697
Albums Rated
2.73
Average Rating
64%
Complete
392 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
6
5-Star Albums
25
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
xx
The xx
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
Butterfly
Mariah Carey
|
4 | 2.48 | +1.52 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
|
Timeless
Goldie
|
4 | 2.53 | +1.47 |
|
Violator
Depeche Mode
|
5 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
|
Yeezus
Kanye West
|
4 | 2.77 | +1.23 |
|
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
|
5 | 3.78 | +1.22 |
|
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
|
4 | 2.86 | +1.14 |
|
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
|
4 | 2.87 | +1.13 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
|
1 | 3.65 | -2.65 |
|
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Live!
Fela Kuti
|
1 | 3.44 | -2.44 |
|
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
|
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
|
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
|
1 | 3.33 | -2.33 |
|
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
|
1 | 3.32 | -2.32 |
|
Kenya
Machito
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
The White Album
Beatles
|
2 | 4.18 | -2.18 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Buckley | 3 | 1.67 |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 1.5 |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 3 | 2 |
| The Kinks | 3 | 2 |
| The Smiths | 3 | 2 |
| Björk | 4 | 2.25 |
5-Star Albums (6)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Adele
4/5
"21" is the second album from Adele, and was recorded while she was 21. It was originally going to be an upbeat album until Adele separated from her partner, and the album turned into a heartbreak album. "21" was a sleeper hit at release, becoming the best-selling album of 2011 and 2012, and being certified diamond. Many of the songs on this album were smash hits and are easily recognizable by most people. "21" draws some inspiration from country music, but stays true to Adele's usual style of gospel, soul, and pop music.
This record breaking album is amazing and a must-listen for anyone. "21" is still listed on the Billboard's Top 200 Albums for over 500 weeks now. It is the best-selling album of the 2010's and the fastest album to reach diamond certification with 92 weeks. Adele has a beautiful singing voice, and that matched with the perfect melodies, created this award winning masterpiece.
6 likes
Linkin Park
5/5
Hybrid Theory is the debut album by American rock band Linkin Park. This critically acclaimed rap rock / alternative rock album and its four singles launched the band into mainstream popularity - where they have stayed to this day. The four singles remain the band's most successful songs to date, and they are: "One step Closer", "In the End", "Crawling", & "Papercut". The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, is certified 12x platinum (diamond), and is the best-selling rock album of the 21st century.
This is the first time that I have listened to Linkin Park's debut album in one sitting (I've heard its singles many times) and I have to say it was pretty awesome! The nostalgia this gave me for the early 2000's is unmatched and listening to this album today made it a great day. Well produced, amazing hooks, and aggressive lyrics shape this album to be a cornerstone of modern rock. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that hasn't heard at least one of these songs before, but everyone needs to listen to this album.
2 likes
Johnny Cash
2/5
This Johnny Cash album was recorded live at the San Quentin State prison in California in February of 1969. This was his second album of a series of live albums recorded at prisons, and it was also his 31st album overall. This album has been certified triple platinum. At this live prison show, Johnny Cash performed 2 new songs - "San Quentin" (about the prison) and "A Boy Named Sue". The former song was performed twice as an encore and both appear on this album. The latter song became a staple of Johnny Cash's music, and it's amazing to learn he premiered it at a prison show. The original release of this album was alright, but the reissue with 9 extra tracks was much better. Johnny Cash was a great entertainer and it really shows on this live album, because the audience were all inmates that liked to heckle. If you're a fan of live albums then give this one a listen, but if you just want to listen to Johnny Cash's music then you may want to try a different album.
2 likes
Butthole Surfers
3/5
This album is an experimental blend of punk rock, heavy metal, and psychedelic music. The music is creative as the band recorded everything themselves, but it's also supported by great guitar playing. The entire album was a trip, whether that be nightmarish or awesome, is up to the listener to decide. For sure an interesting album nonetheless.
2 likes
Depeche Mode
5/5
This synth-pop album from England at the start of the 90's was great easy-listening music while getting some work done! Every track seemed to be composed perfectly without a single noise out of place. I can see why this is Depeche Mode's most famous album. Would listen to again!
2 likes
1-Star Albums (25)
All Ratings
The xx
5/5
I've been tuned in to this since Project X. cmon man, everyone should know this album.
Van Morrison
4/5
Super chill vibes from this album, but not my kind of music. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it! It transports you to a simpler world - "in a different place, in a different time".
Pixies
2/5
Sounds great, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this
Deep Purple
3/5
eh - it's alright and passed the time, but it sounds like generic rock. Not really my cup of tea.
OutKast
2/5
Classic 2000's hip-hop that I never listened to/appreciated as a kid. Too outdated for me to get into it now, but it sure was a blast from the past.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
Easy-listening music, straight out of the 70's. I really liked hearing an entire orchestra of music in this album.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
Sounds folksy and not something I'd usually listen to. It's aged music that is too poetic for today's fast paced cultures. The first song - Bird on the Wire - stands out from the rest.
Joan Armatrading
2/5
Good, folksy/pop vibes from this album, made entirely by a woman of color in London. It was eye-opening that I had never heard of Joan before since this album was so well done. Again, it's not music I would tune into, but I appreciated listening to her works.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Folksy country music with a beautiful singing voice. I couldn't enjoy the album because it's not my type of music, but it provided soothing background tracks while I worked.
Richard Thompson
2/5
Classic folk music that easily passes the time. However, this album's musical rhythm is too slow for my tastes.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Punk rock from across the pond! I enjoyed this album while working.
Ian Dury
3/5
Punk/disco rock from England with pretty cool vocals and deep basslines. Definitely can tell it came out of the 70's - this album lets the good times roll!
Public Enemy
4/5
The album that ushered in the new hip-hop tracks of the 90's! This was a snippet of the evolution of hip-hop music during this time. This album features a collage of samples, scratches, high-tempo beats, and lyrical genius within their rhymes. Public Enemy's most famous album was a joy to listen to.
T. Rex
4/5
This Glam Rock album was extremely fun to listen to. Supposedly this album influenced a decades worth of Glam Rock and Rock & Roll music in Britain after it was released, so it's an important piece of music history.
John Prine
4/5
This album is an American classic! It's fire folk-country that represents Appalachia to the Mississippi river. There's a mix of sad songs and happy songs, but all of them are great and have a story to tell. John Prine had a perfect country singer voice and I'm sad I never knew about him until now. RIP
Teenage Fanclub
4/5
Good ol' 90's rock! These Scots knew what they were doing when they made this Alternative Rock album, and it was very enjoyable to listen to.
Louis Prima
2/5
This Swing music isn't my thing and it's pretty outdated at this point. But I can appreciate that back in its heyday, this was probably a spectacular album.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
The classic hard rock sounds in this album are awesome! I enjoyed listening to this piece of music, but I wish there were more tracks on the album.
Depeche Mode
5/5
This synth-pop album from England at the start of the 90's was great easy-listening music while getting some work done! Every track seemed to be composed perfectly without a single noise out of place. I can see why this is Depeche Mode's most famous album. Would listen to again!
Koffi Olomide
1/5
Dance music straight out of Africa! More specifically, it's French Soukous music from the Congo. Not my type of music at all, but it wasn't bad.
Traffic
2/5
English Folk Rock album that was surprisingly more popular in America than England. The smooth, relaxing music and vocals can easily accompany most situations - whether they be work or play.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
WU-TANG CLAN FOREVER! This classic hip-hop album was propelled onto the charts by the charisma and lyrical talent of each member. This album's success started the East Coast Renaissance of hip-hop and influences the genre even to today.
Cat Stevens
4/5
This English folk rock album will transport you to simpler times, where it always feels like summer and the plans for the day include a hike followed by a picnic. Bring some Tea for the Tillerman!
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
The birth of rock and roll in one album! RIP Buddy Holley; he was one heck of a musician and singer taken way too young by an accident. The songs on this album almost sound timeless, as if you could listen to them anytime and think they're groundbreaking. I believe this is a testament to Buddy Holley's skills.
N.W.A.
4/5
This iconic album started the golden age of hip-hop and blasted the genre to the mainstream. Even if you put aside the album's popularity, the songs are just so damn good too!
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Beautiful soul music to set a relaxing mood, but it's not to my speed. Gotta give respect where R-E-S-P-ECT is deserved though!
Count Basie & His Orchestra
1/5
Chock full of swing music! Every track seems to meld together and none of them stuck out to me. Very nice background music.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
A simple Pop Rock album that was enjoyable to listen to, but also can be forgettable.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Good ol' Folk music from Canada! Leonard Cohen's voice is so soothing to listen to and it blends perfectly with his music.
Metallica
4/5
Metallica's most famous album, and the album that ushered in the 90's Grunge era, as well as elevating Heavy Metal to a mainstay genre in the public eye. A lot of Metallica's most famous songs also exist on this album. All around, this is an amazing album and a must listen-to for any fan of music - especially Heavy Metal or Rock genre enthusiasts.
Small Faces
3/5
This trippy Rock album was fun to listen to.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Classic 80's British Post-Punk album! Moody music that can sound good in most situations.
Elvis Presley
3/5
The King of Rock's first album! This platinum album and its singles made Elvis - as well as Rock and Roll - famous. This is a classic, but for some reason I still can't get down to Elvis' music.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Super chill Reggae music from the legendary Reggae artist himself. This album didn't have his most famous songs, but it was still a pleasure to listen to.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
90's Techno vibes in this British album. Downtempo and chill pop music that feels like it should be played at the end of a long night out. Glad I discovered this album!
Parliament
3/5
Funky music in this album. This was an experience from the first song to the last, as it feels like each song melts into the next. Really well done album, but not my type of music.
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This album sounds like pop from another planet - "otherworldly". If one wants to escape reality for just a little while, all they have to do is turn on this album. Very nice!
FKA twigs
3/5
This album is a mix of chill electronic vibes and ethereal R&B lyrics that produce something truly soothing, but also that smolders in the darkness. Could this be the future of R&B?
Cee Lo Green
2/5
This hip-hop album didn't draw me in.
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
This Portuguese album has tinges of pop and jazz, but the songs are so similar that they all seem to blend together. It doesn't satisfy my musical taste, but the album isn't particularly bad either.
Gillian Welch
3/5
Good ole country album! It was a joy to listen to, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
Trippy rock-centric music from Brazil. This psychedelic rock album was created during an artistic movement period in 1960's Brazil, which gives it a unique sound. Although I have no idea what the lyrics are - because I don't speak Portuguese - I can still appreciate the vibe of the music.
2Pac
3/5
One of hip hop's most influential album and the best of the best from the 90's. Tupac was one of the first rappers that brought social issues into his lyrics and he was a genius with his rhymes. This album might be his most famous / best one.
Burning Spear
2/5
Forgettable Reggae music, since it was modified to be more "poppy" for international audiences. The album did try to tell a story by blending religious and cultural concerns from this "hippy" era.
Ryan Adams
4/5
Sad, chill, alternative country music. Created after a breakup, this album is great listening for anyone going through the same thing.
Moby
4/5
Moby's most famous album, and it took a whole year after release to reach that acclaim. This downtempo electronica album was a joy to listen to and it helped me find more gems from Moby. A very unique album if you read into its details.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
I like some of the songs by Buffalo Springfield, however I haven't heard any from this album before. It was fun to listen to, but I didn't find any new great songs. Classic rock album from the late 60's and the counter-culture era!
The Rolling Stones
4/5
An amazing Rolling Stones album here! It's the most instrumentally experimental album for the band, and it started a huge wave of creativity into their next few albums. All of the sub-genres of rock seem to find their way into this album in one way or another, so there is a song for everyone!
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Cyndi Lauper's debut album was immediately popular as a result of her singles from this album. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time," just to name a couple, were instant classics and propelled Cyndi into the limelight. This pop album was amazing to listen to!
The Coral
3/5
Superb English late 90's rock album, from a band I had never heard of. All of the tracks were entertaining and a few were easy hits! Great album and band!
New York Dolls
3/5
One of the albums that started the popularity behind punk rock. This band is an interesting hard rock group that had amazing live shows, and then this first album tried to capture that magic. Their debut album is decent, but the band is remembered for much more than their music.
Grateful Dead
3/5
A folk rock album from the psychedelic Grateful Dead. Easy listening and good vibes are side effects from this album. Can't go wrong with some classic Grateful Dead!
John Cale
3/5
70's pop sounds a lot different from today, but that doesn't mean it's bad! John Cale created an awesome album by using so many sounds in his music, that it sounds like it was instead produced by an orchestra.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins best album, including a few of their most popular songs! It's crazy to think that this album is certified diamond. This album is huge with 28 songs and they all fit the vibe of youthful problems. This album helped pass the time during my workday, but it could also be played during a night of partying.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
I must not have been in the mood for sad, breakup music when I listened to this, because none of the songs on this album stood out to me. Joni Mitchell's singing & compositions are good, but I don't see how this album has been rated so high by music publishers. Maybe this just isn't the genre of music for me. Anyway congrats to Joni for securing the 24th spot in the Top 1000 Albums list, I guess...
Duran Duran
3/5
Duran Duran delivers an energetic and nostalgic sound with this pop rock album. You can easily dance to this music or simply play it in the background while working on something else.
Nirvana
3/5
One could call this album the epitome of grunge music or it could simply be known as alternative rock. Either way, Nirvana went out with a bang with this album and it rocks! Personally it's not my type of music, but I respect the work of the artists.
Talk Talk
3/5
This upbeat, new wave pop album was interesting to listen to and had all types of sounds and instruments. It seems to represent the 80's well with its unique flair and improvisation skills in the studio.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
This unique album is a hodgepodge of many different instruments, all performed by one man - Mike Oldfield, and dubbed over each other into two distinct tracks on the album. It is beautiful, ethereal, novel, haunting, and soothing. A listener can become engaged in picking out each individual instruments that is introduced, or one can simply play this album in the background to serve as a peaceful backdrop melody. This experimental album idea may go down in history as the most recent famous musical piece since the classics. Also, one will recognize the opening of the first track on the album to be the theme of the movie The Exorcist - which gives the album a haunting sound once you have seen the movie.
James Brown
1/5
Recorded live shows are meh. I'd rather be there live. Also, this isn't my type of music.
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Rage Against the Machine's debut album was controversial, because of the album artwork and the politically themed lyrics in all of its songs. Aside from these things, the metal/rock music was produced well and the album instantly made this band famous.
Paul Weller
2/5
Chill, but forgettable rock music that seems to be religiously inspired. This album is more popular across the pond than in the US.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
This jazz funk album has instruments all over the place, but they all come together to create an interesting piece of musical history. It's funky yet soulful - smooth jazz mixed with funk melodies. Amazingly this is the only "jazz" album to sell over a million records.
Venom
2/5
I'm not super interested in heavy metal music, but this album started the entire subculture of thrash and black metal. It was fun to listen to and was entertaining.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
A wonderfully charming alternative R&B album, mixed with soul and pop music, that gives 70 minutes of entertainment. I'm not sure how I missed this album being released in 2010, but every song has its own specific flavor in this delightful meal for your ears.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
This acoustic rock album sounded pretty generic, but it helped pass the time. Not great, but not terrible either.
Cornershop
2/5
This indie rock album was interesting to listen to. The music was a fun mix of rock, hip hop, and pop, and the lyrics were politically inspired by cultural events of the time. I probably wouldn't listen to this album again.
The Avalanches
3/5
A fun, disco-pop album created entirely by sampling songs & sounds from other vinyl's. This interesting piece of music can be played for any occasion to turn it into a good time, and each song flows beautifully into the next. This album has a combination of explorative innocence as well as deeper, meaningful sections when it comes to the samples being used.
Radiohead
3/5
This rock/pop album by Radiohead was fun to listen to! It's music is more comforting & warm than other Radiohead albums and you can tell the band enjoyed recording the songs.
John Lennon
3/5
This was a beautiful rock album from John Lennon, with his very popular title track - Imagine - stealing the show.
Queen Latifah
2/5
Queen Latifah is inspiring! This is the first time that I have listened to her first album and it was pretty good. She can 'rap as well as any of the other brothers' - as she lyricized in one of these songs!
Sister Sledge
3/5
This album is most well known for the song "We Are Family," but the entire album has a similar vibe/tune. This R&B/disco music is great to put on in the background of a cocktail party, or really during any time that some chill, but groovy music is needed.
Suede
2/5
This alternative British rock album was the debut of the band Suede, and was highly anticipated as well as expertly crafted. It's beautiful melodies and lyrics caress the listener with feelings of ecstasy, but also feelings of sadness with the low parts.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
This album is an experimental blend of punk rock, heavy metal, and psychedelic music. The music is creative as the band recorded everything themselves, but it's also supported by great guitar playing. The entire album was a trip, whether that be nightmarish or awesome, is up to the listener to decide. For sure an interesting album nonetheless.
Billie Holiday
2/5
This album is all vocal jazz from a great singer, but it's not my type of music, and honestly the age of Billie Holiday during this album had started taking a toll on her voice. In conclusion, songs were too long, too slow, and not broad enough in tonal range.
Gotan Project
2/5
This album was a collage of electronic sounds tied to a jazz-like beat and a tango rhythm, with sprinklings of lyrics wherever necessary. Super interesting and fun to listen to for the first time, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to something similar.
2/5
Solo female country singer, Loretta Lynn, created a fun collection of different tunes for your listening pleasure. Some songs are slow and some are fast; there's a song for any mood. Also this album was #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Albums list, and her single, title song was #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles list.
Dwight Yoakam
3/5
Dwight Yoakam's album has that perfect country sound, which I read was mixed with a little inspiration from Latin America music. 2 songs from this album both went on to chart #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles, so you know the music on this album is good. I can appreciate country music from time to time, but I can't believe I never heard of this album.
The Doors
3/5
The Doors debut album is widely regarded as the best debut album. The album sound is mostly rock, but mixed in it is jazz, blues, pop, classical, and r&b. 'Light My Fire' may be the most popular song on the album, and the band even remixed it for a radio edit because it was so highly requested. In conclusion, this album is a classic piece of rock history and might be the best debut album from any group of musicians.
Thelonious Monk
1/5
This jazzy bop type of album is great to put on in the background, but it's not my type of music so it didn't appeal to me.
The Verve
2/5
A classic British alternative rock album from the 90's. It suits the themes of alt rock from the 90's perfectly, which ironically also makes the music so forgettable to me. Might as well just listen to any alt rock album from this time period to find the same sounds.
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
Some beautiful Cuban music came out of this album, and even though I couldn't understand the lyrics, I could appreciate the jam. This album was thrown together with a makeshift band in Havana within only 6 days! The music feels like a jam-sesh between friends at a local club, which might explain why it was so easy to record. The only reason I can't rate it higher is because I don't speak Spanish.
Soul II Soul
3/5
What a great British R&B album! I've never been a huge fan of R&B, so it explains why I haven't heard of this album, but I was pleasantly surprised with the music. Chill-out music that you can still dance to if you want.
The Strokes
3/5
The debut album from The Strokes is an upbeat indie rock production with dashes of punk rock. This album was released at a time when pop and dance/electronic music was becoming more popular than rock or alternative music. Because of this album release, a new wave of rock and alternative music took hold around the world. The classic band sound was revived for the new age.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs' debut album was a lot of fun to listen to! The garage rock and punk music genre is very entertaining, and the band was able to show the listener how much they enjoyed making this album.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
This is a soul/funk album from '69 fueled with a lot of the controversies that were happening at the time - and some continue to this day. I feel like these controversies take away from the music and end up souring my opinion on this album. The funk is good while the junk in the lyrics is not. The album can be considered historically important though as a result.
Joan Baez
3/5
Classic folk songs sung & played on guitar in a sincere way by artist Joan Baez. The recording for this album is as simple as it gets, but the voice of Joan steals the show and makes a listener think they are hearing one of the specific folk songs for the first time!
Steely Dan
4/5
This jazz-pop-rock album has so many different melodies & instruments that there is something in it for every listener. Everything flows well together which gives the album a "complete" sound. The lyrics in every song are well thought out and easy to follow/sing along with. Overall, there's a lot of good things about this album and very little downsides. Some would say it's basically flawless, however this type of music doesn't influence me enough to rate it 5 stars.
Germs
2/5
The only studio album by the band Germs is arguably one of the first hardcore punk albums released. The music definitely fits the hardcore punk sound, but it's not the type of music I'm into. It was weird to me how many songs on the album were under 2 minutes long; and then the final song is a whopping 10 minutes long because of the improvisation by the band towards the end of the song. Forgettable album by a forgotten band, but at least it was the first hardcore punk one!
Machito
1/5
Machito was a Latin jazz musician from Cuba who had an interest in African culture. He helped define the Afro-Cuban jazz sub-genre, and this album Kenya is a testament to that. It's jazzy, but also filled with African instruments and rhythms. I wouldn't say I liked the music, but I didn't hate it either.
The Yardbirds
2/5
This album is a decent 60's psychedelic rock album by The Yardbirds. In my opinion, the songs weren't that attention grabbing, but I could tell that the band has talent.
Happy Mondays
2/5
This psychedelic funk album was pretty groovy. Its genre can also be described as Madchester - which is indie dance music from Manchester during the 80's. The music was mixed well and a few of the songs stood out, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this album. Fun fact: this album was entirely recorded while every band member & producer were high on ecstasy.
Madonna
3/5
This pop album from Madonna was considered a turning point in her career. She no longer made simple pop songs, and actually wanted to be creative with revealing more about herself as well as experimenting with different musical styles. Almost all of the singles from this album charted in the top 5 and the album was extremely popular as well as controversial for years to come. Probably one of Madonna's best albums and it's easy to jam/dance to. Unfortunately pop is not a favorite genre of mine.
a-ha
3/5
This synth-pop album was the debut album by a-ha - and boosted by its hit single "Take On Me" - it became the band's breakout album. The band was immediately launched into world fame, far from its humble beginnings as a Norwegian local group. The album itself is a fun journey through new wave music from the 80's and is a blast of nostalgia when listened to today.
Suede
2/5
The second album by Suede tried to move away from the Britpop genre and establish the band as an art rock/glam rock/alternative rock group. The album's sound is dark and beautiful, sad and sexual - all thanks to the troubling times the band was going through and also the drug use of course. Critics called this album "pretentious" when it released, but in retrospect everyone says the band was close to creating something truly amazing. The music is pretty good, but it's not my type.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Missy Elliott's fourth album & the second one I've listened to - thanks to this site. This hip hop album is a classic from 2002 and it has some memorable beats like the hit song 'Work It'. I enjoyed this blast from the past and many other people must have, because this album is certified double platinum.
Elvis Presley
2/5
After returning from military service, Elvis's sound & voice had matured to try different genres of songs on this album - his fourth. The album consists of rock, pop, & blues music with Elvis improving his vocal range as well. This album was one of the first with stereophonic sound, and the new technology was well used by Elvis. I don't really like jamming out to Elvis and the critics of this album didn't like it when it came out, but it was an evolution in Elvis' career and an important piece of music history.
Dire Straits
3/5
This British pop rock album by Dire Straits is one of the best selling albums of all time - selling more than 30 million copies worldwide. Its music is calming, but easy to get lost in it as well and just jam/dance. For the first few songs, I didn't think I'd like this type of music, but it grows on you and after repeated listens you will love it. There's a reason this album is so popular, all you have to do is give it a chance.
Doves
3/5
This British indie rock album is the second one from the band - Doves. It was immediately popular at release, and for good reason because this beautiful, melancholy album was a treat to listen to. The music at one moment will be sad or miserable and in the next moment, you will be uplifted with a change in pace, instruments' pitch, and/or vocal tone.
Alice Cooper
2/5
This is the fifth album from the Alice Cooper band; it's a hard rock album released in the early 70's. Can't go wrong with rock from its golden age, however it doesn't seem like you would miss a lot if you skipped this album. The most well known song is the title song, but in my opinion there is a remixed version that is much better.
Fun fact: some people believe this is a concept album about youth feeling lost when leaving school.
Steve Winwood
2/5
Steve Winwood wrote & produced this album almost entirely by himself - in fact, all of the instruments you hear were performed by him alone. This was his second album and a breakthrough album as well. Steve went with more of a rock vibe for this album and it paid off. The first track actually made it to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100! The music is groovy and easy to get lost in, because there are so many different sounds & lyrics.
Crowded House
2/5
This pop rock/alternative rock album from Crowded House was their third album. I had never heard of this Australian band before and it makes sense, because their albums never performed well in the US. However, this album charted pretty high in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and other European countries. The music was well produced and had an upbeat/optimistic tone, but not my type of music.
Bert Jansch
2/5
The debut album from Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch. The music was peaceful and a joy to listen to because it didn't sound so mainstream, but it's not my type of music. Fun fact: This album was recorded on a reel-to-reel tape recorder at engineer Bill Leader's house and then sold to Transatlantic Records for £100. The album then went on to sell 150,000 copies.
Common
3/5
Common's sixth album that happened to be produced by Kanye West. It's a hip hop album from the mid 2000's that charted really well. The beats and lyrics are both well produced, so they come together to make a well rounded album. I enjoyed listening to it, but I probably wouldn't seek out this album again.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Rod Stewart's second album is a rock album from the 70's with a collection of covers & originals. The music is beautiful, but I can't help to feel like it's background music.
Al Green
2/5
This soul album from the 70's is Al Green's fourth. It is critically acclaimed for the beautiful soul music and Al Green's smooth lyrics & golden voice. I enjoyed this album, but it's not something I would listen to normally.
Big Star
2/5
This is the third album from Big Star and it's a pop album that documents the decline of the band. This album became far more popular - a cult classic even - years after release when it was re-released multiple times. It is beautiful but haunting, personal & experimental, but also erratic and impassioned. Critics described the album as the sounds of a band sinking and slowly falling apart, which I agree with. It makes a great "heart break" album. The album is not horrible, but you can tell something was off during recording.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
This soft rock album from the late 80's is Leonard Cohen's 8th album, and it represents his evolution into "modern sound". The album went on to be his best-selling. Cohen had his singing voice spot-on for this album and he brought in a lot more instruments to modernize the music. This album - like his others - is moody; it can be dark or sad at one point, and funny or upbeat at another. Not my go-to music choice, but I'm glad I got a chance to listen to this album!
Iggy Pop
2/5
Iggy Pop's debut album with major support from David Bowie. It's an art rock album with many different rock sub-genres, and it was a newish area of music for Iggy Pop. It sounded okay, but it's not the type of music I seek out.
The White Stripes
3/5
The third album from the White Stripes is a garage rock revival effort that cemented this album as a classic from the 2000's. Bolstered by the single "Fell in Love with a Girl" and the re-release of the album by a major record label, this album went on to be certified platinum and catapulted the duo into commercial popularity and critical success. The White Stripes recorded this album their own way in only a week and established themselves as great musicians in the mainstream. You have got to love this album if you love rock!
Aretha Franklin
2/5
The 12th album from Aretha Franklin was released in 1968, and was her third album to top the R&B charts. The R&B and soul music album contained some of her more popular hits - helping it sell over a million copies. Aretha is a fantastic singer and some of her songs are fun to listen to - it's just such a shame I don't like R&B...
The Temptations
2/5
This soul music album has a psychedelic spin to it - since it was released in 1969 - and is the ninth album from The Temptations. The spin worked, earning 1 of the 2 hit singles a Grammy, and confirming that this is the change the group would stick with for the future. Soul music isn't my genre of music, so that affected the rating.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
The sixth and final album from the original Go-Betweens released in 1988 after some choppy water during the production. The rock album's sound was boosted by the band's return to summery Australia, but personal relationships inside the band were causing headaches. The album released to raving reviews and some even said it was their best one. It's a shame they broke up afterwards, but it is what it is.
Curtis Mayfield
2/5
Curtis Mayfield's R&B album from 1975 was funky and a good listen. Although it's not my type of music and the album is showing its age. I wasn't moved by it, but it helped pass the time.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
A South African jazz album released in 1986. Super chill and jazzy vibes to complement my morning work. I don't go out of my way to listen to jazz, but I can easily appreciate the music.
Portishead
3/5
This debut album from Portishead is an adventure into the trip hop / downtempo universe. A clash between hip hop and electronica with tons of instruments being used and samples scattered around. The music can be described as experimental/avant garde, sad/introspective, ambient/soundscapes, classy/cool, and chill yet comfy. The amount of time and work it took to play instruments, sample recordings, scratch the records, and mix the music must've been immense, but it paid off with a platinum album. This album is timeless and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it - probably because EDM is my favorite genre.
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
The third album from Manic Street Preachers was a punk rock album released in 1994. It was the last album from them including guitarist Richey Edwards, as he would take his life a few months after its release. This album did not do well at release except when rated by critics, but in later years it has been praised as being almost "post-punk". The music was moody and not my particular taste.
Garbage
3/5
Rock band Garbage's debut album from 1995 sounded more like alternative rock, and was released to critical acclaim. The band experimented with many different genre's sounds and it's even said that most tracks were completely reshaped during recording, with many samples and loops being added. The lead singer Shirley Manson provided the iconic pop/rock female voice to harmoniously blend with the various songs' structures. I, as well as the 4 million people that purchased the album since release, enjoyed listening to this album and am happy I found it here!
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Sufjan Steven's fifth album is about all things Illinois - a Midwest state in the US. As an indie rock/folk album it has a specific sound that is warm, soothing, and fun. The lyrics are beautiful and show that Sufjan is a great writer. The musical arrangements were over the top most of the time, meaning the songs had an orchestra type vibe to them. This album wasn't just recorded by a single band, but by many people playing lots of instruments. I really enjoyed this unique album and it was a calming start to my day.
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Paul McCartney's fifth album since leaving the Beatles and the third album with the Wings, is a rock album that is Paul's most successful since the Beatles - eventually being certified triple platinum. At release it received mixed reviews, but after a few singles were dropped the album ballooned in popularity. The music was enjoyable even if the lyrics didn't make sense some of the time.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Rock band Alice Cooper's sixth and best-selling album - was awarded platinum status after 13 years. This album was incredibly successful - even upon release - but for some reason I couldn't find any songs that stood out to me. In my opinion, it was great but not overly-amazing.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
The Divine Comedy's fifth album is centered on love songs and is another chamber/orchestral pop album. The melodies and lyrics were easy to get lost in and pretty enjoyable. If someone were to listen to this album just after beginning or ending a relationship, then I think the album would have a bigger effect on them, then it did for me.
Black Sabbath
3/5
The fourth album by the popular Black Sabbath band almost caused their downfall, with how often they were "arsing around" (doing drugs & not recording enough). But that goofing off also let the band experiment with new sounds, as well as staying true to their heavy-style roots. Released to dismissive critics, the album still went on to perform well and is a great example of Black Sabbath's musical range. I enjoyed the album!
Fela Kuti
1/5
Fela Kuti is regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat music, and this is an album he recorded in 1971 with Cream's former drummer - Ginger Baker. The album has 4 songs and is a total of 46 minutes long. The rhythm of the music is tantalizing, but I personally found no engaging substance other than that to vibe with. I'm sure when this album dropped in Africa, everyone was partying to it, but probably not so much in the America's or Europe.
Kanye West
4/5
Kanye West's debut album was sensational! It's certified four-times platinum and won Best Rap Album of 2005. This was Kanye's big break, because most record labels weren't interested in signing him as a rapper and only saw him as a producer. Finally, he landed a record deal and created this banger of an album. The album has a message for everyone by discussing issues from all parts of life including education, religion, careers, family life, self-consciousness, and independency - to list a few. He has the touch of a thorough producer and the rap skills of a gangster. Love him or hate him, Kanye West made history with this music, and is still creating sick beats and spitting rhymes to this day. This debut album may be his best/most famous work so far...
Harry Nilsson
2/5
Harry Nilsson's 7th album and his most successful one. It's a rock album with 3 famous singles - one being a number 1 hit. The music sounded pretty mainstream, so much so that I believe I have heard this music before and don't remember it. This was an awesome album and definitely deserves to be included on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Rolling Stones' eighth UK & tenth US album continued their return to a more "blues-based" rock music and winded up going double platinum. The album's songs were described as heavy, haunting, and erotic. The most popular songs were "Gimme Shelter" & "You Can't Always Get What You Want," which I liked the most as well. In a way, this album was able to musically capture and project the sense of dread that the world was experiencing at the time. This album still stands out today as one of The Rolling Stones best.
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Earth, Wind & Fire's sixth album was actually created as the soundtrack to a movie from 1975 of the same name. The movie bombed so the band had released this album before the movie's premiere. This album was popular at release - topping the Top 200 albums chart, and having a single top the Billboard Hot 100 Singles - then eventually being certified triple platinum. This album was also released before the band's most famous song "September", but one can argue that this album put the band on everyone's radar. EWF have a signature sound that almost anyone can love, combining genres of funk, soul, R&B, disco, pop, jazz, and Afro-pop. I'm glad I was able to listen to some of this band's earlier work, and I agree with the statement from Rolling Stones that this is the make out music of the gods!
Beatles
4/5
The Beatles seventh album is 5x platinum and regarded as the most innovative album in popular music. There's different musical styles, diverse sounds/instruments, new recording strategies, and great lyrics. The album is said to have inspired development of psychedelic rock, electronica, progressive rock and world music. The vibe the band was going for on this album, was sounds that weren't possible during live shows and ones that sounded otherworldly. The album accomplished this and it still holds up today as being extremely rich in different sounds, while holding up that pop rhythm. Furthermore, the album captured the spirit of the times which was progressive social and cultural changes - especially in London which during recording was regarded as a cultural capital. This is the first time I have listened to this album all the way through and I have to agree it sounds pretty epic!
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
The second album from the Pet Shop Boys is another 80's pop / synth-pop album. It was good imo and described by critics at releases as a 'pop album with something to say'. This album had 4 songs become top 10 singles in the UK and they are still semi-popular today. Get lost in the 80's nostalgia!
Jerry Lee Lewis
2/5
This is a 1964 live rock album by pianist Jerry Lee Lewis from the Star Club in Hamburg, West Germany. It's regarded as one of the best live rock album/performance, and I have to agree. It seems hard to capture a live musical act and make it sound good, but this album did just that. You feel like you are actually there in the Star Club with the crowd, enjoying the rock and roll. I can't believe this whole album came from one single night of rock and roll and sounds like it could have been made in a studio. Very well produced and I'm jealous of everyone who saw this concert live.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
Todd Rundgren's third album is a double album - so it has double the normal amount of songs. It's primarily a pop album with Todd playing almost all of the instruments heard, which is impressive. This album is recognized as one of the best pop albums from the 70's, but it wasn't recognized until later in the 70's. I enjoyed listening to this older version of pop, but I don't normally like pop music.
Solomon Burke
1/5
Solomon Burke's soul music LP was released in 1964. It performed well on the charts and seems to be included on this album list because it's specifically soul music, which isn't very common. I didn't think this album had any spark to it - hard pass.
Talking Heads
2/5
Talking Heads third album - Fear of Music - containing new-wave, post-punk music was released in 1979, and was certified gold six years later. There are many different musical genres sprinkled in to the various songs, and every songs' lyrics are well done. My personal opinion of the album is that - while having good rhythm & lyrics, and a dark & gritty theme - there wasn't any wow factor that would make me listen again.
3/5
The fifth album by the band Yes released in 1972, and became their most popular album up to that point. It was certified platinum in 1998. Production on the album was turmoil and caused the drummer to quit the band after release. Even with the troubles, the band made an amazing album. Praised as a flawless masterpiece, it's a long winded symphony of progressive rock. I enjoyed this music in the background while I worked.
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
Simon & Garfunkel's fifth & final album together released in 1970 and was their best and most effortless. This folk rock album contains some of their greatest hits and is certified 8 times platinum. This album also won 'Album of the Year' at the Grammy's. You can almost hear their impending break up in the musical production of the album, but at least they went out with a bang. Also, not my type of music at all, but still good.
Hawkwind
2/5
Hawkwind's fourth album is a live recorded double album of psychedelic/space rock and/or hard/progressive rock, released in 1973. The album comprised most of the set list played during their tour of 1972 and was intended to be one continuous, intertwining melody. I loved how every song faded into the next and I can just imagine myself spending an afternoon, getting lost in their music as the record played. There are a few spoken word songs which took away from the musical immersion and was probably better received when watching the performance live. Overall, this album was a serious trip and I'm glad it found its way to my ears!
Frank Black
2/5
The second solo album from Frank Black after leaving the Pixies was released in 1994 to mixed reviews, but eventually was regarded as his best album since the leave. The 22 alternative rock songs in this album went by quickly while listening to it, without any of them really sticking out to me. The music was great to listen to, but once was enough for me.
Tim Buckley
1/5
Tim Buckley's second album of folk rock music released in 1967. The songs seemed too slow for me to get into this album, but Tim's singing is good. I don't need to listen to this album again.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Marvin Gaye's 13th album - and his most successful - was a soul & funk album released in 1973. This album is sexually charged and has probably been played in countless bedrooms. The funky sounds and soulful lyrics meld together in the most perfect way to capture a human being's raw carnal energy, and by the end of the album, this energy is begging to be released. This album might be the best soul album out there.
Metallica
3/5
S&M is a live album from 1999 containing the collaboration of Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Metal backed by an orchestra is quite the sound, and this performance must have been magical to watch live. Metallica played many of their greatest hits during this live album, with background musical assistance coming from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra that pushed the experience over the top. I highly recommend everyone to listen to this album at least once, but it's more of a one time event, rather than individual songs that can go on the regular playlist.
Barry Adamson
1/5
Barry Adamson's third album released in 1996, is filled with lounge / soul jazz music. It's an interesting album because I have not heard music like this before. It sounded dark and melancholy. One song was literally an audiobook short story. This man is either crazy or a genius, and I guess I would have to listen to more of his music to figure out which he is. However for this album, I don't need to listen to it again.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Bob Dylan's 30th album released in 1997, and was a return to his classic and great musical sound. Fans loved this album, considering it a comeback, and even some feel it's his best album ever. It went on to earn a platinum rating, and in 1998 at the Grammy Awards, the album won Album of the Year & Best Contemporary Folk Album. This album had a new atmospheric sound for Bob Dylan's country and blues music, which is either liked or hated by fans. I have never been a fan of Bob Dylan's music, but this was fine to listen to while I worked.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
This alternative & funk rock album is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' fifth, and launched the band into worldwide fame. The album achieved a platinum certification in just under a year and is now certified seven times platinum. Fans & critics appreciated the band having less emphasis on the heavy metal style, because it allowed the other musical elements - as well as the lyrics - to shine. "Give It Away" & "Under The Bridge" were the most popular songs on the album. I really enjoyed listening to this earlier work from the RHCP band.
Prince
3/5
Prince's ninth album & his most critically acclaimed, even though 'Purple Rain' was more successful. The album was certified platinum only 4 months after release, and was finally inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017. Prince experimented with many genres and musical sounds in this album, including R&B, funk, soul, rock, and pop. Because of this, the album is considered by some to be Prince's magnus opus. I highly recommend this album to anyone wanting to listen to Prince.
Soundgarden
2/5
Soundgarden's fourth album released in 1994 to critical & commercial success, and is considered their breakthrough album. The grunge/metal/rock album was supported by 5 singles, two of which won Grammy's, and the album is certified 5 times platinum. Soundgarden evolved their early metal/punk music into something more "poppy" & mainstream for this album and it paid off. The lyrics are dark, and the music is heavy, but catchy. This is a great album.
fIREHOSE
2/5
Firehose's third album released in 1989 and was recorded in the lead singer/guitarist's home state of Ohio. The music is alternative rock, but with a hint of acoustic and folksy flair. Most consider this album the band's most accessible one and an American record, rich in tradition and innovation. None of the songs on the album really stuck out to me though.
Coldplay
3/5
This is the debut album from alternative rock band Coldplay. It released to commercial success, eventually being certified double platinum. Classic guitar playing, beautiful singing, and songs with emotional depth comprise this album. "Yellow" & "Don't Panic" are the best songs imo. I don't believe I had listened to Coldplay's first album before, so I'm glad I did now.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
The second album from this trio released in 1971. It's a progressive rock album that gained success slowly, but was eventually certified gold. The first track is a 20 minute, seven part epic about an armadillo tank in constant war. Following the title track is seven shorter, unrelated songs. This might be the first progressive rock album I've listened to and it's not a favorite genre to me, but that epic title track was a trip.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
Bruce Springsteen's fourth album followed his previous, breakthrough success album 'Born to Run' after a 3 year hiatus. This rock album is considered his best and is certified triple platinum, despite being a little less commercially successful than his previous album. This is a thought-provoking, emotionally charged rock album which was fun to listen to.
Genesis
2/5
Genesis's fifth album is another progressive rock one, with a few long running jam songs. The band combined their older, whimsical sounds with harder & heavier rock sounds to create a magical adventure of an album. This album has been certified gold. I do like this album because it's rock music that can be put on in the background and not be distracting.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Rufus Wainwright's fourth album, and the "darker sibling" to his previous album Want One. This is a Canadian/American alternative rock / pop album. I thought the music was pretty good, but nothing amazing.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Neil Young's second album, backed by the band Crazy Horse, released in 1969 and was remastered in 2009. This country rock album was popular even at release and has been certified platinum. 4 songs including the title track became staples for Neil to play at shows. I've heard of Neil Young but this was the first time I really listened to his music. It was fine, but not my musical genre of choice.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Kraftwerk's seventh album released in 1978 to poor commercial success at first, until four years later when the album took off and was certified gold. This electronic / synth-pop album can be attributed as the beginning of the new wave electro-pop genre that would only grow in the decades following this album. The simple sci-fi rhythms and sparse lyrics made this a great album to dance to, and was also a factor in helping grow the popularity of electronic dance music. This album may very well be the grandfather to all of the edm albums of today, and I believe the simple synth-pop beats still hold up to this day.
Hole
3/5
This is Hole's third album, their most popular one, and the last one before the band parted ways 4 years later. It's an alternative rock album from the 90's so it's pretty "grungy," but Hole also went with a more mainstream alternative sound. The title track became a number 1 hit single and the album was certified platinum just a few months after release. I thoroughly enjoyed all of this album and am shocked I've never heard of this band or their songs before. It is a nostalgic look back at 90's alternative music.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
This is the debut album of the band The Velvet Underground, recorded during an art tour with Andy Warhol. This album was ignored by consumers & critics when released and even banned from stores for its dark lyrics. But years later it's regarded as one of the most influential rock/alternative/pop albums, and described as the original art-rock record. This was a "prophetic" rock album released too early to be commercially successful, but was a sign of what was to come in rock music's future. A great album to listen to, with experimental sounds, dark lyrics, and a trip for the ears all the way through.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Prefab Sprout's second album was a glorious combination of singing/songwriting and pleasurable tunes. This album has been described as a minor classic - a statement I agree with. Every song holds up on its own, and they all come together for an amazing sophisti-pop album. Never heard of sophisti-pop before, but it's a combination of new wave, jazz, soul, and pop. I'd recommend this album to any fans of pop, jazz, post-punk, and/or indie music.
Derek & The Dominos
2/5
This blues rock double album is the sole album created by Eric Clapton's band - Derek & The Dominos - and as the title states, it's a collection of love songs. At release it was a commercial and critical failure, but over time it has been considered Eric's best work and is now certified gold. I wasn't really interested in any particular songs off the album, but it made great background music for work. Perhaps someone in love would enjoy listening to this album.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The Rolling Stones' fourth UK & sixth US rock album is considered an artistic breakthrough for the band because it's composed of all new compositions and new interesting instruments. The album was immediately popular and is now considered a classic, as well as has been certified platinum. I loved this album of classic rock and will enjoy listening to more music from The Rolling Stones.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Sonic Youth's fifth album is an alternative rock double album containing quite a few long songs. It is highly acclaimed, being considered the band's best album, and also was probably the inspiration for future alternative, punk, and indie rock music in the 90's. This is the perfect example of an American rock band from the 80's, but unfortunately the album did not perform well on the charts at release. I loved the album and recommend it to any fans of rock, especially alternative or indie.
The Notorious B.I.G.
3/5
This is the debut album from the rapper Notorious B.I.G., and his only album released during his lifetime - because he was murdered just before his second album dropped. This album was popular and successful at release, and is now certified 6 times platinum. The music was simply head-bobbing bass beats that allowed B.I.G. to eloquently rap over them. His lyrics are easy to follow and can tell a great story, but the skills of quick bars and great rhymes are still apparent. Overall, this may be one of the greatest rap albums of the past decades and everyone should give it a listen!
SZA
2/5
Ctrl is SZA's debut album containing R&B/neo Soul music. The production was well done and SZA's lyrics are beautiful, so it was no wonder that this album received widespread acclaim at release, and is now certified double platinum. The emphasis of this album is on SZA's voice and songwriting skills, backed by slow jams. Honestly, this isn't my type of music so I'm a little biased when I say that this album didn't hold my attention. I also hate to describe an album this way, but this one feels like a "girl's" album. The album is a coming-of-age musical performance for the young women of this generation, that touches on topics of relationships, sex, love, jealousy, anxiety, self-esteem, and social media, all from SZA's point of view based on her life. SZA released a pretty amazing debut album and she is still one of the top female singers of today.
The Waterboys
2/5
The Waterboys' fourth album and best selling album. This album was a change in music for the band, from classic rock sound to traditional folk rock (more specifically Scottish folk rock based on the band's country of origin). This change divided critics over the album, but the music still holds up as a good listen. Not personally my type of music, but I enjoyed it while working.
The Velvet Underground
2/5
This is the third album from The Velvet Underground. The sound of this album is a type of "folksy" rock, and the songs seems like they were written as ballads as well as being sung well. It was a beautiful album that was not appreciated until 1985 when it charted. I loved the music from this album and will be listening to the other albums from the band.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Indie rock band Arcade Fire's debut album. The album only has 10 tracks, but it is highly acclaimed - having been called a 'modern classic' and being certified gold. The theme of the album is mortality, so the songs are somber but still have that upbeat rock feel. I enjoyed this album and will look out for more of this band's music, even though none of the songs really stuck out to me as amazing.
Megadeth
3/5
The fourth album from Megadeth is just as "thrashy" as one would expect. The thrash metal songs whips you around from one to the next, but never getting boring. If you like fast, nasty jams on guitars and drums - including many guitar solos - than this is the album for you. The album was popular at release due to Megadeth's many tours with other prominent rock and metal bands, so it was no wonder that only 4 years later the album was certified platinum. This album defined a genre of metal music at the beginning of the 90's, and is still widely regarded as one of the best albums out there for thrash metal. Helluva-rocking good time!
Sonic Youth
2/5
Sonic Youth's seventh album continued with their alternative rock music, but had a lot more grunge mixed in. At release this album was considered one of the best rock albums of the year, and ranked highly among other Sonic Youth albums. Unfortunately none of the singles charted well, but the band toured all year to keep their name and album fresh in fans' minds. If you're looking for some classic 90's grunge or punk/alternative rock music, then this is an album to listen to. The guitars in this album will have you up and grooving.
Digital Underground
2/5
Digital Underground's debut hip-hop album. It performed well commercially, as a result of its singles becoming club hits, and the album was able to achieve platinum certification. This time period was arguably the best for lyricists and writers of hip-hop/rap albums - this album being a good example. Simple club beats with great-rhyming lyrics about sex and partying compose this album and it was fun to listen to.
10cc
3/5
This is the second pop-rock or art rock album from 10cc. Critics consider this album to be the zenith of 10cc's music career, because the band had polished their original sound and added pop into the mix. I personally liked the album and the upbeat music!
DJ Shadow
3/5
The debut album from DJ Shadow was made entirely from samples of records. It's one of the first - and definitely most popular - "trip hop" or instrumental hip hop albums. This album is certified gold and it spawned a wave of other albums and songs created solely by samples. Listeners will get lost in the flow of this album as it transitions from one innovative song to the next, all with a hip hop backing beat, along with sampled sounds made from different types of instruments. This ground-breaking album delivers many moody atmospheres and brings hip hop into a new dimension. Great album to let play in the background of any event.
Bon Jovi
4/5
Bon Jovi's third album - with a few of their most popular songs - was an instant commercial success for the glam metal / hard rock band. It was the best selling album of 1987, along with being Bon Jovi's best selling album, and has been certified 12x platinum, which makes it diamond certified! It's chock-full of amazing songs to listen to for any occasion. This album is a jammer for anyone from Generation X or younger!
Beatles
2/5
'The White Album' from the Beatles - as it's mostly referred to as - is the ninth album from the band and their only double album. It's technically a rock or pop album, but has songs originating from other genres including: folk, blues, reggae, and avant-garde. As a result of 30 songs and different types of music, individual listeners may like certain songs and not others from the album. However this album will in fact have something for every listener, so it's fun to find out which songs you like. The album was a critical and commercial success, going 24x platinum which technically makes it twice diamond certified! You can tell the band had fun putting this album together because it shows in the music, but behind the scenes the band was slowly imploding...
Miles Davis
1/5
Birth of the Cool is a compilation album by jazz musician Miles Davis, with 11 tracks from Davis's nonet during 1949 and 1950. This album - as the name suggests - was the birth of cool jazz music, which is more relaxed and lighter than original jazz at the time. It's like combining jazz and classical music together to create a sophisticated sound. At release, this album didn't make a splash, but listeners did enjoy the change of pace jazz music. Over time, this album has gained more popularity as a result of this style of jazz becoming more popular than the older and faster, "bepop" style. This album is included in this famous list of albums because it's historically significant in the jazz genre. Although I am not a huge fan of jazz music, I did enjoy letting this album play in the background while I worked.
The Beach Boys
2/5
This album is the 17th from the Beach Boys. It received favorable reviews at release and sold a lot better than their previous albums, although none of the singles from this album ever hit the charts. To me, I like the older Beach Boys material better, but this album was fine to listen to as well. Not the same spunky, beach vibes as older music, but that's what makes this album unique for the band. Definitely worth a listen at the very least.
1/5
This is the seventh album from the British rock band the Kinks. It was made as the soundtrack to a never produced tv play about family of the band. Being that this was a soundtrack, the album plays as a rock opera and has great music production. The album was praised at release and paved the way for the band's comeback years later. But I don't see what all the praise is about though, because the music from the album did not stick out to me. Sure did feel like background music to a story, and not a complete or standalone album imo.
Primal Scream
2/5
Primal Scream's third album drew inspiration from the new house music scene of the 90's, so instead of indie rock in this album it's mostly alternative rock/dance with a dash of psychedelic rock. Some of the band's earlier work was remixed to have a more "dancey" vibe in this album. The change was warmly welcomed by fans and critics, making this album popular and eventually selling 3 million copies worldwide. I liked the experimental sound of house music and psychedelic rock coming together in this album, and wish there was more music like this to be discovered. What a beautiful album from the glorious 90's!
Red Snapper
2/5
The third album from the band Red Snapper released in 2000. The band experiments with all types of music genres, but they and this album can be classified as acid jazz - jazz mixed with funk, soul, and hip-hop. This album is one of their best and it contains "moody, atmospheric instrumentals with funkier, soulful vocals - that flows smoothly from beginning to end, a soundtrack for urban Britain". I like the vibe that this album gives off and agree that it's some chill music you could get lost in - especially when driving around late at night. A great change of pace for these 1001 albums I'm sifting through.
Stan Getz
2/5
This is one of the first bossa nova albums released in the US, and started this genre's frenzy in the country. Bossa nova is a style of samba from South America. This album was entirely instrumental, but that didn't affect its quality. Samba music is based on the instruments more than lyrics. The album was a great listen and makes for a relaxing soundtrack to most activities. May have to keep an ear tuned for other bossa nova music in the future.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
The 11th album from Fleetwood Mac is a pop rock album and was an instant commercial success. It sold 10 million copies in just a month, and all of the singles charted in the top 10 hot singles. The single "Dreams" is the most popular song from the album. In 1977 and 1978, Rumours won Album of the Year, the latter being a Grammy award. This album is certified 20 times platinum which means it's certified diamond! Rumours is cited as Fleetwood Mac's magnum opus and is one of the best selling albums of all time. The most wonderful part of the music on this album are the harmonies between the three vocalists of the band. These harmonies and the backing pop rock sounds make this album beautiful and of course, a bestseller. Everyone should give this classic a listen!
Neil Young
2/5
Neil Young's fourth album was the best selling album of 1972. It is a folk rock album that was immediately popular with fans - but not critics - at release, supported by the hit singles "Old Man" & "Heart of Gold". Some songs were good while others were not as good, but the good songs outweigh the bad. Not my type of music, but I can appreciate the production.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
This is the ninth album from Bob Marley and his band, and was released from the UK following Bob Marley's exodus there to escape an assassination attempt. Exodus is another reggae album, but incorporates more bass as well as sounds from blues and soul music. This critically and commercially successful album propelled Bob Marley into international stardom, and is certified gold. A lot of Bob Marley's hits came from this album. This chill, but funky album has the perfect music for a laid-back occasion. Have to spark one up and take a listen!
Basement Jaxx
3/5
This is the debut album from duo Basement Jaxx, and it was well received critically. This house music album challenged the edm scene at the time by trying different elements in their songs, to break out of the established linear and robotic edm music of the 90's. As a classic house music album, there will be a couple songs for each and everyone to like, but not everyone shares the same tastes for dance music so not all of the songs will be winners. This album may have been overhyped at release, but its music still holds up today as classic house. I enjoyed listening to this album since I would say edm is my favorite genre, and this may be the first house album I've encountered on this list.
Björk
1/5
The fifth album from Björk took an experimental turn by using mostly acapella vocals to construct the majority of the album's songs. Because of this choice the album was critically acclaimed, but left critics either amazed or confused. I was one of the latter, being confused by the direction each song took. The songs did not seem to blend well together and besides a couple of them, the songs weren't that interesting either - even when being produced entirely by a human voice. Still, this is a unique album so I understand why it's on this list.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
The fourth rock album from Led Zeppelin was a critical and commercial success, as well as the band's best selling album. The album is certified 24x platinum which makes it diamond certified too. The band's most popular song "Stairway to Heaven" also comes from this album. This album is regarded as a cornerstone of the 1970's hard rock music, because it had a great diversity of songs and was so popular. I thoroughly liked this album and will listen to more Led Zeppelin songs I haven't heard yet.
Ananda Shankar
2/5
This album is raga rock / indipop music and was the first attempt by an Indian - Ananda Shankar - to combine Indian instruments with the rock genre. This combination had been done before, but only by Western people. Jimi Hendrix was working with Ananda Shankar and suggested they collaborated, but Ananda wanted to create his first album on his own. The music is psychedelic and beautiful. Fans of rock will love the covers of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire" on this album. They were the biggest hits, and I think they're amazing. This album gave Ananda Shankar international popularity and strengthened the ever-increasing want for more music genre combinations. This album is worth a listen!
Various Artists
3/5
Phil Spector's album of Christmas songs may be the most famous Christmas album there is. In recent years around the holidays, this album always makes an appearance on the charts. And on lists of best Christmas albums, this album is always near the top. The songs "Marshmallow World," "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," "Sleigh Ride," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" are iconic from this album and have become tradition. Other songs like "Frosty the Snowman" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" are also almost as popular. Normally I don't go out of my way to listen to holiday music even at Christmas, but I do agree this might be the best album for this music.
Muddy Waters
2/5
This Muddy Waters album was recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island on July 3rd 1960. Muddy Waters was one of the most popular blues artists of the 1950s, so it's no surprise his band was playing at this festival. However this day of the festival was almost cancelled after a riot the night before, but the promoter convinced the city council to let it continue. Because of this decision, we now have a piece of blues history recorded live! The blues music is the older Chicago style, but that's what makes it so unique. It sounds like Muddy Waters was performing in a cool, relaxed way, when there are reports that the audience absolutely loved his music and were all dancing. The recording was well done too, since we can hear all the individual instruments, as well as the powerful baritone voice of Muddy Waters. If you are a fan of blues music, then this is one album you can't miss!
Madness
2/5
The UK band Madness created a more experimental sounding album for this one - their fourth album. The album can be categorized as pop or new wave, but the music includes some jazz and Eastern influences. This concept album has gained more popularity over time, especially in America where it was never originally released. The music is upbeat and the songs flow well from one to the next. A perfect album to capture the British pop era of the 1980s.
Os Mutantes
1/5
Os Mutantes' debut album blends traditional Brazilian music with psychedelia rock. It's well known as being an interesting or "far out" album because it is trippy, Brazilian sounding music. The sounds on this album are more experimental than other psychedelia rock from this time, but it is well produced. I don't speak Portuguese so I can't understand the lyrics - which is probably similar to most listeners - but the album can still be enjoyed for its trippy music. In conclusion, the album was certainly intriguing, but none of the songs really stuck out to me. Perhaps one should be high when listening to this album to fully understand the music.
Dennis Wilson
2/5
Pacific Ocean Blue is the debut solo album from Dennis Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys. This rock/pop album was released six years before his death and he had also been working on a second solo album. The reissue of this album in 2008 included a lot of bonus tracks, many of them pulled from Wilson's potential second album. At release this album received mixed reviews, but in retrospect it is seen as a classic, and some even view it as a cult classic. I enjoyed the main tracks of this album, but the bonus tracks were obviously not completed in the way I assume Dennis Wilson wanted them to be. The album was relaxing and beautiful, but I don't think I'd listen to it again.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
The Incredible Bongo Band are exactly what they sound like - an incredible band of various drum players. They were coalesced to create an instrumental soundtrack and they chose to make it funky by using mostly drums. The band's first album was Bongo Rock which contained a lot of different covers of songs, all performed with drums. This album became very popular in the hip-hop genre because artists would use these bongo drum songs as samples in their own music. It's an interesting album and a lot of fun to listen to if you enjoy drums!
The Beach Boys
4/5
The eleventh album from the Beach Boys. Initially met with lukewarm reviews, this album is now regarded as one of the most influential progressive pop albums ever.
This album was produced in a ground-breaking way, by incorporating different instruments and genres, and recording the music more like an orchestra than a rock band. Genres of pop, jazz, exotica, classical, and the avant-garde, mixed conventional rock set-ups with layers of vocal harmonies, samples, and new instruments such as bicycle bells, French horns, flutes, an Electro-Theremin, whole string sections, and even beverage cans. Because of this over production, the album could not be replicated live. This album revolutionized the music industry and became very popular, although over time.
Pet Sounds has been certified platinum. At release this album seemed weird and was overshadowed by the Beatles releasing some of their best work. In conclusion, this beautiful and ambitious album of pop music was a little too ahead of its time, but it pushed the music industry forward into better production techniques, as well as opened the door to new concepts being used in any well-rooted genres. You can't find an artist that began their career after this album, that hadn't been influenced by this great work of art.
Grant Lee Buffalo
1/5
Fuzzy is the debut album from the rock band Grant Lee Buffalo. The songs are mostly Americana rock, which makes it surprising that this album only charted in the UK. I believe this album is forgettable and I'm not sure why it's on this list of "greatest 1001" albums.
2/5
Punk rock band MC5's debut album 'Kick Out The Jams' is a live album recorded over two nights - including Halloween - in Detroit in 1968. This album is a forerunner to punk rock, because at the time there was no such genre and the band's music was considered hard rock or garage rock.
At release the album was commercially popular, but critically seen as a flop. The music was considered only to be a passing phase of rock and was reviewed as such. The band were troublemakers and this also caused problems for the record company at release.
Now, this album is held in high regard for starting punk rock and being an energetic live album. Every time you listen to this album, you are being transported back to Detroit in the late 1960's to listen to a band "kick out the jams" with their "new-fangled rock".
The White Stripes
4/5
Elephant is the fourth album by the rock duo the White Stripes. The album was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. It won Best Alternative Music Album at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004. In recent years, this album has been cited as the White Stripes' best and one of the best albums of the 2000s. Critics have stated this album is one of the few that started a garage rock revival in the 2000's. It has some amazing punk rock style songs with a lot of bass - which I really like personally. This album solidified the White Stripes as a duo that knows what they're doing in this genre's space.
Stevie Wonder
2/5
This is Stevie Wonder's seventeenth album of progressive soul music. The album won Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal, Best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance (for "Boogie On Reggae Woman"), and Album of the Year in 1974. It was a beautiful, but short album. I enjoyed listening to it, but it's not my type of music.
Charles Mingus
2/5
Charles Mingus' epic ballad combining jazz and classical music in an orchestral setting titled 'The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady' released in 1963. This album is in fact one continuous composition divided into four tracks and six movements. Mingus' masterpiece is one of the most acclaimed jazz records of the 20th century, and has also been described as the greatest achievement in orchestration by any composer in jazz history. The music tells an amazing story over the course of the album from an enchanting jazz orchestra. I recommend everyone to lend an ear to this interesting piece of music history.
Johnny Cash
2/5
This Johnny Cash album was recorded live at the San Quentin State prison in California in February of 1969. This was his second album of a series of live albums recorded at prisons, and it was also his 31st album overall. This album has been certified triple platinum. At this live prison show, Johnny Cash performed 2 new songs - "San Quentin" (about the prison) and "A Boy Named Sue". The former song was performed twice as an encore and both appear on this album. The latter song became a staple of Johnny Cash's music, and it's amazing to learn he premiered it at a prison show. The original release of this album was alright, but the reissue with 9 extra tracks was much better. Johnny Cash was a great entertainer and it really shows on this live album, because the audience were all inmates that liked to heckle. If you're a fan of live albums then give this one a listen, but if you just want to listen to Johnny Cash's music then you may want to try a different album.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2/5
Bayou Country is the second album from CCR and it is certified double platinum. This album is significant for the band CCR because they found their sound with this second album. I don't believe this is their best album, so I am hoping some of their other albums are on this list.
The Sonics
2/5
This is the debut rock & roll album from the Sonics. Released in 1965, this album was influential to future punk rock music due to the energy of the band. It was a fun album to listen to, if only to get an idea of what rock music was like 57 years ago. I wouldn't normally listen to this album though, because rock music has evolved on from this early iteration.
Foo Fighters
3/5
This is the debut album from the Foo Fighters. Interestingly, I learned that Dave Grohl wrote and recorded every song on this album. He then came up with the name 'Foo Fighters' to hide his identity from the project, but after a lot of interest in it, he created a band to go along with the name.
The album was successful even before release, as tapes Dave Grohl handed out got around to record labels and radio stations. Praised for having great songwriting, and easy-to-jam-to riffs, this album went on to being the Foo Fighters second best-selling and is certified platinum.
The Who
3/5
The Who's fifth album was immediately successful and is seen by many critics as the band's best album. The Who experimented with a synthesizer on this album to create a lot of interesting effects and it turned out really well. That combined with their great hooks in each song, easily made this an amazing rock album from the 70's.
The Who
2/5
The third album from The Who is an interesting concept album, in which the band attempted to imitate a pirate radio station from Europe. These radio stations used to broadcast similar music and ads as real stations, but without a valid license until they were outlawed soon after release of this album. This album is now a tribute to these pirate stations and a lot of songs on the album are actually short ad jingles for real or imaginary products.
This concept slightly ruined the commercial performance of the album because the entire album was seen as a joke, even if the music was still phenomenal. In retrospect, this album glorified the pop art days of the 60's with great music (even if some are just ad jingles), and can be considered one of the best performing concept albums.
Meat Loaf
3/5
This is the debut album from Meat Loaf and it released as the title suggests - like a 'Bat Out of Hell'. This album is one of the best-selling in the world and is certified 14 times platinum - which means it's certified diamond.
However, this album was not an immediate hit in the US and took some time to gain popularity. This album is still quite popular, especially after a play was created with some of these songs as parts in the play. This epic, rock, pop, gothic, artistic album was a treat to listen to and definitely belongs on this list. Everything came together perfectly for this album.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
"Southern Rock Opera" is the third album from Drive-By Truckers and it's their semi-autobiographical, magnum opus, double album. The album's musical story discusses how the band grew up in the South - especially Alabama - and touches on the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash that almost ended that band's career. This alternative country / southern rock album was financed by loans from friends and fans, to be released in 2001, but after the buzz of attention garnered at release by this amazing work, a record deal was struck to re-release the album in 2002.
The quality of this album cannot be understated. The songwriting tells a beautiful story, intertwining southern charm, coming of age, and a hearty dose of rock music, that formed this band - the Drive-By Truckers. The music is overall soothing with some heavier parts sprinkled in, and I enjoyed listening to it while working.
Seems like this band came out of nowhere with this album, but they definitely made a big splash.
Adele
4/5
"21" is the second album from Adele, and was recorded while she was 21. It was originally going to be an upbeat album until Adele separated from her partner, and the album turned into a heartbreak album. "21" was a sleeper hit at release, becoming the best-selling album of 2011 and 2012, and being certified diamond. Many of the songs on this album were smash hits and are easily recognizable by most people. "21" draws some inspiration from country music, but stays true to Adele's usual style of gospel, soul, and pop music.
This record breaking album is amazing and a must-listen for anyone. "21" is still listed on the Billboard's Top 200 Albums for over 500 weeks now. It is the best-selling album of the 2010's and the fastest album to reach diamond certification with 92 weeks. Adele has a beautiful singing voice, and that matched with the perfect melodies, created this award winning masterpiece.
Tears For Fears
2/5
"Songs from the Big Chair" is the second album from the band Tears for Fears. The singles from this album are what made this album so popular and a multi platinum record. One can classify this music as new wave pop. This is one of those 'nostalgic 80's albums' that lives up the hype. This album is perfect for a brooding or emotional evening, where one just wants to shut out the world.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
Amy Winehouse's second and final album is "Back to Black". A R&B / soul album that has been nominated for - and won many awards - as well as being the second best-selling album in the UK in the 21st century. It is double platinum certified in the US.
A phenomenal singer songwriter, Amy shows that she can produce any type of music, whether it's jazz, pop, R&B, or soul. Unfortunately but to be expected, Amy's death in 2011 caused this album to again top the charts around the world for at least 2 weeks. Although notably, this album and Amy inspired record companies to seek out more solo female talent.
This album was enjoyable to listen to, even if it was a little sad.
Mercury Rev
2/5
This is the fourth album from the rock band Mercury Rev, and was not expected to be a hit for the band, after their previous album was a flop. Because of this, the band tried new experimental sounds using classical instruments and a lot of instrumental parts on songs. This paid off, and the album became popular soon after release. It goes to show, that producing what you love - and are interested in - is better than adhering to commercial influences.
The music was pretty chill and even gloomy for a rock band, but most critics loved the unique sound. I also liked the weirdness of this album, even if the music is not my normal choice.
Björk
2/5
'Vespertine' is Björk's fourth album, and is a combination between art pop and electronica. However, this album does contain concepts from a lot of other musical genres, which makes it hard to classify. This album performed well in Europe, but did not find its footing in America (which explains why I never heard this music).
The theme of this album revolves around love and sex, and the vibes are chill, psychedelic, and erotic. The tone is soothing, timeless, warm but also cold, and would fit an evening alone at home by the fire, while it snows outside and the listener is wishfully hoping for a lover's touch.
Do I recommend the album? Eh, it's not for me, but everyone should try it once.
Lou Reed
2/5
This second album from Lou Reed is an influential piece of the glam rock genre. Most of the songs on this album have become Reed's most popular ones. I did not find this album to be moving, but it was a fun listen!
Tracy Chapman
2/5
Tracey Chapman's debut album made quite the splash when it released. It topped the charts in some countries, became one of the best-selling albums of all time, and has been certified 6 times platinum in the US. Just two weeks after its release, the album already sold 1 million copies worldwide. Then in total, it sold over 20 million copies worldwide and is one of the first albums by a female artist to have more than 10 million copies sold worldwide.
This album made a statement by being a popular singer-songwriter album released during the rock/metal and dance era of the 80's. Tracy has a beautiful singing voice and her lyrics were politically poignant. Even with all of these good things going for this album, I personally couldn't find something I liked about it. Not awful, but not awesome either.
Haircut 100
2/5
"Pelican West" is the British new wave band Haircut One Hundred's debut album. It performed very well in the UK, gaining the second top spot on the charts and being certified platinum for sales.
The music was upbeat and positive, and the lyrics were easy to follow. It's not my usual jam, but I can appreciate any good music produced by an entire band.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Blood on the Tracks is the 15th album by folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The album has been acclaimed as one of Dylan's greatest by both critics and fans. It reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015, and remains one of Dylan's best-selling releases, with a double-platinum rating in the US.
The lyrics talk of love affairs and broken hearts, from the beautiful gravelly voice of Dylan. The music backing the lyrics is subdued and fits the vibe of the album nicely. A mature Bob Dylan knew better than to over-produce the sound of this album. This paid off for him, as now this album is seen as one of his best, and is considered a comeback album too.
I'm not normally a fan of folk rock or slow singsongy music, but this album complimented the rainy, cold weather I'm experiencing outside the window of my office.
Sam Cooke
2/5
This is the second live album from Sam Cooke, recorded in 1963. The record company thought the album was too raw and potentially damaging to their image, so they kept it in their archive until release in 1985. Sam Cooke was firstly a gospel singer that transitioned into soul and pop music. This album displays his talent as a singer and crowd entertainer - as he gets them to sing along.
This album is regarded as one of the best live soul albums. It revealed a rougher Sam Cooke that was exploding with soul and gospel energy. I agree that the live recording must have been a lot of fun to witness and listen to, but this music has aged over the years and is not my cup of tea. To each their own, I still think it's a great live album.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
This double album is the 13th from Australian alt rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The first half of the double album - 'Abattoir Blues' - is the more rock and roll themed side with a bluesy feel. While the second half - 'The Lyre of Orpheus' - is gentler, quieter, and more elegant.
This album was an interesting step into gothic rock for me. Not sure how I like it, but the music on this album was a great listen either way.
Elton John
4/5
This is the 7th album from Elton John, and is regarded as his magnum opus as well as his best-selling album, after all of the popular songs on it helped this album sell over 30 million copies worldwide. The album is certified 8 times platinum in the US and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.
It's hard to find something to not like about this album. Every song sounds like a jam even the less popular ones, and the popular ones were such big hits that everyone knows them. Pop rock was a hot topic back in the 70's and 80's, but it still holds up today. I am glad to have finally had the pleasure of listening to this album in its entirety.
Elastica
3/5
This is the debut album from English alt rock band Elastica. It released to positive critical reviews noting the "rocking and melodic" nature and the large amount of good music present on the album. Some songs sounded like instant classics and this album did a good job of laying the blueprint for what Britpop should sound like.
The album hit number one in the UK in record time, becoming the fastest selling debut album since a different album the year before. At the end of 1995, the album already sold 1 million copies and was certified gold in the US.
I loved the music on this album and will have to check out more from the band. This group was ahead of the curve when it came to alt rock / punk rock music, and I believe that's what made this album so popular.
Hole
3/5
The second album from alt/punk rock / grunge band Hole, was a bit more polished than the first. The album was critically acclaimed at release, earning top spots on charts around the world, and going multi-platinum by the end of the year of its release. Unlike their first album, Hole wanted a softer, more structured rock sound including a melody that any music fan can enjoy. This decision paid off for the band and the song-writer Courtney Love, when their album immediately went mainstream!
I liked this grungy album and am glad I discovered it through this site.
The Fall
2/5
This album is the debut album from The Fall and is in fact not a live album, as the title suggests. However, it was recorded in a single day and released to positive reviews. The music can be described as a mix of rock and punk, otherwise known as post-punk. "Rebellious Jukebox" was the standout track for me. The band did a great job of forming an instant classic debut album that still holds up as one of their best albums.
Pretenders
3/5
This is the debut album from the Pretenders and it made the band famous. It debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums chart and made it into the top 10 on the US Billboard 200 top albums. Just 3 years later the album was certified platinum in the US.
This is a great album filled with rock, punk, and pop music that deserves the recognition it has received.
ZZ Top
3/5
The third album from ZZ Top was their breakthrough album in the US. It released to decent reviews, not perfect scores, but did well enough to become popular. The southern rock and blues rock on this album serenades you with thoughts of the Tex-Mex border. And this album has aged like fine wine. This is the first album from ZZ Top that I have listened to and now I like their music.
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
This is the debut album from the Chemical Brothers, formerly Dust Brothers, which are an edm DJ duo from London. After a few years of remixing songs and DJing in clubs, the duo saw an opportunity to bring electronica music to the young people of UK - and the world - who were so craving a new take on edm music.
This album was a big hit in the UK, staying on the charts for 5 years. Only half a year after release, this album was certified platinum in the UK. The album did well in the US too. It was one of the first few European post-techno edm albums that gained popularity in the US. The music on this album inspired similar projects from Fatboy Slim and Daft Punk.
I knew immediately that I would like this album, since I saw it was edm music, but the music has a nostalgic vibe to me because it was released before I was born. Listening to old edm music is super interesting, because you get a sense of how much the genre has changed over just a few decades. I highly recommend this album to any fan of edm/dance music!
Fugees
3/5
This is the second and last album from the trio Fugees. Unlike their first album, this album was critically and commercially successful. It was the third best selling album of 1996 and won a Grammy award for Best Rap Album. This album is certified 7 times platinum in the US, and is the best selling hip-hop album in France overall, with 22 million copies sold and being certified diamond. To add another accolade to an already long list, this album is also the best selling album in the world by a hip-hop group.
The hip-hop music on this album is primarily created by samples of various beats and other songs, but there are some recorded instruments or drums sprinkled here and there. It was a well-produced album, with perfect rhythm and singing over top solid beats. It's no wonder this album was popular with how much care the trio put into production. I thoroughly enjoyed this hip-hop masterpiece that was released when I was just a babe.
Thundercat
2/5
The third album from Thundercat is "Drunk". This soul/jazz/funk album has received positive reviews from critics and fans. I liked the album's music and appreciated the smooth groove that perpetuated from one track to the next.
The Smiths
1/5
This album is the second from the rock band The Smiths, and is their only album to reach number 1 on the UK Albums Chart. It's an alternative rock album with messages about politics and vegetarianism.
I thought the songs on this album, other than the title track, were just decent and easily forgettable. The music could very well be from any alt rock group from the UK in the 80's. But instead this album became popular because of its messages during its time.
Deep Purple
3/5
This is a double live album from Deep Purple's first tour of Japan in 1972. It is regarded as one of the top live albums, and this album's version of "Smoke on the Water" is praised as being the best by the band.
At first the band had no intention of releasing a live album showcasing their amazing concerts, but bootleg recordings of the band were immensely popular so they planned their own release. Even after this change in decision, the band still did not want this live album released outside of Japan. However, this album jumped to the top of charts and sold a lot all around the world once it was released worldwide.
In conclusion, this is a very popular live album with a lot of great tracks from Deep Purple. I recommend everyone to give it a listen!
Radiohead
3/5
The Bends is the second album from the rock band Radiohead. The band tried to capitalize on the success of their first album - which included the hit single "Creep" - by moving away from grunge and towards Britpop. This change allowed Radiohead to elevate to one of the most recognized British bands, instead of only being a one-hit-wonder. As a result, this album has been certified platinum in the US and UK, and is regarded as one of the biggest influencers for post-Britpop bands. However, Radiohead members recall a crazy amount of pressure put on them by fans and producers to deliver something even better than "Creep" and their first album.
The reception of this album was mixed at first, especially in the US, but over time it has become clear that Radiohead found their footing with this album and established themselves as a premier British rock band. The move from heavier, rocking, grunge music to more spacey and odd sounding ballads - with the same level of guitar playing - was what made this album and the band so successful. As said before, this album inspired many rock bands of the current century. For this reason, this album deserves a spot on this list.
Hanoi Rocks
1/5
This is the fourth album from the rock band Hanoi Rocks, and it was moderately successful. This band is from Finland so English is not their native tongue, and you can sorta tell by listening to the lyrics. The songs did not contain any memorable hooks, but did have some good guitar playing.
This is a good album to listen to if you want to know what 80's hard rock sounds like through a Finnish filter. However, I will not listen to it again.
2/5
This is the new wave band Devo's debut album. Reviews were mixed at release, but have been more positive over the years. The early reviews were probably less positive because new wave music was still "new" and rubbed some critics the wrong way. This album has now been called a cornerstone of new wave music in America. And the album has been certified gold in the US.
This novel music is catchy, comical, but impersonal and leads nowhere. It's best listened to in the background, and one shouldn't try to pull meaning from it too much. I liked some of the songs, but will not seek out more Devo music.
Gil Scott-Heron
2/5
This jazzy, soulful, blues album was produced by a vocalist-pianist duo in the 70's. The themes on the album deal with African-American culture within inner cities.
At release, this album was in short supply and overlooked by critics. For these reasons and after the popularity of its only single "The Bottle", this album became a hit in the underground jazz and hip-hip scenes. This album is considered the best from Gil-Scott-Heron as a result of its rarity and commercial success. Once a CD version was released in the 90's, this album easily sold over 300,000 copies and is still on its way to gold certification.
This album was a great listen because you can hear the beginnings of the hip-hop trend in music, blended with the "soul" of blues music. However, these music genres don't tickle my fancy as much as other ones, so I can't rate this album too highly.
Björk
3/5
As most can tell by this album's name, this is the debut album from Björk. It is her best-selling album in the US with at least 1 million sales only in the states - certifying the album as platinum. The genre is art pop / electronic pop with a dash of house.
Reviews of the album were/are mixed - including mine. No one had heard electronic sounds or even vocal noises like this before, so most didn't know what to think of it. I believe this album is overrated, but Björk has some great singing talent. However, a great thing this album did was introduce electronica, house, and EDM music in general to the pop/rock scene that dominated the air waves. This album laid the groundwork for other solo edm-heavy pop singers to come later in the following decades. One could say this album revolutionized modern music, and for that, I have to give it props.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
1/5
This folk album is from Ramblin' Jack Elliott and was released in 1958. It's so old that there is little information on it. The music is alright if you enjoy a single, folksy singer songwriter. I thought this album was forgettable.
The Youngbloods
2/5
Elephant Mountain is a folk/country rock album by The Youngbloods, released in 1969. This album is said to bridge the gap between psychedelia and country rock, because at the time the former was more popular but the latter was just starting to compete with it.
The music was very chill, but didn't have any flashy parts that appealed to me. It's a good album to listen to if you're feeling nostalgic for the 60's rock music.
The Stooges
2/5
This is the third album from the Stooges. The band took more of a hard rock approach for this album and recently it has been considered a forerunner of punk rock. The album was not immediately popular, but gained a cult following over time. The name "Raw Power" suits the album well because its music is loud and proud. This album influenced rock, metal, and punk music at release and for the decades to come.
I appreciated the classic sounding hard rock / punk music on this album, but the songs can be so chaotic at times that it's hard to really absorb the whole thing. This album may take me a few more listens to really comprehend the entire piece of music history.
Beastie Boys
3/5
This is the second album from the hip-hop group Beastie Boys, and it's regarded as their breakthrough album, even though it sold less than their debut album.
The music on this album is hip-hop, but the songs are made up of a lot of samples and instrumental tracks - just like their debut album - but this time the sampling was done by the duo Dust Brothers - which are famous for sampling songs (and who also have their own album on this 1000's list). The Dust Brothers worked with the Beastie Boys on this album by providing club tracks and sampling an insane amount of songs; an amount that wouldn't be financially possible today. 105 total songs had samples taken from them.
This album slowly gained sales after release and was not as initially successful as the group's debut album - "License to Ill". However, this album is now certified double platinum. Critics praised the production of the sample-heavy tracks and the amazing rhymes over top of them.
This album is a hip-hop masterpiece! The flow of each song and the expertly produced sample beats deserve great praise from every listener. This album has definitely had a lasting effect on the hip-hop genre, although the amount of samples can probably never be attempted again. The last track is a 12 minute epic journey that will have you hanging onto every rhyme and change-up in beat. I recommend everyone to give this classic album a listen!
Leonard Cohen
2/5
This is Leonard Cohen's third album of folk rock music. It was one of his most successful albums around the world. And as one can tell from the album title, this album was emotional and seemed to classify Cohen as a "downer". It's no surprise that Cohen revealed he was going through a bout of depression during the recordings for this album.
The music on this album complimented the rainy weather on the other side of my window in such a way, that it made the listening experience so much better. I'm not normally a fan of slow, folk rock music, however today and this album was an exception. This album is one to listen to when you're in your feels.
ZZ Top
3/5
This is ZZ Top's 8th album, and it's their most successful one - selling 20 million worldwide and being certified diamond in the US. This was the first ZZ Top album to have a breakout outside the states and achieve worldwide success. The album also sold ten times more than any previous ZZ Top album in the US. The music can be categorized as hard/blues/synth rock, since at the time the band was evolving from blues rock to a more mainstream synth rock and new wave sound. The tempo of the songs on this album was also faster than previous albums. A portion of this album's popularity can be attributed to multiple music videos that were produced and aired on MTV regularly. The changes made by the band for this album paid off, with the album making the band become newly popular with young people, as well as satisfying the older fans. This may just be the best ZZ Top album!
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
This is the debut album from Jimi Hendrix and his bandmates. It was immediately successful, and is regarded as the greatest album debut in rock music history. Hendrix established a new method of rock and psychedelic music with his genius songwriting and talented guitar playing.
Psychedelic rock was at its height when Jimi Hendrix was creating music like this. He was taken from this life far too soon, but his amazing work lives on with albums like this one. Everyone under the sun needs to listen to this album at least once. But just once won't be enough.
Bad Brains
2/5
Bad Brains' third album "I Against I" is their best-selling one. The punk band experimented with genres of funk, soul, reggae, and metal on this album. They showed the world that "you can still be hard by playing slow". This album also influenced many rock bands and artists to come in recent years. I thought this album was alright to listen to while working, but it wasn't amazing to me either.
Green Day
4/5
This is an awesome punk rock album from my childhood! "American Idiot" is Green Day's seventh album, their second best-selling one, and it won Best Rock Album at the 2005 Grammy's. This was a comeback album for the band - as they had not released an album for 4 years - and the album went to the top of the Billboard 200 Albums. This album has been certified 6 times platinum. This album was coined by the band as a "punk rock opera" that expressed views on the socio-political issues of the early 2000's. Examples being 9/11 and the Iraq War.
This album is regarded as a punk masterpiece. Every song was crafted in the right way to get the band's message out, but also allow fans to rock out to. It was Green Day's first "adult" punk album and my own first punk album when I listened to it as a kid. I'm biased because of the nostalgia, but this is an awesome album!
The The
2/5
"Soul Mining" is the debut album from the British post-punk / synth-pop band "the The". The album received positive reviews and modest sales during its initial release, but the 30th anniversary rerelease attracted new listeners and reviews praising it as one of the best albums of the 80's.
This album is perfect pop music for any occasion - depending on the listeners' mood. Regularly described as a masterpiece and frontman Matt Johnson's best work, this album describes the tumultuous period during the 80's when post-punk was declining and synth-pop was thriving. The music contains many different types of instruments that are held tightly in line to produce a coordinated attack on the listener. "Soul Mining" is a brilliant, idiosyncratic piece of music history that may never be replicated because it is so personal and unique. I believe this is a hidden gem of an album, and it rightfully earned a spot on these top 1000 albums.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
"Raw Like Sushi" is Neneh Cherry's debut album. It's a hip-hop album incorporating many different instruments from the trends of the 80's, and has Neneh either singing or rapping. This album's popularity at release was bolstered by the hit single "Buffalo Stance" that took the world by storm.
I appreciated the classic 80's hip-hop sound, paired with the beautiful rhymes by Neneh. However, this is not an album that I would add to my collection, based off of my preferences.
Saint Etienne
2/5
This easy-listening album full of chill alternative dance music is the debut album from English band Saint Etienne. The band drew inspiration from the house music scene that was exploding at the time, and combined it with their love of 60's pop. This resulted in fun, bopping beats accompanied by the beautiful voices of either Sarah Cracknell or Moira Lambert.
I enjoyed listening to this album, but none of the songs really stuck out to me as amazing. The pop genre can be pretty predictable which leaves me wanting more excitement.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
This album is the third from The Boo Radleys. It's a psychedelic pop album otherwise known as shoegazing music - which is a otherworldly twist on indie alternative rock - that pulls influence from genres of reggae, pop, and orchestral.
If you like songs that evolve as you listen to them, or psychedelic guitar playing, then this is the album for you. This album is a spacey trip for your ears. I enjoyed listening to this interesting album while I worked.
3/5
This is David Bowie's fifth album. It is a glam rock piece that is also loosely a rock opera concept album based on Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The story goes that Ziggy is a rock star sent to Earth to be a savior before the apocalypse, but falls from grace due to his own ego. This album was praised highly at release and charted high too. Most consider this album to be Bowie's breakthrough. Not based on musical prowess (which is still great), but the album had the biggest cultural impact. To date, this album has sold about 7.5 million copies worldwide and is Bowie's second best-selling album.
I loved the music on this album and the fact that the songs went together to form the Ziggy Stardust story. This album has to be a rock cornerstone of the 70's, and I do agree it's one of David Bowie's best albums.
The Pogues
3/5
Sea shanties and raucous drinking music abound! This is the second album from the English folk punk band The Pogues. The music is inspired by traditional Celtic punk and sailing voyages on the sea. The songwriting on this album is beautiful and the traditional music is as incredible as it is timeless. Listeners won't forget this album any time soon, as it never ceases to delight. I highly recommend this album to everyone for its eccentricity, novelty, and the profound joy one will feel when listening to it.
Tim Buckley
2/5
This is Tim Buckley's third album of folk music, and this album marked the beginning of his experimental phase. Tim began using his voice as an instrument and also incorporated elements of jazz to give this album a relaxing tone. This experimentation with sound would lead further albums to dwindle in popularity, but this album "Happy Sad" was released at the perfect time of Tim's popularity so it became his highest charting one.
The jazzy folk songs are beautifully sung by Tim's amazing vocal range. I appreciated the relaxing vibes of this album while rain came down on my window during my work hours. It was a serene experience - although it made me wish for a nap too. This album may not be my type of music, but it was well produced.
Malcolm McLaren
1/5
This album contains music from South Africa, North, Central, & South America, and the Caribbean, all compiled together with an underlying hip-hop vibe by Malcolm McLaren. This album is credited as bringing hip-hop music to a wider audience in the UK. It is a great collection of world music mixed with hip-hop, released during the early years of that music genre. I didn't really care for any of the songs, but overall the music was interesting. I believe that if I was from the Caribbean, South America, or South Africa then I would like this album a lot more.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
1/5
This was the debut album from hip hop group The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy released in 1992. The album contains views on every major political issue from the early 90's - which got old to me very quick. The album was less about music/hip hop and instead focused more on talking about the issues with rhymes. The beats were good, but the rhyming got stale since it was similar topics over and over again. Perhaps this album was critically acclaimed at release because hip hop was still sorta new, but to me this album was boring.
Radiohead
4/5
Kid A is the fourth album from Radiohead released in 2000. The band diverged from their normal alternative rock music to experiment with electronica music using synthesizers, and brass and string instruments. This change paid off as this album became immediately popular and was still one of the best albums at the end of the decade. This album charted number 1 in the UK and US, sold over 207,000 copies in its first week, won a Grammy for Best Alternative Album, and has been certified platinum. Also, this was one of the first albums to be mostly promoted on the internet and was available to stream at release.
This album was widely anticipated but loathed by critics. Critics were expecting another standard rock album and were surprised to find a slow, serene, and even other-worldly sounding album. The band's brave decision to stray from the norm and try something new was thought of as career suicide, but the fans - and the direction pop music would take in the following years - supported and even embraced this change in musical style. This album cemented Radiohead as a "main stage act" in the business for years to come because it showed they could create something great, even when trying something new. It seems like this album's style would fit in perfectly well with the music of today.
IMO I loved the album and it may be my favorite Radiohead album now. Combining rock and electronic music is something special, and I'm on the search for more music like this album.
Nick Drake
2/5
This is the second album from folk singer-songwriter Nick Drake. He wrote and sang every song on the album, with backing music provided by other musicians. Nick isn't the greatest singer, but he wrote some great songs and the production came out beautifully.
The tracks all have a similar theme of being quiet, gentle, and relaxing. A listener's reaction to this album depends on their mood, and for me I enjoyed the album, but considered the music background noise for my work. None of the tracks really jumped out to me as being a masterpiece.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
Déjà Vu is the second album by folk rock group Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the first album as a quartet including Neil Young. The album has been certified 7x platinum and is the best-selling album of each member's career. The popularity of this album helped boost the sales of the solo albums released later on by each member.
Déjà Vu is relaxed, but forceful with its music. Neil Young's guitar carried the album more than the harmonies did, but I appreciated all of it in its entirety. A soothing album that holds a good deal of nostalgia for 60's-70's America. It's not my go to album at all, but I won't tell someone to turn it off either.
Common
1/5
This is Common's fourth album, and it was his critical and commercial breakthrough album - being certified gold in the US. The hip-hop album received praise from many music critics for being able to tell stories throughout the songs, as well as discussing socio-political issues about race.
To me, this type of rap is old-school and outdated. It doesn't have that "oomph" that modern hip-hop has, and the skits on many tracks gets old really fast. I didn't find much to like about this album, but I don't hate it either.
Deerhunter
3/5
This is the fifth album from the indie rock band Deerhunter. The psychedelic / indie pop album was released to critical acclaim. The music on this album is beautiful and meant to romanticize the past as well as produce a sense of existential dread. Definitely a super chill album - and this doesn't mean the music is slow - just that the theme of the album is mysterious and kind of sad. I liked this album and I guess I'll have to check out more music from the Deerhunter band.
Ray Charles
3/5
This is just one of the many albums Ray Charles has created, but it is one of his later and more popular ones. This album is tuned more towards country, folk, and Western music, instead of his usual R&B or jazz music. Ray Charles remixed popular country songs into a soulful R&B style. Something that appealed to every type of music lover at the time. The album was coined during a time of racial tensions in America as being a "blending of white & black music". Also, this album has been certified gold in the US.
Modern Sounds went on to be one of the most popular albums of 1962, almost winning Album of the Year at the Grammys. It has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The album broaden the appeal for country and R&B music to new listeners that may have never given these genres a chance. For this reason alone, this album is important. You'll love this album!
Elbow
3/5
This is the fourth album from the English alternative rock band Elbow. It has a great assortment of "easy-listening" tracks. The album received a lot of praise at release and has kept a steady hold on this popularity over the years.
Not my most favorite type of music, but this album was interesting to listen to. This is because it has pretty songs with a good amount of flair, since the album uses dynamic range of sound to give the instruments more depth and oomph. I might have to circle back to this album in the future and give it another listen.
Air
2/5
This is a soundtrack album by the electronic music duo Air for the 1999 film The Virgin Suicides. The album does a great job of capturing the "soundtrack" of youth. The music is nostalgic, but eerie as well as relaxing; an ever-present reminder that time flows on and what is a problem now will not last forever. Interestingly, the album was produced quickly and Air initially wanted the music to seamlessly match the scenes in the film, but in the end they decided they wanted songs that could be listened on their own.
I enjoyed the chill atmospheric music present on this album. This album has peaked my interest in searching for similar types of music, as well as got me curious about the movie. We need more custom soundtracks created for movies going forward!
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
This is the third album from English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The album was inspired by religious music - specifically choirs - and it became a predecessor for synth-pop music. It is now seen as a classic in the synth-pop and new wave genres. OMD did a great job of putting together a cohesive album that speaks to the emotions of the listener, and every song compliments one another.
In my opinion the album wasn't spectacular, but it held my interest throughout. I appreciate being able to listen to it.
The National
3/5
High Violet is the fifth album by the indie rock band the National. The album received widespread critical acclaim at release. It was a carefully crafted, powerfully poetic, beautifully subtle album of rock music, that grows on you and leaves you wanting more. This album was listed on many "Best Albums" list for 2010, and in 2011 it was certified diamond for sales in all of Europe.
I loved the subdued nature of the rock music on this album and enjoyed listening to it in its entirety. I realized I've heard the album's single "Bloodbuzz Ohio" before, because I immediately recognized the tune and lyrics. It's a great track on an epic album. I will be putting this band on my list so I can listen to their other albums.
Neil Young
2/5
Neil Young's fifth folk rock album. It is a moody, pessimistic piece that was recorded crudely, but has some hidden gems. Similar to other Neil Young albums, this one was not popular at release, but gained fans over time. Now it is certified gold.
This album feels like Young coming to terms with his newfound fame - from previous album "Harvest" - and turning his experiences from this into songs. Some of his most emotional songs are on this album. I liked the whole vibe of the album, but wouldn't go out of my way to listen to any of the songs again.
The Pharcyde
2/5
This is the debut album from the hip-hop group The Pharcyde. It is a classic hip-hop album because it was released early on during the Gangsta rap era, however it was a playful, alternative form of hip-hop at the time. The album has been certified gold in the US. The comedic lyrics, friendly banter, self-deprecating humor - both low and high - and wild tales, all apparent in these songs makes for a great album by a funny group of guys that can actually rap. This is now a nostalgic album from the golden days of rap, but the music still holds up. My only gripe is that I'm more of a fan of modern day rap.
Aerosmith
3/5
The hard rock album Pump is the tenth from rock band Aerosmith. It was certified 7 times platinum in the US, back in 1995. This is also Aerosmith's second best-selling album and it's considered the peak of the glam metal/rock era. Popular songs are "Janie's Got a Gun" and "Love in an Elevator".
I've heard a couple of songs from this album before, but this was the first time I listened to all of it. I have to say that it was great rock music and it sounded kind of nostalgic. However, it might not be my favorite hard rock album. I'll have to listen to a few more first.
Funkadelic
4/5
This is the third album by funk rock band Funkadelic. As the band name suggests, this album is mostly psychedelic funk music, but it also has some R&B and rock elements sprinkled in. The most popular track is the first one - title song "Maggot Brain" - which is a 10 minute long trippy and eerie journey into the stratosphere of your imagination. You may feel all types of emotions while listening to the psychedelic first song, but the next 5 songs will have you bumping to the funky tunes. The album then culminates with a wild 9 and a half minute track of the whole band jamming out with a lot of psychedelic sound effects added in.
The album keeps you interested for the entire ride, which to me indicates a great album. It's a monument of psychedelic funk and a defining moment of Black rock from the 70's. It's crazy to me that I've never before heard of this album, the band, or these songs, because it was all a good jam. Better late than never I suppose. Everyone should give this insane album a listen!
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
This is the debut album from rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album was certified double platinum in the US 14 years after release in 1987, and along with being the band's debut album, it is best known for the epic guitar solo on the track "Free Bird".
This is what I imagine an awesome hard rock album from the 70's should sound like. It's the first time I heard most of these songs from this great band, besides "Free Bird", and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the other tracks. It's easy to tell that this band had some serious talent from the get go and their popularity only went up!
Jethro Tull
2/5
British rock band Jethro Tull's fourth and best-selling album is this one - "Aqualung". It has sold over 7 million copies. The album's songs encompass a motley of genres, including folk, blues, psychedelica, and hard rock. This album is regarded as a concept album by fans - with themes about religion and the effects of social constructs on people - however the band disputes this, saying it's just a regular album. "Aqualung" is seen as a classic album in the hard rock and progressive rock genres. However, in my opinion it's just another hard rock album trying to differentiate itself with a unique and novel theme.
Eric Clapton
2/5
This is the second album from Eric Clapton. It is a blues rock album that has been certified double platinum. A popular track is Clapton's cover of Bob Marley song "I Shot the Sheriff", which helped gain interest in and boost sales of the album, as well as go on to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. This album was Clapton's return from a 3 year drug-use hiatus, in which he rediscovered his love for making music. His guitar playing on this album is overshadowed by other members he brought on the project, but his singing really shines through as some of his best.
I loved the vibe of this album, but it's not absolutely amazing to me since most of the tracks are simply covers of other popular songs.
The Kinks
2/5
This is the fifth album by the English rock band the Kinks. The music genre can be described as baroque pop, which is a combination of rock and classical music elements. The album did not sell well in the US or UK as a result of a multitude of factors. However, the album has still been praised as one of the Kinks' best.
I did not find much that I loved about this album, but it passed the time while I was working and then piqued my interest in listening to some classical music.
Brian Eno
2/5
This is the third album by Brian Eno. It marked his transition from rock music toward ambient instrumental music. This album in particular can be described as art rock/pop with a dash of minimalist ambient music. This album is calmer than previous Eno albums, with melodic instrumental sections and lyrics on only 5 tracks.
Although the critical reception for the album was favorable, it failed to chart in any country besides New Zealand. It seems like many listeners - including myself - were looking for something more fast paced than this dream-like escape into a peaceful, mirrored dimension.
Deep Purple
3/5
Machine Head is the sixth album by English rock band Deep Purple. This album was extremely popular, being Deep Purple's most successful album, and influencing the development of the metal genre of music. The speed of the band's hard rock music playing was so new and special that it went on to shape heavy metal music in the future. "Smoke On The Water" quickly became the most popular song from the album, and it is still widely adored to this day.
I think this is a remarkable album from the golden years of hard rock. It has all the rock n roll one could ask for, and enough great songs to occupy someone's ear for a little while. Every fan of rock or metal music has probably heard at least part of this album, but everyone should really listen to this whole thing.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
This is the debut album by American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. The album was received well critically, but it failed to chart within the Top 100. The sexual themes on the album including nudity prevented the music from being on MTV, but this also added intrigue to the album. Eventually the album sold a million copies and is certified platinum in the US.
This was a decent album of alternative and hard rock music, but only the single "Jane Says" stuck out to me as amazing. Still it was great to get a chance to check out this band's first album.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
This is Elvis Costello's third album and the backing band is The Attractions. This album's music is more commercial, which results in a pop / new wave sound instead of Costello's past albums of punk rock. This album is considered one of Costello's best, and it received many favorable reviews. The production of every song is superb and Costello's lyrics shine through to bring it all together.
This was an awesome album to listen to, because the smart, political lyrics give your mind something to think about while your body is dancing to the beautiful pop music.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
This hip-hop album is rapper Kendrick Lamar's third. Kendrick Lamar is a lyrical genius and he used this album to discuss political themes about black culture, racial inequality, discrimination, and depression. The album debuted at number one on charts in US, UK, & Australia, won Best Rap Album at the 2016 Grammy's, and was certified platinum in 2017. To Pimp A Butterfly has garnered widespread critical acclaim from all around the world. It appeared on many top ten album lists for 2015, and has been rated highly by most music publications. The album did a good job of expressing its messages while also being fun to listen to.
I respect Kendrick Lamar and love his rapping skills, so this album is great for this reason alone. Although some of the spoken word / skits on this album get in the way of the great musical flow he had going, but this is just my opinion. Still one of the best Kendrick Lamar albums out there today.
Dr. John
2/5
GRIS-gris is the debut album from Dr. John. Not his real name, and not a real doctor, but the character is based on a 19th century voodoo doctor. The music on this album is New Orleans R&B / swamp blues / psychedelic funk. The album failed to chart or garner much attention at release, but was re-released around 30 years later to praise from modern critics. This has been hailed as a classic from the psychedelic era, and it's extraordinary in that it fuses psychedelia with funk and R&B from the bayou.
The modern reviews love this album and tote it as one of the best pieces of psychedelia, but I just don't get it. For me, most of the songs sound the same and only the first track stuck out to me as interesting. Perhaps one needs to be high to really appreciate this album, or maybe I don't have a taste for New Orleans R&B music.
A Tribe Called Quest
3/5
"The Low End Theory" is the second album from the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest released in 1991. The music is alternative hip-hop or jazz rap, where it contains minimalist sound to bring attention to the word play of the lyrics. This album has been credited as one of the greatest alternative hip-hop albums ever and has been certified platinum in the US. The album did a great job of fusing jazz / bepop and hip-hop, while allowing the groups' dynamics to shine through the humorous, word play commentary in the rap lyrics. I loved how the album's music was stripped down to essentially just vocals, drums, and bass. It gave the music and rapping more impact for me to hang onto. The laid back sound was something new for me to hear from the early golden years of hip-hop, and I found myself really enjoying its flow. I do agree with reviews that this may be the greatest hip-hop album ever. I cannot praise this album anymore then what has already been said by critics, but this is the first time I heard of this album or the group and I think it was amazing! I'll have to give it another listen again soon.
Neu!
3/5
This is the third album from the German rock band Neu!. It's an experimental rock album commonly referred to as krautrock for its emergence in Germany, and in fact this album is one of this unique genre's creators. The music is a combination of progressive rock and electronica. The album is actually split between sides, as one is the older Neu! style of ambient pop/rock tracks, and the second side is more experimental proto-punk / krautrock tracks. The tracks are hypnotic, day dream causing melodies that will nicely compliment any activity. Want some club music? The second side of the album is for you. Want soothing music to relax to? Then listen to the first side of the album.
I loved this interesting album and will be on the lookout for more music like this. Every rock fan should listen to this German classic!
King Crimson
3/5
This album is the debut by English rock band King Crimson. It's one of the earliest and most influential progressive rock albums. Hailed today as a classic in the rock genre but receiving mixed reviews at release, this album helped shape progressive rock before it was ever really classified as a genre.
The album's music is beautifully mesmerizing and seamlessly transitions the listener from one track to the next. This album is highly ranked in progressive rock or simply rock album lists, and this album has been certified gold in the US. 'Twas a good album to enjoy for an hour during the workday.
The Human League
3/5
Dare is the third album by English synth-pop band The Human League. This album was recorded in the new wave of pop style, after the departure of two founding members of the band caused a shift from their prior avant-garde electronic style. This change in genre for the band paid off big once the singles from the album began releasing, and this album went on to define the synth-pop genre. The final track on the album is the single "Don't You Want Me" which became an international hit - as well as the band's biggest hit and the 25th highest selling single in the UK - after it was finally released against the band's frontman Philip Oakey's opinion who thought it was the weakest track on the album and shouldn't be a single. The album was on the UK chart for 71 weeks, being number 1 for a good chunk of that, and "Don't You Want Me" was the number 1 single during some of that time as well. With all this popularity, it's no surprise that the album has been certified triple platinum in the UK.
As critically acclaimed as this album is, it's still pop music, and to me this genre's songs are easily forgettable and/or repeatable. I loved the single "Don't You Want Me", but obviously everyone in the world loved it too. The other tracks on the album weren't as special, but a few did stick out to me as good. Overall, this album is pretty amazing and did bring pop - and more specifically synth-pop - into the spotlight for the foreseeable future.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
This 1967 album from Frank Sinatra is performed by an orchestra in the bossa nova style. It was a well produced album that highlights Frank's singing voice and gives the listener a broad range of his music to appreciate it. In my opinion I didn't find any songs on this album sticking out to me, but it was a great album to listen to while relaxing.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Bookends is the fourth album by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. This album was a breakthrough for the duo since it peaked at number one on the top albums charts in the US and UK, and had a number one single with "Mrs. Robinson". However, the duo was already well known because of their second album "Sounds of Silence". In the end this fourth album cemented them at the forefront of the cultural movement in the 1960's, and it's hard to decide whether this album or their fifth and final album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is the best.
This album is a blast from the past. The music will transport you back to the Summer of Love and bring back memories of the turbulent 60's. I was not born for another 25 years, but I can still appreciate this amazing album today. Everyone is aware of the album's single that became immensely popular around the world - "Mrs. Robinson" - but even the other tracks are a good listen and might be someone else's favorite from this album. Give this classic album a listen and soak in the bittersweet, nostalgic vibes it expels into the air as soundwaves!
Billy Joel
3/5
This is Billy Joel's fifth album and it's considered to be his critical and commercial breakthrough album. The Stranger won Record of the Year at the 1978 Grammy's and has been certified diamond in the US for sales. This pop rock album contains some of Billy Joel's most popular songs, including "Vienna" and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant".
I liked the atmosphere that this album created while listening to it, but only a few of the songs stuck out to me as great. I think I may be a little too young to fully enjoy the genius work of Billy Joel, because there's a lot of praise for this album, that I think is somewhat forgettable.
The B-52's
3/5
This is the debut album from the new wave band The B-52's. The album was received well by critics, and the band quickly gained a fanbase as a result of this and the fun-loving lyrics and mood of their music. The band tried to emulate music from pop icons of earlier decades, but also add a little more funk and danceable beats. While this would seem like an imposter tactic, it paid off for the band because their music was in fact still good enough on its own.
Although the music is good, I am not normally a fan of the pop genre, so that skews my opinion on this album.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's sixth album. It is a widely celebrated album, cited as one of Dylan's best work, and among the greatest albums of all time, also being certified platinum in the US. You can lose yourself for almost an hour in this calming, bluesy, folksy, rock album. There's not much more praise for this album that I can write here that hasn't been said before. So just listen to this album for yourself!
Dire Straits
3/5
This is the debut album by the British rock band Dire Straits. It's a blues rock album, with hints of folk and country music, from the 70's that has been certified double platinum in the US and UK. This album is well put together for a debut album and the hit single "Sultans of Swing" helped propel the album into the limelight.
The music on this album was nice to listen to while working, and I will have to check out other Dire Straits' albums.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
This is the fifth album by the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. This album shifted their music from subdued electronic pop to instrumented dance-pop tracks. Very performed better commercially than their previous album, and has some of the duo's best songs on it. The album charted high in the UK, but not as high in the US, because at the time grunge and punk rock music was dominating the US charts.
I loved the music on this album, and I know I have heard a couple of these songs before. The album contains nostalgic synth-pop / techno music from the 90's, and I have to appreciate any predecessors to modern EDM music. I'll have to remember to listen to this album again sometime - it was that good.
Gene Clark
2/5
This is the fourth album by American folk rock singer-songwriter Gene Clark. Upon release in 1974, critics ignored or disliked the album and it was a commercial failure. Clark never recovered from the failure of the album and died in 1991. In the early 2000s No Other was rereleased, this time to positive reviews and critics calling it a "lost masterpiece," "greatest albums ever," and "Clark's magnum opus".
No Other was an ambitious album that blended country, folk, jazz, gospel, blues, and rock music together to create "pure ear candy". I enjoyed listening to this album, but none of the songs really stuck out to me as best of the best. It's sad to learn that Gene Clark died thinking his last album was a monumental failure, although it wasn't.
The Pogues
3/5
This is the third album from the Irish folk punk band The Pogues. It is their best-selling album, thanks to the hit single "Fairytale of New York". Critics loved this album and praised the band for trying out some new musical ideas. Although this is The Pogues best-selling album, I still prefer their previous album "Rum Sodomy & the Lash" because of its sea-shanties which I'm partial to over this album's Irish folk punk/rock.
David Bowie
3/5
This is David Bowie's tenth album and it can be described musically as an art rock or funk rock album. It was received well by critics and is regarded as one of Bowie's more significant works. Although the following didn't seem to affect the quality of this album, Bowie was addicted to cocaine while recording this album and doesn't remember much from this period.
This Bowie album did not appeal to me, as none of the six songs stuck out to me as great. I did like the theme of the album being loosely tied to his film "The Man Who Fell to Earth" in addition to the creation of his Thin White Man character. In conclusion, there are other Bowie albums that I feel are much better than this one.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Green River is the third album from the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. This was the second of three albums being released in 1969. Obviously the band was creating songs at a record pace to be able to release three albums in one year. Two of the songs on this album are popular ones from the band, and they are "Bad Moon Rising" & the title track "Green River". The album was certified gold one year after release, and 20 years later it was certified triple platinum.
This is a great album from CCR, and has me interested in listing to more of their music.
Anita Baker
2/5
Rapture is Anita Baker's second album, and it's her breakout album. It won two Grammy's, was certified platinum, and the first track "Sweet Love" won the 1987 Grammy for Best R&B Song. This was a popular album in the late 80's among adult R&B fans, especially black fans. Baker has an amazing singing voice and that's what made this album so special.
I did not find this album to be good, but that's because I am not a fan of slow, soulful, R&B music. However, I can appreciate a great singing voice.
PJ Harvey
1/5
This folk rock album is English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey's eighth album. It is loosely an anti-war album about the hardships Harvey's home country has gone through.
The music is ethereal, timeless, and soothing. However, it's not my taste. The album seems to be highly credited, but to be honest I'm not sure why. The songs had no attention grabbing hooks or lyrics, and it reminded me of something I would put on to go to sleep. Some listeners out there may love this, but not me.
Michael Kiwanuka
2/5
This is singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka's third album. It's an indie folk rock album that was highly acclaimed by critics and average listeners. This is another album that contains music which isn't my preferred genre, so I'm not part of the majority that loves this album. The album was relaxing and had a few interesting songs, but I probably wouldn't listen to it again.
Radiohead
4/5
This is the third album from Radiohead and it's another alternative rock piece, but with a dash of progressive rock. The album's themes depicted a dystopian future world of consumerism, social alienation/isolation, and political problems, which turned out to be spot on just a couple decades later. OK Computer is critically acclaimed, certified double platinum in the US, and won a 1998 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. This album can be considered a stepping stone for modern rock as the songs recemented what rock music actually can be.
As with other Radiohead albums - I like this. In my opinion, it may not be as good as their previous album "The Bends" or their next album "Kid A", but "OK Computer" is something special in it's own right. This album provides a seamless transition from punk rock in "The Bends" to electronica rock in "Kid A". You have to give this album a listen!
David Crosby
3/5
This is the debut album from American singer-songwriter David Crosby. It's a folk rock album with a dash of psychedelia, that includes a long list of guest musicians from other rock music projects. The album has been certified gold in the US. It's interesting that only half of the ten tracks on this album have lyrics, while the other half are instrumentals.
The music is harmonious without being overbearing; a tinge of country and blues intertwines with the primary sound of folk rock. The album would make for great background music to a dinner or drinks event. I recommend everyone gives this album a listen.
Mylo
3/5
This is the first and only album from DJ Mylo. It's house music that DJ Mylo made by sampling soft rock songs from his childhood in the 70's and 80's. Because of this, it's a unique album that many people liked. This album was fun to listen to, but I wouldn't say the title is correct - it didn't destroy rock & roll.
Waylon Jennings
2/5
This is an outlaw country album by Waylon Jennings with songwriting by Billy Joe Shaver. If you like country - especially when mixed with rock - then this is the album for you! This album began the outlaw country movement, which is a country subgenre that has rock and roll added in. The songs were fun; hard rockin' tunes with that signature country twang, and a cowboy singer to bring it all together. This isn't my favorite album - or even genre, but it was a good listen.
Goldfrapp
3/5
This is the fourth album from the English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It marks a departure from their previous albums' electronic dance sound to something more ambient and folky - affectionally named Folktronica. This change led to mostly positive reviews by critics and fans.
The music is brave, beautiful, and a nice change of pace. Although it is slower than the usual electronica, so it's best played during "chill-out" periods. I liked the sound of this album, but it's so slow and subtle that it melts into the background unless you're focused on it.
Radiohead
3/5
Amnesiac is the fifth album by English rock band Radiohead. The album is highly acclaimed and is certified platinum in the UK and US. Musically, it has the same vibes as the band's previous album Kid A, so electronica, jazz, and krautrock influences are included along with the band's signature alternative rock. This further divided fans along whether you preferred this new style of music, or the band's earlier straight forward rock music.
I was left conflicted about this album because I have liked every previous Radiohead album. It's similar to Kid A, but some songs don't feel flushed out - almost like they were thrown together last minute or even that they were unwanted songs from Kid A that didn't get much additional care. The patchiness of the album almost took away from the highlights, but I still think this is a great album from Radiohead.
Mudhoney
3/5
This is the debut album by the grunge band Mudhoney. It did not sell well at release, but it slowly gained traction in the underground music scene. 20 years later in 2008, the album peaked at 25 on the UK Indie Album chart.
The music was good and hard - as grunge should be. I liked this album and I'm looking forward to listening to their second one when it's selected for me.
Lou Reed
3/5
Berlin is Lou Reed's third solo album, and it's also a tragic rock opera concept album telling a story about a couple's struggle with drug abuse/addiction. The dark lyrics can be heavy at times, but some of the album's tracks' beats are too infectious to forget about. This is an interesting concept album, but the music doesn't disappoint.
Buzzcocks
3/5
This is the debut album from English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It is a highly acclaimed album with a great track list.
I liked the album and would recommend it to any punk rock fans.
Fairport Convention
2/5
This is the fourth album from British folk rock band Fairport Convention. It is claimed to be the first British folk rock album, and this popularity allowed the band to continue making music for this genre. The music was beautiful and relaxing, but folk is not my vibe. Fans of folk rock or British music will love this album.
Kraftwerk
3/5
This is the sixth album from German electronic band Kraftwerk. It continued a transition away from their earlier krautrock music towards melodic electronic music, and this new style of music was polished with a focus on rhythms and minimalism. The theme of this album was tied to the Trans-Europe Express, and the thought that this could be some of the future's music one would listen to when riding on a train across the country. The album has a haunting atmosphere due to the electronic sounds and sparse but manipulated vocals.
This album sounds wonderful, is timeless, danceable, and not quite intrusive enough to take the listener's focus away from a task or event. It could be called the birth certificate of true electronic music. Since I have a soft spot for EDM, this album made me feel nostalgic for the times when musicians were first experimenting with these sounds. It's crazy to imagine what would have happened if this music never caught on with the general public. In conclusion, this album is extraordinary and may stand the test of time by being just popular enough to stay relevant forever.
Wilco
3/5
This is American rock band Wilco's fourth album. The band tired an experimental atmospheric sound for this album that can be described as indie rock. It paid off because this is the best-selling album from the band, and the album has been certified gold in the US. The album is highly rated and the music is a refreshing take on the older psychedelia genre. It was wonderful to listen to.
Heaven 17
3/5
This is English synth-pop band Heaven 17's debut album. At release it did not sell much, but the sales grew over time so it eventually was certified gold in the UK. The first single "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" was banned by the BBC, which potentially caused the lull in sales at release. However, the album remained in the Top 100 for 77 weeks so it was still popular. The music was good as a result of the electropop melodies and non-pretentious political lyrics. I can appreciate a good synth-pop album, but none of the tracks stuck out to me as overly amazing so I can't rate this too highly.
U2
3/5
This is the seventh album from Irish rock band U2. It is one of their most successful and award winning albums. The band toyed around with blending alternative rock, EDM, and industrial sound effects together with their normal style of music to create something interesting, dark, and new sounding for the band. This album was the unofficial anthem of 1991, appearing on almost all of the "Best of" lists. It was certified double platinum in the US only a month after release, and is currently 8 times platinum. U2 has reflected on the album and gone on record stating that if they hadn't tried something new with this album, then they may have disbanded entirely, letting each member move on to do their own thing.
I loved the danceability of this album, but also appreciated that it still had the alternative rock style that made U2 famous in the first place. This is a very good U2 album and I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2/5
This album - informally referred to as The Beano Album, because of the artwork showing Eric Clapton reading comics - is from the English blues rock band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. This commercially and critically successful album is seen as the pioneer of guitar centered blues-rock, as well as influential to the artistic development of rock'n'roll guitar playing. Eric Clapton - an amazingly talented guitarist - is prominently featured on this album, and is the spark that started a new version of rock styled guitar playing. The music was upbeat and fun - definitely a great album for blues or rock fans. I liked the album and I'm glad that I can appreciate music from 55 years ago.
Little Richard
3/5
This is the debut album from Little Richard and it's his highest charting album. Released in the late 50's, this album's music was a twist on rhythm and blues that would become early rock and roll, and it was very popular. Little Richard's iconic screaming vocals backed by the raucous music is something marvelous to listen to. It's no wonder this new musical genre caught on and eventually blossomed into rock'n'roll, with an opening album like this. Most people have heard Little Richard's singing, but it's nice to listen to an entire album of his songs.
Green Day
4/5
Dookie is Green Day's third album and it's their best-selling one. The album brought punk rock to main stream popularity, won the Grammy for Best Alternative Album in 1995, and was certified diamond in the US for over 10 million units sold in 1999. This album has been described as one of the best punk rock albums of all time; many have tried to emulate this album, but they don't quite cut it. Almost every song on this album is great by itself, but when all together they're a masterpiece wrapped up in a jewel case. This is the first time I have listened to this album in its entirety and now I feel like I was missing something all these years. I highly recommend this album to everyone - not just punk rock lovers.
Boston
4/5
This is the debut album from the American rock band Boston - which was primarily recorded and produced by founder Tom Scholz. At release in 1976 this album broke sales records - being the best-selling album at the time, it won the RIAA Century Award as the best-selling debut album - and became an extremely popular classic rock album. The album was certified gold in 2 months, platinum in 3 months, and diamond in 13 and a half years, making this one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. An interesting fact about this album is that most tracks - except for "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" - were exact copies of a demo tape of the songs that was recorded by Tom Scholz in his basement studio just a few years prior. Scholz was able to produce an album of worldwide renown without all of the bells and whistles that record label producers are used to, and this goes to show that you don't mess with a mad scientist's creation.
The music on this album is classic rock, however, the band's sound is known for big melodic hooks with heavy, classical style guitars. This album has been classified as a pivot point in American rock, because most bands began trying to imitate Boston's sound. The rock genre went from blues-based metal to "power pop" following this album's effect on the music industry. This is a piece of rock history and anyone that doesn't listen to this album is missing out on a great time.
Talking Heads
3/5
This is American rock band Talking Heads' second album. It started a trend for the band, in which their music began moving toward a danceable style, achieved by cleaning up the rhythm section's energy. This album propelled Talking Heads into the mainstream - in part due to its only single "Take Me to the River" which was a cover of the famous song by Al Green. This funky art rock album was fun to listen to, and I'm glad I got to hear some of Talking Heads' earlier work.
Motörhead
2/5
This is English rock band Motörhead's first live album, containing songs taken from their earlier LP's and recorded live on their 1981 British tour. The album was released at the peak of the band's popularity and many fans had been anticipating a live album. It's been rated as one of the best live albums of all time, and the album even made it to number 1 on the UK albums chart. The music is a mix of hard rock and heavy metal, laying the foundation for the band's thrash period. Normally I am not a big fan of metal, but the songs on this album were a fun listen and it being a live album may have helped with that. All rock/metal fans should lend an ear to this album if they haven't already.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
This is the debut album from English singer, songwriter Amy Winehouse. It was received well by critics and has been certified triple platinum in the UK. The album title can be a reference to Winehouse's singing on this album which is open, honest, and to the point. Or it could be referencing Frank Sinatra - which was an early influence for Amy Winehouse, and her vocal style even sounds similar to his style. This soulful, R&B, and bossa nova jam fest of an album makes for a relaxing and romantic atmosphere. Amy Winehouse was extremely talented and it's a shame she was taken too soon. I'm glad I finally got a chance to listen to her debut album, and I'm looking forward to listening to more songs from her that I may have missed.
Jane Weaver
3/5
This is the ninth album from English singer songwriter Jane Weaver. It's a psychedelic folk album with acoustic and electronica elements sprinkled throughout. I found this album interesting for its combination of acoustic English folk with electronic psychedelic sounds. The songs were beautiful and provided a good energy. It's no wonder that some of these songs were remixed to be more "dancey" because the groundwork was already laid by Weaver. This is a great chill-out album!
Wire
2/5
This is the debut album by English rock band Wire. This British punk rock album earned the band a cult following after its release because it was a fresh and invigorating take on the genre. For some unknown reason the album was never a big seller, but it influenced a lot of the punk culture and gave inspiration to other bands that would even cover some of the songs on this album. The tracks were quick, explosive jam sessions of punk attitude that created a bundle of awesome songs. I liked the album and I would recommend it to any fans of punk or rock music.
Roxy Music
2/5
This is English rock band Roxy Music's fourth album and it is considered by many to be the band's best. The art rock album has sophisticated tracks of good music and lyrics that would accompany a relaxing evening nicely. I liked some of the songs, but other ones didn't fancy me as much. The cover art was controversial - obviously - and was covered, or even changed in some countries. All together this was an interesting album and I'm glad I listened to it.
New Order
4/5
Technique is the fifth album by English electronic rock band New Order. This album was influenced by acid house and the band incorporated this into their dance rock sound. It has that electronic synth sound from the 80's paired with a rock band that gives this album an interesting vibe. I do like the summery sound that the album gives off.
This has been rated one of the best New Order albums and is considered a classic in the dance rock genre. The quality of synchrony between rock and electronic dance on this album is something I did not expect. It's so well done that this album could've been produced today and it would still perform well. There's a lot to love about this album, and not much to hate.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
This the debut album from Tom Petty's band. It was initially ignored by US listeners until a year after release - once the positive reviews and the British tour brought attention to the album in the US - causing the album to be certified gold in the US. It is a classic rock and roll album, so one can expect all of the common tropes, but the actual quality of the music - instruments & vocals - is not bad. I'm not a giant fan of rock so hearing a run-of-the-mill rock album wasn't super exciting and this affects my rating of the album.
Norah Jones
3/5
This is American singer Norah Jones' debut album. It's an acoustic pop album that incorporates elements of jazz, blues, folk, soul, and country to highlight Jones' voice. The music is heavily focused on the vocals instead of the pop, jazz, or funk of the instruments, and this can be seen as a positive or a negative depending on the listener, but it paid off for this album. Come Away With Me performed well at release - being certified platinum in the US six months later and earning diamond certification 3 years after release. This album won a list of Grammy's in 2003 too: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, and Record of the Year & Song of the Year for "Don't Know Why".
All of the praise and awards this album has received is for good reason, because it's a well produced album that will delight most listeners.
Suzanne Vega
2/5
This is American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega's debut album. It's a straightforward acoustic folk album featuring Vega's talents. The album performed well with critics and reached platinum status in the UK for over 300,000 units sold. IMO the album was a little too "basic" to appear on this list, but Suzanne Vega does have a perfect, soothing voice which made the album tolerable.
Roni Size
3/5
New Forms is the debut album by British EDM group Roni Size & Reprazent. It's a drum and bass album that earned a lot of commercial success, including the 1997 Mercury Prize and being certified platinum in the UK. This is one of the first albums centering on drum and bass and it's considered the group's magnum opus. I loved the energetic drums combined with the booming bass, in addition to the nostalgia factor of hearing old school EDM. This is a great album for any EDM lovers, or music history buffs that want to hear one of the albums that blossomed the electronic dance craze.
Sade
3/5
Diamond Life is the debut album by the band Sade. This soul/pop album contains elements of jazz, and can be classified in the sophisti-pop genre. This is a highly acclaimed album, because it won the 1985 Brit Award for Best British Album, has been certified 4 times platinum in the UK & US, and was the best-selling debut album by a lead British female vocalist. Diamond Life is an easy-listening album - perfect for a casual cocktail-lounge environment - as the soulful and jazzy, but poppy and funky beats will appeal to most listeners. This was a well produced album and I'm happy to have listened to it. If it wasn't for this site, I would've never heard this album.
Arcade Fire
3/5
This is the third album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 charts as well as the Irish Albums chart, the UK Albums chart, & the Canadian Albums chart. Then in 2011 The Suburbs won the Grammy for Album of Year. This Arcade Fire album is considered to be their masterpiece. The indie rock music was spiced with a sense of nostalgia, but also future dread. Listening to it was like pain and pleasure, loss and hope. The album had mass appeal, and was also an ambitious reach for fame and fortune. I liked this album, but perhaps not as much as the average indie rock listener.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
At Fillmore East is the first live album & third overall by American rock band the Allman Brothers. Over three days the album was recorded at live jam sessions by the band at the New York music venue Fillmore East. This album is considered to be the band's artistic and commercial breakthrough, by rapidly increasing their fanbase. The band had been making a name for themselves by touring and performing live, while their studio albums were not as popular as they'd like. This led them to record this live album which captures the fun experience of jamming with this band in concert.
The Allman Brothers' music is a mix of blues, rock, country, and jazz - the best combination for a jam band. Because of the slow burn from these jam songs, a double album was needed to contain their live show's experience. This album had strong sales from release so it was certified gold in October 1971, and certified platinum in August 1992. It is widely considered to be the best live rock album of all time, and at the time of release the band was compared with another more famous jam band - the Grateful Dead. This is a great blues rock album that captured a piece of American history from the 70's, and everyone should lend it an ear.
The Stranglers
3/5
Rattus Norvegicus aka The Stranglers IV is the debut album by the English punk rock band the Stranglers. This album was one of the best-selling albums during Britain's punk era, and it was certified platinum in the UK. The music on this album is well produced and fun; it was a collection of the band's live set list at the time. This is a great punk rock album and it does a great job of showcasing the British punk scene from the 70's.
JAY Z
3/5
The Blueprint is the sixth album by American rapper Jay-Z. At release it was considered Jay-Z's best album since his debut album, and today it is considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time and has been certified double platinum. The album's hip hop beats were inspired by vintage soul music, and some parts of old soulful songs & vocals were sampled on this album. The sampling on this album influenced other producers to begin sampling music again, since most artists stopped sampling sometime in the late 90's to focus more on creating new beats and melodies.
This album also introduces Kanye West to the music world as a producer because he produced 4 of the tracks. Eminem is featured on 1 track as the producer and the only other rapper with verses on this album.
The Blueprint was a great album to listen to and its music still holds up to this day.
Pulp
4/5
Different Class is the fifth album by English rock band Pulp. Released during the height of Britpop popularity, this album was a critical and commercial success - winning the 1996 Mercury Music Prize, and being certified 4 times platinum. It is rightfully considered a classic of British pop, as it still sounds great to this day, but can also transport a listener back to 90's England.
The album's Britpop/rock music deserves a listener's undivided attention while it blasts them with deft, energetic, catchy melodies & hooks, that can also slow down to something almost tranquil and atmospheric. The synth-spiked pop music is undeniably danceable and makes even the rhythm-averse people nod their head to the beat.
I went into this album not expecting much, but was greatly surprised by how good the music was. I may have to check out more albums from Pulp now!
TV On The Radio
2/5
Dear Science is American rock band TV on the Radio's third album. It's an indie art rock album with funk and soul vibes. This album received widespread acclaim at release and was popular among critics, which surprises me since I haven't heard of either the album or band before. The music was good, but didn't engage me much. This genre or the band's signature sound must not be my cup of tea.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Ill Communication is the fourth album by the American hip-hop group Beastie Boys. It's the group's second album to reach number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart as well as their second album to earn triple platinum certification in the US. The album was popular with critics and fans throughout the mid to late 90's.
With this album the group continued their transition from sampling to live instruments, and this album also has greater variation in its genre influences. The music is still primarily hip-hop which enables rapping to flow with it, but one can also hear hints of punk rock, jazz, and funk. It was a great album to listen to and I'm looking forward to other Beastie Boys albums on this 1000 albums journey.
Eminem
5/5
This is the third album from American rapper Eminem produced by him and Dr. Dre. The album is transgressive - which means it seeks to outrage a listener with themes that are opposite of basic morals - and features introspective lyrics surrounding Eminem's life, including his rise to fame, his personal life troubles, and the public's criticism of his music. As is the norm for Eminem's music, the album was surrounded by controversy, but this only propelled the album's popularity, allowing it to debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and stay there for 8 weeks. This LP was a critical and commercial success; it's certified 11 times platinum which awards it diamond certification, won the 2001 Grammy for Best Rap Album, won the 2001 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance with track "The Real Slim Shady", and is widely regarded as Eminem's best album.
With dark - even gruesome - lyrics riddled with swears overtop heavy bass lines, Eminem is able to produce something beautiful and eye-opening. It's easy to criticize this album as homophobic, misogynistic, violent, nihilistic, or everything in between, just based on the subject matter. However, Eminem is a master with words and he's able to spin the verses on their head to make them sound amazing, while the words - singled out - can offend thin-skinned individuals. Fortunately most of the album was left uncensored, but the censored version is almost impossible to listen to with all of the muting and injected sound effects meant to cover up any bad words and lines. Eminem has many lyrics on this album that poke fun at the people critical of his rapping, and he even admitted to purposefully going overboard on this album for the critics.
This album is like a train crashing into a car. It's chaotic, loud, unsettling, perhaps even gory, but above all - you can't look away. If it wasn't for Eminem being a lyrical genius and having some awesome hooks and rhymes, this album would not have performed so well. But when one is as dedicated to their craft as he is, then it's only normal for it to be popular - as well as controversial. This album continues to appear on lists for Best Albums to this day and that goes to show how great this album is. I highly recommend this album to anyone, but it'd be best if the listener is at least over the age of 14.
Hookworms
2/5
Microshift is the third & final album from British rock band Hookworms. There is not much information about this album, aside from the fact that it did perform well critically at release. I'm not even positive what genre this could be classified as because it's majority rock, but it switches forms to neo-psychedelia, space rock, noise rock, or drone rock based on the different electronic effects that make appearances.
It was an interesting album for sure, but compared to other albums on this 1000 albums journey, it doesn't come close to some of them.
The Smiths
2/5
This is the fourth and final (studio) album by English rock band The Smiths, released after they already disbanded. (They would have one final live album released in 1988.) This fourth album stands as the band's best work and has been certified gold in the UK. I liked the indie rock music from this 80's British album, but it doesn't compare to some of the more popular albums on this 1001 album journey.
808 State
2/5
90 is the second album by British EDM group 808 State. The music can be classified as something in between acid house and techno. This album showcases an early form of EDM - a genre that would explode in popularity throughout the upcoming 90's and after the turn of the century. I liked the nostalgia given off by this older style of EDM, but I love the newer, more popular genres of EDM of today.
Gang Starr
3/5
This is the second album by hip hop duo Gang Starr. It's a classic 90's East coast hip hop/rap album that ranks high on the greatest hip hop albums of all time. I loved the nostalgic, underground sound of the rapping on this album. However, I prefer more modern hip hop/rap.
Miles Davis
2/5
Bitches Brew is an experimental jazz album by Miles Davis that essentially created the jazz rock genre, as well as renewing the waning interest in jazz music in America. It's considered one of the greatest jazz albums and has been certified platinum in the US. It is Miles Davis' highest charting album. The album's popularity grew slowly overtime, similar to how the music of the album rises and falls through different "motions".
Davis' band was setup like a jazz orchestra that wanted to play something more upbeat and inspiring for this album. They each accomplished this by improvising sounds from their instruments that harmonized with the other musicians and stayed in a certain chord. This was the experimental style that Miles Davis liked recording in, and it did create some interesting music. The closer you listen to this album, the more things the music makes you imagine.
It was a great album, but jazz and especially long form jazz is not a genre of music that I am interested in. The album just started to sound like elevator music to me after a little while.
David Bowie
4/5
Heroes is the 12th album by David Bowie and its an experimental art rock album. It expanded on the electronic, ambient sounds introduced on his previous album Low, and followed a similar structure as well of more traditional rock songs on the first half and the second half featuring mostly instrumental tracks. This album signified a period of growth for Bowie as a musician, but the reviews for Heroes were mixed. Some liked the continuation of ambient art rock, while others would've liked more traditional rock elements to have been used. Everyone agrees that the guitar work - performed by Robert Fripp - was top notch though. Additionally the title track has gone on to be one of Bowie's most popular songs.
I think it was a beautiful album that showcased Bowie trying out new things and still being able to make something most people would love.
Queen
3/5
Queen II is the second album by British rock band Queen. This was the first album for the band in which they began their signature sound of multi-layered overdubs, harmonies, and various musical styles throughout the songs. The art rock album was released to mixed critical reception and is one of the band's lesser-known albums aside from the fans that follow the band like a cult.
The album was well produced and captured the style of Queen almost perfectly. I enjoyed the album, but I do think there are better Queen songs out there than the ones on Queen II.
Weather Report
3/5
Heavy Weather is the 7th album by American jazz fusion band Weather Report. It was the most commercially successful album for the band and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. This album was released towards the end of the jazz-rock movement but was able to extend the life of that movement a little longer. The band had a new bassist for this album which provided a better low end to the band's busy high end of melodies.
Heavy Weather was a lot of fun to listen to, and I hope I can hear more from this band later on this journey.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Dusty in Memphis is the fifth album by English singer Dusty Springfield. The album sold poorly initially, but eventually grew to be recognized as one of her best works and an important album by a woman during the rock era. It's a pop album tinged with R&B and soul music, that began to be known as the "Memphis sound".
The album was lively and fun, but the music didn't wow me like other albums have. A good album, just not for me.
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
The Age of the Understatement is the debut album by The Last Shadow Puppets. This band is a hodgepodge of English musicians from other bands - most notably Alex Turner from Artic Monkeys - and they wanted to try something new with this pop rock album. This new band used a symphony and classical music elements to spice up their normal rock sounds. The album was popular with old and new fans and sold well. It has been certified platinum in the UK.
I liked the album, and it left me craving more 2000's British pop rock afterwards.
Eels
2/5
This is the debut album by the American rock band Eels - whose only permanent member is Mark Oliver Everett, and he is the main contributor to this album. Reviews were mixed for the album and it ended up being more popular in Europe than America. The alternative rock on this album was musically great, but the lyrics were self-absorbed and patronizing which turned off some listeners.
I liked listening to this album in the background while I worked, but I don't think I need to listen to it again. It was just alright.
Soft Cell
4/5
This is the debut album from English synth-pop duo Soft Cell. The album's popularity and successful release was boosted by the universally praised lead single - a cover version of "Tainted Love" - that topped charts worldwide. Although I had never heard of this duo or album before, I had heard and loved "Tainted Love". The rest of the album is a mix of a wonderful collection of synthesized new wave pop music, that will have everyone bouncing to the beats, and a few tracks that don't quite hit the mark compared to their bangers. These are some classic 80's hits!
Overall, this was an awesome album and I'm glad I finally got around to listening to it. I highly recommend!
Ray Price
2/5
Night Life is the sixth album by American singer and guitarist Ray Price. It is a country western album featuring the true honky tonk sound that eventually made its way into the "Nashville sound" of the 60's. This entire album sounds like a love letter to someone that doesn't reciprocate your romantic feelings - break out the tissues.
The country music was enjoyable and made for a relaxing morning while listening to the album. However, the theme of the album - being one sided love - did eventually get old, because Ray Price would go on & on about this woman he was fascinated with, and towards the end of the album he began to sound whiny and annoying. Still, the individual songs hold up as being great old timey country.
Steely Dan
3/5
This is the second album by American rock band Steely Dan. It was a critical success at release and has been certified gold in the US, but there was no hit single, causing the album to chart low at 35 on the Billboard 200. The album's music is rock based, but it exhibits a strong influence from jazz, making it more of a jam band flavor. The studio production for the band on this album was amazingly smooth and created high quality songs. This was an excellent album, and I'm excited to hear more from Steely Dan.
Taylor Swift
4/5
evermore is the ninth album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It blends alternative rock, indie folk, and chamber pop genres together to make a lo-fi, escapist, cottagecore experience for the listener.
This album is an extension of her eighth album Folklore - that was released five months earlier - because they share similar musical and lyrical styles. Taylor Swift is a mind-blowing songwriter, and it's amazing how easy she can write lyrics to create a story for any instrumentals sent her way. This was the reason for this album, since she continued working on the same musical style that her previous album Folklore was created with, even after finishing up production on it. Swift has likened evermore to be a soft, but moody album for the cooler seasons of fall and winter, while Folklore has a little more pop for the warm seasons of spring and summer. To praise Taylor Swift even more, this album - as well as the previous Folklore - show that she has the ability to switch genres without missing a beat and still come up with a popular album. First it was a transition from country to pop with her album Red in 2012, and now we go from pop to indie folk with Folklore and evermore in 2020.
I wouldn't classify myself as a Taylor Swift fan per se, but I can't deny this album was great and I'm excited to see what else is in store for this talented singer songwriter.
Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/5
Happy Trails is the second album by the American band Quicksilver Messenger Service, and it was partially recorded live at two different performances in 1968. This album was well received and was later certified gold in 1992. It's a psychedelic rock album that incorporates honky-tonk and western music - which would eventually evolve into the genre country. Much of the album are cover songs of Bo Diddley songs, which the band loved playing for audiences. This old school jam band could play anything with their high spirits, and it would never become boring or pretentious. My imagination was able to wander while listening to this great album.
TLC
4/5
CrazySexyCool is the second album by American hip hop/R&B girl group TLC. The album was seen as a coming-of-age project for the group and it was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. It spent over two years on the Billboard 200 chart - peaking at number 3 - it has been certified 12 times platinum - which means TLC was the first girl group to be awarded diamond certification - and the album won the 1996 Grammy award for Best R&B Album. The four singles from this album all reached the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 - two of them reached number 1. The popular single "Waterfalls" is known around the world, even if the individual listener isn't aware that the artist is TLC.
The group had lessened their use of rap in this album and decided to spice things up with more R&B and soul elements. This gave the album a smooth, seductive sound that appealed to mainstream audiences. This album still has influence on the hip hop and R&B genres of today, and it's been argued that TLC's blending of these two genres for this album is what keeps the genres so connected to this day. I'm glad I finally got to listen to this awesome album in its entirety!
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
This is the debut album by English pop group Dexys Midnight Runners. It is a new wave pop album that combines aggressive punk rock with soul music, and it was very popular in the UK. It was an interesting album with quite a lot of use of horns which I found both pleasant and overbearing at times. However, I liked the album and enjoyed my time listening to it.
The Smiths
3/5
/* I cannot believe this site recommended me this album on the day after the queen of England - Elizabeth II - passed away. The audacity lol, but it was a great themed album I guess. God rest the Queen! */
This indie flavored alternative rock album by the English rock band the Smiths - their third - starts out with a jamming track that paints a bleak reality. However, the music stays upbeat with it's guitar tunes and humorous lyrics strewn about. It's no wonder this album became an instant sensation at release. This award-winning classic, but unique Britpop album is one of a kind, and should be enjoyed by everyone! RIP the Queen really is dead
The Roots
3/5
This is the fifth album by American hip hop group The Roots. Although not as commercially successful as their previous album Things Fall Apart, Phrenology still sold well - being certified gold in the US the year after release - and received universal critical acclaim. This progressive rap hip hop album contains musical elements from rock, jazz, techno, punk, and soul genres. With all of these influences, The Roots were reinventing hip hop that sounds funkier and more soulful. This album was an instant classic at release and is one of The Roots best albums. I enjoyed this album's rapping and music, but I wouldn't say it was eye-opening or life changing.
Dirty Projectors
1/5
Bitte Orca is the fifth album by American indie rock band Dirty Projectors. It's an indie rock or experimental pop album, but that's just a surface classification. You'll have to listen to it to really understand what type of music it is.
For me, I did not like this album. It was too flighty and sweet, so I could not grasp what theme or musical direction the album wanted to go in. All of the songs blended together, causing none of them to stand out to me - even the award-winning "Stillness Is the Move" sounded bland to me. I am the odd one out when it comes to my opinion, because most critics loved this album - although even some of them also admit it's hard to describe the music without one listening to it themselves. I do not need to listen to any other Dirty Projectors' albums if this is their normal music.
Ray Charles
2/5
This is the seventh Ray Charles album since his debut album. It's a swinging pop album backed by a big band and was his first breakout away from pure rhythm and blues music. Although the production of the album was marred by low audio quality, Ray Charles makes up for it with his brash, beautiful piano playing and peppy lyrics. This was a wonderful album, but it is starting to show its age, since the recording never fully captured Ray's amazing quality.
Michael Jackson
5/5
Off the Wall is American singer Michael Jackson's fifth album. The disco, funk, pop, and R&B album is one of Michael's most popular, and was the breakout album for his solo career after slowly moving away from The Jackson 5. This landmark release of the disco era is hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. The album is certified 9x platinum in the US and won the 1980 Grammy award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Male.
Michael's enthusiastic, confident singing voice carries the funky tracks, while the disco and pop beats make you want to dance. I thoroughly enjoyed this classic album and loved listening to some of Michael's songs that I haven't heard in a while. There's no question that this is an awesome album - one of the best of all time - and one of the most memorable from Michael Jackson's collection.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Raising Hell is the third album by the American hip hop group Run-DMC. It was the first platinum and multi-platinum hip hop record - being certified platinum in 1986 and triple platinum in 1987 - and ushered in the golden age of hip hop. The most famous single from this album is the collaboration with Aerosmith "Walk This Way", which was the first rap rock song and brought hip hop into the mainstream when the single charted in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. One can argue that this album was the first great rap album, and made everyone in the music industry take hip hop seriously.
I enjoyed listening to a few of these Run-DMC songs for the first time, and learned that their more popular songs were actually on this "first great rap album". This is your father's hip hop - and that's not a bad thing!
Public Enemy
2/5
This album is the fourth by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was critically acclaimed at release - being called better than a "classic" - and was certified platinum in the US after just 2 months. This is one of the great albums of the golden age of hip hop. The hip hop music was good & funky, and the lyrics were interesting as they set a sociopolitical agenda for the black community.
The Cure
3/5
Disintegration is the eighth album by English rock band the Cure. In it, the band returned to their earlier established musical style of introspective gothic rock - after a few albums of pop hits - and that music on this album was more polished. Because of this change, this album is the band's best selling and it received a lot of critical and commercial praise. Although the theme of this album is somber and depressing, there are some upbeat songs that balance the album out. However, I believe the gloomy tunes are actually great because the band knew exactly how to make them sound amazing as well as poignant. This album was beauty in darkness, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Savane is the final solo African Blues album by Malian musician Ali Farka Toure - released to critical acclaim 4 months after he passed from cancer. There's not much other information about this album, but it was cool seeing a different style of blues music - one that is spiced up with African instruments and style. I believe if I was from Africa myself, then I would find this album a lot more interesting. However, I can still appreciate the difference from Western music.
Slayer
4/5
Reign in Blood is the third album by American thrash metal band Slayer. This critically acclaimed and certified gold album brought the band into the mainstream and is regarded as one of the best heavy metal records. The production on this album was so well done that you could hear every note played by each instrument - even though they're played really fast. This caused the mainstream audience to enjoy this thrash metal album.
I've listened to "Angel of Death" & "Raining Blood" before and loved them, so to hear the rest of this album was a treat. I'm not a big fan of metal, but this album is too amazing to not like.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Imperial Bedroom is the 7th album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. There was a variety of instrument experimentation on this album that employed a variety of genres like new wave pop, baroque pop, and art rock. This album was critically acclaimed for its songwriting, production, & lyrics, and has been considered a masterpiece and one of Costello's best works. Costello may have hit his peak with this album.
This was a fun and interesting album to listen to. I don't think I've heard pop like this before, and I enjoyed it. Every song stands on its own as something fresh and unique, but all together they make quite the collection of eclectic tracks. This album may not be for everyone, but everyone should still give it a shot.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Blonde on Blonde is the 7th album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and it's a folk rock double album. It is considered one of the finest folk rock albums of all time, and it has been certified double platinum, as well as being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
This album was a joy to listen to and I can see why it's received universal acclaim. Bob Dylan makes some great music and this may be his best album. However, folk rock has never really been my thing since I feel it can be a bit slow at times, and for that reason, I can't rate this album as highly.
Radiohead
3/5
Hail to the Thief is the sixth album by English alternative rock band Radiohead. The album is critically acclaimed, it won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Non-Classical Album in 2004, and has been certified platinum in the US.
Compared to previous Radiohead albums, this one feels a tad long and lackluster. It still contains the same type of art rock music, but centered more on guitars which I can appreciate it. This may be one of the poorer performing Radiohead albums.
Linkin Park
5/5
Hybrid Theory is the debut album by American rock band Linkin Park. This critically acclaimed rap rock / alternative rock album and its four singles launched the band into mainstream popularity - where they have stayed to this day. The four singles remain the band's most successful songs to date, and they are: "One step Closer", "In the End", "Crawling", & "Papercut". The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, is certified 12x platinum (diamond), and is the best-selling rock album of the 21st century.
This is the first time that I have listened to Linkin Park's debut album in one sitting (I've heard its singles many times) and I have to say it was pretty awesome! The nostalgia this gave me for the early 2000's is unmatched and listening to this album today made it a great day. Well produced, amazing hooks, and aggressive lyrics shape this album to be a cornerstone of modern rock. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that hasn't heard at least one of these songs before, but everyone needs to listen to this album.
Finley Quaye
2/5
This is the debut album by Scottish musician Finley Quaye. It is a reggae pop album that peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums charts and has been certified double platinum in the UK.
This was a relaxing, and vibey album to listen to during my workday. I only wish there were more songs that stuck out to me as amazing.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
2/5
Cheap Thrills is the second album by American rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. It is a blues rock album and the producer added recordings of crowd noise to give the impression of a live album. Although the final track "Ball and Chain" was recorded live. The album was well received by critics and the general public, and remains a staple of blues rock and acid rock. This was the last album by the band to have Janis Joplin as the lead singer before she went on her solo career.
I liked the music somewhat (blues rock isn't always my groove) and just wish the album was a little longer.
Jeff Buckley
2/5
Grace is the only album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. At release this album had poor sales and mixed reviews, but the album has risen in reputation in recent years. 13 years after release, the album re-entered the Australia albums chart and it has been certified 8x platinum in Australia. The alternative rock / folk rock album has been critically acclaimed in recent years and did receive some favorable reviews at release, but was largely ignored by the general public. The music production & singing talent on this album was impressive for a debut album. The "Hallelujah" track is an easy favorite and has been inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. I wonder if Jeff Buckley would've created more solo albums if this one hadn't sold so poorly. I liked the album, but I would've been one of the general public that did not buy this album (just because it's not my vibe).
Hugh Masekela
2/5
Home Is Where the Music Is is a jazz and Afrobeat double album by South African jazz musician and singer songwriter Hugh Masekela. This is considered one of his best works and the album seamlessly blends signature jazz styles with his home continent's flavor of African music. This was a beautiful jazz album and I enjoyed it, but like I've said before - jazz isn't really my thing.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
Rising Above Bedlam is an album by English band Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart. It's an ambitious world music album from 1991 that was an interesting listen. World Music is any (usually cultural or traditional) non-Western style music, which can include musical styles from Africa, Asia, and Oceania. I did enjoy the blending of a lot of different musical styles and instruments into one cohesive album, but only a few of the songs really stuck out to me. Nonetheless this is a good album and surely deserves a spot on this list of 1001 great albums.
Orbital
3/5
Snivilisation is the third album by British electronic music duo Orbital. It is a techno album released in 1994, and it peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart.
I really liked this album and appreciated listening to the early music of the modern day EDM scene. This techno still holds up to this day as being funky and danceable.
Queens of the Stone Age
3/5
This is the debut album by the American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It is a hard rock / stoner rock album that has the heavy side of rock mixed with the danceability of trance music. Super interesting music on this album that leaves the listener feeling satisfied. I highly recommend this album to any rock fans.
Erykah Badu
2/5
Mama's Gun is the second album by American singer-songwriter Erykah Badu. This neo soul album has elements of funk, soul, and jazz, making for a relaxing vibe. Although not as successful as her first album Baduizm, this album was a critical and commercial success - being certified platinum in the US. I enjoyed this album, but it's not within my musical preference.
The Go-Go's
3/5
Beauty and the Beat is the debut album from new wave pop band the Go-Go's. It was a super successful album, being known as a cornerstone of the new wave pop rock music, and during its time it was one of the best performing debut albums. The album reached number 1 on the Billboard's Top LPs & Tape chart for six weeks, was certified double platinum, and was ranked second on Billboards year-end Top 100 albums of 1982. "We Got the Beat" is an easily recognizable single from this album because it became such a crazy hit that is still listened to today. Personally, I'm not a fan of pop, but the music on this album was too good to not like.
The Cars
4/5
This is the debut album by the American rock and new wave band the Cars. It was filled with pop rock classics and performed well with fans and critics alike. The album is still remembered for its popular singles and was certified six times platinum. This is a great album for experiencing new wave pop music from its explosive time period. I loved it.
Sabu
2/5
Palo Congo is the 1957 debut album by conga player Sabu Martinez with Arsenio Rodriquez and his brothers Raul and Quique. This is a Cuban rumba album with a focus on percussion, specifically the conga drum. This is one of the more interesting albums that I have listened to because of this 1001 albums journey. It wasn't bad, but it's just drum beating with unique vocals over top.
Pere Ubu
1/5
Dub Housing is the second album by American rock band Pere Ubu. It is a post-punk album that is regarded as one of the band's best. The album was critically successful and has been rereleased multiple times, but I didn't see it make it on any music charts.
I disagree with the critics' ratings. This album's music and its themes/direction did not make sense to me, so I did not enjoy it. The post-punk sounds were too abrasive for me to vibe with, and I don't know what this album wanted me to feel, so it left me with a bad taste in my mouth (or should it be a bad sound in my ears?).
Jeff Beck
2/5
Truth is the debut album by English guitarist Jeff Beck. It is a blues rock album featuring some lighter, pop songs, but Jeff was interested in the heavier, rock sounds. The album was nice, but nothing substantial grabbed my attention.
The Temptations
2/5
All Directions is the 15th or 16th album (depends on if you count the LP album preceding this one, without the founding members) from the American vocal group The Temptations. It is their most successful non-collaborative album, and this is a result of one of their most popular songs appearing on this album - "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".
This funky, psychedelic soul album was laid back, but left me wanting more. Not bad by any stretch, but not my music of choice.
Stereolab
3/5
This is the fourth album by English-French rock band Stereolab and it is an experimental pop album. It is one of their most successful albums. The band toyed around with looping sounds together to create their songs instead of using their common drone sounds. This change was well received by critics and I liked the album as well.
The Crusaders
3/5
Street Life is the 30th album by the American jazz band The Crusaders. This jazz-funk album was the peak of the band's popularity, supported by the title track hitting the Top 40 pop singles chart. I thought it was a beautiful album, but the jazz music is a little too slow for my liking.
Marilyn Manson
3/5
Antichrist Superstar is the second album by American rock band Marilyn Manson and is certified platinum. It is a gothic rock, industrial/alternative metal, political agenda rock opera concept album about a supernatural being who takes power from humanity in order to begin an apocalyptic event. The album was critically and commercially popular, and was credited with ending the domination of grunge music on the charts. Listeners were starved for something different with their rock music and they received it with this hellish, controversial, and otherworldly album.
This is the first time I have listened to a Marilyn Manson album and it was as dark as I expected it to be. However, the music and lyrics were surprisingly good. I'm not usually a fan of metal, but I did enjoy this album.
Aerosmith
4/5
Toys in the Attic is the third album by American rock band Aerosmith and it's their most commercially successful album in the US. This was the band's first album where they recorded entirely new songs - their first two albums contained songs the band were familiar with because they played them often in clubs. The popular tracks are the title track, Sweet Emotion, and Walk This Way.
I thought this album was awesome and I already loved the song Sweet Emotion. It was nice listening to the rest of this album, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from their other albums.
Ministry
3/5
ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ - commonly known as Psalm 69 - is the fifth album by American industrial metal band Ministry. Psalm 69 was a critical and commercial success upon release, and is considered to be Ministry's most successful album, having been certified gold in Canada and Australia, and platinum in the US.
This thrashy industrial metal was interesting to listen to. It wasn't bad - in fact the production was good, but it's not my particular music taste. Metal fans should love this album.
The Mars Volta
3/5
De-Loused in the Comatorium (commonly referred to as De-Loused) is the debut album by American progressive rock band the Mars Volta. It is a concept album about a man who entered a week-long coma after overdosing on morphine and rat poison. The music on this album is primarily progressive rock and art rock, but it also contains influences from psychedelia, Latin jazz, heavy metal, and punk rock. De-Loused was a critical and commercial success, becoming the band's biggest hit. However, it's not a great album to listen to in the background, as it requires a listener's full attention to really absorb all the intricate details. For this reason, I may have to give it another listen, but for my first time through it sounded pretty good.
Michael Jackson
4/5
"Bad" is singer songwriter Michael Jackson's 7th album, and it incorporates pop, rock, funk, R&B, dance, and soul musical styles. With 35 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the best-selling albums of all time and is Michael Jackson's second best-selling album behind "Thriller". At release the album sold 2.25 million copies in the US alone, and it has gone on to be certified 11x platinum in the US.
This album is more "aggressive" than previous ones - which can be considered "groovy" - because Jackson had gained an appreciation for hard rock. Because of this different sound on this album, it wasn't as successful as the previous album "Thriller" however, those expectations were insanely high and it was still immensely successful. "Bad" is a staple of 80's pop and set the standards for music videos at the time.
Funny enough, this was the first album I ever had personally as it was given to me as a Christmas gift. At the time I wasn't really into music and only a few of the songs from this album interested me. Now all these years later, I can fully appreciate this great album and all of its songs. This is a certified hood classic.
UB40
3/5
This is the debut album by British reggae band UB40. It was an immediate success in the UK, making the band one of the more popular reggae bands at the time, and the album has remained one of the band's best. Signing Off is an almost perfect debut album and a cool British take on reggae. It has a mellow sound, but the political lyrics still pack a punch.
I really enjoyed this chilled out album and would recommend everyone to give it a listen.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Tusk is a pop rock double album and is the 12th album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. The album was more experimental than previous works and was regarded as a flop commercially because it only sold half the amount (4 million) than the previous album "Rumours" did (10 million). Although critically the album was a success around the world and has been certified double platinum in the US. It's now praised for its experimental and unpolished nature.
I liked this album, but it's not my favorite Fleetwood Mac album.
David Gray
3/5
White Ladder is the fourth album by English folk singer-songwriter David Gray. At initial release the album failed to make a splash - except only in Ireland - and this is a result of Gray releasing it himself on his own small label. The album was re-released in 2000 by Dave Matthews' label which allowed it to chart at 69 before climbing to number 1 on the UK Albums Chart - a year after the re-release. White Ladder made an impact with this re-release - especially in the UK where it is one of the best-selling albums of all time - and it launched Gray into worldwide fame.
It's surprising to see how successful this album was & is in Ireland specifically. The Irish really love this folk album and it's hard to blame them. They heard something in White Ladder that no one else was tuning into until around 3 years later.
I can appreciate a good folk album and liked this album. It was relaxing, but not to the point of falling asleep, and it had the right amount of pop sprinkled in. Great album from a solo artist that did all the hard work himself to put out this piece of music.
Supergrass
3/5
In It for the Money is the second album by English alternative rock band Supergrass. It is a wonderful Britpop album from the late 90's. I liked listening to the album while getting some work done.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
This is the 2000 Mercury Prize winning debut album by British musician Badly Drawn Boy aka Damon Gough. This indie rock album was released to widespread critical acclaim and has been well received by listeners. It's a roller coaster of emotions on this album and the music moves you through the twists and turns. I enjoyed this album, but I didn't like it as much as the critics did.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Midnight Ride is the fifth album by American rock band Paul Revere & the Raiders. It was promoted by the US top 5 single "Kicks" which made the album popular. This album has been certified gold in the US and is considered the band's pinnacle.
This was a great rock and roll album that gave me nostalgia, even though I wasn't born until about 30 years after the album. I'm glad I had a chance to listen to it.
Slipknot
3/5
All Hope is Gone is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. This album was a departure from the nu metal genre as the band embraced groove metal instead with elements of death & thrash metal. It was critically successful, making it to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, and being certified platinum in the US & Canada. This album was a little more experimental than the band's previous ones, but also darker & heavier. It gave fans & new listeners each something to enjoy from this album. I liked how hard & gritty some songs could be and then things would slow down and actually make you feel something before turning up the rage again. I'm usually not a fan of metal, but albums like this are the exception.
Gorillaz
4/5
This is the debut album by English alternative rock & virtual band Gorillaz. The virtual band idea was spawned from a friendship between musician Damon Albarn and comic book creator Jamie Hewlett in 1997. The music from Gorillaz is primarily alt rock and hip hop or trip hop, but it has inspiration from many different genres including lo-fi, dub, art pop, punk rock, rap rock, Britpop, and Latin.
This album performed well critically & commercially, reaching top 3 on UK charts & top 15 on US charts. Due to the success of the album the Guinness Book of World Records awarded Gorillaz with the title of the "Most Successful Virtual Band".
I like a good amount of Gorillaz' music, but I had never heard their first album in its entirety until now. It was good vibes all around and I'm sure their other albums are just as amazing.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Goo is the sixth album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It is the band's highest charting album - peaking at 96 on the Billboard 200. The album was a critical & commercial success, but lacked significant radio play to reach a majority of the public. In retrospect this album is considered to be an important piece of alternative rock music history. Goo is claimed to have started the alternative rock movement of the 90's - which was superseded by bands such as Nirvana.
This was a lovely album and I thoroughly enjoyed the alt rock music on it.
John Coltrane
2/5
A Love Supreme is a 1965 album by American jazz saxophonist John Coltrane - widely considered his masterpiece. This critically acclaimed jazz album is one of the most important albums of post-war jazz and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry due to its significance. This spiritually pleasing album was fun to listen to, but jazz is not one of the genres I usually enjoy, so that affects my rating. I can tell this is an important album, but personally I categorize it as background music aka elevator music.
Anthrax
3/5
Among the Living is the third album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is considered the band's breakthrough album - despite no radio airplay - being critically acclaimed and certified gold in 1990. Some of the success came from Anthrax's own approach to thrash metal, which was fast, heavy riffs, combined with clean, melodic vocals from member Joey Belladonna, along with many rhythm changes on the album. This was a great thrash metal album and it's easy to see why Anthrax was grouped with other 80's heavy metal bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. This would make a good entry level metal album for any interested listeners.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Blood & Chocolate is the 11th album by British rock singer songwriter Elvis Costello. This grungy, new wave, rock album was pretty good, but nothing really stuck out to me as amazing. Although it was a decent album, I don't think I'll ever listen to it again.
KISS
3/5
Destroyer is the fourth album by American hard rock band KISS. After the band's breakthrough third album "Alive!", this top 20 charting album quickly became KISS's first platinum one (double platinum). This heavy art rock album may have been the band's most experimental, but this didn't make it any less good. It will appeal to some and turn others off. However, for me it was a fun album to listen to as I enjoyed listening to some more songs from the classic hard rock band KISS.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
loveless is the second album by Irish-English rock band My Bloody Valentine. It was certified silver in the UK and is widely criticized as one of the best shoegaze (indie & alternative rock) albums - influencing various subsequent artists in the genre. This beautifully trippy album performed well critically, but not as much commercially, causing the band to break apart a few years later and not release another album for about 20 years.
The music is interesting and I recommend it however, I could not differentiate the tracks through my first listen. The music already sounded fluid, but it began to melt together so that every song sounded the same. I'll have to give it another listen, but this is my original rating.
Tom Waits
3/5
Heartattack and Vine is the 7th album by American singer/songwriter Tom Waits. Musically this album is inspired by jazz, blues, and rock, while Tom's deep gravelly voice sings about the morbid, and unpleasant parts of society.
This album was unique and charming, but also not my cup of tea. Average album alert.
Scott Walker
3/5
Scott 4 is the fifth solo album by British-American singer-songwriter Scott Engel/Walker. It failed to chart when he released it under his birth name Scott Engel, so the label deleted it and he re-released it with his stage name Scott Walker. This art pop album is considered one of Scott's best works, and it's his first to consist of only songs that he wrote himself. It also contains less orchestral arrangements than his previous albums, instead using a barebones folky sound with emphasis on the rhythm section.
The music on this album didn't jump out to me as amazing, although I still appreciated it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Ghosteen is a double album and the 17th album by Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It's an ambient electronic album - like their previous album Skeleton Tree - which includes minimal drums or percussion and much use of synths and string or choral loops.
Ghosteen is marred by death and you can hear this in the lyrics as well as some of the somber sounds. During recording of this album their keyboardist Conway Savage died of a brain tumor, and singer Nick Cave's 15-year-old son had died from an accident in mid-2015 during the recording of Skeleton Tree, but that album had almost been completed so instead Ghosteen's title and theme were based on metaphysical conversations with his son.
This was a beautiful, award-winning, critically acclaimed, and chart-topping album. I can't believe I never heard of this album or its songs. This is a highly recommended album from the list of albums I have listened to recently from this 1000 albums journey.
Boards of Canada
4/5
Music Has the Right to Children is the debut album by Scottish electronic music duo Boards of Canada. This ambient electronica album uses synths, samples, & hip-hop rhythms, as well as other standard electronic elements, and is considered a landmark work in this broad music genre. However, the duo was uninterested in making electronic dance music - which was incredibly popular at the time - instead opting for ambient and "chilled out" songs. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, this album was able to invoke nostalgia by essentially creating a soundtrack from those who grew up during the 80's & 90's in the Western world.
This modern classic was awesome to listen to, and was calming - almost like meditation for your ears and mind. I'll have to give this album another listen in a little while, once I forget about it because it was that good.
Beck
3/5
Sea Change is the eighth album by American musician Beck. This gold certified acoustic folk rock album is different from Beck's previous works, but still performed well commercially. It had themes of change, loss, and relationship struggles that the common person could connect with.
The music was a little slow to me, but also beautifully somber. It's a well done album that has and will continue to entertain many people.
De La Soul
3/5
3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album by American hip hop group De La Soul. This is a critically & commercially successful album that is consistently placed on lists of greatest albums of all time, and it was also picked for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2010.
Released at a time when Gangsta rap was on the rise into hip hop mainstream, this album is a polar opposite that spouts positivity and humor. As a result, this album is considered one of the first alternative hip hop or progressive rap albums. This was also probably the first hip hop album to include skits on it, as a way to introduce the album or act as interludes between tracks.
3 Feet High and Rising was a fun album to listen to, and I enjoyed hearing classic rap songs that had less of an emphasis on hardcore or gangsta ideologies. Nothing wrong with Gangsta rap, but it was nice to hear something different from the late 80's/early 90's.
Paul Simon
3/5
Graceland is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. There is a mix of genres on this album, including pop, rock, folk, a cappella, and traditional music from South Africa, that creates an unique sound throughout every track. This critically acclaimed album is Simon's most successful, won the 1987 Album of the Year Grammy, and was added to the National Recording Registry in 2006.
Paul Simon faced controversy for recording this album in South Africa during its period of apartheid, when people were supposed to be boycotting South Africa as a result. Some people supported him, and in the end he created a great album.
Graceland can be considered the soundtrack of the world, because it combines so many genres, instruments, and cultural points together. The tracks almost tell a story while they flow into each other and above all - it was beautiful. I enjoyed this album and believe everyone should give it a chance if they haven't listened to it before.
George Michael
3/5
Faith is the debut album by English singer-songwriter George Michael. It is an extremely popular album, being certified diamond for over 25 million copies sold worldwide, and winning Album of the Year at the 31st Grammy Awards. It has been compared to Michael Jackson's Thriller by George Michael and critics, in terms of subject matter and sales. George Michael was inspired by R&B "black" music to make his overtly sexual pop album, and this resulted with him being the first white person to have an album at number 1 on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart.
This was a beautiful pop/R&B/soul/rock album that I enjoyed more than I thought I would. I can see (or should I say hear) why it was/is so popular around the world. Everyone should give this album a listen if they haven't already.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Talking Book is the 15th album by American singer-songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder. Two singles - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" & "Superstition" - won Grammy's for Best Male Pop Vocal (former) and Best Male R&B Song & Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (latter). This funky & soulful album and his previous one are considered the start of Stevie Wonder's classic period.
Talking Book was an exceptional album and perhaps one of the first I have listened to all the way through from Stevie Wonder. He did a great job of creating an R&B-like album that could appeal to mainstream music listeners and especially rock fans. As a result, the album reached number 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart and the top of the Top R&B Albums chart. Give this album a try and you won't be disappointed.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Electric Ladyland is the third and final album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience before Jimi Hendrix's death two years later in 1970. This commercially successful psychedelic rock double album confused critics at release, but has since been viewed as Hendrix's best work. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart just six weeks after release - Hendrix's only album to do so - and remained there for two weeks. The popular single - a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" - is a masterpiece and sold well in its own right.
This album is a classic in both the rock and psychedelic genres, and can be argued as the most important album of rock music. I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing album, but it was bittersweet knowing that Jimi Hendrix would leave this physical plane so quickly after its release - robbing the world of successive incredible rock albums. RIP Jimi Hendrix - a rock & roll guitar god.
Nick Drake
2/5
Five Leaves Left is the debut album by English folk musician Nick Drake. This melancholy folk album was almost ignored by critics at release, but has since been lauded as an excellent showcase of Nick Drake's interesting musical direction and beautifully monotone lyrics - perhaps his best album.
I was not impressed by this album - although it did fit the mood of my grey Monday morning well - so I rate it as an average album. If soft, gentle, melodic music - or folk music - is your thing as a listener, then this is the album for you.
Tina Turner
3/5
Private Dancer is the fifth album by Tina Turner and her best-selling in North America. This award-winning and multi-platinum certified album was more "poppy" than her previous works, which may have attributed to its wider appeal. Tina Turner recreated herself as a R&B and pop icon after her split with Ike Turner before this album. Private Dancer is a classic album and a landmark in the evolution of pop-soul music.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
Beyond Skin is the fourth album by English musician Nitin Sawhney. The album's theme focuses on nuclear weapons and an individual's self identity. This downtempo, drum and bass album was well received by critics, but only reached the 44th spot on the UK Albums chart - so it was widely overlooked by the general public. Beyond Skin was an interesting album that had some highs and lows, but I considered it enjoyable. It was a cool concept album.
Elton John
3/5
Madman Across the Water is the fourth album by English musician Elton John - his third released in 1971. This is one of Elton John's lowest charting albums, although it has been certified double platinum in the US and silver in the UK. The singles "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" are perhaps the most popular songs on the album with the former being my favorite from this work.
I was not aware that Elton John released three albums in 1971, and that's quite the accomplishment! Maybe that's why this album did not chart well at release, because there were already other albums of his somewhere on the charts. Elton John has a cool way of making soft rock sound awesome and this album does have one of my top songs from his discography on it, so I can't complain. This is a decent album.
Nirvana
4/5
Nevermind is the second album by American rock band Nirvana and is certified diamond in the US. It was the band's first release on a major label, and as a result features a more polished, radio-friendly sound than previous works. Award winning Nevermind became an unexpected critical and commercial success, topping charts around the world, being one of the best-selling albums of all time, dubbed as the "voice of a generation", reintroduced punk & grunge music to the mainstream, and was inducted to the National Recording Registry in 2004 for significant historical value. The smash hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - that could be argued as the track that carried the album- was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and is still a popular song to date.
This may be the first time I've listened to this album in its entirety in one sitting and damn it was a good time. I have to admit that some of the tracks are forgettable and could even be from another punk or alt rock artist, but the unforgettable tracks are the ones that give this album meaning. "Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Come as You Are, & Something In the Way" are blockbuster hits in my opinion that make this album almost perfect. If this album was filled with hits like those, than there'd be no question that this is the best album of all time. Instead, this is one of the greatest albums, but perhaps not the best. I rarely rate things as 5/5 perfect - because in my mind "perfection" is basically unobtainable - but this album was so close to being rated 5 stars by me. This staple of the sound of the 90's is a must-listen for any music fans.
New Order
3/5
Low-Life is the third album by English rock band New Order, and it's considered their best work. This synth-pop album was well-received by critics, and its release was propped up by the single "The Perfect Kiss".
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would going into it. It's a wonderful 80's dance-pop album.
Donald Fagen
3/5
The Nightfly is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Donald Fagen - at the time a past member of the group Steely Dan. This successful jazzy pop rock album was certified platinum in both the US and the UK. It is a classic pop album from the 80's with hints of nostalgia for the late 50's when jazz was more popular.
I enjoyed this album, but it didn't blow me away. However, it does have me interested in listening to Steely Dan albums.
The The
3/5
Infected is the second album by English post-punk band the The. This album has a darker glow than others from the band, and it's lyrics are critical of local British and broader world events at the time. It's not an optimistic record, but it's a seething and grim good one. Definitely an interesting record for any listener willing to lend an ear.
George Jones
3/5
The Grand Tour is American country music artist George Jones' 39th album. It's one of his greatest albums and was well received by critics. The album peaked at 11 on the Billboard Country albums chart.
I really liked this country album.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Inspiration Information is the third album by American singer-songwriter Shuggie Otis. This funky psychedelic soul album performed mediocrely at release, but was a beautifully introspective project. I recommend this to listeners that want to relax, but also want to hear something interesting.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Innervisions is the 16th album by American singer-songwriter & musician Stevie Wonder. This influential funky soul album is considered Wonder's greatest from his "classic period" and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The variety of instruments, musical styles, themes, and lyrics were all thanks to Stevie Wonder who recorded 7 of the 9 tracks completely on his own.
This was an awesome album that remained popular for many years after release, and I think everyone should give it a listen.
Def Leppard
3/5
Hysteria is the fourth album by English rock band Def Leppard, and it's their best-selling one as well as also being certified diamond in 2009. This hard rock, glam metal album performed well critically and commercially, even though it was more "poppy" than their previous albums. An interesting fact about Hysteria is that it was delayed because of a car accident that drummer Rick Allen got into at the end of 1984, which caused him to lose his left arm and have to relearn drums using a foot pedal for anything his arm would have done. This also caused the drums to sound a little stiff or mechanized, but that was to be expected.
I was surprised to actually like this album because some of the Def Leppard songs I have heard before never piqued my interest like the tracks on this one. Great pop metal album!
Rush
3/5
2112 is the fourth album by Canadian rock band Rush. It was the band's breakthrough album in the US, becoming their second best-selling album, and renewing public interest in Rush's music. This progressive rock album is award winning, certified 3 times platinum in the US, and kept the band from giving up their musical goals and disbanding.
Side one of this album is a 20 minute futuristic science fiction rock opera about a city on a planet where creativity is illegal and priests serving computers are the leaders of a galaxy-wide federation of planets engaged in a war - including this planet. The priests created the laws to keep citizens in control and instead focused on the galaxy-wide war. An unknown hero finds an old guitar, re-discovering music on this planet, but the priests destroy the guitar since it's "a waste of time" and the hero ends up killing himself in despair. Then some unknown entity takes control over this Solar Federation from the priests.
Side two is made up of individual songs that display the band's traditional hard rock sound. It's a lighter tone with different styles, but some of this side's concepts do contain ideas about side one's rock opera 2112.
This interesting album was a trip to listen to, and I'm glad I did. Side one flew by for me, and side two was actually just as good.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Pictures at an Exhibition is a live album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It features the band's rock adaptation of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky - which was a suite of piano pieces, performed at Newcastle City Hall on 26 March 1971. The band had been playing their rock versions of these piano pieces since they started live shows in 1970, and this live album was made for the fans that wanted the full collection.
This unique live album was a joy to listen to. Who would've thought a rock cover of classical piano music could be so good.
The Who
4/5
My Generation is the debut album by English rock band the Who. This album was rushed out by the band after some of their first singles were being released, so the band didn't really like its quality. Although, retrospectively this album is rated as one of the best rock albums of all time, because of the early hard rock styles of punk and heavy metal being present in the tracks. This award winning and popular album pushed rock-n-roll in the right direction and can be described as "one of the most vital and important [pieces of rock history]".
Joy Division
4/5
Closer is the second & final album by English rock band Joy Division. This post-punk album was released 2 months after the suicide of the band's lead singer Ian Curtis and this caused the band to re-form as New Order. Closer is dark but danceable, as the bittersweet lyrics and bleak but breathtaking musical style create a hauntingly great album. It is highly rated and is often cited as Joy Division's finest work, as well as the "crown jewel of post-punk".
I found myself really enjoying this album, and it even pulled me out of my "work mode" so I could focus on the music more.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Murder Ballads is the ninth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. As the title suggests, the album contains songs about crimes of passion - in fact every song except one has lyrics about a death happening. This album received widespread critical acclaim and was the band's biggest commercial success to date.
I found the songs to be decent, but the theme of murder/death did get old after a while. Not a bad album, instead it was a unique one that I'm glad I was able to listen to completely at least once.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Music for the Masses is the sixth album by English electronic band Depeche Mode, and is considered one of their best. This synth-pop, new wave album features a lot of sampling to create an intricate, intriguing, and seamless electronic project that the majority of critics liked. I also approve of this album and found it brilliant. This is a great early electronic synth-pop album that most people will enjoy.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
Come Find Yourself is the debut album by the American band Fun Lovin' Criminals. This album contains music from the genres of alternative rock, hip hop, blues, and funk. I found this album to be a good time and I'm looking forward to listening to other albums from this band.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Bringing It All Back Home is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006. This folk rock album utilized electronic and acoustic songs, but this was the first where Bob Dylan was backed by an electric rock and roll band. This album also featured a change for Bob Dylan in which he was not creating protest music, instead opting for complex and surreal lyrics. Bringing It All Back Home is regarded as one of the greatest albums in rock history and was influential for future rock music.
I liked this Bob Dylan album more than his other albums I have listened to, and I believe it's because he was no longer protesting or pushing a social agenda - he was just making good music.
Pink Floyd
5/5
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth album by English rock band Pink Floyd. It is a progressive/psychedelic rock concept album that focuses on the themes of the pressures that the band faced during their career & lifestyles at the time of the end of the 60's & early 70's. These themes are conflict/struggle, greed, time, death, birth/rebirth, and insanity.
This is one of the most critically acclaimed records ever, as well as best-selling, and is the band's most commercially successful. It is certified 15 times platinum in the US and was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2012.
I now see what all the hype about this album was for. This amazing piece of music is beautiful and timeless. It deserves to be one of the best albums on all the various album lists out there. I loved it, although I do wish it was longer, and perhaps had a few more "rockin" songs.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Black Sabbath is the debut album by the English heavy metal band of the same name. This album is widely regarded as the first true heavy metal album. Amazingly, the album was recorded in a single day - consisting of the band's live set - and overdubs and mixing took place the following day. Dismissed by critics at release, the debut album has been lauded in recent years for being an innovative heavy blues rock album that ushered in the heavy metal genre.
It was cool hearing the first album from Black Sabbath, and I actually enjoyed it. The sense of doom that the music instills is trippy and the guitar riffs are invigorating. Great album!
Sepultura
3/5
Roots is the sixth album by Brazilian metal Sepultura. This groove/nu metal album is also a concept album featuring Latin-like rhythms and Brazilian music textures, even including tribal chants from Amazonians. It's unique in this way because of the fusion between native Brazilian sounds and heavy metal music. I did enjoy this interesting album and I think fans of metal music will as well.
Morrissey
2/5
Your Arsenal is the third album by English singer Morrissey. This glam rock and Britpop album received critical acclaim - including a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album - for Morrissey's move from indie pop to a more muscular rock sound. It was fun listening to this album while doing some work, but I wouldn't necessarily listen to it again.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Nebraska is the sixth album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. This folk rock album is one of his most highly regarded. The album's themes deal with ordinary, blue collar people and the troubles they face, so the feelings given off by the album are solemn and thoughtful.
Interestingly the album's tracks were demo tapes that were supposed to be rerecorded with a backing band, but Springsteen thought they were good enough for release, and this added a little charm to the bleak album.
I enjoyed the stripped down folksy music - even though it was a little bit of a downer mood-wise. Bruce Springsteen is a talented musician and lyricist, and that really shows on this album.
The Who
4/5
Live at Leeds is the fifth album by English rock band The Who and their first live album. This live album features more typical hard rock arrangements that were common at their shows, but were a different flair than their previous studio albums. Critics have praised this album as being the "best live rock album ever". It was nice that the recording primarily focused on the band's music over the crowd noise, which is surprisingly quiet compared to the rock music based on the recording equipment at the time.
This was an amazing live album - perhaps truly the best one - and it made me appreciate The Who even more for their lengthily contributions to the rock and roll culture during its golden years. It's like a time machine that allows you to close your eyes, listen, and imagine yourself at one of their concerts in their heyday.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Tidal is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple. The most popular single "Criminal" won a Grammy in 1998 for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. For a debut album, it was well done and performed great critically. Fiona Apple showed a mature level of talent that she continued to top with her successive albums.
This pop album was alright in my book - since I'm not normally a fan of the run-of-the-mill pop music. Maybe it's because this album was released in the mid-90's so I didn't hear it on the radio all the time as a child.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Ragged Glory is the 18th album by Canadian/American singer-songwriter Neil Young, and his sixth album with the band Crazy Horse. It's a critically acclaimed garage rock album that was released around the beginning of the similar sounding grunge rock era.
I enjoyed some of the songs on this album, but overall I thought Ragged Glory sounded like any other mainstream rock album. Not a bad album, but nowhere near the best either.
Baaba Maal
2/5
Lam Toro is the third album by Senegalese singer and guitarist Baaba Maal. This worldbeat album is a mixture of ragga, salsa, and traditional Senegalese chants & music. It was interesting because it's not music I normally hear in my daily life, and I could appreciate the talent behind it. However, I don't think I'd listen to it again or try to find similar music.
Eagles
4/5
Hotel California is the fifth album by American rock band Eagles. Hotel California is one of the best-selling albums of all time and is also regarded as one of the greatest. It has been certified 26 times Platinum in the US, and is the band's best-selling album after Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975). The title track won Record of the Year at the 20th Grammy Awards.
This is a rock masterpiece that accurately & beautifully displays the modern American Dream with music. I always enjoyed the title track of this album, but the rest of the album was just as good. I'm glad I got around to listening to this album!
Funkadelic
3/5
One Nation Under a Groove is the tenth album by American funk rock band Funkadelic. This was Funkadelic's most commercially successful and highest praised album. It has been certified platinum in the US.
Ever since listening to Funkadelic's third album Maggot Brain from this list site, I've been anticipating getting a chance to listen to another one of their albums. Funkadelic really knows how to make a good, funky sounding rock album. I liked this album maybe a little more than Maggot Brain.
Fugazi
2/5
Repeater is the debut album by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi. It is considered the definitive album from Fugazi. It didn't perform well commercially at release, but after many months of the band touring the album sales began to increase. This was an influential album to many alternative rock bands that would appear later in the 90's.
I liked this album just a little, but would recommend it to fans of alternative rock.
The Prodigy
4/5
Music for the Jilted Generation is the second album by English electronic music group the Prodigy. This techno album was seen as a response to the rave scene in Britain being stunted by the laws and police cracking down on it. The album received critical acclaim for containing great techno music that was "harder" than anything the group had recorded before. I enjoyed this early EDM music and felt nostalgic for a time period that I wasn't even alive for yet.
Bee Gees
2/5
Trafalgar is the ninth album by the English pop rock band the Bee Gees. Interestingly, this album was more of a hit in the US than Britain - peaking at #34 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and the lead single "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" was the #1 single in the US.
This soft rock album was pretty good, but nothing special in my opinion. However, I'm not usually a fan of soft rock so my opinion may not sway others'. If you have the chance to listen to this album, then give it a try and rate it for yourself.
Aphex Twin
3/5
Selected Ambient Works 85–92 is the debut album by Aphex Twin, the pseudonym of British electronic musician Richard D. James. This ambient techno album contains psychedelic, experimental electronic musical work from 1985-1992. At release, this album received critical acclaim and earned an underground reputation. It is described as an electronica classic, for bringing techno to the mainstream through its beautiful, ambient soundscapes.
I really loved this album and will be trying to listen to more from the artist.
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
Run-D.M.C. is the debut album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C.. It was groundbreaking at release for presenting a tougher form of hip-hop/rap, and as a result, this album pioneered the "new school hip hop" (considered "old school" today) of the mid to late 1980's.
Although this album may have started it all when it comes to hip-hop/rap's golden age, I thought the barebones drum machine and record scratches left the actual musical part's feeling empty. It's not today's type of music I'm used to in this genre and it's definitely showing its age. Out of respect for the OG I can't rate it too low, but I won't listen to this album again. Please leave this version of hip-hop/rap where it belongs in the 80's.
The Magnetic Fields
3/5
69 Love Songs is the sixth album by American indie pop band the Magnetic Fields. As the title suggests, this is a three-volume concept album containing 69 love songs. The tracks all deal with love in one form or another (including heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual relationships), and in many different genres like country, synth pop, jazz, and ballads to name a few.
69 Love Songs received widespread critical acclaim. I thought it was a fun album concept and the songs were actually pretty good too. This is an interesting album that everyone should give a chance.
CHIC
3/5
C'est Chic is the second album by American R&B band Chic. It contains the hit song "Le Freak" that topped the US Hot 100, US R&B, & US Club Play charts in October of 1978, and remains semi-popular today. This funky disco, R&B album was Chic's most commercially successful and has been certified platinum in the US.
I think it's always cool finding and listening to an album on this site that contains popular songs I heard when I was younger like "Le Freak". It's nice hearing the other tracks on the famous album for the first time and being able to enjoy them. C'est Chic is a funky album that's upbeat & easily danceable, and although it's not normally my music of choice I did like it.
Eurythmics
4/5
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is the second album by British pop duo Eurythmics. It contains the hit single - the title track, that is now the duo's most recognizable song - that took the world by storm and boosted this album to be a commercial success a year after its release. This synth-pop / new wave album has been certified gold in the US.
Of course I heard the single "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and loved it, so it was fun listening to the rest of the album. None of the other songs hold a candle to the title track, but they come close. It was a great album from the 80's and still holds up to this day.
Beatles
3/5
With the Beatles is the second album by the English rock band the Beatles. This rock and roll / pop album was released only eight months after their debut album and was critically acclaimed - being certified gold in the US & UK. It was extremely popular at release as fans were eagerly awaiting more music from the band.
Although I enjoyed listening to this album for the first time, no track really stuck out to me as amazing. Perhaps this style of rock is just too old for me to connect with it. Good, but not my go-to music.
John Lee Hooker
2/5
The Healer is a blues album by American blues singer-songwriter John Lee Hooker. It was a critical & commercial success, and was an important album for Hooker's later career as it allowed him to retire in comfort at age 73. The track "I'm in the Mood" won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Performance.
I enjoyed this album as background music while I worked. John Lee Hooker was an amazing blues guitarist and I'm shocked I'm only learning about him now.
Moby Grape
2/5
Moby Grape is the 1967 debut album by American rock band Moby Grape. This psychedelic country rock album exploded into pop culture as soon as it was released and has been considered one of the greatest psychedelic masterpieces.
I didn't find this album as amazing as all the critics did, but it was still a decent enough album that I ended up enjoying it. Good, but not amazing.
The Band
3/5
Music from Big Pink is the debut album by Canadian-American rock band the Band. This "the Band" was the backing band for Bob Dylan during his 1966 tour and helped him record his 1975 album The Basement Tapes. Music from Big Pink was recorded around the same time as Bob Dylan's 1966 tour when the Band wanted to make their own musical statement, and it employs a blend of country, rock, folk, classical, R&B, soul, and blues music. Bob Dylan wanted to help with the recording but ultimately decided this album was soley the Band's creation, so instead he only painted the cover art for the album.
This album received a positive critical reaction and has been cited as the beginning of the Americana genre - a mashup of common American genres including most of the ones on this album. The laid-back nature of this album attracted many people, but also put off some people as sounding "boring". I may be one of the latter. The music was great, but not something I would actively seek out again. Still, if you're a fan of Bob Dylan's music than you will probably like the Band's Music From Big Pink.
Peter Tosh
2/5
Legalize It is the debut album by Jamaican singer-songwriter and former Wailer - Bob Marley's band members - Peter Tosh. It's a semi-political piece about the potential legalization of cannabis - which still hasn't happened 47 years later. The title track was banned at release, but still became immensely popular and has been sampled many times since.
This reggae album was good and has been certified platinum in the US. I enjoyed the chilled-out vibe of the music and it was cool listening to the track I've heard sampled so much in other songs. This is some quality reggae, but that was to be expected from an ex-Wailer who played with Bob Marley.
Peter Gabriel
2/5
Peter Gabriel is the debut album by the English singer-songwriter and producer Peter Gabriel after he left the progressive rock band Genesis. This "impressively rich debut album" left critics happy and is certified gold in the US and the UK.
I liked the relaxed nature of the rock music on this album and the song "Solsbury Hill" is especially great. This was a good album, but not enough to recommend to all your friends.
The Doors
3/5
L.A. Woman is the sixth album by the American rock band the Doors, and it is the last recordings to feature lead singer Jim Morrison during his lifetime due to his death three months after the album's release. This blues rock album is the band's most heavily influenced by blues and critics liked this and the stripped-down musical performance. This is the Doors most popular album besides their debut album, because the band returned to their blues roots and recorded together in perfect harmony. L.A. Woman is certified 3x platinum in the US.
This was a beautifully haunting album as blues can evoke various emotions. The music and singing melded together well, so there weren't any elements missing from the album. The album closes with the nostalgic classic "Riders on the Storm" which I heard many times while playing Need for Speed as a kid. This track had been remixed by Snoop Dogg and added to the soundtrack for Need for Speed Underground 2. I loved listening to the original! Great album.
The Young Rascals
2/5
Groovin' is the third album by American rock band The Young Rascals. It was a popular release for the band as the album and the title track charted well. This album also showcased the band's first steps into the psychedelic genre that they would explore further on later albums.
Overall, this was a great rock album from the late 60's that lets a listener hear the early styles of rhythm and blues and the newer style (at the time) of psychedelic rock.
The Slits
3/5
Cut is the debut album by English punk band the Slits. It was an innovative album, fusing punk and reggae with an ample helping of pop. Cut was critically acclaimed and remains ranked as one of the best post-punk albums of all time.
This was a great album that I enjoyed listening to. Not the greatest album I've ever heard, but not bad by any stretch.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
D.o.A: The Third and Final Report is the second album by English industrial music pioneers Throbbing Gristle. In this album the band continued toying with industrial music - which is a genre of music that uses harsh, mechanical, transgressive, or provocative sounds and themes. Defined in simple terms, industrial music is the "most abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music". The genre began as a blend of noisy patterns from electronic devices and punk rock. This album was one of the early works of industrial music and was an "essential, nauseating masterpiece".
I'm not sure I would echo that previous sentence, but this was an interesting album. Less music and instead more random sounds strewn together in rhythmic patterns. It was definitely trippy, but not something I would ever go out of my way to listen to. Also, what's with the little girl on the album cover? I read they gave away a calendar of her with the first 1,000 album purchases. That's more than a little weird - but I guess it wasn't weird for the late 70's.
Manu Chao
2/5
Clandestino is the first full-length solo album by French-Spanish singer-songwriter Manu Chao. It is a world music album with tracks in different languages, but primarily Spanish. European consumers really liked this album as it has been certified in many of those countries, but no certifications in the USA.
This was a cool, ethnic album to listen to even though I cannot understand the lyrics. I always appreciate hearing popular music from other cultures.
Cypress Hill
2/5
Cypress Hill is the debut album by the American hip hop group Cypress Hill. This innovative West Coast hip hop album was critically and commercially successful and has been certified double platinum in the US.
Cypress Hill is one of the first gangsta hip hop albums to go mainstream. The rapping feels a little outdated today, but the beats and rhymes were solid. This is a great album from the early days of hip hop.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Connected is the third album by English hip hop/electronic dance group Stereo MC's. This alternative hip hop / trip hop album performed well in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand - being certified platinum in the UK.
The music was rhythmic and well produced, but there's so much going on within the tracks that they can sound a little basic and forgettable. I liked this album as it was an introductory form of trip hop and/or acid jazz from the beginnings of the early age of EDM. Although I do agree that none of the tracks really stuck out to me as unique. A great album, but no where near the best, unless you're specifically looking for this type of electronic hip hop.
Britney Spears
3/5
...Baby One More Time is the debut album by American singer Britney Spears. After being a child star on the Disney Channel, Britney Spears wanted to become a pop icon and was excited to produce this album. The album received mixed reviews - because although commercially successful - it was also seen as a little premature for a start in her music career. However, the album has since been hailed for its major impact on pop culture and has been cited as one of the most influential pop records of all time. It topped the Billboard 200, has been certified 14x platinum (diamond), is Spears' best-selling album as well as the best-selling debut album by a female, and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. The title track single became iconic, topping charts around the world and becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Obviously the title track single is what blew up this album and jumpstarted Britney Spears' singing career, because the rest of the tracks on this album are just competent enough to pass as decent pop music. It's a record breaking album that revived the teen pop scene for the next decade (I won't list out all the broken records as it will take too long). Everyone and their mom has heard ...Baby One More Time and especially Oops!... I Did It Again from Spears' second album of the same name, so that says something about this album's success.
Personally, I don't like pop - especially teen pop - so this album wasn't anything special to me. It is nostalgic because I grew up with this music, but listening back on it I can hear that although she is super talented, the album may have been rushed out to meet demand. Her second album is when Spears really showed her stride of attempting to become a global superstar.
Sigur Rós
3/5
Ágætis byrjun (Icelandic for: A good beginning) is the second album by Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. This dreamy ambient pop / shoegaze (indie alt rock) album is an evolution from their ambient soundscapes on their first album, since they added a guitar and some orchestration. It became their commercial and critical breakthrough album, being certified gold in the UK and selling enough to be considered gold in the US (not certified). Released to little media attention, this album quickly climbed the charts in Iceland which gained the album international recognition.
It is a relaxing and moody album with beautiful ambient music that soothes a listener's ears. The lyrics are in Icelandic - so I have no idea what is said - but they sound great too. This was a cool album to hear and it must have been surprising for the band to see it succeed so well.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Led Zeppelin is the debut album by English rock band Led Zeppelin. The band did such a great job of fusing blues and rock while embracing the emerging hard rock sound, that it payed off with this album being a critical and commercial success. This is considered by many to be the best Led Zeppelin album, and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. This album has been certified platinum in the US and UK.
I like Led Zeppelin, so it was great to finally listen to their debut album in its entirety. Their debut album is exploding with hard rockin' content, and it's also nice to see how much the band has progressed since their earliest work.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Court and Spark is the sixth album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. This pop album contains elements of folk rock and jazz. It was an immediate success - commercially and critically - being certified double platinum in the US and remains Mitchell's most successful album.
This was a relaxing and soothing album that I'm glad I had the chance to listen to. Any fans of soft rock or jazz-pop will love this album.
Billy Bragg
2/5
Talking with the Taxman About Poetry is the third album by English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg. This folk punk album contains some of Billy Bragg's best work and was seen as a great leap forward for his music. It also featured more musicians than his previous albums. The album has many political themes about the world, but this didn't affect the music in a negative way.
I thought the album was decent, but nothing special. It was a fun album that performed well critically while making some political points. Give it a listen if you like folksy music.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2/5
Siembra is the second album by Panamian singer and songwritter Rubén Blades and Puerto Rican-American trombonist Willie Colón. It is considered the best selling salsa album in the history of salsa and Latin music, and was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. It has sold 3 million copies worldwide and almost every song has been a hit at one time or another in various Latin American countries.
This is definitely an awesome salsa album so give it a listen if you like that genre. I liked the groovy album, but the lyrics in Spanish didn't help me enjoy it.
The Streets
3/5
A Grand Don't Come for Free is the second album by English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under the rap music project the Streets. This is a rap opera concept album that tells the story of a man losing his £1,000 (the grand), as well as his relationship troubles with a girl named Simone. Every song paints part of the story and the final track has two alternate endings depicted. This rap opera concept actually made the album a little more fun to listen to and kept me engaged the entire time. The album is critically acclaimed and has been certified 4x platinum in the UK. It's also considered the first hip-hop classic of the new millennium.
The concept album part might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's not totally overbearing where you can't just enjoy the album for its music. You'll either love or hate the concept, but the UK rap will grow on you - even if it takes some getting used to. If you're not used to UK rap, then this album might sound a little weird to you at first. I ended up actually enjoying this album and there's a few songs I would listen to again - without needing to replay the whole album for the rap opera story.
Good beats, great rhymes, and an awesome concept characterize this album.
Johnny Cash
4/5
American IV: The Man Comes Around is the 67th album by Johnny Cash - the fourth in his American series. It was the last album released during his lifetime, and is considered to contain the finest work of his late life. It was also the first non-compilation album of his that was certified gold and platinum since the early 70's, and won Album of the Year at the 2003 CMA's. The folk rock album is mostly cover songs of either Cash's own music or other popular songs. For example, "Hurt" was a beautifully meaningful cover of a song by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails originally written in 1994, but the song is now more associated with Cash.
American IV was a joy to listen to in its entirety. I've heard some of the popular songs from this album before and loved them, but it's great to hear all these tracks in one listen. This critically acclaimed album should be given a listen by anyone and everyone. Beautiful, thought-provoking, and fun are how I would describe this album. RIP Johnny Cash.
The Lemonheads
3/5
It's a Shame About Ray is the fifth album by American alternative rock band the Lemonheads. This grunge album was a commercial success, especially after they included the worldwide phenomenon track Mrs. Robinson - which is a cover of the same song by Simon & Garfunkel.
I liked this album and its music, and am now interested to see what other music The Lemonheads have made. Great grunge album here.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Led Zeppelin III is the third album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. This album continued the band's tradition of playing all the instruments themselves, but there was a slight shift from hard rock to primarily folk rock. This shift at first confused critics and affected the album's reviews and initial sales, but since has been seen as an important turning point in the band's music. Led Zeppelin III has been certified 6x platinum in the US.
This was a great album - especially the opening track "Immigrant Song" - and it's psychedelic, folksy rock music made my work day just a little better. Led Zeppelin was in their prime for this album.
Alice In Chains
3/5
Dirt is the second album by the American rock band Alice in Chains. This critically acclaimed album is certified 5x platinum (the band's best-selling) and is considered a classic of the grunge genre. The themes on this album are emotionally focused on depression, pain/anger, relationships, drug use, war, and ultimately death.
This was my first time actually listening to any songs by Alice in Chains (I've heard lots about the band) and I loved the album. I can definitely see this being one of their best albums, because how can you get better than this? The tracks were the perfect amount of grunge while still maintaining a mainstream vibe that everyone can appreciate. I'll have to check out more songs from Alice in Chains.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Licensed to Ill is the debut album by American rap rock group Beastie Boys. It shocked the world by being the first rap album to top the Billboard 200 Albums chart, and has since release been certified diamond (10x platinum). It is also considered one of the best hip hop albums of all time, and has received tons of commercial and critical acclaim.
While I enjoyed this album overall, I don't think it's as amazing as all the reviews state. Perhaps I am too used to modern hip hop/rap, so this album sounds different, but I have to appreciate the OG's. This was an innovative album and the group obviously had a lot of fun recording it.
Iron Maiden
3/5
Iron Maiden is the debut album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, and it was released to critical and commercial success. It was a landmark release for heavy metal and remains a fan favorite album. The music was primarily metal, but did have influences from punk and progressive rock.
I'm not normally a fan of metal music, but this debut album was really good. It was entertaining to listen to because of its raw aggression. I'll keep an ear out for other Iron Maiden songs going forward.
The Clash
3/5
The Clash is the debut album by English punk rock band the Clash. It performed well critically & commercially and has been ranked as one of the greatest punk rock albums of all time. Critics described it at release as one of the best "rock and roll" album - punk rock wasn't a genre at the time.
I enjoyed listening to this album, although I didn't find many of the tracks to stick out to me as amazing. Obviously it's an early iteration of punk rock, so it's different than today's, but the music is good quality and was exciting. This is a good album for rock - specifically punk rock - fans.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Public Image: First Issue is the debut album by English rock band Public Image Ltd. Released in 1978 to average critical reviews, it's now considered a pioneering album for the post-punk genre. Some listeners didn't care for the religious theme on the album and this affected its popularity. The title track single was/is the most successful song on the album.
Public Image was decent for a post-punk, rock & roll album, but I thought the music was average and the religious theme did get a little old. If you're a fan of punk, rock, and/or post-punk then give this album a try, but otherwise I wouldn't fault you for skipping this album.
The Stooges
3/5
Fun House is the second album by American rock band the Stooges. It was initially unsuccessful commercially, but gained a cult following and is now considered an important album in the development of punk rock. The album features raw, unpredictable rock music with glimmers of jazz through the use of a saxophone. The powerful and primal sound on this album was new to critics at the time and could be confused as chaos, but then the punk genre exploded and Fun House seemed to have laid the ground work. In retrospective reviews, this album is coined as "one of the greatest rock & roll records of all time".
I loved the heavy-hitting sounds on Fun House and enjoyed the chaotic nature of its music. It was nostalgic to listen to the early days of punk rock and hear how much it has developed since then. Any fans of rock or punk music should like this album.
Blur
3/5
Parklife is the third album by the English rock band Blur and it's the band's best-selling album. This 4x platinum (in the UK) album was a landmark release in British rock music for being the backbone of the emerging Britpop scene in the mid-1990's. Parklife was released to critical acclaim, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart and staying there for 90 weeks.
I liked this album and agree it might be the best British pop album out there. The first track "Girls & Boys" was the best in my opinion and the other songs only try to be as great. Pop isn't my favorite genre so that affects my rating of this album, although I still think it's a great album. Still, a genre defining album such as Parklife should be listened to by the masses.
Röyksopp
4/5
Melody A.M. is the debut album by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp. This downtempo/trip hop/house/ambient/techno album performed well commercially around the world, but primarily in Europe where more than half of its sales were. This album was able to showcase the best aspects of electronic dance music from the past three decades before the new millennium. These being the 70's warmth, the 80's bumping beats, and the 90's electronic devices' sounds sampling. All of this was bundled into a cocoon of sonic senses that comforts the listener.
I loved this album and will have to check out more from this Norwegian artist. Chilled-out EDM can be some of the most soothing music imo, and Melody A.M. may be one of the best albums for this music.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Californication is the seventh album by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and is the band's most commercially successful - being certified 7x platinum in the US. This alternative rock album was softer and more melodic than their previous albums, showing an evolution of the band. The album's singles - especially its title track - were part of the reason behind the explosion in popularity because they were played so much on the radio.
This is an awesome alt-rock album that marked a comeback for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It's even a little nostalgic for me since the album came out during my childhood. Great music, band, and album. The RHCP need to release another album like this!
The Triffids
3/5
Calenture is the fourth album by Australian rock group The Triffids. The title of the album refers to a fever that affects sailors on long, hot voyages. The album was a spiritual piece of music for the band, as it explored themes of insanity, deception, and rootlessness. This is considered by some critics to be The Triffids best album - or at least they're pop album.
I thought the album was well produced and believe it completely represents the band. Calenture might be the greatest album I've heard from an Australian band so far.
The Soft Boys
3/5
Underwater Moonlight is the second album by English rock band the Soft Boys. Initially unsuccessful (commercially not critically), the album became a psychedelic cult classic as people would take psychedelic drugs before listening to the album. Critics have retroactively praised the album for contributing to the underground pop scene of the 1980's, and helping start the neo-psychedelia genre. They state that the poor commercial performance at release may have been a result of the album's music being ahead of its time.
This album was interesting to say the least. It was trippy, but not in a way that affected the music, because I thought the production was well done. Decent album overall - perhaps if I listened to the album high it might sound even better since other people have this opinion.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Post Orgasmic Chill is the third album by British rock band Skunk Anansie. This album has a harder sound than their previous albums because the band used heavier elements of hard rock and metal. It performed moderately well critically and commercially.
I thought this album was wonderful! It was the perfect mix between alternative rock and heavy metal, and the vocals by Skin gave me goosebumps. I'm surprised I have never heard of this album or band before, and will be listening to more from them.
Hot Chip
3/5
In Our Heads is the fifth album by English electronic music (synthpop) band Hot Chip. Critical reviews were generally positive, calling this album the band's best so far.
It was a fun, upbeat, and danceable album that has infectious grooves from start to finish. The talented vocals by Alexis Taylor were amazing too. However, I may be biased because I like electronic dance music. Great EDM album!
Willie Nelson
3/5
Stardust is the 22nd album by Willie Nelson, and interestingly it consists entirely of traditional pop songs he favored before adding his country flair during recording. This album was critically and commercially successful at release; topping or performing well on charts around the world, winning Willie a Grammy (1979 Best Male Country Vocal), being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015, and being certified 5x platinum in 1988. Funnily, Columbia - his record company - did not like anything Willie Nelson was doing for this album and thought it would flop so they ordered less than usual pressings of the record. In fact, the album sold so well that within a week Columbia already ordered more record pressings.
This was a beautiful album by Willie that showcases his musical prowess and vocal skills by being able to transform these classic pop songs into something sounding brand new - even with a stripped down production. Sweet and simple, this is a classic American album featuring pop standards sung by the talented Willie Nelson.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Greetings from L.A. is the seventh album by singer-songwriter Tim Buckley. None of his albums sold well, but this one was probably his best seller. It was a nice, chilled-out, funky, R&B album with good vocals from Tim. I thought the album was pretty average, but still enjoyed it for what it was.
Sebadoh
3/5
Bubble & Scrape is the fourth album by American indie rock band Sebadoh. It was their first album recorded entirely in a studio and featured longer songs - a sign the band was focused more on polished albums. I had never heard of this band before, but the music was on par with other rock bands from the mid-90's. It was a good album, and fans of indie rock should love Bubble & Scrape.
3/5
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? is the second album by English rock band Oasis. The musical structure was grander, signifying a change from the group's debut album. This change paid off as this album propelled Oasis to become a worldwide rock phenomenon instead of a British indie act. The singles - especially Wonderwall - topped charts in most countries and helped the album sell. This best-selling album has been certified 16x platinum in the UK and 4x platinum in the US. This important Britpop album was not well received by critics at first, but the mainstream populations around the world had critics changing their tune.
I enjoyed this Oasis album very much for its blend of indie rock with Britpop swagger. I'm surprised that I only knew the song Wonderwall, when a lot of the other tracks were pretty good too. Great album from the mid-90's that is a nostalgic soundtrack from that time period.
Screaming Trees
3/5
Dust is the seventh album by Screaming Trees and the last album of new material by the band. This hard rock/grunge album received good reviews by critics and charted modestly. The music on this album was influenced more by folk and blues than the previous albums that took inspiration from psychedelic rock and punk rock.
I had never heard of this band before listening to this album, and I think they created a wonderful album here. Any fan of hard rock music should like this album, so I recommend it. Dust was a great album for the band to end with.
Django Django
3/5
Django Django is the debut album by British art rock band Django Django. This electronic rock/neo-psychedelia album was full of groovy, trippy tracks. It was well received by critics and the public, being certified silver in the UK. Their debut album tried its best at bringing back psychedelia rock into the mainstream.
I really enjoyed this album, partly for the rock type beats and also for the electronic music elements. I believe more people should be introduced to this album, so give it a listen if it's recommended.
Dr. Dre
4/5
The Chronic is the debut album by the American hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre. This is Dre's first solo album after leaving the hip hop group N.W.A, and features many appearances by rapper Snoop Dogg who used this album to jumpstart his own hip hop career. The Chronic popularized a new style of gangsta rap called G-funk (gangsta funk) and has been regarded as an important album from the golden age of hip hop. This album is certified triple platinum and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. The hip hop tracks confidently paint realistic situations of the inner city youth while being backed by funky beats that any listener can enjoy.
This influential hip hop album is straight nostalgia for me and was a joy to listen to. Gangsta rap might not be for everyone - and it's not even that popular anymore - but this album is a gem that everyone should lend an ear to.
All That You Can't Leave Behind is the tenth album by Irish rock band U2. The band returned to their earlier sound of rock with this album instead of the experimentation they had with dance music throughout the 90's that wasn't very popular. This award winning album won 7 Grammy's and received many positive reviews from critics. It's the only album in history to have multiple tracks win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year: "Beautiful Day" in 2001 and "Walk On" in 2002.
This carefully crafted album showed U2 returning to their roots and it was immensely popular among critics and the mainstream music listeners. It is probably the best U2 album I have listened to so far, and I did enjoy it.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Physical Graffiti is the sixth album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin and is a double album. This popular album comprises genres of hard rock, progressive rock, and folk rock. It released to commercial success, charting number one in the UK and number three in the US. The immediate success at release could have been due in part to the delay in the design of the album cover which pushed back the release date by 3 months, while the album tour started about a month ahead of the delayed release, allowing presales to add up. It was certified platinum in the US based off these presales alone, and is currently certified 16x platinum. Critics have said that this album is the "high-water mark" or peak for the band because of the creative energy inside and I think I agree with that.
This is my favorite Led Zeppelin album I've listened to so far and I highly recommend it to any rock fans that haven't heard it already.
Beatles
4/5
A Hard Day's Night is the third album by the English rock band the Beatles. This album was predominantly more pop than their previous rock and roll songs, and was also their first album to feature entirely new compositions written by Lennon or McCartney. This may have been a result of side one on the album being tracks from their film soundtrack of the same name, while side two were other tracks for the film that weren't used. A Hard Day's Night was the band's most popular album so far at release.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Beatles album and it might be one of my favorites. Some of their other albums released later on are better, but I do like that this album features all new musical work from the band instead of rock covers. In the past I thought the Beatles were overrated, but they continue to surprise me when I actually sit down and listen to their albums.
Death In Vegas
3/5
The Contino Sessions is the second album by British band Death in Vegas, released in 1999. This electronic / pop/rock album has been certified gold in the UK and was rated highly by critics.
I liked this album, although nothing significant stuck out to me from it or the band. A decent electronic album from the late 90's.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
I Am a Bird Now is the second album by the American pop band Antony and the Johnsons. This soulful art pop album won the UK Mercury Prize in the second half of 2005, causing the album to jump in popularity. This popularity led the album to be certified gold in the UK.
I was surprised by how good this album was. I went into it knowing nothing - only thinking it might be another pop album - and it was beautiful. The music is timeless and Antony's (now known as Anohni) singing is absolutely breathtaking. This is a good album for someone that appreciates awesome singing, and anyone that likes soulful, timeless feeling music.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Nick of Time is the tenth album by the American blues rock singer Bonnie Raitt. This album was a commercial breakthrough after years of struggles and went on to be her best-selling album. It topped the Billboard 200 chart, won 3 Grammys including Album of the Year, and has been certified 5x platinum in the US. Nick of Time features a stripped down, acoustic rock sound that amplifies Bonnie Raitt's voice.
Although I enjoyed this album, it's not my particular cup of tea. I think it's like a Taylor Swift album, but from the late 80's. Awesome singer, but the music is missing substance or an "oomph" that I'm looking for. If a listener enjoys a solo female singer, then this album is for them.
T. Rex
3/5
The Slider is the seventh album by English rock band T. Rex. It was released to critical acclaim at the height of the band's popularity. This glam rock / power pop album was some of the best work that the band T. Rex created. It was a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece of strange, spooky, yet catchy music with a lazy groove present throughout.
For the most part I liked this album and its vibe. However, some of the tracks weren't as ear-catching and seemed like stepping stones to the good stuff. Overall, it is a great UK glam rock album from the early 70's.
Violent Femmes
3/5
Violent Femmes is the debut album by the American folk punk band Violent Femmes. Although never charting until 1991 when it was certified platinum, this album is certified platinum in the US, and is the band's best-selling record. This is an interesting early alternative rock album, as the band used minimalism to emphasize its acoustic bass riffing and a sense of urgency with their mixed-in punk rock style.
This was a great cult classic album. It sounded underground while also being good enough to be on mainstream radio. I swear I've heard some of these songs before or at least the beats from them, but don't remember when. This is an awesome album for rock or punk fans, and a must-listen for anyone interested in music from the 80's.
Sugar
3/5
Copper Blue is the debut album by American alternative rock band Sugar. The album is critically acclaimed for its melodic punk rock sound. Bob Mould - guitarist/vocalist - attributed the release of Nirvana's Nevermind the previous year as a catalyst for people to then appreciate the sound of punk rock that Mould had been working on for the past two years before releasing this debut album. The themes on this album are akin to other punk albums, so fans of this music should like this album.
I thought the music on Copper Blue was very good and had that punchy punk feel while also using crafty melodies that could get stuck in your head. It's a great alternative rock album from the early 90's that may have been overshadowed by giant acts of the time like Nirvana.
Slipknot
3/5
Slipknot is the debut album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Being well received by critics and fans, this album brought the band an increase in popularity. This has been voted one of the best debut albums in the past 25 years, and it is certified double platinum in the US, as well as being the band's best-selling album. Musically, this debut album is nu metal which is heavy metal that combines many other sub-genres of heavy metal. The band created a layered sound of samples, impressive guitar skill, and massive amounts of percussion. It is an extremely heavy and aggressive album.
I actually enjoyed this album - specifically the hard percussion that will have you headbanging whether you want to or not - in spite of me not normally liking heavy metal. This is probably the best album from one of the greatest heavy metal bands out there. So if you're a fan of heavy metal and you don't mind some angry, filthy lyrics, than this is an album you should check out!
Solange
3/5
A Seat at the Table is the third album by American singer-songwriter Solange. This funky, neo soul, and R&B album was acclaimed by critics and was her first number one album on the Billboard 200. The lead single "Cranes in the Sky" won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance and the album has been certified gold in the US.
This album was beautiful and had some social points to make. Besides that though, there wasn't much that intrigued me. The music didn't have that punch that I'm looking for, although it was soulful and had that feeling where you know Solange poured her heart into it. A great R&B album, but not the best.
The Blue Nile
3/5
A Walk Across the Rooftops is the debut album by Scottish band The Blue Nile. It wasn't a hit at release, but it slowly gained sales through word of mouth of pleased fans. This synth-pop album took a lot of work from the band because all of the sounds on the record had to be created/played physically, since it was produced before digital audio effects became commonplace.
The downtempo, elegant, effortless feeling music on this album has a relaxing and romantic theme to it. It flows calmly and seductively from start to finish to soothe your ears. I believe this album is sorely underrated and could use some more fans.
Kanye West
4/5
Yeezus is the sixth album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It received widespread acclaim at release, topping the Billboard 200 chart - as well as some other country's charts, and selling 327,000 copies in the first week. It has been certified double platinum in the US.
Kanye experimented with many different genres on this album and favored a minimalist sound during mixing which makes this album his most experimental. Some of the genres this album draws from are: industrial, acid house, electro, punk, and drill, while the overarching genre is hip hop/rap. There is also a long list of artists that collaborated with Kanye on this album. Some providing vocals, while others may have helped with song structure, samples, and/or specific musical elements.
Amazingly, Kanye had the entire album revised by producer Rick Rubin and some close collaborators 15 days leading up to its release. A handful of tracks were cut and others were re-recorded or had their music stripped down. Kanye is a perfectionist and this album shows the fruits of his labor. He wanted to break new ground and create something that was a "protest to music". It's still a hip-hop album, but the music sounds like it comes from the distant future.
It was a beautiful, dark, twisted, masterpiece (a nod to one of Kanye's previous albums). This album has everything you could ask for from a Kanye West hip-hop album. It was one of - if not - the most acclaimed albums of 2013. Love him or hate him, Kanye West is a master of music and one could even say he is a god.
Björk
3/5
Vulnicura is the ninth album by Icelandic musician and singer Björk. This electronic, ambient, avant-garde album is composed of string arrangements backed with electronic beats. It was a healing album for Björk, produced after a breakup she went through. Unfortunately, the album was leaked online a couple months before release so the label decided to digitally release the album a couple days after the leak. There is also a sister album to this one simply called Vulnicura Strings, that has 8 of the 9 tracks without the electronic beats so the focus is just on the string arrangements.
This critically acclaimed album is seen as Björk's best work in the last decade. It truly is a work of art that delves into the raw, heartfelt personal feelings of someone moving on after a breakup. Björk's beautiful vocals are as splendid as ever on this album, and the music will sweep you off your feet. Vulnicura is a fantastic album!
Jorge Ben Jor
2/5
África Brasil is Brazilian artist Jorge Ben's - going by Jorge Ben Jor since the 80's - 14th album. This is one of his best-known recordings and it's a milestone in his career because he incorporated African, Brazilian, and American funk genres. This album is popular in Brazil and among soccer fans.
It was a great samba funk album, however the lyrics being mostly in another language didn't make it easy to listen to. The musical vibes were good though. I'm sure any Portuguese speaking people would really like this album.
R.E.M.
3/5
Murmur is the debut album by American alternative rock band R.E.M. This album was critically acclaimed at release for its new, interesting sound, which was a combination of the cryptic lyrics, jangle pop guitar work, and the mesmerizing basslines. There's a mix of genres on this album, including but not limited to: alt rock, post-punk, jangle pop, folk rock, and garage rock. Although critically the album was a success, it was a slow start for the sales coming in, and Murmur was only certified gold in the US 8 years later in 1991. Retrospectively, critics still laud this album and it continually tops best-of and/or must-have album lists.
I've been hearing about R.E.M.'s influence on alternative rock for a while now so it's nice to finally listen to an album by them - especially their debut. I enjoyed the murky, mysterious rock/pop sound and the perplexing lyrics from the band. It's not the most amazing album to me, but I still believe it is a great album that everyone should give a listen to.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Bug is the third album by American alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr. This popular indie/alt rock album has everything you love about noisy rock music. It's a favorite among fans of the band, but J Mascis - singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band - says it's his least favorite.
Overall, this was a great folksy and punk sounding alternative rock album that the average listener should enjoy.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Either/Or is the third album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. This indie folk rock, Americana, lo-fi, and pop rock album was critically acclaimed at release, but did not chart in any country. It's been certified silver in the UK, and is Elliot Smith's best selling album. The movie Good Will Hunting used three of this album's tracks in its soundtrack and also contracted Elliot to write an original song called "Miss Misery". He would then perform this song at the 1998 Academy Awards where the song was nominated for Best Original Song.
Overall, this is a wonderful album of Americana music using a wide variety of popular genres from the late 90's. It was a relaxing and inspiring vibe. Give Either Or a listen if you like folksy/pop/indie rock music.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Coat of Many Colors is the eighth solo album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. This is one of her best country albums and is seen by many critics as the pinnacle of her career. The title track has been cited as Parton's favorite track she has written.
This was a beautiful album of Nashville country tunes combined with Parton's soothing singing. I hadn't heard much of Dolly Parton's music until this album, and it proved to me that she is a talented singer-songwriter indeed. Country music lovers should enjoy this album a lot.
Neil Young
3/5
Tonight's the Night is the sixth album by Canadian/American songwriter Neil Young. The theme on this album is grief because both the band Crazy Horse's guitarist Danny Whitten and Neil Young's friend Bruce Berry had died of drug overdoses in the months before the songs had been written. There are nods to both of these men in some of this album's tracks. It is an album born out of the post-hippie/post-counterculture movements and has dark feelings of life flowing down the drain into depravity. However, the album has been lauded by critics as one of Young's best work. It's a calculated mess of sloppy desolation which allowed Young's grief to mold the songs on this album.
I enjoyed this moody piece of music because the songwriting was amazing as it was sad. The music was comforting as if it were bittersweet waves of having to come to terms with loss. This might not be my favorite Neil Young album, but it is the most interesting and it's songs will stick with me for awhile. This is one album to listen to for anyone grieving.
The Incredible String Band
3/5
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is the third album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, The Incredible String Band (ISB). This psychedelic/acid folk album was the most ambitious project from the band to date and had a large impact on the genre, featuring exotic instruments while using multiple tracks and overdubbing. It was also the band's most successful album, charting in both the UK and US, and receiving a Grammy nomination. Critics loved this album for its fusion of world music elements with the backbone of psychedelic folk that would soothe listeners' ears. Although the album remained underground in the US, it was a major commercial success in the UK.
This album was a surreal experience. It is definitely the music I imagine one would listen to when they are tripping, as it is relaxing and thought-invoking. The mind is allowed to wander while listening, but you are always brought back to the main point/element on each track. Overall it's a beautiful album that paints a picture of a more peaceful world where our differences are celebrated instead of demonized and the primary goal is to be happy and have fun. Stay energetic and youthful at all times, fellow 1000 albums journeyers!
Fairport Convention
3/5
Unhalfbricking is the third album - second of 1969 - by the British folk rock band Fairport Convention. This folk album is seen as a transitional piece, in which the band moved away from American folk influences toward a more traditional British folk sound. It was their first album to achieve chart success by reaching number 12 on the UK album chart. The track "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" is now regarded as a classic and is considered Sandy Denny's (lead singer & songwriter) best written song.
This was a fun, folksy album that I enjoyed listening to. It reminded me of my late great-grandma because she would have loved an album like this since she is a fan of folk rock and anything British. It's cute, traditional songs that probably everyone would like.
MGMT
4/5
Oracular Spectacular is the debut album by the American band MGMT. Although album sales were slow, but consistent over the years, critics lauded this debut album for its production and musical style. It has been certified gold in the US and double platinum in the UK. This indie pop / psychedelic pop album has some of the catchiest pop melodies from the 2000's decade. There's consistent themes on this album about growing up and making the most out of your time - especially childhood - and this along with the quality production provides an amazing record. The first half is a little better than the second half when it comes to the tracks specifically.
MGMT has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my great years in high school and I have a few of my favorite tracks of theirs on my regular playlists. It was nice to finally listen to their debut album in one sitting and I loved every bit of it. The second half of the album could have been bolstered a little more with another solid, catchy track, but oh well it was still good. I definitely recommend everyone to give this album a listen.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Oxygène is the third album by French electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre and it is considered his breakthrough album for being immensely popular worldwide. It is an electronic, ambient, synth-pop album that revolutionized the sounds of synthesizers throughout the end of the 70's and remains one of the best-selling French electronic & instrumental albums in history. Certified platinum in the UK & France, this album influenced forthcoming electronic artists like Moby. Incredibly, the entire album was recorded by Jarre in 4 months from within the makeshift studio in his apartment using synthesizers, drum machines, and a keyboard. Critical reviews at release were negative as people had grown accustomed to the popular punk rock music at the time and had no care for electronic music. However, this album has gone on to be an important piece in the foundation of electronic music and is praised in retrospective reviews.
I liked this album and its sci-fi melodic themes that both soothe and move the listener. You can dance to these tracks or just relax and let your mind wander. This is a wonderful album that shouldn't fall to the wayside to other more popular albums. Give it a try!
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
Now I Got Worry is the fifth album by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. This punk blues / alt rock album performed well critically and commercially. It's not the band's best work, but it is a balanced project between their wild live sound and unique studio recording.
I thought this was an interesting album and it made for a great listen. However, it wasn't amazing enough that I would listen to it again. Good, but not awesome.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Siamese Dream is the second album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. Critically acclaimed and released to commercial success, this album is considered one of the best alt rock albums of all time. It debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified 4x platinum. The recording of Siamese Dream was fraught with problems and went over budget and behind schedule, so it was a surprise to the label when the record was finally completed.
This album was a beautiful twist on rock music because it contains both harsh and sweet parts in its music. It has a little something for everybody, but overall it's just great alt rock music. One of the best grungy albums I've ever listened to.
The Everly Brothers
2/5
A Date with the Everly Brothers is the fourth album by American singing duo the Everly Brothers. Released in 1960, this album peaked at 9 on the Billboard Pop albums chart and its song "Love Hurts" has gone on to be a classic song for covers. This nice, mid-century style of pop music album had themes centered around love and more specifically the dating/fling aspect.
I enjoyed this album as a lookback through time to listen to the earlier forms of pop music. The musical style and lyrics hold up to this day, but they lack that "oomph" that modern music can generate.
M.I.A.
4/5
Kala is the second album by British hip hop artist M.I.A. This world/dance/hip hop/pop album was the best on the US Billboard Electronic Albums chart in 2007 and has been certified gold in the US, silver in the UK, and platinum in Canada. The themes surrounding Kala are problems facing second and third world countries including immigration, poverty, and greedy capitalism. This critically acclaimed album did an awesome job of blending different music from around the world together into a danceable hip hop beat, which is ultimately what the themes on the album are trying to illustrate. All cultures can and should come together to make something beautiful and better than their individual parts.
This is an amazing album to listen to as it feels both like a party and a fight at the same time. The music is invigorating and inspiring since it all comes from different cultures. As some critics said, this album feels like it came from the future. The track "Paper Planes" may be the most popular on the album and I think it's one of my favorite songs. I highly recommend this album to everyone!
System Of A Down
3/5
System of a Down is the debut album by American heavy metal band System of a Down. This nu metal / alternative metal album was a critical and commercial success and is certified double platinum in the US.
System of a Down started out strong with their debut album, as it contains some quality metal tracks. I enjoyed the album's songs' flow, but nothing really stuck out to me as amazing. However, that could also be due to the fact that I don't particularly like metal music so someone that does may love this album.
Kate Bush
2/5
The Dreaming is the fourth album by English art rock singer Kate Bush. It is her most experimental release, which negatively affected the initial sales and earned a mixed critical reception. It also caused this album to be Bush's lowest-selling record - only being certified silver in the UK. Over the years this album's critical standing has improved and it was featured on lists of underrated albums. The avant-garde nature of her songwriting and dense soundscapes were both a positive and negative to critics. It was a brave piece of abstract pop rock music that was a nice change of pace from mainstream music at the time. Kate Bush described this album herself as one she went mad with.
This was an interesting album to say the least. Kate Bush is an extremely talented singer-songwriter that tried something different with this album. The songs weren't anything to write home about, but they weren't bad either. The Dreaming is a unique album that deserves a listen, because how else will you know if you like it or not?
Blood, Sweat & Tears
2/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears is the second album by the American jazz rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears. It was commercially successful, being certified quadruple platinum in the US and winning the Album of the Year Grammy in 1970. Fun fact: this was one of the first albums to be released with 16-track recordings - allowing better mixing and overdubbing. The music on this album was more popular in general, because the songs weren't as adventurous as the first album. This made some critics state that the album is mediocre while being more accessible to listeners.
I enjoyed this album for its "mediocre" rock which I felt had a jazzy, country spin to it. My favorite tracks were the first and last because these are adaptations of Erik Satie classical movements which are amazing on their own.
The Shamen
3/5
En-Tact is the fourth album by Scottish band the Shamen. This is an electronic album that saw a combination of the band's past psychedelic rock with the new EDM. En-Tact performed averagely well critically and commercially.
I'm a fan of EDM music so this album was fun to hear. It was nice to listen to an album from the early days of rave music and even cooler that the band transitioned from rock music.
The Associates
3/5
Sulk is the second album by Scottish post-punk and pop band the Associates. It was a well produced art rock / synth pop album that blessed listeners' ears in 1982. Although this album was a critical and commercial breakthrough, the original duo in this group broke up four months after release.
I loved this album's sound! The overproduced musical arrangements combined with the beautiful falsetto voice made for quite the head turner of an album. I can't believe the Associates changed up their roster after this album, because they were onto something. Great work!
Christine and the Queens
2/5
Chris is the second album by French singer Christine and the Queens. It is a pop / R&B album with themes surrounding sex and sexuality. It was a well produced, danceable, and an empowering album for the feminist and queer cultures. The music from Chris will engage your mind, heart, and body.
Overall, I think the album was good. Can't complain about the music or lyrics, but the vibe I felt from listening to this album was too sticky-icky for me. The themes around sex were a little too on the nose for me and ended up turning me off to the album. However, if you are into overly-horny music, then this is the album for you.
The Style Council
3/5
Café Bleu is the debut album by the English band The Style Council. It's a sophisticated album of pop, jazz, and soul music with a dash of rap that will have you appreciating the little things in life. It was critically acclaimed and may be the band's best work.
I love to hear that classic jazz and soul music every once in a while, and this album scratched that itch. It was a fabulous piece of music that I'm glad I had the chance to listen to. Recommended to any other fans of jazz/soul music, but also pop lovers can enjoy this album too.
The Gun Club
2/5
Fire of Love is the debut album from the American rock band the Gun Club. This groundbreaking album was one of the first of its kind to combine punk rock with Americana music which includes genres such as folk, gospel, blues, country, bluegrass, jazz, and rock & roll. This combination went on to inspire the punk blues and garage rock genres. It is a critically acclaimed album that conjured up a type of blues rock that hadn't been heard before.
At first I was confused by this album and didn't know what genre of music I was actually listening to. There's so many influences and themes swirling around on this album that it made for an interesting listen. Although I'm not sure if I would say I enjoyed it. It's not bad, but something different I haven't heard often.
George Michael
2/5
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 is the second solo album by English singer-songwriter George Michael. The critically acclaimed album achieved more commercial success in the UK than in the US, but was applauded for being acoustic and more personal than his previous pop album Faith.
I agree with the mainstream that I prefer George Michael's previous album Faith over this one, but that's not to say this album is terrible. It provides easy-listening music or great background music that shouldn't put off or offend anyone.
The Modern Lovers
3/5
The Modern Lovers is the debut album by American rock band the Modern Lovers. This art rock / garage rock album was an outstanding critical success and influenced tons of aspiring punk rock musicians. It had that early punk rock feeling while also being lyrically down-to-earth. The Modern Lovers is an awesome album start to finish, and I'm excited to listen to other music from the band.
Richard Hawley
3/5
Coles Corner is the fourth album from English pop/rock musician Richard Hawley. This chamber pop / art rock album was a critical success and a beautiful old-fashioned piece of emotional songs. Richard Hawley used vintage sounds to create a retro vibe while mixing in genres of country, early rock, jazz, and blues.
I enjoyed the gorgeous, chilled-out sound from this album and think this is a wonderful album. Don't skip out on listening to this masterpiece.
Pavement
3/5
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is the second album by American indie rock band Pavement. It was a more successful album than their previous one since they adopted a more mainstream rock sound. The indie/alt/folk rock album was a critical success and was praised for being a vibrant and dynamic cornerstone of underground rock in the mid-90's.
I thought this was a pretty good indie rock album and it provided a great soundtrack to end my workday. I would recommend this album to any rock lovers.
Killing Joke
3/5
Killing Joke is the debut album by English post-punk band Killing Joke. Recorded and produced on their own, this album is an underground classic that was critically acclaimed, but missed the mainstream market. Killing Joke was one of the earliest bands with a sound like this and many others followed in their footsteps - some citing this album as inspiration.
I loved the industrial sound on this album and enjoyed its tracks. Fans of heavier sounding music will like this album.
Prince
4/5
1999 is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Prince, and the first with his band the Revolution. This breakthrough album was a critical and commercial success, propelling Prince to mainstream attention for years to come. Fun fact: 1999 was certified quadruple platinum in the US in 1999. Music on this album encompasses anything from Funk, R&B, pop, and dance. This was an influential album for the mid-80's vibes of synth-pop, R&B, and pop, but it also laid the foundation for later musical genres of electro, techno, and house.
Prince was a genius with his music and I love listening to anything from his works. This album was what one would expect from Prince, but it is his breakthrough album so that made listening to it all the more special. You can't hate on Prince.
Rush
3/5
Moving Pictures is the eighth album by Canadian rock band Rush. This progressive rock album was a critical and commercial success, almost topping the charts in both Canada and the US. It remains Rush's best-selling album in the US and has been certified 5 times platinum.
I had heard of the band Rush before, but I don't think I could have picked out any of their songs until listening to this album. They made a great album here that focused on creating "radio-friendly" songs (shorter tracks) and I think it paid off. It's an awesome progressive rock album.
Marianne Faithfull
2/5
Broken English is the seventh album by English singer Marianne Faithfull. It's considered her comeback album and has been described as a masterpiece by Faithfull because it was her return to music after years of drug abuse and homelessness. Musically, the album is new wave rock with parts of other genres like punk, blues, and reggae. Broken English was critically acclaimed and was a massive success for Faithfull.
It was a moody, but beautiful album that I'm glad Faithfull was able to record and release for the public to enjoy.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is the third album by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. The folk rock album is considered the duo's breakthrough and one of their best works. It is certified triple platinum in the US and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
I enjoyed the relaxing vibes on this album. It was an intelligent, creative, and beautiful piece that reflected the social issues of the mid-60's while being a cornerstone of folk rock for decades to come. Everyone should give this album a listen at least once.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
Here, My Dear is the fifteenth album by singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye and it's a double album. The album's main theme focuses on the divorce between Gaye and his first wife Anna. In fact, Anna receives half of the royalties from this album as a condition of their divorce agreement. At first this condition made Gaye want to be lazy during production, but it actually spurred him on to give it his best effort. This album was a hands-on project for Gaye, as he was involved with almost everything. The music on this album can be described as funk and soul. Marvin Gaye poured all of his feelings into this album so he was crushed when it didn't perform well. Here, My Dear was a commercial and critical failure upon its release, but it was later hailed by music critics, in the years following Gaye's death, as one of Gaye's best albums. I enjoyed this laid-back, soulful album for what it was and would recommend others to do the same.
Taylor Swift
4/5
1989 is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. This album cemented a shift from Swift's previous albums' genre being country to a synth-pop sound. Her previous album - Red - was a pop/rock album that began this genre shift. Swift made a point with this album that she could cross over to another genre and still be a successful music artist. And successful it was, as 1989 had three number 1 singles in the US, spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart, has been certified multi-platinum in many countries (9 times platinum in the US), and won Grammy's for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album in 2016.
I enjoyed this Taylor Swift album and loved most of the songs on it. I thought it was a beautiful album that showcased upbeat synth-pop songs while focusing on Swift's amazing lyrics. This is probably one of her most popular albums (IMO), but now I'm excited to give some of her newer music a listen.
Metallica
4/5
Master of Puppets is the third album by American heavy metal band Metallica. It received widespread acclaim and is considered one of the greatest metal albums of all time, as well as being a cornerstone of the thrash metal scene. It is certified 6 times platinum in the US and was the first metal album to be added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally/historically/aesthetically significant.
This important thrash metal album is a banger - no question about it. Even if you're not a fan of metal music, Master of Puppets will have you headbanging along to the rocking drums and shocking guitar riffs. It's an awesome album that I think everyone should listen to!
Peter Gabriel
3/5
So is the fifth album by English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel. The album's music is inspired from many cultures and influences. It has elements of pop, soul, rock, and world music from specifically African and Brazilian styles. So was an immediate commercial success and launched Gabriel from a cult artist into a mainstream star. The album has been certified 5 times platinum in the US.
This was a great album that mixed mainstream rock sound with exotic beats to create a variety of tones over the entire album. It showed true craftsmanship from an experienced singer-songwriter. This may be Gabriel's best album so I recommend everyone to give it a listen.
Circle Jerks
2/5
Group Sex is the debut album by American hardcore punk band Circle Jerks. The 15 minute album is considered a landmark in hardcore punk and was an instant classic at release. It performed well critically and commercially.
I thought the album was too short, but the music was explosive and entertaining for how short it was. This is definitely an important punk album and any punk or rock fans should love it.
Afrika Bambaataa
2/5
Planet Rock: The Album is an old school hip hop album by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force. It is a collection of singles that contain the earliest hits of hip hop music. The album was celebrated critically, but didn't perform amazingly commercially.
I liked listening to the early music of hip hop, but this album is pretty dated compared to what hip hop has evolved into. It may be a great album in the history of music, but it's not for me.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Ritual de lo Habitual (Spanish for "Ritual of the Habitual") is the second album by American rock band Jane's Addiction. This was the band's final album before their initial break-up the next year in 1991. This alternative rock album is considered one of the best from the band and is also certified double platinum in the US. It performed well critically and commercially, as well as inspired many other rock bands at time and the bands that followed.
I enjoyed this album for the most part, but did not like some of the Spanish lyrics - just because I couldn't understand. Musically, it was a wonderful alt rock album.
The Hives
2/5
Your New Favourite Band is a collection of songs by The Hives released in 2001, featuring tracks from their first two albums and the A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T EP. This garage punk rock compilation album was created with the intention of achieving mainstream success for the band in the UK and abroad. The album met its goal by being highly rated critically and commercially.
I had mixed feelings about this album because I liked the vibe on it, but something about the music I just could not love. Fans of punk rock - especially from the 90's - should love this album.
Living Colour
3/5
Vivid is the debut album by American rock band Living Colour. This hard rock album also has elements of funk, metal, soul, jazz, pop, and rap. It was one of the most popular albums of 1988 and is certified double platinum in the US. Vivid was groundbreaking for fusing so many genres of music into a cohesive piece of hard rock history, plus the band was made up of all Black members - something unusual for a rock band back in the 80's.
Vivid is a great hard rock album and has a little bit of something for everyone. It's not one of my favorites, but it was nice to listen to.
AC/DC
4/5
Back in Black is the seventh album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It was the band's first album with new lead singer Brian Johnson after the death of the previous one Bon Scott. The all-black album cover was a sign of mourning for Scott. AC/DC had already had their commercial breakthrough with their previous album Highway to Hell, but Back in Black was a massive commercial and critical success. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time and has been certified 25x platinum in the US! This arena rock / heavy metal album has been praised as one of the best, meanest, most influential, and timeless hard rock albums.
Back in Black is a nostalgic album for me and it sounds just as good as the last time I listened to any of these songs. This is an amazing album that is easily recognizable because of how influential it was to other rock, punk, and metal acts that performed during the 80's. It's an album that may never go out of style, and deserves a listen from everyone with ears.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
You Want It Darker is the fourteenth album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and his last released during his lifetime (he died 17 days after release). This critically acclaimed album has themes on death, God, and humor and has genres of folk rock and blues. It performed well commercially in Canada, the US, and the UK, being ranked within the top 10 of these countries' album charts.
I loved the acoustic and moody vibes on this album. The music is sparse so the listener can focus on Cohen's gravelly voice which was hauntingly beautiful. This is a great album, but the mood and occasion has to be right to really enjoy it.
The War On Drugs
3/5
Lost in the Dream is the third album by American indie rock band The War on Drugs. It is an indie rock album inspired by Americana and psychedelic rock, with themes about loneliness and depression. This critically acclaimed album performed well commercially but was only certified gold in the UK. It's an inviting and comforting album that contains a collection of dreamy vibes and changing moods that can only be truly realized with repeated listens.
I appreciated the soft and slow rock sound present on this album. It was a touching record that has a lot of greatness to be discovered if you listen closely. Lost in the Dream is nowhere near my favorite album, but I'm glad I had the chance to give it a try. Now it's your turn.
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Dig Your Own Hole is the second album by the English electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers. This electronica, breakbeat/big beat album was a more successful follow-up to their debut album and topped the charts in the UK. It has been certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK.
This was a beautiful early-EDM album imo. It was a seamless album (tracks fade/continue into the next) of either rockin' or spacey vibes. The Chemical Brothers made some great music on this album and I'm excited to hear what else they have made.
Minutemen
3/5
Double Nickels on the Dime is the third album by American punk trio Minutemen. It's a double album containing punk music with elements of rock, funk, country, and jazz. This is Minutemen's best-selling album and it's also considered one of the best American rock albums from the 80's. It was critically popular at release, but being released by an independent record label meant it was hard to gain commercial interest - especially overseas. This album inspired other punk bands to ignore the set beliefs of punk being hardcore and freed them to make exactly the type of music they wanted to.
This was a fun punk album chock-full of quick but great songs. I really liked this album so I'm on the lookout for more albums with music like this. Get your fill of Double Nickels on the Dime to be transported back to the mid-80's!
A Nod's as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse is the third album by British rock band Faces, and their second album of 1971. This was their most successful album worldwide and it was certified gold in the US in 1972. It's a blues rock album that sounded like a lot of fun to record and produce.
I enjoyed this album and will be on the lookout for more albums by Faces. This is a classic rock album that everyone should give a listen to at least once.
Wild Beasts
2/5
Two Dancers is the second album by British indie rock band Wild Beasts. It is certified silver in the UK and remains their best-selling album. This indie rock / dream pop album was well received by critics and was a great second project by the band.
I liked the vibe from this album and enjoyed listening to it during my workday. I recommend this to anyone that likes indie rock or that similar type of mood that chilled-out indie rock gives me. IYKYK
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
Dig Me Out is the third album by the American rock band Sleater-Kinney. An all-female band created as a rebellion against gender roles and the rock industry's male-dominated hierarchy. This punk rock album was critically acclaimed and is considered the band's breakthrough record. It has a heavier sound than their previous album and this may be a result of the new drummer - Janet Weiss - who would become the band's longest-serving drummer. The vocal interplay between Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein was amazing and has been praised by many.
This was an awesome album! It was rockin', but also had moments of beauty where I was just enthralled by the noise the band was able to produce through their instrument and voices. I'm surprised I have never heard of this band before.
Bill Callahan
2/5
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle is the second solo album by American singer-songwriter and musician Bill Callahan. This alternative country album received many positive reviews from critics and charted decently in both Europe and the US.
It was a relaxing country record to listen to and I appreciated having a chance to hear it. Although it's not my go-to music choice.
Christina Aguilera
4/5
Stripped is the fourth album by American singer Christina Aguilera. The pop/R&B album has elements of soul, rock. hip hop and Latin music, with themes on self-respect, sex, and feminism. Christina produced this album as a transition from her teen pop style to a grown up attitude. At release, Stripped received mixed critical reviews - many about the album's lack of focus - but commercially the album performed amazingly. It almost topped the charts in most countries worldwide, is certified 5x platinum in the US, 6x platinum in the UK, triple platinum in all of Europe, was nominated for many and won a single Grammy, and is considered one of the most influential pop albums of all time. Despite the "lack of focus" and large amount of freedom that allowed Christina to record so many different types of songs - which critics took issue with - this album is extremely popular.
It was a great album IMO and I loved hearing some of Christina Aguilera's older music that I haven't heard in a long time. She really did make a statement with Stripped that she wasn't going to be a cute, cookie-cutter pop icon, but instead try to make entertaining music with a broad vocal range. It's an important album for women, but appreciated by all types of people to this day. This is my favorite album of hers so far.
The Cramps
3/5
Songs the Lord Taught Us is the debut album by the American rock band the Cramps. It's an early garage rock/punk album that was influential to the similar genres that followed.
It was a fun album with both rock and punk songs. Not the most well-produced nor do the band take themselves too seriously. They just made music that they thought sounded good, and I respect that.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Shaft is a double album by singer-songwriter and composer Isaac Hayes, recorded as the soundtrack for MGM's 1971 movie Shaft. It was a commercial and critical success and is Hayes' best known work. Hayes originally wanted to be cast as the lead role in the movie, but settled with composing the soundtrack instead. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart as well as spent 60 weeks on it, topped the Top R&B Albums chart for 14 weeks, was certified platinum in the US within a month of release, won three Grammy's, won Hayes the 1972 Oscar for Best Original Song ("Theme from Shaft"), and in 2014 the album was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. This movie score album changed how music was used in film - especially black films - ushering in a more contemporary, funk/soul sound. It may be one of the most commercially popular motion picture soundtrack records.
I loved this album's sound - which means I might like the movie too. It was soulful and funky while also being non-distracting - which is good since a lot of the tracks were supposed to back the film's scenes and not overpower them. This is a great album of progressive soul / R&B music that showcases the early 70's vibes. Get shafted!
Leftfield
3/5
Leftism is the debut album by English electronic music duo Leftfield. This progressive house album was mostly critically acclaimed at release and was praised for being one of the first album-length works of dance music - especially from Britain. The labeled genre of progressive house doesn't quite cover the wide range of EDM influences like tribal, trance, and more. This album is a classic in the EDM - more specifically house - genre.
I loved Leftfield's sound that can be enjoyed just by relaxing or dancing. It was such a great piece of EDM history from the 90's, that I thought was weird I had never heard of this album or duo before. This was a wonderful album!
The Residents
1/5
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen is the fifth album by American art rock group The Residents. It is a combination of their seven-song EP Duck Stab! with the unreleased EP/LP of Buster and Glen - released together after the Duck Stab! EP quickly sold out. It is an interesting collection of short songs that attained a cult following for its haunting themes.
I did not understand the music on this album. It was dark and whimsical at the same time, but had an odd flow that felt choppy and sometimes off-putting. I could tell this band had a cult-following from the first song, before I even glanced at the wiki for an explanation of what I was listening to. You'll know it when you hear it. Only certain people will actually enjoy listening to these weird songs, and I do hope they enjoy it.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears is the debut album by the American folk rock band Mamas & the Papas released in 1966. This platinum certified album peaked at the top spot of the Billboard 200 chart in the US after release and was praised for being so accessible to any type of music listener. The folksy harmonies backed by acoustic guitars gave the album a groovy vibe which could go without being stated since the album released in the mid-60's.
I enjoyed this album and for half an hour (recorded length) I was transported back to the years of love, hugs, hippies, and drugs. There were some standout tracks, but I believe it would be best to listen to the entire album so one can discover them on their own.
Aerosmith
3/5
Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith. This hard rock album released to mixed critical reviews and commercial success and was certified platinum off preorders alone - it has since gone quadruple platinum. Modern reviews rate this album highly as one of Aerosmith's best. Rocks was released during the peak of Aerosmith's touring in the mid 70's so it performed well and inspired many other artists including Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Nirvana.
I thought Rocks - although heavy and rockin' - was just more of the same Aerosmith songs from their previous album. I know not all bands are going to evolve and release something experimental, and it was still good at the end of the day. If you're a fan of rock n' roll, then you'll love this Aerosmith album.
Tom Waits
2/5
Bone Machine is the eleventh album by American singer and musician Tom Waits. This critically acclaimed experimental rock album performed moderately well on the charts around the world and won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. It features a stripped-down rock sound, heavy on percussion, and with dark lyrical themes.
This was an interesting album. At moments it had me bobbing my head along to the drum/bass beat, and at other moments I was lost in a soundscape of dismal sounds and weird lyrics about death and/or religion. Not the type of album to play at a party, but it can be appreciated for its experimental nature if one is in the right head space.
The Byrds
2/5
Fifth Dimension is the third album by the American rock band the Byrds. This folk rock album was influential in originating psychedelic rock with its experimental songs. Critical reviews of the album were mixed, noting the awkwardness of all the different types of songs compiled together. Retrospective reviews are better, since they point out the origins of psychedelic rock on this album.
I thought this was a decent album of rock music from the mid-60's. Of course some songs were better than others, but most of the album seemed to be forgettable tracks that I wouldn't notice if I randomly heard them over the next few days/weeks. Still, it's almost a classic of early rock music so I recommend giving it a listen, and deciding for yourself how you like it.
Gary Numan
3/5
The Pleasure Principle is the debut solo album by English new wave musician Gary Numan. This synth-pop/new wave album was Numan's most electric sounding project and has science fiction themes. Gary went solo after the final album Replicas performed decently well for his previous band Tubeway Army. The Pleasure Principle let Numan expand on the new wave music he wanted to make.
This easy-listening album for robots had a great collection of tracks and the percussion was top notch. It was critically acclaimed, but commercially people thought it was a one-hit wonder. I recommend this album.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
The Sun Rises in the East is the debut album by American hip hop rapper Jeru the Damaja. Considered to be Jeru's best work, this album revitalized East Coast hip hop, and was well received by critics. Jeru has a unique, broken/disjointed poetic flow for his raps, and he paired that well with the hypnotic beats on this album.
This was a cool piece of music history from around the golden age of hip hop. During the mid-90's, a listener could tell the difference between West Coast and East Coast hip hop which were both vying for dominance of the market. The rapping isn't as smooth as modern day's standards, but it brings a whole different vibe that was just as good when this album was released.
Pantera
4/5
Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Pantera. Being their first album after their breakthrough album (Cowboys from Hell - previous album), Vulgar Display of Power was a massive success. It's the band's highest selling album, is certified double platinum in the US, and is considered one of the most influential heavy metal albums. Critics and fans loved the hard, aggressive riffs and lyrics on this album, making this a staple of the heavy metal genre - especially for the 90's.
If head-banging, mosh-pitting, or fast-paced, angry guitar playing is your thing, then you will enjoy this album. The title suits it perfectly; Pantera can make some damn good metal music!
Giant Sand
3/5
Chore of Enchantment is the 16th album by the American alternative rock band Giant Sand. This folksy, alternative rock album was highly rated by critics. It contains emotionally raw and tender songs about empathy for your fellow human.
I thought Chore of Enchantment was a beautifully moving album with music and themes that fit together nicely. It was a great easy-listening album that I recommend for anyone looking for background music.
Pixies
3/5
Surfer Rosa is the debut album by the American alternative rock band Pixies. This is considered to be one of the best Pixies' albums and a great rock album overall. It's been certified gold in Canada, US, and UK. The hooks and guitar riffs are memorable and unique which was praised by critics.
I thought this was an amazing album and I'm glad I got to listen to the Pixies' debut album for the first time. I agree this is a staple of alternative rock and everyone should give it a listen.
Simple Minds
3/5
New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) is the fifth album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. This new wave / synth-pop album was a turning point for the band because they attained critical and commercial success in the UK and Europe. The album is certified platinum in the UK, Netherlands, and New Zealand, and certified gold in Belgium, France, Sweden, and Canada.
This was a beautiful synth-pop album with themes on religion. The music and lyrics are great while not being overly religious to the point of being a turn-off. I think any fans of pop music will love this Simple Minds album.
Spiritualized
3/5
Lazer Guided Melodies is the debut album by English space rock band Spiritualized. This space rock / dream pop / shoegaze album has lengthy, minimalist music tracks with hypnotic effects like echos or distortion, and breathy, obscured vocals. It's been described as one of the best dream pop albums by Pitchfork.
I loved the vibes from the album. It felt otherworldly, soothing, and richly textured. This was an exciting and interesting album, so I highly recommend it.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
Darklands is the second album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain. It remains their highest-charting album after reaching #5 on the UK Albums chart, and it's certified gold in the UK. This alt rock album used a drum machine because the drummer of the band left for a new band before recording began.
I enjoyed the simplicity of the post-punk, alt rock music on this album and believe most others would like this album too.
Orbital
3/5
Orbital (also known as Orbital 2 or the Brown Album because it's officially untitled) is the second album by English electronic music duo Orbital. This techno/dance album contains more atmospheric music than rave music - common on their first album. The album has a spacey dance vibe with creative moments that are brought about with simple electronic sounds melded into music. A listener will likely hear new things on repeated listenings. The duo of Orbital were ahead of their time with this techno ensemble.
I loved this unique electronic album and think it's a great album from the early golden age of EDM. I felt nostalgia for a time period I was barely alive for and definitely never listened to any music like this back then. I think most people would enjoy this album, even if they never give it another listen.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Felt Mountain is the debut album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp. This electronica/ambient/trip-hop album takes musical influences from pop, folk, and cabaret, and gives it an electronic sounding twist. Felt Mountain was critically acclaimed and described as elegant, graceful, and enchanting. It sold a total of 500,000 copies worldwide two and a half years after release, and has been certified gold in the UK.
This was a beautiful album of folksy electronica music. Felt Mountain is a fun listen and I'm sure most people would love it like I did.
Cheap Trick
4/5
Cheap Trick at Budokan is the first live album by American rock band Cheap Trick - their fourth album overall - and their best-selling record. This live album showcased the high energy of Cheap Trick's tours and rocketed the band into popularity after this album received lots of radio airplay. This rock album is critically acclaimed, being certified triple platinum in the US, quadruple platinum in Canada, and regarded as one of the best live albums and a classic in the power pop genre. Fun fact: the live recording on this album comes from Osaka, Japan instead of the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, because Osaka was a smaller venue which resulted in less screaming fans that would drown out the band (the fans in Osaka still tried though). Cheap Trick is well known for the world famous single on this album "I Want You to Want Me".
At Budokan sent tidal waves through the music industry. At a time when disco and soft rock was popular, Cheap Trick paved the way for them and additional hard rock bands to be back on top of the charts in the upcoming decade of the 80's. It's a true underdog story, in which an American band that was performing mediocrely at home could travel abroad to Japan and become a viral sensation; this success then followed them back home to America and Canada. The album has since been inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, and is still rated highly on best album lists to this day.
Although the venue and fans on the live album can make it hard to hear the band's music at times, it's this energy that makes the album even better. You get to really feel like you're there in Japan, rocking out to some classic hard rock/power pop music. I'm so glad I got the chance to listen to this album and I hope many others do the same.
Lightning Bolt
3/5
Wonderful Rainbow is the third album by American noise rock band Lightning Bolt. Although the music can be harsh and challenging to listen to, this is considered to be their most accessible album. The noise rock album contains heavy, catchy guitar riffs and frenzied drums.
Wonderful Rainbow is critically acclaimed and an ear-lashing good time to listen to! Not my favorite type of rock, but it was a unique album.
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Dr. Octagonecologyst is the debut solo album by American rapper and Ultramagnetic MCs member Kool Keith, released under his alias Dr. Octagon. This hip hop album introduces listeners to Dr. Octagon, a homicidal, extraterrestrial, time-traveling gynecologist and surgeon, while sonically fusing psychedelic electronic music with trip hop, and hip hop. The amazing production was managed by Dan "The Automator" Nakamura and the cool record scratches came from DJ Qbert. Kool Keith provided the avant-garde, slightly humorous, and science fiction inspired lyrics as raps over the trip hop/hip hop beats. This was an innovative album released during the golden age of hip hop, when most artists wanted to be gangsta rappers. It stands out because Dr. Octagon decided to do things a little differently or otherworldly.
Although it never charted, this album performed well commercially. Critics appreciated the raw, spooky, and heavy hip hop which was unlike any of the "run-of-the-mill" hip hop albums being produced at that time. Kool Keith went on to dislike his creation Dr. Octagon because fans wanted that to be his persona instead of just a project for a single album.
I loved this unique hip hop album, even though the lyrics can be a bit zany at times. It's music you don't hear regularly and it's nice to enjoy the absurdness of it all. Great album of dope beats and interesting raps.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Live/Dead is the first live album (and fourth overall) released by the American psychedelic rock band Grateful Dead. It was recorded and released with the intentions of showcasing the band's live performances while also fulfilling their contract and paying off debts to the record company Warner Bros. Critics loved this album and noted that it was the next best thing than actually listening live at a Dead concert. Grateful Dead popularized jam rock with their style of music and this album is no exception. It fuses genres of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, hard rock, gospel, reggae, and world music along with psychedelia to give it a nice spin. The album is one of the best of psychedelic rock from the 60's and created a generation of cult followers.
Finally, I'm reviewing a Grateful Dead album. I always hear so much about this band, but rarely do I listen to their music. The music is beautiful, but it almost feels sacred - like you're supposed to listen to it in a certain setting with people you love or fellow dead heads. The live album really captures the energy from a Grateful Dead concert, which I'm told you need to experience at least once. This band will go down in history as having the most psychedelic accessible music that anyone can jam to in any head space. Give it a listen and let your worries melt away.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Talking Timbuktu is the 1994 collaboration album between Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré and American guitarist/producer Ry Cooder. This Malian folk crossed with hip hop album was certified gold in Europe in 2009 and won a Grammy in 1994 for Best World Music album.
I enjoyed the cultural music on this album and was vibing to the beats. It's a great album to hear some world music.
OutKast
4/5
Stankonia is the fourth album by American hip hop duo Outkast. This funky hip hop album contains elements from other genres such as: EDM, psychedelia, gospel, and rock. This award winning album is critically acclaimed and considered to be one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. It won Grammy's for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ms. Jackson", and it's certified quintuple platinum in the US.
The structure of Stankonia made it accessible to all types of music fans. It has the bones of hip hop and rap, with upbeat, funky, and rockin' hooks for the pop, rock, and soul fans. This is a classic hip hop album that holds up to this day. Stankonia was a fun album to listen to and well produced. Everyone should give this a listen, even if you already know its singles by heart.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
Tank Battles: The Songs of Hanns Eisler is a solo album by German singer Dagmar Krause. The album contains 26 tracks composed by German composer Hanns Eisler and sung by Dagmar Krause in both English and German (different album versions). The original compositions stand the test of time by being just as impressive on this album when they first were produced early to mid 20th century. Krause's vocal work is stunning and she beautifully provided the lyrics to accompany the famous compositions.
This was an interesting album to listen to. The avant-garde, jazzy album contains some impeccable music even if it's hard to understand at times with the German accent. Dagmar Krause added a dash of her own special sauce to Hanns Eisler's works, so it continues to live on in the modern music landscape.
Kate Bush
2/5
The Sensual World is the sixth album by the English art rock singer Kate Bush. This poppy art rock album has been certified platinum in the UK and gold in the US. It performed well commercially and critically.
I like Kate Bush's singing voice, but this album did not do it for me. Nothing grabbed my attention and the album ended up being background noise while I got work done. Not sure why this Kate Bush album wasn't as good as the last one I listened to, but oh well. You can't create masterpieces every time.
Sparks
2/5
Kimono My House is the third album by American rock band Sparks. This glam/art/pop rock album was critically acclaimed at release and is considered the Sparks' breakthrough album as well as their best album. The Sparks' duo moved to the UK before recording this album and also shifted their music style to be more pop-oriented. This was a popular album in the UK, being certified gold and charting well along with its singles.
I enjoyed this fun glam rock album for the most part. Nothing unique stuck out to me, but overall it was a decent album.
Silver Jews
3/5
Bright Flight is the fourth album by American indie rock group Silver Jews. This emotional album contains melodies about love, anxiety, and rich imagery created by the lyrics.
I liked this album, but not one track really blew me away. They were all averagely good for the standard emotional indie rock song. Interesting album and band that I would listen to again for another Silver Jews album.
Talking Heads
3/5
Remain in Light is the fourth album by American rock band Talking Heads. This is considered to be the band's magnum opus and it was more experimental than their previous work. Sonically, the album is influenced primarily by African music but also by polyrhythms, funk, and electronica, and the final product is a mix of new wave, post-punk, afrofunk, and art rock. Remain in Light is certified gold in the US, UK, and Canada, and the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry in the US for being culturally and artistically significant. The album performed well critically because of its new, experimental music that showed the band's evolution.
This was an awesome and interesting album. I's a classic for a reason. The punk and rock music mixed with African rhythms is quite the experience. I recommend this Talking Heads album to everyone.
Missy Elliott
3/5
Supa Dupa Fly is the debut album by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. Missy was praised for her persona and performance, while Timbaland - the album's producer and recorder - received acclaim for his production style. This album topped the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and reached 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Supa Dupa Fly has also been certified platinum in the US, and is considered a classic in the hip hop genre. This was the first hip hop album from a female rapper that performed well and paved the way for similar female artists to do the same.
I love the way Missy Elliott raps and the musical production by Timbaland was well done. Supa Dupa Fly is a great R&B/hip hop album that everyone should give a listen to.
Big Star
3/5
#1 Record is the debut album by the American rock band Big Star. This is an important album within the power pop genre - since it's one of the first that was produced well, but it sold poorly at release due to distribution issues. Sales picked up after the album was reissued in the late 70's. Critically, the album was lauded by critics at release, but the record label could not provide enough albums to stores for their sales.
This was a great feel-good album containing sweet harmonies along with strong guitar playing. I liked this album, and I think most people would too.
Metallica
3/5
...And Justice for All is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Metallica. This thrash/progressive metal album features aggressive and complex song structures, but little lyrics or chorus. The album has been acclaimed for its depth and is certified 8x platinum in the US, while the single "One" earned the band their first Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1990. At release, it was Metallica's best-selling album (this record was beaten by their self-titled next album) and was their radio breakthrough album - receiving lots of media exposure. Controversially, the bass/low end of the album was muffled and is mostly inaudible. This knocked some points off from critics and the reasoning from production is that the band made it happen during mixing because their hearing had been shot from all the touring they did, so they couldn't hear the bass anyway.
I thought this was an awesome metal album for its long songs and varying guitar riffs that let each track evolve into something different. It was heavy and fast-paced, but had some parts that were sonically slower and actually beautiful instead of aggressive. Any fan of metal will love this album and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Ute Lemper
2/5
Punishing Kiss is a 2000 classical/pop album by German singer Ute Lemper. Ute sings tracks with/from the backing band - the Divine Comedy - and compositions from other artists such as Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Philip Glass, Scott Walker, and Kurt Weill. There is also a French version of this album containing three bonus songs entirely in French.
This album performed decently well in Europe and specifically the UK. Ute Lemper is a beautiful singer and it was nice to hear these tracks, although it's not the type of music I'm usually into.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
You've Come a Long Way, Baby is the second album by Fatboy Slim - English electronic music producer Norman Cook. This was Fatboy Slim's breakthrough album, being critically acclaimed, performing well on charts around the world, and earning many gold and multi-platinum certifications too. The big beat / techno album is filled with big hooks, cool beats, and unexpected twists that almost make this a near-perfect electronica record.
I've loved the single "Right Here, Right Now" since I first heard it in the early 2000's, and the rest of this album is just as catchy. I'm glad I finally got the chance to listen to the whole album. Fatboy Slim is an EDM treasure that produced some truly unique tracks. Please give this album a listen.
Pink Floyd
4/5
The Wall is the eleventh album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It is a rock opera concept album about a jaded rock star named Pink who puts up a "wall" to society. The album was a commercial success, initially receiving mixed critical reviews, but now is considered one of the greatest albums of all time in addition to being the best-known concept album, and a best-selling album. The worldwide success of this album includes multi-platinum certifications in the UK, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Australia, and finally 23x platinum in the US.
The Wall is an epic album with a few standout tracks that makes for a great listen. It's a rock opera with a compelling story that also still "rocks". I enjoyed it although maybe not as much as others would. Give it a listen and decide for yourself how good it is.
Sly & The Family Stone
2/5
There's a Riot Goin' On is the fifth album by American funk and soul band Sly and the Family Stone. This psychedelic deep funk album contained edgier rhythms and a dense mix of sounds for a more challenging and darker experience than previous albums. This change in themes could be a result of multiple sources including drug use, the civil rights movement at the time, and political turmoil due to war and assassinations. The album was a commercial success on release and has been certified platinum in the US. Critical reviews were mixed at first, but this album is now regarded as an influential work impacting funk, soul, jazz, and hip hop genres.
This was not an easy album to listen to. The music is muddied, overdubbed, and has many rifts akin to scatting. In fact, I thought a lot of the tracks sounded too similar, but still good enough overall to pass as a decent funk album. This would be an album to turn on when you want to tune out and let the world pass by with apathy sapping your consciousness. It was an important album at release because one could argue it was the soundtrack for all the things going on - specifically in America. It's a somber number about the death of the 60's. Please give this influential funk album a listen and think for yourself about what Sly & The Family meant by this historic piece of music.
Merle Haggard
2/5
I'm a Lonesome Fugitive is the third album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers. This country album was a hit in the US and brought Haggard fame. It's a moving and overall great album from beginning to end. Give it a shot!
Paul McCartney
2/5
McCartney is the debut solo album by English musician Paul McCartney. He recorded it in secret from in his home with basic recording equipment as a result of the controversy of rumors that the Beatles were breaking up. John Lennon had already departed the Beatles in 1969, and with the release of this solo album by Paul McCartney in 1970 the break up was all but confirmed. Paul McCartney was blamed for the band's breakup - even though John Lennon had quit a year before - because the former explained the band's situation during an interview about this album while the latter stayed quiet. Because of the publicity of the Beatles break up, this McCartney album performed well commercially, but was seen as average in the ears of critics. This album can be categorized as one of the first lo-fi indie pop rock albums for its production and musical style. It was a modest album with minimal production that listeners either hate or respect. It's certified double platinum in the US.
I didn't care much for this solo McCartney album as a result of the low-key music production and similar sounding tracks. However, points were given for recording a solo album by yourself that can still pass as decent and performed well commercially.
John Martyn
3/5
One World is the seventh album by Scottish guitarist and singer John Martyn. This experimental pop album includes elements of folk rock, jazz, funk, and dub/reggae, and features an echo effect plus a wide range of ambient sounds for a relaxing mood akin to meditative music. It's considered one of Martyn's best albums, and it can also be cited as the origin of the trip hop genre for its slow tempos and atmospheric sound.
The warm, rich sounds on this album soothe the listener and provide a beautiful experience for either solitude or intimacy. I loved this calming album and I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it.
Kanye West
4/5
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the fifth album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It's primarily a hip hop/rap album, but it features a grand production style using a wide range of different musical elements - including the genres of soul, pop, baroque, electronica, progressive rock, and symphonic (orchestra compositions). There are many producers and vocalists featured on this album that had helped West create this masterpiece over days of 24 hour recording sessions. The recording process was collaborative in which West asked for contributions and criticism on the music being produced. Kanye West poured his heart and soul into this album and raps about some of the struggles he faces. All of this resulted in a sonic assault of beautifully layered samples, bass beats, vocals, and instruments that has since been described as a rap opera or the first progressive-rap album. In fact, there is a musical short film called Runaway that West produced along with this album to really make this a rap opera.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was a best-seller at release and critics were raving about it. It's a chart topper and a favorite album for Best Of lists. It's been certified 3x platinum in the US and platinum in Canada. It won the Best Rap Album Grammy in 2012, while "All of the Lights" won the Best Rap Song Grammy. Controversy surrounded the coveted Grammy Album of the Year because this album (along with West's next album Watch the Throne) was not even nominated despite it being one of the most widely positively reviewed albums. This was probably a political decision since Kanye West can be polarizing.
In conclusion, this is an awesome Kanye West album - perhaps his best. It's a blockbuster release for hip hop in the early 2010's, and continues to provide inspiration for new projects. I have a soft spot for "Runaway" and "All of the Lights", but every track is a gem. You have to give this album a listen!
Pixies
2/5
Bossanova is the third album by American alternative rock band Pixies. It's an alternative rock album that performed well critically and commercially. Although the music sounded more mainstream, this Pixies album remained just enough within the underground to be "cool". It charted decently well but has only been certified gold in France and the UK.
I enjoyed the vibes given off by this album with its grungy sound but fun melodies. The Pixies is a wonderful band and this is a great album from them.
The Specials
2/5
The Specials is the debut album by British ska revival band the Specials. It's a defining album from the UK ska scene - ska is similar to reggae but uses elements of American jazz & blues - the revival brings guitars and punk rock into the mix for a sense of anger instead of calming "Caribbean" ska. Critical reviews were mixed because most thought the band was not living up to its potential and left some rough spots in the album. The debut album did go on to be certified gold in the UK. In retrospect, this album is a time capsule of the British rock scene in the late 70's/early 80's. The band created a wonderful album for the time period, even if it left more to be desired.
I didn't care much for this type of music (ska), but it was unique enough to hold my interest while I worked during my day. Like some other reviews I read said, this album would've sounded better if we were listening to it in the UK for a time after its release. The novelty has worn off and this genre has basically fizzled out.
Ride
3/5
Nowhere is the debut album by British shoegaze band Ride. Shoegaze is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock known for its beautiful mixture of hushed vocals, distortion, feedback, & echo guitar effects, plus overwhelming volume. Nowhere was the band's first full album after various LP's were released. Their indie music is relaxing and some of the best from the 90's. Nowhere is a phenomenal album, critically acclaimed, and considered one of the best in the Shoegaze genre.
I enjoyed the calming nature of this album and found most tracks to be near-masterpieces. If you like indie music, then this is an album to listen to!
Air
3/5
Moon Safari is the debut album by French electronic music duo Air. This critically acclaimed album is credited with initializing the growth of the downtempo genre. Other genres for this album are space/dream pop, electronica, chill-out, and psychedelia. Moon Safari performed well commercially and has been certified double platinum in Denmark and the UK, in addition to being gold or platinum in many other European countries and Australia.
This album is a mesmerizing experience of sounds that swirl around the listener and embrace them with a warm, laid back attitude. I loved its inventive nature and unique sophisticated version of electronica music.
King Crimson
2/5
Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson. This interesting piece of music contains improvised melodies and is influenced mostly by jazz and Eastern European classical music, but also has parts that are as hard-hitting as heavy metal. It was critically acclaimed at release and charted well in the US, UK, Finland, Japan and Italy.
Although primarily a progressive rock album, you can't rock out to this album or even dance to it because the beat keeps evolving throughout. There's so much happening in the tracks as well that you don't necessarily want to listen to this album in the background. You must go in to this album with open ears and be prepared to be taken on a sonic ride.
The Clash
3/5
London Calling is the third album by English rock band the Clash. This is a double album that combines the band's traditional punk rock sound with their growing interest in new wave and rock & roll. Critically acclaimed, it's considered one of the greatest albums of all time - especially within the punk genre - and it's been certified gold in Canada & France, and platinum in Italy, the UK, & the US. London Calling has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, sits near the top of many "best of album lists", and is one of the most influential classic punk rock albums of all time.
You can't get more rock & roll then this album. London Calling is an awesome album that will entertain listeners the whole duration of its hour-long double album. This may be the epitome of the punk rock golden years, and I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it.
Guns N' Roses
4/5
Appetite for Destruction is the debut album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Initially receiving little attention, it wasn't until a year after release, touring, and radio airplay that this album received the commercial success it deserved. This album topped the US Billboard 200 and US Top Hard Rock Albums charts almost a year after release, and it has since been certified 18x platinum in the US (among certifications in many other countries). It became the best-selling debut album of all time, and the seventh best-selling in the US (which makes it one of the best-selling albums globally). This hard rock album stirred up the current rock scene at the time by incorporating similar genres of music such as metal, punk rock, glam metal, and old school blues rock. Guns N' Roses have not produced an album this commercially successful since this debut album, which makes this breakout album all the more unique.
Appetite For Destruction is a wild, fun time. It's a classic in the hard rock genre with a few staple songs that everyone should know. It was a blessing to finally listen to this amazing album all in one go. Don't miss out on this album and give it a listen!
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
We're Only in It for the Money is the third album by American rock band the Mothers of Invention. It is an experimental psychedelic rock genre, satirical concept album with themes about hippies and both sides of US politics. Although releasing the album stirred controversy within the record label, it received critical acclaim on release. This album was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2005 for its cultural and historical influence.
This was an interesting album to say the least. It was intended to be trippy, but I was shocked at how crazy the musical and vocal arrangements were. Almost indescribable, this album has to be listened to to be understood. Even then, it may need a few listens before every part of this album can sink in and have meaning. Frank Zappa and the rest of the band were geniuses that wanted to poke fun at politics and the music industry with this album.
The xx
3/5
I See You is the third album by English indie pop band the xx - their first in over four years. The music on this album is progressive and wide-ranging, making it more accessible to the general population than their first two albums. Released to critical acclaim, this album was the No.1 album in the UK, No.2 in the US, and reached the top 10's on many charts worldwide. It has been certified gold in the UK.
I love this band and am shocked I did not know about their third album. This was a pleasant surprise for me to listen to this album for the first time. The xx did a great job of evolving their music for this album without subtracting from the intimate style they're known for. Please give this album and the previous two albums from the xx a listen, because they're amazing.
Shivkumar Sharma
3/5
Call of the Valley is an instrumental Hindustani classical album from 1968. It's a concept album following an Indian shepherd throughout his various daily activities. Interestingly, the melodic tone changes over the course of the album to denote the changing of time of day which is known as ragas within Indian classical music. This album did a wonderful job of introducing Indian music to Western audiences, and has since become the best-selling Indian music album worldwide.
This album may be the best one around for classical Indian/Hindu music. Listening to this will immediately transport you to the calming countryside of India, and the music will soothe you for over an hour. I highly recommend this album for anyone interested in Indian music.
The Dictators
3/5
The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! is the debut album by American punk rock band The Dictators. It's considered one of the earliest examples of punk rock. Although confusing to critics and commercial audiences at release for its loud, hard, & fast rock n' roll, as well as the humorous lyrics, it was well-received (rated highly for the most part) and deserves all the credit for evolving rock and roll into punk rock.
This was a fun album! It had the fast & hard guitar and drum bits from punk rock, plus some comedic lyrics about anything & everything from music, to girls, to cars, to pop culture of the early 70's. I liked most of this album, since the band didn't take themselves seriously and recorded something they were having fun with. Who knew this type of music would go on to become punk rock?
The Kinks
3/5
Face to Face is the fourth album by the English rock band the Kinks. Initially, the album only performed averagely critically and commercially, but it has since earned critical acclaim, considered a pivotal album of the psychedelic era and the Kinks' evolution, as well as regarded as rock's first concept album. This Kinks' album is influenced by baroque pop, but can also be classified as a rock or garage pop album.
This was a decent album of pop rock music that was upbeat and fun to listen to. "Sunny Afternoon" is perhaps the stand-out track, but each song had its own charm. I don't know much of the Kinks' albums or songs, so it's impossible for me to compare this album to any of their others. I guess I'll have to explore this band's other works now.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Pieces of the Sky is the second album and commercial breakthrough by American country music artist Emmylou Harris. This country album features an eclectic assortment of song styles that appealed to Emmylou, including various covers of popular songs like "Too Far Gone," "The Bottle Let Me Down," "For No One," and "Coat of Many Colors".
This is a beautiful album from a talented singer. The album's tracks do a great job of making the listener feel different things while you get swept away by the soothing music. Glad I had the chance to listen to this album.
Paul Simon
2/5
Hearts and Bones is the sixth solo album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. This pop rock album somewhat focuses on Simon's breakup with actress Carrie Fisher. Originally, this album was going to be produced by both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, but dealing with the breakup Simon thought this should be a solo album. In the end, this conflict ensured there would never be another Simon & Garfunkel album (two breakups in one album). It performed well commercially and critically, but was not one of Simon's best solo albums.
This was an interesting album of pop rock music with personal lyrics from Paul Simon. Definitely a breakup album as Simon had to work through some stuff. I didn't care much for the sappier songs, but overall the album is decent, although it's not my type of music and I prefer the duo Simon & Garfunkel over their solo work.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
The Rising is the twelfth album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen. It was immediately a critical and commercial success since fans were starved for an album for seven years - topping the Billboard 200 along with other album charts worldwide and winning the 2003 Grammy for Best Rock Album. The Rising has been certified a mix of gold and platinum in many countries, notably double platinum in the US, and platinum in the UK.
It is an emotional album with a main theme of hope. The music is well produced and a beautiful accompaniment to Springsteen's empathy-inducing lyrics. In my opinion, the songs' styles sound older than early 2000's rock, but that may be a result of Springsteen being in the music industry a long time. In conclusion, The Rising is a solid album that has been listened to for multiple reasons when one needs a little hope.
Supertramp
2/5
Crime of the Century is the third album by the English progressive rock band Supertramp. Critically acclaimed, this is Supertramp's commercial breakthrough album since it charted incredibly well around the world. This art rock / progressive rock album is certified diamond in Canada, platinum in France & New Zealand, and gold in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, the UK & the US.
This is a great rock album from the mid-70's and was a much needed success for the band. It reminds me of Queen, but without the over-produced song structures. Any fan of progressive rock should enjoy this album.
Aimee Mann
2/5
Whatever is the first solo album by American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann. This pop rock album received positive reviews from critics, with many complimenting Mann's wordplay and melody of her lyrics. The standout tracks are "I Should've Known, 4th of July, & Mr. Harris".
I thought this was a decent album, but nothing really grabbed my attention saying "this is amazing". I do agree with critics that Aimee Mann has great lyrics on this album, and the music compliments them too. Fans of pop music should enjoy this album.
John Lennon
3/5
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is the debut solo album by English musician John Lennon. Released to mixed reviews, it was eventually regarded as Lennon's best solo album. It charted well around the world and has been certified gold in the US and silver in the UK (2021 re-release). John Lennon was going through primal scream therapy during recording this album, which emphasized his childhood traumas and influenced the themes of child abandonment and psychological suffering present on this album.
Lennon produced this album with a chip on his shoulder and any listener can tell. But the music on this album was well done and fits the themes put forward. I liked the standout tracks of "Mother, Working Class Hero, and God". RIP John Lennon. This is a great album to remember him by.
Janet Jackson
3/5
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson. She considered it a concept album about social issues including racism, poverty, substance abuse, and romance. Rhythm Nation is a fusion of pop, R&B, and hip hop collectively known as new jack swing. Critically and commercially acclaimed, the album topped the Billboard 200 chart, is certified 6x platinum (reached double platinum in its year of release), was the best-selling album of 1990, and is considered Janet Jackson's musical career peak. It's the only album ever to have 7 top-5 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
This album was a perfect follow up to Jackson's third album Control. She capitalized off the hype of Control and set the bar higher with Rhythm Nation. The music is great and seems to break down barriers between listeners. Jackson wanted us to all feel the same thing when we listened to this album, and she did a wonderful job at making an awesome album.
Femi Kuti
2/5
Femi Kuti is the third album by Nigerian musician Femi Kuti. This release through Motown's Tabu Records label was the first introduction of Kuti and afrobeat music to the rest of the world. Afrobeat is a mixture of traditional West African musical styles with American funk, jazz, and soul music along with a focus on percussion, interesting rhythms, and chanting. The album performed well critically and is important for bringing afrobeat to the world stage.
I thought this was a wonderful album, although not as popular as many other albums on this journey. The music is entertaining and the production is well done, so there's not many negatives about this album. If you're interested in afrobeat, then give Femi Kuti a listen.
2/5
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned is the second album by Australian-American noise rock band Liars. This album was more experimental than their post-punk debut album, and is a loose concept album about witchcraft on a mountain in Germany with a tribal sound. The album performed decently well critically and is commended for its unique sound.
I'm torn between liking this album and hating it. Some tracks were good, while others droned on with annoying sounds. It is noise rock, but some of the music was a little more noise than rock. Overall, it's an interesting piece of music history.
2/5
The Lexicon of Love is the debut album by the English pop band ABC. This synth-pop, new wave album is sort of a concept album of love songs and heartache. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum in the UK and gold in the US.
It's a great British pop album from the 80's with danceable songs about love. The productions is well done and the pop music stands the test of time by being just as good today as when it released. If you like pop music, then this is an album for you.
Muddy Waters
3/5
Hard Again is a blues album by American blues singer Muddy Waters. Critically acclaimed at release, this is considered Muddy Waters' comeback album since he took some time off from recording while he was switching record labels. This album won the 1977 Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording.
This is an epic blues album. It has great musicians and Muddy Waters' voice is loud and proud. The band had fun creating this blues masterpiece, and it shows.
The Stooges
2/5
The Stooges is the debut album by American rock band the Stooges. This proto-punk / garage rock album was ahead of its time. The punk rock sound was still new, so critics were calling this album loud and boring garage rock, although charged with tremendous energy. This debut album and The Stooges second album has since been considered landmark releases within early punk music.
The production of this debut album is well done and the music is rockin'. But I did not find much I liked on this album besides the high energy punk rock music, which faded into the background as the album's songs progressed.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
Rattlesnakes is the debut album by the British rock and pop band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. This jangle pop / folk rock album was inspired by Bob Dylan's music and its song's themes are mostly about love/romance. Critically acclaimed, this debut album was popular at release and was commended for being a fresh dose of tender pop tracks with dashes of other genres for balance.
Although overall I liked this album, there were some songs not for me, and the pop music kind of gets old since I believe it's always been overplayed. However, for a debut album Lloyd Cole hit this one out of the park and made his band an instant sensation.
Queen
3/5
Sheer Heart Attack is the third album by the British rock band Queen. This was the first album of that "classic" Queen sound of hard rock guitars instead of the earlier progressive rock. The songs were heavier and more concise which made this album more popular, and the band's skills were at the top of their game. This album has been certified platinum in Canada, Poland, and the UK, and certified gold in Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the US.
I love Queen, but this is the first time I've listened to this album in one go. Overall it was great, with some standout tracks that entertain from start to finish. However, some of these songs seem forgettable to me, like they could be rock songs from any band during the 70's. Although Queen transitioning to hard rock was a good idea in the long term, I think I missed some of the earlier work's charm on this album. Still, an amazing band and album though.
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Mott is the sixth album by British rock band Mott the Hoople. It is a critically acclaimed glam rock album released in the early 70's.
This was a great classic rock album from the golden period of rock 'n' roll. The music is well produced, making the album fun to listen to, although I didn't find any amazing tracks on this album. It's a decent glam rock album if one is into that specific type of rock music.
The Cure
2/5
Pornography is the fourth album by English rock band the Cure. This was the last album of their dark, gothic rock phase before they switched to brighter, new wave. The music is heavily layered with instruments, lyrics, and effects, all the while giving off depressive vibes. It was poorly reviewed by critics at release, but was the Cure's most popular album and has since been considered an important piece of gothic rock development.
I commend the musical talent by the Cure on Pornography, but I do think there's a little too much "woe is me" in the lyrics. The band were going through a rough patch and this was their expression of that. Their pain did make a great gothic rock album though. This is a nice piece of rock history, even if it's not mine or your type of rock.
Fats Domino
2/5
This Is Fats Domino! is the third album by R&B pianist and vocalist Fats Domino. This is a rock 'n' roll album that sold 50,000 copies in just three months.
I think this album is showing its age. The music and vocals sounded dated, and one can tell this album was produced during the early transition from blues rock to rock 'n' roll. It's not the same rock that were used to today.
Miriam Makeba
2/5
Miriam Makeba is the debut album by South African singer-songwriter Miriam Makeba. This Afropop / world music album did not perform as well as the record label thought it would, but it still made Makeba famous in the US. For her second album, they would focus more on her African heritage and its music to make her albums stand out better.
Although I liked Makeba's voice, this album did not stand out to me as anything special. Besides "The Click Song," the tracks are forgettable and could be any song with African style. This is also a historically important album from a South African native during the anti-apartheid movement, but that doesn't give any points to the musical review. Overall, great Afropop album with a talented singer.
CHVRCHES
3/5
The Bones of What You Believe is the debut album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches. This indie pop/synth-pop album received critical acclaim for its songwriting and vocals. The album charted around the world, but it has only been certified gold in the UK.
This was a good album of great songs that have a mix of pop and electronica. There's not much to dislike about this album, and you'll find new things to love on multiple listens. Now I need to listen to more CHVRCHES albums.
Stan Getz
3/5
Getz/Gilberto is a joint album by American saxophonist Stan Getz and Brazilian guitarist João Gilberto. It's a jazz / bossa nova album that popularized bossa nova worldwide and became one of the best-selling jazz albums. Widely acclaimed, this album won Grammys for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical, and was the first non-American album to win Album of the Year in 1965. This album has been certified silver in the UK and gold in Argentina, Canada, Italy, and the US. Funnily enough, the main pair of musicians on this album did not get along in the studio, but they worked through their issues and collaborated on a few albums of bossa nova music.
This important piece of bossa nova music or Brazilian jazz is great. It's soft and tender vocals (on some tracks) pair well with the rhythmic guitars, bass, piano, and sax. This is a beautiful album, even if one is not a fan of jazz.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Isn't Anything is the debut album by Irish-English rock band My Bloody Valentine. They helped pioneer the indie and alternative rock genre shoegaze with this album's innovative guitars. This album was critically acclaimed at release and has unique guitar work on its songs.
Isn't Anything is an important album for music history. It established shoegaze as a dreamy, loud/overwhelming, and guitar effect-laden genre. I liked this type of indie rock and thought this was a cool album. It's nice when a band tries something new instead of sticking to the same old grooves.
The Band
3/5
The Band is the second album by the Canadian-American rock band the Band. It is an Americana concept album focusing on people, places, and traditions, and the music genre is similar to folk/country rock. Critically acclaimed, this album contains many of the Band's best known songs and performed well commercially at release.
This is a great album of folksy music from the late 60's. The songs are fun and some are really good like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek". This is a classic Americana album and may be the best Band album, so give it a listen!
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
Tragic Songs of Life is the debut album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers. This traditional folk/country music is a concept album of heartbreaks and murder ballads. More than 50 years later, this album still holds up as a go-to for traditional folksy songs about death and tragedies.
I appreciated the old school songs on this album, but the music is showing its age. The Louvin Brothers were great on this album and it may be one of their best. Give this album a listen if you like classic folk/country music.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
What's Going On is the eleventh album by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. This progressive soul piece is a concept album featuring a song cycle (tracks blend into the next, intending to be played all together) with political views about the Vietnam War and thoughts on societal and ecological issues. This album was critically acclaimed and immediately commercially popular. It's considered a classic of 70's soul music and ranked one of the best albums of all time. This album has been certified platinum in the UK and gold in the US, although it sold a total of 1.6 million copies since tracking began in 1991 - 20 years after release - and there were 2 million copies sold in the first year after release, so this album should really be certified at least double platinum in the US.
This is an incredible album. It's important for music history, black music, and as a personal statement by Gaye against the injustices of the late 60's & early 70's. The four singles carried this album into popularity, but the overall production was so well done that this album will remain popular for decades to come. The somber, sometimes slow, soul music on this album is not my preferred music, but real recognizes real and this album is great. This may have been Gaye's breakthrough album and he followed it up with likewise amazing albums. RIP Marvin Gaye.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
In the Wee Small Hours is the ninth album by American vocalist Frank Sinatra. This vocal jazz album deals with themes of depression/sadness, introspection, loneliness, failed relationships (reminiscent of his own), and night life - all displayed in the cover art. Because of this, this album has been considered one of the first concept albums. Commercially successful and critically acclaimed, it is regarded as one of Sinatra's best albums along with one of the best vocal jazz albums, and has been certified gold in the US. This album also marked the transition of Sinatra from his young, tough guy image into a mature, emotional man.
In the Wee Small Hours is the musical embodiment of loneliness. It sets the mood perfectly for a late night alone with your thoughts especially for one dealing with heartbreak. Although emotional, the album is still great to listen to as Sinatra is extremely talented. I was hanging onto his every word as the song soothed me through my workday. This is an important album in music history and is recommended to everyone to give a listen.
The Killers
3/5
Hot Fuss is the debut album by American rock band the Killers. This new wave / post-punk / alternative rock album was a critical and commercial success at release. 7 million copies have been sold worldwide. This album is certified gold in Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, & Singapore, and it's certified multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, the UK, & the US. The singles bolstering this album are all popular hits, including "Mr. Brightside".
This album is one of the best alternative rock / new wave albums of the 2000's decade. It's an extremely popular album and for good reason, since it was produced so well. I loved the various feelings and themes the album has, and thought this was a great listen.
The Monks
3/5
Black Monk Time is the only studio album by German-based American rock band The Monks. Failing to make a splash at release, this album has since been recognized as an important piece in the puzzle of the development of punk rock. It is an early form of punk rock, coined as a lost classic. The lyrics, raw style of rock, and nightmarish themes, all contributed to this amazing album.
Listening to this album wasn't easy. There's a lot of nuances in the music and lyrics that you have to listen out for. And the proto-punk style can make this difficult because the genre was still primitive. However, I still think this is a great album of early punk rock that should be given a listen if you like this music.
Tori Amos
3/5
Little Earthquakes is the debut solo album by the American singer-songwriter Tori Amos. It was released to critical and commercial success in both the UK and the US. The album is a collection of emotional songs about personal struggles that cleanses the listener like good therapy. Fans regularly vote this album as Tori Amos' best, because it's the most accessible. It's been certified gold in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and double platinum in the US.
This unique album of intimate, piano melodies, layered with Tori's excellent voice, makes for a great soul healing listening session. I liked the vibe of this album, but would have also liked for a few of the songs to be faster-paced to switch things up. Tori Amos is a talented singer-songwriter and I will have to listen to more songs from her.
Serge Gainsbourg
3/5
Histoire de Melody Nelson - "Story of Melody Nelson" is a 1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. This French pop album is Gainsbourg's most influential and accomplished works - dare I say, his magnum opus, in addition to one of the best French language albums. It's a short album of songs that tell the story of an older man falling in love with a young girl, then dealing with the loss of that love. The music on this album is unique as it's not rock or pop, but something else interesting - similar to trip hop. The elegant pop music influenced French rock music and many other artists for generations to come.
Although I can't speak French, I was still able to enjoy the music on this album. The early trip hop beats were a treat and the song production is phenomenal. I agree with all the critics that like this album, it is amazing and influential.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Catch a Fire is the fifth album by Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley and the reggae band The Wailers. It is considered one of the top reggae albums of all time. Touring extensively in the UK and the US supported this album and launched the band into the mainstream.
This is an awesome Bob Marley record. Some of the best, good old-fashioned reggae around. It's a great album to chill-out to, or put on in a party setting. That's what reggae is for. RIP Bob Marley.
Mariah Carey
4/5
Butterfly is the sixth album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It's an R&B/hip hop album that is considered a turning point in Carey's career, because she moved away from traditional pop to more urban R&B music. This album is certified quintuple platinum in the US and received widespread critical acclaim.
Although this Carey album has a more "urban" feel, she is still able to control her voice to soften it for some songs. She can both belt out loud high's, while charming listeners with airy whispers. This was a big part that made this album amazing.
It's a great Mariah Carey album and probably my favorite I've listened to so far.
Hüsker Dü
2/5
Warehouse: Songs and Stories is the sixth and final album by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü. It is an alternative rock double album that was majority rated as a good record.
The band broke up after the tour for this album because the two songwriters, Bob Mould and Grant Hart, were feuding over the latter's drug use. The reason this is a double album is also because these two songwriters could not decide on which songs to cut or include.
I thought this was a decent alt rock album, but it has been marred by the breakup of the band.
PJ Harvey
3/5
Dry is the debut album by the English band PJ Harvey. This alternative/indie rock album was critically acclaimed at release for its wild and clever music - headlined by singer-songwriter PJ Harvey. It has been certified silver in the UK.
This was an amazingly beautiful debut album that PJ Harvey poured her heart into along with the rest of the band. It has to be listened to to truly understand the eccentricity of this album. I recommend this album to any fan of indie rock.
The Dandy Warhols
2/5
...The Dandy Warhols Come Down is the second album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. This indie alternative rock (shoegaze) album was a second attempt at creating an acceptable record for their label Capitol. Their first try was "The Black Album" which was rejected, and later the songs were repurposed for a double album "Come On Feel the Dandy Warhols". On this second attempt, the band transitioned from a garage rock sound to a more pop-oriented sound that was classified as shoegaze.
This album was deemed a success by critics who liked the hooks and the layered music. Commercially the album performed alright, but it was a bigger hit in Europe where it was certified gold in the UK.
While some songs are great, overall I thought the tracks were too similar so they all seemed to meld together into one long droning musical number. My indifference to this album could also be due to the genre's likeness which is one of my least favorite as it's too "poppy". Decent album, but there's many other albums I would listen to again before this.
Soft Machine
2/5
Third is a live, double album by the English rock band Soft Machine, and is their third album overall (hence the title). It's a jazz rock and electronic piece with a single composition for each of the four sides. Critically acclaimed, this album did a great job of fusing jazz and rock that made this the top album of Soft Machine's catalog.
I liked the concept for this album which is live jazz rock, but the tracks were too long in my opinion as a result of this recording process. There's a few slow spots or even quiet/silent sections that I feel like could have been edited out to decrease the run time. If you like jazz, then you should appreciate this album.
Beck
3/5
Odelay is the fifth album by American musician, singer, song-writer Beck. It is an experimental alternative/folk rock album that became - and remains - Beck's most successful album. Critically acclaimed, Odelay was present on many "Best of" lists for 1996, 1997, 1998, and even as recently as polls for 2005, 2013, and 2020. Odelay won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1997 as well as a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Where It's At". This album has been certified gold in Australia, platinum in Japan, New Zealand, & the UK, and double platinum in Canada & the US.
Beck's Odelay was an interesting gem to listen to. There's many different music genres across the album's songs, so there's something for everyone. It was a fun and upbeat album that made listening to it easy. Most people should enjoy this album.
The Sugarcubes
3/5
Life's Too Good is the debut album by Icelandic alternative rock group the Sugarcubes. This post-punk album was an unexpected success as the group had no intention of being taken seriously. After critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success, two additional albums were released and Bjork - their lead singer - gained international attention for her amazing vocals and eventually launched a solo career. The album is praised for the fun, creative take on pop music of the era.
I enjoyed this album and thought Bjork's singing was the highlight. Overall it was silly, but has a deeper layer of seriousness if you listen closely. Give this cult-classic a shot!
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
Kollaps is the first official LP/album from the German experimental music group Einstürzende Neubauten. This noise rock / industrial album has undertones of punk tracks and became popular for its shocking use of electronics, machines, and everyday bits of metal within the music.
Although Kollaps can be jarring at times, one has to appreciate the creativity that went in to making the album. I may not listen to this again, but it was quite the ride while it lasted.
The Fall
3/5
This Nation's Saving Grace is the eighth album by the English post-punk band the Fall. Widely considered their best album, it sports phenomenal production and catchy guitar hooks. It's more pop-oriented and accessible to the mainstream listener.
For the most part, I liked this album. It sounded great and was fun to listen to. Fans of punk or pop music will not be disappointed listening to this album.
Japan
3/5
Quiet Life is the third album by English new wave band Japan. This album marked a transition for the band from glam rock to synth/art-pop. It was one of the first albums released during the New Romantic era in the UK, and the band views it as their peak. Although sales were slow, this album went on to be the band's first to chart and was certified gold in the UK. Quiet Life was a hit in the UK and a cult classic in North America - specifically Canada.
This is an elegant sounding pop album with hints of the band's glam rock past. Japan sounds like a beautiful, well-oiled machine on this album and it may be their best album too. I think most listeners will enjoy this album.
Blur
3/5
Blur is the fifth album by the English rock band Blur. This indie/alternative/art rock album marked a transition for the band away from Britpop, since they had become bored of it and their audience shared this feeling as well. The change allowed this album to be more popular in the US, while staying on top of the charts in the UK. Critics loved the mixing of Britpop and American alt/indie rock because the band was able to highlight the best parts of both. Blur is certified gold in Australia, Denmark, & the US and platinum in Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, & the UK.
This was a good album that starts out hot with tracks "Beetlebum" and "Song 2", but there's also flashes of greatness in the rest of the album's tracks. The band Blur tried something new for this album and it paid off. I recommend this album to any fan of alternative or indie rock.
The Stone Roses
3/5
The Stone Roses is the self-titled debut album by English rock band the Stone Roses. It's an indie/alternative rock/pop album with cultural influences from the Manchester dance scene of the late 80's and early 90's. Initially not a success, this album has since been credited as one of the greatest of all time and a staple of the Madchester musical movement. Critics loved this album years after its release, for this mixing of indie rock and early dance music. Although there were/are still some that think this a run-of-the-mill pop album and nothing special. It seems the English think this is a better album than what the Americans believe. This album has been certified 5x platinum in the UK.
I enjoyed the vibes on this album, but none of the tracks were really standouts. It's a great Brit-pop album with threads of indie rock and psychedelic dance music woven in. Most listeners will not be turned off by this music, but there's no major draw here either. The critics are correct for being mixed on this album, because so am I.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash is the debut album by the folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN). This is their only album without member Neil Young. Released to instant success, this debut album launched CSN into stardom and began a change within rock music where a lot of bands transitioned from blues rock to folk rock and hard rock. Some of these songs were performed by CSN at Woodstock in August 1969. This debut album has been certified gold in France & the UK, platinum in Australia, and 4x platinum in the US. CSN won the 1970 Grammy for Best New Artist and this album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
This is a timeless album from one of the biggest folk rock bands in the US. The songs contain great harmonies and are written well. Most listeners will enjoy this album, even if some of the tracks are beginning to show their age. Awesome debut album!
The Beach Boys
3/5
The Beach Boys Today! is the eighth album by the American rock band the Beach Boys. Instead of surf songs, this album has an orchestral rock sound which was their first try at something different. An early rock concept album that showed the band could create one of the greatest albums of all time. It is a more mature record than their previous ones as a result of not only the band growing up, but songwriter Brian Wilson becoming introspective and trying marijuana which enhanced his perception of music. Everything was recorded bigger and deeper with more musicians and doubled-up instruments, in addition to more vocal dubs and better mixing. Critics raved about the second side of Today! which contains ballads and is a startling change considering the band's past music. This album has been certified gold in the US.
This is an epic Beach Boys album, with a significant change to their songwriting and production style. It was this fresh style change that made this album popular and garnered additional praise for this hit band. Overall, I liked listening to this album and I think most others will too.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
Oar is the only album by American singer-songwriter Alexander "Skip" Spence. Recorded over a week in Nashville all by himself, Skip poured his heart and damaged psyche into this album which was only supposed to be demo tapes used for further production. It is a psychedelic folk rock album with mostly nondiscernible lyrics as Skip wrote the songs during a stint at a hospital after a mental break. Although this was the lowest-selling album in Columbia Records history - because of zero promotion - this has been regarded as some of Skip's best musical works.
Oar is an interesting album with quite the story behind it. But the music is pretty good and it was a fun listen. Folk rock fans and lovers of Nashville music should enjoy this album.
Patti Smith
3/5
Horses is the debut album by American musician Patti Smith. This early punk/art rock album uses a bit of improv on its songs and features a minimalist aesthetic that made it an average commercial & critical success. Patti Smith's unique vocals could bounce from singing to spoken word and the backing music matched her vibes perfectly. The fact that the lead singer of a rock band (in 1975 during the blossoming of punk rock) was a woman also gained popularity points for this album. In the years since Horses has received more acclaim - appearing on many best of lists, inducted into the US's National Recording Registry in 2009 & the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021, and being certified gold in Australia & the UK.
This was a beautifully artistic album of early punk rock music. Figuratively and literally, Horses hit all the right notes and made for a great listening experience. Listeners will not be disappointed with this.
k.d. lang
2/5
Shadowland is the debut solo album by Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang. This country and pop album performed well critically and commercially, leading to more solo work by k.d. lang. This album was certified gold in Australia & the US, and platinum in Canada.
K.d. lang aka Kathryn Dawn Lang has an impressive country music voice and this album showcases it with wonderful backing musicians and producers. The mix of country and pop throughout the tracks made for a great project that most listeners will enjoy.
Napalm Death
2/5
Scum is the debut album by English grindcore band Napalm Death. The album is split into two sides for two different recording sessions spanning multiple years. The first half is more like hardcore punk, while the second half is extreme heavy metal, making the fusion of these genres grindcore. This is one of the most acclaimed albums from the European grindcore scene and was the culmination of a decade long search for the hardest and fastest sound. Fun fact: the song "You Suffer" won the Guinness Book of Records' world's shortest song, at precisely 1.316 seconds long.
Overall, this was a demented, heavy album. It's chaotic, while being hard hitting and entertaining. Personally, I enjoyed the longer, more thought out tracks from the first half of the album, and some of the tracks on the second half started to sound the same. Any fans of heavy metal or hardcore punk will appreciate this album.
Lorde
4/5
Melodrama is the second album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. This electropop album followed her breakthrough debut album Pure Heroine, and was an instant success, receiving more acclaim than her debut and topping the charts in the US and Canada in its first week of release. This is an emotion-evoking album with themes of heartbreak and loneliness. Lorde's incredible vocals carry the album with intricate levels of mixing and multi-tracking. This album has been certified gold in Denmark, Poland, & the UK, platinum in Australia, Canada, & the US, and finally 3x platinum in Lorde's home country of New Zealand.
Melodrama is a beautiful album, crafted with care and performed amazingly by Lorde. I'm upset I never heard anything about this album until now because I liked the vibe of the it, including a lot of the songs. I will have to listen to more albums by Lorde. Highly recommend this album!
Underworld
4/5
Second Toughest in the Infants is the fourth album by British electronic music group Underworld. The group expanded on the development of their progressive sound, which is electronic, techno, house, breakbeat, and downtempo. But it truly is a chill-out album with the ability to go back and forth between house beats with decent amount of bass, and moments of calming, ambient soundscapes. There's an overarching groove to the tracks that keeps the party going. I listened to this while working but it could - and needs - to be listened to in other settings. This is a critically acclaimed album that is viewed as the group's peak, and was certified gold in the UK and almost so in the US. I would listen to this album again and I recommend it.
Nanci Griffith
2/5
The Last of the True Believers is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith. This is a country album that performed a lot better critically than her previous album - which was her first to transition away from folk to country. It was nominated for a few awards but didn't win them, and the album never charted either.
This is a collection of classic country tunes from famous Nanci Griffth. Although I'm no big country music fan, this was a fun album to listen to and I think there's others who will enjoy it too.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Teenage Head is the third album by the San Francisco rock band Flamin' Groovies. It's a garage rock album from the 70's featuring a classic blues rock flashback. Critically acclaimed, but the album didn't seem to chart or win any awards or certifications.
It's a great album as a result of the band's "modern" (early 70's) take on the blues and classic rock 'n roll combination that made the entire evolution of rock music begin back in the 50's. Fans of classic rock will enjoy this album.
White Denim
3/5
D is the fourth full-length album by the Texan jam band White Denim. This critically acclaimed album was produced by a four-piece of musicians known for their psychedelic, progressive, indie/garage rock. With tracks that stay interesting and expansive throughout, the mixture of so many genres of music makes for great melodies. Fans of jam bands will like this chilled-out rock session.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Sister is the fourth album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. The band tempered their crazy-sounding no wave rock music from the first few albums to create a masterpiece of noise pop that still had enough rock 'n roll for the young people. The album has been critically acclaimed, but it was not successful until years after release, which means it also never charted well or was certified for high sale amounts. It is now regarded as one of the best albums of the 80's.
This was an interesting, noisy pop rock album that held my attention throughout. It featured some beautiful melodies along with moments of rabid rock that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Awesome album! Fans of punk or any alternative rock will enjoy this album.
Arrested Development
2/5
3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development. This alternative hip hop album began the popularization of the Southern hip hop genre which emphasizes spirituality, peace, and love, over the aggressiveness of gangsta rap that was dominating the east and west coasts of America. Although it was a ground-breaking debut album that was critically acclaimed at release, the popularity of gangsta rap continued to prevail as the most listened to hip hop genre. This album has been certified platinum in Australia & the UK, double platinum in Canada, and quadruple platinum in the US.
This hip hop album was a lot different than any of the other ones I have listened to. It sounded more open and free flowing, allowing more dialog to take over instead of the faster raps. Although it was a fresh take on the hip hop genre, I do not like it over other types of hip hop and rap. Too slow and groovy for my tastes. But still, a fine and historic album.
The Who
3/5
Tommy is the fourth album by the English rock band The Who, and it is a rock opera double album about a fictional boy - named Tommy Walker - and his troubled life. Critically acclaimed at release, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, made into a film, Broadway musical, & orchestral version - this is considered to be The Who's breakthrough album. Tommy has been certified gold in France, Italy, New Zealand, & the UK, and certified double platinum in the US.
This was an interesting musical project for an album, and a well executed rock opera. Tommy may not contain The Who's best songs, but it was the album that began generating a lot of attention for the band. It is a cult classic album that bled into the mainstream, after a continued effort at making an entertaining story tied to classic rock. Please give this album a listen!
Maxwell
3/5
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite is the debut album by American R&B singer-songwriter Maxwell. This groovy R&B album contains elements of soul, funk, and jazz, and is credited with shaping the emerging neo soul genre. A few months after release, this album's second single released and with that the commercial success of this album took off. Critics lauded Urban Hang Suite and called it a masterpiece for its change of pace from the standard hip hop R&B of the time. Maxwell won a handful of Grammy's with this album and it is regarded as his best work. Urban Hang Suite is certified double platinum in the US and gold in the UK.
This is the epitome of the romantic, classic R&B music genre. It has the sexy grooves and mesmerizing lyrics that leave you feeling hot and satisfied. It's a great album that should be listened to by all music lovers.
The Byrds
2/5
Mr. Tambourine Man is the debut album by the American rock band the Byrds. It's a folk rock album consisting of covers and originals written primarily by Gene Clark. It is the band's most successful album and has been recognized as one of the first folk rock albums - where electric guitars and rock music is melded with smart, folksy lyrics. The titular single was released before the album to universal acclaim and propelled the album up the charts in the US and UK. This important folk rock album from a US band challenged the dominance of UK bands like the Beatles and inspired many other acts to try their hand at similar sounding music.
I enjoyed this album, especially the titular single. Although the recordings are showing their age, it's the classic folk rock music that sounds timeless. Fans of rock will like Mr. Tambourine Man.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Born to Run is the third album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. This was Springsteen's breakthrough album after his first two albums were disappointments, making him a star around the world. The poppy and folksy, rock and roll album released to media hype and critical acclaim, as well as gained Springsteen many lifetime fans. It was universally accessible to rock fans and the promotion of the album swayed a lot of the public to purchase it. Born To Run has been certified gold in Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, & Spain; platinum in New Zealand & the UK; double platinum in Australia & Canada; and 7x platinum in the US. The only negative of this timeless rock album (if it can even be called negative) would be the overproduction behind the music. Springsteen wanted the "wall of sound" approach, where each instrument or vocal gets its own track before mixing. This can both be a strength and a weakness, because there's more depth to the music, but also a lot more things happening all at once.
Born To Run is an incredible rock and roll album, with a little bit of something for everyone. Each song has its own character and they come together to form one cohesive piece of music history. This arguably may be the best Bruce Springsteen album, but it was definitely his first successful one and began his longstanding, famous career. You have to give this a listen!
Kelela
3/5
Take Me Apart is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Kelela. It combines electronic music with R&B to create a futuristic sound. This interesting groove had Kelela's beautiful voice dancing throughout, making a layered and full body composition. The album was appreciated and charted around the world.
I liked this relaxing, dream-like album, primarily for Kelela's singing. Take Me Apart is an awesome R&B album, that I would recommend.
Goldie
4/5
Timeless is the debut album by British electronic musician Goldie. It was a groundbreaking release for drum and bass music because the album achieved a high amount of popularity. The album released at the height of the UK rave scene during the 90's and featured jungle music, which is EDM characterized by breakbeats, percussive loops & basslines, and sound samples from pop culture.
This is a wonderful album containing pre-golden age EDM. It's fun to listen to and features great backing tracks for any occasion.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Wish You Were Here is the ninth album by English rock band Pink Floyd. This progressive art rock album released to mixed reviews as some felt it was uninspired and inferior to the band's previous work, but it has since received praise as some of their finest work and one of the greatest albums of all time. It was the band's fastest selling album of all time and has been certified gold in Argentina, Greece, & Poland, and platinum or multi-platinum in Australia, Austria, Canada, France (10x aka diamond), Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the UK, & the US.
Musically the band again uses synthesizers and acoustic guitars primarily in addition to other instruments occasionally, but intricate everyday sounds were sampled and added to the mix also. The vocals were great and complimented the music well.
Most of the run time is taken up by "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," a nine part ballad paying tribute to founding band member Syd Barrett who left seven years earlier due to mental health reasons, but visited the studio during the production of this album. It's interesting history, how the concept of this album became wrapped around Syd, since he is a victim of how the music industry can turn people crazy and then extended absences are the only way they can cope with their sadness.
Overall, Wish You Were Here is one of the best Pink Floyd's albums, and on the list of the greatest progressive rock albums. It's a stellar piece of simple, yet attractive music that is carried by its "soul". I highly recommend this album, although it may leave you wanting more.
3/5
Black Holes and Revelations is the fourth album by the English rock band Muse. It's an alternative progressive rock album with themes surrounding political and dystopian topics in addition to the unknown and more emotional themes such as regret, ambition, and love. Released to critical acclaim, this album was a best seller and topped music charts around the world. It has been certified gold in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, & Norway, platinum in Australia, Canada, France (triple), Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, the US & the UK (triple).
This is a well put together album, with a little bit of different rock music for everyone. It's a great album with a fun personality where the band didn't take themselves too seriously. Standout tracks are the singles "Supermassive Black Hole" & "Knights of Cydonia".
Motörhead
3/5
Ace of Spades is the fourth album by English rock band Motörhead, and it's their most successful one. This heavy metal / hard rock album was influential to the European thrash metal scene, although Motörhead considers their music to be rock 'n' roll. It's a fast and loose album with a western theme and lots of gambling references. The album was certified gold in the UK.
It's an enjoyable hard rock album with fun albeit dirty lyrics that are sure to keep the party interesting. I recommend this album if you're a fan of rock or metal.
2/5
The World Is a Ghetto is the fifth album by American band War. It was Billboard's #1 album of 1973 and was certified gold in the US. War is known for their Latin/funk/rock/soul music and they spiced this album up further with jazz and psychedelia. The band grew closer to mastery of their type of music with this album, although some critics found the rhythm a little too slow.
I thought this was a great soulful, but funky jazz album. The music really encompassed the feelings of the poor and minorities during the early 70's, while still delivering good grooves. Jazz and soul lovers will enjoy this classic album.
Genesis
3/5
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is the sixth album by the English progressive rock band Genesis, and the last with Peter Gabriel as the lead. This double album is their longest to date and it received mixed reviews at release, although it was still commercially successful. The production was phenomenal and it can be argued as the best Genesis album. It has been certified gold in Canada, France, the UK, and the US.
I enjoyed the progressive rock on this album. The music tells a story as well as being something you can feel and dance to. Pretty much a superb album all around. Give this a listen if classic rock music is your thing!
Kings of Leon
3/5
Youth & Young Manhood is the debut album from American rock band Kings of Leon. It was the best rock debut album of 2003 and fans loved the garage rock revival of the southern rock genre. Surprisingly, the album fared better in English countries overseas than the band's home country of USA. It has been certified double platinum in the UK and triple platinum in Australia.
This is a wonderful rock album with a little something from every subgenre. Sometimes the music will just be simmering, but the band knew when to heat things up and bring the rockin' to a boil. It's nice to listen to a rock album that was released when pop and hip hop were the hot genres. Highly recommend to any music fans, but especially rock lovers.
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Idlewild is the fourth album by British musical duo Everything but the Girl. This pop album features acoustic instruments, synths, and drum machines, as the duo wanted to both try some modern sounds and stick with the classic recording process. Released to critical acclaim, this album has been certified gold in the UK and remains a fan favorite of the duo.
I thought Idlewind was a relaxing pop album that would make a great soundtrack for a chilled-out event.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Trout Mask Replica is the third album by the American band Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. This double album of experimental rock can be challenging for a new listener. Not only are there multiple rhythms and tones, but it combines genres of garage rock, R&B, blues, and jazz into a medley of insanity. There are also a few spoken word tracks which sound like incantations or sermons from a crazy person. It's no surprise that the recording process was "cult-like," violent, and unsafe, as the band all lived together in the same house on welfare and could only play music everyday - not being allowed to leave. Initially released to poor sales, the cult classic album is now regarded as the band's magnus opus. Surprisingly, critics loved this shitshow of an album, calling it a masterpiece or that it's so bad - it's good. Listeners will either love or hate this album, but multiple listens are said to help you understand what the band was aiming for.
I hated this album. It felt like a fever dream a schizophrenic would have, and the run time dragged on. I'm not sure what critics heard when they reviewed this, because it's hot garbage. The only saving grace is the fact that the band played badly or out of tune on purpose, to show that a cohesive album of music could be salvaged. It proves that anything (and I mean anything) can count as music if you try hard enough. I don't need multiple listens of this album, because I don't want to lose my mind. I guess everyone should give this album a listen to see what the buzz is about, but you may want to save yourself the trouble.
The Undertones
3/5
The Undertones is the debut album by the Irish rock band The Undertones. This punk rock album brought a fresh sound to the genre and was critically acclaimed as a result. The young band may have produced a run-of-the-mill rock album, but it has soul.
I enjoyed the vibe on this album, with "Teenage Kicks," "Here Comes The Summer," & "Jimmy Jimmy" being the standout tracks. If you're a fan of punk rock, then you should like this album.
The Saints
2/5
Eternally Yours is the second album by Australian punk rock band the Saints. The band pursued more of an R&B sound on this album with an added horn section to their normally stripped down sound. Critics mostly loved this album and hailed it as a classic from the early punk rock movement.
I felt this was a fine punk rock album, but it was also nothing special. If you're a fan of punk rock, then I recommend this album.
David Bowie
3/5
Blackstar (★) is the 26th and final album by the English musician David Bowie. It was recorded in secret and released on Bowie's 69th birthday - two days before he died of liver cancer. This album was his swan song and was an award winning album met with commercial success and critical acclaim.
Blackstar is an art rock album with experimental jazz elements, incorporating use of the saxophone as well as elements from rock, pop, and hip hop. This is one of the greatest albums of the 2010's, and the fifth best-selling in 2016. It has been certified gold in Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, & the US, platinum in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, & the UK, and double platinum in the Netherlands.
This is a phenomenal piece of music and was a joy to listen to. Bowie was always the "Starman" from another world because of his engaging production of intricate rock music. With this farewell album, he returned to the stars leaving fans with one last amazing album. RIP David Bowie ★
The Young Gods
3/5
L'eau rouge (French for The Red Water) is the second album by industrial band The Young Gods. It's considered their masterpiece and received many accolades. The music is dark/gothic industrial rock with symphonic elements. Many audio tracks were used giving the feeling that an orchestra was backing the band and the production was awesome at keeping everything in check.
This unique album combined many things from multiple genres to create an amazing experience for the listener. From the first track, you will be absorbed into another realm of bleak vaudeville that refuses to let you go until the final note of the last song. Such an interesting album like this deserves to be listened to.
Madonna
4/5
Ray of Light is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Madonna. This electronica, techno-pop album may be her most adventurous/experimental as it contains influences from ambient, trip hop & edm in general, Middle Eastern music, and psychedelia. It's credited with bringing edm elements into the mainstream, as well as shining a light on South Asian culture. Madonna's vocals were also amazing on this album since she underwent fresh vocal lessons before production. Critically acclaimed, it's considered Madonna's magnum opus and is one of the best-selling albums by women. Ray of Light won 4 out of 6 Grammy nominations at the 1999 Grammy Awards. It's been certified platinum or multi-platinum in 27 countries including Australia (3x), Canada (7x), averaged 7x platinum in Europe, Japan (2x), and USA (4x).
This adventurous album was great to listen to. According to Madonna herself, it's the "quintessential Madonna album". With mixings of pop and edm, the music provides something for every listener. I was enthralled with every bit of this album, and I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it. Highly recommend this historical piece of music.
GZA
3/5
Liquid Swords is the second solo album by the American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. The East Coast hip hop album contains dark themes on crime, philosophy, and chess, while sampling dialogue from the martial arts film Shogun Assassin. It's a sophisticated production with awesome beats and snazzy rhymes that has been considered as one of the best hip hop albums of its time. It has been certified platinum in the US.
Liquid Swords is a deadly-sharp assassination executed flawlessly. Its dark and mysterious raps cut deep with layered lyrics that are complimented by the creepy string melodies and heavy bass beats. This was an awesome hip hop album and one of the best solo albums in Wu-Tang's collection. I do recommend.
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
Franz Ferdinand is the debut album by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand. This critically acclaimed album is a masterpiece of funky, punchy, cool, indie garage rock. It won the 2004 Mercury Music Prize - which is essentially the best album of the year in the UK. It has been certified gold in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, & Norway, and platinum in Australia, the US, & the UK (4x).
I enjoyed the fun indie rock on this debut album. This young band did a great job on their first album and it deserves a listen.
N.E.R.D
2/5
Fly or Die is the second album by American rap rock band N.E.R.D. The band actually learned how to play the instruments needed for this album instead of using outside musicians like on their debut album. It was interesting how these rap geniuses were able to make a decent multi-layered progressive pop album. It has been certified gold in Australia and the US.
For the most part I enjoyed this album. It's not normally the type of music I would listen to, but it did pass the time. It's worth a listen for the uniqueness alone.
Nas
3/5
Illmatic is the debut album by American rapper Nas. This landmark album in East Coast hip hop is credited with reviving the New York rap scene and is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums ever. It has themes from Nas' own life experiences in the inner city, such as gangs, poverty, and drugs. Nas and the cinematic album do a wonderful job of describing his experiences by weaving real places, people, stories, and emotions into his raps. Nas' complex, poetic lyrics and fine delivery were unprecedented for a hip hop album and critics & fans could not downplay their love of it. This is a classic masterpiece in the hip hop genre, that basically changed the game. It has been certified gold in Canada & the UK, and double platinum in the US.
What an album! Everything about Illmatic was great, and Nas was one of the hottest artists at the time. You can sift the album's contents down to each syllable of his lyrics and still find gold. The rapping, production, storytelling, etc. everything was top notch. Illmatic may have been ahead of its time, but it's a classic and inspired so many hip hop acts to follow, so it was released at the right time. Give this historic album a listen!
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
Want One is the third album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It's the first part of an intended double album, with the second part Want Two being released the following year. The pop/rock album was released to overly positive reviews and is an award winner.
It's a beautifully poetic album with a balance of orchestral and rock moments. Some songs are less textured and simpler, but that doesn't take away from the overall charm on the album. If you like a pop singer-songwriter flavor, then this album will not disappoint.
Public Enemy
3/5
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second album by American hip hop group Public Enemy. The hip hop on this album uses a lot of samples like their debut album, but these tracks have a faster tempo, while the lyrics rhyme about sociopolitical issues. Released to critical acclaim and regarded as one of the most influential albums of all time, this wild & experimental album has been certified platinum in the US and gold in the UK.
This is an important and classic hip hop album released during the blooming of the golden age of hip hop. From tons of samples, to boomin' breakbeats, and high-velocity rapping, this album has a little bit of everything to make the perfect hip hop. It was cool and smart, but it's old-school hip hop so it's showing its age. I appreciate the classics since all modern music has trickled down from the past's, but I like modern hip hop over this album. Still, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back deserves a listen from any fan of hip hop/rap.
Buck Owens
2/5
I've Got a Tiger by the Tail is an album by American singer, song-writer Buck Owens and his Buckaroos band. It was Billboard's first Album of the Year featuring country music. The music on this album is a combination of country music developed in Bakersfield, California, along with rock and "hillbilly music" (folk and country from the regions of the Appalachian mountains and the Ozarks). It's a distinctive honky tonk sound that took the US by surprise in 1965.
This is a fun, foot tapper of an album. It's some of that classic country from the previous generation, which still holds up today. This may not be the greatest country album, but it's an early star of the genre and influenced albums to come. Give this classic a listen!
Beatles
4/5
Rubber Soul is the sixth album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was an important release for the Beatles as they showed increasing maturity with their recording & songwriting skills and they focused more on the entire album instead of only the singles. It's a folk rock / pop album inspired by soul music that helped create the genres of psychedelia and progressive rock. John Lennon called it "the pot album" as it was the first drug-influenced Beatles record, with the favored drug being marijuana. The Beatles didn't want to cater to their young fans anymore and began writing songs about more grown-up topics like sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. This paid off in the long run and this album has been certified gold in Brazil, Germany, & Italy; platinum in Australia & New Zealand; as well as double platinum in Argentina, Canada, & the UK; and 6x platinum in the US.
Rubber Soul was a great transitional album by the Beatles. It's their first classic album as they finally proved themselves to be masters of the studio in addition to instrumentation and songwriting. The band was growing up and this was their first step to creating better albums. Every track earned its place on this album and they all fit together to make a fully fleshed out record. I really enjoyed this Beatles album. Although it may not be my favorite of theirs, this is really good and could be their earliest album that I enjoy. Give this somewhat overlooked Beatles album a listen! You won't be disappointed.
Donovan
2/5
Sunshine Superman is the third album by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It's a psychedelic folk rock album featuring the titular hit single that took the US by storm in 1966. This is Donovan's most successful album and it was a chart-topper in the US and the UK.
If you enjoy the folksy, trippy, hippy songs from the 60's, than this is the album for you. It contains great pop melodies along with some folk songs and the beginnings of Donovan's psychedelia experimentation. This was a well produced album and I'd recommend it.
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
G. Love and Special Sauce is the debut album by the American rock band of the same name G. Love & Special Sauce. This alternative hip hop album has been certified gold in the US. One song "Cold Beverage" was a staple on college radio, and another "Baby's Got Sauce" has received high praise.
I thought this was a great debut album as it introduced me to their style and left me wanting more. Give it a chance and maybe you'll love it.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
Done by the Forces of Nature is the second album by American hip hop group Jungle Brothers. It is an influential and classic album from the golden age of hip hop that was praised for its smart lyrics, house-inspired beats, wide range of samples from many different genres, and its Afrocentric themes. It's an underrated classic that's been overlooked by the general public, but the quality of the production is high just like the vibes on the album.
I really enjoyed the classic hip hop on this Jungle Brothers album. The lyrics were quick and witty, with enriching themes about African-American culture and its urbanized naturalism. It's comfort music for the inner city youth that spreads positivity instead of violence or hate. I recommend this album.
Laura Nyro
2/5
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is the second album by the American singer, songwriter, and pianist Laura Nyro. It is her most accessible and famous work, but the follow-up album was more commercially successful. This loose pop album contains many elements from other genres such as soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, and rock. Its legacy has inspired as well as produced hit cover songs for many other artists.
This was a beautiful album packed with soul and passion. Laura Nyro is an expert singer songwriter and her piano skills compliment the tracks amazingly. If you're the type of listener that enjoys a solo artist, then this album must be on your to listen list. RIP Laura Nyro.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Kings of the Wild Frontier is the second album by English new wave band Adam and the Ants. It was UK's best selling album in 1981. This pop-punk experience has tons of cultural references and themes that made it a fun album. Adam Ant found his groove with this album and together with the band this album became critically acclaimed.
I liked this album as it perfectly embodies the late 70's / early 80's vibes, without going overboard. Fans of pop and/or new wave will enjoy this album too.
Scritti Politti
3/5
Cupid & Psyche 85 is the second album by the British pop band Scritti Politti. This artistic and soulful, synth-pop, electro-funk, R&B album is the band's most successful and was a surprise hit in the US. It has been certified gold in the UK.
This album is lightly sweet with enough of a backing beat to keep it moving on the dance floor. The silky smooth synth-pop is not too artsy to be sickly or annoying, but it does sound like the run-of-the-mill pop music. Overall, it was a beautiful and catchy album that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Tangerine Dream
3/5
Phaedra is the fifth album by German electronic music group Tangerine Dream. It marked the beginning of their international success as the first album selling well enough for gold records and the album in which they began relying on their sequencer sound. This electronic, ambient album helped influenced Krautrock which began developing in Germany around the same time. Tangerine Dream made an important album of artistic, electronic sequencer music and it's their best known album.
I loved this album and its collection of epics - songs which encompass a wide range of movements and feelings. This was a great album of progressive electronic music that I would recommend to most listeners.
k.d. lang
3/5
Ingénue is the second solo album by Canadian singer k.d. lang. This is her most successful pop album with flashes of country, folk, and jazz music. It has been certified platinum in New Zealand and the UK, and double platinum in Australia, Canada, and the US.
This is a wonderful solo album of folksy pop that will entertain most mainstream listeners.
The Jam
3/5
Sound Affects is the fifth album by English rock band The Jam. This new wave, post-punk album was a best seller in the UK for the early 80's and has been certified gold there. The Jam's frontman Paul Weller has stated this is his favorite Jam album.
This is a classic post-punk UK album released around the time of many other great albums of the same genre. The music is accessible, fun, and almost timeless. I recommend this album to most listeners.
U2
2/5
War is the third album by Irish rock band U2. It was their first political album and a record of pacifism since it contained themes of anti-war. Although reviews were mixed, this fully fleshed post-punk album was a commercial success and has been certified gold in Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, & Switzerland, and platinum or multi-platinum in Australia (2x), Belgium, Canada (3x), France (2x), New Zealand, UK (2x), & USA (4x).
I enjoyed this post-punk U2 album more than I thought I would, but the two singles were the best part. It was nice for the album to have the overarching theme on war as it made the band sound sophisticated and worldly. U2 would go on to be popular rock/pop band after these first few interesting albums.