I don't think I can get with ELP and their prog ilk, it just feels really dated and musically staid compared to other music of the era (e.g. originally released the same year as Tago Mago which still sounds fresh). The lyrics are dreadful too: Can you believe / God makes you breathe Why did he lose / six million Jews

As a teenager in the mid 90s reading about music in the NME and Q, this was always mentioned in hushed tones as one of the all-time greats so I went in with high expectations and was initially disappointed. The Morricone-esque opener aside, the first few tracks on first listen seem on first listen quite standard MOR crooner territory. However as the album progresses and you tune into Walker's dark songs (touching on subject matter like Bergman films, the Warsaw Pact and PTSD) through his beautifully rich voice, it clicks into place. The second half becomes more musically varied and ambitious. On second listen, I loved it all and it feels like a proper album that builds and flows - the perfect length at 30 minutes too. It also got me listening to some of his later, avant-garde output too which seems right up my street - The Drift in particular feels like a horror movie on record. Top Tracks: Boy Child, Get Behind Me, Rhymes of Goodbye, Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo Stalinist Regime)

This is pretty great and wished I'd heard it when I was younger; heavier than I was anticipating (sort of a sludge metal/grunge hybrid) with some absolute monster riffs - the opening 1-2-3 of Them Bones, Dam That River and Rain When I Die is unstoppable. Being an hour-long album largely about drug addiction with pretty grimey production, it can often be a bleak and difficult listen - especially knowing the eventual tragic fate of the lead singer Layne Staley. It may have been better being slightly shorter, but I honestly don't know what I'd cut - in isolation, there's not really a bad track here and it does flow very well. A strong 4/5. Favourite tracks: Them Bones / Dam That River / Junkhead

One of my favourite albums, still as good now as when I first heard it as a teenager and hasn't really dated at all. Love the sound of everything, and it values close listening - the bass and guitar in particular. Intelligent, anti-consumerist/capitalist/imperialist lyrics, coupled with funky jams - what more could you want?

Fine with a couple of good tunes, however feels pretty functional and way overlong at an hour. Maybe if I had a better sense of Costello's catalogue and it's place in it I may appreciate it more but seems a strange choice for this kind of list.

One of my favourite albums, still as good now as when I first heard it as a teenager and hasn't really dated at all. Love the sound of everything, and it values close listening - the bass and guitar in particular. Intelligent, anti-consumerist/capitalist/imperialist lyrics, coupled with funky jams - what more could you want?

My knowledge of Wings pretty much begins and ends with Alan Partridge calling them "the band The Beatles could have been". He's probably not too far wrong - there's plenty of songs here that could easily fit onto a later Fab Four album if they'd had someone else to give them a good-looking over. The hooks and pop smarts are still there, but it doesn't quite work as well as his albums with the Beatles. Reading the Wiki of the album was almost as entertaining as listening to it - deciding to record it in post-Biafran war Lagos amidst a Cholera outbreak for the exoticism (?!) and an irate Fela Kuti storming into their studio accusing McCartney of appropriating Nigerian music after visiting his club (only calmed by being played some of their recordings). The album works best when it strays into Abbey Road medley territory, switching around mid-song and re-visiting previous hooks, and the final Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five is a pretty funky jam - could work well with an extended edit of the piano. Not an album I'd have listened to without this challenge, but glad I did. I was ready to give it a 4 or even higher on first listen, but the initial giddy high didn't quite stay on repeat listens and I doubt it's one I'll revisit in full too often. Sounds better on headphones too, some nice production. 3/5 on the 1001 scale, 3.5 for me.

An album I'd always been aware of (a favourite of the 2 for £10 bargain bin at HMV), but never listened to - mainly because of their most (only?) famous song, "Here She Goes" which I must have ambiently heard hundreds of times from adverts and whatnot. It's a great song in isolation, but it can only be taken so many times. To my surprise, the majority of the album is much more muscular than "Here She Goes" and has a clear connection with the old Merseybeat and British Invasion style bands from the 60s - almost power pop. I even checked out some of the BBC live sets they made after reading about Lee Mavers' dislike for the album recordings and preferred these in some ways, a sharper and slightly more modern sound than the actual LP. It's influence on Britpop (a shameful mark on British musical history) is easy to hear, but it feels superior and better crafted than it's later counterparts. A solid 3.

This is pretty great and wished I'd heard it when I was younger; heavier than I was anticipating (sort of a sludge metal/grunge hybrid) with some absolute monster riffs - the opening 1-2-3 of Them Bones, Dam That River and Rain When I Die is unstoppable. Being an hour-long album largely about drug addiction with pretty grimey production, it can often be a bleak and difficult listen - especially knowing the eventual tragic fate of the lead singer Layne Staley. It may have been better being slightly shorter, but I honestly don't know what I'd cut - in isolation, there's not really a bad track here and it does flow very well. A strong 4/5. Favourite tracks: Them Bones / Dam That River / Junkhead

Fine with a couple of good tunes, however feels pretty functional and way overlong at an hour. Maybe if I had a better sense of Costello's catalogue and it's place in it I may appreciate it more but seems a strange choice for this kind of list.

Another day, another Elvis Costello album. However, unlike yesterday's middling Brutal Youth, this was excellent. His band The Attractions are super-tight particularly on the jerkier, New Wave tracks (Pump It Up is close to perfect), and I can understand the credit Costello gets as a talented songwriter/lyricist. The production is much crisper than Brutal Youth too, everything sounds clear and sharp rather than the slightly muddy mastering of the later album - really brings out the way the band fit together so perfectly. Didn't tire after a few listens today, will return in the future. It also introduced me to their infamous fuck-you SNL performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD_24nDzkeo Top Tracks: Pump It Up, (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, Lipstick Vogue

Despite broadly sharing the same politics as Bragg, he's never done anything for me at all. This didn't change my mind.

As a teenager in the mid 90s reading about music in the NME and Q, this was always mentioned in hushed tones as one of the all-time greats so I went in with high expectations and was initially disappointed. The Morricone-esque opener aside, the first few tracks on first listen seem on first listen quite standard MOR crooner territory. However as the album progresses and you tune into Walker's dark songs (touching on subject matter like Bergman films, the Warsaw Pact and PTSD) through his beautifully rich voice, it clicks into place. The second half becomes more musically varied and ambitious. On second listen, I loved it all and it feels like a proper album that builds and flows - the perfect length at 30 minutes too. It also got me listening to some of his later, avant-garde output too which seems right up my street - The Drift in particular feels like a horror movie on record. Top Tracks: Boy Child, Get Behind Me, Rhymes of Goodbye, Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo Stalinist Regime)

Always rated The Jam more as a singles rather than album band, and this re-listen confirmed the case for me. It's fine throughout, but only really Start and That's Entertainment shine brightly.

This was released around the time I went to Uni, and I saw them in a 1/3 full venue shortly after the album came out - I don't think I'd even heard of them at the time, being dragged along by a cooler friend who was into alternative US rock. It was probably the best, most life-affirming concert I'd ever seen. I saw them again in the same venue about 9 months later and it was packed to the rafters, and just as good. I've seen them since and they didn't quite capture the same magic (it felt a little too culty in larger halls), but those 2 shows were very special. Race for the Price will probably be listened to for as long as we have music, and there is a certain something to the album that doesn't really sound or feel like much else. However, I never loved this record as much as others - maybe as to me it paled against the live show from the era.

Very top-heavy and overlong, but undisputable ambition. I'm glad there's someone like her pushing the boundaries in R&B/pop, but it doesn't always translate into something I want to listen to

I don't think I can get with ELP and their prog ilk, it just feels really dated and musically staid compared to other music of the era (e.g. originally released the same year as Tago Mago which still sounds fresh). The lyrics are dreadful too: Can you believe / God makes you breathe Why did he lose / six million Jews

Veeery close to the full 5, wonderful

Singles are great, the rest not so much

Of it's time to an extent but there's obvious craft and talent here. The humour and the experimental pieces at the end didn't really work for me, but I loved this for the main

Never knowingly listened to Elbow, despite being aware of them for decades. More interesting than I expected, slightly leftfield arena rock - quite strange in places. I may explore more but not desperate to

Better than I remember it being (I lived through britpop, it wasn't good). Imagine better if you haven't heard Design For Life played over and over again for decades. Prefer The Holy Bible.

This is mostly banging. Enjoyed much more than I expected.

2.5 rounding up to 3. Undeniable talent, but left me cold - too much artifice.

Very pleasant background music. I would have probably given this negative stars 10-15 years ago but can see the appeal to an extent.

Beautiful. Surprised I'd never heard this before, will be a favourite and need to investigate more of Maal's work

Went into this with low expectations but really enjoyed it, some excellent songwriting

of it's time, LZ-esque at times but nothing special in 2023 tbf

This bangs, may be my favourite Jon Spencer album

What a voice!

Going 3.5 - always found this one of their less interesting early albums but still has a different, glammier vibe to it's britpop peers. Great live band back in the day

Loved this back in the day. Perfect Day/Walk on the Wild Side are played out to death but there's not really a bad track here.

I expected folk, not dubby cosmic funk (for the most part). Interesting in places but not something I'd listen to again. Can't say I'm a fan of Martyns voice either, sounds like a drunk old bloke down the pub. 2.5, making a generous 3

Dang, what a voice. Great instrumentation as well, super tight band. Difficult to fault.

Appreciate the craft of the writing and Karen C is a great singer, not one I'd want to revisit but enjoyable

This is fantastic, had always written off UB40 as a pop-reggae group but this is very roots/dub orientated.

Largely inoffensive 50s pop with a few highlights. Love Hurts is great

Maybe 3.5? Better than I expected but still kinda nothing

First heard about Santana from that awful Smooth song so knowing he was some Latin jazz fusion monster back in the day was a surprise. Still good stuff here, kinda wish it was a bit harder as he has the chops to really go

It's not perfect and I prefer the tighter Talking Book / Innervisions but jesus, what a talent.

Bit dated but his voice is undeniable and the singles still bang

Bland and forgettable. I hated the singles from this at release and they haven't improved, especially with Quaye's cod-Jamaican accent. Could pass as background music but shouldn't be on this list.

Oh man, so good. Coronado <3 <3 <3

Some of this is incredible, some absolute nonsense. Good bless Kate

Glorious, one of the best discoveries so far. Beautiful stuff

Dem dronez

I never fully appreciated this when listening before, despite being a huge JB fan, as it doesn't have the same funk as his later work but wow, something clicked with me today listening. This is molten, the slower stuff particularly - Lost Someone >>>>

Expected to enjoy this more than I did, couple of great songs but largely a bit meh

Didn't expect to enjoy this, good throughout - I'd always written off Dire Straits as a MOR 80s group but this is kinda interesting. Nice surprise!

Enjoyed this, although likely never listen again. Wainwright's voice often reminded me of Thom Yorke's, so was quite interesting to listen to this as an alternative universe Radiohead album

Beautiful, listened to this in my teens and didn't wow me that much but glad I revisited - an outstanding album

The title track and Jingling Baby still go hard but meh.

Always interesting and the title track is all timer. Demented cover of Across The Universe also a positive

Most of this just kinda passed me by, the final track "It's Love" is AMAZING though

Ha, expected to hate this but it's a riot

So good, was really into this when I was 18/19 for some reason and haven't listened to since but still stands up.

Like a dubbier Talking Heads on a bad trip. Only ever heard The Modern Dance by Pere Ubu before (which bangs), this is still pretty damn good - don't listen to the naysayers

Premium jangle

Bland

Fine? I'm sure Hooker has better albums that could have been included here

Fast Car is possibly one of the best songs ever written but I found this album disappointing in the main, sounds a little dated in 2025.

Liked the lush orchestration, especially the first track, but I find Neil Hannon insufferable.

2.5 - like Queen when they're a straight-up heavy rock band but not so keen on the prog excesses

Bit too musical theatre at times but the good stuff is spectacular

Sensational

Slightly generous 4 maybe, but I like how this seems to naturally fuse pop with 90s electronic music. Very of its time, but feels authentic

Kinda oasis but better - not a fan of britpop and didn't like this on release, but the songwriting is so good it's aged well

Keith Moon is a great rock drummer and the cover of Young Man Blues slays, but this didn't wow me quite as much as I expected

The disco tracks are 5/5 alltimers, the slower pop songs are predictably sexless and bring the album down.

Really enjoyed this, surprisingly so considering I know nothing about traditional country music. Will explore more!

One of the first albums that turned me onto music. It's not perfect (I'd probably go 4.5) but the highs are stratospheric

Pretty good, but of interest more as spot the sample than as an album to enjoy. The iron butterfly cover is sweet though

Personal Jesus & Enjoy the Silence are bangers, but the rest didn't do much for me at all 2.5

The title track is part of the modern canon, but there's so many versions they all merge together - not sure I've ever heard the album version before; it's definitely WAY overproduced and quite weak compared to more pared down covers. Discovered a DJ Shadow sample on El Condor Pasa too! Hiding in plain sight. I enjoyed this in the main but not something I'd ever choose to listen to

Takes a while to click but once the fug clears it's great, love the grooves and just the general vibe. 3.5 rounded up

Good stuff!

Exceptional when it's going all out, largely meh sadly

Freedom! 90 is an alltimer, a surprisingly subdued release in general though.

Still stands up, very fond memories of this as a teenager - was lent it from a friend and it felt genuinely dangerous to listen to.

3.5

Peerless country soul

3.5

Borderline perfect

Songwriting masterclass, many of these have better cover versions but can still appreciate the craft

I could do without Act of Contrition at the end but otherwise this is close to perfect, starts on a high with Like A Prayer/Express Yourself and the quality doesn't really drop. Disappointed in myself that I'd never heard this in full before

Pretty much all killer, no filler. Some tracks have been dampened by over-exposure but it's hard to give it much other than the full 5

Not all of this works but when it goes, it really goes. Must have been pretty special 55 years ago

Couple of heaters (Burnin' Yearnin' - DAMN) but disappointing in the main

Prefer the bluesy stuff on this but still some great tracks despite it being a bit patchy.

Desperately bland

Hard one to rate as it's just kinda there, although I like the short clip like tracks which keeps the vibe consistent. Nothing bad about it but nothing that truly captured or transported me. Good smoking music (I'm sure)

So good! Didn't expect to enjoy a kinks album as much as this

Going 4.5, don't think there will ever be a time this doesn't sound cool

Probably the least of her albums on this list but still excellent, 4.5*

VERY 80s. Animal, Don't Shoot Shotgun and Run Riot bang to an extent but this is pretty bad in 2023

First 4 tracks are all timers, the flipside is a bit mediocre. 3.5

Lyrics are a little sixth form poetry and the subject matter is all very grim, but musically this is far and away the best Manics album - still stands up well. Like Pearl Jam but with songs about sex tourists and anorexia.

Feels an odd choice for this list but excellent album, right up my street.

Roadrunner is a 10/10 classic, the rest rather pales by comparison. Disappointed

Electric side is 5*, acoustic not so much (but still good)

One of the highlights of post-Funeral, major label 00s indie. Can tell a lot of money has been spent on this, but it's all worthwhile. A generous 5 but this was a special album for me.

Love this, my favourite Portishead album - so many thrilling tracks with just the right level of experimentalism

Coked-out excess - all over the place but better than I was expecting for a double set.

Fine

Probably a 3.5, mostly forgettable but some all-timers. Scratches that melodramatic pop itch

Fuck Kanye in 2023 but this is an all-timer. 5-stars just for Minaj's verse on Monster

lol

Fantastic!

The singles are so ubiquitous it's hard to be objective but this flew by, not a band I'd seek out but the songwriting is top tier

Decent enough. Very of it's time (and it didn't sound particularly ground breaking in the 90s) but the singles still slap and Manson is a great frontwoman

Being late 80's funk metal not all of this has aged well, but it stands up suprisingly well. Not my favourite FNM but still bangs.

Starts out great, but was slightly disappointed by this. Excellent muscians but much of it didn't really excite

Yeah, this hits the spot

Easily one of the best live bands I've seen - saw the day ODB died and they did a medley of his stuff which I still think about 20 odd years later. Then in NYC on holiday with all kinds of special guests. Anyway, 1st half is borderline perfect, 2nd drags a bit.

The singles are great (although a little overplayed) but it feels a little too clean compared to the hazy fug of Bummed

Classic, RIP Tom.

RIP Dave, too many people dying at the moment. Great harmonies, some excellent songs - really enjoyed this. 4.5

Fishbone were always considered a bit of a laughing stock, at least in the UK. Can now understand why. 1*

Pretty bog standard blues rock 2*

Exceptional songwriting; funny and thoughtful. 5*

Fine enough Punk album but nothing too spectacular, better when it treads into more hardcore territory. Liked Looking At You too, but nothing I'd be fussed about returning to. 3/5

Epic soul, love how long these tracks go for and are allowed to breathe. Only let down by the ballad "One Woman" 4*

Compared to the albums around this one in Wonder's discography, quite bland and forgettable. Not awful by any means and a pleasant listen but nothing particularly memorable. 3*

Nothing special, expected to like this more - I guess there's historical significance here but their formula was massively improved by bands such as Big Black a few years later. Let's go a generous 3.

Masterpiece 5*

In my head this was always considered a "lesser" Massive Attack album at the time (possibly misremembering...), but it's an exceptional album really. The Tracey Thorn features are the best for me, but it's all good. 5*

Wildly exuberant, inventive and exciting, possibly the Beasties best effort. Still know most of this inside-out after endless plays as a teenager. 5*

Dang, so good. How cool does Bob look on the cover here too? Haven't listened to this since uni.

Great songs, although maybe feels a little like a transitional record between Nevermind and what was to come next. A sad listen.

The jam band stuff is pretty bad but the rest is great. Had only heard My Sweet Lord before, glad I've checked it out properly

Some of the best Beatles songs, some of the worst. Never not interesting

Some of the best songs ever written, sung by one of the best ever singers.

Enjoyed this more than I anticipated, not going to change anyone's life but some chilled country-folk

Some classics but my least favourite Bowie from this era 4*

meh

This is great. Win Butler may be an arsehole (and some) but there's no denying AF's 2000's output

There's better Orbital albums for me

3*

Expected to like this more :\

It's alright I guess

Pretty good, but nothing to wow 3*

The McCartney collab is a bit naff and I've never really liked the title track but there's some all-timers here. Sounds fantastic too, crank it up on some good kit

Digged this much more than I expected

Grey Seal goes hard

Nice surprise to see this hear. I bought this back in the day from a second hand CD shop as I was a big Company Flow fan, but it didn't do a great deal for me at the time. 20 years or so later it's much more resonant with me and still stands up remarkably well - a golden era for underground hiphop

Bit patchy but 11min Street Life >>>>>>>>>

Someone with a good record collection trying to make an album that captures all their interests. Very 90s. Liked this and Holmes at the time as a teen but it feels a little too self-conscious.

The spiky new wave is largely good, you know the singles. Less said about Sting's fake Jamaican accent the better. On Any Other Day is terrible

Meh

Very naff production and a bit too "World Music" but enjoyed this more than I expected. One I may return to

Duff stadium-rock in love with the smell of its own farts

Horribly dated production and bland. I like some of Khaled's other albums but this is a bizarre choice, borderline unlistenable. El Harba Wine is a tune tho

30 years old! Still incredible, a magical album

Got an arch-90s feel which I never really liked - didn't love this much at the time and still haven't warmed to it

Haven't listened to Joplin properly for 20-odd years, incredible.

Ignoring the nasty misogyny, there's some fantastic songs here. I wouldn't blame you if you turn off a couple of tracks in though

Overlong and there's better tribe albums, but this is pretty great still.

Lot of sadness to this for the obvious reasons, but a great album. Rehab has been overplayed but it's solid throughout. Shame she didn't get the help she needed; a huge talent.

The Kinks are maybe my favourite discovery from this site.

If this doesn't do it for you, check your pulse

The proggier aspects haven't dated well but the mad hypnotic space-rock jams are still fantastic

I'm sure there's much more to this than I was getting but just couldn't enjoy it

The title track (which everyone knows) and some other vocal tracks are good, otherwise this is surprisingly bland.

Old man trying to be cool vibes

Was dreading this one given prog's reputation but it slaps.

I hated this on release, mainly teenage stubbornness as I preferred their rave stuff and thought Firestarter was really weak compared to the Atari Teenage Riot and gabber techno I was listening to. Don't mind this now, Firestarter sounds much better sequenced in the album and Diesel Power with Kool Keith makes me wish Liam Howlett produced a full hip hop album rather than the depreciating returns they went into after this

Going 4.5, wonderfully weird pop

3.5 maybe - not of all this is good but Venom is an alltimer and there's plenty to like

Smooooth

I enjoyed the swagger of their debut on relisten but this is too lumpen and coked out.

Concentrated perfection

Haven't listened to this for years and I was expecting to be all snooty that it's their sellout album etc etc but this just slams.

Never listened to this before, despite the ubiquitous singles. Not very good

Love how relentless this goes

Can see why this was a big hit, very easy listen. Some exceptional moments, some bland bits. Far better than the majority of rock albums on this list

meh, imagine this was better at the time

A generous 5 maybe as it's overlong but damn, so good.

I was always more of a Black Sunday guy, has a few of their classics though

Some of these suffer from overplaying but this is pretty much wall to wall great

Although I'm pretty much ideal age to be a fan, this is my first time listening. I hated Oasis in their pomp in the 90s (I was always a contrarian) but the swagger to this album is undeniable. The lyrics are largely nonsense, the music hilariously derivative but some of these tracks make you feel like a god

Maybe 2.5, starts off well but becomes tiresome by the end. This is very much stadium metal, just with allusions to death/thrash metal - clearly designed for mass gatherings where I'm sure they still excel. I saw Slipknot on their first UK tour (1999/early 2000?) and haven't really kept up with them since Iowa, appreciated the chance to reacquaint myself though

Not a perfect album but there's moments of such brilliance it feels wrong not to give it the full 5.

Have tried listening to this about 6 times at night and never made it all the way to the end as always fell asleep. Not objectionable but nothing I'm going to listen to our of choice

Warming to Adele, has to be said

Contains some of the best music I've ever heard, also contains over-indulgent plinkplonk jazz excess. My least favourite of the classic electric miles era

RZAs most oppressive production work, almost sounds like it's cursed at times. I'd always thought this was one of the weaker initial run solo albums from the Wu-Tang Clan but on relisten this isn't the case at all - Method Man maybe lacks some of the artistry of GZA and Raekwon but has charisma in absolute spades

Went in expecting to hate this but it's very listenable. Not something I'm going to spin on the regular, but can understand their appeal a bit more now

Still so rad, listened to this a lot growing up but appreciated it more now. What a talent

A lanky American Fall

The highs are stratospheric but waaaaaaay too long

Some standout tracks but this largely feels like it shouldn't have been released in its present state

haven't listened to this in a loong time, appreciated different things about it now - a very odd record

Scalpel-precision riffs

Honkytonk isn't really my thing - enjoyed it but nothing earthshattering

Very bowie in parts but good stuff

The singles avoid it being a 1, garbage. I saw them live before they launched the album and being heavily hyped, and didn't think much of them back then - hasn't aged well at all, just a band with few ideas

Falls off near the end but there's incredible music here. Was always more of a metal box dude

2.5 maybe, the dumb glam metal tracks work far better

Enjoying these Yes albums more than I'd expect

Generous 4 but the singles still bang

Couple of bangers

Wanted to like this more than I did, strong moments but I found the whole thing a bit cloying

A blast

No idea why this is on the list

Picked up a lot more on this listen than before - NFR is still her best but this is fantastic. We'll look back in 20 years at LDR's body of work and feel lucky we had her

Pales against Public Enemy, would like some harder edged production but the lyrics are strong throughout

A generous 3, nothing bad but nothing particularly exciting

Rules

3.5 - very pleasant listening

The weakest of the classic run of Pixies but still great, better than I remembered

I want to say I like it more than I did, some interesting moments though

So much fun, this would surely have been my favourite album if I'd first heard it at 14 or so. Even with more than a few extra years on me, still great. Like the P-funk party style with some interesting production at times

A solid 3.5

Overlong but dayum, some good stuff on here

Good dumb fun, very juvenile and tongue in cheek (presumably) - can't think I'll ever want to listen to again

One of the few good uses of a recorder I can recall

I liked this at the time but wow, really hasn't aged well

This slams; deliriously noisy and strangely funky. Giving it the full 5 to counteract the philistine 1*s

All over the place but kinda engaging jazz rock (I guess?)

WHY DOES THIS GUY LIKE THE DIVINE COMEDY SO MUCH

This is a blast, what an atmosphere

No idea why this is getting such bad reviews

Still astounding

Reminds me quite a bit of the Stooges, really scuzzy sound. Ace of Spades is a bit played out and the slower tracks don't work quite as well, but this is largely great. The hard boogie of Over the Top at the end the highlight for me

didn't expect to like this at all, much more off-kilter than I anticipating and a slightly horny vibe to it all - good stuff

brings me back to my late teens - can remember hearing suite-pee on a metal hammer (i think) covermount CD and just having my brain melted. Stands up well, shades of nu-metal but slightly askew

18!?!?!?!?!?!? Probably her weakest album (tough competition) but man, what a talent.

Smooth, Sinatra's voice works perfectly with bossa nova

kicks into gear with 7+7 is - maybe the best Love song? Prefer Forever Changes as an album but this has some great moments

So good, I think I prefer Fear of a Black Planet as a listening experience but this is such a jolt. The Bomb Squad's wall-of-noise production weaponising it's samples into something genuinely thrilling with Chuck D and Flavor Flav capturing lightning in a bottle. Best intro track ever too

Has its moments and Buckley's voice is always golden, but this is a bit naff sadly. 2.5

Timeless beauty

Expected to love this but found it a real slog. Game of Pricks is good though

Top 5 of all time, nothing else like it

Feels slightly churlish to give less than the full 5.

An interesting listen, if only for how much hip-hop has changed in 25 years. Jay-Z flexing over imperial-era Just Blaze and pre-nazi Kanye - overlong but there's some fantastic stuff here.

I'm sure I used to like this but it doesn't do much for me now, the longer two final tracks are easily the standouts

Terrible lyrics throughout (A mole, digging in a hole/Digging up my soul/Now going down, excavation) but I enjoyed this more than I expected tbh, the singles are bangers for sure - opening 1/2/3 is undeniable despite their overplayed nature. Production is a bit weird, certainly very over-produced and clean, but there's an element of vulnerability to the album that I wasn't really anticipating.

The title track is borderline perfect, Eddie Hazel was a force of nature

Great when it's breakneck and on the verge of collapsing on itself with super hooky verses and choruses colliding with no space to breathe. The chuggier tracks kill the vibe

Dated in places but this is by far the best album of the big beat era, a generous 4

Pretty much perfect, such strong songwriters.

Holy moly

Solid, nothing new but does what it does exceptionally

Not perfect but feels wrong not to give it a 5. Changed my brain when I first heard it

Pretty rad, not all good but some really interesting stuff. Love the borderline avantgarde guitar work, more far out than I anticipated

Definitely uncool and working in established tropes, but tbh flat out rocks hard

This did very little for me

Has it's moments, sure it had more power on release than in 2024

I wrote this off at the time and didn't really give it much time (was probably in one of my experimental skronk phases), but its easily up with Bowie's best work.

Musically this is just astonishing, like nothing else really. You can query the narrative, but it's clearly a character - like the musical equivalent of Lolita

Listened to it, as soon as it ended I started the album again. This Woman's Work at the end is unreal, just perfect

Don't think this is perfect, but the highs are so good and it's such an ambitious piece of work that it's hard to justify any less than the full 5

RIFFS

My housemate was a huge fan of The Zutons so I saw them loads live around this era and prior, nice guys and pleasant enough music but WHY is this on the list?

First listen to this. Lush and Gaye's voice is obviously perfection, but it's strange to listen to possibly the most sincere album ever in 2025 - the lyrics bring me out as much as the music brings me in

I found this a real chore

I'm old enough to have bought this on tape when it came out. It's fine in 2024 I guess, but it was hardly essential listening back in the day. An odd selection.

Generous 4

Can see the appeal but it hardly sets the pulse racing - wouldn't go out of my way to listen but fine enough

Wild. An uncompromising listen but always interesting and when the noise coalesces at times, it's fantastic. Gets far more listenable in the second half if you're struggling (and you can tell from the reviews who only listened to a few seconds then dropped a 1 on it)

Enjoyed this less than I expected to, some highlights but didn't engage as I'd envisioned

Yeah, loved it - such a great sound and Dulli is a fantastic vocalist. listened to a few of their other albums back in the day (had 1965 on tape!) but never this one

Great band, great album. Their live shows are rip your face off intense, this isn't that far behind.

Boxcars is a jam

I'm a Can fan but never heard this, cool stuff! Can see the influence on the Eno/Byrne record but this is more musically successful

Like with Harry Potter, I always felt like I was slightly too old for Linkin Park - if I was born a few years later I'd have probably ate this stuff up. Can appreciate the craft but it doesn't do anything for me

Never really goes beyond it's influences but the nosier stuff here rules, some echoes of early Nirvana/grungy Sonic Youth at times. Boo to Britpop but this is better than I anticipated

Not really what I was expecting - expected something much more wet and bland but sounded quite Velvet Undergroundy at times. Good stuff!

A generous 5 maybe as it's not perfect throughout and Brown can't sing, but it's bookended by some of the best songs of its era.

This was a teenage favourite so may be a bit coloured by that but I love this album. The production is still insane 30(!) years on

Fascinating album and a good listen, although maybe more for the back story than anything. "Somebody tell me please, tell me please/ Why do I have to pay attorney fees (My baby's)" is a WILD lyric and worthy of it's inclusion on the list alone

Possibilities

A real one, RIP Sinead. Never heard this album before - not quite what I expected (in a good way!) only knowing Nothing Compares.

Not perfect and it is essentially 2 different albums fused together but this is still a singular achievement over 20 years on. Can remember LOVING this when it came out, still stands up now - so creative.

Maybe a 4.5, I dunno, but the way experimental early 10s dance music is fused into pop forms is so mesmerising. On this relisten, the interpolation of Air Supply's "I'm all out of love" as it drops into Two Weeks is a levitational moment.

Way overlong, Christina obviously can sing but in the main the material here isn't that great.

Generous 4 maybe, love how slinky this is

weird album, lots of echoes of other stuff in this strange dubby, acid-house dream - Sound & Vision, Twin Peaks

Birth. School. Metallica. Death.

A blast, 21 years old!

The Stillness is the Move!!!! What a song. Took a while for the album to click into place, but when it did I was totally won over.

Opening 1-2-3-4 is great, the rest palls by comparison

NGL this bangs. I lived through the Ed Banger years and by the time this came out I was kind of done with the entire sound but relistening close to 20 years on the level of craft to the production is pretty clear.

Great when it has that Stonesy swagger

Find it dodgy that Tyler was basically my age at time of recording and singing about teenage girls, but this bangs in the main. Don't think Perry gets the respect he deserves as a guitarist, riffs galore.

Still stands up, consistent throughout and 50s slightly lazy flow continues to be super listenable. The mega budget production bangs and In Da Club is an all-timer. Limited subject matter but you know what you're walking into with this, better than I feared

Some of this is woeful (the Durst collab, Earache my Eye), but when it's good it hits hard. Not my favourite Korn but glad I revisited

Precious is an alltime great opener, and the spikier tracks here are fantastic - really playing into Hynde's sass. Sags in the middle and end sadly, Brass in Pocket aside

Dig Cohen over acoustic guitar. Suzanne is maybe his best song

I saw YYYs around the time this was released and they were fantastic, still has a great swagger and energy to it. Maps is an all-timer

Don't like this as much as other Eno albums from the era but still some great moments - Fripp's solo on St Elmo's Fire!!!

Any album with a song named "Chariot Choogle" gets a thumbs up from me.

Want to like this much more than I did

Probably made more sense at the time

Rips. Can still remember the thrill of first hearing Know Your Product about 20 or so years ago. Not a perfect album but when it's good, it's pure energy

Better than I thought it'd be, although massively of it's time. I've not knowingly ever played this before but I seemingly recognised every track, probably soundtracked multiple stoned evenings at university

This was a blast, had no idea what to expect and exceeded all my expectations. Maybe overlong but feels like an album you can live in for years, let's go 5 to even out all the idiotic 1 star reviews

Forgot quite how many extended funk jams there are on this.

Smooth

Fine enough, not the best Ibrahim album I've heard

Honey is maybe THE non-Xmas Carey track but this is so leaden with (admittedly well sung) ballads that it's a real trudge. I read her autobiography and this was an important album to her as an artist, but not something I'm going to listen to again

First time hearing this, I kind of lost interest after their initial hiatus. Found the elder statesman archness quite trying at the start and it felt like a weaker retread of earlier work, but gets much better as it progresses

Unexpectedly great!

Their best album, almost 25(!) years on it hasn't really aged. I was very contrary about this on release as I got annoyed by all the indie kids freaking about the "unlistenable" album whilst I was mainlining far more experimental stuff on Warp and Rephlex, so I wrote this off as Radiohead making a middling Aphex wannabe album just to be different. Instead now my older and hopefully wiser head just sees this for it's stark and chilling beauty, arguably one of the best albums on the list so far.

Maybe 2.5 - a lot of the production has aged quite badly but it's interesting - reminds me a bit of the Velvet Underground in places?. Hanging Out and Hung Up on the Line goes pretty hard too

Molten hot live set in the vein of Live at the Apollo, need more listens but could even be better

Doesn't set my world alight but thoroughly enjoyable to listen to

Have tried several times over the years to get into this and never succeeded, this was definitely the most productive listen though - still can't see the best album ever claims but starting to understand the appeal

This was a struggle - Emit Remmus may be the worst song I've heard as part of the project

The singles are still great, the rest not so much. Maybe 2.5

I'd always discounted this record due to Mr Blue Sky being so overplayed but for the most part it slaps, HUGE pop songs. Very Beatles-esque. Goes on too long but this was unexpectedly great

Forgettable, title track aside

Appreciate the songwriting craft but found it hard to get too excited about this. The singles will probably be listened to forever but they've definitely been overplayed so hard to be objective

Great album, not quite sure why on the list but thoroughly enjoyed either way

This was HUGE at the time and it's hard for me to be too objective as I was sick of the singles so much. Saying that, I enjoyed it more than I expected but man, way overlong. There's a super tight 40-45 minutes here. A generous 3

Bit overrated and a little of it's time, but can't be too critical - a lovely listen

I loved Bukem back in the day (Demons Theme!) but jungle wasn't made to be listened out of mixes really - the mix CD here is decent and some of the Bukem tracks are fantastic, but its a bit of a drudge even for a fan

I loved the Beta Band back in the day, this stands up much better than it's contemporaries in the UK.

Better than I'd expected

Some dated production aside, this is excellent. 4.5

2.5* Fine enough, never really got the hype with these even back in the day. Remember seeing them on the Rhythm & Stealth tour in 2000 or so and they were LOUD

A generous 3, there's some great stuff here but WAY overlong despite Aguilera's virtuosic performances. Get this down to a single disc and it's one of the best of it's era.

Fine, a necessary jump into different sounds after reaching the limits of their previous approach with The Great Escape. Kind of feels like their ticking off the boxes - this is the Bowie track, the Roxy Music track, the trip hop track...

A generous 5 maybe but this album gives me so much pleasure. The riffs!

Maybe 3.5? Not all of this dated well but there's some undeniable bangers

So good, I'd maybe underappreciated this in the past - rock solid throughout and possibly their most consistent album

Coldplay came into this world fully formed as stadium rockers. I enjoyed this at the time and it's still got it's charms, despite the sometimes cloying earnestness and naivety here

History is an alltimer of a song, best when it when moves deep into psych territory

Maybe 3.5, rounding up to 4. Still a blast, liked them at the time (saw them on this tour at Nottingham Rock City :)) but has stood up better than expected. Very silly but great percussion and there's interestingly a lot of noise-rock flavouring plugged into what's quite an accessible album

Badass

Liked this more than I did at the time, Lanegan has a voice for the ages.

Fun!

Can understand why many don't like this but few artists can fuse this level of experimentalism with accessibility and emotional power. This still sounds like the future close to a decade on.

Ignoring West's current behaviour, this is still a good listen. Overlong and too many skits but there's some strong stuff here

All over the place, intermittently brilliant but an exhausting listen. Teenage me would have probably obsessed over this record

Takes a few tracks but loved this

Still perfect

Raucous and life affirming despite being 60 odd years old, don't know why so many are giving this bad reviews

Uncompromising. Can appreciate the craft, not one I'd return to

Arguably the weakest of the classic Stooges era (The Weirdness and Ready to Die are not recognised in this house), but it's all relative - this has so much swagger and menace it's impossible not to get lost in it. Incredible stuff.

Not as good as I remember it being from my teens, way overlong and the singles are hugely overplayed now. Should have cut the bad hardcore too

Haven't heard this for years, seem to remember buying a Byrds box set. Enjoyed this more than I expected, high quality jangle pop

3.5 maybe, patchy given it's compilation status but the good stuff is barnstorming still. Saw them live around this time and it was mayhem

Don't think I'd heard this before and realised I only really like Roxy Music when they're shaping their experimentalism into somewhat pop structures, I found much of this dull and self-indulgent. Just made me want to play For Your Pleasure instead

Generous 4, some of it is obviously great but there's plenty that hasn't dated well.

Some absolute jams on this, dudes could play

Some excellent stuff but also has the worst kind of silly prog rock which I hate

I was into this at the time and saw them live around the release of the album, but I can't say it's still capturing my interest - they were a bit more interesting than other Britpop/post-Britpop bands on release as they came from a dance music background (which they played up a bit more live), but relistening in 2024, it leaves me a bit cold - just sounds like Coldplay.

I saw Jeru a few times in the early 00s so have a bit of a soft spot for him. This still stands up, especially with the DJ Premier production, although not a huge fan of J's overtly pseudo-intellectual lyricism (despite the flawless flow)

2.5 maybe, OK - very 90s. I lived through peak "Brimful of Asha" times where the Norman Cook remix was played everywhere constantly and I'd happily never hear it again

A perfect parting album and some of his most interesting music.

Great vibe on this

Comfortably one of the worst albums I've heard on this list. Like a knock-off Beatles record lacking any of their charm or wit, a real slog

The most mid-90s pilled album possible, this was middling even at the time during the tyranny of Big Beat. No-one needs 2 Fatboy Slim albums on the list.

The greatest to ever do it

Interesting as part of the wider output, not sure it stands up enough on its own to justify it's inclusion here

Generous 3, there's a cracking EP here.

A strange, unique and wonderful album. Glad I finally managed to listen to it.

Essentially Ace of Spaces 12 times.

Way better than I was expecting - a state of the nation report for the late 00s. Nice dubby basslines, the best non-Blur thing Albarn has done maybe?

Love the drums! Would never have heard this

Has moments but this is largely an uncomfortable listen

The most charismatic rapper of all time paired with peak Dr Dre.

Comfortably the best Gabriel I've heard on the list so far

This album close to changed my life

You could chop an easy 10 minutes of this and make it a better album, but the best tracks are undeniable

The handful of electronic productions have dated badly but this is largely excellent. Lovely surprise!

I'm sure this was reveltatory at it's time but in 2024, this just sounds like something you'd randomly stumble across on soundcloud

One of the albums that changed my life back as a teen. When it's good, it's genuinely some of the best music ever recorded but I find Aumgn and Peking O borderline unlistenable so I can't give it the full 5.

Important as a historical artifact and it's influence, no fun to listen to (and I like Napalm Death in general)

A generous 3 just for the title track

A generous 3

Used to listen to this loads as a teen, the first Smiths album I heard. Great first side then trails off

A generous 4, way overlong but the highs see it through.

Of it's time, although feels strangely contemporary in some ways due to it's easy international flavour which is the fashion now. Despite MIAs descent into lunacy, this is still largely a thrilling listen and Paper Planes is an all-timer

I got into The Strokes early (bought their first EP when it came out, I was there etc), can't emphasize how exciting they were at the time after YEARS of britpop bilge. All the best tracks were on the EP but this still excites in places, although maybe my older head feels like it never really progresses beyond it's clear influences

Has it's moments but so much of this is actively terrible - Counting Out Time may be the worst song I've encountered yet