716
Albums Rated
2.75
Average Rating
66%
Complete
373 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
34
5-Star Albums
67
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Reign In Blood
Slayer
|
5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
|
Scum
Napalm Death
|
4 | 2.07 | +1.93 |
|
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
|
5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
|
Closer
Joy Division
|
5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
|
High Violet
The National
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
|
4 | 2.28 | +1.72 |
|
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
Pornography
The Cure
|
5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
|
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
|
5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
|
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
|
1 | 3.94 | -2.94 |
|
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
|
1 | 3.84 | -2.84 |
|
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
|
1 | 3.74 | -2.74 |
|
Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
|
1 | 3.72 | -2.72 |
|
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
|
1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
|
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
|
1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
|
Moon Safari
Air
|
1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
|
Imagine
John Lennon
|
1 | 3.45 | -2.45 |
|
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
|
1 | 3.39 | -2.39 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 4.6 |
| Arcade Fire | 3 | 4.67 |
| The Flaming Lips | 2 | 5 |
| Joy Division | 2 | 5 |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Cure | 3 | 4.33 |
| Metallica | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 3 | 1.33 |
| Happy Mondays | 2 | 1 |
| Grateful Dead | 2 | 1 |
| The The | 2 | 1 |
| Steely Dan | 4 | 1.75 |
| Elvis Presley | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Specials | 2 | 1.5 |
| Oasis | 2 | 1.5 |
| Kraftwerk | 2 | 1.5 |
| Aerosmith | 2 | 1.5 |
| Elvis Costello & The Attractions | 4 | 2 |
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 2 |
| Pet Shop Boys | 3 | 2 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The Beach Boys | 2, 2, 5 |
| Kanye West | 4, 3, 1 |
5-Star Albums (34)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Travis
1/5
Wild how clearly influenced by Ok Computer this record is. I feel like Travis owes Radiohead a billion dollars just based on the song "As You Are" alone. This isn't bad but it's like that meme where mom tells you we have Radiohead at home.
This is the Radiohead at home.
Update: Holy shit, even "The Last Laugh of the Laughter" (dumbass title) is literally just ripping off "Paranoid Android." This is egregious!
8 likes
Guns N' Roses
1/5
I've heard the singles off this record so many times it makes me want to vomit. Trying to be open-minded about the other songs, we'll see how far I can make it...
Update: Three tracks in and I cannot do this. Shitty lyrics, cheesy riffs, and over-indulgent guitar solos. I struggle to understand why this is so "acclaimed." An actual line from a review: "rock is at last being wrestled from the hands of the bland, the weak, the jaded, the tired, the worn, and being thrust back into the hands of the real raunch rebels." Oh thank god at last rock will be in the hands of horny white dudes who think rebelling means hitting on the waitress at Applebee's and then chugging beers in the garage while this plays on a piece of shit boom box.
8 likes
1-Star Albums (67)
All Ratings
The Who
4/5
Classic album, so many songs I didn't know I knew. Every song larger than life, great production and engineering. Definition of "classic rock."
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Sometimes the story behind the album really elevates it: new songs recorded live with the back half of the set featuring electric guitars. Another fantastic rock album!
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Paul Weller
1/5
I have never ever heard of this album or artist. Curious to listen!
Update: digging the instrumentation but not pa-paw's lyrics. Some real boomer shit here.
Update 2: Shadow Of The Sun is a cool jam, mostly because there's no lyrics in the back half.
Final Update: Way too long, not very compelling most of the time.
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
Obviously have heard "Take Me Out" but never the whole album, looking forward to it!
Update After Listening: solid album but beyond the hit single none of the songs really stood out to me. Middle of the road, a little bland. A lot of the songs don't really go anywhere. Feel like I've heard better versions of what they were going for from Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Fratelis, etc. But not a bad record.
The Avalanches
3/5
Pretty good! Haven't listened to a lot of electronic music but the blending of all the samples sounded very impressive. Definitely a vibe.
CHIC
2/5
It was okay, wasn't totally in a disco mood but it's a vibe for sure.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Never really listened to Sonic Youth before. This album was solid, definitely hear the pre-grunge influences. It felt long and a bit disjointed though, a little difficult to get all the way through.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Shaft is a fuckin vibe.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I've never listened to Elvis Costello, interested to see what this sounds like...
UPDATE 1: Is it weird to say this reminds me of Bruce Springsteen?? Listening to "Tokyo Storm Warning" and if there were a little more keyboard and sax this would be a Boss song.
UPDATE 2: Wtf is "honey are you straight or blind"???
Haircut 100
1/5
What the hell is this??
UPDATE 1: V Talking Heads inspired. Not a bad thing, it grooves.
UPDATE 2: Eh, this was okay. Nothing I'd ever return to but not upset to listen to it once.
The Slits
3/5
Love the closing track, just this distorted, distopian jam. Weird album overall but really dug it.
The Charlatans
1/5
Oh boy, looks like some Oasis wannabe ripoff band...
UPDATE: I can't finish this, this album has no ability to hold my interest. Zero stars.
R.E.M.
3/5
REM fuckin rocks but I've never heard their debut before. It was an interesting listen, no obvious hits but you can hear the foundation of what would evolve into their signature sound.
The Cardigans
3/5
Every song is more unexpected than the last! The first track really sets you up for something generic but "Been It" comes in with a slappin' riff and "Heartbreaker" slows things down with this dreamy, waltzy vibe. Really digging this!
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Damn this sounds gnarly right off the bat!
UPDATE: This shit ripped.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
This shit was dope but Dumb Girl was weird, felt a little slut shame-y. It was a different time I guess?
The Who
2/5
This was okay, not my favorite output from The Who.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Beth Orton
3/5
This was awesome! Really enjoyed it.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
I've heard such good things about this record, excited to listen to it!
Shit was dope.
ZZ Top
2/5
Some beard slappin' ass tunes.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Soft Cell
1/5
Hmm, is this really a good album or does it just have "Tainted Love" on it...
UPDATE: Gave up at "Sex Dwarf" wtf is this shit lol
Bad Brains
3/5
I actually listened to this for the first time a few weeks ago! Looking forward to revisiting it.
UPDATE: Okay I like Bad Brains, but sometimes the vocals have zero power behind them and just feel a little weak. But the guy has power, just weird where he chooses to reel it in.
UPDATE: "Re-Ignition" is the perfect example of this vocal thing. The drums are driving, the guitars chunky, yet the vocals are half whispered and just don't bring the same vibe as the instrumentals.
Neil Young
4/5
I've heard this one! Love it! My first and only exposure to Neil Young before "Rust Never Sleeps" from this list.
UPDATE: Love this album, great vibes.
Eurythmics
2/5
Getting through this has been a little difficult, it's not quite my vibe today. But I press on!
Femi Kuti
2/5
Couldn't finish this one. Not my vibe at all.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Shit rocks!
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Not a big electronic music fan, this was pretty good but not really my mood today.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Shit rocks! Never listened to a full Sabbath album before but it was pretty good. More soft parts than I though there would be, kind of a nice surprise.
T. Rex
3/5
Never listened to T. Rex but super excited to check them out.
UPDATE: This is getting way more rockabilly than I thought it would but I dig it.
Public Enemy
3/5
This shit goes hard as FUCK.
Grizzly Bear
4/5
Super excited to revisit this album, used to love it when it came out.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2/5
Kinda boomer-y, like the kinds of songs my uncle has been jamming and singing to himself for 20 years. Not terrible though.
Beatles
5/5
Love Rubber Soul!! This was the first Beatles album I ever bought on vinyl, there was an old copy at a thrift store. It's beat to hell and sounds a little scratchy but that just adds to the charm of it.
ABBA
3/5
Fucking bops, all around.
The Smiths
4/5
Love The Smiths, but fuck Morrisey's stupid ass. Great album.
Sade
3/5
Pretty good album, solid songs.
Marty Robbins
2/5
BIG IRON ON HIS HIIIIP
Sabu
2/5
Didn't hate this but not feeling it today, couldn't finish.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
1/5
"Keep on Chooglin'?" Lmaoooooo
Pavement
4/5
I love Pavement!
Queen Latifah
2/5
The Icarus Line
3/5
Wasn't feeling the first half of this album but the second half really picked up and got crazy. Not a bad record.
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Damn, this rips!
Waylon Jennings
2/5
Saint Etienne
1/5
Did not enjoy, very repetitive and boring.
Miles Davis
5/5
Miles is the king baby
Portishead
4/5
I thought I was going to hate this but it's actually awesome! Super weird, creepy, reminds me of Radiohead just a little bit.
Beck
3/5
Not bad, definitely a sadder, mellower Beck.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
Pretty good, enjoyed this one even though it wasn't really my vibe.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1/5
Didn't finish this one.
Green Day
4/5
I was just telling a friend yesterday that I'd never listened to all of Dookie, what a coincidence!
UPDATE: Some of the mixing is absolutely terrible, especially on "Having a Blast."
UPDATE 2: More terrible mixing on Welcome to Paradise, weird jumps in loudness.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Lots of respect for Jimi but I don't know if I can listen to him solo for an hour straight...
UPDATE: Couldn't do it, skipped right through to Watchtower and then turned it off lol
Hanoi Rocks
1/5
Feels like these dudes really wanted to make fun of shitty 80's rock so they made an album of all shitty 80's rock. Respect.
UPDATE: Ripping on glam rock by making parody glam rock still means you made glam rock.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Not bad, some of the songs are a little too long but well written and performed.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
V I B E S
Nirvana
3/5
This was good.
Ravi Shankar
3/5
This was good.
Nas
4/5
Classic as fuck
Massive Attack
1/5
This is just not my thing. The instrumentals are fine but the tracks just draaaaaag. It genuinely felt like "One Love" was ten minutes long. Everything gets very repetitive to the point it's annoying.
Blur
3/5
Joan Baez
2/5
Black Flag
3/5
David Bowie
2/5
David Holmes
2/5
More electronic music! This wasn't bad, I feel like when I come across an electronic/house album I enjoy it more when I'm too busy to pay attention to it lol I liked the interspersed recordings, especially the one about the Continental Club.
John Martyn
3/5
Funky, a little psychedelic, jammy. I enjoyed this record, don't know if I'd ever revisit it but while it was on I was into it!
Sigur Rós
3/5
Never listened to Sigur Ros but always wanted to check them out, guess this is a good excuse!
UPDATE: This shit's long as fuck. Good, though!
The Rolling Stones
2/5
"We all want someone we can cream on."
Yeahhhh fuck the Rolling Stones and their misogyny. Songs lack structure, just 4-ish minute jams that don't go anywhere with dumb lyrics that repeat over and over. This is probably my favorite release from them because it's kind of short.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Not in the mood for Bob today, sorry.
Paul Simon
3/5
This album was so fucking dumb but the songs were so well written and enjoyable. Truly a confusing listen but I loved it.
KISS
3/5
Okay I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about a fucking KISS album but it was only 30 minutes long so I gave it a shot. Honestly, it kind of slapped.
Also, didn't realize the song Paul Rudd sings at the end of Role Models to his love interest Beth was the song "Beth" off this album, nice to connect those dots.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Not bad, pretty weird. I'm not a big Pink Floyd fan but this was one of the more interesting albums I've heard from them.
Paul Simon
2/5
Elvis Costello
1/5
This was not very good.
The Damned
2/5
Not bad, not bad
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Aphex Twin
3/5
This was decent. I wasn't fully in the mood for ambient music today so I didn't finish the entire album but what I heard sounded good. Definitely intend to keep this in mind for when the mood is right.
N.W.A.
4/5
Classic. Iconic.
UPDATE: Love the outro jam for "Parental Discretion Iz Advised."
Baaba Maal
2/5
Didn't finish this, wasn't my vibe at all.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
This was incredibly fun to listen to! Really enjoyed this record, definitely outside of what I’d normally listen to but hey that’s what all this is for, right?
PJ Harvey
4/5
This was incredible! Loved the guitar work, loved the attitude, loved the rawness. I feel like Jack White owes PJ Harvey a thank you card at least. This record just flat out rocked.
Pavement
4/5
Love this album!
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Frank was a good way to start the day, dude is emo as fuck.
New Order
3/5
Never given New Order a listen, but always loved Joy Division so high hopes.
UPDATE: Elegia fucking rocks! It's like a cut from the Halloween soundtrack!
Barry Adamson
4/5
"Finally, some good fucking food."
Memes aside, this is the type of album that gets me on concept alone: imaginary score to a noir thriller set in Manchester. Love the idea, let's see how the execution goes...
UPDATE: Loved it.
The Prodigy
2/5
An interesting listen. Couldn't get enough of some of it while I couldn't stand other parts! There's a good variety of electronic/house music here so there's bound to be something to connect with. I'm not huge on this type of music but I really enjoyed some of the darker, heavier music. It was reminiscent of music from some old FPS games.
Rod Stewart
2/5
Solid. Again, nothing I found exciting but it was a decent listen.
The Yardbirds
3/5
ABBA
3/5
Never listened to ABBA before but this was a little darker than I expected. Pretty good!
Rod Stewart
2/5
Decent album. Decent covers, solid mix of instruments. Nothing exciting but nothing offensive.
Frank Black
3/5
This is such a fascinating collection of tracks. Some punk, some ballads, some arena rock. I genuinely didn't know what to expect when the next song started, and that went on for all of the record's TWENTY-TWO tracks! I didn't love everything that was here but it was all executed so effortlessly that it all fit together well. I'll need to revisit to pick out my favorites, this is my first Frank Black experience and it will definitely have me exploring more.
Talking Heads
4/5
This is already one of my favorite albums ever, I have this on vinyl and will be listening to it later today.
UPDATE: This is such an incredible album. Weirdly dark in places, lots of different influences mixed in.
The Kinks
2/5
No bad, not exciting.
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Not bad, haven't listened to them before. Some of it was a little dated but there was a longer song towards the end that was pretty interesting.
Todd Rundgren
1/5
I'm so mad I got distracted and let this play for an hour. Corny shit. "Intro" was pretty funny.
The Young Rascals
2/5
Eh, unremarkable.
Pulp
2/5
Not bad, not bad.
Basement Jaxx
3/5
I didn't finish this but I liked what I heard! Just got distracted.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Pretty good! Classic songs here.
Tom Waits
4/5
Ugh, this missed Tom Waits' birthday by like one day!
UPDATE: This is fucking weird. I love it.
UPDATE 2: "I gotta go see a man about a dog" is one of the best ways to end an album
Al Green
3/5
Elvis Presley
2/5
Eh, it's Elvis.
Happy Mondays
1/5
Despite the cover art, this album is kind of boring and uninteresting to me. Guess you had to be there.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
2/5
I like this "Country Girl" song, it's got a very sprawling narrative feel to it.
The Pogues
3/5
Story time: In high school I used to love Flogging Molly, and one time I was wearing a shirt for them and my English teacher asked about it. I told her it was an Irish punk rock band and they were the best. She told me to go back and listen to The Pogues, who did it Irish punk first. I never did but I always remembered her telling me that these guys were the OG's. Excited to give this a listen.
David Bowie
4/5
A few tracks in and this sounds like a Talking Heads album with louder mixing.
UPDATE: This was a great album, loved it!
The Doors
3/5
k.d. lang
2/5
Pretenders
3/5
This kicked ass. I never knew where "Brass in Pocket" came from so it was great to stumble across that absolute banger in the track list. Strong songwriting dripping with attitude, finely produced. Very good record, will need to check out more from Pretenders.
The Soft Boys
1/5
Eh, pretty bland honestly. Not very engaging.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Wow this fucking slapped hard. MASTAPIECE!
Wire
2/5
This is one of those albums where the context matters: an angular, low-fi punk album from 1977 that was a little ahead of its time. Fun listen.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Never listened to Willie Nelson before, excited to hear this. Love the album art here!
UPDATE: This was a great collection of covers. Don't know if it's a strong read on Nelson's own writing but I enjoyed what I heard.
New Order
2/5
I'm sure this is impressive but this is not the vibe today. Maybe I'll come back to it later this afternoon.
Dr. John
1/5
Immediate thoughts: this is super creepy in a bad way, mixing is terrible.
UPDATE: This shit sucks lol
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Absolutely legendary jazz album.
The Sonics
3/5
This shit ripped! What should be a pretty standard crop of early rock n' roll tracks gets an extra edge from the singer's performance and the speed/energy of the instruments. It's like a bunch of garage punks had to dress up for the function, and it feels like at any moment one of them is going to smash their guitar through an amp.
Mudhoney
2/5
Harry Nilsson
2/5
Pulp
2/5
Not bad, but didn't hold my attention very well.
Beach House
3/5
Cypress Hill
2/5
Fairport Convention
2/5
Decent album but not something I think I'd ever revisit.
The Byrds
2/5
Solid!
Can
2/5
Eagles
3/5
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
This is already one of my favorite albums from Sufjan, definitely appreciate an excuse to listen to it today!
Everything But The Girl
1/5
Not exciting.
Koffi Olomide
1/5
Mariah Carey
2/5
This isn't really my cup of tea, but I'll give props where they're due: Mariah has a phenomenal voice, and it sounds like she worked with some of the best producers on this record. That being said, I don't think many of the songs stood out and it was very long.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Johnny Cash is so fucking badass. What an iconic live performance that really highlights Cash's attitude alongside his musical skill. Almost worth getting arrested just to see a show like this.
The Clash
3/5
Hadn't ever given this a front-to-back listen. I felt underwhelmed, especially given how iconic this album is. Felt a little bloated with songs and not super focused, but I did like a good amount of what was on here.
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Pretty good, never heard them before but lived up to the hype!
Country Joe & The Fish
1/5
Meh, kind of uninteresting.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Absolute classic, probably my favorite MJ album? "Thriller" is my favorite song for sure, and the music video might be the best music video ever created!
More thoughts: it's interesting that this album was described as "darker" by critics initially. It's a more mature voice for MJ but I don't think the songs are any more or less dark than his prior offerings. Just my opinion though.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
I really do not like this guy's voice, it's very whiny. The music underneath is okay, and thankfully the songs are pretty concise. Overall, pretty meh on Thomas Petty here.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
This generator really said "PLAY FREE BIRD" and I was like "yeah okay" lol legendary
Blondie
3/5
This one ripped! Blondie is fucking iconic, punk attitude with a glam veneer.
AC/DC
3/5
I think I like AC/DC but I can't stop thinking about this tweet: "listening to AC/DC and laughing cause all the songs are like “YEEEEEOW I’m the man who roooocks.” this shit sucks ahahha"
Eagles
3/5
Fela Kuti
5/5
This was far and away one of the best live recordings I've ever heard! The instruments were all so vibrant it felt like I was actually at the show. And the drum solo at the end was amazing. This is probably my favorite record off this list so far that I hadn't already heard or been aware of already. Pure excellence!
Sister Sledge
3/5
Funky, fun album. Good vibes, performances are great!
Hole
3/5
Pretty rockin' tbh
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I like this a lot.
Talking Heads
5/5
Absolute masterpiece.
Motörhead
2/5
The title track is of course fire (shoutout Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3) but the rest is kind of meh. Not that it's terrible, it just falls into that Kiss territory of cheesy hair metal. And I refused to listen to anything past a song called "Jailbait."
The Specials
2/5
Eminem
3/5
Classic.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Probably one of the first full Rolling Stones albums I ever listened to, got into them a little back in 2019.
UPDATE: I don't think I like the Rolling Stones lol I can respect that they were popular and talented but that 11 minute song kind of illustrates what my problem is: they just jam on songs and gets repetitive and boring. Every song on this album could have been 11 minutes long if they hadn't just stopped playing at 4 minutes. That's how meandering and formless these tracks are.
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Pretty smooth and relaxing. Really enjoyed!
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
This record slapped pretty good! Funky as fuck, total vibe. Great playing, especially the bass.
Paul Simon
3/5
I see what Vampire Weekend was talking about.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Good listen, interesting instrumentals and arrangements. Don't know if I'd ever revisit but enjoyed it while it was on.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Didn't finish disc 2 but this was pretty good, very ambitious. And I love a concept album.
Sam Cooke
3/5
Iron Maiden
3/5
Ripping album but sounded a little weird and flat.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Slipknot
4/5
Fucking iconic.
FKA twigs
3/5
T. Rex
2/5
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Aimee Mann
2/5
Big Black
3/5
Heaven 17
2/5
Various Artists
4/5
The Lemonheads
3/5
Pretty solid! Very straightforward alternative rock, these guys aren't just a one-hit-wonder.
Louis Prima
2/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
I've never really listened to Beastie Boys outside of their singles and holy shit, this album is phenomenal!
UPDATE: Love the jazzy interludes on this album. On the Wiki, there's a passage about how the photographer they tapped didn't quite understand the music, describing it as "a secret language." I think that's very fitting, but in a good way.
The Human League
1/5
No.
David Bowie
4/5
This is incredible! How have I never listened to this before??
Beyoncé
4/5
Fantastic album, love Beyonce but hadn't listened to this record yet.
Beastie Boys
3/5
This had a lot to live up to after hearing "Ill Communication" the other day and I have to say, it didn't quite get there. The beats were impressive but I think I prefer the actual instrumentation on IC. Still, this was a very good listen.
Merle Haggard
3/5
Merle has a phenomenal voice. This didn't do too much for me personally but I'd like to give props for great performances, excellent production, and strong songwriting.
James Taylor
3/5
Solid. Not really up my alley but the songs were concise and well-written. James is an excellent performer on top of that so this made for a pleasant listen.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Not huge on electronic music, as you've probably heard by now. But that being said, I enjoyed this record a lot. Production is fresh (despite being from 1998!) and the songs hold energy and originality that feels timeless.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Pretty good, pretty fun! Never listened to Willie before so this was a treat.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
Decent country album, nothing that blew me away but it was pleasant to have on.
3/5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
This kind of kicked ass!
Beatles
5/5
Mastapiece
The Jesus And Mary Chain
3/5
I really dig this, totally a vibe. Will have to check out more of their stuff.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
This was a really good album, didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised!
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
This is awesome! You never know what you're going to get listening to the soundtrack for a film you've never seen. It's a widely diverse soundtrack. Lots of swelling instrumentation. A surprisingly fun listen!
Erykah Badu
3/5
I enjoyed this album a good amount. Goes from pretty chill to funky to soulful, great range of songs and production is top notch.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
A lot more interesting than I thought it would be! Very enjoyable, quick listen.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Unfortunately I never got into any of the other Flaming Lips releases as strongly as this one. But this one is just incredible.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This fucking slapped. Love a 20 minute long jazz/soul song.
Ian Dury
1/5
The National
5/5
"High Violet" is absolutely, far and away, one of the best albums I've ever heard. I got into The National after "Boxer" came out and HV was the first new release I got to experience. A truly incredible work, 10/10.
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Not bad but a little boring.
The Strokes
2/5
I've tried getting into this album since high school and I haven't. Maybe sixth time's the charm?
UPDATE: Yeah, not really doing much for me. I feel like once you've heard "Last Nite" and maybe two other songs you pretty much get the gist of everything this band has to offer.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Venom
2/5
This shit sucked lmao
The B-52's
3/5
Pretty rockin' album here. Great performances, songs are catchy but a little too long. Didn't realize the classic hit "Rock Lobster" was 7 minutes long. But a fun album outside of all that.
2/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
The Zombies
2/5
Oasis
2/5
Never was a huge fan of Oasis. I guess you had to be there.
The Police
3/5
Air
3/5
Pretty good, makes me want to watch the movie!
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Not bad. Started strong but the last few songs dragged a bit. Hadn't listened to this album before but am definitely a fan of other SP releases.
The Beau Brummels
1/5
Bob Dylan should either sue or be sued...
The Cure
4/5
Ugh, I didn't want to be depressed today...
The Band
2/5
Eh.
Funkadelic
2/5
The Prodigy
2/5
Eh, not my thing but decent.
Badly Drawn Boy
2/5
Tracy Chapman
3/5
Elvis Presley
1/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Baaba Maal
2/5
The Young Gods
2/5
Hole
3/5
The Stone Roses
2/5
Not bad, a little bland but didn't hate it.
Malcolm McLaren
2/5
Corny but interesting.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
The Pharcyde
2/5
Decent album, enjoy the skits. Beats are solid.
Love
2/5
2/5
Pixies
2/5
Doves
2/5
Metallica
4/5
Adele
2/5
I like this album but not in the mood for it today. Plus I've probably heard half these songs about one billion times.
Run-D.M.C.
3/5
Youssou N'Dour
2/5
Arcade Fire
4/5
Already one of my favorite albums! They just released new music that sounded like it harkened back to this era, so revisiting their early stuff might help prime their new album.
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
Grateful Dead
1/5
I will never willingly listen to this.
Megadeth
2/5
Megadeth should slap but Dave's voice is just not good. It's not terrible enough to ruin the listen but I think it's a big reason why I don't revisit Megadeath a lot.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
The Monks
4/5
I've recently gotten into Viagra Boys, and finding this Monks album is like stumbling across the base formula for VB. It's raw, tounge-in-cheek, and fuckin' nasty. Can't believe this came out in the 60's!
Buffalo Springfield
2/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Ministry
3/5
Bad Company
1/5
The Roots
3/5
Steely Dan
1/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
This one was interesting. Definitely benefits a lot from the context of the album and surrounding circumstances.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Pretty good, hadn't ever heard this one and definitely need to spend some more time with it. Not my favorite Floyd based on first listen but that can change...
The Byrds
2/5
"Hey, want to listen to a Beatles album but like one of the early, early ones that's all covers and also you won't know any of the songs?"
Randy Newman
2/5
Patti Smith
3/5
James Brown
4/5
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Common
2/5
Cream
2/5
Is this one of those white bands who lifted all their stuff from black musicians? Kinda sounds like one of those white bands that lifted all their stuff from black musicians. Not that it's bad or they're not talented but yeah...
Cat Stevens
2/5
The Beach Boys
2/5
Eh, it's the Beach Boys.
The Crusaders
2/5
The xx
2/5
Damn this shit boring as fuck lol
The Temptations
3/5
Röyksopp
2/5
Eric Clapton
1/5
Yo fuck Eric Clapton
Dennis Wilson
2/5
The Style Council
2/5
This is way smoother than I thought it would be, it looked like some weird electronic shit.
10cc
2/5
Prince
2/5
Derek & The Dominos
1/5
Yo fuck Eric Clapton.
Ryan Adams
1/5
Fuck Ryan Adams
The Fall
3/5
Tom Waits
3/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Neil Young
2/5
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Wow, nothing but bangers on this one!
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Pretty rockin'!
Kraftwerk
2/5
4/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
A very long listen but well worth it. I think there are a handful of songs that could have been cut or re-ordered to make this double album a smoother listen but overall it's a phenomenal album.
Dire Straits
2/5
Beatles
5/5
Absolute masterpiece. The first Beatles record I listened to where I finally \"got\" it as a teenager. Elanor Rigby is in my top 5 Beatles songs to this day.
U2
2/5
Eh, a few big songs on here and some fun guitar work but didn't hold my interest very well.
Steely Dan
1/5
LOL no thank you
The United States Of America
2/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Solid release, not my favorite but a decent listen.
Kraftwerk
1/5
The Replacements
4/5
This shit fucking slaps! Never spent much time with The Replacements, glad they came up on this list!
Manu Chao
2/5
Gene Clark
2/5
The Stooges
3/5
Very kick-ass, classic punk.
Beck
3/5
Pretty fun listen! In hindsight I get why I couldn't get into this album when I first tried back in my teens. Can really appreciate what Beck's doing here that was so groundbreaking and fresh for the mid-90's.
Justice
4/5
Don't usually go for dance/house/electronic music but this fucking slapped. I appreciated how a lot of the songs continued off of the previous one, sort of borrowing each others' energy. Very cool album.
Metallica
5/5
One of my favorite Metallica albums, some of my favorite Metallica songs and riffs. I know this record gets a lot of hate for its mixing but I've always thought it gave the instruments this cold, detached feeling that mirrored the subject matter of the songs (war, injustice, etc). The guitar sections were long, technical, and robotic. Even the cover is this blank white stone imagery. All of it always felt intentional to me and elevated the themes of the record well. Still could use more bass though.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
A whole vibe, "beach samba" is the perfect description.
The Adverts
2/5
Some ass kickin' punk.
Talvin Singh
3/5
Television
2/5
Not bad, some good riffs on this thing for sure.
The Youngbloods
2/5
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This is an interesting album for them, definitely more "experimental." Some of the tracks are a bit longer and more indulgent/jam-y. I like it!
UPDATE: "Tusk" turns into a straight up marching band anthem! I love the unexpected turns in music happening on this record. I just wish it weren't over an hour long.
Billy Joel
3/5
John Cale
2/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
The Black Keys
3/5
Probably my favorite Black Keys album, feels like this is the pinnacle of the sound they were going for with enough fresh twists to not sound completely derivative.
Santana
2/5
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Absolute masterpiece of an album. What a treat.
Burning Spear
2/5
Kanye West
4/5
I love this album but in recent years I've really come to understand why Fantano gave it a 6. And Kanye himself said he wasn't fond of it overall, saying it wasn't bringing anything new to the table. I see MBDTF as a complete perfection of the music he'd been pulling off since his debut, but it didn't blaze any trails. It was a total flex/victory lap. It's not bad at all though, and has a lot of iconic tracks. Kanye's a little tainted for me recently, though, so not really listening to him anymore.
MGMT
3/5
So many bangers on this one. The in-between songs are decent too.
Dizzee Rascal
2/5
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
This was a really good album, definitely worthy of the praise it receives.
Coldplay
4/5
King Crimson
5/5
David Bowie
3/5
Syd Barrett
2/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
The Blue Nile
3/5
Metallica
4/5
Classic Metallica album but for me, it was the start of their shift away from what I loved about their earlier records. Definitely not a bad thing that they started to diversify their sound and explore shorter, more approachable music. Hell, after the AJFA tour I would never want to play a song over 6 minutes ever again either.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Huge fan of Folklore, so when Evermore dropped I was ecstatic! I don't think it left the same impression as Folklore, though. It's a little more subdued and a little darker in subject matter. If Folklore is wandering into the woods then Evermore is getting lost. Great album though!
Van Morrison
2/5
Neu!
2/5
Arcade Fire
5/5
This is one of my favorite albums ever. I used to hate it when it first came out. Compared to Neon Bible and Funeral, I thought it was boring and overly long. But it really grew on me and now it's one of my favorites. The opening run of songs is fantastic and Sprawl II is in the top 5 Arcade Fire songs of all time.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2/5
Sepultura
1/5
Not really digging this. I know it's kind of an old album but the production is so muddy and the vocals are not good. I love metal, harsh vocals aren't a deal-breaker but bad harsh vocals are. I'd rather just listen to Korn.
Rage Against The Machine
2/5
I've never been a big Rage fan, they've always felt a little too "I'm 14 and this is deep" for me. However, I'm really enjoying the deeper cuts on this album a lot more than their typical popular songs. Oh, and that one song from The Matrix is on here so that's pretty cool.
Joy Division
5/5
Absolutely legendary album. Shadowplay is one of the best songs ever written and The Killers cover of it is phenomenal. I prefer "Closer" to this one but only because I'm a sad little emo kid.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Not really my thing but I can see why it would be someone's thing.
Orbital
3/5
Electronic music is generally not my thing, but this is pretty solid. It's not holding my attention but it doesn't feel like it's supposed to. Each track kind of ebbs and flows one after another in a pleasing way. I dig it.
Air
1/5
Ugh, another electronic album. It's not bad but definitely not in the mood for it today.
1/5
Never been a fan of Oasis. I feel like folks in the 90s were too easily enamored by a British accent.
Tito Puente
2/5
Decent vibes on a Monday.
Kate Bush
3/5
Love Kate Bush, hadn't listened to this album before. It was very 80's, even for her! Still loved the instrumental flourishes here and there. Very solid album.
Slayer
5/5
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
-Opening line of "Reign in Blood" if I remember correctly
UPDATE: I remembered correctly. This album fucking TEARS.
UPDATE 2: This one is an absolute burner. I don't think I've ever noticed that it's almost completely seamless. There's a slight break before Raining Blood kicks in but other than that it's just wall-to-wall insanity. Love it.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
This was pretty great! I'd heard the one song from Donnie Darko but the rest of it held up and more. Would definitely explore this band more.
OutKast
2/5
The singles off this album are strong but there isn't a lot else here, and most of everything interesting is on Andre's side. In over 2 hours of music, I expected a lot more. If you've heard "Hey Ya" then you've heard the best this double album has to offer, unfortunately.
Yes
3/5
Love Yes, this album is pretty awesome. Roundabout is iconic, weird to hear the whole song and not just the drop in the beginning lol
The Pogues
3/5
This was a great album! Loved the different variety of instruments and songs. Felt a huge traditional influence here, probably due to the added members. This got me in the mood for the Renaissance Festival this year!
Miles Davis
4/5
Absolutely incredible work. Never heard this before but this might be one of my favorite Miles Davis studio albums.
The Cure
5/5
Oh boy, it's gonna be one of those kinds of days...
I love The Cure but I haven't spent a lot of time with this whole album. To prepare I decided to start with "Charlotte Sometimes" since that was the single that preceded the album but didn't make it on. Great track, you can feel the angst and sorrow emanating from it. Excited to dive in...
UPDATE: This was a truly phenomenal record! I think I'm going to go right through a second time. The way the final track unravels, you could call THIS album "Disintegration." Everything is just so dark yet vibrant, very much a haunted record. The beat for One Hundred Years is subtle yet oppressive; it really drags you right into the uneasiness of the guitars and lyrics.
UPDATE 2: I listened to this album three times today. Love it! Definitely my favorite The Cure record.
ZZ Top
2/5
I listened to most of this. Not bad but if you've heard 5 ZZ Top songs you've pretty much got the gist. Really boils down to what kind of vibe you're looking for; today is not a ZZ Top day for me.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
I've never been a huge fan of NIN. In high school, I thought they were a metal band; I was very disappointed when I finally listened to them and discovered it was "just techno." Listening as a full-grown adult, I still find it hard to connect with most of the lyrics. Maybe I'm just not edgy and angry enough? I will say, I loved a good portion of the album, especially the back portion as the vocals seem to bleed out of the tracks and the music takes on a darker, harsher tone. I'm about 80% closer (ha) to "getting it" and can see why this album is held in high regard.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
I really liked the diversity of instruments in the first half of the album. The last few tracks dragged a little but were still decent. Good album, will definitely revisit it sometime!
The Velvet Underground
3/5
A surprisingly good album considering the new direction. I enjoyed hearing the other members' voices throughout.
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
I recently got into Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 album "I'm New Here" and it's fantastic. I'm excited to dive deeper into the catalog.
UPDATE: This was fantastic! And it was recorded near where I live! H20 Gate Blues was definitely a standout track.
The Smiths
4/5
WOW NO FUCKING WAY LMAOOO
UPDATE: This album is great, Morrissey is a piece of shit.
George Michael
1/5
Yeah I can't get through this.
GZA
3/5
This album goes hard. Love the samples from Shogun Assassin!
The Undertones
2/5
Some fun, punky songs on this but there are just too many of them. 15 tracks is a bit much, even when they clock in under 40 minutes. There are a few standouts though, even later in the tracklist.
Björk
4/5
I've been meaning to get into Björk and even had this album saved already so great excuse to start. She's got a new record coming out soon, too!
UPDATE: This was a beautiful album. Very subtle and finely textured. The closing track was especially gorgeous. I'm curious to go back and listen to her work leading up to this and would be interested in a louder, bolder version of her sound.
Radiohead
4/5
Oh shit. In case you couldn't tell by my other album reviews, I fucking love Radiohead. That said, I haven't ever really given The Bends a solid try so this is kind of exciting.
UPDATE: The raw Radiohead ingredients are here, just not polished or assembled in the experimental ways I'm used to. It's interesting to hear so much more guitar presence. I think this is a great album. It sounds almost uncomfortable and restless like the band was ready to evolve past where they were at but just hadn't figured out how.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
1/5
Fuck Eric Clapton.
Bob Dylan
4/5
It took me a while to get into Dylan but I'm glad I put the effort in. This is definitely one of his best records, and some of my favorite lyrics of his come from the closing track. Great album, classic Dylan, not many complaints here!
The Byrds
3/5
I really enjoyed this! It was a little trippy but in a Costco-sample kind of way. The melodies were nice and I liked how the squiggly, weird sound effects would blaze right through an otherwise typical arrangement. Thank you, The Byrds, very cool!
The White Stripes
4/5
Nice, this is far-and-away my favorite White Strips album. I've listened to it recently and it definitely holds up, though my opinion on Jack White has soured in recent years.
Update: This was good still. The last few songs kind of drag, they don't seem to have the development that the first 13 or so have, but it's not a huge issue. "I Think I Smell A Rat" is still one of my favorite WS songs, and of course "The Union Forever" jams. I have a soft spot for "Little Room" in how simple and childish it is.
Guns N' Roses
1/5
I've heard the singles off this record so many times it makes me want to vomit. Trying to be open-minded about the other songs, we'll see how far I can make it...
Update: Three tracks in and I cannot do this. Shitty lyrics, cheesy riffs, and over-indulgent guitar solos. I struggle to understand why this is so "acclaimed." An actual line from a review: "rock is at last being wrestled from the hands of the bland, the weak, the jaded, the tired, the worn, and being thrust back into the hands of the real raunch rebels." Oh thank god at last rock will be in the hands of horny white dudes who think rebelling means hitting on the waitress at Applebee's and then chugging beers in the garage while this plays on a piece of shit boom box.
Deerhunter
2/5
I've never listened to Deerhunter but have been aware of them for awhile. Album was solid but kind of felt like a watered down version of other bands I already listen to. I might give another Deerhunter album a try in the future but nothing here grabbed me that strongly.
The Cure
4/5
The last The Cure record blew me away. This one is from earlier in their catalog so I was curious to hear how it differed. It felt a little more jammy, a little less produced, a little rawer sounding. This definitely feels like the foundation for the sound they would eventually cultivate on later releases, and for me, it was a great listen. The shorter intro/interlude tracks help pace the album out properly. And "A Forest" is one of my favorite The Cure songs by far!
The Beach Boys
2/5
What the fuck kind of nightmare fucking album art is this holy shit.
This was super forgettable to me. It's possible I was just extra busy and distracted, but nothing from this was memorable. Not that it was a bad album, just very plain.
Tim Buckley
3/5
"Incorporated elements of jazz" is probably one of my favorite phrases and a surefire way to get me excited about listening to an album lol
Listening update: I dig this, though it's more vibe-y than attention-grabbing. I do think Mr. Buckley delivers on the "Happy Sad" title, as the longer songs seem to swing between these moods effectively. There's a wide breadth of instrumentation, some subtle and some focal. Decent listen for my first Tim Buckley experience.
Madonna
2/5
Wilco
3/5
I've been trying to get into this band/album recently. It's a very good album, it just doesn't grab me. Production is interesting enough but I just don't remember any of the tracks after four or five listens. Maybe some day this will click!
Incredible Bongo Band
2/5
Jammy and fun. Definitely needed on such a rainy day!
The Birthday Party
3/5
Damn, this shit was gritty and nasty! Reminded me of a band called The Horrors that I used to listen to in high school. Sure enough, they list The Birthday Party as one of their influences. This record felt a little drawn out but there was such a wealth of textures and sounds that I didn't mind it too much. Will definitely check out more from this band.
De La Soul
4/5
I didn't get all the way through this one because I kept getting busy but holy shit, this was amazing! Loved the beats, the lyrics, the performances, everything! Super laid back and yet all the flows were so precise. I only knew De La Soul from the "wash yo ass" song on Tony Hawk but now I need to get to know the rest of their discography.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
Elvis Costello isn't really my thing but this album was okay. Probably one of those "had to be there" things. I appreciate the songwriting and the use of different instruments, specifically the keyboards on certain tracks. Not bad.
The War On Drugs
3/5
I love The War on Drugs for their more recent albums (Deeper Understanding, I Don't Live Here...) but I haven't listened to this one. Excited to dig in!
Update: Good record but a little meandering. I found myself looking at how much time was left in some of the songs to discover that while the main portion of the song had ended, there were still a few minutes of instrumental wankery to be had. I think later releases benefited from a little trimming. All that being said though, I enjoyed this a lot! The tracks sound very nostalgic like they're from some by-gone era we're all remembering fondly...which honestly could describe 2014 lol
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
I've been reading a lot recently about how good Paul McCartney's solo work is, so I'm excited to dive into that a little.
Update: I'm liking this record. It's got strong, fun melodies like some of Paul's classic Beatles work. Couple instances of strings and sax don't hurt either! The lore behind the recording process though.....wild! Glad they were able to get through it.
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
This is hella cheesey, not sure I'm going to make it through the whole album but the vibe is here for now! ELO is one of those groups where if it's up your alley then you're going to just love every song. If it's not up your alley, you pretty much get it after five or six tracks. This isn't quite up my alley but I can appreciate the tight instrumental performances, the vocal harmonies, and the inventiveness.
Cornershop
3/5
This is like a weird precursor to Gorillaz, I dig it! A little hip-hop, a little rock, very chill stuff. Funk influences for sure. Love the Norwegian Wood cover at the end too!
Prince
2/5
This one isn't really clicking for me. It's a little cheesy and the tracks don't feel like they develop very much past the first verse/chorus cycle, despite a number of the songs being well over 5 minutes. I also feel like Prince's guitar work is missing. This is probably more enjoyable on the dance floor than in an office.
Adele
2/5
I've probably heard most of this album 10,000 times. Adele is very talented and has a phenomenal voice. I am rarely in the mood to go out of my way to listen to her music, but I don't mind hearing it. I think for me she's been overplayed to death.
Travis
1/5
Wild how clearly influenced by Ok Computer this record is. I feel like Travis owes Radiohead a billion dollars just based on the song "As You Are" alone. This isn't bad but it's like that meme where mom tells you we have Radiohead at home.
This is the Radiohead at home.
Update: Holy shit, even "The Last Laugh of the Laughter" (dumbass title) is literally just ripping off "Paranoid Android." This is egregious!
Miriam Makeba
3/5
This was a total vibe! Very enjoyable, vibrant performances. Solid album.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Nice listen. Frank's music is typically welcome. It's got a nice vibe and can really soothe the soul. I liked this collaboration, it added an extra dimension to what would be the usual offering from Mr. Sinatra.
Tom Waits
3/5
This is one wild motherfucker. I enjoyed the dense variety of the instruments, with some tracks being borderline demented circus shit. Tom's voice is very hit or miss to me (and probably many others), but even when I wasn't feeling the vocal performance, it still worked very well compositionally with the music.
Alice In Chains
4/5
I literally just bought this on vinyl a few weeks ago, just to see what the hype was about! I'm a little familiar with some of their hits but the non-singles on this album really rock. The guitar work is sublime as well. Excited to give this another listen today.
Update: This record rocks! I think some of the guitar work and effects are a little dated but the core songwriting is still phenomenal. Really great album, I'll have to spend more time with AiC's other work.
The La's
1/5
This was okay. I have a feeling this wouldn't have had much lasting power without "There She Goes" on it. The songs are pretty earnest and endearing but not super memorable. Seems like the thought was there but maybe not the execution? The closer is very good though!
Suede
3/5
This album rocked! Definitely had the same energy as early Bowie or The Smiths. Manic depressive to its core and very creative.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
This was a pretty decent rock record! I'd already heard about half of this on the radio, which just goes to show how strong the songwriting is here.
The Stooges
3/5
Some very solid early punk. I think I prefer their later work but this is classic.
CHIC
4/5
This record is funky and I really fucking dig it! However the absolute slapper of the album is the ballad "At Last I Am Free," something about it really grabbed me. Fantastic record, timeless sound, great production, and switching between vocalists kept things engaging.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Hmmm this is interesting! It's like a prog/psychedelic version of Gorillaz, I really dig it.
Tortoise
3/5
"Post-rock" holy shit fuck me up fam.
Update: This was awesome, loved it! Need to check out more from this band.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Wow, didn't realize "Solsbury Hill" was Peter Gabriel! This is one of my favorite songs ever. The whole record is awesome! Love Petey Gabe's stuff, especially the more theatrical cuts. Hope more of his work pops up!
Pixies
4/5
This was unexpectedly great! The word "unapologetic" comes to mind: truly a band writing and playing exactly what they feel like, diving head first into the sounds and textures they want to explore. I found a lot of the guitar work to be very interesting. It was reminiscent of early Modest Mouse and reminded me a little of Silversun Pickups (who were obviously very influenced by Pixies). Great record, I get why it gets the praise it gets!
Alice Cooper
3/5
I have a feeling this is going to be super cheesy...
Okay I wasn't wrong but holy shit, the jazzy Blue Turk really came out of nowhere! Pretty wild track. Also enjoyed Gutter Cat vs. The Jets. All in all, I don't hate this as much as I thought I would. In fact, the only song I don't care for is School's Out. Everything else has some pretty cool riffs and the songs take interesting directions in structure and instrumentation.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
I love mbv but I've only really ever listened to Loveless. This was definitely a more raw version of their sound but I found it to be a little more dynamic and interesting. There was more open space in the songs and the production made the instruments feel like they were alive! As if every track were breathing in and out. Truly incredible work, though not as polished as Loveless you can really see the foundation of the sound they would come to master on later releases.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Ha, mbv two days in a row! Y'all must really want me depressed.
I thought this record was decent, but it felt like they got lost in their own experimentation this time. The album was much longer and meandered in certain pockets a little too much. Some of the experimentation was really gorgeous though, which really makes up for some of the pacing issues. Probably my least favorite mbv record but still highly enjoyable.
Screaming Trees
1/5
This is pretty un-interesting mid-90's rock. Like it's fine, but not exciting. Most of the tracks would work well over a montage of teenagers roller blading or some shit.
Ray Charles
4/5
Ray is a genius! Love the record, Ray Charles is like his own subgenre and I'm never upset about indulging in it.
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
The funny thing about digging into B&S at this point in life is the songs kind of lose the element of surprise, because it sounds similar to a ton of more modern bands that I've been listening to for a decade (Decemberists, Shins, Death Cab, etc). But I have to remind myself that these groups built their sound off of the blueprint B&S laid out well before. The songs here are fantastic: some of the tightest songwriting and performance are consistent throughout the entire record. Tracks will feature little details and flourishes that keep things lively, like the clips of children playing in the title track or the light keyboards and sax in the following track "Mayfly." It's an album that sounds as effortless as a breeze, as if they came into being as they were being performed.
Motörhead
2/5
Eh, Motorhead is fine. Motorhead live is also fine.
Aerosmith
2/5
Jeez, back-to-back butt rock albums? Yayyyy...
Okay I've just read that this is actually Cock Rock, not Butt Rock. Huge difference apparently, but boils down to generic macho rock music. I'm sorry, I know Aerosmith is """classic""" but there just isn't anything I find engaging about the music. "Nobody's Fault" is decent but it sounds more like Zeppelin than Aerosmith. The guitar work is okay but it kind of just melts together at a certain point. Steven Tyler obviously has a great voice, I just don't care about what he's singing.
Gang Starr
3/5
Good album! The beats were clean, flow was on point. A little old school but in a good way. I wish some of the more interesting beats had a little more time to shine, especially on the opening track. But overall a very solid listen.
Public Enemy
5/5
Wow, this was such an incredible listen. The tracks are an all-out assault; there's a neverending flow that makes the record feel like a seamless jump from idea to idea, stitched together with audio samples and drum loops. There's never a dull second of music. And the themes and messaging are brutally straightforward. Topped off by absolutely iconic album art, this might be my favorite discovery from this site so far.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
The opening of Into the Light is so fucking cool. Basically how I feel about this whole album: just so many cool musical ideas and treatments. Kind of a haunted record, almost theatrical in execution. Like Kate Bush meets The Cure. Really enjoyed this listen.
Fiona Apple
4/5
I love Fiona Apple but haven't listened to her debut much. I thought it was a great record and could hear the elements she would come to push further on later releases (Idler Wheel, Fetch). The closing track was especially theatrical, it gave me a lot of Beatles vibes. I think the most impressive part was how strongly formed Apple's musical voice was right off the bat: unapologetic, unflinching, and truly confident. Fantastic album!
Ride
3/5
Very solid album, brings a little dimension to the shoegaze sound. It felt kind of like The Cure doing an impression of mbv. Songs weren't super memorable but there were moments, mostly when the drums would build or deviate from the established tempo.
Small Faces
2/5
Interesting listen, especially the back half with the spoken word nonsense. This was a decent album but probably not one I'll ever feel compelled to revisit.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Excellent guitar album, Hendrix is pretty much unmatched! It's a record that's so good it's actually boring lol Like every track is like "oh boy, ANOTHER absolute banger." That said, my favorite is Third Stone From the Sun, which is kind of an implosion of what the rest of the record sounds like.
The Waterboys
3/5
This was a very cohesive record. I felt like the tracks flowed effortlessly into one another. I liked the instrumentals a lot, especially the contrast between some of the folkier songs and some of the more grandiose ones.
R.E.M.
2/5
I like REM but I have to say, this record is just not getting me there. Aside from End of The World, none of the songs are very interesting compositionally or even lyrically. The track about "business acumen" was just so flat and dumb. I'm only halfway through, hopefully there's an uptick on the back half...
So the back half was better instrumentally. The songs felt more varied, even though the lyrics were still pretty blah (looking at Fireplace specifically). The closer was good: moody, simmering, dark. Overall not my favorite REM by a huge stretch.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I liked this. It was a very soothing, meditative listen. The melodies are immaculate, these guys were clearly very good at writing songs. The pallette of instruments kept things interesting as well. Also I think I much prefer shorter listens, my mind starts to wander after the 40 minute mark on a record so clocking in under 30 is a huge plus.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Decent album. Nothing stuck with me but it was pleasant while playing. Tim has a wide back catalog so I'm sure I'll come across him again.
The Clash
3/5
This album is straight punk. All attitude, aggressive guitars, yelling. Good way to start the week!
The Last Shadow Puppets
3/5
I absolutely LOVE Arctic Monkeys so of course I know this band already lol It's nice to go back and revisit Alex at his more verbose. This is an interesting mix of classic AM plus the more orchestral instrumentation they would eventually adopt. It's dynamic and interesting, the songs swell and sway along with Alex's lyrics. It's a perfect combination, I'm sad that this wasn't ever fleshed out with AM in a similar way.
Killing Joke
3/5
This is like a dark, distorted Talking Heads and I dig it. Very moody, very spiky. I especially liked the track Bloodsport.
The Stooges
3/5
Really strong, aggressive punk. Iggy is legendary, The Stooges are just punk masters. Loved the saxophone on the track Fun House. Great release.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Mastapiece.
Obviously this is just a perfect record, not a lot to be said otherwise. Personally, I find it interesting how little it feels like Ozzy is on this thing. His vocals and lyrics barely registered whereas the true genius in the record is the play between Tony Iommi on guitar and Bill Ward on drums. Phenomenal worth though.
Tori Amos
3/5
Good record, not really my thing but I liked the variety of songs and the vocal talent she has. Not a lot of singers can pull off an entirely acapella song but "Me and a Gun" is mesmerizing!
Wilco
3/5
I remember finally hearing Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and being a little underwhelmed. I'm looking forward to hearing more from Wilco today.
Update: Good album, but very long and very dense. I feel like I need a few listens to really latch onto what all was going on. Off the first listen, I enjoyed disc one a little more. It had a bit of extra grit and experimentation to it whereas the second disc was a bit more grounded. Wilco is pretty solid!
Madness
3/5
Ska? Hmmmmm, not one of my favorite genres to be honest, but I'm curious to hear all this experimentation mentioned on the Wiki page...
Update: OH SHIT, OUR HOUSE!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR STREET!!! This isn't ska, this is like actual good music! This record really rocked, lots of fun instrumentation and tempo changes.
Scott Walker
2/5
Decent album but not super memorable. The lyrics/vocals were interesting, Mr. Walker is quite a storyteller.
Lou Reed
3/5
I enjoyed this album! Lou Reed is an interesting artist, I know a lot of folks who love him and a lot that can't stand him. This record was interesting, the songs varied enough to keep things fresh and it all culminates in this very climactic ending with "Sad Song." I dug it.
Dr. Dre
4/5
Is this a Dre album or a Snoop album?
Either way, incredible benchmark album for hip hop. The songs range from vicious to laid back with ease. Some of the synth lines and beats are absolutely iconic. I was hearing bits that rappers are still sampling to this day. Also, is this the origin story of "deez nuts" or what??
Marvin Gaye
2/5
This reminded me of the new project from Silk Sonic (Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars): it's smooth, it's sensual, it's vibey, the performances are good, the musicians are extremely talented...but it just doesn't interest me. Mr. Gaye recorded a phenomenal sex playlist here but outside of that very specific circumstance, I wouldn't find myself seeking this out ever again.
50 Cent
3/5
Pretty good, though most of my favorite tracks were the big singles. Though this is probably my first time ever hearing the songs uncensored lol 50 is pretty fierce with his delivery, he sounds hungry and determined throughout. Production is good, too.
Blur
2/5
A fine rock album. Nothing really stood out as impressive or terrible, I enjoyed the listen but would probably not revisit when Gorillaz exists.
The Streets
1/5
This was not great. I find British rap to be a bit unbearable, listening to the lyrics is like hearing to someone read a bland novel out loud in an annoying accent. The track "Get Out Of My House" is borderline unlistenable. I'll give a point for storytelling, as there is an alright story woven throughout. The issue is you have to hear a British dude rap it at you.
Ramones
3/5
Obviously a classic punk record. It's a good album, if only because the songs are literally too short and sweet to overstay their welcome. Outside of the classic singles there wasn't too much in the B-sides that stuck out except for "Let's Dance" which is the only song to introduce instruments other than guitar, drum, and bass. I like the Ramones, they're an easy and reliable listen.
Beatles
3/5
Obviously The Beatles are very talented, however this album isn't quite the showcase for it. Even at 30 minutes, this felt like it dragged with every single track just being a rehash of romantic feelings and love and being sad about love and being happy about love and missing my love and wanting love and having love and losing love and oh my god I'm going to lose my lunch.
Great performances though.
Mott The Hoople
1/5
Eh, really wasn't finding anything on this that grabbed me. Wasn't too terrible just not my thing.
Weather Report
3/5
Funky! This was a great listen, with interesting instrumentation and a good mix of tracks.
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Very frantic in pacing. I don't feel like I ever got a minute to slow down before the next track took off running. Not huge on electronic music, this was decent.
The Smiths
4/5
Obligatory: Fuck Morrissey, he's a piece of shit.
This is a great record, The Smiths operating at their peak here. The bass on "Barbarism Begins at Home" is just incredible. I've never listened through the whole record before, though I'm solidly aware of most The Smiths work, and I was surprised at how few singles there were here. Reminds me of The Cure's "Disintegration," a widely beloved record from a band's catalogue that didn't really yield many huge hits (Lovesong excluded).
Megadeth
2/5
This was fine. Impressive guitar work but didn't find that anything really stuck with me. And I still just do not like Dave's voice or lyrics. But some of the parts ripped, definitely no slacking on the guitar front.
Rush
4/5
One of my favorite bands is Coheed & Cambria, so of course I love Rush! I like that this record covers a lot of ground musically without ever feeling too forced or self-indulgent. Drums are incredible. Bass is sublime. I think the vocals are my least favorite part, but luckily there isn't too much singing in between the longer musical passages. Great record.
Crowded House
2/5
This was fine. A little boring, but nothing egregious.
Fever Ray
3/5
Actually really enjoyed this, despite it being electronic! It was probably the vocals, they provided an ethereal, haunting quality to the songs.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I don't find Elvis Costello very compelling. This is a decent album and not really "bad," just not finding it very impressive.
Sonic Youth
4/5
What a great record. Raw, energetic, powerful. A truly unique blend of rock flavors resulting in a sound many would try to emulate. There are a few meandering songs and ideas but the diversity of songs makes up for it. Favorites were "Candles" and "B) Hyperstation."
Pink Floyd
3/5
Not my favorite Floyd release. A little bloated, I felt like I was waiting to get to the really epic moments. But obviously a classic.
5/5
Just incredible! I can't believe I've lived 33 years and never fully listened to this record. A classic for a reason, it really nails the right pacing for a concept album. There's a great amount of diversity in rock music styles that keeps it flowing at an excellent pace. Also extra points for "Ziggy Stardust" my favorite Bowie song.
Def Leppard
1/5
LOL nah, no thanks.
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Very good record. Flows are a little dated at times but the beats are simple and solid, lyricism is good, production on point.
Little Richard
4/5
Little Richard has one of the best, most iconic voices of all time. He's not an artist I seek out a lot so it felt like a treat to sit down with a full record of his. Phenomenal work.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Another iconic voice! Aretha is one of the greatest of all time, truly remarkable.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
Awesome jazz record. Loved the performances and the vibe.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
One of the best records of all time. Everything is on-point: the storytelling, the lyricism, the pacing, the beats, the themes...this is just impressive on every single level. "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" has always been one of my favorite rap songs of all time.
This is an absolute, modern masterpiece. And TPAB is somehow even better!
Elliott Smith
3/5
I like Elliott Smith but I never seem to get to a place where I LOVE him. He's very talented, both as a lyricist and a guitar player. I do love his play style and on this record, he really showcases what he's capable of.
Elis Regina
3/5
I really enjoyed this record! A surprising mix of jazz, bossa nova, and classical, all with a beautiful voice. I especially loved "Sai Dessa."
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I don't really like much country, but this is the kind I do like! Harris has an incredible voice, very detailed with a lot of subtleties. I was also surprised at some of the instrumental parts on this record: there were spacious, reverb-heavy guitars, driving rhythm-led songs, and even a track that bordered on psych rock. All in all a very solid and pleasantly surprising album.
Radiohead
5/5
I went into this not liking Amnesiac a huge amount. I always saw it as just leftovers from Kid A that weren't as good as Kid A. But on this listen I found a lot more appreciation for it. It felt weirdly hopeful and curious, whereas Kid A was just bleak and stark. The closing track is this multi-layer orchestral piece that feels like the cheerful closing credits to the duo of Kid A/Amnesiac, the band basically saying "thank you for coming on this journey, we hope you enjoyed your stay." So while I still prefer Kid A, I have a newfound admiration for Amnesiac.
Carpenters
3/5
I've never listened to Carpenters before, there are a good number of tracks I've definitely heard before. It's naively wholesome and definitely very cheesy. But something about the music itself is engaging enough to keep it from being utterly stupid: string flourishes, harpsichord solos, and solid melodies come together decently.
Django Django
2/5
This one wasn't really for me. Most of the songs had some repeating electronic line or beat that was irritating and stupid. I can see how folks would be into this though. I liked the lyrics and songwriting, just not the execution. Wouldn't say it sucked just didn't like it.
Tina Turner
3/5
I respect Tina Turner's talents and abilities while also recognizing it's not for me. But I was pleasantly surprised by some of the instrumental sections on this one, especially on the title track. Solid record with a few standout hits, a good amount of this is a little dated though.
The Mamas & The Papas
2/5
Some decent compositions and performances here. A few classic songs in the mix too! Overall not a project I think I'd ever revisit but I'm glad I spent time with it.
Cee Lo Green
3/5
Overall I enjoyed this album, though there was a lot I wouldn't revisit. But even the tracks I didn't care for had amazing production and writing. Such a varied album with a lot to offer. I especially loved the guitar work on "Childz Play" and the last song "Die Trying." Also one of the rare albums where I don't hate the skits completely.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
This was a decent listen. There are some obvious classics here, and the in-between songs are all solid. The instrumentals are gorgeous. I loved the song "The Windmills of Your Mind," it kind of sounds like a James Bond theme.
Leonard Cohen
2/5
This album is fucking goofy. It leans very heavily into stereotypical 80's sounds (silly synths, farty bass lines, etc). Like, I can tell that Leonard was going for a silly, almost slapstick sound and it's very intentional, but that doesn't mean it sounds good. I could help but laugh at a few moments. It wasn't necessarily a bad record because the vision is strongly executed, but I don't know if I'd ever want to hear this again.
5/5
Like a lot of people, this album works shifts periodically as my favorite album by The Beatles. Upon this millionth revisit, I decided to give the latest remixed version a try and it added some interesting dynamics that weren't present before. Overall, I think this is The Beatles' most coherent album front to back. The tracks all feel like they're from the same universe and each builds upon the last. Not much else to say that hasn't already been said about this MASTAPIECE.
King Crimson
4/5
I love In The Court but haven't ever really listened to King Crimson outside of that record, and reading that this album featured a mostly new line-up (including a new lyricist/vocalist) I didn't know what to expect. But I did end up enjoying most of this! The violin added a new element to some of the slower passages, though it was mixed a little too quiet in some instances. I loved the noodly guitar parts and the drums were amazing when they were allowed to be fully present. Very good record, if you're into some self-indulgent prog wanking.
Daft Punk
3/5
I like Daft Punk but I'm not huge on house/electronic. This was a decent listen: the track list flows perfectly and I liked the thematic radio segments. And of course "Around the World" is a stone-cold banger.
Lightning Bolt
4/5
I really enjoy Lightning Bolt in general. Hadn't heard this album before but it's great. Really relentless and raw. I feel like the vocals were underutilized, but beyond that loved this.
Eels
1/5
Pretty meh album. Lyrics were dumb at best and super creepy at worst. There are some vaguely interesting instrumentals but they're very few and far between. Very dated, self-indulgent 90's junk.
Brian Wilson
2/5
Decent album with a lot of varying sounds and instruments. I like how it would transition suddenly into new sections or songs. But I always feel underwhelmed by Brian Wilson/Beach Boys, to me the hype around them always make it seem like it's going to be way more experimental or varied than it actually is. At the end of the day I'm left very underwhelmed, but it was a pleasant listen.
Mekons
1/5
Whenever I'm about to listen to one of these albums and the Wikipedia says this one "marked a dramatic shift in the band's sound" I just assume it's a band of white dudes playing mediocre rock music who decided to add something other than guitar this time. I haven't been wrong yet.
This album was meh, there's been much better versions of this sound done by much better bands.
Paul McCartney
4/5
McCartney is a masterful songwriter, and that really shows on this record. Each song is exactly what it needs to be and creates its own world. My only issue with this release is that it lacks a little cohesion and it's very short. Great release from Paul.
Nico
2/5
It broke my heart a little to read the background on this record and how unhappy Nico was with the final version. It sounds like a bunch of dudes wrote songs for her to record and then took control of the record away from her. This explains what felt like a disconnect between her singing and the instrumentals. I liked the music a lot, but her voice not so much. I wonder what Nico's Version™ of this record would sound like...
Ice Cube
3/5
Solid, old-school hip-hop record. Tracks are good, beats range from good to great. One track had Flavor Flav, that was dope. Really strong solo debut, wonder what would have been if Dre had been allowed to produce.
Otis Redding
4/5
Wow, what an absolutely iconic voice. Incredible batch of songs, I didn't know "Respect" was originally written by Otis Redding. This was a treat, the only issue is it's so short!
The Hives
2/5
Definitely not my new favourite band but this was a solid collection of tracks. Not much else to say.
Orbital
3/5
One of the most engaging electronic albums I've heard from this list! Great production, catchy beats and melodies. I really liked the main keyboard part on "Kein Trink Wasser." Record felt a little long though, especially with the last two songs being over 10 minutes each but other than that, I really enjoyed this listen.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
I liked this album but it felt a little disjointed, and not in an endearing Broken Social Scene kind of way but more in a "fuck it let's see what this petal does" way. Not a bad thing but made the listening experience pretty uneven over the course of an hour. Funny enough, the more straightforward songs ended up standing out the most.
Dolly Parton
4/5
Dolly Parton is an icon and this album is just a brick in that impenetrable icon wall. When I pulled her up on Apple Music this was the SEVENTH album in her "Essential Albums" section. The songs here are gorgeous and sincere; Dolly invites you in, pours you a cup of tea, and says "I know it's getting dark but you can stay as long as you like." So I played this thing through three times.
Minor Threat
3/5
I've never listened to Minor Threat but I do like punk. Decent album, aggressive from start to finish. Pretty raw and powerful, good riffs here and there. Didn't blow me away but I could hear how they were a huge influence on some of the modern punk I listen to. Good album!
Dagmar Krause
2/5
This was a little weird, but interesting! Don't think I'll ever revisit this but glad I gave it a shot.
Bauhaus
2/5
Very dark and broody. I liked the guitar work a lot. Vocals weren't my favorite. Solid album.
Bee Gees
2/5
A Bee Gees ballads album was a little tough to get through, but it was fine I guess. All the songs kind of blend together at a certain point. None were that bad but it was just kind of mid.
OutKast
4/5
Widely considered a classic, I've never actually listened to this thing front-to-back. There are obvious classics here but the other tracks hold up, too. Very creative beats and production, huge offering of different styles. This record has a lot to offer, though I'm not a huge fan of the interludes they do work in favor of the tracklist flow. Held in high regard for a good reason!
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Never heard Sarah Vaughan before but she has a wonderful voice! And her performance on this was very lively, I loved it. Great listen!
The Residents
3/5
This was some weird fucking shit. Definitely one of the more out there albums on the list. I liked how subtly disorienting the music is, it's like an understated circus nightmare. And "Duck Stab" is probably the best name for an album ever.
Soundgarden
3/5
It's taken me a while to revisit all this 90's grunge and give it a proper listen, because growing up in the 90's these songs were all over the radio and I was so sick of hearing Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, etc. that I actively avoided them for two decades.
I'm glad to finally spend time with this Soundgarden record. I liked a lot about it, from Chris Cornell's vocals to Kim Thayil's guitar work. This album is considered a cornerstone of the grunge movement for obvious reasons. Two main complaints:
1) It's way too long of an album. With so little variety in the tracklist until towards the end, it feels bloated and a few of the songs blend together. There's no reason this thing should be over an hour long.
2) (And this is a deep dark secret I've harbored since I was a kid hearing this band all over the radio in the 90s) "Black Hole Sun" is such a boring ass song. It's tedious, it's repetitive, it's plodding...I think "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" has more lyrics. I hated hearing it on the radio when I was 10 and I hated hearing it as an adult.
That being said, good album, worth a listen.
TLC
2/5
This album wasn't really for me, a lot of the songs blended together and dragged. TLC has amazing voices though, can't fault them there! Hated all the interludes (except for "Sexy-Interlude" obviously), I have no idea why we were so obsessed with interludes in the 90s/early 2000s.
Kings of Leon
3/5
I like Kings of Leon so I already knew this album. It's very good, lots of great songs here. The album flows pretty well, though it drags a little at the end. It kind of feels like they stacked the best songs in the front and left the weaker ones for the last few. Not a huge deal though, songs like "Use Somebody" and "Crawl" are so good it more than makes up for it. And "Closer" is one of the best album openers, it builds beautifully and has such a strong vibe. Really good record, though I think I like Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak and Because of the Times a little bit more.
Slade
1/5
Pretty standard cock rock from this era, though at times it's hard to tell if they're making fun of their peers or joining them for the success. Either way, not a hugely interesting release.
Flamin' Groovies
1/5
This is basically the same as the Slade album from yesterday: boring Rolling Stones knock-off blues-tinted 70's rock that sounds indistinguishable from any generic blues-rock cover band you'd hear at your local dive. Unsubscribe.
Iggy Pop
3/5
Good album, I liked the Bowie influence/contribution. Interested in any other collabs between these two!
LL Cool J
2/5
This was pretty corny, but I can see how it helped set the blueprint for rap in the 90s. And thankfully it wasn't bloated with interludes and skits, it was that good all-natural bloated with like three too many songs!
Pentangle
3/5
I loved the instrumentals on this record! Very lush and beautiful. Enjoyable listen.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I liked this album. It was weird and a little dark. Fascinating to hear a record where they avoided using cymbals of any kind. A very rhythmic record is the result, with plenty of brooding as well as rocking. Looking forward to more Peter Gabriel in the future.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
This was super moody and I'm here for it. "Burn Down Hot Topic" vibes from top to bottom.
Arcade Fire
5/5
This is just straight up one of my favorite albums of all time. No notes, it's a MASTAPIECE.
Fuck Win Butler, though.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
I enjoyed this album, it was a very pretty-sounding country record. The instrumentals were immaculate and Nanci's vocals were very soothing. Not huge on country in general but this was good.
Nick Drake
4/5
Beautiful listen, very introspective and stripped down. Lyricism was fantastic, I'll need to listen a few more times to absorb everything. Great album.
Supergrass
2/5
I liked this album, it was a pretty solid rock album with some interesting variations. Good riffs, vocals weren't annoying. Not amazing but definitely didn't suck.
The Gun Club
4/5
Now this shit rules, bluesy punk that feels fresh and unique. Loved this record a lot.
David Bowie
4/5
Fantastic album. Really sounds like the kind of record you'd expect from the 25th offering of a rock legend: tight songs, instrumentals that are varied and bring something new while referencing older material. Some legacy acts keep recording new music seemingly out of obligation but when Bowie does it, it feels necessary. The final track is haunting as he sings "I tell myself, I don't know who I am." It truly feels like an artist still searching for meaning in his work.
Kid Rock
1/5
I fucking refuse to listen to Kid Rock, this is the type of record where you really wish this site would let you do negative stars.
Can
3/5
What a huge, weird album! Enjoyed large parts of it, and then there were huge stretches where it felt a little off the rails. Overall I can see (hear?) why this record might have been so influential, Can covers every imaginable angle of rock on this thing. Feels like I've only just begun my Can era.
Dexys Midnight Runners
2/5
Solid album but nothing really grabbed me.
Fishbone
1/5
This was a little too ska-adjacent for my tastes. The wide mix of musical styles comes off much more jarring than interesting. Definitely a wanky 80's album.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Kind of generic. I'm pretty back and forth on the Rolling Stones these days. Sometimes I'm in a huge mood for it, other times I think it sounds like lazy blues-rock. Today is one of the latter types of days.
Raekwon
3/5
Killer debut from Raekwon. Relentless bars, minimalist beats. Enjoyed this record a lot, but felt a little too long.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Fun, groovy songs. Lots of attitude and the musical chops to back it up. I loved their album "Ta Da" when it came out, this one is equally enjoyable, though a little less polish and more edge.
Mudhoney
2/5
Decent album, raw production but still creative. Songs blended together a little for me.
Roxy Music
3/5
Really enjoyable record, I liked how eclectic it felt. There's a quote from one of the founding members about them proving that rock could accommodate anything instrumentally and I think that's a great description of their sound. The opening track "Re-Make/Re-Model" reminds me of Talking Heads a bit, like what if TH wrote a bluesy rock jam.
Van Halen
3/5
Great guitar work, fun songs. A little too cock rock for me personally but I can see why this was so influential. I appreciate how short and sweet a lot of the tracks are, none of them overstay their welcome.
JAY Z
4/5
Great album, set the stage for hip hop in the 2000's. Great bars, clever lines, catchy hooks, robust production. I wish it were a song or two shorter but everything here is baseline very good.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
I've heard some of these songs obviously, but never the whole album. It's pretty amazing! Amy has such an iconic, powerful voice, and her lyrics are so evocative of classic jazz vocalists while being rooted in the present. It's tragic she was lost at such a young age, she was incredibly talented. RIP Amy Winehouse.
The Thrills
2/5
Kind of bland but not terrible. At times sounds like The Flaming Lips at home. Not sure "Thrills" is the right name for this group lol
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Good album, great performances especially from Marvin Gaye. Tracks flow really well together, nice listening experience.
2/5
A decent listen, this album doesn't run too long and is full of fun, short, punchy songs. A little punk, a little rock & roll, a little tongue in cheek.
The Incredible String Band
3/5
This is like Fleet Fox's weirdo cousin that lives out in the woods and is obsessed with D&D and probably smells a little. It's quirky and kind of bizarre but the music is really pretty and there's a lot of talent at work here.
Stephen Stills
3/5
This album kind of rocked! Like it could have been a lame, old dad rock record but it wasn't somehow...The tracks were interesting and the instrumentals were engaging and fun. They definitely wanked around a little too much on some songs but overall I thought it was a good listen.
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Great performances, this group has good chemistry and it really shows in this recording. Nothing really blew me away, though. I like more experimental jazz personally but this was still very good.
CHVRCHES
3/5
This was good! Never listened to this group before but I liked it, great melodies and production.
Elton John
4/5
I'd never really listened to an Elton John album front to back before. Really enjoyed this one, comes hot out the gates with one of the best songs of all time and the quality barely drops from there. Looking forward to more Elton albums!
Peter Gabriel
2/5
I like Peter Gabriel songs but maybe not his albums. This had some good tracks and some meh tracks, decent listen.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
Decent listen. Not my thing but I can respect the performances, songwriting, and production.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
Didn't care for this, songs were a bit eclectic but didn't like the vocals and it felt bloated. Kind of blah, probably not for me.
Doves
3/5
This was way different from what I expected, in a good way. Interesting blend of indie rock and electronic elements. A little long but still enjoyable.
Grateful Dead
1/5
I literally took three weeks off in order to prepare myself for this listen, I've avoided Grateful Dead skillfully in my life but I felt like I could outrun that devil forever.
First a positive: the recording quality is astounding! It sounds so crisp and clear and live and tangible. But unfortunately this might have been a mistake, like when an old movie gets the 4k treatment and it makes it look like a bunch of high schoolers filmed a home movie in their back yard. When every piece of the performance is in High Definition™ then you hear the nonsense just as clearly as the highlights.
And that's kind of what this live album is: mostly nonsense. Remember that Family Guy when Peter and Lois start smoking weed, and they think they're giving this great, harmonized performance, but it turns out they were way off and kind of yelling? That's what this sounded like to me: the harmonies were off, the timing was off, the singing was off. Not hugely so, but in HD™ it's more glaring. Members of the band would come in singing the same lyrics but singing them just different enough that you doubt they'd even rehearsed it. Then everyone would decide to guitar solo at once, like a four-way intersection where the stop signs suddenly disappeared.
I'm a big fan of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, so I can't help but compare the two bands since the one seems heavily informed by the other. And maybe The Dead™ got way better at improvised jamming as a whole group later in their career (this was their first live album release.) But Gizz blows these guys out of the water, handily. When Gizz jams out, it feels like one cohesive unit banding (ha) together to lead the audience on a ride through the beast that is the song. On this album, it feels like four (five? six??) high white dudes making it up as they go with no regard for the other musicians on stage.
I really wanted to like this, but it's impossible, I fear.
Deee-Lite
3/5
Suprised at how much I enjoyed this album! I really liked the vibrant, bouncy beats. It felt very 90's, even though it came at the very beginning of the decade.
Van Halen
2/5
Great guitar work, cringey Cock Rock vocals. I knew what to expect and VH delivered. Two stars because it was short and I've heard half the tracklist already so I got to skip a lot of it, as a lil treat :)
The Cramps
2/5
Very rockabilly, very DIY. I wish the vocals sounded a little more thought-out and the production was a little more intentional, but solid debut from a band that would help solidify a whole subgenre.
The Undertones
2/5
Underwhelming. Not much interesting to me here, but a solid record if this is what you're into.
Big Star
2/5
Boring album, nothing really original or captivating. If you've heard the Beatles or the Stones you aren't going to find anything new here.
Sex Pistols
4/5
Classic album, punk as fuck. Not a lot to say here, it just slaps.
Fred Neil
3/5
Decent folk album. I liked the jamming out on the last track.
Yes
4/5
Love a good prog rock album! And appreciate getting to spend the day with some of the godfathers of the genre. This is a great album, lots of fun twists and turns. And "I've Seen All Good People" is so anthemic!
Joy Division
5/5
I first listened to this record when I was about 15, because someone told me "The Eternal" was the most depressing song ever written. By now I've been listening to "Closer" for 20 years and there's so much to say about it. It's been a while since I last heard it and it's interesting what stands out now vs. ~15 years ago. The biggest stand out to me was the drumming, it's methodical and unwaivering while the instruments around it spin chaotically. The album itself takes a dive from the first few songs into darker and darker territory. "The Eternal" truly is a devastating song; its placement near the end of the album feels like a funeral, which is unintentionally fitting considering Ian Curtis's fate.
Overall this is an incredible record that feels as vital as ever.
D'Angelo
2/5
Not really my cup of tea but definitely smooth (ha) and well produced. I can see why D'Angelo is popular, just doesn't do much for me. I liked the instrumentals in "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine" a lot.
Janet Jackson
1/5
Really couldn't finish this one, way too bloated with interludes and then the tracks themselves weren't very impressive.
John Coltrane
5/5
This is a masterpiece, not a lot to say. Quintessential jazz album.
The Kinks
3/5
This is so much like the Beatles, I can't tell who ripped off who lol Nice album though, and I think one of these songs was in Juno?
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Interesting album, a good variety of rock sounds. Felt a little meandering but ultimately not bad.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Interesting record, might have to come back and revisit sometime to pick out some of the details. Kind of seriously unserious?
Snoop Dogg
4/5
This album goes pretty hard, even by today's standards. "Gin and Juice" is a classic of course, but my fave from the batch here was "The Shiznit." The flows are stong, beats are sick. Classic album status right here.
Frank Ocean
4/5
I didn't really get into Frank Ocean until Blond (which is to this day one of my favorite albums of all time). I was into Odd Future/Tyler the Creator-adjacent music so I listened to Channel Orange when it came out and it didn't blow me away. I thought Frank had a great voice but what he did on CO didn't feel that groundbreaking or unique, especially compared to the projects that other OF members were putting out (Tyler, Earl, etc).
In the years since, CO has really grown on me. It's the type of album that benefits from repeated listens and getting to know the songs/lyrics. What isn't present in experimentation is made up for with strong melodies and hooky songs: Thinkin Bout You, Sierra Leone, Super Rich Kids, Pilot Jones, Pyramids, Lost, these are all such iconic songs that really stick with you after repeated listens. There are still some in-between songs that I don't care much for, but most of what's here is great.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
1/5
I just can't get through a Bob Marley record! The history, legacy, context, the lore around Bob and his activism and impact, all of that is much more interesting to me than the actual music. As it stands on its own, I just think it's boring and repetitive. Probably a different vibe if you got to see Bob play live but hanging out at home in the office, I got through six songs without realizing I was on a new track.
Donald Fagen
2/5
Really didn't care for this. Not to say it was bad, but a little too cheesy for me.
Violent Femmes
3/5
Pretty jammy album considering how simple it is! And there's some classic stuff on here, too. Runs a little long for what it is, but pretty enjoyable.
Queen
3/5
I was really surprised by this album because it kind of sounded like a bunch of Led Zeppelin's dorky, Hobbit-inspired b-sides. Which is a huge compliment lol
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Incredible album, stacked with bangers, great listen from front to back. Not much to say about "Rumours" that hasn't already been said, it's a masterpiece.
Kate Bush
4/5
I tried to get into this album a few years ago (before the ST hype for Running Up That Hill) and it just didn't click. But this time around, it was incredible! A truly strange, adventurous, theatrical record. Kate Bush is giving 1000% effort on each track, regardless of how wild the concept might seem. Favorite song here was "Under Ice" which is a shorter, interlude-ish type track but the layered vocals and building instrumentals are haunting and beautiful.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
2/5
The instrumentals on this album were phenomenal, but I couldn't stand the vocals. Probably just a product of the time, the lyrics were astoundingly stupid, unfocused, and meandering. The last two, mostly instrumental tracks were my favorite.
Fats Domino
3/5
Short but sweet record, fun tunes and swingy melodies. Enjoyed this listen!
Genesis
3/5
This was a really challenging listen, since it's such a long album. It was helpful to listen in parts (the sides from Wikipedia). There's a lot of material I liked and a lot that felt uninteresting but necessary to the concept. Overall, pretty ambitious, very bloated, mostly good!
Todd Rundgren
3/5
Truly an epic record, lots going on here with many different musical stylings that shift without a moment's notice. It was a good listen but kind of exhausting, it'll be a little while before I can revisit and pick out more details.
3/5
Funky album, great instrumentals. Grooved through this whole thing, even though the subject matter is a little heavy.
The Doors
3/5
Solid album. Really dig Jim Morrison's voice, and the guitar work. Need to listen to more Doors!
Sonic Youth
4/5
Enjoyed this album. Very rough, very noisy, but with pockets of melody here and there. I absolutely adore Kim Gordon.
Bon Jovi
2/5
This was difficult to get through because it's just so cheesy, and I can only listen to Mr. Bovine Joni for so long. Not my thing but I get why people at the time were into it.
A Tribe Called Quest
5/5
What an incredible debut! Truly remarkable, it's meticulously crafted to flow effortlessly from track to track. "Can I Kick It" is one of the best songs ever, loved this thing top to bottom.
Steely Dan
2/5
In a dinner scene from the film Knocked Up (2007), Paul Rudd's character complains that the music industry has changed and that Steely Dan wouldn't have a chance today. Seth Rogen replies "maybe that's because Steely Dan gargles my balls," and that line alone has steered me away from listening to them for over 15 years.
Aja was an interesting listen, swinging wildly between gargling balls and kicking ass. The final tally favors the balls unfortunately(?) but there were decent runs of jammy, inspiring instrumentation. Not bad, but I wouldn't be upset to go another 15 years Dan-less.
808 State
2/5
Decent electronic music, not bad background music for working. Probably hits different in a club setting lol
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
This is probably one of the best RHCP albums to listen to front to back. Typically there's a huge swing in quality from track to track on a RHCP release but there's less of that here. The album is still very front loaded, with some of their most iconic songs appearing one after the other, but there's still a lot of good material in the back half. "This Velvet Glove" and "Road Trippin'" were surprisingly good in particular. Overall, very good album. It's a classic for a reason (though I think By The Way is a little better).
Calexico
3/5
Good album, kind of see-sawed between being kind of basic and uninteresting, to being experimental and engaging. I liked the songs that were more unconventionally structured, not so much the more straightforward songs.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
Decent electronic album, I think having vocals really made this easier to get through than some of the other electronic albums from this list. Not really my thing still but I can appreciate how layered the songs were, clearly a lot of work went into each one.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
It took me a while to get into The Flaming Lips outside of Yoshime, which is a masterpiece of an album. After being obsessed with Yoshime, The Soft Bulletin was the second album I listened to from them and it just didn't hit as hard.
I'm glad I got to revisit this years later, now that I can truly appreciate FL because this is an incredible album. So much going on as far as instrumentation and production, and melodically it's some of their best work ever. There are grand moments followed by cathartic, introspective passages. Weirdly my favorite moment was the closing track "Sleeping on the Roof" which sounds like it could have been the starting point for countless YouTube lo-fi channels. Masterpiece of an album from a band who, to this day, continues to put out stellar work.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Never heard of this artist before but I liked this album a lot. Solid songwriting and instrumentals, beautiful lyrics and singing. All around nice record!
Richard Hawley
2/5
Decent album, solid songs. The Ocean stuck out to me but nothing else, really. Not bad but probably wouldn't revisit anytime soon.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Sonic Youth is a group I need to spend more time with in general, so I'm always grateful when they pop up on this list. This record definitely deserves a few more listens; it's dense, experimental, and all over the place. But in a good way! I'm eager to digest it more, what I heard on first listen was interesting.
Also if you're reading this and haven't checked out Kim Gordon's latest solo album "The Collective" go do it!!
Guided By Voices
3/5
Wasn’t sure what to expect, I’ve heard of this band before but didn’t have a clue what they’d sound like. And with 28 tracks coming in at 41 minutes, I had zero expectations. With that, I pretty much enjoyed everything here! I liked the quick, bite sized songs. It felt like the group didn’t want to get too stuck in one place sonically and they truly recorded whatever they wanted. I’ll have to check out some of their other releases.
The The
1/5
I can't believe Glee didn't have a bully character in a black leather jacket perform the opening track off this thing.
Never listened to The The before but based on the title and album art, I thought this was going to be a little more badass. Seeing the group described as "English post-punk," I should have guessed it would be cheesy British theatre kid punk. This album is goofy, unfolding like a one-man musical where the lead actor is way too up their own ass to notice how goofy it is. I will give it credit: there's a vision being executed consitently here, and with an abundance of confidence.
The Vines
1/5
This album is a good reminder of why the British considered throwing tea into a river as one of the highest forms of violence one could commit. Bland, uninteresting record that's indistinguishable from the plethora of other British rock acts from this period who were all trying to be the modern Beatles.
There's a song called Mary Jane and guess what the fuck it's about.
Brian Eno
3/5
I liked this album, it was interesting without being too far out there. The track "Golden Hours" really stood out to me.
Suzanne Vega
2/5
This was pretty decent. I liked the guitar work a lot, and Vega's lyrics were vivid and confident.
Incubus
2/5
Incubus has always fallen into the Foo Fighters category for me: typically the only good songs on a given record are the ones you hear on the radio. With Make Yourself this is decently true, but there are some solid tracks in between the heavy hitters. I thought Clean and I Miss You were alright, and that Battlestar Scralatchtica should never have been made. I've heard the song Drive so many times by this point in my life that I could probably play it on every instrument. And Pardon Me is definitely one of their best songs ever, which is kind of my issue with the record: most of the songs sound like versions of Pardon Me where they didn't quite nail the dynamics, melodies, transitions, layering, etc. Not a bad album, but as a whole not better than the singles.
Happy Mondays
1/5
I really wasn't looking forward to this album, as the Wikipedia uses what is becoming my least favorite descriptors: "English rock." Oh, and they discovered house music and ecstasy before recording? At this point you don't really need to listen to the album, you can already hear the goofy, self-indulgent-yet-utterly-milquetoast songs. "Bummed" is a great title, because you will feel this way listening to it.
Roxy Music
3/5
I really liked this! Some of the songs were a little wanky but overall pretty good. The Bogus Man didn't need to be 10 minutes long but that's okay, gotta fill that wax up to 42 minutes somehow I guess...
Joe Ely
3/5
I didn't have high hopes for an album with "Honky Tonk" in the title but fortunately the "Masquerade" was doing most of the heavy lifting because this thing was fun! A good dose of rock influence made this a pretty lively album, with more introspective tracks worked in appropriately. Reminded me of Sturgill Simpson's "A Sailor's Guide" album, the DNA of it is solidly country but the execution mixes a few different genres in satisfying ways.
Ali Farka Touré
2/5
Impressive musicianship, I really enjoyed the playing on this record. The songs wore on a little long though, and there wasn't a ton that kept my attention. But solid.
Throbbing Gristle
2/5
This was a little abstract for me but pretty interesting. It's funny how seemingly random sounds can pull together into something sonically engaging.
Lorde
4/5
I love Lorde and I think this is her best album by far. The production is stellar and the songwriting is fresh and interesting. My favorite tracks are The Louvre and Hard Feelings.
Alice Cooper
1/5
I really did not like this, which doesn't mean it's bad or anything. But it is immensely cheesy and I think only appeals to existing Alice Cooper fans or a specific subsection of (former) theatre kids. There are some interesting musical passages but what the fuck is "Raped and Freezin'"?????
Christine and the Queens
3/5
Really enjoyed this album! Dancy, fun tracks. Especially loved the track Damn (what must a woman do). Definitely need to check out more music from Chris/Redcar!
Ray Price
2/5
Solid country album. Good performances, decent lyrics and melodies. The introduction made me laugh, I can't say I've heard an album where the artist thanks you at the beginning. This is probably not an album/artist I'll feel compelled to revisit but I didn't mind my stay.
Holger Czukay
2/5
This was......interesting lol
The opening track made me feel like this was going to be really goofy, and it was! But being mostly instrumental helped. There were a lot of long passages to get carried away in and I appreciated those for the most part. Curious to hear more from this artist.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
1/5
I was hopeful this wouldn't be some self-indulgent British wankfest of over-inflated egos mashing their individual sounds together with little to no cohesion, but oh well maybe next time.
Charles Mingus
4/5
Great great album, I spun it twice in a row. It flows impressively.
U2
3/5
I've never listened to a full U2 album so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was very good! The singles are great of course, but the rest of the album has an urgency to it that I didn't expect from them. It's almost hard to believe that U2 was an important band for a time, really working at The Edge™ of music.
Iggy Pop
1/5
Really didn't enjoy this. The production was all over the place, the lyrics were bizarre, vocals were mumbled and mixed poorly. I like Iggy Pop and thing he's a talented guy but this record was just messy, unfocused, and dumb.
The Triffids
2/5
Eh, don't care for this. The production is goofy, the drums sound annoying...the snare drum specifically has the craziest echo on every single hit. The song writing is fine, not actively bad but just not my thing.
The Verve
1/5
Very blah album, except for Bitter Sweet Symphony. Truly a one-hit-wonder of a band. Do the English ever make music that isn't as bland as their food?
2Pac
4/5
This was a fierce, focused record. Pac is firing on all cylinders here and it results in one of his strongest records ever. Great beats, great lyrics, great flow.
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Good listen, lots of interesting instrumentals and arrangements!
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
Insane album. You either love Frank Zappa or hate him, and I kind of love him. I love when you can never tell where a song will go, just close your eyes and let Daddy Zapp take you on a cruise.
George Michael
3/5
This was a surprisingly great listen! The record flowed very well and there was a wide variety of songwriting. If George Michael set out to make a batch of more mature, more polished songs then I'd say he did it!
Turbonegro
1/5
Found this kind of boring. More tell than show, the songs sound like they’re trying to be so edgy and aggressive but it comes off pretty mediocre. The production is decent though.
Gram Parsons
2/5
Decent record, good songwriting and playing. Nice, concise album.
John Grant
2/5
Father John Misty owes this guy one million dollars for ripping off his entire thing. Tongue-in-cheek baroque arrangements with lyrical topics such as sex, money, fame, love, self-loathing, etc etc etc. I felt like I was listening to a better version of FJM, though I will give Tillman credit: he never wrote a song with a bunch of slurs. Overall, I see why this is an impressive record but I was underwhelmed.
Janis Joplin
3/5
This was my first venture into Janis Joplin's work and I thoroughly enjoyed it! She has such a powerful voice and she is clearly very in-sync with her band on this one. The recording sessions (leading up to her tragic and untimely death) must have been an absolute joy.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Decent record, solid tunes. Dusty boasts a powerful, iconic voice!
Stereo MC's
2/5
Not bad. The lyrics were a little dated and corny, but the beats were enjoyable. Probably not going to revisit ever but a decent listen.
Minutemen
4/5
I really enjoyed this a ton. Reminded me of Modest Mouse a ton, but with more bite-sized songs. Loved the guitar work and all the varying instruments. I can lose interest in something quickly, so the fact that there was a new song every two minutes or less helped keep my interest. Parts of this were completely psychotic in the best way. I could see sticking this on repeat and just jamming all afternoon.
Gotan Project
3/5
I really enjoyed this! The instrumentals were interesting and incorporated a lot of sounds. Not usually huge on electronic music but this was a solid album.
The Saints
2/5
Decent record. Good energy and variety. Nothing really stuck out but the album overall was a vibe.
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
A solid album, though the tracks kind of blended together. There wasn't a ton of variety so nothing really jumped out but the energy and performances were mostly good. I think Carrie has a very strong voice but it became kind of grating throughout the runtime. I really liked Things You Say.
Goldfrapp
3/5
This was a gorgeous album! Goldfrapp's voice is amazing, and the songs had a timeless quality to them thanks to her vocals against the production. Really enjoyed this record, will have to listen to more from Goldfrapp!
Butthole Surfers
2/5
This is exactly how I thought an album called "Locust Abortion Technician" by a band called Butthole Surfers would sound like. A bit obtuse and challenging but it sure was interesting! Leagues better than anything br*tish on this list.
William Orbit
2/5
This was a nice listen. Good background music for working with enough variety to stay interesting.
The The
1/5
Oh boy, more br*tish synth-pop, I'm sure this will be a revelation...
This wasn't completely awful, but it was super goofy. Singer sounds like he was a total dickhead, of course he would go on to write "Infected." The 1980's was a mistake.
The Associates
2/5
This was a little too 80s but some of the tracks were kind of dark, which I liked. Overall a fine album, definitely far from the worst of the decade.
Kanye West
3/5
Fuck Kanye West's nazi ass.
I used to bump this record a ton way back in the day. Some of the tracks hold up but overall the album is bloated and drags. Some of the production and mixing sound a little dated, especially a few of the features. Jay-Z's verse on Never Let Me Down sounds like it was pasted on top of the finished track; it doesn't quite sit in the mix properly. I know this is "classic" and at the time it was, but even outside of Kanye's turn to nazism this is far away from his best work.
The Beta Band
2/5
Decent album. I liked the variety and the production. It felt like the instruments/samples had room to breathe on each song.
David Bowie
4/5
Another great Bowie album, starting to think this dude was good...
I liked how trim this record was, just a handful of longer tracks instead of some bloated massive thing. The title track was my favorite, the outro song was also awesome. Looking forward to more Bowie from this list.
Steely Dan
3/5
Oh lord god almighty.
I actually liked this.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I've never really listened to Nick Cave. I know a guy who is obsessed so I am going to be judging you, John, this whole listen...
John, my guy, I gotta say: awesome taste in music! This was a great listen. Nick Cave is like this demonic pastor soaked in whiskey and cigarette smoke, delivering a gravelly sermon over gospel-inspired instrumentals. The tracks feel less written/recorded and more like a wild spirit possessed the band and this is what came out. I got similar vibes as Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible": there's an apocalyptic homily feel that gives it vitality. I guess I have to listen to more Nick Cave now.
R.E.M.
3/5
Really enjoyed this one. R.E.M. is one of those bands I know I like but haven't spent enough time with. Between the hit songs on this were equally good tracks. Definitely coming back to this one.
Circle Jerks
3/5
Short, sweet, aggressive songs with no brakes. This one ripped, like a punk version of Reign in Blood...(or is RiB a thrash version of Group Sex???)
Edit: Group Sex was way earlier lol
I breathe a sigh of relief every time I get an album that's shorter than 40 minutes lol
Sonic Youth
3/5
I enjoyed this a ton. Loved how messy it was, but with enough structure to keep moving forward from track to track. Kim Gordon is a legend.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
This was a fun record. There was a good flow from track to track. Songs were engaging. Samples were all over the place. Overall good listen!
Jurassic 5
3/5
Funky, groovy, great bars. I haven't listened to Jurassic 5 much but they give me almost the same bounce as early Tribe. Loved the beats on this and there's a lot of play in the intros/interludes/transitions that help carry the themes of the record through. Good listen!
Bobby Womack
4/5
Bobby Womack!! Such an iconic voice, I enjoyed every minute of this record. And the stellar guitar work was icing on the cake!
Big Star
2/5
Solid album. The songs are constructed nicely, though as a whole they're a bit unfocused. I liked this one more than the other Big Star record.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
There were a few tracks missing from this on Apple Music, but the tracks that were there were stunning. There's an incredible range of instrumentation. My favorite is the guitar work on "Music and Politics." And of course, the lyricism/subject matter is razor sharp. It's almost jaw dropping how relevant the themes and issues are to today, more than 30 years later (though definitely depressing). Shit really don't change.
The Who
3/5
This was an interesting record. I liked how it was structured like radio, with the in-between skits and commercials. However I feel like that format made the actual tracks stand out less; I found it hard to grasp onto any specific track except for I Can See For Miles. But overall, good listen!
Simply Red
2/5
A fine album. Decent jams on here, and the cover of "Heaven" was pretty good. Don't know if I'll ever need to revisit this but wasn't bad.
The Specials
1/5
A SKA band that is BRITISH??? Literally I would rather you just stab me. I can't believe this band has (at least) two records on this list when I could think of five records from the past 6 months that deserve it more. The first track is 3:41 in length and I was checking how much time is left before it was half over.
Shack
1/5
Wasn't too moved by this. It's not bad but just wasn't that interesting to me. Too many mediocre British artists on this list.
Anita Baker
4/5
This was such a beautiful album, truly a treat. Baker's voice is incredible, she really came out of nowhere with an instant classic.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
I was very pleasantly surprised by this record. The vocals were great, Skin has a very versatile voice that fits over the variation of instrumentals present here. The guitar riffs were awesome, good drum/bass rhythm section. I really did not expect much from this but it fucking rocks. "On My Hotel TV" was one of my favorites, the stop-start guitar riffs in the verses really pay off around the halfway mark when they're allowed to run freely.
On a different note: this album generator site has Hard Rock listed as one of my bottom three genres, which is hilarious because outside of this project I listen to mostly heavy rock music. So hopefully this review helps correct that.
Klaxons
2/5
This was decent. I had this album back in the day because I was obsessed with Arctic Monkeys and this came recommended for fans of AM. Just like then, I didn't find anything here that blew me away but it's solid.
Little Simz
3/5
Enjoyed this! I've heard some of Little Simz's more recent work but it was nice to go back into something early. Solid, focused tracks, good instrumentals. Lyricism didn't blow me away but it worked well. Good album.
Arctic Monkeys
5/5
I was OBSESSED with this album when it came out. I was in high school and I learned every word and even worked out a lot of the songs on guitar. I was so crazy about Arctic Monkeys that I even hunted down a leaked copy of their followup album, Favourite Worst Nightmare. So with my storied history with this band established, let me drop some hot takes:
Favourite Worst Nightmare is the best Arctic Monkeys album by far. It takes what they did on this album to the next level, with a greater variety of songs, sounds, lyrics, dynamics, everything. Humbug through AM sucks, the songs are boring, the guitar parts are boring, the lyrics are boring, the drumming is super boring, etc etc etc. Their first two records had such a unique energy and then Josh Homme from QOTSA came in and ruined it (until Tranquility Base and The Car, yeah that's right fucking @ me bro).
Okay onto this record: it's fantastic! Songs are hooky, lyrics are incredible, guitars are fun and playful, and the drumming cannot be topped. I mean, there's a reason that the video for The View From the Afternoon is just the guy ripping on the drums. Nothing will ever top jamming this record in the car with friends and everyone shouting "ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE VAMPIRES" at the top of your lungs. On When the Sun Goes Down, when the riff kicks in and the drums drop, and there's this cheeky bass slide...chills.
So yeah, this is one of my favorite albums ever. And one of the rare times that Br*tish people could make good music again.
Orange Juice
3/5
Didn't know what to expect here but I dug it! There's an almost perfect balance between goofy and earnest that a lot of bands fail to nail. I've been listening to a lot of Japanese jazz/city pop and there's a touch of that here, especially on Flesh of My Flesh (great song). So yeah, nice one Orange Juice!
The Beta Band
2/5
They say "don't judge a book by its cover" but this is an album, and the cover tells me this is going to be some dated, niche white dude rock music.
This was alright, kind of your typical weirdo late 90s/early 00s unfocused experimental rock. Some of the tracks bopped, some didn't. I think the strongest reaction I had to this record was to the cover art, which sucks.
Sparks
3/5
This album jammed! A little self-indulgent but not overly so. Enjoyed this one.
Rush
4/5
I have to preface this review with the fact that Coheed & Cambria is one of my favorite bands of all time. So I've definitely heard Rush, as Coheed always get compared to them. I kind of get the comparison on the surface level, but if you listen to either band for more than five minutes you'll see there's a big difference.
Okay now that's out of the way: Rush rocks, and this is one of their best albums! I love the riffs, the long musical passages, and the fucking drumming especially. I enjoy when the instruments in a song get to breathe and evolve as the track unfolds, without the overbearing presence of vocals. I think a lot of artists write instrumentals in service to the vocal parts, but Rush puts more emphasis on the guitars/bass/drums, which I appreciate more. I will say, this is a little self-indulgent of an album, but you kind of know that getting into it (if you've ever heard anything about Rush).
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
I enjoyed this album! The guitar work was especially impressive, lots of catchy riffs and passages. P.C.P was a fun, driving song.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Great jazz album, loved the tunes on this one!
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Eh, don't really care for this but it wasn't bad. Just not my vibe.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Absolutely fantastic album! Never heard the whole thing front to back before but all the songs are complete bangers. Phenomenal record, deserving of all the praise!
Cowboy Junkies
2/5
Decent record, very low-key but the songs are pretty and performed nicely.
Hawkwind
2/5
This was jammy, self-indulgent, and kind of a slog. But in general I like some jammy, trippy music. I think if this were trimmed way down it would sit better but as is, no one has time for all this.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
I enjoyed this listen. It was very removed from what I'm typically spinning and I think that made me want to pick out details more. I really loved hearing all the different instrumental layers and melodies. It was a bit long but was a decent vibe all the way through.
3/5
This was a wacky one. Reminded me of Talking Heads, in a good way. I've always thought of Devo as a cheesy synthesizer band, but they're much more rooted in guitar/percussion than I thought. Dug it!
Kings of Leon
4/5
I remember really liking this album back in the day, but it's been a while since I've heard it. Excited to get back into it.
UPDATE: Alright, still a great album! Fun bluesy rock songs that don't feel too derivative. Caleb's voice is really unique and I think helped them stand above the other throwback rock acts of this period. "Four Kicks" is probably my favorite song, it has such a good spot on the tracklist where it comes out swinging after "Day Old Blues" and just kicks your teeth in.
a-ha
3/5
Honestly this was a really fun album! I expected it to be super cheesy, and don't get me wrong it was, but I guess I was in the mood for it. Obligatory "Take On Me is an all-time banger" comment.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I have a weird relationship with this album. When I was growing up in the 90s and getting into music, this was one of those untouchable classics that represented some of the Best Music Ever™ according to adults. But when I listened to it as a teenager, I didn't enjoy it: it was boring, self-indulgent, and not very memorable. Quintessential boomer music that was praised because it always had been. So with that in mind, we'll see how I feel as a more developed music listener...
UPDATE: Wow, these dudes really put clock and cash register noises in some songs, called them "Time" and "Money" respectively, and white people were like "OMG GREATEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME." Not saying this was a bad album, I definitely understand how big a record like this must have been at the time. But I feel like we've gotten much better records from PF and other bands since. So while a good album, I'm feeling it's a bit overrated. Guess if you weren't there in 1973 then you missed out on good music.
The Fall
3/5
I enjoyed this, good energy, great tracks. You could hear how this band might have influenced a lot of post-punk/rock bands.
Spiritualized
2/5
A solid album. Had some very cool, trippy passages and some nice crescendos. Some tracks really drag on, though, but overall pretty decent listen.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
This isn't just one of the best hip-hop albums of all time, it's simply one of the best albums ever recorded. Every time I come back to it, I'm floored by how much is packed into this record. From the running themes woven through, the instrumentals, vocals (not just Kendrick's but the entire cast of voices employed throughout), "I remember you was conflicted" building slowly across the album...there's so much creativity at play and it's at such a high level it's awe-inspiring. Some catchier tracks get stuck in your head ("Wesley's Theory", "King Kunta") while others are more contemplative, sticking in your head for more conceptual reasons ("How Much a Dollar Cost", "The Blacker the Berry"). As a listener since GKMC, I think this is the pinnacle of Kendrick's catalogue (which is still full of top-tier records). I think there's a lot that's challenging about this listen, and the reward is never-ending.
3/5
"English rock band" isn't my favorite phrase, but we'll see how this is...
UPDATE: Okay this was actually really nice! The songs were fantastical and whimsical, the instruments were impressive, the arrangements were fresh. I thought I would hate this but it came through.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
This one was a ripper! Tons of attitude, sweet riffs, what more could you want?
The Rolling Stones
2/5
Eh, it's The Rolling Stones, you know what you're getting. And personally, I don't need this much of it. More and more I find Stones tracks to just be aimless blues jamming, like what my uncle does on Saturday nights in the garage with a Jack & Coke.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Despite all the metal and hip-hop I enjoy, I have to admit I do like Taylor Swift a lot (currently wearing my favorite T-Swift muscle shirt). And for a while, 1989 was my favorite record from her (eventually dethroned by Folklore).
After a re-listen today (Taylor's version, obviously), I'd say that opinion still holds up. In fact, the entire album up through "Wildest Dreams" is pretty much some of her best work to date. "Out Of The Woods" and "All You Had To Do Was Stay" are two of my favorite TS songs ever. And the singles "Blank Space" and "Shake It Off" were worldwide hits for a good reason. On this record, it felt like Taylor found a magical balance between catchy songwriting and her signature narrative lyricism that would continue through her discography to this day.
The biggest complaint I have about this album is, like most TS albums, it runs a little long. There are definitely a few tracks that could be cut from the tracklist, especially "This Love." It is far and away one of the most inane songs she's ever written. The lyrics are atrocious, the song is boring, and I skip it every time. But I bet there are a ton of fans out there who would consider it their favorite, and that's the fun thing about music.
The Beach Boys
5/5
RIP Brian Wilson.
It took a while to fully appreciate this album, but it's considered a critically acclaimed masterpiece for good reasons, all of which have been covered by countless other white dudes, so I'll just say thank you to the 1001 Albums Generator for the beautiful pick for today.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
This was a great listen. A lot of the themes still feel relevant today. Mayfield's voice is incredible, too!
Julian Cope
1/5
Ehh, I really did not care for this. Sounds like Julian is his own biggest fan.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
I really enjoyed this album. I liked how it felt like a loose live album, with Jack giving small introductions to the tunes and playing randomly between tracks. Jack's playing is so full and detailed, it has a ton of presence while very often being the only instrument present. Good listen!
The Dictators
3/5
Fun listen. Lots of tongue-in-cheek attitude and ripping guitar work. Hell yeah.
Jack White
2/5
I like a lot of the music here, but I really do not like Jack's singing on most of these songs. It just doesn't fit the tracks, like when you hear a cover of a song you like and the new singer's voice just sounds too different to enjoy. And I don't have anything against his voice, I do like it on The White Stripes albums. But I think the difference is that WS albums are very raw, minimal, and scrappy, qualities that his vocals complement a great deal better. The fuller, more layered tracks on Blunderbuss just don't work as well.
I'll also add that a few of the songs felt too derivative of Jack's obvious influences.
Lou Reed
3/5
Lou Reed is an artist I'm a little familiar with, but haven't actually dived into a full album. Always heard good things about Transformer and I think it mostly lives up to the praise. Lou's voice and lyrics are iconic, if not divisive, and really help elevate this project. I enjoyed the variety between tracks, and "Walk on the Wild Side" is such an incredible song. I don't know if I could stand to listen to this repeatedly but I was impressed with this listen!
Primal Scream
2/5
This was fine. A little more boring than a band called "Primal Sceam" would lead you to believe.
Kanye West
1/5
Fuck Kanye West's nazi ass.
When this album dropped, I was blown away. Definitely an early adopter, none of my friends liked this one and I remember trying to convince them how good it was. Of course by now folks have come around, but this album was not well-received by the fans at the time. The production was so left-field and raw; a stark contrast to the highly polished discography before it. I will say at the time I felt that the lyrics and rapping were starting to decline in quality. It felt like at this point in his career, he was truly drinking his own Kool-Aid and shut out any outside influence, to the detriment of the lyrical quality (a trend that would continue downwards through Life of Pablo, Ye, JiK, etc).
I'm not going to listen to this again and give him any streaming revenue (fractions of pennies though they are), but going off my last listen to this thing (6+ years ago), this was a very good album and contains a lot of interesting, unique material.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Very familiar with this album, used to listen to it a ton in high school/college! But back then I was so entranced by Karen O's vocals that I missed out on some of the instrumental details. There are some sick riffs packed into these songs, and they move so quickly and breathlessly that if you don't stop and look around, you might miss them. The album as a whole flows so effortlessly, and the songs sound so raw they could have been recorded in one take (probably not, though).
Also vital: the slower, less intense songs are also great and spread nicely throughout the tracklist. I mean as loud, noisy, raw, and aggressive as most of the songs on this record are, the standout by far is the slower "Maps."
There's something about the energy they were able to capture in the recording that tons of artists fall short of capturing. It felt like Yeah Yeah Yeahs were in the same stripped-down, garage rock revival lane as The White Stripes, but they were making fuller music than Jack & Meg with a ton more presence. Don't know how they did it but 22 years later (holy fucking shit) it still sounds incredible.
Blue Cheer
3/5
I dug this, it's a bit raw and gets distracted a few times ("Doctor Please") but overall pretty good record that rocks a ton.
Germs
3/5
Pretty good listen, though it felt a little long with the amount of tracks. And "Lexicon Devil" fucking rips, I think that was on Tony Hawk at some point.
Kelela
3/5
Beautiful album! I loved her voice, and I loved how her style of R&B matched up with the electronic instrumentals. The Arca beats especially were sick.
Nick Drake
3/5
Damn, I thought this was Boris lol
This was a great listen! I really enjoyed these songs and the backing musicians, interested to hear what his work sounds like without them.
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
Loved this one. Dark, depressed, angsty, existential white boy alt rock. Obviously reminiscent of Joy Division, the crescendos on different tracks hit hard. Interested in hearing more from E&tBM.
Beck
2/5
This was okay. I have a hard time listening to a Beck album because they're usually kind of directionless and un-unified. And that holds true for Guero, a mixed bag of different songs built with varying beats, instruments, vocal effects, etc. The experimentation is neat, but I don't find any of it compelling to the point of revisiting. I think a big reason for this is Beck's approach to lyrics, which are kind of nonsensical and meandering.
Tears For Fears
4/5
Wow, really loved this one. Maybe it's because I'll always be a sad little emo boy at heart. Maybe it's because I'll always be a sad little emo boy who loves Donnie Darko at heart. Or maybe it's because it's just a great album!
Liz Phair
4/5
I've really only heard "Why Can't I" from Liz Phair, so I didn't know what to expect from a full record. And I certainly didn't expect such a strong, DIY indie record! With hardly any drums! And such sharp lyricism! Yeah this really took me by surprise in the best way, I thoroughly enjoyed the minimal instruments. And Phair's guitar playing was especially impressive. She adds so much texture and detail to the simplest progressions, and the stripped-back arrangements help that extra dimensionality shine. This rocked, but not entirely out loud.
Napalm Death
4/5
I love heavy metal and I love short ass albums, so this was already a winner before I hit play. And thankfully, it only earned more points as I listened. It's wild to hear the differences between the two halves: the first half is more rooted in punk, with an almost cheeky swing in the step of some of the tracks. But then you hit the second half and it's just pummellingly heavy. To me the biggest difference is in the drumming, especially apparent since it was the same drummer for both halves. Mick Harris is almost playfully laid back in some of the first half passages, sticking to more traditional rhythms. Even the blast beats are straightforward. On half two however, there's an intricacy and technicality in the mix, which serves the overall heavier-ness (lol) much better. Killer record.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Zeppelin II, a pretty good album from Led Zeppelin. Some iconic riffs on this thing, like on "Heartbreaker" which I completely forgot existed.
Huge drawback though: the lyrics. Goddamn I cannot stand hearing Robert Plant "baby baby baby" his way through some of these songs. Does any woman treat this guy right?? Incredible voice, but at this point in Zepp's career he was definitely not flexing his pen game.
Coldcut
2/5
I didn't really enjoy this, but I can appreciate that it's well-made. The production is very good, the music is just not my cup of tea.
Two stars because I'm capable of understanding that something wasn't for me and moving on with my life, rather than giving it one star and complaining that it isn't real music, unlike a lot of users here.
Billie Holiday
4/5
Billie Holiday! Such a beautiful, iconic voice. What a lovely album, I played it twice in a row this weekend.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
The br*tish really are overrepresented on this list. Though to be fair, if it were my list I'd probably throw a bunch of Creed on there. Totally judging a book by its cover here, this looks corny as all fuck...
Okay actually upon listening, this was pretty fun! I liked the layering of beats with instrumentals. I think it really helped that there were no vocals. Nice, jammy, vibey album.
Sugar
2/5
This was okay. Pretty stock 90's alt-rock offering. On some tracks they almost sound like a proto-Foo Fighters. Nothing exciting but nothing terrible.
Caetano Veloso
3/5
I enjoyed this! The collection of different influences and genres was executed very well, good listen.
Nirvana
5/5
I could swear I've already written about this album but...
When I turned 14, someone gave me a Best Buy gift card. This was right when I was discovering online forums (*cough*GaiaOnline*cough*) and finding that a ton of folks were using artsy-sounding song lyrics in their signatures. So with my gift card I set out to buy some albums to listen to, landing on Nirvana's greatest hits (I'd heard a lot of these songs on the radio), Third Eye Blind's self-titled (also heard on the radio a lot), and My Chemical Romance's "Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge" (I'd seen a TON of their lyrics online). Over the years, the Nirvana album became my least favorite of the three, as you just couldn't escape those songs listening to rock radio in the early/mid 2000's.
Flash forward to summer of 2021: at a week-long beach house stay with 20 other people, the first teaser trailer for The Batman drops and I watch it about one hundred times in two days. One of the most captivating parts of that teaser being the use of Nirvana's "Something In The Way." I decide Nirvana's been on the shit list long enough and it's time to finally give a chance to Nevermind, an album that has reached "Dark Side of the Moon" status for me in that it was completely overrated: a classic in name alone, just because white people in the early 90's hadn't heard anything quite like it before.
So in 2021, after decades of ducking this band/album/genre because of how overplayed it was, I finally discovered that yes, this is actually a good album. There's something about the specific mash-up of rock and punk with deeply metaphorical and introspective lyrics that not many bands have hit upon since (although they did try very hard *coughPUDDLEOFMUDDcough*). The songs themselves are pretty basic instrumentally, with Cobain's lyrics and voice being the glue that elevates everything. I could go on and on probably but I don't think I have anything new to add to this discussion. Widely regarded as a masterpiece for good reason.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Pretty good album from Mr. "The" Boss himself. It was interesting to read about all the recording woes they had trying to get the right sound when it all sounded pretty standard to me. But what do I know?
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Fucking crazy and weird. I like crazy weird music, and I like Frank Zappa, but I wasn't blown away by this one. Not terrible though.
Genesis
3/5
Honestly really dug this, but it was a bit drawn out. I liked all the different instrumental passages, you never really knew where each track would take you. But damn it felt long.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Solid album. Good performances from Crazy Horse, and as always very tight songwriting from Neil Young. Nothing really stuck out to me too much but it was a nice listen.
The Coral
1/5
Yay another 00's era, one-off, br*tish rock group no one has ever heard of, surely this time I'll be blown away...
Yeah, a little bland. Definitely could have died without hearing this one. Basically a bunch of songs tailor-made for car commercials and The Hangover-style comedies. Not horrendous or anything but just...boring and commercial.
David Ackles
2/5
I feel like this dude wrote some very compelling classical music opera, and then decided to talk over the whole thing. It doesn't work for me, but I can tell a lot of effort went into it. It's like when they put the Harrison Ford narration over top of the original Blade Runner, because they thought audiences would be too dumb to follow along.
Gene Clark
2/5
A decent country album with some very solid songs. My favorite was "Stand By Me."
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
When this came out I hated it because it was electronic and I 1) wanted more of their garage rock sound and 2) didn't respect artists that didn't play real instruments.
Luckily, I've grown up and I really enjoyed this album. So shout out to growing as a person and getting over your weird, gatekeep-y attitudes towards what "real" music should be.
Bob Dylan
3/5
Classic album, classic Dylan. A bit too long for my tastes but hey, what can ya do?
Dire Straits
3/5
I've never really listened to Dire Straits before. This album was pretty good, I liked the songs and performances for the most part. A little corny but not enough to care too much.
Missy Elliott
4/5
This really hit hard, I was grooving like crazy today. Missy doesn't miss, great lyrics, vocal performance, the guest spots were fire...a lot to love on this one!
M.I.A.
2/5
I bought this album back in the day because of "Paper Planes" (duh) and I didn't remember liking anything other than that track, which lands very late in the tracklist. Listening to it years and years later, I kind of feel the same way. The electronic songs are fine, but they get a bit tedious. And then track 10 is this random pop/hip-hop blended banger that feels a bit out of place but is also the most interesting song on the record by miles (or kilometers, I guess). Not my favorite album.
Lenny Kravitz
2/5
This was solid, but super derivative. Basically it felt like I was listening to a solo album from that guitarist in Across the Universe.
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
This was okay. I liked the energy and the sound, there were instrumental surprises that were interesting. But largely nothing really stood out to me.
Portishead
4/5
This was a great record, I can see where all the praise comes from. I can barely believe this is considered "electronic" since it's so sparse on instruments; these songs feel more like morose bedroom indie. Very enjoyable.
Jeff Buckley
4/5
I've been meaning to get into Jeff Buckley, especially after recently hearing about an upcoming biopic while simultaneously learning he'd only released one album before his tragic passing. And I found it to be an incredibly beautiful record. I didn't know what I expected his voice to sound like but I didn't think it would be as impressive as it was. And the instrumentals support his vocals so perfectly, it's almost magic. I really loved this one, and will probably revisit it immediately.
Boston
3/5
I was pretty pumped the first few tracks of this, but by track 5 or so it becomes clear that Boston has a pretty set bag of tricks that they pretty much entirely used on the opener. Not a bad record, just lacks variety. But "More Than a Feeling" is an all-time banger.
Grant Lee Buffalo
2/5
Fine album, didn't leave a huge impression.
Don McLean
2/5
A fine album with an obvious hit. Decent performances and writing, but nothing really stood out except for the Weird Al cover.
The 13th Floor Elevators
2/5
Eh, this was kind of uninteresting to me. Typical drug-induced, self-indulgent psych rock from the 60s. I will give them credit for the concise songs and the experimentation with production.
Arrested Development
3/5
Really enjoyed this one! It was a bit cheesy but for the most part really held up. The sample on People Everyday was fun.
Skepta
3/5
I liked this project. The beats were interesting (especially on the last two tracks) and the flows were impressive. I thought the pacing was perfect, tracks jumped from one to the other very smoothly.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
2/5
I listened to this with my wife and she immediately started hating br*tish music.
The Pretty Things
1/5
Didn't really care for this. Silly, goofy, unserious.
The Kinks
2/5
Sgt. Pepper at home
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
Dragged a lot, I don't think this needed to be over an hour long. At a certain point I thought I was hearing the same song over and over. There were some decent moments, though.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I had no idea that this was a fully acoustic record! Acoustic projects can get boring but I think Bruce did a great job of keeping this one lively with minimal instrumentation. And the range of influences (rockabilly, folk, country, blues) is very subtle but key to making these recordings work as well as they do. The narrative is strong, and I can see more clearly now how directly The Killers were influenced by Springsteen's work. Great album.
Hookworms
2/5
This was fine. Nothing really blew me away but I didn't hate it.
Traffic
2/5
Decent album, nice instrumentals. Didn't really stick with me after.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Incredible work from Ella and the Gershwin's, just a stacked tracklist. Stellar.
Deep Purple
2/5
This live album was a little self indulgent and needed to be trimmed down a little bit. No one needs 10 minute versions of these songs, especially when 2 of those minutes are the chatter in between. Decent performances but nothing I need to visit again.
Neneh Cherry
2/5
This album felt very dated, but it was still fun and engaging. This album is just a few months older than I am, which is great because I was feeling too old recently.
Anthrax
3/5
I love some metal, and this was pretty good. The guitars were aggressive, tight, fast, all the good things. I didn't really care for the vocals or lyrics, typically the Achilles heel of metal. But overall, really good album.
John Lennon
1/5
This really wasn't very good. These songs felt very underdeveloped, surface-level, and self-indulgent. "Oh Yoko, my love will turn you on?" Jesus Christ.
The Police
2/5
This was decent. "Message In a Bottle" was clearly the best song but the others were fun, too.
Bert Jansch
3/5
I enjoyed this album, it was quiet and pretty. Bert has a nice voice and I like his guitar arrangements, beautiful stuff Bert.
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
This ruled, JLL has an incredible voice and these live songs had so much energy. Enjoyed this one!
Ozomatli
3/5
This was awesome! Loved the mixture of genres here with Latin rock, a little hip-hop, a little jazz, and a little classical. My favorite track was the second-to-last one, "Nadie Te Tira" which had incredible piano work.
David Gray
2/5
I was halfway through the first song thinking, "damn, this sounds like the Babylon guy" LOL
This was pretty good, nothing to be mad at. "Babylon" was the best song here but there were other good ones. Nothing I feel compelled to revisit though.
3/5
Enjoyed this one, it was jagged and messy and contemplative and weird.
Herbie Hancock
4/5
This shit ruled! How have I not listened to this?? Stone cold classic. Fucking "Chameleon" goddamn kills it!!!
Thin Lizzy
2/5
Eh, I don't love Thin Lizzy. The performance was good and they sounded pretty dialed in, but the music doesn't do much for me.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Beautiful album! It's very dense, I feel like it's worth multiple listens. Love Mitchell's voice and lyrics, she's very captivating.
Silver Jews
2/5
Decent album, but I didn't really dig the guy's vocals; they worked sometimes and didn't others. But a nice record with a healthy country influence. There was one track that actually had a cool electric guitar riff, wish there was more of that.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
This is my wife's favorite band so I waited until I could listen to this with her.
Good album! Maybe the most coherent RHCP album front to back. Lots of very popular songs on this thing. I liked some of the in-between tracks too, but they definitely weren't as sticky.
Aerosmith
1/5
I wasn't very excited to listen to this, for two reasons:
1. It's Aerosmith.
2. The cover is so goddamn fucking stupid it angers me.
Now that I have listened to it, I'll just say I'm very glad we've moved away from rock like this in the modern era.
Steve Winwood
3/5
Actually really dug this, even though "Higher Love" wasn't on it. Only note: include "Higher Love" next time.
The Go-Go's
3/5
I was surprised by this one, the energy is way more punk than I thought it would be. These songs rip, and even "We Got The Beat" fits right in perfectly. The drumming is a highlight throughout, especially on "Can't Stop The World." Very good album.
Tricky
3/5
Good album! Enjoyed this one.
Bee Gees
3/5
This was a very ambitious, thoughtfully executed record. It felt like a complete (if not overly long) journey from beginning to end. Nothing really jumped out, but I think that's due to the album working as a whole better than as individual parts.
Ice T
3/5
Hard as fuck, damn Ice.
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
This was outstanding. I'd heard it around the time it came out but maybe I wasn't in the mood for it at the time. Great instrumentals, amazing vocals.
Pearl Jam
4/5
Phenomenal album. The guitar work is incredible. It was nice to listen to these songs in headphones for a change; there are a ton of details that get lost in "Even Flow" or "Black" that you don't notice hearing them on the radio or at the grocery store (yikes). Classic album.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
There's been enough said about how great this record is, so I'll share a random thought I had while listening:
It's INSANE how they pull off the jump between Stairway and Misty Mountain Hop. The tonal shift is extraordinarily jarring, but somehow it works. I imagine the experience was different back in the day because you'd have to flip the record over. But hearing those tracks back to back on streaming is wild.