My 1001 Albums Journey

Journey Complete!

Finisher # to complete the list

100

Albums Rated

3.31

Average Rating

Complete

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1960s

Favorite Decade

Singer-songwriter

Favorite Genre

Top Origin

Wordsmith

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5-Star Albums

1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Astral Weeks Van Morrison	5	3.27	+1.73
Joan Armatrading Joan Armatrading	5	3.33	+1.67
Blue Joni Mitchell	5	3.49	+1.51
Here's Little Richard Little Richard	5	3.57	+1.43
Out Of The Blue Electric Light Orchestra	5	3.63	+1.37
Duck Rock Malcolm McLaren	4	2.65	+1.35
Band On The Run Paul McCartney and Wings	5	3.67	+1.33
Graceland Paul Simon	5	3.74	+1.26
Happy Sad Tim Buckley	4	2.78	+1.22
Ananda Shankar Ananda Shankar	4	2.83	+1.17

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
White Blood Cells The White Stripes	1	3.67	-2.67
Moving Pictures Rush	1	3.58	-2.58
S&M Metallica	1	3.26	-2.26
Loveless My Bloody Valentine	1	3.17	-2.17
Queen Of Denmark John Grant	1	3.13	-2.13
Faust IV Faust	1	2.78	-1.78
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs Marty Robbins	2	3.33	-1.33
L'Eau Rouge The Young Gods	1	2.32	-1.32
The Slim Shady LP Eminem	2	3.29	-1.29
Cross Justice	2	3.27	-1.27

5-Star Albums (8)

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Popular Reviews

Gris Gris

Dr. John

4/5

This is exactly why I started this challenge. I have never heard Dr John before and I absolutely loved it! It is so cool and interesting.

29 likes

Graceland

Paul Simon

5/5

I don't have to listen to this masterpiece to know its a 5 out of 5 for me, but I will! The 25th anniversary edition as well, what a treat! It is a glorious example of two different genres coming together and creating something even better. Paul Simon's lyrics and soothing melodies are gorgeously complimented by the Soweto choir. African and western instruments combine wonderfully. Every contribution is perfect. I love the bass lines. Every track is different and danceable, singable and just fantastic. Every time I listen, I hear even more wonderful musicianship. I can't see how anyone could listen to this and not feel elevated. Anyway, I would happily play just this album for the rest of time.

20 likes

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

1/5

By the end it was barely listenable. Hated it. I can hear the good intentions and enthusiasm, but they didn't make up for the bad songs, awful and intrusive drumming, grating vocals, overbearing harsh sounding guitar. I appreciate the idea of a 'back to basics' stripped down sound, but get a producer.

6 likes

Armed Forces

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

4/5

I really enjoyed this album. Funnily, I had never listened to an Elvis Costello album despite loving all of the singles. The sound is really lush and well produced. I enjoyed it, although the singles are definitely the most singalongable of all the tracks on the album. I do enjoy Elvis's lyrics too. He is very witty.

3 likes

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

5/5

This album is a classic and it is evident why. Everything about it is gorgeous. Van's soulful vocals and heartwrenching lyrics. Rich strings and brass sections. Fantastic production. Just a completely beautiful album.

2 likes

1-Star Albums (7)

All Ratings

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

1/5

Night Life

Ray Price

2/5

Inoffensive, but very samey all through. I quite liked the introduction idea.

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

5/5

Whole Lotta Love - what a way to start an album. I love the use of guitar, for example the call and response with the vocals. Sometimes it sounds like an angry car, sometimes almost a voice in itself. The bass is so strong throughout the whole album and makes the heavy sound, but still allows for the melody. Every member of the band does a fantastic job. Although, I could have done without the drum solo... Some tracks are definitely folk rock, some are deep blues rock.

Groovin'

The Young Rascals

3/5

This album certainly sounds of its time, but that is groovy, as the name suggests. Two stand out tracks are the title track, which is head and shoulders above the rest. However, You Better Run is a great rocking track and the vocals are super cool. The first half of the album is full of a lot of naieve rhymes that are really of the time eg. Wife, life, if you knew, my love it true etc... However, the second half is much more grown up with some fab songs like A Place in the Sun.

The Slim Shady LP

Eminem

2/5

Love the Labie Siffre sample on My Name Is. Eminem writes such dark, but humorous lyrics. The anti hero, Slim Shady is such a nasty character and if you listen to Guilty Conscience, where Dre plays the Angel and Eminem plays Slim, the Devil, it is evident that he is just a character. Shady seemed to have the whole world against him. The whole album is really a cautionary tale of how messed up a person can become from trauma and how it spreads from them to the people around them. There is no doubt that Eminem is a fantastic wordsmith and a talented rapper. His delivery is conversational, but fast and never sounds contrived or prewritten. Some great tracks and samples, but just too long for me. Half the album could have been dropped.

Moving Pictures

Rush

1/5

What a load of contrived nonsense. If you'd have told me it was someone trying to be funny, I'd have believed you, except it wasn't even very funny. Lots of crowbared in tempo changes and weird key signatures. Lyrics like a GCSE level spooky story.

Armed Forces

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

4/5

Pelican West

Haircut 100

4/5

I was surprised to really enjoy this album. It was what I'd imagine plays at Club Tropicana all day and night. Very easy to find yourself dancing along to it! Feel good 80s yuppie music.

The Cars

3/5

Two great hits in My Best Friend's Girl and Just What I Needed. The rest of the album was good too. I like the singing style and found it to be a god solid bunch of tracks.

Astral Weeks

Van Morrison

5/5

Rings Around The World

Super Furry Animals

4/5

I really liked this album. I had heard Juxtaposed With U, but not really too familiar with the Super Furries apart from that. It was definitely up my street. Gorgeous and mellow, with lots of interesting instruments.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Marty Robbins

2/5

Big Iron is a country classic for sure. However, I found the rest of the album to be rehash after rehash of the same thing. It was OK, but only one great track.

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star

2/5

When this album started, I thought I was going to enjoy it. However, I found it a bit durgy and nothingy. I can't say it really.kept my attention

Dance Mania

Tito Puente

4/5

I really loved this. It made me feel like I was on holiday. So good, we listened to it twice,whilst eating fajitas

Something Else By The Kinks

The Kinks

3/5

Great album, but I was hoping for more of the hits on it.

Imagine

John Lennon

4/5

This is a great album. Imagine, Jealous Guy, Gimme Some Truth, Crippled Inside, How Do You Sleep... I mean, I may aswell list the whole album! Lennon is a great lyricist with a sharp tongue. I expect McCartney felt the sting of How Do You Sleep.

Cross

Justice

2/5

Certainly not a first thing in the morning album, but I quite enjoyed it. Perhaps more as driving music for a long journey.

The Idiot

Iggy Pop

4/5

Great album. You can defo hear Bowie in it. Really simplistic, but very well executed

Swordfishtrombones

Tom Waits

3/5

I found this album pretty easy to listen to. Haven't listened to Tom Waits really before and rather enjoyed it.

L'Eau Rouge

The Young Gods

1/5

I thought I was going to enjoy this in a Gogol Bordello kind of way at first. But then I hated it. Couldn't get past the third track.

Hysteria

Def Leppard

4/5

An excellent example of 80s hair metal! Yes, it is cheesy and repetitive, but is it fun and holds a real sense of nostalgia for me, being an 80s baby.

Graceland

Paul Simon

5/5

Illmatic

Nas

4/5

I was quite enjoying this album, but I did have to listen to it in three goes, as it was a bit much to have blasting at home. From what I've read, illmatic was the first album of its kind, making way for people like dre, Jay z, biggie smalls etc. For this, it definitely deserves to be up there on this list.

Skylarking

XTC

3/5

I quite enjoyed this. It reminded me of things I used to listen to in the early 2000s. Like Eels etc

Psychocandy

The Jesus And Mary Chain

2/5

Very of its time. I didnt hate it, but I couldn't sing you any of the songs! Bobby Guilespe of Primal Scream on drums seems such a funny concept when he can't even clap in time! Haha.

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

5/5

Woooooohooooo fantastic! Little Richard - the ultimate showman. The absolute Queen of Rock 'n Roll. Amazing song writing and incredible delivery. Just joyful.

Aqualung

Jethro Tull

3/5

This was interesting. I only knew a little bit of Jethro Tull previously and didn't think it was really my thing, but I found this pretty entertaining. I also enjoyed the interview with Ian Anderson at the end of the deluxe edition.

Fishscale

Ghostface Killah

3/5

This was hood. Some great hooks going on and some great collaborations too.

Better Living Through Chemistry

Fatboy Slim

3/5

Something/Anything?

Todd Rundgren

3/5

I thought it was great, if a bit too clever for its own good. However, it was waaaaayyy too long and I tired of it about half way though.

There's A Riot Goin' On

Sly & The Family Stone

4/5

Sheet Music

10cc

4/5

Faust IV

Faust

1/5

I found this really annoyingly repetitive and each track way too long.

Very

Pet Shop Boys

4/5

Live At The Regal

B.B. King

4/5

Brilliant album and a fantastic atmosphere created by the audience too

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

4/5

Love R.E.M. you always know it is them, but it is still a great variety of music. Michael Stipe has such a tender and soulful vocal. Perfectly captured in Everybody Hurts. If you aren't moved by that song, you have a heart of stone!

Gris Gris

Dr. John

4/5

This is exactly why I started this challenge. I have never heard Dr John before and I absolutely loved it! It is so cool and interesting.

Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches

Happy Mondays

4/5

Love all the extra stuff going on in the background. A real nice mix of samples, drums and keyboards. Sean Rider's delivery is perfect too.

Hypnotised

The Undertones

3/5

Some really catchy songs on this.

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk

4/5

I'm not normally one for jazz in general, but I really loved the atmosphere of this album. Perhaps because if the summer weather and it was the perfect soundtrack.

Chelsea Girl

Nico

2/5

Went in with low expectations thinking it would be Yokoesque, so was pleasantly surprised.

Horses

Patti Smith

4/5

Really enjoyed listening to this on a sunny day! Defo worth the hype :)

School's Out

Alice Cooper

3/5

S&M

Metallica

1/5

Nope

The Man Who

Travis

4/5

I love this album so much! It has lots of memories of teenaged anxt and a glorious summer. I haven't listened to it for years, but was instantly transported back and knew all the words :)

Street Life

The Crusaders

4/5

Loved this. Great musicianship and of course vocals.

Haunted Dancehall

The Sabres Of Paradise

3/5

Yeah, this was pretty good. Like a cross between holiday music and when you find a really cool bar at a festival.

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

3/5

Great album, but I couldn't really do the whole album!

Loveless

My Bloody Valentine

1/5

I found this incredibly durgy and nothingy. Not really enjoyable at all.

John Barleycorn Must Die

Traffic

4/5

The Grand Tour

George Jones

3/5

The Rising

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

4/5

This was pretty good.

Dire Straits

4/5

Emergency On Planet Earth

Jamiroquai

4/5

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this album.

Ready To Die

The Notorious B.I.G.

4/5

Surprised to enjoy this one. It tells the tale of how he ended up the way he did and is very powerful, at times, self deprecating and tongue in cheek. The swearing and misogyny may be too much for some, but it is all addressed in the Intro track.

If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle & Sebastian

2/5

Bit durgy and nothing for me

Entertainment

Gang Of Four

3/5

I like the energy,but u have to say it got a bit tiresome before the album was over

Tidal

Fiona Apple

3/5

I like her voice and her lyrics.

Ananda Shankar

4/5

This was great. I love hearing interesting takes on tracks I already know.

The Bends

Radiohead

4/5

Oh no. I can't bare Radiohead! Was what I first thought when I saw this was the album of the day. Where I can't deny, there are some really beautiful songs on this album - High and Dry an example. I just can't help wishing that someone else was singing them. It all stems from seeing them on TOTP, years ago and Thom Yorke just spitting everywhere whilst he sang. I just can't bare him! 😫

The Pleasure Principle

Gary Numan

2/5

Very samey

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg

4/5

Love a bit of Billy Bragg. Simple, but very effective. He is a great wordsmith

Public Image: First Issue

Public Image Ltd.

2/5

Thus is hard work

Bossanova

Pixies

3/5

Different Class

Pulp

4/5

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

5/5

Fantastic album! 5 stars all round

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

4/5

Rod Stewart has such a great voice!

Ritual De Lo Habitual

Jane's Addiction

3/5

It was ok. Something I would have listened to when I was about 16 maybe.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

Great album with some classics On it. BRUCE IS ALWAYS SO BELIEVABLE WHEN HE SINGS AND always sounds like it is just the way he talks!

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

4/5

Here Are the Sonics

The Sonics

4/5

Very enjoyable. The golden oldies done really well. We had a good dance around the kitchen

Two Dancers

Wild Beasts

3/5

I was surprised that I hadn't heard this before. I enjoyed it. Haunting vocals and interesting lyrics

Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi

4/5

I love this album but not as much as New Jersey. So I will go with 4 stars

In A Silent Way

Miles Davis

4/5

Really nice and peaceful. I don't normally "get" classic jazz, but Miles Davis seems to be an exception.

Roxy Music

4/5

Brilliant piece of work. Virginia Plain gets the 4 stars alone

Duck Rock

Malcolm McLaren

4/5

A really fun sounding album. Very dancabke

Diamond Life

Sade

3/5

Fantastic voice. But really, apart from the singles, the album was a bit samey

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

3/5

It was ok.

Ctrl

SZA

2/5

I wouldn't normally choose to listen to this music, however I did like the tracks. The lyrics, not so much.

Clube Da Esquina

Milton Nascimento

2/5

Ok, but it didn't jump out at me

Goo

Sonic Youth

2/5

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

4/5

Good Album, great vocals of course and introspective lyrics

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

5/5

Coles Corner

Richard Hawley

3/5

This was pretty good, but I had had enough by half way through. It was rather samey

Joan Armatrading

5/5

What a voice and lyrics. Just fabulous

Happy Sad

Tim Buckley

4/5

I do love Tim Buckley's voice and style. It was a lovely album to listen to on a hot and sunny day.

Blue

Joni Mitchell

5/5

Five stars. This album is perfect. So beautiful and moving.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

4/5

Some great singles on this abum

Isn't Anything

My Bloody Valentine

2/5

Not particularly a fan. It wasn't offensive, but it didn't do anything for me

The Stranger

Billy Joel

4/5

Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction

2/5

Queen Of Denmark

John Grant

1/5

To be honest, I found this album rather boring

Too Rye Ay

Dexys Midnight Runners

4/5

Very enjoyabke

The Joshua Tree

4/5

Classic album with some great singles on it.

Stardust

Willie Nelson

4/5

Lovely album with some classic songs

Spiderland

Slint

2/5

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits

3/5

Pirate music

Screamadelica

Primal Scream

4/5

Great album.

Forever Changes

Love

3/5