bluesy-folk-pop with a sprinkling of slightly dark edge from what I suppose people might call "art rock" or something like that. Good stuff.
Fela Kuti
4/5
This is a great album! All new to me and some really sweet music happening here, no doubt. Caught my ear from the start and kept it going all the way through. Complex harmonies, funk-jazz-groove style, and ear-catching melodies, all with some tuly intricate beats. Really dug it.
Brian Wilson
1/5
I listened with an open mind and even tried to like it, but, sorry folks, just bored me.
George Michael
4/5
I remember this one very well from when it was popular in the late 80s. It's darn good stuff. Entertaining, fun, catchy pop. Great voice, outstanding performer, and contagious joy when he performed in the studio or live. Later in life, when I saw him in interviews and in guest appearances on sitcoms and other shows, I grew to appreciate how smart, funny, and cool he was.
Really enjoy this album.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Bias upfront: one of my all-time favorite and one of my most-listened-to bands in the rock genre. I know they were all seasoned, professional musicians by the time they formed this band, but it's still remarkable to me as a rock group's debut album. I love this little intro bit from the Wikipedia article:
"[The album] contains a mix of original material worked out in the first rehearsals, and remakes and rearrangements of contemporary blues and folk songs. The sessions took place before the group had secured a recording contract and totalled 36 hours; they were paid for directly by Jimmy Page, the group's founder, leader and guitarist, and Led Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant and cost £1,782 (equivalent to £31,203 in 2021) to complete. They were produced by Page, who as a musician was joined by band members Robert Plant (lead vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboards), and John Bonham (drums)."
36 hours, and pretty much paid for and orchestrated entirely by Page. For those who know the story of Boston's debut album, you know it's a lot like the story of Boston's debut album, although that one was even more bootstrapped and cobbled together by Tom Scholz.
Superb, iconic, timeless album to my humble ears. Rock on, my fellow travellers!
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
Little Richard
3/5
Some fun music that absolutely played a major role in the evolution of rock music.
Frank Sinatra
1/5
I suppose every now and then if I'm in the right mood and frame of mind for this album, or just about anything performed by Frank Sinatra, I could appreciate it; however, I'm so sorry to say to the many people I've met who just adore Frank Sinatra...he's not someone I care to listen to all that much.
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
Fantastic to see/hear an album on this list that was created and released so recently! It's great stuff. I was drawn in right away, nice hooks, outstanding voice, and solid songwriting. I'll come back to this one and listen to more of her music.
2/5
Meh.
The Adverts
3/5
All new to me -- band, this album, their music -- and I really like it. All the same, there's a familiarity to their music when I listened to this album, which I attribute to other bands emulating in the years this band was active and later years.
This album brings some excellent intense high energy without being so chaotic and thrashy that they lose me. I sometimes turn away from some punk (and related genres) bands because it can grate on me too much, or sometimes feel like they are just making things as crazy as possible for effect (if that makes sense). Because this album to my ears sounds more -- not sure the right word here, maybe "intentional"? -- and melodic, plus very well arranged and performed, I like it better than a lot of other punk. There's real talent here and I can hear it come through the recording. Good stuff.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Fascinating that he decided to play all the instruments himself for this record. I remember quite a few of these songs from radio airplay in my youth. They are catchy and very reflective of early 70s pop. He's an excellent songwriter and I like his performances. I say that out of appreciation of the craft and work, not as much from a personal aesthetic preference perspective. I don't find myself listening to and enjoying this style of music so much these days, but I understand it's influence.
Nirvana
5/5
I remember this all so clearly. I watched it in full the first time MTV aired it, and saw it in bits and pieces many times since then. I bought the album when it was released and listened to it quite often. In this performance, I hear hints and shadows from where I believe many others also feel Kurt Cobain might've gone musically and artistically had he lived and gotten clean. I honestly believe he is on the same generationally-rare songwriting plane as, say, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and others of that ilk.
I can't tell if this is my mind's shaping of the memory or if it truly happened this way, but my memory of the experience of watching this for the first time is that I was mesmerized by it all, fascinated at times, totally engaged with it and that I also couldn't shake a feeling of sadness. No, I'm not at all claiming I had a sense of Kurt Cobain's impending death or anything like that. It was just how I experienced the entire thing.
Tito Puente
4/5
Wow, superb album! I don't listen to a lot of music in this style -- might be from hearing it too often in movies, television, etc., for such a long time -- but this is great. So many layers and textures, and the entire orchestra comes together perfectly.
Really nice stuff here.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Fantastic! A contemporary album from a Mali-based group with original-sounding guitar-centric bluesy music with its own flavor and style? Hecks, YES. This album is outstanding. I'll definitely listen to it again and I'm off to go explore their other music. Beautiful guitar work, fascinating groove, and I want to know more.
Germs
3/5
I'd not heard of this band nor heard any of their work. The sound is quite a nice representation of the late 70s punk style but with more clarity, which I like. Even back then, I found a lot of studio-recorded punk music to overdo the distortion to the point at which a lot of the music was just too muddy for me. I read the Wikipedia article and it's cool that the album was produced by Joan Jett and that Pat Smear is the guitarist here.
I have always appreciated punk and similar styles as a cultural phenomenon even though for the most part punk, thrash, speed metal, and so on, are usually a little too harsh and grating for my own personal auditory aesthetic. I'd attribute it to my being middle-aged, but it applied in my teen years and beyond, although back then my interest in hard-driving loud music was definitely keener than it is now.
Back to this album: I like it. More rhythmically tight and musically skilled than I would expect from a punk album. I read some of the lyrics, too, as I listened, and they are often intelligent and witty. Good stuff here.
JAY Z
2/5
Although I have very limited knowledge of and haven't spent much time listening to rap, this project has introduced a handful of rap and hip-hop albums to me thus far, and I'm sure I'll hear dozens more to come. I very much appreciate that!
This album is more soulful and R&B-sounding than some other rap albums I've heard. My interest in rap has grown through this project so I'm glad I got to listen to this album. I love poetry, and rap to me is a fascinating blend of spoken-word poetry, stream-of-consciousness (even when scripted, it can sound like that to me), and singing. The human voice is a complicated and versatile instrument.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Outstanding album. Superb compositions played and performed extraordinarily well.
Culture Club
4/5
This brings back some great memories. The album and its songs were popular at a time when I thought myself a macho teenage guy, into hard rock, too cool for pop, and really stupidly ignorant about sexuality and gender. Despite my own self-manufactured idiocy, I loved these songs then and love them now, and found myself truly enjoying Boy George's bravery and entertaining fun. Looking back, of course, I wish I had been stronger about standing up for those amongst me who are "different" from what I had been conditioned to support. What's done is done and I can only move forward, as I have been for decades, and I must continue to learn and grow to recognize and push through any remaining prejudices, biases, and societal expectations.
Back to the music. I had forgotten that this was an early 80s album, not later in the decade as my memory had categorized it, which makes it even more remarkable to me because I think there's a good argument that Culture Club, especially Boy George, really paved the way for many to follow. These are well-written, well-performed, and genuinely engaging songs. Boy's voice is outstanding. I remember especially loving "That's The Way" with his voice and Helen Terry's just soaring. I used to listen to that one in my headphones over and over.
Love him and love his work.
Happy Mondays
2/5
Skilled musicians and performers, no doubt, but overall for me this album suffers from the same element that tends to turn me off from psychedelic music from any era. I still can't describe quite so accurately, but it's rooted in that sense I get from music like this that the band is trying a bit too hard to be trippy. It's kind of like that sense of discomfort I get when I watch a comedian who is just so evidently, at least to me, really trying hard to be funny.
Anyway, you get the idea. Not something I'll come back to, I don't think.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Heard the title track all throughout my tween and teen years because everyone cranked it on the last day of school, but I honestly don't recall hearing any of the other songs from this album before today's listen. I am pleasantly surprised to hear a little more sophistication in this music than I expected. I'll admit I had a preconceived notion that this album would be very similar to a lot of hard rock albums of the late 60s and 70s, but songs like 'Blue Turk' and the last third of 'My Stars', for example, have more layers and complexity than the typical 70s rock band. The use of horns works on these tracks. Even though some of the songs are a little more generic-sounding to me and therefore less interesting, overall there is some nice stuff there.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
I remember this band, and I had heard a few of these tracks before. It was a good reminder for me that this album was recorded and released as long ago as it was. I didn't hear much punk or anything close to it until the mid- and late-80s, so my memory sometimes conflates my first hearing something with the time of an album's release, so I had always associated this band with late 80s. I actually like knowing those things because, for me at least, understanding the social, political, and cultural context in which an album was created and released adds a lot to the experience. Thinking of American culture and politics in the late 70s, and especially San Francisco's -- where Jello Biafra ran for mayor in '79 -- and the assassination of Harvey Milk, etc., the energy and frenetic style of this album feels spot on.
This group performs so well. Weird, wild, and fun (as well as funny at times), but doesn't go so far off the rails that it all denigrates to my ears into abstract cacophony, which can happen sometimes for me when listening to punk/thrash and similar styles.
Good stuff here.
4/5
Such an interesting songwriter, performer, and person. Great album.
PS -- never occurred to me until just now as I listened to this album that David Bowie and John Lennon can sound a lot alike when they sing -- not sure why I never made that connection (and I'm guessing it's one of those observations that pretty much everybody makes and I'm just super-late to the party...not the first time! ;-)
New Order
3/5
Although this album is a bit more synth-heavy and techno than most of the music I enjoyed in the 80s, I do remember liking their work very much and listening to it fairly often. They add a bit more texture and drive to their songs than music I typically associate with techno and synthesizer-focused, and I like a lot of their composition and performance. It caught be by surprise back then because I usually had a strong negative response to anything I might have characterized as "dance music" (silly, I know -- so many things I closed off in my vain attempts to be cool).
Listening to this album again for the first time in a few decades, I find it holds up nicely and although I doubt I'll make a regular habit of listening to this album or other New Order music, I think it's fun.
Slipknot
2/5
Another in that long list of bands throughout might life I missed completely when they were getting airplay and attention. I definitely know the band's name, but that's about it. I had no idea what kind of music they played, etc.
Texturally, very interesting, and, wow, this is some real frenetic stuff. I am just a beginner musician so imagining what it's like to play this music on my guitar or to try singing like the vocalist (how does he not lose his voice after the first line?!?), all makes my head spin.
While it's hectic and cacophonic, I'm surprised that I don't dislike the music, which tends to happen with thrashy metal. Maybe it's because they are a little more percussive than some other thrash music I've heard, not sure. It's not something I could listen to straight through with regularity but my ears are more interested in this album than I would've thought.
Arcade Fire
3/5
Coincidence: just the other day, someone mentioned this band to me as one they like so I had made a mental note to give them a listen...and promptly forgot until this album came up in the rotation, so thank you!
I like this album. Some nicely catchy songs in here with enough of a different sound that it catches my interest. I particularly like what I hear as a rockabilly-esque 'Antichrist Television Blues'. It's not such a standout that I plan to come back to it, but it's decent stuff.
Ute Lemper
4/5
Wow, what a voice! Each tune, although I guess very broadly in the "pop" category, is also sort of operatic/Broadway show-tune-y, and her talent is there to pull it off. Sounds like a very interesting person, too.
Sigur Rós
3/5
Beautiful work. Nicely orchestrated and even though I don't understand a word of Icelandic, the language sounds so wonderful, including in this context. I enjoyed the whole album very much.
(Side Note: if you like Snowy White's 'Midnight Blue', give Flugufrelsarinn a listen. Just the opening slow organ chord progression. So cool!)
Beatles
5/5
One of those rare albums that when I try to write or say anything about it, I feel a little silly. It's Abbey Road. It's a truly rare and remarkable work of art.
Japan
2/5
Oh, the power of retrospection and perspective. Had I been introduced to this album a long time ago, I would've quickly dismissed it as "electronic music" like the closed-minded fool I was. Now, I hear so much more in it than I would've found back then. This is a very talented band in so many ways, and this is a good album with some solid tracks on it. If I heard this music randomly somewhere with no information about it, I would not have guessed this is a 70s band.
After several of the songs in a row, I definitely got a little tired of the same New Wave/electronic/synth-pop sound to the music, but a lot of albums in any genre tend to feel that way because these days I almost always listen to streaming services on random or shuffle, so other than this project, I don't typically listen to albums or a single artist.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
This album is great. I remember it well from when it came out and got popular. I had not heard much rap/hip hop at that age (early/mid teen years) and I liked how different it was from most music with which I was familiar. Love how 'Rock Box' showed the world that rock and rap have a lot more in common than most had thought. Pretty clear the door it opened for so much that followed.
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I remember the band's name but that's really about it. Not sure if I'd ever heard any of their songs from this or any of their albums. I'm glad this project introduced them to me. This is a very good album. I like their sound and style, and they compose and perform solidly. Nice mix of instruments and all layered so well.
I'll have to check out their other albums.
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
I remember owning this album back in the late 80s because I liked "Wishing Well" but I remember, too, that even though I won't go as far to say I disliked the rest of the album, I never got that into it. In the long stretch of time since then, other than seeking out and listening to "Wishing Well" once every decade or so and maybe once or twice wondering about whatever happened to him and whether he released any more music after this album, I had mostly forgotten about him. It was good to hear this album again and to follow the prompt to read up on this album and the person behind it.
As I listened to this album all the way through for what must be the first time in over 30 years, my reaction is similar. After a while, most of it gets a little muddled to my ear as similar-sounding 80s pop/R&B, and talented as he is, I would've loved to have heard him find more of his own signature style. I was engaged at times but more often than not it didn't have enough going on musically and stylistically to really grab me. Some of the tracks don't come across as standouts. There is nothing wrong with them per se, but if you had played for me the ones I didn't recall, the best guess I would've come up with is maybe the decade in which it was recorded but not the artist's name.
I had not remembered, either, that he not only wrote all the songs except the Jackie Wilson cover and sings them all, but he plays several instruments too. Very impressive.
I might go seek out the music he's released since then. Curious about it. Maybe he developed more of his own voice and style as he grew.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
Definitely an interesting sound and style here. Elizabeth Fraser's voice is wonderfully haunting. Some of the tracks (e.g., Pandora) have a real nice sense of melody and countermelody that caught my attention. This band composes and performs quite well. At times, the drum machine sounded a little harsh to my ear, but that's a personal preference. I get it as an artistic choice to punctuate the songs.
Overall, I liked this album.
Garbage
4/5
Thank you, 1001 Albums project, for introducing me to this band, and for the life of me I have nary a clue why up until this moment I missed this album, this band, and their music for the past 25+ years. Oh, well, I'm here now, and I love it. This album is fantastic.
I haven't heard many bands that can take elements of punk and its related styles and infuse it with a bit of pop and techno and rock, etc., yet make it work really, really well.
I'll have to go explore their albums that followed. But first, another listen-through on this one. So good!
The Divine Comedy
1/5
I can hear how good he is but I'm just not too into crooning or whatever the right term is for this style of music.
Traffic
3/5
Massive Attack
3/5
Quite a few styles and influences are represented here, and it's all quite good.
James Taylor
5/5
Yes. Everything.
Black Sabbath
3/5
I am always surprised by how unfamiliar I am with Black Sabbath's music. They were still super-popular in my tween, early teen, and teen years, even though I don't think they were putting out new stuff by the time my peers were into them -- I think Ozzy was already off and running with solo career by then -- and given how into rock and hard rock I was at the time, it would've made sense for me to deep into Sabbath. Oh, well, for whatever reason, I missed them for the most part.
Nice to hear them now. This is some great music and as with the other Sabbath albums served up by this project, it makes total sense to me how often I hear this band referenced as a major influence on countless bands that followed.
Buffalo Springfield
2/5
I knew a few of these songs already. I liked this style of music more during my college years than I do now, but I can still hear the quality.
Gary Numan
3/5
This reminds me how far back electronic-based pop goes. I hadn't heard most of these tracks -- honestly, probably only Cars because I remember the video from MTV's very early days -- and I am surprised by how contemporary it sounds in many ways. Sure, the moogs sound very much from their time -- my goodness, the sheer number of film and tv scores for years around this period that used those instruments -- but harmonically and melodically, it all sounds fresher than I would've guessed. He's a really interesting songwriter and composer, and the performances are great. The sound gets a bit redundant after a while, but that's true of a lot of albums. This is a good one.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Some really good tracks on this one. They are an interesting band and a lot of fun. I can hear the styles and artists than influenced them and also hear how they influenced others with their own style.
SZA
4/5
I hadn't heard (or don't recall hearing) anything by this artist before, and I am so glad this project introduced me to her and her work. Such an interesting personal style that combines a variety of sounds and influences. There are enough layers and textures in most of the tracks, along with some nicely composed harmonies and melodies, that my ear stayed engaged for quite a lot of this album. Really good stuff here and I'll definitely listen to it again.
Beck
2/5
Okay, first of all, Nerd Confession: when I was a kid, I was crazy about dogs (birds, too, but not relevant for this moment) and I had tons of dog books and subscribed to the American Kennel Club's magazine, so as soon as I saw the album cover, I shouted out "I remember that photo!" (Very unusual breed, the Komondor, and memorable photo.) Sure enough, it appeared in an issue of the AKC's magazine when I was 10, right in the middle of my dog-obsession years. I am also quite sure this same photo was in one of the dog books I got for Christmas that year or the next (and I'm also pretty sure it was this super-thick AKC encyclopedia of all dog breeds in their registry).
Now, the album. I had heard a few of Beck's songs in the past and liked them well enough, so I was glad to give one of his albums a full listen, something I'd never done before. It's okay. I got a little bored at times, but I appreciate that he was trying to make something a bit different. He's definitely a very skilled musician and performer, and at times I like his writing and composition. I think just on the subjective personal taste front, this album is not quite my thing. Some good stuff on it, though.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
This is an album that got a lot of play during my college years, including by me, so I'm very familiar with it. I faded away from the album for a long time but I've heard some of the songs from it from time to time over the years. Although it might sound a little dated to my ears, probably due to a mix of the era in which it was recorded and the time in my life when it was prominent, I still enjoy it for the most part and was glad to hear it again.
On the plus side, the abilities of the three title band members are so strong. Great musicians, amazing vocalists, and superb songwriters and performers. As with other bands I've heard with incredible vocal harmonies, at times it's almost "too perfect" much as I know that's kind of a silly thing to think.
I had forgotten this was their debut album as CSN. I do get how much they and a few other contemporary artists at the time were influential in broadening 60s rock away from the predominance of guitar-heavy blues-rock bands.
Overall, good album for me to revisit. A little dated, a bit overplayed in my own personal history, but no doubt to my ears a superb album. Glad it came up today.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Overall, I liked it. My mind wandered at times when things felt a bit repetitious, but I did enjoy the coordination of melody and rhythm. His voice is distinct and musical -- he seems to have a real knack for delivering his lyrics and raps in a solidly melodic fashion, and that's pretty darn cool. I sing but I've not tried rapping or hip-hop or any similar style, but I have a feeling it's really difficult to do what he's doing so well.
(In case there's any question, I am most squarely NOT in the camp that claims rap, hip-hop, or any similar genre or style isn't music -- good gods, I really hate that ignorant view -- and I experience it all very much as real music in every sense of the word)
Radiohead
4/5
Radiohead is a band I definitely want to learn more about and listen to more of their music, so I'm glad this came up in the rotation. This is a very solid album. Many of the tracks have interesting melodic and harmonic ideas, and, wow, they perform so well. Some incredible vocal work at times; almost operatic but doesn't veer into schmaltz or over-singing. Really skilled musicians and songwriters.
Depeche Mode
3/5
I remember really liking "Personal Jesus" when it was getting a good amount of airplay, and hearing another track or two from this record, but I'm had not heard most of the rest of the album. Although it's more in the electronica/synth-pop style that I am not always drawn to, I like it. They have such a strong sense of melody, their vocal performances are compelling, and the rhythms and harmonies are very well-constructed. At first listen, one might miss how layered and dark (not in a negative sense, but in a rich sense) these songs are.
The Byrds
2/5
I've heard some of these tracks and others by The Byrds before. I can hear from this the influence they'd have on acts that followed, especially as the members fanned out into the rock and pop world of the 70s. It's fine to listen to; doesn't really compel me to re-listen though, on a personal preference level.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I happen to like this band already, so I'd heard a few of these tracks before. Something about them and their sound I can't quite put my finger on -- my listening ear seems to always pay attention when their music is playing. Kind of cool when that happens. I think it might have something to do with their simple, unpolished (not rough like overly garage sounding, just not super-slick), and subdued sound. I like their writing, and the performances are always so good to my ear. Maybe I like that no one is really sounding like a rock star or pop star, I don't know. I also find the cultural context in which the band formed and recorded to be interesting.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Impressive how Dave Grohl did everything on this album. That's incredible. Really good music and glad I finally got to listen to this because I completely missed the Foo Fighters kind of forever.
Kendrick Lamar
2/5
Some nice grooves and real smooth rapping here, but the content was a bit much for me at times. Totally get we're decades into the shock-language era, whether it's AM radio hosts, artists in all media, public discourse, etc., so it's not like the language and content were too much for my ears on a sensitivity level; it's really a matter a personal preference.
Parliament
4/5
Well, wow. Some incredible funktastic funky fun funk here. I'm coming back to this one.
Badly Drawn Boy
4/5
I remember liking the name Badly Drawn Boy when I first heard it, but I had not listened to the music and I am glad I now have. Really good album here. Excellent songwriting and all performed so very well. I can hear various influences in his work but they don't totally take over and dominate the sound. He makes it his own. I'll have to check out his other albums too. Very cool.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
Living Colour
5/5
A few weeks ago (as I write this in August 2022), my wife and I saw Nate Smith and his band play at the Blue Note in NYC (they were incredible; see Nate Smith if you can), and Vernon Reid, the guitarist from Living Colour, hopped on stage with them for the last 15-20 minutes or so and was absolutely incredible. And I can hear it here. And I loved this album when it came out and I love it now. These guys are fantastic.
Al Green
5/5
Oh, yes, the good Reverend Green...hecks YES! Absolutely love this album. If all it had on it was the title track, it would still be great. I've been getting more into 60s/70s soul, funk, and R&B, and that world of music is proving to be a genuine treasure trove of beautiful musical gems...like this album.
Iggy Pop
4/5
The story behind the album is interesting -- I know not everyone is into it, but I happen to love learning about the background, context, and process through which art is created -- and it's cool to hear the Bowie influences on his sound here. I think this is a really good album. Memorable riffs and melodies, some superb performances by the musicians, and I can hear how it informed some music that followed. Glad I was introduced to this.
Wilco
4/5
First, still love this album cover. Super cool art as it is, and reminds me of the brief but wonderful time I lived in Chicago.
The album itself is excellent. I don't know a lot of Wilco's work, so I'm glad I got to listen to this one. Really solid music, original composition, interesting harmonic and melodic choices, some fun twists, and very well performed. I'd only heard a few songs by them before listening to this album and now I can say I'm a fan of the band.
Le Tigre
4/5
Well, that was interesting. I really liked it. I'll have to hear more of their stuff.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Most remarkable to me is how this band made all this electronic music in the 70s. Maybe it was more common than I thought, but when I think of 70s music -- a decade with some of my favorite music in several genres -- electronic music doesn't come to mind, probably because I equate it with the Digital Age we now live in. That could be due to my own ignorance, I'm sure.
Either way, this is interesting music. Quite a departure from my usual listening fare, which is what this project is all about and I dig that.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
I had not heard of her or her music, and I like this album. Dreamy and ethereal at times, very well composed and performed, superb singing voice, and I would like to read the lyrics because the pieces I caught were interesting. I love the album name and cover art, too.
Seems like an interesting artist so I'll look into her other work, too.
R.E.M.
5/5
I got pretty into this band when I was in college, saw them in concert first in '83 when they opened for The Police but that was a crazy huge crowd (70k+) at Shea Stadium and I could barely hear R.E.M.'s relatively brief set, then saw them again in '86 in support of the Lifes Rich Pageant album, and that was a better and smaller venue, so I could actually hear and see them.
[Side Note: a band I'd later come to love through to this day, The Feelies, opened for them that night but I either showed up late or ignored them because I had no clue about them and hadn't learned that paying attention to opening bands can be a GREAT experience because I was 19 years old and an idiot -- a lovable idiot, I think, but an idiot nonetheless]
Anyway, back to this album: I owned it and loved it. Still do. These are fantastic songs. Along with their debut EP, Chronic Town, the first few releases by the band are among my favorites of theirs. They put out some great albums for years to come, and I love how they evolved over the decades.
I hadn't given this a focused listen in quite some time. It still holds up for me after all these years.
I think Mike Mills is one of the coolest musicians and people, and Peter Buck is a severely underrated guitarist. He doesn't get mentioned a lot because ripping big solos just isn't his thing -- he's a refreshingly non-egotistical rock guitarist -- but in my own personal worldview, art that stands out for me in any medium is art that when I experience it, I recognize it as the artist's work without being told who it is. Peter Buck's guitar work has always been that way for me. That's rare and impressive.
David Bowie
4/5
There is a ton of David Bowie's music with which I am entirely unfamiliar, and this album is in that category. Not really intentional; I've always liked Bowie but for some reason never collected any of his albums or sought him out. So, once again, this project helps to introduce me to so much new music (as in music that is new to me), including music by artists I know and like but haven't explored enough.
I do know that Bowie is one of those artists who was always experimenting and evolving, and I hear that here. Some very interesting tracks with a lot of intriguing layers, textures, and contrasts. A few get a bit grating and harsh for my own personal tastes, but the level of musicianship remains excellent throughout. The instrumental tracks are at times exquisite.
The Stooges
3/5
Glad to continue to be introduced to more Iggy Pop/Stooges' material. Pretty wild to hear the basic elements of that which would be known as "punk" for decades. Also really cool to hear the influences of 60s garage rock and some surf rock in here, as well as Howlin' Wolf and other amazing blues musicians who were hugely important in shaping the 60s rock resurgence and British invasion.
Paul Simon
2/5
I generally like Paul Simon's work, sometimes really love it, but this album, which I had not heard before, just didn't really grab me. Maybe I'll give it another listen some time, but this time around I simply found it a bit bland and dull.
Moby Grape
2/5
Very much reflective of the era in which it was recorded, and very skilled writers and performers. Too psychedelic in its recording and production for my listening tastes -- my never-ending bizarre contradiction as a long-time wanna-be hippie -- but that's just my own aural bias.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I think Stevie is incredible for so many reasons, but for reasons I cannot explain, I've never been wildly into his music. I like quite a few of his songs, to be sure. But overall, I've never really reached for his stuff.
The Avalanches
3/5
Some fun tracks on this album. Not one I plan to return to as it just didn't grab me overall, but it's good.
Stevie Wonder
2/5
Sounds similar to the one I just reviewed a few days ago. It's fine, he's an incredible talent, but like that other album and most of his catalog, just doesn't do that much for me.
Magazine
3/5
All new to me -- this band and their music -- and I enjoyed listening to this album. For a 1978 album, it sounds in some ways ahead of its time. I like how my ear sometimes hears the music as punk-flavored, more poppy, kind of rock-ish, at times even 60s garage-band-esque, a little hint of what was to come (New Wave/post-punk), and so on. Shows their creativity and range, at least to my ear. Some real energetic numbers on this album. Bet they were a lot of fun live.
The Prodigy
3/5
Okay, first of all, I loved hearing the sound of an old-fashioned typewriter -- the keyboard upon which I learned to type in high school typing class -- in the intro. Brief as it was, that sound alone brought me to places.
Nice conscious or unconscious nod to Han-Solo-frozen-in-carbonite on the cover art.
Now, the rest of the album. I don't listen to electronic music except in this project, and I'm grateful to this project for serving up so many stylistic variants in that genre throughout the rotation. I like some of the tracks here. A few get too frenetic for my tastes, but I get that this is meant to be fast-paced and highly stimulating. (Never been a dance club person, but maybe this is the kind of music they play there? Would seem to fit.)
Tom Waits
3/5
I do like Tom Waits. Very interesting artist, love his adventurous experimentation, reinvention, and exploration. I admire this album because I hear an artist trying out various ideas, possibly taking the mickey with us on some or all of it, and bravo to him for doing so. This album might not be the kind of thing I come back to, but that sometimes doesn't matter. I like the twisted and strange.
Janis Joplin
5/5
Such outstanding music and, of course, the vocal performance by the inimitable Janis is just wonderful. She always draws me in.
I do like her other albums, but this one I like in particular because things (the writing, arrangements, performances, recording, all of it) overall seem more clear and well put together. I don't mean that in an over-produced way; I genuinely like the way it all sounds here. I feel like it lets us (or at least me) hear much better just how incredible she is. Such superb songs on this amazing album.
Rest in power, Janis. Shine On!
Throwing Muses
4/5
I remember the band's name from when they were popular but I don't know if I listened to them. Glad I have now. This is a solid album. I like the edge to their music but I also hear precision and style. Great balance and not easy to do as I can imagine a less skilled band going too far in one direction instead of showing the intelligent restraint this band shows.
I love they way they play with tempo and song structure. Some really cool ideas in here.
I'm relistening right now to "Green" because I love the sound of that arpeggio the guitars play.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
I was aware of Cyndi Lauper in the 80s when she was a huge star, and although I didn't actively listen to her music I remember finding her songs catchy and memorable. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to her back then and certainly did not appreciate how talented she is as a songwriter, arranger, and performer, but I definitely appreciate her now. Although the album is a little synth-poppy for my own listening tastes, for the most part the songs are excellent and very enjoyable. "Time After Time" is still so beautiful and moving to me after all these years.
Great album by an interesting artist and wonderful person.
Louis Prima
4/5
I have been listening to jazz quite a bit in the past few years and studying jazz as both a listener and beginner musician, and the more I explore it and learn about its roots and history, the more I love it. I had heard of Louis Prima by name but don't think I'd listened to him. This is great stuff! Love this era of jazz and the songs on this album help transport me to a time I never experienced. Really fun to time travel.
Jethro Tull
4/5
Outstanding album by an incredible band. It was in my LP collection as a teen and I remember seeing them play at the Worcester (MA) Centrum in the early/mid-80s. Such superb musicianship and interesting compositions. These tunes hooked me back then and still have me hooked to this day.
Neu!
4/5
Yet another illustration of why I absolutely adore this whole 1001 Albums project. I'd never heard of this band nor heard any of their music, and without this project, it's a near certainty I never would have. I am glad I did. This album is fantastic! Incredible that it was made in '75. If you played it for me and told me it was just recently recorded and released, I'd have believed it.
Their compositional and arranging skills are excellent, and I love the way they performed and recorded their tracks. Some beautiful piano work on some of the pieces. Lovely and understated. For a rock/pop group to show that kind of intelligent restraint, especially in the mid-70s when so much music was rockin' so hard (which I also love, but that was the common trend), this is refreshing.
And when they kick into the rock high gear mode for the second side of the album, they cut some real solid tracks in that style, too. I can hear how they influenced quite a lot of bands that followed.
I will come back to this album and I must explore the rest of their catalog.
Thank you, 1001 Albums Project!
Buck Owens
3/5
Fun stuff. I learned about the "Bakersfield Sound", a genre of which this album is a prime example, in one of the episodes in Andrew Hickey's OUTSTANDING podcast series -- really, I cannot recommend it highly enough -- 'A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs'. Although I don't listen to a lot of country, Western, or similar genres, I do like some of the music in that style, and this album is enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed 'Memphis' and the lead guitar in 'Wham Bam' is great. I'll bet these are fun songs to sing with friends.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Although it's difficult to separate the cultural icon from the music, I have listened to enough of Elvis Presley's music to have formed the opinion that I appreciate his abilities and enjoy certain of his recordings. This album has some good tracks -- 'Fever' is surprisingly good, for example, and 'It Feels So Right' is a nice blues number -- and it's fun for me to imagine the time during which this was released. The 50s and the early Elvis years and all the great rock music that put the genre on its 50-year trajectory were in the past and things were about to change enormously in so many ways in the next few years. In the meantime, just out of the Army, Elvis recorded this album and got back into the mix.
I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: please do yourself a huge favor and listen to Andrew Hickey's incredible podcast series, 'A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs'. As you might expect, a few episodes feature Elvis songs, and you'll learn a lot about him, his music, and most of all, have some myths dispelled. Fascinating.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
I always enjoy it when this project serves up a solid offering from genres and styles from lanes outside my usual music path. This has some sweet grooves and interesting harmonies. Kept me engaged. Nicely done.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I love a whole lot of the art Joni Mitchell has shared with the world, and this album is high up there in her work that I love most. The jazz influence, Jaco Pastorius' contributions, Larry Carlton's presence, and so on. She always composes brilliantly and is one of the finest lyricists. What an ear for harmony and her sense of melody is intricate and intriguing. Of course, her vocal performances are spectacular and she is quite underrated as a guitarist.
Some truly beautiful and emotional stuff here. Brilliant.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
At times, I do love Americana, roots, bluegrass, etc., music. At other times, it can really annoy me. In the right mood, I like this album and very much appreciate its place in the American music canon, both as an album on its own and as an act of preservation. There are SO many tracks on this album, so it's a great compendium of this style of music. No matter what mood I'm in when I listen to this album, I can hear some superbly skilled musicians. There is a genuine skill on display here.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Much to the chagrin of many of my "we grew up in the 70s & 80s" peer group, I wasn't that big into Bruce back then. Over the decades since then, I've definitely come to appreciate his music much more deeply. Although I don't make much effort to seek out his music, I do enjoy a lot of his work. This album has changed that for me. I'm in.
Of his albums I've listened to, this is high up -- maybe highest up -- on my list of favorites. The compositions are well-constructed and accessible. Performance-wise, I love that during an era of soaring and screaming guitar solos (nothing against those; they can be wonderful, but they were everywhere in that era) we don't hear a whole lot of leads and solos, and when we do, the saxophone is often in front, which is fantastic.
His artistry and insight as a lyricist are quite evident to me in this album. I remember seeing 'Born To Run' in my English literature book when I was a sophomore in high school in the early 80s (the only other song lyrics I recall seeing in that same massive compendium was a Dylan song), and when I read that carefully at age 15 or 16, that stuck with me as a fine work of poetry. As someone who loves poetry, I am so taken in when song lyrics can stand on their own as art even without ever hearing the song.
I had not actively listened to this album in a mighty long time and thanks to this project I just heard each track in full. Maybe it's my mid-50s point in life, maybe it's what's going on societally both here in the States and around the world, maybe it's my ongoing music studies as an early-stage music student, I don't really know, but I am here now. I am now a truly big fan of this album. I feel like I've heard it for the first time.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
For the past few months, because of a music class I'm taking that focuses on rhythm and groove, I've been listening to what I suppose one would call "jazz-funk" quite a lot. I hadn't ever before paid attention to this style of music, and, oh, wow, do I absolutely LOVE it. This album, the tracks of which I'm sure have shown up in various shuffled playlists on the usual streaming services, is a superb example of the genre, and it's great.
Wow, the skill of these performers. Incredible.
My only slight criticism is purely a matter of personal taste, and that's it can get a little too "synth-y" for my subjective preference. To my ears, that can a little shrill and kind of cuts into my listening too sharply. I get it: we're in the early 70s here and synths are still a fascinating experimental novelty to so many musicians, so it makes sense given the time. Despite that, the grooves and melodies are sooooo good, so I'll be sure to give this one additional listens.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
I know it's sacrilege for me to say this given my Gen X demographic and how hugely popular the Stones were and are amongst Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, the people with whom I grew up, but I'm not a very ardent Stones fan. Fewer of their songs grab me and resonate with me than my peers. That being said, when their songs do grab me, they REALLY grab me. This album has a handful of those.
For example, this album has "Gimme Shelter", which if I had to pick a favorite Stones song, this one might be it. I just adore Keith's guitar work on that track. And Merry Clayton's vocal work...please, I beseech you all, run, don't walk, to your nearest streaming service and watch the documentary '20 Feet From Stardom'. I promise you'll never hear "Gimme Shelter" the same way again, in the best possible way. You'll also get a whole lot more out of that film.
Back to the album: I'm less interested in their country-flavored stuff. I like it better when they lay down a nice blues groove as they do in some of these songs and on some other albums.
Even though I've heard the song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" a bit too often, I have a soft spot for it because I associate it with a film I liked in my late teens and early 20s, 'The Big Chill'.
I do understand this album's place in history. And I really did enjoy listening to it all the way through for the first time in a mighty long time. Solidly classic for a reason.
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
I love Bonnie Raitt and this album is one I owned when I used to collect records. Love how she went a mellower groove direction here but her signature grit and realness are still very present. She's a wonderful songwriter, a superb guitarist (too often overlooked in the male-dominated world of rock/pop/blues/country guitarists), and a great vocalist. It all comes together so nicely on this album.
I remember the success that came to her thanks to this album, and reading about that again makes me happy. So well deserved.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
These are superb musicians and of course, Janis' voice is unmistakable and wonderful. I like the raw, garage-rock, surf-rock, blues-rock style of most of the tunes. Sometimes gets a little to late-60s trippy sounding -- the kind of late 60s sound bands would use to make themselves sound psychedelic that I just personally don't like much -- but overall, this is an album with grit, heart, and soul.
Still one of my all-time favorite renditions of Gershwin's 'Summertime'. Beautiful, soulful, and at times even a little unsettling in a good way. (If you like that song, go to YouTube and check out the version Billy Strings and Marcus King did for Carter Vintage Guitars. It's inspired by Doc Watson's version but they really make it their own.)
Janis. Love her.
And, oh WOW, what an INCREDIBLE album cover by Robert Crumb. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Roxy Music
2/5
I had heard a few tracks from their 80s era work but that’s it, and very different from this. This is surprisingly punky and off-color. I don’t love the vocalist’s sound but that is my own personal taste.
Pretty wild sound for 1972.
Nick Drake
3/5
Truly talented artist. Grateful for this project; would not have heard of him otherwise.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Absolutely love this band and within it are several excellent and highly underrated performers in this group. Jane Wiedlin comes to mind, just to name one.
The tunes are catchy and fun, have more depth to them than meets the eye, and I am very glad to see the album on this list.
I always felt that they were overlooked because they are a female group, but I do have hope we’re getting past that silliness and truly hearing what this band did.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I really like this album. Nice arrangements and performances that are “indie pop” sounding in the positive sense of the term. When they add the strings and extra voices, it creates layers and a depth that are quite compelling.
Solid, solid album by a great band. I missed them completely when they were churning out these records but I’m glad this project brought them to my attention.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Has its own sound regardless, then we remember this work was completed in 1978. This group was pioneering and it shows. Really cool, out there yet not so out there it had no melodic or harmonic sense. Tough to hit that balance and they did.
Very nicely done.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Nice alt-poppy stuff here. A little frenetic for me at times, but not so much that it throws me off completely. At times, it simplified and was quite beautiful. Overall, well done on their part.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I have not heard a lot of Elliot Smith’s work but what little I’ve heard, I’ve liked. This album is no exception. It’s really well done.
Green Day
3/5
Yet another group I totally missed in their hey-day, and I’m glad this project helped introduce me more thoroughly to their music. They play so super-tight, which I know from experience is very difficult to do, and I like their mix of pop sensibility and punk and rock ethos.
Their sound can get a little repetitive at times, but it’s not to the level of repetition that I’m too bothered by it. It’s a small number of people in the band so one does need to accept a certain amount of limitations.
Overall, some pretty good work here.
The Kinks
2/5
I can see why it is a significant album given the time during which it was recorded and released. Not many of the tracks do all that much for me but that really is a matter of personal taste. This is a talented band.
Nanci Griffith
4/5
I love her. I’ve seen her in concert, watched her host or appear on Austin City Limits a few times, and listened to her perform, particularly on ‘Other Voices, Other Rooms’, which sounds a bit like this album.
She is wonderful.
Yes, I still use the present tense with her despite her leaving her corporeal self behind about a year ago.
And I love her.
Bobby Womack
3/5
Nice soul stuff. Is that a Zemaitis he’s holding on the cover? Very cool.
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
I do get what they are doing here and I appreciate it. They’ve got a cover of a Serge Gainsbourg tune here, too, which is an excellent homage. Love the album art.
Not something I’ll come back to but I absolutely understand why we need to include it on this list.
Morrissey
1/5
Meh.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
This style is definitely "heavier" than my usual listening fare, but that's my personal preference. No doubt this is a talented band and front person. Interesting work on this album.
Cheap Trick
1/5
I remember when they were really big when I was young and I tried but I just didn't really like them.
40-ish years later, I tried again.
Sorry, still don't.
Miles Davis
5/5
Writing about this one seems to cheapen it, so I'll be brief. I listen to a lot of jazz as is and study it as an amateur musician, but even way before then this album absolutely spoke to me. Still does.
Pure genius.
Brilliant.
I've already said too much.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Very cool performer here. So emblematic of the time.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray Charles broadens here and it’s only 1959 when he recorded this. So much music from so many places came through that man.
Mercury Rev
2/5
Well-composed and well-performed music, albeit not very interesting at times to my admittedly untrained ears.
The Shamen
3/5
I've mentioned before how I rarely listen to EDM and related styles (I'm quite ignorant of this area of music, so please forgive me if I've mislabeled this album as EDM), so I'm glad this project is introducing me to these forms. This is good stuff. I like it and I'm glad I heard it.
MC Solaar
3/5
I really like the funkiness of the grooves underlying these tracks, and, yes, I'll readily admit I enjoy hearing a rapper lay down his words in French...a language in which I know maybe a dozen words, mostly all menu items, and none of which I recognize in this album because it's (a) too fast and (b) highly unlikely he's rapping about a ham and cheese sandwich.
All in all, this is great, though. Really fun!
Pretenders
4/5
This album is fantastic! I am familiar with it but hadn't really heard it all the way through, maybe so, maybe not. Either way, this is energetic, skilled, and fun music. Excellent work here.
Sade
5/5
Adore her and her voice. Background story about her is way more interesting than most people would assume because of her stunning looks. She worked incredibly hard to have the success she had. Great song choice here. She knocks it out of the park.
Manu Chao
2/5
I appreciate what he’s doing but that sound is not really my thing.
New York Dolls
3/5
Definitely can hear how their sound influenced the punk rock movement that was soon to hit the airwaves a few years after this album was recorded and released. And good for them for being so gutsy in a time of extreme homophobia! I'm impressed by the risk they took on at a dangerous time.
Overall, the music is catchy and fun. It's outside the usual parameters of what I'm drawn to, but of course, that's one of the main attractions of this whole project.
Underworld
3/5
Very wide departure from my typical listening fare, and it's good. It suffers through no fault of its own from my having been in far too many big-city hotel lobbies in the past decade or two from a lot of work travel: the group didn't intend this, of course, but, dang, so much hotel lobby music sounds like this.
Setting aside that prejudice as best I can and just listening to this album, it's actually quite good.
Curse you, hotel lobbies!
50 Cent
2/5
Some really good and catchy hooks, rhythms, and such here. This album grabbed my ear and held it well. I had heard the artist’s name many times but don’t think I heard any of his music. Solid stuff.
Queen Latifah
3/5
Okay, I'll admit it: I have had only a very small number of celebrity crushes in my lifetime, and Queen Latifah is on that short list, including at present. There's a bias right there, not much I can do about it, so there we go.
Anyway, that fully and fairly disclosed, I enjoyed listening to this album. Her voice is wonderful and engaging, the music is infectious, there are some interesting layers of instruments (not all synths, thank heavens), and this album is fun.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
I like this album. I had heard the band's name but that's all. I didn't even know the style of music they created. Very catchy and groovy stuff. Nicely done.
Cypress Hill
2/5
At times it's kind of fun and funny, at other times it's kind of annoying.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
Fascinating, remarkable, unique...I could go on and on. So much has been written about Thelonious Monk that writing about this artist is just like writing about anyone who reached the incredibly rare heights of their craft: it just all feels kind of cheap when compared to the real thing. This album is incredible. I'm going to listen to it again and again. What an artist.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
I like this album. I hadn't heard of the band or any of their music before this. Nice sound. Strikes a good balance between styles. Very well done.
Paul Weller
4/5
I'm really quite fond of Paul Weller at any point in his career. Innovative, dedicated, and always willing to stay on his path. I also think he is severely overlooked as a guitarist -- I understand, so many non-shredders are. It's too bad but 'tis the way. On many levels, including but not just Paul Weller's excellent guitar work and songwriting skills, this album is excellent. (So cool he includes an instrumental piece!) Such an interesting artist.
Frank Zappa
4/5
Strange confession on my part: I can't quite explain why, but I've never really listened to Frank Zappa. He kind of checks all the boxes for me in what I enjoy in music, so that's the strange part. Anyway, now I have. Thank you, 1001 Albums project!
Although this album is a bit too on the late-60s psychedelic production style for my tastes, I absolutely and totally hear the incredible virtuosity and talent expressed in the art he's making. Wow. Okay, I'm in.
More Zappa to come.
Minutemen
4/5
This is fantastic. Such an interesting blend of styles and genres, all composed and performed very well. Great choices rhythmically, harmonically, and melodically. Great range; e.g., 'Cohesion' is such a beautiful departure and it fits perfectly. I hadn't even heard the band's name before, let alone any songs or music by them. Once again, this project serves up superbly.
I'll come back to them and absolutely come back to this album.
PS -- I think their source of inspiration for the title and theme of the album is just brilliant.
PPS -- in some ways, all positive, they remind me of Poi Dog Pondering, a band I love; each band is quite original to my ears and they have their own style, but something about this band calls Poi Dog to mind and it's very cool. Oh, and a teensy bit of Meat Puppets, another great band, too.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha. Just say her name and we're there.
What I didn't realize until this album came up in the rotation is this is her tenth studio album and it's 1967. Wow. She blazed trails in so many ways.
What an album.
What songs!
What a voice.
What a performer.
Aretha.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Stephen Stills is, to my ear, undeniably talented as a writer, singer, guitarist, and performer. It shines through on this album. No fault of his own, stylistically I'm not as close to what the tracks on this album sound like as I used to be. While the collegiate-aged me would have loved this, it's not so much my preference these days. Great work, though. Truly.
The Clash
4/5
I had this album as a teen and I saw them when they played locally (in Worcester, MA) in the early 80s. I really enjoyed them back then but haven't really listened to them for many years. This project has introduced me to more punk and related genres, so hearing this album again for the first time in a mighty long time helped me hear how The Clash brought in many other genres and influences to their music. Very cool, and very nicely done.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Epic.
Iconic.
Pivotal.
The Wall.
Haircut 100
2/5
I remember some of these songs from when I was young. I wasn't very interested then, and not much has changed. Just not my thing.
System Of A Down
3/5
I'd heard the name of the band but I think that's really about it. I didn't even know what kind of music they play, although once I saw the album cover here I had a reasonable idea. Musically, I like a lot what I'm hearing. It's fast-paced and frenetic but incredibly tight and well-arranged, too. That's hard to do and I'm impressed. It's definitely way more thrashy and jarring than most music I listen to, but that's what I say about most metal/thrash and so on, and it's not a negative (e.g., I listen to quite a bit of dissonant and jarring jazz, too). The vocalist is kind of funny at times -- reminds me of the Muppets for some reason -- and it seems like the band is really enjoying this, all, which is contagious in a fun way.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Quite a departure from most of the typical styles and genres. Most of the tracks caught my ear, and I must admit I didn't really get into whether I liked or didn't like it. A good signal of how different it is.
And some of it is really beautiful.
The Kinks
3/5
Some of the tracks are catchy and fun. The album sounds like its era, which is fine, just not my favorite sound. The Kinks do have a distinctive style and voice, so they sound like themselves, which I like.
The Byrds
2/5
It's not harmful or anything; just doesn't do anything for me.
John Martyn
2/5
A few interesting moments here and there, but overall I just wasn't very interested. Might be his vocal delivery, might be the choice of instruments, not quite sure. Not bad, not at all, just doesn't do anything for me.
Beatles
5/5
Weird -- and difficult -- to write anything about this band, of course, so suffice it to say I love this album and love this band. Tomes and treatises have been written about them for decades so I'll leave deeper analysis to the pros.
I'll just listen to this album again and again and keep loving it.
Muddy Waters
5/5
Beautiful. Muddy Waters is, and always will be, an absolute treasure.
Beatles
5/5
Such fantastic songwriting and performing. I’ve heard it more times than I can imagine yet I still love that opening chord that starts the title track and album. Brilliant album by these wonderful artists.
The Who
3/5
There are some really good songs on this album. I've seen it performed, too, as the rock opera for which it was written. Kind of works in a weird way, but the songs are engaging and entertaining. Pete Townsend is musically very interesting and an incredible guitarist and vocalist.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Had not heard this band’s music before but I seem to remember their name. I like it. There’s a familiarity to the sound, most likely due to—as the Wikipedia entry describes—the influences on the style, so that feels comfortable to me. I like the way they put their songs together and perform them. Nicely done.
Ice T
3/5
I remember some of these tracks from when the album was popular and getting a lot of attention. Very catchy and well crafted.
Kate Bush
4/5
She has her own sound and evolves all the time. So few artists truly achieve that and she deserves the recognition she’s been getting of late. Such a great sense of composition, melody, and performance. Great stuff.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
First of all, I like the cover. Cool photo.
Musically, this is interesting stuff even though it's outside the usual stream of music to which I typically listen. There are some intriguing things going on in the several layers of music. I want to learn more about how this kind of music is put together because I have almost no knowledge of it. I usually listen to music performed by more "analog" or acoustic instruments (for my purposes, I consider electric basses, guitars, keyboards, etc., to be 'acoustic' in that it still takes a person's hands to play them) so I'm curious about the production of this and similar albums. And this was done with early 90s tech, which is obviously different than today's.
Randy Newman
3/5
I have not listened to very much of his music at all, so I'm glad this album came up in the rotation. I like some of the tracks. I'm not wildly into it, but I can tell he's an interesting songwriter and writer.
The Band
4/5
I like The Band, and, honestly, if this album had only 'The Weight' on it, it would still be worth a listen. Overall, this is a good album. I can hear where they'll go with their sound in the years to follow, such an interesting path leading up to an iconic film and soundtrack in "The Last Waltz".
Love
1/5
Psychedelic sound: just not my jam.
Fela Kuti
5/5
This music is fantastic, and the story behind the album is tragic and horrifying. We are absolutely enriched by artists like Fela Kuti, not just for the art they create but for their courage and strength.
Kid Rock
1/5
(yawn)
Kelela
5/5
This is fantastic! Had not heard of the artist or heard her music. Great writing, outstanding performances...she's got it. Very, very cool sound.
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
I recognize how important he is to the history of rock n' roll, and I also hear his talent in so many ways. That being said, I just don't like his music very much. I think his style is all just too much for me.
Elastica
4/5
The band and their music are all new to me, and I really like this album. Very catchy harmonies, rhythms, and melodies. There's a definite 90s rock sound to them, which of course makes sense given the time and context when so many rock bands being recorded and played on the airwaves had that grunge-y sound, but this band is more fun for me to listen to than most of the mid-90s punk-influenced rock bands.
Scott Walker
2/5
Because of way too many cultural inferences and references throughout the years, and through no fault of the artist whose music is on this album, it all sounded farcical to me. Sorry, Mr. Walker!
XTC
4/5
I remember liking -- and probably owning? -- this album when it was released back in the 80s. It came out at a time when I was into this kind of pop and even though it's been decades since I've listened to it, it holds up better than I would've expected. My present-time ears hear a little too much of the typical mid-80s production things (sorry, not well-versed in music production so I can't name the techniques, but it seems around the kind of effects they use, the synths, and the mixing), so that sets it back a wee bit for me, but overall this shows some really nice songwriting and performing.
But to this day, 'Dear God' is one of the finest songs I've ever heard. It's still brilliant to me.
Black Sabbath
5/5
I somehow missed Black Sabbath in my early teens when I listened to a ton of hard rock. I don't really understand how and why I did, but, hey, it happened. Anyway, listening to them now, I hear how great they were and the major role they played in a whole offshoot of rock music. What's particularly interesting to this album, at least the way I experience it, is how it doesn't sound stuck in time to me the way so many albums from the past can sound. I read the Wikipedia entry about how it was recorded, and I honestly believe that played a very big part in helping the album not to sound too much like the year in which it was recorded and produced. The band went into the studio and performed their live set, recording the whole thing in about 12 hours. Not much at all was done to the tracks in production. I just can't shake the feeling that had they gone the usual route with lots of overdubbing, effects, and so on, it would've been fine but would very much sound like a rock band in 1970 than what it sounds like to me.
Fantastic.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
It's not easy for me to separate the music from the obnoxious white males who were way too loud about their fandom -- which mostly presented itself during my college years but I also encountered it in the years beyond when for example, I visited the Caribbean -- but it really has been quite a long time for both those negative associations and actually listening to the music, so I feel I was able to give this album, which I owned decades ago, a new listen.
It's really quite good. The content of the lyrics is thoughtful and insightful, and musically the songs are catchy and nice on the ears. Its repetitiveness is part of the charm, and it pulls in the right emotion.
The Mars Volta
3/5
Band and their music all new to me, so it was interesting to give this a listen. Frenetic and jarring at times, lots of chaos at times as well, yet definitely intriguing art here, enough so that I'll want to give this one another listen or two and explore some of their other work.
The Killers
3/5
Some nice catchy pop/rock tunes here. I think some are familiar to me but I don't trust my memory. I wasn't pulled in so much that I feel interested in listening to this album again but it's decent work.
The Specials
2/5
It's okay. I don't love this style of music personally.
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Brilliant artist throughout his life and this album reflects and foretells it wonderfully. He always draws me in and there's something about what he's saying and how he says it that keeps me engaged, even when he takes a path or uses a style that isn't my usual choice.
I have read only brief descriptions of his life and art, but every time I learn something about him, I want to learn more. Sounds like I need to read a more fulsome biography about him. :)
Spiritualized
3/5
I really like the concept they created that informs the album, and they perform very well. At times, I must confess, I was a little put off by the "stoner rock" sound that showed up a little too often for my liking. Overall, though, this is interesting work and I'm glad I got to hear it. Love the cover art, too.
Kanye West
1/5
No.
Sepultura
3/5
Sure, there's a heck of a lot of screaming by the vocalist and it's very much in the hard metal or thrash style, so in that sense it is a little much for me, but there is also quite a bit of soul and spirit in the music and I'm surprised to say I like it.
Björk
4/5
She is an absolutely fascinating and original artist in so many ways. This album reflects that. Wow. Such interesting use of melody and harmony, amazing compositions, and stellar performances.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
If it contained only the title track, it still would have to be on this list.
1962. Brought to the attention of so many a style of music that had already been developing for a long time, and accelerated a whole movement. Brilliant.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Iconographic. A stand-alone work of art that is meant to be experienced over and over again, each time traveling along a different path.
It's beautiful.
I'll end with that because I feel as though any words I might share just don't equal the work.
The Doors
2/5
Other than a brief interest in them during my late high school and early college years, I never got into The Doors. There are a few songs I like and I can definitely hear the talent in each performer; it's really a matter of personal preference.
King Crimson
5/5
What an absolutely fascinating band. Ever-changing, ever-evolving, and always original and creative. Robert Fripp to this day seems to me to possess such an interesting and curious mind. And, of course, what a guitarist. I love the way he uses the instrument; very much on his own path. So refreshing.
Great album art, too, by the way.
I need to explore more of King Crimson's and Robert Fripp's work. I've listened to some of Robert Fripp's ambient music albums this year, and they are excellent.
I know a few people who have seen King Crimson play live, even quite recently, and they raved about the experience. I hope to get out to see them one of these days -- would be such a treat!
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
One can hear how influential this record is in so many ways. After its release, the sound spread everywhere, and it's a great sound, much as, as often happens with style shifts, it got so heavily used and over-saturated. Not the fault of this band or record, of course; it all exploded in the second half of the 60s and into the 70s and beyond.
Just because so many bands tried to sound like this, it's not easy for me to just listen and enjoy it for what it is. Still, it's fantastic.
Tori Amos
5/5
In the early 90s, I was waiting tables at a wine bar and cafe in Chicago when Ms. Amos and her manager sat at one of my tables. They were there to promote this album and she had spent the afternoon at a nearby record store, signing copies of this CD, that sort of thing. She had brought in some candy apples and I said to her that the cafe's policy was no outside food allowed but because she's Tori Amos, I've brought her a plate and knife so she can enjoy them. Towards the end of her visit, I thanked her for this album and especially 'Silent All These Years' really spoke to me. I meant it, too.
I added that to show my gratitude for her singing to me, I'd like to serenade her. So I did. I knelt beside her, sang 'Love Is All Around', then she gave me a kiss on the cheek (and, yes, I very much had a Marcia-Brady-kissed-on-the-cheek-by-Davy-Jones "I'll never wash this cheek again!" moment), and left behind a signed CD with a sweet note thanking me for the candy apple indulgence.
After that, her career continued to shine.
I think we all know it's all becaause of me.
The Cramps
3/5
Very cool sound. Love the rockabilly-infused punk/glam mix. If they weren't so good at it, it would be very easy to dismiss as just some folks taking the piss out of pop music, and that's probably an ingredient but they really do perform very well.
The xx
3/5
The band and its music are new to me, and I like it. Really nice sound and style, and I like their sense of composition. Solid performances and I enjoyed the album. I'll have to dig deeper into their recordings. Good stuff!
Emmylou Harris
4/5
I've enjoyed quite a bit of her music and seen her play live a couple times. She is an excellent and wide-ranging writer and performer. Amazing voice and fantastic musician. For some reason, I had not heard this album before, and it's great to hear her creative artistry at even this early stage in her career. So cool.
Small Faces
2/5
I can see why it was popular in its time. No fault of the band or this album, just the passage of time and the countless bands and albums that sounded like this, it really just doesn't do too much for me.
Michael Jackson
4/5
It's always wild to me to put any of Michael Jackson's work in the context and along the timeline of his whole career. I remember when this album was released, I remember hearing quite a few of its tracks, and I definitely remember how popular it was. Then I think about how this was his fifth studio album as a solo performer -- after all the work he did as a member of the Jackson 5 -- and he was only 21 at the time. 'Thriller' and all that followed were still a few years away.
Back to this album. It's outside my usual listening lane but I do find myself enjoying the songs. Most of them are very catchy and memorable, not in a negative way, and fun. There is always a bit more going on in his songs than initially meets the ear, at least for me. I really do think he was an incredibly gifted song composer and of course a spectacular performer.
In the late 70s, 80s, and early 90s when he was super-huge, I was much more of a rocker, but as I listen to his music with the distance from that era, I hear how good he really was.
Steely Dan
5/5
I consider this to be one of the finest albums made by any band, not just Steely Dan, and the title track, in particular, is on its own plane. One layer of many incredible layers: take a glance at the list of personnel who contributed to and performed on this album. It's a Hall of Fame line-up. Just amazing what came out of these sessions.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
I can already hear Björk's unique and dazzling sound and style here, both vocally and musically. What a treasure!
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Always very happy to see queer folk and those with gender identity outside the norms do well. (For clarity because this is the toneless world of cyberspace: I am not being facetious, ironic, snarky, or anything other than sincere.)
This album has some catchy pop tunes and I am partial to the French-language versions of the songs.
Nicely done.
OutKast
3/5
I have heard of these artists but don't recall hearing their music. This album is excellent. Quite a few different styles influence and inform the compositions, and the performances and recordings drew me in. Some catchy and fun stuff, and some deeper and intricate layers happening.
Heaven 17
3/5
Although I generally don't listen to synth-pop, I can appreciate what the early pioneers were doing, and it's impressive to me that this album dates all the way back to '81. The music is quite good even though it's unlikely I'll listen to it again.
William Orbit
3/5
I listen to almost no electronic music and I’m glad I was introduced to it by this project, including this album. It’s really quite good. Makes me want to learn more about it and listen to more of this artist’s work.
Fever Ray
4/5
Another installment in the electronic music genre that I like. Thanks to this project, I've heard more electronic music than ever before, and I've learned there is a lot of music in this style and genre that I like. That's fantastic!
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
This is some really nice funky groovy stuff here. I like it. Smooth as can be.
Nitin Sawhney
4/5
Wow. This is a beautiful and powerful album. I don't have any views regarding how other people should approach art, including music, so I'm speaking only for myself when I say I happen to get a lot of out the fuller context and background. When I read the impetus behind the artist's creation of the album, I was really moved by it, then I listened to it and found myself drawn in fully by the music. What an interesting mix of styles and influences; there are some intriguing and beautiful harmonies, melodies, and rhythms at play here.
One example of many: the piano work on "Tides" is gorgeous.
Even the name of the album's record company, Outcaste, is spot on.
I need to explore this artist more fully.
Great work.
Ryan Adams
3/5
I had heard maybe one song by Ryan Adams before this album came up in the rotation, and it is quite good. And, wow, what an all-star lineup of musical artists helping out on this album: David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, and Emmylou Harris. Incredible.
Moby
4/5
I’ve probably heard some of these tracks before but I don’t know for sure. Either way, I like this album. He’s an excellent composer and the performances and recordings are strong.
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
Would this be called “lofi” these days? That’s not at all meant as a dig. I like this album.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
I remember having this album back in college. Joan Armatrading is superb, and this is a great album.
Orange Juice
3/5
The only reason I'd heard of this band before is that someone I knew when I lived in Chicago in the early 90s liked them. But that's it; had not listened to them. Listening to them now, decades after they recorded, it's pretty wild to hear how the blended seemingly incongruous styles without making it seem silly or mocking (whether they intended that, I have no idea -- just stating my experience of their music). I can hear some real talent in their writing and performing, too. Cool stuff!
Billie Holiday
4/5
As the notes tell us, this album was recorded near the end of Ms. Holiday's far-too-brief life. It's stylistically a departure from her earlier work but I am still so very moved by her voice. It just slays me. I don't know if she means to infuse it with such strong emotion, pain, beauty, and brilliant instrumentality, but that's what I hear here.
I usually don't like vocals over orchestras like this, but she makes it work.
What a treasure.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
Iconic album in the American rock world, although it's interesting to note that the album got much more attention first in the UK before catching on later in the US. Enjoyable, catchy songs, very well written and well executed, nothing fancy and I think that's a large part of the appeal for me. Definitely on the professional level, it still feels accessible and "garage band"-like. Always liked it, and still do.
Spacemen 3
3/5
Very good musicians. I am sure I would’ve liked them had I heard them in my “stoner” days.
B.B. King
4/5
This album is fantastic. B.B. King was such a wonderful performer. I saw him play live in the 80s and it was so wonderfully evident how much he enjoyed himself. An incredible guitarist, he always reminds me that one need not crowd the sound with a ton of notes at all, even though if he wants to, he can rip it; in fact, he is an absolute master of melody, drawing in the listener with sometimes just a handful of notes. Such a great singer, too. So fun. I love listening to him and his music.
Taylor Swift
4/5
I suppose the criticism of her I hear is largely due to how immensely successful she is as a musician (I don't know anything about her personal life, and I don't have an interest in that) because when I just listen to her work, like this album, I truly enjoy it. I hear an excellent writer, performer, artist, etc. That's more than enough for me. She cuts across various styles and genres on this and other albums. Very strong work here.
Fiona Apple
4/5
I haven't listened to enough Fiona Apple. I say that because whenever I do listen to her work, such as this album, I'm quite intrigued and interested. She is original in many ways and seems to feel very comfortable exploring what she is drawn to. Her vocals are incredible, and her piano playing as well as other instruments and non-instrument instruments, and her writing, of course, are all fantastic.
I read the Wikipedia entry and it's cool that she mixed most of it herself using GarageBand, and even some of the album's "rawness" is attributed to her own admission that she had to teach herself how to use the program while recording and mixing the album. That's great.
As this album is, too.
So, yes, I need to listen to more Fiona Apple.
Eric Clapton
2/5
Another artist who, on paper, I should absolutely love given my musical interests, history, culture, etc.; however, except for a small number of songs across his recording and performing career, I'm generally not very interested. He is to my ear an extraordinary guitarist, and I do understand how influential he has been on so many artists over the years. Maybe it's a combination of song selection and performing choices, I don't know. I've never once had negative reactions to his music; it really is more a feeling of indifference than anything else.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
I've definitely heard of the artist and this album, but I'm not sure if I've listened to it before. It's quite compelling. I was drawn in and stayed there. Superb sense of melody and love the way it's all put together and delivered. It's very cool how she can choose to rap, sing, or perform a mix of the two styles, and nail each approach so incredibly well. She has such great range, not just vocally, but artistically, too. This is truly a spectacular album. Wow.
Digital Underground
3/5
Some fun tunes on here. Nice grooves. I definitely remember the Humpty Dance video on MTV way back when this first came out.
Taylor Swift
2/5
Although overall I believe Taylor Swift is a talented writer, performer, etc., I found this album to be mostly unremarkable. Just a matter of personal preference; not to my liking, that's all. Not bad, just kind of 'meh'.
Pixies
4/5
Although I'd heard of the band before and heard a few of their songs, this was my first full listen-through of this album. Very impressive. I happen to get something from having at least a basic knowledge of an album and artist's background and also a general sense of the timing of an album's creation because quite often an album is reflective of, or a product of, the culture in which it's released, even when the artist or artists want to buck whatever is happening culturally at the time. When I place this album in the context of 1988, for example, it stands a little taller because the influences on their sound and style are a bit out of the norm for the time, and their own sound influenced a lot of music that followed.
Kim Deal is such an interesting artist, too.
Pavement
3/5
I had not heard of this band or heard their music before. I like it and I am sure I would've liked it a lot back when it was released. Nice blend of garage-band indie sound with some good rock music. Sometimes the vocals grate on me a bit but I think they mean it to; just not always my thing.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I need to spend more time with Frank Zappa. I hear from many people whose opinions and views on music I admire and respect that Frank Zappa is one of their favorite musical artists. In all honesty, his stuff has yet to click with me. It's not that I don't hear how innovative and great he is; it's just that as a matter of personal preference I have not yet heard anything that draws me in. I'll keep trying.
Tortoise
4/5
This album and the band are all new to me, and I really like this work. I read the Wikipedia entries on the album and the band, and it's an interesting history and context. Someone could've played this album for me without any explanation or background and asked me to guess when it was released, and no doubt I would get it wrong. I like their layering of harmonies and rhythms; nothing feels forced or rushed yet it's not sleep-inducing. Very cool.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
My hunch is I am not alone in saying that were it not for her recording of "Son Of A Preacher Man" being featured in the film 'Pulp Fiction,' I would not know who this is. I don't recall hearing any of her other music, so I'm glad this album showed up in the rotation. Her voice is fantastic. The songs on this album sound familiar because they are very much in the style of what was popular at the time. In fact, I remember remarking in my head as I listened to this that the song styles bring Carole King to mind, and sure enough, a few tracks are written by Carole King.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
This album has 'White Rabbit' on it, so it's pretty darn iconographic for me. I also really enjoy 'Somebody To Love.' Grace Slick's voice is so good and I greatly prefer the tracks on which she sings lead. Overall, the sound is a little hampered by the way things were arranged in recorded at the time, but I still hear the genuine talent come through.
Dizzee Rascal
3/5
Whoa, that’s some really weird stuff, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. I felt like I had been pulled into a computer gone mad. Very interesting.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
I don't recall how or when, but I have heard of this band before. Regardless, I really enjoyed listening to this album. I love the rhythms and percussion, and all the layers of music on top of that great foundation. Such rich textures.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I had a couple of his albums and saw him in concert when I was in my teens, but, honestly, other than a handful of songs, I don't remember much of his work. I don't think I'd heard this album or any of its tracks before. There are some interesting numbers on it. I like that he's tried different styles and sounds over his career. He is an adventurous and talented composer and writer, and even though I don't always love his music and his voice -- just a matter of personal preference -- I definitely appreciate it.
The Blue Nile
3/5
Definitely has the early to mid-80s feel to it. I vaguely remember hearing "Tinseltown In The Rain" and "Stay" back then. There are some interesting aspects to certain of the tracks on this album, courtesy of the synth-heavy compositions. Their sense of melody is a little different, too, which I like. Although I can't say I am really into this album, it's better than I thought it might be when I started listening to it.
The Only Ones
2/5
I can imagine that in 1978, they and their sound probably stood out. They are definitely skilled musicians and I like their energy. I also like that they vary their approach in a few songs. Sometimes they get a little bogged down in the, not sure how to frame it, kind of "drugged up" sound I think? I know it's not easy, at least for me, to tell when a band is getting artistically exploratory or sounds like they're on something or imitating what being on something sounds like, so I admit that faulty filter straight up. All things considered, though, this is a good album. Solid tracks here and I like it.
The Smiths
2/5
I'm trying with Morrissey, but...nope. Still can't get there.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I remember one or two songs from their hits in the 80s, but really don't know them or their music, so I was glad to see one of their albums appear in the rotation. Because I don't listen to a lot of synth-pop, and I tended to avoid it in the 80s and 90s, I like it more than I expected.
It's still very much a product of its time, so there are plenty of moments when my brain hears theme songs to 80s tv shows, but that's to be expected of most albums as they tend to reflect and sound like their own time and context.
I let my mind transpose these tracks over to acoustic or less-synth-y instruments, and that's fun.
MGMT
1/5
Didn't do much for me.
Megadeth
4/5
I don't listen to a lot of metal, especially "thrash metal" as this band and album are typically categorized, but I've heard the name Megadeth since they emerged in the 80s, and I am very glad to have the chance to listen to this one. It's really, really good. These musicians are incredibly skilled. I know from my own clumsy attempts to learn and play music that it is very difficult to play at high tempos and in tight synchronization. Super-high energy, and so on. I know that kind of sonic attack is exactly what they went for. This band pulls it all off in spades.
I usually don't understand what the vocalist, Dave Mustaine, is singing, but I have a strong feeling that's intended. And I know if I tried to sing like that my throat would give out in the first line, so I imagine it takes some training, time, and skill to perform like he does.
Yet another example of why I truly love this project. I doubt I would have made the effort to listen to any of Megadeth's music were it not for this project. So cool.
The Slits
4/5
I had not heard of the band or heard their music before. This album is a lot of fun and it's interesting, too. For the late 70s, it's a rather inventive mash-up of a handful of styles and genres, and there's an intelligence to it masked by its irreverence. It's rare to see a band pull that off because too often the music slips into parody and silliness, and that's usually more distracting and, frankly, boring. This album avoids that, thank goodness.
The percussion is really strong on most of these tracks. Unusual but not too random.
The vocals are delivered superbly. One can hear how they influenced so many acts that followed.
Bass guitar and guitar are performed so well.
This is a heck of a band. I need to hear more.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
3/5
I've heard the name of this band before because they were part of the same Bay Area music and psychedelia scene in the 60s, but I am not sure if I've ever heard their music.
I know this is a live album and I have a feeling this is a lot better than it might have been had it been a studio album. They are having fun and they are into the music as they perform, and I can hear that. I can also hear how good they are as performers and improvisers. I can get past the way they sound and their music choices -- which have been done by so many for so long -- because this is earlier in the rock path that was developing at the time.
The lead singer's voice and vocal performances remind me a lot of early Grateful Dead's Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. I'm sure a lot of blues-rooted rockers of the time sounded that way.
I don't see myself coming back to re-listen at all, but I get the importance of the album given the time, the culture, and so on.
SAULT
4/5
I think it must have been a while since some R&B appeared in my rotation, and I am grateful for that. This album is outstanding. I had not heard of the group or heard their music before. I also love that it was released just three years ago.
The sound and style are intriguing and each track kept my attention and engagement. So layered. Spoken word at times, layered over electronic harmonies and rhythms, and some fantastic vocal work -- again, superb harmonies.
Great cover art, too. In their music and in the cover art, they manage to find a balance between rich subtlety and major impact. Incredibly difficult to do, and seriously impressive.
I read the Wikipedia entry about the group, and they take an unusual approach to their work. They avoid media attention, have never performed live, and sometimes their contributors are not named. Wow, that's a different and admirable path.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Because I first encountered this band and their music when the album called 'Album' was released in 1986 when I was in college and open to all sorts of styles of music, I owned and liked that album but never really knew anything about it or the band other than the fact that John Lydon of the Sex Pistols was lead singer, I assumed all these years that was their debut album. Yet another testament to why I love this 1001 Albums project is how many misconceptions and myths it clears up for me, and of course I realize now thanks to this album coming up in the rotation that they first formed and recorded in the late 70s.
This album is so darn raw, and I do understand that's completely intended. I do like some of the tracks and I hear in them a lot of the elements that we'd hear for years and years in the post-punk era.
I get this album's importance. Nicely done.
Bebel Gilberto
4/5
Oh, my, what a VOICE. When vocalists have the talent and training to use their voice as a true instrument, it's always so impressive to my ear. The musical style of the songs on this album suits her perfectly, and it is a genuine pleasure to listen to her sing and to the musical accompaniments. This is great.
Radiohead
3/5
I still don't fully get Radiohead although I'm interested. They are, to my ear, superbly talented and exploratory, and that's why I keep coming back to give them various tries, here and elsewhere.
As a band, their music has yet to "click" with me, so I rarely spend much time listening to them for my own enjoyment, but that's just part of the journey. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.
One thing for sure, they are so keen on approaching music from many angles, and that I definitely appreciate.
The Replacements
3/5
I think this is a solid album. Really nice balance of catchy riffs and melodies against some post-punk crunch and swagger. I also love that they already viewed in the early/mid-80s that the punk culture was just as prone to snobbery and judgment as any culture. Please know I don't mean to single out punk culture alone; no culture of which I'm aware is immune to it. I used to see a lot of Dead shows, for example, and after a few years, I started to really dislike that same exclusivity that I'm addressing here.
Back to the album and music. Superbly composed and arranged, and wonderfully performed. There are some fast and difficult rhythmic and harmonic elements here and I know they are not easy to perform well.
I like Paul Westerberg's solo work, too.
I had forgotten that Peter Buck plays the guitar solo on "I Will Dare". Very cool.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
I definitely remember them from the Paul Simon album, 'Graceland,' and it was such a huge record at the time. I know that Ladysmith Black Mambazo had a lot of success in the US and elsewhere following that album, and I did hear some of their music from this and other albums. It's beautiful stuff. Love the vocal harmonies and emotional content.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
This album is great. Soul, funk, and smooth. The performances are superb. So tight yet somehow feels loose. Important album culturally, too. I'm glad it's getting attention here.
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
I had not heard of the artists or heard their music. Smooth and soulful, and the lyrics are a powerful reflection of (or response to) what was happening at the time. Musically, I like the way quite a few of the songs leave space for things to sink in or simmer. They want to say what's important to them and it's not rushed at all. Hard to do because I think a lot of bands or musicians who want to say something they believe is important can sometimes push too hard, which dilutes what they seem to want to get across.
When they groove, they really groove superbly. I can hear the jazz and blues influences on their soul style, and it's really good.
Solid album, and I also think it's important to keep the history alive. The struggle is real and still around today, unfortunately. We can do better. I honestly believe that, painful as the past and present are. We can do better. We have to.
Brian Eno
4/5
I appreciate what they are doing on this album, and kudos to David Byrne for taking this step among so many he'd take over the decades into something new -- he could have easily stayed only on the Talking Heads' path and done just fine -- so I genuinely admire his curious mind, eagerness to explore, and desire to collaborate with Brian Eno and his desire to work with countless others through the present.
There are some very interesting (at least to my ear) tracks on this album. 'Regiment' is just one example. Really drew me in.
Sometimes "sampling" kind of annoys me, just a personal preference, but I understand why some artists like to create works with samples in them.
Overall, though, the exploration of sound and textures is very interesting to me. Good work here.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
These songs are so interesting. The writing, composition, and performance of each one always pull me in. Leonard Cohen is fascinating.
The Pharcyde
3/5
I had not heard of this group or heard any of their music before, and I enjoyed it. Although the lyrics can be quite juvenile at times, it's different in that there's real wit behind of a lot of it. The album sounds like they are genuinely having a lot of fun and that's catchy.
The beats and rhythms are great, and the emcees nail it with their phrasing and timing.
Some standout harmonies, too -- I liked what I heard driving 'Soul Flower (Remix)' for example.
Once again, grateful to this project for introducing me to so many albums, artists, and styles I doubt I'd ever come across on my own, including this record. Nicely done.
The Monkees
3/5
Such an interesting history and background, given the television program, the musicians being actors and vice versa, so it's a different context here. I watched the series as reruns when I was a kid in the 70s.
Setting aside all that to listen to the album -- and I don't recall ever owning or listening to any of The Monkees' albums -- it's good pop music that's very much appropriate for pop music of the time. It doesn't stand out to me as anything special, but I get how the group and album are considered important with the commercial success of the show and group, and the cultural setting in which it all happened.
Listening to this album did help me appreciate the band members' musical abilities. Mike Nesmith writes and performs really well, and Micky Dolenz has a cool voice that stands out a bit.
M.I.A.
4/5
All new to me -- the artist and her work -- and this album really caught my ear. Such an interesting, eclectic, and mesmerizing style. I wanted to learn more about her, so I read the Wikipedia entry about her. Her path is fascinating and even though her more recent public proclamations that spread conspiracy theories around are quite troubling, I do admire her strength and guts as an activist and artist.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
I am starting to hear and understand more of Zappa's humor, which is dark, satirical, and biting...all of which I love dearly. I know that there are many devoted fans of Frank Zappa in so many ways, and I know I'm extraordinarily late to that party. His music is on its own path, no doubt, and that's very hard to do well. Mixing music and comedy is always tricky for me--can't quite explain it, but it can quickly annoy me--but at least he brings to that mix musicianship that is way above most.
I do get what an amazing, multifaceted, and talented musician he was. There is a ton of his work to which I've never listened, and I think it's worth it for me to check it out.
Elbow
3/5
I had not heard of this group and had not heard any of their music before. I like it. They are very skilled performers but what stood out more for me is their songs' compositional style. They do a nice job of avoiding the over-used rock and indie-rock traps; instead, there are some more unusual layers (one of many examples: the keys on 'An Audience With The Pope').
Nicely done.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
I saw Adam And The Ants in concert in '84. I enjoyed some of their hits at the time, and from what I can remember they had a lot of theatrical fun in their live shows. I didn't really listen to them very much beyond that. Not from any conscious decision that I recall; I just had other interests and off I went.
So, really, this is probably the first time I've listened to any of their albums in full. It's more edgy than I would have guessed, and I like that they weave in some elements from non-Western music.
I also like the homage to Link Ray's "Rumble" in "Killer in the Home". (Oddly, not mentioned in the Wikipedia entry about the album.)
I don't necessarily love all the songs, but that's more a stylistic preference on my part than anything else.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
That was certainly unexpected and unusual. I’m impressed with the band’s willingness to explore different tunings and tonality. I did find that most of the album seemed too heavily distorted for me to really follow it, though. That might be intended by them, or maybe it’s my untrained ear, I don’t know.
The Damned
3/5
Their sound is very punk, that's for sure. They are tighter and a little more musical than some of the punk offerings of the era. High energy, etc. Fun stuff.
D'Angelo
3/5
Very nice modern-yet-vintage soul-feel to this album. I read that he wrote and arranged nearly everything and played multiple instruments as well as sang the songs. Very cool!
Linkin Park
3/5
Oh, good! In all honesty, I've heard this band's name for years yet somehow never got around to listening to any of their music. I didn't even know what genre or style of music they tend to play. I'm glad this came up.
This group is definitely strong and talented as writers and performers. Sound is very tight and well-orchestrated, and I like the blend of styles I hear. Hard rock, rap, post-punk, etc. It could very easily tip into sounding like just too many ingredients but they manage to show enough restraint to avoid that.
Nicely done.
Metallica
4/5
I already like Metallica and their music, and this gave me a chance to listen to the album in full for the first time. It's excellent. Highly charged, tight as can be, and very well composed.
The music video they put together for 'One' is haunting and really stays with me. Wow.
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
Musically, some very interesting things going on here and the album is a good listen. I know I'm a bit prudish on the lyrics front, so I accept that people express themselves in very different ways, that's for sure. But I do like this album. Really nice stuff here.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Although I almost never listen to reggae these days, I really enjoyed this album. Yeah, it still has that stoner vibe to it, but it’s not annoying at all, which far too much stoner music is to my ears.
The Icarus Line
2/5
It's not bad in any way; just as a matter of personal preference, it didn't quite click for me. Felt too generic, I think.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Great album. Solid reminder, too, of the long and rich history of hip-hop. This year's (2023) Grammys show had a fantastic ensemble performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and of course, Dre was in it. Just fantastic!
The Flaming Lips
3/5
I am only vaguely familiar with the Flaming Lips. I think a friend sent me a cassette tape in the 90s with a recording of one of their albums, but that's all I really remember.
I like that they seem to have their own sound and style. I enjoyed the album and I definitely want to explore their long recording history, which, from reading the main Wikipedia article on the band, has a ton of stuff. I didn't know they had formed all the way back in '83 and have decades of work. It also sounds like they've evolved and changed their music quite often, and from this album, I hear the skills to pull that off well.
Interesting they chose a photo of Neal Cassady for their album cover. I'd like to know the story behind that.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
There is a nice variety of sounds and styles driving the tracks on this album. I really like this one. My ears were engaged in the music and the lyrics are a mix of really hardcore, tough, deep stuff, tons of profanity, and some fun stuff. Great energy in this album. The songs are very well arranged and orchestrated, too.
King Crimson
5/5
First of all, the cover art. Outside and inside. I'm not a fan of ranking or rating anything to do with art -- music or visual or otherwise -- so I'm speaking exclusively from my own subjective experience when I say it's one of the greatest album covers of all time. I owned this record as a teen and used to get lost in the paintings on the outside and inside.
Now, the album, musically. The older I get (now in my mid-50s) and the further I travel along my own music-learning journey -- I am a relatively early-stage guitarist (a little over three years in now) and music student (taking courses via Berklee Online in guitar, music theory, harmony, etc.) -- the more I appreciate the creativity, skill, and innovation I hear in this album.
I listen to a wide variety of music, thanks in part to this wonderful project, and although I really do cut across as many genres as I can, jazz still has the largest share of my listening ear. Unskilled as I am as a musician, and still-at-this-point relatively untrained as my ear is, I find an endless source of artistic fascination in all music, especially jazz. My ears are drawn more and more to being challenged and surprised.
Even though this is King Crimson's debut album, and they were so young at the time, it's incredible. So rich, so dark, so intricate. I need to dive deeply into the rest of their catalog, of course. I know the personnel changed a lot over the years, but they've always had founding member Robert Fripp.
Robert Fripp fascinates me. I have not yet read it, but I did get his recent book, The Guitar Circle, because every time I learn about him or hear him in an interview, it's always so interesting to me. And the way he plays so inventively and so very much in his own way. I just read the full Wikipedia entry on Robert Fripp. I knew he had done so much, but I didn't realize it is THAT much. Whoa.
Brilliant, brilliant stuff here. Brilliant!
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I liked this album more than I expected I would--some of the Stones' music either bores or annoys me. I like the swampy-bluesy feel of a lot of the tracks, and there's some great musicianship going on here. It feels more accessible to me than quite a bit of their other work. Almost garage-band or bar-band (in the most positive way) but also with some very skilled performances.
3/5
I don't listen to very much country music, old or new, so this was a nice departure for me. I'd definitely heard of Loretta Lynn and I've heard a few of her songs before, although I think everything on this album is new to me. She has an excellent voice -- really controls it so well yet delivers with emotion. There are some great musicians performing on these recordings, too. The band plays with nice precision and restraint.
Although it's not the kind of music or album I imagine coming back to, I can appreciate how good it is for its style and genre.
Bauhaus
3/5
It's of a different style than I typically hear, and I like it. A bit of a mash-up of electronic, rock, pop, etc. Very cool cover, too.
John Grant
3/5
Both the artist and his former band were unknown to me until this album came up today in the rotation. This is an excellent record. He manages as a composer and performer to balance sweetness and tension, and some of the string arrangements supporting the song are incredible (e.g., 'Where Dreams Go To Die').
I read the Wikipedia entries on this album and on John Grant. Helped put these songs into context, and made me feel even more deeply for him and his art. There is such rich and personal expression here.
I'm glad this project introduced me to his work. I'll have to check out more of what he's done, and I want to hear what he and his band, The Czars, did when they were together.
Mudhoney
3/5
Great to hear a band from the early days of "grunge". I'd definitely heard the name of the band but I don't recall hearing any of their music. I know in the context of the time and place when they recorded and released this album, I would probably be into it, especially if I had been younger when grunge really took flight. Like a lot of people my age, at least those who were exposed to Western music almost exclusively in their formative years, I've heard so much grunge and grunge-influenced music that at this point it's really tough for any of that music to stand out. No fault of this band or this album, of course.
Putting all that aside as best I can, I get why this album is considered quite influential and I hear so many elements in here that show up all through the 90s+.
Fun cover, by the way, and funny album title.
Def Leppard
1/5
I definitely remember this band and a lot of the tracks from this album because it was released when I was about 20 or so, and it got a lot of airplay and dorm play. Didn't really do it for me back then. It's not bad, just holds no interest for me. Still have the same reaction today. Just not interested.
Mekons
3/5
I had not heard of the Mekons or heard any of their music. Although this style became very common for the decades that followed, from what I've read this album was one of the earliest examples of "alt-country". It's still raucous-feeling to me, and some good punk-influenced rock with quite a bit of country elements. Overall, pretty good stuff.
Iron Maiden
4/5
My teen years were all in the 80s, so I remember vividly the fairly large number of 3/4-sleeve t-shirts with this image and other Iron Maiden images on them. I was more into what we now call "classic rock" and progressive rock, so I didn't pay much -- really, any -- attention to this band and other big-name metal acts. I honestly don't recall hearing any of their music before.
So, given that I've not typically listened to much metal/thrash/hardcore/etc. music, I'm glad this project is introducing me to quite a bit of it.
This band -- at least on this album; I'm inspired now to check out some of their other work -- is really strong. They compose and perform more musically and melodically than I would have guessed, yet of course, they always have that hard-driving metal sound. What surprised me were things like their very well-performed vocal harmonies. Instrumentally, they are superbly tight and deliver so well.
This album was released in 1982 (and the band had been together for 7 years by then), so I can hear how it influenced a lot of acts that followed in the 80s and 90s.
By the way, even though I didn't listen to the band back then, I've always loved their album art. It was fun to read about it, learn about Eddie, and really fun to revel in the ridiculousness of the conservative backlash against the band for being "Satanists". Hilarious. (Although I do get how any time religious conservatives focused their energy on a particular band, that band's album and concert ticket sales went way up, which is even funnier.) The artist put Salvador Dali's face on the devil figure as a joke. Love it.
I think most everyone knows this by now, but another fun fact is how an "iron maiden" as a purported medieval torture device did not actually exist. It was either made up by owners of European tourist sites in the 18th or 19th centuries or misunderstood by them.
Back to the album. Once again, this project has opened my ears to a band whose music I probably would've ignored my whole life. So cool.
The Lemonheads
3/5
I had this album soon after it was released because I liked the title track. I remember listening to the rest of the album back then and not being that into it. I’m glad it came up in the rotation because all these years later it’s good to give it another chance, something I occasionally thought about doing since then but never did.
Listening to it now, I hear the “jangle pop” style that I definitely missed more than 30 years ago when this album was released. It’s better than I remember. It gets a little bland at times, but overall it’s solid.
I had not known Juliana Hatfield was a member of the band when this album was recorded. She’s so talented. Would have loved to hear her sing and lead more on this album.
I don’t remember hearing this band after this album. I might check out their later work to see where they took things. Reading the Wikipedia entry on the band, sounds like their were constantly changing personnel.
David Bowie
4/5
Love how David Bowie was always so willing to reinvent himself, evolve, experiment, and try new art.
This album has some superb tracks on it, and overall it is composed so beautifully. The more melodic, warmer, piano-based songs are a nice departure from the harder, guitar-driven rock of his previous albums, much as I love those too. As usual, the performances are excellent.
I didn’t realize Rick Wakeman plays piano on this album. Fantastic.
A lot of the songs on this album are either new to me or I just don’t remember hearing them, and I will give this album more attention so I can listen to the lyrics. He’s an excellent writer.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Once again this project helps remind me how innovative bands like Kraftwerk were. Electronic music has been around for several decades now, so our ears are quite accustomed to it, but it's fun to imagine how unusual this album, which came out in 1978 and is the band's seventh album, must have sounded to 1970s listeners.
Even with electronic music's ubiquity for so long, this record was enjoyable for me to hear. I'm going to read up on how they recorded and produced this album. I know that these days creators can put together similar tracks on a laptop or home computer for very little cost, so I'm curious about what it took in the 70s to make this album.
Talvin Singh
3/5
Quite a variety of sounds and styles on this record. Very interesting. I had not heard of the artist or heard any of his work before. Serious effort when into this in many ways, and very early pioneer in the development of music production as the internet was just ramping up.
Gram Parsons
3/5
This is a good album, and it's very cool to hear a young Emmylou Harris, who to my ear has made some spectacular music over the decades be featured so prominently on this record.
Nice stuff.
John Lennon
4/5
I had heard some, but not all, tracks from this record. It's really strong. It might sound silly, but I'll always be a little sad that John Lennon and Paul McCartney parted acrimoniously (same with Roger Waters and the rest of Pink Floyd, particularly David Gilmour), but I acknowledge that's a childish view on my part. That being said, like Paul McCartney, the post-Beatles music John Lennon created is still excellent. I'm glad I got to hear the full album.
PS -- The bad rep Yoko Ono has had to endure for decades is so unnecessary; no, she is not the reason the Beatles broke up. Also, I once saw an exhibition of some of her artwork and it was great.
George Michael
4/5
I love George Michael! He doesn't get enough credit for his bravery and creativity. I do believe folks now have a better appreciation of him and his art as they look back on all he did. Many of these songs are straight-up catchy and solid pop, but listening to the tracks more attentively today, I realize that there is more depth and complexity there than one (or at least I) might have heard back when these songs were getting routine airplay.
As with his previous solo album, Faith, Michael wrote most of the tracks and arranged and produced all tracks. When I keep that in mind as I listen to the album, I'm even more impressed.
And what a voice.
Rest in peace, George.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Although I like quite a few of his songs - on his own or with his band - I don't really listen to Bruce Springsteen very much. I hadn't paid a lot of attention to this album, so I'm glad it came up in the rotation. It's quite a nice departure from a lot of his other music, at least his music with which I am more familiar. When I'm in the mood for this (just so happen to be this afternoon as I listened to it), it's a really solid record.
I love learning that these songs were originally recorded as demos but he decided to release them as they were. The less-polished versions on this album add so much character and depth to what he composed. Feels approachable and relatable.
Donovan
2/5
I'm familiar with a few of these tracks. I really love "Season Of The Witch" -- that one clicks in well with me. The rest mostly sound too much like the time to me. I do get the importance of this album and some of his other work, but overall it doesn't do much for me.
Willie Nelson
4/5
I've of course heard Willie Nelson's name since I was a little kid, and from what I know of him as a person he seems very interesting and likable, but I admit I haven't listened to much of his music at all. Maybe just a few songs, and only because they were playing somewhere I was and I recognize his voice, which is rather distinctive (and I like it).
So, this was definitely the first time I've ever listened to an album of his, and it's superb. I love the sparse arrangements and performances, and as a lyricist he is truly fantastic. I like the way he sings and tells stories, and his musicianship is excellent.
Okay, I'm in.
2/5
Whoa, that's got some real frenetic stuff on it! I definitely appreciate what the artists are doing here, but it's a bit much for my ears.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
Rufus Wainwright is, to my ear, a fantastic composer and performer. I realize as I listen to this album that I have heard only a small portion of his creative output, so I'll spend more time with him. Quite a lot of nice layers in here. Very interesting.
Boards of Canada
3/5
Ooo, did not expect this at all, and I really like it. I don't listen to music like this very often, but when I hear something like this album, I am more interested in it. Intriguing rhythms, intricate layers, and never an assault on the ears.
I have a feeling if I were to listen to this record on headphones, possibly under the influence of something, I'd be very into it. Even completely sober in the light of day, as I am now and was when I listened to this, it draws me in.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I had heard most of these tracks many times when I was younger. While I'm still not a very consistent Stones fan, there are some good songs on this one. I appreciate how important and influential they have been on so much music and culture since the 60s, but, honestly, while a handful of their songs are truly excellent to my ears, I'm just not wildly into them overall.
Pearl Jam
5/5
I had this album (back when I collected CDs, as I did back then when this album was released) and listened to it a lot back in the early 90s. Because most of the music I had listened to and liked most in my youth is what we now call "classic rock," I think that played a big role in why I liked this album so much back then. It was more hard-edged and grungy than most of the rock I'd liked up until then, but not so much so that it wasn't accessible to me.
It also was released at a time in my life when quite a few of the songs' lyrics resonate well with me.
Musically, I was blown away by the band, especially Jeff Ament's bass and Mike McCready's and Stone Gossard's guitars. Eddie Vedder's voice is strong and outstanding and was perfect for their music.
I probably overplayed their music because, after a few years, I stopped listening to them. Not their fault, just life and all that. I remember buying their next album and liking it enough, but things faded away and I moved on. I never felt like they weren't great or making cool art; I just didn't focus on them anymore.
I had barely listened to them very much since then, so it was great to see this album pop up in the rotation. I definitely haven't given this album a full listen in what is now about 25 years or so. I was curious as it started how I'd respond to it.
Glad I listened. Just some incredibly solid and superbly crafted rock music with lyrics that aren't juvenile, and absolutely stellar performances by all members of the band. Great energy, real depth, and overall really, really well done.
Thanks, 1001 Albums project. You done did it again. :-)
Elvis Presley
5/5
I happen to love Elvis. I do. I love the way he sings, the songs he selects, and the personnel on many of his records, including this one. Scotty Moore is such a great guitarist. Bill Black is wonderful too. Very cool that Chet Atkins plays on a couple of these tracks.
Elvis' early work, like this debut album, is just fantastic. The energy, the performances...it's all so good.
Even if you're not a fan of Elvis, if you do like rock music, I strongly encourage listening to Andrew Hickey's podcast, A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs. Start at Episode 1 and go in order from there. I promise it's worth it. Absolutely worth it.
And keep on rockin', Elvis.
David Bowie
4/5
I have to admit I don't recall hearing these tracks before, and although I might have been aware at the time that David Bowie had recorded and released this album, I don't remember being so. Either way, what a treat to listen to this album all the way through for the first time. These songs and the whole album are superb.
An artist in his sixties being able to create and craft such a strong offering...wow. Inspirational!
Such a treasure, David Bowie, such a treasure. You are missed.
Sleep well, Sweet Prince.
Anita Baker
4/5
I remember a few of these tracks from the 80s when she and this album were very popular. I didn't pay much attention to her music at the time because it was out of my usual listening lane, so I'm glad this project served it up today. Holy Schneikies, that VOICE! She is fantastic as a vocalist and performer. I am not trained or experienced enough in music to identify specifics, but I could hear how wide and rich her range is and according to the main Wikipedia article on her, "Baker is a contralto with a range of nearly three octaves."
Musically, another reason I'm glad to have listened to this album is to hear how the songs are more interesting, layered, and complex than I would have guessed. I wish I had a deeper appreciation for music back then, but obviously there's nothing I can do about that, so it's wonderful to embrace new music now or revisit music I missed or overlooked, and hear things in the music I used to ignore from my closed-mindedness.
She is incredible.
Guided By Voices
3/5
And once again this project introduces me to yet another band I'd not yet heard of or heard before, and that I like. Based on this album at least, they are a band I am sure I would have enjoyed had I heard them in my high school and college years. Anyway, I've heard them now, so I'll go from here.
I like their sense of melody. Even though they are performing in what I guess I'd call a garage-rock, alt-rock, or similar style, they are a bit more interesting to my ear than a lot of bands that crowd that space.
Unusual to see a full album of such brief tracks. Kind of fun.
Jungle Brothers
4/5
Wow, this album is fantastic! So well arranged, composed, sampled, recorded, and performed. They caught my ear from the first track and I was hooked. One of the many things I love about these tracks is they are great they way they are, yet they could be transformed into almost any genre and sound great that way, too. I can hear these performances as straight-up jazz, rock, R&B, acoustic, etc., and still remain very interesting and catchy. I'll have to explore this band's other work. Thanks, 1001 Albums project -- you did it again!
Janelle Monáe
5/5
Wow. I'd definitely heard of Janelle Monáe and knew she had already made quite a mark on the music front when I started hearing about her as an actress (and I saw her in a recent movie; she is excellent on that front, too!), but I'd not listened to her music before. This album is superb. What a variety and all composed, arranged, performed, and recorded so well. Her voice is spectacular. So much thought behind these tracks. Such precision and energy yet also infused with passion.
I'll be sure to listen to more of her work. Stupendous!
The Band
3/5
Pretty sure I had this album back in my college days. I do remember most of the tracks, and although I rarely listen to The Band at present, I still appreciate their work. Such a great band.
Elton John
4/5
So many great songs on this album, and I'll always admire Elton John not just as a songwriter, musician, performer, and entertainer, but also for his bravery in being who he truly is at a time when that was so tough to do (not that it's super-easy now, but it was even more dangerous back then).
4/5
This band is fantastic. Even as a young teen when I first heard 'Whip It!', I loved their humor. Much later, I realized what excellent musicians they are. I am glad I got to listen to this album in full, which I hadn't done before. When I place this album in the time and context of when it was recorded and released, it's clear to me how ahead of their time they were. So fun.
And I do remember devoted Stones fans losing their minds over Devo's cover of 'Satisfaction' on this album. That cracked me up.
Superb!
Madonna
4/5
I like Madonna and her music, and really admire her as person. I say that because the older I get, the more I realize how cruelly she has been -- and still is -- treated publicly. I honestly do not believe she'd get a fraction of the sh*t she gets if she were male. Even this year (2023) when she appeared at the Grammys to present an award, the public comments about her looks -- in her mid-60s -- were embarrassing. We have a long way to go, people. A long way to go.
Back to this album. I had not heard it before and I don't recall hearing any of the tracks from it, and I'm glad this project served it up. Her great sense of composing and arranging songs is evident, and I like the style of music she chose to make for this record. She's always had a superb ear and voice for melody, and it shows here too.
Good for you for being who you want to be when you want to be, Madonna. If people need to put you down for it, so be it: it says everything about them and nothing about you.
Play on!
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
Yet another in the ever-growing list of examples of why I am so grateful for this project. I must admit that were someone to have described this album to me or if I read a quick description of it, I would have been reluctant to give it a listen. But it works. It works really, really well.
I hear an inventive and creative use of various instruments coming together in compositions and performances with nuance, energy, playfulness, depth, darkness, and some truly incredible skills. It's a great listen.
Thank you, 1001 Albums Generator -- you done did it again! :-)
Slipknot
3/5
I've definitely heard this band's name for at least a few years, but I don't recall having listened to them or their songs before. These performers are incredibly skilled, no doubt. Some of the tracks are a bit too thrashy and shouty for my own personal tastes, but in the right mood, I can hear that I'd like them. Some of the other tracks are less in my face and I enjoyed those.
Jurassic 5
3/5
I like this album -- great songs with catchy beats and vocals, plus the arrangements, often including various instruments and harmonies, as well as plenty of samples, are a strong feature.
T. Rex
1/5
It’s just not something I like very much.
Elis Regina
3/5
What a voice! I had not heard of this artist or her music before. Glad this project introduced me to her.
The Police
4/5
I liked The Police a lot in the 80s and I saw them during the Synchronicity tour. I haven't listened to them very much since then, but when I hear any of their songs in recent years, I am increasingly impressed with Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland as musicians. Love the complexity they bring to their craft.
It's hard for me to separate all the public image stuff around Sting from the music he was part of with this band and in later years, but when I set that aside and just listen to the work, I usually like it. His voice sometimes is a bit much for me, but ignoring what I might think of his public persona I do hear some great stuff from him from time to time. He's also put out some music as a solo artist that doesn't interest me, but that's probably something I'd say of any musician who has recorded so many albums over decades.
This is a solid album even today and very much brings me back to some fun memories.
4/5
I owned most Yes albums in my teens, including this one. I listened to Yes quite often back then. Although I don't listen to them regularly these days and haven't for many years, it was great to hear this album again. This band, particularly with Bill Bruford in the lineup, is such a stellar assembly of incredible musicians and artists. Steve Howe is a remarkable guitarist.
To my current ear, it's a little organ-heavy (or synth-heavy, but it sounds organ-like to me), and occasionally a little frenetic, but musically it holds up so well. Quite symphonic in moments.
Madness
3/5
Admittedly, I've heard only their big hit in the US, "Our House", which I did like when it had a lot of airplay here. I never pursued the band or listened to anything else they did, so I'm glad to hear this album and to get to know them a little better.
One of the many great things about this project is the way it lets me learn about bands, musical and cultural movements, and so much more. When I do read up on an album and a band, almost always the background stories and contexts are interesting and help me to connect what I'm hearing with the time, place, and circumstances of an album and, more importantly (at least to me), the people who made it.
What I've picked up from listening to this album for the first time is this band is quite talented and fuses together a few styles very well for this record. Because of when "Our House" was a hit in the US, it's funny to me that I think of this band as more advanced in time than they really were -- they formed in 1976 and this is a 1982 album. Time warps, especially over, well, time.
Musically, I like that although they are characterized as a ska band, they are more varied than that and don't sound like people imitating a style outright from another culture, which at times can be uncomfortable. Instead, they sound like themselves and I appreciate that.
Some of the songs have interesting and sophisticated elements to them, including some jazz and other styles, yet the tracks remain mostly pop-ish and accessible.
This is some really good stuff. Thanks, 1001 Albums Project!
Steely Dan
5/5
I am an unabashed fan of Steely Dan, and I love listening to this album to hear their sound as they started what I consider to be a truly epic journey of rock music creation, recording, and production. Even at this early stage, I can hear that they thought in layers and textures, and weaved in influences from rock, jazz, pop, R&B, soul, and other styles.
They began here, too, their practice in this album of bringing in some of the most creative and interesting -- and incredibly skilled -- musicians to contribute to their studio efforts.
Just superb stuff, and a stellar launch into a rich history of musical creation and innovation.
Motörhead
3/5
I definitely had heard of them -- and always loved the umlaut in their name, so fun! -- but I don't recall hearing their music before. I probably dismissed them outright in my teen years when I decided I didn't like speed metal, heavy metal, thrash, etc., even without listening very much to those styles. Ah, youth.
So I'm glad this project served up this album today so I could finally actually listen to this band instead of judging them without hearing a note. I found it to be a little bit more "hard rock" than "heavy metal", although there are elements of those styles as well as plenty of what I believe we might call "speed metal" too.
I hear some real skill in their musicianship and performing. And they want to up the tempo, wow, they can rock. The songs themselves are not the kind that draw me in and cause me to relisten or seek out more of a band's music, but that's all a matter of personal preference.
The Darkness
2/5
Had not heard of them or heard their music before. Gave it a try. It’s not bad but it just didn’t do much for me.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
I’d heard some of these songs before and always liked them. Love the way the vocals are performed and the music is great.
Thin Lizzy
2/5
I had heard of Thin Lizzy and a couple of their songs but didn't know or remember much more. It's definitely 70s rock and sounds like it was fun. Not the band's fault at all, but because I grew up on this sound and have heard it for decades, and because I have for quite some time now listened to all sorts of music often with a lot of complexity to it, it's really hard for my ears to hear it as interesting. Just too many soundalikes out there.
The band performs very well, so again, not a reflection of them. Just oversaturation to my listening ears.
Boston
5/5
This is one of the first albums I ever owned. And, yep, it was an 8-track tape. Ah, yes, the limits of 8-track tapes: one of my favorite songs, 'Hitch A Ride', had to be faded out in the middle of it then faded back in on a new track because they couldn't make it fit. I probably wore that thing down to nothing in a few years.
I will always love this album and all the songs on it. There's no way for me to separate the time travel I experience when I hear these tracks, which transport me back to age 12 when I listened to this album incessantly and couldn't believe how amazing it was, from the music itself, so I won't even try.
I do encourage people to read up on Tom Scholz. Such a fascinating person. And what a superb musician, wow!
Brad Delp's story is very sad. My heart breaks for people who knew him and cared for him.
What an album. To me, it contains the best and most positive attributes of 70s rock and pop. So easy to make fun of, I know, but here, on this album, it just shines so beautifully.
Beck
3/5
I remember a few of these songs, and I still like them. I hadn't heard the full album before and I'm glad this project gave me a good reason to listen to it. I think he's a very strong writer and performer, and I like the way he puts his songs together. Good stuff.
Destiny's Child
4/5
Such a great album. I knew some of the songs from airplay back when it was released, but I hadn't heard the whole album before. This group is fantastic, and Beyoncé is, well...Beyoncé. She is truly in a league by herself.
Harry Nilsson
2/5
He is a strong composer and performer, no doubt. Some nice songs on this album.
Roni Size
4/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
1/5
I gave it a listen and it just doesn't do much for me, sorry.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
It's Led Zeppelin, and I am a lifelong fan of the band, so as one might expect, I really do love this album. As the Wikipedia article notes, on this, their third album, the band starts to get into a wider range of styles and portends things to come in the albums that follow. Also, on this album, we see more from John Paul Jones, long underrated and underappreciated as a multi-instrumentalist and superbly talented musician, both as a composer and a performer.
Superb.
Jamiroquai
3/5
I hadn't heard of the band or heard any of their songs that I can recall, so it was nice to be introduced to them. They are an excellent band -- dang, they play superbly well! -- and I enjoyed the album. My only slight criticism is they sometimes sound too similar to Stevie Wonder to my ears, but I fully recognize that is my own perception speaking because I don't listen to a lot of music in this style so it's hard for my auditory mind not to compare anything like this to Stevie. Other than that, though, these folks are really, really good.
Pixies
4/5
This is a great album. I had heard most of it at various times over the year, so it's nice to listen to it all the way through. Helps me get more of a feel for it. I've recently found some of Kim Deal's more current music, and she's still phenomenal. This band was, in a way, ahead of their time, or at least seem to me to be pushing into new styles in the 80s when they wrote and recorded this album. A lot of grunge that followed seems somewhat rooted in what the Pixies did in the 80s.
The Fall
3/5
The name of the band might be familiar to me, but I honestly don't know for sure, and I really don't recall having heard their music in the past. I am very glad this project introduced me to them -- this album is superb, and I love their style. I hear a very nice blend of punk and post-punk elements with more accessible pop and rock influences, but it never seems to tilt too much in any one direction. That's not easy to do. Very impressive.
I always enjoy reading about the album and the band, and their discography is a lot bigger than most bands. They made a ton of music over the years, which is another impressive thing about them.
Frank Ocean
1/5
It's okay, just doesn't grab me.
Duke Ellington
5/5
I hope that over time the music lovers of the world will realize that Duke Ellington belongs in the same conversation as Bach and a small handful of other generationally or century-level composers (setting aside his ridiculous talents as an arranger, leader, conductor, and performer, each of which is worthy of lengthy exploration and adulation). This album is absolutely phenomenal and on its own would be worthy of this and any list of greats. Put in the greater context of Duke Ellington's lifetime of work and we're up on another plane of existence, creativity, and expression.
The influence of his music and work goes much further, broader, and deeper than we can really know. Even when we're enjoying a contemporary pop song, or a celebrated punk tune, or a Broadway number, or hip-hop groove, or almost anything in the past near-century or so, much of it can be traced back to Duke Ellington.
Epic. Legendary. Duke.
k.d. lang
3/5
Even though their (lang uses both her and their pronouns) style is usually not one I'm drawn to, I've enjoyed quite a few of k.d. lang's songs over the years because k.d. is so incredibly talented. It was nice to listen to this album all the way through as I don't believe I'd ever done that before. Once again, even though the styles and genres are not my usual listening fare, k.d. lang's vocal prowess draws me and captivates me. Just incredible.
Eurythmics
3/5
I liked their music when I first heard it in the 80s when they broke out with this album, their MTV videos, and beyond. As the years have gone by, I have a deeper appreciation for just how good they are, this album is, and what they (and Annie Lennox as a solo artist) did in the ensuing years. Her voice is extraordinary, and what makes her stand out for me is her unique style and very interesting sense of melody.
I also really, really admire what she's done publicly with her star power. She has long been a strong advocate for LGBTQIA+ dignity and rights, and as someone with family members and close friends in that community, that means a lot. We need it now, especially here in the US, more than ever.
Back to the music -- it's a fun album that also has a depth of layers we don't always hear in pop records. I don't usually listen to electronic-based music like this, but it's great stuff!
N.E.R.D
3/5
All new to me -- the group and its music -- and this is a fun one. Nice blend of hip-hop, rap, R&B, pop, and rock in here. I enjoyed it.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Anytime I've heard Amy Winehouse -- a song of hers, a video or audio recording of a performance, etc. -- I'm always in awe of her voice and her performing talent. Something about her is just so compelling to my ear, and it is great to hear this album (her debut album) all the way through for my first time. Wow. Absolutely brilliant.
I need to listen to more of her albums.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Once again, thank you 1001 Albums project for introducing me to yet another band of whom I'd never heard in name or any of their work. This is great stuff! So catchy and edgy without overdoing it. Musically, they manage to be sparse -- most songs seem to feature Karen O's vocals, Nick Zimmer's guitar, and Brian Chase's drum (plus a drum machine on some tracks) and nothing more -- and yet fill up the space sonically quite fully. I think it's the tempo and the way they perform. Whatever it is, it works.
Very cool album. I'll have to check out more of their recordings.
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
This is a solid album with some really nice tracks on it. I enjoyed it. Some cool videos, too, for a few of the songs. The animated one for "Light" is great.
The Jam
4/5
Love this band. Didn’t own this album but I remember a lot of the songs. Really think The Jam is a too-often overlooked and consistently underrated band. Nice to see them get some love from this list.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Thanks to this project and thanks even more to the incredible podcast series, 'A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs,' which I emphatically and enthusiastically recommend to even the most casual fan of rock music -- I promise it's worth it: start at the first episode, go chronologically from there, be patient, and I swear it's so worth it -- I am growing to appreciate The Beach Boys and understand their music has more complexity and evolution than I thought.
This album reflects their growth as they moved forward from earlier successes and pushed themselves with more interesting compositions and less teen-focused lyrics. As always, their musicianship is excellent and their vocal performances are superb.
Well done, 1001 Albums project and 'A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs' podcast. You opened my mind.
Joy Division
3/5
When I consider this album at the time of its release, it's got some interesting approaches that I don't think were widely prevalent at the time. They are very skilled musicians and performers.
Klaxons
2/5
Hadn't heard of this band or heard any of their music that I can recall. Some good tracks on this album. Don't feel compelled to come back to them -- nothing wrong with what I heard when I listened to it, just didn't grab me in a way that makes me want to listen to this again or explore their other music.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
I don't listen to very much country music so it's always a nice change when this project introduces me to another group or album I've not yet heard. I actually like this album. So different from most everything I usually listen to, and although it's easy to see how present-day people might mock this music, I like the simplicity of the style and story-telling of the lyrics.
Kanye West
2/5
Even though I know he is a very well-known public figure and there seems to be no shortage of commentary on him, I must admit I know almost nothing about his music or his life. It's not some statement on my part; just sort of fell into place that way and I have not yet felt compelled to learn more. For whatever that might mean, this is my first listen (at least that I'm aware of) to any of his music.
There seem to be some parts that make this at least in part a comedy album, but when it's on the music side of things, there are some really nice tracks in there. It's a bit more groovy and soul-like -- even some gospel and gospel-influence blues, too -- than most of the rap I've heard, and from what the Wikipedia article tells me there are quite a few contributing artists on this album. I don't know enough about him to be able to tell if the religious themes are part of the comedy or if he is (or at least at the time of this album, was) really religious. I don't listen to any religious music, so it's not my area of expertise.
Overall, a little frenetic at times and, frankly, the comedy bits are a little boring to me, as are some of the songs, but it's somewhat entertaining.
CHVRCHES
3/5
I haven't listened to a lot of synth-pop in my music life, so I'm glad this project served up this album. The tracks are very well done and they usually grab my ear and hook me in nicely. After a while, that amount of synthesizer is too much for my ear, but I don't usually listen to one artist straight through; when I listen for my own enjoyment, it's typically more by style than by individual artist or album. I see how these songs worked into a mix would be a nice addition.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
I remember owning this album soon after it was released. It, to me at least, seemed to be part of a wave of Americana/Roots Music popularity that was sparked by the soundtrack of the 2000 film 'O, Brother Where Art Thou?', on which Emmylou Harris is one of the featured artists. It's an excellent album and Ms. Harris is superbly talented.
I highly recommend the follow-up documentary, 'Down From The Mountain', which shows a performance of the music from the film and more, and in which we learn that Ms. Harris is an avid baseball fan. :)
White Denim
3/5
I'm the first to admit that I don't understand my own tastes and preferences in music specifically and art generally -- best I can do to describe it, especially as I get older, is "I like what I like" (yes, it's really vague, I know, but it also frees me, or at least is a big step in the direction of freeing me, from my own expectations) -- and my frequent dismissal of so-called "psychedelic music" or "jam bands" doesn't match up with my overall experience of life, but, hey, I like what I like.
That being said, this album caught and kept my attention a bit more than other bands in those very broad categories, and that to me is a good thing. Might be their musicianship, which is superb, and their ability to balance the "garage band" feel with genuine high-level composition and performance. They also seem influenced maybe by some indie rock, alt-rock, or gentler side of punk. I hear something like that in some of the tracks.
Because I was also a bit disinterested in what they were doing at times, I got a little bored here and there. I think the overly meandering sections might be one of the elements of psychedelic and jam band music I don't like...that, plus when the players just sound like they're too high and have gone to that place I know too well when it's silly self-absorbed stuff. It reminds me of some nights in college when my friends and I were enjoying ourselves on some psychedelic substance*, thought what we were saying was really profound and insightful so we recorded it, then when we listened the next day or two when we had sobered up we really just sounded like jackasses (oh, thank you, tech gods, for not creating smartphones or even easy-to-use video recorders until those years were behind me!). I'd love to say it was at least funny when we played the recording, but it wasn't even that. We honestly just sounded like jackasses.
Not completely sure I'll return to this album or seek out more of their work, but I might. I think I heard enough on this record to interest me.
* - for what it's worth, for anyone who cares, I neither condone nor condemn any individual's choice to take anything mentioned here, or anything at all. I am not in a position to judge. Also for what it's worth and for anyone who cares, while I don't judge I truly, genuinely, and sincerely care about each living being and really do want each person to be safe, happy, healthy, and loved. I promise I know what it feels like to feel alone, and I also promise from the bottom of my heart that you are not alone.
The Fall
3/5
I always find it helpful when this project serves up an album in the punk and post-punk lane because it reminds me how far back these styles go. This band formed in 1976 and released this album in 1979, and I can hear how groups like this were responding to the punk elements of simplicity and rawness by becoming more musically complex and, at least to my ear, interesting.
There are some good tracks on this record. It's an album I can imagine myself listening to again.
Lupe Fiasco
3/5
Oh, this is good. I enjoyed this album, and I'd not heard of the artist or any of his music before. Really well done. Superb groove, great delivery of the lyrics, and I am glad I've been introduced to this record. Nicely done, 1001 Albums Project.
The Police
4/5
I was a fan of the Police in the early 80s, and I saw them at Shea Stadium in the summer of 1983 when they toured to promote this album. (Side Note: REM -- then relatively unknown -- and Joan Jett opened...great show!)
I owned this album and listened to it often, and it was also the time when MTV had grown very popular and still played music videos most of the time. The singles got a ton of radio airplay. This band and this album were everywhere.
I didn't listen to the Police or this album for a long time, but over the past several years when I've heard some of the songs from this album, they stood up well. When I saw this album show up as today's listen, I was curious to see how I'd react to it. It's still a great listen for me. The songs still sound interesting to my ear, and their musicianship is so strong.
I never fault a band, an album, or a song for being what some people label as "overplayed." People liked it at the time and it's what they wanted to hear.
Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland deserve a TON of credit for how incredible they are as musicians and composers. So superbly talented and dedicated to the craft.
Great album.
Joe Ely
4/5
I don't usually listen to very much country music, so it's good for me to sit through a country album like this when one shows up in the rotation. I'm really glad I did as this one is particularly good. There are definitely some heavier rock music elements in the album than most country music I've heard, yet it's still very much country.
The tracks are on solid footing. Not sure why that specific image comes to mind, but that's how I'm hearing these songs. There's an interesting balance between firm footing and light fun. I don't hear that so often, and this album definitely caught my ear and kept it engaged.
Excellent music, very well composed and performed -- nicely done!
Genesis
2/5
This is yet another band on the list of those that on paper it seems I'd surely like their music but I don't. I don't actively dislike it; I'm just not interested. I've tried, including this album when it came up in the rotation just now, but, nope, not there for me.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Hüsker Dü
3/5
I listened to some of their music back in the 80s and although I remember liking them, I must admit I don't recall any songs specifically. I doubt I'd listened to any of their albums all the way through, so I'm glad this record showed up today. I like this one. Their sound definitely has an edge, so the band's earlier history in the punk rock genre is present, but things are more tight and more interesting than many punk bands, so I paid more attention to it than I otherwise might have.
Grateful Dead
5/5
Must be upfront here with my loving bias toward this band and its members. I attended more than two dozen shows in the 80s and 90s, plus another handful of Jerry Garcia Band shows and a Bob Weir show (one of his tours with Rob Wasserman). I was just this morning listening on my walk to one of their countless live recorded shows.
I don't often listen to their studio work because I prefer their live performances, but this is definitely an album I've listened to so many times and owned since I was a teen. Such great songs on this record.
I have not seen the Dead in any incarnation since Jerry died in '95, but this summer (2023) I'm going to see Dead & Company in their final tour. I'm going with one of my best friends from college with whom I saw quite a few shows. I'm really looking forward to it!
I am still amazed and awed by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, who have been playing and touring since the 60s. Bob Weir in particular is ridiculously endurant as a musician and performer. As I age, I do think of his devotion to health and well-being and can see how profound and positive an impact it's having on Bob Weir as an energetic septuagenarian. Wow!
I miss Jerry. So much. What an incredibly versatile and talented musical artist.
[sigh] I really do miss Jerry, though. Always will.
Black Sabbath
4/5
I arrived surprisingly late to the party on this album. I don't really know why I missed it so entirely in my teens when I was really into what we now call classic rock. My hunch is I had a negative association in my mind between the band and some people I knew back then, or that I mistakenly assumed the band played hardcore doom metal or something like that because of the name and Ozzy's public image. But, hey, better late than never and I'm glad that a few years ago I listened to this album and still absolutely love it.
So many great tracks on this record, and this band is full of genuinely superb musicians.
And I honestly could listen to an hour-long version of 'Planet Caravan'. Tony Iommi's guitar work on that song is stunning.
Nick Drake
3/5
I have this wonderful project to thank for introducing me to Nick Drake, and his music is fantastic. This album is no exception. He is a gifted composer and performer. There are times when I hear his songs -- particularly his voice and choice of melody -- and my mind thinks I'm listening to someone much more contemporary, which to me speaks to the influence he had on many.
Fugees
4/5
Ooo, I like this one a lot. Really solid album. There are a lot of layers in the tracks, and I like the textures and complexity. I'll have to come back to this one.
Def Leppard
1/5
I gave it a try, but still, No. I didn't like them back in the 80s when they were popular, so I was ready to give them a brand new shot decades later, which is one of the many things I like so much about this project. I gave it a listen, and it just doesn't do it for me.
Deee-Lite
3/5
I remember "Groove Is In The Heart" from the early 90s when it was popular, and although I didn't seek it out I definitely remember how much I liked the song. I didn't think to listen to their other songs, so I'm glad this appeared as today's selection. Really nice, sweet, infectious, and fun grooves on this record, and the lead singer's vocals are fantastic. Really good stuff.
David Holmes
3/5
Always glad when this project introduces me to an artists whose music I’ve never heard and to genres and styles to which I seldom listen. Electronica is one of those styles with which I spend almost no time, and I enjoyed this album more than I expected I would.
To my ear, there are some interesting things rhythmically and harmonically happening in these songs.
Queen
4/5
Although I like quite a few of Queen's songs, I don't recall hearing any of these songs in the past. This album very much sounds like Queen -- they always have a signature sound, which is great -- and I enjoyed it. At times, I hear elements of progressive rock, maybe more so here than I usually hear in their music, and overall the album is a good reminder for me just how skilled this band is both as composers and as performers.
Britney Spears
1/5
I gave this an honest try -- as I often say, I love this whole project because it ensures I'll listen to a wide variety of recordings from many eras across all genres -- and I can definitely understand why it appealed to tons of people. It just didn't have much for me. Nothing wrong with it at all. I frankly get a bit weirded out when some folks go pretty far with anti-genre or anti-artist ravings. It's merely a matter of personal preferences to me, that's all.
Beck
3/5
I haven't heard a lot of Beck's music, but I like what I've heard, and now that includes this album. I was already familiar with one or two tracks but had not heard the rest. I like the way Beck writes and composes songs, and they are always performed so well.
808 State
2/5
Always glad to listen to an album from a genre I rarely hear. This one gets a bit repetitive to my ear, but it's very well done.
Barry Adamson
2/5
Interesting idea, scoring and recording a film soundtrack for a nonexistent film. Definitely has that feel all the way through.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I had not heard of this band or heard their music, and I enjoyed listening to this album. Nice variety of influences here.
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
This album is wild and definitely way out there at the edge of anything I normally listen to. Even though my ears are not used to anything resembling this when it comes to my usual musical tastes, I can admire what they were doing here in terms of challenging expectations, going against convention, etc.
3/5
I know I've heard the song 'Nature's Way' before, and liked it, but I don't think I had heard anything else by Spirit (well, other than 'Taurus' for obvious reasons). Although this album definitely sounds very much of its era, the band is quite good. Moments of this album are excellent, and it has moments that, to my ears, fall back into the psychedelic tropes of the time, which I state only as a matter of personal aesthetic. (I never view a style, genre, etc., as inherently better or worse than any other. It's art, after all.) My listening preferences these days tend toward styles and genres that differ from this work, but I can appreciate it.
Khaled
4/5
Nicely done once again, 1001 Albums Project: introducing me to yet another artist, album, and style I probably would not otherwise encounter. I really like this album. So many of the elements are different from what my ear typically hears musically, particularly the main components like harmony, rhythm, and melody, so it's wonderful to enjoy the way it contrasts with most music I've heard.
There is also a solid sense of soul and emotion in the performance of each track. Khaled is so good!
Thank you, 1001 Albums, for opening my mind and listening ears so beautifully.
Skunk Anansie
2/5
Duran Duran
4/5
As the years go by, I appreciate this band more and more. Very talented composers and performers, and I admit I overlooked them in the 80s because of all the glam going on around them and my rocker friends mocking bands like this. Glad that's all way behind me and I just enjoy what I enjoy -- including Duran Duran and this album.
John Taylor's bass is dynamite. Love Simon Le Bon's vocals, and Andy Taylor always rocks. Nick Rhodes adds such interesting layers, and Roger Taylor is a great percussionist.
'New Religion' is one of my favorites on this album, 'Rio' and 'Hungry Like The Wolf' are always fun, and 'Save A Prayer' really is one of my favorite songs in general.
I forgot this was only their second album. So impressive! And still a wonderful album to hear.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
I've had an odd on-and-off, hot-and-cold response to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' music over the decades. At times, I don't like the sound overall and find the rap-style delivery of the lyrics by Anthony Kiedis to grate on me. Other times, I hear incredible musicianship in the performances. John Frusciante is an amazing guitarist to my ear, blending so many influences and styles into his own sound, and Flea and Chad Smith groove superbly well.
All I can say is this leads me to the same places I usually find myself when it comes to experiencing any art in any form; that is, much as my human mind has its tendency to want to categorize things, label them as "good" or "bad", and so on, I don't have to. I'll experience their music, this album, and any art as I experience it, and there is an infinite universe of possibilities in that act alone. Plenty for this clumsy bumbling human to work with.
Today, I enjoyed most of the tracks. I hear such strong musical performances. At times, it got a little too intense for me, but that's all mood-dependent and I know at other times I've welcomed the high energy of some of the songs. And, yeah, at times I've had to pause it for a bit because Kiedis' vocal delivery was a bit much. Overall, though, some really solid music here.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I remember this album from when it was first released and very popular. I enjoyed it back then but hadn’t really listened to it at all for decades. It was nice to hear these songs again. Brought me back to that time in my life. I don't feel compelled to listen to this album or any of these songs again anytime soon -- nothing against them, just heard them plenty of times for years in my youth.
Slade
2/5
For its time and genre, I can see why it held a lot of appeal. It's energetic and fun rock performed with a lot of skill. Personally, it doesn't really click solidly with my own tastes. Nothing at all wrong with it, not at all, just how I happen to experience it.
Ministry
3/5
I've definitely heard of this band but I do not recall ever hearing their music. Once again, this project shows me why I keep coming back. I've been introduced or reintroduced to so much great music, especially in styles and genres I overlook too often and too easily. This band and this album probably would not have shown up for me elsewhere, and even though it's pretty far outside my usual listening tendencies -- way more heavy metal and thrashy than I ever tune into -- it's incredible.
Holy Schneikies, this band can play. I don't know how much of what I'm hearing might have been sped up by any production effects, but I have a feeling that this group can play absurdly fast yet super tight. Again, not usually my favored style, and I can only take so much of it at a time, but, whoa, they are amazing.
Hookworms
3/5
The band and its music are entirely new to me, and I enjoyed listening to this album. I hear a nice mash-up of various styles and influences, and it all comes together quite well here. I like that there are elements of synth-pop and synth-rock alongside more 'analog' instruments and performances. Neither seems to dominate the other too much. Reminds me, too, a little bit of New Order and that sound, and even a bit of Porcupine Tree, too. (I know those references also incorporate by reference dozens or hundreds of other bands, and of course that applies to all performers -- not meant in a snarky or negative way at all; just the way music responds, reflects, and evolves in such interesting ways.)
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Oh, yes, I do like this band and this album. In many ways, the culture of the band and in which the band lived and worked happens to be interesting to me. Maybe because it's quite different from my own path, and I see quite a few of the people involved with it to have been brave. I'm sure I'm romanticizing that whole world, as I think one always does when imagining what it would have been like to participate in it, but it's a lot fun to do so.
Musically, I like the songs on this album and on their other albums. I like the style and sound of their compositions and performances, and both Lou Reed's and Nico's vocals draw me in.
It's pretty wild how listening to it now, well into the 21st century and over five decades after the album's recording and release, I can hear elements of so many musical acts and genres that spread out in the years since. The little write-up mentions them and it's fascinating to my ear.
Fishbone
4/5
I remember the band's name from hearing it from a handful of people who were really into them in the 80s, but I don't think I listened to anything by them back then, or since. Glad to finally put some music to the name.
I don't usually listen to much ska or reggae, either on their own or mixed into other genres, so it was nice to give this album a listen.
First of all, these performers are superbly skilled. So locked in, so well executed. Truly impressive.
Musically, I found myself enjoying most of the tracks more than I expected given their sound and style. Definitely got a bit hectic and fast-paced for my own personal preference, which is unsurprising given that I most often listen to music that's little slower-paced. But I also kind of like the rock, punk, and funk influences I heard.
All in, this is truly excellent work. Appreciate it, 1001 Albums Project, thank you!
Sparks
2/5
I love the way this project helps me learn so much about when certain styles, genres, and approaches were prevalent in music. So much of what I thought or assumed turns out, no surprise, to be off. For example, if I had no information about it, I would have guessed this album -- I'd not heard of the band or heard any of their music -- was from much later than it is.
Also, had I not read the Wikipedia article on the album and then on the band, I would have assumed the vocalists were the two people on the album cover. A lot of the singing is done in a high voice.
It's not the kind of music I enjoy listening to, but I can appreciate how different and interesting it must have sounded to a lot of people in 1974.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Still wild to my ears to hear Kraftwerk's music nearly 50 years after it was recorded and released and take in how it kind of sounds futuristic yet also from an earlier time. I don't know much about Steampunk, just have a vague awareness of the ethos, but maybe Kraftwerk's music fits into that category?
Either way, it's enjoyable to listen to and I appreciate how different they were from popular music of the time.
Holger Czukay
3/5
This was an enjoyable listen. I had not heard of the artist or heard any of his music, and given the year in which it was released, I can hear how it was at the forefront of a few popular trends to come. Very talented composer, arranger, and performer.
Portishead
3/5
I'd stumbled upon a few of their songs in the past -- just happened to show up as I streamed music somewhat haphazardly -- and I liked the handful of songs I'd heard before. This is my first full listen-through of one of their albums, and I like this, too. They have a great way to blend electronica and rock and pop, and probably several other styles I'm not skilled enough to name, and I enjoy the performances and recordings.
Things sound industrial and bleak at times, too, and I like the way they use these influences because they don't consume the whole album.
Overall, this is a very good album.
DJ Shadow
3/5
Interesting stuff, especially because it's a bit outside the typical stream of what I listen to these days. I like the artist's blending of many elements on this one. It can get a little frenetic at times for my own personal tastes, but in the right frame of mind, I can imagine myself enjoying it more.
Justice
3/5
More forays into the world of electronic music thanks to this project! It's doubtful that I'd ever hear any of these otherwise, so I'm genuinely grateful for this generator serving these up to me.
Some good tracks on this one. I liked 'D.A.N.C.E.' especially -- it's fun. Sometimes things grated on me a bit, things like the buzzing sounds, but it's electronic music and I've gotten more used to it. I still don't really seek it out, but I get it in this context.
The Electric Prunes
1/5
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Really do love this band and some of my favorite songs are on this album. Superb!
The Hives
2/5
Overall, some fun garage rock here, and a little funny at times.
Skepta
3/5
I like it. All new to me and I was drawn in nicely by it.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Although overall my interest waned, I do like the grooves on these tracks.
Elliott Smith
4/5
I remember hearing Elliott Smith's music for the first time thanks to a few of these songs being part of the 'Good Will Hunting' soundtrack. I don't think I've listened to this album in full before so I'm glad this project gave me the chance to do so. It's quite good. Gets a little same-sounding after a while, but most albums do that, and because over the years I've migrated more towards playlist listening instead of album listening, I think when I actually listen to an album straight through, my ears aren't used to hearing the same artist for a dozen or so songs.
Back to this album: it really is very good and he's a talented writer, composer, and performer.
Aphex Twin
3/5
Once again, this project serves up an album that I almost undoubtedly would not hear elsewhere, and for that, I am deeply grateful. This album's style of music is one that I so rarely encounter, and it's fantastic. I know so little about how this kind of music is made, but next week I'm starting a course in recording technology (I'm in Berklee Online's undergrad program, just taking a course or two per session, and I absolutely love it) and I have a feeling I'll begin to gain at least an entry-level understanding.
As a listening experience, I think this album is excellent.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
I love that this album and this artist are showing up here just one day after I finished an episode on Jimi Hendrix's version of "Hey Joe" in the fabulous podcast, A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs. I urge you to give that podcast series a listen -- and, no, I do not know the creator of it in any fashion; no skin in the game for me, I'm just a fan -- and if you have the patience to start at Episode 1 and listen in order from there, I promise you will be rewarded.
And, of course, Episode 147, on "Hey Joe", is superb.
https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-147-hey-joe-by-the-jimi-hendrix-experience/
Now, back to this album. When I was in my early teens, I listened to a lot of Jimi Hendrix's music, and owned a handful of LPs by him, including this one. I was drawn to, and still remain in awe of, his incredible artistic talent. I don't listen to his music as much as I used to, but it never loses its luster for me. And when I listen to countless guitarists that recorded and performed in all the years that followed his work, I hear his influence everywhere.
It feels like calling this a "rock album" or a "blues rock album" misses way too much. Yes, it's rock, but there is a whole lot more happening here. Greatness.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
2/5
I'll bet they were quite fun to enjoy live in concert. Didn't love the album. It just didn't really click in for me.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I'm not as wild about the Stones as most rock fans I know. This album is okay to me, and I can appreciate their love of R&B, blues, and early rock that comes through so clearly here. For my own personal tastes, though, others (usually the earlier performances by other artists) just did it better.
Venom
2/5
I don't listen to a lot of metal, but I can appreciate it and have heard a lot of talented bands and musicians in the genre. This album was mostly just okay to me. Sorry, Black Metal, it's not your fault that you and similar bands always remind me of Spinal Tap.
Country Joe & The Fish
2/5
I heard of this band back in my college days in the late 80s when I was exploring late 60s music, but I never got that hooked on them. I don't think I've heard any of their music since then, so I was glad to give this album a full listen. I'm afraid it didn't do much for me as a listener. I can appreciate its place in music history and it's a good artifact to hear the sound and style that was bursting onto and out of the Bay Area and hippie vibe, but musically it doesn't grab me.
Mott The Hoople
2/5
I'd heard the name and always found it amusing, and I know the hit song, "All The Young Dudes", but really didn't hear or know anything else. Nice to listen to an album of theirs for the first time. I thought I might not like it but it's got some good songs on it. Bowie-esque in some ways. It gets a little over-the-top for me, but I think they kind of meant that. Definitely skilled musicians, I can really hear that.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I really like this album. Hadn't heard of the artists nor heard any of their work, and it's very well done. I like the blend of influences and cultures on it, and the performances are excellent.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5/5
One of the first hip-hop albums I ever heard or owned. Soooooo good! Funk, rap, R&B, rock, dance, electronica...it's all woven together superbly well and delivered with punch and fun, yet also brings up the grit and rawness, too. I still catch myself singing "The Message" at times all the years later.
10cc
1/5
I'd definitely heard of them and heard some of their songs on the radio, but even after listening to this album, they just don't do much for me.
The Beach Boys
4/5
It's only recently that I've begun to appreciate The Beach Boys more fully, and that's entirely due to listening to the incredible podcast series, A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs, which devotes a handful of episodes to songs by The Beach Boys. The series also discusses this album and helps place it in the context of its time's music, culture, and society, as well as showing how it influenced so many artists at the time and to follow, including the Beatles.
Listening to it now, once again, with that better understanding of it, I enjoy it so much more. It's truly innovative and outstanding.
I strongly encourage people to give the podcast series a try and to have the patience to start at Episode 1 and listen in order from there. I promise it's absolutely worth it.
https://500songs.com/podcast/flying-home-by-the-benny-goodman-sextet/
Traffic
2/5
A group of highly skilled musicians, but I'm not all that into their stuff.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Nice album overall, with some beautiful and melancholic sounds. I read the article on the album and it's heartbreaking to learn about the death of Nick Cave's 15-year-old son in 2015 and how his death drove a lot of the work here. Listening to the songs with that in mind, it's pretty powerful.
Anthrax
3/5
I definitely know the band by name and whenever I've seen Scott Ian interviewed I've liked him in that setting. Seems like a thoughtful and interesting person. I don't recall having listened to their music before so I am very glad this album showed up today. I knew they are a thrash metal band so I had a vague idea of what to expect, and they also perform with real skill, no doubt about it. Although this style of music is not what I listen to on a regular basis, I like this album. Great energy, strong performances, and a lot of fun.
Radiohead
4/5
Radiohead is on the list of bands that every time I hear their work, my listening ears are intensely interested, yet somehow I don't pursue their music. However, as with other bands on that list (like Muse), I had a strong feeling they'd grow on me, and this album seems to building a case for that theory.
Radiohead calls to mind for me bands like Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and Muse, not so much in the content of their compositions and performances but in their ever-evolving approach to music. Like those other bands I love, they seem to work hard not to repeat themselves, and I admire that. To me, it's one of the most difficult places to reach in one's art: finding new ways to express oneself without simply experimenting for experimentation's sake. I don't claim any clairvoyance and I am as easily fooled as anyone, I suppose. I can only share my own personal subjective experience with the art as I encounter it.
I'll definitely come back to this album and I'm motivated more now to explore their catalog.
Sisters Of Mercy
1/5
I don't recall this band or their music, but because I was a teen and in my early 20s in the 80s, this style is very familiar, so there's a slight sense of nostalgia in the sound for me. Musically, though, I wasn't that interested in this album.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Different yet familiar, and I enjoyed it. Nice to listen to while I worked this morning. At times, the lead vocalist seemed to be yelling a bit but I get that was the intention.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
Definitely heard his name many times when it was in the headlines for a long time in the 90s, but hadn't listened to his music before. I really like his vocal delivery. He hits hard but keeps it moving. Some very cool sampling all throughout the album, too.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Wow, what a voice! I had heard of her and had heard a few of her songs but this was definitely my first full listen of one of her albums. Superb.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Not sure if I owned this album back in my college days, but wouldn't surprise me if I did in one form or another because I listened to quite a bit of Dylan's music back then. I don't actively listen to him these days -- haven't for a long, long time -- not because I grew to dislike his music or anything like that; just wasn't motivated to do so. I am glad this project served up this album for me today. It gave me a chance to listen to one of his albums all the way through, especially this one, which I really don't think I've listened to for probably thirty years or so.
It's an excellent album. The tracks are sparse, it's one of his first big steps into sharing his original works, and the lyrics are poetry in a very real sense. This album also does a nice job of showcasing his excellent guitar playing.
I'm not a big fan of harmonica and because it appears on most of the tracks, it kind of grated on me but that's just a matter of personal preference and I get how it fits with this album's style.
The Verve
3/5
I've heard their name before and I'm pretty sure I've heard some of their music. I like this album, and some of the tracks really stand out for me, like 'So It Goes' (the intro, by the way, reminds me of Phish's 'Prince Caspian', another song I like very much, with a little Velvet Underground mixed in...by the way, I make these comparisons as sincere compliments -- all music we hear is influenced, based off, or connected to so much other music; art in general works like that, and it's wonderful). 'Reprise' is an interesting exploration.
Very nicely done.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Some superb and solid funk, soul, and grooves in here. I also am glad to learn how culturally and historically significant this album is. I had heard a few tunes from it over the years, and I always appreciate learning the context around an album. I just find that so interesting no matter the album.
Tim Buckley
3/5
I am not sure if I've heard his music before, although I think I was already familiar with his name. His surname made me wonder if he's Jeff Buckley's father, so I looked it up and he is. One thing that struck me straight away as I listened to this album is what a strong and clear voice he has. Musically, this album is different from what I had expected in a late-60s folk-ish record, and I mean that in a very good way. It departs from a lot of the music that was popular in those years and to my ear shows an exploratory and innovative side to his art. Very nicely done.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
I'll admit I wasn't really in the mood this morning to listen to something so experimental, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating its place in the story of popular music. This band has some incredibly talented performers, too. I might come back to this for a re-listen when I'm more in the frame of mind for this style of exploration.
1/5
This is a band I somehow missed completely in the 90s. It wasn't until more recently when people started doing parodies of Wonderwall that I remember even hearing their name. This is my first listen to any of their music. Doesn't do much for me. I really can't know if it's from hearing too many parodies, or too many similar-sounding bands, but it's just how I responded to it.
Femi Kuti
4/5
Wow, this is fantastic! Superb performances, so expressive, and such a nice blend of styles and ideas. I'll bet it's great to see him play live.
Talking Heads
4/5
I am a fan of this band but I don't think I had listened very much to this particular album, so it was great to hear it all the way through, probably a first for me. Such an innovative and interesting group, and at least to my ear, they always manage to draw me in, engage my listening brain, and keep it going.
Their sense and use of rhythm are particularly intriguing to me. Very skilled on their instruments, too, and they also weave in some great harmonies and melodies. David Byrne's signature vocal delivery rings clear on this album, too.
Overall, a truly enjoyable listen. Thanks for reminding me how much I like the Talking Heads, dear ol' 1001 Albums project!
Related note: I recently read David Byrne's 2012 book, "How Music Works", and it's excellent. I highly recommend it.
Talk Talk
3/5
I remember this album. It was released whilst I was at university and I heard some of the tracks here and there. I remember really liking "Life's What You Make It" because of that memorable piano (I think it's a piano?) bass line that's repeated through most of the song. I don't recall hearing their music in the decades after this was popular so I'm glad I got to listen to it again today. I was curious to see how I'd react to it all these years later in such a different time and context in my life. Still holds up quite well and I very much enjoyed "Life's What You Make It" -- the piano still drives it very well and the short lead lines the piano adds give it really nice color. I like the guitar work in that song, too.
There's a maturity and sophistication to this album that still works well. I remember their earlier music not being as appealing to me because it was too synth-poppy for my tastes, but the compositions and performances here are impressive.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I can imagine this album as a soundtrack to a really cool film-noir style somewhat psychedelic semi-absurdist murder mystery tragicomedy.
Not kidding. That's how I hear it.
Fun!
Julian Cope
3/5
I had not heard of Julian Cope or heard any of his music before. I enjoy this album. He's an excellent performer and the compositions are interesting. I also ready the Wikipedia article on him and he sounds like an multifaceted person who pursues his interests with a lot of passion. I always like that.
The tracks on this album are varied in style and approach, and executed very well, and I found some to be really quite catchy. Some highly skilled playing by the musicians who appear on this record.
Good stuff.
Neneh Cherry
4/5
Fantastic! I think I'd heard her name before but don't recall hearing any of her work. Such a cool blending of 80s pop, R&B, and hip-hop. I'll have to hear more of her albums. Impressive stuff here.
Iron Butterfly
3/5
I'd definitely heard In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida before, many times, and over the years I've come to understand and appreciate its influence on so many bands (and, really, whole genres) contemporary to its release and subsequent to it. It's a ponderous and heavy song and it to me feels so very much like a product of its time, place, and culture (not at all meant as a criticism). I'm listening to that track again right now as I write this. It's really interesting to pick up sounds that I know so well but not from listening to this specific track; instead, they're sounds, techniques, and ideas that I've heard in many contexts since.
The rest of the album is fine, a bit more anachronistic to my ears than the title track, but these songs still display what this band was about at the time and what they liked to do. Overall, pretty good stuff here, and, of course, the title track is understandably on a pedestal.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Love her.
Motörhead
3/5
I remember in the 80s seeing quite a few of my fellow male teenagers with Motörhead t-shirts, and I had always assumed by their name they must be a metal band, but I think that might be the extent of my previous experience with this band. I'm glad this project served up one of their albums for me to finally give their music a listen.
It's definitely hard-driving super-fast-paced and tight hard rock/early metal. When I think about the timing of this (1981) when they had already been a band for a while and had released albums, it makes sense why they are considered early examples of the British metal that was so prevalent in the 80s.
The band plays very well -- these are fast-moving songs -- and there's a ton of energy to it. To my ear, which admittedly doesn't hear a lot of hard metal thrash-like stuff these days, the song started to sound quite similar to each other, but my hunch is that's rooted as much in my inexperience with this band and this music as it is rooted in anything about the music itself.
CHIC
4/5
Any project with Nile Rodgers as guitarist and producer is a project very much worthy of attention, and this album is no exception. I absolutely love his work -- just soooooo good!
I know that "disco" (which is really R&B and dance music made in the 70s to my ear) gets dismissed easily -- and I readily admit in the 70s and 80s, I did that, but now I realize it's no different from any other genre or style of music as I hear it: I like what I like and I move on from what I don't -- but to me, this album is super fun, incredibly well performed, and keeps things going. Excellent stuff!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
I like the small handful of ELP songs I've heard before, so I was glad to be able to give this album my first-ever listen. I don't think I'd heard any of the tracks from this record in the past. Overall, it's excellent. At times, the title track feels a little brooding, ponderous, or self-referential -- some of that is probably my subjective processing of the art more than the art, of course, as is often the case, but there are some moments when I was hoping they'd move on. The shorter tracks are varied and interesting, though perhaps a bit disjointed for me. Overall, though, they are such a talented group of musicians, and Carl Palmer and Keith Emerson in particular seem to be in a very rare category.
Dr. John
2/5
I've heard a couple Dr. John songs before but not any of his albums. My mind kind of wandered during this, but I can see how it appeals to some people.
Weather Report
3/5
This band is always interesting and impressive to my ear, and this album is their first to feature Jaco Pastorius on bass, and it really grooves hard. I have a feeling that in the decades that followed, this music might get lumped in with "smooth jazz" (in the negative sense of the label) or something like that, due in part at least to the late-70s production style and choices of instruments, but there's a lot more going on with each track. These musicians are incredibly skilled. Would have LOVED to have seen this group play live.
The Residents
3/5
Interesting. Definitely different from what I usually listen to.
Peter Tosh
2/5
Although I can appreciate Peter Tosh's music, I'm afraid I got over-exposed to reggae, including this album, during my college days when I spent a few years hanging out with fellow stoners. No fault of Mr. Tosh's or his fellow reggae artists'.
Robbie Williams
2/5
I had not heard of the artist or heard any of his music that I can recall. Always great to hear something new. I listened to it and it was...okay. I have to admit that although I can hear the skill in the performances, I just never felt that pulled into it or all that interested. I can see why this album appeals to some listeners, but not so much to me.
Dolly Parton
4/5
How did I miss this one all these years? The three featured artists have some of the best voices in music and the song selection for this record is wonderful. So glad I got to hear this one and know about it!
The B-52's
4/5
I got this album right before I started college in the mid-80s and, wow, did I absolutely love it. It was so different from just about anything else I'd heard, and it still holds up superbly well. To my ear, the tracks are original, fun, a little spooky, quirky, kitsch-y (in a fun way, without tipping into mockery), and they compose and perform so skillfully. I had some of their later albums, too.
On this album, I remember being captivated by both Ricky Wilson's guitar, which was interesting to my ear, and the vocals by all, especially Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. They deliver so well!
Listening to this album all the way through once again was a true delight. Love them.
I remember my first time hearing and seeing them. They were the musical guest on SNL in 1980. We weren't allowed to stay up late enough to watch it live, but we were allowed to record it, so we did each week...yep, on Betamax. I was about 13 years old and my older sister had heard them and liked them, so we watched the band's performances together. It was so different, so cool, especially to me who at that age was mostly listening to bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and their ilk. Started opening me up to different styles. Soooooo good!
Bob Dylan
4/5
I'm drawn more to this album than most of his others. Just so many great tracks on this one. I hear a different type of depth in these songs, a maturity of sorts, but it's not overly self-referential or ponderous. I'm still very much engaged and entertained. Superb.
2/5
I've definitely heard this group's name before but I have no recollection of having heard any of their music, so this is all new to me. They play very well and this is some impressively tight work. Stylistically, it's not what I am usually drawn to but I can easily see why a lot of people like it. And there are definitely moments that I enjoy.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
David Bowie
4/5
David Bowie in all his incarnations is to me one of the most interesting artists of my lifetime. This album is another outstanding destination along his fascinating path. Such soul and depth in these tracks and he assembled an incredible group of musicians for it. The arrangements are superb and the performances are incredible, even with many of the tracks involving so many instruments and layers.
And his voice. Just love it.
Miss him.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I remember hearing a few songs by the Jesus and Mary Chain back in my college days, but I don't have clear memories of which songs I heard. I'm glad this album came up in the rotation today. Nice to give it a full listen-through.
When I hear these tracks and think back to year it was released (1985), I get why it's considered such an influential album -- the years that followed, many years, featured quite a number of bands that sounded like this.
The music is very good. I like the blend of pop, rock, almost metal (at least as far as heavy distortion and grinding guitar sound goes), with the harbingers of shoegaze and similar sounds (due to their use of feedback and other effects). They even bring in a bit of rockabilly sound with Never Understand. Cool stuff.
Simple Minds
3/5
As a teen in the US in the 80s, it was of course impossible not to know who this band was thanks to their huge hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" that we all heard at the opening of 'The Breakfast Club'. (True confession: teen me had never heard of or heard Simple Minds before, so I guessed it was David Bowie. Please be kind to my ignorant ears.)
I'd heard one or two of these songs before, like "Promised You A Miracle" and maybe "Glittering Prize", and it was cool to learn that Herbie Hancock plays keys on "Hunter And The Hunted" (Herbie Hancock plays a very nice synth solo).
Overall, I like this album. Sure, the sounds and styles feel a bit dated to me, maybe in part because there was a lot of this kind of music in the air in the 80s, but this is a skilled and talented band and I like Jim Kerr's voice.
The White Stripes
4/5
This duo is enormously talented, and Jack White is truly remarkable on many instruments, especially guitar. I always like the way they -- and then when he went solo, he -- seem to stay very true to themselves and enjoy creating music. I haven't listened to enough of their work, so I'm glad this album came up. I didn't expect this, but at times they reminded me a little bit of Prince (in a high compliment way).
Very good album.
R.E.M.
4/5
R.E.M. has long been one of my favorite bands. I had this album along with all of their first decade or so of releases. This album is fantastic. They are always such interesting and thought-provoking writers, composers, and performers. And they have that rare wonderful quality that I happen to personally admire and value: they have their own signature sound and style. I can always tell when it's an R.E.M. song even when I haven't heard it before.
I always appreciated and admired Peter Buck's guitar style, and now as an amateur beginner guitarist, I hear even more clearly his artistry. I love that he isn't one for big screaming solos. Nothing against those, they can be a lot of fun, but I have always loved how he composes and performs in such a way that his work is beautifully interwoven into their music, supports it seamlessly and brilliantly, and is definitely "his" work, yet it never overpowers the rest of the group. Rare and very, very cool.
Michael Stipe's lyricism and vocal work is always great to my ears.
And I think Mike Mills is superb. To me, he and Peter Buck should be mentioned more often in the discussions of rock "greats" but I get that because of they and their group's general approach to their craft, they don't really get the attention they deserve.
Bill Berry always played great, too, and I was really sad when he had to leave the group for health reasons. Look at his contributions to the band as a writer, too. As with the others, there is more to him than meets the eye.
So nice to hear this album once again -- thanks, 1001 Albums project!
Dirty Projectors
3/5
I had not heard of this band nor had I heard any of their music. It's interesting; kind of indie pop with a little soul added. Personally, I happen to prefer the vocals by Amber and Angel more than those by David, but that's just my own listening experience. The performances by the instrument players are excellent. Overall, this is a very good album and I plan to explore more of their work.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
All new to me, and overall, I like it. It's approachable yet different.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
I often forget the timing of this band and their albums, so I'm glad this project reminds me when their albums were released. Their style gets a bit redundant to my ears, but I can appreciate what they were doing here in response to other music in the late 70s.
UB40
2/5
I knew only a couple of songs of theirs from hearing "Red Red Wine" and one or two other big hits when they were popular, and although I didn't actively dislike them, I wasn't all that interested. I had already heard too much reggae and reggae-style music by then, and their sound was a little poppier.
I'm glad this album came up in the rotation today because I hadn't heard it before. It's better to my ear than the other songs I'd already heard. I'm still not very interested, I must admit, but I can see the appeal.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Mike Ladd
3/5
Interesting album with some very good tracks on this one. I like the blend of styles here, and my ears were often drawn in and held there quite well. I'll have to listen to more of his work.
Van Morrison
2/5
It honestly makes no sense to me why I’m not a big fan of his music. I’m not being cheeky, either. I really mean that. But for some reason, I’m just not.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
It's pretty hard-driving in most parts (they sure do like the sound of a distorted guitar!) but it's darn good. I hadn't realized how far back this band goes. Cool sound for a band in the mid-80s.
Fugazi
4/5
The band’s name was familiar to me but I don’t think I had heard their music before. Super intense, harder driving and more thrash-like than my usual fare, and interesting blend of elements including hip-hop…and real high-level skills on their instruments. I thought it was very good and interesting to my ears.
Scissor Sisters
2/5
Fun stuff. All new to me. A bit over-the-top but it sounds to me like they were trying for that. Doubt I'll seek it out again but I can see the appeal.
Meat Puppets
3/5
I like the Meat Puppets but I’m less familiar with this album so it was good that it came up today in the rotation here. They are versatile, talented, and, in some ways, a bit ahead of the curve. Good stuff here.
Soul II Soul
3/5
New to me. It's fun, danceable stuff.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
I listened to OMD back in the 80s -- really, mid to late 80s -- and it's a good reminder of how warped our perception of time can be. To me, this is a very contemporary band in sound and style, yet they started in 1978.
Anyway, it's a good album still to my ears. Now it sounds dated to my ears, very 80s sounding, somewhat synth-pop-py, but that makes sense of course. It's enjoyable for what it is.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I have mixed experiences with the Stones, and this album follows that trend. I do hear some excellent and interesting blues and rock on this album, but I also listen to a lot of earlier blues music and like that better overall.
Personally, I don't usually like their country-influenced tracks. I seem to mostly enjoy the tracks that are in the more rootsy-rhythmic style like 'Tumbling Dice'.
Doves
2/5
New to me, both the band and their music. I really like this album. The sound and style are familiar to me and I have a feeling the familiarity is because of the influence of bands like this, or at least this band reflects the evolving trends at the time.
Not sure how to describe the sound and style. Kind of lo-fi maybe, with indie rock feel? I am not usually good at matching what I hear to categories and names. I don't really put a lot of energy into that so I think that's why I sometimes stumble with wording.
The tracks felt a little repetitive after a while but 'Melody Calls' stands out for me a bit.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
I listened to a lot of CCR in my wanna-be hippie college days (I went to college in the late 80s, so anything hippie I tried to be was wanna-be level), but I haven't really listened to them in any manner since then. Hearing their music again for the first time in a mighty long time reminds me why I liked them. Good music that's played very skillfully. Fun stuff!
Bon Jovi
2/5
I remember very well when this album was getting a lot of airplay. I was in college at the time so it was played at parties too. I didn’t think much of it, good or bad, at the time. Just kind of harmless, sometimes fun, pop. I know there’s a lot of nostalgia for some of these songs in my age group, and that’s always enjoyable to watch.
Listening to it now, I have a similar experience. It’s not bad, sometimes fun and catchy, but overall doesn’t do much for me.
M.I.A.
3/5
The artist is familiar to me but I don't think I've heard this album or any of the music from it before. It's engaging and interesting -- her style really pulls me in. Such a cool blend and layering of styles here. It's somehow edgy and smooth, catchy and off-kilter if that makes sense.
I really like it. Intriguing stuff.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Interesting and personal take on the blues, weaving in other influences from other cultures and places. Very nicely done.
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
I remember when some of the songs from this album got some air play. At the time, it was a bit different-sounding to me and I liked that. Honestly, although it’s kind of fun to walk down memory lane here, I wasn’t as into it giving the album a listen now. Still has some interesting and catchy aspects to it, though.
The Cure
3/5
I listened to this band a lot starting in the mid-80s, so probably an album or two after this one, and I don't think I'd heard any of these songs before. This being their fourth studio album, released in 1982, is a good reminder to me how long and varied this band's history really is. Even though personnel changed often, and the band's sound became more upbeat and New Wave-y after this album, it still very much sounds like The Cure, mostly (entirely?) due to Robert Smith, who to me is a genuinely interesting and innovative musician, composer, writer, and performer. And, of course, he has that signature distinct vocal delivery of his that to my ear is instantly recognizable.
I like this album, and I'm glad it showed up today. It's dark and brooding and I know from what I've read that the band's in-fighting and drug use, plus Robert Smith's depression, weighed heavily on the band as they made this album. It's a bit much at times but that doesn't surprise me. It's not the kind of album I think I'll listen to in full again but, as mentioned, I'm glad I did.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I’ve heard some songs by Rufus Wainwright before, not many, but I remember liking them. This album is interesting. A little over the top for my ears at times but I also wouldn’t be surprised to learn that’s what he meant. He seems to skilled to me to let anything happen by accident.
Stephen Stills
3/5
Although stylistically I do find this album to be too dated-sounding for my tastes, my ear also hears an enormously talented musician and, really, an underrated and under-appreciated guitarist. Sooooooo good!
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
I had not heard of the artist or heard any of her music, and I think this is a solid album. She blends together very nicely a few styles and approaches, and her vocals are fantastic. Her songs have a richness and complexity to them that draws me in. Very good stuff here.
Incubus
2/5
I know I've heard of this band before, but I don't recall hearing any of their music. I enjoyed this album and I'm glad I've been introduced to them. I know that hearing them now in 2023 is obviously very different from hearing them in 1999 when this was released, so I can imagine how it probably sounded somewhat different from other music at the time. I know we've heard a lot of similar music, whatever the right category is (alt-metal-funk? something like that?). These musicians are very skilled, I can really hear that.
Hot Chip
2/5
I don't listen to a lot of electronic music so I'm always glad when this project serves up something in that arena to me. There are some decent tracks on this album and I can appreciate the artistry in what they're doing here. I don't feel compelled to come back to it or explore their other music, though -- just a matter of personal preference, that's all.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
This is great! It keeps driving, and the lyrics are delivered so well. I love the underlying rhythms and harmonies. All very well done.
Giant Sand
3/5
I had not heard of this band or heard any music by them, and I really like this album. Has something of a Velvet Underground vibe to it, albeit quite a bit more country and western-sounding. The sparse arrangements still have a richness to them, and I like the way the singer delivers his vocals. I like those tracks -- the more stripped down and mellower ones -- best. I'll have to check out more of their music.
Pulp
3/5
I'm pretty sure I've heard the band's name before but I don't recall hearing any of their music. The vocalist reminds me of a few other singers -- sorry, blanking on names -- but not in a bad way. The performances by the musicians are excellent. Some very skilled players on all instruments, and the compositions and arrangements are done very well, too. Overall, I found this to be enjoyable rock-pop with an interesting sound to it.
Lightning Bolt
3/5
Well, Wikipedia calls this "noise rock" and I can't argue with them. I found this album surprisingly interesting and kept listening to it despite the auditory assault that almost never lets up. It's weirdly funny and fun, yet they also play superbly well. The title track fascinated me. Good for them for taking such an unusual path!
LTJ Bukem
3/5
Another electronic music album, which is always welcome given how very little I listen to this style of music outside this project. Being exposed to this genre here is helping to open up my ears to what's happening in the songs put together by electronic music artists. I happen to like this album particularly well. My ear was interested in the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms -- some of the drumming is fantastic (e.g., 'Above & Beyond' and 'Jazz Lick' to name two) so I found myself hanging in there with it. Good stuff!
KISS
2/5
For a brief moment, when I was about 13 or 14, I liked this band a lot, and I liked the theatrics they were known for. I owned this album and I went as Peter Criss on Halloween in 6th or 7th grade, not so long after this album was released. Good grief, I even watched the movie, "Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park"!
I haven't really listened to them in many decades. Listening now, although I hear some very skilled performances, I'm just not that interested beyond some nostalgia. Totally get why they were so huge at the time, though -- they hit the market at a great time for them to be successful.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
Have to admit I went into this album with a bit of hesitation just because, generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of bongos, congas, and those kinds of percussion instruments. But this album has some really good tracks on it and is more listenable and fun than expected. It's helped me to qualify my general dislike of bongos, congas, etc. -- I realized what I don't like about them is when they sound incongruous and out of place; i.e., when they feel like an add-on in some musical setting to my ears. Anyway, there are definitely some moments on some tracks when the sound still annoyed me, but overall there are such skilled performances here on all instruments that it's a good listening experience for me.
Aimee Mann
4/5
I've always loved her music and have not explored this album before, as well as a few of her other releases, so this excellent record is a good prompt for me to dig more deeply into her catalog. Reinforced by what I hear in the outstanding tracks on this record, she is such a gifted writer and composer. I would like to see her get more credit for her lyrics as well as her musicianship. She does an amazing job of balancing edgy and unusual writing and composing with deceptively catchy and pop-like structures. I've never tried it but I have a feeling that's one of the more difficult feats to pull off in songwriting and arranging. Too much in any direction, and it could easily fall into parody or snarkiness, but it doesn't. There's a vulnerability and sincerity in what she does along with the indie-pop-punky-rockishness. Pretty darn impressive.
Massive Attack
3/5
Some really good music here. I like their style.
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
I don't recall hearing of them before -- maybe: that name is familiar, probably just in passing -- but I really don't think I'd heard any of their music in the past. This is some pretty good rock/pop/garage stuff here. After a while as I listened to this album, it did feel a little repetitive, but I also so rarely listen to albums in full these days -- mostly it's shuffled or randomized playlists via streaming services -- that might play into the feeling of sameness to me.
Can't blame them one bit for making a song called 'Cool As Kim Deal' because she is definitely and absolutely completely cool. (I can't quite make out the lyrics so if this song is mocking her in any way, forget what I said about the song, but I stand firm on my view of Kim Deal!)
I like 'Whipping Tree' particularly. Sure, has a lot of similarities to Pink Floyd's 'Breathe' but at least in my subjective view, that's a wonderful song to be inspired by.
Overall, though, it's good music to my ears, and they are very skilled performers.
Fred Neil
2/5
Nice change from what's been coming up in my rotation lately. It's a bit dated and at times somewhat saccharine to my ears, but it's overall quite good. "Everybody's Talkin'" is such a classic. of course.
Dagmar Krause
3/5
This is certainly a different one! Definitely interesting—caught my ear and kept surprising me. That’s one of the great things about this project of course: it keeps presenting me with so much music that I would never otherwise hear. Bravo, 1001 Albums!
CHIC
4/5
I was in my youth during the disco era -- it peaked in my pre-teen years -- and I was too dismissive of the music that fit the times. I was getting into rock and hard rock and didn't let my ears appreciate this music back then.
I sure do now.
This album is incredible. So tight, so catchy, and so fun. All layers work superbly well here, and all performances are delivered with such skill. I'm glad I approached this music with a more open ear in recent decades. Some incredible albums made in this style, and this album is an outstanding example of it.
Nile Rodgers and Tony Thompson...I mean, come on! Wow.
Love the vocals that Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin give us here. All in -- such talent!
The full version of "Good Times" (the 8:16 track that opens the album) is a masterpiece.
The Coral
2/5
Hadn't heard of them or heard any of their music. I found it mostly fun and listenable, and they are very skilled musicians. Don't feel interested enough to come back to them, but I can understand why people do.
Sabu
3/5
I tend not to like congas, bongos, and that sort of percussion instrument. I don't really know why. Might be because most of my exposure to it has been in rock and pop, and most times I've heard them they usually seemed like an add-on that didn't bring much to the music. I also don't think it helps that in television shows and movies when I was growing up, that style of percussion instrument was always used to connote "primitive" cultures, Anyway, this is better to my ears because the percussion ensemble is the main focus, and the rest of the music is built around it. Some fun stuff in here.
U2
4/5
I'm pretty sure this is the first U2 album I owned. I think I was a sophomore in high school. I had heard some of their songs before and liked them, and this album amped up my fandom. I enjoyed a lot of their albums and music for several years to follow, saw them in concert my senior year in high school when they were touring to promote The Unforgettable Fire, and liked them into my college years. My musical tastes and interests diverted away from them for a while, and for a long time, I barely listened to them. Hearing this album again after so many years brings me back and reminds me how much I do like their music.
Also reminds me how much I admire and love the Edge's guitar playing. I find his style to be very much his own: it's signature to him, innovative, and always draws me in. One of my favorite rock guitarists.
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
I knew of them and liked some of their songs in the 80s, but never really listened to any of their albums all the way through. This one is edgier than I've usually thought of them. Even this version of "Pretty In Pink," which is the original version, is grittier than the one I know from the 1986 film (I also probably assumed at the time that The Psychedelic Furs recorded a song just for the movie -- I know now that they recorded a new version of and that it's the original song that inspired the movie).
Definitely has that London-punk-pop-rock sound of the early 80s.
Solange
3/5
I think I’ve heard some of her songs before. I really like her style. Tremendous voice and she’s an excellent writer and composer. Very cool that she started her own recording label, too, good for her!
Fatboy Slim
3/5
I liked most of the tracks. Name was familiar but I am not sure if I’d heard any of this music before. Some of the songs get a bit too screechy and frenetic for my tastes but overall I enjoyed listening to it. Catchy and fun.
Great album art.
Django Django
3/5
I like this. I hadn’t heard of them or heard their music before — and of course the band’s name made me wonder if we were going early acoustic jazz here, but I learned from their Wikipedia article that the band claims their name has nothing to do with Django Reinhardt — and I found the album enjoyable overall. Very skilled musicians and interesting compositions. Reminds me a little of the Meat Puppets, who I also like.
Justin Timberlake
3/5
I've heard some of his songs before and seen him perform on shows like the Grammys, and he's definitely talented and entertaining. This album is okay. I like the style but most of the tracks to my ear seem to be lacking something, not sure what it is. Like they held back or something.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
Definitely a talented band, but overall I find this album vacillates between a little on the boring side and occasionally annoying (particularly the vocal deliveries at times).
Goldfrapp
3/5
This duo and their music are all new to me, and I think this is a really good album. These enjoyable and interesting tracks are very well-composed and performed superbly. The vocal work is outstanding, their sense of melody is strong, I love the harmonies, and I am impressed by the overall arrangement of each tune. Very, very skilled group here. Nice.
Adele
4/5
I remember when I first heard songs from this album, which was my introduction to her, and how blown away I was by her vocal abilities. Still am. She's truly remarkable. I also like the sparse style of these compositions and arrangements, and the production is superb. Truly an excellent album by an incredibly talented performer.
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
I had definitely heard "You're Gonna Miss Me" but never knew who had recorded it. It's still a fun song. I especially like the 60's surf-rock/garage-rock sound of it. The rest of the songs are okay at best but I had to admit I quickly grew tired of the shrill sound of most of the tracks, and some of the psychedelic gimmicks just aren't really my thing.
Aerosmith
3/5
I grew up hearing a lot of Aerosmith music, partly because I grew up in the late 70s and early 80s when Aerosmith was very popular, and also because they are a local band to Boston's South Shore, where I was. I didn't listen to a lot of Aerosmith as I got older, so it was nice to return to this album after all this time. I remember very well the handful of super-popular tracks, but it was great to re-hear the other tracks, too. Reminds me that this band is more versatile and interesting than a lot of contemporary popular rock bands of the time. I like the influence of funk and those styles.
As musicians, they are superbly strong. Some really good writing and compositional work here, too.
Overall, great album.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Much as appreciate and admire Bob Dylan's work, I think I got a bit too much exposure to him in my college years, but this album definitely pulled me back in. I love the style and sound, the sparse and haunting arrangements and production, and there are some superb tracks on it. Excellent record all around.
Scritti Politti
2/5
This album's sound transports me right back to the mid-80s when it was released. It sounds very much of that time. It wasn't really my style back then but I can appreciate it a bit more now due to the passage of years. It's very much in the pop vernacular of the mid-80s, and I don't really love it (too synth-y for me) but that's a matter of personal preference, not a reflection of the band's abilities.
Roxy Music
2/5
I remember some of their music from the 80s, which I didn't very much care for, and I knew they had been around for a while but I hadn't listened to their earlier work like this album. It's more interesting than their later stuff, kind of Bowie-esque. It's okay. I don't expect I'll be reaching for it again any time too soon, though.
Willie Nelson
4/5
This is a nice and welcome departure from most of Willie Nelson's other works, and it showcases his versality and talents really well. So many great tracks on this album. I'm re-listening to his version of "Georgia" right now. Soooo good.
Sugar
3/5
I remember this band from back in the early 90s. This album has a nice blend of punk elements (makes sense given Bob Mould's Hüsker Dü roots) with aspects of pop. I like it. I tend to shy away from heavily distorted guitars these days, probably from listening throughout the decades to so many different bands who lean on that effect, but it's effective for the songs on this record. Like any effect or technique, it's neither good nor bad in and of itself; it's how it's used. (Sorry, that sounds way more preachy than it's meant to be. You get the idea.)
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Fun!
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
It's helpful for me to remember the year in which this album was released. Listening to it now, it sounds so much like tons of other music in the past 30 or so years, but when I place it in the context of the late 80s, I get how this must have stood out. It gets a little overly distorted for my ears -- the harmonies get mushed together with that much overdrive or distortion -- but I get that's part of the style they were going for.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
I had not heard of this band or heard any of their music before. Even though it's mostly not to my own personal taste, they are very skilled musicians and performers. I do admire the way they play super-tightly even when things get chaotic and frenetic. In the right frame of mind, I have a feeling I'd really enjoy seeing and hearing them play live.
Liz Phair
4/5
I had heard of Liz Phair and heard some of her music before but this is my first full listen-through of one of her albums. It's excellent. I really like her style on all levels: as a composer, writer, and performer. I will have to listen to more of her work. It's really, really good.
Black Flag
3/5
I had definitely heard some of Black Flag's music before and I remember when they were pretty well-known in the 80s. Until this album showed up here, I hadn't heard any of their music for probably about 35-40 years, and I knew I'd not listened to a full album of theirs before, so I am glad I got to hear this one. They are as thrashy, punky, and edgy as I thought, but more musical too and I can hear the hard work they put into these songs. They aren't a sloppy garage band to my ear; instead, they sound like musicians who put a lot of effort into playing their songs well. Even though it's definitely rougher and more gritty than the music I typically listen to on my own time, it's impressive stuff.
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
Well, now, that was interesting, and unexpected. Also gave me a chance to read about Malcolm McLaren, who is quite a polymath.
The Thrills
2/5
It's okay, just didn't interest me very much.
4/5
I'd heard a few of these tracks before and I like their approach that blends what I think we'd call soul, R&B, and rock. Cool stuff.
Beatles
5/5
Love so much of the Beatles' music, and this album is one of my favorites of theirs. Just so many iconic and memorable songs, even though I've heard them so very often. For example, I still never tire of "Eleanor Rigby" after all these decades of hearing it countless times. You get it. I love them, and I love this album. Full stop.
Bad Company
3/5
This is familiar because it's the kind of 70s rock I heard so much of as I grew up, including quite a few tracks from this album. My listening interests have changed over the decades so it's not likely I'd come back to any of their albums, but it's still fun and enjoyable -- performed very well -- and definitely brings back some great memories.
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
I hadn't heard this album before and didn't know about it, and I'm very glad this project introduced me to it. It's excellent. The compositions and arrangements are so interesting, such a cool blend of styles and approaches, and the performances are superb. I'll definitely come back to this one again.
The Charlatans
3/5
I think I'd heard the band's name in the past but I don't recall if I've heard their music before. I like this album. Some good indie rock on here, very well performed, and at times quite interesting (I'm re-listening to 'Area 51' as I write this -- I dig the semi-prog-rock vibe of it, even a little jam-band-esque in a good way in moments). I'll have to hear more from them. Good stuff.
American Music Club
2/5
All new to me -- band, album, their music -- so as always I'm grateful for this project and the way it's constantly serving up music I'd almost certainly never encounter otherwise. This album is fine, nothing in it that I dislike, but through no fault of its own it's hampered a bit by the abundance of music that sounds a lot like it. That being said, the compositions and performances are quite good, and I like the style and sound of this album.
Morrissey
2/5
I've heard quite a bit of his music with The Smiths and on his own, and I like a couple of his songs but for the most part, his music just doesn't do much for me.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
I am always in awe of Margo Timmins' voice. Soooooo good! I remember some of these tracks from when this album was in release in the late 80s. I hadn't listened to them at all since then so it was nice to hear this album in full for what I think was my first full listen. I don't think I'd heard their cover of "Walking After Midnight" before. Like a lot of their music, they arranged it to be a bit more sparse and haunting yet it also has soul. Nicely done.
They are a talented band and this is an excellent record.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
The broad category of "country" (I know: categories, groupings, labels...I'm not a fan of these; I'm talking more about the features of the music we tend to label as "country" -- not great, but I digress) is not usually my go-to for listening enjoyment, but when it's like this album, it's great. Really, it's Lucinda Williams who is fantastic. And I readily admit I might be mistaken when I call this country. Is it folksy-rock? Alt-country? I really don't know.
I did enjoy listening to this album and most of what I've heard by her I also like. (For example, I absolutely love her song, "Righteously".)
She's superb, and this album is very much worth a listen.
The xx
2/5
My first time hearing of or hearing this band. It's okay. Not bad at all, just not my thing.
Big Star
3/5
I hadn't heard of them and I enjoyed most of the songs on this record. I had to remind myself a few times that they preceded other bands and musicians I like that sound a bit like this, although I can also hear the strong influence of bands that came before them. (None of that is meant as a criticism; I think it's fair to say we can make the same observations of just about any band at any point in time.)
George Jones
3/5
Been a while since I've heard any country, especially this kind of country, so it was a nice turn for me. Good reminder for me that when the genres and styles are varied, they tend to sound better to me than when it's too similar for too long, be it here or in any other listening forum.
I don't recall hearing of him or hearing any of these songs before now.
Sure, some of the songs are a bit croony and a little corny at times, but my ear perceives these tracks as sincere and enjoyable. Nice to hear something different today.
Killing Joke
3/5
The band's name is definitely familiar to me but I'm not sure if I had heard any of their music before this. This album to me is yet another example of how sounds, styles, and trends that we (or at least I) think of in music culture have been around a lot longer than meets the eye and how all these genres and categories (which I get away from more and more) overlap, influence each other, and don't ever really fit neatly into one description.
It's hard-driving, heavy-attack stuff yet still has some interesting compositional and performance aspects to it. I like it.
Bad Brains
1/5
I gave it a try, but I'm afraid I remained uninterested in this.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This album was everywhere when it was released and soared into popularity right away, and I enjoyed it so much back then. I still enjoy it now. Great songs, and to my ear, a really nice blend of two very broad and overlapping genres (rock and pop) with all sorts of other influences in there. Sure, it was so ubiquitous in the mid-80s that it was sometimes a little much, and I always cringe when nationalists/supremacists scream along to "Born In The U.S.A." without any sense of what the song is about (hint: it's neither a nationalist nor a supremacist song in any way, shape, or form), but that's not the fault of the band or the album. Great stuff.
Grant Lee Buffalo
3/5
I don't think I've heard any of their music before, and I'm glad this project introduced me to them. This is a solid album. Nice style here, a little different in a few ways: melodically, harmonically, and the way they use their instruments. I like it.
Bee Gees
3/5
The more I learn about the Bee Gees and listen to music over the long arc of their recording career, the more impressed I am. It's not even that I love all the music; it's more about how they've kept going, reinventing themselves, and somehow made it last over several decades. I looked it up and saw that they've recorded and released over 20 studio albums. Wow.
This album is one I had not heard before, and I don't think I'd heard any of the songs before. It's okay. Didn't do a whole lot for me, but I can imagine how it fit in with what was going on in the early 70s. And they are superb writers as well as very skilled performers.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Had not heard of this band or heard any of their music before. Overall, I like this album. I get a little tired of heavily distorted guitars at times, but I can't tell if that's because rock music for decades has been so saturated in distortion that maybe my ears are a little tired of it, or if it's more about what I'm hearing here. Either way, it's a minor thing, and the music this group writes and performs is quite good.
I particularly liked "is this and yes". It has an ethereal quality to it, as do many of the tracks on this album. "if I am" is another one that stood out for me.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
The handful of her song I've heard before already let me know she has an incredible voice, but this is the first album of hers I've listened to all the way through. Wow. She is superb at her craft and I really enjoyed this. What a voice, what expression, what soul!
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
I like Fleetwood Mac a lot and this is a very good album. I remember when it was released and hearing some of their fans grumble a bit about the title track, which I liked a lot back then and really love now, and looking back I realize how much those fans were probably bummed this album was very different from "Rumours". I get it, but I'm really glad Fleetwood Mac kept evolving and experimenting.
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I hadn't heard of this band or heard any of their music before, and it is a good album. Their sound and style don't sound as different now, nearly 30 years after this album was released, because I've heard so many bands in the very broad "alt-rock" category, but I'll bet back in '94 it stood out more. It still sounds solid to me, very well composed and skillfully performed with a lot of expression, but not messy or out of control.
I want to go back and read some of these lyrics. Sounds like they hit hard on some important and tough areas.
Van Morrison
2/5
He's very talented, and I know how admired he is by so many. His music has influenced countless artists, and he's superb in so many ways. I can't explain to anyone, let alone myself, why I just don't like his music.
Everything But The Girl
3/5
I am very fond of Tracey Thorn's vocals, and they are featured nicely here. Very cool compositions and arrangements to support her. I don't usually listen to this style of music, and I'm glad this album showed up today to make me give it a try. I like it a lot.
Ash
3/5
Hadn't heard of this band or heard any of their music before. It's fine, just doesn't really stand out for me because it's so similar to my ears to so many bands from that era.
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
It's always nice to hear early examples of a style of music that later became more widespread. I can also hear what I think are influences from bands that preceded them. And, yes, of course this is how music works and evolves. No fault of this band or album, but because I've heard so many bands that sound like this, it's hard for this album to stand out, but I do hear how strong they are as performers.
The Undertones
3/5
I had not heard of this band or heard any of their music before, and it's an enjoyable fun album for the most part. At times, it gets a little gimmicky to my ears but overall it's good rock/pop stuff.
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Really good album. Some memorable and catchy tracks on here, cool layered rhythms. It was great to listen to this album all the way through. I’d definitely heard quite a few tracks from it but hadn’t heard the whole thing. It’s very well done.
Hole
2/5
I think this band is okay, but they never really clicked with me. Most of grunge didn't, even though there are plenty of superb artists who contributed to that genre. Just a personal preference.
The KLF
3/5
Always good for me to listen to some electronic music because I pretty much never listen to it on my own. This has some interesting and well-executed elements to it. Some lovely instrumental work and really good vocals, too. Nice stuff.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Definitely very Velvet Underground! A bit cacophonous but I know that's what they were known for in their live performances, and there's still some semblance of musical structure for the most part. Such an interesting group doing interesting things that ran a bit counter to what was happening in most of the music culture at the time.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
I like a lot of The Everly Brothers' music, and this album has a lot of great songs. Their influence reaches far and wide on their contemporaries and countless musicians that followed in rock and pop and other genres. I learned more about them as musicians and people in Andrew Hickey's remarkable podcast, A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs, as quite a few episodes reference them, and at least two episodes -- Episode 56: "Bye Bye Love" and Episode 88: "Cathy's Clown" (which is on this album) -- are devoted to them. It's painful at times to learn about the very difficult relationship between the two brothers throughout their lives, even up to their deaths, and of course, it's fascinating to learn about them as artists and realize how much they contributed to the music that followed.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I am not at all familiar with their music even though I've heard their name in the past and at least another one of their albums has shown up before in my rotation here, so I'm glad I get the chance to hear them. Overall, I like this album. Some of the songs get real harsh to my ears, but I know that's what they're going for and it's really simply a matter of personal tendencies, tastes, and preferences. Even in those harsh tunes, I hear very skilled musicians and interesting composition and arrangements.
Impressive band.
Ice Cube
3/5
I remember this album back in the early 90s and it got a lot of attention. I probably heard some of these tracks before but I don't remember which ones. Anyway, this album's showing up in my rotation is a great reason to give it a full listen, and I'm glad I did. I was drawn in and went along for the ride. I knew the language would be rough and provocative, and it didn't let me down on that front, and the way he delivers lyrics is great -- such solid flow.
The music, harmonies, and rhythms that drive the lyrics are so strong and match up so well with what the artist is going for. The samples are provocative and often fun as well.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I listened to this band a little bit during my teen years, particularly drawn by a song they released a couple years after this album, "Bring On The Dancing Horses," which I always link to a play that stuck with me since I read it for a high school class, "Equus." I don't think the band meant to link the two, but because of the music video I saw on MTV, my mind did.
Anyway, that song isn't on this album, so back to it. I hadn't listened to it before, and it has some really solid tracks on it. I like the dark sounds and themes that don't get too self-involved to my ear. They are very skilled at composition and performance. It comes through.
Good album.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
I remember hearing about this band in the 80s and I admit I didn't pay any attention to them because of their name. My bad, I know. At the time, punk and hard-core and all that stuff was pretty widespread and I dismissed them because I thought, ugh, here's another juvenile punk band trying to be provocative and offensive, and at the time, that was so common it was really boring. Shock for shock's sake, and all that. Admittedly, as noted, my bad. Decades later, I try to be much more conscious of my many biases and filters. It's great when I can work past those because I often discover new things that way.
Back to this album. It's a lot more interesting than I had thought it would be. More going on, more layers and styles, etc. It's probably my middle-aged ears, but I don't always hear the words being sung or shouted. And because I don't listen very often to really thrashy, dissonant, and heavily distorted music like this, some of the tracks were tough for me, but I readily admit that's due in large part to my conditioning and experiences.
I do appreciate what they were going for here, and how they executed it. They are very skilled and interesting musicians in many ways.
Kind of an odd thing for me to add to a record review, but I get the feeling the group's members would be very interesting to get to know. I get the sense there are some unusual thoughts and views in there. I always like that.
Paul McCartney
2/5
I love Paul McCartney and the circumstances surrounding this album make me sad on many levels. The tracks are mostly forgettable to my ears, with a few exceptions, especially 'Maybe I'm Amazed'.
Method Man
2/5
Outside my usual listening sphere, as most hip-hop and rap tends to be, so good for me to give it a listen. Some engaging stuff here, but I must confess to my untrained and unconditioned ear, after a while the tracks sound a bit too similar to each other. I do want to get more into this genre, and this project has introduced me to some great examples, so I'll keep pushing.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
While there are some good elements at play here, to my ears -- likely based on decades of listening to certain types of music -- this album sounded a little too artificial to me. This isn't to knock the creativity or work that went into it; just a matter of personal preference.
Morrissey
1/5
I really tried. I did. With this album and others he's on that have shown up in this project, I tried. And I tried in my college years, too, in the late 80s when he was everywhere.
Sorry, folks. I just don't like his music.
James Brown
4/5
It's James Brown, and even though it's a more understated version of James Brown, it's still James Brown. Such energy, precision, and performance. He really was incredible.
Love the cover, by the way.
Gene Clark
2/5
It has some nice songs on it. I don't feel compelled to come back to it -- didn't grab me that much -- but not bad.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
1/5
Nah.
Beatles
5/5
A superb album by an iconic band. One of the all-time greats.
The Monks
3/5
All new to me, and I'm glad this project introduced me to them and this album. It's not so much that I find the album pleasurable and plan to listen to it again -- I doubt I will (nothing against the album; just a bit jarring for me) -- but when I place this album in the context of its time and place, I get why it's included here, and it makes sense it's described as having a major influence on punk.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I got a little bored at times but it's still a pretty good album. I appreciate the effort and their willingness to try something new.
Dennis Wilson
2/5
Wow, that's a lot of songs. Overall, I can hear how skilled he is as a composer and musician. Admittedly, I wasn't very interested in most of the tracks -- nothing wrong with them, just not my thing -- but there are some good musical moments sprinkled throughout.
The Zutons
3/5
Overall some pretty fun and catchy rock and pop (and, I don't know, indie? alt? something a little extra) and I can hear they are very skilled musicians. I enjoyed it.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Rock with a different approach. I like it. Unusual arrangements that I find surprisingly catchy.
Brian Eno
3/5
There are some interesting things going on here, especially on the instrumental numbers, which most of the tracks are. I can here the beginnings of Brian Eno's well-known ambient explorations to follow.
(John Cale, Robert Fripp, and Phil Collins -- among others -- contributed to this album. Very cool.)
Shack
2/5
I enjoyed it. It didn't grip me in a way that makes me feel compelled to come back to them or explore their other music, but it's well done.
Talking Heads
4/5
I am already a fan of the Talking Heads and love this album, so I'm happy to give it another listen today as it shows up on my rotation. Such a great album, and I know I'm way over-romanticizing the cultural context in which this album was written and recorded -- NYC in the late 70s and the people in the music and arts scene at the time -- but I still find it fun, so off I go.
Back to this album itself: so many great tracks and we can hear the interesting direction the band was taking. Very cool rhythms, clever composition, and David Byrne finding his voice and style more and more. Superb album.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
Some great funk-infused blues-pop-rock explorations here. I suppose we could name other genres, too. A real mash-up and very well done. Lyrics are reflective of many of the tensions going on culturally at the time. Musicians who perform on this album are super. Gets a little psychedelic for my own tastes, but it really does make sense for the time.
Prince
4/5
Prince is fantastic and I love his music. Such a prolific artist, consummate entertainer, and highly accomplished on a ridiculous number of musical instruments. At times, it gets a little too synth-heavy for my tastes, and sometimes sounds a little gimmicky, too, but overall it's a fun album.
Coldcut
3/5
Had not heard of the band or, I believe, heard any of their music, so as always it's lovely when this project introduces me to something new. It's a creative approach they take here, and most of the songs are infused with superb grooves and interesting vocals, both in performance and sometimes lyrically. I am re-listening right to "Smoke 1", which I particularly like, and it features Queen Latifah on lead vocals. I love her!
Overall, nicely engaging and interesting album. Very cool. I will have to explore their other work.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
I remember when they were popular in the 80s, but honestly, they didn't do much for me then. I hadn't heard this album before, doubt I'd ever heard any of these songs, and I realize it's a very different line-up in the band after their more commercially successful songs. I gave it try but must admit I wasn't very interested in it.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
3/5
I had heard maybe three or four of their songs in the past and I remember liking them ("And When I Die" comes to mind -- always liked that song), but I never explored their music any further or owned any of their albums, so I'm glad this project served up this one for me today. They are more interesting to my ear than I knew, and there is a lot of talent in this group as composers and performers. Love that the album kicks off with a beautiful Satie piece!
Some of the numbers have a lot of soul, too.
Jack White
4/5
I know I haven't listened to enough of Jack White's music because whenever I do, I like it. This is a very good album. I know it's his debut album but there's already a maturity and intelligence to his work and a dark ironic sense of humor. He's a superb multi-instrumentalist and I honestly think he's one of the best guitarists out there.
Bill Callahan
3/5
Very interesting. Had not heard of him nor heard his music, but I was drawn in by this album. Something about the way he composes and performs, can't quite put my finger on it, that I like.
De La Soul
2/5
It's entertaining. Not something I'll likely come back to, but it's likable.
The Cult
2/5
I remember this band from the 80s when they were popular. Listening to this album, I have a similar response now to how I felt then: yes, they are very skilled musicians, but, to me, I'm just not that interested.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I can appreciate the work on this album and the creativity that went into it, and the performances are fantastic. Robert Fripp is always a good idea.
John Lennon
3/5
I like this album. Such a tumultuous time for the Beatles as they parted ways and of course all sorts of things going on in the world at the time (I know, there's always a lot going on; I'm referring here to the visible things in Western culture that music was reflecting and participating in), yet I still hear the John Lennon voice and signature style.
Side Note: it's a boring cliché, at least it was for decades, to hear people bash Yoko Ono for all manner of things, but I like her. Not so long ago, I was in the San Francisco MOMA and happened upon an exhibit of hers. It was excellent. And the paths the individual Beatles were on seem to me to have already been well underway when she and John got together.
Anyway, neither here nor there, just had to mention it because she's involved in this album, too.
Supergrass
3/5
I had not heard of this band and I don't recall ever hearing any of their music, so I'm glad I've been introduced to them. Very cool album and I like their style. Nice weaving of many influences, and it just sounds like they are truly enjoying playing their songs.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
It’s not that interesting to me, sorry.
Os Mutantes
2/5
Definitely different, and they seem quite into the idea of blending all sorts of sounds into their music. Though not my personal cup of tea, I can appreciate what they were doing.
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
I don't recall if I'd heard of the band or heard any of their music, and I'm very glad I've been introduced to them by this project. This is a very good album. Excellent. Nice balance of punky and edgy sounds along with superb pop and rock sensibilities. I enjoy the performances -- very engaging and well-executed.
I'll be coming back to this one and exploring more of their work.
Happy Mondays
3/5
I recognize one or two of these songs but I don't think I knew who the band was. Now, of course, I do, thanks to this album appearing today in my rotation. I enjoyed listening to this album. I especially like it when they lock into a nice groove, like the one we hear in songs like 'Loose Fit' and 'Bob's Yer Uncle' and a few others.
Very skilled musicians. Real tight. Good stuff.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
Band and their music, and this album, all new to me. I really enjoyed this one. I like their sound and style. The songs are well written — maybe the right word is thoughtful (in a mature artistic way) — and performed with a nice balance of laidback and familiar yet also musically strong and precise.
I’ll have to check out more work by this group.
Baaba Maal
3/5
This is some beautiful and compelling work. Love it when this project brings me into cultures, styles, and places where I would not likely think to venture on my own.
George Harrison
4/5
I do love George Harrison's music, and this is a lovely album. Such an interesting, somewhat sad yet sweet, path his life and art took him on.
Stan Getz
4/5
Soooooo good! The skill and creativity of these musicians. Wow.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
In my high school and college years I listened to quite a bit of Elvis Costello, and I saw him in concert a couple times, too. I always liked his sound and style, and he has his own signature voice and approach to pop, which is great. This is a wonderful album to me in that it’s both creative and very well performed and also gives me a nice trip down memory lane. I don’t listen to him as much anymore so this gave me a good reason to enjoy it.
Kings of Leon
4/5
I really enjoyed this one. I don’t think I’d ever heard of the band or heard their music. Glad this project introduced me to them. Solid rock music with an approach that stands out as a little different. I look forward to hearing more of their music.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
There was a time when I absolutely loved this band, and even though that was a long time ago I still enjoy them. Fun album.
Soft Machine
3/5
I've heard the band mentioned in a few different contexts over the years, but I don't think I'd ever actually heard any of their music. The album started in a way that made me roll my eyes at first because I was worried it might be yet another psychedelic experimental album that probably sounded so cool to the musicians while they were making the music but doesn't hold up so well these days, but I readily admit I was quite wrong. There is some great music here with some genuine jazz and jazz-influenced composition and performance. Very interesting stuff.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Just a few days ago I mentioned here that I look forward to listening to more of Kings of Leon's catalog and -- voila! -- here we are. I enjoyed this album as I had with the other one. Good rock songs with their own style.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
Interesting music that’s way outside my usual listening sphere. I like this album and would not have expected to. Love this project!
Tom Waits
4/5
Oh, this is great. I know I overly romanticize jazz clubs and I know this was recorded in a studio with a small invited audience to give it a jazz-club feel, but I don’t care because I’m a sucker for this style and I love it. Tom Waits is very cool.
Faith No More
3/5
I’ve heard the band’s name but don’t think I’d heard any of their music before. I like this album. They are such skilled players and I like their composition and performance styles. Hits hard without overdoing it and they’ve got such a tight way of delivering their music. I hear some similarities to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I know that’s covered in the Wikipedia article, but this band sounds like their own thing to me. Besides, every band in history sounds a bit like a bunch of other bands. That’s not at all a criticism; same thing applies to any art form.
Love the cover of “War Pigs”.
Overall, some real good stuff here.
The Beta Band
3/5
Really solid album. And 'Gone' is beautiful.
Pantera
4/5
Wow, this is great stuff! I so rarely listen to metal and it's many subgenres, so it's good for me to broaden my horizons and pay attention to music outside my usual listening habits. I need to listen to albums like this only a few tracks at at time because some of the songs get super-thrashy and after a while, it's a bit much for me. That's due to my conditioning and habits, of course, and I know the music I can listen to for hours on end would create the same experience for some listeners that I have with this music. To me, this has absolutely nothing to do with how "good" the music is (and "good" is in quotes because I really don't apply goodness or badness to art; I just experience it and go from there).
These musicians are incredibly talented, no doubt. To play at those speeds and tempos with such precision...wow.
Madonna
4/5
I don't think I've heard any of these songs before. Typical of Madonna, it shows an artist who is always willing to try new things, experiment, and create. Although it's outside the scope of music I typically focus on, it's quite good. She always is.
(Side Note: it's awful to see the way people talk about her. I know I should let it roll off me, but it's easy to see how the negative things people say would never be brought up if she were a man. She's as tough and brave as they come.)
The Beta Band
4/5
First of all, have to say how much I love the album cover. Such great artwork!
Now, the album is excellent. Second Beta Band album for me this week, which is great. I am drawn to their style, which is a clever mash-up of elements from various genres, and they compose and perform very well.
I'll give this album more listens and, yes, for real, will finally listen to more of their stuff.
Death In Vegas
3/5
All new to me, the band and their music. Very cool stuff going on here. Interesting mix of more traditional rock/pop instruments with electronic music machines and instruments. Nice pulse to their music and they go to interesting places harmonically and melodically.
Grateful Dead
5/5
I spent a lot of years, mostly in my teens and early 20s, being really into the Dead, seeing tons of shows, etc. I still return to them from time to time and I'm usually reminded of just how remarkable they were as musicians and as a cultural...not sure what, anomaly? phenomenon? novelty? who knows...
Amazing what they did and how they did it. I always admire their willingness to try things and given the absurd amount of touring they did for decades, and the heavy and nasty drug abuse that clouded the band on and off from the beginning, there are times when they just don't sound very good, but there are so many times when they reach new heights. I was fortunate enough to witness live some of those moments, and it's mind-boggling they amount of recorded concert material we can still access to this day. When this band is on, they are ON.
David Bowie
4/5
I don't think I'd heard anything from this album before. I enjoy most of David Bowie's music so I looked forward to listening when this showed up today. At least upon my first listening, I found this to be one of my favorite Bowie albums so far. I can't remove whatever biases I formed because I knew this was his final studio album before his death, so I can't know how much of my interpreting the composition of these songs, musically and lyrically, through the lens of someone aware of his impending death is my preconceived notions and how much is the artist's intent. Either way, this album resonates with me on the level of a music fan and a deeper reflective level.
It's superb. Truly superb.
Sleater-Kinney
4/5
I have heard a few songs by Sleater-Kinney in the past and always liked them. This is my first full-listen-through of one of their albums, and it's excellent. Nice mix of rock and punk elements, very much in their own voice, and it kept me engaged. I need to hear more of their work.
Cornershop
3/5
Like so many albums that have shown up in this project over the years, both the band and the album are all brand-new to me, which is always great. I hear so much music that I'd never hear otherwise. Love it!
This is a good album and I enjoyed listening to it. I particularly like their sense of groove. Sometimes things can sound a little juvenile but that's okay.
Gene Clark
1/5
Meh. I am not a huge fan of The Byrds and although Gene Clark is definitely talented, this album just isn't my thing.
Neil Young
4/5
Neil Young is outstanding and I love the way he keeps evolving. This album is from early in his journey yet it reflects a maturity and clarity he brought to his music from the beginning. I love this album. So many memorable, beautiful, and superbly performed songs. And what a writer.
I love when artists truly have their own voice.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
I'd only heard a few of her songs before I listened to this album today. For the few songs I'd heard before, I always thought she had an incredible voice. This album solidifies that, and the songs are all quite good. Even though I don't listen to a lot of this style of music, I am glad I finally got around to listening to one of her albums.
Primal Scream
3/5
This is interesting stuff. Had not heard of the band and had not heard any of their music before. Quite a cool mashup of styles and genres. It's really good.
Now that I've read the Wikipedia article on this album and learned the album was inspired by a 1971 film called 'Vanishing Point', I read about that, too, and now I have to see it.
Side Note: I couldn't help but laugh out loud a bit when I read that the band described the album as an anarcho-syndicalist speedfreak road-movie record. I can't hear or read the term "anarcho-syndicalist" without immediately conjuring up the image of the scene from 'Monty Python And The Holy Grail' when King Arthur converses with two peasants:
King Arthur : Then who is your lord?
Woman : We don't have a lord.
Dennis : I told you, we're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to be a sort of executive officer for the week...
King Arthur : Yes...
Dennis : ...but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting...
King Arthur : Yes I see...
Dennis : ...by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs...
King Arthur : Be quiet!
Dennis : ...but by a two-thirds majority in the case of...
King Arthur : Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!
Woman : Order, eh? Who does he think he is?
Marvin Gaye
5/5
Iconic.
Pantheon.
Epic.
Vital.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
I had not heard of Robert Wyatt but I'd heard of the bands of which he had been a member, and I'm so glad this album appeared today in this project for my listening pleasure. It's rather eclectic and even when the particular track might not be one I'd want to hear again, I can appreciate the creativity and unusual choices.
Neil Young
4/5
I really love Neil Young and have seen him in concert a couple times, used to own quite a few of his albums, etc., but I'm pretty sure I missed this one in all that. It's quite good. Melancholic and brooding, but not in a bad way.
The Incredible String Band
1/5
Nope.
2/5
More dissonant, noisy, and experimental than in my usual listening queue, so always good for me to branch out. Doubt I'd return to it, but I can appreciate what they were going for here.
Elvis Costello
3/5
In my high school and college years, I listened to a lot of Elvis Costello and saw him in concert a few times. It's been a long, long time since I've actively listened to him -- nothing negative in that; my interests just changed over the years -- so it was nice to listen to another of his albums. This album was released soon after I drifted away from Elvis Costello, so I don't think I'd heard anything from it before. It's solid Elvis Costello music, quite good, and I'm glad I got to hear it.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
5/5
Oh, yes, absolutely LOVE this one! Such a great album for so many reasons. Reminds me to once again highly -- and I mean the highest of highly -- recommend anyone and everyone who is even a casual fan of rock music to listen to Andrew Hickey's incredible podcast series, A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs. I know there are many podcasts that one can jump in anywhere, but I promise it's worth it to start at the first episode and listen chronologically from there. It's that good.
Back to this album: It's 1957. Think of what's to come for rock music in the decades that followed. There are no firsts in rock or any music or art, to be sure, but it's still so wonderful to hear the early elements of what we call rock music present -- and super fun! -- in this album.
I'll admit that because I was born a decade after this album was released, I idealize and romanticize the 50s; there were serious injustices and hardships for far too many, here in the US and elsewhere, and I do not for a moment mean to gloss over or diminish any of those. Still, aesthetically, I will confess a bias towards music from this era. I just love early rock and roll (some of which we now call rockabilly) and 50s jazz and 50s blues. I also dig mid-century modern design (e.g., furniture, cars, architecture, etc.).
What a ride. What a journey.
Animal Collective
1/5
Although I can hear why some like it or find it interesting, it just doesn’t do much for me.
Big Black
3/5
The band and their music are new to me, or at least that's what my memory is, but as this one was released when I was in college, so it's possible I heard some of their stuff back then and just don't recall it. No matter: all feels new.
I don't listen to very much punk and punk-ish music these days, really haven't in a long time, but I used to and now and then I hear something from that bucket that reminds me how good it can be. This album is one of those things. The musicians play very well, and even though this is a mid-80s album when punk, thrash, and so on were pretty heavily populated, this group seems to have found their sound. Not easy to do.
Frank Black
3/5
I know of him from The Pixies but had not heard any of his solo work. There are some good tracks here, and the musicianship is solid. I think I'll give it more of a listen and I'll look out for his other work.
Silver Jews
3/5
Overall, this is a good album. I hadn't heard or them or heard any of their music before, so, as always, I welcome the introductions this project is making for me. At times, the vocal delivery gets a little tiresome to me, but I admire the songwriting and performances (very well performed!), and the lyrics are well-crafted.
Girls Against Boys
3/5
This is solid stuff. Strong-driving music that doesn't fall apart. I enjoyed it.
The Byrds
1/5
Some of these songs are good, and although I've tried, I just generally don't like The Byrds very much. Too twangy folky for me. Very skilled musicians and they had quite an influence on their contemporaries as well as countless bands that followed. Just a matter of personal preference. Not my thing.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Wow, I like this one. Hadn't heard of the artist or heard any of her music before. I like her approach to her art. Slightly unusual, different instrumentation, and such a wonderful vocal delivery that's all her own. I know all this is entirely subjective, of course, but to my ear, she doesn't sound like someone who is trying to be different for its own sake. I like it.
Rush
5/5
Love, love, love this band. So innovative, such incredible performers -- my ear always bows when they play -- and to me, they hold up well even so many decades later. Saw them in concert when I was a teen and it was truly amazing.
Dion
3/5
Well, Dion certainly has been a prolific artist! Although this album generally doesn't do a lot for me, at least at first listen, I can hear how good these songs are as far as composition and performance go. It's a matter of personal preference and style, not at all about how "good" he is or the songs are (in quotes because I don't like to categorize art as "good" or "bad", or get into rating and ranking art against other art; instead, I care about how I experience the art, regardless of what it is -- final note: the more I study music, the more interesting most music becomes as an experience for me).
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I remember a few of these songs from when they were on the radio in the 80s. I liked them then, and I like this album now. He's a very creative and interesting musical artist to my ear, and even though this is a 1980 album it still holds up well.
The Libertines
3/5
Interesting backstory with this album (thank you, Wikipedia!). Good music, too. I like the blending of influences and styles here. Cool rhythms, too -- tight and catchy.
Calexico
3/5
New to me, and I like the album. Some interesting things going on musically.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Jimi Hendrix's place in the Rock Pantheon is fully secured in my mind. Even though I don't listen to his music these days, I listened to him constantly as a teen and remain in awe of what he can do with a guitar. Such rare art!
Yes, this album, like so many late '60s rock albums, shows the influence of LSD, but that's to be expected. His artistry still shines through that fog.
Björk
4/5
Björk, to me, is one of the most interesting and innovative musical artists of our time. What an incredibly creative and intriguing array of expressions! This album is no exception. Brilliant.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Although I don't listen to him anymore, I used to, and I still like a lot of his music.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Their sound and style are quite reflective of folk-rock which was popular at the time, yet they also manage to make their songs sound a little distinct from most of their peers. Sandy Denny is so good. I also love that she's the answer to the Led Zeppelin trivia question, who besides Robert Plant performed vocals on any Led Zeppelin albums? She's the only one: she sang with him on 'The Battle Of Evermore'.
Sonic Youth
3/5
I like this album more than I expected. I've heard some of their music before, and it's been hit and miss for me, some songs catching my ear, others a bit too chaotic and grating (totally get that's what they were going for, and no judgment of it as anything other than that's how they were creating their art; just personal preference). This album sounds and feels more skilled to me than some of the other music I've heard from them. They still can make tons of distorted and dissonant noise, but to my ear there's an organization and structure to it that works so well. I still can't really listen to it all at once all the way through, but I hear some impressive skills in the composition and performance of this music.
Kings of Leon
2/5
I hadn't heard of them before and don't recall hearing their music in the past, either. I gave it a listen and they are very skilled musicians. Some of the tracks are alright to my ear, but something about them -- might be the vocalist? plus maybe a couple of other aspects -- just doesn't quite click with me.
FKA twigs
4/5
Such an interesting artist! I'm glad this project introduced me to her work. Beautiful, unusual, and creative songs on this album. Superb performances, too. Love it. Will need to find more of her music.
Pere Ubu
3/5
Had not heard of this band before, and I don't think I'd heard any of their music before, either. It's quite wild and rough at times and it seems to me that's exactly what they meant to do. The bass and drums are great. Guitar is solid, too, and interesting. I get that vocally they were trying to be outlandish, or something like that, and I can appreciate what they were going for, but as a listener, it's not my thing. Overall, though, quite good.
Lorde
4/5
I believe both the artist and her songs are new to me, and I'm glad this project introduced me to both. She is very good as a composer, writer, and performer. She delivers her lyrics in her own way, and I am drawn in as she performs. I've listened to a few albums that are more recent like this one, and it's great. I don't want to get myself too mired in the "old man yells at cloud" cycle that shuts me off to contemporary artists. Some INCREDIBLE music is being made all the time, right now, all around the world, and I love it.
Suede
1/5
Just doesn't do much for me. Have to admit, I was bored.
The Sonics
3/5
It's always fun to me to hear the earlier days of certain trends in music, and this album is a nice example of how the "edgier" rock in the decades that followed was built on the foundation set by bands like this and the other bands of the time, and even earlier on, who were pushing things in a less polished, more wild direction. Fun!
Ryan Adams
3/5
I knew only his song "New York, New York" from this album, which I always enjoyed but for some reason, I never listened to anything else by him. I'm glad this project served up this album today. I listened to it, and overall, I like it. Some good songs here.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
So fun! What an incredible career this group in its various incarnations has enjoyed for so long. This album has a handful of familiar songs on it, and it's enjoyable. They are superbly skilled, and I like the grooves. It's all very 70s sounding, and in this case, that's not at all a negative.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
I know it's sacrilege in some circles every time I, as a fan of rock from its roots to today, share my view that I'm just not all that wild about the Stones. There are a number of songs of theirs that I do like, and a few I truly love, but overall, I don't enjoy listening to the majority of their stuff.
Yep. I know. I'm banished from Rockdom for this.
If anyone needs me, you can find me at the disco.
Ozomatli
3/5
I like this one. I had not heard of this band or heard any of their music, at least not that I recall, and this is a fun album. Catchy, good energy, and very skilled performers.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Love him. Another great album of his.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
This is pretty fun, and some very cool tracks on this. It's a soundtrack for a style of film I know effectively nothing about, so I'm just going by how I hear it now. I enjoyed it. It's always good for me to hear music from other cultures, times, and genres.
Nirvana
4/5
I owned this album, got it when it was released, and liked it very much. Some solid tracks on this one. I can imagine it was tough to write and record this in the wave of all the attention and everything that comes with it (not being snarky with that observation, I mean it), and given the context, I've always been impressed with this album.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
I love ELP. Such a fantastic and fascinating band, and how they managed to create all that sound as a trio is mind-blowing.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Good album. I like the somewhat raw feeling of the delivery even though I can hear how professional and solid all the musicians and performers are.
GZA
4/5
I enjoyed listening to this album, and the artists and songs are all new to me. Very into the hypnotically rhythmic grooves with vocal deliveries that work great on top of it. I will have to come back to this one.
The Vines
3/5
Some good rock with kind of an indie, in-a-bar sound and style. Very solid performances and recordings. They play very well.
The White Stripes
4/5
I always like their music and I like Jack White's work post-The White Stripes. He is so superbly talented. One of the best guitarists I've ever heard.
And hearing Meg White sing lead on "In The Cold, Cold Night" makes me want to hear more songs in which she has the vocal lead. So good!
The Pogues
3/5
I somehow missed this band entirely when they were popular in my late teens. I have a strong feeling I would've loved this album back then! Even now, hearing it all these years later, it's really fun and catchy, with more going on than initially meets the ear. I can see the appeal.
Depeche Mode
4/5
This band is fantastic and this album reflects that. I hadn't listened to them or this album for a mighty long time, so I was curious about how it would sound all these years later, and even though quite a few of the tracks have that 80s industrial-synth sound, it's held up quite well. They are clever songwriters and superb performers.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
I always enjoy listening to earlier albums in this genre. I suppose that's true of any genre for me, really. I love discovering how music styles and genres develop and evolve. Interconnectedness, influences, patterns, etc., always appear, and that's usually in very interesting and innovative ways.
Album art here is pretty cool, too. Reminds me a little of Yes album covers.
The Auteurs
3/5
I don't think I've heard any music from this band before, so I'm glad I got the chance to listen to this album today. I enjoyed it.
The Associates
1/5
A little on the synth-y side for my taste, and I am not keen on the vocal delivery. Didn't do much for me overall.
Todd Rundgren
1/5
I gave it a try. Didn't click in for me. Felt too self-indulgent psychedelic-sounding. I was bored, honestly.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Although synth-electronic-dance (admittedly, best I can do with a label for this kind of music) is not one of the styles I listen to at all, and at times some of these tracks get a bit too frenetic for me, I like the composition and performances. It has more depth to it than other music in this genre, at least to my ears.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
I'd definitely heard some of these songs before and recognize the band's name. Although most of it has that 60s sound that I don't usually like, there are some good tracks here and there's a little more of an edge on some of these songs that I would not have guessed.
Lou Reed
3/5
I always enjoy his music. Such an interesting artist. Very good album.
The Who
3/5
I was very into The Who when I was a teen, so I owned and listened to this album quite a bit. I grew away from them over the decades that followed, but this album is so strong and brings back great memories. So many superb tracks on this album.
Soft Cell
3/5
Like most radio listeners in the US in the 80s, I'd heard 'Tainted Love' many times before and I do like that song. I don't think I'd heard any of the other songs from this album before. It was fun to give it a listen, and because one of my kids is a young teen who likes some current (2024) pop songs, it's pretty wild to hear some similarities between this record from 1981 and the songs of the past few years that my kid likes. That observation is not meant to denigrate either this album or contemporary pop; music, like all art (and pretty much all things), is in a perpetual cycle of self-reference and evolution.
David Ackles
1/5
I think I've just heard too much folk in my life. Found this one boring.
Afrika Bambaataa
4/5
This is great! Lots of superb beats, outstanding instrumentation, and the rapping is quite catchy. Had my foot tapping the whole way through.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Hey, now, this is a real nice one. I hadn't heard of the artist before or heard any of his music, and this is some truly cool stuff. All the performers are outstanding, and the compositions are great. I'm re-listening to "The Big Apple" right now because the piano playing on that track is superb. Hugh Masekela's flugelhorn is amazing on this whole album.
Jacques Brel
3/5
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
No need to encourage me to listen to this album: it's one I listen to at least a few times each month. Bill Evans is incredible. I love all his work. This album has long made me wish so much I could've been there at the Village Vanguard for these sessions, and seen him play many times over. Genius is a word that gets thrown around a lot but is appropriate for Mr. Evans.
Wild Beasts
3/5
This band is new to me and I don't recall having heard any of their music before, so yet again this project introduces me to a band I now like. This album has some very good tracks on it and I enjoyed giving it a listen. I'll return to it and I'm curious about their other work.
Blue Cheer
2/5
Always nice to hear some of the earlier entries in what became a massive genre for decades to come and continues today; in this instance, hard rock/heavy metal. Although I'm not particularly compelled to come back to this album or this band, I appreciate what they were doing.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
I had not heard of this band and none of these songs are familiar to me, so I'm pretty sure this is all new to me. I enjoyed listening to this album. Interesting approach to rock and pop, very cool compositions and performances. I'll come back to this one.
Meat Loaf
3/5
One of the many instances in which I need to separate the artist from the art. Some of Meat Loaf's opinions and views were pretty awful in the years leading up to his death, but I recognize that can be said of many, many artists, not just in rock music but also in film, television, etc. Anyway, that dilemma is not anything I can solve here or elsewhere, I'm afraid. On we go.
Music-wise, this album was so huge in my preteen and early teen years, and I still find it entertaining, fun, and of course, nostalgia-inducing. It's high energy, over-the-top, and so skillfully done.
Mariah Carey
3/5
Although her music is outside the usual genres and styles to which I am accustomed and to which I mostly listen, I can hear the impressive talent in her voice. She really can sing amazingly well. Impressive!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I love Neil Young so this is a familiar and most-welcome album for me to enjoy. Some iconic tracks on this one. I remember learning "Down By The River" on guitar in my early 20s, one of the very few songs I actually put some work into back then. So great.
3/5
I've only heard a handful of XTC's songs over the years, but I remember always liking them. Not sure I didn't make more of an effort to hear more of their work, but for whatever reason, I didn't. I am glad this project served up an album of theirs today, especially one with songs I don't think I'd ever heard before. This is such an interesting band. Very strong writing and composing, and excellent performances and recordings. Good stuff here!
4/5
I'd heard a couple of their songs way back in the early 80s and I remember liking their music but never pursuing it beyond that. Listening to this album for the first time for most if not all the songs on it, I am even more drawn to their work. They are really good! Lots of energy with a bit of a punk-esque edge to it but highly skilled and very well executed. It's a fun album. Nice!
The Bees
2/5
I gave it a listen, and it's okay. I'm not a big fan of reggae (broadly speaking, that is; there are some songs in that genre I love, but I can't listen to that style for too long...don't know why, but it grates on me), so the reggae-influenced songs don't do anything for me, but a few of the other songs were alright.
Lambchop
3/5
Good album. I don't recall having heard of this band before and I doubt I've heard their music before. Nice addition of horns and other instruments on most tracks, and quite a few layers going on but not in a messy or cacophonous way. Interesting stuff here. I like it.
Kanye West
1/5
I hadn't heard his music before, at least not that I remember. I gave this a listen and gave it an honest try. It just doesn't do it for me. It sounds like he's trying to be controversial and provocative in many tracks, and I get it, but it feels too ham-handed for me.
Nirvana
5/5
I remember this album oh-so well. I bought it when it hit the stores and I listened to it often. I don't listen to much Nirvana these days, except some tracks from their MTV Unplugged sessions (some songs in those performances are truly excellent), but I have a deep appreciation for what they did in the late 80s and early 90s. This album is one of those that comes along and hits so many places for a long time.